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

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. ]

[monomachy]

[Please don't be afraid of her!!

In short order, the tree is down and Diana is walking towards him with the axe.]

That wasn't so difficult. Would you mind carrying this back?

[exasperation]

Oh, we don't need to.

[ ripley pulls out his glove and touches the axe. it vanishes immediately. ]

There. It should be back where it's supposed to be.

[monomachy]

[Her brows raise, and she's clearly impressed.]

Convenient.

[So many people's gifts are, she's noticed. Diana turns and wraps her arms around the trunk of the felled tree, preparing to lift it on to her shoulder.]

Watch out.

[Such a pleasant warning for the next moment, in which a woman hoisting a tree up from the earth with little more than a grunt of exertion. She takes a second to balance herself out, then smiles.]

Ready?

[exasperation]

[ wow. just wow. ripley stares. ]

Uhm, yeah. Sure.

[monomachy]

[Without waiting another moment, Diana starts back towards the ranch house, walking slowly so she doesn't jostle the tree too much. After a few minutes, she ventures:]

I hope it will fit through the door...

[exasperation]

What will you do if it doesn't?

[monomachy]

Use it for firewood and try to find another, I suppose.

[exasperation]

Right.

[ he fidgets slightly. ]

Sorry. I'm not very good at. Outdoors stuff.

[monomachy]

[Before long, they're back at the ranch, and Diana is mentally calculating if the tree will fit. She looks briefly at Ripley, and shrugs.]

You have nothing to apologize for. Each person has their own strengths, and we all have weaknesses, too. It is why we must work together.

[exasperation]

I mean, sure but.

You're like doing 95% and I'm doing. 5%.

[monomachy]

[She raises an eyebrow, and begins angling the tree to go through the door.]

But without that 5%, we would not be at 100%, would we?

[exasperation]

Sure, but things usually work fine at 95%. Like an iphone.

[monomachy]

[Luckily, it looks like the tree will fit, and she heaves a little sigh of relief before starting to maneuver it through the door.]

But we are people, not phones. We should strive to be the best we can, as often as we can.

[exasperation]

Right, right. The best.

[ ripley rather settle for mid. if you're mid, you're unnoticeable. ]

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.