Blueprints 008: O Holy Night~

[hardhat_truckie]

Backdated to December 24th
(It's Christmas eve, and Engie's just brooding over his cornflakes when he hears the next broadcast. He stares at the TV again, conflicted emotions battling against each other as memories flood back into him...)

Phone, filtered to the fakes he knows:

Hey, you lot there? Are ya...are ya alright?

Action: Around Mayfield(

Comments

[heartmaestro]

[When she hears someone at the door, she only peeks a single eye out of the doorway.]

Mister Engineer...?

[hardhat_truckie]

(He gives her a very weak smile.)

Merry Christmas, Miss Kotomi. I've...I've gotcher somethin'. An'...an' I wanna say sorry. For what happened.

((OOC: Can we handwave that he basically just thought she was a fake and ignored her?))

[heartmaestro]

Oh, um...it's alright. It's not like it was a secular event...

Thank you.

((Sure o/))

[hardhat_truckie]

(Engie hands her the wrapped gift, but he'll stick around to check whether she's OK.)

Are...are ya alright? Nobody tried ta, tried ta kill ya did they?

[imjustpicky]

[Action - Around Town]

[Picky's quick to open the door when he hears someone knocking on it. He's in his pajamas and he has a mouth full of chocolate, and he's very quick to try and swallow it when he sees who it is.]

Nnngh! [Om nom chew gobble gobble snarf GULP] Engie!

[He's beaming. He's happy. Because everything's okay now... right?]

[hardhat_truckie]

(Boy is Engie relieved to see you look so happy. He nearly wants to give you a hug, but he settles for a pat on the head instead. He doesn't know whether he deserves to hug you, not after all that's happened.)

Merry Christmas, son! I've got a lil' something for ya.

(He hands over the wrapped gifts and watches Picky's expression carefully.)

[imjustpicky]

[A pat on the head is fine enough with him. Engie's acting right again, and he couldn't be happier.

Oh wait, yes he could, THERE IS A PRESENT. Picky gasps, and starts to reach out for them.]

For me? Really?!

Wait, wait, hold on! [And he bolts back into the house and to the tree, rummaging around for the gift he had gone and gotten Engie. He returns with it, held in both hands. It's actually very nicely wrapped. (He probably had some help.)]

I've got one for you, too!

[hardhat_truckie]

Awww, ya didn't need too! But thanks Fi-, I mean, Picky.

(The name is whispered. He doesn't know whether the insane person who attacked Pokey, and Pokey's friend, knows that Picky was his younger brother and that he looked like this.)

Umm...guess I gotta ask. What do ya want me ta call ya from now on?

[action]

[bye_to_yer_head]

*Sniper is a bit unfamiliar with the whole 'gift exchange' aspect of Christmas, so he didn't get Engie anything.*

Heya Truckie. What's with th' wheelbarrow?

[hardhat_truckie]

(He waves back happily.)

Howdy Snipes! Merry Christmas to ya! Here.

(And there's Sniper's Chrissy present, all wrapped up.)

[bye_to_yer_head]

*He tentatively takes the package.*

Roight. Christmas. Uhm, whats with th' box?

*Sniper has never celebrated American Christmas.*

[hardhat_truckie]

Oh, Australian Christmas is different, ain't it?

Well, most of the world celebrates Christmas by givin' presents ta their friends an' family. Ya don't have ta be Christian fer that, an' it's a great way of sayin' thank you ta others.

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa opens the door, looking calmer and happier than she has in over a week. ]

Hey, Happy Christmas, come on in - lunch is almost ready!

[hardhat_truckie]

Merry Christmas to ya too!

Doc, I know I said that I'll be over for lunch but...well, one of the people I care about in this town, she's gone missin' ever since this whole mess started. She ain't been home since 'bout a week ago, an' nobody's seen her since. I...

I owe it to her. I need ta know that she's OK. An' I need ta say sorry.

I'll swing by after I've found her, but I don't know how long that'll take. M'sorry Doc. But before I head out...

(He picks up her gift from the wheelbarrow; it's the last one, actually.)

...this is for you. For bein' a friend ta me.

[ooeeooahah]

Oh, of course! and bring her by if you find her, I'll likely still have food.

[ Ilsa accepts the package, and dashes to the tree to grab a small, square package. ]

Here, you might need this.

[ Inside is an over-sized bandanna, with the design being Kipling's Hymn of Breaking Strain written in red ink, in concentric circles. He probably cannot see the blessing of protection on it. ]

Keep safe.

[hardhat_truckie]

(A good thing that he can't see it too. If he knew Ilsa used magic on it, he'd be reluctant to accept it, Christmas gift or no. Magic isn't something he's comfortable with.)

Thank ya kindly Doc, an' Merry Christmas to ya. If I find her, I'll bring her over.

[nosoul_nomind]

[Action]

[Barton has spent the entirety of the event outside camping on Makeout Point. Used to living outside, she's been doing well enough. It's been a long time since she had to worry about eating or the cold while camping though. She has no idea what the TV report said or anything like that, so she's sitting there near a fire she built, trying to keep warm and awake. If Engie approaches, she might not hear him at first.]

[hardhat_truckie]

(Welp, he'd gone over to Barton's house after he'd delivered the rest of the presents. He owed her a giant apology, but he didn't want to rush it. It'd be better to get the present-giving done and over with first, and then speak with the teen. However, she wasn't home, nor had she been home ever since a week ago when the event started. He'd taken to searching around Mayfield for her ever since. Makeout Point was really low on his list of places to look at, but when he spotted that smoke trail up there he had made a beeline for it. He's not very subtle though; there's lots of branch snapping, leaves crackling and a few "dangnabits!" and "darn its!" as he makes his way up.)

[nosoul_nomind]

[Not sure the whole ordeal is over or not, Barton is on her feet immediately at the sounds of the familiar voice, hatchet in hand. She silently waits for him to appear before she makes a move, though.]

[hardhat_truckie]

(When he finally stumbles upon the clearing, it's literally just that; he trips over a root and falls down face forward.)

Dangnabit!!

(With a few twigs and leaves sticking out of his clothing and hair, he looks really comical.)