Cherry Wine // Wednesday X Xavier

Welcome To New York

"We have to go." Enid hung on Wednesday's shoulder like a child.

"Absolutely not." Wednesday argued with the high-spirited girl's aggressive pleading. She would not, under any circumstances, allow herself to get sucked up in the whirlwind of Times Square.

"But we're already here. It isn't even that late, we'll surely make it to the publisher's office before they close." She tried ignoring her but her constant begging ate its way into Wednesday's brain like a worm.

"Fine. We'll walk through, no stopping." That plan didn't go through well, Enid, Ajax, and Xavier making twists and turns at every corner. They stopped to try street hot dogs, which led to them feeding pigeons street hot dogs. They ran through the street taking photos with the mascots who in turn harassed them to pay them for said pictures. They even raced up the famous red stairs amongst a crowd of tired tourists, squawking and jumping all over each other.

Wednesday stood to the side idly, checking her wristwatch over and over as they lost precious daylight. Finally she was able to herd the three monkeys back to their end goal, walking through Times Square, getting onto the train, and making it to Brooklyn before sunset.

They didn't walk for long before Ajax and Xavier stopped to take a picture in front of a "no-smoking" sign on the side of The Macy's building. They posed as if they were models for fashion week, Enid laughing behind the camera. Wednesday had let them have their fun long enough, turning and walking away from the trio, "We need to cross the street to get to our stop, let's go."

Enid stopped her, pulling on her arm. She redirected Wednesday, pulling her toward the entrance of Macys. "Let's just cut through here." Before she could refuse they were already strutting down the perfumed isles, Wednesday suffocating on the copious amount of color all around her. Decorated for the holidays there was fake snow and candy canes everywhere. Gingerbread people and snowmen hung from the ceiling and the customers were cheerful and gay with the idea of consumerism clouding their minds.

"They're all sheep," Wednesday sneered, disgusted by it all.

Just when she thought they had made it out of the woods Enid pulled her into them. A winter wonderland made of papier-mâché garnished the hall, "Santa Land" in big golden letters hung from the ceiling, constant fake snow sprinkling from the rafters. Grown adults dressed as elves and a large bearded man were on display at the front, taking small children's pictures and sending them off after hearing a poor excuse for a gift request. Stephanie will never get a pony so she might as well stop asking. If it were up to Wednesday little Stephanie would get a one way trip to the guillotine.

The queue to see the overly joyous imposter was fairly short. This encouraged Enid to pull Wednesday in line, sandwiching the four of them between two families, both with crying toddlers. Irritated, Wednesday planned a way to escape but there was no way out as they stood on a rickety one-way bridge. The only exit out now was by going up and sitting on Santa's lap which Enid insisted on doing.

The vibrant weregirl was bouncing up and down in excitement telling Ajax everything she was going to tell Santa that she wanted this year. Wednesday hoped that Enid wasn't being serious. She had to know that Santa didn't exist and his presence was created purely to sell marketable products to highly impressionable consumers through a familiar, friendly face.

"What do you want for Christmas this year little girl?" Xavier teased, mocking the deep cartoon-like voice of the man dressed in red. "Have you been naughty or nice?"

Wednesday looked uninterested in the entire ordeal, glaring up at him through her bangs. "A lead sprinkler." She replied dryly.

Xavier wished that he could somehow get Wednesday to come out of her shell, at least a little bit. She could show some appreciation for a day out with her closest friends, even if she despised it. He understood that they sprung their existence on her yesterday but there had to be something deep within her that enjoyed their company. It may have been a minuscule amount but if it weren't there she would have turned them away already, sending them all home for the holidays.

It became their turn, Enid skipping over to Santa plopping down on his lap. She was a bit too old for this display but only Wednesday seemed perturbed by it, pursuing her lip and standing off to the side as the other three laughed with Santa. The jolly fat man turned his attention toward Wednesday, asking her what she wanted. She took a second to think, replying monotone and passive, "world domination." Her reply earned a raised eyebrow from the old man, chuckling as he shook off her unsettling comment, turning back towards Enid who was listing off an entire page worth of Christmas gifts.

Once she finished they set up for a photo, Wednesday trying her best to stay out of frame. Right as the shifty looking elf behind the camera started a countdown to the picture Enid reached out pulling Wednesday down on Santa's other lap. The photo came out hilarious, everyone else smiling, Xavier laughing hysterically, and Wednesday wide eyed and startled.

As the teens got up to leave Xavier, still laughing, whispered in Wednesday's ear, "watch this." Swiftly Xavier turned back, snatching the red cap off of Santa's head revealing a shining bald head underneath. It reminded Wednesday of her Uncle Fester.

"Hey!" Santa yelled at Xavier who grabbed  Wednesday's wrist and ran away with her, Enid and Ajax following closely behind. The Elves and Santa chased after them while parents and other customers booed as they ran out of The Macys and into the streets of New York City. They gave up by the time the kids were out the door but Xavier continued running with Wednesday down into the subway.

The R line that Wednesday had been dying to get on all day was hurtling toward the stop, coming to a pause in front of them, the doors rolling open. Xavier took his hat off, slipping  the stolen stocking on, smiling down at Wednesday who was slightly amused in all honesty. The look on Santa's face was priceless. She even broke into a small smirk back at him, causing Xavier's heart to flutter. He clasped Wednesday's arm again, this time finding her hand with his, pulling her into the train car right before the doors closed on them and sped off toward their destination.