014 ✦ Mansion-wide Secret Santa!

[sorryitasedyou]

Public:

[ The feed opens to a view of Darcy in the corner of the coffee shop, a steaming mug beside her and an assortment of electronics. She may or may not be making up for lost time thanks to Hell. Not cool Wonderland, not cool. Thankfully her time there hadn't been too bad - handy to have a buddy with a literal infinity stone inside of her around. ]

'Sup fellow Wonderlandians, I thought it'd be cool to do a little gift exchange throughout the mansion - especially after our latest adventure courtesy of this place. It's also getting to be that time of year that it gets tougher if you've lost people or feel like you're on your own. So! I wanted to do a Wonderland Secret Santa or a Holiday Super Secret Gift Exchange or a-- [ Time for everyone to get a front seat to the spinning wheels of her mind at work. ] Secret Christmahanakwanziwhateverelsepeoplecelebrate...ta if you don't celebrate Christmas........... thing. [ Don't worry if you're confused by what she just said guys, it's pretty evident by her expression that she confused herself. She's trying to make an effort to keep it inclusive, but she didn't exactly plan out a new name for the thing beforehand. ] Anyone can participate, newbies or if you've been around here forever. For people who don't know what it is, you get a name and you have to put together a present for them. Doesn't have to be anything special, but it doesn't hurt to make an effort. Also, it's a cool way to get to know new people or to just stay in touch.

I know it's a little early to be throwing this out there, but the Mansion likes to throw kinks in Holiday plans usually, so better safe than sorry on that front. Fingers and toes crossed this place doesn't turn a solid chunk of the population into tiny children again, getting stuck on the coat hook was no fun. [ Yeah, that's a whole 'nother story in and of itself. ] Any questions, feel free to hit me up or stop into the coffee shop. [ She picks up a stack of paper, scribbled notes and scientific drawings cluttering the pages. ] I'll be here for at least a few hours working through this stuff. There will also be a bucket on the counter down here if you need a little time to think about signing up. Hoping to get names out to people in the next, like, week and a half to two weeks. Thanks everybody!

[ And with that, she ends the feed on the laptop - shooting off a quick text to Steve before going back to building a way to keep track of everything in between pages. ]

Private to Steve:

Hey. Do you have a few minutes to chat tonight? I have a question for you.


[ ooc There will be an OOC sign up later today! ]

Comments

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[agentxthirteen]

Coat hook? [ Sharon gives Darcy a Look (tm). ]

I'm in, though, for what it's worth.

[ And because she can't keep a lid on her thoughts forever, she adds: ] You know we have therapists here, right?

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[sorryitasedyou]

I was a rambunctious 5 year old, what can I say. [ Like anyone would doubt her given how much of that she hasn't actually lost while growing up. It had just shifted into a more mature level of eccentric behavior. ]

And cool, I'll put your name down on the list. [ She takes a long moment before responding to the next part, her smile cracking just a bit. ] Yeah, I talked to one once... sort of. It's fine, though. I'm fine - people come and go all the time. You just sort of get used to it. [ Wow, what a big lie. ] Not the first time Natasha's left and I doubt that'll be the last time this place brings her back. Just like everyone else. Seems like this place is keen on keeping me and Steve around, though. It's weird. I don't try to understand.

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[ofletters]

[ snerk ]

This is a good idea, Darcy. [ They all probably need it after whatever hell they'd just walked back out of. ] Need help getting anything together?

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[sorryitasedyou]

Thanks! [ The one bonus of no tech in Hell meant time to think. ] I never say no to help, honestly. Depends on how many people sign up. Figure the biggest pain's gonna be the actually random pairing, and even then it'll just be drawing names out of the bucket.

[text]

[assembles]

[ Steve watches the entire broadcast, not at all surprised to see that Darcy has come up with another great idea to lighten up the mood around the mansion in the aftermath of that harrowing event. He remembers doing Secret Santa exchanges with the team back home, when they all happened to be around, so the concept isn't new to him.

Doing it with so many people, though... it should be fun.

Before he even gets the chance to respond, though, Darcy sends him a text. It seems a lot more serious in comparison to her broadcast, so Steve's quick to reply. ]

Sure thing. What time works for you?

[text]

[sorryitasedyou]

[ She tries. Secret Santa back home never really went well considering there were three of them, usually. Minus that one time Eric lost his marbles and his pants. Darcy was just glad it was seeming to have a positive response so far. ]

It's definitely gonna take me a few hours to get to a stopping point with Jane's notes... so sometime around 5 or 6 maybe? That work for you?

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[uncaging]

That's an absolutely wonderful idea! I'd love to participate.

[Says the girl who's never had anyone to celebrate Christmas with before.]

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[sorryitasedyou]

Great! I'll put you down. [ She starts writing before quickly looking up, expression fairly light. ]

I don't think we've officially met, by the way. I'm Darcy.

Voice

[doorkey]

Ooh! I want to sign up! I want to have lots of presents! (And give some too!)

Is there any way to make sure I can I get another kid as my secret santa? Adults are way trickier to find cool gifts for.

Voice

[sorryitasedyou]

Well, I can certainly try to help with that. I'll put you down on the list. [ She chuckles a little at the request, the sound of a pen lightly scratching against paper in the background. ]

I think that can be arranged and I totally agree, we can sometimes be tricky to find gifts for - especially if they want something practical. [ Ugh, who likes getting practical things as gifts? Not Darcy. That's stuff you save for the other days of the year. ] I'm Darcy, by the way.

[video]

[jivitadana]

If you're running the exchange, do you get a gift too?

[Since that would be fair if she did, right?]

[video]

[sorryitasedyou]

[ Whoa. Well, this is a flash from the past. She just kind of stares for a long moment before smiling. ] You're back! [ And oh yeah, he asked a question. Right. Focus. ]

Yeah, I mean... if we get enough people. It'd be cool to participate. [ A beat. ] You probably don't remember me, I'm Darcy.

action; hope it's okay!

[itwouldbeatragedy]

[Since coming back from home again, Kaneki's come back to working in the coffee shop. The fact that he doesn't remember the last six months and that he...looks...different is something he really has just glossed over. Much more important things to do in the busiest coffee shop on earth.

Right now, he's mopping. Wonderland will take care of that kind of thing on its own, but this makes things seem a bit more normal.]

I think that's a fun idea, Darcy-san. It's okay if I participate?

[Dude, she totally just invited all of Wonderland.]

action; totally!

[sorryitasedyou]

[ Sometimes it was just easier to not question some of the things that happened around here. Darcy's got zero gripes about him mopping because while Wonderland might clean up after itself, it sometimes didn't hurt to give it a helping hand. It was one of the reasons she actually did dishes instead of chucking cups and just pulling new ones from the closet. ]

Totes magotes, I'll put your name on the list. So far we're getting a pretty good turn-out, should be a solid group of people.

[ She'd been worried that people might not want to do anything after Hell, but she was glad to see that nagging concern had been wrong. ]

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[noreason]

How do you choose a present if you don't know the person you end up with...?

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[sorryitasedyou]

Well, there's always a few go-to options like candles or a movie night basket... Oh! Or if you knit or do anything crafty or homemade, artwork usually goes over well. People might also like seeing something from your world, if there's anything you can get from the closet.

[ A beat. ] Otherwise, I can totes try to help you out. I know almost everyone participating so I can try and give you ideas once you've got a name.

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[walkingheroin]

[Ah, yes. Jesus' birthday party. His fav. :|]

Well, I wouldn't want to be a Debbie Downer, now would I? Count me in.

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[sorryitasedyou]

[ Oh boy. Keep it together, Lewis. ]

Spiffy. I'll add you to the list. Should be... um. Should be fun. [ Did her voice crack a little? No, no it didn't. She's just tired because y'know, Hell. ]

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[persevere]

Oh my gosh, I just wish I had thought of it first. I'm totally in.

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[sorryitasedyou]

Cool, the more the merrier. And I never say no to help since I think this might be a hefty undertaking.

[video]

[theothermrgray]

[Oh, looks like Dorian is watching this from a tea room. How quaint.]

A Secret Santa sounds wonderful! Do count me in.

[He's had enough of Hell and nightmares and Mirrors for one weekend, anyway.]

[video]

[sorryitasedyou]

[ He's not alone on the tired of Hell front and don't even get her started on Mirrors. ]

Awesome, will do.[ A beat. ] I don't think we've met... I'm Darcy, by the way.

[Video]

[morethanasidekick]

[Yeah Kenzi doesn't even bother to say Hi. It's like they're sitting in the same room with the way she has her device propped up, an assortment of liquor that she's taken from the cupboards, spread out in front of her.]

But what do you get for the people who can literally have everything?

[Video]

[sorryitasedyou]

[ It's like skyping only better. Darcy takes a sip of her coffee, thinking it over for a long moment. ]

Something they didn't know they needed in their life. Something they may not even know exists. Like, I guarantee someone here has no clue what a pop-tart is. [ The gift that keeps on giving. ]

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[circlejerked]

_{[Hey, Darcy, it's your Gryffindor buddy back again, looking decidedly older and more stubbled, but no less good-humored now than when he'd seen her walking past with a small army of books at her disposal.]}

So it's like Satinalia! The annual holiday to give gifts, that is. That's what we Fereldans call the occasion when we think up creative excuses to avoid wearing that ugly sweater our grandmother knitted us.

_{[If Christmas is anything like Satinalia, Anders has totally got this in the bag.]}

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[sorryitasedyou]

[ Upside of the name he mentioned, it still worked with the name. Thank goodness... because she wasn't sure she could handle trying to squeeze anything else in there. She was good, but she wasn't that good. ]

Hey! [ She definitely remembers him and no, her cheeks aren't taking on a slight pinkish hue. Ahem. ] This sounds about right. Does Satinalia involve finding new uses for fruitcake that doesn't include eating it?

action »

[chocolatepudding]

[ Dustin's in the shop already. More accurately, Dustin has finished his hot chocolate, grabbed the can of whipped cream, and had wandered over to Darcy as she talks. ]

I'm in.

[ That hissing noise? That's the sound of Dustin using the can to put as much whipped cream into his mouth as he possibly can. Right next to Darcy. ]

action »

[sorryitasedyou]

[ Ah yes, there's her resident sugar crasher. She leans back a little bit, glad to see he'd survived Hell with a good mood. Cool. ]

Cool, I'll add yo-- [ DUSTIN PLS DON'T MAKE HER TAKE THE CAN AWAY. Nope, she just thought of a better plan of attack for the stunt he was pulling... One she probably did at his age, lbr. Which is what makes her next move all the more satisfying. Ah, the joys of being a fake adult.

She gives him a second to stop before reaching up to hold down the nozzle tip of the can so even if he let go, it'd still be going. Maybe he'll learn a thing or two about doing that within reach of someone. ]

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[actualwizard]

Just don't try the Christmas cookies. [ Though looking back turning into a six year old was not the worst part of that year's holiday. ]

Sounds like a good idea. I'm in. You need any help with anything? [ Or company because a certain russian spy seems to be gone again and Billy likes to check in with the people who get left behind. ]

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[sorryitasedyou]

Never again. Seriously. Although it was better than Steve's grouchy Gus impression. [ Which was exacerbated by her being a tiny terror, not that she'd cared at the time.

She looks down at the notes in front of her before looking back at the screen. ] You any good with translating gibberish? I'll probably be going cross-eyed soon. [ Her way of saying yes without saying yes because she wants the company. ] I might also need a helping hand with name deliveries once everyone's paired up. I think I'm gonna put them in mugs or something. Make it holiday-ish.

[Video]

[lightgunhustler]

Darcy, this is a great idea.

[She's not sure why they haven't done it before, in fact.]

Count me in. Let me know if you need a hand with anything, okay?

[Video]

[sorryitasedyou]

Thanks, I'm just hoping it goes smoothly.

[ And speaking of that, she gives a soft chuckle. ]

Think you can tell Wonderland to chill out this holiday season?