(no subject)

[natureinblood]

Who: Moonybase and YOU
When: 23 December 2009. 8am - 10pm
Where: Moonybase.
Summary: An open invitation to a party never looked so good. Check your weapons and powers at the door.
Warnings: Probably everything. Please see this post for details.
Format: Whatever works. Don't forget to add your tag.
-
Remus had been to enough Christmas parties in his lifetime to know when one would end disastrously, including those that had been specifically dated to avoided interfering with other Christmas plans that the guests might have. This was one of them. But his tolerance had kept him quiet, the happy act of cleaning and decorating taken to as easily as any other task he did.

The twins had also been enlisted to help, given the important task of stringing a length of bright red ribbon and pine up the staircase to the second floor. The soft white lights that followed were magic. In fact, none of the lights, save for whatever lamps or overhead lights that Miles insisted upon, were run by electricity, and many were candles, kept only from setting anything ablaze by a flame-freezing charm.

By the time the morning of the party rolled around, the house looked as if it had been pulled straight out of a Christmas card, Remus borrowing from what he remembered of Christmases as Hogwarts and the Burrow, including a single bit of mistletoe in the entry. The snow helped, piling nicely (if in an oddly organized fashion) outside thanks to a little help from Miles, adding to the image; if nothing else, Remus was happy with it, the certainty that he would wind up having to transfigure another person into some sort of object nagging at the back of his mind.

Tin whistles, toy rocking horses, and sprigs of mistletoe were likely going to be very common later in the evening, he mused, tapping his wand rhythmically against the palm of his hand in thought as he checked everything over once more, walking through the sitting and dining rooms and out into the backyard where the tree house had been built out of ice and wood into the tree there. The floating green structures that Kyle Rayner had promised to provide were still missing, but they would be there soon enough.

He pocketed his wand and walked back into the house, shaking free the snow from his boots, and glancing at the clock. People who had offered their assistance had been asked to come early, which meant that the kitchen was soon going to turn into a madhouse, the extra stove only offering so much help. It also meant he had best make tea before he was banned from the room.

ooc; alkdsjfa you guys are amazing <3 For your convenience, links to the separate comment sections. To keep the death to your bandwidth down a little.

EARLY ARRIVALS: VARIOUS PREPARATIONS
TIMELY ARRIVALS: CHECK YOUR MOTIVES AT THE DOOR
SOCIALIZING FOR FUN AND PROFIT
GO AHEAD! TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL!
I'M GOING TO PISTOL-WHIP THE NEXT GUY WHO SAYS 'SHENANIGANS'
THIS IS WHY MANKIND INVENTED THE 'GUEST BEDROOM'
AND THEN EVERYTHING ELSE HAPPENED HERE
TAKING YOUR TOYS AND GOING HOME

Comments

[pike]

[ Although it doesn't show anywhere in his mannerism or his behavior, Nigel is also vaguely concerned about just how well Alex will behave when he meets Katurian. The patience that Nigel's shown him thus far is almost completely nonexistent in Alex. Nevermind the fact that Nigel properly likes Katurian -- again, always an issue when it comes to his territorial best friend. Still, Nigel smiles. ]

If you want to make a good impression, call him Alex. He hates having to correct people and I won't do it for him.

[goryteller]

Alex, then. [He gives another nod, and then a hesitant, but genuine smile.] He sent something as well, this book... I mean, I'm thinking it's good to talk to him, to thank him in person, and he means so much to you, so, I, um. Lead the way.

i think riko can just join the thread if you want :>

[pike]

[ Nigel is about to get up to find Alex but he's suddenly too busy looking at Katurian with a mildly surprised expression on his face. He rises slowly, looking over at Katurian with a curious smile. ]

He sent you a book. Oh you are off to a good start, Katurian.

that sounds excellent! :>

[goryteller]

[He starts rising as well, smoothing his slacks absently as he gets up from the chair. He watches Nigel, trying to parse his reactions. Although he does feel a connection with Nigel, he still feels like he's guessing a lot of the time about what those subtleties mean. That mild surprise. That curiosity.]

Wonderful. [He cracks a smile.] That's wonderful. I want nothing more than to, you know, to make a good impression.

RIKO IS GOING TO TAG IN NEXT! :V

[pike]

[ Nigel nods, obviously pleased now with Katurian's smile. Although he understands why someone wouldn't spend a lot of time smiling, the circumstances obviously change when among friends. Touching Katurian's elbow he leads him now through the crowd, turning his face towards him as they go to find Alex. ]

If you want to make a good impression, simply be yourself, not who you think he expects you to be. We both have a very strong dislike for pretense. And Jack can practically smell it on a person. [ He gives a reassuring smirk. ] You'll be fine.

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex is standing by himself once again, having left his previous conversation companions to find something else to do. He's leaned up against a wall, arguably watching the crowd but mostly just being bored.

He notices Nigel and Nigel's companion as they approach, however, and he raises an eyebrow -- almost like a greeting. ]

[goryteller]

[Katurian has no way of recognizing Alex by face - he spends the last several seconds glancing about the room, trying to guess - but he recognizes the almost greeting for what it is. Automatically, he smiles, but it's weak and it doesn't keep. He's no good at meeting new people face to face. He's polite, certainly, but anxiety and his usually lack of social interaction make him feel clumsy.]

[pike]

[ When Nigel sees Alex, he nods in acknowledgment and then nudges Katurian in his direction. He smiles easily at Alex -- that familiar, friendly, secretive smile; unlike with Katurian, however, Nigel knows that Alex understands the smile for what it is. Something friendly, but complicit in that friendliness; the smile of partners. He seems completely unswayed by the bored expression on Alex's face. Nigel is more than used to it by now. ]

Jack. [ A nod and then Nigel drops a hand down onto Katurian's shoulder. ] This is Katurian. Katurian, this is my best friend Jack.

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex spares Nigel a quick, somewhat skeptical look. Then his attention turn to Katurian and stays there, though his expression is largely bored otherwise. ]

Katurian. I've heard a lot about you. It's probably about time we met.

[goryteller]

Have you? [The surprise is genuine, but it's a stupid question to ask, and he realizes this a second too soon. The next sentence spills out, a fumbling recovery:] Because, I mean, I've heard a lot about you too, and so I'm very glad to finally meet you.

[pike]

[ Nigel gives Katurian a sidelong glance, his eyebrow raising as if to say relax. His attention mostly remains on Alex, though, like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop any moment. His friend is -- after all -- unpredictable like that. ]

So both of your reputations proceed you. Katurian says you bought him a book, Jack. Awfully generous of you.

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex smiles in Nigel's direction, though his attention floats back to Katurian after a moment. His smile isn't very pleasant, but it never is. ]

Yes, a book. On the psychology of loners. I thought it might come in handy, given the number of them in this city.

[goryteller]

[He takes Nigel's cue as best he can. He has no reason, he tells himself, not to relax. He's among friends. Sort of.

At Alex's response, he smiles hesitantly. He's confused, granted, but he smiles, because he's sure that's only the proper response.]

Yes, I'm sure it will. I don't usually go for non-fiction, admittedly, but, um, I can't wait to read it, because it sounds... really quite interesting. [He nods. Calm, calm.] It's very nice of you, thinking of me. Nigel's probably already told you, but I don't have a lot of money right now I can spend on gifts, and so I apologize. I only wish I could show the same for you.

NIGEL WILL RETAG BACK INTO THE THREAD AFTER A WHILE. <3

[pike]

[ Nigel watches the interaction with mild interest and then notes the continued nervousness on Katurian's account. Not that he entirely blames Katurian for his reaction; Alex is, after all, one of the most unpleasant people he knows when he wants to be. Tilting his head towards Katurian he says quietly in his ear: ] I'm going to get you something to drink, Katurian.

[ It's mostly to get Katurian to relax. By any means necessary, Nigel supposes. His eyes shift over to Alex who no doubt has heard what he says. Nigel lifts an eyebrow as if to ask if wants anything as well and Alex -- catching that look -- gives a very faint nod, bordering on imperceptible. Nigel smiles in acknowledgment before nodding back with one last look that very clearly says: behave. ]

Try not to have too much fun while I'm gone.

[ And he's off. ]

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex watches Nigel as he walks away, just long enough until it becomes hard to see much more than the dark top of his head. He looks back to Katurian, leans into the wall a little more, and looks thoughtful. ]

Nigel's mentioned your financial situation. You don't need to worry about it. We've been lucky in our time here so far. And isn't that what holidays like this are for? Sharing your luck with others. I hope you'll enjoy it.

[goryteller]

[He nods at the whisper (although the whisper itself is strange, in a way, a closeness he wasn't expecting) and, once Nigel is nearly out of sight, also turns to Alex.]

Sharing your luck with others, yes. And putting on a smile and, um, buying things you probably don't need, and inane television specials, and going to parties of people you either don't know or don't like. [It's obvious he means it as a joke. He grins, fidgeting nervously with the end of his sleeve.]

But I do think I'll like it. [He hesitates, and then, questioning, adds:] It's an interesting topic?

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex is busy observing Katurian's nervousness, watching the little anxious bouts of energy that lead him to do things like play with his sleeve. As a result, his smile at the joke is a little delayed, but he does eventually smile and gives a a vague wave of his hand to signal agreement. ]

I suppose that depends on how much you like psychology. I happen to, so I found it interesting. Do you?

[goryteller]

[It reminds him of Nigel, how Alex observes him, and how these observations delay his reactions and his smiles. Katurian has always found the quirk a little unsettling, but he can push it out of mind. And he does.]

I've never thought about it. [It's true, and this truth surprises him. His gaze wanders to the ceiling, considering.] I don't see why not. People have some pretty screwed up ways of thinking. You could call it interesting.

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex slides his hands into his pockets and tilts his head to one side, his smile twisting into a wryer shape. He reminds himself that he's supposed to be behaving but, in all honesty, Alex isn't even sure what that means. ]

Everyone thinks in a way that's pretty screwed up at least once in their life. Arguably, thinking as a whole is pretty screwed up, only there's a single majority of people out there who think in the same screwed up way and have managed to convince themselves and some others is normal and everything else is screwed up. Which is, as these things tend to be, completely arbitrary, of course.

[goryteller]

[He agrees, and he's glad he agrees, because it's enough to calm him down, believing that they might be on the same level here. He can see why Nigel likes him. How they compliment each other.]

It's the same everywhere. It's the same here, it's... exactly why I'm at this party, actually, or not exactly, but it's one of the reasons why I'm at this party, because some people have already passed judgment on the kind of person I am. [He hesitates, debating whether to elaborate or change the subject. He settles for a vague in between, and gestures vaguely at the room.] What do you think of it here?

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

"Here" meaning the party? [ Alex asks with a small lift of his eyebrows. Given Nigel's tendency to blab on about his opinions on most things, Alex rather suspects that Katurian could already guess. But no matter. ]

More boring than I'd anticipated. I suppose those people who felt they wouldn't be able to abide by the enforced civility didn't bother coming, which is a shame. They seem to do their best to avoid serious discussion here. But, like you say, it's the same everywhere.

[goryteller]

"Here" meaning the party, but I guess "here" could be here in general, too. [Again, a nervous laugh.] Not it matters, whether we like it or not, but anyway. They're screening people outside. I guess that helps.

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex glances vaguely over towards the entrance. He shouldn't be surprised that they're screening people, but he hadn't noticed when he came in, and it's irritating nonetheless. ]

I'm actually part of the minority of people who's glad to be "here" in the more general sense. I'm sure Nigel's mentioned that the place we come from was unfortunately big on repressive bullshit.

[goryteller]

[He answers quickly.] Mine too. [And then, a beat later:] Er, in different ways, though. I think. And I'm happy to be here. Or, I don't mind. I don't mind being here. But Nigel's told me, yeah, about how he was pretty miserable back there, and that, um, well, that he's very thankful he's here, and that he's here with you.

[namesnotjack.livejournal.com]

[ Alex snorts lightly. He imagines he'd like to have listened in on most of Nigel's conversation with Katurian. But then that's always true. Alex doesn't entirely trust Nigel to keep sensitive information to himself, and he doesn't like not-knowing what other people already know about him. The other way around, however, works just fine for him. ]

From what I've seen of the people you knew back where you come from, I imagine you're far more relieved to be free of that place than I am of my home. But it is a nice change. People still go on about the same crap here, but at least my academic future no longer rests on having to listen to it and regurgitate it back.