Sunday Afternoon - Echolls Residence

[fh_jackass]

Logan returned from Wonka's Candy Shop just as the Christmas tree was delivered. Logan directed them to set it up in the living room.

He flopped down on the couch and turned on the TV to watch Scrooged while waiting for the decorations to be delivered.



[Open to house residents and friends. The professional decorators aren't going to show, so we'll have to improvise. And there's candy!]

Comments

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"My mom taught me..." Angela thinks as she hunts among the popcorn for the perfect piece. "Um, how to walk in heels. And how to run a business, but I am never going to use that."

She smiles. "Is your family around here?"

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

A slight shadow passes across Elizabeth's face. "My parents are in Connecticut," she says simply, turning to grab some more popcorn.

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"Like Rory and the other Logan's families," Angela says, noticing the shadow buit not sure what's causing it. "My parents are outside Pittsburgh."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth nods. "Yeah, I was born just outside Hartford, about twenty or thirty miles from where Rory used to live actually," she says. "I've never been to Pittsburgh. What's it like there?"

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"Like anywhere," Angela shrugs. "I mean, there are some really nice things and some bad stuff. I live outside Pittsburgh in a totally boring suburb." She pauses. "I miss some people, though," she admits.

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth nods. "Yeah, I know what you mean. About missing people."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"I think it's the time of year, y'know? I mean, you guys are great, but..." she shrugs. "Not the same as Christmas with people you've known forever."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"No, I totally get what you mean," Elizabeth replies. "I've got three older brothers as well, so things like Thanksgiving and Christmas were always totally insane. And then the nieces and nephews came along, and, yeah..." She sighs.

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

Parker notices this, and gives Liz another chocolate-covered strawberry. She hadn't thought, before, that the Colorado crowd were probably missing people. A lot.

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth takes the strawberry with a small smile and a nod of thanks to Parker.

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

Angela smiles. "Aw. You're Aunt Elizabeth? That's so cool. Are your brothers a lot older than you?"

"I have one sister, and she's 12."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Nodding, Elizabeth grins. "Yeah, eldest is eleven years older than me, middle is ten and the youngest is five years. I was the afterthought."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"Cool," Angela says. "And then they all have little kids? Christmas must be huge for you guys."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"Brother two, no. But the other two both have three each," Elizabeth replies, leaving out that most of the kids weren't that small anymore. "It does get a bit chaotic, but it wouldn't be a family Christmas without that, y'know?!

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"I totally get what you mean about the huge family Christmases. I'm not sure what it will be like for us this year," she says, a little melancholy. "My parents just separated."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"Oh, Angela, I'm so sorry to hear that," Elizabeth says sympathetically. "And I guess me going on about my family doesn't help either."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"It's okay," Angela says. "I mean, I found out over parents' weekend, so ... not just just. I'm dealing, y'know? And I'm seriously trying not to make everything all about me."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth nods. "Dealing is good," she says. "Talking helps as well, y'know?"

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

Angela gives Elizabeth a small, pleased smile. "Yeah. I think I've been ... almost in denial. Like if I don't think about it, it's not happening. Which doesn't actually work."

She shrugs. "I just don't understand why my dad would do this. I know the woman he left my mom for -- they worked together for, like, a year before this happened -- and she's so obnoxious. I don't get it."

"And I hate that I'm here and not there with my sister and mom. But they say they're fine."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth laughs softly. "Yeah, the "burying your head in the sand approach" doesn't work either."

She looks serious again. "Sometimes people do things that they can't explain. All they know that it makes sense to them at the time, and no matter how content, or even happy that they've been with this one person, they realize that it's not enough, and they have to do what seems like the oddest thing."

Elizabeth nods. "Maybe they're dealing with it together? Not meaning to exclude you or anything... were they always close?"

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

"Youre right," Angela says, thoughtfully. "Relationship stuff? Never makes sense. It just ... happens, and you sort of ride with it." She glances at the couples in the room -- Rory and Logan, Jake and Krycek, thinking about Marty and Jordan and other things. "It's just hard to extend that to my dad."

"And I think that's what's going on with my mom and sister. They weren't close when we were younger, but they've definitely bonded in the last few years. Danielle, my sister, she really enjoys feeling like an adult, you know? I mean, not that my mom would be inappropriate with her, or anything, but I think Danielle is probably better at listening than I am."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

"Adults are still human too," Elizabeth remarks, with a wry grin. "And relationships don't suddenly fall into a nice neat little pattern as soon as you turn 21, where A leads to B leads to C. There may be less hormones at 36 than 16, but that still doesn't mean it's easier."

She nods. "Yeah, I get what you mean. Also, you're here now, so probably makes a difference too. I bonded with my parents after all my brother's left home... #2 and #3 were both at boarding school, so during term time, I was an only child from age 10!"

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[chasingangela]

Angela gives Elizabeth a look fron the corners of her eyes. "You almost sound like you've been an adult or something. I mean, I guess you're right, but ... I'm still not entirely convinced people older than 25 or so are strill people. They just seem so different. You know? Especially your parents."

Re: Make popcorn garlands

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

Elizabeth shrugs. "I've spent a lot of time with people older than me, and with adults. Their point of view comes pretty easy to me."

She laughs. "Different to you, yes. But believe it or not, they are still people."