RP: Christmas and Stuff

[harley_jordan]

Date: December 25, 2011
Characters: Harley Jordan, Thad Jordan, Ariel Crabtree, Kudzu Emory
Location: Harley's place above Reen's
Status: Private
Summary: Harley hosts Christmas and a birthday.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[ariel_crabtree]

Ariel was somewhat amused though rather pleased by the way Harley had gone all out for Christmas. There were decorations everywhere, and it was very cheerful and peppy. She hadn't really decorated all that much at Brielle's place, though there were decorations up. Seeing all this made her want to do a lot better next year.

"Ham, yum," she said, not minding in the least to help with the cooking. It was definitely nice to be among friends on Christmas, and her birthday. Last year she had been all alone, and she had never been lonelier, she figured. It was much different this year, and for once she did feel rather successful. "I hope you all will like your gifts and all." She had brought something for everyone, even if it was only something general for Kudzu, who she didn't know. Still, she knew he was coming and figured it couldn't hurt.

She glanced over at where the eggnog was being spiked. "Ooh, rum. That'll be great," she said, even if this year was still trying to teach her how to drink less and not more.

[harley_jordan]

"Yeah, well. Figured it couldn't hurt to give it some kick." Harley stopped pouring before the rum started to smell up the place at least. She uncapped the nutmeg she'd picked up and sprinkled it on top of it all, not really seeing the point but having read somewhere that that was what people did.

"The ham should be good. Thad's always splooging over Kudzu's cooking, he's from Lousiana and all, so." She grinned and shrugged. She kinda missed Thad living here, but at least he seemed to like his roommate. And Kudzu was cool. "Nah, we'll love your presents. You're probably the most thoughtful person I know. Just hope you like your stuff. Christmas and birthday, talk about pressure." Harley hip-checked her and laughed. "Anyway, you want to do some real partying or something next weekend, let me know, since today's like a package deal. Speaking of, you want your birthday present now, or you want to wait until the guys get here?" She knew Thad had done something for her too that he'd been fussing over, but he had that with him.

[ariel_crabtree]

"Can't hurt at all," Ariel agreed. After all, it was just Harley and Thad, and okay, so she didn't know Kudzu, but she figured it would all go well. Though she would try to be more moderate, even if that didn't work that well for her sometimes.

"Well, that's good then. Louisiana has good cooking." She didn't know much of it herself, but Southern was Southern, and that was largely what she knew. And she could always learn more. "Awww, thanks. I'm sure I'll love whatever you all got. I'm not picky." She grinned over at Harley. "You didn't even have to get me anything. Getting one gift is mroe than enough." That was the thing about having one's birthday on a major gift-giving holiday.

"Sure, I can open it now," she said, pushing her hair back out of her face.

[harley_jordan]

"Nah, of course I got you two. Anyway they're related. Hang on," Harley grinned and wiped her hands on a clean dishtowel, skirting the counter and darting over to the tree across the room.

"Your birthday present was easier to wrap." She returned the kitchen area and handed over the little box. In it was a charm bracelet with a tiny set of silver boxing gloves dangling from it. She jammed her hands in her pockets because she'd wondered if jewelry was appropriate or not. What did she know about gift-buying, anyway. But she'd seen it at one of the shops she'd stopped at and thought it was cute. "Didn't know if you already had charm bracelet to put it on, so I got the whole shebang," she explained.

"Your Christmas present kinda goes with it." She produced the set of real boxing gloves, the nicest she could find in MMA-size, and handed them over. "I was thinking about getting new exhausts for your truck, but it seemed kinda impersonal."

[kudzu_emory]

Kudzu juggled a little as he got out of the truck. He had meant to just make the ham really. Straight forward and simple, but as it turned out most people didn't want their houses worked on the week before Christmas and he'd had a lot of freetime. A lot. Enough to think about how much he missed home around this time of year and to have one too many phone-calls home. So there was ham, a sausage stuffing, fluffy rice balls and three dozen cookies including his Auntie's famous rosemary shortbread. It was a near embarrassing amount of food. Giving up on carrying all of it once, he handed off the cookies to Thad.

"I hope your sister has a big fridge."

[thaddeus_jordan]

Thad had had to deal with an apartment full of amazing smells over the past couple days and had tried not to do too much taste-testing even though he could probably have packed it all away by himself. Kudzu had outdone himself, and it was weird to be somewhere that was always full of home cooking smells. He couldn't remember ever having that, but it seemed to especially fit considering it was Christmastime. More stuff to add to the list of things he never thought he'd have a year ago

[kudzu_emory]

"You smell ham." He agreed. "And also proof that when left to my own devices I no longer know how to relax."

He looked around the apartment with a vague impression of someone's sheer Christmas glee having exploded in every direction.

"Festive." He offered with a smile. "I like the lights. Should've brought popcorn with me. Dad says a tree isn't finished without popcorn garlands."

[harley_jordan]

"Not too much?" Harley looked around her place and laughed. Cleanup was probably going to be a bitch. Maybe she'd leave it all up for a while. "Thanks. Couldn't keep the lights just to the tree I guess. But if I'd known popcorn garlands were a thing people did, I'd have popped some for sure. Getting used to this whole Christmas tradition deal."

"Dude I love that you brought so much, good looking out," she said. Sure it was just the four of them, but there'd be no problem getting rid of it all in the next few days. "Oh hey, so this is Ariel -- she was at my party in August, but you didn't stay long, so." She winked, knowing the club hadn't been his style. It was cool that he'd braved it for her.

[thaddeus_jordan]

There wasn't much Thad could really add to the whole cooking process since pancakes and mac and cheese weren't required--also because everything seemed to be mostly done. He'd spent a little time with Wednesday and his sister, which was always good. He missed being around here more. Work with Tyler kept him too busy to really hang around--Harley was probably glad for that.

When it was almost time to eat, Thad dug into the bag he'd brought and made his way over to Ariel. Christmas gifts were more of a first-thing-in-the-morning thing, at least it seemed like they should be, so maybe he could get this part out of the way without making her wait even longer.

"Everything smells great," he said when he reached her.

[ariel_crabtree]

"Thanks. Harley did most of the work, though," Ariel admitted, looking up at Thad with a grin. She was undeniably fond of Harley's brother, even if they didn't hang out that much. He was a good guy, and his tattoos and prison time didn't intimidate her at all. "Merry Christmas," she wished him, reaching over to hug him with one arm. "You enjoying the holiday?" She knew it was his first out of jail in awhile, and she hoped it was turning into a good one for him.

[thaddeus_jordan]

"No shit?" Thad lifted a brow and nodded. "She must really be getting into it." Which wasn't like her really, but maybe she hadn't really had a reason to get into it before now. He smiled and hugged her with both arms. "Yeah, Merry Christmas. It's been good. You end up going to church?"

[ariel_crabtree]

"She is, I think. I love her decorations. I didn't do a lot this year, so it's nice to come over here and see all this. All happy making and stuff." Really got a person in the mood. And Harley seemed happy to have everyone over, which made her happy. She leaned in and hugged him better, never sure how affection would be received from people these days. "Yeah, I did. Morning service. Lots of good singing, which was just what I wanted." It had felt good to do that, and to take communion, even if she knew deep down it wouldn't do much good for her. She thought about suggesting he come along sometime, he had seemed to show some interest, but she didn't know if it was appropriate.

[thaddeus_jordan]

Thad could probably make room for more dessert, but he didn't plan on leaving anytime soon and there'd still be some left later in the evening. No need to stuff himself too fast. Still, he grabbed a couple of Kudzu's shortbread cookies and made his way over to where Kudzu was sitting on the couch, plopping down beside him, feeling full and relaxed--and remembering the Bulls game was on.

"You mind if I change the channel?" he asked around half a cookie.

[kudzu_emory]

"Hm?" Kudzu blinked a little. He'd eaten enough to put himself in a half-drowsing state. It was warm, he was fed and surrounded by people he trusted. It was enough to put a man to sleep. "Oh yeah sure I wasn't really watching it anyway. Hell, I'm not entirely sure what it was."

[thaddeus_jordan]

"Thanks. Bulls and Lakers," Thad explained as he grabbed the remote, switching to the right channel to find himself in the middle of the first half. He settled back again and swallowed the rest of his cookie. "Inside we'd always get the games like a week later, with the commercials all cut out, but by the time we got them we'd already heard what happened, so no one really cared. I like watching them live."

[kudzu_emory]

"I don't think I've ever followed a sports team in my life." He admitted. "We didn't have television back home. Dad didn't like it and I never got involved with any. Ran a few races for the high school, but my legs were never really long enough."