[ open ] for i've grown a little leaner, grown a little colder, grown a little sadder

[holyshihtzu]

Who: Juliet O'Hara + You
Where: Juliet's room
When: December 1st-4th
Rating: PG
Summary: Juliet is getting into the Christmas spirit early by hosting a little get-together at her place. Network video and party post below the cut!
The Story:

[ ✹ .002 [ video ] ]

Happy December, Wonderland!

[ Juliet offers a brilliant, if somewhat strained, smile to the network. The camera isn't directly aimed at her face at first--she's still getting used to video chatting--but she reaches out to adjust it quickly before continuing. ]

I know not everyone here celebrates Christmas or... Even knows what Christmas is, but! In the O'Hara household, Christmas is a big deal. I mean, I really big deal. All my family comes in and there are games, and arts and crafts, and a ton of food...

[ People probably get the idea, Juliet. ]

So! I know things always get really crazy during the holidays anyway and I wanted to get on top of things so I'm having a little pre-Christmas get together at my place. So whether or I know you or not, come by room three on the seventh floor anytime over the next few days and I promise we'll have a lot of fun. Open door policy.

[ She pauses. ]

Not literally. Knock first.

[ room 3, level 7 ]

Juliet has gone all-out for the holidays, as an O'Hara is wont to do. With no financial limits and no job to distract her, she's put everything into decorating her place. Anyone walking past room three on the seventh floor will be greeted immediately with an timely wreath and equally festive doormat.

The decorations don't stop there. Juliet has decked the halls to the point that they are bursting, having even extended her living room quite a bit to accommodate food, fun, and hopefully a lot of guests. Every wall is decorated with some kind of garland, wreath, or lights. She's even got a sprig of mistletoe hanging in the corner for any couples who visit that might be so inclined.

And, of course, there is the the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room.

Anyone who visits will also be greeted by an unimaginable spread of food from cookies, cakes, and various snacks to some traditional Scottish fare like mince pies. There's another corner table dedicated to just Christmas crafts, from cutting out paper snowflakes to sewing Holiday themed pajamas.

Maybe it's a little early to go full out, but Juliet couldn't wait. Christmas is her favorite time of year and she hopes that getting to it early will help her miss her family less - and maybe help her find a new family in Wonderland.

[ This is a party/mingle post! Feel free to top level and tag out with other people, or just thread with Juliet, or just respond to her network post if you so desire. Have fun and get into the holiday spirit before shit goes down! ]

Comments

[bloodmagics]

[Sorry, Juliet. He takes a breath, having realised how... strong he was coming on there.]

It's not a thing in my world, and my only exposure to it is the yearly chaos Wonderland throws at us.

[holyshihtzu]

Oh. I mean, that makes perfect sense. This is my first Christmas in Wonderland so I wouldn't know what to expect.

[ Although, now she is glad to have jumped on it the way she did. The last thing she needs is Wonderland ruining it for her with whatever their Christmas equivalent to freaky, slave-driving pumpkin heads would be. ]

[bloodmagics]

It's been different every year. One year we all shared dreams of a strange future where we only remembered Wonderland. Last year, the mansion turned into... gingerbread, I think it was called? And nobody could get hurt.

[It was, in a word, weird.]

But if it's meant to be a good thing, I'm disappointed in Wonderland. More than usual.

[holyshihtzu]

Well, the gingerbread one doesn't seem so bad.

[ Weird, sure, but if nobody could get hurt, that was a plus, right? ]

I think it's easy to be disappointed in Wonderland. It doesn't exactly seem to have our best interests at heart.

[bloodmagics]

Have you ever bled candy syrup?

[He has.]

Sometimes it does, and that's the worst part about it, I think. [A pause.] I didn't introduce myself, I'm Garrett Hawke, Champion of Kirkwall.

[He clears his throat.]

Hard habit to break, even if you have no idea what I'm talking about.

[holyshihtzu]

Um, no, and I hope I don't ever get the chance.

[ That just sounds so weird and messy. ]

I have no idea what you're talking about but that's okay! I'm getting used to it. I'm Juliet.

[bloodmagics]

It's nice to meet you.

[Look, he can appreciate anybody who maintains a cheerful mood in Wonderland, especially after a weird event like that.]

So, if Christmas isn't meant to be awful, what... is it? If you don't mind me asking.

[holyshihtzu]

[ Juliet is usually cheerful, but she's trying a lot harder in Wonderland. It's either stay cheerful or crawl into a corner and cry, and she's not doing that. ]

I think it's different things for different people, but for me? It's about being with your family and the people you love and enjoying their company.

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke hums in thought.]

See, why couldn't Wonderland just do something with that? I'm all for that meaning of it. Throwing a party for it certainly makes more sense now that I know that.

[holyshihtzu]

Wonderland not doing that is probably the point. For a place that will give us free food and clothes and rooms that we can design to look like whatever we want, it doesn't exactly seem to want to make us feel particularly welcome most of the time.

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke concedes the point with a sigh.]

You're probably right. Which just makes it all the weirder, because it seems like it wants to settle in and stay. Not that we really have a choice, but Wonderland doesn't exactly care about that.

[holyshihtzu]

All it cares about is taking our memories, from what I understand. Maybe making us complacent is just a side-effect of sucking our brains dry.

[ She grimaces a little at that. It's a cruel trick. ]

[bloodmagics]

Maybe. Sometimes I wonder if it's worth trying to understand Wonderland.

[Hawke frowns, and then it shifts into an apologetic smile.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to bring the mood down. It's a party, I should be acting like it!

[holyshihtzu]

[ Juliet returns the smile. ]

I'd love to figure out more about Wonderland, but maybe after Christmas. Everyone deserves to get into the Christmas spirit even if we're stuck here. [ They can get back to more serious things later. ] So, do you want to come? To my party?

[bloodmagics]

Yeah! Yeah, definitely. I'll be there soon. [A beat.] Should... Is there anything I should bring?

[He is completely unsure of the etiquette here.]

[holyshihtzu]

[ Usually she would suggest something, but she doesn't want to overload him with too many Christmas traditions, so this time she'll let it slide. ]

No. Just yourself! I have plenty here to keep you occupied.

fade out for new stuff?

[bloodmagics]

[Bless you, Juliet. Maybe next time.]

If you're sure. [He wouldn't know what to bring, anyway.] I'll see you soon!

sounds good!

[holyshihtzu]

I'm sure. See you soon!

[ And she signs off because now she has to quickly prepare to show him all of the amazing Christmas things that she can! ]