13 ♦ And then when those blue snowflakes start falling

[rhapsody_in]

[Bleu is in the hallway by the mess hall, finally wearing appropriate and modern clothes that fit (Amsterdam was a great boon to her), as well as a Christmas sweater. She’s going from decoration display to display, hanging little bells on each of them.]

In the old European tradition, people brought little pine and cedar trees inside for the winter solstice – they were greenery in the dead of winter, a sign of life. They were also reputed to bring in good spirits, which is why people decorated the trees with little bells: the spirits would ring them when they came in.

A silly little superstition, but still a sweet one. [She finishes hanging a bell and pokes it with a fingertip, ringing it.]


Dear Admiral “St. Nicholas,”
A few requests for my friends this winter season:

• Miss Kira Yukimura: vocal and pianoforte sheet music for Puccini, Bellini, and Rossini’s soprano arias, as well as audio recordings.


• My Piper: the Colorman’s obsidian knife.


• Miss Chromie: A fancifully stitched set of fine handkerchiefs.


• Captain Steve Rogers: a huge selection of blank canvases and papers, as well as every color of “Sharpie” they make. And a fine collection of brushes and drawing charcoal.
  
• Loki of Asgard: a blue glass orb to remind him what beauty can look like.


• Mason: give that boy a decent suit and cravat.


• Miss Kara Zor-el: Potted flowers native to her home planet. Preferably types her family kept.


• Vergil, Son of Sparda: a spear made of oak wood, carved in the old Pictish style of decoration.*


• Mr. Mickey Milkovitch: A small collection of those pornography recordings, featuring the actors and situations he’s most attracted to.


• Arthas Menethil, whatever name he goes by: A severed head. I don’t care whose as long as it’s an old criminal weirdo’s.

*Or the shaft, minus the spear head.

Comments

[strangehistorian]

On Azeroth, evergreens are the favored plant of the Earth Mother because they can stay vigilant and alive for her while the other plants are sleeping.

I don't know where the decorating idea came from, but I like it.

[rhapsody_in]

So it's a similar belief. There must be some truth to it.

It's out of pure pleasure. Decorating something is celebrating it.

[strangehistorian]

That's a great insight!

[rhapsody_in]

It's true. No one decorates piles of garbage, do they?

[strangehistorian]

[Giggle.]

No. But their bodies, their homes, their modes of transport...

[rhapsody_in]

Exactly. All worthy of celebration, at least in most cases.

[akweks]

Is that a common tradition? I have not heard of it.

[rhapsody_in]

It's common to decorate trees. Bells are traditional, but most people have forgotten why.

[akweks]

It must be an older tradition, then, if it has been forgotten. But why is it that they bring the trees indoors?

[rhapsody_in]

Because pine and cedar are green in the winter. It's a reminder of life.

[akweks]

[He smiles a little thinly.] It would make more sense to leave them outdoors, I think, where they would be actually living.

[rhapsody_in]

But it's not a holiday unless you kill a small plant or animal.

[akweks]

Is that common to Christian holidays?

[rhapsody_in]

It's common to all holidays. Don't they hunt and feast in your culture?

[akweks]

Well, yes. But hunting is only the focus of one festival.

[rhapsody_in]

Those I've seen like it so much that they do it every time a holiday comes around.

[akweks]

If every holiday is a celebration of hunting, I would think it would lose its importance.

[rhapsody_in]

Well, how do your people celebrate?

[akweks]

It depends on what festival it is. But they will mostly involve games and dancing.

[punched_hitler]

So you're saying maybe I should put bells on my Christmas tree?

[Look he's really proud of having an Actual Christmas Tree, even if the Admiral had to give it to him.]

[rhapsody_in]

I don't think you're going to get many spirits visiting unexpectedly, but yes, you should.

You have a tree? What does it look like?

[punched_hitler]

Probably not. But a couple of bells couldn't hurt, right?

I do - [He grins, then, since he's on video, he does his best not to make her nauseous while pointing the camera behind him, so she can see the seven-foot pine behind him. It's decorated pretty simply, just some lights, but he's really pleased to have it.] Best tree I've ever had.

[rhapsody_in]

Never could.

[Bleu breaks into a bright smile, wrapping her arms around her knees in childlike glee.] It's beautiful! What's your favorite that you've added?

[punched_hitler]

Thanks - I mean, I got it from the Admiral, but he did a good job.

Oh, well... we made the garland. [Mostly just popcorn and wire, but it's not half bad.] I feel like it needs something on top, though.

[rhapsody_in]

The garland... Is that popcorn?

Isn't a star traditional?

[punched_hitler]

[He grins.] You bet. We never could afford lights, but popcorn, we usually managed. I guess it's tradition.

Although so is a star, yeah. I just haven't had time to make one, yet.

[rhapsody_in]

I suppose so, but isn't that usually done outside?

How are you going to do that? Yellow paper?

[punched_hitler]

I guess so, sure. But there's nothing wrong with doing it inside, either, right? No birds to come eat it.

That's what I was thinking. I'm not exactly a sculptor.

[rhapsody_in]

Not at all, when you put it that way. Birds can be a frustration, especially starlings.

Can I help? [Introduce her to the wonders of glitter, Steve.]

[punched_hitler]

You sound like you know from personal experience. I've mostly only dealt with pigeons.

Oh - of course. [Actually, he'd love some help - and ALL THE GLITTER.] I bet between the two of us, we could come up with something really fantastic.

[rhapsody_in]

Oh yes. The horror stories I could tell you, you have no idea.

We can. [She smiles, bright as a star herself.] Are you free now?

[punched_hitler]

Well, misery shared is misery halved, right? [In other words, you can tell him stories if you want.]

Actually - I am, if you are.

[rhapsody_in]

They get in every nook and cranny in the house and nest in them and coat the beams with their droppings. I have to chase them out with a broom.

I am.

[punched_hitler]

Ah - they do sound a lot like pigeons, then. I'll bet they learned to fear you and your broom.

Great - I'll meet you in the art room? Unless you want to see the tree first to get an idea of scale.

[rhapsody_in]

I did my best to make sure they did.

If you prefer, I can come to you.

[punched_hitler]

How's your aim? I'll bet if you threw something up there at 'em, they'd clear out pretty fast, too.

Oh, well, just if you need to see the tree. I probably shouldn't haul it all the way to the art room. [Which... he could, but it would admittedly be ridiculous.]

[velocette]

What do you think of caroling?

[It's not quite an invitation, how he says it; he rarely suggests things at the beginning of a conversation.]

[rhapsody_in]

Do you know the French carols? [Of course she knows much more than those, but it's a starting point.] Bundle up and let's go.

[velocette]

Only two. [For obvious reasons, songs take a while for him to learn; but he enjoys trying to learn them, so it evens out.]

I'll be there soon. [He's up on the deck smoking, but he grinds out the butt and heads down immediately.] Are we caroling anyone specific?

[rhapsody_in]

That's more than enough. Which two? [She wants to hear him sing. No matter how he sounds, she adores a pure love for creativity.]

I had no specific plans. Who needs cheer the most?

[velocette]

[He sings her a few chords of Bel Austre Que J'adore and Vive le Vent which is more or less just 'Jingle Bells'. He finds most things easy to learn, but singing is not his forte...not that he seems to mind being off pitch. This is all for fun.]

Everyone. So we'll pick a room at random.

[rhapsody_in]

[He may not stay in tune, but he sings like he means it, and Bleu smiles from her very core.] I love your voice.

Good. I like this idea.

[velocette]

Level three. You pick the door?

[He takes her by the arm, hooking his elbow against hers, and walks the hall as if they're exploring a winter palace.]

[rhapsody_in]

Let's start at the first and go on until we run out.

[She pulls against him, leaning her head against his shoulder.]

[velocette]

[The first he picks is very much at random, and belongs to someone he can't recall ever meeting: Kylar Stern.]

[rhapsody_in]

Vive le Vent?

[As she begins the song, she takes his hand and clasps it against the base of her throat, letting him feel her sing.

We won't bring up that she simply likes touching him.]