#christmas2k22

[ladamedemartel]

The Twelve Days of Christmas.

~Aurora Edition~

Tenth day.

Ten lords a-leaping.

“Dispersed glimpses into what the future may hold. A selection hand-picked under the banner of the most venturesome source. I trust you might find her adventurous proposals for our tomorrow more thrilling than the suggestions of any seer.”

The stylish booklet resided somewhere in between a travel brochure and a travel journal of days yet to come. Its pages listed a total of ten destinations, although no details or propagandist arguments acted as the persuasive force towards their shores.

Instead, these were ten places Aurora had expressed interest in seeing. From fiery instances of her eyes sparking with curiosity to the most passing of pondering considerations. Advertised now in the printed words of Aurora's pronouncements, remembered by Tristan with enough clarity as to faithfully display them on the page. Beneath each of Aurora's sentences blank lines waited to be filled with whatever impressions and conclussions she pleased, once her desires turned into reality.

They shared a considerable amount of the world together. There was always so much left to explore. And even if one of these centuries their swift steps overcame the velocity of the ever changing landscape, Tristan would drown in flames the mountains of existence just to surprise his sister with whatever new wanders could arrive to bring them new and riveting journeys.

“Ten promises of leaps throughout the world, to be claimed at your discretion. Perhaps the most self-serving of my gifts to you. The selfish invitation to color new sites with your company.”

After the grandeur of the preceding days, Aurora was a little surprised by the handsome, if unassuming, booklet that was handed to her. After the poetry he'd offered days earlier, she wondered if this might be a book of his own writings, times where he, the Lord Tristan, had felt his heart leap with joy at the sight of her. She had almost guessed it. Instead, the booklet detailed itineraries for trips that Aurora had mentioned mentioned wishing to visit. A close inspection revealed that these locations differed from those that had been marked on the maps that she'd been gifted on the Sixth Day. "Tristan, am I to understand that you're gifting me a year of nothing but us travelling together? You're going to have to cancel all of your other engagements if you intend to accompany me." And what better gift could there be than that?

[ladamedemartel]

The Twelve Days of Christmas.

~Aurora Edition~

Ninth day.

Nine ladies dancing.

“I'm always avidly anticipating to hear your insight. Even so, of my selection of artistic model I won't entertain criticism nor permit dissatisfaction. Blind eyes would see in her enchantment and rapture like no other.” Nine ladies danced in front of Aurora.

Modern advancements could made wonders even out of moments captured in time long ago. At the start of the gallery, Aurora radiantly developed in black and white. Not a single detail forfeited in the game of reproducing and enlarging the olden photograph.

The gallery proudly showcased a considerable bite of the history of photography that reached recent times by its end. Nine framed proofs of Aurora under the sway of different melodies and styles. Or the melodies intoxicated under the sway of Aurora, as Tristan would have more accurately described it. Nine dances immortalized in the pictures in her splendor and charm. As for the figure that just so happened to be her companion in each of them, he was now gallantly extending an inviting hand in her direction. Proposing the transgressing misdeed of a tenth couple.

“Shall we show them how it's done?“

Some of the photographs had been redone, Aurora knew that immediately. She saw the first one, one from when photography had just been invented and required subjects to remain still and instantly recalled the man's frustration as Aurora had been shifting so as she danced between poses. She recalled the way that she'd admonished him for expecting her to sit still when most painters had always encouraged her to chat and be at ease as they painted her. Just to annoy him, Aurora had insisted on dancing with Tristan, even if blurred images were the result. Now those images had been sharpened. Each one evoked a different memory, but all positive. No doubt her brother had been ruthless in ensuring that each image of her dancing only evoked happiness. There were no pictures of the Christmas where she'd been painfully thin after months of hydrotherapy. No photographs from the night where Mikael had nearly managed to catch up with them. Instead, there were only photographs of happy days where Aurora knew her smile had been brighter than the sun. "Tristan, if you wished to dance, you should have told me. This dress is hardly suitable for a waltz." It was pale lavender and fell only to a few inches above her knee. "Though, I imagine you've thought of that and have something better tucked away in here somewhere?"

[ladamedemartel]

The Twelve Days of Christmas.

~Aurora Edition~

Seventh day.

Seven swans a-swimming.

“As much a gift to you as it represents a test for me. awaiting for your discerning evaluation.” The lavish bottle carried an air of opulent decadence, with its seven elegant swans gracefully carved in crystal and a label that proclaimed its shared name with his sister.

“My declared objective is to provide your delectable lips with the most unforgettably luscious experience in champagne you have ever tasted. We require something for our glasses tonight, after all. Anything less than blissful elation, I will deem a failure. And I expect you to be both unrelentingly merciless and honest in your review, of course.” Tristan established no quarter for the standards in satisfaction he sought to gift upon her.

“I consumed more than a tasting, ceaselessly hunting for the ideal drink that would please you the most. Like a fluctuating bacchanal I kept on dreaming about in search of your exhilarating pleasure. If this creation fails in this regard...I suppose I'll have to open my veins for the sake of that satisfaction.” A devilish visit approached him close enough to whisper in her ear. Passionate and lost in the festive sincerity the occasion demanded.

“Je t'aime tellement.”

The New Year's Eve festivities were in full swing, but Aurora was distracted. The promise of Tristan's next gift lurked in the entrance of every newcomer, beckoned from every corner. She'd counted the ice sculptures in the party before she even realized that they were not shaped like swans. Naturally, Tristan was more clever than that. Her prize was delivered just when she'd been starting to let her guard down. It was a fabulous bottle. She almost didn't want to open it given the splendor. The key word of course was <i>almost</i>. It occurred to her that this was a gift years in the making; good champagne was not made in a day. It bubbles perfectly on her tongue. There was crispness to the bottle and a good balance to it. It was delicious. Exquisite. And once she swallowed, she nodded her seal of approval. "You've done very well. I hope that there is more of it. The only thing that I can think that may add to its taste is the pleasure of enjoying a glass after waking up in your arms on the first day of a new year."

[ladamedemartel]

The Twelve Days of Christmas.

~Aurora Edition~

Third day.

Three French hens.

“It appears they haven't hatched yet.” That was the fullness of his impenitent commentary, offered to Aurora in shades of roguery amusement. It wasn't the first day his adaptation of the carol saw artistic license overruling specifics. It wouldn't be the last.

Faberge eggs might be the closest name most lips would encounter to assign to the trio of presents. Not an entirely inaccurate descriptor but it didn't ring true either. The three oval shapes were indeed crafted treasures formed in artisanal prowess. They were also canvasses that showed elegant, evocative pencils of yellow, white or rose gold.

The blue one gleaming in sapphire stone portrayed the endless seas only those whose earliest memories had known the shore genuinely remember. The purple one flickering in radiant amethyst painted a lavender field. The red one of flaring ruby insinuated the silhouettes of two familiar dancers.

Added to the three main presentations, an array of smaller secrets waited for Aurora to discover them in each piece. A collection of seemingly anachronistic and miscellaneous insinuations and objects carved in gemstone. The body of each jeweled egg carried scribbled mementos of both little and momentous instances of joy they shared together and only the two of them could recognize. Fond memories of their eternity together immortalized as her third gift.

An array of song birds still circled overhead as Aurora amused herself trying to teach them a new composition. They were learning quickly, but they still weren't ready when Tristan arrived with her next gift. Her breath actually caught in her throat as she took in the splendor. Amethysts and emeralds came together to recreate the beauty of her beloved lavender fields and Aurora was delighted to find that the delicate scent accompanied the treasures concealed inside the egg-shaped vessel. She clapped her hands together and bounced on the balls of her feet once she'd opened the red one and been greeted by music that she instantly recognized contained her brother's prowess on the violin. Last, she moved to the blue one, pulling Tristan with her so that she could have her back pressed against his chest. "And what could possibly be inside this one?"

[ladamedemartel]

The Twelve Days of Christmas.

~Aurora Edition~

Second day.

Two turtle doves.

“What would be the melodic greeting of this first couple of days without some worthy soloists united in a duet? Turtle doves were deemed just as inadequate for your Christmas recital. Starring the performance of a tribute to my most cherished composer in their stead...” Two consecutive snaps introduced the winging dyad.

Once he began transforming the lyrics, Tristan might have granted enough favors to change the future of the surprisingly ruthless world of songbird competitions for decades to come. The crowning achievement of what he demanded in return were the lively, soaring gemstones that descended around Aurora.

The couple of canaries, agile and intrepid, acted their routine with transcendent skill and heart. Flying to circle Aurora, friendly, frisky pecks to her hands as their greeting. They sang their own number, resting on her shoulder or hand. But if their predecessors had gifted her the vibrancy of their improvisation yesterday, it was clear Tristan's selection had been far more specifically assigned this time.

The canaries sang a bright menagerie of some of Aurora's greatest works. Notes that made obvious Tristan taught them personally once they had been properly prepared as the perfect pupils. An enthusiasm that made just as evident Rory had grown into their most beloved musician. Arranged fragments of sonatas now offered back to her in a melodious demonstrations of her ravishing creativity and flair.

Aurora had spent her morning wondering when her brother's next gift might present itself, not that she'd been bored during that time. Tristan's gift from the day prior had kept her entertained enough with their breakfast serenades. It was delightfully festive. Still, the next gift was due, and Aurora eagerly accompanied her brother to view her next gift. This time, it was her own melodies that greeted her ears. The birds chirped happily and greeted her like an old friend. "Do I like one of those princesses in those animated movies?" Aurora giggled and she felt one of the birds nuzzle into her neck. "We're going to need to build an aviary so I can spend time with all of my new companions." she told Tristan with an affectionate kiss to his cheek.

[sushmitbagchi]

"Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day.”— Helen Steiner Rice #gandhinagar #gandhinagardiaries #christmas2k22 #christmas (at AlphaOne Mall, Ahmedabad) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmnvRSoN-EWNr6gBgbTl8l7z61JdACGbajltEQ0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[brandietrademark]

IMVU Christmas 2k22 #imvu #merrychristmas #christmas2k22 https://www.instagram.com/p/CmmWmeTuzFd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sushmitbagchi]

Merry Christmas!! #christmas2k22 #gandhinagar #gandhinagardiaries https://www.instagram.com/p/CmlPgqNtfwwcxVAgZhnoQWsm0RhXDXrP2CpYEk0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=