That Glorious Time Of Year

     "Okay, it’s very simple. Just put the lights on the tree, okay? Can you do that?"

     While the exasperation in Spider Pennworth’s voice might have seemed a bit extreme to a casual observer, she was speaking to Brad Gallegher and Kyle Crawford, both of whom had done more than enough to earn considerable irritation from saints. Spider’s bookstore was closed for the day, and seeing as how Christmas was just around the corner, she’d enlisted the pair of bumbling mages to help her decorate. ‘Help’ being the operative word; after Kyle’d finished breaking every last gingerbread man for the tree and Brad had decided that red and black was a stupid colour scheme for a Goth bookstore, leaving Spider to gape in shock at the turquoise and purple decorations… Well… Needless to say, they were both looking a little harried, and Spider’s eyes were getting a bit bloodshot. Despite all the yelling, banging, flinging of objects and threats of physical violence, the store had gotten decorated. All that was left was the outdoor lights. Considering Spider’s bookstore had only one, heavily shuttered and iron-covered window and the single vault-like door, this wasn’t a very difficult task. Both of the mages grinned broadly as they reassured Spider it would take but a moment, and hustled her inside.

     "Why are we up here?" Tyler Kincaid blew into his hands and stomped his booted feet to stay warm as he glanced at Aeneas Dougal. The sidhe grinned and took a swig from his silver flask.

     "Because every holiday  needs some amusement," he said, tugging at the knit cap covering his pointed ears. "And this Christmas is going to suck with Iris gone." Aeneas shrugged, adjusting his position on the edge of the roof. "I just thought you’d get a kick out of watching this."

     "Watching what? They’re putting up lights! We still need to go put them up on the freehold. If Andrew catches Bertram trying, with what the doctor said last week, he’ll use that spoon to shove a muffin up you-"

     "Wait! Wait!" Aeneas nearly lost his grip on the flask, grinning broadly as he pointed across the street. "Watch!"

      Tyler grumbled, moving over to crouch by Aeneas and peer across the street at the mages. They were in the midst of searching for a single burnt bulb. That did make Tyler smirk. One of the many Brandenburg traditions: one bulb always went dead in the middle of the string. As the pair of fae watched, Kyle began saying something and gesturing excitedly. Brad was shaking his head ‘no,’ but Kyle dragged the pile of lights over to an outdoor socket. Brad yelled a clear "DON’T YOU FUCKING DARE!" but it was far too late. Kyle had plugged the lights in and yanked on the cord. Aeneas and Tyler burst into laughter as the sparks flew and Kyle was flung halfway into the street. Even more raucous laughter made them helpless to move as Brad cursed loudly, yanking the now-flaming lights away from Spider’s bookstore. Aeneas nearly fell off of the roof when Kyle realized he was on fire and began rolling around in the street. Tyler choked as Slate’s oncoming Viper swerved to miss the flaming mage and narrowly avoided a street light. Slate got out of the car with the expression of a man whose seen a ghost. He ran his hands over the car, murmuring under his breath, and then lunged for Kyle. Brad watched the tumbling pair, shook his head and lit a cigarette, leaning against Spider’s bookstore to watch.

     Aeneas wiped tears from his eyes, looking at Tyler with a huge grin. "God, I love Christmas."