At the centre of the bonfire was a large, slumbering Coalossal. He keeps the fire in check, but keeps it stoked and warm. The woman standing next to it stares blankly into the flickering flames, eyes listless, seeing nothing and reflecting the leaping flames.

It is only when she feels someone bump against her that she wakes up. Her breath catches and she recoils violently, only to realize that what's touched her is just a stiff breeze. She stands so close to the bonfire no one in their right mind would even want to join her.

But the heat hardly quells the coldness that creeps beneath her skin.

Stormy squints, refocusing on a young man with one arm in a sling - or something - struggling to prepare part of the potluck all by himself. She swallows hard, pulls her sweater closer to her, and pulls herself from the comfort of the fire. Coalossal remains to keep watch over the bonfire.

"Alexei? What are you doing trying to handle this all by yourself? Here, let me help you."

Alexei Ivanov

☉

Neither did I.

"'Course I'd be here, wouldn't miss a feast like this, c'mon."

Playful, confident, normal, and yet her smile feels so forced. But she steps in to intercept him, aiding wherever she could. It seemed he had most of it covered, and it all looked fantastic. She could even spy a platter of spiced apricorns set off to the side. She'd be deep in that in a moment.

"Hm? Good. Yeah, I've been good."

The bags under her eyes suggest otherwise, but she can only hope the makeup covers it. Not that she cares one way or the other.

"You?"

Alexei Ivanov

☉

"You'll be back to yourself in no time."

She says this with slight wistfulness. As if she were pining for herself to be back to herself. Alas, where he was stuck to a wheelchair temporarily, her wings had been clipped permanentl.

"Just think of it as sixty days of rest, relaxation, and your partner giving you massages for free whenever you ask for them. That's the life, I'd think."

Stormy's eyes harden at his question, a weird, defensive prickle rolling over her shoulders. She glances at him briefly before forcing a smile and straightening her shoulders.

"I'm fine, Alexei. Perhaps you should be more concerned about how close you are to spilling... whatever that is."

Alexei Ivanov

☉

"Forgive me for what might be a silly question but... if you've hurt your arm, Alexei, why are you restricted to a wheelchair? Your legs still work, don't they?"

She watches as he catches what nearly spills, and she steps in to help nudge it just a little bit further from the edge of the table. It has sloshed some contents just enough to warrant a cleanup, and she takes care of it quietly.

"It reminds me of home, so I don't mind it so much."

There is a wistful smile, but it is not because of the reminder of Kanto- but because this winter, she would feel the cold far more than she has in a while.

"The bonfire is a good idea, I agree. If you want, we could take a break here and sit by it, if you're cold?"

Alexei Ivanov

☉

And just like that, Stormy found herself losing interest. It all started with a 'well you see' and ended with a roundabout way of avoiding the question. That, and the fact he was whispering was enough information for her to realize he had nothing really to tell her at all.

More secrets.

"Probably because you won't let yourself rest. Maybe consider staying home from now on, watching TV, y'know, resting."

She forces a smile, but there is no light in her eyes, only mild annoyance. Alexei fortunately changes the subject, latching onto her earlier one about the bonfire. It is redirected to mention of winter and cold weather, to which she shrugs.

"If it didn't happen last year, probably won't happen this year."

And then she moves around to behind his wheelchair to exhale and push him toward the bonfire.

Alexei Ivanov

☉

He glosses over her heated concern. She shakes her head subtly, but doesn't comment. In fact, she is about to walk away altogether when he continues the conversation regarding the weather. To be polite, and because he is her friend, she stays.

"Maybe the weather changing is a good change."

Probably not, but maybe.

And then she squints and watches him closely as he ushers her to draw close. She hesitates for a moment, glancing over her shoulder and then back at him.

"Is something wrong?"

Alexei Ivanov

☉