poly_chromatic | video / open to action

[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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You didn't look like things were fine.

[It isn't, in all honesty, a year that sticks out solidly in his mind. The quiet loneliness doesn't seem worth remarking on.]

I was in a new place, must have been about... four months? I left the church and went to a bar.

[Without letting anyone know he'd been there. That wasn't a check up.]

[Quiet loneliness always warrants a remark.]

You spent Christmas in a bar? [hesitantly, in an effort to not come off as too overbearing] You don't need to do that, at least not here.

[Oh Penny.]

I haven't really done Christmas since I was fourteen. You don't have to feel bad.

That's about when I started doing Christmas. Not the--not the parts with religion, but the tree and the lights and everything. It's nice.

Would you give it a try? Just for one year?

You've got the tree and lights. I've already agreed to the chilli and cookies.

[Is that enough? He's gently suggesting it should be.]

[She'll take what she can get.]

Throw in a 'no bars' and it'll be a perfect Christmas.

[No bars at all?]

You can find company in bars, too. [Sometimes that's why he goes.] But not super-amazing company.

[Which means he'll take hers. And at least not tell her if bars get involved later.]

[No bars that Penny is aware of. What she doesn't know can't hurt her.]

Thanks, Chase.

That thank-you's definitely the wrong way round.

Can't I thank you for picking me over a bar?

[Oh.

Well, Penny, you might just have found the words to genuinely rule out the possibility. He's a little startled by that.]

It's an easy choice.

[That wasn't the intention, but all the better if it's the result.]

That's good to hear.

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