nexus_crossings | Ho Ho Ho! Happy HP Holidays!

Ho Ho Ho! Happy HP Holidays!

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.]

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It is a lovely time of year, despite the cold, although the snowman sweater she is wearing over her blue and silver dress seems to be keeping almost all of the chill away. "Is Christmas what you celebrate? We have the Winter Solstice where I'm from, but it's not as... um, elaborate a celebration."

She returns her attention to the crackers. Ash's hint is well-received, and she grins hopefully. "Should we try one, then?"

She smiles warmly, "in Stirybrooke more so..aye..back home it was a mix of it and Yule." She informs her warmly and bright-eyed.

She giggles warmly, "well. it'd be remiss if we didn't aye?" She half asks half states. With a small smirk before entending one toward her new friend, eyes twinkling.

"Yule," she repeats in fascination. So many holidays around this time of year! "You'll have to tell me all about it, I've only heard that name in passing."

Giggling as well, she takes the other end of the cracker, and pulls once Ash offers resistance on the other end. It makes a delightful pop when it pulls apart, the items inside falling onto the table. "Oh! That was fun. What was inside?"

She grins broadly, "oh. aye of course. " She murmurs warmly and pleased with a little-excited wiggle. "well, some things vary by family but most celebrations have decorations.. and course the yule log. um an actual one.. not chocolate..but I like those kinds too myself." She adds with a soft chuckle.

She wiggles a little like a puppy might. "ehehe aye.." She agrees and peeks. "hmmm looks like.." she moves some of the remnants of the cracker around. "a couple of paper crowns and a joke." She murmurs and carefully opens the crowns up and sets them on the table so Aida can pick whichever color she likes best. with an inviting wave of her hand. "after you. " she states politely missing being a hostess at least in some ways.

"Oh, like a log to burn in the fireplace?" She's intrigued by the chocolate sounding version. Maybe it's available at the buffet table; she hasn't had a chance to look over the entire selection yet.

The prizes are cute, and at the invitation to choose first, she smiles at Ash and says, "Thanks." She picks up the royal blue crown as it matches her dress -- and her boyfriend's tie. Maybe he'll wear it if she asks, but for now she puts it on her own head.

Ash's enthusiasm for the holiday has her smiling. "How have you been doing, Ash? I'm sorry I haven't seen you sooner. It's been, um... a little busy for me." Understatement of the year, but she doesn't want to bombard the other woman with her recent situation if she's not interested.

She grins and nods several times rapidly, "ahuh, it's usually chosen so it'll burn long and bright. " She explains, "sort of practical meets symbolic. " She states moving her left hand about a bit.

Speaking off, that reminds her to look into getting some lumber with anyone who might know.

She chuckles and gently picks up and down the green one happily and not careing if she looks a mite silly. It's the holidays after all. Heck if she could get ahold of some antlers she'd be wearing those two.

"Oh, alright thanks.. " She replies softly. "It's ok everyone gets busy especially. This time of year. Never mind.. the er, chaos from Halloween. " She murmurs softly and lowly. A part of her still felt kinda overwhelmed by what had happened. The healer part of her wish she could be of more help. To the folks who had suffered from it.

Poor Micolash as well, he'd been a victim and greatly hurt by it as well. Her eyes soften, true she couldn't be everywhere at once. But she like to do something. She could use more connections and resources though. Networking yes that was on the list. And the season should do some good for morale as well.

It's a symbolism that makes sense to Adia. "We have similar traditions during the Solstice. We decorate our homes and tress with white lights as a way to keep the darkness at bay. I like the idea of a log in a fireplace. Those are always nice in the Winter."

The crown looks cute on Ash, and she's about to comment on it, but the conversation shifts to something more serious, so she nods soberly before frowning in concern. "You weren't caught up in the Nightmare, were you? I know there were nineteen of us, but I'm still trying to track down everyone."

She blinks and then smiles, she nods ah that sounded familiar as well some families and realms did similarly. "Ah..some places have a similar vein yes." She replies warmly. "yes indeed.." She hums and wiggles slightly.

She blinks and shakes her head, "No..thankfuly. " Course she had her own sort more often thank you very much. But she hadn't been transported to other places lately. She had a feeling she might be due for some dream walking or astral projection. At some point. "eessh, " She hisses sympatrically. "well do let me know if ya need help of any sort aye?" She half asks half offers sincerely. She liked to be of use if she can.

"it.. feels..uncomfortable not be able to do much.." She confides to her softly. And rubs the back of her neck. Her eyes a little low and less glowly and her face glum.

"It's nice to hear that so many of these holidays have that in common." She taps the broken cracker and adds, "But learning about new traditions has been fun, too."

She sighs audibly in relief when she learns that Ash was not one of the people taken. "I will," she says. "Thank you. Being in that Nightmare was terrifying, but... well, I made out far better than some of the other people who were trapped. I wish I could help them with their experiences, but it was so personal for all of us." She knows that not everyone is willing to talk about it or even admit that they were there like she is.

That feeling of wanting to help but being unable to is one that she knows all too well. "Sometimes there's not much we can do in a situation," she agrees. "But you're a very kind and generous person, Ash. Just being someone's friend is helping them, I'm sure."

She nods in agreement, "aye tis. " She murmurs warmly. Before softly grinning. Mhm, I like learning new things." She states.

She nods, "good, and yer most welcome. " She replies sincerely. "I can imagine so. " it wasn't uncommon among shell shocked , veterans and other folks who'd gone through traumatic things. "Aye, true.. sadly so. " She murmurs with a sigh.

She glances down slightly, "ahem, thank you.. I do try. " She replies demurely. She hoped so, still. She sighs again. She supposed she just have to keep her eyes and ears peeled for possible little opportunities. Till something opportune presented itself.

"Did you know anyone else who was trapped in the Nightmare?" she asks, her concern coming back. This sounds more personal for Ash than merely being unable to help bystanders at a party.

And then, realizing that she hasn't even seen Ash since meeting her at the library, she places a gentle hand on the other woman's arm. "How have you been doing? Are you settled into the Nexus okay?"

"Err, well I've ran into a couple of them in passing.. and the poor fellow with the cage, Micolash. " She informs her softly. She squints slightly, if she ever got hold of that spider. She bristled and her fur and wolf ears popped up and out more. Her eyes flashing bright gold like a pair of shining old coins.

"I tell ya I ain't no miss mufflet, that spider will get a swift kick up his tail bone if I catch em." She mutters her lit coming out more. Followed by a some huff and Grr. Her black silky wolf ears going back. As she lifts her head a notch sniffs the air and scans the area.

Half doing a protective guarding, stance and slight angling herself near aida. Like a mama wolf or other canine might do near a pup or cub.

Micolash. The name alone makes a pensive frown appear on Adia's face. "It's terrible what happened to him," she agrees quietly. Although knowing what she knows now, she has a better understanding of why he suffered the most of anyone in the Nightmare.

She knew already that there was something special about Ash, but watching those wolf ears pop out still surprises her. "I don't think he's here," she says reassuringly. "He'll probably stay in hiding if he knows what's good for him. You're not the only one who wants to give him a good kick." Or worse. Her boyfriend would definitely rip off a leg or two if he got the chance.

Trying to think of something a little less disturbing to talk about at a holiday party, she asks Ash, "Have you met Micolash's caretaker, Abysa? He's very nice. I'm trying to plan some time to keep him company."

She blinks and nods once in agreement. She rolls her shoulder still on guard. And her fur floofs a bit more. "hmm still can't be too careful..there's many would be troublemakers about." She states softly. She had a very protective steak typically but things like that made the Mama Wolf in her come out all the more. "Cha, aye.." She huffs slightly through her nose. {no touchy friends.} Her wolfish side rumbled mentally in the back of her mind.

She twitches her nose and sniffs the air slightly wondering if there were any gingerbread and such things about halfly. Her ears perk up at that. "oh yes. I have." She hums and nods. yes finding that out had been a welcome thing. Though she was still cautious round.. netherworld or connected/ certain named beings for obvious reasons.

"Ah..yes." her voice lowers slightly. And she gets a bit of a distant look for a moment. "Taking care of a patient let along a friend for long periods by oneself can be tasking and tiring under the best of circumstances." She murmurs. She knew from experience.

"been doing..alright..er been trying to find out the best way to go about getting building materials and such though." She adds after a moment. She seemed to know the place well and she trusted her, after all, might as well ask right?

"You sound like my boyfriend," she says with a soft laugh, before blushing, not wanting Ash to take offense. "I mean, it's good to be cautious, but the only people I've seen here have been friends." Of course, the Halloween party was full of friends, too, and Patches managed to sneak in and ruin everything anyway.

Taking a look around, she spots a table with beautifully decorated gingerbread houses. "Oh... that's another Christmas tradition, isn't it? Should we go take a look?" She waits for Ash to come a little closer before admitting softly, "I think Abysa really needs some friends. Taking care of Micolash must be absolutely exhausting."

She turns her attention to Ash's question. "You probably need to head into the Industrial District. They have building materials there. Are you looking to build a home? I've been told you can find a nice vacant one in the residential area if you look around enough."

She rasises an eyebrow, wryly but smiles slightly. "Well, he has some good points already. " She murmurs approving.

She hums, softly only slightly molified. She still is wary though. There was nothing trouble makers and nefarious types liked more then to ruin a good time. And people's sense of security.

She smiles warmly, "aye.. ahem yes please." She replies warmly and politely. She leans in and tilts her head looking concerned. She blinks owlishly. "Oh, aye yes it must be. " She murmurs softly with a slight nod.

She blinks and takes that in. Before pulling out her notebook and scribbles that down. "Um.. well more a clinic at the moment. " though an outpost of some sort would not be admiss, something simple. A cottage prehaps.

"I shall have to do so, thank you. " She murmurs sincerely and hopeful.

Ash's comment gets her to giggle. "If I spot him, I'll wave him over so you can meet him." So far as she knows, he's still sitting on the couch she left him at. "Parties aren't really his thing."

She won't try to talk her friend out of letting her guard down completely, but hopefully focusing on the gingerbread houses will bring back the holiday spirit for both of them. "They're really cute," she says, admiring the gumdrop-studded rooftops and jellybean gardens. "I guess you can't really eat these, they must go stale awfully quickly..." Luckily there are some gingerbread men off to the side that are meant to be consumed.

"A clinic? Like a medical clinic?" That's the second time in as so many weeks that someone has suggested the idea. "You should try to get in contact with Laura Kent if you can. She's a medical student who wants to start some sort of care center in the Nexus, close to the Plaza. You'd like her, she's very nice. And, um, she has superpowers, so you wouldn't have to hide your shapeshifting from her."

She smiles slightly and chuckles softly, "Lovely and aye..large..crowds er can be kinda scary." She remarks understandingly and in sympathy. She wasn't good with big crowds by herself either. Plus her ears started to ring and etc after a while if things got really loud.

"I'll have to introduce ya'll to my Dor when he gets back as well..he's doing errands at the moment." She informs her warmly a gleaming twinkle in her eyes. At the thought of her dear and beloved husband. {mate, mine.} Her wolf side thought happily and simply. As she felt a warmth growing inside.

Her ears wiggle, as does her tail under her long coat. "Aye..well..depends." She states she liked building things gingerbread could go hard quickly under certain conditions. "I mean I doubt.. er I think it's Hermione.." She murmurs after a moment of thought and looking around for their hostess.

"wouldn't appreciate use flooding the gingy village with milk." She states wryly half playful with a small wolfish smirk. Maybe if they built there own sometime. she really wanted access to a stove and kitchen around these parts.

She looks for plates and napkins. As she looks up at the question. "Aye..yes." She nods. Her eyebrows go up and her ears wiggle as if pleased in a canine manner. the tip of her tail starts to wag. despite herself. "oh, she did talk to ya then? good..she was wondering about folks who could help and knew stuff..I er.. dropped your name..hope that's alright." She half states half asks, half uncertain.

She didn't try to send any peps with bad vibes her way, but Aida was very knowledgeable. She smiles softly. "That'd be nice." She states sincerely. She always did try and like to network with Hero types and the like if she could. In some cultures, wolves were guides and teachers as well. Which was something her ancestors who didn't have the shifting but other abilities had been.

"I'm not really one for parties either," she admits with a shy smile. "But I do like seeing my friends. I would like to meet.. Dor? Is that his name? Is he also from Storybrooke?" The gleam in Ash's eyes is the same one she has when thinking about Caspar. But she knows that he's not everyone's cup of tea. Maybe another time she'll make introductions.

The thought of a milk flood pouring through Gingerbread Town makes her laugh out loud. "She probably has a magical spell that would reverse all the damage, but you're right, that's bad." Adia finds the napkins and offers Ash one before selecting one of the gingerbread men. "These are awfully cute, too. I feel a little bad for eating them." But not badly enough that she doesn't take a nibble out of the cookie's arm immediately after she says that.

"Oh! Yes, of course that's all right." She smiles, a little flattered that Ash thought of her in that context. "I'm actually good friends with Laura's mother, but from a different timeline. They're a remarkable family, the Kents. I really hope Laura is able to make the Care Center a reality. Goodness knows that the Nexus needs it."

She nods, "Hmmmh. " She hums softly. She smiles softly, "as of the moment aye. " She replies the curses and all the realm travel could be confusing and a long tale. At the best of times, and she didn't want gloomy thoughts more then necessary.

"Aye most likely," she murmurs and looks for a cup and possibly some so she could drink her chosen treats. "Thank ya kindly. " She chuckles softly."Aye almost. " She remarks and softly nibbles on a gingy hairline.

She beams warmly. And then blinks. "Ah I see. Sounds.. interesting and complicated. " She remarks. "Most folks think Clark's a story in the world outside StoryBrooke. " She informs her. Though.. mulitverses.. Oi vay. Keeping them all straight was a headache sometimes.

Considering how unfamiliar Adia is with most Earth fairy tales, the tale of Storybrooke would be a confusing one to get through, to say the least. She's fine with the short answer for now. "Well, he's very lucky," she says, smiling at her friend. Ash strikes her as the loyal, protective sort, a good partner in any relationship.

The gingerbread is delicious, and reminds her a little of home. "Oh, it's not complicated," she insists, shaking her head. "I mean, I suppose it's a little strange for Laura, but with all the superpowers in her family, I'm sure she takes it in stride." The fact that Clark's story is fictional in some universes is a surprise to her. "Oh! Hmm... well, I suppose that makes sense. I mean, if I were going to write a story about a superhero, his would be a good one."

She smiles softly, her fur floofs out a bit more so she is very fluffy. And gets a shy look, and looks down at her plate. "ahem why thank you." She states demurely. Her checks growing a mite pink.

She blinks and adds some various snacks to her plate before offering Aida another plate for her own use. "Ah I see. " SHe murmurs with a nod.

She hums, "Indeed, though.. 52 versions..is a whole nother thing." SHe states with a wry and slightly bemused snort. Though she did wonder how much of the multiverse science and such applied to places like the nexus or their own realms. If she could find their common link.. vibrations .. and the like.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ho Ho Ho! Happy HP Holidays!

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