[ 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

[beautifullies]

[ Claire immediately holds onto her tightly, one hand going to the back of her head, thumb stroking lightly just behind her ear. ]

You were hurting. There's nothing to apologize for, darling.

[ She pulls back to look at her, smiling softly and cradling her face now with one hand, stroking her cheek with that same thumb. ]

But in case you need to hear it: forgiven.

[alsoagirl]

How could you ever forgive me for doin' somethin' like that?

[ Her lower lip is quivering. So many emotions are swirling through her right now. Sadness. Regret. Guilt. No matter how much she tried to convince herself, she found it impossible to believe she deserved any sort of forgiveness. The fact that she wasn't exactly fighting against Kol over keeping Fitz in their possession was nagging at her, too...

She was getting a little too good at being a very shitty vampire, even shittier than she usually was. It's not a happy realization. ]

God, I suck. [ She cringes. Phrasing. ] I wish I could be goddamn normal for once.

[beautifullies]

There isn't a person here who hasn't done something out of anger or hurt or...or fear, even. Jessica, I've...

[ Claire pulls her aside gently. This isn't conversation for other ears. ]

I've killed people before, all for varying reasons. Normal is all relative. Vampire you may be, but you still have emotions.

[ And she's still young. ]

I can forgive you because I know you would never murder an innocent person who hadn't committed grave sins. I know you're a good person, Jessica.

[alsoagirl]

[ Haha. Yeeeeah. About that.

Jessica immediately looks ten times more uncomfortable. ]

Yeah. I would never.

[ The trucker she drained, he was totally guilty of sin, right? He wasn't exactly Mr. Innocent, considering how she lured him to his truck. So it was all good. He wasn't currently in death purgatory back in Louisiana, either!

They're just. Going to stop talking about her. Otherwise she's going to have a moment like she did with Seth when she confessed to him. ]

How many people you killed?

[beautifullies]

[ More things to come out later. ]

A few. More than five, less than ten.

[ It's an honest answer, something she's promised herself she will always be with Jessica. ]

[alsoagirl]

[ Her eyes widen slightly. She's not sure if she should be afraid or amazed. ]

Holy shit.

[ She's go with amazed for now. Claire was capable of some goddamn crazy things, being the unassuming woman she was. ]

You make me look tame.

[ Not that that was very hard to do... ]

[beautifullies]

Not all of them were outright murders.

[ Claire pauses, taking a sip of her drink. ]

One of Jamie's uncles was dying painfully slowly; he asked me to give him something to make it go quicker.

[ She pauses before going ahead with another tidbit. ]

His other uncle, that was murder.

[alsoagirl]

[ There's a long silence. Damn, mama, you scary. ]

Umm.

[ Another silence. ]

So you're not gonna just tease me with shit like that and not tell me more, right? 'Cause, like, murderin' uncles? I got to hear this.

[ She'll compel it out if she has to! ]

[beautifullies]

I will tell you anything you'd like to know. But Juliet's holiday party doesn't seem like the place to speak so in depth about murder.

[ Claire smiles softly; she won't hide anything from Jessica, but she wants her to try and have fun tonight if she can. ]

Besides, it's a very long conversation and I doubt anyone here wants me to go on forever about the reasons why I've killed, outside of you.

[alsoagirl]

Aww, man. [ She pouts. ] But it's the season of givin'!

[ She then giggles. Claire's probably right. ]

I guess you got a point, though. Sometime later, then, whenever you feel up to it. That way I can keep learnin' about what a fuckin' badass you are.

[ After a sigh, the smiling fades and she looks away, rubbing at her arm awkwardly. ]

But, for real? Um. [ It takes her a while to get more words out. This being cared for business was tough. It felt nice, though. ] I'm glad you, like. Aren't mad at me.

[beautifullies]

I'm not mad at you, darling.

[ Claire reaches out with a soft smile, stroking her cheek just a bit. ]

I was afraid for you and how any retaliation may go. But I'm not angry.

[ Her voice is gentle, and she drops her hand only to pull Jessica into a hug, speaking softly against her ear. ]

I love you as if you were my own, Jessica. Don't you know that by now?

[alsoagirl]

[ Jessica initially tenses at the contact, half from still being jumpy in general, half because she didn't expect it. But gradually, she relaxes, shutting her eyes. ]

I'm sorry for bein' so dumb. About a lot of things.

[ For so long, she's wanted to deny that Claire could ever care about her, truly love her. Seventeen fucked up years with her parents had tainted her mind--something she figured would continue for an actual eternity, considering how her surrogate dead dad turned out to be. Yet, after the last few weeks...she was tired of fighting, denying herself something she'd always yearned for.

Hesitantly, her arms come up and wrap around Claire. She makes her feel warm, and the real love coming through their bond gives her even more comfort. Finally, she allows herself to give in to it, more than she expects to. ]

I love you too, mama.

fade here with my heart exploding??

[beautifullies]

You aren't dumb, Jessica.

[ Claire kisses her temple, moved, touched, and not bringing attention to the endearment because it should feel normal. She wants it to feel normal to Jessica. Pulling back, she keeps arm around her shoulders. ]

Come on, let's try to make something crafty, shall we? See if I've properly earned my rights as a mother.

[ All moms can craft, it's mom law or something. ]

yes and i hope the explosion's full of rainbows 🌈

[alsoagirl]

[ And together, they craft so much love. ♥ ]