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

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Lecter once more peers into Valjean's eye with that light, looking very closely; then, he picks up a piece of a gauze that might be either cloth, or paper, but is fully neither, dabs that into the water, twists it, says "Please keep still for a moment," pulls down the lower lid on that eye, and very skilfully cleans something from the lower lid.

"Now the other eye," he says, bringing another of those soft little cups.

[road_to_calvary]

He nods without words or expression, and starts the whole thing again. He thinks nothing, and feels nothing. It is just another thing to be done, though he would rather do it on his own.

[cook_the_rude]

And after some more minutes, the doctor takes the cup away and repeats the examination with the small light, and the dabbing with the odd white gauze.

[road_to_calvary]

'Is it done?'

This proximity of a person he does not trust makes him a little more brusque than he would normally be, and he is disappointed with himself yet again.

'Apologies, monsieur. It is a little uncomfortable, that is all.'

Never mind that far larger discomforts have not irritated him so in the past.

[cook_the_rude]

"Let me just make sure that all the sand is gone," Dr. Lecter says, slowly and conscientiously peering into both Valjean's eyes again, with his little light.

[road_to_calvary]

He sits still, and allows the man to do his job. It is what it is.

[cook_the_rude]

It takes several minutes before Dr. Lecter declares that all the sand is done.

"Now, one last thing, I'll apply some eye drops to stop the irriation, or it would feel as iif the sand was still there, and you might instinctively keep rubbing, and make your eyes worse," he adds, reaching for a tiny bottle. "Look up!"

[road_to_calvary]

He would ask what sort of drops, but decides that it does not matter. Sitting here is sapping his energy, and the eyes are exhausted from all the abuse, and then treatment. He would give a lot to be able to sleep. So, again, he does as he is told, and loos up.

[cook_the_rude]

From the little bottle, the doctor drops a dollop of liquid into each eye. After initial irriation, it will very soon soothe and calm the pain very nicely.

"Better?"

[road_to_calvary]

He blinks once or twice. The relief is a very nice thing, even for a man who usually eschews such things.

'Yes. Thank you, Doctor Lecter. I appreciate you taking the time, particularly if you also were stolen by the creature.'

[cook_the_rude]

"Oh, that is not a problem," Dr. Lecter says. "My companion and I did not have to brave any deserts, merely climb furniture and the like. I am quite well."

Pause.

"I cannot honestly imagine what the creature would have wanted with us; but I understand it was misled, and is quite stupid."

[road_to_calvary]

'It did not seem to have a large vocabulary,' he says, as he stands.

'But all is well, now. I hope it will not do it again, once it is explained that it is against the rules here.'

[cook_the_rude]

"I heard talk that they might banish it," Dr. Lecter says, "an unprecedented move, apparently, as it may be too dense to even understand the rules. It almost makes me sorry for the poor monster."

[road_to_calvary]

Valjean stops still, and frowns.

'They cannot, then,' he says, blankly.

'If it is short of understanding, it cannot simply be dismissed from a place. If it has not been done before, then why should such a precedent be set now? That is unjust in the extreme.'

[cook_the_rude]

"Should they keep it in a cage indefinitely?" Dr. Lecter says. "I think they have something in the cells, a machine being of some kind, that cannot be let go. Banishment is much better, in that case."

[road_to_calvary]

'Has it been asked if it will renounce its ways, and live peacefully?'

To his mind, this is like throwing a disabled child to the streets, because one cannot understand what it desires.

'Is it known whether it has a home at all?'

[cook_the_rude]

"I honestly have no idea," Dr. Lecter says. "Father Christmas might, as the Krampus is his disciplinarian companion, in Alpine myth. Presumably, even a Krampus lives somewhere through the year. And no, I don't know if it has been asked that, either. It didn't show any signs of understanding when it dragged me away, that is all I can tell."

[road_to_calvary]

He did not see many signs of understanding either, and Javert certainly shouted enough.

Then again, few people show signs of anything but terror when Javert shouts at them.

'I will find someone, and ask.'

He bows, abruptly.

'Thank you, doctor. for the information, and the aid.'

[cook_the_rude]

"You are welcome," Dr. Lecter says. "The monster is either chained in the bar-room, or has been moved to the cells, as far as I can tell. Perhaps you can make sense of it."

[road_to_calvary]

'Perhaps.'

He has no hope in that direction. But maybe if he tries with one of the people who have it imprisoned.

He leaves, to find someone and ask.

[cook_the_rude]

"Good luck," Dr. Lecter says from where he is putting things away as Valjean leaves the infirmary.-