Among the several meanings of Christmas was that of understanding and accepting others, no matter how different they were. Animalia certainly had more of an opportunity to show this than anywhere else. And it wasn't just with the recreation of the Christmas Truce of 1914. Animalia's stranger inhabitants were also taking part in the holiday spirit.
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The timing was right for a reunion of the various Animalians who had been specimens in the private zoo of the Costa Rican drug lord. It was actually rather impressive how large a collection he had been able to acquire. Though now they were living much happier lives as uplifted Animalians.
"So, how have you two been doing?" asked Cecelia to the two aye-ayes.
"We've been working on a program to help get the people of Madagascar over their superstitions," said Ike.
"We might have to do it by proxy though," said Ikia, "If villagers saw us, they'd more likely try to chase us down and kill us than listen to what we have to say."
"You two really aren't that horrifying," said Cecelia.
"I know we're not conventionally pretty," said Ikia, "But we are creepy. We just need to show people we're harmless. At least you don't have trouble fitting in."
"Yes and no," said Cecelia, "I don't feel like I fit with any one group. I know I am a lizard, but I don't have legs like them. The snakes are similar, but we don't have much in common asides from our leglessness. I don't even fit in with the amphibians even if I have webbed hands."
"Well, we don't really fit in with the other primates," said Ike, "But we're fine with standing out since we still have each other."
"I think what you really need is a mate," said Ikia.
"But how will I find someone who knows what a caecillian is, let alone wants to be one?" asked Cecelia.
"That's what the dating site is for," said Ike.
"Huh, I never considered that," said Cecelia.
Meanwhile, Louise and Julius were catching up a little bit. "Are you still going with that threesome?" asked Louise.
"Well, I'm too much for any one lady," said Julius boastfully.
"Julius, you know you can't keep leading them on," said Louise, "You don't have two heads so you can't marry them both. Not unless you're willing to convert to Mormon."
Julius shuddered and said, "No thanks. I enjoy my gin too much for that. How's it going for... I'm sorry, I forgot his name."
"Frederico," said Louise.
"It's not what I would expect for a seal's name," said Julius.
"We've been dating pretty steadily for a while," said Louise, "We haven't really gotten physical because of his parents' wishes. But I only need to wait a few more months before he finished puberty."
"It must be a frustrating," said Julius.
"Please, just because you have a big sexual appetite doesn't mean I have one too. I am quite capable of controlling myself. I barely feel tempted, in fact," said Louise.
"Really?" asked Julius skeptically.
"Ok, maybe a little frustrated. But I can still wait," said Louise.
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Another Christmas party was for some of the more bizarre members of Animalia, namely the members of Project Hermaphroditus. Along with reuniting with familiar faces, it was also a chance for some new faces to be recognized. That mainly applied to the newest member of Project Hermaphroditus, Allura the uplifted anglerfish. And so shi wouldn't feel left out as the only anglerfish there, the few other members of Project Abyssus were also invited, even if that just included Cousteau and Bubblehead. Another outsider brought in was Medusa and Medea as the Anacondas' guest.
"So how is life on the surface?" asked Daffodil to Allura.
"Light, in several ways," said Allura, "The surface is like nothing we've ever seen before. But then, there's nothing much to see down there. But we like it up here. And we're very popular too." Allura had gotten quite a lot of fanmail, most of them having propositions. Apparently, there were some people who thought a herm angler fish was very sexy.
"You know, you do sound like Gollum when you talk like that," said Daffodil.
"We prefer to think of ourselves as Venom," said Allura, giving a toothy grin.
"Well, you've got the dentistry for that at least," said Daffodil.
Nearby, Vita was talking with Cousteau. "So, how long until you have more members in your project?" asked Vita.
"I could ask the same of you," said Cousteau.
"Actually, we've had some volunteers for Project Hermaphroditus," said Vita, "Dr. Jones has been screening to see if they're fit, but we should have new members soon."
"It's a bit easier for you," said Cousteau, "Searching for fish in the lightless zone is not that easy."
"Are you looking for anything in particular?" asked Vita.
"Right now, we are planning to uplift a lanternfish and a viperfish," said Cousteau, "We're also considering a gulper eel, but that requires another specialized formula."
"Anything else?" asked Vita.
"I'm not sure," said Cousteau, "There are more cephalapods, crustaceans, and other invertebrates down there than fish."
"I know we'll be getting that mangrove killifish soon," said Vita.
"That one isn't that hard to find," said Cousteau.
"Maybe, but they did have to pick a hermaphrodite specimen," said Vita.
Medusa and Medea preferred to stick close to Iphis and Ianthe since they were more familiar. "Are we really the weirdest that Animalia has?" asked Medea.
"We could have been weirder," said Ianthe.
"They were going to splice us with lion and goat DNA until they realized it wouldn't work," said Iphis.
"That's a little hard to imagine," said Medusa.
"But things still worked out," said Iphis.
"And we have a big family to show for it," said Ianthe.
"I hope we'll get a chance at a family someday," said Medusa.
"Though I don't know if we'll with two partners or one," said Medea.
"There's no great rush," said Iphis.
"Enjoy the present," said Ianthe.
"Speaking of present," said Ty, slithering over, "Isn't it about time to start opening them?"
"I was thinking that as well," said Lily.
They were a very odd collection of people, but Christmas was as normal for them as anyone.