→ i don't want a lot for christmas, there is just one thing i need

[creatio]

CHARACTERS: Barbie House Residents & You.
LOCATIONS: That pink little number where superpowered girls live.
WARNINGS: None in post, please let me know if I need to change that.
SUMMARY: Ugly sweater party time.

( If you know Kimberly and Clary at all, then you'll know there's been a festive treat in the works for a while. People will have received their personally designed invitations during the week, but neither of them have been shy in mentioning the party while wandering the city laden with shopping bags. The house is suitably decorated - enough mistletoe to potentially be a biohazard - but with a little help from the world's best ( and most stylish ) warlock Magnus Bane, it's definitely looking the part. And if it's a little small, well outside is covered in lights too, an army of space heaters dotted in their garden to make things as cosy as possible.

There's multiple flavours of punch, though be wary of the one that smells overwhelmingly of gingerbread, someone was a little heavy handed with the liquer. If that doesn't float your boat then the living room table is laid out with different drinks and snacks, some more festive than others. Eat, drink, be merry. And if you hear Blue Christmas at any point in their festive playlist, please track down Baby and give him a hug ( or a drink ... or one of those sprigs of mistletoe. )

The only rule ( and it's definitely a rule ) wear a Christmas sweater or suffer the wrath of women scorned. Though maybe not something with tassles or baubles, Simba might be after them. )

Comments

Magnus Bane | OTA

[coyandcryptic]

[He'd already been to the house to decorate, and he's done a brilliant job if he says so himself. Red and green and gold in some rooms, silver and blue in others, it's not quite a theme but it certainly has sparkle. And of course as requested, or ordered, when he comes to the party as a guest, Magnus comes appropriately attired. Not only does the unicorn glow a pearly iridescent white (like real unicorns), occasionally it tosses its head and gallops around to the back of his sweater, rearing up like the proud beast it is.

Is there a contest for best worst holiday sweater, because Magnus came to win. It isn't long before the sweater is joined by light-up reindeer antlers, because it really did need something more. His hair is striped red and green, there's a gold shimmer on his cheeks, and anyone he talks to for more than a few minutes is going to come away glittering.

He probably won't be sitting, he'll be mingling through the party, making sure everyone has what they need, because even if it isn't his party he's a natural host. He'll happily dance with anyone, especially people who look a little hesitant, and eventually he'll make his way outside where things are a little more peaceful.]

[risers]

[ while he may wear reindeer antlers on his head, alec's dressed as casually as a mundane, save for the possible christmas colour of his shirt. wearing red is festive, isn't it? he lacks the ugly sweater (a purposeful decision of his own, since seeing clary fray all fired up is kind of amusing, even if it is exasperating), but what he doesn't have he makes up for with his friend. in his arms is simba, paws digging into the fabric of his shoulder. ]

[ there is also a post-it with a bauble drawn on it slapped against his chest where simba can't play with it. the post it is thanks to none other than clarissa fairchild. ]

[ alec is currently trying to hide from clary, even though he acts as normal as ever. ]

Hey. [ a big dopey grin crosses his face. the car shifts, but doesn't so much as move to break free. ] Nice job on the decor. Almost distracts from the ugly sweaters.

[coyandcryptic]

[The gingerbread monstrosity has been toned down to Magnus's preference with a little judicious magic, but it's still strong, and this is his second cup, so when he hears Alec he doesn't think of how complicated things are with them, or whether he should be keeping his distance like this or not. He turns and beams, and then in the same beat he frowns at Alec's complete lack of an ugly sweater.]

Alexander, this party has a dress code. How did you make it past the bouncer?

[Meanwhile he'll be petting Simba, they're already best friends through bribery of a bowl of cream earlier in the day when he'd been decorating and hadn't needed cats getting under his feet after the first time.]

[risers]

[ alec shrugs. ] Taller than the bouncer. [ thus, it's easier to be unseen ... even though, technically, it's the opposite. no rune magic has been used to enter the premises. alec even walked through the front door! ]

[ it's almost like the christmas cheer has infected him. alec doesn't grimace at the christmas music, nor goes he so much as double-take magnus' sweater. if he's been drinking, he remains as tall as the tree he'd been moulded to resemble. he doesn't teeter, and his ability to walk in a straight line is affected by the furniture in the room. it's almost like alec's happy. ]

[ he'd move his hand to touch his antlers, but simba remains in his arms, content with the attention he's earning. instead, alec opts to glance up, the action useless given the antlers aren't floating above him. ] I have antlers. That's a lot more than what other people here have. Doesn't that count?

[coyandcryptic]

[Magnus rolls his eyes good-naturedly, taller than the bouncer indeed, his giraffe is taller than everyone, but seeing Alec teasing and so at-ease like this makes a little glow start in Magnus's chest. Seeing Alec relaxed and happy remains one of the heights of Magnus's life...except he isn't supposed to think like that anymore.

He heaves an overdramatic sigh and reaches up to minutely adjust the antlers, even though they don't need it. It's tempting to make them light up, but they're perfect just the way they are. Ugh, Alec is perfect just the way he is and everything is terrible fine.]

Oh, I suppose that has to count for something. And Simba has given his approval, gracing you with his presence like this.

[risers]

[ if it wasn't for simba reaching out a paw toward magnus — or perhaps something on magnus' sweater — alec may have felt like he was stuck in a permanent temporal stasis. this city has remained at a purposeful arm's length from alec. it doesn't surprise him that it takes magnus (and izzy's short stint during his arrival included) to make him reconsider keeping those walls thick and heavy. ]

Yeah. [ he glances down at simba, who's purring a little loudly in his arms. with a dopey grin, ] Simba finally knows who the best Shadowhunter is. Clary thinks dressing him up in outfits is cute.

[ magnus most likely agrees with clary, but it's a different sort of thing if magnus did it. ]

[gr8muppetyodin]

If I even thought about doubting your ability to pick a spectacular ugly sweater my mind is at ease now.

[ Buffy gave Magnus a grin as she pointed at the unicorn that adorned it. ] Although I was not expecting a second horn. Wow, that really is a special sweater.

[ There was a part of her that felt like she should have been handing him a Cosmo, but that was because she had gotten used to his orders at the Deviant. Instead she held out her hands for a dance. ] Since I never get a chance because you only ever see me on duty.

[coyandcryptic]

It really is, isn't it? You have a quick eye for detail. [Magnus grins a wicked, wicked grin as he takes her hands and spins her. The Deviant has been his home away from home, and it does make him miss Pandemonium something awful, but the bartender always manages to lift his spirits.]

Later on I'll even get you a drink, just to make the evening really topsy-turvy. I'm glad you came, I wasn't sure who I'd see here.

[gr8muppetyodin]

When it comes to clothes I do. [ And maybe when it came to her 'job' as well. She gave a laugh as he span her, letting her hair fan out and moving lightly on her feet. Sometimes all that Slayer training came in handy in other areas. ]

Now that's just pure crazy talk. Are you sure you haven't been drinking the kool-aid? Maybe the colour of the house has gotten to you. Honestly, I wasn't too sure to begin with. I know Robbie, and I know Jace. I kind of know Kimberly. The house is hard to forget. But sometimes the need for fun overrides everything else.

[coyandcryptic]

Only if the kool-aid has been laced very liberally with vodka, and I find the color of the house very refreshing.

[She's easy to dance with, which is no surprise. He'd suspected she'd be light on her feet, he's seen her moving around behind the bar on crowded nights. It's just as easy to talk like this as it is standing around with drinks.]

I've always felt that the need for fun should be a driving force in more people's lives. I've met Kimberly since arriving here, but I knew Clary back home, known her since she was just a little biscuit. I know Jace too. [But whatever, he and Jace are really only on such good terms because of Alec.]

[Before long, that song comes to an end and he does sweep a glass of something off the table and offer it to her, as promised.]

[killertrack]

[ After the heat of the house, with its bustling crowd and alcohol flowing, being outside feels nice. Peaceful. Baby walks out and wraps his arms around himself, looking at his own breaths fogging up in the air, the snow covering everything, muffling noises, crunching underfoot.

There's someone else on the porch, and Baby's not drunk by far, but he's had some punch,
which makes it easier for him to talk to strangers. ]

Think I'd catch death if I tried to make a snow angel right now in these clothes?

[ He's really underdressed for this kind of action. ]

[coyandcryptic]

[The atmosphere inside is delightful, and Magnus has stepped outside more so he'll rediscover the fun rather than because he needed a break. The gingerbread concoction has been warmed up for the occasion and he has both hands wrapped around the mug, but he looks the newcomer up and down with an air of assessment.]

On another night, you just might, but luckily I'm happy to help. [One hand lifts and the fingers wiggle.] Would you like a wardrobe upgrade, or just a nice warm feeling?

[killertrack]

[ Baby has to blink at the offer, uncertain he understands. The man in front of him - fairly new to town, probably, since Baby doesn't recognize him - is wiggling his fingers like... like he can do magic, or something like that.

Can he? Baby tilts his head. ]

I'm sorry, you're going to have to walk me through what you're saying exactly, here. I'll blame the alcohol if necessary. Are you offering to lend me a coat?

[coyandcryptic]

I could give you a coat if you'd like a coat.

[A few florid gestures later, along with the blue gleam of magic, and he has a nice black wool coat hanging from a finger.]

I could also make you feel warmer, it's not difficult. And I don't know how much give this thing has for making snow angels. You'll need arm freedom, don't you think?

[But he hands the coat over anyway. The newcomer looks like he's calmed down from being upset, but he might still be a little upset, and being cold only makes that worse.]

[killertrack]

[ The sad thing is that Baby walks around life these days with a slight air of being upset at all times, even when he isn't. He's been having a good night, truly, but it's hard to shake how much he misses Isabelle, especially during social events like this one.

But he's determined to make new friends, and talk to people, and not just become a recluse with a broken heart. So he holds a hand out and takes the coat, his eyes wide and amazed as he strokes the lapels of the coat. It's amazing quality. ]

Honestly? I don't know. I've never done a snow angel. Never saw snow before it started here, actually.

[ His words are soft, as he looks at the man in front of him. Some kind of wizard? He shouldn't be surprised anymore by what this town can bring him.

Eventually, he holds out a hand. ] I'm Baby, by the way.

[coyandcryptic]

Well, the technique is pretty straightforward once you've fallen onto your back.

[It certainly ought to be amazing quality, Magnus would never offer something sub-par. He watches Baby as he examines the coat, wondering if he'd been right that there's something on his mind, but he accepts the handshake with a smile.]

Magnus, Magnus Bane. I take it you're not from one of the colder climes?

[killertrack]

[ Baby lets out a chuckle, nodding, more to himself than to Magnus. If he's suspecting he has a lot on his mind, he would more than correct. Nothing he can do anything about, though. ]

No, Sir. Born and bred in Atlanta, Georgia. Yourself?

[ Finally, Baby shrugs on the coat, just because it feels so very nice, and is immediately enveloped in its warmth, hands keeping it closed. ]

So... you're a wizard?

[coyandcryptic]

Originally from Indonesia—well, that's what it is now—and currently from Brooklyn. I'm a warlock, but I do magic. It's a warlock thing.

[As if to punctuate it, he creates a tiny ball of blue light, golf-ball-sized, and rolls it around his fingers before tossing it into the air over the yard to give a little more light.]

Not many people besides warlocks can do magic where I'm from, although the Shadowhunters come close with their runes...but never mind, that's an entirely different story. What do you do when you're not debating coat-less snow angels?

[killertrack]

[ The word is like a slap to Baby's face. Shadowhunters. He comes from the same place that Clary and Alec come from. That Isabelle comes from. Baby inhales sharply, biting his lips hard for a second before letting out words, exploding out of him along wit his breath: ]

You know Isabelle? Isabelle Lightwood?

[ As soon as he's asked, he regrets it. He doesn't know why he's asked. What's the point.

Taking another deep breath, Baby looks down at his shoes for a second, then out at the glowing ball of light Magnus created. Magic - incredible. ]

Here, I work at B-Sides. And Mahogany. And The Deviant. Back home, I was a driver.

[ It's the simplest ways to explain it, even if it's far from saying everything. ]