"Now 'Blue Christmas', that's a classic."
"I was at Elvis' wedding, did I ever tell you that?"
"Several times, kemosabe. Today's holiday music just can't compare. Sure there are some good singers today remaking the classics--that Harry Connick Jr. boy has some set of pipes on him, and Jewel, such a sweet voice--but yesterday I heard 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' in RAP, rap, can you believe it?"
"Didn't have much special music at Christmas time when I was a boy. We played games, drank wassail, kissed pretty lasses under the mistletoe."
"That's because most carols came from after your time as a human."
Angel blinked blearily at his green companion and poured himself another eggnog, then eyed Lorne suspiciousy. "Are you sure there's nothing in this?"
"Egg and nog, I swear," Lorne lied brightly. "Bing Crosby, no one did it better than him. 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,'" he sang. "And his duet in later years with David Bowie on 'Little Drummer Boy'...to die for!"
"I like 'Silent Night'. It's very peaceful."
"No fun in it, though. Give me a rollicking 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus' any day. I need a Christmas carol with a beat to dance to."
"They've all lost the lord god bit somewhere along the way."
"Since neither of us believe in him, does that matter?"
"Just making a point. The traditional songs are pretty. Fred was singing 'Adestes Fideles' in Latin the other day. So pretty," Angel crooned.
"The song or the girl?" Lorne snickered, draining his cup and reaching for the pitcher.
"Fred's not a girl," Angel said, scandalized. "I mean, I don't think of her as a girl."
Lorne gave him a diplomatic frown. "Let's not tell her that."
"Maybe she'll sing at the Christmas party. It's not going to be anything like the Halloween party, is it?"
"I promise not to go all evil on you and/or make Gunn pee on things."
"And me do the nasty with Eve," Angel shuddered. "I never did get you back for that."
"How about the songs spun off and into cartoons, like 'Rudolph' and 'Frosty'," Lorne interjected, steering the topic back to music and away from revenge.
"The little dentist elf is so gay."
"Sure. So's Prancer."
Angel snickered. "Gay reindeer. Funny."
Lorne poured more eggnog for both of them and flicked a switch on the remote beside him, turning on Nat King Cole on the stereo.
End