Soooo... can I just write like I'm in Daydreams cafe? I guess so...

I walk into the beautifully decorated room, and immediately my spirits feel lighter. I pull off my hat, coat, and gloves, hanging them in a closet next to the pine-green and red-striped door. The yellow-y glow of candles and lights from the huge fir tree in the corner warms me to the bone as I pull out my phone and my Bluetooth earbuds. I start listening to Christmas music as I look around the room. Suddenly it strikes me that there is someone in the room. I had previously thought it was empty. The person smiles at me and pokes the fire with a black rod. The flames roar cozily. My face turns red at the unwarranted attention and I look away quickly. Suddenly, I squeal in delight. One of the prettily wrapped presents under the tree that I had thought were just decorations had burst open and a small white-and-tan dog, its adorable pale pink tongue lolling out. Its ears flop from side to side a it jumps out of the box and runs to me. I pick her up. One quick glance and a prod at the red collar around its neck shows that the dog is a girl and that her name is Oakley. The person who was prodding at the fire before walks over to me, looking as surprised as me, but somehow still serene and as beautiful as the room around them. "Well, that's a surprise," they say, "but I guess the Holiday Spirit knows what you want." They indicate the room around us. "The Holiday Spirit must have known, even if (she? he? they? sorry, I don't know your pronouns) is gone." I smile. I can feel my social anxiety melting away just a little, thanks to the dog's warmth. Suddenly, Oakley leaps out of my arms and dashes, barking, to the door, which is creaking open. A smile cracks across my face. Finally! Someone else to talk to! I was beginning to get lonely for human company, with or without my social anxiety.

Yeeeeeeesh. Sorry for the length. But since I'm the first poster, I just wanted to do some worldbuilding. 

My heavy boots crunch through the blanket of snow, and a cool breeze floats through the air, making me shiver. Soon, I come upon a small cafe with a wreath on the door and a snow-covered sign reading, "The Holiday House". I push the door open, and am immediately greeted by an excited little dog. 

"Hello!" I say, rubbing the dog's ears while pulling off my hat and scarf. I hang my coat on a rack by the door and walk over to a crackling fire, the dog trotting behind me. There are a few armchairs around the fire, and I sit down in one of them, sinking into seat and feeling the warmth of the fire.

Then, I notice who's sitting next to me.

"Wreebo!" I say merrily. "Happy Holidays." 

"Hey, MM!" I exclaim through a heavily frosted sugar cookie, happy to see that one of my fellow CBers has arrived. "This place is awesome," I comment, and wave a hand toward the tree. "Merry, the person over there, said that the presents under the tree call to you if they are meaat for you. Maybe you should try it! That dog, her name is Oakley," I beckon to the little dog, and she comes bounding over to me eagerly, "and I got her for my gift. She really diminished my shyness." Majestic Mary laughs, not unkindly, and I wait for her to respond.

Walking along a dirt road at dusk, I spy a small green farmhouse through the trees. It has a ground floor with a large porch, Christmas lights wrapping around the spires (spires? pillars? what are those called) and an attic with a dormer window peeking out from the roof. Most fairy tales tell you not to knock on strange doors, but I can't help but feel welcomed in this cozy looking house.

The inside of the house is even cozier. Majestic Mary and Wreeboo are sitting by a roaring fire in a colorful, warm room. A small dog runs up to me and spins around my ankles as I take off my boots. The room is bright with candles and lights, and holiday decorations adorn every surface. Diwali oil lamps, Christmas wreaths and ornaments, a menorah, Chinese lanterns, and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, among other things.

I sit down in an available armchair.

The wind pushes me forward, almost as if it is guiding me.  I pull my cloak tighter around me and let the wind push me where it will.  I trust the wind, though I am wary for the wind will often play tricks.

The snow falls thicker, obliterating my sight.  Now I must wholly trust the wind for I cannot see where my feet should guide me. 

The wind pushes me on one side and I turn obligingly.  Very suddenly the wind softens, no longer blowing from a certain direction.  The snow fall slows and I see before me a small farm house with glowing lights wraped around the railings and posts, and hung on the eaves.  The wind gives me a gentle push forward towards the farm house door and I obey.

I place my hand on the door knob, but before I twist it I turn my face towards the white world in a silent thank you to the wind.  Then I open the door and step into a warm living room.

A Christmas tree stands in one corner, glowing and sparkling with lights and ornaments.  In a large bay window a menorah stands, not yet lit.  Diwali oil lamps are placed on top of a small table.

A large fire crackles in the fireplace.  In comfortable looking armchairs grouped around the fire I see Wreeboo, Mejestic Mary, and Lupin.

The atmosphere of the room is cheery and pleasant.  The wind knew what it was doing, it knew what I needed.  A resting place in from the coming blizzard.

I take off my cloak and hang it on the row of pegs next to the door.  Water droplets from melted snow run down it's shimmering green length, creating a puddle underneath.  My mittens I tuck into my hat before I hand it over the hood of my cloak.  My scarf joins my hat.

I debate for a moment, trying to decide between company by the fire or the view from the bay window.  I decide to sit by the fire to warm, then I will sit in the bay window.

I cross the room and take a seat by Lupin.  I smile at her, my eyes changing color from brown to dark blue.

"Happy holidays!", I say.  "How was your journey here?"

Peregrine sits down next to me and smiles. "Happy holidays!" she (wait you're a she right?) says. "How was your journey here?"

"Cold," I laugh. "Luckily it didn't start snowing until after I arrived."

"The house seems to have a magnetic pull, doesn't it?" Peregrine says.

"Yeah," I respond. "I just felt drawn to it."

Marshmallows suddenly appear in front of the fire, along with roasting sticks.

Could I join?

I'm walking along the road, quietly humming to myself, when out of nowhere I see a house. It's all lit up and looks warm and cozy, and I can't resist going over to check it out. I peek through the window, not wanting to intrude, and see Wree, Mary, Lupine, and Peregrine sitting by a fire. I hurriedly walk in out of the cold. I take off all my many layers of winter clothing and sit down by the fire to warm up. I see a plate of cookies and take one. I shove it in my mouth, and once I finish chewing, I turn to Wree and say "Happy holidays!! How are you?"

Sorry if this isn't the greatest. I've somehow never done one of these before, so I'm still figuring it out. :) 

Lupin reaches forward for a marshmallow and roasting stick.  After skewering the marshmallow on the stick she leans forwards and holds it to the fire.

I take a handleless clay cup of tea from a tray on a table beside me I hadn't noticed before.  The tea is warm and smells of peppermint and pine trees.  I sip some and feel the warmth spread over my body, warming me in a way the fire couldn't do.

Lupin glances over at me.  "Do you want a marshmallow?"

I shake my head.  "No thanks.  I don't really like the sugar."

For a little while we sit in silence.  Lupin focuses on roasting her marshmallow to perfection.  I sip tea and watch the enchanting flickering flames of the fire.

Blue flames run up and down the logs, wavering like ripples on a pond.  Above the fire is yellow, orange, and red.  It rises in some places and sinks in others.  When one side reaches towards the chimney the other falls to the logs.

I set my cup down and bring out a set of double pointed knitting needles from a pouch at my waist.  From under the needles a long blue tube extends.  I pull a length of yarn from the ball still in my pouch before I begin knitting.  Needle tip in to the loop on the other needle.  Yarn around.  Slip the needle through, catch the yarn that was wrapped around.  Over and over I repeat this, sometimes changing to fit the pattern.

I see Lupin looking curiously and my knitting.

"I am knitting a sock", I tell her.  "Do you knit?"

~ ~ ~

Lupin: Yes, my pronouns are she/her.  I hope you don't mind me having you ask a question in this part.  Feel free to do the same with me.  I understand there must be a little of using other CBers for conversations.

Kitty Cat:  Of course you may join!  Anyone can and is welcome.  Read the posts made before you and just jump right in.

The wind is cutting and so, so cold. I push my way through the gale and notice a faint outline in the distance. It's a house, decked out with fairy lights and every kind of holiday decoration imaginable. I make my way up to the front way and open the door. A handful of CBers are laughing and eating cookies in the warm room. Suddenly, from under the huge tree in the center of the room, a present flies across the room and into my hands. 

Wreeboo laughs from a nearby table. "Looks like a present chose you!"

I smile, tuck my present under my arm and go to sit next to Lupine and Peregrine, who are roasting marshmellows. 

"Hey guys!" I sit down next to them. They greet me with equal enthusiam. I grab a marshmellow before second guessing myself and instead going to open the present that had 'chose' me.

~~

I've got to go now but I'll post more later! 

Starchaser blusters through the door, and a white cloud of snow follows her in. She sits down in the armchair next to mine, smiles at me, and says cheerfully, "Happy holidays! How are you?" I smile back and respond, "Great!" as Oakley jumps back on my lap after her stroll around to everyone in the room. "What about you?" I ask Starchaser as I stroke the little dog.