Julian

It was getting to the point where Julian was thinking it was deliberate.

In a burst of unusual forethought, the European branch of the WBBA had started arranging their annual Christmas Party in the middle of October, leaving plenty of time for bladers who wanted to come to book tickets and hotels. Julian had, of course, replied immediately to the invitation to accept his place. He was, after all, the foremost blader in Europe. It simply would not do for him to miss the WBBA party.

Three days later, he discovered that he had another function that night n family business, and would not be able to go.

The European branch were sympathetic, and as they had only sent out a few invitations and Julian really was very important to them, they agreed to shift the date of the party by a couple of days.

And then, about two weeks after that, Julian's father had mentioned in an off-hand sort of way that the family were going to the Harrison Christmas function. And, of course, it was on the new date of the WBBA party.

Julian briefly thought about pushing for another new date, but really it was too late now. All the invitations had been sent out and most of the catering and live music had been booked already. There was no moving it now. Besides, they'd already been nice enough to move it once – moving it again would have been pushing his influence a bit too far.

"It'll be fine," Klaus rumbled down the phone during the bi-weekly team call, when Julian complained about the situation. "Just go to both of them. The function is an early dinner followed by a show, right? Just leave before the show and you can come to ours, no problem."

He made a good point. It wasn't as if anyone would really notice that he was gone once the show started. "Fine," Julian sighed. "It's pretty much all I can do, anyway."

.

Normally, Julian actually quite enjoyed the Harrison family functions. They always had the best food, and interesting people to talk to, and there was often a fancy dress theme as well. No different this year – the somewhat nebulous theme of "Yule" had been chosen – but still, Julian wasn't perfectly happy to be there.

"Yes, our plans for expansion into Eastern Europe are continuing," he explained for the third time that evening. "We are keeping an eye on the local developments, but we see no reason why we shouldn't push in whilst we can."

The man he was talking to nodded. "Interesting," he said. "You know, I didn't believe them when they said a young lad like you was in charge of so many of the business decisions. But you obviously do know what you're talking about. Hmm. I'll have to find out some more. Excellent costume, by the way, much better than that Guildford's lad. He's come as a Yule log."

"I give him the credit for the thinking," Julian said, repeating what he'd already said several times as small-talk forced most of those gathered to talk about the costumes. Julian himself had come as the Green Knight of Arthurian legend, dressed all in green with a sprig of holly in one hand and an axe on his belt. So far, only one person had realised who he was.

The evening seemed to drag interminably. Julian had plenty of people to impress and to talk to about business and the future of Europe in the world, had excellent food (though not as much as he expected) and a tasteful string quartet giving the background music.

But it wasn't where he wanted to be.

Finally, after what seemed like an age, it was time to get away. As the main group regathered for the start of the live theatre show, Julian drifted out of the party and over to the waiting car.

He felt his shoulders relax the second he got outside, posture momentarily slumping in relief. That was a lot of work. But now for something completely different – though perhaps taking the helmet and holly springs off first might improve his image somewhat.

.

He could hear the party long before he could see it. He wasn't quite sure whether they were playing Christmas music or just pop, but either way most of the street seemed to be subjected to it. Then again, most of the street seemed to be invited, and there was at least one additional party going on simultaneously.

The car dropped him outside the hall that the WBBA had hired, and after making sure he looked presentable (not as sharp as for the Harrison family function, but still better than most), he knocked.

Then: "Huh?"

It took him a second or two to place the strangely familiar young man who had opened the door. He was almost as tall as Wales, but had bright yellow hair and brilliant green eyes. It was that more than anything that tipped Julian off.

"Oh, hey, Julian. You look really fancy," Yuu Tendo said. "And green. Wales said you were at another party. I'm glad you came to this one!"

He flung the door wide open, revealing the rest of the group. Some of them looked up and waved at Julian as he peered in, but only Wales, Sophie and Klaus stood up and came over.

"Hello," Sophie said, smiling happily. "You made it, I see."

"Just," Julian agreed, stepping inside. "And not to be rude, but is there any food? It turned out that "dinner and a show" was actually "nibbles and talking for ages until the show was ready to begin half an hour late", I'm starving."

Klaus grinned at him. "Loads," he assured him. "If you hadn't noticed yet, the Japanese bladers showed up out of nowhere, so we just ordered pizza. It should be here any minute."

"Hey, Julian!" King called from the other side of the room. "Come outside and fight me!"

"He really thinks he can challenge the Emperor of Europe?" Wales asked almost scathingly, but Julian knew him better than that, and could hear the laugh in his voice. "We'll see about that. Sophie and I will take care of this."

"No need," Julian said, waving a hand at them to get them to calm down. "I'll fight him. But after food."

Yes, this really was the only Christmas party worth going to. Not because he got to eat good food, or talk with people, or even demonstrate his talents – he got to do all that at every other party he went to.

But at this party, he wasn't doing it as Julian Konzern, pride of the family and heir to the Konzern family fortunes. Instead, here he was just Julian, a blader like the rest of them, welcomed by friend and rival alike.

Here, he got to have Christmas just as himself.