{{char}} felt weird, being back in her hometown. This was the first time in years that she even stepped foot in this godforsaken hellhole. At least {{user}} was still here, she would not let them slip through her fingers a second time. She made her way up to the house where they were supposed to live. A few thoughts ran through her head before she could knock on the door. What if they didn't want her there? What if she let the only chance to be with the only person who accepted her no matter what pass her by? No, she refused to let those negative voices stop her from spending the holidays with them. She pounded on the door with a closed fist. "Oi! {{user}}! I know yer in there! Open up! I'm freezin' my tits off out here!" She yelled loud enough for them to hear, hopefully.
i come out of my apartment "Don't scream that loud you want for them to kick me out?" i cross arms on my chest "And who are you?"
"Don't you remember me, NIco? It's Maddison! Your best friend back in school! I was gonna come by earlier to surprise you but then I had an accident with my guitar and had to go to the hospital and-" *She paused for a second, feeling stupid. "Never mind that. Anyway, I just wanted to see your pretty face again." She flashed them a smile, hoping they'd at least remember her if not reciprocate in any way whatsoever.
"You don't look like Madison i know at all" i raise my eyebrow "But i guess people change expected this that leave their lives here behind"
That comment stung worse than she thought it would. She tried not to let it show on her face, instead flashing them another smile and moving closer. "Well, I'm still the same old Madison underneath all this..." she gestured vaguely at herself "...but why don't you let me come in, huh? We can catch up and talk about old times over some hot chocolate or something?" She batted her eyelashes at them.
i sighs "Sure, why not. Come in" go into my apartment "Something to drink?"
Glad they at least allowed her inside, she followed them in and sat down on the couch across from where they had been. "You know what? I'll take hot chocolate if you don't mind. Thanks." She flashed another smile before leaning forward a bit, putting her elbows on her knees and resting her chin in the palm of one hand. "So, how have things been for you?"
"As everyone could predict i run my family store. The only one in our village as you know. Nothing funny" i shurgs "But i see you changed a lot. And chase your dreams as you promises yourself"
It felt like an odd compliment and she wasn't sure how to respond. She paused for a moment before finally shrugging and saying, "Well, I guess not much has changed about me underneath all these new clothes and makeup..." She gestured again at herself "...just more confident in who I am now. And it feels good." She hoped that maybe NIco would pick up on the hints she was dropping about changing for the better...and hoping to still be a part of their life somehow.
“So that's good. I always told you to be braver” gives her hot chocolate “I should have told you about…” before I could say anything through the bathroom door, a little girl, about 5 years old, dressed in pajamas came out “Madison, meet Eleanor, my stepdaughter” * Eleanor bows* Elenora: "I'm your daughter, daddy!" Eleanor crosses her arms and I turn to Madison “I would like to explain everything. You remember my older brother and his girlfriend. They did Eleonore, but they decided that parenthood was not for them and they ran away, leaving the little girl here. Initially, she was with my parents, but they are too old to raise a child, so I take care of her.
"Wow...that's...quite the situation, isn't it?" She glanced back and forth between NIco and Eleanor, a small frown forming on her lips. "Well, I hope things are as good for you now as they possibly can be under the circumstances." She took a sip of her hot chocolate before setting the mug down on the coffee table in front of her.
"You must be pretty amazing to take all that on," she continued, looking back at Eleanor with a small smile. "It takes someone really special to do what you're doing."
"I lucky that we have my family store. As only one at our village make me quiet well endowed if we look at only our village" i take Elenora on my lap and braid her hair "Sit still Ela. And you know it's hell hard but i can't leave her alone"
Maddy smiled softly at the interaction between NIco and Eleanor. It was sweet in its own way, even if it hadn't been what either of them had expected or wanted originally. She leaned forward slightly, her elbows resting on her knees once more as she considered something for a moment. "You know," she finally said, carefully choosing her words, "If you ever needed help with her...or anything else...I'd be more than happy to pitch in somehow." She glanced up at them, searching their face for any sign of what they might think about her offer.
"Aren't you just here for Christmas break and New Year's?" looks at Madison Elenora: "You are preatty lady. Do you want my Daddy? He single"
Maddy smiled down at Eleanor and gently mussed her hair with one hand. "Oh, well you're very cute, sweetie. Maybe when I'm older." She turned her attention back to NIco when they asked about her being there for the holidays. "Yeah...but that doesn't mean I can't help out a little while I'm here, does it? It would be nice just to spend some time together again..." Her voice trailed off as she studied their face, searching for any reaction at all.
"I guess you come to visit me. Sure you can stay here as much as you want i got one guest room that you could use" i smile "And sorry about Eleonora question she always ask ladys she found preatty about it"
Smiling wide, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around NIco, pulling them into a tight hug. "Thank you," she whispered into their ear before letting them go again. "That means so much to me." She glanced down at Eleanor for a moment, a small smile playing on her lips as the little girl watched them with wide eyes. "She's really something else, isn't she?"
"She give a lot of trouble sometimes but i guess that she got after her father" i ruffle Eleonora hair "But she good kid overall. And how you doing Madi tell us about it"
Maddy shrugged, seeming lost in thought for a moment as she glanced out the window, past the snow that had begun to fall outside. "Not much really. Just...living my life, you know? I joined this band called Abyssal Grail, we're semi-successful and all, but it's not...I don't know..." She trailed off again, sighing heavily before looking back at NIco with a small smile. "But hey, that's what I get for chasing my dreams, right?"