Christmas before Christmas

It doesn’t last longer than a blink of an eye, unlike the remnants of his warmth against my lips.

     Blinking, I look in surprise at Marygold as he straightens up. Genuine is the increased softness in his lunar eyes. Lukewarm is the feather I catch as he lets it fall.

     For an unknown reason, I return his smile to him.

     It is soothing,.. this light stir that spreads inside me. No more snowflakes, it is rather like fluffy cottonflakes.

“Disgusting… What the hell are you doing to my feathers?!!” Niji shudders, outraged.

     While Marygold’s eyes still hold mine, a realization hits me.

“Does this mean you accept marrying me?”

     Marygold brings a folded finger to his lips, chuckling.

“You stay true to yourself no matter what, don’t you?”

     As I await a more practical answer, the director finally adds a few other words.

“Let’s take our time, right? There’s more to a romantic relationship than grounding it into marriage.”

     His folded finger brushes his lips, his smile widens as a thought seems to cross his mind.

“Moreover, there’s something I want to hear you say before it.”

     Tilting my head to the side, I wonder what the director may have in mind. Is this necessary to complicate relations with further steps?

     Though, before I can even take the resolve to ask him about his cryptic statement, Marygold uses anew his ability similar to forbidden telepathy.

“Though, this, it will be up to you to find.”

“…”

     A mysteries’ lover? He should be satisfied with being an enigma himself…

***

When the snowflake storm finally subsides, we both get out of the Andersen Manor. With each step we take, the snow crackles under our feet. Sun rays pierce through the foggy clouds dispersing little by little. Here and there it reflects upon the glowy particles.

“Don’t feel compelled to come with me. You could stay here as well.”

     I cast a brief glance at Marygold before brushing my fingers against his, taking his hand in mine.

“I will show you a place.”

“And which place is it?”

     All around us now, the fizzy powder covering the ground, shaping the trees, takes a thin layer of glitter. It is like walking in a star field.

     I bury the bottom of my face against the soft fabric of my long scarf. Needless as I didn’t bring Niji with us, but pleasant to wear.

     Wherever I look it remembers me of the dream I made not long ago.

“A surprise then, I guess.”

     His playful tone makes me widen my eyes for a short while. I have almost forgot that he is here.

“…”

     Laughs echo in my mind.

     Even the sensation his hand in mine gives off… It is the same.

“Everything reminds me of the day my parents passed out. It was also after a snowstorm.”

     The director doesn’t say a thing. Nonetheless, I can feel his eyes on me.

“We were wandering through the frozen lands. Everything was… magnificent, like a landscape out of a dream.”

     Images flashing before my eyes, I let the silence subside until Marygold asks in a low, cautious voice.

“I’ve already been wondering for a while but… how is it possible that you still love the snow? Isn’t it something you should have been brought to hate?”

     I halt. As the director imitates me, I turn to face him. There is no hint of sadness in my gaze, nor of resentment. Then again, my features rarely convey any particular feeling.

“Hate?” I ponder a few seconds before shaking my head. “It would be useless.”

“You don’t hold grudge against anything, do you?”

“…”

     Silent at first, I take a glance ahead of us. It is almost as if I can see our three silhouettes, hand in hand, all cheerful before the avalanche broke through. Remnants of the past.

“When the snow buried us, my parents caught me between them. They held me tightly… until their last breath. I felt the warmth of their embrace diminish until the coldness of the snow slipped in.” I paused, only to feel Marygold’s grip tighten. “Their warmth is what allowed me… to stay alive a little longer, until Jaana rescued me. Even my clothes couldn’t protect me alone against that cold.” I mid-close my golden eyes. “Though… It only made me aware that snow isn’t merely pure and graceful. She is merciless as well.” I take a while to let the words be carried away by the wind. “Nonetheless… Isn’t it like for people? They may be pure, graceful and merciless at the same time. Though, should I… hate them?”

     A tickle. I can feel his fingers brushing my cheek.

“You happen to be the two first while I am the latest.”

     The irrelevance of his statement makes me almost frown.

“You are not… merciless.”

“In comparison with you, anyone is merciless.” Marygold smirks, escaping his own words.

     As we resume our walk, he muses.

“Even when you suffered from the Scent’s side effect, you didn’t tell me that much.”

“Aren’t these useless details?…”

***

We take the thoughts’ stream as soon as we reach Jåvkangilli, its sparse houses decorated with garlands of stalactites hanging from the roofs.

     This time, he is the one following me.

     Still holding hands – for safety reasons – we reach another village in a blink of an eye.

     Musical notes trembling from their own joy wrap up traditional Nordic songs spangled with their mystical accent. All around the place, numerous fir trees are sprinkled with candy canes, jewel-like baubles and so many others eye-warming decorations. Part of the fir trees being bionic, the decorations glow with a bluish tint.

     A wooden sign stands in a corner of the square, its letters hand-painted. Something that has become so rare it holds itself a picturesque spark.

     “Rovaniemi” is the name written upon the wooden sign.

“You wished to take me to Santa’s village?” Marygold chuckles.

     I take a side glance at him, though not answering. Long ago, this village being the capital city of Lapland was inhabited by many people and it was symbolically the place where lived Santa Claus.

     Nevertheless, over the last decades the logic has been inverted. Its regular population mostly moved to the surrounding communities, so that it could become the everlasting Christmas village.

     Snow fizzes as we walk through near wooden houses adorned with white gold and light garlands. Small silhouettes dressed in green – robot elves – walk, run back and forth a group of constructions dominated by two of them, having cone-shaped roofs.

     The sound of little bells ring out, crackling in the air.

     Standing still, I indicate discreetly a point over the roofs. Some reindeers ride the wind, their antlers like branches stripped of leaves, dotted with ice crystals.

“Are these…” The director trails off.

     Slightly surprised that he doesn’t finish his sentence, I glance at him. His look is seemingly lost in some unguessable thoughts.

“Holograms controlled by artificial intelligences.” I whisper.

“…Of course.”

     An amused smile appears upon his features.

“…?”

“Never mind.” He adds, noticing the way I gaze at him. “Oh look, there’s a small hut selling hot beverages. Would you like one?”

     I nod, though expected another elaboration.

“Then wait a moment for me, I’ll get us some.”

     Listening to him wisely, I watch Mr Leafeyorb walk away.

     As I turn towards Santa’s workshop, I come face to face with a reindeer. He is a step away from me, making me blink in vague surprise. He is taller than a regular one… When did he get so close?

     His white and cream fur seems so fluffy over his chest… I wish I could touch it.

     The reindeer makes a few steps in the snow, getting around me. Not following him visually, my gaze then falls again on the fir trees.

     It is at that moment I feel something lifting me up by my scarf, a warm breath against my neck.

“…??”

     That… He is a real one?

     Without understanding what is happening to me I am then carried away by the reindeer which moves off step by step, in a serene pace.

     Then again, I blink several times.

“Why…?”