[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

[restinglichface]

[Even if half of what she says doesn't make sense to him and is usually some sort of ridiculous tease, it all comes from an affectionate place with Lup. She really does love the big guy. He's grown on both of the twins so much over their long time in Hadriel.

A break. Yeah, that's exactly what the woman needs. Just a moment away from all of this noise, to find a quiet place where she can finally hear herself think. Not that Lup particularly wants to hear what her head has to say right now, but having the option during this party would be nice. The music and sounds of all of the people she cares about gathering in one place is nice, sure, but it's also overwhelming. And it's a constant reminder that one of their group just isn't here.

She doesn't look party ready, nowhere near the twins usual glitter and glamour in an oversized sweater and leggings, but Lup rises with her usual natural grace, sweeping her long hair over her shoulder and sucking in a deep breath like the next step requires that extra little push. She considers taking her exit right through the party for all of two seconds before she has a completely different idea.]

It's probs rude, but also like, I don't care. Let's split. 'Koko will forgive us both as long as we're back before he carves up dinner.

[glacius]

I solemnly swear to have you back before dinner. [Glacius raises a hand earnestly—then falters and frowns. Wait, is this just confirming what they say about him being fatherly? Or is he sound more like a courting youngster trying to play at responsibility?

The alien is not sure how he feels about either option, so he turns to leave, gesturing for Lup to come with him.] Is there somewhere you would like to go in particular, or do you wish for me to lead the way?

[restinglichface]

[Glacius just has that Big Dad Energy.

He turns to guide Lup to the front entrance, but she's already making her way to the window, hiking it up and sticking a skinny leg out of it. She needs this secret exit or she's going to be swarmed with well wishes from party-goers who just won't let her leave.]

If you've got a place in mind, I'll let you lead. [Turning her brain off for a few minutes sounds like heaven.] Meet me out back, my guy!

[And then she slips right on out of that window completely, dropping to the ground below with a perfectly practiced roll before hopping to her feet again.]

[glacius]

[Glacius considers following Lup for a moment, but then decides against it; if she is trying to avoid drawing attention, then a giant ice alien scaling the wall with shifted sturdy talons would likely upend all that. So he exits the way he came in, skirting the outside of the building as he moves away from the gathered crowd, until not a sliver of light from the firepit glimmers off his icy skin. He has, for all intents and purposes, disappeared into the night.

His glowing eyes still give him away though as he comes upon Lup.] I debated taking you to the hot springs while they are likely to be vacant, but that seems like a place you might have already visited... and perhaps the sort of place you might prefer to go with friends, not an ice alien who cannot join you. So... have you ever been to the little garden that my partner has grown? The space housed inside those magic domes? It is quiet there... and pretty, filled with all sorts of plants I had never seen before coming here. It helps me obtain some peace of mind.

[restinglichface]

[It's not much, maybe, but there's at least the slightest hint of a smile on the elf's face when he approaches her. She's waiting for him with her hands curled at her hips, hair re-braided into something less of a tangled mess, magicked into looking a little more put together.]

Your icy bod plus hot springs sounds like a total disaster to me, kemosabe, so maybe the garden would be the better choice. I haven't seen it. [Not from the inside, at least.] Might be just what I need. Your guy put it together?

[glacius]

Yes. [At the mention of "his guy" and the hard work he has done, Glacius smiles quietly to himself. He might be hard to read in a lot of ways, but he also does not bother to hide his feelings, especially not for those he cares for.]

You don't need any special permission to pass through the domes; they are barriers to maintain a suitable temperature for the plants, not wards to block off an area— at least if my understanding is correct. Come, it is a short walk to the river, and then we can follow it east to the parks.

[Glacius starts walking; despite being an individual who likes to keep things slow and steady, very much at odds with Lup's usual frenetic energy, his long legs take powerful strides that keep him from falling behind. As he goes, he considers that it might be difficult for them to be focusing on something created by his partner when the elf is freshly missing hers, so he looks over to her, some trepidation on his face.] If you change your mind about this at any point, just let me know, I... do not want to rub anything in. There is something here that I think just might be good for you, that is all.

[restinglichface]

Can do, big guy.

[It makes their pace work, his long-legged slow strides and Lup's much shorter but quicker-paced steps, the elf keeping pace with the alien without having to even think of it, just following along without much of a care as to how they get there. She's never been a follower, always the one to blaze the trail ahead, leaving Barry and Taako behind to run after her, but for once, she just can't seem to make herself care. The more she thinks about Hadriel, about it's many destinations, the more she thinks of the year and a half she spent with Barry here, how she can find him almost everywhere.

Thankfully, Glacius snaps her from her thoughts, the elf's long ears flicking back in quick surprise, before she realizes he's speaking to her, a soft, careful look on his face.]

I'm not - [She makes a noise then, frustrated and strangled sounding, but not so much at him, more directed at herself. Lup's always been more in touch with her emotions than she'd like to admit, but putting them into words and speaking about them? She's still struggling with that one.]

It's - Yeah, I get it. I'll be fine or whatevs. Wanna see whatever you wanna show, thug, just... I'm fucking sad, but I'm not gonna lose it thinking about him. I wanna think about him. About Barry. Don't wanna forget... [Not that she could.] So you don't gotta coddle me or walk on eggshells. I'm a big girl.

[glacius]

[Glacius gives here a little smile for all of that.] That is... a very mature way of looking at it. I had a feeling there was more to you than just your hell-raising. [He's just sorry it took these sad circumstances for it to come out, but... that is the way it often seems to go, here. The routine catastrophes and torments of Hadriel do seem to have a way of bringing people closer.]

Well, if you want to think about him... perhaps you should tell me about him, or focus on sharing some good memories. I feel bad that I never really got to know this Barry, and perhaps it would be a good way to honor him..? Provided it is not too painful, of course.

[restinglichface]

[In the long history of their life, literally no one has ever once referred to the twins as mature. So it's more than enough to get a small laugh out of the elf, the corner of her mouth twitching upwards, a small touch of amusement in the lift of her ears.]

You really are a total dad, aren't you?

[But the thought of talking about Barry, to someone who doesn't know him, kind of sounds wonderful. If she tried rattling off all the things she loves and misses about her husband to someone like Taako, it would just be awkward and sad. But with someone who doesn't know him, it almost works.

The thought both hurts and warms her.]

Kinda like you. A total dad, I mean. Dad bod, dad jeans, dad jokes. The whole shebang.

[But her expression softens just barely, her gaze focused forward.]

He's a big nerd. A scientist. That's how we met, but I was studying magic at the time and he was neck deep into physics.

[glacius]

["The whole shebang"— Glacius does not know what any of that means, and he frowns as he is about to tell Lup that. But then she carries on and the next traits are much more familiar; the alien smiles, partially in relief, and partially in happiness to hear her speak so fondly.]

Ah ha, I have heard my own described as a "big nerd" as well. He focuses on magic, more like yourself, however; meanwhile physics is more my field. Astrophysics, specifically, given that I had to pilot my own ship; it helps to know how the universe works. What of your world? Was Barry studying anything like that?

[restinglichface]

No shit? How did I not know that?

[To be fair, their paths always seem to cross when Things are happening, when the whole world is shaking apart or someone is getting attacked by some robots. So it's not like they've had the peaceful opportunity to chit chat about their lives and partners before. But that just makes this moment all the more significant, right?]

Bar's all about Astrophysics too, though his focus is particle and theoretical. Boy can def talk you in circles 'bout string theory, lemme tell you.

[She can hear his voice in her head right now, the excitement that always thrums through it whenever they're hit a particular breakthrough in the lab.]

Never realized we had so much in common.