[Skylark]

Another day another dollar. Or, well, prize, in this case. Today, she had decided to get more into the swing of things by arriving in perhaps the ugliest sweater to ever grace the world and reindeer antlers. Why, one might ask? Well, there wasn't any particular rhyme or reason to it, but it probably had something to do with wanting to strike fear into the hearts of her enemies. And if melting wings, freaky radioactive glows, and blood-tipped claws wouldn't do that, adding in a gnarly Christmas sweater and reindeer antlers was sure to the be the frosting on the cake. Right?

"Hello." Velkar said to the host, a delighted, too-wide smile on her face that showed way too much teeth. "I'm here for another gift."

[Night]

Oliver stifled the laugh that threatened to bubble out of him, hiding his smile behind his hand and ignoring that his eyes still likely gave it away. "She decided the best way to get back at you was to drown your homework?" He asked, a silver eyebrow quirking towards his hairline. "When I was in school I would have been thankful for the excuse." He would be the first to admit that he'd been a bit of a disappointment during his high school years.

He pulled his drink towards him, grimacing at the bitter taste of alcohol. Oliver settled the glass on the table, far enough from the edge that he wouldn't tip it over when he leaned both elbows onto the surface and leaned forward. He twined his fingers together, propping his chin against them with a frown. He hadn't meant to ruin the mood by bringing up Leo's lack of holiday plans.

Oliver offered him a soft smile in return for his admission. "I'm glad you're not too busy. Jay never wants to watch Christmas movies with me anymore. You're way better company anyway - lord knows I don't want to sit around and avoid talking about work with my mother." Their mother was kept fairly out of the loop regarding their somewhat dangerous day jobs, and he'd very much like it to stay that way. Jay nagged him more than enough about his health without adding a motherly concern on top of it.

[Flame]

It had been a decent amount of time since Sekhmet had first arrived in Evelon (due to some rather...unique circumstances), but in that time, she had come to adapt to what 'normal' was in this strange world. In many ways, it was more interesting and diverse than her life back home had been, but from the same perspective, there was something intimidating about the novel and unfamiliar, and she was still coming to terms with some of the strange customs of these lands.

However, there were a few traditions which she'd come to enjoy, and one of the main ones was this holiday of gift-giving and merrymaking - a time when even enemies rejoiced as friends, and peace reigned throughout the land. It was one of the times of year when she felt safe wandering into the heart of the towns and cities near her home, and she allowed herself to enjoy the lights, sounds, and smells of the holiday as she wandered down the streets. It was on a crisp winter evening during the festivities that she stumbled upon the tavern and its welcoming presence, and in a brief moment of courage, she decided to make her way into the establishment, as it was very clear that all were welcome. She was quickly greeted by a very friendly proprietor and the sights and smells of what was obviously a very festive party, and taking a deep breath to strengthen her resolve, she decided that tonight would be the night she tried to make some friends (and perhaps try some of these foods native to these lands that were so alien to her).

[RiDragon]

Null neatly folded his hands over each other, closing his eyes and basking in the hatred and anger than strange man gave off.  He knew it was selfish, but he could care less about the boy that the man was harassing.  He hadn't realized just how hungry he was until now.  It wasn't that he preferred anger over any other emotion, it's just that after feeding on happiness so long, well, the flavor can get a bit dull.

He wondered if he'd be able to handle all this hatred.  He couldn't get "full," since he lacked a stomach, but when overloading on emotions he felt a sluggish bloatedness that he assumed fullness must've felt like for those who possessed a digestive system.

He opened one pale pink eye, giving the boy being harassed a look.  He felt bad for him, of course.  Empathy was an important part of sentience, as Olive taught him.  But it's not like he could really..  Do anything.  ... Could he?

He moved a few tables closer to the man and boy, as discreetly as he cared to make himself be.  (Which wasn't much honestly.  The man didn't scare him in such a crowded place.)  Being closer may make him feel the drain a bit more.  Though honestly, Null wasn't sure if his leeching even affected the man, since he had so much anger inside of him.  Only time would tell if Null's presence was helping at all.

[Freezair]

Advent calendars... Lottie remembered those. She remembered them being fine things, full of the finest chocolates with the most daring flavors from around the world... Delightful novelties, such as beautiful spun-glass sculptures... and even one with a pair of earrings a day! But the world Lottie lived in now was not the same as it once was. Gone were the beautiful tinsel and the rich dinners of the holiday season.

But she'd heard tell of a free Advent calendar for all of Evelon--and there would be chocolate again! Perhaps not the finest in the world. But chocolate, true as true. She couldn't wait to partake in it! Christmas was the one thing to reliably bring her joy since her family had lost their fortune. Her mother may have run off in shame, but she still had her father and brothers--and really, wasn't it her family that had always mattered most?

[zapdragon555]

Cody's eyes were wide as saucers as Dahlia sternly spoke to Cyril, the man looking as though he might faint. Whether from the meagre amount of alcohol he'd consumed, or fear for Dahlia's life, it wasn't clear. He looked like something half-possessed, blank-faced, when Dahlia took his shoulder and told him to breathe--and something in him shifted into autopilot, into something he'd practiced with Zane over and over. Right. Breathe. In... out... Slowly, a bit of color returned to his face as he did this a few times over. "Y-yeah," he croaked out, softly, standing with Dahlia and telling himself, mentally, over and over not to look back at Cyril.

He did anyway, glancing at the man over his shoulder. Cyril shifted, his gaze hardening, as if to get up and follow--but something... stopped him. Cyril had noticed the pale man sit near them, but hadn't paid him much mind. Now, however, his blue eyes shot to stare straight at Null, his shoulders tense. "May I... help you?" he muttered, feeling... oddly light. Not quite dizzy, but for some reason, Cody just didn't seem worth his time anymore. Strange. There had been a brief, intrusive thought of slamming the smaller man to the floor with a hand around his throat, but that had fizzled out rather quickly (and Cyril tried not to dwell on the disturbing thought for too long--he wanted to intimidate, not maim--surely not maim). Even so, there was something off about this person, and Cyril cast one more look at Cody and Dahlia's backs before looking back to Null with a halfhearted scowl. "Ignore all of that. It's just personal business. I can't stand people who butt into others' business unannounced." The statement seemed pointed at Null, as well, but was offhanded enough to seem vague.

Cody looked up at Dahlia, then squeaked slightly with surprise when Kosok hopped onto his shoulder. He stared wide-eyed at the little creature, then smiled warmly, his eyes shining. "Hi little guy," he laughed softly, throat still tight, but feeling far less trapped than before. "Um--thank--thank you," Cody began, looking back up at Dahlia, the smile on his face fizzling into something more nervous once more. "He's..." Cody trailed off, not sure where to start with Cyril. "H-he's dating one of my best friends, is all. She's great. Um..." Cody felt himself wilt slightly, not wanting to involve this woman with his personal life any more than she had chosen to herself. "I-I have a phone with me, so just... y-yeah, the address, and I can call my b-- m-my... friend, to come pick me up."

[Claiming Day 8!]

[Silver]

In a rush of feathers an fur, a little grey creature shot into the room as a guest opened the door. It mewled cutely and crashed into a nearby snacks table before straightening up again. The poor girl looked utterly confused, and being covered in whipped cream didn't help her case. Right there on the snack table upon a delicious looking tart of some kind, she started to preen and lick herself clean. Unfortunately, she didn't seem to notice that she was still sitting in the tart, and for every feather she cleaned, she dipped another right back into the mess. At least it was delicious!

[SpringsSong]

"I suppose so," Xyshari said, chuckling slightly.  "It's been so long since we've been able to discuss anything other than the Alliance, or Empress Acina, or... anything relating to everything that's happened in the last five years."

"I figured that you, of all people, could use the distraction," Lana said, kissing Xyshari on the cheek.  "With everything that's been going on, we've barely had any time to ourselves, as it is."

"This from the woman who told me not to look so pleased with myself when I had to explain that I'd wanted a kiss when I said 'wish me luck' before going to face Arcann," Xyshari said wryly.

"...don't look so pleased with yourself, my love," Lana said.

[Saahs]

Warren dashed for the tavern once he'd spotted it. Yes, there it was! Oh man, oh jeez was he late? Was there still time to pick up some quests? He hoped not, there was so little for him to do and the shores were lapping at the back of his mind like never before! There had to be something for him to do at the tavern!

The tavern door swung open before he'd even reached it, and it caught him quite off guard. "G'HEYAH!" he yollered, jumping back and skittering a ways away from the door. After a pause, his head peeked out from under the bush he'd taken to hiding inside, eyes wide as dinner plates. With both caution and a hint of embarrassment, he fished his way out of the bush, brushing and shaking snow off of himself. "I, ahyehahahah, uhm, oopsie dill pickles," hummed the bard.

Still with caution, he shuffled towards the still open doorway. But once he got a look inside? Oh boy. Ohhh BOY! He zipped right in, welcoming the warmth and wonderful smells wafting throughout the tavern. Collecting his wits, the young man slid over to where some mugs of hot cocoa had been prepared, plucking one up for himself and practically sticking his reddened nose into the drink to get some heat back into it.

It wasn't until he was then chugging the cocoa that he realised, hey, the Quest Master said a thing. "B'uh? OH! Prize, claiming, day, yes! Auh... what, what day is it?"

( Claiming day 8's prize! )

[crow]

Leo sighed. "You also don't know what our mother is like. Grades were important. I did well in class too, so after a while it was just a point of pride." He glanced up at the decorations along the walls, though his eyes slid over them, lost in thought as he was. Maybe it was the season, or everything that had happened lately, but he found himself feeling strangely nostalgic about everything.

Leo hadn't expected Oliver to say that he preferred Leo's company over his brother's. A part of him was flattered, but mostly he was just surprised. "Thanks, I think," he said, smiling, but even his smile was uncertain, as if he wasn't sure he really ought to accept the compliment. He knew that not everyone felt the same way about their family--- Vivi certainly didn't. But family had always been that untouchable notion for him, a category apart from friends and acquaintances, and he had never really thought of the two as comparable.

He didn't say that he would have given anything to be talking business with his mother over dinner; it didn't seem fair to bring it up, and he didn't want to make Oliver uncomfortable. "I have to admit though, I didn't really watch Christmas movies growing up, so I'll be relying on your recommendations on that one."

[Adelie]

She feels overdressed, really - a chic little asymmetric dress in black velvet paired with a muted silk scarf, nice heels with subtle glass-bead detailing. The scarf is borrowed - if that is the right word for something she didn't ask for and took with no intention of return - from her roommate's closet; the heels she picked up at a thrift shop, somewhere, and the dress is theoretically home-made, a hodgepodge of second-hand fabric redesigned by her own ingenuity.

Regardless, it is still not an ugly Christmas sweater, which seems the fashion of choice at this establishment. She resolves that when she gets back, she will have to bother Chi and get to the truth of what you're supposed to do at parties, because the extent of this holiday stuff is not to her expectations.

Holidays are new to her, mostly - or at least, the ones people celebrate here are unfamiliar. In the caves the seasons are different, the passage of time is different, the milestones are different; here, they follow the sun and the tilt of the earth. Strange, really - but she's not uninterested in learning more.

[Skeetzybug]

"Don't we have more important things to be doing? Like, I don't know - actual work, maybe?"

"Oh come on, don't be such a partypooper, mullet," Lance said back with a tsk, swishing his long scarf over his neck with a flourish as his pushed the door to the tavern open. "It's Christmastime, have a little holly an' jolly!"

"I'm not, and for the last time, it isn't a mullet," Keith grumbled, arms folded like a pouting child. "I just think our time could be spent doing something more productive than... partying." He still couldn't even believe that he was here, drowning in the horrendous, oversized Christmas sweater that Lance insisted was a 'must-have' at this occassion. With how many people he had already spied in normal clothes, he was a little bent, and a fair bit embarrassed.

"Well then you can go home," Lance shruged, turning to flash a grin at a group of folks before hitting the drink and snack table. Keith scoffed in response, sending a glare back towards that same group to prevent any ideas being had.

"Yeah, like I'd leave you unattended at one of these things," he said, raising an eyebrow at the other. "Last year, six glasses of eggnog, ring any bells?" Lance paused, tapping a finger to his chin and looking thoughtful, before shaking his head and pouring himself a glass of said eggnog.

"Nope, don't remember it, didn't happen." Keith gave a groan and dragged a hand down his face. It was going to be a long evening. The things he did for this boy...

[Lilith Michaelis]

Hadya had snuck into the tavern early today, intending to help in whatever way she could. She skittered around, staying out of sight, fixing bows that weren't quite right and tightening bulbs that weren't quite tight enough. And then she hid. She did not come out until a good crowd had filtered in.

The little doll zipped over to the strange Quest Master and left her usual note asking for her prize before skittering right back to the food table. She couldn't drink the eggnog or cocoa but she could help others get theirs! Starting with the young man in the headband who seemed a little lost. She pushed a mug towards him and quickly hid behind a nearby box -- a good thing too, as he plucked it up rather quickly. She was very much pleased with the result, though.

((Claiming the prize for the 8th day/December 18th))

[Jaykobell]

"Well," the purple Kuhna said flatly, "this is..."

"Eccentric?" the white Kuhna finished, their tone a lot more unsure and condescending.

"I was gonna say 'quaint'," the purple Kuhna corrected, their one eye shifting from side to side slowly as they took in the looks of the place. "Eccentric works too."

"Eye-burning," the white one corrected back as they brought a paw to one of the curtains and tilting their head curiously and confusingly at the fashion choice happening all over this place.

"Nah," the other said, and they grinned a little, "that's you, pal," they added as they started making their way towards the counter.

The white one made a frown as they watched the purple Kuhna walk away with their one eye. "Well, then, that's you also, pal," they reminded them, following along with their head high and their chest upfront. "We're the same thing."

"We are," the one ahead confirmed, but then they stopped and narrowed their eye. "Were?" they whispered questioningly, earning them the white Kuhna bumping right into them from behind.

The white one snarled quietly under their breath. "Same difference," they hissed. "Get a move on! We have places to be, Ikki."

Ikki got back to their stroll upon their partner complaining. "We have places to be," they repeated in a mocking voice and a large grin on their face. "Cool it, Tuul. This is just a small thing; in and out," they promised, and they paid no mind to the groaned coming from behind them.

"It better be," Tuul mumbled under their breath, glancing this way and that at all the folks and pets hanging out in this place. They made a guttural noise of disgust.

The two eventually reached the counter, Ikki leading the pair while Tuul tried their best to ignore the festive moods of everybody else. "Hello!" the purple Kuhna greeted with a large wave of their paw. "I'd like to get one of those little free trinkets you—"

"We," Tuul interrupted, shoving next to Ikki and glaring at the staff with their singular eye. "We would like your gar—" They hissed loudly as Ikki gave them a nasty jab to the side.

"One, please!" Ikki requested with a toothy, confident grin, ignoring the death glare of their partner.

[Kestrel]

Here again, sibling number ten accompanying him today. His littlest sister, Soriel, was currently peering around the dimly lit, sweat-packed tavern, fascination shining out of her warm brown eyes.

"Is this what adult parties are like? Loud, stinky, with too many people in too small a place?" Despite her choice of words, her tone was excited, even touched ever so slightly with awe.

Koyren laughed. "Excellent description. And no, not really. They're all different. You've been to some galas with me before, haven't you? They weren't stinky, were they?"

Soriel shrugged a shoulder. "I guess not, but they weren't really parties, were they? Just old people standing around in suits and politely laughing to one another."

Another laugh. "Again, wonderful description, though I'm wounded you'd call your favorite brother old...but yes, my dear darling sister, those were indeed, technically, parties. Now go off and dance. And stay away from the alcohol!"

She made a face at him, but happily ran off to join in the fun.