Xavier -- (Christmas On Mars)[HOL2014]

~~~~~

Arkus was staring at James intently, his arms still folded and his expression somewhat blank.

"You were a kid." James said. "The last time I saw you... you were a little kid. You're the one who brought Xavier here."

Arkus said nothing.

"You weren't quite so green at the time, though." James added.

"This happened over time." Arkus said, holding up one of his arms and examining his skin and his scars. "I'm not sure why. Its not the kind of mutation that anyone can relate to. I'm one of a kind."

"You know... she eventually told me what happened." James said. "That night, all those years ago, when you brought her here, into my office... she wouldn't talk for days. But she eventually spoke up... told me her family and friends were killed in some kind of raid. Her family ran a caravan through this territory."

"Reptilians." Arkus said in a grave tone. "I tried to stop them... but I was only a little kid myself... didn't have the slightest clue what had happened to me, or why I'd become so strong. I didn't know how to use my power back then, so I wasn't able to stop them before they killed everyone. Well... almost everyone."

"You stopped them from killing her, at least." James said. "That's pretty impressive for a five year old."

"I met Xavier a little while back, on Mt. Crumpet... she was exploring. She was just a girl, at first... a fantastic girl... but after she invited me to this convention... I noticed..." Arkus said, his gaze shifting onto the window, into the gleaming sunlight. "I noticed her scar, and... that's when it hit me... I realized she was the same little girl from the burned caravan. The same little girl they burned. They would have burned her alive like everyone else if I hadn't..."

Arkus trailed off, lost in the sunlight as he began to relive one of his earliest memories... the night he'd discovered Mt. Crumpet, shortly after a run-in with a caravan, and a group of Reptilian nationalists who intended to destroy it. He tried to help, of course... but he wasn't any match for them. The Reptilians burned almost everyone on the caravan, except for one little girl; the little girl was hiding in the snow, hoping that the watery ice would protect her from the fire. When the Reptilians advanced on her, Arkus remembered feeling a sudden burst of energy... he'd killed the Reptilians... killed them all... he couldn't recall how, exactly... but afterwards, he picked up the girl with the horrible burn on her face and carried her to the closest place around, the Black Dingo Lodge. He had marched into James's office, gently placed the burned child in front of his desk, and walked out without a single word.

"I'm glad I had." Arkus muttered, more to himself than to James, a faint smile forming on his face as the sunlight cast a glare over his eyes, making them even more shiny and vibrant than usual. "I saved us both the day I saved her."

Another moment of profound silence lingered in the air.

"So, er..." James said. "Nicholas didn't spare me any details. Told me everything... told me that you two have been in the same hotel room all weekend... you and Xavier."

Arkus blinked, his eyes widening.

"Oh--no no no no no, sir, we haven't--"

"Yeah, I know." James said, laughing. "It'd be pretty easy to tell if you had, son. That's why I'm gonna let you hang around. Hell, I owe you that for going through hell and high water keeping this place from burning to the ground. Xavier will be able to run this place better with help anyhow. You and her both. But, I expect no hanky-panky until about 40 years after the wedding, alright?"



****************


The starry Mars night was entirely cloudless on the eve of the new year, and the two moons hung in the sky beautifully, surrounded by thousands of shining stars millions of miles away. Nearly everyone from the Christmas convention had managed to stay an extra week, in order to celebrate the new year, along with their victory over the Reptilian terrorists. The media was slightly downplaying the situation, of course, but the most pleasing thing on the news during the week following the attack was the sight of the protesters from the larger multispecies cities; humans and Reptilians in the big cities, protesting side-by-side, filling up the streets with their signs and bullhorns, demanding the truth from the media and the two governments. It seemed that a revolution had been pending, and it only took a single Christmas party getting crashed to set the wheels in motion. Knowing this, Arkus and Xavier sat on top of the lodge's roof together, staring down at the parking lot where everyone had gathered. The guests were filling the lodge grounds, waiting for the fireworks to begin, and some of them had placed large blankets on top of the snowy pavement so they and their families would have a comfortable place to sit and enjoy the show.

"The past week's felt like a year, hasn't it?" Arkus said, leaning back on both of his arms and gazing into the sky, grinning and anxiously awaiting the firework show. "And its snowing tonight! Snowy fireworks!"

Xavier watched him, wearing a soft, happy expression.

Arkus, noticing, returned the look.

"Everybody's pretty okay with you now." Xavier told him. "Nobody's called you any names all week."

"And you." Arkus added, nodding at her. "Of course, now they don't have a choice but love us, after all the bloody crap we did for 'em."

They were both quiet for about a minute.

"Hey." Arkus said, grasping her hand softly, intertwining his fingers with hers, which made her heart leap into her throat. "Old world traditions, 101. Lesson number one, the mistletoe. If two people are caught underneath a mistletoe, they're supposed to kiss. You see? That's brilliant! I love old world traditions! and here's another one..."

Arkus released a breath, met Xavier's eyes, and spoke a little more calmly.

"On New Years, just after the countdown, its said that... if two people kiss, they're going to be together forever." He told her, unable to conceal his smile.

Xavier grinned as well, and as if on que, the crowd in the parking lot began to chant.

"Five...... four...... three...."

Xavier and Arkus inched closer to one another, both filling with the same fuzzy, static-like sensation, and Arkus's scars began to glow.

"Two..... one....!"

They met lips, sharing a long, soft kiss, and Arkus placed both of his hands on Xavier's face, stroking her lovingly with his thumbs. The fireworks exploded in the air over them as the crowd cheered from underneath them, though they barely heard it, as they were lost to the world now...

A wonderful, horrible Christmas had brought them together, two loving, loyal, sequestered souls longing for one another... for someone to love... and, by some miracle, they'd found each other... now, here they were, on the eve of a new year, ready to start anew, just like the world around them, those on Mars who no longer trusted their local news stations, those who questioned the separations between the two species or the actions done by the two governments that blatantly disregarded the Equal Living Act... and as they remained entirely lost in one another, Arkus and Xavier had completely forgotten to care that the year had ended.

"Happy New Year!"




------------------

THE END

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Its so good, I double posted!

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Reading this story, has been one of the most intense literary pleasures of the year for me, and as I am sure you are aware, I read an awful lot!

Bloody good job! Awesome characterisation, perfect pacing, great plot twists and tie ups, and a fantastic finish. You have, with this story, shown that not only can you write a stonking story, but you can write a butt kicking, face mangling brutality fest, that somehow ends up being heart warming and cute. The ability to do those things without the overall effect being confusing, is not one which is given to every author. You, however, have out done yourself with this story, and I for one think its bloody amazing!

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Reading this story, has been one of the most intense literary pleasures of the year for me, and as I am sure you are aware, I read an awful lot!

Bloody good job! Awesome characterisation, perfect pacing, great plot twists and tie ups, and a fantastic finish. You have, with this story, shown that not only can you write a stonking story, but you can write a butt kicking, face mangling brutality fest, that somehow ends up being heart warming and cute. The ability to do those things without the overall effect being confusing, is not one which is given to every author. You, however, have out done yourself with this story, and I for one think its bloody amazing!

Awwww, you and your compliments!

I think the best stories aren't specific to a single genre, I think the best stories are made up of everything; action, adventure, sometimes holidays, maybe some science fiction, and definitely love. Real life isn't genre specific, so I believe that stories shouldn't be either... at least not mine.

I'm even more proud of this story than I am of my alien Amandi story from last year, and shiza, that's saying something. I fell in love with these characters the more I wrote, and I'm actually kinda sad that I won't be writing any more for them. At least until I manage to make a oneshot graphic novel out of this story.

But still, I really hope this story got everyone into the Christmas spirit, as well as feeling lovey dovey, action-packed, filled with science fiction ideas, etc etc.

Merry Christmas everyone, and thanks for all the well wishes (I read them, I promise). I wanted to finish the story before replying to them. God bless and thanks for following Arkus and Xavier through their entire Christmas weekend!

Peace~

EDIT;

I also have to point out that its pretty fun to watch your avatar drink to the "What's This?" song from Nightmare Before Christmas. Maybe its because I'm hopped up on coffee, I dunno, but that avatar syncs up with music pretty flawlessly sometimes.

a reply to: TrueBrit

One more thing, I wanted to ask you...

Did I do a horrible job portraying Arkus's accent?

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Haha!

Of all the things to synch up with! You deserve every compliment offered to you for the story though, and I would LOVE to see you make a comic out of it. You have the skills with both the pen, and the pencil!

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Haha!

Of all the things to synch up with!

You deserve every compliment offered to you for the story though, and I would LOVE to see you make a comic out of it. You have the skills with both the pen, and the pencil!

Auuuugh, you make me feel like I can do anything ^^

I really honestly appreciate your feedback, you break it down perfectly, tells me exactly which parts I'm doing right and all. I wanted to ask... did I do okay on expressing Arkus's accent?

I'm worried about that...

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Accent is impossible to write for, unless one wishes to indulge in stereotype for its own sake! For example, if two people who speak perfect English are having a conversation, and someone makes a note of it in UK English (as opposed to US English) the two speakers will appear to have used precisely the same accent on paper, save for a few regional variations which have nothing to do with accent, but to do with geography. For example, the word example cannot be written differently to denote than an American is speaking the word, but you can generally assume that if the word faucet is being used, then the speaker is not from the UK, because we call those a tap.

The best way to ensure that the reader knows what sort of accent your characters have, is therefore to use terminology more common to the area from which your characters come. That said, I thought that you got Arkus right, because the accent was not at all over the top or stereotyped!

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

I knew it. I knew the story would have to end one day, but a wonderful ending it was! I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end. It captured and held my attention. Thank you for so many days of joy sitting here and being taken away to another place and time. Thank you!!

a reply to: TrueBrit

Whew, well that's good for me, anyway.

Thanks!

And holy CRAP, that avatar syncs up with Oakland by Childish Gambino hilariously.


a reply to: Night Star

I feel excitingly accomplished, but sad at the same time. I never wanted Xavier and Arkus's story telling to end either. You're quite welcome, and thank YOU for following them through their Christmas love story.

Well this takes the cake! Fantastic! Spellbinding! I liked it so much I might read it again!

I could see the lodge; feel the tensions; sympathize with the characters.

I got it in my head at one point that Nicholas and his guests would turn out to be the actual terrorists, and that was such an unpleasant thought. So happy it ended the way it did. In the walls! Who knew? Whew!

Hats off to you for creating a real page-turner! S&F of course, who wouldn't?

Happy Holidays,
liw

originally posted by: ladyinwaiting
Well this takes the cake! Fantastic! Spellbinding! I liked it so much I might read it again!

I could see the lodge; feel the tensions; sympathize with the characters.

I got it in my head at one point that Nicholas and his guests would turn out to be the actual terrorists, and that was such an unpleasant thought. So happy it ended the way it did. In the walls! Who knew? Whew!

Hats off to you for creating a real page-turner! S&F of course, who wouldn't?

Happy Holidays,
liw

Thank you very much!

I'm sad to be finished with this story. I'm glad there are people still enjoying it though, that's the whole point! Thanks!

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Excellent story, great work... thanks for sharing!

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX


So here I was all caught up in real life and was only able to finish this story this morning.
The timing I guess of My finishing this now is that it ended on new years day.
Right where we are now!!! So maybe it was right for Me to be a "day late dollar short", eh? LOL!!!

This is utterly totally awesomely fantastic I am a bit at a loss for proper words to describe how it made Me feel!!!!
Fantastic job Here Night!!!!!! Just Fantastic!!!!!!
It is easily very well deserving of the 68.5 points in this writing competition!!!!!! ( That's my tally, could be wrong, but pretty sure it's right.)


Once again Night, Very Well Done!!!!!! Very Well Done Indeed!!!!!! Syx.

God, I'm so happy to have so many compliments.... I don't know how to handle it honestly. I'm extremely proud of this story compared to a handful of others I've posted on this site.

Thanks you all for seeing Arkus and Xavier to their happy ending.

I'm EXTREMELY flattered

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Well suck it up lady!

With talent such as you have shown during the telling of this tale, you will encounter many more compliments in the future, of that I have no doubt! Best learn how to make best psychological and metaphysical use of them, wouldn't you say?

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX

Well suck it up lady!

With talent such as you have shown during the telling of this tale, you will encounter many more compliments in the future, of that I have no doubt! Best learn how to make best psychological and metaphysical use of them, wouldn't you say?

Sounds like a plan, friend!

Hell, the two characters in my avatar are going to have a heart-wrenching tale eventually, whenever I get around to drawing all of it. Its going to take forever, but damn am I psyched for it!

You're all amazing, thank you for reading.

a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX
love it.

originally posted by: HelenConway
a reply to: XxNightAngelusxX
love it.

Thanks!

Amazing !!!! Great Writing and story .. by far best read in very long time .. meant to comment sooner but been busy with real world matters and took bit time reading due my rusty english ..
keep up writing you have true talent and a gift ..