Work Text:
By the time the end credits started rolling, playing the melancholic yet hopeful tune of “Into the West”, it was well into the wee hours of the night. Some time during the movie marathon, Aelys’ living room had been transformed into a combination of nest and pillow fort. The lights were dimmed, casting a warm golden glow, and blankets and pillows were strewn all over the already plush rug. Her friends were likewise scattered across the room, snuggled up together on the couch and on the floor. It was cozy.
“That never gets old,” JB commented quietly. Maravix was fast asleep against his shoulder, blanket tucked up around her ears.
“‘Well, I’m back’. Gets me every single time.” Sal flopped back against the back of the couch and sighed contentedly. “This was such a great idea.”
“Unfortunately Aelys was correct,” Valor said, “extended editions are far superior.”
Aelys stuck her head out past the mass of blankets that had accumulated around her. (It started with Synnove almost burrito-wrapping her with the fluffiest blanket in the house, and somehow led to everyone else deciding that she needed to be cocooned. Not that she’s complaining.) “What do you mean, unfortunately? Everyone knows that if you’re going to marathon Lord of the Rings, the extended editions are the only option.”
Instead of responding, Valor just threw another blanket at her. Aelys went down beneath the fluffy fabric with an “oof”, falling back against Synnove and Katari, who had both joined her on the floor. Katari absent-mindedly steadied her with one arm, the other wrapped securely around their girlfriend in their lap. Synnove only giggled and tried to burrito her again.
“Traitor,” Aelys hissed at Synnove, making a half-hearted attempt at escaping her fabric prison. Failing that, she sunk back into the blanket nest and huffed. “Katari, throw something at Valor for me, would you?”
Katari just laughed, which was supremely rude and unfair of them, if you asked Aelys.
“Theagus tried to hide a massive yawn behind the flipper of the penguin onesie he was sporting. “Not that I didn’t love the 12 hour movie marathon, but we should probably all be getting home. It’s late.”
That got him a chorus of groans and complaints.
“I’m too cozy to move,” Sal griped, sinking further down into the couch.
“You have work tomorrow, Sal.” JB reminded him, earning another loud groan.
Aelys gave Theagus a supremely unimpressed look. “What the fuck do you mean, go home? I’m already home. You’re all in my house.”
Synnove giggles again. “Princess is grumpy when she’s tired.”
“Uh, technically, this is our house, remember? House of Sentinel?” Sal said, grinning cheekily.
Aelys wriggled out of her cocoon enough to throw a pillow at him. “I don’t see you paying my rent, Sal.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Theagus mime the communism rabbit meme, and laugh to himself.
Ever gracious and responsible, JB was the first to make any moves to actually get ready to leave. He gently shook Maravix awake, and started to clear the coffee table of forgotten drinks and snacks. Eventually, everyone else followed suit, helping to return Aelys’ living room to some semblance of order.
Her friends all filed out her door, saying goodbye as they went. Katari pulled her in a loose headlock before kissing the top of her head, Synnove smiled warmly and kissed her forehead, JB kissed her on one cheek and Sal on the other, and Valor, Theagus, and Maravix all gave her massive hugs.
Sal is the last to leave, turning with one hand on the door. “A gracious host as always, Aelys. Same time next week?” With a wink, he too is gone.
All Aelys could do was smile.