Ho Ho Ho! Happy HP Holidays!

[mudblood_andproud]

There is something different about the Nexus this Christmas season. There is a light snow falling over the entire Nexus plaza. The snow is gentle, with no real coldness to the falling snow flakes. As one approaches the main gathering area, they will notice that there are many Christmas decorations, including garland hanging from the air, and there are twelve towering decorated Christmas trees, some sparkling with tiny icicles, some glittering with hundreds of candles. There are also thousands of floating tiny candles in the Nexus plaza, that gently move at their own discretion.

In one corner, there is an orchestra, directed by a Dwarf. All of the musicians are playing music on instruments made from ice. In the center of the Nexus plaza, is a huge banquet table, loaded with holiday foods and treats that showcases a variety of food from different cultures, and some of the different worlds that gather into the Nexus itself. The main delight of the banquet table is that magic can make the food replenish itself, meaning Christmas dinner never has to end. Most will be able to find something they would enjoy. With the added perk that the food is LOL-free.

There are some added little Christmas adventures, for those who get caught up in the holidays. Here are some of the extra options for the Holiday season.

Secret Santa!
There is an added bonus to the Secret Santa gifts this year. The presents will deliver themselves! There are tons of wrapped gifts floating through the air, destined to only drop when they reach the person to which they are intended. Please note that not all gifts will be given in the spirit of the season. There are a few prank gifts floating around too. Be sure to watch out for them!

Christmas Crackers!
There are Christmas crackers scattered among the tables, and in amongst the branches of the trees. They are decorated with festive paper that is twisted at either end like a sweet wrapper. Inside of the tube are prizes, and some contain Muggle prizes such as a paper hat, a plastic toy, and a slip of paper with a joke printed on it. But the rare person will receive a unique, peculiar magical prize, and will envelop everyone nearby in a cloud of blue smoke.

Weasley Sweaters!
Time to try your luck at the Christmas Sweater bin. There is a large rotating clothing rack that seems to have an endless supply of them. Each one more Festive than the last! Pick one and show your Christmas spirit for the rest of the day.

Enchanted Mistletoe!
Be warned Nexus traveler, the Nargles** have hung enchanted Mistletoe all around the plaza. If an unlucky person steps underneath the Mistletoe, they will find that they are magically stuck to the spot, until they can find someone to kiss them. Of course, the kiss can be platonic, familial, or even romantic. For a few unfortunate people, the kiss may be the last thing they would want to do... but it is that or be stuck in the same spot for the rest of the season.

**Nargle Wiki
[Click Here for information on the HP Holiday Event!]
[Your character is free to give other Christmas gifts to people they care about -- HOWEVER, please do not deliver your Secret Santa gift. That will be handled by the Secret Santa moderator. Please post details on your Secret Santa gift in this post please.]

Comments

[sumarusfinest]

"This place has certainly turned...festive." Katsuya gives a cursory look around them at all the decorations.

"What...are you wearing?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"It is a Christmas sweater!" Hermione turns a little, so she can show it off. "My friend's mother makes her children sweaters every Solstice. And this was my gift from her this year."

[sumarusfinest]

"That's awfully kind of her. I've seen lots of people wearing some sort of sweater around. I thought at first it was just because of the temperature, but they're all so similarly themed.... is that a tradition for Christmas?"

Katsuya never feels more out of touch than he does when the Nexus goes big on holidays he has no real understanding of.

"Where I'm from it's basically just another Valentines day. It's considered a night for couples, more than anything special."

[mudblood_andproud]

"It is a fun little tradition, the 'ugly' Christmas sweater peaked in the Muggle world in the 1980s. Molly was making her spin on the Weasley sweater for longer than that."

"Basically, the whole point of a Christmas sweater is the more outdated and garnish is better."

Hermione points to a rack of sweaters that is nearby. "And if you wanted to try your luck, go ahead and grab one!"

[sumarusfinest]

Outdated and garish are two words that make Katsuya shudder internally. The ever fashionably conscious officer is wary as he approaches the rack and passes over a few that obviously won't fit him. A relatively tame sweatervest in a very nice shade of red catches Katsuya's eye and he pulls it off the rack. Well, when in Rome as they say...

It's actually pretty comfortable. He gives Hermione a self conscious chuckle as he's pulling his glasses back on.

"You think I'll fit in now?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"That looks awesome!" Hermione smiles. "It looks like it was made for you!"

[sumarusfinest]

"It is rather comfortable." He admits. Goes rather well with his button up and tie too. Maybe this whole festive thing isn't so bad after all. "What else does one traditionally do for this holiday?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"In the wizarding world, we enjoy ourselves with food and camaraderie. Sometimes, we sing along with the Christmas carols, if we know the words. And just other times, we give each other gifts." Hermione looks around.

"There seem to be a few gifts in the air right now, looking for their appropriate recipient."

"Would you care to join me at a table? Perhaps have a drink together? There is some Butterbeer on the buffet table. It is quite good."

[sumarusfinest]

"I ah, yes that would be nice."

Katsuya slips his hands into the pockets of his slacks in an attempt to be casual as he follows the witch over to one of the tables she had been gesturing to. He's never seen so much food or drink in one place before and so much of it is completely foreign to him. It's all rather fascinating to see.

"What is Butterbeer?"

[mudblood_andproud]

"It is an alcoholic drink. It sort of tastes like... a less-sickly butterscotch." Hermione explains. She grabs herself a drink, and then looks at Katsuya to see if he wants one poured. "The basic ingredients are butterscotch, butter, cream soda, milk, rum extract."

[sumarusfinest]

Oof.

He'd been hoping for something non-alcoholic but one drink won't be bad at least. So long as he doesn't imbibe any more than that for a while. He nods when Hermione looks his way.

"It sounds interesting. And this is a tradition for you as well?" Once he has his drink he raises it toward her. "Kanpai. Or...cheers, I suppose it's said in the West."

[mudblood_andproud]

"Kanpai." Hermione repeats, as carefully as she can. She gives him his glass, so they can cheers with each other.

"It is a nice warm drink. I drink it rarely, since I would rather stay alert and have my senses. But it is a nice drink to share with friends."

[sumarusfinest]

"Mm. It's not as sweet as I would have guessed by your description. And so warm." But without the usual burn alcohol leaves in it's wake. This is either a very lightly alcoholic drink or a very dangerous one.

Katsuya will be careful to sip it.

"I can see why you'd want to drink it socially."

[mudblood_andproud]

"I have seen people get drunk on it very easily. But don't worry, I will make sure neither of us do anything foolish." Hermione smiles.

She pours a little bowl of the drink for Crookshanks. Who joins them for socializing.

[sumarusfinest]

That gets an earnest smile from the officer. He chuckles and reaches over to pet Crookshanks once he's jumped up on the table to join them.

"It's strange. I'm normally allergic to cats severely but he doesn't bother me at all."

[mudblood_andproud]

"That is because Crookshanks is not your ordinary cat." Crookshanks chirps in agreement.

"He is half Kneazle. It is a magical breed of felines in my world. Kneazle's don't shed. They do not cause any allergic reactions. They are very intelligent."

[sumarusfinest]

"Magical? Bred for their hypoallergenic natures? I know he must be very smart, considering the tasks I was helping him with once before. I'm certain he understands human speech quite easily."

He'd be more shocked but frankly his journey through the nexus with the kneazle has already dampened that considerably.

[mudblood_andproud]

"No. They are not bred for that reason. Kneazles are a very reliable familiar. They have a good judge of character. And are very intelligent."

"And in most cases, the witch doesn't choose the Kneazle... the Kneazle chooses his witch. Crookshanks found me. He selected me."

Crookshanks stands proud. He enjoys all these flattering compliments about him.

[sumarusfinest]

"I...I see."

It's doubtful if Katsuya truly understands but he is trying to. In some regards it makes a bit of sense to him. His Persona chose him and not the other way round after all. But Helios is hardly his own separate entity, right? He's a part of Katsuya.

It's all rather over his head insofar as magical theory goes.

"The important thing is you have each other."

[mudblood_andproud]

"We have gone through a lot together, and he has been very dependable."

Hermione smiles. And pets Crookshanks.

"He is a very reliable friend."

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya smiles and looks back down to his butterbeer a moment. He has friends like that as well, even though he hasn't seen any of them in quite some time. After everything they've been through, it's impossible not to become close.

"You're very fortunate." His gaze falls onto the pile of Christmas crackers. A strange thing but it seems simple enough by the little directions on the placard in front of the pile. "Did you want to try one of these? It seems this is a tradition as well."

[mudblood_andproud]

"Sure!" Hermione reaches out to grab a Christmas cracker, and holds out one end for Katsuya.

"Let's see what we get!"

[sumarusfinest]

"There might be a sudden noise."

Katsuya warns Crookshanks very seriously before he reaches over to take his end of the cracker. He's not quite sure what to expect from something so innocuous looking but he dutifully counts to three with Hermione and then pulls--!

[mudblood_andproud]

Crookshanks covers his ears with his paws. The cracker does indeed make a loud bang, and then a few prizes, riddles and games fall onto the table.

"Oh! How marvelous! A Muggle Christmas Cracker!"

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya seems more than a little surprised at how loud the bang is, though it's punctuated by a laugh when a paper hat falls in his face.

"What is all this? A muggle cracker? Are these jokes?" Some of the puns may have to be explained to him, despite his fluent English some things do still get lost in translation. They're awful jokes, but in a good way!

Katsuya laughs.

"I don't know what I was expecting, but I'm pleasantly surprised."