Chapter 25: Secret Santa. A Rare Calmness

Time soon comes to pass with me having returned fully to L's side. However Light remains in the dark about me doing so. Occasionally I'll be 'allowed' to visit Light by the 'Queen'. However these visits only last a few hours. My excuse for not being constantly by Light's side? Them having finally caught onto the bait I set up for them. That is, completely framing another in my specific line of work and leaving them to take the blame. This of course has left me to hunt the other down, and therefore kept me away for a good while. Of course this is nothing but a huge lie. A lie that Light clings onto. The only reason I even visit is to make it continue to seem like I'm in love with him. I do not go there for information, but rather for pleasure. Something that L doesn't approve of but was found that it must happen in order for my cover to remain stable.

However, fall has swiftly come to stand as winter. And while no real snow has fallen- that is, no noticeable amount- the temperatures have begun to honestly drop into colder weather. Simply to go with the season, in our Head Quarters rests a fake Christmas tree lit up with strings of light and balls that hang from the branches. It's a nice little touch that the humans seem to appreciate. There is one day, though, where out of the blue Near makes an announcement to those of us that are in HQ. Halle by now is playing bodyguard for Takida while Stephen is playing it safe while following Mikami.

"It has come to my attention that we're coming rather close upon Christmas," Near states on a Wednesday out of the blue. "However as we most likely won't be able to celebrate on that exact day due to the pace at which the case is moving, I suggest we celebrate it early".

I raise a brow, "So what? You wanna have a little Christmas party? Just the three of us?"

"No, the six of us," he returns. "And on top of that, we will be playing the 'Secret Santa' game," his panda eyes look up to me from his position in the middle of the room, "You do know what that is, right?"

I purse my lips, honestly confused as to what the hell a Secret Santa is. I'd only recently learned and come to understand the efforts put into Christmas over the passed hundred years. However, that doesn't mean that I understand the games played. I know there's a thing with mistletoe that if you and another stand under a branch of it you have to kiss. It doesn't have to be a lips-to-lips kiss but still. But I've never heard of the nonsense Near is spewing. "Never heard of it," I was alive before Christmas was a thing. And when I was killed I spent a rather long time in the Seikatsuma realm rising up the ranks.

Before Near can explain, L speaks up from my side at a computer, eyes peeled from the screen for the time being, "'Secret Santa' is where the names of the participants are written down and placed into a hat or container. From there the names are drawn by someone. If the name is not theirs, then they keep the slip and are appointed with getting that person a present, therefore they are that person's 'Secret Santa'. They can tell everyone but that person who they are a Secret Santa for".

"...So we're gonna play this? There's only six of us".

"That is plenty; you only need three at most to play," Rester inputs, "I find this to be a perfectly fine idea, Near. We all need some sort of a break".

"Then it is settled," Near nods, "Unfortunately we cannot take our time with this. Instead, we only have tomorrow to get our presents for one another; the hat has already been filled with your names. Halle and Stephen have already gotten their names for someone to get a present for. We will meet up again in two days and then resume our work at the end of the day after tomorrow". Out of seemingly no where, he pulls out a hat with four slips in it. From which Rester pulls first, myself second, L third and then finally Near.

I blink as I look at the name, Stephen huh? Damn it, of all the luck! Why couldn't I have gotten Near or L? They're so simple in what they like that I could easily get them something. But Stephen? My god I barely know the guy!

"If you need to leave and figure out what to get your appointed person, feel free to do so," Near states to the three of us in the room.

I sigh, "Then I'm out of here. I need some time to think; I got Stephen". The man isn't here so it's safe to say who I got. As far as I understand.

Rester from Near's right chuckles, "Stephen's always been a hard one to figure out. But I'll say this; he likes practical things".

Practical things? I sigh, "I'm outta here. L," he looks my way and returns the kiss I give to him, "I'll see you in two days". That said, I turn on the ball of my foot and make my way out of the room without a second glance. I stare down at the slip of paper. What to get him? What to get him? I repeat in my head over and over. Well, I could get him a personali-...No, that won't work. He has a perfectly good gun as it is. I could get him a new suit...But that means I'd need his measurements. Shoe shiner?...No, Rester says he likes practical things...But what the hell is that supposed to mean? Practical...Practical... As I continue to ponder on what to get him, I've managed to leave the building and walk for the first time in a very long time among the people of the area. Men and women pass me without second glances. Or those that do are probably wondering how I can be walking around in a half shirt and jeans. It takes a lot colder weather to start getting me to shiver. I'm good when it comes to weather. But that's now how it is for all of us. I know Gin despises the cold like no tomorrow.

Eventually I end up walking my way into a gun store even though I told myself that he already has a perfectly good gun. Maybe some stuff for cleaning the gun would be good? I mean, I've heard of those things getting dirty enough to back fire on the person some times. Can't have that, that's for sure. I look over the walls and shelves that hold guns with labels for the clueless such as myself. I find none of them honestly interesting. I can beat the speed of any fired bullets in this room with no problem. However that's because I'm weird. Of course a normal human would find guns interesting and amazing...I think I had a thing for swords when I was alive. Anywho, there are labels calling one gun a PKM, and another an M1911, or one a MP5. Not that I understand the abbreviations for their names- if that's what they are. If not, then I guess people just take letters and numbers and match them up at random to make them sound cool.

"Can I help you miss?" A male voice is heard from my right. I look in this direction to find a fairly tall character of maybe six foot even. Looking to be of at least half German blood, his hair is blond while his eyes are interestingly enough two different colors. The left is a silvery blue color while the right is an emerald green. He has a decent build, looking fairly muscular under his baggy T-shirt and cargo pants. Dog tags rest around his neck and in plain sight, however they look older than himself by at least two times.

I purse my lips for a moment before finally shaking my head, "No...That's all right. I'm just looking for a present for a friend of mine".

The man in about his thirties smiles, "This friend is a man I assume? Not many Japanese women come in here unless they're police looking for new fire arms".

I chuckle lightly, "Yea, he's a man. A few of my friends and I are doing an early Secret Santa thing since we won't be able to gather together for Christmas. I was thinking to get my person a new gun".

The man shrugs, "Well, I could help you out. It's what I'm here for," he thumbs his chest good naturedly, "The name's Adelwulf Takeo. But I just ask people of course to call me by my given name; Takeo," he now offers his hand to me, addressing himself as any normal Japanese person would.

I smile and shake his hand firmly, "Datenshi Lucifer," I tell him.

His eyes widen, "Datenshi-san...Is that really your first name? Lucifer?"

I chuckle, "Yes it is, Takeo. Feel free to call me Lucifer. Or whatever else".

"What an ironic name," he laughs out. "But, okay, Lucifer. Do you have a license to carry?" I shake my head, "Okay...Here, let me show you around. And, if you think that this person of yours will like any of these, bring him here and he can get it himself from you to him".

"That sounds fair," I nod out.

"Alright, so I'll be talking fast for a little bit. If you have any questions feel free to stop me," Takeo grins before leading me to the first of ten guns he apparently has on display for people like myself. "The Pulemyot Kalashnikova, or "Kalashnikov's Machinegun" is a general purpose machine designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov, the father of the efficient and rugged infantry weaponry which shaped history in the second half of the twentieth century. With over 1,000,000 built in six different variations and hundreds of thousands more in unofficial foreign variations the PKM is the template for delivering 750 rounds a minute of 54mm bullets. It has long been favored by guerrilla groups and militias because of its adaptability and ease of use due its ability to be mounted on a tripod, on the top of a vehicle or in the hands of a soldier providing suppressive fire. It has featured in every major conflict since the Vietnam War and is still in production in Russia. An iconic pistol with a lifespan longer than any military sidearm, originally developed by the legendary John Browning at Colt one hundred years ago, the 1911 has had at least 2 million official copies produced in its lifetime. It was in full usage by the US military for 79 years and is still used today- the majority is the 1926 model M1911A. Users have ranged from the Soviet Union, given as aid during the war, to Nazi Germany- captured- and now all the way from Haiti to Luxembourg. It has appeared in 295 films and is probably one of the most timeless pieces of engineering in firearm history".

He continues to talk about eight other guns, going from those two to the MP5, FAL, G3, AR15, RPG-7, UZI, the Remmington Model and finally the AK-47 before finally stopping and letting me ponder. They all look like fairly nice guns. However the only one that would make sense for me to get for Stephen would be the M1911. However I still don't think that he'd want such a thing. Something tells me that that's not what I'm looking to get for him. So by the time Takeo is done talking, I don't want to be rude. Over the years I've learned to hone human skills and be pleasant to those who have been kind enough to help me. "Well, Takeo," I smile out to him, hiding the fact that I won't be getting a gun for Stephen, "I'm thinking that he'd like the AK-47 or the M1911A- if you have that- best. But I'll have to see what else I may get him. Don't be surprised if I come back tomorrow, though".

A pleasured smile spreads across the German-Japanese man's face before he nods, "Alright. Maybe I'll see you tomorrow then; I hope you have a great day". I nod to him once before taking my leave. But once I'm far enough away from the shop, I sigh and pull myself into an alley way.

"That did me absolutely no good what so ever," I grumble, "Two hours of my extended life went right down the drain with that". With a huff and a sigh, I pull out my phone and search for a certain contact. There's one ring...Two...Thre- "Hey Gin".

"Lucifer," Gin smiles into the phone. "Do you need a door to somewhere?"

I nod though he can't see it, "Yea, can you get me a door to where you are?"

There is a pause, "You want...To come here? Why?"

"I'll explain it to you when I get there. That door please?"

"Oh! Right. Open the nearest door. You'll arrive here at home," he replies.

"M'kay, I'll see you in a few seconds," I tell him with a second nod and then hang up before stuffing the large phone into my pocket. The nearest door happens to be across from me and to my right. It, by the looks of things, looks to be a back door to a store or something. Never the less, I make my way to it and open it up. With the feeling of going from a warm place to a cooler one, I find myself standing in the living room of Gin's and my home in the Seikatsuma realm. I blink, "What am I doing here?"

Gin looks to me from the couch, watching human TV contently, "Queen Zeita said that since all I really do is watch over you and make sure that you don't get into trouble, I can have a break. I think she's going to demote me so that I have more to do. I mean, L's with you now...So you're less likely to get bored and cause mayhem".

I blink, "Hey, I don't cause mayhem when-".

"Oh yea? What about last time when you had no target for five years? On the sixth year you went on a Shinigami killing spree! You knew killing Shinigami for sport is forbidden and yet you did it anyways".

"Hey, in my defense it was also a work out! Their hides are always so tough to cut through okay?" I pout. It's true. About fifty years ago, I hadn't had a real interesting mission in over five years. I got hungry so I went hunting, and after my gut was full I didn't feel like going back. So...I went on a killing spree. "Besides! My name is Lucifer! I'm not supposed to be some sort of goodie two shoes! Man Gin, you should know this".

"I do, but Zeita didn't at that time," he sighs. "Either way, I'm soon enough gonna be an Agent like you. It's gonna be interesting. I haven't had Agent duties in years".

I grin, "You're gonna be rusty!~"

Gin rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "You know, I was a pretty good Agent before you started leaping up the ranks," he pauses, "I taught you after all". A slightly cocky grin spreads across his face at this fact. Yes, being an Agent longer than me made him my instructor for the first couple months. However I caught on rather quickly.

"Yea, but who gave you social skills?" I raise a brow. His grin drops at this and he scoffs. "See? We're even. Anyways, I didn't just come here for a little sibling banter," I tell him. "Near suggested we do a Secret Santa thing for Christmas. You remember what Christmas is, don't you? I explained it a while back".

Gin nods, "Yea. I remember. What's 'Secret Santa' though?"

"Some game where each person draws a name from a hat and if you didn't pick yourself, you're that person's Secret Santa. You get them a present you think they'll like and they won't know it's from you". I pause, "I got Stephen, one of the humans that works with the SPK. I looked at guns for him, but I don't think that's right".

Gin raises a brow, "He's on the SPK? Isn't that the American group after Kira that you work for with L?" I nod. "Well, what's he do there?"

I shrug, "He's currently been tailing the 'Hand of God' as Light called him, Teru Mikami. He's acting as Kira right now".

"Stephen is tailing Kira? Does he wear a mask?"

"No".

"...Get him an Ascuns mask. Those babies work wonders," Gin states.

There is a moment of silence before...A hand flies to my forehead. "Of course! An Ascuns would work perfectly! Gin you're a genius!" I hug him tightly, ignoring the grunt that escapes his lips from the tight hold. "I'm gonna go get one now!" I kiss his cheek before leaving the house, "I'll be back to ask for a door Gin! I'm sure it's already almost been two days in the human realm so I'll have to leave here ASAP!"

"Get moving! It's been a day and a half!" Gin calls after me, his voice already faint and in the distance.

An Ascuns! Why didn't I think of that?! An Ascuns is something that our kind never needed, but thought we needed back when we were a new species. What it is, is a small ball where you press the only button on it and a goo shoots out at you. The first couple times it's frightening, as what happens is the goo encases your face for a few seconds blinding you and then molds to your face perfectly, sinking into your skin, your muscles, everything. It is a mask, even though even as you're wearing it it doesn't feel like it or even look like it. Once worn, you look as normal as ever. However, to both Shinigami and Seikatsuma eyes, we can't see the name nor the lifespan of the one wearing the Ascuns. Think of it like this. The Ascuns is cover up, and your name and lifespan are zits. Once you wear the Ascuns, the 'cover up', the 'zits' that are your name and lifespan cannot be seen at all. Of course, the first few times as mentioned when you wear it, it makes you blind for a few seconds. That's because the technology needs a few times to memorize and save your features. About the fourth time of wearing it, you don't get blinded at all; instead there's just the feeling of something on your face and then you're good to go. All you gotta do is think of getting the mask off once it's molded and it'll come off and reshape itself into your preferred shape. It's a wonderful little thing.

"Ex!" I call, bursting into a small building about a two hours' run from my home. It's nothing more than a shack to be honest. A beaten and withered shack where an older Seikatsuma lives by himself having taken an oath of solitude. He's not very good at keeping to his oath, seeing as he lets Agents and the like visit as they please. "Ex! I need an Ascuns! EX!"

"Dear god woman! Can't a guy sleep?!" A masculine voice suddenly is heard from my right. From a hallway, a short man of maybe five foot three stumbles into the room. He's not physically old, but mentally he's ancient. I swear he's one of the oldest beings in this realm. However, I push that aside, looking over his emerald green hair and molten gold eyes. He's a muscular little thing, however his muscles do not ripple like some other Seikatsuma males' would. My star shaped pupils- as my IH has turned itself off as I'm not around humans- meet pupils that remind me of a frog's. Just a horizontal and thick bar. "What do ya want woman?" He calls all women 'woman', not caring for names save for maybe royalty and family, the latter of which he has none.

"I need an Ascuns," I tell him, looking around the shack. I see no sign of one.

"Yea yea, I figured you'd be here for it eventually," Ex grumbles out, pulling a small ball the size of my palm at most from his pocket. Ex has a very special ability. He can at will glance into the future. However, being that he can do this, he does not try to change fate. Apparently he's tried to in the past, but it's been of no use for him to do so. He tosses the small ice blue ball at me without a care. "That's my last one; I'm not making any more".

I sigh and catch the ball, "Thank you, Ex".

"Yea yea," the false hermit turns away and shuffles his way back into the hallway he came from. "Just make sure Stephen doesn't break it. I'll kill 'im if he does". Not that he can.

"I'll tell him," I grin out before pocketing the ball. From there, I turn and run back home at full speed, my feet seeming to barely touch the ground. The run is again two hours, meaning that I've spent a total of four hours running just to get some simple ball. I pant as I rush into my home, finding Gin where I left him but watching a different human show now. Something called 'House' or something like that.

"Close the door and then walk back through it. You'll end up right in your meeting room," Gin tells me. "Hurry and you'll be just on time".

I grin and rush over to stand behind him only to end up kissing him on the cheek, "You're the best".

Gin grins, "That's awesome hearing that from you".

I chuckle and turn heading back for the door and opening up. With the feeling of going from a cool place to a warmer one, I find myself walking into the very room Gin mentioned seconds ago. I smile lightly upon being greeted by welcoming eyes. "Hey, I'm not late am I?"

L shakes his head and stands from his crouched position in a chair, "No, you're right on time actually". He takes my hand in his own while the other offers a glass of champagne, then he leads me to sit next to him in my own chair. He clinks glasses with me, his own filled with not champagne but apple juice; Near's is the same. Stephen's, Rester's and Halle's all have the same adult drink as my own though. I can't help but chuckle at the geniuses' antics.

"Now," Near states, to begin the exchanging of presents. I believe that because you came here last Lucifer, that you should give your gift first".

I tilt my head at him, "Really?" He nods, "Okay...But don't be too amazed by this. Okay?" I grin and pull the ascuns from my pocket, the ice blue ball resting in my palm. "Here you are, Stephen".

The blue eyed man stares at me oddly, but reaches forward none the less and takes it, "Thank you?"

I grin, "Press the button on the side".

He does as told only for him to fall back seconds later while the ascuns does its work. "Stephen!" Rester calls out in worry, rushing to the man's side and trying to pull the goop off Stephen's face. He glares at me as he does so, "What the hell did you do to him?!"

"Get it off! I can't see!" Stephen flails out.

"What did you DO?!" Rester demands.

I sit there without a care, "Calm down, it's called an Ascuns; it's a thing a buddy of mine created. What it is, is a small ball where you press the only button on it and a goo shoots out at you. The first couple times it's frightening, as what happens is the goo encases your face for a few seconds blinding you and then molds to your face perfectly, sinking into your skin, your muscles, everything. It is a mask, even though even as you're wearing it it doesn't feel like it or even look like it. Once worn, you look as normal as ever. What it does, is it takes your facial features and masks them from technology. That is, if you're seen on a camera, and the police look for a match in their records- or even doctors or anyone really with records of your existence- they won't be able to match you with anything. Not only that, but it releases a hormone that induces forgetfulness. So say a person looks at you and you have the Ascuns on; they won't recognize you as though you just got plastic surgery or something. However, I'd only ever wear it when going under cover or something. Because if you wear it around friends or else they won't ever remember you. It takes a few times for you to wear it for it to stop blinding you. And by then it'll start releasing the hormone. After the fourth time about, if you wear that around us, we won't be able to recognize you. Understood?" My explanation isn't really different from what the Ascuns really does. Because that is its secondary function. I've just left out the primary function. "Make sure to wear it while trailing Mikami, it should keep you safe".

As I speak, Stephen's screaming comes to a halt as suddenly he sits up able to see and looking as though nothing happened to him. A hand falls to his face, "This...This thing is amazing". His blue eyes are wide, his mind trying to process what I've explained. "Can your friend make more? This would be wonderful for under cover agents everywhere".

I smile, "Sorry, Ex said that that was the only one that really works. Even if you manage to find him, he won't make more. Besides, that's a gift; don't go mass producing it. That'll hurt my feelings".

Stephen is silent for a moment before he nods, "Right...Sorry".

There is a moment of silence before, "Well," Rester continues, "Why don't you go next then, Stephen?"

The blue eyed man blinks once...Twice, "Oh, right, Commander. Well, now that you mention it, I got you as the person to give a gift to. To be honest I didn't know what exactly to get you. So...I got you a new car".

"Y-You what?!"

Stephen offers a small smile, "I got you a new car, sir. I remember you talking about how you hated your old one. I don't have any family left; I'm an only child and my parents who were only children as well are passed away. And as I live by myself, well, I have all this saved up money that I don't mind spending. You're a good man, Commander. So...I figured 'why not'?" He pulls a fab and a key on one ring from his pocket, "Here you are, sir," and tosses them to the older man.

"S-Stephen I...Thank you," the man smiles out to the younger one. "I will never forget this kindness".

"Don't worry about it sir," Stephen nods out himself, thinking off the Ascuns and placing the small ball into his pocket. "However if this is the pattern we'll be going in, I believe that it's your turn to give your present".

The still stunned blond haired and early forties aged man blinks and nods once, "Near, I've gotten to be your Secret Santa," he informs the young child sized man. He turns and from behind his back he rests down a large rectangular wrapped object. "Go ahead and open it".

Near stares at the white wrapping paper topped by a silver hand tied bow. Gotta say, Rester did a fairly good job at making that bow. None the less, the young man does as bidden and methodologically unwraps the gift. When he finally has it free of the paper, he tilts his head before a small smile spreads across his face. "Twelve sided dice, and quite a lot of them at that...How witty of you Rester," the young man states, "You knew I enjoyed stacking things a great deal and making things while doing so. These will offer me more of a challenge. Thank you".

Rester smiles back to the young man, "My pleasure, Near".

Near moves the package to the side, the small smile on his lips still resting there almost contently, "Halle, I was picked to become your Secret Santa. If you will please open up the drawer behind you, you will find your present waiting for you".

Halle, who by now has half way finished her glass of adult drink, puts said glass down after her most recent sip and nods. She stands and then heads towards the drawer pointed out. However, when she opens the drawer a gasp comes from her lips. "Near!" She speaks with utter surprise lacing the name, "How did you...?"

Near chuckles lightly, being only slightly filled with more emotional abilities, "I deducted that you would appreciate them".

The woman chuckles herself and turns around for us all to see a pair of beautiful weapons. How the hell Near got them bought or even found them, I don't know. The sais fit perfectly in the woman's hands, being made of a colored metal that matches her eyes and having hilts that are black in color. "I do Near, thank you". The albino merely nods his head. With the pattern of getting and then giving being fully underway by now, I realize that Halle will either be gifting me or she will be gifting L. However, I've spent too much time with L to deduce that I'd be the one to get a gift next as that would leave L out of the picture. "I'll be right back with your present, L," she tells the man after finding the thigh holsters for her new blunt weapons and holstering them. She leave the room completely for a total of five minutes before returning with something that requires a wheeled table-cart to carry it. Carefully she pushes it into the room before grinning. "Merry Christmas, L".

L's large eyes are wider than I've ever seen them to be. In front of us is the tallest strawberry cake I've ever seen in my life. A small line of drool comes from the older panda eyed detective, "That is a magnificent cake. Thank you Halle," he praises the woman, obviously looking to eat the whole thing at once. And now that he's a Seikatsuma, he can actually do that.

Halle chuckles, "This cake isn't just any cake, L. This is from the world's greatest bakery where literally everything is made to perfection- even the growing of the strawberries. She pulls from her back pants pocket a card and hands it over to the black haired man. "This is the bakery's number. They're huge fans of yours, L. Said that they're willing to make you cake and deserts whenever you want," she informs.

L takes the card into his thumb and forefinger hold and looks it over. "They're in America," there's a nod from the woman, "You had it shipped all the way here to Japan?" Another nod. "Incredible". And now a chuckle from the woman. For five more minutes L stares at the cake, as though trying to figure out which portion he wants to eat first. However, after five minutes of staring he states, "Lucifer, under your chair is a package. If you would please pick it up and open it, that is your gift from myself to you".

I blink before going under my chair and doing just that. And after putting it on the table as well as finding him watching me closely, I raise a brow. The wrapping is done by hand. I smile at the sight of the colors being based off of my own hair and eye colors; black wrapping with a red bow. Unlike Near, however, I'm not so careful with the wrapping, knowing that it'll just be thrown away. However the bow is quickly turned into something of a necklace for the evening, L so kindly tying it around my neck for now. The is gift long and thick and semi-wide. However it's hard to say just what it is. I open the box only for my eyes to widen. "You got me a-".

"Yes," L answers, a light smile on his face. "When you played it for Light and I as Razboi, I noticed that you do enjoy to play. However your self esteem in your abilities of doing so are low is all. So I bought this for you".

A small smile tugs at my lips while across from me Near inquires, "What is it?" The box's edges keeping him from seeing what's inside.

"It's a violin," I tell him, pulling out the case and pushing the box away. The black average case is opened to show a lovely violin. My breath is taken away at the sight of the silver stained wood and black strings. The bow next to it is of the same color, having black horse tail hair rather than white. "And it's amazing".

"It has been tuned already with Stephen's help," L looks the man's way, making me look his way as well.

Stephen shrugs, "My parents wanted me to learn to play an instrument when I was little. I chose the violin".

L picks it up from there, "Play for us will you?"

I blink once...Twice...Three times...Fou- "Okay". Ever unable to turn down a request for me to play. I lean forward and take a sip of my champagne before standing and resting the violin on my shoulder. I test work of the instrument, running the bow up and down in basic scales just to warm myself up a bit. Then, I look to my lover first and the others second, "This is called Lilium. I'm warning you, it's a bit melancholy but no matter". I let out a long and steady breath before letting the bow begin its dance, taking the melody instead of the harmony of the song. Like the last time I played, I do not get lost in the music nor do I play with a smile. Instead I play with concentration. I play two songs, knowing that L would request me to do so. The second song I play is called Song of Time and Song of Storms, a song that I've learned in all my video game playing. When I am done I sit. There's a bit of clapping but not much more, seeing as the lot of us are mostly conservative people in how we show our emotions. Well, two of us aren't quite that way but you know. Still, the night ends well, with myself managing to get L to sleep for the first time in months- not that he needs to actually sleep anymore- and everything is calm.