genessia | Winter Wonderland Holiday Party

The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful.
And since we've no place to go, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

The song is playing in the elevator on the way up to what is normally the meeting hall floor, which has been cleared out so that they could "deck the hall" for the party. It's a Winter Wonderland theme, with white, blue, and silver being the main colors. Which, granted, tends to be a Schnee theme- but it's at least in season this time around. Crystal chandeliers and lights hang from the ceiling, looking like icicles, and there's a frosted tree in the center of the room. Upon closer inspection, it's a croquembouche that's been coated with white chocolate and sprayed with edible glitter, pulled sugar ribbons streaming down the sides of the edible 'tree.'

At each of the tables, there are small gift bags for each of the guests- nothing big, just little samplings of sweets from Cat's Meow Cafes. These are in addition, of course, to the family-style servings at each table of meals. Both chestnut waffles with blackberry-orange syrup and crown roasts were available as main dishes at each of the tables, along with a colorful medley of roasted vegetables and an assortment of different types of freshly baked breads in a basket at each dinner table. Every table also seems to have carefully poached and sliced apples and pears with vanilla or caramel sauce as a dessert. The center of the hall is, of course, cleared out for dancing surrounding a round stage where a live performance from Sonico Super is being performed. Individual orders for drinks (coffee, tea, egg nog for those over 18 only, water, or cider available).

Along the edge of the hall are many gifts lined up with bid tickets and boxes for a silent auction. All proceeds from the auction and ticket sales will, of course, go toward the Genessia Scientific Research Foundation's budget for the next year. Almost strategically, there seems to be a bar located toward the start of the auction traffic manned by After Life staff.

At 9:30pm as the evening winds down, guests will be asked to gather near the windows of the hall to watch the Nova City tree lighting. The view from up above in the tower is amazing, the gigantic tree wholly visible as it lights up on the ground below. The only obstruction of view is the lightly falling snow. If at any point it looked like it would stop snowing, you can bet that Weiss's Castform was up on the roof making sure that didn't happen.

Just as 10pm hits and the party is meant to end, all sides of the hall's glass walls light up with fireworks at once. A beautiful fireworks show finishes off the night.

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[Easier said than done. It's mostly her question that she has that's keeping her shy.]

"If you win... Will you take me in as a apprentice in politics?"

What?

[Xander had heard her request loud and clear. It simply surprises him to get that question. It probably couldn't hurt, but he wants to make sure it would work before he commits to it.]

My apologies, you surprised me. Would you be willing to allow me time to consider it? I would have to give it some serious thought before I commit, one way or the other.

[She blinks and tilts her head to the side inquisitively for a moment. She didn't know her question would be that surprising.]

"Yes, of course. Take all the time you need."

[Moving on. She can't help but ask, being the ever curious girl.]

"And may I know about your country?"

[Not many people have expressed interest in hearing about Nohr. The question is one that Xander didn't expect, but one he's prepared to answer.]

Of course. There is a lot to tell about Nohr, so it can be difficult to find a place to start. I suppose I can begin by telling you that it is one of the two largest and most powerful kingdoms in the entire realm.

[She was an inquisitive child and would try to absorb as much knowledge as possible.]

"Two of the largest and most powerful? What's the other one? And are you an only child? Or do you have siblings?"

[Welp. Sudden deluge of questions. He'll answer one at a time.]

The other one is known as Hoshido. And no, I have siblings. I am, however, the oldest.

[That is getting dangerously close to a rabbit hole, though. There is a long, long story regarding his family.]

[She nods at his answers. She seems satisfied with little answers.]

"What are your siblings like? I'm an only child, so I wondered what it's like to grow up with siblings."

[Xander ponders that question for a moment before answering.]

The next-eldest is my sister, Camilla. She's very affectionate toward all of us. Very motherly, as well. But at the same time, she is extremely dangerous when angry. Out of all of us, she is the most ruthless in combat.

Then there's Corrin. He isn't related to us by blood, but we consider him our brother nevertheless. Of us all, he is the most trusting and empathetic. And while that makes him a bit...naive, it's also one of his strengths.

My youngest brother is Leo. He's intelligent -- far more than I am -- which is why he chose the path of books over blades, as opposed to me. On the other hand, he can be a bit...overly competitive and easily needled.

The youngest, then, is Elise. She isn't much older than you, and she is by far the most innocent of all of us -- barring Corrin, perhaps. She also has the biggest heart and the most energy.

"You have so many siblings. It must've been nice having someone to talk to. Are you all trained in combat?"

No. Elise is trained for healing, not battle. The rest of us are, however -- though in Leo's case, combat comes second to scholarly research. But such is the path of magic.

"Magic?"

[She wonders for a moment if magic from his world is similar to her own. Too bad she probably can't learn any of it, though. She has always been restricted to her own natural power.

But at long last, it seems she's out of questions.]

"I can use magic, too."

Oh?

[That catches Xander's attention.]

What kind of magic?

"Destruction."

[What's with the smile like it won't make certain people nervous?]

"Also called Elemental, Sorcery or Dark Magic, depending on the culture."

[Well. That was a surprise. Xander never would have expected that kind of an answer.]

Ah...I. I see. Practitioners of dark magic are far from uncommon in Nohr, as well.

"Really? Humans wielding elemental magic in my world is rare. So much so, that I am one of the only two who naturally can. The other is my father."

I suppose that's an example of the differences between worlds, then. Known in mine are spells for fire, thunder, ice, wind, earth, and darkness.

"I agree, and I find this fascinating. The known elements in mine are Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Ice, Thunder, Light, Holy, Darkness and Non-Elemental.

Do yours come with different levels to each as well?"

[Levels? Xander doesn't know what to make of that terminology. The confusion shows on his face.]

...Er. I don't know if it is what you mean, but certain magic requires a certain level of skill at performing magic before it can be used.

"Yes, it's very similar, if not completely the same."

[She holds up six fingers.

"There are six levels on my world. Spells get bigger and stronger with each level."

Edited 2017-01-08 14:17 (UTC)

...I see.

[Pause.]

I apologize for not saying more, but magic has never been my forte. I pursued blades over books.

[She doesn't mind. This was the most talk on magic she got in a while.]

"I can use swords, too. It's a royal formality, so I'm not nearly as skilled as anyone else, but it was something."

Winter Wonderland Holiday Party

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