itinere | [open | let's pretend this was posted earlier in the week please?]

[Since the appearance of the big tree in the town square, Katniss has been doing her best to learn as much about Christmas as she possibly can. She had mostly ignored it the previous year; the holiday not one celebrated in Panem. Religion is something that generally still confuses her. There had been little equivalent to it in her life. Why would President Snow allow any of the Districts to believe in anything other than the power of the Capitol and the nation and, most importantly, him?

But Catholicism means something to Matt. He's talked to her about it before and done his best to explain it to her. Though she's not certain that she gets it, Katniss does listen. She's been listening a lot since the tree has appeared. She's also been doing a lot of observing. From the decorations adorning storefronts and homes and the lamp posts to the candy canes, she tries her best to figure out how they fit into Christmas. None of it seems to connect to the stories that Matt tell her but the more she watches others, the more she thinks that maybe this holiday thing isn't so bad.

That still leaves one problem though. Something more than the realization that she may be in love with Matt, a thought that terrifies her. She tells herself that she wants to do something special for him because he's her boyfriend but it really is more than that. This is Matt's first Christmas in Itinere and given that the holiday may mean something to him, she wants to make it special. The first step would be figuring out how.

And for that, she (slightly reluctantly) takes to the network. The snow falls behind her as she stands in front of one of the decorated storefronts, a frown clear on her face. Hopefully, the filter from Matt actually works.]

How are you supposed to make Christmas perfect for a Catholic? I don't have any experience with Christmas, or with Catholics, and- I want it to be a surprise. So I can't ask him. [Katniss hesitates for a second, nearly scowling at herself. Asking for help is not one of her strong suits.] Help... help would be very appreciated.

[network open to everyone but matt; action open to everyone.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think it depends more on the Catholic in question than anything else, if you're going for perfect. Probably following his or her traditions. If they're especially religious, maybe go to mass on Christmas eve or Christmas with them. I'm down to help if you need it, it's just that that question is kind of vague so...I guess...what do you mean by perfect?

Edited 2016-12-25 02:40 (UTC)

[That's part of the problem, isn't it. Though she says she wants it to be perfect, she really doesn't have much of a clue what she actually means by that. Life is far, far from perfect. Her own has been too good an example of that. But if Christmas means something to Matt, and it's his first Christmas away from New York, she wants something... Something a lot better than the lives either of them have lived.

She frowns (a step up from scowling) and then shrugs.]

I don't know. I... I want him to be happy here.

[ Hmm...okay in this sense, Cam is obviously not communicating clearly what he's looking for and if he's not careful with that, he'll frustrate her so much she'll stop asking, which is no good. If she stops asking him and asks someone else, that's all right, but... ]

All right, actually, let me try that again, because I knew what I meant but I don't think you knew what I was asking. Perfect is subjective, right? So...I mean, do you know how he/she usually likes to celebrate Christmas? Or how maybe they would ideally like to? I don't know the person you're talking about so maybe like...some more details about them might help us to help you? Does that make more sense?

[Percy can't say he paid attention to much to the religious aspect of Christmas, even long before he was introduced to a Greek mythology and lifestyle, BUT he does know a little about the family aspect of Christmas and more than willing to share that.]

Well, you got the keeping is a surprise thing down! Now all you need to get them is a gift and probably a couple movies or whatever you like to do. And bam! Easy as that. The point of Christmas is just to have fun and spend time with your friends and family.

[Any part of Christmas, even the family part, is still more than Katniss knows. There's no holiday like this in Panem. Really, there are few (if any) holidays at all. She's determined to make the day good for Matt and at this point, she'll take any help you can get.]

Movies? [Unfortunately, attempts at help aren't always as useful as they may seem. She shakes her head. Gifts, maybe, she can do. It can't be that hard, right?] He doesn't have family here.

[Ah.

He can see maybe he got ahead of himself and put his foot in his mouth there.]

Or friends. [He repeats, to amend.] Does he have any other friends here? I mean, it's no big deal. [Not like he has a lot of his here or doesn't know what it's like to spend Christmas with a single person (his mother).] Sometimes it's better with less people.

[A pause. He didn't forget her question about movies, just fell victim to his ADHD and didn't know how to reply to that anyway 'til he took this moment to think. He could understand it given he had some friends from like the early 1900s or something. It still throw him off when people asked him what movies or other modern things were, though.]

And movies, well, are moving pictures you watch for entertainment. Everyone sits down and has a good time watching something make belief. [He's learned it's always good to stress that it is make belief.]

[ prim's at the apothecary for this, but she can't help responding. ]

I don't think I really know what Christmas or a Catholic are.

[ what in the world has she even missed... ]

[Katniss can't help but smile a little at Prim's response, even chuckle. Of course her sister doesn't know what either of these things mean. Katniss hadn't until meeting Matt.]

That's what Matt is. A Catholic. And he celebrates Christmas. The reason for the big tree near the apothecary.

[There. That makes sense, right?]

[ there has to be more to it. prim frowns slightly, but resolves to ask matt sometime. ]

Oh. Well the tree is really pretty, so Christmas has to be good, right?

[open | let's pretend this was posted earlier in the week please?]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

video;

video;

video;