‘Cause a Halloween party’s a rad excuse To put your body through mad abuse | OPEN

[heatmetal]

Who: The Stranger Things cast
What: A Housewarming Party hosted by the gang & Settling in to their new haunted home
When: Late October - Early November
Where: Private Housing, Sunset Falls
Content Warnings: probably drugs, drinking

Moving In.

[ It's not quite the joyous occasion they were hoping it would be. The disappearance of one of their own has left a heavy air over the group, but they're determined to try to make something of the situation. And so they proceed with the move, their belongings loaded up in the back of a teleporting truck.

Neighbors are welcome to spy the new arrivals. A perfect collection of unlikely friends that look like they belong in a horror movie cast. You'll get a drink for your trouble - or something a little less legal (or more legal, if you aren't) if you offer to lend a hand. Evidentially, some among their number are not terribly well equipped to do heavy lifting. Damn sticky nerd arms. ]

HOUSEWARMING PARTY is written in slanted block print on a piece of cardboard, staked just outside the newly purchased manor seated near the edge of town. It is a utterly ridiculous piece of architecture, and the gathered teens have more space than they know what to do with.

So how better than to fill it with a house party?
There's a stunning indoor pool just begging to be cannonballed into. A classy lounge for enjoying a little existential angst and ennui. There’s enough guest bedrooms for anyone who wants to crash, though be warned: few are furnished. Some rooms are off limits, for your own sanity rather than theirs.

The music pumping through the place alternates between 80s metal and pop, with some newer tunes sprinkled in there for flavor.

There’s food, a legion of kegs and, well, that less than legal stuff is making the rounds too. ]

Comments

[mostdangerousbird]

[ For a second, Tim gapes after Billy, trying to call up a protest about their behaviour that won’t involve a squeak. He fails.

But Loki’s a presence, and he’s turned up the charm hard. Tim lets out a soft huff of an exhale at the kiss - it’s not a kiss he expects to receive. Gendered and formal, but also sweet and old-fashioned, and why shouldn’t he expect that? ]

I am now.

[ He tries to be honest with Loki, but that was a frank, artless slip. Tim ducks his head and tries to laugh through the embarrassment. ]

I - that was corny, I’m sorry.

[ikols]

[ Loki stands straight, letting Tim have his hand back. His own clasp behind his back as he teases him, eyes dancing over the fluster he causes. ]

Always nice to know you're wanted, no harm done. You came with your friends, Steph and Cass, yes? I said hello.

[ He did a little more than that, but. ]

[mostdangerousbird]

Yeah. It… really is. I think I forgot that for awhile.

[ Hooking his thumbs into his pockets, Tim shrugs upwards slightly. Coughs up a little piece of himself because he’s learning that Loki likes his own impact being acknowledged. ]

Except when you were around. You were always confusingly flattering.

[ But he can’t avoid that Loki met the Girls of Bat forever, and Tim glances off to where he last saw them - to where they are not. Meaning that they had nice chats with Loki out of sight. Oh, that’s not good. That’s… potentially a nightmare, really. Why did he tell Steph about Loki? ]

How did you - what did they tell you? What did you tell them?

[ He’s not sure which he’s more worried about. Probably what they could tell Loki. ]

[ikols]

[ He doesn't have to do much to entertain himself around Tim, who blushes awkwardly and has it all covered with an innocent charm about him. The same mild smile lingers as he watches him steadily, arching a brow when the boy panics. ]

Why are you so worried?

[mostdangerousbird]

Because I wasn’t there, and none of you are wired like me!

[ Mildly exasperated but also fond and chuckling. Tim is well aware that that is also exactly why he likes them. ]

Cass wouldn’t have a filter if I put her in a coffee pot. Steph has a selective filter, because she’s clever and friendly and likes all the “hot goss”, and you have the same selective filter on steroids. And now you all know each other, and I don’t get to control the information flow.

[ikols]

Darling, you'll never know everything.

[ His arm comes around Tim's shoulders, steering him away from the party to a quieter corner if Tim will come along. ]

It's a nice surprise, meeting you here. [ Green eyes stay steady, a smile curling Loki's lips for emphasis despite his soft voice. ] Please stop your worrying.

[mostdangerousbird]

That doesn’t mean I have to stop trying to know everything.

[ Loki can lead him wherever he wants, as far as Tim’s concerned.

Tim does a final check towards Billy. ]

It’s strategically ensuring that your friends like me and wishing my snoopy friends didn’t know yet, because I … kinda like being a nice surprise.

[ His arm slides around Loki’s waist with a focused casualness that is not as subtle as Tim intends. ]

You’re a better one, though. I don’t think you’d ever be boring enough to just be nice.

[ikols]

[ Loki cups Tim's cheek, thumb brushing over the rise of it. ]

Dear boy, what's wrong with being nice?

[mostdangerousbird]

[ Oh, um. They're just going to touch like that in public? ... apparently so, unless Tim's going to resist the urge to lean into the touch.

Nope, resistance is futile, and Loki's hand almost makes him shiver. ]

Nice can be boring. Nice is... nice, but it doesn't know how to keep up with exciting. I might have a thing for exciting.

[ikols]

Nice is okay.

[ He leans in and kisses him on the cheek, near the corner of his lips. Nothing to make his head pop off in anxiety around his friends. Loki runs his hand down Tim's side, resting on his waist, then totally does not whisper, ]

Are you going out patrolling tonight?

[mostdangerousbird]

I don't want to be just okay.

[ He has a pretty strong drive to be considered good, good at things. To get approval and not disappoint. Being "okay" at anything is what, par? Who wants to be par? ]

I want to keep up with you.

[ Which he almost is, if you squint. He's leaning closer now, pressing into his side with a wide smile, half hidden with his hand and ducked head.

Tim drops to a whisper, in hopes of encouraging Loki to do the same without making an overblown denial of the question for everyone else. If he doesn't say anything, no one will remember. ]

Depends. Are you going to keep your voice down?

[ikols]

Right now or when I have you trapped on a rooftop?

[ It's an innocent question. ]

[mostdangerousbird]

Both.

[ Innocent answer, at first. And then suspicious. ]

Why are you trapping me on a rooftop in this scenario?

[ikols]

[ What a dumb, clever boy. ]

Because I'm going to be kissing you, darling. A lot.

[mostdangerousbird]

[ He almost snaps back something about how stupid that would be -

thinks about it -

Decides that he'd rather be an idiot than a hypocrite and a liar. Idiots get kissed. ]

Only when I'm not actively chasing someone?

[ikols]

What if you're chasing me?

[ Hands looped behind Tim's back to bring him fully into Loki's space, he arches a brow. ]

Best keep an ear on the police radio tonight. You wouldn't want to miss anything.

[mostdangerousbird]

That sounds awful like you’re going to try to kiss me to get away.

[ Not a bad idea. It works, and Tim knows it works but, man, getting caught in a kiss when he’s been running and his hearts racing on the adrenaline high.

Thinks about it being Loki, instead of Lynx or Spoiler, and feels the exhilaration even though they’re standing still. He runs his tongue along the edge of his bottom teeth. ]

I always listen. What are you doing, and how do I convince you to skip the part that gets the police after you?

[ikols]

Oh, they won't catch up, fear not. I'll make sure you're the only one who gets to tell me how bad I've been.

[ Only gets caught by selective heroes these days! And is very likely going to actually rob a bank. Or a museum. ]

[mostdangerousbird]

Or you could be good, and the rooftop makeouts could be your reward.

[ Tim tightens grip on Loki. ]

Then you wouldn’t have to get away.

[ikols]

[ He leans down, nose to nose. ]

Your type isn't nice. Your own words, Timmy.

[mostdangerousbird]

[ There is every opportunity step away and cool this off. Tim takes none of them, shuts his eyes to avoid going cross eyed at this distance, and continues to play along. ]

I’m supposed to talk you out of this. Don’t make it so hard, help me help you see the error of your ways before you turn to a sordid life of crime?

[ Aren’t they playing? Loki wouldn’t actually tell him that he was going to break the law tonight. He just likes riling Tim. ]

[ikols]

You're very cute when you have no idea what's happening.

[ Laughing under his breath, he combs back Tim's hair and kisses him chastely (but makes it linger). ]

[mostdangerousbird]

[ The kiss is returned, although over-eagerness makes Tim be less chaste. He pushes up against Loki to try to pry a deeper kiss, because he’s wanted to kiss Loki again for over a week. For the moment, his attention is so focused on Loki that he forgets where they are, and everything is the cool mouth against his and how warm it makes Tim feel and the crush of Loki’s jacket in Tim’s hands after he grabs it with both hands.

When it tapers off, Tim needs a second to comport himself. Surely he’s not disappointed that Loki had the sense to not get hot and heavy in public. ]

You could tell me what’s going on. Be a merciful god?

[ikols]

[ Yowza, is the word that's going to be on everyone else's lips once they see that. Loki keeps the kiss steady with a hand in Tim's hair and the other holding him at the waist, as much as Tim strains to get closer and full-on make-out in front of most of their collective friends. He smiles into the taste of him and lets him have one last lewd lick before straightening, effectively ending the kiss just by looking up. ]

Not that sort of god, dear.

[mostdangerousbird]

[ This is unreasonably unfair. Boys who talk about kissing on rooftops and then kiss like they’re sweet and polite are criminal. ]

Not even if I asked nicely?

[ He hasn’t let go of the jacket. ]