Participants:
| Scene Title | A Merry Little Christmas |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Not here. But perhaps someday. |
| Date | December 24, 2017 |
A half-standing building, refuge against the winter.
"But why, Mummy?" Aurora hiccups sadly. She's been crying for nearly a half an hour, and Liz presses her lips to her daughter's feverish forehead. "Why can't we just go home? I wanna go home. I want Yggy."
Elisabeth's own eyes hold tears as she hugs her baby against her body. Pressing her lips there, she worries about the low-grade fever — the fucking Evo flu is rampant in this goddamn place. Please God, don't let it be that. "I know, baby," she whispers against Aurora's brow.
The stifled sobs are heartbreaking. Elisabeth cradles the little girl in her arms, rocking her gently as they huddle together on a mattress scrounged from an apartment in the building they're using for a squat tonight. A low fire made of some dining room furniture is the only source for light and heat in this dark, dismal hallway at the center of the building.
The teddy bear Cassandra had managed to locate God only knew where hadn't gone over as either of them planned. Christmas royally backfired. Liz figures now she should have just pretended it wasn't that time of the year. But when the first snows began to fall a couple of weeks ago, Aurora asked if it was almost Christmas and she'd thought this would be good.
Epic fail.
The Christmas tree lights twinkled merrily as the little girl tore into the wrapping paper on the box with gusto. A squeal of delight rang through the room at the sight of the stuffed pink unicorn with glittery purple eyes — she'd been drooling over that thing for weeks in the window of the toy store.
"Well, I think you win the coolest aunt award, Kaylee," Elisabeth quips with a roll of her eyes.
"Of course!" the telepath agreed complacently, grinning at Ygaine as the Brit took a ridiculous number of pictures.
Elisabeth laughs softly, watching the four-year-old with amusement. "She's so easy to make happy." The observation is evidenced when Aurora tears into another package and comes out with a sparkly blue tutu dress with a tiara and white tights. The child dances about waving them all in the air gleefully while Ygraine chuckles at the simple expression of delight.
It's hard to believe that was just last Christmas. Aurora's tears seem to have finally run out as they curled together and rocked. There's just the occasional hitching breath drawn in. The little girl has worn herself out. "Sing, Mummy?" she whispers sadly. It breaks Elisabeth's heart to hear the despair. She's not even sure she can sing for her daughter. The song that slips from her is not the one she would have meant to sing… but holds perhaps more hope than the little girl can know.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be
Out of sight
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the yule-tide gay
Next year all our troubles will be
Miles away
Please, God… Odessa, please have been right.
Once again as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more
Someday soon, we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, well have to muddle through somehow
So have yourself a merry little christmas now
Elisabeth, in this moment, wishes so very much she'd never left Bright. Getting home is a dream that is slowly burning out.