Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nestled in the woods of Barton, overlooking the bountiful Bass'ken Lake now perfectly frozen over with patches of glistening white snow, is the quaint and cozy Evergreen Cottage Inn. Though more of a bed and breakfast type setting, the owners were more than happy to accommodate Lab 305's Christmas party this year. Don't think you have to stay the night, but if all the excitement has gotten you extra tired or you just don't feel like taking that long drive home, warm clean beds are available on the second floor for any who want to partake.


Though the outside may hold a certain rustic charm with its stone brick facade, the inside is quite large with a more modern touch. A fireplace blazes bright and inviting in the main room while an enormous fir tree sits opposite in one of the room's corners awaiting presents and decorations to adorn it other than the tiny twinkling lights already carefully wrapped around it. There's a small table next to it with many types of ornaments, yet the most unusual is the plain, white paper stars. A note taped to the table next to them explains that these are wishing stars. People need only write one wish down and place it on the tree in hopes of it coming true. ((*Note - Anyone who participates in the wishing stars must actually write within their RP post the wish itself.))


That's not all there is, off to the side of the main room is a smaller auxiliary room with a lovely grand piano for any who wish to sing a Christmas carol or two. Beware though, the entrance to this room is laced with mistletoe. So if you don't want to get stuck kissing a certain person, best stay clear of this room. Otherwise, pucker up!


Further on in one will eventually find themselves in the dining room with tables over-flowing with food and plenty of room to eat, drink and be merry! There's all the traditional Christmas dishes such as; ham, roast turkey, roast duck, roast beef, roast potatoes, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and much more! There's even a great selection of desserts and drinks; chocolate fudge, Christmas cookies, fruitcake, gingerbread, an assortment of pies from apple to pumpkin, pudding, yule log, apple cider, eggnog, hot buttered rum, hot chocolate, etc. Everything's set up buffet style, so take as much as you want! There's even a potluck spot for folks who brought their own dishes to share.

Fire up your browsers! And search for a photo of the worst Christmas sweater ever!
Place it in your introduction/opening post. If you're participating in this event then your character will have to actually wear the sweater to the party.
Only one character per person. If you have more than one character attending the party then you will need to pick one to enter into the sweater contest. Sorry no multiples.

Extra - Just in case.

((Adrian - Piano // Delia + Ebs - Tree))

An appropriately festive melody snaked its way through the air and into every nook and cranny of the inn as Adrian Shade glided his aged fingers across the ivory keys of the cottage's piano. It had been all too quiet with so few people around currently, thus the elder Brit had taken it upon himself to start building some merriment. Figured it would be a lovely way for others to enter the party, fire roaring, tree lights twinkling, the smell of delicious food off in the distance and all with a lovely accompaniment to tie it altogether. It painted a pretty picture in his head at least.

As for the Shade women, they were together next to the tree mulling over the decorations excitedly. An endearing moment that has rarely been seen in public until most recently. The sight of Ebony Shade smiling brightly.

"Oh oh! Ebby! Look! Wishing stars!" Cordelia bobbed up and down cheerfully, the green scarf Rivener had given her awhile back swaying with the movement over her black turtleneck shirt. Despite the cold, Christmas was her absolute favorite time of year. "What should I wish for?"

"You have just about everything you want and need Dove. How about wishing for peace on Earth?" Ebony laughed light, pushing her own lavender scarf back over her shoulders so she could write down her own wish. In a quick, stylish penmanship the Brit wrote, 'I wish for these happy days to never end, but to only get better.'

Delia just pouted. "That's no fun. What did you write?" The basilisk playfully grabbed at the purple haired woman's paper star.

Ebony laughed more and pushed Cordelia's face away so she couldn't see what she'd written. "Cut it out Cordelia! It won't come true if I tell you!"

"Then just let me see!!!" the girl argued laughing as well but still trying to get at the star.

((Cesc, Shep, Vivi -->> Entering the cabin, tag to Zurine))

"The second best?" echoed Cesc, holding out one arm to offer Zurine as they floated away from Shepard's truck and toward the cabin door. Even with her higher float, Cesc was still far 'taller' than the other frei, and from his vantage point he could easily admire the gentle cling of snowflakes to her skin and hair. It brought out a soft smile from Cesc, and he laughed a quiet, visible breath. "... this snow, it really does suit you."

"You already said that!" Shepard called behind him, almost to the door now, his arms still full of a laughing Vivi. He let her down on the brick pathway, shoveled clean of snow but still dusted with swirls of it.

"Yes, but it needed saying again," Cesc replied, following much more slowly, unable to stop admiring the surroundings. His eyes traced treetops and the landscape behind the cabin, all softly glittering with the light that emanated from the cabin itself. It was all so quiet, so light.

"Say it as much as you wish, it is only the truth! Little Zurine! You could be princess of this place, do you not think?" Vivi called from the cabin door, where she was wiping the snow from Shepard's shoulders as the taller man shook the snow roughly from his boots. That done, she twisted open the cabin door, letting light and warmth and softly played music spill out into the cold. "Come in for some cocoa, lovelies, when you are ready!"

(( Luka - Dining Room ))

Luka paused, he could hear the amount of noise steadily increasing within the cabin as more people arrived. The thought of seeing people from the lab family made him nervous. He was excited to see them, and yet... he was anxious. It was a deep simmering unease crawling under his skin, just like the chill outside the cabin that permeated into his core on his trek to the cabin.

He'd arrived earlier than most, and he'd taken a moment to spend some quiet time to himself before coming down to the dining room. He'd slowly work his way throughout the cabin and see all the people he'd run into.

Eyes mulled with unneeded stress, the Satyr took a deep breath. He'd be fine. Grabbing his glass of water, Luka couldn't help but frown ever so lightly. He could do this... It was just talking to people.

For a second, he really wished his guardian had stayed.

Murmuring words of encouragement to himself, Luka slowly floated into the room with the Christmas tree. Already, there were a number of people. He could spot Cordelia and a purple-haired woman, along with a blue-haired girl (?) Raevan he'd never seen before who appeared to be talking to her guardian. It made sense to approach Cordelia first as he was already familiar with the basilisk.

Nevertheless, Luka's attention was shaken when the cabin's door opened with a loud thump to bring in the newest guests. His copper orbs locked on the door to see just who would enter, and they flickered vibrantly for a second upon hearing that unforgettable voice belonging to Vivi. He couldn't see her from his spot, but it made him wonder. Had Cesc come with Vivi as well? He couldn't hear the Stag's voice but the deep thrumming in this chest made him almost certain that the Dawn raevan was near.