The Cephalo Diaries 2017

T'was the nizzle before Christmizzle, and all through the hizzle.. was constant orange blur zooming around because baking cookies took longer than she thought. 

"okay Goob, you ready for the longest walk of your life?" After a bark in response, Torch gave a small giggle and placed the remaining bagged gingerbread cookies in her pack. She wrapped her scarf snuggly around her, put on the very festive santa hat, fitted Goober's leash onto him -as well as some reindeer antlers- and out the door she went.
Her plan was to go backwards, so it would be a straight round trip to home, catch a couple of Z's before the sun came up so she could catch the flight back to Inkopolis... Let's just hope it goes according to plan. 

The weather outside was frightful.
But the cozy scarf was so delightful.
They had many places to go,
let is snow let it snow let it snow~ 

Okay the weather wasn't so bad, the flurries made it feel very festive, The girl even had enough will to sing the silly suidmas songs as she walked. Aaaaall the way uptown, to her first destination. Torch gave a couple of knocks on Luanne's door.
shave and a haircut
Goober gave the last two barks to complete the tune.

I've got to get home (Baby you'll freeze out there) 
Say lend me a coat? (It's up to your knees out there!) 
You've really been grand, (I feel when I touch your hand) 
But don't you see? (How can you do this thing to me?) 
There's bound to be talk tomorrow (Think of my life long sorrow!) 
At least there will be plenty implied (If you caught pneumonia and died!) 
I really can't stay (Get over that old out) 
Baby it's cold Baby it's cold outside 

The parental duo laughed as they finished up  the song. It's the typical tradition of the Delavine family to put on a little performance an Xmas time. "You always ham up those low notes, Don." The mother of the Delavine family commented on her husband's singing  as he chuckled in response.

"Someone had to~." The tall, long-haired inkling responded, turning over to the mistletoe hanging above.  

Luanne leaned over to Abigail, setting her violin down gently. "Every year he goes for a song that makes he sing really low. It's kinda cool in its own way." She whispered, giggling at her parents antics.  Well, a knock on the door turns some heads for sure, but a bark added to it makes it extra peculiar. Don started making his trek away from the mistletoe to the door, until his daughter sprung right up to stop him. "No worries, dad! I got this." 

Luanne said, rushing over to answer the door.  "Oh hey, Torch! Merry Squidmas to you and.." She said as her eyes looked down to Goob, and couldn't help but kneel down to give the guy a pet. "Santas best uh...reignsnail? Eheh, you're just doin the best in general!"

“Hey, more power to him~” Abigail rose a fist as if to applaud the duo. Mezzie was cuddled so soundly too on top of Abigail’s cap, when she was startled awake by the knocking, and continued to swim into the anemone’s hair with the followed bark. Meanwhile, the mint sea creature barely turned her head to the door, continuing to slouch on her spot. 

Goober panted happily to the pets, leaning into her hand.
“Ahahah, Merry Squidmas to you too!” Keeping the leash held in one hand, Torch slung off a back pack strap, immediately sticking her hand into the opening. “I uh, just wanted to drop off a little gift eheh..” soon enough she pulled out a few small bags, festively wrapped with red and green ribbon. “Whew!” She slung the bag back on and handed the treats over.

Luanne jumped right up adjusting the antler beanie she has adorned on her head. "Oh?" She curiously commented, accepting the treats right from. "Well..whoa, really didn't expect this, sorry!" She said, grinning over to Torch as she begun to peak inside the bags.
"Really this is.. thank you so much, Torch. I'm sorry if I don't have anything to give in return."

Torch readied her hand in retreat, “oh, don’t worry about it! I wasn’t expecting anything ahah!” She adjusted the pack better, “I just wanted to give something to my um, friends, yknow? I just hope you enjoy them~” The orange squid took a step back, indicating her departure- unless there was something more of course.
“But uh, yeah that was all, haha. Don’t let me interrupt your festivities even more!”

Lu shook her head, keeping up her grateful grin as she gave a thumbs up towards her. "Oh, don't worry at all. You proooobably should get goin before dad wants to bring you in for a song number." Lu leaned in, darting her gaze over her shoulder to make sure her dad was occupied. "I'm sure you don't want to do a rendition of Santa Baby now." She whispered, snickering into her hand as she went back looking through the treats. "Again, thank you, Torch. I'm glad we've met this year."

Torch rubbed behind her neck on the song, “oh, no. I don’t think I’d want to either ahah..” the girl began walking off, turning back on the final thanks, “Ah, same here Lu.” She gave a sweet smile, and rose her hand in a single wave, “Merry Squidmas!” 

Off the duo went again. She should have passed Valerie’s house along the way to Luanne’s.. so it was just back tracking from here. Shouldn’t have taken too long before they were walking up to her doorstep. And here’s the locking tune again~shave and a haircut-BARK BARK

Valerie opened the door after a while, her face and maybe parts of her arms with smeared icing as if she tried to wipe them off before opening the door and she beamed Torch a smile nevertheless. "Oh, Torch! Heya! Uh- 'cuse the mess, got family over and then big bro decided a little food fight would be more energizing than just eating and talking for the mean while, hahah...!" She tried to explain before making a little wave at Goober and giving him all the pets and then looking back up at Torch. "What's up?" If listened more to the background, seems like someone's yelling at someone else and that now they got to clean up a bit aside from others' laughter.

Just catching sight of the icing, Torch assumed the explanation.
Welp, she only has more ammo for them to use! “Ahah, heya Val!” She immediately began shuffling off her pack while Goober was enjoying all the pets. moooore pets... MOOOOREEE
“Looks like you got a party going on aside the food fight huh? Guess it’s a good thing I made extras eheh..” She pulled out a handful of baggies from her pack and sling the strap back into place before handing over the goods, “Merry Squidmas!”

She giggled at Goober's reaction and probably giving him some more pets before standing up and receiving the cookies. Oh gosh. Valerie held the cupcakes for a bit before snapping like as if there had been so many things she had forgotten or something. "Oh my gosh- I- thanks Torch, hold on a quick moment I swear! Zaakk- hold these cookies for me for a minute!!" She then somewhat carefully shoved the cookies onto her brother who just happened to want to check up on who was at the door before Valerie went running up the stairs to her room. 

With that though, Zak couldn't help but look out the door and notice Torch. "...huh. Heya there, Victory Torch. Merry Squidmas to you." He went waving at her with a smile.

“Oh you’re welco- uh, um Yeah no problem!” Torch stepped back, adjusting her bag when she heard the familiar nickname.. She snapped her head up again and realized... oof.
“Oh. Uh. Hey!” She gave a single awkward wave accompanied with a small smile, “Merry Squidmas to you too, heh”

"...soo, what'cha doing for these holidays? Aside from giving gifts it seems?" Zak sorta tried to start up a short conversation while awaiting Valerie, though really it didn't last long at all when the purple squid went jumping down the hecking steps while holding a folder filled with papers apparently and soon went up to Torch while catching her breath.  

"OK!! I-I know it's not much, but, but I do hope you like it- made some, made some drawings and all, haha...!" Valerie smiled brightly, taking some of the papers out of the folder before handing the whole folder to her. Apparently the rest were for other people. "Thanks again, um- would you- do you have anything else to do or no because like you're welcomed inside!!"

“Oh uh, I’m actually heading ho-“ the rest would have to be inferred, because Val came bouncing back down with a bunch of papers.
But when she was handed the folder, Torch could only blink in surprise, “oh, f-for me? Wow um, thanks Val!” She took the folder with a bigger smile, she wasn’t expecting this at all whoa.
However the smile faltered some with the question, “oh, I’m sorry. I actually have a couple more deliveries to make.. thank you for the offer though!” She took another step back, even giving a small bow.. to which Goober saw and attempted as well. Mimicry. “Have a happy holiday you guys!” 

"Oh alright then well, bye! Happy holidays to you too!!" Valerie went waving goodbye as she went off.

And so she was off again. Might take her a little while this time.. considering she was heading to a different cul-de-sac now. The weather was still okay.. getting colder by the minute but she was fine!
Goober on the other hand, was already pulling on the leash to make her stop, and tried to climb up on her- a request to be carried. How could she say no... Snow was building, but not enough to have a good snow day. Perhaps in the morning.. And eventually, she was there!
“Sorry, Bud, gotta put you down right now..” Goober gave a whine as he was set down, and then gave Kuro’s door the same knock:
shave and a haircut-... “What, no two bits?” Goober looked the other way.

A few seconds later, and Allen opened the door a bit reluctantly. His eyes widened a bit when he got a better sight of who was behind the door and started hiding a bit more behind said door and went calling out Kuro. The called squid soon took over keeping the door open and- huh. Unlike his usual dark blue, it seemed to be that the guy was a light blue. And he was smiling happily. "Well, heya Torch. Merry Squidmas! What brings you here, eh?"

Seeing the door open, Torch put her smile back on and- oh well that was a delayed door opening but oh well! “Ah, Merry Squidmas to you too!” She began slinging off her pack, “I’ve just been dropping off some gifts, you’re uh, the next stop ahah,” sticking her hand in the bag, she pulled out one of the treat bags and was about to hand it over.. but paused, “oh, uh, is it only you this holiday? Actually, nah that.. doesn’t matter-“ she struck her hand back into the pack to pull out a couple more bags. She still had enough for the last stop anyways, “here ya go~” she chuckled out, finally forking over the cookies.

Kuro took a bit but then went chuckling lightly, taking in the bags. "Ah, nah, I... Actually got some more people than just myself here, haha. Thanks for these by the way- sorry I don't got- I didn't actually prepare any presents for Christmas oof... Um- hey- gonna spend the holidays with your family after all these gift deliveries?" He went questioning, glancing away from her and making hand signals to someone else in the house it seems but otherwise seemed to keep the door open still for at least the answer before any farewells.

“Oh, no no don’t worry about it!” Torch shrugged her bag strap back on, she noted the hand signals but.. oh well, none of her business, “oh, yeah actually! Taking the first flight tomorrow ahah.. er, don’t let me keep you though, I really just wanted to drop these off.” She took a step back, Goober following in unison.

"Ah alright then, thanks a lot-" He suddenly stopped his sentence as a shorter squid went grabbing onto his arm, coming from where he was signaling to. The young girl weirdly seemed to go whispering yet also sort of yelling her words. 

"What isss iiitttt-" 

"Ky, what took you so long god-" 

"Ssshhhaddap." 

Kuro motioned over to Torch briefly and the younger squid stared at her for a while. "This is Valkyrie... My li'l sis. I just- I just call her Ky with Val being around." 

"Heyaa." 

"I know I said no yelling but you don't have to keep whispering the whole time Ky please-" 

"HI NICE TO MEET YOU THANKS FOR THE SNACKS BYEEEE...!!" And so she went on just grabbing the bags and going away and Kuro just staring at where she went and shook his head, laughing quietly. 

"... Welp, happy holidays to ya, Torch, hope you have a pretty good one."

Torch was caught kind of of guard by the sudden yell. She simply had a blank stare as she ran off, and it took her a moment to get herself back and give a chuckle as well. “Heheh, yeah, you too, Kuro” She gave a small wave and lightly tugged on Goober’s leash to get going. 

“Here we go, Goob. The final stretch..”
They trudged on and the light snow continued to fall.. around half way of the walk Goober requested a ride again, so Torch had additional warmth as she continued the trek to the final destination... Which she go to, eventually, and alive.
“Okay I’ll keep carrying you this time until one of em opens the door, got it?” Goober gave a single yip as a response, and so Torch adjusted her hold on the snail and gave final knock on Sleak’s door.
shave and a haircut
BARK BARK

A muddled 'hang on I'm coming' was audible from the other side of the door. A female voice. A few seconds later, the door was answered by none other than Ellecant Disyne. "Y'ellooo- oh hey, it's you." Elle opened her mouth for a moment, but closed it. Right, no teasing jokes and all that jazz. She pouted almost immediately afterward. "What is it, you need Sleak for somethin'?"

She wouldn’t be lying if she was half expecting her brother.. but she couldn’t show that. “Heyyyy uh, well, no not really.” At that moment she crouched to let Goober down and sling off her pack, sticking her hand in it again, “I was just making deliveries and well uh, here.” She pulled out a few bags, pretty much what was left in it, and handed it over to Ellecant, “it’s for both of you~”

"Oh??" Ellecant looked curiously at the lil' bags. "Hey bro, your girlfriend is at the door handing out presents!" 

“Tell her to come in! It's cold outside!" Sleak's voice sounded from the back of the apartment.. 

"Y'heard him. Come on in." Elle paused. ".. Wait he didn't even.."

Torch facepalmed with Elle’s quip, and proceeded to crouch down again to collect her snail. But she too, had to pause before stepping inside. “I.. hm-“ While going in, she managed to cover her face -really just up to her nose- with her scarf, “so.. do I play along and say ‘honey, I’m home,’ or someshit?”

"Whatever, just decide quickly, you're letting the cold in." Elle replied. ".. Also.. Neither of you are denying it anymore, huh.." Sounds from the inside seemed like Sleak was doing something. Hard to tell what. Though it ended on the unmistakable sound of a door getting slammed shut.

“is it not denying or is it not letting you have the satisfaction of denying?” She rolled her eyes. Torch opened the other door -definitely inside by now- and as soon as she took a few steps in, Goober wriggled out of Torch’s arms again and bounded over to the sofa, finding his nap spot there and not minding the sounds at all. “Slamming doors... someone’s hiding something.” Torch commented.. still wearing the scarf over her nose.

"Tch." was all Elle responded to that. As she walked into the main room, she brushed a coat, which.. fell to the floor immediately. "Coddangit.." TV was on. Some crime actioney show with squidmas theming. A cups of hot chocolate on the coffee table- wait, no.. cacao-coffee blend?.. A second cup on the larger table, with an open laptop.. on it's lock screen. Both bathroom and bedroom had the door shut. But only one of the two had light shining from beneath it.. And it wasn't the bathroom. However, was it truly 'hiding something'? 

Sleak's voice was audible from the bedroom shortly after. "Gimme a minute, I just gotta find something..!"

“Uh.. I only came to drop somethin off, don’t gotta worry about it!” Torch replied, though of course, she didn’t know what it was. Maybe it was pants for all she knew.
Having said that, the girl put her offerings on the coffee table, merely pushing aside the cups, and turned to Goober. “Hhhhoh boy you’re gonna be difficult, aren’t you.” Goober slowly turned belly up, indicating all his dead weight would be used to make his owner’s task difficult in getting him off the couch.

"Just a sec more!" Stated Sleak, still from behind a closed door. 

"...Oi. I was sitting there." Elle had approached the couch and stared at the snail. "Come on, move, I wanna get back to my lounging." Ah, the door opened. Sleak emerged holding a small package, wrapped in decorative paper.. Clearly advertising a local.. Herb store? It would be more clear if Sleak hadn't also put a t-shirt on top of it. "Sorry, I have to properly hide stuff since someone searches for gifts." Sleak pointed out. "And I came across my pile of merch so I figured I'd also finally give you that orange one I intended to give you.. Uh.. Months.. Ago.." 

A soft 'bite me' was commented by Elle as Sleak mentioned a someone, but the volume was decreased as the moment she wanted to say it she realized what a bad idea it would be.

Goober lifted his head as the comment was heard. Bite? Did someone say bite?? ...wait that would mean he’d lose his spot, nvm. He flopped his head back down.
“Well I guess better late than never, eheh.. -Aww is that for Goober??” She pointed at the box, sounding like she obviously knew who that was for but y’know.

"Yes, it's all for Goober, I know how much he likes.." Sleak paused. "Gifts." No spoilers for Torch. Elle sat down on the other side of the couch. Whatever. Dumb snail would be gone in a bit anyway. "Anyway, you doing something tomorrow? Shiro had this dinner thing planned for our group, maybe you'd like to come?" Sleak asked.

She smirked under her scarf. But it soon went away with the question, "oh- gosh, really? I'm uh," Torch rubbed her arm, "'fraid I can't, I'm actually back in Inkopolis tomorrow.. sorry.."

"Ah, celebrating with your family, huh. Makes sense. Think it's not very surprising that we're staying in Cephalo this year, heh." Sleak laughed a bit sheepishly. Not exactly a subject that anyone needed to be reminded about. "Anyway, no need to apologize. If anything, I dropped it on you at pretty much last moment. Should've asked sooner."

"mm.. probably.. Hope you guys have fun though, bet it'll be uh.. lot less nagging," she seemed to smile, then turned her attention to her pet again, "Alright, bud. Let's go, c'mon." Torch grabbed for his leash and tugged on it lightly, just preparing him for the trip back. It only earned her a long, bratty groan.

"To be honest though, kinda glad.. Things just feel more at ease now, though.. I guess you've noticed we got just about no decorations, heh." Sleak noted. 

Elle eyed the whole spectacle with the snail. "..Y'know what. Listen here. I'mma move over back to that spot in about 10 seconds, and if you're not gone, I'mma lay right on top of you, pooch.. 10.." 

"..E..elle.." Sleak sighed, and shook his head. Elle meanwhile continued her countdown.

"yeah, you bah-humbugs," she teased. "but I guess to be fair, I only have a few decorations at my place too. Might be gone till next year anyways.."
She looked to Elle with her threat, "pff, good luck with that, I use him as my pillow sometimes!"

"...dangit. Though you have to leave soon anyway, so I GUESS I'll just wait for that!" was Elle's response, who seemed to just get more humbug-y from that response. 

"Well, y'know, we still 'celebrate' squidmas, as in we both got each other a gift.. But beyond that.." Sleak shrugged. "...That reminds me though, you still have my stuff stored, right?" He paused.. and looked aside for a moment. "...Before I moved, there was a box that I couldn't take with. I labelled it 'Mental Exercise'.. Could you.. maybe bring that back with you, if possible..?"

Torch only let out a small sigh with Elle’s response, she could feel the humbug from there. “Oh, right.. I haven’t.. touched that yet uh- yeah! Yeah I can bring that back I think.” Now she bent to scoop up her slug. He didn’t protest- it meant he didn’t have to walk. “Anyway we should probably head on out. Thanks for letting us warm up a little eheh..”

"That'd be great.. thanks... and yeah, you're welcome. I'll shut the door behind you." Sleak replied. Ah yes, the Mental Exercise.. Truly the most important box... Considering it has his console and videogames. Elle hearing this, though... raised an eyebrow.. and.. the corner of her mouth?... Ah, probably not.. If anything, likely just happy she could lounge on the full couch again, which was precisely what she began doing.

Having gathered her belongings, Torch made her way to the door, “Merry Squidmas, guys~” and out she went. Yay

As soon as Elle heard Torch say 'Merry Squidmas'... She smirked. "What, no kiss before you go?" 

Sleak raised an eyebrow, looking back at the room for a moment.. What nonsense was Elle on about.. He turned back, opting to close the d- Sonuva. When.. the hell.. "Uh.." Sleak eyed the small green object above the doorframe. That.. Definitely wasn't there earlier. Coddamnit, Elle.. Mistletoe..?!

Torch grew frigid at the words, but she managed to try and keep going. At least until she heard Sleak’s cue, which is when she turned to see what in the world they were even looking a- for fuck’s sake.
Yes Torch’s eyes locked on the little plant, and thank goodness she didn’t move that scarf because she may as well go squid for how orange her face was. “Uh..” she echoed. ...and then a thought hit her. “Y’know what. You’re right.” She took a deep breath in and.. raised Goober to his eye level, “pucker up, slick. You can’t ruin the tradition.” Her face totally contrasted her tone.

Sleak stared the snail down. Then looked at the plant. And then Torch. "Actually, if you're playing it that way.. I'm technically not under the plant." He eyed the plant again. "But.. Looking at it.. You are. And Goober is. So if you're pulling that stunt, the one would should 'pucker up', so to speak, would be you." He lowered the volume of his voice. ".. That said. Scoop me up some of that snow, I have a shirt I need to stuff it in. Specifically, the one Elle is wearing right now."

“Well damn, fine, don’t show my snail some love.” She brought Goober back down, snuggling the pet almost in spite. Hearing the request however, Torch freed a hand and swiped up a good sized lump of snow, passed it over, and shook out her hand, “have fun with that~”

"Thank you very much.. You have a merry squidmas too, Torch." Sleak gave a small wave with his free hand, before closing the door. Nary a moment later, a loud scream could be heard. Sounded like success.