(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 "

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[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."

[claudiometer]

A few minutes in, the bar top acquires a pole for the occasion. How's anyone going to know it's Festivus if there's not a pole?
We have no idea who might have put that there.

[doyousmellfudge]

As one might expect, it appears when Artie's back is turned. When he turns back he starts in surprise, but recovers quickly. "Cute."

[claudiometer]

"Well, there has to be a pole. And as long as we're airing grievances, first Christmas in over a decade my brother hasn't been stuck in limbo, and he's stuck in Switzerland."
Even though it's not the same thing, it really might as well be.

[doyousmellfudge]

"The job takes precedence, and you know it. Particularly when we're tracking down a borderline sociopath with inside knowledge of the Warehouse?"

[seat_five_girl]

Ako comes up to the Bar and flops on one of the stools.

"A Pepsi, please," she says.

"I'm bound."

And dressed for June.

[doyousmellfudge]

"Oh, you're gonna have to do better than that," says Artie, but he grabs a glass and heads for the soda fountain anyway.

[seat_five_girl]

Artie doesn't get a raised eyebrow look, since Ako can't manage them.

"...I'm not going to get upset about not having things going really badly," manages Ako after a moment.

[doyousmellfudge]

"Being Bound isn't badly enough?" says Artie with a teasing smirk. "You barely seem perturbed."

[makesthings]

Sameth's arm is doing better but he's still not feeling that good,

"The Front Door led someplace else, where I got hurt. I've been Bound for months and I think I've had a flu. Who's Festivus?"

[doyousmellfudge]

"It's not a who, it's a what. It's a holiday created as an alterna...tive..." Artie trails off. "Where did the door lead you, exactly?"

[makesthings]

"A place called the Warehouse. Claudia's from there if you know her. She's always making things."

[doyousmellfudge]

Artie scowls. "Oh, I know her. Believe me, I know her."

[tyler_marlocke]

First there's going to be a ten year old seating himself at the bar and giving the sign a mildly calculating look. Then the man behind the bar is given an especially suspicious and calculating look.

Oh Tyler knows what a grievance is, he's just trying to pick out how to say em without it all coming out or ...well.

"...am I gonna get into trouble if I cuss when I air?"

[doyousmellfudge]

"Not from me. But don't expect me to pour you any alcohol."

[tyler_marlocke]

"Blech, I don't get why grown ups like that stuff. Tastes like cough medicine or really stinky old bread."

Alright, now just give him a minute to think.

[doyousmellfudge]

"Yeah, well, the taste isn't the point, generally..."