A/N: Wanted to do something with The Thousand-Year Door characters since I just finished a playthrough, so yay! (Also, I named the baby Yoshi partner 'Sparkie' in this, since the names I usually give him in-game aren't very appropriate for this story.)
Day 4
Prompt: First Christmas
Characters: Vivian and Goombella
Summary: Vivian has never celebrated Christmas before; her sisters hated the occasion and never let her have fun. After the Shadow Queen's defeat, she and Mario's other partners gather for the festivities.
'Oh, wow... you really want me to come?'
Vivian fidgeted awkwardly, twirling a lock of hair around her finger as she considered the offer. It wasn't that she didn't want to go; more that she had no idea what to expect.
'Well, why not?' said Goombella. 'I said we'd all stick together after we helped Mario save the world and everything... so why not spend Christmas together? Bobbery and Sparkie can't come, but everyone else should!'
'I... I don't know...'
She could sense Goombella's excitement for the party mixed with her exasperation at Vivian's hesitance. Oh, how she wished she could say 'yes' as effortlessly as everyone else had probably done. Christmas wasn't such a bizarre thing for them. But despite how much she wanted to join in the fun, a part of her still faltered at the thought. Maybe it was because her sister Beldam had incessantly drilled into her that Christmas was a stupid occasion for little babies.
'I mean, I'd love to go, but I don't really know what's expected of me or anything... What do people normally do at these parties?' she said timidly.
Goombella's eyebrows went up. 'Wait, why do you sound like you've never celebrated Christmas before?'
'Maybe because I haven't... My sisters never really liked Christmas, or any 'happy' festivities for that matter. Even now that we've... made up, Beldam still laughs whenever I bring it up. I guess Christmas just isn't a thing Shadow Sirens are meant to enjoy.'
A spark of protective anger jumped behind the Goomba girl's eyes, one that Vivian remembered seeing properly only one time before. When she and her sisters had fought Mario back in Boggly Woods, and she had successfully landed a burning, stinging punch on Mario, catching his overalls alight and making Goombella leap in front to protect him. Seeing that spark of anger directed so aggressively at her... it had been unnerving, and Vivian had refused to directly attack Mario afterwards, despite Beldam's furious glances and muttered threats.
Slightly to her relief, Goombella chose not to push the conversation in the direction of Beldam.
'OK, so... Christmas is about food, and pretty decorations, and giving people cool gifts...'
Vivian found herself nodding absentmindedly, though she knew all of this already. 'But... what do we do at the party?' she asked.
Goombella shifted a bit, making a movement like a shrug. 'I guess we'll, like, play games and stuff. And chat, and give each other gifts. Make sure you bring a present for everyone!' she added teasingly.
Vivian wasn't sure whether to take this seriously or not, but she had no intention of risking offence by not bringing presents. 'OK. I think I'd love to go,' she said firmly, and Goombella looked pleased. 'It's tomorrow, right?'
'Tomorrow at seven PM. Don't be late!'
The beat of cheesy Christmas music turned up too loud resounded throughout the small, cosy living room. The furniture had all been pushed up against the walls to make space for the Christmas tree, pile of colourfully-wrapped presents, and table laden with party food. Goombella was the host, wearing a small Santa hat in place of her usual archaeologist's helmet and cheerfully greeting guests as they arrived at the door. Nearly everyone came in bearing presents.
'Add them to the pile!' Goombella called out as Vivian cautiously entered, gazing around with awe and wonder. She was wearing a string of green tinsel wrapped around the base of her hat, and carrying an armful of gifts.
'I got things for you, Koops, and Flurrie... the others aren't here, right?'
'Yeah, Bobbery and Sparkie couldn't make it,' said the Goomba girl with a hint of regret. 'But it's OK, we'll give them their presents another time! C'mon, I'll show you everything.'
Goombella had clearly made it her duty to introduce Vivian to all things Christmas. Over the course of the evening, they opened presents, played pass-the-parcel, cleared the trestle table of food and drink, and laughed until they didn't even know what they were laughing at anymore. As the night grew deeper, Flurrie did an improvised Christmas play while under the influence of several glasses of expensive wine, dragging several Toads into the act with her.
Vivian laughed through the performance along with everyone else. As it ended, she turned to Goombella beside her. 'Thank you so much for inviting me here, it's been a lot of fun-'
Goombella grinned. 'Hey, I'm happy you agreed to come. I just hope we could make this, like, a memorable first Christmas for you.'
'Oh, it certainly was. Thank you.'