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There was the strong possibility that Santa Claus--Father Christmas, whatever--was just about the creepiest neighborhood watch in existence. But, hey. Give the Good Christian People what they wanted on this, the arbitrary eve of the 24th of December.  After all, it gave Adon the chance to dust off his old get-up from over two years ago.[1]  These people simply loved a good, jolly, and probably drunk home invader, and Adon was at least two of those things. 

Besides: Adon had become something of Hiraeth's unofficial neighborhood watch in recent weeks. It was fitting.  After word got out that he assisted a resident break-and-enter into her own flat, Landladies Kettleburn and Andrews had at first expressed their supreme discomfort.  However, after he had quickly assured them that, as an Auror, he had personally seen to said flat's improved security, in addition to some minor adjustments in the lift's door mechanisms, they immediately began to see his true potential.  Thus far, he'd looked at the courtyard fountain, improved the locks and security on at least three flats, with two more such consults proposed.   Adon liked being useful.  He liked being appreciated.

Which was probably why, as his mother had pointed out dryly more than necessary, Adon was making such a fuss about these holidays.  His mother--dubbed Adon's elf-helper of the year--had been, in her words, "guilted" into running errands to fetch gifts for an exorbitantly long list of friends, family, and acquaintances this year.  "Short of giving you life--and forcing myself to not take it back from you for over 29 years--this has been the hardest thing I have ever done for you." ... Perhaps Raizel Cohen had been right when she had observed that Adon had inherited his dramatics from his mother.  It wouldn't have been so bad, Adon had countered, if she'd followed the instructions.  He had been very precise. 

Still, Adon was grateful for what help his mother did offer him, being particularly pressed with a growing list of investigative To Dos.  It had given him the excuse to take some time to meet with neighbors and Almost Friends that he'd been intending to become Real Friends with for months.  Like Hannah Bombay, for instance.  Sure, it had been a little awkward being in an interrogation room with her totally unsure himself if she was actually under arrest, and yes he'd all but evaded her the first three weeks he moved into the flat above her.  That was, until he started to sense that perhaps she didn't loathe him.  And it might have been a trick of the light, but one time, when she'd passed by him in the courtyard--himself being elbows deep in what seemed to be, well, probably cherub by-product of some sort, he could have sworn she'd almost smiled at him.

If that wasn't enough cause to aggressively befriend someone, he wasn't sure what was.  Besides: the Santa suit had served him well in converting would-be nay-sayers of the Eleorian charm.  Once.  But who was counting.  Shifting his heavy crimson Auror's robes and rubbing a hand thoughtfully over the magicked, snowy white beard on his chin, he rapped a knuckle on the door of 3C.

1.	First used in this thread.

“No.” The statement was plain, to the point. Upon opening the door to her apartment, the first thing Hannah’s eyes had fallen on was the set of crimson robes draping the tall figure. Her stomach hit the floor and she tried to digest the fact that an auror was on her doorstep. Bright eyes travelled up to the ridiculous beard and hat. A demented and strange auror was at her door. Thin fingers gripped the large door tightly and the witch shook her head.

Only minutes before the bang on the door, Hannah had been sat on her sofa, pyjama clad with tea in hand. She wasn’t particular aware of the time of day and in the past weeks she’d given up on monitoring this or getting dressed just to sit home alone and do Ira Almasy’s bidding. Today it was trying to mix a potion of questionable legality and she definitely didn’t need a white bearded and far too happy auror poking his nose into her business. She’d not even noticed the real identity of the wizard behind the beard; neither had she made any connection between the outfit and Christmas. Crimson robes meant one thing: trouble.

“I don’t even want to know what I’ve apparently done this time.” She pulled the shawl over her arms tighter, an attempt to conceal a mess of scars on her arm, wrists and neck. Eyes shot to meet the gaze of the funny looking and far too aged auror and her grip tightened on the wand she had in her hand. “You have real actual criminals to catch; leave me alone.”

"Sweet baby Jesus, Hannah," Adon sighed--borrowing an expression from Maikito Biladeau-Yukawa herself.  "You'd think I'd dressed up as the Krampus instead."  Jonas had introduced Adon and his family to the concept of krampus a year ago and it still delighted him to pull out this random tidbit of knowledge.  Muggles and their fascination with the yeti. Bigfoot. Abominable snowmen. 

Adon held his hands up, indicating no wand--though there was a small, wrapped parcel in it.  Realizing this, he shook his head and, looking down, shoved it back in his pockets. 

Santa Klaus/Father Christmas/Saint Nick did not give naughty people their presents right away. They had to earn it.

As he rubbed his chin, the puffy white beard billowed away in pale curls, like smoke.  "So I take it you're not a fan of fancy dress balls or masquerades."  He paused. "Or Aurors."  That was more than evident; and a shame, as Hannah Bombay was still remembered as one of their best medical examiners.  At least in his opinion.  "Do we add Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and--more broadly--merriment and joy to that list, or did I just catch you at a Scrooge moment." The attempted, teasing delivery had faltered considerably at this point.  Adon couldn't help the slight jutting of his jaw.  He had come here to be nice.  It didn't matter that it had been unsolicited. That was what was supposed to make him seem nicer.

He gave a sigh, shifting his weight testily. "Look. I'm sorry if I caught you at a bad time. I'm just making the rounds with neighbors, wishing well, and being a little bit ridiculous."  There was a momentary pause.  "They say do what you're good at, and I'm exceedingly gifted." There was another pause. Fine. He couldn't handle the anticipation. "Gifted and with gifts."