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[Time for Wonderland's fifth annual Japanese KFC Christmas! The diner has been decorated just like everything else in the Mansion. Of course, like every year, Souji's made his own additions, with Minato's help. They've dragged out the Colonel (it took them several tries to get one that wasn't made of gingerbread) and in the background of the feed, Minato is stringing him with twinkling fairy lights.

Souji isn't helping. Sitting at the counter in front of a small army of strawberry Santas, he's holding one in one hand, looking at it from all angles, as though deciding which direction it's best to attack from. To the side are several undecorated Christmas cakes, which Minato will be tending to once he's finished helping the Colonel get dressed.

Realizing the device is recording, Souji sits up a bit straighter, because he totally wasn't slacking off.]

The diner's ready for anyone who wants to eat fried chicken. [He smiles a little. In the background, Minato waves to the camera.] We do this every year, but if you weren't here before, it's a tradition from home. In Japan--the Japan I'm from anyway--we eat fried chicken and Christmas cake each year.

We'll be making it from now until Christmas, as long as things stay like they are now.

[I.e. without too much ridiculous chaos going on.]

[Note: Both Minato and Souji will answer responses (separately from one another). Feel free to have Mirrors wander in as well. There is enough chicken and cake for everyone.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hi, Robyn! Minato was glad that she could stop by, considering that their last encounter from a while ago was good for them, although maybe not the best experience under the circumstances.]

Always. If there's something else you'd like, we can make that too.

No, I would never. [ She waves a hand to dismiss his offer. ] You've both done more than enough. This is a really lovely idea.

Thanks. It's mainly Souji's idea, but I get to help out.

[Which was fun in of itself since it was nice to do things for other people and share a tradition like this with others.]

Do you celebrate holidays like this at your home too?

Well, this is a bit like Satinalia, though that was about two months ago, now. Soon, it'll be First Day.

[ The holidays are close enough, really. ]

There is a lot of feasting this time of year. And gift giving, of course.

Satinalia... Is that when we had Halloween in October? First Day is like New Year's?

[Two months ago was about October, if it was December now. And if his assumption was right about First Day, then that meant calendars across worlds seemed to be similar.]

Are there certain gifts that one should or should not give?

[Any kind of superstitions regarding some items that shouldn't be given to others?]

About a month later, actually. It's easy to lose track of the time, here. [ She chuckles lightly, looking sheepish. ] Around the... ah, Thanksgiving? And, yes, those two are similar. First Day and New Year's, that is.

[ So much to keep track of, and so much of it new! She draws a deep breath, thinking back to her own experiences with Satinalia, growing up... ]

Do you mean during Satinalia specifically, or... in general?

[Oh, Thanksgiving! Minato learned of that mostly here too. At least there was that, that there were even some traditions that they hadn't really had at home.]

Both, if that's okay? It'd be good to know, as reference.

Of course. [ She smiles indulgently, nodding once. ] Well, there isn't anything really that you shouldn't give, not that I can think of. We wear masks and feast during Satinalia, so something along those lines would be most appropriate... though, those aren't the only sorts of things you could give. ... Masks or food, I mean.

[ She's gotten a wide variety of presents over the years, really, so it's difficult to narrow down any pattern. ]

I suppose it's fairly open. Though - different parts of our world celebrate in their own ways, of course.

That makes sense.

[The part about celebrating in different ways in different parts of the world. Everyone had their own set of cultures and beliefs, changing them to fit wherever they were.]

It sounds fun. We could have something like it here, like make some of your favorite foods from home?

It is. [ Fun, that is. ] And - well, we did try it last year. Anders organized it, when he was still in Wonderland. [ There's a soft, sad smile. ] So many of our people have come and gone since I first arrived... there are only four of us left.

[Minato did know that Anders had left. He wished he had gotten the chance to know him better. It always hurt when someone left.]

Which four are still here, if I can ask?

[He would like to know them too if they were her friends and were those who she cared for.]

Well, aside from me, it's only Nathaniel - Nathaniel Howe, Garrett Hawke, and Cullen Rutherford.

[ Only one of which remembers her, but that's a blessing in itself. ]

Mn, I haven't yet met Nathaniel, but I know of the other two.

[So they were from the same world. That was good to know that she had some people here who were familiar with her homeworld.]

Have you been here the longest?

Yes. [ She answers, smiling thinly. ] Not by very much, but... yes.

[ Since Anders left, Robyn has become the Thedas veteran. It's strange to think about, but she's been here two and a half years, nearly. ]

What about with you and your friends?

Souji's been here for years. I've been here a little over a year.

[He wondered what it was like, having to watch people come and go all the time.]

I didn't know Souji at home though since he was two years ahead of me.

Oh! I see. [ She hadn't known Nathaniel at home, though, and now they're very close. ] Well, I'm glad that you've had the opportunity to get to know him here. There is some good to Wonderland, after all.

[ It can't be - and isn't, in her opinion - all bad. ]

I don't mind it here. I know it can be dangerous and some people want to go home, but I'd like to stay a little longer.

[He did like it here. He got to be alive, for one. Learn new things. Make new friends.]

I know the feeling. As I think I've said. [ She smiles faintly at that. ] I'm very glad that I got to meet both you and Souji, for one thing.

I'm happy to have met you too.

[He really was! It was nice to have friends like her around, someone who listened and understood, but who also had that regal, wise air about her.]

Whenever you're ready to stop by, then we'll be ready.

Excellent. Then, I'll see you soon.

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