(Untitled)

[doyousmellfudge]

Arthur Nielsen hates Christmas.

He hates the decorations, he hates the consumerist hype, and he really hates the godawful music that he's been subjected to since Thanksgiving. Coming to work for the Warehouse just added a new layer of horror to the season, what with various solstice- and Christmas-related Artifacts. (Artie still can't listen to "

Comments

[pullsneedles]

"Festivus?" asks a young teenage boy who has plenty of grievances to share.

[doyousmellfudge]

"Yes. December 23rd. It's an alternative to the materialist holidays that are generally associated with this time of year."

[pullsneedles]

"Oh. Alternative to that Christmas holiday I had heard about, I guess?"

He takes a seat.

"So I get to air my grievances and get a drink half off? Where do I even begin?"

[doyousmellfudge]

"How should I know? I don't know you, never even met you."

[pullsneedles]

"Fair enough. I'm Lucas and I'm sick and tired of people at home calling me a crybaby just because I spent more than ten seconds crying when my mom died three years ago."

Newly awakened psychic powers or not, that still doesn't make any sense to his mind.

"Is that grievance enough?"

[doyousmellfudge]

"It--well, it's a good start," says Artie. "What can I get you?"

[pullsneedles]

"A root beer float with chocolate ice cream would be great, Mister...?"

[doyousmellfudge]

"Nielsen. Arthur Nielsen. Call me 'Artie.'"

[pullsneedles]

"Okay, Mister Artie," he says. "And things have gotten better for me since then. It's just still hard sometimes 'cause I miss her every day, you know?"

[doyousmellfudge]

Artie nods somberly. "I know."

...oh, right, he's supposed to be making a root beer float, isn't he? He catches himself and heads for the soda fountain.

[pullsneedles]

With chocolate ice cream!

"And things got more complicated at home. But I think I've had enough grievances for the night."

[doyousmellfudge]

Artie shrugs as he fills the glass with root beer. "Well, y'know, I'm not going anywhere."

[pullsneedles]

"Well, it's kind of weird after. Like, people who look like men but they have pink hair and wear dresses weird."

[doyousmellfudge]

Artie snorts a laugh as he pulls out a pint container of ice cream. "You've never been to San Francisco, have you?"

[pullsneedles]

He softly laughs.

"Nope. Never been anywhere outside of the Nowhere Islands. Barely been outside of Tazmily except to see Grandpa."

[doyousmellfudge]

"The...hm. I don't think I know where those are."