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

[tielle_mortevus]

Noticing Jim sitting off by his lonesome, Tielle decides to pay him a long overdue visit. As she gets closer though, she quickly realizes his mind is certainly preoccupied.

"You seem... distracted, and not in the good way. Perhaps I can help ease that troubled mind of yours."

She gives him a smirk, taking a seat next to him.

[boldygoing]

Preoccupied is certainly one word for it. Between the wariness about the party and his annual end-of-the-year mood, Jim has a lot on his mind and not a hell of a lot of holiday cheer. He looks up, recognizing her from their one meeting once before. Not a threat, as far as he knows.

"You can try," he says, giving her a small smile that isn't entirely real. This is the problem of looking downcast around holidays... people want you to talk about it. Better to deflect from that, if he can. "How're you doing?"

[tielle_mortevus]

“I’ve honestly been about the same really, still listlessly wandering, trying to find my place here. The decorations are certainly a nice distraction though...”

She gazed up at snowfall, closing her eyes for a moment as she let out a sigh.

“I never really was a fan of this time of year... too many memories, and the cold doesn’t make things any better.”

[boldygoing]

"You too, huh?" He gives her a sympathetic look, not digging any deeper than what she wants to say. He's not terribly enthused to talk about his own bad associations with this time of year; it's only fair that he doesn't ask in return. "All we've got to do is get through it. Winter'll be over soon enough."

[tielle_mortevus]

She pulls out her trusty flask, popping the lid.

"I'll drink to that. Spring can't come soon enough."

She takes a swig, wiping a little blood from the corner of her mouth before tucking the flask away once more.

"I should be happy... it's been almost seventeen years now, but the pain just won't stop..."

She goes quiet for a moment, blankly staring at the falling snow.

"I'm sure you've gone through hardships... lost people you've cared deeply for... Is there ever a point where you can truly move on? For most I've been able to, even the loss of my father I was able to put behind me eventually... but not him... not..."

She let out another sigh, shaking her head. Noticing a fresh bottle of wine on a nearby serving table, she decides to help herself and tips her head back a bit as she takes a swig straight from the bottle.

"Sorry, I'm sure you have your own demons to deal with, and I doubt you wan't me adding to it."

[boldygoing]

Unlike Jim, she seems to want to talk about her problems, vague though it is. If he was the type of person to think kindly of therapy, he might suggest she look into it, but as it is, he just replies, "This time of year is hard on a lotta people, for whatever reasons."