The Doctor stared in shock as Kal'tsit approved of his vacation to go with Magallan to Sami, where Rhine Labs had set up a research outpost some time ago for Magallan. He was expecting an immediate rejection, but he got the approval quicker than he thought he would.
"I said you could go, didn't I? Why are you just pondering there in silence? However, I would like to dispatch a bodyguard there with you, so we'll have Plume tag along with you to guarantee the safety of your life on your congenial excursion. And I'll have to communicate with Rhine Labs to ensure they can approve this vacation. Now, go and pack your stuff. Enjoy your sabbatical." Kal'tsit said as she returned to work without looking up for a second time.
And now here he was, standing outside the outpost with a suitcase in his hands, shivering from the frigid temperature. He took one look at the scenery that surrounded them and marveled at all the ice and snow covering the terrain they were in. It was so different from what he was used to. That wasn't to say he had never seen snow, but it was odd to see nothing but white when it was still summer.
"Doctor, I wouldn't stare too much at all the snow because of the bright light! I was thinking we should come in the nighttime when the sun wasn't too harsh, but I didn't want to risk our safety!" Magallan said as she approached the lab to input her designated password to bypass the security.
"I also think that was a great idea. It's good you didn't go through with that decision." The Doctor concurred with his gaze still fixed on the slightly melted lake. They had arrived a little late into summer because of some complications that arose with Rhine Labs, but they were now here with no additional hitches in their trip.
"Hey, Maggie! How are you doing? Welcome back!"
The Doctor peered over his shoulder in confusion while Magallan laughed nervously. A slight blush colored her cheeks as she tried her best to hide her embarrassment.
"That's a bit awkward! It seems like I forgot Mayer changed the sign-in system..." Magallan commented as she headed inside first to conceal her face from the Doctor.
The Doctor glanced over at Plume, who stared back at him with a flat expression on her face while he shrugged his shoulders. "I'm going to go off on a limb here and say Mayer was messing around with something that Magallan forgot about."
"All I can say is I agree, Doctor." Plume led the way to the entrance of the lab and allowed him to go through first. "After you, Doctor."
"Much obliged, Plume." The Doctor said as he carefully walked in with his suitcase while Plume surveyed the environment outside one more time before following his footsteps.
Inside the lab, Magallan was meticulously cleaning the place up to ensure the Doctor and Plume had a place to sleep and enjoy their brief vacation. She placed some blankets on the floor next to the bed and stood over it with a smile, feeling proud of herself as if she had made a significant discovery that could change the world.
Magallan looked over at the Doctor with a jovial smile on her face. That was cute, but the Doctor would not say that audibly.
"I have to apologize, Doctor! Nobody really visits here, so there's only one bed, but there are plenty of blankets that can keep you warm and happy while Plume and I sleep on the floor! You can take the only bed here and enjoy it!" Magallan exclaimed.
"There's no need to be so hospitable. I can sleep on the floor just fine. Besides, it doesn't feel right, hogging the bed when it's a lab you primarily stay in."
"But that's why I insist you take it because you're the guest here!"
The Doctor looked over at Plume for confirmation and she just nodded. "I'll be fine as long as Doctor is comfortable." Plume chipped in to encourage him.
With a defeated sigh, he placed his luggage next to the bed and watched Plume extend a hand to Magallan's goal of a more comfortable, makeshift mattress with the fuzzy blankets.
"Not to impede our progress, but is there any way we're going to stay warm with just blankets?" Plume questioned as she held one awkwardly.
"That's why I brought sleeping bags!" Magallan exclaimed, holding up a giant drawstring bag, but upon opening the said bag, her eyes widened. "Uh, this seems to be the wrong one... I was sure we brought some sleeping bags with us."
The Doctor felt chills run down his spine. "You're telling me we're going to freeze tonight?"
Magallan shook her head vehemently. "No, I would never allow that to happen to you, Doctor! I was just hoping we could lessen the impact on how much energy we expend for this lab. Luckily for us, we can just use the emergency sleeping bags stored in the back of the lab. But I was sure we brought it with us! Come on, Magallan! Think!"
Magallan scurried around the lab in one last attempt to find the sleeping bags but gave up. Even with the combined efforts of the Doctor and Plume, it proved to be futile.
"Uwah, I guess we really didn't bring it..." Magallan cried out as she sat down on the blankets with a dejected expression.
The Doctor laughed but stopped himself as he quickly transformed his amusement into a cough. He glanced at Magallan, only to see her staring at him with her bottom lip sticking out. "Um... Is there something you need, Magallan?"
"Doctor, I'm not sure if my ears are betraying me or something, but I think I heard a laugh from you."
"As you can tell, it was just a cough." The Doctor coughed a few more times to convince her, but Magallan looked like she needed more persuading than some fake acting.
Magallan looked like was about to press further, but stopped herself. "Well, we could just cuddle with each other if the nights get too cold to keep each other warm. And maybe some steamy grits or oatmeal will save us from the cold for a little while!"
"Urk... Is it okay if I snack on some cookies instead?" The Doctor asked, flipping the latches on his suitcase and withdrawing a bag of cookies from its confines.
"Of course!" Magallan said, feigning a cheerful expression before it darkened. "Not! I've heard many claim your health isn't in its prime, so I took it upon myself to prepare your meals for the duration of your vacation with a carefully planned nutrition guide in consideration- Hey, don't eat the cookies!"
The Doctor froze in place as he finished his second cookie since she started rambling while Plume held a hand up to her mouth to hide her laugh. His vacation was going to be a long one.
The Doctor lay in bed, dreaming of a distant land when he felt himself being shaken awake from his pleasant, fantastical experience. "Hmm...?
The Doctor opened his eyes up, seeing nothing but darkness and the sound of the heaters, sputtering in the background as they tried their best to keep the temperature at a certain degree that was cozy for them. He suddenly sensed the warmth of someone's hands close around his hand and slowly lead him through the lab they were staying in.
His drowsiness made it difficult to navigate properly as he stumbled across the room until he heard the door open, revealing Magallan in her custom exploration suit and a green haze settling over the now completely frozen lake. Even though it was still summer, the nights brought a dangerous aspect to the table; an icy wasteland.
"Magallan...? Why did you wake me up?" The Doctor said, trembling from the wind creeping through his clothes.
"I'm sorry, Doctor!" Magallan apologized as she held up two pairs of ice-skating boots and a comfy coat. "But I wanted to go ice skating with you and I thought this vacation would provide the perfect opportunity! Besides, the timing and luckiness were just right when the northern lights decided to show up tonight!"
"Is that so?" The Doctor looked up at the sky and marveled at the atmosphere, where trails of green and hues of neon, twisted and shifted as if they were a snake. Sometimes, a drop of red or blue would appear, only to fade away into the night. It was like a goddess was painting on a canvas, accidentally spilling colors over the space and trying to erase her mistakes by smearing the paint away. "I guess it isn't bad..."
The Doctor breathed out and looked back at Magallan, who held a coat out to him. He took it and wore it over his outfit while Magallan closed the door behind them. The Doctor accepted the ice-skating boots she handed him and looked behind himself. Hopefully, Plume was fine with their brief outing.
Once they made it down to the lake, Magallan sat down on the snow and put the boots snugly over her feet while the Doctor imitated her movements. If only for a moment before he was distracted.
The Doctor stared at the lake and watched it in mesmerization. It was odd to be out here in the middle of nowhere and rudely awoken from his beauty sleep to witness a miracle unfolding before him, but perhaps there was some worth in it.
The sense of surrealism overtook his mind as his eyes wandered mindlessly over the scenery one more time. Nature could be terrifying, but soothing to the soul. This was probably why Meteor took him outside that one afternoon during autumn.
"Does it fit, Doctor?" Magallan asked, peering into his vision and tapping his boots with a grin before she noticed his attention was attracted to something else. She waved her hand in front of his face with a curious expression. "Hello, are you there?"
The Doctor's thought bubble popped as his focus was directed to her. He held his hand up and gave her a soft high-five, causing her to blush from his reaction. "It's a little tight… Is that why you asked about my shoe size a few days ago before we embarked on this vacation?"
"Exactly! But forgive me if the size is small… Maybe I should have taken you shopping for a pair before we confirmed this vacation…" Magallan mused as she stood up flawlessly to help the Doctor up on his feet. She patted him down to rid him of the excess snow sticking to his clothes before she tugged on his hands to beckon him to follow her to the sheet of ice.
The Doctor could perceive the warmth of her hands surrounding him like a toasty blanket. He suddenly felt secure, even though his feet were acting like a disappointment to him. For its function to keep him stable and upright, it wasn't doing a great job.
"I'll keep you safe, Doctor. Just hold on to me for support." Magallan whispered as she slowly led him around the frozen lake. "Being able to hold on to someone makes ice-skating ten times easier when you're a beginner, doesn't it?"
"It's reassuring, that's for sure..." The Doctor muttered, finding it hard to concentrate on anything except his unstable feet and the way he held her hands so tightly.
"Eyes up here, Doctor. Trust me, it's much more exhilarating." Magallan advised, lifting his hands between their face ever so slightly, alluring his eyes toward hers. "Isn't it fun?"
The Doctor didn't answer her right away as they floated across the lake's frozen surface, lit up by the shades of emerald waves stretching across the heavens. Magallan looked so different from what he was used to. The magical tones of the moment they were sharing enhanced her charming appearance.
He knew Magallan couldn't see past his mask, but it was obvious to tell it didn't bother her when her feelings were reciprocated through her infectious smile. "Yeah, it's fun."
And that was when Magallan let go of his hands, letting him sail on his own, but it was short-lived as he lost his balance and fell on his back.
"Ah, D-Doctor! Are you okay?" Magallan asked, worried she might have injured him. "Gosh, Magallan, how could you let this happen to the Doctor?"
The Doctor groaned, but he waved his hands in the air to calm her down all the same. "I'm fine, Magallan! Really! At least nothing feels broken..."
Magallan kneeled on all fours with her face appearing right above his. "Are you sure?"
"I assure you. And if there was something wrong, I would tell you right away."
Magallan seemed to be satisfied with his answer because she grinned and also laid on her back, next to the Doctor. Together, they stayed like that until the Doctor mentioned he was cold.
Magallan reacted immediately by helping him up on his feet and guiding him to the shore of snow, where they exchanged their ice-skating boots for their regular boots. Acting as his support, Magallan aided the Doctor in the hike up the short trail of footprints they had created on their way down.
"You know, it's nice to have you here, Doctor. It gets a little lonely here." Magallan stated as she took a step forward.
The Doctor glanced over at her but found himself staring at her longer than he meant to. "I'm glad I could make you feel happier when someone else is here with you. And Plume, we can't forget she's accompanying you too."
Magallan giggled. "Of course, we can't!"
When they arrived at the front of the lab, they found the exact person they had just talked about standing outside with a fluffy coat on. Plume should have been asleep, but the Doctor felt safe, despite the embarrassing situation he was thrown into.
"Uh... How much did you see, Plume?" The Doctor asked, hoping for the best, but apparently, that was too much to ask for.
Plume smiled as she put her hand over her chest, a mischievous aura emanating from her, despite the usually emotionless demeanor she always wore. "I saw everything."
Author's Note: Plume, the best bodyguard the Doctor could ask for!
Anyway, I wanted to do a Christmas-themed story surrounding the Doctor and Magallan, so I made it happen. I think Magallan is a cute character, so writing this was a blast, but I have to polish up the rest of the chapters to make a more coherent storyline while keeping the festive attitude scattered throughout the story!
I find some bits here and there a little lacking according to my standards, but don't worry, I'll fix it! Hopefully… Promises, but at the same time, no promises.
I hope you enjoy this as Christmas grows near because this story is sure to warm your heart! Also, this story is something new where the operator I am writing about will directly confess to the Doctor soon rather than saying it indirectly! I feel like most of my Arknights romance stories usually have subtle hints, but I'm going all out on this one!
Oh, also happy late Thanksgiving!
With frosty love from your favorite writer, Out4Lunch!