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Joshua had made sure to invite everyone; those in the school anyway. He had sent Devin out with a set of invitations for the day care, and Miles with another for his friends. The invitations were clearly marked in blue ink--with Joshua's address, phone number, and what their plans were. Gingerbread houses were something everyone needed to do at once in their lives, whatever age they were. "Mom, can't you make the oven go faster?" he complained, giving his hard-working mother a frown. She was just pulling out another flat square of gingerbread from the oven.

"No, but that was the last one anyway," Thali replied, giving her son a smile. She knew how impatient he was. "Don't worry, Josh! Miles has the frosting done, and Zee's helping Devin set the table. Do you think you can carry this over there without burning yourself?"

Joshua rolled his eyes, and took the tray from her with ease. "Of course," he said, "If all our expected guests arrive, we'll probably need more than this."

Thali frowned slightly. "In my time, guests weren't expected until they replied saying they were coming," she muttered. Joshua didn't reply; he made his way out into the living room, where the house building would take place. He glanced around. Everything was in it's place; even Devin was behaving. Christmas decorations had been hung with care, red garland spiraled the staircase railing leading upstairs. Paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling. A white christmas tree was in the background, full of green and blue bulbs and crystal ornaments.

"Joth! I thet the table," Devin said, kicking his feet lightly. Like most toddlers his age, Devin had an inability to sit still. "Thee? I did it, all by mythelf!" Devin's father was sitting on the couch in front of the tv.

"I helped," was his comment.

Financial desperation should not be something that concerned him, Darsh thought to himself as he adjusted the wiggling bundle that was perched on his shoulders "for a better view". Max and Emma were both wealthy, he knew that. But they were also both horribly tight-fisted. Working for a living. Darsh was above working for a living.

Then again, there was that glorious leather bomber jacket and a new mouth pipe that he desperately wanted. There was also the fact that christmas was coming up and he'd been informed that it was traditional to give some sort of gift to the members of one's family. Lucky for him his family seemed to prefer hand-made items. But there was Casia... Darsh wouldn't mind getting her something special. He smiled a little at the thought and then winced as his hair was pulled.

"Faster! Faster, ye wee brute!" Cailean crowed, bouncing a little on Darsh's shoulders. She had been handed over to the aloof blue boy only that morning. They called him a "babysitter" even though Cailean had insisted she was no baby.

"Shut up." Darsh muttered, glaring balefully ahead of him. Thank god they were here. Thank god someone was having this decorating party so he could pawn this hellspawn off on someone else for awhile.

"I'll no shut up! Ye have to do what I say!"

Darsh gritted his teeth and walked up to the stoop, giving a halfhearted grin to Kash and Jordi. "Hey. You here for the party thing?"

"Mush! Mush ye beastie!" Cailean said triumphantly, wielding Darsh's hair as if she held reins.

"I remember you too." Darsh grinned at Jordi. "Nice beard. I'm Darsh." He added for Kash's benefit. "It's nice to meet you."

"Arr, a bunch of scallywags ye all are!" Cailean chirped, bouncing a little.

"This... thing on my head... is called Cailean." He added with a slight frown. "I'm babysitting her."

"I'm no jest Cailean. I'm Cailean the Magnificently Awful!" The little kitsune had a habit of trying on new titles. Magnificently Awful was todays choice and she particularly liked the way it rolled off her tongue. "Ye'd make a good pirate." She added to Jordi. "Can ye swim?" Girls with beards were unusual. It was only natural Cailean would want to recruit the dwarf.

Joshua brightened considerably when he heard the doorbell ring. "I'll get it!" he said, making his way to the front door. He was too late; his cousin Miles had been waiting in the hall for an oppertune moment to strike. "Miles--" Josh grumped. "I'm supposed to be the host." His cousin ignored him with an ease that suggested it was something he did daily, and opened the door.

"Come on in," said the redhead with a smile. "There's gingerbread houses for everyone; parents included," he added, looking to Todd's father with a smile. "If you wish to stay sir, the adults are currently stationed in the living room with the exception of Joshua's mother--who is very kindly finishing up preparations as we speak." For a moment, he didn't recognize anyone; then, he set eyes on Darsh. "Darsh, isn't it? We met briefly at a haunted house," Miles still hadn't quite lost the air of formality.

"Miles--" It didn't take an oracle to tell Joshua was becoming angry.

"My cousin Joshua will be your host for the rest of the evening. If any of you require assistance with your gingerbread houses, do not hesitate to ask me." Miles gave each person a smile, before heading into the dining room.

"Sorry about him, he likes to be in charge," Joshua explained, instantly recognizing Todd, and knowing Kash and Darsh by sight. "Like he said though, come on in," he looked to Cailean and smiled. "My cousin Devin's told me about you," he said. "There's treasure for all pirates in the dining room."

Cailean's eyes had widened considerably at the concept of airship pirates. She'd only known about sea pirates previously, and now a whole new world of possibilities were rapidly opening up in her eager mind. The door opened then and distracted her from pestering Jordi to death with questions. At least for the moment. Her grin widened at the mention of Devin and then even more at the appearance of Todd. "Are you my cousin?" She asked the fox boy, leaning down to examine him and nearly falling off of Darsh's shoulders.

Darsh, for his part, looked somewhat startled at the loquacious introduction but managed to shrug it off and smile with what he hoped was a smooth smile. Casia may not be there but Kash was a really pretty girl, despite the fact that she was older than he was. That only made her better as far as Darsh was concerned. He gestured for her and Jordan to enter first, giving the luck dragon a flirty smile. Cailean bounced atop his head, pulling his hair eagerly and significantly dampening the debonair effect he'd hoped to have.

Joshua smiled at Darsh, nodded at Cailean, gave Kash an awkward smile; she wasn't quite so pretty as Nattie; before turning back to Todd. He gave his friend a return wave, and then headed inside. He couldn't wait to get started on his gingerbread house; he had it all planned out. He was going to build a candy castle, like the one he'd heard about in stories. There would be a pepperment road leading to it, trees full of sugar-snow, gumdrops decorating the entire castle--it was going to be perfect. Marshmellow snowmen with mini m&ms for decorations, a red and white candy-cane fence--various candies to adorn the roof.

"Hey Dev! Your friend's here!" he called, before glancing up at Todd's father. "I'll lead you to the living room, Mr.-- um... Todd's Dad," he muttered, having realized he didn't know Todd's last name with embarassment. "This is my Uncle Zee; he's Devin's dad," he gestured to the dark elf sitting on the couch. "Don't let him tease you, he's really nice," he assured the man with a smile. "He likes to pretend he's not, though." He glanced around the room to look for his younger cousin. Devin hadn't answered his summons. "Erm, I'll be right back," he said, though he really only had to go a few feet to find what was keeping the toddler. It was an advantage to having the diningroom and living room connected. "Devi, you're not supposed-- Hey! Quit eating all the marshmellows!"

A navy blue sticky mess was indeed sitting at the table; said mess gave his older cousin a bright smile--which didn't help his case because it was full of marshmellow. "Hi Joth," he said sunnily. He noticed his cousin's glare. "Uh-oh, Joth mad," he whispered to no one in particular. "Cai here yet?"

Darsh hastily deposited Cailean onto a stool next to the sticky blue boy the moment they were in the door, breathing a sigh of relief to have the little burden off his shoulders. It wasn't that she was heavy, it was that she was so damn annoying! He cast his gaze around, taking in the gingerbread houses all ready to be decorated and the masses of candy. Darsh grinned, his natural competitive side coming out. He would certainly make the best gingerbread house, just see if he didn't! Though he wasn't sure he liked Jordi monopolizing Kash's time. Kash was the prettiest girl around and it only made sense that she work with Darsh - the best looking guy around (as far as he was concerned).

"I'll be on your team if you'd like." He told the wish dragon, giving her a sweet, winsome smile.

For her own part, Cai settled on her stool next to Devin, though her eyes kept craning around to see what Jordi and the fox boy were doing.

"Did you know that pirates can fly?" She asked the little drow in a large whisper, her amazement obvious.

Elliot smiled warmly as he watched Todd followed the other children into the other room," Faustus. Mr. Faustus, but Elliot will do just fine." He didn't really like being called by his last name, it made him feel much older than he was.
He then turned his attention to Zee, nodding his head in greeting, "Nice to meet you."


Todd stood in awe, eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. He had never seen so much candy at once, even if there was another child covered in said candy on the table, he was still stunned. And this was real candy, not the fancy chocolates that Elliot never let him really enjoy outside of a small bite. No no no. This was his favorite.
He made his way to the table slowly at first, then quickened his pace once he saw that he was the last one to the table. He started slowly on his house, not really having any experience in making houses out of candy, but he did his best. Oh art class, why hadn't he paid more attention? If he had he may have had a higher chance at winning this 'competition'.