5th Floor Common Room, Christmas Eve

[icecoldfrost]

Emma was practically humming as she skipped into the common room, arms laden down with supplies. It was Christmas Eve, her favorite night of the entire year, and she was determined to enjoy it.

She put her favorite Christmas movie on the television, and then set about making herself a large pot of real hot chocolate, with heavy cream and cinnamon, just like Felicia used to make for her. It was one of the few things Emma could cook using a stove, and she enjoyed it.

...Felicia had never added just a biiiit of alcohol, but some traditions were meant to be changed.

But for now she had a blanket, a movie, and her coco, and there was more simmering slowly on the stove if anyone else wanted some. In the spirit of the holiday, Emma might even share...if she liked you.

No one said she was on Santa's 'Nice' list, after all.

[Open CR is open, yup! Christmas Orphans come one, come all...]

Comments

[furnaceface]

The dorms were quiet.

Too quiet. Even for Jono, who, against what he liked to consider his better judgment, had finally gotten fed up with hanging around in his room alone, and had decided to seek out company. Someone. Anyone, please.

This had brought him up to the fifth floor, where he'd gotten about four steps into the common room upon noticing that there was something playing on the telly, and then he realized who it was who was in there. Well. He had to do this sooner or later. No sense balking, really, was there?

//Evening, Emma.// A pause. This wasn't as awkward as he'd expected it might be, and so he was going to push onward, now. //Merry Christmas.//

[icecoldfrost]

"Happy Christmas Eve, darling," Emma answered, raising her mug in a salute. "Come out of our cave then, have we?"

Emma didn't believe in having an elephant in the room, unless she got to poke it.

[furnaceface]

//It was beginning to smell in there,// Jono shared. Because... Well. It was. He'd left the window open to air it out. It smelled like him. //Had to surface eventually, if not for th'company, then at least to stretch my legs.//

He glanced toward the TV, and took a moment to look vaguely pleased. Hepburn. Hopkins. Yes.

[icecoldfrost]

"Well, I'm not much for leg-stretching tonight, but you're welcome to the company," Emma replied, taking in his approval. "I take it you like my movie selection?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

Drinking in his room had gotten fairly boring so Alex went to find somewhere else to drink. Of course, he'd gotten through a few beers already so there was a mild buzz going on but he was a nice drunk.

And being drunk meant he could dampen down on any worry or other thought that might be banging around his head. Bothering Emma was a completely good distraction. Alex was sure of that.

"Having an early night?" he asked, slipping in and glancing at the television as he did.

[icecoldfrost]

"Don't feel like going into town," she admitted, patting the couch beside her. "And I don't like drinking alone on Christmas Eve. Care to join me?"

[fratboybitch.livejournal.com]

"Is the movie boring?" he asked, slipping onto the couch beside her and stretching his legs out. "I'll be liable to fall asleep and give you a warm pillow."

[icecoldfrost]

"Depends on your version of boring, I suppose," she mused. "Politics, back-stabbing, and a Christmas eve filled with loathing. I decided since I couldn't go home this year, I'd bring home to me. But if you insist on being a warm pillow, I won't argue."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Christmas eve, and it was one of those nights where, antisocial as Effy could be sometimes, she'd prefer to be around people. Anyone asked why she was a few floors out of her way, it was because she was bored, that was all... It might be true to say there was a smidgen of homesickness of a kind in there, not that you'd find her actually admitting to that.

She paused briefly in the doorway to watch the screen and take in who was in the room before she actually moved further in. "What you watching?"

[icecoldfrost]

"Wildcat in Snow," Emma replied, looking up at the new arrival as her player made up a meta. "I have an odd fondness for families during the Christmas season."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Funny," Effy remarked, quirking a slight bit of a smile. "About the time most people's family drives them crazy." Hers included. At the moment, probably worse than ever. For the best that she was staying here, she told herself.

[icecoldfrost]

"This film is oddly reminiscent of most family gatherings in the Frost clan, and since I am not crazy enough to go home for the holiday, I decided to remind myself why I'm glad to be gone," Emma replied cheerfully. "I don't mind being a Christmas Eve orphan so long as I don't have to tolerate my sisters."

[glacial_queen]

Fortunately, Karla was amongst those liked, so she felt very little compunction about grabbing a mug.

"Ooooh, real hot cocoa," she said, sniffing appreciatively. "Not that fake stuff in little packets. Emma, you can spare some for one little Karla, can't you?"

One little Karla who could out-eat a regiment. And who might already be quietly ladling some into her mug.

[icecoldfrost]

"Darling, if I had enough for 'one little Karla', I'd be able to feed the dorms," Emma pointed out dryly. "But yes, do help yourself."

[glacial_queen]

"True, but I'm not asking about the dorms," Karla said, skipping over to sit on the floor next to Emma's legs. "I'm asking for me. And I am a little Karla anyway."

She sipped her cocoa, grinning happily. "Mmmm, very good."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack waved vaguely at Karla. "Enjoying the break so far?"

[glacial_queen]

"I am," Karla said, smiling at him. "I've been wrapping presents," slowly, because she was bad at it, "and opening up my Windsol gifts from home. How about you? I would have thought you'd've gone home." She sounded surprised, but pleased to see him.

[trigons_child]

So many people had left the island for the holidays that it was strange to hear noises coming from the common room. Happy for company, Raven wandered out to the room. "Hello, Emma," she said. "Merry Christmas."

[icecoldfrost]

"Raven," Emma replied, inclining her head at the other girl. "Merry Christmas. There's coco on the stove, if you'd like some."

[trigons_child]

"Oh, yes, thank you," Raven said, moving to the stove to pour herself a cup. "I do enjoy hot chocolate." And the real stuff was probably going to blow her away.

She took a seat in an empty chair, waiting for the chocolate to cool a little. "How are you?" she asked, then glanced at the TV and added, "What are you watching?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack smiled slightly. "Merry Christmas, Raven."

It wasn't his holiday; he could still say that.

[trigons_child]

"Merry Christmas, Jack," Raven said, smiling back. It wasn't her holiday, either, but she was pleased to experience it for the first time.

[bitten_notshy]

"Emma," Jack said, throwing himself onto a couch in a way Sebastien would have frowned at, "entertain me, please."

[icecoldfrost]

"The hot chocolate has alcohol in it," she offered cheerily. "And it's real, not the stuff out of the packets. Will that help with the entertainment?"

[bitten_notshy]

"It'll make me happier," Jack said, and fluttered his eyelashes at her. "... I knew you cared. What brings on the spot of domesticity?"