Eleventh Journey // Video - sometime around midnight

[lockandkeyblade]

[The night is winding down, and the house is quiet again (It's emptier than last year, but certainly just as warm.) Sora hopes he hasn't woken anyone up, but for those awake in the last hours of Christmas... how about some company?]

Hey there. Did everybody have a good Christmas?

I sure did. It's been hours and I'm still stuffed!

[Sora's reclining on his stomach on the bed, eyes not on the screen but on a notebook in front of him. It's a letter unlike any other he's written (though far more important.) The recipient of this particular document won't receive it until after Sora disappears from the port. These days, with his friends going missing from the Port one by one, he thinks that day might be coming soon.]

I wonder where I'll be next Christmas...

[He taps the end of the pen on the paper, rests his chin on his hand in thought. He's written a lot, but there's so many things he needs to say if this person comes back to the Port one day in the future. The pen finds the paper again, but only to trace idly over the first line at the very top:

'Dear Me,']

The memories I've made here, the people I've met? They're special. Even if one day, we can't spend time with each other on Christmas in the future? Deep down, we'll always remember.

[He'd honestly thought about asking some tough questions tonight. Asking about how to keep friends safe, even when you're not there. About how to keep promises when you don't remember them. How to honor precious people you'll never see again back home. Things that seem impossible to detail, even if he had all the stationary to do it on.

But that's all right. He'll figure all this out somehow. In any case, it's late. It's Christmas. Sora feels good. And he hopes everyone else does too.]

So ... [He looks up with a smile] thanks for everything.

Comments

video;

[motioned]

I'm glad you had a good day!

[A pause, thoughtful.]

Where do you want to be? For what it's worth, I hope that's where you are in another year.

Re: video;

[lockandkeyblade]

[It's worth plenty.]

If I had a gummi ship, I could visit a whole bunch of places. First I'd go see Mom and Dad. [Family always has first dibs, of course.] Oh.. I could also drop by the North Pole after Christmas, just to see Santa's night went.

... I'd also really like to stop by Siren's Port, just to see how you guys are.

video;

[motioned]

I bet they'd be glad to see you. They must be good people.

Oh, is Santa a real person in your world? That's amazing! So you've met him before?

I'm not sure any kind of ship would be quite enough to make it back here, but it'd be pretty amazing if people could come back, huh?

video;

[lockandkeyblade]

Yep! He's real. Some people don't believe in him, but he's definitely real.

And it'd sure be nice to come visit. I'd be here all the time. [A chuckle.]

What about you, Ahiru. If you wanted to be anywhere for Christmas, where would you wanna go?

video;

[motioned]

That's really amazing! What's he like?

All the time? I bet you'd have more important things to do than stick around. It sure seems like, from what you've told me about your home, at least.

Oh, here, definitely! I mean, my whole life is here now, all my family and most of my friends... I've been here so long, it almost feels like I've grown up here.

video;

[pullsheavendown]

You'll be with friends, for sure. No matter where you are.

video;

[lockandkeyblade]

[A nod and a smile. Though, he takes a moment to contemplate.]

Hey Roxas. Do you think you could do me another favor?

video;

[pullsheavendown]

What'd you have in mind?

video; switched to private

[lockandkeyblade]

I'm writing a letter to somebody.

I need somebody to make sure they get it. It's really important.

video; private

[pullsheavendown]

Well...okay, but how could I get a letter to someone if you can't?

voice

[madeinoblivion]

Where you'll be?

Just where do you think you're going?

[permavideo for Sora]

[lockandkeyblade]

A years a pretty long time, y'know.

Maybe we'll even figure out a way not just to leave, but to come back and visit.

[permavideo for Sora]

[madeinoblivion]

Hah! I think the crazy Christmas Wishes are just about all used up on the beach day, Sora!

...You really believe that?

[lockandkeyblade]

[A laugh.] Sure I do!

What's the matter, Joe. Don't want me to come back and visit?

[madeinoblivion]

No, I just...

It's stupid to get your hopes up. What if you could visit, but you'd lose your memories.

Or what if only the people who were really alive could do it? Then what about the rest of us? We'd just have to wait around till everybody else felt like coming back?

[Video]

[summing_it_up]

Well. It was enjoyable. Different, but enjoyable.

[He doesn't mean to fall a little flat there, but he did really like it.

But he watches silently for a while.]

Writing a letter, huh?

[Video]

[lockandkeyblade]

Yup. It's in case I disappear from the Port.

[Though he stops, a hint of a smile] Different, huh? What do you mean?

[Video]

[summing_it_up]

[Hiccup makes a slight face, but he nods.]

Morbid, but I guess being prepared for that kind of thing helps. I wouldn't have thought of that.

Oh. I'm so use to celebrating Snoggletog back at home. We don't have the electric lights or the crazy sense of commercialism, but the spirit's pretty much the same.

[Video]

[lockandkeyblade]

[Sora nods.] Yeah... lately, a lot of people from my world have been disappearing from the Port. [Better safe than sorry, right?]

Anyway, what kinda stuff do you get to do at home during Snoggletog?

[Video]

[summing_it_up]

Man. Sorry about that. [Which is...not the best thing to say, but he can't do much else.] But...at least they're back at home. Which is kind of a good thing if home is, well, safe.

But yeah. We decorate and give gifts. There's usually a big feast in the Great Hall. Everyone gets to socialize and eat their fill. And even if you've seen everyone in the village over and over again, it's just...nicer. [He snorts, shrugging.] Lame, I know, but it's true.

video

[mirroredmemory]

[Xion's been in a state of soporific food doziness, but she hears this in her bed and looks sleepily alarmed for a moment, something sits wrong in her stomach about this. All this talk about going away, about not remembering... considering all that's happened these last few months, it surprises her to hear him talking like this, and not in a good way.

She tries to keep this away from her face as she answers.]

Where do you want to be next Christmas?

video

[lockandkeyblade]

I'd like to go see Santa, see what he's up to. I'd like to spend some time with Mom and Dad, I bet they could use some help with the tree. I wanna spend some time with Riku and Kairi. I'd also like to drop by this place and see how everybody's doing.

So... A lot of places! [Having so many answers isn't cheating, is it?

He doesn't ask Xion where she'd want to be. There aren't many places she can be there for Christmas, but the Port's as good a place as any. Especially with Joe an Roxas and everybody to spend it with her]

Voice;

[hikari_no_kundou]

Hmm. A shared effort made for an excellent meal, and good company for the afternoon.

[A brief pause, as he considers the rest of Sora's words.]

It is good, to be grateful for what you have, and for those whom you've made memories with.

Voice;

[lockandkeyblade]

[A nod.] Right.

And don't forget beating everybody at board games. Guess there's a reason why they call you Master Eraqus.

Voice;

[hikari_no_kundou]

[ There's a pause, before a startled chuckle starts. ]

Quite unintentionally, I assure you. [ Mostly. ] They were simply similar enough to an old game we--my students played back on our world that it was not hard to adapt to.