onepassingnight | All I want for Christmas is...

[Christmas isn't always a fairytale. It's not always about Santa, or getting presents. Not always about families, not always about togetherness.]

[Sometimes, Christmas equates to isolation. It's something Roxas has gotten used to.]

[Here in the orphanage, plenty of kids are getting excited over the season. It's the season to be jolly-- and the season for couples to feel that little pang of longing, to have a young one of their own bouncing into their room, ripping the colorful paper off presents and beaming up at the camera that will capture them for ages to come.]

[So the orphanage opens it's doors, lets more people in than usual and gives the children a chance to be at their best- playing, fighting, crying; laughing, in front of the many potential mothers and fathers that look their way. Roxas just doesn't understand it.]

[So he stays out of the way, under a tree with his little black book, and writes about far off worlds with disappearing cats and talking caterpillars, because when you don't know what you're missing--]

[How can you want it?]

[OOC: Meet a smaller Roxas than usual- around eight years old and brimming with confusion over the current events. Essentially playing up his lack of understanding to both christmas and family, so-- feel free to pull him from that isolation.]

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[He hears the crunching of snow, knows someone is approaching- but a ball just flew over this way, he heard the metallic sound of hollow plastic bouncing just a few meters to his right. So Roxas doesn't expect a word to be thrown his way until Riku speaks and looking up, bemused.]

Hi. [Roxas' eyes trail from Riku to the cart of brightly wrapped gifts behind him, then back again.] You don't look like Santa.

[ he smiles slightly, letting out a wry chuckle. ]

I'm not. He'll be around later.

[Roxas sighs, looking back down to his journal and scratching a few more words in. 'Slowly, the cat began to turn ~~invizab~~ invisible..' This was why he didn't understand Christmas.]

No he won't.

[It was supposed to be so happy, so why did everyone lie?]

You don't think so?

[ he hoped the kid didn't already not believe in Santa. he always hoped people waited at least until double digits. ]

He's not real. I helped them unload the presents last year.

[He'd even watched them write the tags into place; from Santa. Pretty hard to believe someone was real when they had to have other people buy, wrap and tag their stuff.]

I don't think Santa would give me a present anyway.

Just because he isn't an actual person doesn't mean the spirit isn't real. There actually was a guy named Saint Nicholas, long ago.

And I'm pretty sure I have a present for you, even if I'm not Santa.

There was?

[It's news to him, causing Roxas to straighten and blink up at Riku curiously. Like his favorite book said-- curiouser and curiouser.]

...You do?

Yeah. He gave to the poor, everyone he could. After he died, it was playing telephone. He gave to the poor, he gave to the old, he gave to the children... and then people eventually said he gave presents to children. He inspired everyone.

[ Riku's stubborn in needing to believe in the good of the world. there's no way he wants any kid to grow up bitter. ]

What's your name?

Wow... [Maybe, when Roxas is older, he can be like that too. And then all these kids wouldn't have to live in a crummy orphanage- there would always be 'funding'. No more bread nights.]

[Roxas peeks up at Riku shyly, before his gaze drops to the ground.]

M'Roxas.

[ and Riku turns back towards the cart of presents he has, looking through the wrapped things for a nametag with 'Roxas'. he'd been given a list of the children in the orphanage and things they liked--he hoped that what he'd gotten for Roxas was suitable. finding the present wrapped in checkered paper, he handed it to him. ]

[...He likes checkers. Roxas really likes checkers, and he unwraps the gift oh so carefully, making sure not to damage the paper. He'd fold it up and stick it in the back of his journal; a gift in it's own way.]

[The object itself is...odd. He's seen them before, on excursions into town, stared through the window for prolonged periods of time, until his carer of the day dragged him off to get clothes, or whatever else was needed, but he's never actually held a skateboard (http://images.the-house.com/sd-flannel-wt-08.jpg) before.]

[He stares at it for a long time, tracing the checkered pattern before looking up, serious.]

Thank you.

[He pushes himself to his feet; a small child holding a board that almost too big for him, fumbling with his journal before slowly holding it out to Riku.]

Can you... [He ducks his head.]

Hold it for me?

[ Riku is alone this Christmas.

he's alone every Christmas. he doesn't have people to give presents to, so he usually doesn't see the joy on people's faces. and although the look on Roxas' face was serious and not a blissful smile, he was relaxing, finding a certain warmth in his otherwise cold chest. something--he didn't know, parental? not quite. he reached out to hold his journal patiently. ]

You're welcome, by the way.

Uh, thank you again!

[The words tumble out, rushed and hurried as Roxas hefts the skateboard up and carries it over to the cement- level ground, perfect for starters. There's cracks here and there, but no worries!]

[At least, not whilst Roxas isn't on the board. He places it on the ground carefully, stepping on and wobbling hazardously before hopping off. For a moment, he scowls- before trying again. On, wobble, off. On, wobble, off.]

[This goes on for quite a few minutes, until Roxas is balanced and a small smile edges it's way onto his face. It's not a lot, but he did it.]

[Now for the riding bit.]

[ okay, normally he'd just go on and keep giving gifts, but he can't help but be a little worried about the blond.

it doesn't look like he's all that apt with a skateboard and now, he briefly wonders why that was next to his name. ]

Be careful.

[ he knows Roxas can't hear him, but... ]

All I want for Christmas is...

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