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[maidoforleans]

Characters: Jeanne and OPEN
Location: Holocaust Mall
Rating: G
Time: Dec 20, midday.
Description: One (1) medieval saint attempts to face down contemporary Christmas practices and decorations in order to have a good holiday. It's not working out that well.

Comments

[everdistant]

At the very least, Jeanne was certainly not the only mediaeval personage who had been completely baffled by... well, anything Christmas-related. Everything seemed a far cry from the Advent that Saber was accustomed to so long ago. Would there even be the three Masses on Christmas Day itself?

It was almost a relief to see someone every bit as lost as she was, though Saber immediately rebuked herself sharply for it. It was hardly a proper line of thought for a knight, particularly with regard to a fellow knight.

At least she should greet her fellow Watch member properly. "Good afternoon, my lady."

[maidoforleans]

"And to you." Jeanne bobbed her head in greeting, incredibly thankful to see a familiar face in this sea of confusion. Although it was likely a bad idea to request they form some kind of baffled raiding party, speaking with someone she knew alleviated a tiny piece of her unease.

"Are you hear for the holiday things as well?"

ROFL @ 'baffled raiding party'. That would be *exactly* what it would be

[everdistant]

A slightly embarrassed expression managed to slip past her usual defences, and Saber rubbed the back of her neck as if to dispel the unwelcome feeling.

"Ah... as a matter of fact, yes. I was informed that I should hurry and purchase gifts for those close to me. I must admit a good deal of confusion on this matter."

'onwards for - gifts i guess? man idk'

[maidoforleans]

It seemed that Saber was in a similar situation to her own, which made her expression brighten despite herself. At least she wasn't the only one having difficulty grappling with all this new age confusion.

"I feel the same way. I had thought to come and get some things for the church and my friends, but it seems that quite a lot more has changed than I anticipated."

I'd make a Monty Python joke, but that's a bit passé

[everdistant]

While Saber was not at a complete loss in the modern era -- having spent fourteen days in modern Japan prior to her arrival in Dead City -- this new way of celebrating the holiday left her at a complete loss. Whatever was the purpose of the 'mistle-toe'?

"Indeed. I fear that my own experience is sadly limited... this is the first Advent I have experienced away from Britain apart from an expedition to Rome."

[maidoforleans]

"You are better off than I am, at least - until now I had never been out of France, let alone celebrating a holiday."

And if ever she was feeling her lack of worldly knowledge it was now. Maybe she should have been focusing on this in her reading instead of the flora and fauna of exotic locations she'd been drinking up for the past week.

[everdistant]

"My own knowledge is nevertheless limited... much of what I know is from remaining in this city for some time." As bizarre by her standards as it was. "Still, by observing, I believe I have learned a great deal, even if much still escapes me," she reassured her fellow knight.

Peering at a particularly gaudy Christmas tree ornament, Saber tapped her chin thoughtfully. "However, there are still a great many things that elude my comprehension."

[maidoforleans]

"I think that if we try hard enough, we ought to be able to understand quite a lot." At least, Jeanne hoped so. She wasn't particularly clever or quick to learn, but she was persistent when she got an idea fixed in her head.

Of course, there was plenty to shake her conviction in this particular endeavor. Things like the neon pink tree looming over the ornament Saber was eying. "...perhaps not everything, though."

[everdistant]

While Saber had the benefit of being granted important knowledge of an era prior to being summoned, apparently pink aluminium Christmas trees had not been determined to be 'relevant' by the powers that be. For the Holy Grail War, it wouldn't have been, but Death City was another matter entirely.

It did, however, force her out of her comfort zone and into social situations... and her country had been trying to get her to make more friends.

"A tree made of metal... I would never have imagined such a thing, myself."

[maidoforleans]

"I suppose that it would keep better than one made of wood." Right? That seemed like a plausible explanation, one that she could almost make herself believe might be the right one. After all, if someone was going to put a tree in their house in the first place they might as well keep it around for as long as possible.

[everdistant]

Saber nodded her head slightly. "Yes, that is very true. A real tree would be most impractical."

Which was, in the Servant's mind, the most important thing. What purpose would there be for a troublesome decoration, otherwise?

[maidoforleans]

"Although I suppose that still doesn't explain the color of it." She could understand wanting a decoration that would keep, but did it have to be so...gaudy?

[everdistant]

Indeed, the colour itself defied whatever logic Saber attempted to apply. Artificial, metal trees were one thing, but... pink? Why pink?

But then again, it might be sentimental. The people of both countries the knights respectively hailed from endured harsh winters, eagerly awaiting a springtime.

"Perhaps it is a reminder for the coming spring?" she wondered.

[maidoforleans]

"Oh! I think you may be right." Jeanne tilted her head, squinting her eyes a little further to see if that explanation fit with the evidence in front of her. It certainly made sense, given her own memories of particularly harsh winters with nothing but stories to remind them what spring looked like.

"The weather here is much worse in different ways, so I suppose the color must be brighter to better aid them in remembering."

[everdistant]

"It is more of a spring colour, admittedly," Saber mused, lightly scratching her head as she tried to mentally make the connection.

With a slight contemplative frown, she nodded. "Indeed. I would never have expected a desert to be so cold in the evenings... it gives one a new appreciation for the holiday."

[maidoforleans]

"It truly does. Nothing really seems to work here as one would expect." Jeane laughed a little, shaking her head ruefully.

"It's very confusing, but I think I enjoy it quite a bit."