sirenspull_logs | i don't recall a single care

Entry tags:

ahiru,
replica riku

i don't recall a single care

Who: Ahiru and Joe (

madeinoblivion)
When: Christmas morning
Where: The fairgrounds
Summary: Ferris wheel ride!
Warnings: None

The one thing she hadn't expected upon waking up was temperatures crawling up into the nineties, but it's certainly not the worst surprise the Port has ever given her. It's a relief not to have to worry about taking the coat, gloves, and earmuffs she had been planning on when she leaves the house. Snow is beautiful and she adores winter, but as long as this weather didn't last long, it's a welcome respite from the chillier climate in this time of year.

She waves as she they meet at the fairgrounds as they'd arrange, walking towards him with a wide grin. Even more than the weather, she's excited for what this day will bring; she'd hoped to see the city covered in snow from a height, of course, but even the city on its own is sure to be beautiful from a bird's eye view.

"Isn't it weird out today? I kind of like it, though. Anyways, how's your Christmas been so far?"

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This is so much better than he could have imagined. It feels like a day on the islands he dreams about, the ones that are Riku and Sora's real home. Joe will take this over a White Christmas any year.

He's slipped away from the morning festivities at Riku's place just after all the unwrapping, though all the new sweaters and scarves are a little too warm for use, he can forgo a coat completely, and the hoodie he wore over to Riku's gets tied off around his waist halfway to the train station...so meeting Ahiru finds him sleeveless in his undershirt, which is exactly the way he likes it whenever it's warm outside.

"Hah- so much for snow, right?" Joe laughs with an appreciable nod... mostly to dodge the latter half of her question, which dampens his smile just slightly. It seemed like a much smaller, quieter holiday without Namine, without Kairi, and he doesn't really notice Ven's absence so much as Xion's undertone sadness over it.

But now's a chance to brush that off a little, get out and have some time with his friend, forget about what's missing for a little while.

"It's been nice, I guess. Iroh'll be happy, we did really good in sales the past week?" He'd working at Brooke's now, as the new manager, and retail really isn't his style and he isn't as totally knowledgeable about music as he'd like to claim from his two years of DJ experience... but for what it's worth he's been learning to fake it, and to be really careful in counting out change, and to not make quite such a big scene over catching attempted shoplifting.

The first time he dashed outside and slide-tackled a guy who'd stolen two vintage vinyls at the curbside, everybody in the store had turned to stare, and Iroh later suggested that it had been unnecessary enthusiasm, but good business intentions.

"Yeah! I bet it'll be back to normal by tomorrow, though, or at least after a few days. That's how things usually work around here, after all."

She notices that dodge and the way his smile wilts somewhat, but she doesn't comment, not wanting to tread down a path of conversation he'd rather leave untouched. She knows how hard things can get in a city like this.

"I bet you would, the week before Christmas! A bunch of people were probably doing last minute shopping, stuff they were too busy to pick up or that slipped their mind, I guess. Do you get a bonus if there's more sales than normal?"

"Well I sure wouldn't mind skipping the rest of winter!" Joe laughs- there's such a long Darkness that it makes the day really short and too boring to do anything fun, and besides that, the allure of cold wears off quickly once snow turns to slush.

At least crashing on Riku's couch till they find a new apartment means that they get to take advantage of Riku's working heat, instead of their old radiator that made the air smell like burning dust and never really fixed the morning chill into anything toasty enough to inspire waking up.

"Yeah, mostly people panicking for presents in a hurry" He nods, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets and regretting his few pairs of shorts were all boxed up. "A bonus? I... I don't know, I didn't ask. Do you think It'd be rude, to ask Iroh? I mean... he gave me this job and that alone was really nice of him."

She giggles along with his laughter, tilting her head curiously as she looks towards him.

"You don't like winter? I guess you do seem like more of a summer person, with how much you like ice cream and all. Well, just a few more months, I guess."

She pauses thoughtfully at his questions, before she shakes her head and looks back towards him with a grin.

"He didn't give it to you, he needed a worker and you earned it! And I don't think it would be rude to ask. Anyways, Iroh is a really nice person, so even if he said no I don't think he would be angry about it at all. Besides, there's got to be tons more music stores in the city they could have gone to, and they picked his, so part of that is probably because all the people who work there do a really good job! And that includes you."

It's funny... Riku's birthday was in the middle of the winter, and his by proxy of that, and so... he should like it more, but somehow he can't help but be a bit skeptical at all the songs that declare it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Maybe because after Christmas, it gets pretty boring and shut-in and then there's that year since Tifa got shot in the back of the head, coming up. And the memory of the first time Xion went away and forgot about him.

Yeah. Nothing beats summer.

"You're really nice too, Ahiru" and Joe smiles the sort of smile that seems wearily grateful at the edges, and all too fond of her company. Even when his best friends are well-wishing, no one ever seems to shine such a bright ray of hope into his life as this...duck. Girl. And that's just naturally how she is, to everyone, he reminds himself too often, whenever he catching himself wondering if maybe he really is something special to her.

But maybe...

Maybe he shouldn't be hoping. Because that would be selfish, wouldn't it? And make him jealous of all her other friends.

"Maybe I'll just ask him in a way that makes it sound like I'm just kidding- that way it's not too pushy."

She smiles at that, looking towards the ground modestly at the compliment for a moment before returning his gaze.

"Thanks, um... So are you! And pretty hardworking, by the sound of it. I forgot to ask, how's it going there? You said it was nice of him to give you the job, but do you like it alright? It seems like your kind of thing, with the music and all. Do you get discounts? You should.

Oh, yeah, that could be—"

Abruptly, she stops as they approach the wheel itself, tilting her head up to take in the full scope of the attraction. She grins, taking in a slow breath.

"Wow. That's it, right? I don't think I've ever seen it from up this close, I didn't think it would be so big! Well, I guess that's the whole reason people like it, is because it's so big. Do you want to get in line or do you want to do something else first? I think you've been here more often than I have, you'd probably know what's here better."

"I haven't really bought anything, I can put on whatever I feel like listening to right there in the store, if it's a used case." He shrugs- right now, he's not sure any munny should be going towards music anyway, even if it's for a discount. But maybe Ahiru meant a discount to friends, or newcomers? There was a newcomer discount of 10% for everything in the store, and the connected tea shop. "Most of the music at Brooke's are secondhand or trade ins."

He slowed alongside her and didn't look up at the Ferris Wheel- she was right, he had been to the fairground before, and had tried out most of the rides, seen the view from the top. That was worth seeing again, but standing on the ground, he was far more interested in the way his friend's eyes lit up in delight as its size.

"Yep! It's probably the best view short of AGI tower, or maybe the lighthouse- and who wants to be up there at either of those place, right?" Another weak laugh, this time sheepish. Sometimes he wishes he could tell funnier jokes, around her. He tries to keep his humor extra clean around girls, and nothing wry or dark or edging off into a little mean or dirty or insulting anybody else.

Really, he only wants to see her smile. And that should make him back off, when he realizes it... but he doesn't want to.

"C'mon. We've got to get in line for tickets. I'm treating you."

"Anything you like? That's really cool! What sort of stuff do you usually put on?"

She teeters back and forth slightly as she stares at the top of the ferris wheel, and the people all the way up there, barely recognizable down from the ground.

"I don't think either of those sights would be worth it. Besides, the lighthouse is abandoned, so the windows must be all dirty, right? Not much of a view at all. I bet this is better."

She looks back towards him, tearing her eyes from the heights above, her smile growing a shade warmer, more appreciative.

"Thanks, Joe."

"All kinds of stuff!" Joe shrugs- not Christmas music, because he's heard a ton of that everywhere else he goes. Not club stuff, because he's got a ton of that downloaded onto his NV, still mostly downloaded from AGI's DJ library when he worked for them, and never deleted off...which is technically illegal pirating, now that he's not affiliated, but...whatever. Sam Merlotte isn't here to bail him out of fines and messes anymore, but who's going to know what music's on his personal NV?

"Usually something people ask me about, or... just whatever looks cool?" An example of this is really...evading him, at the moment. Mostly because of the warm breeze, and the distracting icicles still hanging along the row of midway games, which he only now realizes are completely fake decorations made of plastic. Or else they'd have melted.

"And haunted!" He adds brightly, because vengeful ghosts seemed the bigger issue with the lighthouse than something a good bottle of windex and some paper towels could fix right up.

"Hey, I promised you some kind of present, right?"

She giggles, looking at him thoughtfully.

"You really think it's haunted? I mean, I think I remember there was something in the news about it once, but - they tell lies about us all the time, right? Maybe they were just making up something dramatic to get more attention or readers. I guess it could be haunted, though, with all the weird stuff that goes on around here."

She nods with a bright grin and takes her place in line, turning slightly to look out at the rest of the fair. The smile grows as she sees children running around, holding cotton candy that could easily outsize their heads as weary parents trail along behind.

"You'd think it wouldn't be this busy on Christmas. It's nice, though."

Joe nodded, his eyes going round and a little grave- not that he was scared, of course, but...

"A bunch of us had weird dreams about it, once... oh, but I guess you weren't here then, right? It was right around Thanksgiving, last year. There was a team sent out to go check it out, sponsored by AGI to make like a Halloween documentary special? They all died, except for this one lady who survived, and she eventually went out into the night and let herself be eaten by the Big Mother."

Which was fairly nightmarish, so he quickly swapped up subjects, digging around in his pockets for some crumbled bills to buy a strip of ride tickets.

"I guess everyone was planning on staying inside all warm and cozy, but then since it's so great out everyone figured, why waste it!"

A sharp intake of breath, and her eyes widen as she looks at him, shocked.

"That - that really happened? That's awful..."

But it's better not to talk about something so disheartening; not today, not on Christmas day when the sun is shining and they're both surrounded by so many happy people.

"Well, they were right to come! It's really lovely today."

And she smiles, making up for that moment of fear just a few seconds ago.

"Yeah-" And then he impulsively reaches for her hand, clutching his fingers through hers and swinging their arms a little. "Clear skies- its the perfect day."

He pays for the tickets, just a strip of four, which should be good for a ride, and maybe they'll get stuck up at the very top while they're loading it. The line isn't so bad, either.

"...so how's everything going at Ciel's place? Is their tree really big?"

She grins a little more honestly now, letting him move their arms back and forth.

"Oh, really big! It's beautiful. So are all the decorations. Everybody worked really hard on it, so it's nice that they were able to do such a good job."

'Everybody' in Joe's mind still looks an awful lot like little lord fancypants sitting back and bossing around house servants to deck the halls up magazine-perfect while munching on a tray of Christmas cookies. But Joe bites his tongue on that thought, because he's made a promise to try and be nicer, to try and not assume rich people aren't as much of a spoiled brat as they might seem.

"We only got to finish getting it all set up last night- everybody's been so busy. But Xion made lots of pies, and later today Aslan'll be over..."

If he was totally honest, his favorite part about Christmases in Siren's Port so far, even better than all the presents, was probably settling down for the evening full and satisfied, all of them together against the great lion's side, as if he were an oversized family pet.

"...Are you sure it's okay that this is your present?" He asks a little shyly, still feelings like a five dollar fair ride is a little inadequate.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with cutting it close! Especially not if everyone was really busy. No matter what, I bet it'll be really fun. I hope you have a really good time."

At his question, she shakes her head.

"Of course I'm sure! I bet it'll be so beautiful, all the way up there."

She turns her face towards the sky again, smiling, but a little melancholy this time.

"I remember, when Jack and Sirius were still here, they had those motorcycles that could fly, you know? They'd go up - not too far because of the Pull, I guess, but the clouds seemed that much closer, and you could see the people down on the street, looking like they were no bigger than ants! I don't think I've ever been that high up since they left, so... It'll be beautiful. That's enough."

"Oh." Joe's face softens, dampens, seems a little bit worried. Leave it to Sirius Black and Jack Kelly to outshine his best efforts at impressing somebody, even when they aren't here anymore.

"So... you've ridden a flying motorcycle before?" He winces just a little. A Ferris Wheel ride probably isn't half as exciting as that. But knowing Ahiru, she'll be just as delighted. "Well- this will probably be a lot more gentle of a ride."

He tears the ticket strip in two and hands her a pair to hold onto, waiting as the paired-up people in front of them are loaded on.

"If you want, we can do the tilt-a-whirl after this, too. But that one can make you a little dizzy."

"Yeah, it was really nice. Oh, but, this will be really nice too! Maybe even nicer. I remember, every time I'd go up, I was always a little bit nervous that something would happen and I'd fall off, with how clumsy I am, you know?"

Of course, it was always the other occupant of the bike that mattered to her much more than the ride itself, but she lets that go unsaid.

"Tilt-a-whirl? What's that?"

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i don't recall a single care

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