get in here, it's a holiday mingle

[demiurgency]

WHO: Billy Kaplan
WHERE: House #58, South Village
WHEN: Dec. 2
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: None

---

Billy hasn't even been here two weeks yet, but it still somehow feels like longer. Maybe because there isn't that much to distract him. That's sort of what this whole thing is, honestly; an attempt at distracting him from the fact that all of his friends are off fighting without him, and that they might be better off for it, distracting him from the fact that his boyfriend left him exactly one month and three days ago, distracting him from the fact that this is literally the first holiday ever he's spent without his family and even if he was back in New York, he wouldn't be able to be around them without inviting disaster and death.

So, Hanukkah in the village. He'd put out the broadcast on the network a few days ago, and spent yesterday carving a rough wooden menorah and making candles with Frank and Kamala, and he thinks that today might actually not be half bad, assuming people show up. At least Frank and Kamala will, so it's something.

Billy spends all morning running around the village gathering last-minute supplies and decorations, and all afternoon in #58's kitchen cooking, but any knock on the door is immediately answered by a teenage boy in either blonde or brunette flavor, welcoming the guests in. There'll be the menorah lighting and singing at sundown, there's a makeshift dreidel for games, and there's definitely plenty of food, as the smell of frying latkes drifts through the house. People are welcome to stop in and out, and to stay as long as they like--there's plenty for everyone.

Comments

[houmaprotector]

Alec Holland, Swamp Thing, the two of them can come together because they love this time of year. He's wholly himself, wholly at one with the wishes of the green. Nature and the world moves in a certain way. He hasn't started to wither yet, thankfully, but perhaps since he's cut off from the seasons he won't?...

No. Screw it. Don't think about it. He caught the Hanukkah broadcast and decided to attend, to be social no matter what the winter might bring, so he's fashioned a crude pot out of some of the material found around the village and weaving some dried reeds together. Inside? Fluffpods. It seemed the safest flower to give as a gift, and when going with a white and blue color scheme going with this...

Standing outside he shrugs his shoulders before stepping in seeking out his hosts, pot tucked under one big green arm.

[expeditiousness]

He's greeted first by Tommy racing to the door, albeit at a much slower speed than he's used to moving. He stops abruptly and looks up at their new guest with blue eyes opened wide - he's seen a lot of mutants, of course, but nothing quite like Swamp Thing.

Well, mutant or otherwise, everyone gets to have a fun, chill time here. It's Billy's show, but Tommy's happy to assist, and he waves Alec into the house.

"Uh ... hey. You here for Billy's Hanukkah thing? C'mon in."

[houmaprotector]

"Trying to be social." He steps delicately and offers the pot, "I hope you don't mind. I don't do food normally but I thought...flowers perhaps would make a more suitable gift. Everyone should have something during the Holiday season."

He shrugs his shoulders, "...Not your Hanukkah thing?"

i'm so, so sorry this is so late D:

[expeditiousness]

"Uh ... thanks?" If he sounds uncertain, it's because he's never hosted a home party before. Tommy preferred to subject people to his parents as little as possible, and that includes himself. Also? It's a little more difficult to host a party when you're on the run from the authorities. So the idea of bringing a gift is a foreign one to the former speedster, but he accepts it all the same.

"Nah," he says, with a shake of his head, "I'm not Jewish. Billy is, though." And he's rambling a little. Focus, Thomas. "I'm Tommy, by the way - Billy's my twin, but we didn't grow up together. It's ... kind of a long story." He shrugs. "Anyway, make yourself at home."

Re: i'm so, so sorry this is so late D:

[houmaprotector]

"That might require a bit more then you can provide if I truly made myself at home."

He chuckles at that, "Are you all right?"

Later-

[demiurgency]

It's not hard to spot the large plant man, honestly, but it does take Billy a bit to make it out of the kitchen. When he does, though, he approaches Alec directly, not at all bothered by his size or general...plantiness. He's seen a lot of weird stuff the last few months, although honestly not a lot as impressive as Alec. Still, he knows what it's like to be treated as an other, and so he greets Alec with a smile.

"Hey--I'm Billy. My brother, he said you brought the fluffpods? I wanted to say thanks."

Re: Later-

[houmaprotector]

"You are most welcome." Alec is just kind of enjoying the places. He's gotten past the need for food at parties. He can just enjoy the atmosphere even if he could drink. These kids however...

"I was always taught to bring a gift. I just wish I could have gotten something more appropriate. Hannukah needs flowers of it's own."

[demiurgency]

"It's okay, really. It's the thought that matters. My mom always taught me the same thing. Doesn't matter what the occasion is, if someone invites you over, you bring something." His smile shifts a little, growing slightly lopsided, but he still means it. "I mean, things are a little different here, I know people don't have a lot to go around, but it's a really nice thing to do. So, thanks."

He isn't sure if large plant people shake hands, but he does lift one hand in a gesture that's almost a wave. "I'm Billy. I mean, I said that in the video, but, y'know. Manners. I don't think we've met yet." He does at least manage to make that whole sentence sound remarkably normal, considering his audience.

[houmaprotector]

Alec accepts his hand. His grip is soft and slightly mushy, "Alec Holland. Also known as the Swamp Thing."

He smiles, revealing wooden teeth, "...Your mother sounds smart."

Kitchen Bustling

[ombranera]

Arriving early may not have been what is done but- Zevran had extended an offer to help and to that end? He knocks, hands slung in his pockets to avoid the chill, ready to work. The food wouldn't be familiar but an extra pair of hands is more than enough, usually, to get the work done. He's happiest with something to do and well, there isn't much to do in the village for him. Not yet.

But this? this he can manage with a wink and a smile, whistling under his breath the whole while.

[demiurgency]

Honestly, early is totally what's done, at least that's what Billy's mom always taught him, especially if you're helping get things prepared for an event, so Zevran is right on time as he knocks. It doesn't take very long before Billy's opening the door, easily recognizable from the video. Ditto for Zevran, though Billy didn't expect him to be shorter. He's so used to everyone around him being the same height, or towering over him.

"Hey, Zev, thanks for coming. Come on in. It's freezing out there." The house is warm, the heat from the stove helping along with the radiators in each room. Most days the furnace isn't turned up too high, Billy's conscious of what Frank had said about conserving wood, but it's definitely not the kind of thing you worry about on a day like today.

General OTA

[minus1twin]

Wanda made her way to House 58 with a few items that she had from her home as well as little gifts for her two sons. She hadn't celebrated a holiday in awhile but she wanted to do something for them. They were small and crudely wrapped in brown paper but she hoped that they liked them. Tommy and Billy were likely the only people she was going to bother giving gifts too.

She placed her gifts on the counter. Billy and Tommy will find two similar packages, each with their name scrawled on them. Wanda didn't have much but they each got two of Clint's throwing daggers that she had inherited after he disappeared.

Wanda offered to help cook and clean. She could be found drinking and eating and enjoying herself at the small get together. She made a point to say hello to everyone there, even if she didn't know them.

Arado padded at her side though the moment she was in the house he vanished, off to inspect and shower love upon anyone willing to give him attention.

[demiurgency]

Billy isn't sure what exactly to do or say about the gift he'd discovered on the counter labeled to him. The handwriting isn't writing he recognizes, but there's only one person he knows who would leave identical gifts for him and Billy, and so after thinking for a long moment, he goes to find Wanda after they're done with the cooking, the wrapped package in hand.

"Hey. This is from you, right?"

[minus1twin]

Wanda had a small plate of latkes in her palm when Billy walked over. She was taking bits and pieces of the fried potato patties and tossing them into her mouth. It was similar to what she grew up with but a little different too. It was probably because this was made from what they had in the village and some of the ingredients weren't 100% accurate.

"Yeah. I hope you don't mind but I got you and your brother the same thing and only one gift." Because she didn't have enough daggers for all of Hanukkah.

[demiurgency]

You do what you can when you'e on an alien planet. Or whatever this is, honestly, and at least the potatoes and onions had looked like just that, and had cooked up amazingly in the fat he'd gotten from the butcher. The house definitely smelled amazing, even if they were a little lacking in the seasoning department.

Billy shakes his head, still not quite sure what to say. "That's fine. I mean, you didn't have to get us anything." And then the truly embarrassing part: "I didn't get you anything." He just got here like two weeks ago, but that doesn't seem to stop the guilt.

Singing

[alittlelonger]

Rinoa had never heard about Hanukkah, but it clearly meant some kind of wonderful holiday celebration, and she was always game for that. Plus it was nice to get out more and try and establish connections. Especially with people her own age! Squall offered to go, but she knew it was a nightmare situation for him, making small talk with strangers, so she shooed him off to do something without her.

She couldn't find a dress to wear, which was the reality of their situation but also a disappointment, because some part of her was still the General's daughter. When you came to someone's house for a holiday, you dressed well, and you brought a perfectly wrapped thoughtful gift. Rinoa could only bring food from the inn and also offer to clean up afterward as her best approximation of a gift.

While she does not know the songs, she is very good at catching melodies and lyrics, and she rarely sings but when she does it's a beautiful sound. Her mother was a famous singer and used to insist on duets and training, before she died. Her father hated the sound of music afterward, but Rinoa trained quietly, out of respect for Julia. Once she feels like she understands the songs, she sings with her whole heart, laughing at one point in the middle of it because she was making up words. It was all very nice. She drank some water after the first song was over.

[expeditiousness]

Tommy doesn't sing, or at least not in public, in the sense of performing. Sure, he'll sing in the shower sometimes, or sing along with a great song at a club while he's dancing, but Tommy doesn't even know these songs, because this isn't his holiday - it's Billy's, and he's here because Billy's his family and this is important to him.

But a pretty girl with an even prettier voice would be hard to miss, even if the house weren't on the smallish side. Tommy watches her sing with rapt attention from where he's perched on the arm of the couch in the living room, chin propped up in his hand and a lazy grin stretched across his face.

"You sure have a great voice," he says, finally, at a break in the songs. "Are you some kinda pop star? Maybe someone famous I would've heard of before?"

[alittlelonger]

Rinoa glances over to Tommy with a smile. The funny part to her being that where she was from, everyone knew who her mother was, and in extension her. The city specifically, but there were many times she said Heartilly was her last name and people's interests went quickly up. It used to be both a painful thing and a wonderful thing; now she feels the latter much more strongly. If she has anything of Julia, let it be the thing she loved most to do.

"Thank you," she says, setting her water down. "My mother was a famous singer in my world, so I guess it's in the blood. But I doubt you would know her, unless you're also from Deling City." It is possible that someone from their world could come here she'd never met before, but that seems very unlikely. Plus he clearly is very close to Billy who she knows for a fact isn't. "I wish I knew the songs. They're lovely, we don't have this holiday back home."

[demiurgency]

Billy understands that kind of pressure. His family isn't anyone famous, just comfortably middle class, but it was still impressed upon him at an early age to be polite, and polite meant dressing nicely and bringing host gifts, just like hosting means greeting everyone at the door and circulating through the room making sure everyone's comfortable and having a good time. But honestly, circumstances are what they are, and just the food and the offer are plenty, and welcome.

So is someone to sing with, honestly; Billy's got a nice tenor, strong and confident, but he's used to singing these songs with other people, not alone, with no other accompaniment besides the beat of a foot on the floor to keep time. When Rinoa joins in, Billy keeps singing, but the grin he gives her is brilliant and grateful. Even as she loses the thread of the words and starts laughing, he isn't offended, just grins and emphasizes the next verse. When it's over, he's still smiling as he looks over at her.

"Pretty good for your first time. It's okay, it took me a while to get the pronounciation right, too, especially when it moves in the middle like that. The line you missed. It's 'Ba'yamim ha'hem ba'zman ha'ze,'" he offers, slowly going through the words and overenunciating. "Wanna try again?"

[alittlelonger]

Rinoa didn't mind making mistakes with this group. They did know she had no idea what language it was, for one, and also, there was something very relaxed about the community. Maybe because they had much bigger things to worry about than if someone sang something right. Or it was that 'we're all in this together' mentality that Rinoa personally thrived on. It was the rallying cry with her little group of rebels and then the SeeD she partnered with later. She was a fan of teams and community, no doubt because the lacked the latter growing up.

She listens very carefully when Billy speaks, trying to hear his exact pronunciation. It is a very unique sounding language, and she's never actually tried to sing in a different one before. Luckily he is easy going about people butchering it. She wants to get it right for Billy. This clearly means a lot to him, or he wouldn't have put this all together.

"Ba'yamim," she slowly repeats, "ha'hem ba'zman ha'ze." Almost but not quite. "Ba'zman ha'ze," she tries again, and that sounds closer to what he originally said. "This is a beautiful language, what did you say it was again?"

[demiurgency]

Billy nods approvingly as Rinoa tries again, and repeats it again with her, grinning when she gets it right. "There you go," he says, raising a hand to give her a thumbs up. "That's it. It's the aspirated 'h' sound that gives people trouble, usually, at least that's what was hardest for me when I was learning. It's called Hebrew. There's a lot of languages on Earth, but it's one of the oldest, even though people didn't use it outside of religious services for a really long time. I don't really speak it well, but I still remember some stuff. Besides the songs, I mean. I remember all of those. I guess I've always had a thing for music. You've got a really nice voice, I'm glad you decided to sing with me. I mean, I'm glad you decided to come anyway, but the singing's my favorite part."

i can't even make excuses for myself ok

[oorah]

He's here way before the party is slated to start, for two reasons. One is because he's pretty sure he's not an age-appropriate guest for this shindig in any type of way and two is because he has all the food so it's best to get this stuff set up before people actually start arriving.

Frank's holding way too many trays, a few bags around his elbows as well. Today he just has the one dog: a pitbull in a blue sweater, what's not to love? He raps on the door with his boot in Morse code, an old habit that doesn't actually depend on any of the residents knowing the language. Usually he'd spell out one of his favorite four-letter words like "SAFE" but today it's F-O-O-D.

shhh no excuses needed bb

[demiurgency]

What is even age-appropriate, anyway? Hanukkah is about family and friends, and reticent survivalists who are quickly becoming mentors definitely fall into that category.

Morse code isn't something Billy is fluent in, but he's only expecting one person this early, so there's nothing at all surprised in his face when he opens the door and sees Frank. "Hey Frank, hey Aloe," the dog is greeted with the offer of a hand and possibly a pat before Billy is offering both of his own arms to Frank instead. "Come in, here, can I take any of that?" That is way, way more than he expected, honestly, and once again all he can feel is a wave of gratitude.

<3

[oorah]

He just kind of holds his arms out like "take your pick" but he also doesn't seem to be struggling with any of it, just carrying too many things to navigate the space super well. Especially with a dog in tow. A dog who gives a little bark in acknowledgment at his name, which in turn pulls a grimace from Frank. Max was so much quieter!!! Nevermind that it was because they cut out his vocal cords, it's literally not relevant right now. "Hey," he says belatedly, dumping stuff on the first flat surface he can find. "Uh. Happy Hannukah." Has he ever said that before in his life? Felt weird.

[demiurgency]

"Thanks." If it feels weird to Frank, there's no sign it sounds weird to Billy, who's grinning at him as he takes one of the trays in his arms, carrying it to the kitchen and making laps back to help transfer all the rest of what Frank's brought there to join it. "It's really cool of you to help me put all of this together. I think it's gonna be really nice. I just hope people show up, you know? I mean, it'll be nice even if it's just us, but still. Holidays are for sharing, right?"