[ open ] for i've grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder

[holyshihtzu]

Who: Juliet O'Hara + You
Where: Juliet's room
When: December 1st-4th
Rating: PG
Summary: Juliet is getting into the Christmas spirit early by hosting a little get-together at her place. Network video and party post below the cut!
The Story:

[ ✹ .002 [ video ] ]

Happy December, Wonderland!

[ Juliet offers a brilliant, if somewhat strained, smile to the network. The camera isn't directly aimed at her face at first--she's still getting used to video chatting--but she reaches out to adjust it quickly before continuing. ]

I know not everyone here celebrates Christmas or... Even knows what Christmas is, but! In the O'Hara household, Christmas is a big deal. I mean, I really big deal. All my family comes in and there are games, and arts and crafts, and a ton of food...

[ People probably get the idea, Juliet. ]

So! I know things always get really crazy during the holidays anyway and I wanted to get on top of things so I'm having a little pre-Christmas get together at my place. So whether or I know you or not, come by room three on the seventh floor anytime over the next few days and I promise we'll have a lot of fun. Open door policy.

[ She pauses. ]

Not literally. Knock first.

[ room 3, level 7 ]

Juliet has gone all-out for the holidays, as an O'Hara is wont to do. With no financial limits and no job to distract her, she's put everything into decorating her place. Anyone walking past room three on the seventh floor will be greeted immediately with an timely wreath and equally festive doormat.

The decorations don't stop there. Juliet has decked the halls to the point that they are bursting, having even extended her living room quite a bit to accommodate food, fun, and hopefully a lot of guests. Every wall is decorated with some kind of garland, wreath, or lights. She's even got a sprig of mistletoe hanging in the corner for any couples who visit that might be so inclined.

And, of course, there is the the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.

Anyone who visits will also be greeted by an unimaginable spread of food from cookies, cakes, and various snacks to some traditional Scottish fare like mince pies. There's another corner table dedicated to just Christmas crafts, from cutting out paper snowflakes to sewing Holiday themed pajamas.

Maybe it's a little early to go full out, but Juliet couldn't wait. Christmas is her favorite time of year and she hopes that getting to it early will help her miss her family less - and maybe help her find a new family in Wonderland.

[ This is a party/mingle post! Feel free to top level and tag out with other people, or just thread with Juliet, or just respond to her network post if you so desire. Have fun and get into the holiday spirit before shit goes down! ]

Comments

[holyshihtzu]

[ Juliet tries not to stare at the couple kissing under the mistletoe, but it does make her feel a little lonely. It's not that she needs a significant other, by any means - she just misses being around the people she loves, but it's nice to see that isn't the case for everyone.

Once Claire isn't as distracted, Juliet makes an effort to approach her. Her dress is outstanding, and Juliet keeps glancing at it, suddenly feeling underdressed, which is definitely a feeling she isn't used to. ]

You're Claire, right? [ She's watched enough of the network to get an idea of who most of the people are in the mansion. ]

[beautifullies]

[ Juliet, wait until you see her dress at the end of the year. You'll realize you are not, in fact, undressed now at all.

At the question, Claire smiles and nods. ]

That's right. Claire Fraser. You've been an incredible host, this is all so lovely. If you don't mind my asking, are you...a Scot? At least somewhere in your genealogy?

[ Since there is, of course, no trace of an accent. Or rather no Scottish accent. ]

[holyshihtzu]

Thanks!

[ Juliet glows at that. Everyone seems to be having a good time, which is all she wanted. ]

I am! The O'Haras have a rich Scottish ancestry. Our Christmas is usually a little more Scottish, and we usually do Hogmanay at the same time, but it's a little early in the month and I didn't want to come on too strong.

[ Yeah. This is what a mellow O'Hara Christmas looks like, apparently. ]

[beautifullies]

Did your family immigrate from Ireland?

[ She realizes she probably shouldn't expect this woman to have a full on conversation about her ancestry. ]

I apologize. My husband's a Fraser, his mother was a Mackenzie. I've met my fair share of Highlanders; I've never come across any O'Haras, and I have to admit, the 'O' seems more Irish than Scot.

[ She's just interested that's all, not at all trying to put Juliet on the spot. ]

[holyshihtzu]

Oh!

[ Juliet is surprised to be asked that. Most people tend to take her name in stride and not think about the specifics. Which, usually, is a relief for her because it means she can avoid mentioning her father, but at the same time, it's nice to be asked. ]

Yeah, actually! My family emigrated to Scotland during the famine, in the mid-1800s. Eventually, they made their way to the United States. Your husband is Scottish?

[ She gestures to the man she was smooching under the mistletoe, assuming that's him. ]

[beautifullies]

Did the tartan give it away?

[ She asks that with a small, teasing smile. ]

And he is. Likely the most Scottish man you'll meet. And it makes sense now, why I've never heard of any O'Hara's in Scotland. We pr-date your family's arrival.

[holyshihtzu]

[ Juliet offers her a playful smile. The tartan was certainly an indicator. ]

Honestly, it's really something to have an actual Scot at my Christmas party. My family would have been thrilled.

What time are you from? [ It's such a weird question to actually ask but... Wonderland. ]

[beautifullies]

1767, though we've immigrated to the Colonies now. My husband's building us a home in North Carolina.

[ Claire says that with so much pride in her voice, and then she points out Bree who is dressed completely opposite Claire and Jamie, as if she's right out of the 20th century. ]

That's our daughter, Brianna. It was really her who managed to get us to come to your party. Christmas isn't the same in the 18th century.

[holyshihtzu]

Wow, that's a far way to travel, especially back then.

[ The idea of having to come by boat rather plane seems daunting. Juliet is happy to have been born into the modern world. ]

I'll have to thank her. I hope you'll both enjoy yourselves, and I can definitely fill you in on all the 21st century Christmas traditions.

[beautifullies]

Well, I think I'm all right. It's my husband that needs the help. My daughter and I are...uniquely positioned to understand modern traditions. Jamie has no clue. Yule and a winter solstice are about all he's experienced.

[ She doesn't assume everyone will always want to hear the entire time travel saga so she's happy to let someone assume what they want from her vagueness. Though she's not opposed to explaining more, either. It'd just be rude to launch into the whole thing. ]

[holyshihtzu]

[ Juliet is, in her heart of hearts, a detective, so that does not go unnoticed. ]

'Uniquely positioned'?

[ Hand over the deets, Claire. ]

[beautifullies]

[ Once you have the deets Juliet, you can never go back.

Claire smiles softly. ]

Well. It's a bit complicated. How are you with numbers and dates?

[ Stalling, trying to commit to how much she wants to reveal, though her dress and Jamie's attire are so far from Bree's modern that it could be clear. Although Bree could just be a young woman exploring the fashions of today. What a mystery. ]

[holyshihtzu]

[ Such mystery. Such intrigue.

Juliet looks almost offended. ]

I'm great with dates, better with numbers, and an expert at complicated.

[ Spill it, Claire. ]

[beautifullies]

All right.

[ She smiles, more because she's going to confuse this poor woman and it's slightly entertaining. ]

I was born in 1918. I was a combat nurse in World War Two.

[ Claire nods at Jamie. ]

We were married in 1743.

[ Now, she looks at Bree. ]

Our daughter was born in 1949. Jamie and I live in the American colony of North Carolina in the year 1767.

[holyshihtzu]

[ Juliet is quick, but this is complicated so she needs a minute to catch up. ]

You're a time traveler?!

[beautifullies]

Quite accidentally, but yes. I can't explain how it happened. It was almost the way we come here. One moment I was in one time, the next I was two-hundred years in the past.

[ Her eyes drift to Jamie, a small smile playing at her lips. ]

Not that I would change it now.

[holyshihtzu]

So you've been through something like this before? Like Wonderland? How did it happen?

[ They might be related, but even if they aren't, Juliet is still fascinated. ]

[beautifullies]

Not precisely like Wonderland. I was always aware of every place I'd been. It wasn't like here, when I left for the right time all my memories disappeared.

[ She gives a bit of a helpless shrug. ]

If I knew exactly how it happened that would make two of us. I was standing in front of a circle of stones, not unlike what Stonehenge looks like, but not exactly. I touched one of the stones and that's when it happened.

[holyshihtzu]

So, you touched some stones and it sent you back in time? That's... Honestly, I have no idea what to make of that.

[ It's wild. It's unbelievable. Granted, so it Wonderland in general. ]

[beautifullies]

I know exactly how it sounds. It's why I didn't even tell Jamie until after we were already married. I didn't want him to think I was insane. Eventually, I did, and he believed me.

[ And three years later, forced her to go back through. ]

[holyshihtzu]

I'm from 2008 and it's already a pretty unbelievable story. Someone from the 18th century accepting it is amazing. Granted...

[ She nods in Shawn's direction as he continues to hand out presents in that ridiculous Santa costume. ]

I work with a psychic so I really can't judge.

[beautifullies]

Jamie is, for his time, quite a modern man and open minded.

[ And so is Claire, but even she can't seriously believe in things such as psychic abilities, so she raises an eyebrow. ]

The man with the obnoxious party boat is a...psychic?

[holyshihtzu]

I guess you really lucked out in the men department.

[ So time travel is whatever but being a psychic is where you draw the line, Claire??? ]

Believe it or not. And he's actually pretty good.