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

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

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!

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[By the end of the night, that bush is absolutely going to be lit on fire for realsie. As far as Lup's concerned, that's when the real fun is going to begin.

The woman's Candlenights traditions haven't changed too much from the previous year, Lup fluttering gracefully from the kitchen to the bush to their many guests in constant movement, always popping up into conversations and personal bubbles before folks even realize she's there. She can be found thrusting either hors d'oeuvre or clumsily wrapped gifts in people's faces with glee, delight and warmth radiating off of her in waves.

After the year they've had, especially the last few months in particular, this is just what she needs. The familiar warmth and comfort of her dearest friends and family. The people who make the pain worth it.

Even if it's wintery outside, Lup's dolled up in a bit of a revealing dress that sparkles with her every movement, long hair hanging loose around her shoulders in waves. She's matching her brother, of course, now back to looking nearly identical.

If anyone isn't paying attention, there's a good chance Lup will just toss a present right at their head if they don't come to collect fast enough.]

Edited 2018-12-27 04:50 (UTC)

[Taako is, by and large, aggressively getting into the Candlenights spirit this year. Just because he's lived another one here, it's hard to ruminate on where he was last Candlenights and all the things he's lost. Magnus is gone. Merle is gone. It's cold and rough outside, and another year has gone by with them no closer to escaping this place.

But... there's reasons to stay. For the first time, they've opened their doors to include some of the people they've met in this place, people carefully selected to enjoy the company of their family for a very special night. It's weird in a way, but not something Taako is concentrating on.

What he is concentrating on is the glittery dress he and Lup both don. It glitters heavier than the actual pieces on it would seem to suggest, and his hair is loose down his shoulders. If someone isn't paying attention, they might mistake the twins for one another- a joke that will get funnier and funnier as the alcohol keeps flowing.

But he'll be everywhere, cuddling up to guests, sitting by the fire, and forcing people to eat all the stuff he absolutely slaved over, my goodness. Case in point, he's pulling his favorite party trick, sliding up to whoever's close with a tray of light pink cookies.]

Macarooooooon?

[So when she heard she was invited to a party, specifically Lup's party, she didn't really know what to think. On one hand, Lup has been the nicest person in the world to her, and she'd feel horribly guilty to turn down any kind of invite. On the other hand... it's a party. A social gathering. With people. Objectively, that's horrifying. And traveling across the city can be a burden when she needs to heat up a large coat to make the move. But after pawing it over in her brain about six million times, she does finally decide to turn up.

It's been ages since she wore it, but Alphys has exactly one nice dress, so she dons it and scurries over.

Mostly, she stays close to the food, picking at bits of fruit and eyeing the cake curiously as the night goes on. At some point she's adequately baffled by the Real Bush, and can be found nearby, gently caressing the leaves. And finally, she ends up at a chair by the fire... a glass of the Ultra Punch in hand.

Hey, that's one way to keep warm.]

[Despite his own words of caution, Barry doesn't take it as slow with the punch as he preaches. Yes, their esteemed guests should absolutely take it half a cup at a time, space out each one with plenty of water and food, take appropriate breaks and inform them of any emergency contacts, but Barry? He knows how to handle his own ding dang punch.

Or, so he tells himself.

When the guests arrive, he's already in fairly bright spirits, nursing a generous cup of Ultra Punch with a dopey grin and an appropriately garish outfit paired with his eponymous jeans. He's feeling so jolly, in fact, that just about everyone crossing his path tonight gets a firm hug and a pat on the back, his usual introverted shyness dulled by Ultra Alcohol. It's only Candlenights once a year, right?

Throughout the night, Barry is either milling happily around their warm living room, engaging in friendly conversation, or nestled up in a blanket on the couch, smiling to himself, drinking the chill and the sorrows of the world away.]

Y'should take it easy with that, Doc.

[Barry's words are only a tiny bit slurred at the edges, a hot pink flush over his cheeks and his nose. He's grinning, pointing at Alphys' cup of Ultra Punch. There's a similar cup in his own hand. Gotta sample his own goods, after all. Continually. All night.]

Hits ya like a hammer if ya ain't careful, that one.

[This year, Barry is a little faster on the ball than last time. No presents hitting the back of his head this year, no ma'am. He's prepared and on top of things!

And with the amount of Ultra Punch he's had already, he better be on top of things. No way he could catch a present in the air this year.]

Havin' a good time, punkin? [Barry sidles up next to his gorgeous wife, standing there sparkling and dripping with glitter, a stark contrast to Barry's goofy suit jacket and tie.] Y'hit it outta th'park this year too.

[It's with a completely innocent smile he rests his chin on her shoulder, looking up at her with the eyes of a man pretending not to be three cups deep in Ultra Punch.] So, beautiful. How's about a gift swap?

[Even with all of the punch running through him, Lup can always count on Barry to not confuse her and Taako, no matter how hard they're trying to pass off as one another. He's just too sharp after that first decade or two of mixing them up. Without a doubt, he knows the pair of them better than anyone else at this point.

But, y'know, that won't stop the twins from going all out later just to fuck with him. Happy Candlenights!]

It's good. Real good. If I close my eyes and drink enough, I can pretend the majority didn't vote us into snow hell for at least a little longer.

[No, the elves aren't bitter at all.

But her darling husband's chin is perched on her shoulder, the man looking positively trashed and happy in a way that tugs warmly at her heart, so she gives into that soft feeling, tipping her head into his affectionately.]

Considerin' how well that worked out for me last year, hell yeah. Gimme!

[Of course Barry wouldn't ever dream of confusing his wife for his brother-in-law after all this time. Even half a bowl of Ultra Punch in. No way. He's a good, caring, attentive husband who is able to tell the difference with his eyes closed and his hands behind his back.

~~it helps that her tiddies are out~~]

Let's try an' not think of that tonight, okay sweetums? 'Sides, I've done a good job keepin' ya warm so far, haven't I?

[That last part is mumbled in a hoarse, quiet slur that sounded much sexier in his head. Okay, so maybe he's gone a little heavy on the punch. But at least he's smiling, beaming in fact, for the first time in a while. The tundra has been hard on all of them.]

Fair warnin', Loop-de-Lup, dunno how this one's gonna fare compared t'last year. But I'm hopin' it's gonna, [he says as he pulls out a flat, square box, handing it to her with a bright grin,] chill ya out.

[ Ephemera went back and forth for a while about whether he'd show up. In the end he decided to go for it, dressed in jeans and a dark sweater that covers the new scar on his neck. Perhaps surprisingly, it fits him well enough and isn't covered in paint stains. Ephemera himself has selected a corner chair, surrounded by candles and a mug of something deeply alcoholic that he's been drinking far slower than usual.

Normally he'd be good and drunk by now. He's still sober and halfway in a somber mood, but present. ]

Like the candles.

[ He nods at the decorations. ]

's nice.

[Listen. Just because Alphys doesn't drink often doesn't mean she can't handle herself. This is fine. She lives perpetually on coffee and dreams. This will be fine.

Which is why when she turns to look towards Barry, she ends up half-flopping across the arm of the chair, arms kinda hanging out. The punch cup in her hands teeters dangerously close to spilling, but doesn't.]

It's... i-it's fine... I'm doing so. So good? Very, uh. Best. Did you make this?

[She's smiling, so! That's probably a good sign!]

[Look. There may not be too much up top, but you can fucking bet Lup's gonna take every opportunity given to her to show it off. It's the holidays!

Barry's three drinks too many into his Ultra Punch and Lup knows it, her mouth spread wide into a toothy grin at his lame attempts at pet names for her. There haven't been too many reasons to celebrate in Hadriel this last year - not between the rage event several months back, both Taako and Angus dipping out for awhile and scaring them senseless, and the friends they've completely lost. But being here with her husband, reunited at last with all of the love they've cultivated the last century feeling stronger than ever, Lup knows they deserve this.

One night to celebrate and let loose. After today, this whole damn city is gonna be there's.

She bumps up against his side with a laugh, giving the man an affectionate shove.]

Can't complain about that, no. [But both of her long ears fly upwards when he produces his gift, a wrapped box, and barely any time passes before Lup's snatching it from his hands and tearing it open.]

I will complain about your awful puns though, but first, lemme see what goodies you got me this year.

[Present is all that Lup could ever ask from him considering how this month's played out.]

It was all me, natch. But I'm sure you coulda picked up on that one, my guy.

[Lup's there at his side in an instant, one hand wrapping around his arm, tucking herself next to him with practiced ease. Even if there's reason to grieve, she's beaming, bright and happy, freckled cheeks flushed with just a little too much drink.]

Thanks for poppin' in. Figured you wouldn't turn down free food an' drink.

[Considering Candlenights is an amalgamation of all the various holidays, is it any surprise that it's taken the best traditions from each one and just tossed them all together to create something even better?

Which is why it shouldn't be too surprising when Alphys wanders away from the buffet and just so happens to pass beneath a doorframe with a little sprig of mistletoe? The same doorframe Lup just so happens to be passing through at the same exact time?

What a coincidence.

The elf grabs for Alphys' shoulder before the lizard can step too far away from her, before she's gesturing upwards above them. Her dark cheeks just as flushed from too many drinks, a soft warmth that continues all the way up to the tips of her long ears. But Lup's grinning down at the other woman without embarrassment.]

I so did not plant that.

[She probably did.]

[Lup catches her twin after the party is already in mid-swing, all of their guests blissfully drunk and having a good time, the chill of the outside long forgotten with how warm and welcoming it is inside. She slides up to his side and throws a hand over his shoulders, their hips bumping, head tipping into his.

After the year they've had, this feels wonderful. It feels like going home again, something so right that she can't quite imagine how the next day is going to leave them feeling. But right now, all that matters are the family and friends here with them at this very moment.]

I'd say that's another party absolutely crushed. We're good at this.

[ Ephemera hums, bumping their heads together. It's easy to be around Lup, now. She's family. ] Yeah. Good booze, good people - you know me.

[ And he needed to get out. Not get stuck in his own head. ]

[Lame?? Excuse you, loving wife, but "Loop-de-Lup" was a stroke of genius. Barry should call her that way more often!

Or alternatively, be mortified forever and apologize the second he sobers up.]

Wait, which ones are awful again? 'Cause I mean, I got a lot of'em.

[Barry watches with an excited grin as Lup tears the wrapping off the box and lifts the lid. The shape of the box sort of gives it away - the exact look and feel of an old jewelry box, velvet cover in somewhat rough shape since he scavenged it from a long-forgotten shop, but the rich blue color looks beautiful, a few scuff marks aside. Inside, nestled in powdered blue cushioned fabric, is what appears to be a diamond necklace, with what seems like uncut stones in various sizes linked together, the biggest rock resting proudly in the middle as a pendant.

Except all the diamond-looking stones have a fine layer of moisture misted on every uneven surface, water pooling into little beads in the deepest nooks and cracks of each rock. And, once lifted, each of the crystals seem to be filled with some kind of liquid.]

Had t'work with what I got. 'S an ice necklace. Figured y'should get to own th'cold instead of lettin' it own you. [Barry looks absurdly proud of himself, aided by the alcohol.] Don't worry, babe, 's not actually cold or anything. And it won't melt either. I'm a pretty good wizard.

Sure did!

[Barry beams, raising his cup in a sloppy toast before taking another healthy swig. He's getting a little red around the gills already, so Alphys is in terrific company.]

Th'key is... y'listenin'? [Kneeling next to the chair, Barry leans in close to his employer and friend, a mischievous look on his face as he starts a conspiratory stage whisper.] Y'make punch, right, and y'add th'booze, okay, but then, when y'think you've added enough?

[Another swig.] Y'just add double that.

[She'll never let him live that one down. Not a chance.

Jewelry is a pretty standard gift from Barry, who knows what his wife likes after so many years together. She's just the same as Taako, of course, attracted to anything shiny and glittery that she can drape all over herself. Back home, she has a whole drawer of rings and necklaces and bracelets and earrings from over the last sixty-some years with him, too many for one person. But even with how rare it is to find real jewelry in this place, Barry still somehow always manages to keep up the tradition. And this piece is so exception.

Even for someone as sharp-eyed as Lup, she's fooled by the look of the necklace at first, brows flying up under her bangs at the sight of so many enormous diamonds. But when she lifts it from it's delicate box, that's when she catches the moisture there, the shifting liquid within. Her fingertips trace over the largest crystal, feeling how it warms beneath her touch without melting.]

Don't get too big a head there, Barold. Pretty good is pushing it.

[But even her tease sounds a little doubtful. The magic behind this necklace is pretty intense, same as the unwilting flower crown that Taako enchanted for her last year. Barry must have spent a long time putting something like this together. How the heck had he been able to keep it from her?]

S'pretty. [Gorgeous really.] Not a half bad job.

[She holds the necklace out to him and turns, pulling her braid to the side to give him an unobstructed view of her long neck.] C'mon, sling that thing my way. I gotta go rub Taako's face in it.

[ God, they really needed this Candlenights. The last few months in Hadriel have been rough, and Angus, who spent most of last week camped out in an empty apartment across town, is happy for the reminder that they're (relatively) safe, warm, and surrounded by loved ones here. They might be stuck for the time being, but at least they're stuck together.

He's decked out in a a strangely on-brand Candlenights sweater, and can be found all over the place: carefully setting up more illusory candles (his don't last as long as the twins, and tend to fade away after ten minutes or so), sitting by the fire with a big mug of hot chocolate - he'd been warned about the alcoholic punch in advance this year! - and... suspiciously investigating that Candlenights bush. Huh. ]

... I thought there wasn't much foliage around here?

[Okay, so this is, like, the fantasy equivalent of Christmas or whatever. Gren's not exactly the religious type, but Yule was a big thing back in the day. And hospitality is a big thing, and Lup invited him, like formally, so.]

[It's all a thing.]

[But he's got a gift, like, y'know, you're supposed to, and he even went and tried to fix up his stupid-ass wardrobe so that he wouldn't be a complete embarrassment when he showed up. Lup's big on appearances or whatever, she'll probably be dressed to the fucking nines and so should everyone else? Including him?]

[God, the holidays are stressful.]

[So, here he is, Lup. Dressed up in a fancy-ass suit with a fancy-ass coat and a long package tucked up under his arm. He's here, in this noisy-ass house for this noisy-ass party, because you want his grumpy ass to be here.]

Jesus, Lup, I ain't even into tits and I don't know where the fuck I'm supposed to look on you.

[Could you get a dress that's more low cut? How does it even stay where it's supposed to? Is she using magic to make sure that she doesn't have a nip slip?]

[He sure does get her a lot of jewelry, huh. To be fair, what better thing to get the most beautiful woman in the whole world than things that will make her even more beautiful? Lup is already the crown jewel in Barry's long life. Nothing wrong with even more sparkle, right?]

Right, 'course. Not half bad.

[Her teasing words aside, Barry can tell she likes it. It's a correct assumption - making the necklace hadn't been easy. More than a few days were spent sitting outside in the freezing cold in secret, practicing the enchantment that would suspend the water in an icy shell in the shape of a crystal of pure ice, and even more time had gone into perfecting the temperature. Transmutation isn't his strong suit by a long shot, but he's nothing if not resourceful. Lots and lots of Prime Hadriel Ice had gone to waste trying to craft jewelry fit for a queen.

A real shame.]

Anything for th'lady. [Setting his punch aside, Barry accepts the necklace and - as elegantly as he can, which isn't saying much in his state - fastens it around her neck, letting it drape over her sharp clavicle, the ice gems a stunning contrast to her dark freckled skin, the center pendant resting picture perfect in her cleavage. He takes the opportunity to plant a soft, warm kiss to the back of her neck, right at her hairline.

God, he lucked out.] So? Whaddya think?

Dr. Alphys?

[ From a short distance away, Cecily waves and offers a faint smile as she approaches. ]

I didn't know you were friends with these scoundrels. [ There's a fond laugh as she glances in the direction of one or both of the twins, if she can spot them. ] It's good to see you again.

[ After what she and DiMA have done to help with her missing arm, the least she can do is to be friendly. ]

All right? [ She'll accept one of the macaroons with a little, curious smile, but holds it between her fingers to talk before trying it. ]

What is Candlenights, by the way? Still not clear on that.

[ The invitation had been...very special, to say the least, and not particularly explanatory. ]

[Last Candlenights, Kravitz had felt almost like an intruder. An outsider. He had no idea how to act, what to gift people- he'd struggled with what to wear, for goodness sake.

This is not last year. This is his family now, and Krav is endlessly ecstatic at the fact. Even if they are awful, terrible, noisy folk.

He's glammed right up in a fancy black suit, dripping with deep purple and pink flower patterns. A matching pair of purple flowers dangle from his ears, and a manic grin is painted on his face. He's doing it right this year, you fucks.

If you've known Krav for some time now, he's most definitely got a present for you that he's likely pulling out of thin air and thrusting into your hands. Otherwise, he can be found downing the punch, and routinely stalking past the Candlenights bush, as if he's made it his solemn duty to ensure the thing doesn't actually get set on fire.]

[Alcohol doesn't really affect Kravitz. Not in a conventional sense. He can feel what it's meant to be doing, the way it makes the blood in his fabricated body thrum, the buzz that distantly rests in the back of his head. If he really focuses, he can allow it to wash over himself, but people don't get drunk because they want to focus.

But this punch. Holy shit.

Krav is a giddy, giggly mess as he slides in next to Barry on the couch, tucking the blanket over his own legs although he doesn't need it.]

Hello there, Barry. Sweet Barry. Merry Barry, sweet Candlenights.

[Close enough.]

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

lup l ota

taako | ota

alphys | ota

Barry | OTA

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Terrence Ephemera | ota

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ango | ota!

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kravitz | ota

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