Holiday Spree

“Rudy.” When was the last time she actually visited? Don’t worry about that. She’s clearly chosen this time to narrowly avoid some awkward family moment since their daughter also visits. She sets the bouquet she got down somewhere before standing by his bed. She’s not quite sure if she can sit..or if he wants her to. “How’s the hospital been? You treat it like prison from what I’ve heard, considering you talk about escaping so often.” There’s no annoyance in her tone– she even cracks a smile, kind of!

Which quickly falls back into a frown, and whatever hint of glow her nose has dies the more she thinks about his situation. “..I hope Noelle’s visits have at least been helping. Sorry I can’t visit more, but, you know how work is.” At least how being the mayor is. But someone has to do it, and that someone just happens to be her.

“Well, if it ain’t the Ghost of Christmas Present!” He jokes, clear boredom shifting to what can only be called elation upon seeing Carol enter the room. Rudy takes a moment to sit up proper, ignoring any discomfort that comes with the movement as his grin never once falters. It wasn’t every day the mayor of town, came to visit, after all! ..Not that he can remember the last time, but that just made now all the exciting to him. “It’s the best place in town since you walked in, Sugarplum!” 

He laughs, slapping his thigh and doing his best to suppress the deep cough that tried to follow. Rudy fails, of course, but he’s quick to play it off nonetheless. “It wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t so boring in here. Noelle visiting definitely helps...”

He does perk up again when Carol mentions the game, chuckling with less gutso to keep himself from coughing.

“Oh, Dragon Blazers lll, yeah! Have y’ seen the graphics? I never would’ve believed it’s from the same series as the first one. I’m glad Noelle has something to keep herself busy with in her spare time, even if she won’t play it without me.” 

It’s the first time most people would see his usual grin droop at the corners, but that’s once again quickly returned to normal when he remembers there’s someone actually in the room with him. 

LANDON’S HUNGY GAMERS: ROUND 3

this is a continuation of my HUNGER GAMES EVENT over @lv2tactician and the same rules will apply here, read below if you want to participate!

ALIVE

And before she’d be given time to ask who it was or tell them to check in with someone else, the handle turns without awaiting permission, the office door opening up and revealing… a familiar sight. Blonde hair, neatly trimmed antlers, dressed up in red & green… her daughter.

Just out of school, by the looks of it. … why was she visiting here instead of the hospital?

“… hi, mom.” She said, forcing past a short moment of hesitation before she let herself inside, once again neither waiting for an answer nor permission. “You… you have time to talk right now, right?”

The mayor had just started another call about the delivery eta on cotton candy machines and the assurance that they wouldn’t disappear this time when someone knocked on her door. Her gaze flicked to the untouched buzzer and her mouth opened to shoo them away-- only for a familiar face to open the door.

The appearance of her daughter-- this early into the day, she assumed, was a touch startling. They both knew Noelle had better places to be. Still, she only broke out of her trance of stunned silence when the insistent voice from her phone got a hint too loud for her liking. 

“Yes, yes, your machines will be perfectly fine. We’ve doubled our police force since last year. Now, if you’ll excuse me--” her thumb is on the disconnect button before a response even had a chance to come. “Sweetie, is something the matter? You, er... seem perturbed, darling.” 

Her gaze flicked to a half-finished wine glass, which found itself nudged into the trash bin. Jolly knew her daughter had already had plenty of time to absorb it, along with the rest of her messy desk, into her memory. It just felt... well, embarrassing. Usually she had time to look more presentable.