[OPEN, MINGLE] 'cause not all who wander are lookin' for the exit

[pocketspa]

Who: Taako, Lup, perhaps you-- invited or not?
What: Taako's been trying to think of a good way to have a party now that ice hell is over, and the disappearance of his sister's husband and his brother in law sounds like as good a time as any to start denying bad feelings and cheering up his goddamn twin.
Where: Around Horny House, aka Imported House 5-1
When: April 11th
Warnings: Alcohol, food, some stupidity most likely.

The night of the 10th, anyone who's friends Taako or Lup-- especially if you're friends with Lup-- will get a text from Taako. It reads:

hey
come over tomorrow at noon
i took down a totally massive animal and im having a barbecue
also bring a gift for lup
dont tell her dont ask questions dont care what it is just do it
your prize is a significant amount of roasted whateverthefuck that i have tested to be sure it will not kill you
also if you dont show up im going to come get you so see ya then

And sure enough, the next day, behind horny house is a large pit filled with rocks and... something or other spit roasted over it. Whatever it is happens to be very, very big, but you can probably see the smoke before you see the animal. Most of the tables in the house have been dragged out onto the lawn around it, covered in mismatched cups, containers of water and plates of fruit, and something lovingly labelled 'SPACE JUICE (CONTAINS ALCOHOL)' that is being served in a large punch bowl. It's bright blue and smells like lighter fluid, so it's pretty unlikely you needed to be warned that there's alcohol in it. One table simply has a sign that says 'PUT GIFTS HERE', which is pretty self explanatory. There also seems to be music coming from discernibly Somewhere, though it's completely unclear as to where-- seeing as the guy running it is magic, it might actually just be coming from the sun. None of that is especially important right now. What is important is this:

Everyone here is legally required to go care about Lup, or Taako's going to punch you in the head. And not even with magic- just with his little fists. So do it, punk.

OOC: This is a MINGLE LOG- please put up toplevels and tag around! While Taako had people he invited, it's pretty damn easy to see this going down, and if you play by the rules and say nice things to his very sad sister he won't kick you out. Have fun!!!

Comments

[madamdirector]

I think it is, yes.

[ It's always dangerous. It's always hard. But worth it? Oh yes. Even when it sucks, like now.

Lucretia shakes her head; she doesn't know. ]

I haven't...seen it myself, before now, but then I haven't been here long.

She was so sure he'd be back within the week.

[braveoff]

[ Drake's expression falters a little, and he glances down at the closed notebook solemnly. ]

Because that's what's happened so many times before. People disappear and come back with the new arrivals... except this time it didn't work that way. Sometimes it takes awhile longer, and sometimes... people just don't come back. Or come back and still don't remember, for some reason. No matter how it goes, it sucks.

[ He glances up to find Lup in the crowd again. ]

She'll get through it, but it sucks. They've been through so much already.

[madamdirector]

Yes, they have.

[ Lucretia says it very softly, gazing down at the table. They'd been through so, so much together, good and bad. And that's just the stuff she knows about. ]

I don't know what they went through here, but if the past few months are any indication, it can't have been easy.

[braveoff]

It's not my story to tell, but yeah... this place gets pretty rough.

[ He really has no right to tell her any of it, or even the role he played. That's Lup's business as far as Drake's concerned. But he can confirm that it was difficult, and if pressed he'd admit to giving Barry some friendly kicks to the ass after shit went down. Right now he's a little more curious about Lucretia. ]

How have you been holding up here?

[madamdirector]

[ Lucretia nods, and doesn't press. If and when Lup wants to share the details, she will. Until then, it's her own business. ]

Oh...you know.

[ She tries to smile, though it's still a little strained, and shrugs her shoulders. ]

One month I'm finding new soulmates and making friends, the next I'm trying to kill them all and family members are vanishing into thin air. One day at a time, right?

[braveoff]

[ Lucretia's smile might be strained, but Drake's in response is warm and genuine. Sympathetic even as he appreciates the attitude. Not everybody just lets things roll off like that -- he does, sure, but for everyone like him who adapts and carries on quietly there are a dozen others who are just always mad about it. About things they can't change.

He's starting to think he gets why Lup likes Lucretia. ]

One day at a time's all we can really do. No matter what world we're in.

[ He glances around at the party, at how for the most part everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. His gaze falls on Lup, over by the roast with her twin, and even she's smiling a little now. Looks a bit brighter than when he first hauled her out of the house hours ago. That's something. ]

Some parts of all this are worth it, you know?

[madamdirector]

[ She's starting to see why Lup likes him, too. There's something reassuring about his smile, full of the same sort of comfort that Lup herself is always so quick to offer. Lucretia finds herself relaxing a bit in response, her gaze following Drake's across the party. Lup looks like she's perked up a little bit, and Taako is - of course - going all out for his twin. ]

They are, yes.

[ She'd do anything for her family, anything to be with them, to help protect them in whatever way she can. Losing Barry is hard, but at least the rest of them are here to love and support each other. ]

Is there anyone else here from your world?