deernet | video; un: an.exorcist

[ The image is that of young man with longish white hair that's been pulled back in a low ponytail. Seventeen or eighteen maybe, with a bright red mark on his face that looks somewhere between a scar and a tattoo as much as it stems from a mark that's also halfway between a star or an inverted pentagram. Garishly out of place on an otherwise pale and muted complexion and gentle face. ]

With a lot of the city shut down because of the snow, if there's anyone having trouble finding food or shelter, Sanctuary in Crenshaw will be helping whoever it can. It might not be much, but it can be a meal or warm bed for the night. [ And hope everyone likes fish, because there's a lot of that that's been salted and stockpiled. But also a lot of baked things served with some of the corruption-cleansing jams from earlier in the year.

Which, anyone who already volunteers there... you can bet you were already cheerfully accosted and asked to help, soup kitchen style. ♥ It's a team effort. ✧ Either that or clearing snow; it's a big place... albeit warm itself this month, and shining like a jewel from the lunar lighting and heating within. The renovated Moon Presence monastery seems to be taking the blindingly bright bone moon and reflecting it back in a gentler manner for anyone inside. ]

There isn't a cost. Just try to help out however you can when you're able.

[ He pauses, about to leave it at that but hesitating. Expression still neutrally polite and composed, but... flickering for a moment. ]

...if anyone would like to help closer to when Christmas would normally be, it'd be nice to do something special for the orphanage as well. Maybe donate some presents for them.

[ That's it. He'll just quietly leave it at that. ]

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I see, I'll keep that in mind. I still find him rather unnerving, in all honesty. [the toys are weird, what can he say.

the rest gets a quiet moment of contemplation before he nods.] You celebrate this? When does it occur exactly?

I guess if you don't grow up with it, hearin' about a man comin' into your house and eating your food does sound pretty fucked up. At least Ded Moroz is a wizard.

It's always December the 25th. Not sure why, exactly, we just kinda picked it.

Where I was born I'm fairly certain we would consider him more like a dangerous pest for that. [amused. he can see zaun kids putting up anti-santa defenses and it's pretty funny.]

The end of the month- good, I have time to make some things for Allen's prerogative with the orphans. As well as for you and Allen. This is important to you both, yes? So let us celebrate it.

[He is also imagining Anti-Santa spray and traps, and snorts a little] Kids in my world love him. But we just like gettin' the free toys and shit.

Yeah, we should. I got somethin' for you, too.

There's lots of other Christmas traditions but those can be different between countries and families. Like my grandma would tell stories and read by the fire, and we'd listen to Christmas music over the radio.

That is a good incentive, I suppose. Rather like summoning him for them in exchange for food and entry. [santa the eldritch being you make pacts with.

and his lips quirk faintly.] A plan then. Maybe a gathering in Sanctuary, if not I do live in a house rather than a bunker these days. It even has a fireplace. I can make some of the baked goods my own world had during the winter months.

Yeah, I guess. Never thought of it like that.

That sounds nice. And you don't gotta wrap the presents, but it's considered part of the tradition.

I suppose we'll have to figure out how the people here celebrate. I'd like to help Allen with the orphan business, there must be some winter solstice traditions.

[a wave of the hand] We may as well do it properly. I noticed bows were popular in the pictures of gifts. Why the tree, though?

Yep. Lots of people have winter holidays 'round here.

That kinda depends on the culture, too. I think 'cause pine trees don't shed their leaves in the fall, they kinda stand for life or somethin'. My dad always drove me and Penny out to chop one down every year.

[Jason Kolchek: the worst person to explain why Christmas traditions are the way they are]

It seems typical enough. I can't say we had any sort of winter holidays growing up, so it is rather novel to see in action.

[or the best, in some cases. viktor's enjoying the 'stands for life or something.'] I wonder if the Trench even has trees like these. Hm, I can make something that looks similar enough though, if you'd like. Out of metal of course, that might lose the ah... 'life' aspect.

Most people get plastic trees now, anyway. A metal one sounds pretty bad-ass.

[that makes him chuckle.] And it can have lights easily built in. Tell me what color to make the lights and it will be done. I'll ask Allen if he doesn't mind it in Sanctuary, much better room there.

[because if he's making a metal tree it's not going to be boring and dinky, thank you.]

Guess that depends on what the tree's gonna look like. Red and green are used a lot as Christmas colors, but blue and white can look real nice too.

Allen can have the kids make their own ornaments to hang on it. That was always pretty fun when we did it back in school.

Blue and white sound far more appealing to me. Hm, I'll draw something up and run it by you later. [they're going to make such a a great mess of a tree. true holiday spirit here.]

Oh, they did seem to enjoy the origami at that festival. That isn't a bad idea... Jason, how did we become party planners?

[A short silence as it dawns on him]

Fuck. I think we did it to ourselves, man.

[ h E H ]

[yes, running a hand over his face.] I can't even blame Allen's enthusiasm this time. I think we may actually be busybodies.

Guess I ain't too bothered. Nice to have somethin' festive to plan out.

And it's nice to give Allen a break from organizing matters. I suppose we'll have a busy December then.

[he doesn't sound too bothered by that.]

video; un: an.exorcist

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