(no subject)

[nita_callahan]

Judging from the look on Nita's face, she wasn't expecting the door to the greenhouse to lead to Milliways -- but she's not displeased about it. The plants can wait a while.

Stripping off her mittens, she heads for the bar to order a hot cocoa (and considers, guiltily, that she should get some belated Christmas presents for her friends here. Between finals and an unexpected intervention in Brooklyn, there was barely time to get presents for her family and the Rodriguezes).

Comments

[hadyougoing]

Ava's still wearing foam reindeer antlers and her coziest purple sweater, and has bellied up to the bar to ponder wrapping paper for the awesomest Christmas cookies ever baked, ever.

"Hey Bar! Can I do something still-seasonal? And gingerbread-flavored?"

Nita gets a pleasant smile as a mug manifests.

[nita_callahan]

Nita grins at her.

"Nice antlers."

[hadyougoing]

Her smile brightens.

"Thanks! They work waaaay better than a Santa hat." No hat head, for instance. Ava picks up her mug and takes a sip.

"... Oh. My God. This is amazing."

[nita_callahan]

Intriguedface!

"What is it?"

[hadyougoing]

"It's gingerbread," Ava says, reverent.

"And ... something else, I don't know. It's like coffee but more cinnamon. Wanna try?"

[nita_callahan]

She laughs. "Sure! It sounds intense."

[hadyougoing]

Dutifully, Ava hands over her mug.

"Knock yourself out. I can already tell I'll be asking for refills."

[nita_callahan]

"Thanks."

She takes a careful sip.

". . . Oh my god."

[hadyougoing]

Ava peers inquisitively, and also reindeerishly.

"What do you think?"

[nita_callahan]

"I think it's amazing." She hands the mug back. "Bar, can I get a cup of whatever that is?"

As Bar provides, Nita gives Ava a grin. "Thanks for that. I'm Nita."

[hadyougoing]

"I do what I can," Ava says, magnanimous.

She grins. "I'm Ava. Nice to meet you."

[nita_callahan]

"Likewise." She picks up her mug of gingerbread-y goodness.

"Mmmm. I wish I'd known about this before Christmas. I'd have just served it to everyone I know for their presents."

[hadyougoing]

Ava gives this possibility due consideration.

"Do you think drinks count as Christmas presents? On the one hand, waaaaay better than socks. On the other hand, socks is setting a low bar."

[howling_laugh]

Coyote was totally right there next to her the whole time. She definitely didn't stalk across the bar and sneak up on Nita.

She waits to be noticed. Patiently, even.

[nita_callahan]

Coyote is very sneaky.

Wait for it . . .





"--Hey!" Nita jumps when she notices Coyote, but grins.

[howling_laugh]

"Nita Callahan," Coyote says, her own grin spreading wide across her face. It's good to see Nita looking better.

[nita_callahan]

"Coyote," she replies, mock-solemnly. "How're you?"

[howling_laugh]

"Oh, quite well." She's dumped Raven on Moiraine, and has some New Years celebrating to do very soon.

2011 looks promising, if she dared to be optimistic.

"What brings you here on this fine evening?"

[nita_callahan]

"Nothing in particular. Some after-Christmas-pre-New-Years downtime?"

[howling_laugh]

Coyote rolls her eyes at the mention of Christmas, but it's more fond annoyance than anything else. "I never did understand the point of running yourself ragged because of a holiday. Do you need a vacation from your vacation yet?"

(Coyote never saw the point of running herself ragged at all.)

[nita_callahan]

"Keep Christmas in your own way, nephew," she quotes peacefully, "and let me keep it in mine. Honestly, the holiday's not what's been keeping me busy. I have errantry for that."

She is fully aware that this may get more sarcasm from Coyote, but that's okay.

[howling_laugh]

"Don't you quote that at me," Coyote says, pointing the Finger of Judgement at Nita. "I know a lot more than three spirits, and I do not have to do it all in one night."

[nita_callahan]

"What, get de-Scrooge-ified?"

[howling_laugh]

Coyote sniffs in disdain and changes the subject. "How have your Powers been keeping you busy, then?"

[nita_callahan]

She blows out a breath.

"This new kid in Scotland stumbled on some of the local fair folk when she was out in the Highlands and panicked, and she accidentally sent two water horses and a fairy cat to Prospect Park. We got the horses out before they could demolish too much of the swan population, but it took us four days to catch the cat and clean up after it."