2019-12-14 - A Very Kitty Yule I

Dressed for the weather, and just in case the fickle weather decides to turn bad, Yule is wearing his long, gray woolen coat left unbuttoned, the lighter thing perfect for the fall. Beneath it is a light blue shirt and a pair of khaki trousers, partnered with a pair of ankle high, black boots. His walk through the park is with purpose today, the medical examiner stepping in front of the cart hawking a variety of goods. "Cocoa," Is his order, a few bills pulled out of his pocket and placed in the cart vendors hands.

James has a Brand, and that brand is jeans and hoodies. With the weather getting colder, he may be wearing one of his Christmas hoodies, which are nice and thick and have a picture of a winking Santa Claus with the caption 'I Deliver All Night Long' on them. He's on his own this afternoon, but he looks like he's feeling good in the neighborhood (the joint he smoked a few minutes ago probably helps with that too). He's humming something jolly to himself as he joins in on the line for the cocoa cart.

"Marshmallows is fine. Nothing else," One can't go wrong with the old classic, after all. Yule steps to the side while he waits for that order to be placed. It gives him a chance to glance towards James, his eyes sweeping over that christmas hoodie before a small snort of laughter escapes from him, a dip of his head cast towards the fellow.

James steps up to order himself a hot cocoa as well. "Like, extra marshmallows, yeah?", he tells Jill at the cocoa cart. "Oh and some of that peppermint chocolate too, just, like, go nuts with it." He then steps back to wait for it to be ready, sticking his hands in his pockets as he hears that snort of laughter and he looks over (and half a foot up) at Yule. He gives the dude a chill smile and a nod back.

With hands tucked into the front pockets of his black leather jacket, the walking wall that is Everett drudges past the park with a cigarette partially consumed gingerly dangling from his lips. His head down, the majority of his hair is back and kept in check with the corkscrew Santa Claus hat he wears. The spring that serves as the spine of the corkscrew ensures that each of his steps rings the bell at the top of the hat, hidden in the faux missile toe. Lifting his gaze and spying a food cart, Everett slows down to a casual stroll as he purses the menu. Doubtless, seeing nothing but frightful carbs, Everett takes his hand out of his jacket to collect his cigarette from his mouth and tap out ashes on the sidewalk.

Nicole has been out and about doing some Christmas window shopping. She had meant to do actual shopping but as of yet has not found just the right gifts. Deciding to cut through the Park to see what sort of carts they might have set up, she spots Yule and gives him a friendly wave as she too approaches the cocoa cart. "Happy Holidays to you." Eyeing his cocoa she hmms. "That looks like a good idea." She moves to step in line to get one of her own. She's dressed casually today in combat boots, dark washed jeans and a black sweater beneath her black leather jacket. She probably should start thinking about wearing a warmer coat, but as of yet, hasn't been willing to give this up. A black and white infinity scarf with a skull motif wraps around her neck.

The change is left for Jill as a tip, while Yule plucks up his cup of that warm, hot dark delight to be held close to his chest. "And to you, Nicole. Getting some shopping done while you still can? Think I have all of mine tackled," A ghost of a smile fleets across his features as he lifts that cup to sip from it, his brown eyes drifting to a half lidded state for a moment. "And one of them even delivered early. Couldn't stay for the whole match, but I hear you were victorious. Congratulations."

James also leaves a tip, fairly generous one- he's worked enough service jobs to know. Not that he's rolling in it himself, but, dammit, he's got some principles. "Thanks dude.", he tells Chuck, and then steps away from the cart, intending to get a little distance before he reaches into his back pocket, pulls out a silver flask, and drops a dollop of rum into the hot chocolate, mixing it all around a bit before taking a nice long sip. "... ahh fuck yeah that's the spot."

Moving army green eyes from the menu to the man all the way down there looking up at him, Everett bores a hole into the dude with a long, uninterrupted callous stare. Save taking the cigarette in his hand, giving it another flick, and putting it unsteadily to the right corner of his mouth. His head looks back at the menu, and then glances to the other carts, but they're way over there, and back to the menu. A dispassionate grunt. "Get me something," he lets out with his deep voice, tucking his hand back into his unzipped leather jacket for the moment, "with that turkey on it. Dry," he adds before the paw comes back out of his pocket and reaches back for the wallet on a chain, opening up to pay with the only legitimate currency: cash.

"Trying to!" Nicole grins and lifts a shoulder in a shrug. "The people I have to buy for are a bit... difficult. Oh? What did you get me?" Cheeky thing, isn't she? Nodding, she smiles. "Yes! I was! It was a lot of fun. In the end, I think Sparrow just gave in, I don't know.. but it was just super fun and I am amazed and in awe of how much we raised! I was bidding for dinner with you but, well... I had other nids in too and only so much money I could spend."

"Oh, hot chocolate, marshmallows, please. Extra for me too!" She smiles and then adds, "and the peppermint bark too, please. " She sees Everett across the way and waves over to him, continuing the wave awhile until he sees her.

"I got you an extremely happy best friend," Chimes Yule without missing a beat at Nicole's own cheeky response, a glimmer of a smile flashed towards her. "Yeah, in the end? Doesn't matter who won, cause it was all a winning cause. Amazed at what you guys did. It was great." Up his shoulders lift into a hapless shrug, a small snort of laughter coming from him before he muses, "It's fine. You? Can have dinner with me whenever you'd like, no charge. Though you might have to provide the food, depending." His own gaze flickers to the tall fellow, studying Everett a moment when Nicole waves his way.

James is just taking another sip of his fortified hot cocoa when that sound causes him to tense right the fuck up. He doesn't spill his drink, not quite that startled, but he does freeze in place, eyes scanning around in the direction of those trees. "... trees. Why'd I'd have to be trees? Nothing good is ever just like, hey, here I am, lurking in some trees because I want to give you money and hugs and tell you that you have worth as a person, no.", he mutters, mostly to himself, while taking a sloooow step back away from the source of the noise. He holds his hot cocoa closer to himself. It's good hot cocoa, he ain't dropping it.

The unsympathetic stare continues with his options of greens, Everett pausing the retrieval of wallet to ask what everybody wants to know: "What the fuck is an arugala?" But rather than waiting, stupefied, for the answer, Everett waves dismissively with his empty hand. "Yeah, sure. Whatever," and puts bills on the cart, tucking them under the tip jar until they're retrieved. Movement out the corner of his eye causes him to check and then double take, turning the aloof look Nicole's way. Rather than wave back, Everett returns his wallet to his back pocket and flicks, with one sausage-thick finger, the end of his festive Christmas hat, letting it jiggle and bob.

When he hears the piercing scream, Everett casts a look, a quick look, in that direction and then looks back down to the cart man. "Make it snappy, will'ya?", checking to see if his cart guy is reacting to the sound as well.

Noticing Everett's way of greeting, Nicole nods to him with a smile then turns to Yule."Yes but, she was also happy before she met you. You just accentuated it." Nicole teases to him. "However... I will take you up on that dinner sometime." Nicole gives some cash to Jill, telling her to "keep the change" and is in the middle of taking her cup of cocoa when that scream makes the hair on the back of her neck rise up. Eyes open wide in alarm and she looks around to see if she can find the source. She does hear a bit of James' murmurs but doesn't say anything to him.

"She is a happy person, but she's a very happy person who has received a gift." Comes the M.E.'s playful response to Nicole, a twinkle of mischief in his gaze that suddenly fades. Yes, Yule hears that screaming. No, he doesn't immediately look over, having difficulty immediately pinpointing the source. And more concerning is the fact that Chuck and Jill don't seem to notice anything out of the ordinary. "Well. Fuck." His eyes sweep around, taking note of just how many people have heard it. Four in total? "Not a fan of this," He murmurs to the blonde, even as he turns to start trying to pinpoint the source.

THe sound continues and James isn't feeling any happier about it now than he did a moment ago. He glances about, just a very quick one so as not to take his eyes off of the source of the noise- most everyone else seems fine. He brings the hot chocolate to his lips, taking a long sip, and another slow step back, then freezes as something in the pitch of that horrid noise just grabs his attention and he goes pale. "... y'know, this is bullshit, I finally kiss Diana and of course all the monsters come out to play right after seriously fuck this town-", he's rambling now, and probably getting some odd looks. Well, soak it up, innocent bystanders, 'cause the show is just getting started. Those noises start jumping around, from bushes to trees to bushes again, and so does he, spinning around, almost spilling his hot cocoa. "What. The. Fuck.", he's saying with each spin, until he stops and stares at the bushes, and the glowing lantern eyes attached to... some kinda... giant-ass cat. "Oh come on I like cats, don't do this to me.", he blurts, while immediately turning around and making a run for it, utterly convinced that it's chosen him for dinner.

Placing his paws on the box and sliding it over towards himself, Everett murmurs a thanks under his breath, followed by a keep the change. Peeling himself away from the cart, this is where he would normally be leaving in whatever direction is the most expedient. Momma didn't raise no heroes. Nevertheless, with Nicole and James there, Everett's slow stroll takes him towards that cart. However, he can multitask. Opening up the box, Everett takes his cigarette out of his mouth and holds it and the box with his left hand, and prods the object inside with his fork in the other, picking identifiable pieces and forking them into his mouth while his hunt for what an arugula might be. Looking up, he spies James bolting away. Well that's one saved, looking up at Nicole next, nodding his head to have her come over to him, which only makes the spring loaded hat wobble.

Looking over towards a stand of trees, Nicole looks a bit wary, clutching her cocoa before her in both hands as if it might help protect her or something. Shaking her head, all talk of gifts and happiness forgotten for now, Nicole agrees. "Not a fan either..." She does give James a bit of an odd look. "Uh... you okay?" Yes, it's unpleasant, but nothing is attacking them or anything yet, right? You would think they did though, by the way James just takes off running. She sees Everett, but she's not just gonna abandon Yule to whatever those screams are. She gestures with her head towards Everett, silently asking him to come there instead.

Up Yule's hot chocolate comes, and it isn't until James says the word /cats/ that it clicks on him, those brown eyes peering to try and make out just what is the source of those lanterns. "Second," He murmurs to Nicole, and with all the head nodding going around? He adds his own in, along with a gentle touch of his hand to the elbow of the blonde, encouraging her to come along with. And their path? It sure does take them closer to Everett, but more so that cart that Chuck is manning. "Hey. Turkey. Just turkey," Yule says, slapping a twenty down on the top of the cart, and then? He just reaches out to take a chunk of that delicious meat, protests or not. "Keep the change." As James turns to flee, Yule stands prepared, "This happen to you often?" He offers up with a touch of morbid humor to Nicole, casting a sidelong glance her way.

"NOPE.", is the cry of the wild James as he majestically scrambles away from the stalking holiday hellcat. Everyone else may be cool and collected under pressure, but everyone else hasn't been selected as the choicest Christmas feast morsel in the park by an angry-yet-oddly-festive cat the size of a Volkswagen. "Nope nope nope nope nope.", continues the litany as he does not slow, even though he's still banged up from a recent close encounter of the murderous sentient fruitcake kind. If anything, the pain serves as a reminder to RUN, JAMES, RUN. "Really starting to hate Christmas around here, gotta tell you.", he pants.

With her nod towards him, Everett rolls his eyes and looks heavenward before there's a shaking of his head and ringing of bells of the corkscrew festive hat. Not that it stops his approach towards the other cart any, or, since the bruiser is headed towards her already, for Everett to issue another nod of his head to Nicole. No, you c'mere. He's all but over there anyway by the time that short Night at the Roxbury head bob is given. Then Everett looks down into his box, stabs something with a look of dismay on his face and shows something green and diced at Nicole at the end of his fork. He looks over her shoulder at the thicket being parted on a course for poor James, the three of them clearly in a hurry to same the little man. While Everett watches James running and the bushes getting disturbed by whatever it is chasing him, the thug asks the important question, "Does this look like an arugula to you?" with his usual basso tone. Turning his gaze over, Everett nods his head up at Yule, "S'up?" before he turns his gaze back and waits for Nicole's answer. Even if it takes a whole chewed James to get it.

With his hand at her elbow, not demanding but encouraging her to walk with him towards Everett, Nicole relents and walks that way. Seems Everett wins the battle of c'mere. She seems a bit confused as to all that is going on, having only heard the sounds. At Yule's question, she can only answer, "Uhhhh....." and shrug. "I haven't seen a cat in awhile?" That isn't entirely answering his question but, it is the first time she's encountered what this current situation seems to be.

(Darn Moose)

Nicole turns to look towards the commotion that causes crepe-cart-guy to curse the mooses and her first reaction is, "not again...." Well, there goes her deniability towards Yule's question. She turns to look for where James ran off to, suddenly much more concerned.

(Damn Bears)

Her eyes go big when she realizes the giant lynx with the glowing is is running after James. "Shit..." she murmurs. She knows she glimmers. She knows she's done things, but trying to do them is something else altogether. Glancing at Everett's fork, and him, when he arrives she nods. "Arugala is a green leafy vegetable. Leaf." Then she's looking to Yule to see if he knows what to do in this situation. Her breathing is a little faster as she clutches her cocoa defensively, but she's not going to just stand by and watch James get et.

"It's just the geese we aren't supposed to feed, right?" Yule offers up with a tone of resigned amusement, and with a chuck he sends that turkey sailing through the air to land squarely in front of that car sized cat that is prepared to run down James. "Good kitty!" He calls out in a tone that is ever so hopeful. Yeah, that's what the M.E. does in this situation when the blonde looks his way, and up one shoulder lifts in a hapless shrug. "Look. The things I deal with? Are usually dead."

Yule's gaze drops down to Everett's sandwich. "Hey," Comes his response to that greeting, "Admiring the wildlife, you? And yeah. If that is arugala? They sure as hell slaughtered it. Who dices arugala?"

Looks like James is about to become one of the things Yule deals with. Thankfully he's not alone, there's three other people who see what's happening and surely they will come and save him, just as soon as they settle this business about the arugula. It's good to have priorities. James, for his part, keeps going- the better part of valor is discretion, and he is discreetly screaming like a little girl as he runs, and runs, and runs, and- trips, going ass over teakettle onto the grass that, much like he himself, is about to die for Winter. He rolls a few times, coming to a crumpled heap of a stop, and scrambles into a protective little ball (he prefers that term to the more accurate 'fetal position' because it makes him sound like he's going into defensive mode, rather than simply curling into a ball and whimpering). This is it. This is how he dies, he knows it. He waits for the claws that rend, the teeth that bite, to end it all. He had a good run, really. Even kissed a girl. That's not bad, right? And then, the tearing and rending of his limbs does not come, his head is not used as a chew toy. And the growling is moving away. He cautiously lifts his head to look, and sees the cat moving away, towards Yule and the others. He blinks. Blinks again, sits up. "... ah, fuck.", he mutters, and starts getting to his feet shakily- one hand reaching into his pocket to pull out a little compact vape pen full of weed oil. "This is stupid. This is stupid. I am stupid.", he mutters, before taking a long rip from the vape and starting to limp around in the direction of the others. "Yo! Yo, run! That cat- coughcough -is not- coughcough -not playing around!", he shouts, trying to warn the others, because what are they, suicidal? "Run!"

"Hey. Uh." Everett pauses to add whatever the green example on the end of his fork is into his mouth and makes small nibbles before swallowing. "WE", he emphasis while taking his eyes from the feline down to Nicole, "should probably find a place to get inside." He drops his cigarette, stepping and twisting his boot to put it out and comes up with an impromptu plan. "Hey, you run that way," he says to Yule. To Nicole, Everett's eyes widen, and he does the head nod thing again. This time it's in the direction James was last running in. Is he still running, man the set of lungs on that cat. Sorry, guy. Diana's a lucky lady. "Yeah yeah!" shouts Everett, "we're coming!"

"Shit, Yule...." Nicole mutters under her breath when she sees the cat turn its eyes on him. "Sparrow will kill me if anything happens to you..." Dark eyes look at James trying to run while hacking up vape smoke and then to Everett. "What are we going to do about the cat?" She sets her cocoa down wherever she can then lifts both her hands , pressing fingers to her forehead. "Shit.. shit.. I can do this... I can do this. Something... " She closes her eyes and starts to breath deep, trying to think about danger and anger and filling herself with these emotions before she opens her eyes and stares down the cat with a glare. As they say, if looks could kill...

Out that turkey goes to capture the yule kittens attention just as James goes sprawling down onto the ground, all in perfect timing to save him, at least in theory. "Huh." Comes Yule's first thoughts when the thing turns that baleful gaze right at him after licking the turkey. "Run? That's our plan? Pretty sure that doesn't end like it does in the cartoons with the mouse getting one up on the cat." But Everett has the right of it in his mind, at least, in trying to get Nicole out of there. Which, of course, works just as effectively as the head bobbing thing did. And he? Can't quite pick out that she's doing anything except just trying to stare it down. "Yeah. Sure. We'll do this instead." He certainly isn't just going to take off running with her standing there, and so he squares up his stance, ready to dodge a pounce if need be, but he? Won't be standing down from that cat. Yet.

The tingle of Glimmer-usage in the air just causes James' hackles to rise further, though he can't quite determine where it came from. Which is good enough, really, 'cause he's not a fan of it, even if in this case it's helping as that cat takes the hit. He's seen that pose the cat is making now too- bastard's about to pounce. He skids to a stop, in part to catch his breath, in part because things just got real mellow on him all of a sudden. He notices Everett over there as well- dude's big. So they're probably gonna be ok. He takes a step back, debating fleeing once more while the cat's distracted... if only he didn't have a conscience. He stands up again and starts moving with a bit of a limp himself towards the crepe cart. He has an idea. A stupid idea that hopefully he won't have to put into practice.

The question Nicole levies at him is an easy one for the bad man to answer. Yule is nobody to Everett, "We ain't gotta do nothing. Your buddy's got it," he says in a dismissive fashion, waving his fork at Nicole like she's fretting over nothing. "Now let's put a little distance..." he starts to say until she puts her cocoa down and Everett leans back and glances down, suddenly remembering why he wanted to date her. Shaking his head clear, Everett picks up the drink and puts it inside his box for stability. Might as well carry both. Oblivious to Nicole's centering or the effects it's having, when Everett looks up against from making the adjustments to his carrying, he nods, "Ah. See? It's tiring itself out from running around all over the place." His head snaps over to Yule with the ring of holiday bells, then the giant makes a shooing motion with his fork hand, "Go on! Tire it out." And to Nicole, he nudges her shoulder with his arm, "C'mon. While your friend helps." Then he remembers something. Nicole is one of those, whatcha call 'ems. Good people. And adds more bait. "James, the guy down there, might need help. His little legs aren't made for sprinting." Providing an example while Everett takes a couple steps away from the group, he holds his hand up and curls his fingers around his fork save the first two meaty fingers which do the walking. Like they should.

"What? You'd rather run and leave it free to chase us or hurt others?" Nicole asks to Yule after her stare down with the cat only slightly works. Oh, well... better than last time? Except, it still seems intent on Yule. Nicole reaches for his arm to tug his sleeve. "Maybe running isn't a horrible idea?" She nods to Everett, trying to encourage Yule now as well. He may not be anybody to Everett, but to Nicole (and more importantly to Nicole's best friend), he is. "I'm not strong enough yet..." she says. "Come on..." She doesn't see James at the crepe cart or know what he might be doing.

"Shit. What was it about yule cats? That geeky girl in the lab back in NYC. Hey!" It's getting closer... and closer. But it's Everett and Nicole that he looks to, his gaze deadly serious this time, despite the words that come from him, "Are both of you wearing new clothes? No. Fuck. This coat is new. Something on that someone gifted to you? Or regifted?" Closer that cat comes, and Yule begins to slide slowly towards his left. It's a matter of timing, trying to gauge when the cat is going to pounce, before he takes off running. Right to James and that crepe cart. Sorry, James! "HEY!" Off his grey woolen coat comes, "It's the season of giving, and in the spirit of christmas? I'm giving this coat to you. Happy holidays, and I hope we both have a new year!" The coat is bunched up, and with a hard fling it sails towards James to land right on the man. Oh god. Is the cat behind him? He's not even going to look, skidding to a slide behind the cart that had been selling cider.

James has just arrived at the cart, and quickly checks- yeah, the burners are still on, the plate is still hot. OK, he can do this, he saw this in a movie once. he starts to look up, try and get the cat's attention, only to be hit in the face with the spirit of Christmas. "Ack!", he sputters, scrambling back and reaching up to grab at the coat, and just as he gets his head free, that wave of relief comes over him. He blinks. It might be the weed. But, man, James is a weed connoisseur, he knows what that feels like, and this was just different enough that it clicks in his head that it might be related to being given the coat. "... merry Christmas, you filthy animal.", he mutters under his breath, and discards the previous, stupid, plan, for a new one that maybe is less stupid. He starts unzipping his hoodie. "Hey! Buddy! Season's Motherfucking Greetings! Goodwill towards men, and this is for you!" And he bundles the hoodie up and makes a run towards the cider cart and tosses the bundled up hoodie at Yule.

Yes. Finally. Get the girl all alone and... uh. What's going on? People are saying words. "Not chase, but, you know, let the experts handle this. C'mon," he says as Everett picks up a little speed. He doesn't need a sprint, not even a gallop. He's carrying a mostly undrunk hot chocolate after all and while he moves quickly away, glancing over his shoulder, to notice that the feline isn't following them with its singular determination, Everett slows down and turns his fork back to his crepe. "I mean. I figure it’s a green thing, NOW, seeing what's in this. But it could have been a tubular, like a carrot or a potato or something too, ya know?" Yeah, he's back on the look for arugula again. Turning around, Everett slows down a little more to keep his eyes on the thing while he uses the fork to cut off a piece stabs it and offers to Nicole. Sure, if now isn't the time for a mid-chase snack, then I don't know when is, "I can't tell if I like this. Try it? Don't you think it's weird that there's meat in this and the cat isn't going for it at all. Where do you suppose a kitten like that came from, anyway?" And then Everett stops, nudging Nicole in the shoulder again, "Hey, look. Being chased by Garfield has made your friend go loopy. They're exchanging presents." A sudden realization dawns on Everett, and sampled or not, he drops his fork into the box, "We better do it too," pointing up at the fake missile toe on his hat and then double tapping his lips as he bends over to help facilitate a kiss.

Yule didn't take her encouragement to run, not quite the way she meant, but what he did do seems to have... worked? Nicole stops running, even if she hadn't gotten far and looks between Yule and James and their impromptu gift exchange curiously. She'll have to remember to tease Yule and pout that 'sure, you'll give some stranger a gift, but not me' later... now is not the time.

And then James is giving a gift in turn. One that... surely... fits Yule's sense of style perfectly, and she just looks more confused.

Then Everett is talking, and she looks at him. "Wh-huh?" Pulling her head back from the bite he asks her to take, she doesn't seem to hungry at the moment. "It's... I don't know. Not right... What?" This what is for Everett pointing up to the mistletoe on his hat and puckering up for her. "Uhhh..." She looks around and the cat doesn't appear to be coming after them, but she is confused AF and who even knows what is going on anymore so she rises on her toes to give the giant of a man a small peck to his cheek, and if he dares try to turn and make her kiss his lips, she will dodge that effort and offer a handshake instead.

If it wasn't for the car sized cat, Yule might think a bit harder about this particular gift being tossed his way. Well, mostly tossed. He can see it's going to fall short, just a bit, and he puts all of his proverbial eggs into the holiday season basket. He launches himself, stretching out to dive and grab the hoodie, skidding across the ground to end up just a few feet from that ready to pounce cat. "Oh. Fuck." He mutters, holding that new found gift close to his chest. Out one hand comes, even as the M.E. gives a hard, nervous swallow. His finger extends, giving a nudge of that once discarded turkey meat towards the yule kitten before his arm draws back.

James falls to his knees, panting, as Yule grabs that (most excellent) hoodie, he himself clinging to the coat he was gifted like it was a sacred protective talisman. He's done what he can, and can only watch as the cat utterly murders- oh, wait, nope. Cat's bored. He slumps as the adrenaline starts to leave him. "... this fucking town I swear..."

Well, a kiss on the cheek is certainly adequate. Considering. Everett smirks, especially from the right side of his mouth, and indeed returns the favor. "Merry Christmas," says the giant. And since they're alone, he adds one last word, "Cuddlebutt," and uplifts his brows with a quick waggle. Perking, Everett's eyes go large as he casts his attention into the distance.

Big cats. Killer clowns. No, that's all fine.
Sirens? That's a whole other matter.

"Uh. I better go," Everett says, plucking Nicole's cocoa from his box and offering it to her. He nods his head down to her and smiles again, "Thanks for winning the Jello thing; of course I bet on you." He takes a few steps in retreat, holding up his free hand when the cocoa is taken from him and with his thumb and pinkie in the shape of a phone, wiggles the hand and brings it up to his ear before he turns around and now.
Now. He breaks into a run.

Nicole casts dark eyes up to Everett when he adds that last word before she closes her eyes and presses her lips together. She just shakes her head before looking off in the direction of sirens. She lets out a sigh, cuz how is she gonna explain the bear this time? Or moose. Whatever did she see? But that seems to be Everett's cue to leave. She takes her cocoa back and seems just, well, dumbfounded. "Yeah.. sure. Um, thanks? Welcome. Yes. It was fun." She doesn't even seem to be sure what she is saying, then, off the giant of a man runs.

Leaving her standing there, looking around, and waiting to hear someone yell, "moose!" or "bear!" from the direction he went.

Gulp. That's not supposed to happen, right, goes flashing through Yule's brain, shown on his grimacing features as the cat pushes in against the hoodie. And then? Off it goes, leaving the man huffing out a loud, groaning sigh of relief. Up he pushes himself to his elbows, just in time to see Nicole and Everett... exchanging kisses to the cheek?! "Really?" Comes the M.E.'s voice, just loud enough to make certain it carries across the way, just staring at her for a few seconds. His head just shakes, and ever so slowly he gets up to his feet. His cocoa? Is who knows where now, and so off steps to get himself another. He even leaves a couple bills to pay for it, assuming Jill and her dad bother to come back.