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

[poetwarrior]

That gets a chuckle from him, the odd splashing sound of rain in a puddle. "Yes, for those markings that cannot come and go as they wish, it would be an important decision indeed." His temporary host had many, but it was not his decision, so Faris knows that he cannot take Hunter as the cultural standard. "Is there a meaning for your ear decorations? They are quite beautiful."

[chiron_survivor]

"That's why I've never gotten one," she replies. "Well, that and it hurts. Although I'd probably be willing to grit my teeth through it if it was important enough to me."

His compliment makes her smile, although she shakes her head in answer to his question. "Thanks. I happened to have this pair and it matches my dress." She looks down at her snowman sweater covering the upper half of the fancier, more delicate fabric, and laughs. "Well, it did, anyway." Turning her smile towards Caspar, she asks playfully, "You think you'd ever get a piercing?"

Caspar quirks an eyebrow. "No. Although a Two probably would." It doesn't sound particularly complimentary when he says it. His expression changes subtly and he asks, "Why, do you want me to?"

Adia giggles. "No, not really." She returns her attention to Faris and adds, "There are lots of places you can get a piercing other than your ears, but they aren't as common, at least where I'm from."

[poetwarrior]

Faris does not pretend to understand why this exchange appears to amuse Adia Costas, but he is attentive regardless, learning more about human courtship the longer he watches them interact. He busies himself with finishing off his eggnog, lapping at the bowl as he listens, ears perked forward.

"Sensible," he agrees, once her attention turns his way yet again. "Humans are softer in skin than my peoples. It must be liberating to have so many options for self-expression."

[chiron_survivor]

"It is, but humans don't take advantage of it often enough." Caspar looks a little troubled by this thought. Humans have a tendency to conform, but Fives took it to a nearly unhealthy extreme. And that conformity nearly lost him the chance to reconcile with the woman standing next to him.

Picking up on his discomfort, Adia reaches up and traces the shell of Caspar's ear. "Cylons have pretty soft skin, too," she remarks, causing said Cylon to blush. "But there are other ways to express oneself."

The troubled look vanishes. He leans into her and whispers something in her ear, and she giggles in return.

"It's getting late for us," she says apologetically to Faris. "I'm glad we had a chance to talk to you... and get you unstuck from the mistletoe, of course."

"Do you think whoever threw this party would mind if we grabbed a non-cursed sprig?" Caspar asks, looking over the decorations.

[poetwarrior]

"My thanks again for my rescue," Faris says, bowing his head to them both. He does not mind that they must leave; he is used to being on a schedule himself, and they have had an excellent conversation yet again in the meantime. "It has been pleasant to see you again, as always."

Caspar's question makes the K'da tilt his head slightly, an amused tone creeping into his voice. "I am uncertain, but it seems unlikely it would be a problem." And if they should have trouble finding one that does not bear the curse, it seems to him that freeing themselves will present no obstacle either.

[chiron_survivor]

The alien's blessing to swipe some mistletoe is all the permission Caspar needs. There is a sprig hanging not too far from the cursed one; he walks under it a few times to make sure it's ordinary, then snatches it out of the air. He's going to put this little bit of vegetation to good use.

"We'll see you again soon, Faris," Adia says warmly. It is so nice to have him as a friend. Doubly so that Caspar gets along with him.

The Cylon gives him a nod goodbye before wrapping an arm around Adia and teleporting them home.