Winter log

[faithfulsupport]

Who: Everyone!
What: Open Log
When: December
Where: The Hunter's Lodge
Warnings: N/A
Notes: This is a mingle log, so people are free to set up their own TLs under it. So tag in and tag around!


Snow has fallen outside and while it's not heavy it's set just enough down to gently cover the wooden benches and ground outside. The chairs have been removed but the lanterns are still out and lit (as well as the little lights that have been replaced with more festive ones) if people want to walk around outside and have private chats among the snow, the trees and the lighting.


Potluck - Food is all around. Got a story about how the food you brought is part of a long standing family tradition? So much the better! But Ignis for his part has been researching and working on bringing the foods he's heard about. So here you'll find an appetizer platter along with a cream cheese tree, turkey, ham, his version of the Crown City roast, stuffing balls, roasted potatoes and roasted vegetables, and of course a few different desserts.

So you can find him making sure the table is decked out in christmas colours and full of food. But as he sets the last appetizer tree down on the table, he nods. "Quite glad to see that you could make it."


Trim a tree A small group of freshly cut green trees are sitting in a corner with room to go around the back. Simple lights are already in place, but there are ornaments with hooks sitting in silent invitation to decorate the tree and gather around as well as different coloured garland too.

But there's plenty of supplies and being able to decorate a tree with Nida last year was all sorts of fun as it will be again this year. So the advisor is definitely happy that nature can come inside at least temporarily.

Ignis stands back and takes a look at the trees with a satisfied sort of nod. "I suppose after the holiday, I will see about replanting it outside." Turning to his guest, there's an easy smile. "It won't do to simply throw it away do you think?"


Gift exchange - Gifts aren't required, but people are free to do so. This can be as private or as public as wished! The royal strategist is busy arranging gifts under the tree, trying to make some sense as to how they should be grouped, so he's on his knees trying to keep the order straight. As soon as someone approaches, he acknowledges their presence with a smile. "Would you mind handing me that blue wrapped gift sitting on the chair right next to you?"


Wild card- Dancing? Snowball fights outside? Feel free to make up a thing here!

Comments

[brotherofagod]

"To give the good boy's and girl's presents. He went around to a lot of houses. I don't know if he was real or not." Jake assumed not but after learning about his sister it felt foolish ruling it out. "But there were always presents in the morning."

He paused his nibbling and attempt to elaborate. "Santa is known to spread cheer and happiness."

Jacob held up another one of the cookies that he'd stashed in his pocket. It was not cooked by him. "Here."

Pocket cookies!

[skyward_eyes]

A stranger breaks into houses to give them gifts? That... sounded seriously suspect to him.

"People don't tend to spread cheer and happiness with criminal activity. I'd probably try and kick his ass."

Cookies though he'd take. He smiles and accepts on and nibbles on it.

[brotherofagod]

Jake can't help but laugh at the thought of Santa and Nida fighting. He knew how strong Nida was but he had a weird feeling that Santa would kick his ass. After all, Santa would have been thousands of years old.

"Well, it's a tradition. So he'd only come if you wanted him and followed the tradition." He shrugged. "Santa knows those sort of things. I also think that my parents used him to make sure we were good all year round." Not that it worked. Jacob had the tendency to cause trouble as a child, as young boys do.

"Do you celebrate any holidays?" He wasn't sure, knowing that Nida was raised as a warrior.

[skyward_eyes]

Santa WOULD kiss his ass. The guy was CLEARLY a Sorcerer, or Nida would say that if he knew what Santa was like.

"Well, I wouldn't want him to come," Nida said, frowning. "I don't like breaking in that I'm not doing. But if he only exists as a scary story, then I worry about parents."

Celebrate holidays?

"The turning of the year mostly. We don't have a lot of things worth celebrating back home actually."

[brotherofagod]

Jacob couldn't help but smile. "Parent's are always trying to find ways to teach their kids to be good. Not that I listened much as a kid but it was good in a way. It taught me that the world is bigger than the small area I lived in." And as a small child it was difficult to see all the lives around you.

"Really? Do you like celebrating? I only found it stressful as an adult but I liked it when I was a kid." That was back before he had any responsibilities. Now he had to think of ways to celebrate or gifts to give.

He really wasn't a good gift giver.

[skyward_eyes]

Was that truly how it worked with parents? Nida barely remembered his own, so he couldn't say that they were like that.

"The world is always bigger than it seems. Even here. And I celebrate it for a tangental reason," Nida answered. The New Year's Eve was his birthday after all. "I tended to work for it though."

[brotherofagod]

"Same. I used to get yelled at when I worked through holidays." His adopted family forced him to celebrate and accept their affection; even when Jacob didn't want to. It was annoying at times but he was grateful. He didn't know where he'd be without them.

"Anyway, it's good to see you here and not working." Jake didn't celebrate his birthday either. "Unless you are and I don't know it." He grinned, keeping the conversation light and fitting to the holidays.

[skyward_eyes]

"Seeing as my work was contracted, I think I'd be yelled at if I hadn't," Nida answered with a shrug. "And this isn't my birthday."

He is scheduled for his birthday and he'd mostly asked ignis to respect that too. The idea of having that day to himself was... weird.

[brotherofagod]

"I don't think I know your birthday. When is it?" Not that Jacob could think of something to get to Nida for his birthday but it'd still be nice to know. Maybe he could make Nida something to let him know how important their friendship was to him.

"Mines in August but I don't celebrate it."

Celebrating birthdays was awkward.

[skyward_eyes]

And here it was, Jacob would likely make a big deal out of it. All Nida wanted to do was sigh, but he thought he'd have to let it go.

"January 31st. And this is where people bemoan me working that day."

[brotherofagod]

Jacob shrugs. "You're the birthday boy. If that's what you want I won't stop you but if you want something let me know. I'm not a big birthday person." It made him think of his mother which quickly snowballed into a collection of depressing memories and thoughts.

"I also suck at giving presents." He hasn't had a lot of practice with that sort of thing. Unless Nida wants a toy. He definitely remembers buying friends toys through grade school.

[skyward_eyes]

"That's fair. I sort of have issues with it as well, for my husband. But I keep trying to do my best to impress him."

He smiles and shakes his head. That was just how life was.

[brotherofagod]

"If you're married, I bet you don't have to try so hard." Jacob teased before glancing over the party.

He saw Yuki and after a shy smile he bowed his head. "If you'll excuse me. There is someone I need to say hello too."

[skyward_eyes]

Why wouldn't he have to try so hard?

"Every day I reach to try and make him love me a little more. That's what we are to each other. That much love is never enough. I want more. I feel alive in his love."

What, he's like that. But Nida follows Jacob's glance and smiles. He raises a hand and gestures for Jacob to go.

"Have fun."