[35] Video | December is for celebrating (and distracting myself)

[notarrowette]

[Hello, Barge! Have a dose of forced cheer! Someone's trying to trick herself into a good mood. People who know her well may catch that she's acting a little strange.]
First of all: Happy Hannukah to everyone who celebrates! I know it's the second day, but the thought still counts, right? I don't actually know much about it. Anyone feel like

Comments

[young_idealist]

Well, Sgt. Howie and I are meeting on Sundays to light Advent candles and pray. I don't know what else he is planning.

[notarrowette]

I saw! I'm definitely coming. I haven't done Advent things in years, but I remember it.

[young_idealist]

That is wonderful. I will be very glad to see people there other than me and the sergeant.

[notarrowette]

My father used to take me to church when I was little. I remember the Christmas season being my favorite. I'm Cissie, by the way.

Private

[mrs_persson]

Everything all right, Cissie?

Private

[notarrowette]

[Time for an awkward laugh! CURSES, FOILED AGAIN. I should clearly not answer tags when I'm punchy.]

I'm fine! [AVOID, AVOID. ...More seriously, even though talking about that flood makes her edgy:]

How are you? That flood was... something else. Is O'Brien all right?

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

[Not believing you for a second, Ciss.]

O'Brien's as far from all right as I've seen him in quite some time. Becoming a bright young twenty-something Inner Party rising star again was not good for his morale, especially coming on the heels of Prefect's departure. I'm worried, I must admit.

Oh, and the only way I could get him to talk was by posing as a member of the Inner Party myself. I'm not particularly proud of this.

Re: Private

[notarrowette]

[...Yes, but the distraction worked. :D]

I don't blame you for being worried. Sometimes these floods make things so much worse.

Is he angry with you for that? I can't really blame you, if he wouldn't talk to you.

[preachyrose]

Not particularly.

[notarrowette]

Somehow I suspected you'd say that. Let me rephrase: where would you like to meet?

[preachyrose]

The CES.

[notarrowette]

All right. I'll meet you up there. Fifteen minutes?

[ichoosefight]

Christmas? Normal? What does that even mean?

[notarrowette]

Excellent question. When I was little it meant church and presents and Santa and all of that stuff. Then it meant Mom and egg nog. And then it meant something else.

[ichoosefight]

Quit it, you're making me all sentimental.

You know, I figure... since we're here, we can make it mean whatever we want.

[notarrowette]

[She laughs.]

Sorry, it's Christmas. Sentimental kind of goes with the territory. ...Not that I miss my mother on egg nog, frankly.

I get that. Are you going to Howie's candle-lighting services? I'm kind of looking forward to them. And I was suggesting to Molly that we decorate our rooms. That's what we did at school. I even almost won the decorating contest once. ...The girl who did had a full size tree in her room. I think that was cheating.

[actuallyagolem]

Hey, thanks! There are eight nights, so getting it right on the second isn't too bad.

And Hanukkah's about lights and miracles and triumphing over evil. And eating fried foods.

[notarrowette]

All of that sounds like pretty awesome things to celebrate, I have to say. And eating fried foods sounds like a great way to celebrate.

[actuallyagolem]

Oh, and being able to celebrate and worship how you please. That part's key.

Come on by to celebrate the eighth night with me and everyone else who shows up. We've been promised doughnuts from Paddy.

[notarrowette]

Okay, see, Hannukah keeps sounding better and better. I'd love to come! And not just for the doughnuts. Thanks!