Winter Wonderland - 12th Night Party!

[herr_bookman]

Father Christmas returns from the mountains this 12th night, leading the chained Krampus and his former captives. Some of them are triumphant, some hurt and limping, some are huddled with their friends who have been searching for them.

Those entering the bar today will find one corner of it decked out in a minimalist theme of white, silver, and blue snowflakes. Warm, enchanted snow drifts down from the ceiling, disappearing before it alights on the floor, but piling up on the window sills and mantle of the fire.

Snowmen dance outside on a glassy floor, circling and swaying in lines. Should one want a fancier change of clothes after an ordeal in the labyrinth, it'll magically be provided at the door.

[OOC: Welcome to the Winter Wonderland party! It's officially open through the weekend--hope you enjoy!]

Comments

Arrivals & Reunions

[herr_bookman]

The infirmary is ready for Krampus' victims; so are showers, and fresh clothes for the party. Everybody who has been missing them can now meet them, say hello, listen to what happened, or just give them a hug.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

It has been a hell of a week. Rae had lost all sense of time in the labyrinth, not to mention her sense of direction and most of her sense of humor. With all that has happened, Rae looks like she came off worst in a steeply downhill footrace. In a dark cave. While wearing the traction-equivalent of wet flip-flops.

All she wants, all that's going through her head as she drags herself in the door of the bar, is a shower, and about a week of sleep. She is so tired she can feel her hands shaking, and not just because it's freezing outside.

The bar, however, seems to have other plans for her. In the moment she crosses the threshold, a light, familiar weight settles on her head - her hair is suddenly no longer lank and dirty but clean, pulled up and back to cascade down her back in loose waves - and her battered, torn winter clothes become something much lighter and swishier, and much, much redder.

When Rae sees the dress, she stops, putting out a hand to steady herself against the wall. It isn't the cold wafting in from the closing door that makes her shiver, nor tiredness overtaking her with a wave of dizziness.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[herr_bookman]

Autor was taking a headcount--and trying to ignore the mixture of relief and disappointment with each new person's arrival--when Rae finally, finally stumbled in. The boy lights up with a puzzled smile at her transformation, but frowns at her reaction to it.

He sets his list of captives aside and jogs on over to the door to offer a steady arm. "Welcome back, Rae."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[runningred]

"Rae? How... how are you?" And because he can't help himself. "You look amazing!"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

"Rae!"

This is Doctor Lecter, his usual plaid and paisley still looking a bit ruffled. "Did the Krampus take you as well?"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[1stwitness]

Ichabod doesn't want fresh clothes. His coat is comforting.

...the Captain America T-shirt, less so, but he's forgotten he's wearing it.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[sunbaked_baker]

"You got taken, too, Ichabod?" Rae says, wandering over. The bar has decked her out in the circlet Autor gave her for Solstice, as well as a very swishy red dress she obviously didn't pick out for herself. But she is firmly ignoring the dress, right now.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[runningred]

Jay finds a mug of coffee and a quiet corner to linger in, his guns hidden by his jacket. He nods and smiles to Ichabod. "The superhero look works on you."

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean does not want to go to a party. Indeed, he goes straight to his room to wash, and try to get sand out of his eyes. But he cannot stop the irritation, so after he is clean, and changed into clothes that make him respectable once more, he comes back down to find this infirmary he has heard spoken of.

He never sees a doctor. But he has to be able to leave this place in the state he arrived in. But no distaste registers as he knocks on the infirmary door.

'Hello?'

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Hannibal Lecter had been abducted as well, and now is in the infirmary to doctor a few small cuts on himself.

"Monsieur Valjean," he says, turning. "How can I help you?"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[patterns_bloom]

Alana had been running around the infirmary, familiarizing herself and marveling at the new technologies different worlds provide. And avoiding the rats entirely is much easier when they avoid you, she realizes, so she makes a concentrated effort to objectively observe them putting their hands all over everything.

Startled by Valjean's knock, she turns to the door. "Oh, hello," she says, and then pauses. "Are you looking for a member of the staff?"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral would have his magicite sword on his person (he doesn't particularly want to put it down), but taking weaponry to parties is rude.

Instead, lacking any clothes other than his armour or dress uniform that haven't recently been covered with yarn, automata parts, chunks of dead people and snow, Bar has provided him with a I Care About This Alot t-shirt and a pair of roughspun woollen trousers.

He isn't really joining the party properly just yet. His first port of call is to get a drink of warm whiskey from the Bar.

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[herr_bookman]

Autor sets his headcount list down and turns to greet his grim-faced friend, eye twitching at the T-shirt. It's a sort of a struggle not to say anything about it.

"Ho, Sherral," he says quietly. "How are you?"

Re: Arrivals & Reunions

[never_lost_faith]

There is a red-headed lady in black at the bar, ordering food and drink, as he approaches.

"Why would people from the future insist on drawing and writing upon their shirts?" she wonders, looking at Sherral.

Food & Drink

[herr_bookman]

A minimally-decorated table near the fire offers hot drinks for people to brace themselves: strong coffee, thick cocoa, and spicy wassail. Steam wafts from squash soup with toasted pumpkin seeds, potatoes with cheese fondue, and king cake near the drinks should one find themselves hungry.


Some of the rats have been instructed to stand by for further orders.

Re: Food & Drink

[damncompass]

At some point, Joshua notices that people are coming back, and nods to himself. Hopefully he helped, but before he can actually talk to anyone about this, he's distracted. Fondue!

So, one Joshua installed by the fondue. Hey, he hasn't had any since Geneva! Bar has decided that he needs to be in a dark suit with his Regent pin (Eye of Horus) on the lapel, and a tie with various scientific formulae on it.

Re: Food & Drink

[patterns_bloom]

"Nice tie," Alana remarks with a smile, pouring herself a bracing cup of coffee. Her last run-in with the Rat Which Was Bigger Than The Others, I Swear left her a bit shaken, though she'd never admit it.

"Hi, I'm Alana Bloom," she says, extending a hand. "Do you happen to know what kind of party I've stumbled into?"

Re: Food & Drink

[shufti]

The first order of business once Shufti got back with Enzo was getting the Krampus safe. After a check over from Guppy she had a nap for a bit before coming out.

The cheese potatoes smell good and she grabs a plate to eat while checking against her list that everyone is back.

Her badge is back on her front, and the loyal puppy is following her around as though never to let her out of his sight again.

[ooc: on nights so may be slow]

Re: Food & Drink

[street_sparrow]

Gavroche, who brought the puppy back from the House of Arch, approaches with a smile.

"He really missed you."

Re: Food & Drink

[jump_hella_high]

Alcohol. Precious life-giving alcohol. It's what superheroes crave.

Or something like that.

Forget the food; Wonderella's going straight for the drinks.

Mock the Krampus!

[anti_kringle]

Krampus, meanwhile, is sitting in a corner; his chains are joined up again, and he has lost his earlier power. He is sitting on the floor, looking glum and somewhat too hot with his thick fur. He still smells of smoke and wet sheep.

If you want to ask him what this was all about or simply give him a piece of your mind, or kick his furry behind, now is a good time -- soon, he will be celled, and later, banished.-

Re: Mock the Krampus!

[herr_bookman]

Autor pulls a chair up in front of the cage, braving the stench, to sit down and stare at the beast. He sips his tea calmly, trying to decide whether or not he despises the thing or pities it.

Re: Mock the Krampus!

[anti_kringle]

Somehow, the Krampus has aquired a thick woollen blanket with a Christmas motif, and he is half hiding underneath it, one horn snagged, one sticking out.

He hums to himself, which sounds horrible, like a bear trying to sing a Christmas carol.

Re: Mock the Krampus!

[jump_hella_high]

Oh, this is on.

She's been thinking about this since her capture--you don't just chain somebody up and put them through all of that. There are laws and customs and things. She's got a contract.

So she marches up to the cage to deliver her comeback: an icy "Neither is anorexia."

...oh wait, wrong enemy.

Maybe nobody'll notice. Act smooth, Dana.

Arrest

[anti_kringle]

About half-way through the evening, Shuftii and Enzo appear and lead the Krampus away, as he is definitely getting cell time.