"H-Happy Christmas! Wait, that doesn't sound right..." Ling looked at his reflection in the mirror, "Merry...? No, wait, maybe it was jolly..."
Ling was alone in his dorm abord the Endeavor, the skies grey as Fiore became caked in snow, transforming it into a winter wonderland below the clouds. It was his first winter outside of the first, and also his first experience with the holidays. He was aware that people celebrated "Christmas" and other holidays for a long time, and he knew because sometimes he'd climb the highest tree in the forest to see the distant town shimmer with beautiful, vibrant lights, and he could hear the distant caroling and laughter even though he were miles away. He had always been perfectly content living among the woodland creatures by himself, but part of him always wanted to step beyond the grassy border and see what all of the hubbubs was about. He had heard about the big fat man dressed in red who would come down your chimney and leave you with gifts, and then leave for the next home in his large, shiny sleigh led by eight flying reindeer. Only people on his 'Nice List' ever got presents though, and while Ling considered himself to be a nice man, he was always a little disappointed when he'd wake up and nothing would be there. Maybe the big fat man didn't know where to find him?
Well, this year would be different. The same festival Ling had grown enamored with over the years was taking place in Beanstalk Village, and although Ling was illiterate and couldn't navigate Fiore by himself easily, it was impossible to miss a village which could be marked by the humongous beanstalk that stretched so high that it disappeared into the clouds! Even Ling could find it, but then he was faced with new problems—while he was coming with Pimwadeee, a man named Theo was also supposed to attend!
The idea made Ling's heart sank, and he felt so terrible about the encounter that he felt like crawling into a pit and crying until he felt better. It wasn't like Theo was bad or anything—Ling had never even met them—but he had recalled hearing the name a few times while he was freeloading at Silver Wolf, a guild he had totally taken for granted and wasted their time! His gratitude knew no bounds, but how could he have ever made up for ditching them like that? And now a member was going to be there with them! It was like the world had it out for Ling, and he could hardly take it! He probably didn't even know who he was, which made sense, but the pressure almost made the boyish man crack.
"M-Merry Christmas? Jolly... Christmas. Ha-Happy... Christmas..." Ling muttered over and over under his breath, mindlessly meandering through the village with his white cloak covering his blushing face. A look of worry and suspense plagued his features, holding two large bouquets in his hand as he strode forward to the giant beanstalk they were supposed to meet at. He didn't have any money and was too nervous to do jobs in order to make some, so he put his heart where he knew it worked best—flowers. He made one for Pimwadee and one for Theo, and while he had spent days crafting them to be the very best, part of him still felt guilty that he hadn't gotten them something more "traditional". After all, people normally bought each other... stuff that costs money, right? Stuff that made their hearts skip a beat, the kind that made them feel like they were on clouds? He knew he couldn't afford anything right now. God, was he a bum, too?! Free-loading trash? He couldn't even read and he was so pathetically shy that he could hardly look someone in the eye! Idiot, idiot, idiot—
"Oof! Huh?" Ling groaned as he walked into something. When he looked up, it was the giant beanstalk that he was supposed to go to. Apparently, he had found his way there while depressing himself in his self-loathing! It was decorated beautifully like a Christmas tree, with ribbon and ornaments hanging around it, bright lights that you could see from across the village too. It was just... really pretty! Ling's face lit up when he saw it, his jaw-dropping as he admired the beautiful decorations of the lights he had gazed at from afar before now. Was this seriously happening? "Beautiful...!"
Enemies: ???
— @Pimwadee @Theo