worktodo: (COFFEE ☮ why does it taste like fish)
Albert Rosenfield ([personal profile] worktodo) wrote in [community profile] route_10652012-12-23 03:53 pm

We Survived the Snowmageddon

Who: Albert Rosenfield ([personal profile] worktodo) and whoever is congregating at the Justice Farm for the Christmas holiday!
Where: El Rancho del Justicia, aka Albert's house in Saffron City
When: Anytime between Monday the 24th and Wednesday the 26th!
Summary: A lot has changed in a month, but some things never do. Losers getting together to fail their way through the holiday season is one of them.
Rating: Individual threads may vary, but let's go with G overall and warn otherwise!
Log:

Despite generally doing a very excellent Grinch impression, Albert doesn't actually hate Christmas. Granted, it's not one of his favorite holidays the way that Thanksgiving is — it's a little too overdone, a little too commercial, lacking in some of the spirit of togetherness in favor of the spirit of consumerism — but it is decidedly a holiday, and once again Johto has presented him with a situation where he is forced to make a choice. For the second time this year (by Albert's reckoning), Johto appears to have done everything in its power to prevent them from putting on a holiday, including but not limited to summoning up the actual apocalypse. The question that begs to be asked, therefore, is simply: is Albert willing to surrender Christmas in the face of all these apparent attempts to ruin it?

The answer, naturally, is: oh, hell no.

It is, however, an undeniably different atmosphere from the one that filled the house on Thanksgiving. Most of the occupants of the house are worse off now than they were then, be it emotionally or physically — some from spooky encounters, some from harsh truths, and some from going out in the apocalyptic snow like the damn fools they are — so if there's slightly less pep and enthusiasm saturating the grounds, that could certainly be why. Any decorations applied to the outside of the house have been battered at best and outright wrecked at worst. But as the slightly paraphrased song lyric goes, "Though the weather outside is frightful, by the fire it's so delightful", and the interior of the house is a thankfully different story.

On Monday, Albert will be spending the Eve of Christmas largely in the kitchen, having allotted the whole day for getting all the components of Christmas dinner prepared and readied in advance; on Thanksgiving, it's a fundamental part of the holiday tradition to run around the kitchen like a madman trying to get dinner to the table on time, but for Christmas, he'd rather everything just go smoothly. Early arrivals are welcome to hang out in the cozy parts of the house, grab some cocoa, and carefully avoid him; otherwise, they might get drafted into menial labor like shoveling out the front walk or putting the finishing touches on the interior decor before the party officially kicks off.

By Tuesday, it's all Christmas all the time; there is no victory quite so sweet as the one that comes hard-won, and as far as Albert is concerned, the most effective "screw you" to Johto's Snowmageddon is putting on an occasion that is positively bursting with holly and jolly anyway. Somewhere near the kitchen, Zack the Porygon2 is contributing by blasting from his Gear's speakers a concert of every Christmas song he knows (of which there are three: "Feliz Navidad", "Grandma Got Run Over By A Stantler Reindeer", and the Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men"). A stately (albeit slightly lopsided) Christmas tree that is probably the Johto equivalent of a Douglas fir is set up in a corner of the living room near the fireplace — which is burning merrily — and its branches are decorated with makeshift ornaments like Pokeballs and paper throwing stars along with the standard colored bauble variety. Stuff your presents below; there'll be time for opening them later, but for now they're part of the decor. There's holly on the piano and fake candles in the windows, and you better believe at least half of those doorways have mistletoe strategically placed near them. Don't get caught! (Or do, if that's what you're here for.)

The one new and interesting addition to the house can be found in a corner of the living room, where a little space has been carved out for a small end table topped with coasters, a chair, and a tripod apparatus just the right size for holding a standard Pokegear. Got someone to call and wish a Merry Christmas? Do it from the comfort of this corner like it's Masterpiece Theater.

But however Tuesday is spent, there's sure to be a lot of love, gifting, and good Christmas cheer. Or else.

When Wednesday comes along, it'll be the standard post-Christmas wind-down — leftovers aplenty in the kitchen, trash bags of crumpled wrapping paper tucked into the corners, and a nice low-pressure environment in which to interact, gush over gifts, and enjoy the spirit of the season a little longer before getting right back to work on Important Business. For some, that might mean playing in the snow or having a snowball fight; for others, that might mean coordinating federal agent business for the future. But either way, it's another Christmas survived, and that's what really matters, right?


[OOC: Just like last time, this is an open log for everybody coming to Albert's for Christmas! Feel free to start your own threads as you please — open them to everybody, close them to specific people, whatever works for you. Just make a note in the header of what day it's taking place on and who all's invited, and have fun, everybody! Also, for people who aren't physically present at the Farm on Christmas, feel free to use the designated Skype Thread™ to chat with them over video anyway!]
likewatson: (compassionate harry)

open; wednesday

[personal profile] likewatson 2012-12-28 04:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Waking up in Albert's bed would have been confusing enough, but no — Harry had to wake up in Albert's bed with something small and furry on his face that shocked him when he poked it.

All that and a hangover.

Anyway, skipping past an awkward exit and a too-hot shower and a mostly untouched breakfast, Harry is now seated on the living room couch with his beautiful new baby in hand.

...no, not the Emolga; we're talking about his guitar. He plucks gently at the strings to get a feel for it and makes some slight adjustments in the tuning, thinking all the while how pleased he is that his friends chose such a perfect gift. It's almost enough to distract him from the fuzzy memories of the day and night prior, but they stubbornly remain. For this reason, the first song he decides to play and quietly sing along with is a lot slower and a little sadder than it should be.]
bywiseguidance: (Default)

[personal profile] bywiseguidance 2012-12-29 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
[Ziva's head is a little fuzzy as well, having hit the sauce a little harder than she has in a good while last night. Nothing a cup of very black, very strong tea couldn't fix in her opinion, and she'd woken up early to get it. Though three teabags in one cup would seem perhaps a bit excessive to most.

There hadn't been anyone awake when she first came down, but the sound of a guitar would imply that had changed. She slid into the living room to see who was up and, perhaps, listen.]
likewatson: (um?)

[personal profile] likewatson 2012-12-30 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Tea may work for some people, but Harry's poison of choice comes from a bean, not a leaf. Case in point: The mug sitting on the coffee table in front of him is his third. It's nearly empty.

Ziva is quiet enough that she goes unnoticed until Harry's finished, at which point he looks up and starts.]


—hi.
bywiseguidance: (Default)

[personal profile] bywiseguidance 2012-12-30 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[She makes it strong enough to melt a spoon, so.

And yes, her Mossad ninja skills are still working, yay.]


Good morning. I am sorry if I surprised you.

[She would apologize for eavesdropping on him playing, but she figures if he didn't want people to hear he would've not sat in the living room.]
likewatson: (heh.)

[personal profile] likewatson 2012-12-30 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[He'd be tempted to try such a tea if he knew it existed.

Straightening, he gently sets the guitar off to one side and offers Ziva a wry, tired smile.]


Not a problem. I expected company, sooner or later. Ziva, right?
bywiseguidance: (small smile)

[personal profile] bywiseguidance 2012-12-30 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ziva's tea man. And she nods.]

You are Harry, yes?
likewatson: (ma'am.)

[personal profile] likewatson 2012-12-30 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
One of 'em. Harry Truman.

[There are entirely too many people in this house, as far as this Harry is concerned. He can't keep track.]
bywiseguidance: (uh...huh.)

[personal profile] bywiseguidance 2013-01-01 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
...like the president, yes?

[She doesn't really need confirmation for that. She had to study all this business for her citizenship test, you know. And it's not like Truman is a particularly difficult President to remember.]
likewatson: (&hawk; amusement)

[personal profile] likewatson 2013-01-02 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
Exactly like the president. Same middle initial and everything.

[Oh, does Harry look like he's proud of his name?

Because he's not.

Not at all.

Truman was a tool.

Presenting: BODY OF LIES: THE NARRATIVE COMMENT.]
bywiseguidance: (well hey there)

hi I'm late

[personal profile] bywiseguidance 2013-01-06 05:29 am (UTC)(link)
That is...either quite a coincidence, or your parents liked him.

[Ziva smirks. Of course you don't like him.]

It was one of the things I had to learn for my citizenship test, the presidents. Abby insisted that I be prepared. Even so, I asked one of my other coworkers to name them all, and he could not.

[IT MIGHT BE SILLY BUT SHE'S PROUD OKAY.]
likewatson: (smirky smirken)

o hai

[personal profile] likewatson 2013-01-06 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
My father met him in 1948.

[Number of times Harry has heard that story since birth: ∞]

Can you still do it?

[And yes, there's a smirk, because yes, that's a challenge.]
bywiseguidance: (imma tiger rar)

[personal profile] bywiseguidance 2013-01-06 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
That must have been exciting.

[She's sure. Usually meeting people like that is.]

Of course I can.

[Returning the smirk, she's got a photographic memory after all.]
likewatson: (ma'am.)

[personal profile] likewatson 2013-01-07 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Harry allows a few seconds of silence before gesturing toward Ziva, eyebrows raised.]

Well?

[YOU GONNA SHOW OFF YOUR SKILLS OR NOT, MA'AM?]
tapestodiane: (★ sheriff)

[personal profile] tapestodiane 2013-01-03 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
[Hi there, Harry, did you know there are a crapload of dogs in this house? Because here's another one, curiously coming down the stairs when he hears singing, ears up and forward when he approaches.]

[WHAT MIGHT THIS BE.]
likewatson: (um?)

[personal profile] likewatson 2013-01-04 02:31 am (UTC)(link)
[HARRY DID KNOW because he was told, but aside from Gandhina, he's yet to meet any of the others.

UNTIL NOW, APPARENTLY.

Full attention will have to wait until the song is over, though. Sorry, puppy.]
tapestodiane: (★ sheriff)

[personal profile] tapestodiane 2013-01-04 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
[Um so not a puppy anymore, excuse you. He'll gladly wait though. Is, in fact, clearly well behaved as he sits down not too far from Harry's feet and looks up at the way he moves his fingers over the strings. CURIOUS, THIS.]
likewatson: (compassionate harry)

[personal profile] likewatson 2013-01-04 03:58 am (UTC)(link)
[Just a few more chords and —

There. Done. Harry shifts his attention to the dog, who looks less dog-like than Gandhina yet still somehow manages to resemble a species from back home. Rottweiler, he's thinking. With shepherd ears. What's with the weird ridge-things, though?]


Hey, fella.

[Here, Sheriff. Have a hand to sniff.]