text | un: v-nikiforov

[genice]

I don't know about the ship's calendar, but I'm going to keep one following the Gregorian calendar back on Earth. That winter themed celebration last night with the sudden intrusive gift problem I faced today reminds me of North American Christmas, so I'm counting today as December 25th!

( happy birthday to himself, he guesses? )

Speaking of, did anyone else find unexpected packages left in their room overnight? Maybe even something alive? I've spent all day trying to figure out what this thing is or what it eats, but even the people who pass as veterinarians here swear they've never seen anything like it.

[ Attachment: 12yHu84.jpg ]

( the attached image is of a brown, poodle-fur tribble wearing a flower crown of yellow daffodils. in the background, an actual poodle can be seen sniffing at the tribble. )

Comments

un: cpt andor

[ouzel]

What is North American Christmas?

There were no packages in my room overnight.

[genice]

Hm, how to explain? It's a celebration for friends and family that seems to involve singing, decorating trees, and gift exchanges. Sometimes it's religious, other times it's not.

Ah, well, this makes this all the more strange. You're welcome to one of these flower crowns if you want one.

( half serious, but mostly because he wasn't expecting to be left a card and gifts without ever seeing anyone come in. )

[ouzel]

So a gift exchange?

I don't know what I would do with it. [ A pause. ] Actually, I will take it.

[genice]

Yes, if not always an equal one. There tend to be a number of gifts exchanged from what I know. Not to mention a tradition with a man named Santa Claus distributing presents to children around the world for some reason. I think he has lists based on behaviour?

New Years is a bigger holiday in my country. We exchange gifts then.

Hah, great! Have any preferences about colours?

[ouzel]

That sounds interesting. Gift exchange holidays are usually fun, if you have people to exchange them with.

What does celebrating New Years detail?

How many do you have?

gently lowers face into hands

[genice]

Yes! They are. In the end, it's up to use to build those relationships to have those people we want to exchange with, even when the ones we thought we had are gone.

Oh! So many little things! We set up trees for New Years, decorated with lights and ornaments and stars on top, or anything else you like. We do gift exchanges with friends and family then. There's older legends involved there, with Father Frost and his granddaughter, but that's more for the children. Presents can be left under the tree at a friends, or brought over on New Years! Whatever works best. There are lots of salads and food to eat and champagne or other sparkling wines to drink. A bunch of people listen to the chimes of the clock in Kremlin at midnight. It's a great time to make a wish! The more dramatic way being where you write your wish on paper, burn it over champagne while the clock chimes, and drink it all down. The less dramatic is you simply make a wish in your own heart. Then there are the fireworks after midnight that can go on for quite a while! Big shows, or the small ones people shoot off in the streets.

I count seven, one in each of the colours of the rainbow.

[ouzel]

It sound as if you really enjoy this holiday. It does sound nice, however. How long from now is New Years?

[ To put it lightly, but Cassian is intrigued. ]

If I took...three of them, off your hands, would that be alright?

[genice]

( Cassian, join him in his celebration of the New Year. There's literally nothing to lose (except watch the ship head right into Event Hellrizon, whoops?) )

In another seven ship-day cycles! If I'm celebrating anything, it's going to be the New Year. You're welcome to join me! I can even try making one of the usual salads if I can track down the closest ingredients. You think it's challenging making familiar dishes in foreign countries, it's the same thing all over again in foreign space.

Hah, why not? That's all right with me. Stop by anytime and pick any three you like!

[ouzel]

That doesn't sound like a bad idea. Let me know when and where you're going to be holding these festivities or if you need help with cooking.

Foreign planets fall prey to the same issues, I'm afraid.

Where are you?

( un: apollo )

[aploun]

I did get a [ Does he call it a gift?????? He doesn't know. ] gift? too. No real idea what either one are meant for. Is "North American" the same as "United States of America?"

[genice]

What were yours, if that's not too much to ask? There was this purring creature, then several flower crowns of all things left here.

North American would include the United States as well as Canada, as far as I know in my time.

[aploun]

Yeah, I got one of those, too. Hang on.

[ Give him a second. Lee isn't a stupid man and he did figure out how to take pictures with this thing ( and it's quite cool ), but he has to find where the fuzzball went in order to take a pic. Eventually he finds where it got to and a picture is taken of it—grey with a weird design on the back that Lee still hasn't quite figured out because it looks like a fork???—and a pamphlet beside it that reads: POCKET COPY OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION. ]

I don't know what the furry thing is, and I don't know why I got a copy of this. I mean, it was an interesting read, but there was no United States where I come from.

[genice]

( he's trying to decide why in the world anyone really wants to hand out any edition of the US constitution, particularly when it's not even where Lee's from. then again, why is Victor rolling in flower crowns? the blue one gives him pause; blue roses that look uncannily like the crown of roses he'd worn back ten plus years ago, winning the European Championships. )

Is that a marking on your furry creature?

Huh. It's not some indirect reference to anything familiar at all?

[aploun]

[ Lee has no idea.

Well, he has a partial idea, but it's a little uncomfortable to think about. ]

Yeah, no idea what it is, though.
But, no, not really. I mean, the United States wasn't something I knew of back where I come from. The only thing I can connect this to is it's laws, I guess. And I always wanted to be a lawyer.

[genice]

What kept you from being able to pursue law?

[aploun]

It just... wasn't in the cards for me. I joined the military instead.

[genice]

Were you still in active service before you were pulled in here?

TEXT, UN: ░░░░░░

[doxing]

Feliz navidad ... I didn't receive anything but I know what your new friend is

I don't know how you came across one considering the fact that they're fictional creatures from a show/movie franchise. Hang onto that thing because it's probably worth over 6 figures to the right fan

[genice]

Yes, feliz navidad! It's nice to see you again, friend in the shadows.

I wish I knew! What sneaky gift givers we have around here. Though do you know what these kinds of creatures eat?

[doxing]

Not exactly an expert on animals plata. Since it looks like a small mammal though ... Vegetables?

Try lettuce or something

[genice]

I'll leave some out on a plate. Some water, too. How does it move? It doesn't have any limbs that we could find...

Not the most comfortable of surprises to wake up to find in a room.

[doxing]

Looks like a hairball your dog coughed up, if we're being honest with each other Vic

[genice]

Nonsense!

It's more like fur clippings after he's been shaved.

( a little amused? yes. yes he is. it does not prevent the creature from being both ugly and cute and also, well, disturbing. it purrs. and coos?! )

[doxing]

You're the dog salon kind of man, aren't you ...

[genice]

Yes! Unfortunately, there are not many good places for this here that I've found yet. Don't worry, Makkachin, I won't fail you...!