[FrostWynd]

Okay, now this was actually pretty cool.

It wasn't everyday that one got to be randomly teleported to what appeared to be an awesome party with some sweet music and crazy lights. Though the teleporting thing was extremely weird too, not gonna lie. But for the most part she could excuse and even forgive the fact that whoever was responsible had just interrupted her during some very important maintenance on some machinery that may or may not have been very delicate.

It shooouuuld be fine though...

She was like, 99.9% sure. Which was good enough for her, as she decided she could totally put off her work for a couple of hours to have some fun.

[ToxicShadow]

"Why don't you come have a treat?" the Quest Master offered to the creature, that responded with a strange purring sort of sound. Thus, the Quest Master lead Render toward the tavern bar top.

The bar tender working the bar, however, did not seem too pleased with the celebration, and was carefully shoving ear plugs into his ears to help cancel out the noise of the music. Did he ever seem to enjoy their celebrations, though? The truth was, he rarely enjoyed them. But he went along with it every year, anyway.

[Kylo]

Orion finished his cookies and carefully crept through the dance floor to the bar to get some punch that didn't have any alcohol in it. With his alcohol allergy he did his best to avoid the stuff. It made him sick to his stomach and the hangovers were like something from the depths of all nine of Corellia's hells.

He watched the bartender stuff his ears closed and found he silently agreed with that sentiment. It was loud and the rhythm got in one's head. He knew he would probably leave this place with a headache.

[Adelie]

But when were these alleged gifts supposed to arrive? She'd looked around a bit, and she couldn't even see a hint they even existed - but it was loud, and things were rather bright and flashy, and she couldn't quite confirm anything either way.

And even if she were the kind of person who'd ask around for these things, it wouldn't be a good look for her to interrogate some staff about gifts. She could only rely on what she picked up from other attendees, and information from that source was scarce and scattered.

Someone mentioned prizes, which seemed even more unlikely - there was a guy at the bar, and there was a stage, but there didn't seem to be any indication of a contest. Maybe that would come later? Or perhaps she'd already missed it.

[KS sent, but the KS modification was made without a note, not sending a PM to notify the user.]

[zapdragon555]

Something buzzed through Karl like an electric shock to the brain, something he'd been holding in for as long as he could--he banged his fist on the table, clattering the plate and bowl, even if the sound was largely lost in the din of the chattering crowd. "What makes you think you have a right to just give up?" he snapped, and were he less angry, he might've relished the look of genuine startle in Johan's clear eyes. "If I weren't here, huh? You'd just turn yourself in?"

Johan stared at him for a moment, his expression simultaneously softening and steeling. "This isn't a conversation for here," he tried to say, his voice deathly quiet, but Karl, it seemed, had had enough.

"No, I think here's a fine place. Like you said, it's as safe as anywhere, right?" he snapped, and regretted it, because Johan's mouth had tightened into an acquiescent smile, his eyes flicking down, his soup spoon slipping a littler further into the stew.

"I'm not sure I can forgive the Doctor for bringing me back a second time," he murmured, and Karl's twisted face broke with knitted, concerned brows, dawning realization that Johan seemed to be shrinking in his seat. "Even all of this hiding and slinking around... it's just stalling, I suppose. I suppose being here with you is just stalling."

Karl stared for a long silence, speechless, before finally turning to the stew and taking a bite. He felt ill, but he tried to force the food down anyway. He didn't much like the pressure of Johan's life being hinged upon himself, not one bit. It was an understatement. Johan had opened a yawning void beneath him, and one look in Johan's direction revealed a quiet sadness on the blond's face.

"I like..." Johan began, his voice tight and uncertain as he stared at his own spoon, "...this. I like stalling, with you."

[Claiming Dec. 19]

[Mojave]

Diego had his drink and was surveying the crowd when his eyes met the huge stranger's from across the bar. The guy was staring- no, grinning at him, as if he'd been waiting for Diego to notice. Diego half turned and glanced behind him to make sure he was understanding the situation correctly, but there was nobody behind him staring at anyone near the bar with the same intense gaze as the beefcake. When he turned back around, said man was no longer where Diego had last seen him. Perhaps he'd gone off in the crowd after being caught staring. Diego hoped that was the case as he finished his drink.

[SpringsSong]

"Now, these are good," Xyshari said as she took a cookie and bit into it. "Mm. Never had anything like this back at the temple, or even at my embassy on Kashyyyk."

"You never had any holiday parties?" Lana asked. Xyshari shook her head.

"The first time I was aware of any sort of holiday party was the first year I was the emissary for Kashyyyk, and Life Day came around. I had done some reading ahead of time, but... no amount of reading could prepare me for what actually happened," Xyshari explained.

[Indigo]

Perrin, had he been privy to Rodion's thoughts, would have protested that it was not his fault he'd splintered off to a distant corner of the room upon entering the tavern. Or not entirely. The moment he'd stepped across the threshold the eyes had started whispering to him again, not the soft murmurs he usually got when he entered a new place or met a new person but a cacophony of silent sound like all of them were talking at once. Maybe they were. He could never tell if any of them actually had distinct personalities or if they were just screwing with him.

With the eyes talking over each other like that he couldn't tell what any of them were actually saying; instead he was just overwhelmed by their noise, plus the echoes of the premonition that had brought him here in the first place. He didn't even remember walking over to the bar, just realized he was leaning on it and had been for a while, and that he'd been making an anxious noise under his breath. Hopefully no one had noticed that.

Rodion, he saw, stood pressed against the wall not far from the entrance, studying one of those glowing Christmas trees like his life depended on it. That was the one good thing about the gousankke's absolute refusal to learn a human shape—too big to lose. Perrin couldn't say the same for himself, and while that was technically a solvable problem, this didn't seem like the time or place for shapeshifting.

And so, the premonition. It hadn't been very clear, but Perrin's foresight was never wrong, even if he didn't always understand what it was trying to tell him right away. Often it was enough to go wherever he was supposed to go and wait. He'd try that strategy a little longer before rescuing Rodion from the horror of proximity to the dance floor.

He leaned over to the bartender. "What kind of drinks do you have in this place?"

[Feel free to interact with these two, if you are so inclined]

[Silver]

Cantare had spent the whole morning going through Inspire's closet for any holiday themed accessories he could find. A lot of them wouldn't fit him, but he did manage to get away with a hat and a huge bow tied around his neck. He tried to get Sprout to wear some, too, but he wasn't having it. It reluctantly stuck something to his head and refused to even make sure it straight.

The boys were excited to get to the party. They were actually invited to a real grown up party! They were giddy with the possibilities and couldn't stop talking about it on the way there. They walked into the party expecting to see something typical of the season, but instead were met with bright colors, loud music, and crazy lights. They did a double take before each running off in different directions after what caught their interest the most.

[Jaykobell]

Hmm, something about nobody wanting to go tonight. Even those who sort of liked this atmosphere had things to do, and the ones left behind hadn't wanted to go. What a shame! And Clovis had been moody enough at the prospect of him going alone the day before. How harsh.

Well, at least one of them had made it! And since no one was here to pressure him into leaving, he was happy to hang by the sweet tables and the drinks. They could take their sweet time handing out the prize today: he could stick around and decompress for a bit!

[Sarah]

Kailysion was trying his best to avoid the gazes of Sevastion and his advisers. He hadn't meant to come around the tavern while they were still partaking in the party. "I'm just here to claim the prize for today," he said to one of the staff. Close calls were not something he did well. He certainly had not been trained in avoidance although over the years of working for the castle he'd gotten better. Next time, if there was one, he would be sure to walk out as soon as he saw anyone that might recognize him.

[crow]

"Are... they okay?" said Jay, watching Xinyi weave their way into the crowd, making a determined beeline for the bar.

Alex didn't know whether to laugh or to sigh. It wasn't that this evening was going badly, or that he wasn't happy to run into Jay, but he really wished it had been under more... under smoother circumstances, maybe. "Yeah," he lied. "They're, um, just really serious about drinks." At least that part was true. And Xinyi hadn't wanted to leave it to Soda, so he supposed they were getting what they wanted after all, in a sense.

[Freezair]

He often bristled at the yoke of his master Demne's demands, but for once, he felt rather for old Cookie. Like a lot of people, Demne really enjoyed Christmas, and would have loved to come to this place himself! But celebrities didn't have such luxuries. He'd get recognized if he came out here, and mobbed by fans, and being the professional he was, he'd spend all his time signing autographs and taking pictures and never actually get to enjoy the event.

He wasn't very good with smartphones, but he'd be sure to video call with Cookie and make sure he got a good glimpse at things from afar. And make sure he grabbed a gift for him.

[FrostWynd]

So there were going to be free gifts given out to people at this party?

Tala would now be standing over near the advent calendar stuff that had been put out for the party, and she was curiously staring at one of the giant decorated giftboxes, wondering what could possibly be inside for them to need a box that large. "Hmm..."

It was possible that it could turn out to be something really awesome, and she'd already committed to staying here for a while to engage in other party stuff, so she didn't mind having to wait to see what sort of surprise was in store for everyone from these gifts.

Though when she turned, being about to give dancing a try, her eyes locked onto something, or rather someone, across the crowd standing over by a table with food. It was a face she recognized, and the mere sight of them made her instantly frown.

[Sappheara]

Zack entered the establishment with curious eyes. He heard rumors that there was some kind of celebration as he walked by a group of people going towards the building and he just happen to be curious enough to check it out. His curiosity always got the best of him and it always got him into trouble with his mother. They only reason he was out this night, was because his parents were annoying. They wouldn’t leave him alone. He just wasn’t in the mood for his parent asking him million questions, so tonight he left his house looking for something interesting to do and he found it. It was a good thing that he left and found something he was looking for. As Zack entered the party, he looked around and wasn’t too thrilled by what he saw in the room. The rainbow lights were the only thing that bothered him. Everything else was fine. Zack walked pass and stopped front of the individual that was hosting the party for a few minutes. He bowed his head in acknowledgment and continued around the room to see if there were any actives that would interest him.