[closed] by all calculations, we're pretty sure...

[pocketspa]

Who: The residents of Horny House (imported house 5-1) and their esteemed invited guests (The Drakes, Alphys, Gren, Ephemera, and Cecily)
What: It's Candlenights! And considering how much the rest of the month has sucked, it's fuckin time.
Where: Horny House (imported house 5-1)
When: Backdated to December 25th
Warnings: Should be clean, other than some drinking and cursing.

The thing about Candlenights is that nobody actually knows what day it is. The nature of Candlenights is it's appearance- its not Candlenights, and then suddenly it just is. There's calculations you could do, sure, but that sounds like a lot of work, and the twins about figure that it's been roughly a year since they last did this. Plus, this month has sucked in an incredible way for them both, so you know what?

It's Candlenights now. Boom, just like that. Fuck you, Gods. It's Candlenights.

So when the guests arrive, the house is as decked as they're able to get it, under the circumstances. The front hall has shiny beads and a line of floating candles to and up the stairs, which guests can climb to find the party on the top floor. The living room has the familiar warm ambiance of the house itself; more candles floating around the room but giving off no heat. If someone takes the time to brush them, they might realize they're illusions, capable of producing at least light. Thankfully, a fire pit in the center of the room burns bright and strong, hitting some sort of invisible wall if it tries to flick outside the boundaries but providing warmth to the room at large. The kitchen holds plates of food, a large stew on the stove with meat from one of those large beasts simmering to taste. Additional hors d'oeuvre, mostly breads and fruits, lay in dishes for guests to partake. And for later, a large cake dusted in powdered sugar sits atop the mantle, waiting to be cut. A few bottles of wine, obviously hoarded since better times, sit on top of the bar to be distributed as one sees fit, as well as a large punch bowl filled with... something. It's alcoholic, but uh, maybe take it slow. Or don't, and get drunker than you've ever been. It's Barry Bluejeans' Ultra Punch (what if Punch...... but More) and it should be imbued with caution.

And finally, the thing Taako is most proud of, is a real bush sits in the corner surrounded by gifts. If one were to look closely or think about it critically, they might realize only Carlisle's gardens have bushes, and this one looks very similar to one of those. Don't think about it too hard! Just marvel at the bush! It's also been covered in illusory candles, so it isn't a fire hazard, but they're not above putting real candles on it. What do you think they are, safe? Please.

But for once, among the gloom from the last planet to this one, and the darkness in their lives, Candlenights brings warmth and good tidings for the year ahead. Time to get through the winter, folks, and maybe quite literally forget your problems for a while.

This is a mingle log! Post top levels, give gifts, get incredibly drunk on magic punch- anything goes. Happy Candlenights, everyone!

Comments

[pocketspa]

[He laughs, because the statement is so initially absurd it's just the best thing he's ever heard.]

Uh, wrong on that one! Everyone made it up, dude. This is like, across everything on Faerün. Candlenights rules all. It just also happens to be, uh, super temporal.

[Sure.]

And look, you wanna be my hype squad all night, that's a very vital Candlenights position. Aaaalso, y'know, you're supposed to exchange gifts. Just saying.

[Wink wink what'd ya get him Cec]

[closerift]

Everyone made it up? But there's no set time for it? [ w h a t ] Your world gets more and more interesting the more I hear of it.

[ Hype Squad? Oh, she can do that. ]

I see. [ She replies seriously, nodding and furrowing her brow. ] Well, it's lucky that I've brought you something, then, isn't it? Only - don't tell Lup, because it's not something that's easily split...though I suppose you could pass it between you, share the time, anyway -

[ And without further ado, she deposits into his hand a coin. And immediately tries to look nonchalant about it, but with a high enough insight roll, Taako may be able to tell that this is a moment of substantial sentiment. ]

I know it looks like an awful gift, but it's...something that's actually very important to me, if I'm honest, and - but it's time to pass it on. [ Her expression softens a touch and she heaves a breath. ] It's a lucky coin that someone gave to me once, and I'd like for you to have it. To give you a little bit of extra help in a pinch so that you don't have to go through the usual shit alone.

[pocketspa]

[He's all ready with some baller response, a joke or some sort of pun, when this conversation gets suddenly, disarmingly sincere. Like, there's so many layers to this. She brought something just for him-- which, what, what never happens-- and more than that it's something that means a lot to her. It's enough to make him bluescreen for a second there while she's talking, and he has to fight down his natural response which is to laugh right in her face. People know he doesn't like it when he's alone?? Giving him special gifts?? Caring about him in any capacity????? What the fuck. How did he pull this one off. What a spectacular con, to make someone care about him at all.

That's the thing, about playing so many things off as nothing when they're something. You know how it looks. How to see it in others. So he looks it over, licks his lips a little in absence of what to even say.]

Well shit, Cec. A coin in a world with no money, with a fake enchantment to a man who casts magic from his hands. Now that's a combo you got goin'.

[He twirls it between his fingers, feeling the patterns, the way it presses into his skin.]

You sure you wanna be rid of it? If it's that, uh, that much?

[closerift]

I thought you might appreciate the irony of it. [ Her lip twitches upward in amusement at his reaction, eternally grateful for the way that Taako is. ] I hope you won't be too disappointed.

[ Sure, she can think of flashy gift ideas, but this has more value than that. ...To her, at least. And he has a lot of value, too. ]

Of course. I wouldn't present it and then change my mind. [ Please. She's not tactless. ] It's yours.

[pocketspa]

[Don't be grateful for him, he's very bad. Love yourself Cecily. But as much as they'll both swear this is nothing, they know the exchange happening here, the importance of it all. Taako will remember the weight this carries every time he feels it; he'll need to think of a good place so it's always on him. For a moment, he wishes he had the Umbra Staff back, if only because it would be easier to tie it on the handle, let it swing as he moves. Maybe he can make a necklace. None of this is important right now.]

Look, no regrets and all that cheesy biz.

[But he pockets it, makes sure it won't fall before he withdraws his hand.]

Guess you might've earned this then. For bothering to read up on the rules and everything.

[He snaps his fingers and a dark hole appears in the air just to the side of him, which instantly seems to cough up a rather long rope that coils on the ground. Taako seems to be ignoring that entirely in favor of reaching into the hole, where a number of colorful wrapped boxes can be seen. Pocket dimensions: the perfect place for storing gifts where no one can find them. But he retrieves one and foists it into her hands without other comment.]

[closerift]

"No regrets." Of course.

[ For as badly as they both seem to follow that rule. She smiles all the same, content in this moment to try not to catch feelings (tm) with one of her closer friends in Hadriel. ]

Oh, absolutely I...read up on the rules. I'm an absolute encyclopedia of Candlenights knowledge. [ nEVER MIND that he'd just had to explain it to her!!! ] Thank you for this, my well-earned reward for coming prepared.

[ She lays a hand on it and then eyes him curiously, smiling turning teasing. ]

Shall I open it here and embarrass you?

[pocketspa]

[He snickers at her, the sass coming naturally to them back and forth. She would have fit right in on the Starblaster, he considers in a passing draw. Davenport would adore her tactics, her commitment. She and Lucretia could talk writing, Barry about theory and Merle on religion and carrying the weight of a god. The twins have her on magic, she and Magnus have the same dog affinity...

He shakes it from his mind, and twists his wrist towards the gift.]

Uhm, open it now and adore me more like. I do a lot for you, y'know. C'mon, I need my dose of asskissing.

[The box itself is longer than it is wide, but isn't so big it would be cumbersome to hold. But inside, resting on bits of cloth, is undeniably a wand. It's made from sculpted metal and hard glass, a rod looking like it's swirled between those materials from handle to tip. The metal is a polished silver, not unlike the bracelet he made her previously, and the glass a translucent clear aside from what looks like green water or gas swirling inside, slowly moving even at rest. The very tip culminates in a concentration of that color, solid and unwavering.

And also included seems to be an adjustable tie, and a holder. An arm brace. So she doesn't even need a hand.

Taako looks pretty proud frankly, arms crossed and eyebrows raised as high as they'll go.]

So now you've got no excuse to miss out on lessons, my gal. I'm holding you to it.

[closerift]

[ For an emotionally-constipated person, Cecily is dangerously close to sporting a glistening of tears at this moment. She looks in awe down at the wand and gingerly takes it into her hand, feeling the metal between her fingertips and watching whatever rests inside it move lazily within. The brace goes far from unnoticed, and any witty retort catches in her throat long before she can utter it.

He doesn't want a sappy reaction, and she doesn't want to display one. ...It's difficult to be flippant here, though, and so she settles for something a little more reigned in, but no less honest: ]

...This is incredible. [ Cecily offers quietly, smiling with warmth down at the wand. ] I promise that I will do my absolute best not to embarrass you. Especially when I'm learning to flip it into the air, twirl, and then catch it again.

[ She won't demonstrate that quite yet, but she does grin more mischievously at the idea. ]

That is what the lessons are about, isn't it? Artistic wand twirling?

[pocketspa]

[He's honestly not sure what he'd do if she just started crying on him. Like, it's probably better for her, but he doesn't think about that. Magnus is the kind of person who happy-cries. Taako only cries when the goddamn world is ending. But he feels that she's actually awed, which lets him slot this away as awe at his power, and makes it a little less personal.]

Uh, of course it is, that's the first like ten lessons. How are you supposed to cast spells if you can't do a flip with it? I'm a certified flip wizard babe, you gotta get with the experience on this one.

[She'll do great. He knows it. Though just to be a showoff, he reaches under the hem of his skirt and removes the Krebstar- don't ask how he was keeping it without getting goddamn stabbed by all the knives that just seem kinda tied on there- and spins the middle on his finger like a fidget spinner. Why is he this way.]

Gotta get you started on the basics, then you can get to the real cray stuff.

[closerift]

I can hardly wait until I'm a flip wizard. [ She's a rogue, so she's at least got some of the flip down. ] Until that day, I shall follow your example, o wise one.

[ One day, maybe she'll actually be able to cast a spell instead of just dicking around. The wand from a close friend is a good start. ]

...Well, this is a party, isn't it? Should we stop all the unseasonable sentimentality and join the others?

[pocketspa]

[Yeah!! Multiclassing!! Get those flips in there!!

Thankfully, she gives him an out, as she always seems to. He snaps his fingers into a fingergun, a few sparkles twinkling at the end for two or three seconds before they disappear.]

Uh yeah, obvs. To taking all my advice forever and not wasting all our time here getting suuuper mushy. C'mon, there's alcohol to get fucked up on and a real bush I managed to get in the middle of the goddamn tundra. Let's go admire all my hard work, huh?

[closerift]

I would be delighted to drink and admire the real bush. [ She half-rolls her eyes, but is grinning. ] So let's go and do that now, rather than risk any more sentimentality.

[pocketspa]

[Taako snickers, laying a hand on her back as he starts to lead her away.]

Damn right, sis. C'mon, we'll get you some wine.