003 | Voice/Action

[funnygirl]

[Belle is quite pleased when she wakes up and sees the bright white-ness of snow falling outside her window. Despite the cold she's always loved this time of year when the snow comes and covers everything and the lakes ice up. There's a simple beauty to it that she's always favored. Plus snow is very fun to play with.

So she wasts no time in getting out of bed and dressing in her warmest of clothes before hurrying outside to enjoy the weather. Anyone passing by House 17 will most likely catch Belle during one of the following activities: building a snowman, making snow angels, or engaging people in a good old fashioned snow ball fight. Anyone who is up for a little fun in the snow is more then welcome to join her.

Later in the afternoon she'll pull out her journal and dictate a quick message for the village.]

Hello Luceti. I'm sure everyone has noticed that the snow has started falling by now. It has made me wonder what sort of seasonal activities others enjoy the most. Personally I quite enjoy playing in the snow, making snowballs or snow-people. So my question is, what sort of activities to you enjoy the most this time of year?

Comments

[geniustheveil]

[Partly to live down her current embarrassment, and partly because it's gorgeous, Ami is taking a walk through the village, too, wrapped up warmly for the weather. She pauses when she sees Belle.]

Good afternoon! [Her eyes take in the evidence of angels and snowmen.] You seem to really enjoy winter. [Ami could absolutely be persuaded to join in.]

[funnygirl]

[Belle looks up from where she's crouched down and forming the bottom base of another, smaller, snowman. She smiles brightly.]

Oh yes! It's quite beautiful and very entertaining. [She pats the big snowball into shape.] Would you like to help?

[geniustheveil]

[A quick nod, and Ami is smiling.] I'd like that. [She holds up gloved hands.] I'm prepared already, too.

[funnygirl]

Good! [She gives the base of the snowman a final pat.] Now we need to work on making his middle. [She reaches out and starts pulling together a clump of snow.]

[geniustheveil]

[Ami shapes a bit of snow to patch up where a little has fallen to the ground. She nudges it gently into place before pitching in to help with the middle.]

Do you have things to decorate it with, too?

[funnygirl]

Oh yes. I have some buttons and a carrot put aside. But they're inside. I didn't want to risk losing them in the snow. I'll bring them out when we're ready for them.

[geniustheveil]

[A quick nod of acknowledgement.]

I haven't done anything like this in a long time. It feels nice to have fun.

[funnygirl]

I try to make a snowman at least once every Christmas. It's a small tradition my father and I have. Even when he;s not around I try to stay true to it.

[geniustheveil]

It's a way to remember him. Especially somewhere like this. [These are polite sentiments anyone might say, but the deeper truth is that Ami can't help a tiny twinge of envy for a girl who grew up with her father.]

[funnygirl]

Yes. That's exactly right. [Belle smiles at her.] Do you have any special traditions for this time of year?

[geniustheveil]

Not really. [She gives a softer, private smile.] Not until this year. It's the first time I had something that special to look forward to.

[In other words, the first year she's had someone special to share it with. It's a date holiday where she's from.]

[funnygirl]

[A small frown forms on her lips.] Did you not celebrate the holidays before?

[Why else would she not have celebrated it before?]

[geniustheveil]

Christmas is more or less... a holiday for a couple. [Some street decorations, too. Maybe a few gifts for children - a few.]

[funnygirl]

[She blinks, seemingly surprised.] Oh. That's very different from where I'm from. We celebrate it for different reasons. Not to say that it can't still be romantic, but it's typically more centered around giving gifts to the people you love.

[geniustheveil]

Mm. I'm sure to give gifts to my friends here. I remember celebrating it this way other years in Luceti. [Yes, plural. A fact which becomes a bit painfully obvious at this time of year, as she arrived during the winter, too.]

[funnygirl]

...Years? It sounds like you have been here for quite a long time.

[geniustheveil]

Two years, and one other before that. I've sort of gotten used to it.

[The last part may be a polite lie.]

[funnygirl]

This place can be quite pleasant at times. But even at its nicest moments I can't see myself 'getting used to it'. It can't replace home.

[geniustheveil]

I didn't mean that. It can't replace home for me, either. But I can live here while I have to, until I can go back to everyone.