Closed to Ranch + Friends | Holiday Spirit

[frenchkissed]

Who: Eddie, Sleeper, Dylan, Diana, Ripley, and whoever else ends up stopping by.
What: Holidays at the Ranch!
When: All through December
Where: Little Love
Content Warnings: N/A

 

holidays at the ranch

( on the first of december, vemon woke eddie up at exactly 12:00AM and told him that it is time for christmas.

and eddie hasn't slept since.

all throughout the month, the ranch is alive with holiday movies, 1960s christmas carols, baking, mysterious elves that change places each night, horses decorated in little reindeer antlers... it's quite the time, really. venom wants to ensure that everyone knows the true meaning of christmas, which means no one is allowed to leave their ugly sweater and no one is allowed to remove their santa hat.

ever.

the goings on around the ranch this month range from the mundane, like picking a tree for the living room, to the extreme, like venom's tradition of sacrificing a man in cold blood each year, as is tradition on klyntar. but, suffice it to say, there's plenty to do this holiday season.  )

Comments

Eddie + Venom | OTA

[frenchkissed]

baking

( let the record show that eddie brock never claimed to know how to cook. like, at all. burger? sure. hot dogs? easy. microwave mac 'n' cheese? perfect. but whatever recipe venom pulled off of pinterest was clearly far beyond their combined skill level, and venom shouldn't even be allowed that close to the stove, considering, so it's no surprise the diane's perfect, sweet, homey kitchen in currently in flames. )

Oh, God. Ohgodohogodohgod—

GOD CANNOT HELP US!
IT IS BECAUSE WE DID NOT COMPLETE THE SACRIFICE!

The kitchen isn't on fire because of a dumb sacrifice; it's because you think you know everything!

THOSE INSTRUCTIONS WERE FOR BABIES.

( the best thing venom can do here is pull back and let eddie handle this on his own, because symbiotes and fire aren't exactly friends, and eddie is a big boy who can figure this out by, apparently, panicked shouting. )

resting

( hosting a secret santa felt like a great idea at the time — and, really, it still is. but eddie may have misjudged how much work goes into a thing like that. on top of helping diana with her burgeoning new business, eddie is becoming a whole new person.

it's kind of neat.

but all that work leaves him more than a little burned out by the end of the day, so claiming the couch for a nice, corny holiday movie sounds about perfect.

come join him! )

singing

( venom's taste in music is like that of an old grandpa. eddie's gotten used to it, but he doesn't know how an alien comes from outer space with a love for barry manilow and ella fitzgerald. they're before eddie's time, which means they're super before venom's time... time on earth, that is. venom loves to remind him that he's, like, a million years old, which means this music is honestly afterhis time.

regardless, venom insists on dragging at least one of his housemates (or a non-housemate, if he can't find anyone to join him) around the town to carol with him because, quote, IT IS TRADTION, EDDIE! DO NOT BE A SQUARE, end quote. )

It's not unusual to be loved
by anyone
It's not unusual to have fun
with anyooooone
But when I see you hanging about
with anyone
It's not unusual to see me crryyyyyyyyy
Oh, how I want to die!

( your turn. )

Fire

[codicies]

[ Dylan comes charging in with the wool blanket he'd been curled up in, throwing it over a good chunk of the flames. ]

Eddie! The fire extinguisher! The white one, not the red one!

[frenchkissed]

( oh. hi, dylan. )

We have more than one???

( okay, he's going for it, but he makes extra sure he grabs the white one, as specified. it's venom who grabs the red one, because two are better than one, and they both point-aim-and-shoot at the flames that were once christmas cookies. )

( resting )

[exasperation]

[ ripley comes by with a blanket. ]

I thought you might. Like one. Or company, unless you're too tired, which is fine too.

[frenchkissed]

C'mon, we'd never be too tired to hang out with you. ( not counting those occasional times where eddie was too tired to hang out with ripley and fell asleep mid-television-viewing, but what are the odds of that happening here?

he scooches over to make room for ripley to get comfortable. )

Fair warning, though. This might be the most generic Christmas movie of all time.

[exasperation]

Aren't they all generic Christmas movies?

[ which is fine by ripley. he settles himself on the couch next to eddie, shifting the blanket so it's covering both of them. ]

[frenchkissed]

Yeah, but this one might be extra generic. Like, discount bin in the discount bin in the knock-off Wal-Mart levels of generic.

( adequately draped in warmth, he turns to face him as best he can without undoing all of ripley's hard work. )

Did you really mean what you said on that whole pour your heart out thing, or was that just the Christmas spirit talking?

[exasperation]

[ oh. maybe he should bury himself under the blanket and never come out. that sounds like a plan. fool proof. ]

I mean. Yeah.

Singing. Well, if nobody else is gonna do it...

[sixthdeadliest]

[Six was just minding his own business, checking over his list for the "would be nice" items. He's glad he started prepping so early since a snowstorm is supposed to come through soon, and he'd rather not freeze. (Too many bad memories associated with snow and winter.) So he's just walking down the sidewalk in town, heading towards the general store.]

[And then some goo monster grabs him and yanks him in while singing "It's Not Unusual". He freezes up to throttle down the instinct to extend a magna blade and stab.]

...Absolutely not.

diana | ota

[monomachy]

i. there'll be parties for hosting [gathering supplies]

[In the past few days, Diana has learned quite a bit about Christmas; from elves to men, it seems to be a holiday steeped in magic but also in a pervasive cheer. During a small break in the blizzard, Diana heads into town to stock up on provisions. Every street, every storefront is covered in lights, baubles, and garlands. The music over the speakers is infectious, and before she knows it, Diana is humming along to the melodies. Despite the storm and the several feet of snow making travel difficult, she's able to make it into a grocery store and fill a cart. It's a strange assortment of food and drinks, but it's--what do people say? Slim pickings. Any familiar faces she sees will be immediately invited to the ranch, with the promise of safe passage through the snowy streets.

As she finally starts towards home, it's started flurrying again. Knowing she has to be quick so she doesn't get caught in the storm, she picks up the pace (and possibly her companion) to make the trip go by faster. Once safely inside the ranch, she stomps snow off her boots at the door before depositing all of groceries, etc. in the kitchen. Her eyes narrow slightly, and she calls out to no one in particular:]

Why do I smell smoke?

ii. marshmallows for toasting [lumberjack time]

[It is tradition, she's been told, to have a tree in the house for the holiday. The preference, it seems, is for a live tree, and there's even a special base for it to allow it to be watered while it's inside. After it's explained to her that the tree gets decorated and presents stowed beneath it, she agrees--but she will, of course, have to cut it down herself.

So it is that she's trekking through the snow, companion(s) in tow, axe over her shoulder, scouting for a suitable tree. A likely candidate rises up over the other trees, and a grin flashes over her face. She cocks her head.]

What do you think?

iii. and caroling out in the snow [wildcard]

[ooc; i'm down for any holiday fun! hit me up via pm or on plurk at watchet for plotting if you want.]

( ii )

[exasperation]

[ ripley is all bundled up, arms crossed to keep himself warm. ]

I mean, your choice. You're the one getting it. I have no upper body strength to contribute here.

[monomachy]

[Diana laughs, but without any malice. She is the one who is going to carry it back to the house, so he has a point.]

I've never had a Christmas tree, though. I want the opinion of someone who has.

[exasperation]

I mean, they're all kind of same. I guess we should make sure it fits inside the house. That's key.

[monomachy]

[She hums to herself for a moment, considering. It's fair advice. After a few seconds, she nods decisively.]

This one it is. It'll take just a moment.

[Here comes the axe; watch out for flying woodchips.]

[exasperation]

[ geez, that kind of strength is insane. ]

Gathering Supplies

[sixthdeadliest]

I'd be more shocked if you didn't at this point.

[Seriously, people with powers tended to be a little...off...based on his experiences. Not that he had room to talk and he knew it.]

[Six had done most of his prep work in November and had been intending to pick up some "would be nice" items from his list. He'd decided to help Diana out with getting at least some of her list sorted.]

[He sets down the bags he'd been carrying for her and glances out the window.]

Probably should head back to the farmhouse soon. Don't want to get snowed in and waste your supplies when I've got plenty of my own.

[monomachy]

[She wipes her hands on her pants, frowning a bit as she looks out the window as well.]

It's pretty bad out there. You are welcome to stay, until it lets up.

[The house had been too big for just her when she'd originally bought it, and even with the additions of Eddie and his family, there is still room to spare.]

[sixthdeadliest]

[Six pulls out his phone.]

Let me see what the weather tracker says. If it looks like this will pass through quickly, I'll stay. Otherwise, I really don't want to put an unnecessary strain on your supplies.

[monomachy]

[She waves a hand dismissively, and begins unpacking her groceries.]

You would be no burden. If it comes to it, I am a very good hunter.

[sixthdeadliest]

Appreciated.

[Might as well not argue.]

Looks like a small band for right now. Once it passes through, I'll head back while the weather's temporarily clear.

Sleeper [OTA]

[definecat]

I. A pre-Christmas Massacree

Sleeper usually doesn't mind what Eddie comes up with for fun, but the Elf on the Shelf is getting to them. They've already managed to abscond with and dispose of two of the monsters, but apparently that wasn't enough of a hint. So this time they've decided to play the cat card and are purposefully lounging in the pile of savagely sabotaged stuffing, with a printout of this article next to them.

"I put up with a lot in this family, but seriously? I'm done."

II. Deck the Halls (and everything else)

Sleeper enjoys decorating. It's not often you get an excuse to practice wall-crawling and worming through small spaces to make sure the bazillion twinkle lights are being used to maximum effect. So the not-quite-cat is definitely helping make sure nobody needs a ladder for anyting.

Or maybe you've caught them in their more humanoid guise, doing a little heavy lifting. Those wicker deer ain't gonna move themselves. Needless to say, if there's a spot to make a little more festive, they're going to help with that.

III. Family Time?

[Got an idea, need an ooze? Just toss it in here.]

I

[frenchkissed]

"Put up with a lot?" Eddie gets the feeling that something is being hinted at here... "A lot of what? Lasagna and belly rubs?"

And then he picks up the fun holiday fluff piece of questionable journalistic value and integrity. It's missing cites for its sources, but we can excuse that. What we can't excuse is the premise.

"So, in theory, everyone should get gifts? Even cats who assassinate Santa's helpers?"

[definecat]

"I doubt I have the highest body count in the room. Even if you count the mice."

A pause. "At least I didn't bring out the one on the physics of why Santa must be dead if he ever existed."

[frenchkissed]

"...Yeah, really encapsulates the Christmas spirit, dead Santa does."

Gently, Eddie goes about the dangerous task of extracting Sleeper from the copious amounts of stuffing in on order to hold them in his arms like he would any other cat that also happened to be his child from another dimension.

"You can't kill the Elves, bud. They're just doing their job."

[definecat]

Unlike a real cat, Sleeper at least made sure they were anti-static so the fluff doesn't actually cling to them. It's not like they were planning on tracking elf guts everywhere. The mess is relatively contained.

"Being stalked in your own home is not an appropriate job. Should I file a restraining order instead?" they ask, mildly, even as they allow themself to be picked up and held. "You need to stop stressing out about doing things right and just be you. You're already the best dads in this world."

And yes, Eddie, Sleeper smells how nervous you get sometimes.

"Pretty sure both Dylan and I are too old to really believe in Santa. Unless he actually shows up. Empirical evidence might sway things."