I believe in you!

                   The inkling gripped the small package she held in back of her, finding it hard to bring herself to give it to him. ❝How are you doing?❞ Good one, Marie.

“Hmm?”

Ah, there she was! And just when he was about to go looking for her as well. No matter what, the two always seemed to find their way towards one another in some way. The Zora prince turns towards the shorter idol, a bright smile spread across his face. Although.. She seemed awfully fidgety. Hopefully she was doing alright.

                   ( ★ くコ:彡 ) People liked to say that the universe liked to work in mysterious ways, and this was such an instance. It seemed that no matter what happened, Marie always found herself drawn to Sidon. It had been so back in the city, when she thought their life was about to end, and now, where both their lives could come to and end.

                   She hadn’t known that there was another ‘her’ running around in the island but the life her doppelganger lived was different than her own. Yet that very same life was one that both her and Sidon could come to live. If they managed to seal their doubles that is.

                   Marie looked over at Sidon, her gaze holding something different in them. There was a hint of apprehension, but there was also need. A need to get this done, so that possibility of that life could come to pass. Realizing how much she actually wanted that makes her turn away quickly as a way to hide her reddening cheeks.

                   ❝Yeah, I do. So what are we waiting for? Let’s go find them.❞

“Excellent! Let us make things right, once and for all.”

His cheerful disposition makes it uncertain whether her apprehension went unnoticed or not. Regardless, he seemed more than motivated to get this done as quickly as possible. Possibly more motivated than he’d ever been for anything thus far. Sidon reaches down, lifting the inkling up and onto his shoulder. She was far safer there. And he would be far safer as well. The two complimented each other for their shortcomings, which only made them stronger together.

                   She had grown up in a happy family, her times spent mostly with her cousin, Callie. Both girls where inseparable, and shared a love for the performing arts. Although Callie liked to sing, her career had taken her a different direction, doing more tv than music, and Marie had remained as a singer, performing at local places on the island. The sudden change in career paths was jarring for Marie, and she missed her cousin, but there wasn’t much she could do with how busy her schedule was.

                   Still, her life wasn’t awful. Marie mostly kept to herself, only coming out when she really had to. With her being an inkling, it wasn’t easy going out into the city when humans were around. She knew of their dislike of non-humans, and because of it, Marie tended to keep to herself as much as she could. She wouldn’t go out unless she had someone with her. It was for this reason that she also only really performed in non-human areas. It made her be more at ease.

                   The sound of a door opening makes her groan, her body shifting as she curls up into a ball, bringing the blanket closer to her as she mumbled. ❝Just gimme five more minutes, Sidon. I swear I’ll be up by then.❞ She waved her hand, snuggling closer to the pillow as she made to go back to sleep again.

As for him? He was there to ensure that she could at least go through the more normal parts of her life as intended. Which meant having breakfast when she woke up, as opposed to lunch.The predictable request for a few more minutes of sleep reach him and he can’t help but crack a smile. Two broad hands reach down, picking the inkling up from the ball she’d curled herself in. Blanket and all. She looked like more of a cocoon than an inkling.

“The last time I gave you five minutes, you missed out on breakfast entirely. Come now..”

                   ( ★ くコ:彡 ) ❝I was just kidding …❞ She mumbled to herself, but shook her head soon after, disregarding it for the time being. It wasn’t like it mattered in that moment because something more urgent came long that caused her to pause.

                   ❝Y-You want to come along?❞ Though she should have expected him to want to come along, she was hoping that she’d be able to do this on her own. After all, she had yet actually buy her gift for him for Christmas. She was hoping that today she would get her chance. Apparently she wouldn’t be able to. At least not today.

                   ❝Uh … sure, you can come along. But only if  you promise to actually carry everything I buy.❞ She really wasn’t going to buy too much. If she didn’t find anything she deemed good enough as a gift, then grocery shopping would do.

“But of course! These arms of mine have carried far heavier things than mere shopping bags!”

Hopefully he wouldn’t try to go overboard. He had a tendency of taking things up to eleven when he was motivated. Then again, he did live in a world that took that kind of dedication just to make it through the day in one peace. Even more so for a prince defending his entire kingdom. And while he had no kingdom or subjects to protect here, there was someone just as important standing right in front of him.

                   ( ★ くコ:彡 ) The inkling couldn’t say the same for herself. She usually spent the holiday’s with Callie and Gramps. With both of them not being here, it was hard to be excited for a holiday meant to be spent with family.

                   Still, she could try to cheer up a little, at least for him. He was showing such enthusiasm after all. How could she bring him down with her sour mood?

                   ❝Nope. I don’t sing or free you know.❞ She replied with a grin. Though somewhat true, Marie didn’t feel too keen on singing in front of strangers like this. Being on stage is one thing, singing like this so informally was another. ❝I’m doing some holiday shopping.❞

“You don’t? I had no idea! I’ll have to acquire the funds if you need them so badly, my friend. And in return, I’ll get to hear your wonderful singing voice!”

Sidon, please.. The mention of shopping momentarily makes him forget about all of that, however. If she was out shopping by herself, then clearly she was a person in need! And was it not in the holiday spirit to help a person in need? Of course it was! If someone needed help, Sidon would be right there to provide it!

                   ( ★ くコ:彡 ) Was she excited for the holidays? She couldn’t say for sure. It would be the first time since she got brought to the island that she would be spending it on her own. Even back in the city Marie had Callie with her for Christmas. This time however, that was not the case.

                   The inkling really didn’t have any plans for that day, but she did have gifts to buy. So, that was what she was doing on that particular day. She kept herself warm with a coat and a scar (she couldn’t retain heat very well) and a pair of warm boots. Her eyes scanned the store windows, looking for something that would catch her interest. That is until, she ran into a familiar face.

                   ❝Excited for the holidays, Sidon?❞ Marie asked, approaching the taller figure. ❝I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone with such enthusiasm.❞

“But of course! Seeing so many people spreading cheer and goodwill warms my heart! I can’t help but be excited!”

To be able to take part in such a joyful holiday only made the prince that much more positive than usual. Not to mention he didn’t feel like the odd man out for being so happy all the time, despite their circumstances. More importantly, Marie was here! Seeing her always made his day instantly better, even if it was already going great.

“Are you excited as well? Could it be that you’re out to spread Christmas cheer?! I would expect nothing less from the greatest idol I know!”