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Leon Vance ([info]leon_vance) wrote in [info]omega_reality,
@ 2011-12-24 18:06:00

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Entry tags:*complete, 2011 12, character: alexis castle, character: april kepner, character: brian kinney, character: derek morgan, character: dominic vail, character: eliot spencer, character: emily prentiss, character: g callen, character: john connor, character: marty deeks, character: nell jones, character: robert callen, character: sam hanna, character: savannah monroe, character: sean hanna, character: tim riggins, character: troy bolton, dead: clay morrow, dead: eric beale, dead: gemma morrow, dead: jenna hanna, dead: kensi blye, dead: leon vance, dead: mike renko, dead: nick green, dead: sheldon cooper, dead: spencer reid, dead: tyra collette

RP: Christmas Eve
Who: Everyone
Where: The chapel and then the rec room
When: Christmas Eve
Summary:

Leon had gone through the service much like a real Methodist service would have gone, using Christmas songs instead of hymns, going through the step in a very non ecumenical way to make sure everyone felt included, but really besides the Creed and the Our Father, everything else was pretty relaxed. The important part was the sermon, the part that made him uncomfortable. Sure, he could pretend to be a minister, but he wasn't one and there was a different quality when you were lying in front of God, but he could give them something he rarely gave people: a piece of the truth.

"If we were in a real church, you'd be listening to the birth of Jesus and the importance of his coming, but those of us who've gone to church through the years have heard those sermons more than ones, and those who don't go don't feel any comfort from it, so I'll tell you about a different story and the thanks given are not just to God. Like all story on Christmas, it starts with a boy born in Chicago, who spent a few years in Ohio and went back Chicago. We were Southern Baptists," he said, smiling at Savannah. "We had our church, the white folks had their own, even though we were all Baptists. Things weren't any better in Chicago. If anything the discrimination was worse. I was determined to get out of there. I started my career when I picked a college, but without knowing a sealed my faith. Everything became classified, my school, the military branch I belong to, the missions. Only a few people have seen my real file. Then there's a second life, a legent, a cover, a life that everyone else knows. Even my wife and kids only know what's in the second file. Only one person ever figured out that I couldn't be in the branch I said I was. When we came here, it was just another cover, another life, and then slowly people arrived, and suddenly I was responsible for people who never lived this life.

"Tonight we celebrate the birth of a man who gave everything for us, who died for us, but as any parent in this room and some who aren't parents know, giving your life for someone isn't the ultimate sacrifice. Taking a life to protect someone is the real sacrifice, and this is what I forgot. Some of us have done this so long that we don't remember why it's such a sacrifice, but watching many of the faces in this room reminded me of that fact." He stopped as Savannah got up and moved through the chairs to leave the house. It was time to bring this to an end it seemed.

"You've made this sacrifice, but tonight is a night of rebirth, a night where we rely on God's love and the love of the ones around us to take the first step, to move forward, because that sacrifice shouldn't be in vain, it shouldn't annihilate all the good that's in us. Each one of you has contributed so much to this team, but it's your personalities, your care, your love that has turned a group of people into something close to family and I want to thank you for that." He nodded toward Brian and watched him go, but this had been planned. "If we were in some other church, we would sing a last song and go home. I'm sure you're tired, want to get some rest for tomorrow, but before we do that, I have a little something as a personal thank you. If you could please, put your coats on and follow me."

He took his own coat and walked to the rec center. This was the reason why he had spent a lot of time with Brian, making more than a few trips into the city, but seeing the final product for the first time made it worth it. Much like at the base, Brian had used little to turn this into 'a club'. The living room floor was much the same as the other houses, but that's where the similarities ended. The walls were covered in shiny red wrapping paper. The kitchen's counter was a bar. There were two sectionals covered with colored fabrics. In the corner sat the stage: a drum set, a sax, a keyboard and a guitar with bows were standing there. Brian, with John's help, had sat up lights and speakers.

"I hear someone wanted a game room. In the small bedroom, we have a TV, game system, controllers and all of that. There's a small weight room where the master room should be. The last bedroom is a small movie theater with a giant TV, DVD, computer hook ups. This is my gift to all of you, and Mr. Hanna, yes, you can start playing for the night," he said with a smile.



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Jenna/Alexis
[info]j_hanna
2011-12-23 07:11 pm UTC (link)
She had to admit, for all his stubbornness and attempt to make the wedding bigger and flashier than she wanted it, Brian was really good at what he did. The rec house looked fantastic, and she couldn't imagine a better Christmas present for her brother than this. Of course it wasn't just for him, but for all of them, and as far as she was concerned a badly needed one at that. If it made her relax a bit about the wedding then that was only a bonus, it was turning out to be a lot more stressful than she'd ever imagined. How hard could a dress and a cake be? Apparently very and there was a million other little things which she hadn't given any thought nor really saw the need for.

Tonight she wasn't going to think too much about the wedding though, but on Christmas. She was also, she told herself, actually make an effort to talk to the people she had up until now mostly ignored. She'd been too distant and with this life being the one she had, she needed to change that.

She looked around the room, and noticed Alexis standing off to the side not really talking to anyone. Smiling she approached her. "Hi," she said. "What do you think of all this. Brian's done a marvelous job, hasn't he?"

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]alexis_castle
2011-12-23 07:22 pm UTC (link)
Alexis wasn't a stranger to Jenna. She did live with her brother, but she hadn't actually spoken to her other than the general 'hello' and 'goodbye' that you said to people you met daily, and that was why she was surprised when Jenna approached her, but she still smiled at the other woman.

"Hello." She looked at the room. "This is very nice, and we have a band again, we can start playing. It's more than I expected, and yes, Brian is very good at what he does. It's the commentary that's not always safe," she said, laughing, "but if you don't listen to what he says, what he does is really sweet."

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]j_hanna
2011-12-23 07:45 pm UTC (link)
She could see the surprise, and maybe she should have done this long ago but she wasn't the type to make random smalltalk. But these people were her team and she needed to make an effort.

She laughed at the comment. "Isn't that too true?" she said with a smile, having now been around Brian more than she had since getting here. "But yes, he does do a lot more for us than he'd most likely want to admit."

"What did you think of the service?" Though granted it was strange with a fake service, it was a nice idea.

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]alexis_castle
2011-12-23 08:28 pm UTC (link)
"More than people realize," she said, "but I think he likes it that way. He wants people to know how awesome he is without noticing that he's making everyone's life a little better. That can be our Christmas gift to him: we can pretend we didn't notice."

Alexis hadn't thought much of the service. She had gone because there was nothing to do and being around people was better than sitting alone at home, even if she didn't talk to a lot of people. After a moment, she shrugged. "We're not religious. I never go. It was... weird, but I guess it was worth sitting through it for this. I supposed that we have to know what it's all about since we are some kind of Christian community, but I hope we don't do this often." Or ever again. She knew what it was like, they could skip it from ow on.

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]j_hanna
2011-12-23 08:46 pm UTC (link)
Jenna smiled, and looked over at Brian. "I suppose for this he deserves whatever Christmas present he wants," she said.

It was interesting hearing Alexis take on things. Jenna hadn't seen it like that at all, but as a way for their commanding officer to speak to them and try to bring unity to his team as well as giving them an opportunity to get better familiarized with their cover.

"I'm sure it's nothing that will happen too often," Jenna answered. "A Christmas thing most likely."

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]alexis_castle
2011-12-23 08:53 pm UTC (link)
She looked over at where Brian was, which happened to be very near John, and giggled. "I'm pretty sure he's getting what he wants for Christmas, and every other day of the year."

"Every Christmas?" she asked, horrified, and then winced. "I'm sorry, it's just... I'm not a believer. They can just write out what we need to know in case we ever have to go to a Church and we can memorize it. That was just... boring. Christmas is about family and present and friends and sit in front of the fireplace telling stories while sipping on champagne or hot cocoa, and I know we don't have any of that... well you guys have family, you should be with them, and the rest, we can be here, playing, talking. It's better than sitting through that again."

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]j_hanna
2011-12-23 09:09 pm UTC (link)
Jenna laughed at Alexis' reaction. "I don't know about every Christmas," she said. "There is an entire year to finding that out, and besides, Christmas day isn't until tomorrow so you can still spend Christmas here playing. Maybe next year there will be something more along the lines of what Thanksgiving was?" she said.

One thing that Alexis said though made her think. While some of them have families or friends others, like Alexis didn't. Did they feel left out? Not that she was about to ask that when they'd just started to talk however.

"I do like the sound of that fireplace though, and the hot chocolate. I think I'll have to keep away from the champagne this Christmas," she added with a smile.

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]alexis_castle
2011-12-23 09:17 pm UTC (link)
"I hope not," she said with a frown. She did not look forward to sit for an hour reading scriptures and talking about Jesus. "I like the singing. We can do the caroling on Christmas eve and a party and skip the service. I mean, Savannah left, and if she doesn't want to be there, I doubt anyone else cares."

She chuckled. "Yes, I can see why no champagne. How are you feeling? It can't be easy being doing all of this while pregnant, and by the way, thank you for the invitation to the wedding. You really didn't have to." She'd been a bit surprised to see it in the first place. You invited family and friends to the wedding, and Alexis was neither.

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]j_hanna
2011-12-23 09:41 pm UTC (link)
Savannah leaving had caught her attention too, she'd also seen Callen following and hoped that would make things easier on her. "I don't think the scriptures were the point as much as being together, but there are plenty of ways of doing that." She wondered if more people felt like Alexis. If that was the case then maybe a subtle word to her father might end up in the right ear when the time was right.

She smiled. "I'm doing fine," she said. "As long as there is a bathroom within a short distance at all times and I can sit down every now and again there really is nothing to complain about." Not that she wasn't longing for the pregnancy to be over, but that was another matter entirely.

"There is no need to thank me," she said with a shake of her head. "How could I have a wedding here and not invite all of you?" Actually she could have, and probably would have if they weren't in this situation, keep it as small and intimate as possible. But now they were in this situation and more importantly they were supposed to be a team. As such they should all take part in the celebration, how else was this ever going to work?

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]alexis_castle
2011-12-23 09:46 pm UTC (link)
"Right, like sitting here and talking," she said, laughing. "There's no fireplace or champagne, but I think we can make do with the microwave for the hot cocoa and the radiators for heat. It doesn't matter though. We're having dinner tomorrow, we can sit and talk there. That's nicer."

Alexis didn't know much about pregnancies, but Jenna sounded okay, so maybe it really wasn't that bad. "Still, you can't tell me that the bed isn't a welcome arrival. I'm not pregnant and I feel better."

She smiled. "That's very kind of you. I'm sure you'll be a beautiful bride. If you need help with your make up, I'm pretty good. You don't have to, but I thought I'd offer."

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]j_hanna
2011-12-23 10:28 pm UTC (link)
Jenna laughed too, shaking her head. "Fair enough, and you're right, dinner will be nice," she said, nodding as Alexis continued.

"Oh definitely better. My back is very grateful for the bed, so is the rest of me," she said with a smile. "At this point I'd happily trade all the other furniture for the bed if I had to, but while I'm pregnant I'm also a Marine which means I got more practice at sleeping in uncomfortable situation than quite a few of the people here. It helps, even when being pregnant makes uncomfortable worse."

She was surprised by the offer, but pleasantly so. Not that she couldn't put on her own make up, but she usually stuck with the basics. "I'd love that, thank you," she said. "That's very nice of you."

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]alexis_castle
2011-12-23 10:36 pm UTC (link)
"I just like to be around people, you know? I mean it's really great to live with Sean, and we both love our music, but there's only so much playing you can do before you're sitting in a house with nothing to do. I guess it's worse since we were always so busy at the base," she said.

Alexis chuckled. "That's good. You shouldn't have to deal with the floor, Marine or not. When's the due date? Are you excited? I bet you are."

She nodded. "Sure, I'll love to, and don't mention it. My grandma and I used to go to spas together, and they'd give you these lessons about make up and hair and it was such a great way to spend time together. We can even do a trial run, and you can tell me what you like. Most people go for dramatic, but I've never really seen you with a lot of make up. We might have to play with a few looks until you find something you like. Your eyes- You have gorgeous eyes, with some light shadow and maybe a white pencil under your eyes, you'll look radiant."

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]j_hanna
2011-12-24 08:23 am UTC (link)
Jenna supposed she could understand that. She wasn't always in need of that contact herself, but she knew people were different. "Yeah," she said. "Though we'll be busy enough here too once the cattle and horses come," she said.

"Beginning of March, and of course I'm excited," she answered with a smile. Not that she was looking forward to the delivery itself, but it would be nice when the pregnancy was over.

Jenna was slightly overwhelmed by everything this wedding and everything it seemed to entail, but all in all this was one of the nicer parts, even if she didn't use much make up normally. "Sure," she answered. "That sounds lovely, and thanks."

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Re: Jenna/Alexis
[info]alexis_castle
2011-12-24 08:27 am UTC (link)
She scrunched her nose. "I don't do well with animals. I'm a New Yorker. We didn't even have a gold fish. All this green stuff is strange and confusing."

Alexis grinned. "I bet you aren't the only one. You'll have a whole family excited for you."

She nodded. "You're very welcome."

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