ArchivedLogs:Caroling

Caroling
Dramatis Personae Anette, Ash, Cody, Jack, Steve
In Absentia	2015-12-20 "Glooorooooooooorrrrrriaaa"
Location <NYC> Times Square
Lights and billboards scattered over the skyscrapers that line Times Square. A gaggle (murder?) of tourists are spread through the square at all hours of day and night, gawking at the tall buildings and taking photos of nothing in particular. Times Square is a place of theatre, certainly, but mostly it is one giant tourist trap that no self-respecting New Yorker would be seen in for longer than it takes to leave. "DING DONG MERRILY ON HIIIIGH," the words don't exactly pierce the air like they might on a quiet suburban neighborhood. They mix and muddle in the noisy streets of Time Square. They come from a small of carolers walking side by side, loudly proclaiming the lyrics to the passers by. It's not nearly as crowded as it Times Square typically is, what with the recent zombie plague causing the citizens of the city that never sleeps to fear the outdoors and open spaces, but now that things are starting to maybe get back to normal, the people are beginning to return. The carolers have gained a person or two in their numbers, purely out of the holiday season, but the group remains small. "Glooorooooooooorrrrrriaaa," Ash doesn't exactly sing with harmony as he belts out the 'tune.' Instead his tone remains somewhat even and middling, lungs holding out during the long and stretched out chorus. As it's still pretty warm out, he is wearing a pair of jeans (dusty brown) with a ugly Christmas sweater (in vibrant green). It has light up stars and reindeer and tree ornaments on the various images knitted into the surface. He's carrying a long bone sword that has been decorated in tinsel and bows, partially disguising the beat up blade and old blood stains. "Hosanna in excelsis..." he finishes, slapping his free hand against Steve's shoulder merrily. He's grinning, despite the tired circles under his eyes, pleased with the day's activities. There's only so long that someone can stay cooped up, and even with constant scavenging runs and help clearing out Westchester of it's minor and otherwise annoying zombie problem, Cody has been increasingly irritable. Which is why on the excuse of another run out to patrol the woods, he and his partner have ended up off a short flight to New York City. It was the singing that drew them down and sooner than later, he was singing along as best as possible. Since neither young man was ready for holiday cheer, especially with all that's happened back on the ranch... walking around with a smile planted on his face as he bungled up the lyrics of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman' while keeping an eye on what places are open and what places are closed suited the young man rather well. But the others with them would notice the pair are still in that twitchy and active state of those who've spent a bit of time out there in the trenches. For these two, any shadow could be a couple zombies ready to attack, any door to be knocked on could have an entirely turned family. But... at least they haven't tried packing off anything for the school... yet. One of the few people wandering through the square, Anette is keeping mostly to herself. Despite the warmer weather, she wears a long coat and leather gloves, hiding her wings and talons from sight. In one hand is a paper shopping bag, wrapped gifts picking out. As she approaches the carolers, she can't help but glance their way, a faint smile falling across her face, especially as she hears the very loud out of tune bits. After what appears to be an internal struggle, she pauses, setting her bag down and leaning up against a lightpole, under the guise of checking her phone. It didn't take too much to convince Jack to come along. He'd hoped some time away from the school would help get him out of the rotten mood he's been in. So far, no luck. But he's followed along with Cody and the singers. No singing from him though, just a pair of silent jeans and blue hoodie with a glittery snowflake on the chest moving with the group. He's armed at the moment as well, carrying some little metal projectiles Cody made for him in his pockets. Shoulders tense, he's been keeping watch for any potential zombies or other trouble and hoping the others enjoy the caroling. Walking alongside Ash, Steve is dressed in his Sunday best -- one mostly unchewed red, white, and blue flannel and neatly mended indigo jeans, with a round shield slung aross his back (the five pointed star replaced with an eight-pointed one. /He's/ quite on key, his tenor high and clear. Though he carries a songbook in his hands he clearly knows all the songs by heart. Recognizing Anette, he gives a friendly little wave, though he does not interrupt the end of 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' to speak. Ash may look like he's losing himself to the holiday spirit, but he's definitely aware. He glances around casually as they walk and sing, always on the look out for attack -- especially with two high school kids with them. He doesn't say much to Jack, but acknowledges him just enough to keep things from being uncomfortable. By extension, he gives his new partner a little space. too. When Steve raises his hand to wave, Ash tenses and looks in that direction as well, brows rising when he too recognizes Anette. He isn't as concerned about interrupting the song. "Oy! Anette! Sing with us!" o/` Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joyo/` o/` Comfort and Joy o/` o/` Oh-Oh Tidings of Comfort and Joy. o/` The eyes from the newer young man go past a fresh alley and over past Anette, trying to remain as casual as he can, but still Cody is obviously on edge. He is decked out unlike the others in more hand-me-down style in a hooded top under an army surplus jacket, and a beanie with a pair of flight goggles on over it. Pants are a pair of fleece-lined work jeans and boots to accompany. The young man eventually tapers off on his part and looks to his near-invisible friend to say quietly, "Maybe we should double-back, check the other streets... there's got to be ONE place open..." Digging into his pocket a moment to pat the wad of bills scrounged here and there from their various forays into town back by the XS, "I promise... fifteen more minutes and we'll head back." Of course, that would be more believable if he hadn't said that for the THIRD time tonight... Anette glances up from her phone just in time to notice Steve's wave, returning with a friendly head nod and wave of her own. Ash's outburst fully gets her attention. She quickly shakes her head at the suggestion, though the grin never leaves her face. "I don't sing," she calls back, but at least now she's actually listening to and watching the singers, her phone put back in her pocket. Jack hasn't been very talkative in general but he's acknowledged Ash too. He does still want to at least be friendly with him. All the waving and the call up to Anette has Jack looking up. There's an unseen blink as he finally gets a name for the bird woman he's met a few times and he offers a little nod in greeting. His attention turns back to Cody as the other student whispers to him. "We should have just checked online before we came out here..." he trails off, looking around. Of course that claim of going back soon has the empty hood giving Cody an impassive look. "Only one more of those before I hold you to it." If Steve is even the least concerned about zombies, he certainly doesn't /show/ it, though he definitely does keep an eye out in the direction of the youngsters they've collected. "{It's all right,}" he tells Anette between one song and the next, his German heavily French-influenced, "Ash can barely sing, either. Just fun and good cheer." He holds out the songbook he's clearly not using, eyebrows upraised. "Steeeeeeve..." Ash complains jovially, "You're not really supposed to tell everyone that." Because standing within earshot isn't telling enough. He grins a bit brighter and stays where he is, waiting joyfully. "I'm going to make some eggnog after and maybe I'll spike it if we can find a liquor store that's open. We haven't gotten as bad as to start distilling our own moonshine, but it is getting close. Maybe for the new year, you know?" He glances toward the teenagers. "Um, not that... you heard me say that." "Hey, my lips are sealed. And besides... I've had a rum ball before. Didn't like it." Cody replies a bit nervously and then steps back next to Jack once more, where he pushes gloved hands into the pockets of his surplus jacket, "Look... thanks for letting us tag along, and we're perfectly cool with doing it for a little bit longer. But we came here on a mission. We've got a bunch of friends back at..." Trailing off, and then he at Jack and back, gulping once and looking a bit ashamed of himself, "... uhhhh... well... I mean." Once more there's a pause, and he takes a breath, "We came to New York to find a pizza place. Sort of a... cabin fever meets... midnight snack pilgrimage kind of thing. We just REALLY needed to get out." Anette chuckles and shakes her head as Steve insists she join in. "I'm good with watching. I'm not really the Christmas carols type." She looks towards Ash and offers a wink. "I don't think you sound bad. Then again, I think German is a pretty language so my tastes might be questionable." The talk of rum and booze intrigues her and she leans up from the pole. "Well, that's a different story. Though it's a lot easier to raid the abandoned liquor stores than make your own moonshine. Less of a risk of going blind." Apparently she doesn't care much what the highschooler's overhear. "Yeah," Jack replies with an unseen smile to Ash. "We won't let anyone know. And I don't think your singing is that bad," he adds. Noticing Cody's hesitation, Jack gives him a light bump with his shoulder. "They already know where we're from...at least Ash does," he says quietly. He has no comments on alcohol or breaking into abandoned stores though. "{I did say /barely/,}" Steve says to Ash in Spanish now, with an apologetic duck of his head, though he's grinning wide. Flips the page to see the next song on their list. "All else failing, I'm sure Ion can tell us where to find something for your eggnog." He turns to Cody, frowning slightly. "I'm afraid I don't know any pizza places that are open. But good luck!" He seems quite genuine about this, then follows their organizer's cue to begin 'Silent Night.' "Bah! {At least I know you're honest, brother,}" Ash feigns being wounded by Steve's words but can't quite quit grinning. He nods to Anette as she excuses his musical stylings, then nods graciously to Jack and Cody. "Yeah, well, Just cuz I know doesn't mean much. Wish I could help with the pizza..." He begins, but is swept long with Steve as he continues singing, giving the teens a shrug of 'what can you do?' He then starts rumbling into 'Silent Night' as well. Breaking off from the crowd makes the visible young man somewhat nervous, Cody's eyes flicking around before he finally takes a bit of a breath to settle himself, and looks at Jack, "I'm sorry man... maybe we should just head back. I know we promised people we'd bring back a treat." Hand going to the wad of bills and squeezing on it like it was some kind of promise, "I mean... we could find a closed place and take what we need. But... dunno about you, that feels wrong. You up to checking a few more streets?" Even as he speaks through, he looks over Jack's shoulder towards Anette, as if questioning who's side she might be on. Anette picks up her shopping bag as she prepares to take off again. "I don't know about a good pizza place but the grocery stores are starting to open up again. If you really want, you can grab a frozen pizza. Not the same but something..." She gives a half wave, half salute to the group. "Take care." Jack nods, following with Cody. "Let's search...a little more then if all else fails," he nods to the departing Anette. "We go with her idea and cook up the next best thing," he offers, starting to lead the way away from the singing group. Cody replies with a bit a grin, "Well... we could have worse ideas. Let's go."