caughtinanetwork

Everyone, we're coming up on a very important day, the last of its kind before we turn over to a new year.

As with all such momentous occasions, I think we at the Villa should host a holiday party. On that date, precisely.

[This is actually a message intended for other Villa residents, but whatever, the rest of the bubble will get to enjoy the rare sight of the young reaper looking, dare we say, a little jolly? A little affected by holiday spirit?

Actually, more like he's being a fanboy.]

Of course, I'm speaking of December twenty-first, being the last day of the year that is a perfect palindrome, the numbers of the month being a mirror-image of the date.

[Good old 12/21.

Death the Kid's fingers, gloved and interlaced, tuck up under his chin as he exhales with contentment (and a little longing, that total weirdo), letting out a plume of steam. The moment is abruptly shattered by a snowball planting itself against the side of his head, startling him out of his reverie.

It's a good thing the SFC cuts out when it does. No one should witness the Snowball Retribution Apocalypse (Shinigami Version).]

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Ah, that's right... You're into that sorta stuff aren't you?

[Just standing here innocently, don't mind him, Kid.]

I beg your pardon! That sort of thing is better described as a taste for the finer things in life!

Perfection of aesthetics! Absolute symmetry! Can you think of no greater pleasure?

Yeah, I can think of a few things. [It just makes his grin widen. He shrugs his shoulders.

Approaching him slowly, taking his time.] So what got you hooked into this stuff? Symmetry and all that...

[Surely none of them could be as breathtaking as symmetry.]

I've been naturally keen on it since as far back as I can remember.

Don't act as if it's unusual, even humans base their architectural standards on symmetry! Haven't you heard of the Golden Rule?

[You'd be surprised...]

... Treat others the way you'd wanna be treated?

[He pinches the bridge of his nose between his eyes for a moment with a soft sigh.]

Not that Golden Rule, but never you mind!

Look at this place! Everything has been blanketed in uniform white! We're approaching the twenty-first--and if this can still be so beautifully covered in snow on that day, I couldn't possibly think of a more auspicious occasion.

[Might be snickering. Yes, he can be an ass when he wants to be.]

Wouldn't it be ruined by people walking around in it? [Looking around.] But I gotta agree, it is beautiful out here.

[One of these days, someone's going to point out that it's the Golden Ratio, and that it's hardly symmetrical at all, and the combined horror of his world shaken to its very foundations (and furthermore, screwing up a term on Black☆Star levels of ridiculous) might just ruin him.

But today is not that day.] Yes, but at a distance, it hardly matters.

What brings you up here?

[One day Night hopes to witness that.]

I enjoy being outside and I heard it was pretty nice up here. The cold doesn't bother me too much, being so hot blooded and all. [Grins.]

[Hot-blooded. That sounds ludicrous, but Kid knows his fair share of boys who would have declared the same (and one in particular, almost certainly would). But in their cases, he's also sure they'd end up with colds the next day.]

The fresh air is nice, even if it's cold. You begin to miss open sky, in that bubble down below.

You may join me, if you'd like.

[Demon blood only runs in one temperature. At least for him.]

There are places to live up here, I'm told. It's a nice thing to consider.

[Eyebrow quirk, but he smirks a little.]

I'd like that! You know, you're not so bad, Kid.

[As for Kid, he should be up here shivering by now, but other than when he speaks, steam barely even streams from his mouth in the cold. Despite appearances, however, the young grim reaper is, in fact, breathing.

In fact, there's a telling little puff of fogged breath at that last part. Whether he was surprised or not by his remark, his face utterly failed to betray.]

I haven't seen these residences, but if that's true, I suppose they would be further inland, hidden by the trees.

[It's something he notices, but has no idea what to make of it. Just another oddity from a very strange boy.]

I've only seen a few people who live up here, but they might have migrated down to the bubble during this storm. [He may be able to stand the cold, but he wouldn't want to willingly live there.] Do you like the cold?

It's tolerable. My body isn't affected by temperature extremes the way humans are, but eventually I'll tire of the cold.

[Besides, he's discovered how pleasant fireside naps are with friendly company. Juxtaposed against the frigid air out here, the two experiences balance each other out in a way that pleases him more than he can describe.]

If you've had enough, I don't mind heading back to the Villa.

Must be convenient to be able to endure such things. [Convenient, not nice.

He exhales, watching his breath fog up and lift away.] I think I've gotten my fill of snow for today. So yeah, that sounds good.

[His tongue darts out to lick his upper lip.] I'm getting hungry anyways... [When ISN'T he hungry?]

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