[semi-closed mingle] kigu party!!!

[spellslots]

who: The IPRE + cr + adjacent cr
what: exactly what it says on the tin: it's a kigu party lads
when: second weekend of march
where: Casa Del Taco
warnings: none atm! will update if necessary


[There's something strange about knowing he's been here an entire year. Twelve months ago Taako stepped out of the portal into this world and while it's tempting to be kind of morose about it (especially after the past month) he's trying to kick things into a slightly more positive gear. The party is his idea but the theme is Hana's, an idle suggestion about how fun it would be to get everyone into a kigu. The best part about the idea is that it requires minimal effort on Taako's party, because for all that he loves going all out for parties, sometimes it's nice to just throw something together. Especially when he's more interested in sorting out his relationship with Kravitz or hanging out with Barry, who he hasn't properly seen for over a decade. So it's a party but it's a laid back party, texts are sent out a week in advance and he spends any free time preparing for the night.

The house is left relatively undecorated aside from the addition of several oversized cushions and beanbags in the living rooms, but Taako also casts Magnificent Mansion to expand the space. He adds two home theatres, for movies, video games or karaoke, depending on who's in control of the room at the time. There are also extra bedrooms, in case anyone wants to crash for the night.

While the theme of the night - wear a goddamn kigu and look cute as fuck - isn't being enforced by Taako, it is being enforced by Hana, so anyone brave enough to get past the door without a kigu might have to spend the night avoiding a tiny meka pilot.

As expected for a party hosted by the twins, food plays a fairly big role, although like the rest of the evening they've gone for a more lowkey affair. Sliders, falafel, tamales, vegetable platters with dips, about five different kinds of fries (zucchini, polenta, kumera, potato, jicama) and mini pizzas; things that are easy to pop on a plate and eat without making a mess, but it's all fresh and delicious. The dessert and snack options are a little more impressive, between the flavoured popcorns and well kitted out waffle bar. There's candy and Taako's signature macarons, along with a veritable selection of wine, beer and punch, the latter both spiked and virgin.

Rather than do something as simple as baking cookies for everyone, Lup and Taako have a much more fun idea in mind. They've prepared separated batches of sugar cookie dough and laid out spices, flavours and additives; there's cinnamon, vanilla, choc chips, butterscotch, lemon juice, and mint, amongst pretty much any baking ingredient (here's some ideas for inspiration). Be careful not to mess up the wet/dry balance of the dough, although ruined cookies can be a bonding experience. Once they're baked (it doesn't take long), there's confectioner's sugar, butter, milk, water for whatever icing characters desire, as well as toppings such as sprinkles and crushed nuts.

There are a few things to keep people entertained throughout the evening. The sun room has been delegated as a mini day spa kind of space, with sheet masks, nail polish, lotions, and an assortment of hair care tools. There's nothing that's too complicated or that'll get too messy, but anyone who wants to get comfy and indulge in a little self-care is more than welcome to kick back and relax.

In those home theatres there are movies, games and karaoke songs from all different time periods and realities. Anything from Taako's media library is available, plus some extra video games that both Hana and Cisco supplied, from racing to PVP battles to VR. And a few very bad dating sims for shits and giggles. In the rest of the house, more traditional games are available, whether that’s board games like Clue and Twister, or party games like truth or dare and two truths and a lie. At one point someone breaks out a bag of marshmallows to play fluffy bunny. (There are so many of these things, make them up, I'm not your dad.)

Despite the general atmosphere in the rest of the Quarantine during Sampremi, the party is kept relatively tame, although some of the games might get a little risqué as the night goes on, it's not as if he can control what people do. So long as everyone's having fun, he's happy.]

Comments

[spellslots]

[Likely the only good thing about this situation, for Kravitz, is that Taako is laughing way too hard to think about taking a picture of a skeleton in a skeleton kigu. Hopefully someone else will do the lord's work and grab a snap.

At least he holds out his mostly empty glass (the last of his wine is a sacrifice he'll make) for Kravitz to put the marshmallow mess into. An act of kindness he immediately regrets when Kravitz jabs him.]

Ow, fuck - watch it, you're all elbows. [GET IT.] And I know you did, that's what you get for gambling without cheating.

[Honestly it's his own fault.]

[rapsheet]

It's not cheating enough for you not to have to breathe during this game?

[ How an actual skull manages a withering look, who can say. He's at least kind enough to stop with the elbowing though - he forgets how much sharper that is without the cushioning flesh part. ]

We can't all go around stealing people's shoes, you know.

[spellslots]

Not if you still lost, bubbale.

[Nevermind that the losing was entirely Taako's fault, but clearly Kravitz should have factored "sabotaged by boyfriend" into his game plan here.]

Some people just have a natural talent for scamming idiots.

[rapsheet]

[ He rolls his eyes and mumbles something disparaging about chaotic neutrals as he lets himself turn back into the more comfortable flesh form, apparently done being stubborn about it. ]

I don't see you playing.

[ Are ya feelin' lucky, punk? ]

[spellslots]

[That's a much more comfortable; Taako rewards Kravitz with a kiss on the cheek, before taking a second to consider this challenge.]

How many did you manage?

[Because he can top it.]

[rapsheet]

Thirteen.

[ He's never played this before to have much of a frame of reference, but everyone else seemed to be hovering around ten at most, so he feels as if he's at least done fairly well. Could have kept going, honestly, though of course that's without reckoning with the boyfriend sabotage.

And because he knows Taako: ]

And however it is you decide to cheat the system, at least make it more interesting than casting Reduce on them.

[spellslots]

I've been gay for long enough that I don't need to cheat.

[Honestly, Kravitz, he's not an amateur.

Which is why he doesn't go one by one, because he has a number to beat and he wants to beat it. Taako just pops ten marshmallows in his mouth, working his jaw for a second to make sure he's not about to choke to death, and makes a valiant attempt at "chubby bunny" that comes out a bit more like "hubby bu---y" but you know.

He raises an eyebrow at Kravitz, to see if that was good enough for him to move on.]

[rapsheet]

[ Kravitz just looks at him flatly. Maybe one day he'll remember to reckon with Taako's innate ability to overcome most any challenge by sheer stubbornness.

It's one of his favorite things about him, really.

He sits back, picks up a marshmallow, and pings it at Taako's nose. Casual as you like. ]

Go on.

[spellslots]

[Here's the thing: Taako can say all he wants about not cheating but he's absolutely going to cheat. He's not going to cast reduce, instead, he transmutes two of the marshmallows to cotton candy, so they dissolve in his mouth.

While he does that, he shoves three more marshmallows in, absolutely maintaining eye contact with Kravitz the entire time.]

Uh... [this is still hard, because if he cheated to make it too easy that'd be obvious] Hubby bu-ʔ-y?

[CLOSE]

[rapsheet]

[ Honestly, even if he doesn't know exactly how, Kravitz is basically aware Taako is going to cheat at any given thing. So he might not catch the subtle spellcasting but he definitely knows there's something not entirely above board. Still, he's having fun, looking as stern as if he were judging acts for the Royal Variety Performance while continuing to occasionally throw marshmallows at Taako's face in the same idle way a person might throw pebbles into a river. ]

Hm... not sure I caught that. One more time?

[ He's not entirely able to hide his amusement, but oh well. ]

[spellslots]

[Taako, who has zero dignity, catches one of those extra marshmallows and adds it to the rest in his mouth, because go big or go home, honestly.

He does need like, several more seconds now so he can sort of try to squish them all a bit smaller and move them around in his mouth, which he at least does with a hand in front of his face to maintain some respectability.]

Hubby bunny.

[Listen.

'Ch' is a hard sound when you've got a mouth full of marshmallows. It's a miracle he managed the 'n']

[rapsheet]

[ For a moment he holds his critical stare - but what can you do but laugh at that, really. ]

Alright, fine, you win.

[ He even stops casually pinging marshmallows at him. ]

I bow in deference to the great god of chubby bunnies.

[ A theatrical little flourish that's supposed to emulate a bow without actually getting up, and he leans over to punctuate it with a kiss to Taako's stupid cheek. ]

[spellslots]

[Taako grins one of his trademark shit-eating grins, something that's horribly ruined by the fact a marshmallows falls out of his mouth in the process. He manages to catch it, but now he's sort of laughing and this is probably revenge for making Kravitz choke.

You know what? He's just gonna - casually blink out of existence, spit the marshmallows out in the ethereal plane, and leave them there.

He's back a few seconds later, marshmallow free.]

Who the fuck thought that was a good idea?

[He did.]

[rapsheet]

Welcome back.

[ He shrugs airily and offers Taako a drink. ]

I don't know, who did think it was that important to win at chubby bunny?

[ Other than, like... him. Himself. He definitely did that too. ]

[spellslots]

We've all made some choices.

[They're both to blame, really, but after taking a sip of that drink (what a good boyfriend), Taako's already grinning again.]

Wanna see if I can kick your ass at Twister?

[Is he just picking the least dignified game?

Maybe so.]

[rapsheet]

[ He narrows his eyes in playful suspicion. ]

... How are you planning on cheating at Twister?

[ Because he knows he can, but unless he's very much mistaken about elf biology... ]

[spellslots]

Oh, pumpkin, I don't need to cheat at Twister.

[The way he's smirking should probably be setting off some kind of alarm bells.]

[rapsheet]

[ Theatrical eyeroll. ]

Of course. I should've known that 'being Taako' is enough cheating for you.

[ And there are definitely alarm bells - but rule one of facing off with a shark is that you don't show fear. ]

I don't know, I still think I might stand a chance.

[spellslots]

I mean, I'm not wearing a short skirt so you've got that in your favor, but ya boy's still got tricks.

[What does that mean. Stop ruining twister, Taako]

[rapsheet]

Such as?

[ Go on... ]

[spellslots]

It doesn't work if you know what's coming, that's not how this goes.

[It's like Kravitz expects him have a genuine plan beyond just being Terrible.]

[rapsheet]

[ Oh no, he knows full well. It's just fun to bring Taako up short sometimes. ]

Ah. Of course.

[ But he's not mean enough not to play along eventually. ]

Alright then. You just want to play for bragging rights, or?

[ A gambling man to the last. ]

[spellslots]

[Rude as hell.]

Winner gets to pick the next date location?

[This isn't a very high stakes game, since their tastes align reasonably well and neither of them are inconsiderate enough to pick something that the other would hate. But it's just something a little fun.]