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

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Isidor is about to protest further when he hands over his present. With an expression of playful suspicion she accepts it, only to laugh when she opens it, and again when she sees the glasses.

"It's perfect, thank you, Josh." Her shoulders slack and she smiles at him. "Thank you." She finds a nearby table to rest the cooler on. "And here I was going to avoid drinking this Christmas. How can I possibly resist this?"

[brother_alone]

"Well, I suppose you don't gotta drink it now. It'll stay cold for a while, and good if you get it into a fridge for a good week after that, probably."

He's got no clue. It's never lasted longer than a day or two around his house. Josh shrugs a bit.

"I'm not here to make you fall off the wagon or anything. I just remembered you saying you wanted to try it, so."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

She smiles and shakes her head, waving her hand dismissively. "It's fine. I just..." Heaving a sigh, she shrugs guiltily while keeping her smile in place. "I went overboard at Samhain."

That's when her smile turns sly. "Really you should help me by taking a glass with me and not leaving me to drink it all on my own."

[brother_alone]

"Isidor, my lady, you ain't partying right if you don't overdo it a bit. Take it from me."

Yes, take it from the barely functioning alcoholic who claims he's only truly happy when he's drunk. That is a road that is sure to only lead to good places.

"I mean, I sure as shit won't say no to that. I made it, I know damn well how good it is." He breaks into a grin and pulls open the box of tacky plastic glasses. "I'd be honored to share a drink with you."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Though he means to be reassuring Isidor looks a little sheepish when she smiles and shrugs in response. Overdoing it isn't really an option for a conditioned patron with fire magic inclinations, if the night of the Nightmare was any indication.

She relaxes a bit when he pulls out a couple of the glasses. "Do I get to know your secret?"

[brother_alone]

Josh watches Isidor pour a glass out in each of the tacky plastic martini glasses. Hands Isidor's over to her. It's only then that he shrugs and gives her a wink.

"Love's the secret ingredient."

He keeps a straight face just long enough to maybe fool someone into thinking he means it before snorting. Takes a sip of his own glass.

"Nah. Secret's damn fine bourbon instead of rum in the mix."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Her training shows just a little bit in the way she pours the eggnog and the way she handles the plastic glasses. While he speaks she takes in the scent of the drink, smirks at his joke, and then takes a sip.

First her eyebrows rise and then she smiles and takes another sip. A coy little smile spreads across her lips. "Do I have to share this?"

[brother_alone]

"Well good luck getting my glass back form me now that you've given it up."

Josh quirks both eyebrows of his up playfully before he takes another sip of the 'nog and makes a pleased hum. Definitely worth the effort.

"You want to get REAL fancy, I can show you how to make ice cream out of this stuff."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Isidor laughs at the joking and joins him in taking another sip to enjoy the eggnog. The suggestion of turning it into ice-cream turns her eyes wide.

"Gods, yes! I never even thought of that!" She clasps her hands together, eggnog held in between, and feigns deference. "Show me your ways, wise sage."

[brother_alone]

"Do you know what's in eggnog? It's so thick because it's basically a custard base. You leave out the egg white foam to lighten it up and you've basically got an ice cream base. Get one of those frozen-core countertop ice cream makers, turn the mix and you've got a fucking boss Yuletide Treat, madam."

Though Josh laughs a bit at Isidor's hamming it up. There's genuine pride on his face at being good at a Thing, no matter how small.

"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm super not great in the kitchen or anything. We've just been making this for so long at my hosue I could about do it in my sleep."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

She shakes her head when he asks if she knows what's in eggnog. Why would she know? It's too easy to buy it, or get it made for her. She does listen intently to his instructions though.

When he's finished explaining she laughs and shrugs a shoulder. "You're great at the things that count. That's all that matters, right?"

[brother_alone]

"I'm thinking I should make some 'nog ice cream for New Years and then I can start pregaming with ice cream well before people are busting out the drinks. Also now that we've talked about it I am jonesing for some of it hardcore."

Not that the drink isn't good too. But turning a drink into ice cream makes it into a dessert and that's a different kind of satisfying to enjoy.

"Your family do anything big for the Holidays? Whichever ones you celebrate I mean."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"That's a plan I could definitely get behind. I might have to steal your idea."

Whether it's the drink or the company, Isidor is significantly more relaxed now. So when Josh asks about her family she scoffs and then shrugs. "We don't get together as a family, if that's what you're asking. V and I might visit one of our cousins, but V prefers to stay in and have a quiet holiday. Most of the rest of the family is busy going to galas and balls around this time of year." With a roll of her eyes she explains, "We're not good at family get-togethers except for official or religious occasions."

She takes a sip of her drink. "What about you? Any plans?"

[brother_alone]

"Sounds a lot like how my family used to be."

Josh makes a face before shaking his head in clear disgust at the idea before turning his attention back to his drink. The good news is he never has to go back to that. So long as he doesn't stop to remember why (as if he could forget) things are fine.

"Just..without all the crazy magic and shit. Rich parents are pretty much universal, mages or not."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"That's almost a relief. It makes it sound like a universal inevitability, not their choice."

Isidor turns to Josh, eyes and smile widening for a second to push those thoughts aside. She raises a glass. "Here's to being better than our parents." Her smile twists wryly. "Or at least just having our galas in the Nexus."