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((Adrian - Piano (still playing btw) // Delia + Ebs - Tree))

The smoke Raevan huffed loudly with frustration when she couldn't pry the paper star out of her guardian's hands, instead having to watch with crossed arms as Ebony climbed up a set of mobile stairs next to the tree so she could affix it to the fir. Like that was gonna stop her from seeing what the purple haired Brit had written. She'd just buy her time, wait until Ebby's attention was otherwise preoccupied and then float on up there and read what it said later.

Speaking of attention, hers was suddenly focused on the blueish Raevan that had just come up and placed a gift under the tree. Cordelia's eyes were wide with concern and disbelief that anyone would willingly wear something as hideous as the sweater this one wore now, most especially in public! Quickly, before the sea fairy caught her staring, Delia averted her gaze elsewhere and fiddled with her scarf.

Coming back down the stairs, Ebony had caught the tuft of blue hair and smiled. "Sevilin! It's been a long time since I last saw you. How are you?" Smile faltering for just a moment as a dark thought crossed her mind, the woman looked around a little. "You're not alone are you?"

((Xiu, arriving => Chrismast tree for Secret Santa, Tag to: Sevilin and Ebony))

Xiu gazed with wonder as the sight of the Evergreen Cottage Inn drew near. If ever a house stepped out of a Christmas book, this would be that house. Quaint, cheerful and inviting, the house spoke promises of warmth and comfort to the weary and cold.

Not that Xiu was particularly weary or cold. In fact, the white raevan was rather comfortable packed into the back of a taxi with his own overnight bag. He would be spending his Christmas here while his guardian and her brother flew home to spend their Christmas with their parents. This arrangement had turned out rather well for both parties as Xiu would be able to spend his Christmas getting acquainted with all the raevans (and Lazarus in particular) and Hazeline would not have to answer too many awkward questions from family members regarding her unusual charge.

Xiu checked the itinerary provided once more and gave himself a small nod. Secret Santa present? Check. Warm clothes? Check. Ugly sweater? Well... Xiu did not see the sense in investing in an ugly sweater just for an occasion so he’d sit that one out.

“We have reached your destination and the fee would be $25... umm,” said the cab driver as the taxi slowed to a stop close to the cottage’s entrance.

Thank you mouthed Xiu silently as he paid the fare and floated out into the chilly winter snow. Waving slightly as the cab drove off; Xiu took his bag in one hand and the present in the other before approaching the cottage. From the sound of it, the party seemed well underway.

Eager to be out of the cold, the white Sigel tried the door and showed himself in. The interior of the cottage was a stark contrast to the biting cold outside and Xiu was thrilled to note that there was an actual fireplace burning merrily within the living room. Xiu recognized several of the raevans who were present and was eager to go up and greet them.

But first things first. He would have to deposit the Secret Santa present under its designated Christmas tree. Floating silently over, Xiu carefully placed the neat parcel beside the rest. Close by was Ebony, Delia’s guardian and...a blue haired Raevan Xiu had never seen before. Floating over to the duo, Xiu gave a small smile in greeting, his eyes momentarily distracted by the glowing lights attached to the frei’s sweater.

"Oh, no I guess I haven't. Ah--" His head moved with Ebony's as he looked for this mysterious Cordelia. Something told him to look for the dark-haired frei with the runny make-up. She seemed to have disappeared from where he had last saw him and it made him wonder if she was just a ghost of Christmas past.

But he spoke too soon when he saw her conversing again with another raevan just out of reach. This was definitely Cordelia then. He smiled at her as brightly as he could. The sea fairy knew his smile was dazzling, so he focused on that wonderful point of his personality to win her over. "Yes, and you, Cordelia! It's a pleasure!" Awkwardly, he brought up his hand and then let it fall back to his side. She didn't seem the hand-shaking type. Instead, Sevilin turned then to this raevan named Xiu, who was taller than him. Like Rivener and Lazarus. He had to stamp down his rising jealousy at seeing a younger raevan grow, while he remained short and ignored.

"And it's nice to meet you too, Xiu! It's Xiu, right?"

((Iorek - Entering the cabin; tag to Cesc and Zurine : Lillian, and Tyson - Entering Cabin - Christmas tree for Secret Santa))

"Well isn't this just the cutest little cottage." Lillian cooed with glee as she and the boys came upon the snow covered cabin. All three were bundled up in their holiday best and with gifts of great tidings aka Christmas treats.

Tyson looked over the quaint country-styled home with a playful grin. "Yeah, doesn't look like it's made of candy so we should be safe from any witches."

As they headed down the path Iorek drifted just a little bit behind his guardians. He was far too preoccupied fiddling with something on his chest. The bulky gargoyle raevan was wearing the most interesting outfit and as they moved up the steps his large hands were busy attempting to fix the antlers of his ugly sweater. Lillian had put together quite a sight for him to wear. But Iorek wasn't too embarrassed to be donning the sweater. After all, Lil said that every Christmas party needs an ugly sweater and they deemed Iorek worthy of adorning it.

The Maevin siblings snickered with delight as they stop to wait for Iorek after he slowed down to fix up his ridiculous outfit. Sure, they had sympathy to give him but...man it was too funny. "Careful, Iorek." Lillian warned as they regrouped just outside the picket fence. " I worked hard on that and I'd hate for it to meet a terrible demise already."

"Oh.." Lillian arched a brow as she spotted a blue and pink raevan hovering outside the home. She had never seen them before. "Well would you look at that. Iorek, have you met those two before?" She asked as she raised her chin in their direction.

Reks looked up from the sock reindeer sewn on his sweater and eyed the two raevans. "Nope." He shook his head and before he knew it Lillian and Tyson had shoved their raevan towards the duo and took off for the door. "Time to mingle, Reks!" Tyson called out at the raevan as he and Lil ducked into the house. So that left Reks the awkward guy invading a conversation with his..lovely..reindeer sweater.

"Uh...." He looked the raevan couple, wondering if they were together due to how close they were. But that wasn't something he should bother knowing when he didn't even know who they were. "H-H-Hello....Sorry to interrupt..ah...here for the party, I guess?" Iorek asked with a kind smile as his large hands reached to fiddle with the reindeer anxiously. Hopefully they wouldn't judge him for the ugly sweater.

While Iorek was being awkward outside, Lil and Tyson entered the home and were surprised by how different the inside looked from the outside. It definitely wasn't the cute cozy cabin interior they expected. Instead the cottage possessed a swanky stylish look. Impressed, the two kids wandered over to the tree to set down the Secret Santa present from Iorek.

"Why don't we go put these down on the table." Lillian told Tyson as she held up the plates of Christmas cookies and other sweets they brought along with the gift. "Then we'll check out who's here?"

((Vivi & Shep --> Secret Santa treetimes, Cesc --> entering the cabin (inside), tag to Luka, Zurine,Reks, and Cruz))

"Ah, listen! Such beautiful music, do you not think?" Vivi said, unbuttoning her coat and hanging it on the rack with a smile. She wore a red wrap sweater-dress, tightly knit and fitted around her waist. It swirled and moved as she walked, and walk she did toward the center of the cabin, turning around slowly to take in all the decor. "Oh! It is beyond lovely. They have outdone themselves with these decorations!"

"...mm," replied Shepard, taking off his own coat and pulling the beanie from his head. He passed one of his hands through his hair to ruffle out any moisture that had gotten through the wool of his beanie, then stuffed the cap into his jacket pocket. "C'mon, let's put the present under the tree. Supposed to be magical an' whatnot, right? Makes fairies get their wings or something?"

"Oh, you are a terrible grinch," Vivi said, shaking her head at him. She strode over to the tree, leaning down to place the gold and white package amongst the others. Straightening, she looked back at her companion. "You should greet everyone with 'humbug' instead of hello tonight."

"Is that a challenge?" Shepard lifted an eyebrow.

Vivi shrugged airily. "It might be."

"Oh, bad move, Vivette. Bad move. You think I don't want to be a grinch, eh?" Shep turned in place, spotting Luka nearby and walking closer to the Raevan. He lifted a finger to Vivi as he went, smiling a giant plastic smile to her before turning toward the satyr Raevan. "Heya, Luka. Humbug. How's it going?"

Vivi laughed, shaking her head and following quickly. "Forgive him, Luka, he is the grinch! How are you, lovely one? It has been far too long!"

-

Outside, Cesc could only smile as Zurine spoke, his eyes warm as he watched her in her element. "I wish it snowed more, as well. It adds to the beauty of everything. And for you -- snowy Valentine's Day, would that be your absolute favorite, then?"

But there was no time for Zurine's response. People were sweeping by, entering the cabin as they stood apart, and suddenly the stag heard two voices pressuring someone to 'mingle' and then an awkward shuffling just behind them. Rhedefre turned, his expression one of muted surprise, as a Raevan with giant arms and a similarly giant plush reindeer bursting from his chest like an alien baby began to speak with them. Everything about the new Raevan seemed ... improbable, from his anxious movements to his tiny smile to his self-conscious salutation. It lifted an incredulous half-smile from the stag's face.

"Hello, good evening," he said, turning fully toward the other Raevan and smiling more broadly. He lifted a hand to shake the other's. "We are. I am called Cesc, and this truly lovely one is Zurine. It is a pleasure to meet you, ah...?" He inclined his head, ready for a name.

And he got it, although not in the way he expected. Another Raevan Rhedefre did not know joined in, smiling so brightly it made Cesc instantly fond of him. "Yorek, then! I am Cesc, and you?" He paused, nodding toward the open door of the cottage not far beyond. "Ah, forgive me, should we go in first? It would be unfortunate to block others' pathways in..."

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

Cordelia too had noticed Xiu's growth into a Sigel, but had yet to comment on it. Before she could though the white Raevan had taken out a pad of paper and wrote a response to the others on it. Their expressions mirrored her own. Seemed she wasn't the only one confused about the pad.

As Ebony struggled to approach the oddity carefully, the basilisk just dived in head first as always and asked the questions everyone else was burning to know the answers to.

"Xiu, are you okay?" she asked as she gently tugged on this sleeve to gain his attention. "You didn't lose your voice did you?" Of course by that Cordelia meant from a cold or overusing it, not from it literally being taken.