sweetdevil | 58th ♫ | i heard it – that day's "snow show song"

[ It's a testament to the strength of her friendship with Parker that Ryoko is not only here but actually dressed for the occasion – which is to say, she's wearing a very subdued winter-themed sweater because she's friends with Parker, not insane.

She'll even allow herself to be yanked along, if only because it saves her from having to ruin the party by dumping her drink on the first person who approaches her under the mistletoe. ]

You put out mistletoe? [ She sounds at once exasperated and yet, somehow, not in the least bit surprised. Of course Parker put out mistletoe. ] That's a recipe for disaster.

Oh no, a former friend abandoning me and leaving me to rot in prison, what a new experience.

[Her tone is flat enough you could start a rousing game of Jenga on it.]

[Vaska sighs, folding her arms.]

Really, what do you want. One of us still has better things they could be doing, I'm sure.

Well I don't see anyone else stepping up to keep you company, so maybe a former friend will have to do.

[Sheyleigh crosses her arms in turn.]

Maybe I just wanted to check that you're still here.

That's right! I doubt anyone is really paying close attention anyway, right? I mean, if they were paying attention, they'd have gotten rid of that-

[She reaches around and takes Stella's hand to wave the bell to make a horrible racket.]

-by now.

Oh, really?

[A lone traveler in the wilderness was either a fool, an advance scout for bandits, or supremely confident in their combat prowess. Or any of the above, really.]

[Which of those would prove true here had yet to be seen, but for the moment Vaska had no problem sharing a bit of warmth on a chilly night.]

Well, I hope my reputation didn't put too much pressure on you.

Fine. I'm here. Like I have been for [a rowdy band of bards marches past, covering up the exact amount of time in question here].

[There's a short pause that's probably pretty awkward, possibly more so for one of them than the other.]

You know this type of sentimentality would only be a weapon if I wanted you dead, yes? The world's still in danger and if you're not going to let me deal with it then you need to survive and do it yourself.

Oh, heyya Téa, what's up?

[Stomping the excess snow off his winter boots, wiping his feet at the game shop's welcome mat, it's- well, it's certainly someone who looks like Jonouchi, at least.]

[But with precisely zero awareness that anything might be wrong or unusual. Mostly, at least.]

Whatcha doing behind the counter, Yugi and Gramps get called away or something?

[ And the instant Penny stoops down beside her, Erina surges back into motion, with an enormous ball of snow clutched in her hands. ]

Vengeance! DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR!

[ And she just dunks it right on poor Penny's head. WAR IS AT HAND ]

Oh man, just imagine it! I'll be like, a two hundred year old granny and every Christmas I'll get to say to all my grandkids "hey, check it out! That's ol' Gramma Stella before her bones got all crunchy!".

... But do you seriously think they'll rerun it?

[ Stella immediately looks woeful. ]

That's what you think. But every single time I try and get rid of the thing, some nice little old lady asks about it and then I feel bad...

Seriously? I mean, I like Christmas as much as the next girl, but I don't understand why people act like this about it...

[She just. Droops. She's dying, Stella.]

[Yuuki is a newer, but still remarkably well-known professional Duelist, known for her gimmick of being, well. A spooky ghost girl who may or may not be an actual literal ghost, who never speaks, ever, made spookier by her deck made of ghosts.

And now, of course, said ghost girl is walking in through the front door of Yugi's game shop. With a Duel Disk on her arm. Looking around. There's a Christmas sale, and Joey seems like he belongs here. Probably.

She looks at Joey. Waves him over. And then sets her Duel Disk to active mode.

what do you do, wheeler.]

Maybe! Though even if they don't, there's still the Blu-ray sales. I doubt they'd skip that!

Duh. [Of course Parker put out the mistletoe. It's half a miracle that she and Ruby aren't camped underneath it right now. She grins at Ryoko, and lets go of her arm-- but then she's adjusting Ryoko's hair.]

Probably. But like--- [She lowers her voice.] Simon's sooooooo sad lately. Like. Just Jamba Juice, and... maybe he'll get stuck under it with a nice girl---

Orrrrr Ruby and I will just make use of it!

[ Dryly: ] Your Christmas present to me can be making sure I'm not around to see either of those things happen.

[ At this point, she's certain if you added up all the times she has endured Parker and Ruby being.... well, Parker and Ruby, it would add up to days of her life gone.

But it's Christmas, so she'll keep that to herself and just let Parker fuss. She gets the feeling that just letting her Fuss Energy out is how Parker enjoys Christmas. ]

You're definitely making me feel underdressed, though. Is that what you're supposed to wear to Christmas parties in America?

Blu-rays, huh...

[ Then suddenly, Stella freezes in place and seizes Rain's arm, like she's just been struck with a thunderous idea. ]

Ohmigod. Rain. Do you know what this means?!

D'you think they've been like, charging up their Christmas energy all year and it's finally getting unleashed? It'd explain how riled up everyone is!

[ Stella is also drooping. They're kind of just propped up against each other at this point. ]

No wonder they're so powerful... They're hitting us with a Christmas Spirit Bomb...

[blink blink] What's wrong, Stella? Or... not wrong?

Oh, Ryoko... [poor sweet beautiful ryoko. Parker's already gone over-the-top with christmas shopping. But she can let that go for a little bit now. Parker finishes fussing about her hair, and stands back, strikes a picture-perfect pose, and smiles.]

I look great, don't I? You're fine-- but if you wanted, I could find something for you to borrow! [She's always happy to play dressup, dangerously so.] Cleveland's over there somewhere in a t-shirt with a horrifying goat thing on it, totally underdressed. She claims it's Christmas-y, but I don't believe her.

I'm not gonna have to try and beat the rush for Bluray preorders anymore! Do you know how crazy it was trying to make sure I always got a copy?! But now I'm like, basically guaranteed at least one! It's a Christmas miracle!

Oh, c'mon, you know that's not a real thing.

[ ... ]

... Is it?!

[She laughs, smiles, and fluffs Stella's hair.]

You're right about that! I almost forget how hard it is. It's good that we at least get one of our own merchandise -- although it's still difficult getting in the queue with everybody else for someone else's!

Mhm, mhm.

[She nods, listening carefully.]

...I don't really have a sense of smell and I've never made this before, so we'll probably have to rely on your judgment. Sorry.

Ah-!

[Yeah, that's a whole lot of snow on this poor gingerbot's head.]

[You deceptive monster.]

[But Penny springs back, reloading the launcher and returning fire as she runs for some kind of cover.]

I'M GLAD I DIDN'T HURT YOUR FEELINGS ERINA BUT VICTORY WILL BE MINE!

58th ♫ | i heard it – that day's "snow show song"

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that's fine I'm not sure what Joey's canon point here is supposed to be

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