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Zinkenite’s eyes locked onto Hematite, a moment of cold blankness that passed over his face, something that could have by another been mistaken for hate, or even irritation, but it was everything it seemed on the surface. Blankness, a whiteboard without a single mark, a starting ground. ‘Reset’ at it’s finest.

He might have made some cutting remark, some lash of the tongue or hand that would have suited those whom had gone before him. Instead though, his eyes dropped from wide in startled recognition to half lidded, bored, accustomed and expected behavior from the loud and the demeaned.

He didn’t though, at least not at first - instead he offered only a small, enigmatic smile as though he knew something profound and dangerous that he had not yet revealed. “Merry Christmas Hematite, I do hope your subsequent hangover won’t be too grievous, it would be a shame if you weren’t able to meet your quota with everything you’ve been through.”

The smile vanished to what amounted to nothing more than a neutral expression and he raised his water glass in a toast. If you read nothing more than his face it might seem casual, but his eyes at the end hardened like gem stones, bright pale blue that seemed to edge towards cutting.

He was at least cut short when they were called forward to receive their ‘gifts’ the sweater was… horrific. “How, Generous.” He said tactfully, the expectation to put them on was not unexpected but he was still appalled all the same. It wasn’t as though he wasn’t wearing –enough- layers without adding the horrific sweater. Still, for the sake of being a good example, and a surviving one he carefully put it on.

He arched an eyebrow at Uranophane request to ‘mix him something special’ but declined comment for the time being. At least with Ilmenite here he had…well, perhaps not a ‘designated teleporter’ but back up of a sort.

Brownie in mouth, Howlite didn't seem particularly concerned with the conversation between Hematite and Uranophane, her dark eyes trailing, instead, after Zircon, to Zinkenite. A grin crossed her face as Apatite gave her announcement, and as she shuffled over for her gift, it was opened with gusto.

"Aw, sweet." She shook out the red garment, holding it up against her chest. Free clothing was free clothing! "Check it." Clearly, there was spearmint, or wintergreen stitched into the front.

Howlite just loved plants. The sweater was tugged over her head, and she poured herself a glass of wine, raising it toward Zinkenite in greeting. "Happy Chanukkah, gang." <******** Christmas. It was only good for free food. And sweaters. Howlite loved free s**t.

The party was, more or less, a tense one. Officers mingled around, not sure what to do with themselves. The negaverse, at least in it's beginning, was strict with rules and expectations. Ranking officers set examples for the lower ranking, and so on. Having a party blurred boundaries, and while Wolframite did see a few of his fellow officers outside of uniform, it was odd to be chummy with everyone while in uniform. He didn't know what to really say about it, and so he drank his weird tasting eggnog and shut up. When Zinkenite asked him what was going on, he only waved it off. "Oh...uh.....just think it'ssss....strange. To see the Rift like this." He wasn't about to insult the youma that the eggnog tasted funny. For all they knew, they didn't know how to make it. Then again, what DID they put into it. Last he checked, they didn't have a store nearby. This worried, but at long as it wasn't burning through the bottom of the cup, it at least meant his stomach could hold it.

While he looked about, he noticed Uranophane and another officer he barely knew come over and start talking Zink up in a peculiar way. It was the tone that said things were not exactly snowflakes and hot cocoa around here, and he stepped aside as he watched, before his eyes glanced over and noticed Bismuthite DAMN! Why did he have to be here? Groaning he turned to look up at one of the youma serving drinks and finished his own cup before gesturing for a glass of wine. What? It was the holidays and he knew he could handle his drink after that bar misadventure. He just...really didn't think he could be here without something to fog up his memory. Something so he wouldn't remember HIM being here.

At the General-Queen's beckoning, he moved over and retrieved his present, looking around to see other officeres open theirs and give looks at various sweaters. Wary, Wolframite pulled out his and saw a pair of golden....well, he guessed they were dogs. Maybe? No. They had spots - cheetahs? But why did they have a puff at the end of their tail? There was a lot of bells too. Bells all over the place. He knew that if he even managed to get it on, he would be chiming with each gesture and for someone who didn't like being noticed, this was not a good thing.

He gave a forced smile of thanks, at least appreciating the thought and, if she had knitted all these sweaters, the time and work in making them. He just...had enough layers on him already. Too much even - he felt a tad warm in the cheeks.

Gabe was, as usual, unfashionably late. He'd been spending the last week in early access for the new Star Wars MMO, and had stayed up all night. He was SO CLOSE to level cap-- but he knew better than to shirk his responsibilities.

So here he was, at a party with a poorly wrapped gift slid under the tree, for a holiday he didn't even ******** celebrate. His family had never been much for gifts or whatever, especially since he was usually a little s**t.

He'd slunk over to the food and hovered around it for most of the night, interested in the noms-- most of the time, Lieutenant Graphite sustained himself on pizza rolls and energy drinks...so tiny snacks or not, they were better than what he usually indulged in.

When it had come time to investigate his sweater, Gabe had made this face:



and quickly pulled it over his outfit, covering up his various tattoos with itchy, scratchy, wool.

It was probably an improvement, and he had swiped one too many glasses of wine to give a s**t. Finally, though, he'd spotted his ol' pal Hematite, who, for reasons beyond Gabe's reasoning, was back to being an Lt again. Not that he cared, really-- more company for him at the bottom of the totem pole!

At first, as Fukalite waited in line for her present she didn’t know what to expect. However, her curious expression slowly turned to horror as she watched other officers open their presents. “W-What…” When she held out her own holiday sweater she didn’t know what to say. She bit her bottom lip at General-Queen Apatite. She wanted Fukalite to wear this thing? Fukalite stared at the sweater as she seriously contemplated this. The lieutenant attempted to don it, but then shook her head and stopped.



It wasn’t that her uniform made it difficult. Pulling it on would be relatively easy, but..but… “Labyrinthite…” Deeply frowning, she turned to her friend-slash-superior for some assistance.

((Gahhh.. I'm so flipping busy crying You can try and quote me if you like but I don't know how much time I'll have for rp. I just wanted to make sure I got my SS gift delivered!!))

Dahlia's Secret Santa match was both a blessing and pain in it's own way.

On the blessing side Benitoite was perhaps one of the negaverse members she knew the most. So while others might have gotten some silly and uncertain gifts Dahlia knew enough about the young man to know the sort of things he might like. Well.. something other than a mouse or bird.. because despite that being a terribly wonderful gift, she was certain the captain was too delicate for such a gift.

The pain however.. lie in the fact that.. well.. under any other circumstance Benitoite would have been the one she went to GET him to do the physical shopping and paying for things. He was always so pleasantly compliant, it never took much more than a bit of eye batting.

Alas he could not buy his own present!

It had taken a little more work to find someone else to do it for her, but in the end she had succeeded. And the gift was small enough for the cat to actually carry in herself, gift dangling from the ribbon she'd latched on to.

The wrapping and handwriting were not her own, but the lovely tortoise shell comb and hair brush set and the lovely satin set of ribbons tied around them was definately her idea. The tag read "To: Benitoite From: Your favorite lovely lady". The package was settled under the tree before the creamy colored cat glanced upwards, eyeing an enticing dangling ornament. A paw swept out, a soft ting ringing through the air before she quickly fled, afraid the sudden wobbling might actually result in the ornament falling off and breaking. Look innocent... peruse the party...

Many a leg would find itself lightly brushed against as she made her way around the room, poking her attention into various conversations before she wandered off to the next.

When the General Queen arrived and made an announcement of gifts Dahlia was beyond excited. A gift.. just for her from the General Queen!? Of course she deserved a gift, but the actual realization... her chest puffed in pride, a loud purr rattling through her whole tiny frame. Until of course the present was opened and the hideous sweater came into view. Her ears pinned back, and somewhere she thought she heard someone offering to help her put it on.

She did love to play dress up. But never would she have let anything so hideous mar her beauty! There was an unintentional growl as the sweater was slipped onto her, the very weight and tightness of it causing her ears to tuck back even tighter. It was mussing up her beautiful fur!! And despite the fact that it may have matched her small seasonal ear bow and tail adornment.. Dahlia could do little more than be mortified. The plan was to slink into the corner but.. as it turned out walking had just become a little more difficult. And so instead she pouted, and lamented, her tail lashing in quick and irritated motions.

Oh dear. It seemed that Titanite just might have found a kindred spirit in her 'superior.' She grinned, toasting the redhead as the other woman downed another drink. "Is there ever enough to drink to survive work parties?" Not that Titanite saw her job as 'work' per say, but more of a hobby, or a task that she really, really enjoyed. And there, again. "We should go clubbing." Titanite grinned, pleasantly surprised that she had been approached by someone so friendly- and visually delicious. And clubbing did tend to be fun, all the bodies on the floor moving. Then again, Shar did like the physical, even more so since she'd been shown the light- as it were.

The two of them had to separate then, briefly, and receive their gifts.

She had a clue, since others seemed torn between laughter and tears, many pulling sweaters over their heads, but what she didn't expect?

Was to love her sweater.

"Haaaah!" She was almost crowing as she pulled it gleefully over her head, thanking the General-Queen with a brilliant smile. She would SO have to get her something sufficiently Twilight as a Thank-you.

And then she was sought out by Sassy, a pleasant surprise. "I am always up for more to drink. Somehow, however, I doubt that the leadership would appreciate their people getting trashed at their party." Sadface, actually.