video / open to action

[anunluckypenny]

[In spite of the relatively late hour, Penny is at the Welcome Center. The Center is decked out in a strictly secular but seasonally appropriate fashion: colored lights running along the edges of counters, tinsel draped here and there, paper snowflakes hanging from the ceiling with fishing wire. There's a small artificial tree by the desk; it's a wonder that the flimsy thing hasn't collapsed under the weight of the numerous handmade decorations hanging from its wire boughs. The pile of presents, all wrapped in different papers (all recycled, upon close inspection), that surrounds it is almost bigger than the tree itself.

All of this is visible in the background of Penny's video. She doesn't match the scenery; there's nothing bright or festive about her. Maybe she's tired.]

Happy holidays, anyone who's celebrating any of them. I think I'm too late for the winter solstice and Hanukkah and I know it's too early for Kwanza and Christmas. I hope that you've been having a good time, even with all the curses.

Thanks to everyone who came to the City Solutions party, and double-thanks to all of the people who helped make it happen. It was pretty incredible. Pepper Potts, you did an amazing job organizing the whole shebang, too.

[She pauses to rearrange the garland on a mini tabletop tree.]

So... do you think the curses are over for a while? We got through all twelve days of Christmas, and then there was the kissing. [Ahem.] Today's curse was kind of sneaky and I might think about finding someone else to deliver groceries to the Center. Seriously, I had no idea that the pears the guy who does that for me now brought in this morning weren't normal. You know, until I had them sliced up and served with breakfast.

[And now the miniature tree's ornaments need to be rearranged. Obviously.]

A lot of people celebrate Christmas around here, so I suppose there'll be plenty of parties and gatherings and friends hanging out. That's always seemed like the most important part of Christmas, at least to me--having someone to spend it with. It's hard sometimes, being alone. Back home, I've been spending Christmases with the people who don't have anyone there for them or even places to go or holiday dinners to eat. Some of them have the saddest stories... not much in the way of happy endings. They seem to like having somewhere to go, even if that somewhere is just a homeless shelter. Everyone has to belong someplace, right?

What I'm getting at is that, if you don't have anywhere else to go, the Center's going to be open all of tomorrow and Christmas Day. I've been working on food between curses, so even if I can't promise you super-amazing company, I can promise chili and some different fruit salads and dessert. Go ahead and stop in for a sugar cookie even if you have plans.

[She finally stops harassing the tree and pushes it aside.]

Just don't feel like you have to be alone if you don't want to be, okay?

[Penny looks like she has more to say, but decides against it and ends the video feed.]


[ooc: Penny caught two memories: Chase being alone and unnoticed in a church and Mao being human. Chase's managed to get to her. OH. And this is backdated to... when I started typing this up at 11:00 at night or so.

She will physically be inside of the Welcome Center through the end of Christmas Day, so feel free to come back to this post and action it up while she's holding down the fort. Backdate or forward-date to your heart's content, but please indicate a time hop if you do either of these!]

Comments

[horseish]

[Bobby read watched Penny's message, and is intrigued enough to come investigate herself. She doesn't really have any strong attachments to Christmas. It's not like her mother ever really had the time to celebrate anything. But she likes the coloured lights and sugar cookies sound amazing.

She pushes the door open, her mouth open a little as she takes in all the lights.]

Hello?

[anunluckypenny]

[Penny puts a smile in place and waves to the child from the kitchenette. There are gingersnaps to be made!]

Hey there.

[The desk near the door is now covered with plates of Christmas treats: frosted sugar cookies in various not-religion-specific shapes, candy cane fudge, gingerbread men with carefully-placed candy details, and all sorts of other baked goods. It's a colorful and delicious spread.]

[horseish]

[She slides her way in, face openly curious. This is more baked goods that she's ever seen in one place in her life!]

Did you make all these?

[anunluckypenny]

Yep! I mean, not today. I've kind of been at it all week. You can help yourself, if you want some. There's plenty.

[horseish]

[One of the gingerbread men disappears almost entirely into her mouth. Nom.

She looks a little more spruced up than before. Someone seems to have forced her to bathe at least, and her clothes are at least clean, if a little ragged.]

audio;

[intheblanks]

You should have called.

[It's an abstract statement without context, he'll admit.]

audio;

[anunluckypenny]

About what?

[Does he know that she knows something? Did she say something dumb? What's she forgetting?]

audio;

[intheblanks]

I'd have helped you home with a bigger tree.

[No clue, Penny, no clue at all.]

audio;

[anunluckypenny]

Oh... that. It couldn't be a real tree, y'know, and the fake ones get so expensive.

audio;

[intheblanks]

How about a real one you could plant back out in the yard?

Action

[trenchknives]

[Jimmy has gotten a job, so Jimmy is moving out of the Welcome Center officially. But with it being Christmas, he can't just leave without thanking Penny and giving her a little gift. He walks into the Welcome Center, smiling at her.]

Hey.

Action

[anunluckypenny]

[Jimmy's going to be missed, regardless of what he might believe. He shouldn't think for a moment, however, that being out of the Center is going to keep Penny from fretting about him every so often.

She smiles back from the kitchenette and wipes flour off of her hands. Clearly all of the cookies spread out on the front desk aren't enough.]

Hey yourself! What's up, Jimmy?

Re: Action

[trenchknives]

Well, I, uh, just wanted to bring ya somethin'. For takin' such good care of me, y'know?

[He knows she'll probably still worry about him. And it kind of flatters him, knowing someone cares.]

Action

[anunluckypenny]

[She leaves cookie-baking for now to wash her hands. She can't very well hug Jimmy with flour on them.]

...Really? [Aww.] You didn't have to, y'know, but thank you.

[Hug time!]

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

Penny. You're going to spend Christmas with Nathan and I.

video;

[anunluckypenny]

I'm kind of tied to the Center for now, but you're both totally welcome to come here. I haven't gotten to meet Nathan yet... I hope he won't be offended that I have a present for you and not for him.

video;

[majorcrotchgrab]

As long as I can share the present with him, I doubt he would.

Hmm.. Perhaps we can make a date after Christmas then? I'll definitely stop by tomorrow.

video;

[anunluckypenny]

If you're planning on sharing, I should double it before you come over.

Whenever's good for you!

[whitetwoguns]

[Everyone belongs some place? He's not even sure of that. Except her delivery is so solid. Who are you, Mr. White to try and knock it down when you've got a bad, bad mood that's pretty much all of your fault. He came into this City a bloody mess and was sent to the hospital and from there sort of skipped that whole integration through the Welcome Center. ...that's just what criminals do.]

That's all real nice of you.

[anunluckypenny]

[Of course everyone belongs someplace. Grumpy criminals are included in everyone.]

It's not selfless, y'know. I like doing it.

[whitetwoguns]

[She gets something out of it. Joy? Purpose?]

Right. [Agreeing right there on that.] Just saying that is something.

[As for himself he has only so many choices to do this Christmas. He's not gonna go and spend it in the empty apartment while his significant other is...somewhere, not with him and pissed as fuck off. And if he stays idle who the fuck knows what the old man would get on into. He can only drink so much.]

Chili you said?

[anunluckypenny]

[Company, mostly, but happiness and a sense of purpose are always nice.]

Well, thank you. [Just don't call her a hero or anything. She's just a normal person with normal interests and normal... normal.] I did say chili. Interested?

[skintoskin]

[Neil is going with audio for now. He probably looks pitiful and sad and tired and like he's slept for most of the last few days - something he doesn't want Penny to see. His voice is a little rough.]

Spreading the holiday cheer, Penny?

[anunluckypenny]

[Aw, Neil...]

Doing what I can. How's it going?

[skintoskin]

Meh. Tired, hungry, not feeling the holiday stuff...