[action] backdated to Christmas...

[espio]

Of all the things...

[Espio isn't currently within the Garden. Nope. He's standing outside, in human form to protect himself from the relatively mild cold, up to his knees in snow and staring at a thing. A big thing. A really big thing, ie one that can easily be seen from... Well, just about anywhere in the vicinity, given that it's both giant and purple.

Mysteriously plonked in the snow is a whopping great big airship. Like so.]

I'd rather have my own Ragnarok, but I guess that'll do...

Comments

[corruptedsouls]

Wow! You have an airship?

[He looks all amazed.]

That's cool!

[espio]

Not so cool is the fact last time I saw it, it was covered in robot spiders, and then it crashed.

[But still...]

It's a little bit of home, though. And it's useful! Even if the Ragnarok does completely outclass it!

[corruptedsouls]

But it's yours, so it's still better! Right?

And home's always good.

[...Huh? He's holding some sort of doll in his arms.]

[espio]

I dunno...

[Quite frankly, Toby, the Ragnarok is your rival for all of Espio's love.]

What have you got there?

[corruptedsouls]

A Ninetales doll! It was one of my Christmas presents and I got a lot like it.

[Yeah, but can the Ragnarok be adorable as all get out?]

[espio]

[IT COULD BE with the correct artist! ...although it isn't warm and cuddly and alive.]

Ah, that reminds me, I got you a present. I'll give it to you at dinner, okay?

[corruptedsouls]

[EXACTLY.

Tobias' eyes light up.]

Okay! I'll give you yours, then, too!

[espio]

Okay!

Wanna go check out the ship?

[corruptedsouls]

You bet!

[espio]

[With a grin, Espio enters in a passcode, and the two enter the airship, but as they walk to the bridge Espio seems to have gone strangely quiet, slouching a little.]

[corruptedsouls]

[And despite the SQUEE AIRSHIP mentality, Tobias notices this.]

Espio? What's wrong?

[espio]

Ah. I was just remembering something.

[As they walk past a door, Espio stops and lays a hand on it.]

My last memories of home were on this ship.

[corruptedsouls]

Oh...

[He falls quiet, then.]

[espio]

[Shakes his head and starts back off to the bridge.]

I'm fine. Let's keep going.

[corruptedsouls]

Are you sure? I can go back...

[espio]

Hey, I'm the one who asked you on board! Don't feel like you have to go. The bridge is just this way - we can sit down for a bit. I... probably won't fly it just yet though.

[corruptedsouls]

Okay.

[...You can tell he's resisting the urge to run off and poke into EVERYTHING.]

[espio]

[Espio, for his part, is checking out any room they walk past. Just in case, you know, they have some unwanted guests. In the form of robot spiders. It doesn't seem like Time Compression brought them along, though, which is a relief.

Finally, they reach the bridge, where they can see outside to the snow.]

It's cold in here!

[corruptedsouls]

It's winter!

[...Did he... is trying to tease you?]