It was freezing out and he was honestly starting to regret the decision to spread some Christmas cheer that belonged to a pantheon that had usurped his own holiday from him. Still it was a good deed, and the warmth of the smiles that would no doubt be cast his way would chase off the doom of the harsh winter that headed their way. Already the snow was falling in rapid succession and he could feel it in his bones that the winter ahead of them would be nothing but white and darkness. Rubbing his palms together to fight the chill away from them, the sound of boots scraping against the pavement caught his attention and he suspected that it was the rest of the group who had yet to arrive. His eyes landed on but one person, and his scowl ground deep at the corners of his mouth. “Please tell me everyone else is behind you, because if not it’s just us two.” To be honest, he didn’t even know who she was, nor did he recognize her. Hell, she might not even be a volunteer and he was talking to a complete stranger like a crazy person.
This would be fun. This would be good for her, that is what she told herself, though those thoughts seemed identical to the words of the woman who had invited her out. Alena could put a name to her face, but she was a woman who had aged softly, with feel about her being that could only be described as 'motherly'. One who cared and was kind, and she knew Alena well enough, by name and by address.
'Sweetheart, I've heard that you sing down at that dreary bar across the street.
Come carolling with us, you shut yourself away in that apartment almost all night,
don't think I don't notice. Come on, meeting people will be good for you, you
can not stay locked up all the time.
It's for a wonderful cause."
And she had went on, and if Alena was soft for many things, above all it was the genuine kind intentions of a good heart and she had agree'd. A scrawl of an address scribbled upon a napkin was her guide for where to start, with the advice to dress warmly she had been left in anticipation and apprehension of the evening. Repeatedly echoing the words in her mid; this will be good for you.
The winter was truly beautiful this year, a blanket of snow that mimicked the phantim white of her skin almost softened the harshness of the bitter air; it was cold. Never the less, she ventured out, following the directions to the meeting point undoubtedly expecting the buzz of a chattering group, but instead was met with a lone stranger. Perhaps they had both been misinformed.
"I was hoping they'd be behind you." She mustered the words with a polite smile, a glance over her shoulder before awkwardly meeting his eye. "It did snow heavily today, maybe the rest could not make it... I suppose it may be just us.
That, or they decided it was too cold."