❝ 𝙉𝙤 𝙇𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣 ❞ LONG HIATUS

: ̗̀➛EVENING STAR

"Words are not meant to stir the air only, they are capable of moving greater things."
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    "Odasaku!"

A familiar, jubilant voice caught Oda's ears nearly the instant he stepped outside. Turning in its direction, he soon enough saw the small, dark figure running towards him along the sidewalk, that would have been invisible in the night if it weren't for the colorful lights, and the objects that she held.

"(Y/N). Fancy meeting you here."

"I know, right? To think we'd be shopping in the same area, on the same night!" (Y/N) exclaimed breathlessly as she came to a stop, struggling to balance her load. She was carrying a delicate stack of several brightly wrapped packages that was tall enough to reach her face, and seemed to be quite heavy. "I'm not surprised to see you here though, in hindsight. As for me, I wish I could be doing anything else. You're buying presents for the kids, right?"

"Yeah. Why are you here?" Oda asked curiously, a hand already reaching out to offer help, his own gifts easily carried in a bag over his shoulder. "Let me take some of those for you."

"Ahhh, I can't, but thanks, Odasaku," (Y/N) laughed apologetically, stepping back out of reach. "I'm here on the Boss' orders with him and Elise, getting Christmas presents for her. They're somewhere back there—" she gestured vaguely behind herself in the darkness with her head, "—and I can't leave them waiting for too long, or they'll surely make a fuss."

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips, and Oda let his hand drop to his side, frowning. "I see," He didn't see at all, truly, why the Boss would task (Y/N) with something so mundane, that was much more suited for someone of his own status, of all people, but there was nothing for it. "How much longer will you be shopping?"

"I don't know, who knows how long it will take until the little spoiled princess is satisfied, but I just want it to be over already," (Y/N) lamented, regaining a tighter grip on the presents. "They've been dragging me around everywhere for hours, and it's so cold, and everything is too bright, and I'm tired, and I've never understood the obsession with this Christmas thing, anyway. It's all just one big exhausting commercialized performance that we're supposed to put everything on hold for for an entire month, and somehow everyone just eats it up...!"

Oda remained silent, as (Y/N) continued to ramble. She wasn't wearing anything more than her usual suit and loose mafia coat, and Oda could see the girl clearly shivering in the bitter winter air, the strain of the packages' weight adding to her shaking and their size nearly swallowing her small frame. Her single unbandaged eye was barely visible above them, half-lidded with the familiar weariness that was always present, but seemed even more noticeable now.

After an uncertain amount of time had passed, Oda heard himself speak.

"If it's not too late, would you like to meet up at our usual spot once you're finished?"