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

[1stwitness]

"Well, you travel", Ichabod points out. "It can't be often you have the opportunity of a nice big bath."

[runningred]

"But when I do you have to pry me out of it. I'll soak till I'm a prune given the chance." Jay laughs. "So what else of modern times have you fallen in love with?"

[1stwitness]

"I'm rather fond of some of the modern devices. The ones to make coffee without all that fuss and trouble, especially."

[runningred]

Jay laughs warmly. "A man after my own heart. I've got a little portable coffee maker in my kit-bag. Can't go anywhere without my caffeine hit."

[1stwitness]

"And a bag of your grandfather's blend to go with it?"

[runningred]

Jay's smile falls and he goes quiet for a moment. "No. No, I haven't seen Alfred for four years. He... he doesn't know I'm alive."

[1stwitness]

"Oh, I'm sorry." He studies his friend's face. "I hadn't realized it was Alfred you meant."

[runningred]

"He... He's the closest thing I have to family. The only one I miss."

[1stwitness]

"But it would be too difficult to contact him without also running into the others?"

[runningred]

"Yeah, I doubt trying to keep that from Bruce would end well for either of us. I don't want to put him in that sort of situation."

[1stwitness]

"Quite a quandary", Ichabod agrees quietly.

[runningred]

"Nar." Jason sighs, "Just something I have to accept. Besides, Bar does amazing coffee too. She managed to get me some of the 'knock your socks off' strong stuff I've only ever had in Turkey."

[1stwitness]

"Oh yes, I've heard great things about Turkish coffee. Never visited, myself."

[runningred]

"Beautiful place. Great sprawling markets that sell anything you could ever want. Most of them have been running continuously for thousands of years. It's a place that wears it's history proudly, though drought and plenty, warm and peace time." He smiles, realising he's going on a bit. "I rather liked it there."

[1stwitness]

"But the urge to travel called you on again, so that you couldn't stay?" he asks.

[runningred]

"Work more than anything else but now that I'm freelancing, maybe I can go back. Spend some proper time there."

[1stwitness]

"I think you should", Ichabod agrees. "If you find a place you love, you should hold on to it. It might even become the place you settle in."

[runningred]

"Maybe. There was a nice little spot in Malta I kinda loved... Maybe that's way I should do. Find myself a little villa and settle down." It won't last but it's a nice dream.

[1stwitness]

"Perhaps one day. You may not be quite ready for it yet - but it's always rather nice to know somewhere belongs to you."

[runningred]

"Somewhere belongs to you." He repeats with a sigh. "Worth trying out I guess. First time in my life I have the money to do it, I guess."

[1stwitness]

"Then find a place you love - that spot in Malta, for example - and make a home there. Nothing says you must stay there all the time, but it would be there for you to return to."

[runningred]

"You make it sound so easy." Jay laughs, a little bitterly. "I'm going to need to hide it pretty well. Buy it thought a couple of shell companies." He muses, clearly already thinking through the logistics of it.

[1stwitness]

"Or pay in cash", he suggests. "Then it would be hard to trace with little need for subterfuge."

[runningred]

"Could do. I guess Bar is clever enough to be able to turn my assets into cash." He drums his fingers slowly. "Malta's a honest place but I'm sure I can find someone willing to deal without questions."

[1stwitness]

"For a large amount of money", Ichabod says wryly, "people will do a great many things, and this is a rather harmless one as they go."