FV and Friends

[lieutenantsteward]

Drifting off to sleep has never been easier. When your character wakes up, they enter into a beautiful, almost picturesque home. Everything is brightly lit with candles and different colored lights. The entire place smells like sugar cookies. Or maybe pine. Or maybe it's whatever your character finds homey. There are several rooms to this home, each with its own charms. A kitchen and dining room, with any ingredient known to man and a spread of already prepared foods on the table. A living room with a cozy fireplace and very inviting rug. Bedrooms with various types of furniture and all the privacy you could want. A lovely backyard that's cold, but there's a firepit to warm up with. Snow crunches underneath boots (or heels, we ain't picky) and there's the occasional glimpse of wildlife in the woods.

All characters will come with the knowledge that this is a dream. There are no consequences to their actions, save what happens in the dream. They are also not trapped. When they want to leave, they know that they can simply leave through the front door and wake up in their own time, in their own bed.

And sprinkled throughout the house are sprigs of mistletoe. Is it the dream that makes people want to get a little cuddlier underneath it? Or is it just the spirit of the moment?

Either way, it sure is a fun way to get to know each other!

Comments

[16thperson]

Sarah has mixed feelings about Christmas generally, but this dream is pleasant enough that she'll take it. She pours herself a cup of mulled wine and finds a comfortable place to sit.

[kindnessinfinite]

The man formerly known as Matthew Rose Sorensen then formerly known as Piranesi and now known as Matthew Rose Sorensen again has been taking the opportunity to explore the house. It's a nice house, of course. Not a House, not the House. And really, if this is his dream, shouldn't it be a bit more House-like? That's what he dreams of after all, when he remembers them when he wakes up. Still, he spends a solid few hours exploring every nook and cranny before going outside to explore even more.

When Matthew returns, he spots Sarah by the fire. There's no questioning why she's here. Of course she'd find her way here. He suspects that if she put her mind to it, she might find her way anywhere. So Matthew walks over to Sarah, brushing the last remnants of snow off of his jacket and his hair as he gives her a smile.

"I think I like our House better," he muses, capital letter audible in his tone. "Though I spotted some foxes in the woods. Maybe we can give them some of the food later?"

[16thperson]

Of course Matthew is here. She grins and waves him over.

"I'm not sure if foxes like mince pies."

[kindnessinfinite]

"There's only way to find out," he points out, with a little shrug. "We'll set it out for them. And if they don't want it, I'll eat it myself."

[una_persson]

Somewhere there's singing:

In the bleak midwinter
Icy wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone
Snow on snow had fallen
Snow on snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long and long ago

A door opens and Una Persson, snow dusting her hair and greatcoat, steps inside.

[goingtobeunwell]

Crozier's there to take her coat, offering a bit of a half-bow at the waist and a cheeky little grin. "Oh, please don't stop singing on our account."

[una_persson]

"Francis!" She waits for him to put her coat down before embracing him tightly. "Many happy returns of the season to you."

[goingtobeunwell]

"And to you, my dear," he says, returning the embrace. He secretly hopes a bit of her signature perfume lingers on his clothes by the time she pulls away.

"Ah, but you're looking as lovely as ever. Can I get you something? We're all here, you know."

[hesalumberjack]

Aadit's found his way to a fireplace, pausing in between sips of mulled wine to feed the fire. He occasionally gives a gentle nod to the people coming and going, but he's more than content to just sit and watch everyone.

Christmas isn't really a thing where he's from, but he loves the Winter Solstice and this seems about equal to that celebration. Minus the community hot pot.

[friendsfordinner]

"Oi," comes a very familiar voice behind Aadit. Hickey raises an eyebrow as he walks over to the man.

"How long are you going to pay attention to that fire when there are other more interesting people here?"

[hesalumberjack]

He's probably the only person in the room who's actually been hoping that Hickey might show up in this little dream party. He smiles to himself and throws the last log into the fire, rising and crossing his arms over his chest.

"I was just waiting for you to finally show your face."

[wishiwasatree]

It's a younger Trixie that walks through the door, one who hasn't been softened by years of marriage and two babies. She's still lived it, of course, but the dream's been oh-so-kind as to give her a slightly less worn body for the holiday party.

She finds the kitchen almost immediately and begins pouring champagne and wine for the other guests.

[littlewhiteheartbeat]

plep plep plep

glingleglingleglingleglingle

The goose has somehow managed to get a little bell on a ribbon around their neck, and jingles brightly as they trot into the kitchen.

[wishiwasatree]

That sound. The consistent jingling. Trixie freezes up for a moment, then cranes her head over the countertop to see the goose, as festive as ever, proudly plep their way into the room.

"Merry Christmas," she grins. "Lookin' pretty with the ribbon, my feathered fucking friend. You want something to eat?"

[kingsroads]

Were you trying to have some privacy in that bedroom? It's not going to happen. Because Jonathan Strange has taken it upon himself to see all this house has to offer! Every room, every nook, every cranny...which means that at multiple points, the magician rather rudely sticks his head in a room where someone was probably trying to get a little privacy.

"Oh! Terribly sorry, I didn't know there was anyone here."

[choosethepath]

Jonathan Strange picked the absolute worst room to walk into. Sabriel and Howl haven't been anywhere normal in what seems like years, and it's time to take advantage of that fact. Fortunately, they're both clothed, but Sabriel has her fingers in his hair and is kissing him insistently.

Upon hearing his voice, though, she pulls away.

"Father!"

She is both elated and absolutely mortified.

[greenslimemood]

Howl is less mortified, though he does have the good sense to pull shut his shirt which may have fallen open in their little makeout session.

"Jonathan Strange! It's good to see you!"

He reaches out to pat down the back of Sabriel's hair.

[goingtobeunwell]

Crozier isn't seeking privacy, per se, but he is hoping to find some magically-appearing gloves in one of the drawers so he can sit around the firepit. When a certain magician sticks his head into the door, he jumps about a foot into the air.

"Jesus Christ, Jonathan!"

[kingsroads]

Francis! Strange's expression brightens up as he lets himself into the room. He gives the other man a grin and a smile.

"I don't know why you sound so surprised. Of course you'd find me here!"

[lieutenantsteward]

Thomas takes to the dream very well, though it's always difficult for him to remember that he's not the host here. He's not a servant. He wants so much to help that he takes a drink for himself and stays away from the kitchens. It's easier to wander room to room, eventually ending up outside.

[bestsir]

Similar to his wife, Harry now looks more like he did when he first boarded Erebus in Woolwich, as yet bearing none of the signs of hardship from the years in the Arctic. Thomas will find him there in the backyard, prodding at the fire.

[lieutenantsteward]

Thomas sits beside him with a happy smile. "I thought you might make an appearance," he says with warmth.

[adaptiveimmunities]

When Shaun turns up in the dream, he looks... rested. He has much less of the frenetic energy he's always seemed to carry with him, and long time observers will note that he's not talking to himself anymore. It doesn't seem to be bothering him to be alone in his own skull. It might be the first time anyone in the dream has ever seen him really relaxed, and he's happy to be back in the dream and to see everyone.

[wishiwasatree]

Trixie automatically goes to Shaun and has herself a tight embrace. "Evenin', boyo," she grins, slightly rocking on her feet with him still in her arms.

[endofvanity]

James Fitzjames is in fine high spirits. Usually, to this day, parties give him a small stab of anxiety, but here he is blessedly free of that, and happy to have a good time.