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He couldn't help the little grin that played on his lips as she sped up--not because she was leaving, but because she seemed so excited about it. He sped up as well, walking through the door with her and letting her go to get her ticket if she needed to while he eyed all the people surrounding them.

There were worried looks on their faces, and boogeys watching the doors closely. For a second he frowned, wondering what had happened to make Christmastival so grim in Halloween, then he shook it off, reaching out and summoning his guitar.

A boogey started forward, a dark expression on his face.

"Look, man, I'm not starting a fight or anything, I swear!" Roch said. "I just wanna play a song for my friend before she goes home--Promise," he said, holding the guitar and his other hand up to show his innocence.

"Let'em go, man," another boogey said, coming forward and touching the first. "That's one of the Amityville kids, he's always playin'."

The first boogey looked over, then nodded, stepping back. "But no funny stuff, got it, kid?"

Roch nodded, then slowly pulled the strap over his shoulders, taking a second to look at the boogey again. "I don't know what happened around here," he admitted. "But I just wanted to play before you gotta board, alright?" he said to Taryn, giving her a little smile. "And seriously, even if it's Christmastival, I'm jackin' Christmastival'd out, y'know? So I'm gonna play something different."

He tuned his guitar quickly, ignoring the boogies as he took a deep breath. "This ain't your song," he told her. "But it's called Until We Say Goodbye, y'know, cuz..." He shrugged, feeling like an idiot, and started to play.

"Always playing?" the first boogey whispered, barely heard by the second one.

"Usually for cute kids, mostly ghouls, but he's got this cute little ghost boil--"

Roch grinned as he finished. "Yeah, I found a song I think suits you, but I ain't got it down pat yet," he admitted a bit sheepishly. "I ain't gonna play it for you until I know I won't embarrass myself, especially not in public. But that one I knew," he added, glancing at the boogies, who had relaxed by this point. "That and ah... I didn't really have time to find a good Christmastival gift for you--" Or money, but he wasn't saying that. "So I thought I'd give you somethin' of mine..."

He dug through his pockets, looking for the wad of newspaper he'd wrapped it in with a frown.

"Sure I did," Roch said with a grin, moving closer and slinging his guitar over his back so he could watch her unwrap it. "It ain't much, so don't go panicking on me or anything. I've had it since I was ten, see?"

The paper opened to reveal a slightly worn looking eyepod, one that looked to be several generations behind.


"Here's the charger, too," he said, pointing at the small box and cord underneath it. "This's got a TON of music on it. It'll give you somethin' to do while you're traveling, right?"

"Nah," he said, digging out his phone. "I already know what I want. Gimme a smile, kay?" he said with a grin, setting it up to take her picture.

He took it. It wasn't a hidden snapshot like he'd taken of Xiu so many times, it was a bold, open picture, one that he wouldn't have to worry about hiding from her--or anyone else. Jack that felt good.

"Now I'm happy," he told her, pocketing the phone again. "And I got some songs on there that the guys recorded for me back home, they're in the unknown artist folder. That's me and Bones playing together with one of the gang on drums. And see this bar up here?" he asked, moving to show her all about the eyepod. "When it goes down you need to charge it again, okay? And this is--"

"Bye! Have a good Christmastival!" he called, waving as she left. Then, as soon as she was on the train he sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets before heading out of the station.

Jack, he probably should have gotten her a book or something, instead... Oh well.