[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

[restinglichface]

[As if her gift from him wasn't enough of a surprise, when Taako sweeps back his hair to reveal her's matching pair in his own ear, Lup's whole heart swells, sharp mouth twisting into a delighted grin, face shining with just how damn happy she feels.

This night makes up for all the rest of the year. Easy.]

Ho-ly shit! Look at you, 'Ko! Really steppin' up your game since last year, huh? Tryin' to make a play for my title of champion of Candlenights? This is... [Her hand reaches up to trace her fingers along the shell of her own ear, right along the studs, the fancy lines of the piece. While she's touching her own jewelry, her eyes are shining while looking at his.

A perfect pair.

Her hand drops so she can find his own hand, fingers twining with Taako's without even having to think about it.]

This is pretty dope. Thanks, Taako. I love it. Like, no sass for once, this is just awesome. [Her fingertips move over his hands, across his knuckles, familiar spaces that fill her with warmth.] Now I can keep you fully updated on all the stupid shit our boys are doing. A real play-by-play of their best fuck ups. Who needs fantasy cable when you can get your favorite gossip on demand.

[pocketspa]

[He laughs, really and freely laughs, as the delight spreads over her face and her fingers move to touch it again. Lotsa attempts went into this one, lots of grabbing Kravitz and Barry and telling them to shove this in their ear for a second as he blinked into the Etheral plane and screamed. It's worth it for her. Always worth it for her.]

Yeah, well, you know, I am the best brother and Candlenights master, soooo...

[He winks at her.]

What was it you were sayin' about you winning this year? Because I'm pre-tty sure you shouldn'ta let me go first this time, sis. Also, it's like, both ways, so I've got you on speeddial whenever I want too. I'll let you know the latest deets, natch.

[restinglichface]

[It is very Good, she has to give him that.]

Hey now, son, slow your roll a little. This isn't even close to over yet. I still have your gift and I think it's gonna be your new favorite thing.

[But before she hands it over quite yet, Lup's taking just a quick moment to press in close to her twin, matching glittery hips bumping together, her long arm snaking around his middle, so she can press a quick kiss to his cheek.]

You did good.

[And as quickly as she moved close, she's pulling away to pull is own gift out and thrust it into his hands. It's a book, that's obvious enough even with the excessive wrapping.] But not good enough, sucka.

[pocketspa]

[The kiss almost feels better than any of the rest of it. Taako's never wanted to do what Lup and Barry did, binding their souls to lichdom for a chance at survival. He's always had issues and a little healthy fear of taking magic too far, losing himself. But if he had to, if he needed something to hold onto to remember who he was--

Well, this moment would do. It'd do just fine.

The present hits his chest and he lets out a comical 'oof' as it connects, chuckling as he moves his hands off her to hold it better.]

Wow, another book? You're really on a kick here, my dude. You think I'm that much of a nerd?

[He says as he's tearing into it with reckless abandon, give him his stuff!!]

[restinglichface]

[Taako doesn't need to worry about losing the physical connection with Lup to open his gift, she's already dropping her hands on him the moment his drift off of her, keeping them connected without a word, fingers curling against his familiar warmth.]

Uh, I know you better than anyone, dingus. Of course I think you're that much of a nerd. What kinda sister would I be if I ever said otherwise?

[But she'd grinning smugly while Taako tears into it, and whatever he may have been expecting after her emotional gift the year before, it's definitely not the book he soon reveals. The cover is innocuous enough, plain and safe, but flipping it open is where the real gift lies, where Taako's going to find very smutty friend fiction between him and their bestest bud Nathan Drake, all full of delicious purple prose and far too many adjectives.]

[pocketspa]

[Frankly, Taako was expecting another shameless display of love and other gross items. He certainly came to play on that field this year, but this is also one of the few times he can actually do that. The twins rarely get each other something for their birthday, because everything is shared and also exclusively theirs all at once. Candlenights is where they can be honest for maybe 5 seconds.

This is so much better.

He quirks an eyebrow at her when he can't see anything on the cover, turning it over in his hands before opening it, and his mouth, to say something. The words fall dead as he squints at the contents, and then his eyes go incredibly wide as a choked laugh bubbles to his throat.]

As his rippling abs were revealed by the torn off shirt, Taako swooned into his arms, caressing the sparkles of sweat off his collarbone oh my gOD--

[His tone absolutely went from just barely not laughing to a full on shriek as he surges over to loop an arm around Lup's neck, pointing to a paragraph further down.]

Read this out loud right now, I need to hear it with my ears.

[restinglichface]

[This is an absolute Candlenights victory.

It takes Taako two seconds to realize just why her boring book gift is actually the single greatest thing he's ever owned, Lup's smile twisting into the perfect image of smug satisfaction, a laugh already bubbling up inside of her once her twin starts to lose it.

(This is the evening they deserve - laughter and ridiculousness, happiness in every note, a moment of peaceful joy after a year of hurt and worry.)

But holy fuck, half a sentence into the novel and it's already fucking gold. She killed it this year.]

Duh, like I wouldn't jump at the chance to read smutty fanfic of my brother outloud at our family Candlenights party. [She's not being sarcastic, this is absolutely the best idea they've ever had.]

But if I'm gonna do this shit, I'm gonna do it right. Toss Ango upstairs pronto. We are doin' storytime for the whole room.

[pocketspa]

What, he's not old enough to hear about his uncle's dick?

[Taako's already moving though, because even he has limits and this is blissfully one of them. He tucks the book under his arm- he doesn't want her starting when he's not in the room- and cups his hands around his mouth to holler to the party at large.]

Hey everybody! It's Ango's bedtime! Everybody say bye to lil' ol Angus while we get ready for our main event!

[And he'll grab Angus to drag him the hell out of there, absolutely refusing to tell him what he's missing just because he's a little shit. He yells back to Lup as he goes.]

Get 'em all warmed up for me, won't ya dear Lulu?

[restinglichface]

[This whole family is a Mess.

Poor Angus is practically tucked under Taako's arm before being whisked away from the room just as Lup hops up onto the coffee table, giving a little spin of her glittery dress, before she's snapping her fingers for the attention of the whole room. Immediately, even before she's spoken a single word, the party must know whatever is about to happen next is gonna be wild. And probably flammable.]

Gather round, fam. Have I got a Candlenights tale for you!

[The elf's sharp eyes seek out Nate in the crowd before she's beckoning the man forward with a playful curl of her finger. There's no way this whole thing is going down without the man of the hour being front and present.]

[nonscriptum]

[ All of this is a mess.

Having imbibed more than his fair share of whatever prison-quality, rotting-fruit-in-a-bag hooch they have, Nate is feeling wonderfully loose and content. So much so that he doesn't find altogether too much wrong with indulging the crooked finger of Lup even after flashing her a confused look.

Story hour. Okay, it's fine. He can tell stories, even when not sober. Nate semi-reluctantly gets to his feet and ambles over, drink in hand. ]

...what, you need a volunteer?

[pocketspa]

[Oh, Nate. Oh poor, sweet, stupid Nate.

Taako is sprinting back into the room as soon as he can, having effectively locked Angus in his bedroom for the time being, and slides right up behind Nate to place his hands on his shoulders and duck to the side of his head.]

Aaaactually, we needed you specifically, my guy! See, it's tradition to uh, to tell a tale on Candlenights, and as the party hosts we get to pick uhm, who reads what parts and stuff. But there's one that we think you would really nail.

[His eyes snap up to Lup, a grin on his lips that looks like he's about to burst with laughter.]

Right, Lup?