The 24th was surprisingly leisurely. All the adults were hustling and bustling around in preparation for Christmas, but he was a teenager, and he and Susie didn't have to worry about any of that for a couple more years. A merry whistle brushed through the bundles of branches under the strolling winter clouds. And a merrier, actual whistle pealed through.
‟I knew Noelle's folk were rich, but I didn't expect a goddamn mansion.
Maybe I should've dressed in something fancier." - Susie had a cheap Santa hat on. Her clothes were entirely unchanged beside that.
‟Fancier than that? Wouldn't fit you." - Kris, on the other hand, had his famous Christmas sweater on. Made of a smorgasbord of red,white and green that made it impossible to tell what was illustrated on it, besides the vague concept of Christmas. It wasn't hard to see he and his brothers made it for arts & crafts. He wondered if his dad still kept the pink sweater they made that same day.
‟What, you think I can't be fancy?"
‟Have you ever even touched makeup?"
‟Have you, nerd?!"
‟…Guess not."
Even though there was not a mention of snow, the slippery screen of leaves and iced-over slabs stepping up to Noelle's house made it a perilous climb. Kris might have almost slipped once or twice. Susie was incredibly careful to not crush the bag she was carrying.
‟Still, what do you DO with a house like that?!"
‟You live in it?"
‟No, dumbass, I mean like, how d'you clean it?!"
‟Cleaners? You take turns? I dunno."
‟Sheesh. And what's with the lights!?"
‟Those're just Christmas decorations." - The Holidays thought Christmas began after Halloween and ended just before easter. So that was the house for a solid third of the year.
‟That's gotta break some kinda rules! Look at it!"
The absolute state of neon light assaulting every window, and wreaths with globes almost overlapping on all the slits, was a yearly sight to behold. As in, it was the last thing you'd see that year, because you'd be blind for a week. Even some trees around the house had decorations on, like they were vying for the prestigious position in the drawing room. Through all that happened, the Holiday house kept to its traditions. Even if those traditions caused at least one black out every year.
‟…You ready?"
Noelle might have not beennotified of their arrival. There was a bell, right at the gate. But the metal door wasn't locked, and they took the liberty of going through. It was way earlier than when they were supposed to arrive. But what was the harm in giving the host a surprise or two? It would be fun. Besides, it was Christmas Eve, they could say it was a Scheduling Miracle. That they arrived at the wrong time.
In reality, they had nothing else to do. With a quick nod, from Him and himself. Susie beat on the door.
‟…She's not answering."
‟She can't hear you?"
‟…"
When the door finally cracked open, a curious girl with her hair clipped up and a white apron peeked out.
‟…Susie? Kris? Why are you two here?"
‟Came to your party. That you invited us to."
‟…I'm glad you're excited for the Christmas Eve Celebration but… you're, um…" - She turned her head to look at the grandfather clock in the foyer.
‟About 5 hours early?"
‟Yup."
‟W-well, nothing's ready yet, I was still cooking… and I-I still have to clean, and I look like a mess right now-"
‟Psh, we don't care 'bout that stuff! You look great!"
‟!… Uhm, flattery isn't gonna-"
‟We can help you cook. If you'd be okay with that." - Of course, Kris had never even been into the Holiday kitchen.
‟Okay with that? I-I don't know, you two…"
‟What? We're master chefs. Kris's mom taught me all 'bout it." - Susie had cooked a pie with Toriel like, once.
Noelle's smile almost broke under her thin brows, ‟…Alright, fine! You can help me get everything ready! But promise you're not gonna mess around!" - Raising the white flag of amenability, they were let in.
‟Sure we won't. Here."
‟Oh! Thanks Su—" - As Noelle looked in the plastic bag, her eyes thinned to slits, and they looked up into the gifter's.
‟Susie, are these snacks?"
‟Totes are."
‟…We'll be eating real food today, we won't have room for 'snacks'."
‟Huh? Uh, yeah, sure?"
‟… Alright then, I'll be confiscating these until then."
‟Yeah, coo- huh?! Wait, no! You can't do that!"
‟They'll just ruin your appetite, and we have a lot of work left to do!"
‟Come on in while I'm putting these away! And leave your shoes at the door!" - Noelle had one of those weird houses where you could only get in if you were wearing socks.
‟K-Kris, tell her she can't!"
Young Kris placed a solemn hand on his friend's shoulder and shook his head. He's told her this would happen.
‟B-But… my gummy bears…"
Carol must have been very precise when remodeling, because even the kitchen's floor and tiles were arranged to make red and white art of big man S.C. up north. And, for the size of the house, the kitchen was quite cozy; he imagined some industrial level stove-line, but it was a reasonable size. It had enough signs of use to lose that ‟living doll" image that most of the Holiday House was left with. But on this day only, its small size wasn't a benefit, the smoke machine that was the stove top made it hard to breathe. And the vent wasn't enough to carry all that heat out. They were sweating.
‟Susie- No, don't add it to the cream mix— put it on the turkey!"
‟HUH!? WHY ARE WE ADDING COCOA TO THE TURKEY!?"
‟Because that's what the recipe says! Just sprinkle some on!"
‟A-ALRIGHT… IF YOU SAY SO-" - Susie stumbled over her words, clumsily trying to open a cocoa can with thick baking gloves on.
The reason they were so loud was to overpower his working. For some reason, the Holiday family tree had decided that automatic mixers were an affront to cooking and all that it stood for, and that the only true way to make cake mix was by hand. Which would have been fine enough, if not for the very specific choice of cake they made every year. His hand had long given out feeling. It was astonishing Noelle's hadn't popped off yet, she did this every year? But… He was a gamer. This was nothingcompared to what He'd gone through. By god will he beat those eggs into stiff peaks.
‟Fahaha, Susie, you got some powder on your nose!"
‟UH, I JUST WANTED TO TASTE TEST IT-"
‟Sure, pfeh! Now add two spoons of honey!"
‟WHAT?! TH-THAT'S GOTTA BE THE WRONG RECIPE!"
‟I make this turkey every year Susie, ask Kris!"
‟KRIS, TELL HER THAT-"
‟SHE'S RIGHT, IT'S — HUFF — GREAT!"
‟… F-FINE! BUT DON'T BLAME ME WHEN IT TASTES WEIRD!"
Seeing Susie with a yellowed apron and ponytail was a sight and a half. It was more out there than the robot costume, certainly weirder than her spiked get-up from the Dark World. He knows he'd get a heck of a noogie if he said that out loud, though. Noelle was pinballing around the kitchen, managing about 4 things at once. It seemed impossible for her to have finished all of this by herself. Though work would've been smoother if her two friends were literally anyone else.
‟Kris, you're done! You can stop stirring now!"
‟H-HUH!?… It's done?" - With whips of cream all over the Christmas apron, chair, floor and table and him. He looked up, arm limply hanging onto the whisk.
‟Yeah… you actually whipped it too much."
‟O-oh… sorry."
‟Don't sorry, silly, it's not a problem! Just add the dry mix! But, try to mix slower this time, alright? We'll run out of cake otherwise!" - She took a bit of dough from his face to showcase.
‟Alright, I'll be careful." - Off-hand would take over.
‟Noelle, why'd you buy bread crumbs in a box?"
‟Oh, those? They're for the stuffing."
‟…Can't you just… use regular bread?" - Kris was more curious about the orange rinds sitting 3 inches over.
‟No, Susie, they're completely different!"
‟…How's it diff— Hey, are the onions burning?!"
‟A-are they!?—" - Noelle ran up over to the hell-hole that was the stove-top.
‟No, that's just the color they get, we're good!"
‟Oh… P-phew! Sheesh, I thought I screwed something up."
‟Don't worry Susie, you're doing great!"
‟Y-yeah, thanks."
Looking at the ceiling with her few minutes of freedom, Susie opened up another window to the cool forest, and took the opposite of a smoke break.
‟…Man, cooking's freaking hard."
‟You think your job's hard?" - Kris had to mix the filling, and all the toppings after he was done with the base. He started to regret heroically nominating himself for the task.
‟Shut it, whip boy. Ye can't even screw up."
‟If you think it's so easy, come here and try."
‟Psh, like I'd wanna do that all day."
This oughta work.
‟…What? Chicken?"
‟HEY! WHO YOU CALLING CHICKEN!"
‟I'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO WHIP THAT CAKE INTO SHAPE-"
‟ALRIGHT, GIVE ME A WHISK. I'LL SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE-"
‟HEY! Why're you getting up!? I thought we were gonna race!"
‟Nope, I just needed a replacement, thanks for giving me a break though."
‟…I can't believe you'd do this. You better sleep with two eyes open from now on, twerp."
With the little free time he gained, he did what any sane human would do. The exact thing he had been wanting to do since he entered.
‟Kris! Don't touch the cookie dough! Get your hands off it!"
‟I just needed to see if it went bad."
‟I made it this morning! It's not gonna go bad!"
‟Yeah, but… it never hurts to check!"
‟We need to shape it first! Come on—"
‟HEY! KRIS! DON'T JUST EAT IT! GIVE ME SOME, TOO!"
‟N-No! That's for dessert, you two!"
How great would it be if things stayed exactly like this? It was probably the most fun he's had at Christmas Eve in years, or… just in general, in years. He'd had a lot of fun ever since he became friends with the Suz. It was something he'd lost sight of. But now, he could hang out in peace, with his friends. Christmas was when you could forget your worries and spend time with your family… but that doesn't work when your family are your worries. That's how it was with the two girls he was cooking with. But they may have lucked out that Christmas.
Obviously Noelle's dad and sister weren't coming. And without Rudy, Asgore wouldn't… more like couldn't come. Toriel was at a Christmas Eve party with her students all day. And lastly, Noelle's mom was swamped with work, as she was most years that time. Usually she made time to come to dinner, but she probably got the message. Only the three of them would be there. In that cozy warm kitchen. With a giant house for them to hang in, and a big dinner table ready to host a party. The world was finally at peace.
‟I'll keep the cookie dough on the sill!"
‟But I still haven't tasted it!"
‟You ate half of it!"
‟No, Kris did! I didn't get any!" - Susie was just about ready to crack the pot she was using.
He pointed out to the pots, ‟Noelle, are the onions burning?"
‟I already said, that's just the co- W-W-Wait, they are!"
It took a few more hours before anyone had the time to actually get ready.
‟How is it, Susie?" - Noelle made her most polite and properest smile.
‟I-it's pretty… g-good." - Susie tried her best as a response in kind.
‟Thanks!"
‟…It came out great, dear."
Seems, to the behest of her daughter, and to the much more intense behest of Susie, Noelle's mom had made the time to come. Sitting at the head of the Holidays' large dining table. She was dressed sharp as ever, with her dirty blond hair in a bob cut that almost covered her green right eye. Wearing a strikingly red suit jacket and white dress shirt, she put his Christmas sweater to shame. But he didn't mind it any, that suit might as well be 'casual Christmas' for Carol, it's just what she wore in winter. He might have seen her in pajamas once.
‟I'm glad you like it, mom." - Noelle, by the way, was dressed in her usual clothes. You don't have to dress up for the holidays if that's just your normal get-up.
‟…It's very nice to finally meet you, Susie."
‟N-Nice to meet you too, ma'am!"
‟Alphys has spoken at length about you, you know."
‟S-she has?" - Susie took a big gulp.
‟Yes."
‟…Ease off on the chalk, alright dear?" - She said, with a soft smile, while not dropping a second in her eating.
‟HOW'D—" - For just a second, he saw her rotate right to ask him something.
‟Uhh… Yes, ma'am!"
‟You can call me Carol, honey. I don't bite."
‟Yes Ma-Carol, I meant to say Carol!" - Eating and speaking at the same time was hard enough, eating with silver utensils and speaking with Noelle's mother seemed a bit too much for the young delinquent. She was holding the fork backwards.
‟(Susie, calm down, she's cool.)"
‟(You think I don't know that!? I'm trying!)"
‟…I don't see Berdly anywhere. I thought you said you invited your classmates?" - She angled her eye at her daughter, sitting on the first seat to her left.
‟Oh! I, uh, invited Berdly… but uhm, he, couldn't come… Unfortunately." - Noelle sent a distress signal over the flatware.
‟Very unfortunate."
‟Y-yeah, huge bummer."
On an unrelated note, the turkey was nicknamed ‟Turkley".
‟That's a shame. There's too much food for just the four of us."
‟Yeah… we got way too carried away while cooking." - Nobody bothered to adjust for the guest count. Does eating half the cookie dough count as adjusting for guest count? Cuz… he did that.
‟Well, don't hold yourselves back. Would be a shame to let it go to waste."
‟Toriel said to get some peppermint cookies for her, so we won't have to worry about those." - The yearly trade of pie for Cookies was older than time. And speaking of older than time, Kris was ready to bust that joke out.
‟Hey Noelle, what's that cake called?" - He pointed to the large, trunk-like thing sitting to his right.
‟Hm? That one? I remember telling you the name when we made it together…"
‟Yeah, I forgot."
He was looked at by the eyes of a washed-up comedian.
‟…It's called Yule Log Cake."
‟Is it? Didn't it have another name? I remember it was something in-"
A long sigh, Susie looked around with food in her mouth. Mrs. Carol didn't even look up.
‟…It's called ‟Buche de Noel"—"
‟—Wait, seriously!? Give me some!" - The purple girl extended her body over Kris, and got her fork all the way into the sponge cake.
Chewing inquisitively, she broke out, ‟What the!? This doesn't taste anything like you, Noelle!"
‟Uhm… Obviously!? What do you mean ‟Taste like me"?! What do you think I taste like?"
‟Sugarplum."
‟Eggnog."
On a related note, both of those were on the table.
‟I don't! Where'd you even get that!?"
‟…I think you taste like refreshing mint, honey."
‟Wh- Mom—! Don't join them! And that's super off!" - Carol was coincidentally cleaning her mouth with a tissue, so Kris couldn't see she was laughing at her own joke.
‟I don't taste like anything!"
‟Yes yes, dear. I'm sorry."
‟(Wait, Kris!)"
‟(What?)"
‟(Is Miss Ho- uh, is Carol… cool?)"
‟(I told you she's cool! She's only scary at her job—)"
‟(Yeah, but like, you always say th-)" - Susie's words stopped, and she looked over Kris's head, her Christmas hat dangled over his eyes. Did it start sn-
‟KRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSS~~~~~~~!" - His whole body was flung, he flew back along with his chair and almost toppled over. The sheer, disastrous power of the glomp that assaulted him broke the mood in two.
‟Huh!? What? …A-Asriel!?"
‟KRIIIS~~ MERRY CHRISTMAAAS! I MISSEEED YOUUU~~~" - It was hard to think with his thorax being squeezed like that.— It was Asriel! Why was he here?! What was that on his left ear!?
‟Wait, who's this!?" - His brother immediately looked past his face and at the purple perplexed plesiosaurus past him.
‟Howdy! What's your name!?"
‟U-uh… S-Susie?"
‟I'm Asriel, Kris's brother! I hope we'll get along well!"
‟Y-Yeah, sure?"
‟Don't run in like th— ugh, too late now." - A tall voice came from the entrance hallway, dressed in a plaid jacket over a black shirt. And trousers.
‟Wait, Dess!?" - The star student threw her chair out and did her best impression of a deer in the headlights.
She went into her sister's arms. She just looked down and embraced her back. She was still real tall, didn't lose her lead over Asriel.
‟Merry Christmas, N."
‟Merry Christmas Dess! I had no idea you were coming! W-why didn't you call?! Or send a mail? Or… ring the bell, or even Knock!?"
‟We wanted to pull a little prank." - She looked down with one eye open. It wasn't easy to tell through the mascara she had on. Blended in with her long black hair.
‟Well, it worked, Jerks! Call next time!"
‟If we feel like it."
‟Hello, December."
‟Oh… Hi Carol. Didn't see you."
‟I'm happy you two came to visit, even if unannounced. But you know the rules about smoking indoors."
Dess, who still had a cigar around her ring finger wrapped around her sister, rolled her eyes.
‟Gosh, I'm happy you haven't changed. I was taking a smoke break outside, but then Azzy rushed in without asking me." - Ms. December went to the closest trashcan and stomped it out, mumbling several things Kris was happy Mrs. December couldn't hear.
‟I'm sorry Dessie, I thought I heard Kris and I just couldn't stop myself!"
‟I'm happy to see you too, Asriel." - However mature he looked, and however big he'd grown, Asriel still had those huge prescription glasses, clumsily laid over his face, giving him a constant dopey expression. Always looking around like he doesn't know where he is.
‟Anyway, they didn't even get to dessert! You really drove quick!" - Asriel sat down on the other side of Kris like it was the most natural thing in the world. And Dess was already filling her plate.
‟…Sorry to interrupt right as you two sit down, but I think this is the time I take my leave." - Mrs. Holiday politely announced over the fracas.
‟Oh, you're already going to sleep mom?"
‟Yes, I'm afraid I have to wake up early tomorrow."
Noelle looked sad, ‟Aww, I wanted to spend more time with you!"
‟I really wish I could stay longer. But as an adult, I have an image to keep." - Half the stuff Dess'd say would turn the dinner into a war ground, so that was probably for the best.
‟Girls, we're spending tomorrow together, understood?"
‟Yeah, alright." - By the tone, Dess wasn't thrilled with the idea.
‟Alright mom, I'll see you tomorrow morning."
‟Merry Christmas Mom Holidaaaay~~!"
‟…Merry Christmas to you too Asriel. But I've told you countless times to stop calling me that."
‟Oh— I meant, Merry Christmas Caroool~~!"
‟Try to not make too much noise, alright?"
She received apprehensive, facetious, cheery, curt, and even excited goodbyes. The exact moment she had finished walking up the stairs, Kris turned to look up to his brother.
‟—Wait, Dess drove you?" - Didn't Asriel say he'd get his driver's license?
‟Uh… well. Yeeaah?" - He had a stylish Christmas sweater vest on Kris had never seen before.
‟Azzy failed his driver's." - Dess said, shoveling more food onto her plate. Did she empty it already?
‟Don't tell theeem~."
‟The guy giving me the test was really mean, and I got scared…"
‟…Is that a piercing in your ear?" - He knew at least two people who should never know of that.
‟Oh, this!? Dessie helped me pick it ooout~. Do you like it?"
‟Uhm… I guess?" - It was definitely unexpected. If he was forced to pick between ‟like" and ‟dislike", he didn't really like it. Dess also got more piercings. She had 2 on one ear and 3 on the other. It was impressive how her ears managed to still stay level.
‟Thought it fit him. What'd you think, sis?"
‟Uhm… it looks pretty good? I think?"
‟Thank you Noey~~ you look great tooooo~!"
‟Yeah, it looks pretty rad." - Susie's said at multiple points she'd want 'cool-ass piercings' too
‟Thaaaanks, Susie!"
‟(Wait, is that Susie?)" - He couldn't hear over the table, but from Dess's smirk, he had a few ideas what she was transferring to her sister.
‟(Y-yeah, but… we're not like that.)"
‟(Not like that!? Oooh—, you gotta tell me everything.)"
‟(I-I will! I promise-)"
‟(So, how far along are you two?)"
‟(Not now, sis! We're still eating, and she's right there!!)"
‟(Kris?)"
‟(Hm?)"
‟(What are those two whispering about?)"
‟(No idea.)"
‟(They seem to be looking at us~~)"
‟(WH- HEY, THIS IS OUR WHISPER!)"
‟(Can I join~?)"
‟(No!)"
‟(Pleaasee~?)"
‟(…F-Fine! I GUESS you can.)"
‟(Yaaay~~!)"
‟Hey, you made Chocolate Chip this year?" - Of course Dess would notice. Usually, peppermint is the only race of cookies allowed in the Holiday household.
‟Y-yeah, I thought to change it up a bit."
‟I'm not complaining." - Anything chocolate was approved by Kris. Anything.
‟Oh! That reminds me! Noelle~~!"
‟W-what is it?"
‟What's another name for Yule lo-"
‟Sorry Asriel, I already made that joke."
‟W-whaaaat!? I thought you'd waaaait~~!"
‟Darn it Kris, would've loved to hear Susie's reaction." - The black-hair girl took her face away from her food to comment.
‟(W-Why's everyone gotta know my name!?)"
‟I'd have waited if I knew you came, Asriel."
‟Shame you're blond, N." - She then turned to the smaller Holiday. Like she just said something perfectly normal.
‟W-what?! How's that a shame?!"
‟You'd actually resemble the cake if you weren't." - Kris hadn't ever asked… But he had a sense that Rudy wouldn't name his kid after cake.
‟You know, I could help you dye it."
‟…No thanks?""
‟Heh. I'd bleach my hair, and you'd dye yours black. Imagine people's reactions."
Noelle with black hair… Part of him hated it. Part of him really, really wanted to see it.
‟I don't want reactions! I'm fine with my hair just the way it is!"
‟Your loss, honestly."
‟Loss of what!?"
‟Fun." - Dess said that with her eyes jumping over the table.
‟Oh, shut up!"
‟(Hey, Kris! Tell me more about Susie!)"
‟(Wh-!? I can hear you from over here, big guy!)"
‟(Whopsiee~ Well then, tell me about yourself, Susie!)"
‟(W-why ME!? You asked, so you go first, droopy ears!)"
‟(Ooohkaay~~ I— Hmm…)"
‟(I wanna make video games when I grow up!)"
‟(W…Wait! Aren't you going to acting school!?)"
‟(I Aaaam~)"
‟(W-Why!?)"
‟(Felt like it~~)"
‟(Wh- Kris! What's up with him!?)"
‟(He's fine after he calms down.)"
What better way to time-out your food coma than watching Christmas movie reruns on cable? Luckily, the Holidays had installed a new-fangled widescreen in their drawing room (which is a rich person word for a living room). Dark green stenciling and polished oak made it a perfect atmosphere for enjoying ‟The Frigid Express" for the 8th time in his life. Almost paradoxically, the Christmas Tree placed in that room was the only part of the house decorated with restraint. It was swimming in gifts, but those were for tomorrow. He and Susie lazily lay resting back to back to red cotton couch, with white blankets hugging them. Eyes glazed over the giant TV installed over the fire-place.
‟…Hey, you guys have a piano?" - From the absolute weight within her, Susie was barely holding herself upright.
‟Oh, that. Rudy used to play it." - Dess was sitting upright on a couch to their left, angled towards the coffee table in the middle of the room.
There was a blond puff sitting her head on her legs, its body still reeling from the amount of food it was forced to intake. It was her little sister. She was fine though. Some girls' bodies are just magic. Well, more magical than others.
‟Nobody uses it anymore though, it's just gathering dust."
‟…Cool."
‟Actually, didn't Kris use to play piano?" - Interested brown eyes fell on him.
‟Oh, yeah! Kris, play us~~~ I'll help!" - Asriel was unaffected, having his own couch to the right where he could freely rotate his body on two different axis. Which he took full liberty of. He just did it again.
‟I don't play anymore…and, how would you help?" - What, would he read him the sheet music?
‟Oh? I didn't say it yet? I'm in a ska band!"
‟…You? In a ska band?"
‟Yeaaah~~~" - When Asriel wasn't excited, his words had a tendency of just going on forever, tapering at no point.
‟Aren't you in acting school? Where'd you find a band?"
‟Weeell… their guitarist got in a beer pong accident… so they asked me to join!"
‟That makes even le- guitarist? Not a wind instrument?"
‟I couuld have done that, but like… I wanted to try something new, you knooow~~?"
Asriel hadn't just been the main tenor voice in the town choir, he had been the trumpet leader in the marching band. He joined the school cross country club just to improve his lung control, why would he su-
‟The more you ask the less sense it makes, just drop it, Kris."
‟Hey!" - Asriel got up. On the couch. On his knees.
‟Don't get your horns in a twist, it's what I like about you."
‟(Kris… should I… should be I hanging around here?)"
‟(Hm? What do you mean?)"
‟(I kinda feel like I'm intruding a bit, on like… family stuff, you know?)"
‟(What? You're fine. Don't worry.)"
Susie just looked at the magical train on the TV with a complicated expression.
Noelle, still barely conscious, opened her eyes looking straight up. - ‟Hey… sis?"
‟What's up? Should I get a bucket?"
‟No…"
‟…Why didn't you call…"
Dess just looked up, slightly miffed.
‟Sorry N, Just that somegosh-darn idiot kept dragging me into every independent project known to monster."
At the confused reply from the comatose deer, she turned to her college junior over the coffee table.
‟Asriel, mind explaining to this poor, young girl why you made us spend all our time on your classmates' 'short' movies?"
‟Uhhhh… I-I thought it could be fun? You said you didn't mind it…"
‟Well, hope you're ready to make up for lost time. To me and to her." - Dess loved straddling the line between serious and joking. But she wasn't the type to buy favors like that.
‟U-uhhh… c-can I get a veto on this conversaaaation~"
‟(Kris, is there something up with those two?)"
‟(I don't know.)" - Even Susie realized that their mood was off. Kris had a few theories, but kept them wrapped away. Couldn't be.
‟So, that's how—" - A loud yawn stopped Noelle's sister, ‟So that's how it is, little sis. Blame it all on Azzy."
‟I'm sorry Noelle…" - He had his hands together on his knees, looking downward, ears drooping.
‟It's okay Asriel… I forgive you." - Everything sounded more dramatic when you were speaking it like you're on your deathbed.
‟Hey, thanks! Uhm, we're actually… we're technically not even supposed to be heeere~…"
‟Wait, what?" - Kris raised his voice. What stupid thing did his brother get up to this time?
‟Yeah, we're here on borrowed time. Some people're gonna be mad when we get back. Might have to make it up all summer." - Dess proclaimed irritatingly.
‟Well… then I double forgive you both."
‟…You know, you forgive too easily. I've never seen you mad at anyone." - She spoke curiously, poking Noelle's cheeks.
‟I'm not like you, sis…"
‟You should be, not even professionals can act nice for that long. You're gonna blow up one day."
‟Dess… shut up. And stooop…" - She weakly try to swat away the hand digging into her like a stress toy.
‟Not my fault you're so squishy."
‟I'm not…" - Dess always somehow ate more than Noelle, and kept thinner than her. Genetics were a twisted mistress.
‟(Sorry, Kris, but I'm getting outta here—)"
‟(What!? No! Stay a bit more!)"
‟(This is way too not my place to hang! I'm like, the fifth wheel here!)"
‟(Nobody minds you being here Suz, you can stay.)"
‟(I mind! Okay?! …I'm going.)"
‟(…Fine, but try to get home at least.)"
‟(You're not my dad.)"
‟Hey Noelle, I'm uh… going. Home."
‟Oh… okay…
Wait! You are!? But it's still early!" - Noelle got jolted awake. Like her body's egg timer was done.
‟It's like, kind of real late, actually."
‟Oh… Oh! In that case, I'll walk you to the entrance!"
Without the purple dinosaur, it was the four of them and a TV. Just like old times. Except in those old times, there was a lot more speaking going on from the other room. Now the old clock next to the entrance and The Frigid Express were all the noise in the house. They had grown, but it hadn't shrank.
‟You gotta tell me all about her now." - Dess put her cigar on the ashtray (that she brought in herself), and turned to her couchmate.
‟What?! I can't!"
‟Why not!? Embarrassed?" - She cradled her neck sideways to get a good look at her sister sitting next to her.
‟Kris is here! And, it's not like tha-"
‟Kris!? He bullying you again?!"
‟Kriiis~ Don't tease girls!"
‟I'm not! I wouldn't." - You know, Susie actually bullied kids, including himself, but nobody ever told her off.
‟…Alright, I trust you. But if you try anything funny. The paddle's coming out again." - The ‟paddle" was an old plastic bat that hurts like hell.
‟So, the thing in the attic really was…" - You could see the worry on Noelle's face as she said that.
‟Oh, you know where it is? Then I can even grab it right now."
‟Speaking of~ Let me go to the car and grab my guitar!" - What on god's green earth was Asriel planning to do with a guitar at that hour.
‟You left it at the dorms, dumbass. It didn't fit."
‟Wait, what!? Whyyy~~?!"
‟Because of the gifts? Did you forget already?"
‟The what?… Iduntremember…" - Asriel was still looking confused over his glasses.
‟…We'll give 'em tomorrow morning, don't worry about it."
‟Gifts? You had cash for those?" - He wasn't in the know, but it didn't look like Dess was receiving much from her family.
‟Don't be too impressed now. It's a thing called ‟Work"."
‟You?! I'm so happy for you, Dess! What kind of job is it?"
‟…Secret."
That either meant it was something extremely shameful, or something extremely boring. Knowing Dess… and judging from Asriel's confused expression, it was probably the latter.
‟…Wait! Asriel!"
‟Huh? What?"
‟Give me your phone number!" - Through some cruel twist of fate, Kris had gotten a phone only after Asriel went to college. And his mom apparently didn't hold his phone number anywhere. And also Asriel could barely use e-mail and his internet was down for like 3 months.
‟Kris!? YOU GOT A PHONE~~~!?" - It seems Carol's volume warning was thoroughly ignored.
He was almost glomped once again. Which wouldn't have hurt, since for as big as Asriel had become, he was still a monster, so his weight was only a third of what you'd expect. Instead he just came up and started trading him.
‟…Yaay~ Now I'll get to speak with Kris at uniiii…" - He looked into his (probably giant) contact list proudly. Crouched between Kris and the coffee table. Then his eyes changed, and looked clearly at something in his mind.
Asriel stood up, his brain following a little buzzing thread around a clock.
‟…We forgot about the gifts." - Absolutely giant saucers stared at Noelle and her sister.
‟Pfuh- Pfahahahah! Good morning, sleepy head! I'm glad it came to you!" - A bit of ash landed on the couch.
‟…We gotta go and give them out! What're we doooing~~!?"
‟We'll just do it tomorrow, calm down."
‟But tomorrow's Chriiiiiistmas! We can't!"
‟Christmas, shmitmas, who cares." - He spotted Noelle's eye twitching through her smile.
‟We caaaaaan't! Let's gooo!"
‟Go by—" - Another yawn escaped December's lips, ‟Go by yourself. I'm ready to check out."
‟What, you're already sleepy, Dess?" - The Dess he remembered would just chug two 'Human' Energy Drinks and be fine for the night.
‟'Already sleepy' my ass. I've been awake since yesterday morning. I was the one who drove for 6 hours."
She turned to him, ‟Azzy slept in the back the whole trip. If you were wondering."
‟Uh… you didn't seem like you needed help… sooo~"
‟I'm not mad at you dummy. Just tired. I'll see you tomorrow."
‟Alright then… Kris, wanna go?!"
‟Huh, me?"
‟Yeah! Let's go and say hi to everyone! I'm sure they'd love to see you!"
Asriel's circadian rhythm was a mystery. He would change states between a ball of endless energy, to a barely conscious cloud floating down sidewalks, and sometimes instantly drop like a rock for 15+ hours. He definitely slept less than he should at most all times. Eventually it had stopped worrying anyone, becoming 'just how he was'. But Kris knew better than to hang out with him on the holidays. On his last year of High, Asriel didn't sleep a wink between Christmas Eve and New year's. If he were to go with him, it would've ended up as more than just one all-nighter. Oh, and Asriel was friends with Extroverts, so the prospect was double-tiring. For as much as he loved his brother… he knew better.
‟No thanks."
‟Awww~~ I'll just have to go alone theeen…" - Said the sad goat, looking down as his ears drooped to the floor.
‟Well! See you tomorrow~~"
‟Wait a sec… Azzyyy—!" - Dess crushed her last cigarette butt into the tray as she gestured him to come back.
‟Huh?! What?"
The deer rose off the couch, and hurried up to him.
‟If Toriel sees you with this, she'll kill me and then have aheart attack." - She easily unclasped his ear pierce. And handed it to him.
‟O-ohh… I kinda forgot I was wearing that~."
‟Of course you did, clumsy-head. That's why I'm here."
‟…Alright, I'm going to sleep now. Love you Az."
‟Love you too Dessie~."
Then they kissed.
...
. . .
‟! W- Dess!? What!?"
Asriel looked over with very real surprise in his eyes, while Dess turned around with a self-satisfied smug.
‟Oh… did I forget to say? I'm sorry sis."
‟Huh!? Y-you're serious!? Like, serious serious!? Gosh, for realzies!?"
‟We… uh, didn't mention it, I guess? Whooopsie—?" - Asriel looked real embarrassed, scratching his shirt under his sweater vest.
‟We're together!"
‟…"
‟…"
‟Well, I'm going to sleep."
‟What!? Explain yourself right now!"
‟Sorry, too tired. Try tomorrow."
‟December!" - Noelle's pleas were met with a solitary yawn, and Dess went up the stairs to her bedroom (now guest room).
‟Asriel, you serious about this?" - That's all he wanted to know. He was honestly way too tired to think about the implications. Just imagining the new family math gave him half a migraine.
‟O-obviously!"
‟What's that stutter for?"
‟Obviously, I mean, obviously!"
‟…Good luck? I'm happy for you?" - What are you supposed to say when someone gets in a relationship? There was a pamphlet to this stuff he never read.
‟Hehe, thanks…"
‟…Also, I don't think you have time to hang around, As."
‟OH, right! Merry Christmas, Kris, and Noeeee—‟ - The long bleating got drowned in the house, as the foyer door opened and the goat was off. Luckily, he'd never taken his shoes off.
And then… it was only the two of them, and it was almost silent. And unlit. The lights in that room were real dim. Except the Christmas Tree.
‟Did you… know, of that, Kris?"
‟…No.
But I'm not that surprised."
‟…Honestly? Me neither. They always seemed to uh… mesh."
‟Do you think… they, like, fit together?"
‟…Yeah! Why not?"
‟Well, let's hope they… stick."
‟Would make family reunions real awkward otherwise." - It seemed impossible to make their family reunions even more awkward than they already were, butyoung love is a silver bullet for that sort of thing. Or… a second, silver bullet.
‟I think it'd be hard to make them more awkward, but you're right."
They both just stood there, watching… actually, they had no idea what was playing on the TV anymore, Frigid Express just ended. Noelle stood silently, and he looked at the ceiling. He didn't know what she was thinking, but that wasn't a problem. Why did he use to fixate on that anyways? She could think whatever she wanted to. Wasn't really changing much.
‟It's getting real late… maybe I should… go too?" - Asriel could've dropped him off at his house. That would have been a much better idea now that he thought about it.
‟Oh… yeah, I didn't notice. I… I'll walk you. To It." - She was being slightly weird. He couldn't place his hand on it, and she probably couldn't either.
The foyer was the only room in the house with a white LED bulb. The sallow light made it easy to see how cold it had gotten outside. And how empty it was inside. They were just shuffling around the in-between of those two. The large clock's marble dial showed only three minutes until midnight, and its pendulum made it clear those wouldn't last long either. He tried to get his shoes on as fast he could, but the cold and his heaviness made it a slow process. Outside was both windy and winter and night, and he had no jacket. It wasn't welcoming, but the soft jingle of Christmas would carry him home. Speaking of jingle, she was being weirdly quiet. Even with all that had happened. He just had to fill the silence in her stead.
‟Thanks for everything, Noelle. I had a blast."
‟…Mhm"
‟Would've loved to stay and help with cleaning, but its a bit late for that."
‟…"
‟Mom'll enjoy the cookies, well, if she even remembers them with Az around."
‟Anyway, I had fun. Like, lots of fun. Seriously. …See you at later then?"
He waved and turned around. Opened the door, felt the great air come in. And raised his foot to step out… But, he didn't.
He noticed something. Or… he thought he noticed something, or he thought he thought he did. He imagined it. It seemed like he imagined it. His mind was playing tricks on him.. Because He couldn't have actually noticed anything, no matter how sharp His senses were. It wasn't something He could've felt. An old image of a scared girl yanking his shirt came to mind just like that. Not knowing from when and where it came from, and why it flashed to him. Maybe it wasn't real. It made him stop, his mind just pranked him. It could have been any other thing. It was any other thing. That old blouse was finally coming undone. It was the wind from outside, what else? The stars flashed in his eyes…
Maybe it was just a ghost…
Whatever it was, it wasn't that.
Time was passing, and the silence only grew louder.
But…
He had to be honest.
He thought that he felt the gentlest tug on his sweater. He thought it in his heart. Like a wish upon a wish he didn't know he'd laid. He couldn't have felt it. He knew he couldn't.
But against all he just told himself, he turned.
There was a hand limply holding him. Ready to let go without a word.
‟… What is it?"
‟… K-Kris?"
‟… do you …want to stay… a bit longer?"
The clock struck midnight.
