maskormenace | Fourth Bell | Oseibo?

[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?

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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.

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.

[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.]

[More happy about that than you can imagine. What do you- even say to that? Is it supposed to be funny? He's just confused.]

I didn't mean it like that. I just thought if it's more of a family oriented occasion, doesn't it make it lose it's meaning when you don't have the same sort of family? But if it doesn't matter than yeah, I'll celebrate with you and Minato at least.

It'll just be hard to go out anywhere. I guess as kids we really didn't go out anywhere either, though some years it was pretty great. [For one reason.]

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

It's not like anybody's policing.

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.

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

Who cares? [A shrug. FUCK OFFENDING PEOPLE they can Christmas if they want. after all like everywhere is closed early on christmas eve so he's starting to consider giving up on that front.]

Just take the day off like everyone else and hang out with people.

[A pause- and he laughs after a moment.] You're still hung up on the fried chicken they got us all, aren't you.

[IT WAS GOOD, LET'S NOT LIE.]

I guess it just seems really different, looking at a lot of the shops. I mean, I can't really go out anywhere to eat with Shinji- seems like you usually spend it at home. I figured it was better to ask about it, you never know what information you might get from speaking to others.

I guess most people make dinner at home. It's a family oriented holiday.

You're not cooking with him?

[He's not even worried about offending people, sheesh. It's more just wanting to know how this works, ugh. It was fine celebrating Christmas back home when it seemed like celebrating for celebrating's sake, but here it feels like there's more to it, okay?]

Think that's what'll happen. [A small laugh thee, sighing.] Yeah- ahh, I got so sick that one year, you remember?

Well the plan was to go out, but like I said, I learned that it'd be too difficult to do that.

We can still make it a family thing though.

[don't overthink things ok just put cute little antlers on the rabbit and be done with it.]

That's 'cause you never knew when to stop. [A pause, shaking his head.] Hell, you still don't.

With you and senpai, isn't it a family thing every day no matter what you do?

[He thinks it's just you two.]

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?

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?

Well yeah, we're never not family. But we could make plans to do something I think. I've been seeing holiday movies appear on the Netflix. We could take a look at them.

[They could fit the small dog antlers on it by now too...]

Ah. [Pause, staring at the glass of the window.]

You hungry? [Were you saying something? He got lost at 'chicken'.]

If it's Aragaki senpai, he'll watch anything with animals...

It'll be the three of us. So we'll all have to pitch in and choose.

...

... ...

... ... ... Three?

[sheesh everything is food with you]

...Yeah, I could grab something. You in Heropa?

Am I cutting out? Yeah? You, Shinji, and myself. I guess Soba and Sugar Ray too. [A pause, animals can be family too, right? Yeah.]

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.

[Yes?]

De Chima right now, I can head that way though? Or meet you at home if you want to get take out and or something and come home.

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