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

[sweetcandygirl]

Harley gives a little joyful one-handed clap at the sight of the bright red cocktail coming towards her.

"By the park! Ohhhh that sounds perfect!"

"You better not describe it too good, Steve. You would end up with a roommate." She teases him.

[juststeverogers]

"I'm not sure there'd be room for you at the moment. I wasn't kidding when I said it was cramped right now. Bucky's pretty big for a bird and Sarah an' Ethel aren't exactly tiny either. My studio is comfortably sized for one person but it's feeling like a sardine can right now."

He laughs a bit at her excitement though.

"In all seriousness though, if you need a couch to crash on that's out of the cold until you find a place, you're welcome to stay."

[sweetcandygirl]

"Oh honey... I am used to jail cell quarters. You don't know the meaning of cramped." Harley smiles brightly. Despite her statement, she still has a very positive nature about things. About her life.

"I am not in that bad shape that you would need to put up with me on your couch. I don't really feel the cold..."

"But your... Pokémon you said... sound interesting. What are they?"

[juststeverogers]

"And I"m used to army quarters n the front lines. I know cramped too." He shoots back, but there's humor in his voice. "Don't feel it or it doesn't affect you? Because the latter would be pretty dangerous. You wouldn't know if you were having an adverse reaction."

He hands Harley his hot cocoa when she asks about his pokemon and pulls out his phone so he can show her pictures. There's a cute dog/tiger, a strange metal headed dino, and a large bird with bright plumage.

"They're highly intelligent animals from another world that connected with the Nexus once. They got stranded here, so I took them in."

[sweetcandygirl]

"The cold doesn't affect me." Harley pauses. "Well, except for when I am really upset. I felt cold after the whole... Nightmare thing."

Change of topic! She leans closer to him, so she can see the pictures of the Pokémon. There is ohhhing and awwwwing.

"That is so sweet of you! They look so remarkable!"

[juststeverogers]

"We've all become real close. Like a family. That little dino there is Ethel and she's the sweetest thing you'll ever see. Never raises her voice, always so patient and kind. That's Sarah, more energy than she knows what to do with. I couldn't ask for a better training buddy."

Steve flicks through the photos on his phone as he talks.

"And this is Bucky. He's always got my back and is watching over the place if I'm out. Watching over my friends, especially Adia."

[sweetcandygirl]

"They all look well-cared for, and loved." Harley smiles. Sometimes, she misses having her babies around. She misses Bud and Lou.

"I used to own a pair of hyenas. They were the best babies..."

[juststeverogers]

"Hyenas? What're they like? Did they adapt alright to an urban environment? I didn't think they could be tamed."

Steve doesn't know much about animals being a city boy.He's had to have several crash courses in raising his pokemon but he's doing his best to be a good trainer for them.

"How did you feed them?"

[sweetcandygirl]

"Bud and Lou were playful, trouble-making, but loveable friends. And no, they can't be tamed. But I had a special connection with them..." Until Joker took them away from her too. But she doesn't say that part out loud.

"We had a good connection with a butcher."

[juststeverogers]

"I suppose you'd have to. Wow. I'm glad you had them around then. Maybe in time you'll find some animals you can bond with here, too."

Steve isn't sure hyenas in an urban setting are a good idea, but better the Nexus and it's AV field than somewhere else, right?

[sweetcandygirl]

"Ohhhhh I hope so." Harley smiles. "I am glad to be in the Nexus and starting over again..."

"But I have not been by my lonesome in such a long time. A pet would be nice company..."

[juststeverogers]

"I'm sure if we looked around we might be able to find an adoption center. This being the Nexus, they might even have all kinds of...alternative pets."

He hopes not too crazy. The idea of Harley running around the Nexus with a pet tiger or something is a wee bit frightening.

[sweetcandygirl]

"That would be great Steve!" She knows he would help her find something appropriate.

And she gives him a warm hug in appreciation of the suggestion.

[juststeverogers]

This time Steve's ready for the attention. He returns it and picks Harley up when he hugs her back, just an inch or so above the ground before he lets her go and sets her down again.

"Merry Christmas, Harley. We can go whenever you like."

[sweetcandygirl]

The hug from Steve makes Harley laugh. She really likes him. And is glad he is such a good friend.

"We will make it a trip, after New Year's Eve. Start of my year right."