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paradisa2013-12-17 05:32 pm
paradisamods) wrote in paradisa2013-12-17 05:32 pm
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STEPFORD MINGLING POST
STEPFORD MINGLING POST
[Ice skates for rent, a glassy sheet of ice smooth as a mirror, little benches to rest on and gab and giggle. All under the stars, too, with Christmas music playing over the speakers.]
[The diner on the corner has its doors open for people looking for some warmth, burgers, shakes and waffle fries, and there's a caramel popcorn stand selling popcorn and caramel apples and hot cocoa. Share a mug with a sweetheart or stuff your face?]
[Fancy a sleigh ride in a grand red sleigh, pulled by two beautiful black horses with bells on their harnesses? Just a quick spin around town.]
[Some of the boutiques are open late for the festivities. Maybe treat your wife to a new dress, or your husband to a cigar? Your son to some new skates, or your daughter to a new doll? There's something for everyone, even if you've just lost your mitts and need a darling new pair quick.]
[It's something of an Everett family tradition, going on a sleigh ride after a day of Christmas shopping. It's romantic for Lee and Carley, and a way to give Clementine some time off her feet after walking all day without it being condescending. Everyone wins.
Plus, Clem gets to see the horses, and Clementine seeing the horses might be Carley's favorite part of Christmas. Seriously, most adorable daughter ever. And lucky them, they happen to arrive just as one of the first sleighs is getting ready to go.]
Looks like we're just in time. Do you want to pet the horses before we get on, Clementine?
Plus, Clem gets to see the horses, and Clementine seeing the horses might be Carley's favorite part of Christmas. Seriously, most adorable daughter ever. And lucky them, they happen to arrive just as one of the first sleighs is getting ready to go.]
Looks like we're just in time. Do you want to pet the horses before we get on, Clementine?
[Here is Cass, doing her best to make an entire lap around the ice rink without falling. The feminine dress might be enough to tip someone off that she's not quite herself, but the fact that she's wobbly on her ice skates should make it pretty clear something is up. What kind of self respecting Batgirl doesn't have enough balance to skate around gracefully?
She casts the occassional glance towards the benches and the outskirts of the rink, possibly on the lookout for a certain husband of hers, but for the most part she's really just focused on enjoying this.
And not falling. Not falling would be great.]
She casts the occassional glance towards the benches and the outskirts of the rink, possibly on the lookout for a certain husband of hers, but for the most part she's really just focused on enjoying this.
And not falling. Not falling would be great.]
[Tess is warm everywhere but her calves, but that's just how the fashion of the time goes: flared wool coat with its tiny tailored waist, a crisp dress falling to mid-calf with a petticoat underneath for warmth, and cute ankle-high boots. Nylons don't do much for the cold, and the only pants in her wardrobe are obviously meant for summer weather and thus pretty useless. Oh well, though, there's not much you can do about it, and at least this is better than Florence. At least here she has underwear, even if it does come with way more straps than necessary.
And the living here is certainly better than Florence: everyone here has their own bed, and their kitchen is well-stocked, and their home is warm. Instead of burnings and lynch mobs, they have ice skating and sleigh rides and Christmas decorations. Tess likes that; it's like Christmas out of the movies, and even if she hasn't thought about it in years, A Miracle On 34th Street comes to mind vividly. She'd been fifteen, curled up on the couch with her mother, griping that if they were going to watch lame Christmas movies, couldn't they at least watch the remake version, the one with the girl who played Matilda instead of the old people version?
But this Christmas is going to be just like the one that had been on TV that night a lifetime ago. Tess has tried to avoid letting the Stepford mentality go to her head the way it has for others, but there's something about this place that makes her love it. It's like the mistletoe but directed at everything.
Tess pulls her scarf a little closer around her face and then looks to Joel, whose arm is linked firmly in hers because that's how things are in this time period. She gives a huff of amusement that has her breath fogging on the air.]
We should go skating. Think Ellie'd get a kick out of that?
And the living here is certainly better than Florence: everyone here has their own bed, and their kitchen is well-stocked, and their home is warm. Instead of burnings and lynch mobs, they have ice skating and sleigh rides and Christmas decorations. Tess likes that; it's like Christmas out of the movies, and even if she hasn't thought about it in years, A Miracle On 34th Street comes to mind vividly. She'd been fifteen, curled up on the couch with her mother, griping that if they were going to watch lame Christmas movies, couldn't they at least watch the remake version, the one with the girl who played Matilda instead of the old people version?
But this Christmas is going to be just like the one that had been on TV that night a lifetime ago. Tess has tried to avoid letting the Stepford mentality go to her head the way it has for others, but there's something about this place that makes her love it. It's like the mistletoe but directed at everything.
Tess pulls her scarf a little closer around her face and then looks to Joel, whose arm is linked firmly in hers because that's how things are in this time period. She gives a huff of amusement that has her breath fogging on the air.]
We should go skating. Think Ellie'd get a kick out of that?
Can I, can I?
[Except Clementine is pretty short, and these horses are very tall. She turns to Lee with a smile. You know what that means, dad.]
[Except Clementine is pretty short, and these horses are very tall. She turns to Lee with a smile. You know what that means, dad.]
[Silva has finished his shopping and is just sitting with a hot cocoa watching the world go by.
Care to bug him?]
Care to bug him?]
[A definite improvement over Florence. A definite improvement over home. Joel got used to winters this cold after the outbreak, and ones with far fewer resources to get by on. He's content to walk arm-in-arm with Tess and just take in the scenery. It's getting easier to do that, to just relax. Not entirely, of course, but lately things have been looking up for them.]
Ice skating? [A short laugh.] I dunno how.
[He's picturing it now, his big frame skidding around gracelessly because he's never set foot in a rink before in his life. Texas 'winters' never gave him the opportunity to learn. Ellie probably would get a kick out of seeing that.]
Best skip it, or someone'll get hurt.
[Can't teach an old dog new tricks, Tess.]
Ice skating? [A short laugh.] I dunno how.
[He's picturing it now, his big frame skidding around gracelessly because he's never set foot in a rink before in his life. Texas 'winters' never gave him the opportunity to learn. Ellie probably would get a kick out of seeing that.]
Best skip it, or someone'll get hurt.
[Can't teach an old dog new tricks, Tess.]
We do more dangerous stuff all the time, don't go getting old on me now. You can still learn.
[After all, she asked if Ellie would get a kick out of it, not whether he wanted to go or not. That part was a given if she had her way.
Tess leans her cheek against his shoulder and she grins up at him.]
We can tie a pillow to your ass, if that'll make you feel better.
[After all, she asked if Ellie would get a kick out of it, not whether he wanted to go or not. That part was a given if she had her way.
Tess leans her cheek against his shoulder and she grins up at him.]
We can tie a pillow to your ass, if that'll make you feel better.
[She gets a look, one that is trying to resist but will fail. Tess probably knows that look well.]
If I fall, I'm takin' you down with me.
[And that's her cue to drag him to the ice. Maybe it's not difficult to learn. If he can craft weapons out of rubbish, balancing on a pair of skates should be easy, right?]
If I fall, I'm takin' you down with me.
[And that's her cue to drag him to the ice. Maybe it's not difficult to learn. If he can craft weapons out of rubbish, balancing on a pair of skates should be easy, right?]
[And drag she does! She flashes him a triumphant look and pulls him towards the skate rental booth, which he is going to end up paying for because we're in Stepford and you're the breadwinner of the family, hahahaha. One gentleman's pair and three for the ladies, given that Ellie and Effy should try, too.]
You'll be fine. We'll be skating circles around you, of course, but you'll still be fine.
You'll be fine. We'll be skating circles around you, of course, but you'll still be fine.
[Aaron is dressed in a warm black coat, something he otherwise would never have worn. Initially he had felt that it wasn't right but it had been quickly been removed from his mind by castle magic. He leans towards the fence which runs around the ice rink. He got a small smile on his lips as he watches the people skate pass him. He feels content. But he would probably not try it himself, his skills are less than desirable.]
[He's not sure what his job is here in Stepfordisa, but it must pay well considering how his family dresses. Joel goes through the charade and hands the skates off, looking at his own pair like it's going to come to life and bite him. It's just that the blades are so thin and he's so big.
But he does it. Sort of. He takes two steps out onto the ice and ends up clinging to the outer edge of the rink instead of venturing forth. Maybe he'll just stay here.]
Any tips, Tess?
[Turns out it's not easy if you've never done it before. He imagines cracking the ice when he goes down.]
But he does it. Sort of. He takes two steps out onto the ice and ends up clinging to the outer edge of the rink instead of venturing forth. Maybe he'll just stay here.]
Any tips, Tess?
[Turns out it's not easy if you've never done it before. He imagines cracking the ice when he goes down.]
[Katniss had slipped away from the rest of the family to sneak in some shopping for the kids and of course, for her sister and brother-in-law. She was singing under her breath as she slung her little black purse on her shoulder, wandering into the Toy Store, the Dress Shop, and of course the Pipe shop. Just trying to find something for everyone.]
[Church comes in, all smiles, packages and bags from his Christmas shopping tucked under his arm. He nods politely at Silva before setting his shopping down on the floor and ordering a coffee to warm up with.]
[Dairine had been going to get some hot cocoa herself when she notices Silva sitting nearby.
Welp. How to proceed. So far she had been ignoring his journal entries, not wanting to deal with the man who killed Bond and angry at herself for not realizing how dangerous he was sooner. Honestly, if not the blood soaked outfit he arrived in, his mother obsession should have been a tip off. Hadn't there been an old horror film with something like that? Anyway, ignoring him forever would seem just as suspicious as outright attacking him.
So Dairine decides to act natural, as though nothing had happened. She isn't sure how far feigning ignorance would take her, but it seemed like a good option. Better not to let on how much you know when said murderer is right there. She walks past him, places an order for two hot cocoas, and stands waiting at a respectable distance. She is keeping an eye on Silva though. Subtly.]
Welp. How to proceed. So far she had been ignoring his journal entries, not wanting to deal with the man who killed Bond and angry at herself for not realizing how dangerous he was sooner. Honestly, if not the blood soaked outfit he arrived in, his mother obsession should have been a tip off. Hadn't there been an old horror film with something like that? Anyway, ignoring him forever would seem just as suspicious as outright attacking him.
So Dairine decides to act natural, as though nothing had happened. She isn't sure how far feigning ignorance would take her, but it seemed like a good option. Better not to let on how much you know when said murderer is right there. She walks past him, places an order for two hot cocoas, and stands waiting at a respectable distance. She is keeping an eye on Silva though. Subtly.]
[Connor is very pointedly ignoring the sleigh and is instead petting the horses. Horses are the best, don't hate.
Continuing the trend of the castle making him wildly uncomfortable, he's also dressed in standard fashions of the day. A stocking hat and a matching scarf and a peacoat. But the important part is that there are horses and this is the most calm he's felt all week.]
Continuing the trend of the castle making him wildly uncomfortable, he's also dressed in standard fashions of the day. A stocking hat and a matching scarf and a peacoat. But the important part is that there are horses and this is the most calm he's felt all week.]
[ It's always nice to greeted by a friendly smile he thinks. He returns a smile back at him before he speaks.]
Nothing like a warm drink after a long day at the shops ... don't you agree my friend?
Nothing like a warm drink after a long day at the shops ... don't you agree my friend?
[Stepford Silva has no memory of that event and is just blissfully unaware of any possible hate directed towards him.
However he does catch Dairine watching him for a split second. He gives her a polite little wave. Manners are very important to the man.]
However he does catch Dairine watching him for a split second. He gives her a polite little wave. Manners are very important to the man.]
Edited 2013-12-19 17:42 (UTC)
Absolutely. Much as I love this time of year, it's nice to have something to help take the chill off.
[Church folded his coat carefully and set it and his hat on the stool next to him.]
[Church folded his coat carefully and set it and his hat on the stool next to him.]
[ He does know immediately what that means, and he's laughing a little as he reaches down to lift her up. ]
Well, if you insist.
[ Lee's trying to sound put out, but instead he's just smiling. It's sort of impossible not to-- he loves this time of year. ]
Well, if you insist.
[ Lee's trying to sound put out, but instead he's just smiling. It's sort of impossible not to-- he loves this time of year. ]
[She has to laugh too at Lee's tone, because everyone in a five mile radius would know there's no possible way Lee could ever so no to Clementine. He never stood a chance.]
Don't let her put you out too much, Lee.
Don't let her put you out too much, Lee.
[She laughs, slow to even get on the bench –– lace-up boots take so much longer to change out of. But she's up eventually, watching him fumble like a toddler learning to walk.]
Don't step, glide.
[And then she's up beside him, a little tentative at first but quickly finding herself. It's just like riding a bike –– once you start, you never forget. She links an arm with him.]
You never tried rollerblading, Texas?
Don't step, glide.
[And then she's up beside him, a little tentative at first but quickly finding herself. It's just like riding a bike –– once you start, you never forget. She links an arm with him.]
You never tried rollerblading, Texas?
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