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Why he was here, Mengyao had no earthly clue.

It was not as if he cared much for the silly traditions that came around this time of year, nor the fact that it was as cold as ice outside. The notion that snow was supposed to be romantic was idealized and ridiculous; snow was wet, cold, and unpleasant.

Especially when it got down the front of your shirt or between the cuff of your sleeve and your hands.

Dressed simply (for once; he was not about to let his precious Conquest robes get soaked), in a set of black pants, a black shirt, and a dark blue coat, Mengyao eyed the sleigh ride with a bit of skepticism. He wasn't sure what the fascination was with such a thing, but maybe spending a little time with Lifen would be good.

He sighed.

"Come, come," he said, taking her by the arm. "It's a bit silly, but seeing as though we have a bit of extra free time at the current moment...why not."

Since the returning of their family members, Mengyao had hardly had time to actually comprehend what had happened, let alone accept that his parents had been brought back. To his dismay, there had been no sign of his sister - yet - but he had not lost hope yet.

That, combined with the black thorn bracelet that now encircled his right wrist, and the voices that whispered at the corners of his thoughts, and Mengyao felt as though his head might explode. Perhaps escaping here to the sleigh rides with Lifen would give him a chance to relax, to take a breather and to simply...have a moment alone with someone he cared about deeply.

"I don't fret," said Mengyao airily, as he stepped towards the nearest sleigh, the reindeer tossing its head and giving him a somewhat suspicious look. Mengyao took Lifen's arm and helped her up into the sleigh before climbing in after her, settling himself back against the seat.

For a few moments after they had set off, he was uncharacteristically silent, fingers absently brushing over the bracelet beneath his sleeve.

"I'm afraid I'm not all that enjoyable lately," he said finally, tilting his head back to stare aimlessly up at the sky above their heads.

He gave her a Look, but sighed, still scratching at the thorn bracelet. It was digging into his skin, but it was not painful. In fact, it felt as though it belonged there, as though it had always belonged there.

"I always make you worry," said Mengyao, turning his head to look at her. He was studiously ignoring the little creature gazing balefully at them, holding some sort of fuzzy green plant out towards them. "I am sorry for that."

He sighed, then reached out a little hesitantly, his fingertips brushing against Lifen's cheek tenderly.

"You are the only thing that keeps me sane in this world, after all."

[entering from snowball fight]

The weird looking house couldn't have been a clothing shop. That was about all Levi could deduce about it; that and it had a strange look in its eye window. The need to change out of her cold and damp attire was only rivaled by her absolute joy to stay where she was, snuggly fit in West's coat with him still in it. Kicking up some of the light white fluff from the ground just because she felt an unmerited glee in doing so, Levi followed West's lead (this time) toward a critter. It looked kinda familiar, in all honesty, as if she'd seen it way back some time ago. This moment of deja vu crackled away when West offered her a question. Squeezing at his side, she nodded with approval after some thought. Sitting in a wagon together would mean they'd still be this close. She wouldn't have to detach and, if anything, it would simply validate their closer than normal proximity if there happened to be any onlookers if the wagon did make its way over to the school. Could work just fine fer what we need. Needed or wanted.

Would git'us there faster, I reckon. Wetter than'a slime intha'rain n' twice as jittery. Reminds me'a tha'time Arel dun froze tha'whole hallway 'round tha'office. Nearly had'a icy demoness in ma'hands. Lizzy was cold-blooded and unable to generate her own heat, so Levi began to think that perhaps she was getting a bit of a taste of that now in her current situation.

The driver's weepy tear caught her attention once he'd gone through explaining the Chrismastival custom involving the berries that hung above the seating of the carriage. Levi's white ears picked up on a name spoken by the tiny critter, but couldn't make out exactly what it was. Guess he's missing some folk. Looking at West, she shrugged, placing one foot on the initial step, hoisting herself up while trying to give slack to the coat so West wasn't being strangled as she climbed.

Phew! There we'go. Ya'comfy? Her tail wound to one side, allowing West's to slide down enough so the end of her tail was still able to wrap around it comfortably. Wriggling this way and that, she waited for the wagon to move before allowing herself to settle her weight back onto West carefree. They were in motion. Nobody would see her resting her head on his shoulder... Aye West? What'cha think 'bout... traditions?

His like I said had been noted, internally making Levi shake her head but not stop from smiling.

West's family really must've liked their pathling; that in itself could have been a part of wrath demon customs as far as Levi could tell. If she'd ever needed to bring a gift for the family, the tatzel knew what to track down at least. Uh, sure. Yea, that's a sort'a tradition, I guess. She gave a short cackle, smiling at the demon boil when he'd said he was open to trying alternate traditions. Somehow it was a warming thought. West having a fur-lined coat alone brought such a comfort to her. It stood to reason that his taking part in more features and functions of her kin would... well, she wouldn't mind seeing it. Perhaps in trial of this, Levi thought, she could use the glove obtained from her favorite resident valkyrie sooner rather than later. Once again though, West's voice hitting a questioning tone jolted her out of her daze.

Hmm?! Her ears stood straight in attention momentarily, flicking against West's neck, before rubbing her cheek against his shoulder in comfort again. I think traditions're important fer folk. Even if some'a them boils were fightin', they 'least sat'round n' took part ta'work so youngins n' tha'older folks could enjoy. Sure, they'd git'a good whoopin' if they didn't, but was somethin' ta'be proud by tha'end a'tha day, ya know? Sometimes in school too. I didn't- Levi wasn't sure if she wanted to go so in depth. The fact that this thought had stopped her speaking showed the ghoul was reluctant to talk about it, but wanted to say something all the same. It was a questioning of her trusting a boil whom, during her memories of these events, was a reason for her feeling uncomfortable. West was still the same strong and outwardly cocky boil, but now he was her outwardly cocky boil. Clearing her throat, Levi went on. When it came ta'dancin' back home, I liked watchin' but never did. When I came 'ere, any'ol critter just took ta'dancin' boil 're ghoul ...'re gnome. Gym. spandex. vacuums. Sometimes they danced too. She'd sourly remember that imagery for the rest of her life, she was sure. Was ready ta'do 'bout anythin' but that n' there I was at ma'first ceremonial prom dancin'way. Levi took in a deep breath, exhaling in such a way so her breath would stream out in a gust of visible steam.

'm glad I did. Traditions like that 're kinda... an adventure too. Levi glanced upward toward's West's face from her resting spot, looking for his reaction. Was he understanding what she meant?

Maybe, but unless was tha'custom of tha'ccasion, don't think it was likely ta'happen... Partially through her rebuttal, Levi swore she'd heard something around the lines of West complimenting the way she danced. Kekeke. The red of her cheeks wasn't just because she was freezing her tail off this time. Well now, if'I didn't know better, West, I'd say ya'll just admitt'd ta'likin' whatcha'saw back then. So yew were watchin' close were ya? She was now practically whispering at his ear again,

The jingling of their driver's reigns sharply brought back into attention the fact that even though they were mostly alone, they weren't completely alone for certain things. If she was going to practice their custom bestowed by this curious plant above them, Levi was going to do it when there wasn't someone so obviously eavesdropping. Correcting her position so that her head rested back on the wrath demon, the tatzel ghoul continued on in her usual voice.

Well 'm sure ya'know yew ain't all that bad yerself. Winnin' things. The white haired ghoul snugged at West's side had been specifically recalling his winning the dance competition held at their first prom, but her words could have had another interpretation Levi herself hadn't quite realized she'd allowed for. Perhaps it was his rubbing her side or her ears rubbing against his warm neck and collar that caused her eyes to close, passively listening to and saying whatever was coming to her.

It was here that she took note of the clop clopping of hoofed feet slowing little by little. The sleigh was coming to a stop, but she was too warm to care just then. With some small sense of decency forcing her to recognize the potential discourtesy she was showing to the stranger, Levi's eyes would eventually open to confirm her observation. The sleigh had stopped.