The Stroke of Dawn

[Yossarian Magonus]

Setting: December, 2038. Yossarian and Adelaide's house.

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Yossarian and his partner, Adelaide, had been planning a dinner together for some time. They had only just a few months ago moved in together, and he felt that it was time for her to get to know his side of the family a little better, as he had gotten to know hers. There was only Jasper that was around to attend, of course, as he had invited no others. He had considered asking Jasper if he would want to bring his children, but thought better of it. He knew that they did not often stay with Jasper - and when they did it was only because their mother allowed. If they came, it was from no prompting on Yossarian's part, but because there was no where else for them other than to be with Jasper. Adelaide's family were, naturally, invited, and he hoped that they would come. Just in case, he and Addy had made sure there there would be enough food for them should they show up, but his main priority was his son, Nicodemus, who had come off from school and was just excited for the dinner as anyone else was.

It was also doubling as a sort of Christmas celebration, although he left any decorating to Adelaide. He was busy in the kitchen still finishing up the food. Nicodemus had distracted him with tales of school, and magic, although it seemed that he preferred theory to anything else. Yossarian had to agree - he too was not very magically adept. But he was glad that his son was able to attend a magical school and learn all the things he hadn't been able to. He slapped Nicci's hand for the eighth time as it crept closer to the ingredients. "Nicodemus, you touch the good and I will ground you," he grumbled, staring at his son with disapproval. He then pointed to the door as his young son grinned up at him. "You can go out and help Addy now. I can't trust you in here. You're exiled." He smiled slightly as Nicodemus seemed utterly horrified, but obeyed him and left the room. He rolled his eyes as his son's feet as that were lethargically dragged and turned off the oven. Everything seemed set now.

"Adelaide!" he called, pulling off his oven mitts. "Could you help with carrying all of this?" Seeing as Nicci couldn't be trusted to not eat the food, he wasn't about to get him to carry it.​

 

[Adelaide Nacht]

Adelaide Nacht had fussed with her outfit all day. She wanted to make a good impression on his family, even though she was only going to meet one. She and Niccodemus had met before Yossi and herself had even become a couple, so she no longer worried about him, but the scars on her neck were still hidden delicately, Yossi being the only one to have seen them. Once she'd finally decided she was good enough to present, that's when she took on her next task - decorations. She had already picked the color scheme, but being that she was doing this in a new home, which she still knew little of the layout to, she was surely going to have her own struggles. Of course she would have loved a helping hand, but being that Nicci and his father were inseparable, she wasn't about to ask.

Addy hadn't realized how much hard work it was to put up decorations. She and Ademar had lived together for a while, and he was very helpful when doing so. Alone however, and with a chair lugged behind her, she found she was struggling more and more to put up the red and gold colored (Gryffindor for her young boy) garland she bought. The dinging room and living room took the longest, and by the time her little helper had come by, she only had small tasks left to do; which included setting out the mistletoe and holly at each place mat. She wasn't going to hang them, she had a younger niece coming and wanted to avoid any awkward situations. Though she couldn't help thinking that Niccodemus and Viviana would get along well. Upon hearing Yossi holler for her, Adelaide broke from her thoughts. "Nicci, please put these at the rest of the place mats, and if there are any left over put them on coffee tables. No funny business, mister." She added with a playful 'I'm watching you' glance backwards.

She entered the kitchen and inhaled the smells of the food. "Yossi, have I ever mentioned how wonderful a cook you are?" She asked, sneaking a bite of one of the ingredients before he could tell her no. "What can I grab for you, love?" She asked, holding out open hands for him to put food into.

 

[Nicodemus Magonus]

Nicodemus, having been exhaled from the kitchen, decided that he would listen to his father and help Adelaide with the decorations. He had a reddened hand from the repeated slapping, but the light sting it had once had was long gone as soon as he set his eyes upon the woman he hoped would someday become his mother. Well, technically she'd only ever be his step-mother, but he really did not see the difference. He grinned at the colour-scheme. Red and gold, his house colours. They had been pleased to see him off to the magical school, and Nicodemus was happy to be there, but he also wished that he could see them more. Letters and Brightstone weekends, and holidays just weren't enough, really. He always wanted more, and if he could pack them up in his suitcase and take them to the school, he would have without a second thought at all.

He grinned at Addy, and began placing the mistletoe and holly where ever she directed. He never gave her trouble. Ever. Because he never had the urge, and if he ever did, he liked and respected her too much for that. Besides, the trouble he would get into from his father would be incalculable if he were to behave inappropriately at any time. He rolled his eyes, still grinning, when he was told no funny business. Oh, there was to be funny business alright. He placed the rest of the plants in their rightful positions, and kept mistletoe for himself for later planting at a nice, strategic place that he would think of later.

He then began helping his parents set out the food, with his father carrying the heavier things, and Addy and him fixing the salads and such. His cousins would be coming, Emily, Nathanial, and Eetu, as well as his uncles and aunt. He occasionally sent letters to Eetu, and Eetu in return, but he mostly spent time with Emily, rather than Nathanial. They were in the same house, but his cousin was a bit difficult. But with Uncle Jasper around, he was sure to be on his best behaviour. He always was. Once the food was all set out, he rushed to the door before his father could, and tore it open upon hearing the bell. "Hey! Come on in, come on, welcome!" It was Adelaide's family, and Nicodemus had little experience with them, but he went with it anyway. "Dining room's this way, come on!"​

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[Viviana Warrick]

"Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree!" Viviana sang loudly as she approached with her uncle, to a Christmas party that her aunt was having with her new boyfriend. Ademar of course was dressed in an old fashioned way - in a suit. She was simply wearing a shimmery red dress, one that had long sleeves and a a bow in the middle. She grinned waiting at the door as Ademar knocked, and they were greeted by a boy that was a year older than her. She'd recognize him from anywhere - as she tried to know everyone that was at the school. She and he never exchanged names or talked, but she knew his house by his uniform. He was in the same house as Sav's sister. She smiled and immediately hugged him. "Oh my goodness it's great to see you! How was your term? Are you happy to be home?" Her grin widened as she say her Aunt Adelaide. "Addy!" She outbursted, releasing the poor boy from her vice grip and running off to hug the next one. And then the next one. Ademar being respectful and shaking hands and saying hellos behind her - as well as apologizing for her behaviour.