Tucked away in a dark obscure alleyway in New Castelia is Café Naraka, an establishment few know of, and even fewer visit, as it is a safe refuge for those that deal in the shadowy unknown. Alchemists, witches, sorcerers, Daémons and fallen angels gather to unwind, under the safety of enchantments that keep the place just beneath the notice of passers-by and the owner's rule of neutrality within its walls.

It is also where Jack makes his home, renting out the apartment above Café Naraka after his escape from an Abyssal Order facility eleven years ago. The owner, a grizzled old Abra by the name of Noctis Volk, took Jack in, which the Lucario was grateful for, although it does not seem like it with the on-and-off bickering between the two. More often than not, Noctis has to reign Jack in when his temper gets the better of him, sometimes with force if necessary.

Being a drinking establishment for the occult, many Daémon hunters make this place a hub where they can take on and hand in requests posted on the board at the rear of the bar. The many artifacts decorating its walls are either trophies from such hunts or objects Noctis deems too dangerous to be let alone anywhere else. And much like everything else at Café Naraka, even its menu is an eccentric and even downright risky selection of strong liquors, herbal concoctions and even beverages that are near lethal to non-demonic patrons, among which is Jack's favorite; Cursed Fate, a potent rice wine infused with herbs and a preserved Ekans and Salandit.

Jack isn't much of a Christmas person. In fact, he used to utterly despise it. This hatred of the holiday has since simmered down into indifference. To him, the 25th of December is just another day. That didn't stop him from receiving a gift or two this year, though. When he returned to his apartment, he found two packages at his door; a pair of DVDs from Lilith and a handmade box of cookies from Kagero, the latter including a small card with a drawing of the Dewott's face on it. He scoffed with a mix of mild annoyance and amusement, and took the gifts in with him.

After a dinner of Chinese takeout, he settled on the couch with a beer and started watching the DVDs, occasionally taking a nibble of Kagero's cookies. The movies on offer were typical of Lilith's interests; one was a horror movie about a Malamar menacing a group of college students, and the other was a gritty superhero film about a cybernetically augmented Lokix fighting back against his creators.

The gifts didn't change his stance on Christmas, but they were appreciated nonetheless. Not that he'd admit it to Lilith and Kagero..

A small vent piece for myself, as I don't quite feel the Christmas spirit nowadays. I guess it could also be for those who don't celebrate Christmas, whether it be differing beliefs, dislike of the holiday or losing that love for it like I have.

Either way, hope you all have a relatively good December 25th.