You can only avoid kisses for so long...

[fredless]

Is everyone feeling as behind this Christmas as I am?

[Alright, and to be fair that might have something to do with the inevitable bouts of kissing that come with said season. It's hard to believe this will be her fifth year of bells and and birds and fairies and...

Well, maybe it didn't used to matter so much? But her kissing's gotten a bit more exclusive of late. Something Fred doesn't mind one bit.

Still, there's gifts to be found (both the Christmas and birthday variety) and not all of them are as simple as 'something sharp' (Elektra). So after bundling up against the weather Fred decides to finally brave town]

Comments

[alias_savant]

[Neal is in the lobby, either on the way out or as she's making her way back again. He still can't go outside due to the terms of his loss, and for once, he isn't taking up the lobby space by working on artwork.

He just went for a walk, and this walk happened to land him in the lobby. He's waiting for adventure.


... He probably shouldn't try to tempt fate, but at the moment, he doesn't really care.]

[fredless]

[Fred's a bit piled high with packages, bags and boxes she already rearranged once to open the door. There's a very good chance she'll be running into him now]

[alias_savant]

[He spots the mountains of packages and makes his way closer, coming at her from the side so she could see him.]

Do you need a hand?

[fredless]

[He's vaguely familiar, in a sort of passing way. Fred blinks at him]

I'm not sure what'll happen if we try and move any of these.

[alias_savant]

[He looks up at the pile with a bit of a frown, before shrugging.]

If we move the right bag, it shouldn't be too complicated.

[fredless]

[A bit of shifting and swaying and the handle of said bag becomes accessible]

[alias_savant]

[He reaches up and takes the handle, lowering it slowly from the pile.]

There. That wasn't so hard.

[fredless]

[Have a bright, wide smile emerging]

Thanks...

[alias_savant]

[Neal firmly approves of bright, wide smiles.]

No problem. It's the least I could do.

[fredless]

Well... [the smile is still there] It's still more than a lot've people would have done.

[alias_savant]

[He keeps his smile as well. It's making him feel a little bit better.]

Where are we heading?

[spongetastic]

Probably. I keep thinking the castle's going to do something strange, like the last two years.

[fredless]

[Fred laughs]

I keep checking my closet, but it looks like we're in the clear.

[spongetastic]

I don't know, I wouldn't mind something like Paris again.

[fredless]

[There's a bit there. A stretch of silence and a smile. That's definitely a good memory resurfacing. Possibly two or three]

Paris was good.

[spongetastic]

It was. And who knows? We might get to go somewhere nice this time, too.

[fredless]

There's always the option of making 'here' nice too, you know. It's Christmas.

[spongetastic]

Holidays don't usually turn out well for me, but it's worth a try.

Peter

[fredless]

It's going alright this year, isn't it? First Christmas as a married man?

Fred

[spongetastic]

You're right. And I'm not going to let this place ruin it.

Peter

[fredless]

It's going to be a good Christmas, Peter. I can feel it.

Fred

[spongetastic]

[a soft laugh] I'm sure you're right.

Peter

[fredless]

[There's another unseen smile]

Good luck, Peter.

Fred

[spongetastic]

Thanks, Fred.

[pompous_today]

Not so much "behind" as "a little afraid to step out of my room" at this point.

[fredless]

[There's a sound. Almost a sympathetic snort]

Trust me, we've all been there.

[pompous_today]

I get the impression that pranks by the castle are a regular holiday occurence, yes.

[fredless]

[Since he seems to have been initiated]

So how many kisses have crept up on you yet?

[pompous_today]

A few more than I would have liked. I have tried to be careful, but it can be hard to avoid, too.

[fredless]

I've been pretty lucky so far this year.

[It's called staying in her room]

[pompous_today]

That is good. I would try to avoid people as much as I could, myself, but that is hard to do in the clinic.

[fredless]

[Yeah, that's a touch on the unfortunate side of things]

Is that where you work?

[pompous_today]

Yes. I was a surgeon back in my world, so I gravitated there.

[fredless]

You know, I think I actually remember Kaylee mentioning that part.

[luthored]

If you're behind, you just need to step it up.

[fredless]

[Freds not offended by the directness]

I knew you'd come along to offer a little motivation.

[luthored]

I can also offer help.

Lana

[fredless]

[That's always welcome]

Mainly I need help sorting out my head at this point. Wesley's birthday sits right up next to Christmas. I want to make sure it feels different.

Fred

[luthored]

How close? As in a day apart?

Lana

[fredless]

Almost. It's the 22nd.

Fred || WOW IS THIS EVEN RELEVANT ANYMORE, I'M SORRY B(

[luthored]

Pretty close. Why don't you just try to combine the two and meet him in the middle? You can put up birthday decorations with Christmas colors and themes, and make him two cakes.

And they wear those cute hats or crowns in England for Christmas, don't they? Get him one of those as a gag present.

Usually in these situations, the best thing you can do is acknowledge the closeness of the dates, and try to find harmony with them rather than prefer one over the other.