18. New Year

[corrinesbell]

I missed the new year by about three days, judging from when Lavi said the solstice was. …I apologize. I was kind of…preoccupied. A lot of stuff had happened, and it got a little hectic.

Anyway, where I’m from, we exchange gifts on the new year, so…there are some people I need to see. 

You guys live right next door, so…I’ll just come over, I guess. You’re home, right?

 

I’ll have to talk to each of you in person in order to give you what I was planning on. It might have to wait until my hand heals a little more, though. 

Sorry, but it’ll have to wait a while. It takes a lot of writing, and I want it to be mostly readable, so I’m gonna need to wait until I can use my other hand. …I’m really sorry. 

Just…stop by whenever. Or, I guess I’ll come over there, since…Lloyd won’t be going anywhere for a while. You feel any better today?
And…thanks again, Kratos. That really helped.

Kind of hard to believe it’s been only a few months since I got here, and it’s the new year already. I mean, it was summer when I left…
You know what? I’m not thinking stuff like that today. 

Comments

[handwriting is still a little messier than usual]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm feeling a lot better today.

I kind of wonder, though... are the people back home missing us yet? Did Zelos tell them where we went? Dad's probably really worried...

[that's all right, they can have messy handwriting together]

[corrinesbell]

...Truthfully, I kind of hope Zelos doesn't remember any of this.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

Why wouldn't he?

[corrinesbell]

I don't know, maybe when they send you back you forget everything.
It's wishful thinking, okay?

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

Maybe... Who knows with this place.

But still. I hope the others aren't too worried.

[corrinesbell]

Yeah, me too.
So, you want your present now, or later?

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

Now's okay. It's really boring being stuck in bed.

[corrinesbell]

No kidding.

[over at Lloyd's in seconds since it's...right over there]

...Hey.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[sitting up in bed when Sheena gets there] Hey yourself.

[corrinesbell]

[You can't look at Lloyd and stay even a little depressed...]

Sorry it isn't wrapped, or whatever. Been kinda busy.

[Hands him what appears to be a book; the cover doesn't say anything]

B-Before you ask...I remembered you, uh, liked to look at the stars. So that's what the book's about.

[Not good at giving gifts, so she isn't looking at him anymore]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

[and he takes the book, surprised she remembered something like that]

Hey, thanks, Sheena! Where'd you manage to find it?

[corrinesbell]

[Glad he seems to like it, the ToS crew was the hardest to find gifts for]

It's from the library, but they don't need it back. Said there was no one left around who wanted to study the stars anyway.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

...That's kind of sad, really.

[corrinesbell]

It is, but I already decided I'm tired of being sad around here. So I'm not gonna think about it.

You need anything?

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

*had gone out to get some winter clothes and supplies for himself and Lloyd, and also groceries, though nothing that even has a shred of tomatoes in them* ... *places the bags of things aside before he greets her* Sheena... I'm not surprised to see you here.

[corrinesbell]

I...uh...sorry? Should I leave?

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

*shakes his head and holds up his journal* I saw your note. I figured Lloyd would ask you to come here. *glances at him, looking... amused? In his own way* He's been painfully bored all day.

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

If you knew that, you could've tried harder to find something interesting to do, Dad.

[corrinesbell]

[now that she knows she's not in trouble, she laughs a little]

I think you're supposed to be resting, Lloyd. [she's kind of teasing. bffs.]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

You try doing nothing but sleep all day.

[corrinesbell]

I have, remember?

[Truth is, she still expects to catch it from him for breaking her hand on the door...but she's not bringing it up first]

Brackets, right

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

... [sighs and, before that little argument can continue, he goes to Lloyd and holds a sketchbook he got at the store in front of his face along with a pencil]

[kid-in-red.livejournal.com]

...wow, Dad! Thanks!

[and Lloyd is now completely distracted from lecturing Sheena about anything]

[corrinesbell]

[She owes him one. She'll have to remember this tactic]

Not bored anymore, huh? [Oh! That reminds her...]

Um...happy new year. [hands Kratos what she brought for him]

[salvationfound.livejournal.com]

[blinks, then carefully takes the knife from Sheena's hands] Hm... [tests the weight, then turns to make a few practice stabs and slashes with it] ... [gives Sheena the barest hint of a smile when he turns back to her] Thank you. I'm sure this will be of use.