sweetdevil | 75th ♫ | Shall I name this heart-rending pain "Snow Halation"?

75th ♫ | Shall I name this heart-rending pain "Snow Halation"?

WINTER HOLIDAY ❤ 2023 CMO

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[let's be honest this is here for Claire but anyone is free to pester them. Info is on their journal.

They legit don't know what holidays are, so have fun!]

[ When November gives way to December, the city of Nijiyama is taken over by colorful lights. Despite the chill in the air as winter blows through, the streets are always full and merry and there's a promise of something exciting on the horizon. Sakura... has no idea what to make of any of it. She's guessing there's some sort of winter solstice celebration or maybe even just a year end one but she doesn't recognize any of the customs or understand what the lights are for.

Still, they're pretty. And when she'd told the girls she was going to take Ao into the city so they could look around and figure things out together, there'd been a lot of giggling and encouraging words that had nevertheless made her feel like she was walking into the punchline of a joke she wasn't privy to.

But it's too late to worry now. They meet outside Fuyuka's house where she's been staying and despite all her confusion, Sakura's face still lights up when she spots them and comes hurrying over. ]

Ao-kun, you're here already...! Ah, I'm sorry I'm late, it took forever for everyone to agree on my outfit for some reason...

[ It sure is a high effort outfit — a fuzzy white beret, a pink cape jacket lined with white fur and thick white winter tights. Girlypop got colour coordinated like her life depended on it. ]

[Ao, on the other hand, is dressed like they always are. In jean and plaid and leather. But when they see Sakura's outfit they break into a bright grin]

Oh. It.... you look really nice. Bright, like the lights.

[They don't get the lights anymore then she does, honestly]

Ah, really? [ She smiles, looking a little relieved and her cheeks flush pink to match her fluffy coat. ] I felt like I'd dressed up a little too much but if you think it looks good, then I guess it's fine...

[ Ao's going to be the one looking at her all evening, after all, so their opinion is really the only one that matters much.

Still, though — they don't look bad (because really, they never do) but in this sort f weather... Sakura peers up at them. ]

You won't be too cold like that?

Cold?

[They look down at them self. Their jacket is leather, so it's very very sturdy and waterproof... but honestly it's not especially thick. Very good for what it is, but not a winter coat, exactly]

Ah... well, I don't mind it.

So that means you are cold?

[ Jiiiiiiiiii. Her big worried eyes bore right into them. Come on, Ao, can you really lie to those puppy dog eyes? ]

[They shift foot to foot]

A little? But it's not an issue. I promise.

[ At their admission, her expression immediately brightens back into a smile. ]

It's okay! I was asking because, um...

[ She reaches down to dig into her handbag (which is one of those truly offensively cute picnic basket style ones) and emerges with a scarf... pink, of course. ]

You can borrow this. I'm warm enough with my coat.

...!

[They take it, rubbing it between their gloved hands for a moment before wrapping it around their throat.]

....how do I look?

[The dab of pink stands out quite a bit from their clothing... yet oddly sits well with their bright eyes. Pink and Blue like a spring day]

Oooh, it suits you!

[ It's Sakura's scarf so it's obviously as pink and girly as it gets, which you think would clash with Ao's usual butch realness but the contrast is nice. Sakura has no idea what gap moe is, but she's sure experiencing it right now. ]

Maybe while we're out looking around, we could buy you a scarf of your own to keep?

Don't see why not. But if we do we should find you something too.

[they've gotten more used to gift giving as a concept but can get pretty hung up on equality in regards to it]

Ah, you really don't have to...!

[ Her protest is a little token though, because her eyes are sparkling a bit. A gift from Ao...! ]

Um, then again... I think people are supposed to give each other gifts this time of year... so maybe we could watch out for some while we're walking around?

Is that what all this is? Some kind of gift party?

[they pinken, like she just told them this was an outdoor orgy]

Mm! I... think so? [ With Ao protected from the elements, she starts leading the two of them down the street. ] I don't exactly get what it's all about but... I think it's to do with celebrating winter and the end of another year with all the people you care about?

[ Not pictured: the strategy meeting the other girls definitely had during which they had to decide whether or not to try and explain Jesus to Sakura. ]

So I think the presents are a way of saying... "thank you for being with me". Or something like that...?

[they nod along, seeming to understand the basics. Or at least just accept them.

After a moments thought though they cock their arm at the elbow. A clear invitation for her to take it]

Well then... thank you. For being with me.

Awawa— um— [ Perhaps unsurprisingly, she flushes pink all the way up to the roots of her hair. Maybe she should've seen that one coming but they said it so smoothly, it completely caught her off guard. ] Y—yes...! Thank you for being with me as well...!

[ Still just as pink as her outfit, she loops her arm through theirs and falls into step with them. I—it just makes sense for them to stick close together when it's so cold out, right??? ]

[They look quite proud of themself: they can be a bit dense with people, but it's very obvious they got just the reaction they were aiming for]

It's... really pretty out, isn't it? With the lights. It's like... stars.

Mm...

[ She's pulling up the collar of her cute cape so it covers the bottom of her face, like she can try and conceal her blush like that. She gets along with Ao just fine and she's so used to them that it doesn't always catch her off guard but... Ao's got so much of a cool gentlemanly sort of vibe when they feel like turning it on. ]

I think... because it gets dark so early this time of year, they want to brighten things up a little. If you're going to be in the dark that much longer... you'd want it to be pretty, right?

Hmm... makes sense. Makes it feel less sad.

[They look around curiously]

I smell something sweet.

Edited 2023-12-30 19:13 (UTC)

[ Sniffsniff... ] Ah, so do I...!

[ Christmas treats... they should probably be responsible and eat a proper dinner later but...

She squeezes their arm gently. ]

Should we get some treats to eat before we start shopping properly?

Hm... well, we'll need the energy, right?

That's right...!

[ She clenches a Determined Fist with her free hand. ]

Then... what do you want to try, Ao-kun?

Hmmm... there's a sweet spicy smell that seems good...

[They follow their nose like a hound, eventually finding a stall with gingerbread items]

This, I think.

[ It's kind of like taking a puppy on its first walk............. ]

Ooh...! I didn't think they'd be cookies...

[ She was expecting something like cake or bread, but these little things are so cute... ]

Look at all the different shapes... [ dramatic gasp! She squeezes their arm and points - ] Look, look! That one's a whole house...!

A house for the little people...

[They peer at it, head tilting back and forth. Art in GENERAL was rather new to them, so art that was so, in theory, meaningless, is exceptionally interesting]

It's cute.

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75th ♫ | Shall I name this heart-rending pain "Snow Halation"?

"Breaker"/"Blue" | OC

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this thread is officially timely again

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