When you teach a sword about Christmas...

[sakeplz]

Who: The Sword House and Friends! (Basically if you know any of the swords or Gilbert then you were invited)
When: A little before Christmas~
Where: The Sword House! (Jirou's place of residence)
What: Jirou learned about Christmas and now he wants to share that information with everyone! So all friends of the swords and Gilbert are invited!
Rating: PG (BE GOOD EVERYONE THERE ARE CHILDREN. No not really. The swords are all older than you.)

After finding out about this Christmas thing Jiroutachi had made sure that he got straight to work on a party for it. His main motivation being that Christmas involved alcohol. This surprised no one but what was surprising was that he'd bothered to help the other with decorations and such to make the house look festive. So now there were decorations everywhere with warm food for guests and a variety of drinks as well.

For those willing to go outside, there was a lovely fire setup to allow people to enjoy the lovely gardens while still staying warm. Jirou had even made sure that there was warmed wine for people to drink! (Or hot chocolate. Though that had likely not been his idea.)

So now all friends were invited to come and celebrate with them! To join the wonder of this Christmas thing!

[ooc: Feel free to tag around with each other or even have private threads. If you have met Jiroutachi, Kousetsu, Shinano, Nakigitsune, or Gilbert Nightray then you are automatically invited. If you want to say you slipped in without an invite that's cool too. If you want to be a friend of a guest then the more the merrier. Just go spread around and have fun!]

Comments

Gilbert Nightray | OTA

[interchained]

( I: Front door )

[It's been a while since he has hosted a party. A longer while, on top of that. Maybe that's why Gilbert managed to forget how stressful it can be. But even though he has been frantically running back and forth from the kitchen to the living room for a good few hours, he's not as anxious as he usually was during such gatherings. Why was that, though, he couldn't tell that easily.

Well, not that he has time to ponder about this stuff! Guests are coming and Gilbert's been wandering near the entrance for quite a while now. Although they never pointed out that formal attire is required, Gilbert simply couldn't wear his everyday clothes and possibly went a bit overboard in terms of his own outfit. That's simply one way of emphasizing that this occasion is special, though.

When the doorbell rings, announcing a new guest, it takes him no more than five seconds to arrive at the door.]

Welcome, and thank you for coming.

[He's neither stuttering or mumbling...on top of that, he's smiling which begs the question: is this real Gilbert? And how long has he been practicing this...]

( II: Kitchen )

[It shouldn't be surprising that Gilbert takes his duties as a host very seriously. Hence, when he notices that they're running low on gingerbread cookies, Gilbert excuses himself politely and rushes to the kitchen to put on an apron and make sure that there will be plenty of baked goods to go around. Thankfully, he made lots of dough beforehand, so this shouldn't take long.

If you happen to walk in there, he may be in the middle of rolling out the dough or pressing down the cookie cutters down. There are many different shapes, mostly Christmas-themed ones, but somehow he managed to get his hands on katana-shaped cutter as well.]

( III: Living room )
[When he's back from the kitchen, Gilbert sits down on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate. He can't imagine Jiroutachi giving up on drinking alcohol, so he has to be the one who remains sober. Maybe that's for the best since Gilbert's painfully aware of how awkward things may become when he's drunk. Besides, he doesn't mind things that way...and someone needs to keep an eye on Jiroutachi, just in case.

Smiling to himself, Gilbert murmurs just before sipping from his mug:]

Oz wouldn't believe me if I told him, would he...

[If you happen to be somewhere close and your eyes meet Gilbert's cheeks might turn red in a matter of seconds. Talking to himself in the middle of a party...embarrassing.]

( Wildcard )

[Feel free to come up with your own idea or leave a blank top-level and I'll gladly start things for us!]

Living Room

[sakeplz]

[Jirou is dressed up in a wonderful kimono for the party. His cheeks are flushed from all the alcohol he's been drinking and it looks like he has yet another bottle in his hand. Humming, he comes over and actually sits on Gilbert's lap before giving him a kiss. A giggle follows before he pokes his nose.]

This is so much fun, Gi-chaaaaaaan!

[Another giggle and then he has a big drink from the bottle in his hand. He's had several of these now if he remembers right.]

Gi-chan, I got presents! Of alcohol!

[interchained]

[Before the party, Gilbert had a hunch that Jiroutachi is going to like it, given his easygoing and bright personality (putting the opportunity to drink aside), so he's glad to see that his assumptions were right.

He sneaks in a kiss before giving him an answer:]

I'm pretty sure most of your presents are gone by now.

[Then, he tilts his head a little to the side and whispers to Jirou's ear.]

I have something for you too.

[sakeplz]

For me? What is it?

[He's already eagerly leaning towards him. Like Gil is just going to pull it out right now.

Well, he might. It's not like he even knows what it is.]

[interchained]

It's in the bedroom. You think it would be alright if we disappeared for a while?

[They could as well wait for the guests to be gone, but Gilbert himself is quite curious if Jirou is going to like his gift.]

[sakeplz]

Well I can always be convinced when you look so cute.

[He giggles and kisses his cheek before getting up to take his hand so that way they can wander off to the bedroom together. The boys can handle the house for a bit! It'll be fine!]

Front door

[moreasleep]

[Surprised to find Rory at the door? He could hardly believe he was here himself. While Gilbert was all smiles, Rory scowled as much as he could, but it was proving rather ineffective when he bundled himself to the ears with a thick scarf.

He carefully shifted aside several bags so he could bring his hand up and he tugged the scarf down, allowing him to speak.]

What the hell happened to you?

[interchained]

[Just trying to be a good host, that's all...! It's difficult to keep smiling when he realizes who the guest is, though. It has become somehow wry, but it's still here.]

Shall I help you with these...

[Maybe it's better to leave Rory's question unanswered for the time being.]

[moreasleep]

You didn't answer me.

[Seriously, this was becoming bizarre. Just as shocking, Gilbert had not screamed at him yet.]

These're for you anyway.

[Rory might as well take advantage of the situation. He placed bag after heavy bag filled to the brim with food onto Gilbert's hands. There was everything from salads, a variety of main courses, and, of course, cookies and pies. There were drinks as well, though nothing of the alcoholic sort. He was certain that he did not need to bring anything of that sort.]

[interchained]

Of course I didn't.

[He can't really start yelling at his guest at the front door (or anywhere else in the house, for that matter), can he...]

Uhhh... [His knees are bending under the weight of all the food, but he's grateful, which he expresses shortly after:] Thank you, you needn't have to...I'm sure everyone will enjoy this. Don't just stand here, come in.

[moreasleep]

[Well, he expected Gilbert to do stupid things given their history...]

You really want me here?

[That was not just a mistake in the post? Or Jiroutachi's doing? Despite his words, he already began shouldering past Gilbert and making his way inside. While he hid his shivering well, his slight frame fared terribly in this cold weather. He needed some respite before trekking back to his place.]

kitchen

[foxhands]

[naki's never eaten gingerbread before, so the cookies were a pleasant surprise - but the fact they were sword-shaped is something that absolutely must be investigated.

by which i mean he's watching gilbert cook from the doorway. and then slowly moving closer...he can't see very well from over there? gotta see the cookies close up! and maybe sneak one before it's gone in the oven.

....uncooked cookies taste kinda funny.]

naki...so cute

[interchained]

[Gilbert's not aware that he's being watched...yet. At least not until Naki is pretty close—then he jumps up and almost drops the tray with the cookies that are meant to go to the oven.]

Sorry, you need to wait a while. [But don't worry, he has an idea how to kill some time together!] But you can help me out if you want?

[Is it just him or is Naki really curious about the cookies...]

nakigitsune, master cookie thief

[foxhands]

[but what if he doesn't wanna wait.....no just kidding, he knows food takes time to cook, he's not that impatient. that invitation to help gets his attention too, and though there isn't much of a noticeable shift in his facial expression he still somehow manages to perk up a bit.]

Okay.

[he's ready to help! for a tasty cookie-filled future!]

[interchained]

[In a while, after putting the cookies he already had into the oven, Gilbert has some dough rolled out again so Naki could press the cookie cutters down and make shapes.]

Just pick one you like the most and go ahead.

[Actually, that way it shouldn't take them too long to make them and they could go back to everyone soon. That's why Gilbert starts rolling out another chunk of dough almost immediately.]

[foxhands]

[the one he likes the most...is the katana cookie cutter, of course. one katana, two katana, three katanaaaand gilbert's making more!

he punches out another katana as he watched the man roll out his dough, then...switches to a reindeer-shaped cutter.

silently making a couple more......]

....Which one do you like? [the most, he means.]

Living Room

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede did, on occasion, actually want to talk to people. She answered the invitation quietly and without much fanfare. Her griffon still couldn't fly, but the snow wasn't too deep for the creature to walk through.

She knew at least one person here, at least well enough that she didn't mind sitting nearby. Kaede didn't look up at Gilbert's voice, staring mostly at the bottom of her glass. The diclonius was reclusive, yes, but usually not this much.

When she did speak, her voice was quiet.]

...do you miss someone?

[There was a small box in her hands that she kept fiddling with.]

[interchained]

[He knows he's supposed to answer the question, but words aren't coming. That's how surprised he is when Kaede's words reach his ears. It takes him a while to come up with something, but he keeps it brief.]

Who doesn't... [He can't help giving out a brief laugh.] It's fine, though. I'm used to waiting. Are you enjoying the party?

[It's not as smooth as he intended it to be, but it's Gilbert...things aren't supposed to go smoothly for him.

As for the box...he has noticed it, but he's not sure whether he should ask about it or give her some time to tell him what is it.]

[long_live_the_queen]

...it doesn't get any easier, does it.

[For once, Kaede didn't make fun of his awkward answer or bring much attention to it. But she didn't laugh either. It was all she could do not to wince at the reminder of how isolated she felt.]

There are people here.

[That didn't seem like such a bad thing this time. She turned the box over again, and whatever was in it thunked softly but solidly against the sides.]

[interchained]

[Gilbert continues to be as smooth as sand paper while giving his response.]

Yes, there are.

[At least he realizes how badly this is going and tries something else:]

May I ask what is it? The thing you're holding. Is it a gift for someone?

[Now, that's a bit better...he hopes.]

[long_live_the_queen]

[Kaede found herself hesitating, despite her normal abrasive confidence. She glanced at the box, as if it was going to answer. It did nothing of the sort, of course.

Eventually Kaede glanced up at Gilbert and carefully, almost cautiously, reached out to hand it to him.]

It's yours.

[She wasn't...sure what to do, besides "give him the present"; that part was obvious, but what was she supposed to say?]

Living Room

[bowknot]

[ That is Shinano with some cookies and a mug of hot chocolate. The holidays have taught Shinano that sweet thing are abundant and he can't complain one bit. Sure there's sake, and Shinano is free to have some, he's one of the oldest... but hot chocolate is a new thing and quite good! ]

Who's Oz, Gilbert-san?

[ There's room on the couch and Shinano sits on the other end with his snacks, looking at Gilbert with curiosity. Gilbert's flushed cheeks just fuel it, because... why is h embarrassed. Shinano knows him as Jirou's super good friend and well-meaning minder, but he doesn't know much about Gilbert aside from a conversation about rabbits. ]

[interchained]

[With sake being everywhere in this house, Gilbert's really glad that some people still decide to stick to hot chocolate, whether to try it for the first time or because they like it.]

Oz is my master.

[Staring into his own mug, Gilbert's lips quirk up into a small smile.]

I wish everyone could meet him someday, he's a great person.

[bowknot]

[ Don't worry Gil, Shinano is very aware of alcohol goes into the house. If there isn't any... things would go south pretty darn fast. Gilbert is a good person for dealing with it all and the the bullying from elsewhere! The hot chocolate is pretty good too, even if it might be something his younger brothers would enjoy more for the sweetness. Shinano takes small sips, enjoying how the mug warms his hands. ]

Ah, so you did serve someone! That explains why you're so good at housekeeping.

[ He nod appreciatively. For humans, that makes sense at least. All the swords here do share a master, but with so many, not all of them have to be so apt for housework and chores. At least, some would prefer lounging around and downing sake... ]

What's he like? You must be so fond of him, it's rare to see you smile like that.

[interchained]

I'm not that good...but thank you.

[Putting himself down right away is his usual strategy, nothing seems to have changed in this field. Also, before learning that Jirou's master had multiple swords, Gilbert always had been wondering how was it possible that he was such a slacker.]

Oh, I... [He's still blushing, but he doesn't look embarrassed much if that makes any sense—his admiration for his master isn't something Gilbert is ashamed of] Oz is a handsome, generous, kind man. He makes friends easily and cares about people who are close to him, sometimes too much, I'd say. It's admirable, but I hate it when he forgets about his own well-being...

[He could continue for hours, but Gilbert stops at that.]

What about your master, though?