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Intense Discussion With Sex God Sage Porter
Author: Georgia Copperpot
Date: 02-17-12 15:02
Exasperated, a sound somewhat akin to the growling noise my beyond insane sister Libby sometimes makes when communing with Angus the cat escapes me. Clomping over to a tree stump and sitting down upon it, ignoring the cold seeping in through layers of clothing that suddenly seem vair inadequate, arms crossing, I glare at the sex god before me.
"Why did you drag me behind the Shrieking Shack?"
"So we could talk."
"Your hearing must be going because I clearly stated I did not wish to speak to you."
"Georgia."
"Sage."
"I had nothing to do with it. You know that."
"Your father does not like me. He thinks I am weirder than odd and totally naff. Go to his party with Esperanza."
"Da doesn't like anyone but himself. I don't want to go with her. I want to go with you."
"Your father made it clear I am not welcome. That leaves things open for you to go with her. You wanted a break from me so you could be free to see her so I don't know why you're even bothering with me right now."
"I did NOT want a break from you. I wanted to give you more time for studying NEWTs and be one less stress for you this term."
"You are barmier than Vati and Libs put together if you think all this has been one less stress."
"Maybe I have to be barmy to put up with your wackiness. Wackiness that I happen to like very much. As for Esperanza, she and I are just friends and she's more friends with Savannah than with me. She has a boyfriend who, as I've explained to you once already, also received a letter from Da. She still wants to go with him and I still want to go with you."
"I don't want to go at all. Why would I want to go somewhere that I've been told in no uncertain terms that I am not welcome?"
"Because you'll be with me and we will show Da that he does not control us, does not make relationship decisions with. I don't much want to go either but I sort of feel as if I have to go just for a little while to thumb my nose at him and I very much would like you to be with me. We could leave after five or ten minutes and go somewhere else."
"I had bought sparkly new boy entrancers just for it and I've money for a new dress that I was going to shop for today. With your dad being all stroppy and thinking I'm a wet, swotty naff of a whelk who tarts herself up just to catch a rich sex god boyfriend I haven't bothered looking. Going to the party for five or ten minutes just so he can have a nervy spaz and want to give me a duffing up isn't making it seem any more worth the bother."
"Georgia, YOU are always worth the bother. Da is an insufferable idiot who needs to learn he does not rule my life or, by extension, yours. Please go with me to the party. Please?"
"We'll go somewhere fabbity fabagogo after?"
"As fabbity fabagogo as you want."
"Then I suppose. You have to come dress shopping with me now."
"Okay."
"And carry those bags. Be vair careful of the turquoise bag. There's a breakable peppermint basket in it."
"Peppermint basket?"
"A basket. Made of peppermint. It's for Daniel Gelson."
"Secret Santa gift or your new boyfriend to make me jealous?"
"Yes and perhaps. Possibly both. Or neither. There is also candy to go in the basket but none is breakable. Or, it is, but not like the basket."
My sex god boyfriend Sage Porter walking hand-in-hand with me and carrying the shopping bags, we return to the High Street, going straight to Gladrags so I can start trying to find a dress for that lamer than the lamest lame thing of a party given by Sage's discourteously impolite mentally unstable vati who almost, but not quite, makes my own vati appear rather sane.
Translations:
vair - very
sex god - see Sage Porter
naff - something or something tres vair embarrassing, nerdy, or out of fashion
barmier - crazier, more insane
vati - father; male parental unit
boy entrancers - false eyelashes
stroppy - being in a right state and throwing a fit thatis not quite a full on tantrum
wet - all drippy, a horribly useless idiot
swotty - someone who has no life
whelk - a musciousy shellfish so someone who is a whelk is disgusting, and possibly muscousy
tart - a girl who is a bit on the common side
nervy spaz - having something of a stroppy fit
verbal duffing up - beating up with words
fabbity fab-a-go-go - beyond fabulous
prat - gormless oaf
gormless - lacking intelligence
CopyKate
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 02-17-12 15:03
The sun was already making its descent, and it was only mid-afternoon. With a frown, Kate linked arms with Mark and complained, "I feel like we're being shorted out of this Hogsmeade trip."
"How do you mean?" he asked her. His other hand seemed weighted down with purchases, but he'd lightened his load with magic.
"Well, it's barely 3 o'clock and there's not much daylight left. We'll have to head back to the castle soon."
Mark shot her a grin. "That's just Mother Nature playing a cruel trick on us. She wants us indoors, studying for final exams."
Kate groaned. "Don't remind me."
"On the bright side, we still have a little bit of time until the end of term," Mark reminded her. "I think we can reasonably procrastinate for at least another week."
"Good thinking," Kate lightly replied. "But in the meantime, I still haven't found a gift for Professor Black."
She had drawn his name for Secret Santa, while Mark had gotten Professor Douglass. He'd found his gift at one of the stalls set up along High Street, but nothing had really stood out for Kate. She'd tossed around a few ideas, but none of them had ultimately seemed like an ideal gift for the Transfiguration professor.
"Let's go into Scrivenshaft's," Kate said, when they neared the quill shop. "I snapped my favorite quill the other day and want to find an identical replacement."
They stepped into the building, which felt crowded, but mostly because it wasn't very big and there were displays of different quills, inks and stationary sets all over the place. Kate searched for a quill to replace her broken one and found it towards the back of the shoppe. She bought two, just in case she snapped another one. Sometimes she wrote too hard, especially when she was trying to quickly commit ideas in her head to parchment.
"What about this?" Mark suggested, holding up a red, leather journal.
Kate asked, "What about it?"
"For Professor Black," he said, rolling his eyes. "He was in Gryffindor, wasn't he?"
"Was he?" Kate asked. She had no idea.
"I'm pretty sure I heard that about him," Mark said, "and even if he wasn't, it's not bad-looking and it'll be useful."
"Yeah, but I'm sure loads of people are buying leather bound journals as gifts. I don't want to copy anybody."
Mark put the journal back on the shelf. "If you don't find anything for him today, you'll have to order something from a catalogue or ask your dad to get something on your behalf."
"I know," Kate said.
She eyed the journal on the shelf. It wasn't a terrible gift, but it was rather boring. Maybe she could personalize it somehow.
She picked it up.
"So you're going to get it after all?" Mark asked.
"I think so," she decided slowly, her mind working on how to enhance the journal. It truly was fine as it was and if she didn't think of something to do to it, then that would be fine. She just didn't want to seem as if she hadn't put any thought into her gift to Professor Black.
She took it and her quills to the counter, paid for her items, and then walked with Mark toward the castle. Just outside The Three Broomsticks, they decided they would go in for one last butterbeer. They found Johanna and Gus in the crowded pub. It seemed that everybody had had the same idea about one last drink before having to head up to the castle.
Kate and Mark managed to find two empty chairs and squeezed them in at Gus and Johanna's table. They drank their butterbeers, showed each other their purchases (though certainly not what they had gotten each other), and talked about Christmas holiday plans.
From Professor Ravenscroft
Author: Marzipan
Date: 02-17-12 16:16
Marzi sat on her bed and carefully wrapped up a gift she'd purchased at Dogweed & Deathcap in Hogsmeade during her morning patrol of the village. Weston was also on the bed, lounging with Carter sleeping on his chest while Vallon slept snuggly at his side. The boys had gone down for a nap an hour ago and looked like they didn't plan on waking up anytime soon.
"Do you think he'll like it?" Marzi asked Weston. She was referring to Augustus Hodfuffer, whose name she'd drawn for the annual gift exchange at Hogwarts.
"I don't know if it's what he really wants," Weston said, "but I'm sure he would expect something like that from you."
"It's too obvious then?" Marzi asked.
"I wouldn't say that," Weston replied, "but you are his Herbology teacher and you are giving him a plant."
"It's not just a plant," Marzi replied. "It's a terrarium, and not just one, but three." She pouted at him. "I thought they were cute."
Weston chuckled.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'm sure Gus will find them 'cute' too."
Marzi rolled her eyes at her husband. "They're not too cute, though. I think a boy like Gus could appreciate them."
The terrariums in question were three identical vials that were quite small, but not too small either. They each had a bit of preserved moss in the bottom and a grapevine twig. The twigs curled and curved fantastically.
"He can put them on his bedside table or attach one to a chain," Marzi went on, carefully wrapping them in tissue paper before slipping them into a gift bag.
She had seen Hagrid drag felled Christmas trees over the grounds earlier and knew that he was setting them up in various places around the castle. Many would wind up in the Great Hall, but at least one would find its home in the common common room. Eventually, Marzi would slip her gift to Augustus under that tree.
End Of Day
Author: Julian Valentine
Date: 02-17-12 16:36
Fingers snap in Julian's face.
Jerking away from Lysander's fingers, brow creasing into a frown, Julian asks, "What's that for?"
"You're spacing off again. You've a customer to ring up."
The frown turns to a sheepish smile. "Sorry."
Lysander shrugs it off, returning to his own customer. Julian offers another apology to the pretty third or fourth year girl standing before him. "Forgive me for ignoring you. I'm a little tired."
"That's okay, Mr. Valentine."
"Is this all for you?" he asks, sliding her two books across the countertop to ring up and bag.
"Yes. Actually, no. I have this for Caerwyn but would you give it to him?"
The it in question is a box of Christmas candies topped with a festive peppermint striped bow.
Her cheeks have two perfect circles of pink embarrassment born of shyness. Julian would chuckle if not for the fact that doing that would make her embarrassment painful. He eyes the box then looks back to her.
"I will give it to him but shouldn't it come from you, even if just slipped under the tree at school."
"You think that's best?"
"I do."
She works her lower lip, deep in contemplative consideration. Julian tells her the total for the books and hands the sack with them over to her. She smiles broadly, swiping the box into the sack along with the books. "I think you're right. Thanks, Mr. Valentine."
She fairly skips out, Julian watching her progress out of the bookshoppe with amusement. Caerwyn and Augustus enter Twice Told Tales so soon after he's surprised at not having seen through the window the two boys passing the girl by.
"Hi again, Dad."
"Hi, Mr. Valentine."
"Hello, yourselves. What are you two up to?"
"We just played some wizard's paint ball and were thinking about getting something from Briar's."
"Are you heading back to school soon?"
"Dunno. We don't mind walking in the dark we we're thinking about eating supper here in Hogsmeade," Gus answers.
"Whatever you two do, don't forget to pick up your Secret Santa gifts before going back."
"We won't, Dad. Besides, I promised Grace and Charlotte I'd tell them bye. Do you or Uncle Lysander want anything from Briar's?"
"You know, cake does sound good. I don't care what kind. Lysander?"
"A slice of pie or a tart, something with fruit. Thanks."
"Back in a few."
The boys shoot out of the shoppe and over to the bakery. Even with Briar's being busier than usual because of today being Hogsmeade Weekend, Caerwyn and Gus aren't gone long. That's most likely because Caerwyn by now knows how to help himself and Briar never charges him. He would simply give her a heads up that they were there, grab to go containers, and serve up what Gus and he wanted along with the cake and pie for Julian and Lysander. After depositing a slice of four berry pie for Lysander and strawberry cake for Julian the boys take their own sweets to Julian's flat to eat, along with some fairy cakes for the girls who've been playing tea party the last couple of hours under Aegean's supervision.
When Gus and Caerwyn leave they come through the shoppe. "We're going to get in one more game, either wizard's laser tag or paint ball, we haven't decided, then eat, then be back for the gifts. See you then."
"Don't be overly late. Oh, and before I forget, you should write your grandmother and thank her for helping you figure out what to give for Secret Santa."
"Okay, Dad, will do."
Caerwyn had drawn the name of another Hufflepuff who is a seventh year and a girl. He'd asked around for suggestions on what to give Maggie Masterson-Hawthorne. Upon learning the girl is from Australia and very new to Hogwarts Lisette told Caerwyn that Maggie might have lots of friends back home to write to so suggestion stationary or stationary supplies. Today at Scrivenshafts Caerwyn decided against the expected stationary parchment, ink, and quills. He got Maggie some wax and seals to close her letters with. Caerwyn just hopes she likes the initial M seal and heart seal along with the different colors of wax he picked out.
One Person Not Excited About Hogsmeade Weekend
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 02-17-12 18:48
With the setting sun the already cold temperatures dip. After hours of helping interested students become better at flying a broom and increasing their skills at Quiddich, Viktor called a half to the workshop. After seeing to the equipment being put away, he'd walked into Hogsmeade with the friends who'd assisted him today, offering to buy them drinks and dinner for any who wanted to stay in Hogsmeade long enough. If Viktor were being totally honest with himself, wanting to walk into Hogsmeade with a group is so he doesn't end up rooted to the spot he'd been standing in towards the end of the day on the last Hogsmeade Saturday. The spot from where he'd ended up flung backwards, helplessly watching Theodosia's murder.
Every day to and from Hogwarts Viktor passes the spot where she died and he had done nothing. It's nothing short of torture. Viktor could probably Floo to the school but even he knows just how extreme that is given the proximity of Hogwarts to Hogsmeade. He's flown it a number of times but found that flying over the general area doesn't do much to keep his mind from dwelling on what happened, even when he takes a long round about route to get from his house, the stadium, or shoppe to the school.
All week long Viktor's been unable to stop thinking about the upcoming Hogsmeade Weekend. With circumstances so similar to that day passing that spot became increasingly difficult as Saturday neared. By Friday morning he was practically twitchy thinking about passing the spot Saturday. With no reason to go to Hogwarts Friday, he'd nearly invented one. Work on writing end of winter term exams. Go over the pitch and equipment for the workshop even though that had been done twice already. Rearrange the F&A room in the castle. Something. Anything. He would have gone to the school and then stayed overnight.
Viktor had stopped himself, just barely, from going to such lengths but still found himself this morning flying to Hogwarts along an extremely circuitous route. All day one corner of his mind could not let go of having to make the return trip, either on foot or on his broom. He'd hoped that having others to walk with would help, or at least distract him enough to get past the spot.
He's considered talking to good friend Ethan Somerset about the post traumatic stress of Theodosia's death, their friendship forged working together when Ethan was an Auror on a case that had them witnessing Kendra Beck's murder. Viktor's loathe to bother Ethan about this though when his friend is still dealing with the aftermath of another tragic death, that of Rosamond Boggs, and the escape of Hattie Harsnip in the body of Penn Ellison.
As the group approaches the spot Viktor unconsciously slows. It's only Dimitri Levski being directly behind him that spurs him to continue moving forward when his every impulse is to stop completely. They near High Street, cutting over to the left to The Three Broomsticks. It's only as they enter and Viktor is starting to feel oddly light headed that he realized he'd been holding his breath.
Getting settled at one of the larger tables, he does a quick survey of the pub, wondering if Zuberi and Marjani are still in the village or if they've returned to Hogwarts. Then hearing a couple of students on their way out talking about the Secret Santa gift exchange, he wonders if Zuberi and Marjani have found presents. He knows they both entered because Zuberi told him they had when encouraging Viktor to sign up as well.
Viktor drew the name of first year Mildred Campbell. Although he'd not been her instructor for flying lessons - Theodosia has been - Viktor knows Mildred because she takes Fitness & Athletics. She seems a sweet girl but is on the quiet side. Viktor knows a little more about her but little of it is information to help determine what sort of present to buy but it was enough.
Viktor's giving Mildred a generous gift certificate to Krum's Completely Quidditch. She could buy a broom or some of the athletic clothing or shoes. There are games. Tickets to Quidditch matches. Mildred will have a wide variety of choices and though a first year and unable to come into the shoppe on a Hogsmeade weekend, there's always a visit during a holiday or she can order from one of the catalogs the shoppe puts out each year.
Viktor is giving Mildred a second present. One of those small pieces of information he has on the girl is that her mother died not all that long before school began. Obtaining a picture of her mother had not been the easiest item to obtain, Mildred's grandmother proving somewhat obstinate, but with a little monetary incentive, Mrs. Howard had finally relented. She'd provided Viktor with a very nice photograph the perfect size to fit into the pretty angel locket that is Mildred's second part of his Secret Santa gift to her.
Not spotting either Marjani or Zuberi, Viktor forces himself to focus on the discussion going on at the table, a debate on what two teams are the most likely to make it to the next Quidditch World Cup.
(Adriana) The Hog's Head
Author: Bill Weasley
Date: 02-17-12 19:52
Adriana sat in The Hog's Head and nursed a stiff drink. The pub was mostly empty, the only other individuals in the room being the barman and an older wizard with a pockmarked face. The barman occasionally glanced her way but for the most part seemed utterly disinterested in everything.
Like many of the Hogwarts professors, Adriana had taken a shift patrolling the village. She'd gotten a little bit of Christmas shopping out of the way, as well. Her list had been quite small and she'd found everything she'd needed rather quickly. She'd found something for Harry, and something for Bill and his girls. She'd even gotten something for Fleur, even though Adriana knew Fleur didn't like her one bit.
Adriana had also gotten something for Marion DeMarco, her Secret Santa recipient. The necklace was something she'd picked up at one of the vendors along High Street. Adriana liked it especially because of the prominent rose. It was rather bulky, but hopefully Marion would like it all the same.
After completing her shopping, Adriana had come to the pub, first for a bite to eat and then to sift through her thoughts. She had made her trip abroad already, following the information she'd gotten from Jimmy Kiddell.
Adriana had been quite confident that her visit to Eastern Europe would prove successful, but she had been gravely disappointed to discover that it had only served as another stepping stone. She'd not come away empty-handed, having left with information, but she'd been most unhappy.
Now she had another trip to plan. This, at least, pieced together a puzzle she'd previously not been able to make heads or tails of.
A whiff of goat invaded her nostrils, pulling her out of her reverie. She looked around and saw that the barman had just walked past her to pick up an empty mug from one of the tables. It had been there all day, and from the dust covering it, Adriana guessed it had been there for a while.
She looked out the window and saw that it had gotten dark. She really had been sitting there for a while. She drained her drink in one gulp, pulling a face because the drink was truly disgusting, and then slammed the empty glass onto the table. She got up, crossed to the bar, and threw some coins onto the counter.
She left with her purchases, feeling the eyes of the barman on her way out of the pub. The cold bit into her skin and made Adriana wish that she could apparate to Hogwarts. She debated apparating at least to the gate, but ultimately hiked all the way to the castle at a fast clip.
Secret Santa Shopping (Zuberi)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 02-17-12 19:53
Zuberi had nearly made arrangements with Professor Dumbledore to spend the day in Africa volunteering. He'd changed his mind when Alexa Wenlock reminded him that the date he was considering was a Hogsmeade Saturday and not just any Hogsmeade Saturday but the one perfect for gift shopping because of the combination of Hogsmeade weekend sales and holiday sales. She also, more subtly, reminded him that Marjani might need him around. Zuberi wouldn't have minded skipping the shopping chaos in town if it meant avoiding a memory he'd rather not dredge up but he knew he shouldn't put himself a few thousand miles away either.
Marjani's been acting weird since that day. He'd fully expected her to want to return to school in Africa. It's what he wanted. Zuberi has come to like Hogwarts a great deal but unlike his sister he's only just recently begun making friends. Going back to Okapi would be going back to long time friends, some of them ones he's known practically since birth.
For reasons Marjani has yet to fully explain she announced she wanted to come back to Hogwarts. Zuberi did not have to come back with her but he felt he should, not only for her sake but for his. He remembers all too well how difficult and slow the process of coming to terms with their parents' deaths had been. He couldn't picture being separated for long periods from Marjani, and from Viktor, while going through all the stages of grief again.
Since their short break from school, Marjani has had days where she seems fine. She's happy and smiling and being productive getting assignments done. Other days she doesn't want to get out of bed. Etta and Jill have told him she has to practically be pried out, first the bed, then the dorm room, then Gryffindor House. On those days she's moody and erratic. If not for knowing these ups and downs are grief related, a person might think Marjani is bi-polar.
Marjani is usually excited about things like the Secret Santa exchange so one day in the commons he'd found her and asked if she'd signed up yet. She'd shrugged and said she hadn't even thought about it. Zuberi had pulled her up and gently prodded her over to the nearest sign-up sheet, getting them both signed up. Last night at supper he'd told Etta and Jill if Marjani didn't seem interested in going into Hogsmeade to try and get her at least into the hallway where he could take over. Luckily, Marjani had gotten up in a fairly decent mood. It was only after they'd all gotten into Hogsmeade that Marjani became lackluster and very unenthused about Christmas shopping.
Like many guys Zuberi tolerates shopping to a point. Today was more tedious than usual while dealing with his sister. She wouldn't tell any of her friends whose name she had. Because Zuberi knew he ended up telling the group, made up of the usual mix of girl and guys Marjani hangs out with, to go on without them. They'd catch up later.
He'd taken Marjani firmly by the shoulders, "When we are done, you may go back to your room and crawl under your covers, staying there until Monday morning. For now, you have to help me pick out gifts. We have more than just Secret Santas to buy."
"I know. All this is just so... hard."
Zuberi pulled her into a hug. "We've gotten through it before and we'll get through it again. Just takes time."
Marjani sniffled and though near to crying she'd managed to keep any tears from shedding. When she pulled away from his embrace she'd said, "Okay, let's get this done."
Marjani had drawn Kida Young's name. At one of the little temporary kiosks was a broad selection of earrings. After much thought she'd picked copper drop earrings with a raised letter K on each.
The siblings had done a little more shopping together, picking out a gift for Viktor and several other friends before they ran into most of the members of their group. Marjani was in much improved spirits by that time so had not gone straight back to her dorm. She'd not done that until after lunch and then only because she was starting to get flushed and headachy. Zuberi was going to walk her back then return to Hogsmeade but Arista Lampwick, who was also starting to feel a little off was going back as well so the two girls had gone together.
Zuberi enjoyed a few games at Blossom's with some of the others, pulling Hadrian and Hunter Rabnott aside at one point to verify, "You're sure about Heather's gift?"
"Yes, we even checked with our parents," Hadrian had replied.
When they'd all returned to shopping, eating, and drinking butterbeer, Zuberi had threaded his way through the still crowded lane to McFusty's. There he made arrangements for a calico kitten to be delivered to Heather Rabnott on Christmas Eve. That done Zuberi decided to call it a day. He rejoined some of the others to grab a bite to eat before walking in the growing gloom back to school, fervently wishing Theodosia would be cozied up in her warm flat waiting to hear all about Marjani's and Zuberi's Secret Santa shopping.
Gifts, Gifts, And More Gifts
Author: Dante Knight
Date: 02-17-12 22:53
Dropping keys on the small table he has next to the door to the flat Dante shifts bags and shuts the door with his foot. Carrying the bags to the couch he shifts them again, setting all but one on the sofa. The one he puts on the coffee table before going into the kitchen to get something to drink and grabbing some utensils. He'd eaten lunch at the Imperial Crown & Cauldron and it was so good he nearly got dinner from there as well but at the last moment decided to get take away from Brews & Stews. He could easily gone to the Great Hall but he eats out so rarely these days Dante decided to splurge a little.
Back on the couch Dante flicks on the WWN, searching for a Quidditch match to listen to. He finds the Puddlemere United versus Grodzisk Goblins game and though his student Wiggy Hodfuffer isn't on tonight's line-up, he decides to listen anyway. Between bites of soup and sandwich Dante sorts through the other shopping bags. He'd taken advantage of the sales today to get a few more things for the flat, a set of oversized, thick fluffy towels one of the best bargains of the bunch.
The entire time he'd been in Hogsmeade Dante half expected his sister to show up even though they'd decided she'd not visit for awhile, if at all. If she does, she'll come looking a little different and they'll introduce her as a cousin or long time friend. Most likely, she'll contact him to meet her somewhere rather than return here. After re-establishing contact with her, Dante hates not getting to see her on a more regular basis.
If his brother had made an appearance, Dante can't say he would have been surprised. Rocky had paid off the loan, which WAS a huge shocker to Dante, both that it was paid and that it happened so quickly. But, Christmas is coming and Rocky's got a new wife and a baby on the way. Combined with that gambling habit of his, Dante is expecting his big brother to come begging just any time now, either for another loan or for a straight up handout.
Even with the anticipation of his brother wanting money Dante had stopped in at Baby Witch and gotten an outfit he was told is called a onesy, some teeny little gender neutral tennis shoes, and a couple soft stuffed animals. For the sister-in-law he's not yet met, he bought some perfume and a baby's first photo album.
All that got Dante to thinking. The past few years he's not been very close to his family, at times being completely on the outs with them. Sunshine and he have mended fences somewhat and even if they rarely see each other he'd liked the amicable way they'd parted. This sentiment prompted Dante to buy her a musical snowglobe that plays one of her favorite songs from childhood.
Then, because he'd bought Sunshine, his sister-in-law, and unborn niece or nephew gifts he thought perhaps he should get Rocky something. Not only would it be nice of him and let Rocky know that even if their recent meetings had not been for the best of reasons, Dante is glad to have seen him again, but also because Rocky would most likely pout at not getting a present. Dante got him an old fashioned shaving set with straight razor in a carved oak case.
Of course, that led him to thinking of his parents. Parents he's not spoken with in nearly two years. Not since the last major blow up when his father once again tried forcing Dante back into their chosen lifestyle. Neither of his parents had changed much in their tastes and preferences while he was growing up or during that time he'd moved out but was in regular contact with them so he has little reason to think they've changed since he last spoke with them. After a great deal of thought and a long, drawn out internal monologue, Dante ended up purchasing one of his father's favorite colognes, a large basket with selection of ten different teas, and a bottle of excellent vintage white wine. If between now and contact with either Sunshine or Rocky something happens to cause Dante to change his mind, he'll wear the cologne himself and drink the wine and tea.
The family gifts had begun with a spur of the moment decision when standing in front of Baby Witch. The gifts he'd planned on buying, which is more than he's ever bought before, were for his co-workers. Everyone's been so nice and helpful, Dante wanted to pick up something for everyone. For those whose he knows drink wine, he'd gone with excellent vintages of either white or red. For those he's not sure about, he'd bought tea selections. The bottles of wine were heavy to carry back but a simple charm alleviated that problem. The tea selections are all in nice baskets, which made for bulky shopping bags. Again, a simple charm fixed that.
He'd also used a charm to help with the size and bulk of the secret Santa gift he'd bought. When first learning of this gift exchange, Dante was intrigue. Growing up as he did, he was not familiar with anything like it. The places he worked before had some gift giving amongst employees but if any of those places did a secret Santa type thing, he wasn't in the loop. Dante had signed up, looking forward to drawing a name and more so to having someone give him a gift with no expectation of him giving one back in return.
Dante had drawn Sadie Mickle's name, one of his fifth year Charms students. Knowing her from class did not make buying her a gift easy. After drawing her name earlier in the week Dante observed Sadie when able, looking for clues as to what she might like. He'd also paid attention to what other girls her age seemed to like and what they were wearing. To help matters further, Dante had gone to Sadie's sister Ramona to help him with sizes in the event he were to buy her an article of clothing. Ramona, in turn, referred him to Sadie's roommate, and their cousin, Aleydis Vanderbilt.
Before his patrol shift today, during it, and then after Dante had checked the shoppes, seeing what was available and getting ideas. He'd noticed what others were buying and listened to snatches of conversation. In the end, he found all that helped somewhat but he still felt inadequate buying Sadie a gift. Does everyone with the name of a person they don't truly know feel that way?
Ultimately, Dante bought Sadie a pair of warm, fuzzy boots that seventh year Matilda Flanders told him were, "Too cute for words." He hopes she was being sincere.
Gifts sorted and returned to their normal sizes and weights, Dante finishes eating then takes out the gift wrap he'd purchased. With the match still providing background noise, he gets busy wrapping presents and thinking he might get a small tree and maybe a garland for the mantle.