Merry Christmas, Chosen...

[terminalmegas]

Who: Venusmon, everyone
What: The giving of the D-Streams
Where: Terminal City, Roaming Park
When: December 25th, 2013, morning

At the stroke of midnight on December 25th, every Chosen and their partners fall asleep wherever they are, with nothing able to wake them. They won't stay there all night, however. Bright and early, as if turned on by a switch, the Chosen will awaken in their beds to find their Digivices missing. The individual Digimon -- those without rooms, brought in like the Chosen -- similarly fall into slumber or stasis, waking where the stand in the morning in the morning.

They will all wake up with a note in their rooms, written in beautiful script. "Come to Roaming Park," it says. There's some kind of noise outside. Something drawing everyone out. Noticeable first is the fall of snow, so far absent from Terminal Tokyo. It covers, among everything else, Roaming Park, where on a bench there sits a Venusmon, with a very large sack. Around her are tables full of all sorts of food, and Digimon there both partaking in it and setting up more. It's a whole feast, not spoiled by the weather, but enhanced by it.

[ooc: Below there will be a thread to interact with Venusmon, where she will answer some questions and give out the D-Streams. Every non-canon Digimon character will receive a D-Stream, whether they see her or not. At the end of the day, they will appear in the Chosen's hands. This can also be used to generally mingle with each other and enjoy the snow.]

Comments

Julie and Musashi

[fullofthorns]

With Roze most definitely gone and her two Digimon left behind confused and without direction, Musashi has done the only thing he can think to and shuffled out with a few bags and boxes balanced in his hands, Julie grudgingly following along and carrying an armload of wrapped items as well.

They sit alone at the far end of one of the numerous tables, Julie watching Venusmon suspiciously while guarding the gifts, Musashi struggling to arrange the goods so he could read all the tags and deliver them to the people they belonged to. Whenever someone assigned a gift was in range or sight, he shuffled over, handing the box to them with a small bow and apology.

"I'm sorry Roze was not here to deliver it herself. Please accept this gift and go in good spirits. Thank you."

Over and over, until he could say he'd done his duty as Roze's partner.

[ooc: Gifts are listed here. ]

[happiestberry]

"Muuuuusasssshiiiiii," Miwako squealed excitedly when she spotted a familiar pair of digimon walking around. She ran toward him at full force and had all the intent of tackling him to the ground despite him having his arms full.

[fullofthorns]

He didn't have even a little bit of time to react, turning just as he unloaded his things onto the table, glowing eyes wide.

"Lady Miwak--OH! ACK!"

Julie simply laughed at him as the Kotemon tabled backwards, wrapping his arms around the girl and rolling to keep her from hitting the ground with him. He groaned audibly, flopping out onto the ground and blinking up at the girl with a confused look.

"Ahhh ha. Haha. Lady Miwako. *cough* How lovely to see you as well..."

[happiestberry]

She smiles brightly and gives him a big warm hug from on top of him. With the news of Roze going missing she knew that Musashi must have been pretty upset so she figured giving him a bit of affection might get his mind off of it. She kissed the side of his face leaving a big pink kiss mark on his mask.

" I missed seeing you. And this must be Rosey's second new friened, huh! Hi there! "

[fullofthorns]

"Yo."

And that was all she got from Julie. That and a bland wave. She was busy dragging a plate of collected food down the table to eat. Musashi, for his part, was a bit mroe attentive, rubbing at the kiss with a sleeve and clearing his throat.

"I'm glad you happened to be here, in fact. Lady Roze had gifts for many people and you were one of them. I brought everything down adn hopefully can get them passed out before going back. I...I'm here for her, not for myself. I'll be heading in after this."

He shrugged, looking up at the table and pointing to a medium-sized box. Roze had purposely crammed Miwako's gift into as small a box as possible, knowing it would be more enjoyable when the stuffed creature sprang out.

[happiestberry]

"Did you want help passing the gifts out? It looks like you have a lot on your plate here after all." She gave him a curious look before climbing off him and holding out her hand to help him up. He was pointing to a box on the table. Was that possibly for her?

[fullofthorns]

He sighed softly, accepting the help up and dusting himself off with a nod.

"If you like, Lady Miwako. That one is for you, however. They all have tags, so if you want to help, you can."

[happiestberry]

She frowned a little and pulled him into a proper hug now. He seemed like he just needed all the hugs in the world. He wasn't his normal self when Roze wasn't around.

"I'm.... I'm sure she'll turn up. "

[hellspawnedhero]

Stupid human body and its stupid vulnerability to cold. Roze probably would have found the image hilarious, Dante with his arms crossed tightly to cover the forearms left bare by the elbow length sleeves of his coat, which was, for once, zipped up over his chest. Salamon was sitting on his shoulder, pressed up against his neck to keep them both warm, while Kid had his tail in front of him to warm himself with the flame.

The sight of Musashi and Juli, however, distracted the former half demon from his discomfort and he ran over with a slight scowl.

"You still ain't seen Roze?"

[fullofthorns]

"Nope. And don't bother givin' us ideas or offerin' help or whatever. Its been four days. She's gone. Get your present and go already," Julie grunted, picking food from between her teeth and rolling her eyes.

Musashi looked horrified and, much as he butted heads with every man in Roze's life, he ducked his head in a hurried bow.

"I'm sorry, Lord Dante. Truly. There's been no sign of her and we knew how upset she would be if people didn't get their gifts so....here we are."

[hellspawnedhero]

"Fuck..."

One hand reached up to grab the Crest that hung at his throat, that symbol of his belief in the worth of love and of his feelings for Roze. Part of him said that he should have expected this, that everyone he loves vanishes sooner or later. His mother, Vergil, those few ordinary people he'd come to care about during his days as a common mercenary. All had died and left him behind. Why would Roze stay?

But another, stronger part of him said that it was worth it. Loss happened, but pushing people away because of it was a sure road to misery. Broken hearts might never heal completely, but the pain faded over time, while loneliness only got worse. It didn't stop the tears that came to his eyes, but it kept him stable.

"Yeah, she'd...she'd be pissed if she got somethin' for everyone and it all fell apart."

"What about you two? Will you be alright?"

[fullofthorns]

Looking over his shoulder at Julie, who looked completely unmoved, Musashi sighed and shrugged with a small nod.

"We will prevail, as always," he replied, climbing up the bench and table and rummaging through the pile to hold up a pair of small boxes. "Here you are, Lord Dante. Would you give Lord Vergil his as well?"

[hellspawnedhero]

He nodded, reaching down to take both boxes in one hand.

"If he'll take it from me. Sure you've seen what an ass he can be."

Coronamon grabbed Dante's coat, leaning against his partner in an attempt to be comforting.

"Are you going to open it now?"

"Think I'll wait 'til I've had a chance to calm down."

And drink.

[fullofthorns]

"Don't wait too long sir," Musashi murmured, sitting on the bench and cocking his head.

"She'd probably want you to open it on the holiday, at least."

[needsteaplz]

"Oh, Musashi," Saori bowed back to him. She crouched down to see him eye-to-eye with a smile on her face.

"Thank you both for your hard work. Roze would be happy to know you're passing everyone's gifts while she's away. Do you want some tea to help warm you up?" She held up a thermos for him to see.

[fullofthorns]

"No thank you, Lady Saori," the Kotemon replied, tilting his head before glancing back at Julie who sighed and grabbed a box, hopping off the table to walk over and hold it out.

"Here. Roze got you somethin' too. Might as well openin' it. She ain't gonna be here to see either way."

[needsteaplz]

"Aww, thank you! Well, let's not wait any longer," Saori happily accepted the box. Carefully she opened it and let out a laugh. She pulled out the apron to get a better look at it.

"To be honest, I always wanted one of these kinds of aprons. And ooh, I do love books." She put the apron back and picked the book up, thumbing through its pages. "Oooh, this will be great inspiration for more dishes!"

[fullofthorns]

"Please enjoy it" Musashi replied, inclining his head and wandering back to the table, trying not to be a buzzkill.

Julie simply shrugged helplessly and offered a smile by way of encouragement. They were happy Saori liked the gifts in their own way, they just weren't dealing with Roze's absence well.

[headup_stickontheice]

"Hey, you guys."

With a heavy heart and a forced smile, Cam approaches Roze's partners. His own are absent.

"Uhm, Merry Christmas. D'you...Digimon celebrate it, normally?"

[fullofthorns]

"No." Julie's answer is short, disinterested and tart, prompting Musashi to sigh and shake his head apologetically.

"It isn't something we celebrate specifically. It only exists here because it exists in your worlds in some manner and all of what we are and what we have comes from those other worlds. Lady Roze apparently does not commonly celebrate it either, but she wanted an excuse to give people gifts outside of saying thank you for being her friends, I suppose."

He sighed again, inclining his head to Cam, his gratitude for the boy's earlier understanding in the week still deeply appreciated. Julie cleared her throat, bringing Musashi back from his thoughts.

"Oh! Yes. I had forgotten..." he shook his head, walking over to the table and dragging a box down. Julie pulled one as well, both Digimon returning to hold the wrapped packages out.

"There are for you and Maya. You should open' 'em together."

[headup_stickontheice]

Sounds like Roze. Cam quietly hopes for her return, every day. She has to come back, right? It'll be just like Maya...right?

(He hopes it's not just like Maya. That didn't go well at all.)

Cam takes the packages with a surprised half-smile. Matching gifts? Really? ...Also seems like Roze. He misses the other girl something fierce now.

"Thanks. I, uhm...have something for her too. I got it before, ya know." He hands out a little bracelet, with roses, like her name. "Didn't really think to wrap it, but...hold on to it. For when you see her again."

They will see her again.

[fullofthorns]

"Hm...yeah. I'll take care of it," Julie replies, reaching out and closing her hand around the bracelet, ignoring Musashi who looks away uncomfortably.

Evidently only one of the Digimon was handling this, let alone well, and she wasn't having any of Musashi's pity party.

Hope you guys like the gifts, man. Roze wracked her brain for the best things she could get everyone. She seeemd to really like the idea of givin' all this stuff to people. Guess it wasn't a big deal back home or somethin',"

"No. She didn't have friends back home. Not really. You lot were all she had. She wanted you to know she was listening and she cared. She should be here handing this out, not us-"

"Dude will you shut up already? I mean it. If you want this to be about her, then think about how she'd be mega pissed if you were a gloomy butt and made everyone feel weird, yeah?"

That shut him up, Musashi stopping before bowing his head by way of acknowledgement. Julie was trying not to fume, forcing a smile for Cam's sake. Things...were obviously strained for the two creatures.

[headup_stickontheice]

The outburst surprises Cam, and he can't do much to keep it from his face. It shouldn't, honestly. They're taking this hard. He already knew how Musashi is coping - or rather, not coping - but Julie...

Cam's not even familiar with Roze's new partner. He swallows down his uncertainty, or at least he tries to.

"Julie," Cam starts with a murmur, "isn't that kinda harsh, uh... He's just... You're both taking this hard, so... Don't fight."

That's all he can manage.

[fullofthorns]

Julie bared her teeth at the Kotemon before speaking to Cam, waiting until Musashi was out of immediate earshot.

"I ain't fightin'. He's...Man, you don't get it. He's just gonna sit around and mope or cry. At least if he's angry with me, he's too busy to do anything stupid," she muttered, glaring up at Cam before looking toward Musashi, expression softening a fraction.

It hardened immediately when the Kotemon looked up curiously, and he hurriedly ducked his head to avoid more angr from the Impmon.

"He needs to understand some stuff. He needs to be stronger on his own with or without her and he needs to stop bein' impractical. His obsession with her ain't gonna help anyone. They don't match. Or fit, y'know? He's moonin' over her all the time. I'm chopped liver. At least I'm stinkin' here and made of the same stuff. Sheesh. Whatever, look. He's my friend and I do what I gotta do. Better than him goin' off an eggin' himself."

[headup_stickontheice]

"...He misses her," Cam says softly. He thinks of Maya, and his heart clenches. "Especially since he thinks he'll never see her again. He's allowed to be sad, Julie. It's nothing to do with you, it's...losing people's hard."