It was perhaps something of a risk for those who decided to come. Servants of order of all walks, from Knights and Cats to Senshi, invited (and encouraged to take civilian form due to the still lingering taint of terrorism applied by Tag Swagger's deliberately biased reporting.)
Thanks to many helpers, tables and heaters and food had been set up as evening began to fall, and the early onset of night found the center of the park illuminated with camping lights and heaters, and tables laden down with food heated by outdoor heaters to keep the cold at bay. It was a bit... fairy tale on a budget, with the snow trampled by the feet of those who had put in the extensive work to make it possible, but Holi Jones was quite proud of herself, and of them, when they were finally ready, though she couldn't help adjusting the display of her home made chocolate-marzipan cats for about the hundredth time as she waited for some of the others to begin to drift in.
"...We got everything labeled right? I think there was a couple allergies... And then there was the Secret Sant... Secret Senshi..."
Welcome to our RP! If you are an order character and would like to join, please post Here and join us!And thanks to everyone who signed up to make this possible! <3
Quicksilver the Archangel
Sunshine Alouette
Guine
Carneli
<3
Bluefire Dragonz
LizzyMoo
the_scowling_cat
Silverah
Kailey Koreco
litian
baby_gwing
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 6:10 am
"I hope we have" Arian said quietly to Holi as he stared at the tables of food with a thoughtful look on his face.
His contribution food-wise had been three batches of cupcakes, a toffee apple batch, a chocolate batch and a batch made up of brown sugar and cinnamon and a hint of ginger and nutmeg in honour of the time of year.
It looked good though, all laid out like it was, with the camping lights set out and giving the whole thing a cozy glow. "You wouldn't happen to know where I need to put this would you?" he added, the this referring to a little neatly wrapped box containing the snowflake pendant on a black ribbon that he'd made up earlier in the morning - his contribution to the secret senshi santa.
"I... kept a little space down at that end, I don't know how many people are coming but the presents are supposed to be cheap so I kind of figured they wouldn't be very big... we can find someplace else to put them if we have to but let's start there." Holi offered, adding. "Ugh, those cupcakes look amazing. People had better get here soon or I'm going to eat all of them She threatened, flashing a grin.
litian
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 9:33 am
Keren - alias Megiddo Page, although she'd left her gothic frills out of site in whatever metaspace uniforms and weapons went to when they weren't being worn- hadn't quite turned up early enough to help set up, despite claiming that she would. Her part in all this was the secret senshi game, and she reasoned that wouldn't start until people started arriving. In one hand, the tall girl held a fruit platter full of cut-up melons and berries. In the other, she held a fish bowl, which had a wrapped package and dozens of little strips of paper inside it.
"Um, I brought this," she said, holding the platter out to Holi. "You're the girl in charge, right? I think Pasi- Penelope's been our go-between, mostly."
Once she was relieved of the fruit tray, either because it had been taken from her or she'd been shown where to put it down, Keren held up the fish bowl and rustled its contents. "This is for the secret senshi game," she explained. "So people know what order to pick gifts in. Should I just go put it down at the end with the rest of the presents?" It seemed like a fair bet.
She glanced around the party setup. Despite being a bit on the garish side (to her tastes, anyway), it was clear to her that a lot of work had gone into the setup, and the heaters were a welcome intervention against the winter chill. Maybe she could even take off her coat later! (A purple, plaid, double-breasted number she'd picked up in some impulsive black friday shopping.) "You guys, um, you really outdid yourselves," she said, smiling. "So I'll just go put this stuff down?"
Ryuthulhu
Litian
Keren's Gift
It's a bottle of sparkly, metallic nail polish, deep purple in color, wrapped up in a ridiculous amount of tissue paper and ribbon. A very girly gift.
Secret Senshi Rules
IC, this will be run as a white elephant gift exchange - Person number one opens a gift. The next person has the option of taking their gift or opening a new gift. If they take the previous person's gift, that person opens a new gift instead. The next person has the option of taking any of the previous gifts or opening a new gift, so on and so forth... This would obviously be a very time consuming game to actually play out, so unless there is a great deal of evidence that people would like to do anything to the contrary, we will be determining who goes home with what package at the end of the night via RNG.
Each gift will be assigned a number. Each participating character will generate a number and receive the gift matching that number. If the number you generate is already claimed, you will round up to the next available number. If there are no higher numbers still available, you will round down. Numbers are first-come, first-serve.
Should your character be unhappy with their gift at the end of the night, you may attempt to exchange it via IC methods after the end of the "game."
If Paris was nervous simply helping to set up this little shindig, it was nothing compared to what she felt when people started to arrive.
She was social by nature, chipper, talkative, frequently bubbly and occasionally obnoxious (either because she tried to be or because the way her voice carried tended to grate on some people's nerves), and usually had no issues with carrying on a conversation with a complete stranger. And yet when it came to the people who were supposed to be her allies her behavior became notably subdued. As Ganymede, if she wasn't muttering to herself in some corner somewhere or mouthing off to the annoyance of the general assemblage, she was quietly keeping to herself.
This evening she could at least make excuses for her nervousness. Despite the fact that the first to arrive did so as civilians, she could not help but worry that their attempt at a party would attract some unwanted attention. The truth—or rather the additional explanation—was that she had no idea how to act around these people out of fuku. She'd thought attending as civilians would make things easier; instead, her mind raced with any number of concerns. (“Who are they, I wonder? Have we met before? Argued? Did I ever manage to offend them? Can they tell who I am? Should I even bother opening my big mouth?”)
It made mingling very difficult, and the smile on her face looked a bit tense and forced.
To make up for her awkwardness (she could only hope it was temporary), Paris ambled about the food tables and focused on piling her plate high with a number of sweets she doubted she'd be able to finish considering how the stress tended to affect her appetite. Every once in a while she'd chance a look around to try and figure out if anyone looked familiar before deeming it a lost cause.
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 5:00 am
"Thanks" said Arian as Holi complimented the cupcakes he brought, moving to lay his secret santa senshi contribution in the spot indicated. "All of it looks good and I really like the cats that you've made up." Cats which, even with his sweet tooth looked almost too good to eat - almost.
He gave a slight but friendly smile as a tall, well taller than him (which wasn't that hard), purple-haired girl (Keren) approached, although she seemed to be directing her question mostly to Holi and so instead he looked over towards a blonde (Paris), who was over by the food table, remembering her as one of the ones who had helped to set up, although like the purple-haired girl it was his first time seeing her - at least like this. "Hi I'm Arian, Arian Laith." He offered quietly as he walked over and reached out to help himself to one of the sandwiches, it relatively quiet at the moment, not many of them there.
He had as promised to Holi sent a message about the event out to those who he had in his senshi phone, including to his PSSG team mates, so he was hoping that some of them would also decide to turn up.
"Oh right, um... Yeah that makes sense. Arian and I put our gifts down there, so I guess it would make sense to put the bowl close by." Holi offered to Keren. "Thanks for organizing that." She added, offering a warm smile to the purple haired girl before turning her attention onward, hoping to help Paris warm up.
"It's ok." She assured Paris. "Everything is going fine so far..."
She understood being nervous about the whole thing, even if her reasons were different. She knew almost none of the other people fighting for the same Cause, and she wanted to change that. She wanted a bit to recapture that brief flare of defiant unity she'd seen on the Surrounding... only without the combat part.
"Oh right, um, please help yourself!" She added to Keren in after thought. People could be anxious about being the first ones at the buffet, but once the ice was broken, things were usually fine.
litian
sorry, had to fix some code-tags X_X
Silverah
Sunshine Alouette
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 7:44 am
People were slowly starting to show up, and Chris took the opportunity while it was still rather uneventful to fish out the bin of blankets from the backseat of his car, as well as his guitar. With the instrument safely strapped across his back, he hoisted up the bin, shut the car door, and made his way back to where the food tables were. He figured that would be the best spot for people to find the blankets, should they want to use one. There was about a dozen, so hopefully that was enough. If not, he always had his coat he could lend out.
“Holiday, is there anything else you need right now?” he called over to her once he’d done his small part in setting up, glad that he hadn’t ruined anything just yet. Instead, he took off and readjusted his guitar, holding it in front so he could make sure it was tuned.
He smiled at the young woman’s compliment about the set up, “Holiday really did a good job, didn’t she? Chris Gallo,” he said, following up with an introduction, offering his hand to the purple clad woman. “So only senshi get to play, huh? No knights?” he joked as his grin widened.
Ryuthulhu
Silverah
Guine
Crew
Lonely Explorer
Offline
Sunshine Alouette
Eternal Senshi
Offline
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 8:23 am
Arian's approach was not entirely unwelcome, but it took Paris a few moments to return the greeting. She performed her usual survey, peering closely at Arian as a means of examining his features and attempting to break through whatever magic protected their identities in an effort to recognize him, but this failed like all her previous attempts, and she probably ended up looking rather foolish (and maybe a bit creepy).
“Paris,” she said, and mentally kicked herself for forgetting to follow with her surname. In her defense, it had never been a habit that stuck. “Gallo,” she added after a brief pause.
Her smile managed to warm somewhat at Holi's reassurance, though to try and claim that Paris's nervousness had abated would be a lie. “Sorry, I...” she began, but came to a stop when she realized she didn't quite know how she meant to explain herself. “Previous experiences have been... uh... strained, I guess. Mostly my fault, but... this is a nice change.”
No one had to know who she was if she didn't want them to, and she didn't have to know who they were either. It was a chance for better introductions and new beginnings. That, at least, was an attractive prospect.
“It's not every day we get to do things like this,” she said, and tried to settle herself more comfortably into conversation with both Arian and Holi. “Not that there's ever been a very good chance, but... maybe this'll help with Senshi to Senshi relations. Or Knight or... you know what I mean. We haven't always been the most inclusive bunch.”
litian
Ryuthulhu
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 11:24 am
"Arian!" Orah called as she made her way into the park, a bright smile on her face, boxes in both arms. Thankfully, she had recognized at least one person here, and he was by the food table, which was her first destination.
The boxes in her left hand were food. They were buns with filling, still steaming in the cool air. One was marked 'meat', while the other was marked 'veggie'. The one box in her right hand was small, square, and meant for the present table.
"Hello, everyone." The teen said as she smiled around the group by Arian. "Nice to meet you. I'm Orah." Hopefully, more people she knew would show up, or she'd get to know the ones here that she didn't know. Either way, she was happy to get a chance to socialize with her peers.
"No problem," said Keren breezily to Holi. Penelope had done most of the legwork on their project, but seeing as the other girl wasn't here yet, she was more than happy to take all the credit and get things started. Speaking of, the game could basically run itself for a while while people were just showing up and putting their gifts down, so she was going to go socialize!
At the hostess's behest, she made a stop by the buffet table and started to pluck goodies onto her plate. While she knew she'd hate herself later if she didn't pace herself, there were so many things that looked good right now and Keren didn't want to risk missing out on anything. She helped herself to a marzipan cat immediately, certain that those would go fast, and then deliberated over the cupcake selection until she was interrupted by Chris Gallo introducing himself.
"Excuse you," she said slyly, shaking the offered hand. "I'm a knight. Megiddo of Saturn. Keren's good right now, though." Although the surrounding had been years ago, should couldn't help but wonder if any of her protectors during that final battle were here, wrapped up in their human faces. She'd never thanked any of them besides Pasiphae, and it was, perhaps, overdue.
"It's secret senshi because Santa is Christian-centric," she explained, in practiced tones that suggested this speech had been perfected in front of her bathroom mirror this morning - because it had been. "Penelope and I decided that it would be safer to make the game's name into an inside joke than risk alienating people with different customs and religious practices. Participation is open to anyone, so long as they've brought an appropriate gift to contribute! Now, if you'll excuse me for a second, I think I saw something delicious that I need to try."
Slipping away from Chris, Keren flitted over towards Orah and the trays of buns she'd just put down. Helping herself to one of the ones marked meat, Keren dropped it daintily onto her plate beside the delicate cat and said, "Keren. Pleasure. If that's for the gift exchange-" she indicated the wrapped box with her free hand "-then you can put it over by the fish bowl."
Ryuthulhu
Guine
Bluefire Dragonz
Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 6:41 pm
Zia's arrival had been a stubborn display of trying not to show the very obvious limp in her step. The laceration from her super awesome nega encounter had been stitched up, wrapped, and layered under several things, but the way it affected her stride was a clear indication it still existed, no matter badly she tried to pretend it didn't.
After pulling up in the familiar and increasingly abused Impala, she exited and adjusted her coat. Dark, double breasted bouclé paired with heels 'borrowed' from Caroline's extensive collection, Zia had apparently jumped right back into the high life with almost no adjustments after moving in with her mother.
She walked, or hobbled, at least, over to the group just in time to hear the purple girl (Keren) say something about Santa Claus and even though Zia's smile stayed plastered on her face, her eyes lidded just a bit with the dripping sarcasm she said a little too loudly.
"Well you sound super fun," And while she was being an attention whore, she just make a brash wave towards the Gallos with a loud, "Hi!" figuring that was the best way to gloss over her recent adventure of nearly-getting-Chris-killed-again thing.
It was Holi she eventually latched on to. Physically, not socially, as standing was getting to be too much of a painful annoyance she alleviated by grabbing on to the poor girl and leaning her weight against her with a whine. "Hi, babycakes," She sighed, giving Holi's hair a familiar pet before she reached behind her to grab a marzipan cat and cram in her mouth. She only had one free hand, but after it had been satisfied with stealing food, it reached into her purse, which was a large and mysterious thing usually tasked with carrying binders, files, and a full make up kit on work days and to meetings. But tonight, she dug into it and produced a bottle 2005 Dalla Valle Cabernet.
"So I brought booze. This is the classy crap, but there's a bottle of cheap vodka too, if anyone around here's a cheap date," She said like she was making conversation. Totally just trying to be informative and not stall standing upright on her own again.
"Thought I'd be charitable and cover multiple bases, yanno?"
"Zia!" Holi latched on to the older woman with great enthusiasm, turning open her arms in an open invitation for a huge hug. "Zee it's so nice to see you! And you finally get to try one of those ******** cats!"
Holi hadn't dropped any swear bombs for awhile... but right this second she was willing to make an exception, with a bright spark of annoyance flickering into her eyes.
"...Excuse YOU but people who haven't met you don't know you're a knight, and I will..." Her voice took on a sing song tone that would only be mistaken for sweet by the unwary. "END the first person to engage in Santa Wank, Christianity Wank, or any form or religion wank. OK? We're just here to relax not shame people for cracking a joke over what we name a GIFT exchange."
Besides, her princess shared a name, and possibly more, with a mythological devourer of gods. Senshi weren't exempt from religious ties, just by their nature.
Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 10:32 am
"You're the only one in uniform, Iris..."
"...Like I give a damn... the invite said I could come like this... otherwise I wouldn't have come in the first place..." A tall blonde senshi meandered over towards the end of the table with a small watch-sized box and a chubby cat dangling from her arms. She seemed undeterred by the fact she was the only one in uniform. Her own gift was quite unexciting, a gift card to one of her favorite places to eat. However, didn't mean she had to let on that she knew it was lame.
She managed to notice one annoyance by the name of Zia talking to a pale haired girl, but the rest of the people were unfamiliar to her, which in a sense was good. Once she saw the pile of gifts, she plopped her box down and the cat.
"...you know, it wouldn't hurt to relax... or smile every so often..." The manx seemed to circle Iris' gift before settling in as well, haunches planting down against the table.
A half smile formed as Iris crossed her arms. "...if I relax too much, yer gonna raid the food and leave nothin' fer anybody else... just sayin'..."
Arian had blinked a little as the blonde had stared him, but smiled slightly when she had eventually introduced herself. He had personally made the decision that he wasn't going to try and see if he could somehow guess the powered identities of any of the civilians that turned up, after all Tony Darrow, someone who he tended to see fairly regularly had turned out to be Camelot and he hadn't had a clue until the other had powered down in front of him.
"It's nice to meet you Paris" Arian wasn't the loudest person, but his quiet voice was friendly as nodded to the other as he agreed with her statement about them having not being the most inclusive bunch with a simple "Yes I know what you mean."
His smile widened slightly and his face brightened as a familiar voice called out his name, genuine pleasure in his voice as he called out "Evening Orah, glad you could make it." Before adding as he looked from Paris to Orah "Paris this is Orah, one of my friends and Orah this is Paris - we've just met just now." Noticing the boxes in the slightly taller girl's hands he moved as he spoke to see if he could help her with them.
