[Video]

[orangewayfinder]

[The camera turns on and Terra is holding a string of lights in front of his new place that's all fixed up. A cup of something hot is steaming in a cup not too far from him, but he's busy and focused on the multicoloured lights. Looking at the lights, it seems as if he's counting something, but then he shakes his head.

Noticing the camera on at that moment, he then nods at it.]

I'm..not the only one hanging lights here, right?

Comments

Video;

[ask_whydunit]

[ Waver may be a grumpy, awkward man, but he isn’t immune to the holiday season cheer. Even if his enjoyment tends to be more subdued and accompanied by some light grumbling over certain people’s antics. So he does put aside the anti-social nature to take a look at what Terra is doing. ]

I don’t expect you are. It is the season for them, after all. Though admittedly I’m more partial to garland, myself.

[ Of which he has hung from the rafters of his workshop, with a few bells accenting the green natural decorations he purchased in the market for the season. The décor was inside as opposed to out, of course. The outside could not be decorated or else it might look inviting to random passersby. He still hasn’t decided on more than that, for a few reasons. ]

[orangewayfinder]

Glad to hear I'm not, but the only other place I've seen lights is in town. People must be decorating with lights but not showing it.

[He paused a moment to take in the comment.]

I can add garland too. The shopkeeper suggested it, but I only got enough to decorate my tree inside. But that means that you have Santa Claus and all that where you're from too?

[ask_whydunit]

Some people might prefer to keep the decorations indoors. I myself have only added some décor to the inside of my space rather than outside.

[ He responded thoughtfully, and honestly, that was probably for the best. Between not wanting attention and the fact that Waver probably would fall off a ladder or something dumb like that, knowing his luck. ]

The natural element of garlands made of coniferous materials is nice. Might look good with your lights if you choose to. [ He agreed, gesturing lightly to his own, before offering a small nod as confirmation to the question. ] Yes, ‘all that’ would be present in my own world as well. Not everyone celebrates, but my family always did and so did the Mackenzie’s. So I guess it's become a habit to celebrate since then.

[ Just say you like Christmas, Waver, it’s not that hard. ]

[orangewayfinder]

[Terra nodded to that.]

I just thought it might be fun to try and duplicate a little bit of the outside lights from the market.

[The coniferous materials bit just went right over his head, but he listened intently to Waver. The man was a mage like Aqua and they were both smart. So he'd have to ask someone what those were later. And something of joy ignited within him since obviously Waver knew of this celebration. Sure he didn't know who the Mackenzie's were but it was nice to hear a shared sort of tradition.]

So what do you do to celebrate then? Do you have a feast or gifts or something?

[Being this curious reminded him of when he and Aqua had first met Ventus even though his questioning didn't go over well.]

[ask_whydunit]

[ If Terra asked, Waver would have explained without complaint. He is rather used to doing so for his apprentice, after all. In fact, he’d probably complain more if he knew Terra didn’t know what coniferous materials were and had decided not to ask him.

Instead, he focused on the questions with a small tilt of his head and a small hum. It’s a bit complicated, he supposed. ]

These days I usually do a little decorating, and I’ll have my sister, apprentice, and some students over for a movie night. I haven’t really had much cause for a large meal and gathering for presents in quite some time; I admit.

[ His parents originally, and then his accidentally acquired grandparents the Mackenzie’s, had probably been the last occasions he’d had a more traditional Christmas. The old couple tended to be rather doting due to the absence of their actual grandchildren. He had been thinking of if he should get something for his apprentice and maybe his sister (not that he could think of what she would appreciate)… But he’s here now. ]

[orangewayfinder]

[Terra nodded, happy to hear the stories. It wasn't something he really got to hear travelling world to world back home with the responsibility of keeping the worlds safe.]

So what kind of food did you have back there for the day? And does this mean you haven't celebrated since you've been here?

[While he would never say that he was a Santa Claus type, and his cooking was only rudimentary as he was still learning, a plan was slowly forming in his mind here. Terra felt bad that this guy had people he'd celebrate with back home, but none of them were here now. The irony of those thoughts didnt hit Terra at all.]

[ask_whydunit]

Ah, well… Usually they would cook a turkey dinner with sides. Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, and such. At least that was the usual when I was celebrating the full holiday. The movie nights more recently usually involve popcorn and whatever other treats my students like.

[ Waver takes a moment to think about that. It’s been so long since he’d really done anything now. This year was trying to at least decorate, but it was hard to deny it didn’t feel the same. ]

And yes, I suppose I haven’t done either tradition since arriving here. I did go to the ball they held last year, but I’ve mostly been keeping myself busy. Didn’t seem practical to do more, as just one person.

[ Since it feels a bit awkward to the mage to keep talking about himself and the people he rather misses, Waver shifted his focus. ]

What about you? Do you have similar traditions where you’re from, or something a little different?

[orangewayfinder]

Movies..

[His voice trailed off. Scrooge McDuck had set up a movie theatre right next to the Bistro with the mouse chef in Twilight Town if Sora was to be believed. He had made a plan to go there with his friends, but then he found himself headed into the darkness with Aqua and Ven and that took priority. But he snapped himself out of his reverie.]

So they would cook for you.

[This had him doubling down on himself about cooking. He would have to follow Laurie-Ell's advice about who to learn to cook from then. Before that thought took complete hold, Terra shook his head.]

My friend used to make something called Galactic Pound cake. That was really the biggest treat other than getting gifts. My master used to cook a big dinner and we'd open gifts after that.

[ask_whydunit]

Yes, movies. I have a home projector; so they’d all come over and I’d set it up to enjoy a few with them for the evening.

[ Despite the odd bit of bickering over what movie to watch, it was nice. A quiet evening letting his students have some fun and actually be their own age, even if some of them don’t quite know how. It was an odd tradition, perhaps, but it was theirs. ]

And back when I’d do the full Christmas tradition, my family would cook for me… Although I helped a bit when I was with the Mackenzie’s, I was older then, and they seemed to like having someone to be a part of it and teach things… I know they wanted to do a lot of things with their real grandchildren, so I guess I sort of filled in.

[ Was the least he could do after pretending to be their real grandson, especially after Glenn figured it out and still treated him like they were family… And, well… Martha never really seemed to figure it out either way. And it meant he learned a few things along the way, between that and what he learned during his travels it meant he did at least know how to cook… Not that most people knew that, since he let Gray cook for him where she seemed to need things to do and he was awkwardly trying to help the poor kid feel more comfortable after having to leave her home behind.

The shared traditions on Terra’s side get a thoughtful tilt of his head. ]

So fairly similar, then. Although I’ve never heard of Galactic Pound Cake?

Video;

[harrythelizard]

[This is, quite literally, the first time he's thought about Christmas. It's not a holiday he celebrates, knowing Krampus and Santa Claus are real doesn't make you too cheery of a person, and until a few years ago, he hadn't had any family to celebrate it with, but there's something enchanting about seeing someone hang the lights.]

Probably not, but I never got the idea I'd see them outside a suburb.

[orangewayfinder]

[Terra's got a small stepstool ladder because as tall as he is, he's not quite as tall as needed to properly hang lights. But he smiled with a nod as Harry appeared on his feed.]

So you don't hang lights at all, or decorate a tree or anything?

[harrythelizard]

Me and electricity don't mix, so hanging lights would be a fire hazard.

As for a tree? I don't know, it's usually just me, I live in a 1 room apartment. I need room for other stuff, you know?

[orangewayfinder]

Ok..

[He's not sure whether to be amused or frightened, so he's trying for neutral.]

Right, the apartments are pretty small. But I did see people getting small potted trees.

[harrythelizard]

[Amused, unless you're looking to have a high-tech device survive his presence. Then, be frightened.]

I just...never really had anyone to get all dolled up for, you know? [Christmas was always a family thing, and Harry hadn't had one of those in a long time. Or, if he did, there were a lot of really bad things in the way.]

Getting ready for Santa, huh?

[orangewayfinder]

Dolled up for?

[Terra paused.]

You mean, you would dress up at christmas too? Or are you talking about the tree?

[There was a nod to the question.]

I don't think he'll show up here, but it's worth a shot.

[harrythelizard]

[He chuckles at that.] The tree. Do I look like I know how to get dolled up?

[The sweats and the cowboy boots he's wearing suggest otherwise.]

...I wouldn't hope for it. I hear Santa's pretty intense.

[orangewayfinder]

Oh.

[Terra had to laugh because he didn't know what the other was even talking about. But he did catch the last part.]

Santa's intense?

thank you ever crisis for giving us a holiday name for this

[legacy_blade]

Damn! I forgot all about it! It's totally almost the Festival of the Holy Flame! I didn't even get a tree. Or bows. Or a costume!

[He's so failing.]

Where'd you get the lights? I need to start decorating. After I hit up the store. This is the perfect time to justify that outfit I saw!

[orangewayfinder]

Hey Zack.

[Terra is somewhat surprised at hearing all of this stuff but he listens before asking his question.]

Wait, what is this Festival of the Holy Flame that you're talking about?

[Because why did he need a costume? But then Terra answered the questions as best he could.]

I got the lights from a place in the market square, you'll see their booth all lit up so you'll know you're in the right place.

[Ok there it is again.]

Why do you need an outfit?

[legacy_blade]

It's a big winter holiday where the Fairy of the Holy Flame comes and delivers presents!

[Seriously, he needs to get a holiday outfit.]

It's a tradition. To get costumes for the festival if you're an adult. To help make the day better for kids.

[orangewayfinder]

Fairy of the Holy Flame?

[Nope, it's not registering.]

What do you do for kids? Do you give them presents too?

[legacy_blade]

Yeah. It's this spirit that brings gifts to people at this time of the year. It's a great story. And yeah, we give kids presents too. It's really nice to see them smile.

[orangewayfinder]

[Terra smiled.]

Sometime you'll have to tell me the whole story, because it sounds like Santa Claus back where I'm from. I don't think you could call him a spirit, but he gives gifts to good kids and lumps of coal to bad ones.

[legacy_blade]

Uh, the Fairy is a girl?

[So probably not quite the same thing, but close enough he supposes.]

I'll try and remember how it goes. I learned more about it when I got to Midgar. It wasn't that big in Gongaga because it doesn't get cold in the same way.

[orangewayfinder]

[Well ok then.]

Uh sorry, didn't know that.

[Still, it was interesting learning more about Zack then when they met in the Coliseum. Of course Zack was being controlled by Hades which had made Terra pretty mad.]

So you're from Gongaga. What is that place like compared to Midgar, other than the weather?

[He'd never heard of it, and fought to find it in his memory which naturally he didn't.]