[ The sound that comes through the vine is almost like a little sad wail - it is not human, but it's not eerie. It is an odd noise, yes, but strangely as if it has a soul. The wail dims until there's a little hiccup and a muffled voice comes whining. Oh, yes, the little bird is complaining because, boy, this cold does not sit well with a bird of fire. ]

It's so cold, too cold, I don't like this, no. [ Whine, whine, whine, almost like a petulant little child. ] I want to go hooommeee. But I can't, can't even fly away, no, no.

[ Another tiny wail. ]

Let me goooo.


(( All replies will be voice! ))

[It's warm. Not the dry, crusty warm of waking up after a night sleeping on a sand dune, or the oddly pleasant morning warmth she's experienced while sleeping outside in the Gardens. That, and it's also too soft to be the soil of either situation. PM opens her eyes, taking a moment to register everything. Cabin. Sleeping bag. Snowstorm. Human-looking girl.]

[The Mendicant has been in some rather odd situations before, so there is no screaming or flailing. Just a tentative whisper to the person in her sleeping bag.]

Excuse me... good morning?

[The audio on the Vine is...a little more distorted than usual for this message. But that's definitely the Queen's voice coming out of it. Singing.]

Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days
Of yore.
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us
Once more.

Through the years,
We all will be together
If the Fates allow.
Hang a shining star upon
The highest bough,
And have yourself a merry little...

I forget...how does it go?

Oh, it's so dark out. Won't you help me in these dark days, my darlings?

[She sounds distraught. And the snow begins to pile up...]

[The mirror pops into view, flickers a few times, then reveals the Queen of Hearts once again, still against a dark background. This time, there's a holly wreath perched atop her hair.]

I'm sorry I haven't had the time to listen to all your helpful suggestions, darlings! It turns out creating a world is hard work...ahahaha, who knew?

Besides, I'm feeling a bit...

[She trails off, looking absently to the side, then quickly readjusts her wreath and continues.]

Anyway! One of my less tame incarna has shown her face, has she? I may not like her attitude, but I think she had a good idea this time. There are so many ways to enjoy this season, but this might be the best!

Now, I have work to do. At this rate, the whole place will fall down around my ears while I'm working on opening the dungeons...ah, it's enough to drive a girl crazy!

[And the mirror shrivels back up. But the mistletoe, that remains, wherever you are...]

[OOC: The Queen won't be replying to comments directed at her (she is, like she said, busy), but this post is free to be used for general mistletoe antics and mingling so that everyone who wants to make use of the mistletoe doesn't have to make a whole post.]

[When night falls on the Gardens tonight, something different happens: instead of the bright-as-daylight sea of stars, a more normal sky eventually fades into existance. Stars can still be seen, though they're nowhere near as bright as the wishing stars.]

[Video]

[And then, not long after night fully envelops the Gardens, the Vine's mirror unfurls, revealing a rather serious-looking woman.]

I hope you all learned something from this. Simply wishing for something isn't going to make it happen; wishing for things from home, wishing to bring the excess stars down... you put no effort into this.

Contrary to what most people may think, this holiday is not some festival celebrating light; it's a celebration of a military victory against overwhelming odds.

As a final note: Damsel, you pronounce Chanukah wrong.

[Any ladies who check the vine today are greeted to a new face. She's wearing the default white shift, although she's carrying other clothing in her arms and has put a hat and rose-lensed white glasses on top of her head. The first thing she does when the video begins is gasp dramatically.]

Ah! It worked!

[She leans in closer to the mirror, her eyes wide and her expression inquisitive. It's almost as if she doesn't really believe that the Vine is actually recording.]

Well, if anyone can hear me, my name's Ema Skye. Does anyone know how this whole thing works? It seems really... unscientific.

[Judging from the girl's expression, being unscientific is a crime--right up there with kicking puppies and punching babies.]

Ms... Queen of Hearts lady, I have a flight back to Europe in a few days and I need to continue studying science so I can become a forensic investigator, so I'd like to pass on your invitation. I asked the cat how I can get home, since that's what you suggested--although I have no idea how they understand me--but it just curled up and went to sleep.

Cats are kind of fickle. Maybe you should consider getting better pet-servants.

[A lady with a white carapace and near-featureless face peeks into the mirror. Atop her head is an incredibly old, battered, and filthy postal worker's hat, though she still wears the shift that she woke up in. She looks between the surface and an adjacent cat.] Is this correct...? [The cat is predictably unresponsive, so she turns back to the mirror.]

Greetings. To whomever wrote the invitation and the additional information, thank you. I'm assuming it wasn't the cat, but that's very impressive of you if you did! [Waving and smiling to the kitty.]

[And returning her attention to the mirror...] It is lovely here, and I appreciate the change of clothes. It has been a very long time.

...are you out there, my friends? My Queen?