This whole mistletoe thing is awfully awkward. I didn't think anyone actually followed that tradition. At least back home you heard a lot about it but I've never actually seen anyone use it as decoration. It's all even more awkward when you consider...

Uh. I guess it doesn't matter much. That isn't the point of my addressing whoever might be listening but I have a small project I'd like to try. Well, several actually, but the first would be to try and make a billboard of some sort that new arrivals can check? It seems new people are coming in each and every day and we all know how confusing it can be so I'm trying to compile information on this place and our...hosts.

So if anyone knows anything, or if anyone would like to help me with that please let me know. Maybe bit by bit we can piece together this puzzle and find a way to get back home.

[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 the mirror turns on, a young lady is shown bent over a pile of her belongings, still wearing the white shift all new arrivals wake up in plus some oversized hat with various pins clipped onto it, all while throwing around her things. Obviously, she hasn't quite noticed the fact that there's a mirror "recording" her.]

What's going on? This is so not Shibuya. We won the game... So why does it look like this is another week?! [And then she stops messing around with her belongings, crinkling her face and pulling on her hair for a moment, looking... Oddly bothered by it for a moment.]

Ugh, these really don't go together at all. If I could just find my bag and--

[And almost as if on cue, there's a bit of rustling, and a familiar white fluffy creature can be seen holding onto what seems to be a stuffed animal.

There's a bit of a staring contest, and then--]

H-- HEY! GIVE ME BACK MR. MEW!

[--DIVING RIGHT TOWARDS IT, all while the mirror continues showing this whole scene.]

1.
"Damnit!"

With an annoyed expression on her face, Tenshi switched off the device she had been gifted, and resisted the urge to throw it against a rock. Why was this silly thing defeating her? Why was it mocking her? The stupid thing should move the way she wanted! She had meant to press B, not A! Why didn't the figure in the device dodge properly!

Yes, she was losing hard at a DS game that she had been playing solely due to having been bored and because someone had actually given her a gift...which was an experience she hadn't had in decades.

After placing the thing down and storing it away safely, she turned to something less frustrating. That stuff she had brought back from the fringe realms. Maybe she could use it for something fun.

[OOC: Feel free to enter while she's playing, too, if you like and want to mock her in revenge or something. She's not exactly good at the thing, and it surely won't become a hobby she'll do all the time. Tenshi sucks at video games, ironically.]

[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.

[Ren's sitting on a log outside her tent, watching the sun set. And singing, quietly]

"Yami ga hirogaru
Hito ha nanimo shiranai
Dareka ga sakebu
Kakumei no uta ni odoru
Yami ga hirogaru
Kono yo no owari ga chikai" **

She stops, and smiles sadly, still not really looking at the vine.

I have sung and danced for a far harsher mistress, my dear Queen. What do you wish of me?

(**Translation: The darkness is spreading
People don't know anything
Someone is crying out
Dancing to the song of revolution
The darkness is spreading
The end of the world is near)

[ Apparently, Revan has just finished changing out of the white shift she arrived in; she's found her Jedi robes, and the video feed catches her fastening her belt and checking the various attached pouches, then pinning her hair up out of her face. The flash of the mirror seems to catch her eye, though, and she looks up, blinking at it. ]

Well, this is— [ She walks over to it, studies it. ] Different. A communications device of some kind? Can anyone see me, or hear me?

[ Her lips part as if she's about to say more, but her attention is abruptly arrested away from the mirror — one of the rabbits is gnawing on the hem of her cloak. ]

Hey, that's— [ She laughs. ] You'll get indigestion, bunny. Go on. [ Shooing it away, she picks up her cloak from the grass, shrugs it on. ]

I should take a look around, see what's here. Maybe find another of those cats; the first one was helpful at least. Though I can't say I've ever heard of using cats to carry information.

[ She looks around again, thoughtfully. ]

Huh. This place reminds me of Dantooine in the spring — only with more flowers.

We're certainly getting a lot of newcomers, aren't we? And still no answers.

...from what I've learned, going to the edges of the garden and returning with the soil allows you to create things. Houses, items, whatever you'd like.

I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't a dream.

[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.

[Nausicaä looks rather serious, although there's a bit of a smile on her lips - she seems friendly, at ease. She's used to talking to large groups of people, apparently. She's used to leading.]

I should introduce myself first - I am Nausicaä, Daughter of Jihil, Chieftain of the Valley of the Wind.

I realize we've all just arrived her and we're all very confused, but I think it's vital that we take stock of the situation as quickly as we can and then try to do our best to survive together. Right now we don't know how we're going to get home, how we got here in the first place. We've been promised and shelter, but even so, we need to make sure there's enough for everyone.

I'm not sure where all of you are from or what your homes are like, but I know that my own country is harsh; times are bad. I don't want the same thing to happen here. I want all of us to get home safely as soon as we can. We need to take stock of what we have and what we're going to need and how far this garden extends around us.

I can't force any of you to work with me and I don't plan to. I'm simply going to ask that you think of others as well as yourselves.

That's all I wanted to say - thank you.

[ video ; Giselle is slightly back from the mirror and looks startled, as if she was taken by surprise and jumped back. She recovers quickly and approaches the mirror again. ]

Another one? My, this is curious! Your highness, are you still there? [ evidently, she is unaware that this is being broadcast to more than just the Queen. ] This is a lovely garden, and I would be so pleased to view it sometime soon, but you see I was out collecting wildflowers and I only meant to be a few hours -- perhaps I fell asleep and, er, sleepwalked, I have heard cases of such things -- but it's after dark now and Pip and the animals will be so worried, I really must get home to assure them I haven't fallen into some evil ogre's lair and require a daring rescue mission to be mounted in my name...

Hello? Oh dear, is anyone there?

Eh?

[From her unintentional makeshift bed of roses, one Konoka Konoe stirs. Looking at this strangely bright place, Konoka blinks almost owlishly before recognizing that she isn't where she thought she was.]

 Where... am I?

...Secchan?

[There was a vine poking down nearby, looking at her confusion.

A bee lands on her nose. Being a friend to all living things, Konoka makes no sudden movements and just stares.]

Well um, you wouldn't happen to know where I am, would you?

[She's not expecting the bee to answer, but it doesn't hurt to try. She just got out of a magic world after all.]

[Wherever you are, so long as you're here already, a vine unfurls, and unfurls, and unfurls until it's holding a lifesize mirror. For a moment there's only darkness in it, and then someone steps out of the shadows and into view: a woman.]

You're here already! Isn't it wonderful? I hope it's wonderful. You see, I've been working so hard to make things right; there's still work to be done, of course, but I think it's good enough for now, don't you? I'm so happy to see you! All of you. It's been a long time...

Oh, oh, did I forget to introduce myself? I was so excited.

I'm...

[Her gaze goes distant, her expression misty and faraway.]

I am the Queen of Hearts.

You're going to love it here!

[Without further ado, the mirror curls back up.]

[ Someone accidentally started the feed by bumping into one of those green and leafy vines, and through the mirror appears the scrawny, disheveled form of-- is it a boy or a girl?-- who knows what it is. Large, droopy eyes twitch, those dark pupils darting back and forth rapidly, before the timid little voice squeaks out, ]

Why is this little one bringing me stuff? I've never heard of a cat who likes to play fetch, I don't know if I can deal with that...

[ Before this person is one of those helpful little guide cats, offering them up a scroll. ] You don't understand. I have to get back to Lady Medusa or bad things will happen! You should just go away, it's easier to deal with you when you're walking away. . .

[ But the cat shows no signs of retreat, now nudging with the scroll. This person clutches their elbow with the opposite hand and drives their fingernails painfully into the flesh there; Crona shakes violently. ]

You don't understand. The little ones never understand-- a-ah... aaah--

[ A tortured scream tears from Crona's lips suddenly, finally driving the cat away. ]

--a... aaAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaahhh...!

Where's Ragnarok?! Why can't I release him? I don't know how to deal with this!

[It's only a few seconds after she arrives that Ahiru reaches out, touching the vine cautiously, then backing away when the mirror came out. Not realizing its function quite yet, she just stares into it for a good moment before sighing and looking around. Then, loudly, she speaks, hoping someone familiar will hear her.]

Mytho? Fakir? ...Rue? I really need someone to explain things to me... If I'm late to ballet class again, Mr. Cat will make me marry him or put me back in the beginner class or yell at me! Lilie? Pike?

The Prince is waiting for me... If I can't get back soon, he won't get the rest of his- [Then, pacing quicker and quicker, she oversteps and trips over her own feet, hitting the ground with a yelp.]

Qua-! [And just like that, there's a hand clamped over her mouth protectively before she breathes a sigh.] That was a close one. [A beat, and then realization.]

But I'm still stuck in a place I don't know with people I don't know and I don't know how to get out and I don't know who this Queen of Hearts lady is and I can't help Mytho and I don't know if Kr- Rue or Fakir or Lilie or Pike or Mr. Cat or anybody else from Kinkan Town is here, and they might be looking for me back home and everyone will be really worried and I can't tell them I'm alright because I'm not there and I don't think I will be very soon because this doesn't like it's near there at all and I'm not really good with directions! [Said like one huge sentence, believe it or not.