Fourth Bell | Oseibo? | Audio

[ktfod]

[Late November and Thanksgiving's in high roll, quickly falling into Christmas and Akihiko's getting more and more aware of the contrast between holidays in America as compared to his home country. They celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas sure, but not in the same ways- at all. Besides Thanksgiving being almost a wholly American thing- Christmas was- well. A christian holiday anyway- he knew that, sure. But in Japan it was something completely other than what he's seeing here.]

[So the audio feed opens because it's easiest, he can continue looking at the 'CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS' reminder on a restaurant he enjoys. Early reminder, but it seems like an aged sign, like it's- just there and normal? To be- closed on Christmas?]

Hey, Akihiko here, and I have a question for people used to holidays in America- how does it work here? Christmas especially, I'm finding out that most restaurants are closed for it, but wouldn't that make going out on dates difficult?

I assume holidays here are different anyway, but Christmas especially seems like an entirely different thing. [A pause, turning to look at the other shop that gave him some confusion. Everything seems to be a lot more about family if anything. Not about romantic relationships, or friends.]

Do you celebrate at home then? Is a tree that necessary? Who do you usually give gifts to? Are you able to celebrate the holiday the same if you don't have a family to spend it with?

Comments

audio;

[hoboagogo]

I remember Jaime saying it was a religious thing. Like going to church at midnight to pray or something, and then spending the day with the family?

[HE SHRUGS.] But then there's the Santa thing, too. So I dunno. He might be able to explain it.

audio;

[ktfod]

Right- yeah, Jaime would know. I should probably talk to him about it, he was right about Halloween. [Sexy outfits of things that- shouldn't be sexy...]

Huh- well if it's a family and religious thing then we shouldn't be celebrating it? I'm not Christian, and I don't have a family? So I guess I just want clarification.

[hoboagogo]

[Except he didn't pull a jockstrap on his kigurumi and go as a sexy kangaroo. don't forget that part!!!!] I dunno, it's a pretty damn big deal, seems like.

[Like-- even more so than back home. And bro, if he were close to you, you'd get a shove for that.]

Like hell- do whatever it is you want. And don't gimme that bullshit 'bout not having family here. [Fuck blood ties. You got him and Minato and Soba and Sugar Ray. GOOD ENOUGH.]

audio;

[clinomaniac]

Whoever you want, I think. Whatever way you want.

It's not like anybody's policing.

audio;

[ktfod]

It's not necessarily that, I just think it's a good idea to understand it here. Either way I'll probably do something, sure, but I'd rather know what's going on than not.

audio;

[clinomaniac]

Then you go to church and... other things? I don't think it's really that different here than in Japan.

text.

[nitidus]

Oh, I always celebrated at home. It was usually an eventful affair beginning with my mother burning the turkey and then singing carols until the wee hours of the morning. Gifts are usually for friends and family?

text.

[ktfod]

Why would she burn the turkey?
Friends and family,
yeah.
It was kind of the same at home.
But not as much a family thing.
Are you supposed to sing?

text.

[nitidus]

She liked to get merry early in the morning and by the time it came to keeping an eye on the turkey, she would be too merry to see straight.

Not always. I think it's a personal preference.

audio

[animalage]

Of course the tree is necessary! Where else would you put all the presents?

...and if you don't have a family to celebrate with then...you find new people to be your family.

audio

[ktfod]

You need a tree to get presents?

Ah- yeah I'm starting to get that second part. I wasn't sure how strict it was here on the word though.

audio

[animalage]

Yeah, the presents have to go under the tree! It's weird if you just put them in a pile in the living room or something.

Who cares? You always get to choose who your family is. [Yeah, he's pretty amendment on this.]

voice

[khajidont]

Oh yeah... Shinji's already told me a bit about how you guys usually spend Christmas, and honestly, nothing's stopping you from doing the same here.

[But as for Akihiko's question...]

Back home, we celebrate at home with the whole family - tree and all. Presents are for friends and family, so even if I don't spend Christmas-Christmas with my friends, I usually end up doing something with them too.

[He tries not to sound as wistful as he feels. Spending Christmas without his family is such a lonely thought.]

So if you wanna get in the spirit here, I say you spend it with your friends.

voice

[ktfod]

Except things being closed. [Not sigh or anything, but there's a pause that implies a look of thoughtfulness.]

Yeah, seems like. You sound like this is your thing. [A small chuckle, generally feeling more open around Jaime in general enough to.]

voice

[khajidont]

Except things being closed. But some places are open special for Christmas.

[Movie theatres, some restaurants, liquor stores...]

What can I say? I like Christmas. It's always been a big deal with my family.

[shutupandgetintheanimus]

I know the basics, but I didn't know much about Christmas until after I left home. We didn't do that sort of thing when I was a kid. I'm used to Christmas parties at work. And those are usually more about getting drunk and having a good time.

[ktfod]

Seems like a lot of celebrations are about drinking no matter where you are. But my work's associated with school, so that cuts that option out. Thanks though.

audio;

[dragony]

It's the sort of holiday where all the public services close, so most of the other ones do, too. As far as I remember, anyway, employers are required to pay their employees more, if they're made to work that day. So, people expect things to be closed, and don't much bother going out, so in turn more places just close, because it's not worth the cost of treating it like a regular day.

Some grocery stores will stay open, and movie theaters sometimes, but not a lot more than that.

audio;

[ktfod]

I'm guessing they get paid more because they're not out celebrating when everyone is? Makes sense. Still, back home you usually went out on Christmas, so it's a little strange to see everything putting signs up about it here. I'm assuming that those without signs do it as well? It being am accepted norm here anyway.

Huh- movie theaters? [Hm.]

[dragony]

Yeah. It's something to do between all the family sort of things people do to celebrate, and it doesn't require too many people to keep going on a day like that. Some movies are released on Christmas day, because of it.

But you're right about the signs. Usually places will stress it, if they're open, since they're not otherwise expected to be.

Audio

[outlawrain]

Y'know, it ain't somethin' I'm familiar with either. Tho', we did a lotta things as a family, I don't really got my family here to do it with.

You got someone to spend it with? ...Someone special?

[Yes he remembers.]

Audio

[ktfod]

I have a few people, sure.

[Wow, back off maybe.]

Audio

[outlawrain]

That's good! Glad you've got some people to spend it with.

[Wow sorry that he remembers how gay you were on the network.]

Hey... so... how'd you do it back home?

voice.

[glowsferatu]

If you're looking to have a romantic Christmas, I'd recommend cooking at home. Or there's always Chinese, those restaurants don't tend to close for holidays.

voice.

[ktfod]

Chinese? ...Huh.

No we've planned to stay at home, but I'm not going to go the romantic route I don't think. Spending it with the two people closest to me sounds nice.