all_inclusive | the darkest nights

Winsol has always been Jaenelle's favorite time of year and while she does not always spend as much time in the hotel as some, she usually tries to get back in time to celebrate part of the holiday with those she's come to be friends with here. It's a strange little place, a go-between not unlike Ebon Askavi or other places in her own world but strangely, none of her friends from home have ever been able to come through.

She guesses this is one of those things that are hers and hers alone. It wouldn't be the first and Jaenelle would be shocked if it were the last. To be what she is means to be singular and alone for the entirety of her life, for the good of others instead of herself. None of that mattered during Winsol, though, and Jaenelle intends to enjoy it.

Another holiday coincides with it here in the hotel, something called Christmas, and it seems to be a younger and tamer festival than she's used to. Still, some of the trappings are the same and unlike last year, Jaenelle has gotten a handle on the delicate touch needed to make the fairy lights twinkle and the boughs appear to drop snow of their own accord.

She's currently bewitching mistletoe to hop from door to door simply because it amuses her to see people try and avoid it but she can't quite get the spell right. It isn't exploding, which is progress, but it's hardly doing what she wants it to.

"Come on," she cajoles. "Please work?"

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"What's Winsol?" Chiana asks curiously, walking through the doorway now. "I thought the big deal around here was Christmas."

"Winsol is the celebration of the longest nights of the year," Jaenelle explains. She knows that this place doesn't celebrate the same as she does back in Kaeleer and she is happy to explain it to someone new.

"Christmas appears to be similar," she concedes, "But not exactly the same. We do have trees and mistletoe, though."

"What else do you have?" Chiana asks, always curious about other worlds.

"Winsol is the only real holiday," Jaenelle admits. "I cannot think of anything else that's as important in Kaeleer or Hell as Winsol. It's the only thing we truly celebrate."

She doesn't know about Terreille. It's been so long since she's allowed herself to return there that she doesn't know what they do and do not celebrate.

"I'm sure there's some smaller festivals here and there, though."

"I meant what else do you have for Winsol," Chiana explains, although she's let Jaenelle talk because she certainly didn't mind learning all that. "How's it different from Christmas?" Not that she knew Christmas all that well. She didn't understand most of it, and still wasn't sure whether it was about that baby deity or that fat old fellow.

Jaenelle blushes a little. "Oh, I'm completely embarrassed. I thought you meant...anyway. Well, typically there are balls and parties and there's the traditional exchange of presents on the last night. It's the celebration of all witches everywhere - anyone who can do magic."

"So it's a celebration of you," Chiana summed up with an amused, appreciative smile.

"Well, yes, but I didn't want it to put it exactly that way," Jaenelle admits. Sometimes, in this place, it's nice not to be Witch or Queen of Ebon Askavi or to wear the Black and all that entails. Sometimes it's nice to simply be anonymous and just be herself, for better or worse. This little taste of it in the hotel isn't nearly enough and she wonders if she'll be able to go back home and do the things she needs to do or if she'll just wither away.

"But yes, a celebration of me and everyone like me."

"I don't know anyone like you," Chiana pointed out with a sharper smile, flirtation rather than a remark on her regal station.

Jaenelle laughs again. "I could say the same, Chiana. You are entirely unique, you know, and I am glad to know you."

"Winsol is a celebration of things like that."

"I like to think every day's a celebration of me," Chiana retorted with a smirk, her upper body shifting the way it often did, alien body language.

"That's very confident of you." Some might think it's a little cocky and unbecoming but Jaenelle never really thinks ill of people if she can help it. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and Chiana has been a friend to her since her arrival at the Nexus.

"Do you know any magic, Chiana? Is that something that even exists in your world?"

"There's all kinds of creatures where I'm from," Chiana answers, chuckling. "They can do all kinds of things." She glances back at the mistletoe. "Plants - you want the Delvians for that. Don't think even they're as good as you are, but..."

"But they're the best in your world, aren't they?"

Jaenelle has a sense that she's very, very good at what she does even among those from other places who also excel in their arenas. Still, she knows that modesty is a virtue and she tries to keep that in mind no matter how extraordinary she can be sometimes. There are advantages and disadvantages to everyone, even her.

"That I know," Chiana answered with a shrug. "Only met a few, anyway." And it wasn't like they wanted to do that sort of thing with plants. They'd probably want to lecture Jaenelle about controling life forms or something. "They're plants, themselves."

"Then who better to know about plants? Where I come from, some of my dearest friends are creatures one wouldn't expect to be able to carry on a conversation at all, much less an intelligent one. I haven't ever met any plants that can do that, though."

The mistletoe winks in and out again and Jaenelle smiles brilliantly. "We should go celebrate my success. Did you want to go get a drink or something?"

"If you're offering," Chiana confirmed with a cheeky grin, always one for free drinks.

the darkest nights

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