(no subject)

[hexappeal]

WHO: Sort of open. This is for of Themyscira-Zatara Family & friends.
WHERE: Diana and Zee's place and elsewhere.
WHEN: Throughout December.
WARNINGS: Enough of them.
SUMMARY: Cute winter holiday stuff. Please specify in the subject line if your threads are open or closed (and if they are closed, to which people).
FORMAT: Whatever you feel like.


[Come December first, Zatanna's already done a number on the house. Mostly in that she has finally relinquished her death-grip on the spooky Halloween mansion that it had been for Halloween (that had morphed into Thankschilling Day).

By the eighth, she has given up on normalcy and forced snow upon the house itself and the front and backyards; it is natural and cold and wet to the touch. More importantly, it's clean. It doesn't melt much or get sloshy and muddy. The forest she'd created for Halloween remains, though not overgrown. The air is sweet with the smell of pine, but not thickly so. She's cleared it out a little, made it easier to navigate. There is now plenty of room for building snow people and snow forts, in addition to the occasional snowball fight.

The inside of the house no longer (quite as) spooky. The fireplace in the living room seems to permanently be full of logs and remains lit even when no one is home. Halfway through the month, a pine tree also appears, growing through some dimensional wormhole so it remains real without having to cut one down. The dining room has a warm glow from candles and wall sconces and the kitchen seems to always have some wonderful smell wafting from it.

There is a fat orange Persian walking around, dressed as a reindeer. It doesn't seem perturbed by its costume and appears quite content, although trying to curl up and sleep almost anywhere in between desired pettings. Hermes has become more mellowed out since Halloween (and much larger, too) and only wears antlers on his head. Teekl and Gabranth declined to join the festivities.

This holiday season is going to be good. Or, hopefully at least much better than last year's.]



► OPEN: COOKIES FOR ME, COOKIES FOR FREE (ZATANNA).
► CLOSED: VESPER & ZATANNA.
► OPEN: ROASTING MARSHMALLOWS (APRIL).
► OPEN: AWKWARD SOCIALIZATION (GIL).
► OPEN: EXTREME MANLINESS CHALLENGE (JAMES)!!!
► OPEN: S'NO PROBLEM (TEREZI).
► OPEN: CUTE CHRISTMAS SWEATER PART II: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO (MOLLY).
► OPEN: HOW DO I SECRET IDENTITY? LOL (WALLY).
► OPEN: PRETTY MUCH JUST A FUN-HATER (MITCH).
► OPEN: SNEAKY SANTA (HAN).
► OPEN: A LOT LESS OF A FUN-HATER, APPARENTLY (BRADBURY).
► OPEN: THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR PIE (NED).

Comments

OPEN;

[hexappeal]

[Zatanna had promised that there were gingerbread houses to be made and at some point, had managed to get more than enough of what was required to make them. For now, she was finishing off a bunch of gingerbread men and slipping all the colored frosting and sprinkles onto the table so the kids could make representations of themselves... or maybe Nic Cage. It was their project to do with as they choose, so she'd have no complaints if Klarion or Larsa decide to make an action hero house.]

[solidorkable]

(gingerbread man? no, gingerbread judge more. larsa actually deformed his gingerbread man during baking, making sure that the head could incorporate the helmet.

Maybe not grey, because that would mean that he would have to ruin some colors, so it's more of a christmas judge. larsa works with such concentration, it is as if he isn't paying attention to everything around him. curled up on the table is gabranth idly watching larsa make his namesake with very little interest before deciding to antagonize klarion's cat.)

[hexappeal]

[Zatanna hovers over his shoulder, quietly impressed by his craftmanship. At least until she notices Gabranth (the cat) antagonizing Teekl. You just don't mess with magic cats! It won't end well.

After successfully shooing the judgmental cat away from the mystical one, she returns to sit beside her ward.] Do you want to take a break? You're very intense about this. [She looks over her shoulder to the stove top.] Do you want some hot chocolate?

[solidorkable]

(Gabranth (the cat) takes well after Gabranth (the Judge Magister) in such respects. Larsa finally looks up, a little confused as to what's going on before petting his lap for the cat to sit on.)

I shall, after I complete Gabranth. However, I still need to include Judge Magister Drace and some of the others (that ruined the Empire) in order to match the Imperial Senate replica.

(he is very intense about everything. a side effect of being raised by a stern woman like Drace, no doubt.)

[hexappeal]

[She just wants him to be like a kid. It's one of her goals, but he got older, really quickly. And now another year has passed... soon he'll be an adult. It's better not to linger on that thought, however. It's a touch depressing.]

Ah, you'll have to point them all out to me and tell me about them, when you're finished!

[She gets him some hot chocolate anyway, adding little marshmallows in it (the squishy kind, not the freeze-dried) and sets it near his right hand before she takes a seat beside him.]

[rhombus]

[Finn was standing at the table, hands planted firmly on the tabletop as he stared just as steadily at all the choices he could have to make a little person that he could then later eat without remorse.

This was a very difficult choice. The vast gravity of making a gingerbreadman.]

[hexappeal]

[It really was. Zatanna had made a few that hadn't gotten much anywhere, then were eaten with a cup of Chai. She won't confess to this unless prodded, however.]

Hey, kiddo. Having some trouble? [Maybe she should get out little paintbrushes... He seems to be struggling, here.]

[rhombus]

I dunno what to make. [He responds with distraction as he reaches out for one color of frosting then changing his mind, frowning.] Well, I guess I do, but there isn't the color I need.

[hexappeal]

Well, you can do more than one, if you'd like. There's always more where those came from.

[She tries to figure out what he's going for and sits down beside him in the process.] What color do you need?

[foreshadower]

[ Why is he here, oh yeah, he just walked into the room at just this time, right out of nowhere, suddenly, he's there, in the kitchen.

With that kind of self-satisfied smile on his face, enjoying getting to walk in, and not even giving much of a thought as to if there would be other people in the room.

He slid out of the wall, like a pool of shadow that just appeared, and then grew into a man. }

[hexappeal]

[Zatanna keeps herself busy with baking, intentionally ignoring him as she mixes a bowl of sugar cookie dough by hand. She grins widely despite this and it might be partially visible from where he stands. There's flour all over her seasonal apron and while it doesn't cover the entirety of her just as festive green dress, it seems to conveniently miss it. She doesn't turn around, only stops mixing and cleans up a little.]

Oh my, it seems that someone's slipped into my kitchen. Whatever shall I do? [Sarcastic and intentionally flatter than flat, though she's unable to keep it up as she turns her back to the counter with a wide smile.] I like it when you do that skulking shadow thing. Very attractive. [It's a good thing he keeps just missing James. She can't seem to stop flirting with him...]

[foreshadower]

[ He only chuckles low in his throat, watching the entire thing with a pleasant and polite eye. Appreciative, but hardly ogling, because that's not really how a gentleman would ever conduct himself, even in the face of a lovely sight like Zatanna. ]

My, my. Perhaps I should cease it, then. I'd hardly want to be the picture of temptation for you, after all.

[ He looks at the dough, and then at Zee. ]

A bit of baking, still? Did I come at a bad time?

[hexappeal]

Oh. [She delicately places (mostly) clean fingers against her jawline.] I suppose I'll have to find a replacement, then. At such short notice, this is going to be a real trial. Are you sure you can't remain just a little longer until I find someone else?

[She allows her hand to slip to her apron and wipes both of them against it a little roughly before untying it and moving to the sink to give her hands a quick wash.]

There's always time for baking. It's good for stress relief, I think. [She turns off the faucet and dries her hands before smoothing out her dress and brushes up past him to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of white wine from it. She shuts it with a bump of the hip.] Any time is a good time. [She grabs a corkscrew out of a drawer, but struggles with opening the bottle. To draw attention away from that, she continues to talk conversationally.] I normally go for bitter wines, but this is a really nice one. Definitely more suited to this time of day.

[onetouch]

[Ned smiles, having let himself in. Though he comes bearing gifts in the shape and size roughly of two pies. One kiwi and one lemon meringue.] Zatanna, hello. [He's shoving the pies at her so he can take off his coat. Digby is already curled up by the fire but fuck it, it's time for some stress baking!!!!!!!!]

[hexappeal]

Hey there. [She doesn't seem to mind that she has only a moment to react and needs to drop what she's doing, but only because it's Ned. Only because he is awful at being secretive.

She doesn't approach Digby, but calls to him like she's greeting him as well.] And hello to you, too, Digby. [Thankfully, Hermes has grown out of the puppy stage for the most part. He's probably asleep elsewhere in the house right now. ANYWAY ZATANNA TAKES THEM THERE PIE-SHAPED GIFTS and goes back into the kitchen with them.]

[onetouch]

[The dog in question makes a half-interest 'hrrr' noise, but doesn't get up or even really look up. If he runs into the other puppy though it'll be play time for sure!!!!!!!!!!

Ned just shrugs his way into her kitchen and smiles. Though it's not a real smile, he is at least grateful to be here and away from things that remind him of home.] Gingerbread?

[hexappeal]

[Awww, Digby. He's such a cutie. She'll come and smother him with attention and affection later. For now, it's sleepy time for him and Ned time for her.]

You bet. [She puts the pies on the kitchen table and cleans up a little so it's not a disgusting pig sty (though who really would call cookie dough such?).] Promised the kids we'd make gingerbread houses. And I happen to like it with a cup of tea or coffee.

[themysciran]

[Diana is focused on adding some intricate details on the roof of one of the gingerbread houses. It may not be necessary (and arguably too much effort), but she thinks it's a nice touch.

She glances at the gingerbread men Zatanna is making, choosing colors that matches their frosting. TRUE ART.]

[hexappeal]

[Zatanna is very careful with her gingerbread folk, although they don't quite look like the people they represent. Probably for the better, as if they were too realistic they would not be particularly appetizing. She's opted to keep everyone in costume, making them all pretty obvious (particularly Klarion and Ollie, with that beard of his).]

This is nice. [It's a quiet comment, just blurted out as she mixes more of a light blue to finish off Klarion's.]

[themysciran]

[Diana makes a sound of agreement as she finishes the detailing on the right side of the gingerbread roof. Even in this world, she's found herself with so little time to spend with her friends and loved ones. It's a pattern she wants to break, and this little activity is a step in the right direction.]

Everyone's been so busy lately -- it is nice that we've all found the time to get together like this.

[hexappeal]

[Zatanna occasionally feels similarly, depending. She spends plenty of time with James, but she has made so many friends and acquaintances that it can be hard to keep tabs on all of them. She knows that she has definitely drifted apart with some over the past several months. There just aren't enough hours in the day!]

I feel like I'm busy... but at the same time, I'm not busy doing anything in particular. [Except for James (heh).] I think I've become complacent.

i told you i'd tag this c:

[bumbumbum]

[Klarion is just watching Zatanna make gingerbread men, taking in her every detail, trying to figure out just what the point of this was. He liked sprinkles, he liked frosting, and he liked gingerbread cookies, but something about this still seemed a little...off to him.]

And you are sure that if someone makes a gingerbread version of me then it cannot be used as an effigy in a ritual of some sort.

i'm glad you kept your word :3

[hexappeal]

[She honestly couldn't exactly give him a reason beyond the "it's tradition" and "it's fun," sort.]

I'd be opening myself up to that same problem, wouldn't I? I promise you that they're just cookies and that in no way can the ones you make or the ones anyone else makes be used in that way. [Although he knows as well as she does that any novice mage with a personal item and a bit of DNA could do something, but that could go for any sort of item like this. Not just a cookie.] The dough is completely magic-proof aside from cheating with decorations, promise. [Which is an encouragement to do so and make them obnoxiously elaborate.]

[bumbumbum]

[Klarion frowns for a moment, not really sure what to do. Tentatively, he takes one of the cookies and slathers blue icing on it, practically caking that stuff on.]

You know, this is fun!

[hexappeal]

[She was nearly about to prompt him to do whatever, that it doesn't matter how they turn out or what he makes. That's the point of it. To do what you want (a thing he is far too familiar with).]

I know. I wouldn't have tried to get you to spend your free time doing it, otherwise. [She finishes the one meant to look like James and very visibly breaks its head off and eats it. It (probably) wasn't intentional.]