[h2][center][color=crimson]♥[/color][color=black]♠[/color][color=crimson]♦[/color][color=black]♣[/color] [color=darkmagenta]Ayumu Harasawa[/color] [color=crimson]♥[/color][color=black]♠[/color][color=crimson]♦[/color][color=black]♣[/color] [color=darkmagenta]Phantasmagoria[/color] [color=crimson]♥[/color][color=black]♠[/color][color=crimson]♦[/color][color=black]♣[/color][/center][/h2]
[@TheWindel] [@ERode]

[color=darkmagenta]"Merry Christmas."[/color]

Ayumu stood alone in the cemetery, head bowed, eyes cast towards the snow-covered stone that marked her brother's resting place. In the background, from distant streets, she could hear the laughter and chatter of families, brought closer by the festive season. She tried to ignore them. For her, Christmas had never been a time of bonding and merriment. More like a time of verbal lashings, of tears, of shattered wine glasses once the guests had left and all pretense could be dropped. This year, even with that jerk of a stepdad kicked out, Christmas was even worse. It was her first one as an only child.

Her hands, numb from the weather despite her gloves, clenched as she recalled the past few hours. That attempt at a holiday dinner with her mom. The stress. The breakdown. Those words. [i]If we hadn't had to focus so much on you, if you'd been there for him instead of always out doing fuck knows what, he might still be with us.[/i] The comment rang through her mind, biting into her much deeper than the cold. Surely her mom hadn't meant it. She knew what it was like to get the blame. Yet maybe she was right.

[color=darkmagenta]"I'm sorry..."[/color] Her trembling whisper contrasted with her usual confident facade. [color=darkmagenta]"Thank you for protecting me... I'm sorry I couldn't do the same for you."[/color]

Her eyes stung at the memories of the times he'd cheered her up, eased her pain while hiding his own. [color=darkmagenta]"You always wanted me to be happy. You wanted me to live for myself instead of caring what others thought. And I will... I promise I will."[/color]

She turned and trudged down the path, two words carrying through the chill air.

[color=darkmagenta]"I promise."[/color]

This was one last thing she could do for him, even if it wasn't in the way he'd imagined.

...

Stopping in front of the abandoned restaurant, Ayumu gripped the handle of the gift bag and took a deep breath. After a quick glance to make sure there were no passers-by, she let red and black energy streams flow from the mark on her shoulder. They seeped through her coat, turning her winter clothes into her magician regalia. 

Phantasmagoria put on a smile, forcing a spring into her step. What better way to put up an act than to spend the day as her stage persona?

[color=darkmagenta]"The party magician has arrived,"[/color] she announced, grinning at Touka and Maiko as she strode into the building. Jin wasn't anywhere to be seen, but would likely turn up soon, she wouldn't want to miss out on anything else. [color=darkmagenta]"Hmm..."[/color] Phantasmagoria looked around the plain, mostly empty room. [color=darkmagenta]"This place could do with some decorating."[/color]

At the click of her fingers, images filled the room. Christmas trees sprang up in the corners - rather unconventional ones, making the place look more like a haunted forest than a party venue. Warped, goblin-like Christmas elves danced through raggedy branches, some pairs of eyes gleaming scarlet, others purple, others sickly green or yellow to create a myriad of fairy lights. Wintry mist swirled, blurring the furthest end of the hall. What appeared to be a disembodied human hand rose up in the middle of each table, flames flickering at the tips of the fingers, a pine needle and holly bracelet around the wrist like the wreath of a candle.

Taking a seat, Phantasmagoria leaned back and observed the decor. Some might find the effect disconcerting, but it had certainly brightened up the restaurant. [color=darkmagenta]"Gotta get into the Christmas spirit,"[/color] she said, hoping her chirpy tone disguised the way she tried to convince herself of her words. She was here to have fun. To be happy.

Like she'd promised.