Chapter Text
“Come on, Mari! Are you going to hang out by the window all Christmas Eve?”
Mari almost found herself ignoring the calls of her blonde haired friend, her brown eyes staring dreamily out the window as she gazed towards the snow falling outside. While she wasn’t one for the cold, she couldn’t deny she felt as if she was in her own world when she watched the snow.
In a good way, of course. Sometimes it was nice to take a break from the piano, it grew tiresome to handle. Besides, it was the holidays, and she needed to remind herself to be happy.
As much as she could be, anyway, it wasn’t as if she had any recitals to do until January. She only found Christmas to be a bit of a standstill, time that could’ve been better spent. She found herself feeling guilty, in a way, when she wasted time.
Unfortunately for her, her brother Sunny thought otherwise as he sat with Basil, the blonde boy by the fire. Christmas Eve was a fun time for them, with their stress temporarily relieved.
Very much for them alone.
Mari adjusted her white dress, knowing she wasn’t in the place to complain considering she was turning twenty in a mere three months, if that. All she could do was nod and go along with what the others wanted. Their happiness mattered more than hers, after all.
Her brother watched her as he hugged the white cat plushie in his lap tightly. He wasn't musical as Mari was, despite his attempts on the violin, and wasn’t one to talk much, though he did enjoy the company of Basil, who was curled up and resting against his shoulder.
“You don’t have to worry so much, you know!” Basil reassured with a smile, as their pink friend, Aubrey, lay back on the pillow she had set down.
“Yeah, not like the sky is gonna fall. You don’t have to be a weather girl.”
Mari couldn’t help but smile, it was nice to have Basil and Aubrey over for Christmas. She knew Basil’s family was always out of town and Aubrey rarely (if ever) spoke about her own, and being alone on Christmas was never a fun predicament.
Unfortunately, Basil and Aubrey seemed more excited to see her than her own brother, who squirmed away upon her seating next to them. She knew he wanted mom and dad, but she couldn’t help but feel frustration as she had already explained multiple times that their business trip came first.
Of course, she wished for them to return tomorrow as well, but knew this would be very unlikely.
Aubrey looked around, trying to find an opening to break the tense silence.
“So, uh…” She began, adjusting her blue ribbon. “Christmas Eve, am I right? Pretty exciting, you know…Heh?”
Even Mewo, the black kitten that was curled up on the fireplace, seemed to be unamused at the pink haired girl’s attempts to alleviate the awkwardness. Basil tried to smile, looking over his shoulder as he held the blanket around him, snuggling in.
“Hey, at least we have each other, right?” He tried his best to reassure his tense friends, as he always did. “That’s the best we can strive for.”
Mari nodded along, as she always did.
“But remember, our responsibilities play a role too and we’ll need to clean everything up after Christmas is done.” She informed, her younger brother rolling his eyes as her two friends nodded, Aubrey giving a small uncomfortable glance in Sunny’s direction. Mari chose to ignore her younger brother for the sake of Basil and Aubrey as she leaned back, resting in her own long black hair.
“This year, admittedly, I hope for everything to change, and we can’t do that with the house all dirty.” She spoke far more to herself than the others, who all gave her a quizzical look in reply.
Sunny, who seemed to want to speak up (quite unusual for him), was quickly cut off by a rapid knock at the door. Mari leapt up, knowing her responsibilities as she opened the door, seeing someone that she recognized.
“Mr. Rojas, hello! Come in!”
The door opened as their attentions respectively shifted over to the tall yet chubby tan man who entered, flipping back his brown hair. Even Mari couldn’t help but to smile at the sight, recognizing their odd yet charming neighbor, simply known as Mr. Rojas. He gave a gentle bow as Mari held open the door, letting him in.
“Please, Miss Mari, just let me come in on my own.” He requested, Mari giving a nod as she walked back to the others, who all came to greet the man.
He and his wife were probably the most interesting people in the suburban neighborhood, after all. Living in a house right by Mari and Sunny’s own, she often saw them taking part in odd dances, setting up unusual decorations, or speaking in a language she did not understand. She chose not to question them, but her brother, Basil, and especially Aubrey were quite interested in what he had to say or do.
Today, it seemed as if the man was paying a visit.
“I hate to drop by on such short notice…” He began as the four watched him with interest, not wanting to take their eyes away. “But I had to deliver your presents. Unfortunately, I do not see your parents have returned home yet judging by the lack of car in the driveway.”
Mari sighed under her breath. She didn’t need to be reminded of that.
“But I decided dropping by wouldn’t harm a soul. Your parents have entrusted me, and I’ve visited many times before”
Mari nodded, as she was used to his visits. However, what caught her off guard as it always did, was something about how he spoke. She was too polite to point it out, but Aubrey wasn’t as she often asked Mari why he always spoke so formally. Mari didn’t pry and let Aubrey know not to do the same.
Aubrey had a different question on her mind, raising an eyebrow as she took the small pink box she was handed.
“Presents on Christmas Eve? Shouldn’t we wait a few hours?”
Mr. Rojas gave a chuckle and shrug, clearly not too taken aback.
“I think a day early didn’t hurt anyone.”
Finding herself unable to argue, Aubrey found herself opening the small gift as a purple package of a larger size was handed to Mari, who looked towards the gift before looking towards the man himself, who smiled.
“You might find this one more special than it appears on the surface.”
Mari smiled a bit, appreciating the gesture. Knowing her odd neighbor, she knew Mr. Rojas would be giving her something like a paper cat or a withered Lily of the valley. He wasn’t any kind of stranger to that, he had left a small opal on the doorstep for her birthday that year, which seemed odd for a 20 year old.
However, she knew it would be rude to complain as she opened the present, and found herself surprised as her hand met the soft greeting of felt, finding her expectations averted.
Mari couldn’t hold back a small gasp as she opened the purple box, taken by surprise to find a small plush doll inside instead of what she expected. Her hazel eyes met his brown felt ones as she recognized the plushie as a small tan boy with spiky brown hair, adorned in a blue shirt and gray pants. She didn’t recognize the brand and she knew she was too old for dolls, but she couldn’t deny he was…Cute.
Aubrey looked over her shoulder and gave an amused grin, holding a small rabbit charm bracelet in her own hand.
“Huh. Didn’t know you were a dolly type, Mari.” She teased a bit as Basil petted the plush rabbit he was given while Sunny stared with confusion at the three marbles. Mari was too caught up in her own wonders to say anything as she looked at the doll, seeing an odd charm to it that many might not.
Mr. Rojas was the first to notice as he smiled, giving Mari a twinkle of the eyes.
“Maybe he’s a bit basic, but you’ll see there’s more in his heart than meets the eye.”
Mari found the sentiment cheesy, but flattering at the same time as Sunny sat down with a sigh.
“I don’t know what these are for.” He mused to himself. “Not even into marbles anymore.”
Mr. Rojas shrugged as he made his way to do the door with a grin and wave.
“You may find what I have given you possesses more value than it appears.”
With those vague words, he disappeared, closing the door behind him as Mari found her attention fixed upon the stuffed boy. She gazed towards him, taking in his features as she sighed, not even noticing Basil and Aubrey running up the stairs chattering excitedly.
More excited than she was, that was for sure, as Sunny walked over with a small, dark stare, as he tended to do.
“Kinda dumb this is all we’re getting.” He murmured, holding the stuffed white cat he couldn’t ever bring it in himself to part with in one hand as he gave a bitter sigh. “Mom and dad couldn’t even come home.”
Mari looked up and narrowed her eyes at her brother, who she couldn’t help but to feel a sense of tense frustration towards. Aside from his reluctance to practice, he always put himself before others. She couldn’t stand this behavior, he was seventeen years old and far too old to be acting like this.
“Maybe you should think of what mom and dad are thinking right now, Sunny.” She spoke with a sharper edge than she usually did, tensely squeezing the doll in her hand. “It’s not all about you, you know.”
Sunny rolled his eyes, heading towards the stairs as the black cat of the family, Mewo, followed close behind him.
“Maybe if they cared, they wouldn’t be getting themselves stuck in stupid work, and I wouldn’t wanna leave this stupid place. Sucks I have to stay here just to see Basil.”
Mari couldn’t help but feel her face grow hot with anger as she heard her brother’s impertinence. He wasn’t one to talk usually, but when he did nowadays, it was always rude, and she could hardly bear it. She had to say something.
“You know…” She began, standing up as she walked towards the base of the stairs to face her brother. “If you don’t have anything productive to say, maybe you should keep your mouth shut like you usually do.”
Mari realized how harshly her words came across only after saying them, but Sunny simply glared in response. She knew how angry he could get, and this seemed to be building to one of those times. She could only be thankful Aubrey and especially Basil were out of eye and ear shot.
“Yeah, stay quiet and play the violin, right? That’s all you want from me.”
His snappy words made Mari hiss in frustration, trying her best not to lose her cool, especially before Christmas, as lonely as it might’ve been.
“I wish you’d stop acting like a child.” She snarled, Sunny giving a cold glare towards Mari as he grabbed the railing, holding his stuffed white cat in one hand.
“I wish I didn’t have you as my sister, but here we are.”
Sunny stormed up the stairs, not bothering with manners as he slammed the door behind him. Mari groaned as she fell onto the couch, holding the plushie close to her. For some reason, despite being small, he made her feel warm, and she squeezed him to her chest.
“I can’t deal with my brother anymore…” She grumbled in annoyance, rolling over. “He never listens to me, it’s like he doesn’t care! I just wish he’d understand…We can’t let everyone down over what we want!”
Mari found herself silent before correcting herself.
“…What he wants. Yes. What he wants alone.”
Mari’s eyes turned towards the boy, stroking his felt hair as he stared back at her. Despite the little smile on his face, she couldn’t help but to feel as if he wanted to comfort her. As if he was trying to get through to her somehow.
But that was silly. Dolls couldn’t feel.
As Mari clutched tighter onto the stuffed boy, it wasn’t as if she was under a spell, but she felt as if she couldn’t resist drifting away into sleep, unaware of the chattering that persisted upstairs.