(open) is everyone enjoying their noel?

[gripper]

WHO: Anyone and everyone!
WHAT: Christmas Party! While originally an excuse for Secret Santas to give or drop off their gifts beneath the tree, anyone can swing by for a little holiday cheer.
WHERE: City Hall
WHEN: December 25th, starting at 10am and ending around 8pm
WARNINGS: N/A, but let me know if anything comes up!

merry christmas!

key notes

It's wintry, it's cold, it's Christmas. Hosted and put together by the mysterious Citynet user "theonewhogifts", (aka Kromer, gripper), this party is first and foremost a way for those participating in their Secret Santa to gather up and give their gifts, or to sneak theirs beneath the tree for the giftee to find if they're feeling a little shy. It'd be a boring Christmas if it were just that, though, so she's gone all-out and set things up to be a little more party-like.

Eat, drink, exchange presents, be merry—and take it easy this holiday season.

tinsel on the tree

On the 24th, the area in front of City Hall looks normal, if dusted in the now-falling snow, but by the time the eve passes, there's a rather large, plastic Christmas tree set up. People who arrive when the sun is just cresting will see Santa(?) decorating it themself, carefully selecting baubles and lights from a veritable treasure trove also taken from various stores in the area... but for most people showing up, it'll have already been decorated in bright white, gold, and silver lights, ornaments, puffballs, and so on. The skirt around it is a deep red, and as the snow continues to fall, the tree too becomes dusted with light flurries.

There's a helpful sign that says Secret Santas— drop gifts off here! to one side of the Christmas tree, while the other just seems to have been set up with the intention of being a gift-giving area, including meticulously wrapped, if empty, boxes for decoration.

Well. Mostly empty. Curious individuals (naughty children) who go shaking the unmarked boxes might find some of them aren't as empty as they seem, but what's inside are clearly meant as pranks for people who like to snoop: jack-in-the-boxes ready to spring, red-green-gold glitterbombs to mark who's been naughty and who's been nice, and those silly toy snakes that make loud rattle noises when they jump out.

cookies for santa

A party isn't a party without something to eat. Make sure you eat breakfast before you show up, because the main meals are full of hearty foods for lunch and dinner. From meals like beef rouladen (prepared beforehand and kept warm all day), paired with a red cabbage salad, to spätzle, roast duck, potato salad, and several bottles of red wine. For dessert, there's custard cake, baumkuchen, and zwetschgenknödel. While none of it looks professionally made by a chef, it's obvious a great deal of thought and care went into the dishes. Hey, it's her new hobby! She's being a proper host, here.

There are regular winter fixings too: inside of City Hall are kettles of hot water and warmed milk for hot chocolate and coffee! There's eggnog, both of the spiked-and-non-spiked variety... which one is which is indicated by little cards in front of them, but they're easy enough to switch if you feel like causing a little mischief. On the other hand, remember this is Santa's big day! Do you really want to out yourself as a bad kid?

a little winter fun

As stated, there's plenty more to enjoy: your very own Junpei Tenmyouji (coolerjunpei) is making smores for all who want a sweet treat without burning their fingers off, but you're welcome to make your own or just have some toasted marshmallows! Chase someone with a burning stick at your own peril.

And what's winter fun without a snowball fight or two? Of course, the mixture of icy rain with the snow the past few days has turned it somewhat dangerous if one were to decide to pack it with the harder stuff, but hey! At least it's just ice and not, you know, a rock or two. While there's no ready-made forts, she's not gonna go that far, there's plenty of snow that's been moved as necessary and a few piles of balls already put together.

You can use them as starters for snow creatures too, if you'd like!

Lastly, there's an area for any last minute gifts someone might need to pick up if they forgot the date! Or just couldn't figure anything out. There's a table for those who like to do a bit of handicrafting, so get your friendship bracelet making on (among other creative delights, glitter included), as well as a station for gift-wrapping itself featuring an assortment of junk from the mall.

To top off the holiday party, there's absolutely a stream of generically mainstream holiday tunes with voices that feel familiar but definitely aren't anyone in particular, like most of the media in the media shop. It's blaring from a stereo, so enjoy it or not, it's here to stay.

ooc notes

⬥ Merry Christmas! Welcome to the party. For people dropping off gifts for their Secret Santa, or who want to thread out giving it to them à la Stardew Valley's little winter festival, mosey on over to the thread for it.

⬥ Go nuts, go crazy, go wild and make your own top levels otherwise! Hell, even do gift giving on your own top level—the above is just there to make things easy. This is a mingle, so have fun with it.

⬥ If anything needs to be warned for, let me know by DMing this journal!

♡

Comments

c-2

[wordchain]

[ Yesod approaches Don to give her both her Christmas present, as well as Sinclair's Secret Santa parcel, if the recipient himself won't be making an appearance today — and he means to thank her in person for her watercolor painting. Like her suggesting the lavender in the flower shop weeks ago, the piece is filled with thoughtful meaning. Like La Víbria de Tierra Temblorosa and their viper drawing collaboration, Yesod will take good care of this gift.

Don's present is neatly wrapped in paper intended to acknowledge her apparent interest in "adorable shapes" — it resembles the theme of her gala outfit. Within, there is a decorative tin bearing an image of a horse on its lid, and opening it will reveal that it has manually been filled with artist's charcoal sticks. (Yesod may have used disposable gloves for this step, just in case.)

Sinclair's present, gift-wrapped in blue, is a hardcover notebook that can be used as a writing journal or a sketchpad. Its pages are unlined, while the paper itself should withstand either purpose, and a sun and a moon are embossed on its cover. ]

Thank you, Don.

[ She also receives a smile to accompany the words — Yesod's expression is fully visible today, too. ]

[icanfixer]

[ ... ooh, he took her words to heart. it's a little embarrassing, but it makes her happier than it does shy her away from anything and the beam says as much; don takes the gifts, since she'll ensure it gets to sinclair one way or another, and once she's carefully secured her friend's underarm she opens her own quickly.

it's an adorable tin, and it's filled with charcoal sticks. she puts the lid back on and struggles briefly to find a place to set them down where they won't get lost among the rest of it all, but once she does she's throwing herself at yesod for a hug!!! ]

Nay, I must thank thee! For more than the present, but 'tis not the time nor place; my friend, these will be most useful to me, for I have run mine to their limits.

[ sorry about the physical contact. she knows, she knows. you librarians aren't entirely used to it. but don's really betting on how comfortable netzach has gotten with it that maybe yesod has too, a little; he hadn't seemed discomforted during their dance, either.

she'll draw away a little, just so it isn't terribly stifling, grinning up at him with pleased, rosy cheeks. ]

I shall make great use of them tonight, and will present my first work to thee. Have thy a subject in mind?

[wordchain]

[ Yesod has grown more and more accustomed to physical contact involving Netzach, to varying degrees depending on the context, but Don's hug remains quite different an experience. Perhaps part of it is the fact that it's still unexpected. Yesod's eyes widen slightly as Don launches herself at him, her arms around him. His own come up after another moment, in an effort to return the gesture while Don loosens her hold on him. His palms curve around her shoulders.

This isn't unpleasant, either. Don looks genuinely delighted, and her retort matches the brightness of her smile. He can't help but wonder what her gratitude encompasses, then, things for another time and place. ]

Ah... good. You're clearly a skilled and prolific artist.

[ And he imagines that she must have spent a great deal of time creating unique pieces for a considerable number of people. Pausing, he contemplates suggestions to offer in answer to her question. ]

I suppose I'd like to see what you find particularly satisfying to smudge.

[icanfixer]

Satisfying to smudge...

[ what an interesting prompt. she tilts her head, humming softly, and finally comes to an answer. ]

A cat's pelt is quite pleasing to mimic with charcoal, so I shall draw one! It is a wonderful struggle to make it smooth, and yet tempting to put one's hand into -- something thee should try if offered the chance by Miss Fearne.

[ you know. at some point. before or after she ruins lives with funger's stuff. it's a good feeling. ]