THE CHRISTMAS MINGLE YOUR PARENTS WARNED YOU ABOUT

[carpevinum]

At some point in the night, taking advantage of the perma-silence, Lucifer and a few others sneak about to decorate the dormitory for the holidays. The morning of 12/25, you'll wake up to the smell of Christmas cookies wafting from the dorm kitchen, and upon actually leaving your room, there are string lights and decorations thrown up in the hallways and the common room proper.

The decorating is, of course, courtesy of Nene, who has been working hard to ensure that there's something more beautiful than those ghoulish paintings on the walls here. You can thank Helena, Sidney, and Lucifer for both the cookies and other, more substantial food which will periodically be presented throughout the day — Lucifer practically lives in the kitchen for the duration of the party and can sometimes be seen shooing the other two out to go have fun. That said, the table housing all of these dishes, ranging from traditional Christmas meals (as best they can do with limited resources, anyway) to more ostentatious treats will never be empty, so please eat to your heart's content!

Thanks to Amami, there's a large, undecorated Christmas tree in the middle of the common room that looks to be very well taken care of. Next to it is a table full of art supplies for making colourful paper ornaments, and a small card lying nearby that instructs those participating to write down a wish on the ornament proper before hanging it on the tree. It may not come true, but you know it'll be safe since no mysterious forces set this up — wish away!

Should you come to spend time at the party and fraternize, you'll find that you're being waited on by a number of small little imps except they're all wearing tiny Santa hats — they'll bring you food and drinks and candy should you request it, and they're on their Best Behaviour, so please be nice to them! They are simply underpaid service workers. They're absolutely thrilled to talk to you in chirps and weird demonic chittering, and they understand what you're saying at least.

In the back corner of the room, there's a minute-to-win-it type game set up: two chairs are tied by the backs together by two ribbons, about two feet apart from one another. Nearby, there's a table of candycanes for use in this game. The goal of the game is to toss a candycane while standing on one of the chairs and get said candycane to catch on the ribbons, or to see who can get the most candycanes on a ribbon in a minute. The instructions are explained on a little card sitting nearby, with further note to not eat all of the candycanes (there are more set out on the food table, you see) so people can play, and another smaller note banning the use of magic against an opponent who doesn't have it. Let's keep the game fair, people. And let's thank Hikaru for running out to get an obnoxious amount of candycanes for everyone.

Lucifer will intermittently come join the festivities from time to time when he's not cooking, wearing this, please feel free to bully the demon for celebrating the holiday from the religion he hates. He can take it, it's okay.

Last but certainly not least, Noah is roaming about the party using his magic to try and liven the place up. Little stars hang from the ceiling around him in a ten-foot radius, and should you frown at all, he will come up to you and put cat ears formed of magic shadows on you until you laugh. On occasion, he can be seen slipping out of the party with cookies and stacking them on a plate in front of Komaeda's door. The stars go with him, but the good news is that Natsume is also helping with their little lightshow, so the twinkling indoor galaxies will not be absent for long. It's a joint effort between Clamor's apprentices, and their hard work really shows through, magic training is difficult after all. Feel free to bother either of them to do magic tricks for you, if you'd like, or just lie down under a curtain of stars.

The night promises to be magical (semi-literally), even if we're all stuck in purgatory, so relax, put your feet up, and sing Christmas carols to your heart's content. And don't worry about the cleanup — just try not to pass out on the floors.

[OOC: Merr Crimmus try not to kill each other, that is my only request, otherwise go buck wild]

Comments

come bother noah

[silentabyss]

[Because he's being a showoff right now I mean contributing to the happiness of the people by being a showoff, if you walk by Noah you're Going to hear the whisper of a spell being cast and then — fwoosh! — suddenly you have shadowy cat ears and a tail. For about... ten seconds, but still. He'll also take requests if you want to be like, a dog or something.

If it's not cat ears, though, it's shadow cats, this is post #2394324 about Noah's cats. Are you playing the candycane game in the corner over there? Well now there's a cat trying to steal the dropped candycanes. Decorating ornaments? There's a cat on your lap, curled up, warm and safe.

Most of the time, Noah can be found sitting next to Natsume, though he'll get up and do something ostentatious from time to time if requested of him. For the most part, the magic simply hangs in the air. Noah's more than willing to come play games or other such fun things if you ask, though. He might explain the growing tower of cookies at Komaeda's door too, if you ask.]

bothering

[sisters]

Hey Noah, you here with another delivery?

( amami's eyeing the growing pile of cookies as he makes his way over, glancing back up to meet noah's gaze with a smile as he does. don't mind the handful of cookies he's got himself — he might've thought this was kinda cute when he'd first noticed them stacking up, is all. he will go on ahead and add to noah's little pile though, commenting on the closed door as he does. )

You think he's planning on joining us any time soon?

[notsosou]

[NOT AGAIN... Okay he's not turning into a full on cat, there's that to focus on. After a hot sec of twisting around on getting a glimpse of his tail and pinpointing the location of the whisper, those fade as well.]

Phew... D-didn't know you could do that.

[Like teacher, like student, he guesses, except Noah thankfully isn't making him solve for x. Was that a prank? Did he just get magic-pranked? He's not liking how easy it was.]

magic fwiend

[crystallomancy]

( Since Noah's close to Natsume, mostly literally but also a little figuratively, he's definitely had to notice that his magic is a bit... not... its usual. Natsume is not his usual.

But, also in true Natsume fashion, there are People Here so he can't show any weakness, so he's sitting up and pretending he's perfectly fine and if the stars he's helped conjure are || close to going supernova, no they aren't.

................ )

Don't look at me like THAT.

( he knows noah's looking at him like "bro you good" so STOP )

☆ 4

[commences]

Take a Cookie,
Leave a Cookie

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noah has been leaving cookies, will you too leave a cookie? or take a cookie? a plate sits outside of star four. there's a stack of sticky notes that komaeda has slid underneath the slit of his door, because maybe the person who is leaving cookies is trying to get his attention? he's unsure, but he's placed most of the cookies he's gained so far on add's bed. anymore cookies? who is leaving cookies? wh

[heroicpolonaise]

[...! cookies.

she probably shouldn't take a cookie. these belong to someone. they're on a plate, and they're being set here for a reason. she thought she saw someone sneaking cookies out, too... there's sticky notes here too.

well. kaede will write a simple message and slide it under. she is sort of curious if something else will come out, so she'll squat like a kid looking at ants.]

for him

[sisters]

[notsosou]

[He's kind of neutral on sweet things after living for a year with a guy who had an extreme sweet tooth and tended to pick what was on the menu when they went anywhere, so... he'll leave one instead since they're clearly here for someone who's not the party type. Add? Hinata? Anyway, enjoy a:]

[rearranger]

[ There's a sticky note slid under the door with a cute cat kaomoji drawn on it - ]

/ᐠ｡ꞈ｡ᐟ✿\

cookies for hyung

[silentabyss]

[The cookie tower grows more imposing.........]

[carpevinum]

[Someone bring this guy something of sustenance hello?]

[adsum]

[ Kaede, seeing cookies on a plate: oh these must be for someone
npckun, seeing cookies on a plate: mine now

The hallway is a public space and so they go ahead and sit down with their back against the door, dunking the longer cookies in hot chocolate and nibbling at the other ones, scritch-scratching on a sticky note that has its sticky edge folded back onto itself so it doesn't get caught as they slide the note underneath the door: ]

[crystallomancy]

( ....................

he hates sweets but he's gathered komaeda apparently, literally cannot stomach them, so natsume will write a quick message on the sticky note and slide it under. )



( komaeda knows his handwriting, it's fine )

[heroicpolonaise]

[she survived exams...

it's a shame that kaede's been so focused on finding her footing between studying and taking the exams, because while she's passed a lot of people in the halls and in some cases introduced by amami himself she hasn't properly acquainted herself to the rest of the transfers. a party is good to do just that. so, wearing a cute sweater with a white skirt off her casual, kaede decides to make some friends.]

a. kaede makes some friends

[which happen to be the imps, who she initially distrusts thanks to a certain bear and his kin. but the more she watches them, the more she realizes that they're friendly and more importantly they seem to understand her even if she reciprocate. but--]

They're pretty cute, huh? They remind me of notes on a music score, actually.

[they're a good conversation piece, hello.]

b. wishful thinking

I wonder if it's bad luck to wish for the same thing twice... or three times.

[she's got some ornaments made, some colorful little notes to be hung, and written on one already is "I'd like to play piano for everyone". kaede seems to have started writing the same wish on the next one, and she doesn't want to cross it off because that seems tacky.

...

"I'd like to see everyone again." okay perfect. absolutely impossible, though she's still thinking about somethings, but a wish nonetheless.]

It really is hard to think of things that don't relate to pianos, though... Maybe I do need a new hobby.

c. the planets suite

[they're just as pretty as the stars in the sky.

kaede hasn't looked up much, not at the other academy and not here, so it's actually a little nice to be leaning against the back of the couch to look at them... it's not as quiet as the night outside might be, but the bustle of people and chatter of a party is nice too. relaxing. different, and yet it makes her yearn a little regardless.

...

she wishes she could've had this experience with everyone back there, too.]

a

[sisters]

( ignore his glasses. please ignore his glasses, but this is like a rare chance for him to have an excuse to wear them and ruin his eyesight along with his hearing. which, speaking of his hearing, even though he's standing right next to kaede when she speaks, he... doesn't seem to respond — or acknowledge her at all, really. he continues eyeing the imps with something cautious in his gaze for a few moments longer before it looks like he realizes he's been spoken to.

with a bit of a start, he'll look back to kaede. is she looking at something? he follows her gaze. he looks back at her. )

Oh, sorry, didn't catch that. What were you saying?

( this is... not the first time this has happened. )

[notsosou]

[Shin's not much of a party person, and after this entire month and telling anyone who asked he'd straight up murdered people he's not keen to be in a room with people he's sure don't have great opinions of him now... or one that now contains Those Paintings which still make him ill just looking at them. But Nene promised there'd be soup and looked up at him with big eyes and he was helpless against both, so here he is, talking to an imp.]

Ah, n-no, I don't need anything... Thank you.

[At least that's the gist of what he thinks they're saying, service worker to ex service worker. He does take a drink in the end though... it's unlabeled but it's eggnog, and he's never had it before, and he sniffs it dubiously after the imp's drifted away and not as subtly as he thinks.

Later on he can be found still holding it and lying propped and puffed up against the wall underneath his painting where he doesn't have to actually see it and there's the warmth of the fire, looking very comfy in his jacket, scarf, and new cat-eared beanie, contentedly and a just a little accidentally buzzedly staring at the star display like he could stay here all night.]

[carpevinum]

[Sometimes the imps will come and chitter at Shin while he's chillin' because they're just social little dudes. That is, until Lucifer finally comes out of kitchen purgatory to take a break and they immediately see the more powerful demon and decide to go harangue others.]

You look mildly exhausted. [Probably putting it lightly, actually, considering everything that's happened. At least Shin is warm and safe.] I'm sure the imps have already bothered you with food, but I do hope you've at least eaten something at some point today.

[Please don't forget to eat even though you're depressed, Shin.]

[sportadork]

[sportacus loves the holidays. and there is nothing he would like more than to be at the party, celebrating. but, he is currently having what we in the business like to call a "semi-emergency."

namely, he is standing in front of where the door to the storage closet used to be. it is not there anymore, because it is sort of just. awkwardly. leaning against the wall. and he is left staring at a wrenched chunk of metal that was probably once a hinge but will hinge no longer. it's fine. it could be worse. it could have been a person. don't think about how it could have been a person. but it totally could have though. but don't think about it. but it totally could

anyway, the best way to deal with a bizarre situation is to act like everything is perfectly normal and that anyone who reacts is the bizarre one, really, so he's just gonna. put the entire door under his arm and walk out of the dorm to. throw it out? burn it? his plans very much end at "exiting the building."]

[adsum]

[ Hold up, you can't just exit the building with a

...

npckun goes ahead to follow him out of the building. ]

Are you going sledding?

[ It's not an ideal sled, but it looks better than their "find a round trashcan lid or baking pan like they do in the movies" idea ]

[miirai]

[Regardless of the current situation that they're in, Rika hadn't been to a proper party in what seems to be years, if not longer than that.

But she doesn't come without little gifts of her own, a skip to her step.

If she encounters a person, she'll beam at them excitedly.]

Merry Christmas, nipah☆ Do you like chocolate? I brought lots, so if you want some, you can take some.

[And she does, in fact, have a box full of handmade chocolate. Pick your poison. Spoilers: they're not poison. Of course, she'll be here mingling around and playing many of the games: she's a member of the Hinamizawa Games Club, after all, she's got to show her stuff.]

[rebirths]

Rika-chaaan!

[ He also has a skip to his step, though that's nothing unusual whatsoever, and when she presents her chocolate, he looks intrigued. ]

Did you make these? Wow, you're super creative~! Don't mind if I do.

[ He takes one and plops it into his mouth instantly, gives it a few chews before he nods and makes a delighted noise. ]

Mm! I like it~

[dereban]

[Given that Inaba doesn't actually stay in the dorm area, she's actually at the party rather late. And while she isn't necessarily a party person, she is a 'free food' kind of person, which means that people may be seeing her trying to take food - naturally, after seeing that someone else has eaten from it, just to be safe - before trying to sneak out of the party.

Of course, she isn't trying to be subtle about it in the slightest, so she can easily be caught trying to escape the general dorm area.

It's probably fine, though...

(Although for those who are much more observant, they might see the bags under her eyes and just how red they look. How strange.)]

[carpevinum]

[Party host #1 spots her running off with food... is she alright? Lucifer follows after her to make sure. He can't say he talks to Inaba very often but hey.]

You do realise you can stay for a spell, right? [Is what he says when he catches up, but he's brought another plate of food with him — saran-wrapped in case she doesn't want it right now.]

a wild dad appears once more

[wolfetracks]

( sidney is generally not a party person- but... after that entire nightmare of a week, everyone needs some good in their life, if they're willing to step out for a bit. and maybe some home cooking will help- getting the ingredients on time was a bit of a hassle, but the shopkeeper certainly helped a lot. the teacher's pay at least ensured he wasn't hurting for supplies for anything else, at least.

he's mostly in the kitchen during the day helping the others, but at night he takes over dinner. here's hoping everyone likes seafood gumbo- though, even once that's done he's preparing alternatives just in case.

eventually however, you may find him sitting down finally, contemplative but not avoiding the others, for once. )

babe....................

[carpevinum]

[Lucifer will never let himself be kicked out of the fucking kitchen apparently so happy nighttime he's helping cook gumbo now, a dish he's never made and therefore is learning as he goes here.]

Pass me the salt, love?

[For the love of god please take a break—]

come bother natsume

[crystallomancy]

( Mostly, Natsume will be by Noah, helping to keep up the cool little galaxy they have going on. If he looks like he's tired or like a dead man walking, no he doesn't. That's just your imagination. Don't worry about it.

Also don't worry about if you feel any cold spots—Natsume invited Haruka to spend the day with him, which includes the party over here. They're family now, after all.

...

He can't take a break, but he does look like he needs something to keep him from spontaneously keeling over, though at the first sight of a vaguely concerned look he'll give a waning smile and a small wave that could be "hello" or dismissive. )

Are you having a good TIME?

( We're not gonna talk about him, and we're not going to talk about his magic doing the fantasy equivalent of television-on-the-fritz movements. )

[heroicpolonaise]

[it's the dead man walking..........

kaede has been sneaking glances at him since noah pointed him out as the other half of this duo, and to be called out makes her cheeks warm a little. he's probably seen her be carted around by amami for some introductions at this point.]

I am! The only thing that would make this better is a... [stop. don't say piano. don't be a one trick pony--] A piano.

[she can't help it, though at least she seems sheepish for some reason.]

Um, Ebalon-kun says you're the other one who's doing the light show -- it's very beautiful.

come bother amami

[sisters]

( amami brought this tree in here, and he dumped his plant food that is sketchily effective in growing it so tall that the top almost touches the ceiling, but not quite, and he is here to babysit it for at least part of the night. the fact that it also happens to be where all the art supplies is just happens to be a bonus. so he'll be sitting on the table, towards the back of it where there's less supplies spread out and closer to the tree, and periodically lifting a pair of glasses from the bridge of his nose to rest at the crown of his head, like they're sunglasses or something and he's not supposed to be using them to read.

whenever someone happens to pass too close, or if they look too interested in the ornament setup, amami will be sure to flash them a smile and a wave. those who're already working on theirs, they'll get a bit more interest as he glances up from his own art project to see them. )

So, what are you wishing for?

( he's not going to lean in to peek, but looking over, there's a spark of curiosity in his eyes. )

comes to bother you too

[heroicpolonaise]

[pleaaaaaaaaase stop looking at her like that what else could she be wishing for. kaede hunches her shoulders almost protectively and looks up at amami just the same, then sighs and smiles sheepishly as she leans on her hand.]

The same thing I do every year.

[take a wild guess]

it's still christmas somewhere in the universe

[dokkans]

[ Christmas, the time of year where you get so much stuff for free. B.B. Hood was already feeling on cloud nine with a present she'd received very recently, and was happy to see that the spirit of Christmas was alive and well! Judging by the nice gifts that were left for her over night, making her that much happier to know someone as kind as Nene.

As such, she's got a wicker basket on her arm, a charming gentleman just kinda hanging out, bundled up in a nice blanket. She passes by, annoyingly cheerful, and makes it a point to make eye contact with anyone she comes across, just to say: ]

Merry Christmas~! ♥

[ She's so happy to have her basket back. ]

Herlock Shenanigans

[deductivedance]

[ It's Christmas! Full of fun times and holiday cheer! Herlock Sholmes is definitely at the party.

You can find the man sitting around and holding a conversation with one of the imps! It's mostly a one-sided conversation, considering he can't understand a word of what the imp is saying. Not to mention he's probably boasting about himself, so it's definitely a one-sided conversation.

Later on, you might catch him trying the minute-to-win-it game in the back of the room! For as bumbling as he usually is, he's pretty adept at getting the candy canes to stay on the ropes. Perhaps you might want to challenge him in a game?

Conversely, another game is to be played! Everyone loves charades, right? Right? He'll drag you into a game or two, should you make direct eye contact with the man at any given time. Who knows if he's good at it or not- we'll see.

Honestly, he just wants to make sure the kids involved are having a good time. It's been a rough month, and the levity this party brings is sure to help. So come at him!!! ]

closed to @rearranger

[deductivedance]

So, it's quite simple- you have to try to describe a certain thing without speaking! And I try to guess the topic within a certain amount of time!

[ However, a game of Charades might prove to be a bit difficult for Herlock, considering this man is from the late 1890's. He may not know too many references outside of that, so it might just have to be fairytales or generic topics. ]

Once the round is over, we can switch places!

[suspiciousweapon]

[Clamor can't exactly participate in most of these festivities... but he's here! to support his apprentices and family!! He has a little apple keychain hanging off one of the metal loops near his handle, and wouldn't you know a Santa hat is the perfect size and shape to stick over the sharp end of a sickle?? it's fine, just don't pull on it or he'll be sad.

He's mostly just here to mingle and check up on people, but maybe if you ask he'll also do some magic tricks (*if you're willing to run the risk of being trapped in a lecture about how the magic trick works). Or if you've never seen a magic floating sickle with an eye before... well, if you stare long enough he'd rather just say hello. He's not cursed or anything, promise!!]

[silentabyss]

[A CHRISTMAS Clamor...

Noah runs up and yells—]

Clamor! Look at this!

[WHAM BAM MOD STARCOASTER DEPLOYED in the middle of the room where it could be dangerous it's fine]