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Wolframite, in all his time, had not seen anything like this, and he didn't expect it in the Rift either. Pizza place on Earth, sure. If the Negaversers ever had to do anything that wasn't business, it was usually done away from headquarters. It was odd to be holding a present while still in uniform, and he felt as if he was going to be reprimanded for celebrating a holiday when he was wearing a uniform that translated to him as 'on duty'. While it did him a small bit of good to be with others during the holiday, to be invited to some party, it was still all rather depressing to him. After this, his plans for the season were rather bleak and sad, as a runaway dropout on his own. It would be his first holiday without any of his parents and no matter how pathetically he decorated his small apartment, it just didn't match up. At least here, he could feel as if he wasn't alone, and decided that this would be his Christmas instead.

As for his present, he had been rather lost on what to get, but in the end decided on something practical for the season and set the present under the tree, wrapped in festive blue snowflakes and topped off by a rather large bow that was hand created yet could be easily mistaken as store bought. Wolframite was rather picky on how perfect his bows looked, though he would say it was from the store when asked or it was some fluke. Ha-ha. It wasn't like he spend nearly half an hour making it look just right.

Present under the tree, the officer slowly moved about, wondering how the youma even agreed with this and if they still remembered Christmas or celebrated holidays. They were once human after all, and he wondered if going to the youma town again during the season would be nice.

He moved to the refreshment table, looking rather alarmed when he saw wine. "Is that smart?" He asked to the youma who was raising an scaly eyebrow, who he was rather startled to see was one from the bar. "Nevermind." He said, flushing as he sidestepped away. Best not to bring up the cons of drinking after the time he passed out in a youma bar.

A glance around, as he spoke, proved that more and more people were turning up. Most he'd never seen or only glanced once in the past. So many he didn't know, he had to wonder if he'd have a run in with a certain white haired ninja. Bazzite was an odd one and would likely jump him upon sight, he had more energy than Benitoite saw being possible to posses, but the other was good natured and he innocent in his eyes.

"Of course, you can feel it in the air - the love. It's good over all, the family gathering, but like all good things too much can get to you." A shrug of his shoulders and a light smile. Sipping his water, slowly, he took another look around. "Seems a few familiar faces how turned up." Familiar to him at any rate. One very familiar face was Osumilite. Watching the older blond he shook his head. Setting his water glass down he picked up one of the bites of food he had on the plate he'd had in his other hand till now. The small bite of food taken before he lifted his glass for a sip. "Shall we go mingle further?" He asked, giving a bright smile to Painite. It would be a nice idea to go and mingle with some other people, that was what was done at parties after all.

After all this personal invasion, Zircon was in such a rush to pull away from the chatter that she nearly side-stepped into the youma waiter, stopping just shy of plowing him over. Facing his dirty look, she nabbed one of the glasses of egg nog and continued to melt away into the audience. Were it a normal party, then she might have been concerned for her aviators, but she'd gone through enough tumbles to know that no matter what happened, her shades would be back with her the next time she powered up. Let Hematite use them for his escape from the holidays, she was about to drink hers.

The sight of a familiar short General-King caused her to stop in her tracks, cup in hand. She hadn't actually met with General-King Zinkenite since he'd become General-King, and now she was torn between the casual instinct to greet him like an old friend and the decorum required in the presence of an esteemed leader.

She approached him cautiously, bowing her head in respect. "General-King, it's good to see you." She wanted to gloat, to tell him all about how she'd been filling her quotas on time like a good little Negaverse lieutenant, but that would be too overtly seeking his approval. Besides, as a General-King, he probably had more important things to be thinking about.

Fukalite enjoyed parties. It didn’t matter what season it was, but admittedly she was fond of holiday parties. There was something pleasant about the wintery decorations and Christmas food that she loved. What she definitely did not enjoy, however, was obligations. She had groaned when she received the message. The mandatory party she could live with, but being pulled into a Secret Santa exchange? How troublesome, especially with so little time to search for a suitable present for her person. Lieutenant Hematine, was it? She didn’t know him, and to be honest it had taken her a bit of asking around just to learn that he seemed germ phobic. Yet somehow she had managed to pull if off.

When she arrived to the Rift, the lieutenant was visibly frowning. She hastily walked over to the tree to plop down her present, covered in plain wrapping paper and matching bow. Afterwards, she looked around and eventually drifted over to the food table. Fukalite eyed the humanoid youma, but allowed one of them to pour her a cup of wine. Her eyes never strayed from the youma as she sipped her drink and slowly inched away. Just keep drinking, Fukalite. Just keep drinking. She told herself quietly before noticing a familiar Labyrinthite. Her mood considerably brightened as she walked over. “Hey!” Fukalite paused as she looked him from head to toe. She grinned. "'grats."

Seeing Alkaid he gave a return nod and a small smile that tugged genuinely at the corners of his eyes. A quiet understanding that passed between them and the odd chemistry between them that helped promote their comfortable friendship even though difficult times. He made a note to himself that he should speak to her more often, he’d been lax and buried himself in paperwork again like a recluse but he had many hands to help him gather now, the excuse wore thin even to his own ears.

Other matters though had his immediate attention, the older woman was still someone he respected for more than simply her years, she was smart and that counted for a great deal with him. He looked forward a great deal to seeing her rise to Captain, drawing her as his ‘Secret Santa’ was a pleasure and an exercise in memory to find something that he felt safe that she would enjoy.

“Zircon.” He said letting a comfortable ease into his voice rather than the almost icy tone he more often favored, something less than strictly ‘business’, after all, it was a ‘party’. “I hear you’re doing quite well despite the many things that must draw on you in your civilian life.” It was a quiet praise but it was a nod to her attention to detail and duty. “I haven’t seen you personally in some time, a failing on my part to be sure, it’s good to see you here.”

There was some small temptation to interrupt Proustite’s little engagement with the mistletoe, but for now at least that the impulse remained smothered.

Titanite started paying attention to the party a little bit late, but that wasn't going to me much of a surprise to anyone, she was sure. The lieutenant had all but forgotten about this party, in fact. She'd remembered it... the night before. Who was she supposed to be shopping for? Who who who... Ah! Labyrinthite. Who was that? She had spent about half an hour trying to remember who that was before something had come to mind- Pink. Right- Tall, and pink. She could do this. Maybe. Probably, she'd done it before, for like... family and stuff.

She moved through the party now, gift tucked comfortably under the tree, wrapped in a paper that had been hand-drawn on in crayon. (The inside of the paper was dinosaur wrapping paper, used for the triplets birthday a couple months ago. More specifically, the flip side of her hand-drawn paper was Barbie Princess wrapping paper- she hadn't figured the other Negaverse agent would appreciate that.) She had colored it carefully in trees and with a Santa being drawn across the sky by 9 angry-looking youma, the front of which had a red starseed for its nose. The tag read, in green crayon, "For Labyrinthite. Merry Christmas, ILU, Santa."

The present smelled vaguely of beer and candycanes. Then again, so did Titanite herself. Inside the rattling package were several gifts, all purchased form a cheesy novelty store. She didn't know much about Labyrinthite, but hopefully they'd get a laugh or use out of something inside- be it the pink-icinged 'Stress Cupcake', the 'Yodeling Pickle', The 'Blacklight Hair Mascara' (Which she knew worked because she had it in all possible colors) or the 'Sushi Stapler.'

A red santa cap was on her head, jauntily tilted to the side, and she had spent a surprising amount of time on her appearance for this party. After all, as with any job, the holiday parties were about networking. At least that was what her father encouraged. Shahar was more like her mother- she'd rather be out mucking in the dirt than worrying about if she should actually eat the delicacies at the table in front of them. Cause they did look quite delicious. Quite delicious indeed. Maybe a few dozen sweets wouldn't hurt.

Someone had worked hard on this party, and it was like a terrible flashback to when she had been thirteen, finally old enough to attend one of her stepmother's little soirees and terrified that she would somehow make the ballroom explode. Except this time, if she screwed up something, she would potentially be disemboweled and left out in lieu of cookies as a treat for the hardworking youma behind the table.

Really, someone should stop Titanite from taking a glass of wine.

Really, who would care? It wasn't like Titanite was an alcoholic. She could SO control herself. And it wasn't like any of this crowd was gonna be taking her home tonight anyway. She'd have to be angling for that after the party. Bo-riiing.

For whatever reason, Labyrinthite had opted to stay on his own watching as others flitted into the decorated hall. He was surprised by how many he actually recognized; Wolframite, Howlite, Painite, Proustite, Alkaid...and was that Hematite? His amber eyes widened in surprised and he had to choke back laughter as he realized the former general had been demoted to nothing more than a mere lieutenant. If he hadn't been surrounded by many of those of higher ranks, Chase probably would've strolled over and gloated about his new found status of rank over the dark skinned man.

Had Christmas come early for Labyrinthite? Because he was almost certain this piece of news could be the best gift he'd ever receive.

At this point, the tired teen looked more cheerful than he had in a while. His usual, authentic, grin lit up his face and his eyes sparkled with amusement. For the first time in a few months, he looked like he should have. Too bad it was really only temporary.

He tore his gaze from the sight of the demoted general to scan the crowds again. At this moment he was simply trying to find someone to approach, he wanted to seem more social and he felt the urge to work on his networking within the negaverse. He knew many names but his information and interaction was otherwise limited. He moved to stand at the sight of his General Serandite only to be intercepted by his comrade Fukalite.

He grinned up at her, golden eyes lingering on the pink haired teen before turning his full attention to his friend. "Hey," he replied, grin softening as he glanced down, embarrassed. "Thanks, I've put a lot of dedication in recently," he told her rubbing the back of his head. "How have you been?" He asked looking up, "we haven't talked in a while." Truthfully he hadn't talked to much of anyone lately. He was always too preoccupied with some sort of training or personal mission. Of course, that left him with more than a few people upset with him.