16524/Visits with Mum

Visits with Mum
Date of Scene:	09 December 2023
Location:	Candle, Booke and Belle
Synopsis:	Josh drops off Christmas Presents at the Candle. Nettie and Josh argue about who is the most gift-ed of the two of them softly. Everyone cries.
Cast of Characters:	Nettie Crowe, Joshua Foley

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Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Guitar strumming is filling the shop in the later hours of its open time. Nettie Crowe, the old witch herself, has a scruffed six-string on her lap, her arms curled around it as she picks cords, giving a low hum. The fire int he fireplace is dying down, meeky giving a crackle or a weak pop, caught by the steel of the chain curtain in front of its flames. Above, two birds have come to roost, tired out from his day Torny has his head under a wing, while Corvax is at 80 percent fluff as a crow.

    It seems rather peaceful int he shop this evening.

Joshua Foley has posed:
The ringing of the bell announces what one would think is a customer... no, it's just that bum Joshiua. Hearing the music, the young man makes his way deeper into the shop and seeks out Nettie.

When he finds her, he pauses, not rushing in for a hug. He knows the rules. But there is a fond and warm smile for her. "Hi, mom." he greets affectionately, shifting to show he has a few packages that are wrapped in paper. "Brought some presents to put under the tree."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    That bum.

    "Ah! My prodigical son returns." Nettie gives a bright smile, warmly regarding her adopted child. "Gifts for the tree, hrm?" Nettie questions and then looks about the shop.

    "Suppose I should put up a wee yule tree.. or a log. Ever had a Yule log cake, Josh?" she questions with a small smile over to the boy. "Or pulled a Christmas Cracker?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Yeah. One for you. One for Gabby. Sara's is at home. I kinda... bought Gabby's when we were dating and before she friend-zoned me. I adopted an elephant in her name. One of those yearly things where they send you a plush elephant?" Joshua shrugs. "Seems a shame to waste, you know?" With that out of the way, he makes his way over to his mum and settles in.

"Nope, but I had a Little Debbie swiss roll. Same thing?" he asks in amusement, before considering. "A Christmas Cracker?" Oh, Nettie, he only had white bread 'Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer' Christmases with church on Christmas Eve.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Clever idea. I'm sure Ms. Kinney will appreciate it, regardless of relationship status." Nettie gives a small smile. She's secretly glad, though that the rest of the JLD leadership aren't exacdtly... dating boys. That already makes it a strained workplace where he's dated two of her co-leaders.

    "You know, when I was a tot, we didn't really have Christmas Trees. Queen Victoria started that, in England at least."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I know. She's still a friend." Joshua responds. Dated two, is a son to the other. Pretty ingrained there. Though when Nettie turns into the story, his attention perks.

"Was it because of the war?" he asks curiously, now that his interest is vested. And he just uses war. It's a one in two chance of getting it right. Or terribly wrong.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Hm, no, in this case, it's because of her husband. The good prince Albert was Frankish -- German. And they had the whole Tannenbaum tradition. So she brought it over. Quite a fancy, some of the court didn't think it would last. But it's become almost as ubiquious with the holiday as Father Christmas." she gives a smile.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"I..." Joshua frowns for a moment, trying to stew that all in his head, and he gets very little feedback. And after he realizes that, he sits up.

"I think I understood about... half of that?" he admits quietly. "I've been studying so many medical texts lately to try to help out with the team and at the clinic that I swear, all I know is medical tomes." he admits with chagrin.

"So Victoria's husband was German. And... he's the reason for a Christmas tree?" he tries to get that right. "...and also the idea of Santa Claus?"

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    Nettie gives a wry smile, and she leans forward as she looks to Joshua.

    "How much of that do you want me to clear up. Because I know someone who MAY HAVE snorted Saint Nick's actual bones."

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Wait what?" Joshua asks, his eyes wide for a moment. But only for a moment.

"You're shitting me." he comments. Apparently too much time with Sara, because as soon as he says it, he realizes what he did and he slaps his hands over his mouth.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "I shit you not. Saint Nicholas -- the one that inspired the whole Santa Claus myth -- they do have his remains. And they had a tendency to be stolen by sailors and angry Liverpuddlian blonde wizards." Nettie states with a bright smile. "But these days, Saint Nicholas and Santa Claus are quite different people. Santa hardly even looks Greek." she gives a soft pish-posh motion of her hand.

    "How's Sara, by the way~?" she gives a wry smile.

Joshua Foley has posed:
"Wow... that's wild." Joshua admits with a look in his eyes that he is just taking in all this new knowledge - and probably forgetting something important in exchange for it. When he's asked about Sara, the young man's golden cheeks glow so much brighter.

"She's well. She's on a case at the moment, so isn't at home. I'm sure she'll be fine." he mutters, a little fidget. "It's fine. It'd be the same if I was dating any other heroine."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Mmhm. And the 'jolly old elf' is absolutely real and terrifying. A bit like The Poppins, called Mary, written in-between the words on every page of every Holy Book, written as a hunter of those who cause harm to those she protects. Which is why you do NOT invoke the Poppins unless you very damn well need to." Nettie states, "She's terrifying"

    And she gives a small smile. "Aye, any other heroine who was also a detective in the New York Police Department, I know how that is, a bit." she gives a small grin. "So, what did you get for Sara? And is she still a bit sore that I can't redeem her birthday present to me?"

Joshua Foley has posed:
"That sounds oddly terrifying. Though when I was young, people used to tell me that real angels in the bible were totally terrifying so now I imagine then scaring the Three Wise Men and their gifts spilling all over the place." Joshua admits as he grins when she asks about the gift.

"It's pretty lame. It's a new shoulder holster for her service revolver. I saw how worn her current one is. And I'm not sure what... you know. You and her and everyone... you all turned my life around. And I'm not sure I can ever repay it."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "... oh no those are also terrifying. When Ezikiel saw the Wheel those were POwers, and they are literally rings of eyes and teeth, glowing with terrible Glory." With a capital G. Nettie's seen them from afar. "I don't deal with full angels. Half or less. Much more human." she murmurs, and she gives a small smile as she pats the counter that she's sitting on.

    "There is nothing wrong with giving practical gifts, Joshua. You yourself are a Gift. Best I could have asked for." she gives a bright smile to the golden boy. "Staying in my life is gift enough. All other things are welcome, surely, but you're the best I could ask for, and far more than this old crow deserves." she replies gently.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Joshua smiles, his head ducking down, his cheeks bright. "You found me and made me worth something again. If anything, you are the gift, mom." he whispers quietly. He closes his eyes, fighting back tears that he feels, daring to sting his cheeks.

"I did not deserve you. And I will always... always, want you as part of my life. Because... I love you, mom." he offers to her. Even if he can't hug her.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "No, Josh. You made yourself worth something, lad." Nettie states, and she takes a deep breath, leaning ofrward, she puts her gloved hand on Joshua's shoulder.

    "I just opened a door. You *chose* to change yourself. To shift your paradigm, how you viewed yourself -- and others -- /and/ the world around you. You have built yourself back from the brink. I opened a door, but you are the one who picked yourself up, dusted off your jeans and you walked through it." she gives a small smile, but fiercely she adds on:

    "I have never been so proud of anyone in my long life as I am of you, and the man you are becoming.

    But he states that he loves her. And at that moment, poor Nettie's face shows heartbreak. Her eyes well up, unnaturally blue, and she takes a small breath.

    "And I love you, my son. /My/ son. No one else gets that claim on you. I love you, and I am so *fiercely* proud of you."