Christmas Trollery in the Compy Lab!

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Oh, you humans. So much fuss over a basic feature of your own planet's orbit. A simple little solstice and everyone has a gaudy holiday full of enormous meals, family drama, and decorations everywhere.

Pssst: Spring will come even if you don't throw endless parties. And that won't be a gift from some magical sky fairy either.

I found a fun tradition, though. Somewhere in the school I've hidden a life-size caganer. It's got a few enchantments that might make it easier to find.

There might be a prize involved.

Comments

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

It's a beloved tradition in part of Spain! I'm showing Christmas spirit.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

I know what it is. I don't want to know how you've made it "easier to find".

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Life-sized, for one. And perhaps a little more realistic in other ways.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

...of course.

You've probably made an enemy of the house elves, you realise.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

With all the messes that are made at this school? Barely a drop in the bucket.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Which I'm assuming you didn't give it.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

That wouldn't have been traditional.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Course not.

There's not actually a prize either, is there?

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

There could be. I suppose that depends on who finds it.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

See, this is what worries me.

[...it was at this point that Rory realised he was quite possibly going to spend his Christmas looking for a giant pooing statue.]

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

I'm having a sentimental day. I haven't even rigged it to explode.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

...good to know.

[He hadn't even thought of that yet. The knowledge that it couldn't kill anyone didn't make the mental picture better.]

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

This school has a lot of hiding places. Hard to choose!

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

You're not giving any hints, I take it.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

It's indoors and not near a window.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

...that's actually more help than I expected.


Thanks.

[And against his better judgement, he's off to search for the thing.

First stop? All the bathrooms. Just in case the idea is to make it so obvious that no one would expect it. That sounds about right.]

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

[a couple of hours later]

Fifth floor. Opposite a portrait of a very offended witch in a big hat. I don't think she believed me about it being a proper tradition.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Well done, Rory. Care to stop by and collect your prize?

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

You were serious.

[He's honestly not sure. But whatever the prize is, he decides it's better to get it over with.]

See you soon then.

[And so he heads over to Slytherin.

Well, this Christmas is going to be eventful.]

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

For anyone else, there probably wouldn't be any sort of prize. But the Master had a prototype of a project he'd been working on. He'd used a mobile phone as the base, and from there he'd got... creative.

It would be a bit of a double-edged sword, but really, would he ever give anything that wasn't?

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory hesitated for a moment, outside the door - right, here I am, outside the room of a psychopath who wants to give me a Christmas present. When did I just start walking into this stuff? - took a deep breath, and knocked.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

Rather than inviting Rory in (his room was still firmly warded against humans, in case Captain Jack tried anything else 'clever'), the Master emerged, holding what at least looked like an iPad. "The intrepid hunter, come to claim his reward," he said with a mocking grin. Come to the common room with me, I'll show you how it works. I'll set the controls to isometric for you if you'd like."

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

Rory blinked at the - magic iPad? There's no way he made that just for this, whatever it is. Not sure whether that's a good sign... "What is it?" he asked, as they headed for the common room.

[theregothedrums.livejournal.com]

"Do you remember the little hypnotism parlor trick I showed you?" He didn't acknowledge how stupidly vulnerable he'd made himself doing it; if Rory was smart enough to have realized, then he was also smart enough not to admit that he'd figured it out.

[thefuturemrpond.livejournal.com]

"...yeah." He nodded, trying not to look too uncomfortable and nearly succeeding. "Yeah, I do."