Dresden Academy

On the morning of December 31st, Cinna was up bright and early making sure that everything was prepared for the giant party she was throwing later that evening. She hadn't specified any start time, thinking people would show up whenever they like knowing full well that the fireworks were on at midnight (after all, it was a New Years Eve party, and people weren't completely stupid).

Along with Independence Day, New Years was one of Cinna's favorite holidays. She just loved fireworks, and having the holidays at opposite ends of the year meant that they could be experienced in different ways. One was all about summer barbecues, and the other was about getting tipsy and ridiculous with friends.

She decisively banished her parents to their end of the house once the first guests arrived. She didn't need their help-- people could get their own food and drinks out of the kitchen and entertainment areas where it was all laid out and ready for the taking-- and she certainly didn't need her mom ogling all the teenage boys about. Or worse: Them ogling her back.

She offered silly tiaras and noisemakers to everyone, and put the leftovers in piles on tables for when it was closer to midnight, or when people were just drunk enough to want to play with them anyway, and wandered around to say hi to friends.

Every year Christine Allen set up the annual gift exchange, something a little different from a secret santa.

Students could drop presents by her office the week before the official exchange. Some packages were anonymous, some from parents who wanted their kids to have a little gift basket of snacks to finish off the semester, some were from professors or fellow students who wanted to share in the spirit of the holiday season.

By the end of the week she'd send out a fleet of little owls inviting anyone who received a present to drop by her office Monday afternoon to pick it up.

 f/m/k nikolai/xavier/hawthorn e -got a new phone if you couldnt tell its kaz..

The events committee pulled off a rather impressive decorating scheme given their limited budget this year. Old silver and blue candles lit every alcove, sparkled above students heads as the floated around the ceiling. A spell created snow that fell among the candles and dissipated just as it reached the shoulders of the students partying below.

Recycled ribbons and streamers in a wintery palette draped on the walls, off the back of chairs and the small stage that graced the far end of the ballroom. Tables were draped with cloths in various shades of icy blue, some silver, some pristine white (at least until the students managed to spill their beverages).

Music hummed in the corner as a local cover band warmed up their instruments. The usual spot for photographs was set up just inside the doors. Professors wandered around the periphery, making sure the students were on their best behavior, though as these things usually ended up, the students were a lot better at misbehaving than their professors were at stopping them.