Christmas Party & Cheer

[goddessofthesky]

WHO: OPEN
WHEN: FORWARD DATED: December 22nd
WHERE: Christmas Town
WHAT: Celebrating the snow, the holidays, good cheery, warm fires and friends.
WARNING: Mistletoe?



With Rukia's help they were able to find a large enough hall in Christmas Town to throw the party. Zelda had set it for this day since a group of brave heroes were going to set out on the 24th. She had made sure that everything was perfect and of course everyone was invited. There were at least six decorated trees with polished silver and gold ornaments hanging from their branches. Scarlet red ribbons decorated the trees and tables with large bows tying the streaming trails together.

There was one very large tree at the halls center and there were a few presents around the bottom for those who needed a place to put gifts. At it's top was a large pointed star.

Champagne and small finger snacks were set on the tables and a part of the room was cleared for those who wanted to dance. Zelda was even able to hire a few people to play Christmas songs throughout the night. There was a table dedicated to sweets with cookies, cakes, small pies and other wonderful treats spread out for people to try.

Among the decorations was mistletoe. This little plant hung above the doorways waiting for any pair who happens to be caught in their hold. Most of the mistletoe was thanks to Minako but Zelda might have put up one sprig at the entrance to the party; it's all in good fun and kisses on the hand or cheek are perfectly acceptable.

[ooc: feel free to make open posts and tag around! It's a party!]

Comments

Zelda || Open

[goddessofthesky]

[With everything set Zelda finds a place to watch the party with a smile. Now that the party is going she doesn't have any responsibilities and she is free to relax. Her dress for today is a bright red velvet with a dark black belt around her waist. The hem of her skirt brushes against her thighs while white stockings cover her legs. She has her usual brown boots on and a warm smile spread over her lips. Her hat is a traditional Santa themed hat with her long golden hair falling behind her back in a loose braid.

She has a little piece of mistletoe between her fingers like she's thinking of putting it up somewhere to catch people unawares. She brings the leaf to her lips watching those walking in with shining blue eyes.

Towards the middle of the evening she can be found swaying along to the music. She doesn't need a partner to dance and she's having fun. There is a glass in her hand which is bubbling wildly as she takes a small sip.

Whenever she sees anyone she knows she smiles brightly and comes over to talk.]

Are you having a good time?

[ooc: Feel free to run into her whenever.]

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia is, by now, pretty much aware of why mistletoe is considered A Thing. She's not sure anyone at the party will actually take advantage of it, but all in all, she considers the tradition harmless enough. So when she notices that Zelda is considering hanging up another sprig, Rukia grins.]

We could put it on the dance floor.

[Just a suggestion, of course, one she makes with a grin as she folds her arms. It seems like a good season for people to get a little more chummy with one another, and there's nothing wrong with a surprise kiss to the cheek to express a little affection, right? Therefore, she supports this mistletoe idea.]

Is the young man from your world showing up tonight?

Rukia Kuchiki | OPEN OF COURSE!

[damn_juicebox]

[It feels good to take a break at long last. Rukia certainly doesn't mind her work at the Santa Village -- quite the contrary! It's rich and fulfilling. But she's pretty much done with cookies, and she's been eyeing those finger sandwiches like a man stranded in the desert eyes a glass of ice water.]

[If you know her, then you probably have a present under that tree. The one who appreciates the pile of gifts the most is probably Chappopo, since the fewer deliveries she has to make, the better. Some of those things are heavy! The Moogle even sneaked in a present of her own for Acrisius, just in case Yuri's companion showed up. An assortment of good tea seemed like something he would appreciate.]

[Avoiding the champagne in favor of eggnog, Rukia finally sits down on one of the plush couch's armrest. She doesn't want to get too comfortable, in case she needs to hop up and replenish any of the snacks, but it's nice to get off of her feet for a little while. Maybe she'll try that dancing business later. For now, she's having a good time just relaxing and chatting amiably with anyone who crosses her path.]

[bright_and_blue]

[Graham is at the party, and his moogle, Kuprono, has alerted him that there's a gift under the tree with his name on it. He hadn't even bothered to look, assuming there wasn't any for him. He already had gotten his scarf from Zelda - that he's been wearing religiously in the cold weather since he received it - and figured even that was an anomaly.

The moogle flies the gift over to his Hero, who looks at it dumbfounded as he reads the tag. Graham's head pops up to look for Rukia, and when he spots her across the room. He holds up the present with a questioning look, and gives her a surprisingly succinct question.]

Really?

Fai | Open

[iscursednomore]

[Fai didn't really do much in terms of presents. He had already given his main one to the person he wanted to and had even gone as far as give the crystal version of his friend something, just in case he ever came back. But never the less he still had little gifts for everyone else as he placed them all under the tree. There was a small bag of various treats under the tree for everyone.

After he had done that he was lingering around, glass of champagne in hand as all he was doing was watching everyone else, all the while taking a sip of his drink.]

Minako | Open

[soldierofloveandbeauty]

[Mission put mistletoe up in every stupid place possible was successful, not the young woman only had one other mission left to do. One she kind of wanted to happen before Christmas actually happened and that was to get a guy underneath so they could kiss, even if it was a peck on the cheek it would make her day, or life.

However first things first she was wondering around the party going from person to person and slightly moving them. She was making sure there were pairs underneath any and all mistletoes. Once she had managed that and they did there part she had moved on to grab something to eat before wondering what there was that wasn't for adults. She still had another year after all.

With some food sitting at the side all she had left to do was find someone she thought was cute for Operation Mistletoe! or if she sees a friend she'll happily just talk to them.]

Sephiroth || Open

[shinrasfinest]

Although he had arrived with Terra to the hall where the party were to be held, after doing very little picking at the small offerings of bite-sized food Sephiroth had naturally gravitated more towards the outside edges of the room. Where he could be out of the range of any particular social circle yet not far enough away so that he couldn't slip into his usual role at such gatherings; standing straight and almost like a sentinel guarding everyone else having fun.

Well as far as anyone could appear to be guarding, dressed in a shimmering dark silver jacket and slacks with a black shirt underneath. The two topmost buttons were undone, out of a personal preference; collars on shirts quite often were too tight for him. Quite often he was to be found with a short glass of a dark liquid which he sipped at periodically. The twinkling christmas lights which formed part of the decorations brought out the shimmer in his clothing, the lighter strands of his hair were played upon being as he wore it down and brushed straight - falling to it's fullest length at the back of his knees and looking as soft as fresh morning snow might.

Terra very much had other friends she wanted to spend time, laugh and dance with and he was seemingly fine with that. Never mind that he had to make himself look elsewhere from her general direction a lot of the time. He wasn't here as her bodyguard, or at least, he was trying not to be.

They had really gone all out with the decorations this year, but it was little surprise considering the change in venue and the emphasis many Heroes of Light had put on putting so much effort in this time around. Sometimes he stumbled on a thought which almost made his passive-neutral mask sour; would it all be worth it in the end? Could this be the last time?

[umslay]

Ales took frequent breaks between songs to stock up on snacks, rest his feet, or to find someone to talk to and catch up on personal projects. December was a good month for him. The surplus of crystals he and his team harvested would last many months, and the parties hosted by Heroes and work friends filled his days with fun.

While filling up his glass of punch, he spotted Sephiroth standing by himself in the corner. He was so cool. Ales could only wish he could exude an air of confidence and respect just by standing against the wall. It's a shame that his size and energy were roadblocks to him being taken seriously.

Hydrated, Ales wandered over to Sephiroth's corner with a smile on his face. His red and green robes were ruffled from all the dancing, but his hat - as always - remained neatly on his head.

"It's amazing, isn't it? So many new people, such a huge party!" He spread his arms wide in excitement. "Things have changed so much since last year!"

Yugi | Open

[sizedoesntmatter]

[Yugi played with the drink for a brief moment as he was thinking things over. After having left a rather big collection os small boxes for each and every person who had come. To those who pick one up will find themselves with a necklace with a small silver puzzle piece as the center. He was having fun, sure but he found that he was still missing home every now and again. His mind would drift off back to them and now he had the puzzle back but it still wasn't the same. As he looked around, it made him smile seeing all the happy faces that were around was enough to make him smile a little bit as he took a swig of his drink before finally placing the glass down.

He knew he should at least be social and also try his very best to avoid the mistletoe he had noted had been laying around some really random places. So moving away from the wall he started to wonder, wondering if there was anyone he knew, or if there wasn't trying his best to at least talk to someone new. But either way, the first thing out of his mouth was the same thing.]

Are you having fun?

/pouts in Yugi's general direction

[thegreatninja]

[Yuffie isn’t planning to stay long but she’s always down for free food and drink. She’s wearing a midnight black sweater dress that falls off her shoulders and then clings to her slightly curvy form. The end of the dress seems a little short, barely pulling over her rear but she calculated for that and wore dark leggings that kept her legs completely covered. Her boots were the same, rising up to just below her knee. She was probably one of the few people here not wearing red or green.

That doesn’t mean she didn’t have Christmas Spirt. In fact she had two emerald green ribbons lacing through her long hair tying the mess of dark brown into loose pigtails. She doesn’t pay Yugi any attention until his question is hovering in the air between them.

She peers over at Yugi as if he had asked her an unanswerable question. Her jaw drops and she places down the food and drink she had been devouring. If Yugi had gotten her a present she hadn’t checked. No; this is far more important. She steps up next to him, to close for comfort, and raises her hand to her head.]

You’re taller than me.

[Yuffie sounds heart broken.]

Au!Yuna | Open

[whereishe]

[Yuna is wearing a bright red dress that suits that atmosphere of the holidays. Her usual necklace has been replaced by a silver heart looped around a thin chain which rests just over her clavicle. There is a glass of champagne between her fingers and she carefully takes a sip while watching the ambiance. It's nice and not completely unlike the Halloween party, if not for the decorations and the presents circling the bottom of the tree.

Yuna has a few there but she's tried to hand out most of her presents before then. There are a few points of the night where Yuna's position as a wall flower is conveniently under one of Minako's devious pieces of mistletoe.]

[iscursednomore]

[Fai was feeling in the season and had started to wear a red hat, shirt and black trousers. He had made sure the treats he had made during the month were under the tree and had each and every heroes name on the bag.

Once he had felt like he had done what he could and spoke to some people he had gone to find someone in particular, he still had something he needed to give them after all. He soon spotted her under some mistletoe as he decided to sneak up behind her and slowly wrap his arms around her waist, kissing her on the cheek.]

Is Yuna-ella trying to sneak kisses from others this season?

[He spoke in a teasing manner as he didn't mind all that much considering.]

Umiko ||| OPEN

[navigatortotheking]

[Umiko is wearing green since she’s noticed an overabundance of red in the other heroes outfits. Her short bright orange hair is tied back with a black clip, a small strip of hair falling across the right side of her cheek. Her shining emerald dress hangs over her showing off her curvy frame. It’s a simple design, with thin straps holding up a tub of fabric. The hem falls past her knees and she’s wearing dark stockings to help keep out the chill.

She notices some of the mistletoe and happily kisses those she meets under it however it’s usually just a peck on the cheek.

Umiko isn’t an avid dancer so she spends most of the evening hanging near the large tree towards the back of the room. She has tried a few of the sweet treats and now has a glass of something alcoholic between her fingers. She watches with a smile though she can’t help but feel tense knowing that the crystal will soon begin to grow again. This is her home and she fears she might watch it tear apart.

It makes it a little hard to get into the holiday spirit.]

Re: Umiko ||| OPEN

[gomu_ningen]

[The pirate had been minding his own business until his shoulder somehow met the front of Umiko. The sudden jostle and the abrupt cease to his movement makes him yelp out in surprise, turning quickly to stare down the nose of the woman in which he'd carelessly bumped into. He stutters for a second before a bright smile comes to his face.

Soon both hands are clasped on her shoulders as a soft chuckle rises from the pit of the pirate's stomach.]

Oi! It's Nami! Merry Cross-mass, Nami!!

K'pandolu | open

[unyieldingspirit]

[It's been a long month- a long year- and it's not entirely done yet. Still, she can take this little bit of time to sit back- at least for a little while. There are still orders, still things to do before the year turns.

K'pandolu arrives in a weaver's outfit, which is perhaps not festive but fancy enough for a party like this. And if something should, for whatever reason, need some needlework- well! She's prepared.

She glances up at the mistletoe over the entrance for a moment on arrival. She's half-familiar with the uses of mistletoe, as explained by her companions who've some education in the ways of alchemy- though of course it's been a while. And she's seen decorations with mistletoe, although the idea of it still seems strange to her…

She mulls over it for a moment, then shifts her feet, pushing the heels down a little before easing her feet back in again. It's a Thavnairian tradition, but- if anyone asks, she's still going to offer trading her shoes as an option.

Over the evening, she drifts around, poking at the trees- they don't seem to glitter when she does, sadly- and nodding approval at the ornaments. Then there's the food, of course, and- regardless of whether she has her own shoes or not at that point- she'll partake in the dancing, with a partner or without.]

[line_piece]

[Chiaki didn't exactly get the mistletoe memo last Christmas, and she's similarly oblivious to what they're about this time around too. She doesn't think much about walking under them, or about avoiding people who might be standing near them. And as fate would have it, when she comes up to talk to K'pandolu, she's managed to cut her path off so that they're both standing under a tiny sprig.]

Hey, K'pandolu.

Ventus | open

[makingfriends]

It had been a busy three weeks, and the party was well-timed for a much needed break. Not only for Ven, as hard as he'd been working, but for everybody who came to lend a hand in the village. Both Heroes and civilians had been pulling their weight and then some, so he was glad for the opportunity to get them all together like this for a fun evening.

Well, mostly glad. For the past few days, Ven had been hard at work -- more than usual, sparing very little time to speak with anybody unless necessary -- and it was probably obvious to those who knew him well that he was avoiding company, and that his usual cheer had taken a sudden blow. Tonight was no different, as hard as he tried; he smiled, but it was distracted, and his laughs were halfhearted. When he thought no one was looking, he didn't bother pretending, but appeared serious and pensive.

Considering how busy and backed up Mognet was lately, Ven didn't know who all had gotten the message about Aqua falling into crystal stasis. He had, of course, immediately gone to confirm it, and since then his mood had taken a sour turn that he couldn't shake. Rae was the only one he had told, and Ven planned to keep it that way, at least until after the holidays. He didn't want to rain on anybody's parade, either by dropping the sad news or having them fuss over him, so he was determined to act natural.

...But considering he hadn't touched any food, spared more than a glance at the dance floor, or initiated any conversations in the last half hour, that was probably wishful thinking. Still, the longer the night went on, the better he inevitably felt after speaking with friends; the later you find him, the more cheerful he'll be.

Ventus x Terra

[greenmagick]

Terra saw him looking sad and depressed away from the group and she thought that it was rather odd. She hadn't met Aqua and she didn't know that the woman was someone close to Ven so as she walked up she was completely oblivious to the reason behind his frown. She only knew that her friend was upset.

She placed down her drink and stepped away from Sephiroth to move next to Ven. She held out her hand with a warm smile in place across her cheeks.

"Can I have this dance?"

There wasn't very much that Terra could do to cheer up the young hero but at the very least she can dance. He had taught her and since then she'd learned even more.

The Adventurer | Open

[derplander]

Being busy with the Santa Job, the Adventurer had grown a beard and mustache and his hair had turned snow white. He was dressed in his outfit, but hadn't gained weight, making him look incredibly similar to the Saint of Nymeia.

Walking in, he proclaimed, "Presents! Not just for children but for all the good little adventurers too!"

He had a huge bag of presents, and was ready to hand them out.

Meteor was ready to have some fun giving out these items, as he laughed robustly, holding out the bag for those who would come by.

Zelda x Adventurer

[goddessofthesky]

"You certainly look the part."

Zelda was smiling brightly. She was happy that a Santa Claws had decided to join in the festivities. She held a drink in her hand which she then held out to Meteor. "I thought you might like something to drink while you worked." Hopefully he'd be able to enjoy the party as well.

Pyrrha Nikos | Open

[pole_position]

[Among any festive gathering, there's always an awkward wallflower or two. At this one, it happens to be Pyrrha. She's all dressed up in a long red dress, but is mostly hugging the walls as she watches everyone else dance. There's a smile on her face, but it seems somewhat sad and distant as she watches the figures of her fellow Heroes of Light twirl under the lights. Every so often she lets out a small sigh, the smile faltering for just a moment. But if she ever sees anyone she knows, she brightens back up immediately and offers a silent wave and as bright and cheery a 'hello again!' as she can manage.]

Friendship Appearance!

[shining_derp]

[Shining was feeling a little melancholy as well, wandering around the party and sampling the punch with a hoof curled around a cup.

Despite this, he was looking for his friends and noticed Pyrrha there. Waving at her, he trotted up on three feet.]

Hey Pyrrha, lovely night tonight isn't it?

Levy McGarden | Open

[scriptrix]

[Christmas is a holiday Levy's familiar with from home, and she's totally into the spirit of things at the party. She's got a Santa hat and a short red and white dress on, with cute fur-trimmed boots to match, and she's handing out gifts to everyone she knows as she makes her way through the gathering.]

Merry Christmas! This is for you.

[Spoilers: every gift is a book. Reading is fundamental. But at least she's put some thought into the subject matter of each one depending on who it's for. If you've ever talked to Levy at all, feel free to assume she has one for you.

Alternatively, she can be found at the refreshment table, on the dance floor, and even sitting underneath a sprig of mistletoe on purpose at one point. She does have her playful moments, after all.]

[bright_and_blue]

[Graham has already been overwhelmed by emotion by receiving not one, but two whole Christmas gifts so far. He's even wearing them - the scarf from Zelda and the earmuffs from Rukia. Yes, indoors. He doesn't care. And now Levy was handing him something. He looks at her from his spot on the floor against the wall, blinking in surprise.]

For... me? Seriously for me? Are you sure?!

Chiaki Nanami | Open

[line_piece]

[For reasons probably only she understands, Chiaki has come to the party dressed as Batman. She'll happily explain that if anyone asks, but it may not make any more sense - be warned.

As for presents, she has a number of small canvases lined up in an otherwise vacant corner with the names of people she knows on them. She's done pixel paintings for her friends in her spare time at her shop in the Santa village. If you know her, come and get yours!

And concerning mistletoe, Chiaki hasn't really figured out that particular tradition yet. It's pretty easy for anyone who feels the need to educate her on this to find her standing under one, staring up at it quizzically.]

Huh... this doesn't look like a missile or a toe.

Yuffie x Chiaki

[thegreatninja]

Mistletoe.

[Yuffie's voice rings clearly from behind Chiaki while moving around her friends otherside. She then kissed the girl on the cheek with a bright smile pulling at her lips afterwards.]

If you meet someone underneath then you have to kiss.

[Though Yuffie is totally okay with cheek kisses since she wasn't sure Chiaki wanted to be kissed on the lips.]

Tazendra | Open

[fearlessherosheart]

Tazendra had only the barest idea why they were having a party for a local holiday, but not knowing what she is celebrating never let her stop having a good time. She had food, and drink, and music.

"These decorations are festive. I wonder what they mean?"

Nanami |OTA

[nomorecowbell]

Nanami was towards the edge of the party. It was a nice party and she had a new dress. But it was a reminder she had spent a year in Crystallis, and they still weren't close to going home.

So she was being a bit mopey in the way teenagers do when they want someone to comfort them but didn't want to actually ask for them. If that didn't work, she'd have to try something more dramatic.

Cloud | Open

[neverfirstclass]

[In an act that should surprise no one at this point, Cloud shows up fashionably late, but in full Santa garb and a bag slung over his shoulder. He walks in, shaking the snow off of his outfit and greets everyone with a booming:]

HO HO HO! HAPPY STARLIGHT CELEBRATION EVERYONE!

[The young hero is a bit more social than usual at this party, but it also seems like his desire to help out is thrown into overdrive and he can be seen assisting whenever he's not gathering snacks and sweets for himself.

Eventually though he finds a chair to sit down in and begins pulling wrapped presents from the sack he's carrying. There's enough for everyone but he warns people not to open them until the Starlight Celebration proper.]

((ooc: Still working on a gift list from Cloud but everyone is getting a gift from him, even if it's just a cute trinket of friendship. If I don't come up with something specific then feel free to decide what it is yourself.))

[provenworth]

....You seem to be enjoying yourself.

[Surprise! A lady Turk has magically appeared at his shoulder. Considering she's a bit new, she didn't have the funds to get all decked out, so she's still in her gunner outfit.]

What is all this? [And she's peeking into the bag he's got with him.]

Saori - open

[needsteaplz]

Even with how busy she was this month, it was no surprise Saori was there to provide support on both the food and party front. She wasn't much of a dancer, so she hung around the sidelines. Saori wore the same dress she wore to the date auction but added some extra holiday flare. A red velvet short capelet with white trimming draped over her shoulders and a silver jeweled piece in her hair.

As much of an avid tea drinker she was, her need for caffeine was too strong and so coffee was her choice of drink. Not only had she been busy with her police job and playing the role of Mrs. Claus, she made several gifts herself. Granted these charms weren't blessed with her goddess powers, they were proof she cared about the people they were given to.

Re: Saori - open

[shinra_dog]

"Hey."

Reno came quietly from behind and lightly touched her back so as not to startle her. The sidelines was just fine for him. It was easier to give Saori her gift with a little more privacy that way. He smiled as he offered her a plainly wrapped rectangle, a copy of The Kupo Sutra within. He couldn't resist.

Mary and/or Bonnie - Open

[not_most_days]

It actually took a little bit of urging from Bonnie to get Mary out to the party. It wasn't that she was being antisocial or anything. It was more the weather outside and her own preparations for Ramza's upcoming trip to the Empire. Having spent so many years in the Caribbean, she wasn't that thrilled with the prospect of trudging through the snow when she had a warm fire at home.

But Bonnie shoved her out the door, reminding her that it would be good to spend some time with people before the mission began. The pirate had to admit her moogle was right. It wouldn't do her any good to forget the people important to her before she went off into dangerous territory. It was just how her last operation went that was still bothering her.

But at the party she was happy to be there, keeping to the edges and sipping from her drink while her moogle was much more social, flitting around and saying hello to all the present Heroes and handing out little candy canes and words of thanks for everyone's hard work. It did Mary a lot of good to see how happy the little fluffball was. For her own part, Mary was still in her usual pirate garb but she still opted to wear one of those cute red hats that everyone was wearing. The Starlight Cheer was doing her good.

Re: Mary and/or Bonnie - Open

[iknowtheconsequences]

Both Kidd and Bonnie are approached at nearly the same time. Kidd by the oddly cheerful former information broker; Bonnie by a penguin wearing a Santa hat. Quak?

Kaji offers a drink, cider, to Kidd as he approaches. It's almost an apology. He opens his mouth, pauses, and then looks down and laughs wryly at himself. "Sorry. That I wasn't there to back you up. Noticed you didn't come back with the little traitor fluffball in chains." And he does sound sorry about that fact.

Sparks | open

[red_planet_blues]

[Sparks is here, enjoying a drink and looking pretty happy. He's not hugely into Christmas, but he does like a good excuse for food and drinks with the Heroes. He's even brought gifts for everyone! There's a cooler filled with pints of gingerbread flavored gelato, each one with a Hero's name on it. Enjoy, kids.

Right now, though, Sparks is standing unwittingly underneath the mistletoe. You'd think he'd feel that sense of dread literally hanging over his head.]

Re: Sparks | open

[not_most_days]

[All told, Mary was not out to troll Sparks tonight any more than she first intended, and even that was well meaning. As she approaches the Marshal she has a bundle of papers in hand. She's not sure why Bonnie insisted this would make a good gift when Sparks strikes her more as one to appreciate a good bottle of whiskey.

Still, she notices the mistletoe as she walks up and cannot help herself, giving the man a peck on the cheek before moving around more properly to stand face to face.]

Evenin Mister Nevada. Enjoying the party?

Johnny | open

[charming_jerk]

[Johnny had a rough few months before this one, but now, he's in a better mood. All you people with your Christmas Village and holiday cheer have rubbed off on him. He even managed to make enough in tips playing music at the Village that he could buy small gifts for his friends, and if he hasn't hit you up already, he has them with him tonight.

If you approach him, he'll raise his drink in greeting.]

Can't believe Christmas is almost already here. This month flew by, man.

Re: Johnny | open

[not_most_days]

[Bonnie smiles at the good cheer that Johnny is showing. She's heard from some people he can be grumpy, and he does look intimidating but clearly she caught him at a good time.]

Thank you so much for all your hard work, kupo.

[She holds out a candycane for him to take if he wants.]

Graham | open

[bright_and_blue]

[Graham doesn't drink, he doesn't have gifts, and he doesn't even much like Christmas. Actually, he just can't wait for it to be all over since he's the one who gets to take down all the decorations at the Village. So why is he here? Graham is still a social creature, so if he wants to see everyone, he has no choice but to show up.

He can be found sitting in a corner by himself at the moment though, repeatedly taking apart and putting back together a tin soldier he found that was decoration at the party. Over and over and over again, in fluid motion, like he doesn't have to think about it at all.]

Slow... Still too slow! Definitely faster than from when I first arrived here, but I still feel like only a fraction of my old self. What if I'm never back to normal?!

[no1]

[ What a strange hobby. Frankly, Ace can't think of any practical application of a similar skill if it ultimately doesn't seem to lead anywhere, but in hopes that it might at least give him some idea, the cadet observes Graham idly for a longer while before responding. ]

Maybe you should consider switching on to something more complex. Getting better is all about taking on challenges.

[ Perhaps he would have known better than to instigate further dismantling shenanigans if his knowledge of the man was anything more than vague. For now, he only means to be helpful. ]

Ace | Open

[no1]

[ Even though Ace did remember to bring some of his presents to the party, it came with a certain dose of convincing, from both his housemate and the Moogle, to actually make him show up. There is nothing particularly festive about his outfit, but he's made a point of changing out of his Job's clothes at the very least, opting for something more casual than the fancy robes he somehow always ended up getting stuck with.

... Hanafuda, on the other hand, in her oversized Christmas hat, shines brighter than most ornaments present in the hall in her garb for tonight, so that sort of balances things out.

Living under the same roof with the Hero of Love, Ace is very much mindful of the mistletoe tradition, but there seems to be little reason to be concerned if one doesn't make much effort to mingle to begin with, isn't there? He mostly plays it safe, either sticking to the less frequented areas or hanging around the music corner that Zelda has set up. Thoughtful and quiet, the cadet might not be feeling the atmosphere yet, but that doesn't stop him from being polite to anybody that approaches him. ]

[unyieldingspirit]

Oh!

[it's Sika who darts over first, face bright.]

That hat… it's incredible! Where did you find it?

[…sorry, Ace. She'll pay attention to him in a moment. Though K'pandolu's following after a few moments, offering both of them a wave.]

I wouldn't mind knowing that, too. But you're both looking good tonight. [she offers Ace a quick smile, tail lifted slightly.]

Tear Grants | Open

[cantante]

[Though Tear would have been perfectly fine with delivering some of her gifts in person at another time, it was through the insistence of her housemates and moogle companion that she came along to distribute some of them tonight, dressed in a somewhat simple white turtleneck dress she happened to find and black leggings.

At first she was a little apprehensive about the entire spectacle, as there was no equivalent celebration in Auldrant and she had only the snippets of knowledge she had gained in Crystallis to guide her, but as the evening passed she found herself relaxing, even if she continued to keep to the further edges of the crowd. She wasn't about to lose her wallflower tendencies or awkwardness so easily...!

On top of that, so far she hadn't been educated about the significance of some of the decorations in the hall...]

Re: Tear Grants | Open

[not_most_days]

[Tear wasn't the only wallflower this evening. A handful of other Heroes were content to watch the crowd from the edge, including Mary.

But it isn't Mary who approaches Tear but instead a moogle with a smile on her face. She fishes around in her mail satchel and pulls out a candy cane in offering.]

Thank you for all your hard work, kupo~

Jade Curtiss | Open

[jadethenecromancer]

[Jade couldn't claim to be all that interested in parties... but on the other hand, he had been working almost non-stop throughout December. A change of pace couldn't hurt. Besides which, he hadn't seen the new town yet and this was as good an occasion as any to make the trip.

He had to admit, the warm atmosphere combined with snow clustering on the window frames outside made him feel nostalgic. Auldrant had no Christmas but there were regional festivals, and Christmas Village didn't feel so different from Keterburg. Sipping his champagne and idly watching people on the dance floor, Jade found himself wondering whether this town, too, had any spots for ice skating.

Odd, that. Thinking about his childhood home didn't seem to stir up bitter memories like it used to. Was it the past year in Crystallis that had changed the way he thought?]

[damn_juicebox]

[Rukia hadn't picked out a gift for Jade, even though she'd wanted to. He'd been a huge help in dealing with the Reaper, and they worked together as well. If nothing else, he was due at least an obligation present. But she didn't really know what he liked, other than finding her cheesecake adequate, and it might have seemed like a boast if she gave him one of those as a gift.]

[They're too difficult to wrap anyway.]

[So when she spots him at the party, she's relieved, and makes her way toward him. He looks oddly...peaceful. Not just relaxed, but possessing an inner sort of calm. Was it the village itself? Or maybe he'd taken the Santa job as well and been treated to the same kinds of warm, nostalgic feelings that seemed to come with it?]

[Rukia hesitates for a moment, not sure if she should bother him. But...he's here. People don't come to parties expecting not to be bothered.]

Major.

[A formal title, but an informal smile as she approaches, an envelope loosely held in her fingers as she crosses her arms.]

Am I interrupting anything?