#× ▋▏thread five 一「 foreverembrace 」ﾟ

[vamplyrical]

LEARNING OF IVAN WAS, WELL, interesting when saying the least. to say he was sheltered wouldn't be entirely accurate 一 while he was distant from the way humans worked, he had figured out it wasn't due to the way someone would be kept away from society. no, perhaps it was best to say their societies were entirely different, even when he, himself, kept himself somewhat distant from the usual, too. so, rei listens as he sits, the sleigh soon taking off and carrying them away from their starting point.

❝ A ceiling that pretends to be the sky, ❞ he repeats, knowing what ivan is speaking of, though being unable to grasp the considerable weight it must mean. ❝ We have those here, too. They are used for entertainment or for education. While we can see the twinkling stars here amidst this quiet, gentle night, there are places called planetaries that use it to show the universe at large. Would you be interested? ❞ he may as well ask, just in case the other would find some kind of fascination in it.

still, he leans to one of the sides, resting his chin upon his palm as he glances out toward the scenery. ❝ Tonight we have plenty of time. When the sleigh drops us off at our destination, perhaps you can experience snow properly. If not now, there is always next winter~. ❞ were ivan still here, that was, something that causes a tinge of sadness to his tone when thinking of that possibility despite the whimsical nature of his statement.

They make their way across the island. Rei was right, all of this was new to him. Even simply being able to make a plan and freely walk there, under the swiftly darkening sky. The sky being real, not simply a prize to be won and observed, was nice, too. It reminded him of being a child, but also that awe and wonder he felt for the first time his heart ever stirred.

They walked in companionable silence, two experts at saving breath to get to their location swiftly. It seemed that they would be getting on one of the last sleighs, and luck was on their side.

Climbing in, the evening chill settling in, and snowflakes starting to fall high in the sky, making it further and further down as dusk was upon them.

"You know," the first stars started twinkling in the sky,

"I don't think I've ever seen snow like this either. And I can hardly remember a sunset. Buildings were too tall, and that was when there wasn't simply a ceiling to look at that pretended to be the sky."

[vamplyrical]

TO NEVER HAVE SEEN ONE, he can understand. from the little he's learned of ivan, the place that he comes from is almost barren for the likes of humans in what he so commonly knows. had he not lived it for a short period during that strange situation, he may not have truly come to understand it. no... perhaps, even now, he does not quite grasp it in full, even with his own eccentricities that outcast him from the human world beyond his bandmates.

❝ Kuku~. There's a first time for everything, now, is there not? ❞ whether being more human or seeing a creature for the very first time. ❝ Christmas and the other myriad of holidays are likely newer to you, too, if my observations are accurate. ❞

then he would be glad to show ivan, at least as much as he is able to within their time here. who knew when the others would disappear in the blink of an eye, much like how koga had shown up briefly and then dissipated like the moon upon sunrise. ❝ I am indeed! Let us be off, shall we? ❞ and he would make good on that, especially since the sun dwindles into the horizon.

"I do agree." He taps at the second option again, pulling up the directions on where to go. Beyond the word play, he hadn't been entirely sure what to expect. Reading a brief description, he nods and looks up at Rei.

"I've never seen a reindeer." There were no typical animals where he'd come from, but he had read about such things. The north, and the large antlered deer that drew sleighs.

"The night sleighs start leaving at the edge of town now, but they won't run all night." Focusing on doing things at night meant schedules could be tight and the air could be even colder than normal, but Rei was more lively at night, given his tendencies.

"Ready?"

[vamplyrical]

OPTIONS WERE NICE TO HAVE, especially on an island so confined beyond what their captors allowed. when these little holiday endeavors show up, he always took pleasure in them, whether the season was one of something chilly or exceedingly warm. so he listens to what ivan proposes, the two unique in their own way as he raises a brow.

❝ Oho? Kufufu... how intriguing to choose between these two~. ❞ his tone is playful, lips curled into a smile as he tilts his head against his hand. ❝ To discover the plot of a murder upon a moving train or... we could quite literally hit the button to sleigh. Why not the second, then? Do you agree to that activity, Ivan? ❞

"There are two options," He scrolls through his phone, only thinking to do anything because, well, there was plenty to do. He's not entirely sure why these activities exist - he's pretty sure it's due to some combination of holidays - but he sits on Rei's couch as dusk comes on.

"Hit the Sleigh Button, or Murder on the Polar Express. I think I read the second book..."

"What do you think?"

@vamplyrical -> winterfes 2024