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

[shardofwinter]

Reynard's eyebrows shoot up. "You haven't gotten a PINpoint yet?"

It makes sense then that she might be a little apprehensive in this place with no way home. He pats her back and steers her around again. "You need a PINpoint. It's a device that does many things at once, like a modern phone. You can send messages on it, but its main, most important function is teleportation." He puts a hand over his heart. "I'm not fond of technology, but they are far more convenient than the portal I found to this place."

It isn't long before he locates a vending machine with the famous Nexus gadgets. He beams and pats the machine, sending frost patterns spiralling out from under his hand. "They come in all shapes and sizes. Pick one whichever one you like."

[turningcolors]

"Oh!"

Of all the places to get a magical artifact of matter displacement Reyanrd leads her to a vending machine. You know, like you do. Some of them look nearly identical to the smartphones dominating the tech world of human culture today. Hazel selects one of the devices programmed into what looks to be an iPhone and smiles when the machine deposits one into a slot right next to her hand.

"How convenient. But how does it work? Teleportation is no simple magic, surely. Is it safe?"

[shardofwinter]

To ease all of Hazel's concerns, Reynard… shrugs. "PINpoints are like any other part of the Nexus, so far as I can tell. No one knows how they work, only how to use them."

Pulling out his own PINpoint, a sturdy looking block of a smart phone, Reynard takes her PINpoint from her and starts copying over numbers. It's a decidedly faster process than it would be in any other Season. Putting his PINpoint away again, he points to a button. "Just press that."

Travelling through the air is more natural, smoother, easier on the senses than travelling with a PINpoint. Or so he thinks. Mortals he's brought with him have often thought the opposite. He's unapologetically curious to get Hazel's thoughts on the matter.

[turningcolors]

"Press this--?" Hazel reaches over where Reynard is still holding onto her PINpoint and presses the screen.

bip!

"--here? Why what's it OH GOD." It's a good thing Reynard's holding the PINpoint because Hazel startles something fierce at suddenly feeling like she's dreampt about falling and jerked awake from the sensation. They're not in the Nexus anymore.

[shardofwinter]

Laughter echoes through the damp, cold air, light rain decorating Hazel's hair with beads of water. Once they arrive Reynard's amusement is easy to see in his broad grin. He lets go of the PINpoint to stroke his beard, lining it white with frost. "It's an experience, but you get used to it."

"Come on!" He starts striding, past an old truck that's seen better days, to the small cabin nearby. It looks traditional, not unlike old Irish cottages with its carefully assembly of stone. Inside it's slightly more modern with its plastered walls, though there's still an unmistakable draught running through the house. Once they're through the tiny entranceway where a pair of hiking boots sit in the corner, one large room is used for several things. At one end is the kitchen, sectioned off by a table and chairs, with sturdy iron pots visible and yellowing electronic devices. Couches gather around a fireplace, no television in sight. Then on the opposite wall to the kitchen sits a desk with a laptop buried beneath a thin layer of papers. Overall it's neat for somewhere so small, but there's a general layer of messiness.

When she's taken a look around Reynard points to the doors. "There's the pantry by the kitchen, the bathroom and the bedroom. I have a few spare sheets in the wardrobe in the bedroom, but you might need to get some blankets for yourself." He shrugs. "I've never needed them."

[turningcolors]

"Where is this?"

Hazel's fingers trail gently along the walls of the home while she follows Reynard inside. Even Reynard's home smells crisp and sharp, the scents of pine faintly wafting through the small cabin. It's such an eclectic mix of old and new that she can't help but to smile softly.

This place truly does fit Reynard very well. It could do with a bit of a cleaning, but that's no trouble to her in the least.

"Where is the nearest town? Or should I stick to the Nexus for my shopping?"

[shardofwinter]

"Scotland. The nearest shop is an hour's drive away if you know the roads." His eyes twitch into a squint as he thinks. "You might want to stick to the Nexus unless you're prepared for nosy questions." A small smile tugs at his lips. "They'll either assume you stole from me or you're my woman if they see you driving my car or in my house."