The Night Out

This winter, the cold wasn’t enough to stop the holiday greeter. Every year Holly would travel all across Griffa around the Yule season to remind beans about the most wonderful time of the year…if you were a good bean that was. During her travels, she met so many wonderful beans. And despite sometimes her journey would have fleeting friendships, some beans that stuck out was a songstress, a mute celestial, and the newest addition, a young bean with a jump in his step.
Chii was the bean’s name. He was young but he still towered over the green-haired female by a good head or so. The snow in Peagarden wasn’t enough to stop her from taking a detour to the bean’s home. Just as she expected, Holly found him outside playing in the snow. How cute.
“Chii!” The floral bean had a big grin as she leaned into the multi-colored male, not even allowing him to speak. “How would you like to come with me to Lupinus? I have to make a few stops and I have some friends. Maybe they would be generous enough to give a poor bean a hot drink. What do you say?” The young bean didn’t even think about it. Picking himself up from the snow Chii took her hand, pulling away from his home.
“What are you waiting for! Lets go!”

Three hours. That’s how long the walk was from Peagardens to Lupinus. It would of took longer if they walked the entire way, but some farmers allowed them to hitch a ride in a wagon pulled by floophorses. Their feet it the snow before the female took a deep breath. The sea salt air was warm compared to the wind inland. The sea always kept coastal areas more mild but Lupinus was icy. They had to be careful not to slip.
“So, who are we going to see?” Chii’s question made the female turn her head. “Some friends of mine I just made. One of them is cute bean! She is an absolute joy! She made me take the time to learn some sign-“
“You mean Calliope!”
“You know her?” The smaller yellowish-orange bean raised her arms, “Everyone in Peagardens and Lupinus knows her! She’s so cute! And she holds the record for the bean with the most jellyfish stings-“
“Ow…” There was a short silence between them before Chii started to laugh, “But other than that, she’s supposed to be making this new farming with fish thing that has a lot of farmers worked up. Bert is super interested but doesn’t know how it would go.”
“Well for Christmas, I can only hope she gets something that can help her with that. It sounds silly, but if it does work I can be super helpful” Holly mused.
“So who else are we seeing?”
“A songstress-“
“Margot? Shes nice and all, but I feel a little weird around her. Maybe she thinks I’m annoying?” Chii thought outloud before sighing.
“Either way, I think she can use some holiday cheer. I can feel that she needs it.”
“Yeah. I think she needs it too...You know, that’s really cool of you Holly.”
Holly looked over at the bean. Of course her job of running around spreading cheer was simple enough, she was never so much thanked for it. She did it cause she loved it but she didn’t know how beans felt about it. Her white cheeks flushed with color as she smiled.
“Thank you, Chii. Now, lets go find our friends, shall we?”
Luckily, Margot was in her home. She seemed somber and then somewhat annoyed when she was pulled away from the warm fireplace to accompany the two beans to find the Celestial. But within moments the four were all together. Margot didn’t mind the company within her home. There was hot chocolate and laughs as they warmed their cold bones by the fireplace. Formal introductions between Chii and Margot as slowly bonded over cute animals and the list of companions that the young male made during his identity trial and onward. Soon enough the commotion seemed to die and silence settle in. Silence that made even the mute squirm uncomfortable within the chair.
“Lets go caroling” Holly’s voice rang out, causing the three to look at her.  Calliope pursed her lips before her fingers started to quickly weave together that spelt out ‘Its too cold. Maybe bake some cookies?’
“Well, instead of getting dirty, I rather stay here. Maybe I can braid your hair and sing to you all-“
“Ugh! Boring!” Holly moaned causing the songstress to pout.
“Well it’s a lot better than caroling-“
“You’re a singer! Isn’t caroling one of you’re things?” Soon enough the three started to bicker until Chii’s voice rang over the two.
“Why don’t we do everything?” Calliope smiled before she clapped her hands to show her enthusiasm for the idea. Holly and Margot looked at each other before they nodded.
“Alright. At least all of us can do what we want. But if we bake, please let’s not make a mess” Margot’s eyes fell on Calliope, watching her hands move, ‘No promises’.

Calliope’s activity was first. Ingredient and bodies crowded Margot’s kitchen as the four huddled together to perform their task. Mixing. Cracking. Sifting. As much as Margot tried to contain the mess, it got worse. Pawpaws covered in flour and sugar marked the counters before the three decided to gang up on the songstress, making the silent bean and the other two squeal with delight. For Holly it was justly revenge for not wanting to go caroling.
Cookie dough was dipped into the bowl before being scooped into spoons. Chii’s eyes lit up as he took the first bite.
“This is so good!” he exclaimed.
“My caretaker had great recipes” Calliope’s hands spelled out, “If you think the dough is good, wait until the cookies are done. Maybe I should make you one of her favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwiches one day.” Chii smiled before nodding his head.
“Definitely!”
“What we waiting for! Pop them in the oven!” Holly cried out. Gingerly, the songstress
placed large mutts over her paws before putting the cold tray into the oven. The small door was kicked closed as she turned on her foot, facing the three. Their hair was matted with dough and flour from their little food fight. Seeing their hair, Margot didn’t want to know what her hair looked like.
“Before we do anything else, all of us are washing up! We simply can’t go caroling like this. Just wash your hair and-“ The songstress seemed to smirk before she finished her sentence, “It seems its my turn. Wash your hair. I’ll braid it before we go out caroling.”

“Isn’t this nice now?” Margot’s question didn’t seem to break the peace between the small, cozy den. Margot stood behind Chii’s her hands working through his wet hair. A sweet melody fell from her lips and filled the room, accompany the soft woody tones from Holly’s flute. Calliope sat on the couch, her eyes closed and her hands touching her clean purple hair, marveling the feel of the braid against her pawpads. The music was enough to calm Chii’s restless spirit for a moment. He didn’t have a lot of moments to just sit and think. This was a rare for him, but he enjoyed it. His lips smiled as he looked up at Margot.
“Margot?” Her singing stopped, allowing the woodwind to take over.
“Yes Chii?”
“Your idea wasn’t so bad.”
“It’s good sometimes to have a moment to relax. Sometimes life gets so hectic that you happen lose yourself. When that happens, its best to sit besides a warm fire to really recollect your thoughts. Especially this time of the year.” The male could see her warm smile. He felt that moments like this was rare for the singer, but seeing her embrace their company rather than push them away made him happy. In the midst of his thoughts, Margot took a step back.
“There. All done” she chimed. Holly looked up before grinning.
“Finally! Time for some caroling! I hope you warmed up your pipes, Margot. You two Calliope-“ Holly stopped herself before giving a sheepish smile. That’s right. Mute. The celestial gave a quiet chuckle before her fingers started to move, ‘I will sing my heart out’.

The bitter cold wasn’t enough to stop the four from marching straight to the heart of the small town of Lupinus. With the moon high in the sky, lampposts added a warm glow over the square. There were some beans, probably shopping for the upcoming holiday or to just spend time with their loved ones. Whatever the case, it was Holly that stepped forward. Sweet sounds from her flute rang out. It was enough to get the attention of some beans, but not enough to draw a crowd. Calliope stood next to Chii’s side, her hands moving as her lips moving, allowing her paws to sing for her. Gaining some courage, Chii started to sing. His voice was sweet, but still not powerful enough. It was lastly that Margot took a deep breath before filling the square in her sweet voice. With Chii’s sweet voice accompany Margot’s powerful melody, Holly’s flute, and Calliope’s sweet smile more beans started to watch, taking a moment to stop to watch. Even some beans sang along when their favorite Griffian carol started.
The four didn’t want the moment to end, but sadly once the crowd started to dissipate, they knew it was time to go home. The four all gave each other hugs before Holly and Chii took a step back.
“Its time to bring this little guy home before I go. I had a lot of fun today. We should do this again” Holly laughed. Margot chuckled.
“I wouldn’t mind if we do this again, as long as I’m not the one getting flour thrown at me.” Calliope grinned before her hands moved,
“Lets all promise that we will do this again. We can do it at my home!”
“I can keep that promise. Thank you all again. I had so much fun!” Chii mused. Taking one more glance at the Celestial and the songstress, he gave them a wave before turning around and following Holly back home.