open;

[schild]

Who: Network folks who are in Locke for Xmas
Where: A community center (let's say it's the same one from the first aid thing)
When: Backdated to December 23
What: Christmas/Holiday Party!
Warnings: Shenanigans? Kissing?

[ Ah yes, come one, come all! As per the plotting, let's just say Ryan put out a message that went something like this:

Hey everyone! I was wondering how many of us are stuck here in Locke for the holidays. I'm used to parties and celebrating with friends, so I figured, why not do that anyway! It'll be a Network-only thing, so don't be shy. And if you wanna help, just let me know!

And thus your character finds themselves here, a part of christmas cheer and echoes, surrounded by free food and tinsel and even Mistletoe... The Christmas party! And by Christmas I mean Santa and reindeer and all that lame stuff. ]

[ Feel free to start your own top-level comments I mean seriously, if you need an excuse for dumb shenanigans this is it. ]

Comments

OTA

[toobig]

[Someone (Octavia? Ryan? Who's to say?) deemed it invaluable that Bertholdt have a sprig of mistletoe attached to the Rudolph antlers he's also been forced to wear, meaning anyone could ask him for a kiss at any time.]

[Bertholdt's not really amused, but he's not going to say 'no' to it either.]

[shortspoken]

[ ANNND HERE'S ELLIE. She approaches Bertholdt to say hi, notices the mistletoe and just. Keeps on walking right past him. Fuck Christmas and all Christmasly shenanigans.

Then she realises that makes her look like a twat. So she walks back towards him.

Then she realises that she can't actually reach anywhere near Bertl's face, and climbing up him while he's in a delicate physical state is probably not the best idea ever. She can't ask him to bend down, that's humiliating. So: she walks right past him again.

Then she comes back. With a chair. And stands on that - on tippytoes - to finally bestow the most linefaced of smoochlets on Bertholdt's cheek.

WASN'T THAT WORTH IT. GODDAMN. ]

Happy holidays.

[toobig]

[Ellie's cagey shenanigans are so natural by now, Bertholdt barely notices her slinking around while he pours himself coffee and mostly ignores the party in favor of being reclusive and shy. When she comes back with a chair, though, he almost says something snarky before he realizes what she's doing. He smiles at the kiss, and kisses her forehead in return.]

You too, Ellie.

[shortspoken]

Bah. Humbug.

[ She hops off the chair - being short is better than needing a boost - then kicks it away from her. There. Now nobody can ever prove that just happened. ]

You look like you're enjoying this about as much as me. Being involved in giant conspiracies would be so much more tolerable if there were fewer parties.

[toobig]

[There's a pause while he watches the chair screech across the floor.]

Don't you mean... Titanic conspiracies...?

[shortspoken]

[ BERTL NO ]

...Colossal conspiracies.

[ ELLIE NO ]

[toobig]

Our... massive misadventures.

[schild]

[ It may or may not have been Ryan who put the mistletoe on there, but he's sure as hell going to make the best of it, certainly. He wraps his arm around Bertholdt's waist-- pulling them flush together. Ugly sweater to ugly sweater. ]

Hey, Bertl. Merry Christmas.

[toobig]

M-Merry Christmas...

[He's used to Ryan grabbing him by now, but in public? He's still a little shy about that. Still, he smiles down at the other, cheeks pink.]

Everyone loves your parties, Ryan... Uh, it's a really nice turn out...

[schild]

Thanks. I'm really glad... I mean, not everybody has someone to spend the holidays with, so.

[ Ryan leans in, pressing a kiss to Bertholdt's cheek. He's keeping it chaste. For now. But then, Bertl's blush is really adorable. ]

Even like this... If I can help people, then I know it's gonna be okay.

[toobig]

Y-yeah, you did a really good thing.

[He wraps his skinny arms around Ryan, pressing close as they talk, voice quiet.]

All I know is... is if you're with me, there's no doubt we'll be fine.

[schild]

Yeah. Same here. As long as we're together... we'll make it.

[ Gosh, Ryan blushes, he's smiling like such an idiot. HE'S NOT NORMALLY THIS SENTIMENTAL but. It's... It's now or never, huh? He stays just as close to Bertholdt, whispering in his ear. ]

Hey Bertl. I've got a question for you, okay? [ Wait, that sounded weird. ] I mean, uh... can I ask you something?

[toobig]

[At least it's not a "we need to talk". Not that Bertholdt has experience with that sort of thing, but he has seen a lot of movies. And Ryan is pretty cliche.]

Uhm... yeah, of course. What is it? Is... something wrong?

[schild]

Nono, nothing's. Wrong.

[ Though Ryan is blushing quite deeply. He'd do this formally, but he knows how embarrassed Bertholdt would get if they caused a scene. So instead, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out... a small box. He's nervous. He's normally a lot smoother about this, but with everything that's been going on, it's hard to keep his cool. ]

Um... so. I love you... and I can't... I can't imagine wanting to be with anyone else, so...

[toobig]

[Bertholdt is still worried, until he sees the ring box in Ryan's hand and his eyes widen. He can't believe it... if Ryan's doing what he thinks he's doing, he can't believe it at all. His heart leaps in his chest and he grips his hand tighter.]

I-I... Ryan I...

[schild]

Yeah, um...

[ Ryan pops the box open, revealing a smooth, silver band. ]

I had this whole thing planned out in my head but, uh-- I couldn't wait till tomorrow.

[ He takes a deep breath, looking up at Bertholdt with a smile. ]

So, will you marry me?

[toobig]

Ryan....

[He swallows hard, feeling his eyes grow wet while he looks Ryan in the eyes, seeing how sincere and handsome and happy he looks. Happy to be with him. Then he smiles too, even when tears slide down his cheeks.]

I-I want to. I'd love to!

[schild]

Aw, Bertl...

[ Ryan smiles, and he can't stop himself from getting teary-eyed, either. He plucks the ring out of the box and slides it onto Bertholdt's hand, trying his best not shake too much. ]

I love you, so much. So, so much.

[toobig]

I love you too.

[Luckily the skin isn't pulled off of his left hand yet. The ring goes on without a hitch and Bertholdt laces their fingers together tightly, unable to believe it.]

I-I didn't think I'd ever. That. That anyone would ever...

[schild]

[ Honestly, he'd get you that ring even if you were skinless, Bertholdt. Ryan grips him back, smiling as he pulls Bertholdt into a hug. ]

Well, now you have. And I love you. And... I'm that someone, Bertholdt. I wanna spend the rest of my life with you. Because when things get weird or terrifying, thinking about you by my side makes me feel like I'm not afraid.

[toobig]

[He clings to him tightly, pressing his face into Ryan's strong neck.]

I'm so... I'm really happy...

[schild]

Me too. I'm... I want every day to be this good.

[ Ryan nuzzles into Bertholdt, squeezing him tight-- armored or not. ]

I love you, Bertholdt. And I wanna spend my whole life with you, by your side.

[toobig]

[It takes a while for him to collect himself, before he pulls back and wipes his eyes, smiling and looking down at the ring and...]

Wow. I... wow... I-I don't know what to say...

[schild]

Just you saying yes is good enough for me.

[ Ryan kisses Bertholdt's hand, smiling wide-- yeah, his eyes are teary too but he doesn't care. ]

I love you. And you've done so much for me, and you let me stay in your place, and you've put up with every silly thing I get wrapped up in, so--- thanks, Bertholdt. Thank you.

[toobig]

[He just smiles, taking it all in for a while, kissing and snuggling and generally being disgustingly mushy under the mistletoe with Ryan (how gay can you be?) before finally laughing a little and looking at the ring on his hand.]

Does this make me the girl, then? Octavia will be happy.