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

[primelogic]

"Perhaps it is best I accompany you going forward so there are no other harrowing incidents that would plague you. Even in this place it seems you have an unmistakable penchant for trouble."

No, don't worry little Nargles. Spock isn't angry. If anything, he's trolling Jim now, leading him out across the party floor at a sedate pace. Decidedly away, however, from any more mistletoe. That's enough excitement for one afternoon.

"Perhaps a drink would be to your liking, Jim?"

[mr_enterprise]

Now that's the Spock that he knows, the serene, stoic expression on the Vulcan's face hiding his satisfaction at throwing his t'hy'la off-balance. There are a dozen things that Jim could say to try to save his dignity, but he says none of them, a small smile tugging at his lips as he follows.

"It would, thank you. Assuming, of course, that there are no more festive surprises there, too."

[primelogic]

Doubtless he'll get Spock back for that later. The Vulcan would more than deserve it. It's been so long since they've played these games together. And never have they been afforded to do so in such an open manner. Though it had not stopped them before.

"There is quite the selection of beverages, though some I have to steer clear of." Spock has taken quite a look at the spread on the buffet tables. It's intriguing to watch the food and drink replenish itself with no replicator in sight.

"Sitting somewhere warm while we inspect the victuals would be most agreeable."

[mr_enterprise]

Jim may not feel the cold as strongly as his bondmate does, but getting warm and sharing a meal - away from the meddlesome Nargles and their enchanted mistletoe - sounds like a fantastic idea. He has no need to ask which foods and drinks Spock needs to avoid; after so many years, it's second nature to take note of anything containing chocolate or meat, or other things incompatible with a Vulcan diet. Or Spock's personal preferences.

His own composure back in place, and with plenty of time to plan how to return fire, Jim lets himself enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of this festive little gathering, visually scouting out a suitable place for them to sit together. There's a series of cozy little tables off to one side, ringed around some sort of heat source that he's seen cropping up here and there as the seasons changed.

"What are you having?" he asks, as they stop at the beverage table on the way. The sheer variety is on the verge of being ridiculous, but thankfully they have black coffee, and Jim gratefully pours a mug for himself.

[primelogic]

They lack the spiced tea that Spock prefers, but he's gotten used to drinking herbal Earth teas back on New Vulcan in the years he's been stranded there and it's no trouble to get a mug of it for himself now as he joins Jim at one of the smaller tables. His eyebrow raises at the small wrapped paper...somethings...sitting in a little basket on the table.

He has no idea what they are. Fascinating.

"I saw a pumpkin soup that looked quite adequate. I will procure a bowl of that as well as a few of the lentil crackers I saw in a basket nearby. And you, Jim?"

[mr_enterprise]

Jim has a vague idea of what a Christmas cracker is, though he's neither seen nor opened one before. The little packages get a curious glance from him too, before Spock draws his attention again. "There's a sweet potato casserole that caught my eye. And you can't go wrong with sugar cookies." Yes, it's not the healthiest of meals, but Bones isn't here to shove a salad at him - a thought that is simultaneously nostalgic and bittersweet.

"The variety here is amazing. I don't recall seeing a spread like this at any of the diplomatic functions we had to attend."

[primelogic]

Spock raises an eyebrow at Jim that says more than any words could about Jim's carb-heavy dinner choices but it is a party and they both know Spock won't spoil this evening for his bondmate. Still, something a bit healthy to go with it wouldn't be amiss.

"I've yet to see a single person or entity replenish the food and drink and yet no matter where I look everything is full as though nothing has been taken." And so many choices to boot. It's all so strange and new.

"This is rather extravagant, yes."

[mr_enterprise]

It's a party, Spock. It's not meant to be healthy. Still, Jim can't quite miss that look on Spock's face, and if some vegetables and dip end up on his plate, well, he's going to at least pretend it was his idea.

"Is there anything this magic can't do?" he asks rhetorically. "I don't think I'll ever tire of it."

[primelogic]

A healthy and logical idea. One that makes the look stop altogether. Spock is satisfied with this turn of events. Once they've both obtained their respective meal choices and taken their seats Spock considers the magic all around them that must be necessary to have such a feast of this scale exist.

The floating candles. The decorations that glimmer and twinkle and move about the trees.

"I don't know that I've accepted magic as the source of all of this, though I have come to accept that is what it is called by its users."

[mr_enterprise]

Jim laughs softly, not surprised to find Spock so doubtful. He'll admit to a healthy amount of skepticism himself; they've seen and done too much to take such things at face value. Still, the evidence is pretty damn compelling. "It's like that old Earth saying goes, any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

[primelogic]

"Just as you say, Jim. I would like to continue the reconnaissance and further study necessary to determine what exactly fuels these phenomena."

But not until after they've finished their meals. The soup is quite satisfactory and Spock quiets down while he busies himself with his food. One could almsot call him pleased. Sitting at a table for two with his bondmate enjoying the labors of a strange unstudied force in a world ripe with opportunities for learning and exploration.

Where else would the two of them be?