#bergen_county

The battle for trees at the tree store was fierce ...little old ladies seemed to be focused on taking any tree any one else wanted. / Siv had to battle in the wood against cultists of Krampus or some such thing.

"Awwww, look at the little felted animal ornaments!"

"It's a cute little mousey!"

Siv parries a cultist's blow, "Looks a bit mushed to me , lover."

A huff. :It just needs a little love!"

OOC: As the ST has lost what few brain cells he's got, we continue without the cultist

BIC: At this moment, Franki reaches for the ornament enthralled.

"On second thought," Siv notices their daughter at work, "Yeah, add it to the list."

"No no nooooo..." Piper ducks under an arm and dives around an errant cart to snag Valr who was running... not toddling, RUNNING towards a giant inflated reindeer lawn ornament.

"Oh good lord that boy," Siv laughs. Trusting her wife's speed to snag the kid first.

Then someone says to Piper "Hey lady, can't you keep your kid under control?"

The somone appears to be a burly looking woman with a sneer of judgement on her lips as she sees Siv and Piper together with two kids no less.

'Piper looks up at the Someone, bristling.

"Can't you keep your mouth under control, m,a'am?"

The woman bristles, unable to take what she dishes out "Look here, It's a free country, and I won't be censored."

Siv , holding Franki looks over and her eyes narrow.

"And neither will my kids!" Piper says, cheerfully. "Glad we're both on the same side here. Val, love, come on now, let's leave the nice lady alone." She hefts the 35-lb toddler with an OOF. He giggles and blows a Raspberry at the lady as they step back over to Siv.

Siv nods with pride and taking Franki in her own arms as Piper and Valr rejoins them "People like that tire me rightly. Well handled love."

The woman snorts like a bull moose but does not charge after them. And not all is unpleasant, for the holidays still have SOME magic to bring out the best in folks. One older man sees them and chuckles "Twins? Oh my , my wife and I had twins back in the day. Double Trouble." But he says it with warmth and fondness coupled with memory.

Piper grins at the older man, "Well, I hope they're coming back to visit this season! I swear ours are growing so fast they'll be in college in a blink."

"You got that right, young lady, years go passing day by day," He admits to both, "If you don't mind a bit of unwarranted advice? Make sure they never feel too trapped with just one or two choices only before them. IT makes the rebellious one shoot off road into dangers you never thought of, and the one that's eager to please you secretly miserable. I know I made that mistake. Better to offer them a lot of paths ,see what they're called to and cheer them on as they chase their dreams."

Siv smiles "Oh, that's good advice to be sure." A look at Piper "Like how you explain to me I can't expect both to be sailors."

"Every sailor needs someone waiting for them on shore. Else what are you sailing for?" A smile.

"Tis true," Siv admits to Piper "You and Jonas give me someone to come home too. Lesson learned," Then Siv stage whispers to the toddlers "See Mor is flexible. You can also be Marine Biologists, Shipwrights and LIghthouse keepers."

A snort from Piper, who has keen hearing when she wishes, but it's a loving one.

The older man chuckles, though for a moment his brow knits at the mention of 'And Jonas' . THe old man does the mental math then, rather than be offended admits "Well, some fellow is very lucky indeed." He tips his hat, "May you and yours have a wonderful holiday this year."

Piper leans up and gives him an impulsive kiss on the cheek. "Merry Christmas!"

Siv kisses the other cheek of the fellow though less impulsive and more following the lead. / "Oh my, merry already," The old man sparks with a bit of dreamer glamour, not anything seedy or untoward, but the glamour found when one can believe people can be good and wonderful when you give them a chance to be. And he walks off after waving to the two moms and their kids.

Siv watches him go, then breaks into a wolfish smile.

"We're NOT taking him home, Siv." Piper grins right back.

"You never let me have any fun," Siv faux pouts, "Can we at least force him to move next door so he can be the nice neighbor we wave at on our walks? Heck, I see free baby sitter material in that one."

Piper just laughs as they move over to check out the aisle of garish, neon, glowing fake trees.

Jonas is there, "Found a pink one. We... settled on pink?"

And indeed he has, there is a lovely pink Aluminum tree, the branches and needles in differing shades to offer visual texture of ... pink!

"Actually...." She hems, and appears to have a thought sparking. "How about that silvery one? It's classic, and we can add colored lights."

"Silver IS a Fiona color," Siv chimes in.

Jonas nods and moves to the SIlver one.

The silver one Piper has picked out definitely has potential, shiny and reflective enough to spread the hue of any color you light it up with! It can all be yours for... well, let's not think about the price. There are others that cost more.

She murmurs to Jonas as she moves to help pick it up, "Red garland, you think?"

Jonas nods "And the baby picture ornaments."

"Whispers, plotting what's that?" Siv did not quite hear.

JOnas looks at Siv "Yes, Siv. We're 'plotting'."

Siv mmphs as the tree is retrieved, but looks intrigued and curious.

Piper practically wriggles with anticipation, but doesn't spill the beans!

Soon enough, the happy family is back in their apartment. ANd putting up the trees. Neither is huge, but they compliment each other nicely.

And then, WHAMAGEDDEON... music pumps through the wall and windows... "Ah, ah
Ooh, whoa
Ah

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special"

Jonas sighs "Rikki at it again."

Piper just SMIRKS. "She's mad that I sang it at our Friendsgiving."

"Petty Pooka," Siv tuts but chuckles.

Franki and Vali clap and stomp to the music as is appropriate for their age group./ Jonas notes this, "The kids like 80s hits? Olgar will be pleased."