[b][u]Holly Gabrielle Baless[/b][/u]

As the Good Lord would have it, Holly traipsed directly across the path of the Mean Bean Street-there was a curious energy lingering in the air, a kind of faint, barely palpable electricity that made Holly smile. This was nothing supernatural, nothing related to metahumans or even the faith that was so integral to Holly's psyche: it was simply that feeling you get of something momentous happening. Of something very important unfolding around you, of a thousand little coincidences all falling just the right way. It brought a grin to Holly's lips-what a lovely day! And something, she didn't know what, was surely at hand. Surprises were always excellent, and the not knowing in life kept Holly feeling invigorated. Things would get boring if one knew what were to happen! It was the suspense that kept things entertaining

Holly strode into the warmth of the Mean Bean Coffee Shop, deeply inhaling the aroma of coffee. Ah! She'd pay just to have the smell, let alone the drinks. Why, Holly mused, couldn't they make perfume that smelled as nice as that. Holly wasn't one to wear perfume, she thought it gaudy and a little wasteful (Although boys were silly enough to judge someone by how they smelled, weren't they?). But if someone could get a scent as lovely as fresh-brewed coffee? Holly'd be a believer. Holly scanned the shop for a familiar face, which was a normal practice of hers. Owing to her pretty outgoing lifestyle, Holly nearly always ran across someone she at least had a passing knowledge of as she went through town. Even in districts such as The Dead End, Holly saw familiar faces, whether it was a result of church, the kitchens, school, or any number of activities Holly was in. She was one of those sorts who could remember little details about people-while Holly had to work to retain the Krebs cycle or the American attack plans on D-Day in her mind for tests and exams, she could keep track of social things very well. 

And lo and behold, a familiar face! Holly beamed (which is getting redundant, she smiles pretty much all the fucking time) and threw out her arms to grab Deborah in an embrace. Deborah! What a lovely girl. She was a little bit older than Holly was, but they were nevertheless good friends. "Why, I'd love that! I've never been one to turn down coffee." Ah, the charity of friends was a great thing. Holly generally tried to be the one offering to pay for meals-it set a good example, she thought, and her family was doing well enough that Holly could afford to do so-but it was just rude to turn down such a polite and selfless offer. "It's been a while! How have you been? You look great, I might add!" Holly said, giving Deborah a once-over. Holly was in good shape, but Deborah was in splendid physical condition. And so pretty! Holly felt a tingle of warmth-she just felt happy for Deborah. Nice, pretty-she was going to snare quite the fine young man one day! "Will you be going to the Christmas festival later?"

As they got their coffee and sat down-well, Holly got hot chocolate-Holly glanced around the coffee shop. Hm. There was a man with a limp walking in, and Holly's brow furrowed. Where had she seen him before...? Ah! On TV! He was interviewed after some absolutely atrocious killings a while back, one involving a metahuman. They'd called in NEST and the FBI and everyone. Quite the tragedy, but if Holly's memory was serving her correctly, this man was a...psychologist? Perhaps forensic? Or was she making that part up? Regardless, Holly felt a certain degree of respect for the man: devoting one's life to understanding and helping others with their personal demons? Surely there was no more noble calling!

Holly sat with her legs curled beneath her in the booth as she listened to Deborah answer her questions. Presumably. She was looking good-while most found leggings to be sexy, Holly's modest skirt negated any appeal to them, and the Christmas sweater and scarf were equally effective in avoiding being form-fitting. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, blue eyes sparkling with excitement as she chatted things up with her old friend. While she was focusing on what Deborah had to say, she couldn't help but overhear a poor patron standing in line. There was the subtle disruption in the background-that of something not happening when it should've been happening. Holly turned to the side and noticed a rather irritated line of patrons standing behind one scraggly looking fellow, with long red hair and clothes that looked rather as if they hadn't seen an ironing board in several millennia. Holly briefly wondered if he was homeless, but decided against it. No, she had a feeling she would've at least recognized him in passing if the man was in-between places to stay, and she generally trusted her instincts about these things.

Regardless, Holly wasn't one to pass up an opportunity to help someone in need! Especially so close to Christmas-Santa would be watching, after all. "Deb, love, could you excuse me for just a moment? I think I have the chance to pay it forward." Holly slipped out of the booth and jogged up to the counter. She reached into her little purse, which contained more Bible verses than money and drew out two dollar bills, sliding them onto the corner. "Here you go, friend!" he said cheerily. "Merry Christmas." She smiled at the people waiting in line behind Lenny but they, ah, weren't full of the Christmas spirits. [i]Perhaps I should've gone with happy holidays...[/i]

Holly turned and walked on back to Deborah, sidling back into her seat. "So sorry about that, wasn't trying to interrupt you. I think we might have had a riot on our hands, these people don't look happy at all. I suppose everyone's tense with the holidays. And that whole NEST fiasco earlier."