#nox.winterfest

[chacswins]

Damien Graves fucking hates the winter. Which is odd, since he does love the holidays ( he’ll never admit it despite anyone’s best attempt. ) He slipped on ice one too many times for his patience ( so, one time ) and now he has a vendetta against the whole season. The poor man is bundled up in a comically thick amount of scarfs and layers underneath his coat. 

“This country’s weather is fucking ridiculous.” He mutters to nobody in particular, not even really paying attention as he lights up a cigarette. It’s a recent development, one he isn’t thrilled with. “All the spells in the world and we can’t think of one that makes heat?”

[blvdgers]

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽  :  hogsmeade village  ! 𝙵𝙴𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶  :  @graciieux​  !

so, it wasn’t his best made plan. he could hardly be blamed for that. mattie had provided the opportunity in the first place by dragging him along to the tree lighting ceremony by side apparition and then wandering off into the crowd to find their friends, leaving him alone to wander the familiar village under unfamiliar circumstances. if they’d stuck by his side - as promised, he might add - then they’d have stumbled upon gracie in a kind of ... neutral territory, and henry wouldn’t have spared even a thought to how he might strike up meaningful conversation or, perhaps, how to ask whether that was something she might be interested in at all at some point in the future. mattie’s friends were generally off limits. he respected that. but when mattie was nowhere to be seen, and gracie’s sibling - he knew they were some sort of bird, maybe a lark, or a robin - having bounded off a while before and never returned, he sort of figured that keeping grace company was an acceptable thing to do, and... well, whatever came of that was fine. right ?

it took him a few minutes to work himself up for it, but, finally... “grace. hi,” he smiles, all white teeth and dimples, his ungloved and chilly hands glued to the insides of his pockets. wix milled all around them, waiting in the queue for cocoa or standing around for the christmas tree lights, but ( as per usual, at least since the gala ), his attention was focused on her, from bobble hat to cheeks rosy from the cold. “are you a willing participant, or... did you get dragged out here as well ?” 

[frcgilis]

( 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ) —   hogsmeade ( 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 ) —   open

adora gave it an honest shot. she really had. years past, she’d love spending her weekends in december at hogsmeade, begging luca for some coins to get whatever cheap christmas gifts she could back when she was at hogwarts. but she’d gone this year, ignoring the ache in her once broken bones that the cold now caused. she’d barely taken a few steps into the market proper before she was jostled by someone in the crowd, posture going rigid at the contact. “oh this was a bad idea.” she muttered it to herself and took a few steps back, putting some distance between herself and the crowd. adora hadn’t told luca or julius that was she going, hadn’t wanted to worry them. now, as she cast her gaze around, that instinct to look for one of them still unshakeable, she wished she’d had. “is there... do you know if there’s anywhere i can sit for a few minutes?”

[gelsemivm]

( 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ) —   diagon alley ( 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 ) —   open 

dionisia belby was not made for customer service. she much preferred the sticky heat of her greenhouses, hidden away from customers and dealing only with the finnicky nature of some of her most expensive plants. instead, she was bundled up (a long, dark green outercoat with floral motifs, her hat, scarf, and gloves matching. dionisia was nothing if not dedicated to the aesthetic.) but the chill still bone deep, listening to the endless chatter of customers. “it’s too late for a custom wreath, unfortunately.” the slots for the custom wreath orders had sold out before november, let alone a few weeks before christmas. the smile on her face was forced, stiff a little. “you can always grab one of the premade ones.”

[indemnae]

OPEN STARTER : @startertms. LOCATION : anywhere in wix london.

“ mon dieu... ” fleur mumbled to herself, burying her phone in the back pocket of her jeans quite harshly. it was near useless to her since it she was convinced it was taking her to anywhere but where she needed to be. it could almost be seen a humorous to anyone that knew just how many years fleur had been residing in england — only to be found like a mind boggled foreigner struck with culture shock. clearing her throat a little too loud, also an attempt to grab the attention of the person closest to her. “ pardon ? i’m so sorry to disturb you, but would you know know the quickest way to get to hogsmeade from here ? ”

[praefcrtis]

( 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ) —   diagon alley ( 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 ) —   open

daisy held a foam to go cup in her hands, leeching away as much heat from the thin to-go cup. “i don’t think hot chocolate is supposed to taste like this.” technically speaking, it was a peppermint hot chocolate with a shot of espresso. not that it tasted like that. it was watery and had just a hint of chocolate with an overwhelming peppermint flavor. it was enough to make her mouth burn just a bit. “i really wouldn’t recommend it. twelve dollars isn’t worth it.”

[judvs]

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽  :  hogsmeade village  !

her friend had made her promise to be nice. she’d opened her mouth to argue and been silenced by the look on their face ; they weren’t taking the snowman building competition nearly as seriously as she was, and were worried she was going to embarrass them. begrudgingly, marietta had actually held out her hand to loop gloved pinky fingers, solemnly swearing ( on pain of death - well, not really, but the incompletion of their snowy entry, which was just as bad ) not to cause a scene before stomping off towards the offending sculpture, snow boots crunching pleasantly all the way. she’d been waiting an hour for this entrant to return, and now that she had her chance, fists clenched inside her jacket pockets, her friends chastising voice ringing in her ears, marietta knew that there was only one thing for it - “that’s OUR scarf,” she explodes, immediately, her expression sour as she waits for the other to emerge from behind their creation, ”you took it off our snowman when we went for lunch. i want it back.” 

[dolorsarchived]

𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍:      the   three   broomsticks,   hogsmeade. 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚞𝚜:      open.      (      @startertms​​      )

peppermint   hot   chocolate   wafts   up   in   delectable   whirls,      comfort   par   none      ;      digits,      otherwise   stiff      &      smarting   with   the   way   cold   seizes   them,      are   a   𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚎𝚍   𝚌𝚞𝚛𝚕   around   mug   that’s   practically   bigger   than   their   head      !      (      ambrosial,   thick   flavour   BLANKETS   the   sour   tang   of   a   healing   potion   choked   back   only   moments   before,   colossal   blessing   within   itself      ...      when   the   year   turns   gelid      &      𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗇𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍   𝗂𝖼𝖾   on   mossy   pathways   marks   the   turning   of   the   days,   their   reliance   on   elixirs      &      tinctures   alike   goes   up   𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐋𝐃.      )         something   cordial   about   the   hustle      &      bustle   of   the   three   broomsticks   is   a   balm,   though      ;      coat   shucked   off   but   scarf   still   bundled   tight,   boots   are   kicked   up   on   adjoining   seat.      (      politesse   be   damned,   there’s   a   𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔   in   their   ankles      &      astoria   doesn’t   have   a   remedying   spell   on   hand.   rest,   ice,   compression,   elevation,   isn’t   that   the   old   saying      ?      )      it’s   easy   enough,   to   ZONE   OUT      &      gaze   out   frosted   window   but   the   vaguest   clearing   of   a   nearby   throat   snaps   them   to   attention,   a   certain   heat   flooding   into   features   as   they   practically   topple   over   to   make   space.         ❛         merlin,   sorry         ...         did   you   WANT   that   seat         ?         i’ve   not   got   anyone   coming,   𝗂𝗍’𝗌   𝖺𝗅𝗅   𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋𝗌   𝗂𝖿   𝗒𝗈𝗎’𝖽   𝗅𝗂𝗄𝖾.         ❜

[auguriies]

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽  :  winterfest on diagon alley  ! 𝙵𝙴𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶  :  @sqviidboy​  !

"that looks like a much sturdier camera strap,” as always, catherine speaks without preamble, but their greeting smile is wide and somewhat encouraging. a lesson learned in the worst of ways is still a lesson learned, at least in their experience, and this time they have no criticism for him. it makes a nice change. “you shouldn’t have any problems. not this time, at least.” 

[maelstrvm]

( 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ) — hogsmeade ( 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 ) — closed ( 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ) — diana dyer ( @dramaqveens​ )   ( 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭 ) —   ❛   but i’ve got style, i’ve got flair.  ❜

soraya stared at diana, tore her attention away from the hideous christmas sweater she’d been eyeing up. “are we just saying things now?” diana was someone to put up with just in case their career paths crossed, but it was nothing more than that for soraya. “because i don’t know were you got that assumption from.”

[impuriities]

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽  :  hogsmeade village  !

there wasn’t all that much for hande to do with her winter evenings, anymore. in decembers past, she’d at least been able to sip on a warm firewhiskey or try out skating across the village ice rink. last year, still insecure in her position & hoping to continue making the best impression on dionisia, she had volunteered to man the wreath selling booth on diagon alley late into the night, but the other had refused her offer to stand around in the cold after the arboretum closed up for the night for obvious reasons. her fun was more limited, now, which was alright in some ways ( she’d never actually mastered ice skating and she hated the cold, in general ) but bothersome, in others.

when she & her roommates had decided to visit hogsmeade on the night of the tree lighting, none of them had realised how much hande would have to sit out of, but she’d urged them on while assuring them that the various stores and stalls would be enough excitement for her, and so far they had been - she’d been window shopping with a go cup of hot chocolate clutched between both hands for a while before the little knitted outfits had caught her attention, and she couldn’t help herself putting said cup down on the edge of the rickety sales table when there were tiny clothes to run her fingertips over. the little booties...- hande smiled, a little, to herself, plucking them up gently and, to her nearest neighbour, uttering, “these are cute, aren’t they ? do you think that green could be a neutral color ?” 

[chacswins]

“Ah, damn -” Molly swears under her breath. She finally convinced Arthur to allow her to go out alone, now she’s hunching over a bench in Diagon Alley. Her body got pushed too far, she overdid it. Everything in her despises to ask for help, so she stays hunched over until she feels someone by her. “I’m alright! I’m alright!”

[volatiicus]

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽  :  the leaky cauldron, diagon alley  ! 𝙵𝙴𝙰𝚃𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙶  :  @astrcphe​​  /  henri catchlove chosen for the underutilised ‘borgins are only on the tree rn because keira and henri hooked up or smth’ point, but you can choose otherwise if you want  !

it’s not the walking into them that causes issue, really. it could happen to anyone, especially on a busy december day ; everyone is rushing one way or the other and keira is no different, paper shopping bags clutched in both hands as she makes her way down the alley, desperate to get to a leaky cauldron booth before the weakening handles actually break. she has to juggle them to open the door to begin with, but it takes so long that she leaves herself susceptible to something just like that happening - which, of course, it does. door gets pushed from the other side before she can get a proper grip on it and slams into her, earning a surprised oomph and causing one of the more overfilled bags to spill across the step and cobbles. go figure. keira crouches to gather her stuff before it can be trodded on and looks up to make her apologies - realising who’s day she has interfered with as the real issue ( if strategically placed white berries are considered such ) becomes apparent, gloomy as she announces, “this would be my luck beneath mistletoe, wouldn’t it ?” 

[cvriousheart]

( 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ) — diagon alley ( 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 ) — closed ( 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐭 ) — ❛ are you implying that i cannot keep this thing a secret? ❜   ( 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ) — millicent bulstrode ( @hoggleswart​ )

“not at all.” oriana hadn’t technically been working when they saw millicent at the winter festival. it was the opposite actually, heading home from the daily prophet office for the day, but they couldn’t look a blend eye to the chance to get some information about the baby shower they hadn’t been able to worm their way into. “i’m asking you to not to keep it a secret. you know, give me some details. sell a story to the prophet, get some extra money for christmas gifts. it’s a win-win.”

[praefcrtis]

( 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 ) — hogsmeade ( 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬 ) — closed ( 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ) — diana dyer ( @dramaqveens​ )

“diana. please stand still for a few seconds.” daisy had wrangled a stranger into taking a picture of them. bringing her own camera and hoping that it wouldn’t explode while using it seemed like a much easier thing to do than wait in the line for christmas photos that stretched far past the booth. “mom is going to be pissed if we don’t send her a holiday picture this year.” and they couldn’t get that picture if diana couldn’t stand still for five second. 

[dolorsarchived]

𝙿𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙿𝚃:         “         you   know   how   to   make   someone   show   you   where   something   precious   is   hidden      ?      set   fire   to   their   house.   it's   the   first   thing   they   go   for.         ” 𝙵𝙾𝚁:         knox   bellamy.      (      @kxbellem​      )

&      the   award   for   strangest   life   advice   goes   to      ...      !      furrow   in   startled   brow   has   yet   to   smooth,   but   at   the   very   least   she’s   had   the   𝗀𝗈𝗈𝖽   𝗀𝗋𝖺𝖼𝖾   to   snap   jaw   shut   from   where   it   was   so   briefly   parted.   make   no   fool’s   mistake,   it’s   not   the   weirdest   shit   she’s   heard   in   her   lifetime,   not   by   a   goddamned   long   shot,   but   it’s   𝐔𝐏   there   for   the   most   unexpected   tidbit   given   whilst   watching   the   lighting   of   a   christmas   tree.         “         ...         𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎   𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗.         ”         a   slow   nod,   an   expressionless   twist   whilst   she   tries   to   garner   exactly   what   kind   of   a   response   this   prompts.         “         &      here   i   was,   thinking   the   BEST   way   to   go   about   it   was   to   get   them   shitfaced   drunk      &      flirt   it   out   of   them.   my   mistake.         ”