Bon Temps, Louisiana [Thursday]

[justwantsquiet]

By the time everyone's portal arrived on the 23rd, Sookie's house was resplendent in typical middle class Christmas joy. She'd baked several more batches of cookies since the prior day, there were garlands wrapping the banisters of her porch, and the tree in the living room was lit up brightly, making the packages below it sparkle a bit

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[trigons_child]

Bon Temps always seemed to mean vampires, blood, violence, and very trashy clothing in Raven's experience, but she was hopeful that this time it would not be so.

Except the trashy clothing if Jono liked it.

She put her presents under the tree and paused to admire the decorations for a moment before heading into the kitchen to greet their hostess.

[justwantsquiet]

"Hi, honey," Sookie said warmly, waving at Raven with an oven-mitted hand. "Want a sugar cookie? They're shaped like Santa."

[trigons_child]

"Hello, Sookie," Raven said, smiling back at her. "Yes, thank you, and thank you again for inviting me to your home for the holiday."

[justwantsquiet]

"Of course," Sookie replied cheerfully. "I mean, I figure -- none of y'all has been here for anything nice yet. And this trip shouldn't even involve trampy outfits!"

Probably.

[glacial_witch]

"Kiss kiss!" Karla called, sticking her head in Sookie's front door. Her arms were loaded with presents (even one for Rilla, sigh), and her face was wreathed in smiles. "We're here!"

They know, Karla. The entire neighborhood is probably aware of that.

"Ooh, your tree is gorgeous! Is there any more room for ornaments?" she asked, bustling inside. "I brought some more to hang."

[justwantsquiet]

"Go for it," Sookie called, peeking out of the kitchen. "Hi! There's cookies in here! Was your portal okay?"

If Karla was cheerful, Sookie was beatific.

[glacial_witch]

"Yay! Thanks, Sookie!" Though she didn't get to work right away. Once the mountain of presents--she and Warren were extravagant on their own. Together, it transcended mere words--was deposited under the tree and her coat hung up on the rack, Karla followed her nose and ears into the kitchen. "Mmmm, cookies! I mean, mmm, hugs for Sookie!" she teased, reaching for a cookie with one hand and hugging Sookie tightly with the other. "Portal was fine. Thanks for the invitation, hon."

[justwantsquiet]

"I know where your loyalties lie," Sookie teased, hugging her with her free arm. "You just came for my cookies. And candy. There's fudge too."

[icecoldfrost]

Emma loved Christmas, and the idea of spending it with friends was making her even more giddy than usual.

She had two large bags, her suitcase, and a picnic basket with her when she came in, somehow managing to juggle it all. The suitcase got set down by the door, the bags of gifts were unloaded to create piles under the tree, and then it was time to make a beeline for the nearest table to unload the oodles of gingerbread men. Bought at a New York bakery, thank you. Emma didn't want to poison anyone accidentally.

"Darlings! I have cookies!"

[justwantsquiet]

"There're cookies in here too!" Sookie called happily. "And fudge!"

[icecoldfrost]

"Fudge!" Emma was easily bribed, and chocolate-things were usually a good place to start. "Have you been baking all week, darling? It smells fantastic in here."

[glacial_witch]

"Oooh, more cookies!" Karla said from where she was hanging delicate ornaments on Sookie's tree. "You should bring them over here to me!"

[rilla_myrilla]

Rilla was hovering (well, not literally, though she wondered if anyone else in the house besides Warren could hover) nervously by the doorway, looking in on Sookie.

"Thank you so much for extending the invitation," she said shyly. "Susan sent this basket of goodies along--she says there can never been too many cookies at the holidays."

[justwantsquiet]

"She," Sookie declared, wiping her hands on her apron before going to give Rilla a hug, "is entirely correct. Thanks for comin', sweetheart. Welcome to the American South."

[rilla_myrilla]

"It's lovely!" Rilla said, glancing around. "It feels like home, but with fewer brothers to steal all the treats."

[justwantsquiet]

"My own brother's not coming," she said with a giggle, "so really, we just have to watch out for the likes of Bobby and Karla and Kennedy."

[life_inshadow]

Tara sniffed the air appreciatively as she came through the door, balancing a duffle over her shoulder. It wasn't exactly like home (back in the days when home was more or less good), but it came close.

"It smells so much like Christmas in here!"

[justwantsquiet]

"Then I'm doing it right!" Sookie said happily, hurrying over to give Tara a hug. Today was kind of a day for demonstrative affection. "Want a cookie? They look like Santa, but not in a weird way."

[life_inshadow]

Tara easily returned the hug. "So not the kind where you feel creepy if you eat his head first?" she asked. "Good. I don't like guilt with my Christmas cookies."

[justwantsquiet]

"Nope! It's just a head," Sookie assured her. "So really, it's hat versus beard, rather than head versus legs." She gave Tara a solemn look. "It's a more humane way."