#ascoxfordstarter

[thelivingartofhenri]

@ the home of the Midnight Requiem Seethe

"Whatever are you doing up at such an hour?"

[greysons-locke-and-key]

@ The Botanical Gardens

"If you're trying to follow me subtly, you're doing a poor job of it."

[damianos-dream]

"I do hope you're joking."

[the-study-of-anthony]

"Can't say I'd put it that way myself, but I merit your point."

[secure-with-j-lockhart]

Christmas at the Pack House

Jonathan and Juliet had been making rather a tag-team affair out of Christmas Day within the pack since he'd taken charge and she'd joined. It wasn't to say that others didn't help, as that was far from the truth. In reality it was a collective affair of prepared dishes, drinks, decorations and the like. But a good deal of the cooking, present wrapping, and 'magic' of it typically fell onto their shoulders, though both loved that. In truth they were thick as thieves in their efforts, particularly in the years when Maisie and Abi would still believe that it was, in fact, Santa and not Jonathan in his famed red suit. But they still persisted with a grander sort of affair than most because it was a day to truly appreciate and celebrate the pack, and with the ways it had grown over the years the festivities only followed suit. This year felt even more special given the recent scares with some of the pups, and so their doors would be open to more guests than ever before to embrace the season.

Everyone in the pack knew well enough that they were able to arrive or wake up at their own pace, so by 11 AM nearly everyone had gathered, save some of the additional guests.

-

Juliet had returned to the house not too long ago, continuing in her cooking efforts in between moments of doting on little Gemma who was decorating sugar cookies with Sam. Cami was off to one side of the kitchen putting the finishing touches on a few festive drinks she'd helped prepare.

-

Austin had left to collect Brynne, Lucas, and Darcy from halls and they'd just entered the front door to begin shedding off their layers of snow coated outerwear and shoes. While the three younger ones darted off into sitting room, he made his way over to some of the older pack members, though his intent was really to speak to Robbie.

"Poppy's just pulled up outside," he said to the group, though he trusted well enough that everyone there would know why he was even saying anything at all. He even caught a knowing sort of smile from Rosamund who nudged his side covertly.

"And Cosmo, I'm sure," she chimed in before casting her gaze towards the direction of the foyer in a purposefully nonchalant way. "Must have her hands a bit full."

-

Ivy had joined the slow growing group of younger pack members milling about in the sitting room ahead of the gift giving once she'd arrived. She sat tucked against Abi's side as Rory snapped a picture of the two.

Rory passed them the mini polaroid so that they could have it once it developed. "It's cute, trust me," she assured with a grin.

-

Poppy had parked her light blue beetle in beside Juliet's car a few minutes ago, and was now doing her best to balance her two bags--one being her overnight bag and the other being Cosmo's--while also carrying a large covered dish that held some treats Magnolia had baked for the back. Cosmo, meanwhile, had darted out into the snow and was trying to catch falling snowflakes. She shut her car door and turned her focus to her cat with a bit of a laugh. "Your feet are going to get terribly cold doing that, you know," she chided.

[rupertsloveofpoetry]

Walking in Christ Church Meadows

“I must confess I thought I’d have the place to myself this early,”

[isoldeseternalflame]

Sat outside Poppy's Brew

"Why do you ask?"

[singingshadowshelenus]

A Light Through The Longest Night

The house smelled amazing, as it always did on the winter solstice. Spiced wine, fir trees, roasted chestnuts, oranges pierced with cloves. Their solstice's hadn't always smelled like this. Well maybe the spiced wine had always been there. The rest had been added in during their time in the north. Helenus couldn't imagine one without all this now.

It was also quiet in the house save for the crackling of the fire and the gentle sound of Cassie humming an old solstice hymn as she added the dead hydrangea heads to the garland above the door into the dinning room. "They'll be hear soon," he commented, loud enough that Hektor would hear him in the kitchen. They of course were the usual suspects, the ones that were family in every way except by blood. Plus a few extras this year. He smiled at that as he made sure the outside light was on. It was lightly snowing again now and the growing dark made it hard to tell if the sky looked like it would get heavier again. Hopefully everyone would arrive safely before it did.