Charlotte Abbott
August 03, 2011 5:32 PM
Santa's Little Helper by Charlotte Abbott
With less than a week remaining before the school holidays, Charlotte was feeling exceptionally festive. She didn’t, however, have any plans for midterm, other than to return home for the holidays, and that was a dismal prospect if ever she’d heard of one. Her boyfriend had made it perfectly clear that she would be an unnecessary distraction in the period immediately before his college applications were completed, so she already knew she wouldn’t be seeing anything of James this holiday (even though she’d probably bump into Lutece at some point... was it weird when you saw a guy’s sister about as much as you saw the guy you were seeing?). Rather than letting that get her down, Charlie thought the best way to keep high spirits was to get into the festive spirit! She had done so with gusto.She had arrived at breakfast one morning, causing perhaps more of a scene that she would normally create simply by stepping into a room, and she was sure this was largely due to her festive attire (which other people could call whatever they liked; Charlie was sticking with ‘festive’). Her red velvet dress barely covered all the bits it was supposed to, though she swore that the white faux-fur trimmings made it cute, and the red tights made the whole outfit more decent, anyway. Combined with her hair tied up in bouncy pigtails and her wrists adorned with jingle bells, she was sure nobody would disapprove too loudly... and if they did then that was their issue, not hers; she’d become perfectly adept at ignoring a general susurrus of condemning comments in her seventeen years.
Naturally, she wasn’t just dressed in her festive attire for a laugh and a joke. She thought it was about time she used her powers for good. More specifically, as Head Girl, she had access to students’ class schedules, and thought she could put this to good use by delivery Christmas cards, and maybe gifts, too. This much would be made obvious by the large board she carried with her, which proclaimed, in glittery writing, her to be the Christmas Card Delivery Service. She took a seat near the entrance to the Hall, and displayed the board clearly to her fellow students. Catching someone’s eye, she offered a cheery smile. “Got any cards or gifts you want delivered? I’m here to help!”
(OOC: If you have any festive wishes to send to anyone, just reply to this post and consider it done! Remember to stick to site rules when you post. If you want to reply to Charlie specifically, go right ahead.)
Subthreads: Merry Christmas to All!!!!! by Katrina (Kitty) McLevy
Eh, why not? by Samantha Hamilton
Difficult questions. by Rachel Bauer
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Charlotte Abbott
Santa's Little Helper
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Charlotte Abbott
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Katrina (Kitty) McLevy
August 04, 2011 11:54 PM
Merry Christmas to All!!!!! by Katrina (Kitty) McLevy
Christmas was the absolute best time of the year for Kitty. She loved everything about it from the carols, to the bells, lights, trees, holly, gingerbread…the list just went on and on. Kitty even had an array of bad Christmas sweaters to wear during the holidays. Today she had on a blinding red sweater with green dressed elves wrapping an endless number of gifts.Joyful blue eyes were instantly drawn to the sight of one of the older girls dressed even more festively than herself. A squeal of joy was pulled from Kitty when she saw the other girl was running a gift delivery service. Whipping around Kitty ran back to her room to get the large box of cards she’d taken hours to make over the weekend. Each card was accompanied by a tiny stocking stuffed with chocolate frogs, and a variety of regular Christmas candy such as candy canes, Reeces Christmas trees, and a number of wrapped festive hard candies.
She created a card for everyone in her house, except for those who got their own cards. All the cards for everyone had the same picture on the front a grey cat with bright blue eyes and a Santa hat, under it in her looping friendly script was Marry Christmas! Inside on the left side was:
"There's more, much more, to Christmas
Than candlelight and cheer;
It's the spirit of sweet friendship
That brightens all year.
It's thoughtfulness and kindness,
It's hope reborn again,
For peace, for understanding,
And for goodwill to men!"
This was the same on all the cards Kitty made, the right side however held another picture for the various groups and individuals she’d made cards for. Kitty had an enormous collection of cute animal pictures, and she’d raided it for her cards. She tried to find pictures that best fit what she thought of the recipients, and though the cards were handmade, they were done well and looked pretty good. The picture on the inside of her Aladren housemates card was a little kitten laying in a pile of puppies She’d chosen that picture because even though she didn’t exactly fit with the rest of her housemates Kitty was still determined to make a place for herself. Under the picture she wrote Have a wonderful holiday! ~Kitty.
Her next set of group cards went to all her professors. The picture in this one still made Kitty giggle as she thought if it. There was a little kitten, with a big cat behind her and written on the picture was Busted! Must…act…adorable. Under this one she wrote. Have a wonderful holiday! I can’t wait to learn more stuff. ~Kitty She drew a playful little smiley face next to her name and placed each one in an envelope before addressing one to each professor.
Those where her group cards, one to each person in Aladren, and one for each of the Professors. Next came the individual cards for people who made enough of an impact on Kitty to warrant their own pictures.
First was to Laurie Stratford her new best friend ever. It showed a picture of a super cute cat and dog pair staring at the camera as if they’d just been caught getting into mischief. Under the picture she write Have a Fabulous Christmas and a wonderful break! Your friend forever ~ Kitty
The next two were for Arthur and Arnold Carey. The two pictures were similar, but different as well, just how she thought of the two brothers. For Arthur she chose a picture of a cat rubbing against the nose of a very indifferent looking German Shepherd Inside she wrote Have a wonderful Christmas! ~Kitty She’d chosen the picture because even though she could get Arthur riled up from time to time, he seemed to be more tolerant of her than Arnold, or perhaps more indifferent to what she said. For Arnold, she found one that reminded her of when he caught her sleeping on the floor. Though, Kitty doubted she’d ever fall asleep on him, the picture just seemed to fit somehow. It was a kitten laying on the snout of another big dog. Arnold seemed more approachable at times, though it was Arthur she’d been able to make laugh. The memory still pleased Kitty greatly. Inside of each she wrote I hope your Christmas is wonderful ~Kitty
The fourth was also to a Carey, this time Edmond. Even though she hadn’t gotten the chance to really talk to him Edmond always gave her the feeling of being safe. Epically during practices when he’d protect her from the bludgers. When she was looking for pictures Kitty stumbled upon one for Edmond and decided to make a card for him even if they weren’t very close. It was a picture of a tiny kitten with a wolf sitting behind her. Under the picture she wrote Have a wonderful Christmas! ~Kitty.
Her next card was for Fae Sinclair. It was a picture of two little kittensin a field of grass, one kitten’s paw over the other. It was super cute and reminded Kitty of when she’d helped the other girl when they were both lost. Inside she wrote Have a fantastic Christmas! ~Kitty.
David Kim’s card featured a pair of kittens, a bigger one leading a smaller one. On the picture was written Follow me kid, I teach you the ropes. The picture reminded Kitty of all the times she’d tagged along after David to find her way to classes. Inside she wrote Thanks for the guidance! Have a wonderful Christmas! ~Kitty Kitty knew that by now David had noticed her following, but he never got mad about it, so Kitty was happy.
The next on her gifting list was Michael Grosvenor. He’d seemed so sad when she’d spotted him in the library and even though he wouldn’t tell her what was wrong Kitty still wanted to send him something to make him smile. His picture was of two kittens, one looking sad with text that read Tell me. Maybe Iz help. Inside Kitty wrote Us muggle *eww*borns gotta stick together. Have a great Christmas! ~KittyKitty drew a smiley face for their little inside joke before moving on to the next gift.
Her next gift was something that showed her ability to hold onto things long after someone else probably would have forgotten them. Back in their first Potions class Linus Macaulary had called her babyish for her being known as Kitty. So his picture reflected the memory. It was a pure white cat, with an oddly colored tail The text on the picture read Iz not weerd, mommy sez I has flair. Inside she wrote Have a great Christmas! ~Kitty She drew a winking smiley to show no hard feelings but still grinned at the picture.
The next two went to her two roommates. Girls that Kitty was sure would be delighted to place a permanent silencing charm on her. The first was for Sally Manger and it was a picture of a kitten bopping a baby chic’s head It reminded Kitty of how often she liked to bother the other girl, but of course it was all in good fun. Inside she wrote Have a fantastic Christmas! ~Kitty The second card was for Nora Dobson and was a picture of a kitten sitting next to a rabbit Nora was one of the people Kitty liked to just sit next to as both girls read.
The next card was for Derry 4, and when Kitty saw it she was intently reminded of their jousting together. It was a picture of two kittens caught with one mid air about to tackle the other. Inside she wrote Happy Holidays, have a wonderful break! ~Kitty.
Ayita Bly was next on her gift list and she got a picture of a little grey kittensitting in front of some TV wires, the text read Wait, I’ll fix it. The picture reminded Kitty of when she’d helped with Ayita’s first cut. Inside she wrote Have a wonderful Christmas! Watch out for broken glass. ~Kitty
The next picture was of a kitten caught in mid-leap, and it reminded Kitty of her first flying lesson with Dusk Nysell. Inside she wrote Have a wonderful Christmas, keep flying! ~Kitty
Her last card was for the Quidditch Coach Amelia Pierce. Kitty heard that she’d threatened to turn her house members into toads, so when she saw this picture Kitty couldn’t help but make a card of it. It was a picture of a large black cat, a tiny kitten about to pounce on her tail. The text read Only the yung n foolish takez on basement cat. Inside she wrote Please have a wonderful Christmas ~Kitty
It was somewhat difficult for Kitty to lug the large box of cards and stockings all the way back to the Hall but she finally made it. With a huge grin Kitty dropped the massive box on the table. “Thank you so much! It would have taken forever to deliver all of those!” The tiny first year said, pleased that she wouldn’t have to try and hunt down everyone on her list to give the gifts to.
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Katrina (Kitty) McLevy
Merry Christmas to All!!!!!
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Katrina (Kitty) McLevy
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Samantha Hamilton
August 07, 2011 8:00 AM
Eh, why not? by Samantha Hamilton
Samantha was entirely sure how this Christmas would play out. She had even quite made her mind up for certain that she would even be going home after midterm. She'd told her family she would, of course, but in actual fact, the prospect of another two weeks with them didn't leave her feeling especially excited. As far as she knew, her Mom and younger brother Dave were still living in her older brother Rob's house with his fiancée Andi. This was fine when Samantha herself was at Sonora, but once she came home there were fewer bedrooms than there were necessary sleeping arranegments. It was cramped and crushed, and none of her own belongings had made it out of boxes or her school trunk throughout the entire summer, so she doubted they'd surface just for midterm. It would probably just be easier for everyone, and perhaps more pleasant, too, if she just stayed at school over the holiday.On the other hand, it was usually nice to see her family, and if she got bored of the close living quarters she could go visit her biological father or one of her many step-sisters or ex-step-sisters; it wasn't like she was in any way short of family members. Besides, if she went home she could probably coerce her biological father into donating more guilt money towards Samantha's ever-increasing wardrobe, not to mention the Christmas festivities, cards, and presents she would be able to enjoy if she went home.
On the first hand again, there were bound to be some midterm festivities to enjoy at Sonora, too. Some of the students were already getting into the spirit of things, and Charlie Abbott was apparently offering a delivery service. Samantha happened to have the few Christmas cards she'd written with her in her schoolbag. As she attended classes with everyone she'd addresses a card to, she didn't actually need the Head Girl's help in delivering anything. Then again, it was a bit of fun, and she could be saved that awkwardness of seeing people's expressions when they hadn't written her a card in return if she did it this way. So, before she sat down for breakfast, Samantha handed over her small stack of envelopes to Charlie, wishing the older girl a Merry Christmas as she did so.
Samantha's cards were all identical, featuring a snow-covered tree surrounded by snowflakes against a purple night sky with the words 'Christmas greetings' embossed in silver at the top in fancy font. She'd written one each to Autumn, Rachel (both signed 'with love'), Sam Bauer and David Wilkes ('from Samantha x'), and the fellow library helpers she thought she knew well enough to send a Christmas card: Daniel and Renée ('from Samantha Hamilton'). She had also addressed a card to Miss Diaz herself, which, considering Samantha was an Aladren, and a library monitor, and she took Divinations, the fourth year didn't think was inappropriate.
Delivery of cards now no longer on her mind, Samantha continued to take a seat for breakfast, and began by selecting a blueberry muffin.
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Samantha Hamilton
Eh, why not?
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Samantha Hamilton
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Rachel Bauer
August 08, 2011 8:12 PM
Difficult questions. by Rachel Bauer
For a second, Rachel’s eyes went a little blank when Charlie Abbott, dressed in a Santa outfit Rachel would never have dared put on and which so stoked her minor envy for the older girl just a little higher, asked if she had cards or gifts she wanted delivered. This wasn’t over disapproval of the neckline of the other girl’s dress or horror at someone over age two wearing pigtails, but did have something to do with Charlie. Namely, whether it was in bad taste to send someone a Christmas card through their own delivery service.Most of her gifts were, after all, taken care of. She’d give Veronica her beaded designer necklace and Samantha her bag and Nic (hey, the guy was why she wasn’t going to be embarrassed by being alone at the dance) his scarf in person on the last day of the term, but she was just going for cards when it came to her fellow prefects (with a slightly friendlier, less formulaic note in the case of Dulce Garcia) and Alessa, and Charlie was one of that number.
This, she guessed, was the danger of having casual acquaintances. If everything was just a matter of people she knew or she didn’t know, she wouldn’t have a problem. But she did, so she had to deal with it.
“Um, sure,” she said, and went off to get them, buying time to work out the problem. The possibility of it being a problem that she implied Charlie should just stand there (even though that seemed to be what she was doing anyway) only occurred to her after she was going, but it was too late then, and going to explain would just make her seem weak, which would be, to put it incredibly mildly, bad. Besides, this was was more convenient than organizing all the owls herself. There was a line where a few corners could be cut without her feeling lazy for doing it, and besides, if she started sending cards the traditional way after Charlie offered her services, then that might somehow be construed as an insult, too.
Finally, she returned with the cards, and Charlie’s on top. “For you,” she said, proffering that one with a smile. “And these for delivering,” she added, handing over those for all the other prefects in the school and Alessa. “Thanks so much!” she added brightly, hoping she’d handled it well. Now that she was prefect, she couldn’t make any wrong moves.
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Rachel Bauer
Difficult questions.
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Rachel Bauer
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