Festivity, huh?


On the evening of Christmas, a young man approached a large house bordered by an array of solid white lights. With a sigh, he kicked the last traces of snow off his boots. After looking through a frosted window to see that the lights were on, he rang the doorbell.

The varnished maple frame swung open. "Ah, Louis, it's you," said Brian. "Come in, come in. It's cold out there."

Thanks, dude." mr_pikachu took the newcomer's coat and sidled to the hall closet as Louis stepped through the entrance. While the outdoor decorations were only slightly more elaborate than what he was accustomed to seeing, the interior was loaded with everything from garland on the walls to trays of chocolate chip cookies on every countertop. The kitchen on Louis' right consisted merely of an oven and microwave, as well as the smell of flour and spices. The left was the living room, where a large sound system played only soft Christmas tunes.

Ahead of the two, a long hallway extended into what Louis presumed was the dining room. This was confirmed when Brian beckoned him forward.

"So, what's so important that you had to call me down here on Christmas?" Louis asked.

"Nothing special," Brian sighed. "Just some Hangman stuff. Need to get everything set for the new year, you know. I've got all our materials in our makeshift boardroom. We might have to-"

He stopped mid-sentence and mid-step, right leg dangled awkwardly in the air at the threshold of the dining room. It had almost been too late, but he had caught himself. Now was the chance to yank that blasted thing from the ceiling. His hand reached up...

Louis, his attention and eyes directed at the living room where a 60-inch TV was presently inactive, failed to see Brian's pause. As such, he toppled into his fellow worker, bumping him a half-step through.

The younger worker stood at the opening, slightly stunned, as Brian turned around and fought the urge to swear under his breath. As the senior worker approached Louis with an odd look, he caught just a glimpse of the patch of greenery dangling above their heads.

Louis' scream was only broken as the tradition was fulfilled.


Mistletoe-whacked. >_<