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

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.

Re: Mary and/or Bonnie - Open

[not_most_days]

The penguin was certainly a surprising sight for the moogle, or at least one the little one wasn't expecting. She nearly dropped her clutch of candycanes in surprise when he quacked at her!

The offer of the drink was a little bit of a surprise to Mary but she smiled as she took it. "Don't worry about it. We didn't want too many along anyway." She frowned as she looked across the room, as if angry at a particular person. "In any case, things got out of hand rather quickly. And then when we finally had him Palitutu showed up and took the city hostage."

Mary sighed and took a long sip from her drink while behind them Bonnie offered Penpen a candycane.

Re: Mary and/or Bonnie - Open

[iknowtheconsequences]

Ooh! Pen-Pen carefully takes the candycane, and gives Bonnie a grateful quak. The tiny claws on the ends of his flippers make it easy to unwrap, and he sticks the cane in his beak. The follow-up sound is a little muffled with the candy in his mouth, but he gives the penguin equivalent of a smile and waves a flipper.

Kaji folds his arms and joins Mary in the slight frown. "It's one of the things I said when I first got here, I knew the moogle network could be incredibly powerful, if used right. Unfortunately Palitulu seems to know it, too. She doesn't want to lose her in."

"How'd she take the whole city hostage at once? Not that I'm doubting that she could and would, but..." Kaji eyes Mary carefully.

Re: Mary and/or Bonnie - Open

[not_most_days]

Mary's eyes darkened. She wasn't happy with how it turned out but every time she turned her memory to the event is somehow managed to anger her all the more. Especially the digs that Palitutu had thrown at her. "She threatened to bring down the Ultima Weapon on all of Trano Golsaucia. That she'd already launched it and we had three minutes to decide." Her hand clenched around her drink.

"I couldn't take that risk. And she was using a Job that kept her from letting me strike her." Memories of her hunt for Roberts and Prins and everything that got in the way...and this was all more infuriating than that had been.

Bonnie, for her part, was happy that Pen-Pen seemed to have enjoyed the gift. She pulled out another one, ready to give it to Kaji when Mary was done talking to him. It didn't seem like a good time to interrupt.

Bonnie

[umslay]

Mimi, like usual, was sitting in her own corner of the room sipping her eggnog while watching everyone else. So many Heroes, so many Moogles. If only she wasn't so terrified of going up to the them and introducing herself. What if she messed up? What then?

She spotted Bonnie from across the room. Ever since the day they fought off Moogle Killers together, Mimi admired her for her bravery and leadership. If there was someone she was comfortable talking with it was her. She finished her drink and flitted over to and waiting for Bonnie to finish talking with the other party before saying a soft "hi".

Re: Bonnie

[not_most_days]

Bonnie waved goodbye to the Hero she was just speaking to, another candy cane successfully delivered. She almost didn't hear Mimi's "hi" over the sound of the party, but she turned and saw the other moogle. Her face lit up with a cheerful smile as the recognized the other one.

"Mimi! Kupo! How are you doing? I haven't seen you lately, kupo." She looked down at the candy, doing some quick math in her head before holding one out. "Do you want a candy cane, kupo?"

[umslay]

Mimi smiled nervously, but her open mouth relaxed into a closed, gentle smile when Bonnie handed out the candy cane. She stared at the gift and nodded.

"S-sure, kupo." She held out her paw halfway to Bonnies, paused, then went the rest of the way to pick it up. "Thanks so much!" She held it tightly with both of her hands.

"It's great to have peace and quiet for once, isn't it?"

[not_most_days]

Even if she hesitated before handing it over, Bonnie's smile as Mimi takes it is genuine. She just wants to make sure there are enough to go around. It's a good thing she packed so many of them.

"Yeah, though I don't think it's going to last, kupo. Have you heard what the Heroes have been saying? About the Calamity starting to move again soon?" She realized how loud she was talking and hushed down a bit, she didn't want to ruin the mood. "That's why I'm going around thanking all the Heroes, kupo. So that they know we believe in them, kupo."

[umslay]

"Y-yeah..." To be honest, she wasn't sure if Ales knew about the Calamity returning, but she couldn't find a way to break the news to him. It didn't feel right to ruin this happy party for him.

"I-it's awfully nice of you to do that, kupo," she whispered, though her voice was naturally quiet anyway. She rotates the candy cane in her hands. "Can I help with that?"

[not_most_days]

Bonnie nodded. Normally the nosy moogle would keep pushing the point, but she could tell it was making Mimi uncomfortable? Or was this just Mimi's normal mood? Either way she didn't want to bring down the mood of the party either so she didn't push it.

Looking down at her bag of sweets she weighed it up and down, trying to get a feel for how many were left. Still a good number. Nothing she couldn't handle by herself. But if Mimi wanted to help....

"Sure, kupo~ We can split up the rest, or we can deliver them together. I want to try to make sure every Hero gets one, kupo."

[umslay]

This was Mimi's usual state: fidgety and at the brink of running away from the conversation at any moment. Bonnie was right not to be too pushy about the Calamity and Ales' mental well-being for the moment.

"Okay! I'll do my best!" She leaned over the sack of candy canes and pulled out two arms' worth of them. "Everyone, kupo! I can do that!"

Her spirits were lifted; handing out treats would take only a few seconds each, this would be a snap!

Re: Mary and/or Bonnie - Open

[shinra_dog]

The pirate caught Reno's eye. She looked so familiar... mostly the clothing... and a little around the eyes. Eventually, it got to the point where he had to ask or it was going to kill him all night.

"... Kidd?" he ventured with a questioning squint as he approached.

Re: Mary and/or Bonnie - Open

[not_most_days]

Mary smiled into her drink as she watched the dumbfounded redhead wander up to her. She hid her identity for her own reasons but now and again there was someone with a particularly amusing response to finding out the truth.

'You're name's not James, is it?' ranked up there.

"Aye, that's one name I go by. And how are you enjoying the party?"

[shinra_dog]

A bemused smile spread across Reno's face, though it grew more comfortable by the moment as he took her in.

"It suddenly just got a lot more interesting," he confessed as he paused for a drink. "So -- what should I call you like this?"

A woman masquerading as a man... or, he supposed, there was still a chance it was an especially beautiful man. No real way to be sure about anything besides coming right out and asking -- and most people found that rude. But he was glad he'd come to the party now.

ARGH I JUST SAW THAT ERRANT APOSTROPHE! I AM ASHAMED!

[not_most_days]

Given how modestly Mary was endowed, she couldn't blame Reno for still holding the possibility that she was still a man. She wasn't blessed with Anne's magnificent rack. Her current garb was fairly unisex in itself but as she was right now points went more towards woman than man.

"Ah, Mary will do. I know the people of this world don't care as much about a woman running about with a blade, but old habits are hard to shake."

[shinra_dog]

"Mary. It's a pleasure t' meet you -- again." Reno smiled and sipped his drink.

"Funny enough, some a' the most dangerous fighters I know are women." He nodded over toward Tifa, then Elena trying to be a wallflower in the corner, certain that Mary would be able to follow it. "But I get it. Got my own habits, too, though they aren't cross-dressing."

His smile widened a bit as he went for his drink again, rather more a smirk. He was tempted to add, Have you met Cloud?

[not_most_days]

She'd met the blonde, sure, and there were few who didn't recall the spectacle he'd made of himself thanks to some overeager moogles at the dating auction. The two had spoken on occasion, fought together, but nothing terribly involved. He was more of an acquaintance and trusted fellow Hero than anything like a friend.

"Nothin funny about it. Way I see it the only thing keeping most women back from being fine fighters are other folk convincing them they can't be. Of course, that seems to be more true of my own home world than this one." She followed his gaze and made note of the people he nodded at. She'd met them before and they did indeed seem quite capable.

"Well it's the more acceptable of my habits. I don't expect most would take kindly to me taking piracy up again." And indeed the time loops some months back proved that to be true, as invigorating as they were.

"So what sort of habits do you have then?"

[shinra_dog]

"Some of the more obvious ones..." Reno raised his glass slightly. "Drinking, smoking. Occasional gambling. A... deep appreciation for the human body?"

He smirked and murmured, "That one I like to indulge pretty frequently."

Reno never had any pretenses when it came to being openly flirtatious -- and open to more. Rather, he was completely unapologetic about going for what -- or who -- he wanted.

[unyieldingspirit]

K'pandolu encountered Bonnie first, accepting the candy cane with some bemusement. "Thank you," she said, nodding to Bonnie before taking a closer look, Saki fluttering closer to wave to the other moogle.

"What a good idea, kupo! Maybe we should all have made some…"

"Then we'd almost certainly be loaded down by year's end," K'pandolu said dryly, glancing up, half-looking for Kidd. She should be close by, right? K'pandolu wondered if Kidd was holding onto one of the treats as well. "Is this a traditional treat, then?"

[not_most_days]

Bonnie offered Saki a wave in return. She didn't know the other moogle all that well but she was a fellow moogle and Hero caretaker that was reason enough to be friendly. A smaller candy cane was offered to the other moogle, and Bonnie thanked her for her hard work as well.

"Don't worry about it. This was just my last minute idea, kupo." She then grinned at K'pandolu, "It is. And a popular one, kupo. But don't have too many. After a few my pom gets all itchy and I can't stop flapping my wings, kupo."

Kidd was nowhere to be seen, but there was a woman making their way to them with drink in hand. A woman who was dressed fairly similar to the pirate.

[unyieldingspirit]

Their paths might not have crossed that much, but Saki was still impressed by the other moogle, wings fluttering at the compliment as she accepted the cane.

"It's good you could make them all in time, then!" she exclaimed.

K'pandolu nodded, looking at the candy curiously for a moment. "I hadn't realised moogles were susceptible to such itches," she said, ears twitching forward as she considered Bonnie. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her."

Saki made a small sound, biting off a little part of her cane. "Kupo- you don't have to! Not at all! That's my job!"

K'pandolu chuckled, eyes bright, turning her head to offer a nod to the woman approaching them.

[not_most_days]

"Oh it's terrible kupo. There's no way to deal with a pom itch, kupo. You just need to wait until it stops. Usually it happens when you get too excited. Or have too much sugar. I hear pom aches from drinking are the worst though, kupo!"

The woman who had been approaching stopped and smirked at the moogle, clearly stifling a laugh. Meanwhile Bonnie turned back to Saki, looking a little put out at having to juggle conversations, "Look, kupo. I just wanted to thank our Heroes, kupo!"

Mary, on the other hand circled around the two to arrive at the catgirl's side. "Sorry for the trouble. Bonnie was really looking forward to this party."

[unyieldingspirit]

"Excited, is it?" K'pandolu grinned, teeth showing for a bare second. "Is that why we're not supposed to touch your poms, then?"

Saki made a choked sort of sound, but managed to regain control of herself as Bonnie turned to her. "Of course! It was a great idea, and I think we should do something like it again! But I'm not sure she has the right idea about who's looking after who, kupo…"

K'pandolu lifted her shoulder, hands with the palms up, and shifted towards Mary. "She hasn't been a bother at all," she said with a smile. "In fact, I think it's been rather interesting. And better she look forward to it than not, I'd have said."

[not_most_days]

"Oh I see!" Bonnie got a little confused there for a moment. "Of course we should do it again, kupo. But there's nothing wrong with your Hero watching out for you. We should all work together, kupo. Like partners, kupo! Mary has even been teaching me how to fight!" Bonnie gave her little arms a flex, showing off her tiny muscles.

"Aye, that's true. I wouldn't have even made it out tonight if it wasn't for her." She watches the two moogles chatting with each other. Sometimes one just has to enjoy the cute little spectacles in life. "From what she's told me their pom is incredibly sensitive. And they use it to sense magic and other things like it. She refuses to tell me how she delivers mail so fast but I expect it's part of what makes them special."