Chapter Text
Carlos knocks lightly on the apartment door, the mini notebook full of his research for this week in his pocket digging into his leg, distracting his already preoccupied brain.
The door flies open, and he’s greeted by an excited Cecil, who grabs his arm, pulling him inside.
“You came just in time, it’s almost dark and I was about to set everything up!” Cecil says, beaming at him, his cheeks only slightly flushed.
“Is there anything I can help with?” Carlos offers, smiling back at his boyfriend. “I don’t want to intrude, but I did a lot of research in preparation for today, so if you need anything done-”
“I’ve got everything covered, you don’t need to worry about it.” The Radio Host replies, pulling a cardboard box out of a closet, before pausing. “Actually, if you could dust the sufaniyot on the counter with some powdered sugar that’d be great.”
“Sure thing Sweetie.” He responds, nodding before ducking into the kitchen.
Carlos finds the powdered sugar next to the cooling rack full of sufaniyot, and it only takes him a few moments to locate the sifter in one of the drawers.
He dusts the confections with the same level of precision as when he’s adding two dangerous chemicals together in the lab, being as careful as he can, trying to do the best job possible.
It’s his first Hanakkuh, with his still relatively new relationship, he’s honored to have Cecil invite him to join in this wonderful tradition, and he’s determined to be the best guest possible for his boyfriend.
Cecil lets out a yelp, stealing Carlos’ attention. His head snaps up, and he rushes out of the kitchen to check up on his boyfriend. Being here has taught him that anything can happen and that he can’t be too careful.
“Is everything alright Ceec?” Carlos asks, a panicked edge to his voice.
Cecil looks up from the now open box, blinking a few times, before giving him an embarrassed smile.
“Oh, yeah, everything’s fine. The menorah’s just a bit feisty this year.” His boyfriend explains, grabbing something and pulling it out of the box.
Carlos stares at the thing in Cecil’s hands. It’s certainly shaped like a menorah, it has the nine candle holders, but instead of small cups of platforms, there are writhing tendrils wrapped around the metal base.
The tendrils are attached to a squirming body. It’s a mass of dark colors ranging from a blue to a deep red, covered in a thick, heavily textured skin, one that looks rough to touch.
“That’s your menorah?” Carlos asks, staring at the object, at the creature, in bewilderment.
“Uhuh!” Cecil says proudly, looking at the wriggling creature. “Mom let me pick it out when I was a kid after our old menorah passed. I named them Piddles.”
None of his research had prepared him for this. But then again, he hadn’t been able to find anything about Night Vale’s Hanukkah traditions in his brief venture in the public Library, so he shouldn’t be this surprised that something unexpected occurred.
But he won’t let this hurdle stop him from making the most of this holiday.
“I think it’s wonderful.” Carlos replies with a smile.
“Thanks Bunny.” The Radio Host replies, before holding the creature out towards him. “Would you put Piddles on the window sill while I get the candles? The one facing the street.”
“Um, sure?” The Scientist says hesitantly, cautiously taking the creature.
He carefully walks towards the window, setting it gently on the ledge, the setting sun making it cast a strange unnerving shadow, as if it wasn’t unsettling enough already.
“I got them!” Cecil calls, before showing up behind him with a pack of candles and a box of matches.
“Hey, Hun, is it alright for Piddles to have hot wax melted on them?” Carlos asks softly, placing a hand on his boyfriend’s arm.
Supposedly this is how Cecil has done it his whole life, but he’s still worried for the poor creature, and doesn’t want anything bad to happen to them.
“Of course it’s alright, menorah’s eat wax, that’s why we have them to celebrate Hanukkah.” The Radio Host answers, confusion in his voice. “And that’s why we buy special seasoned candles, to make sure they’re tasty.”
“Right. Right.” Carlos repeats, nodding a few times, before speaking again, finally voicing the question that had been eating at the back of his mind. “Cecil, why do you celebrate Hanukkah?”
From what Carlos has seen, Cecil isn’t very religious. Or, maybe it’s the opposite, and he’ll partake in almost any religion, or, more accurately, cult, and doesn’t prescribe to a singular belief.
He wasn’t surprised by Cecil celebrating Hanukkah though, far from it. But still, the more he learns about how his boyfriend celebrates it, the stranger he feels about the whole thing.
“Well we always celebrated growing up.” Cecil explains, a soft smile on his lips. “It was one of the happier times during the year. I was always told that it was a tradition passed down from my ancestors, so I just continued doing it. Why not?”
Carlos nods. He won’t worry Cecil with the fact that, in the rest of the world, Hanukkah is quite different from this. This is Cecil’s tradition, after all.
“The sun’s just about fully set, should we get the candles set up?” Carlos suggests with a smile.
“Yes, thank you!” Cecil says, perking up once more and springing into action.