a very special spaceship holiday

[tactician]

Partaaay on the First!

Nowadays, it's mostly humans that celebrate the winter holidays this...festively, but luckily for all of you, the leader of Circle 7, the System's most notorious crime mega-conglomerate, is human. He insisted on the celebration on the First, too, said something about morale and good cheer and a shit ton of (most likely laced) alcohol. Something about holiday pranks, too, but that might've just been my imagination.

There's mistletoe hanging everywhere, the suspicious smell of Astorean Norther Fir in the air, jingling bells tied to every doorway, and is it just me, or does that big Santa have a glass eye?

It's gonna be a grand ol' time.

Comments

[aphelionix]

"L-let's not jump to any conclusions, okay, Viana?" Bentley edged back slowly, closer to Evan. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, I just meant to... it crossed my mind to maybe just ask you to d... to dance, is all, but..."

Whatever was in those cookies was completely trumped by fear for his life, it seemed. (Maybe Calibri was watching somewhere from the shadows, taking note of it.)

[tactician]

Evan gave Bentley a wince over Viana's line of sight. The doctor had really stepped in it this time; considering his sister's frame of mind, what Bentley had said hadn't exactly been the kindest of implications. "Vi, he's only asking because you're his friend, right, doc?"

"No! He's only saying asking because he's too much of a wimp to ask somebody else! He thinks it'll be easy 'cause he figures I can't be worse than him!" She slammed her plate down on the nearest surface, not minding that this time, two or three cookies fell from the top of the pile and onto the ground. "He thinks he's got nothing to worry about, I'm not even a girl to him! Well I'll give him something to worry about! ¡Voy a golpear sus dientes en su garganta, no pensará eso otra vez!"

[aphelionix]

That really didn't sound good.

Bentley looked a lot like a puppy with its tail tucked, half behind Evan. This really wasn't how he imagined his evening going at all. Though really, he shouldn't have been surprised - as he mentioned before, he had been traumatized by them before.

"T-that really has nothing to do with it!" he all but whined, cowering preemptively. "Of course you're my friend! I-I don't consider anyone that way - no offense, Evan - so please, don't... gold pear... me, or whatever it is you said."

the first time we have substantial evidence that, yes, danny and bentley are bros

[kobacake]

After double-checking to make sure his hair looked perfect, Danny glanced in the direction of the Dominico siblings and the doctor, or more precisely, at Viana. He was determined at the very least to get her to dance with him. After all, it was Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year! Who the hell would actually turn down a Christmas dance?

He headed in their direction, feeling confident when he saw that Viana was in a good mood... a feeling that lasted all of five seconds before he saw her slam down her plate of cookies. Abort, abort, abort!!! Danny immediately turned on his heel, ready to get out of that line of fire as fast as possible, though he couldn't help glancing back out of curiosity when he heard Viana yelling.

When he saw Bentley cowering behind Evan, he couldn't help feeling a pang of sympathy at being the target of Viana's wrath. For a moment he hesitated, knitting his brows together before letting out an exasperated sigh and heading back towards the trio again. God damnit why was he so fucking nice?

"Yo, Doc. I finally found you. I, um, need your help with something. Over here." Danny looped an arm around Bentley's shoulders and began dragging him away from the siblings in a strangely rushed manner.

omg

[aphelionix]

"Danny?" Before he could even ask any questions, he was pulled away, the Dominicos shrinking from view. Bentley, for once, was thankful that he was so nice. Calming Viana down was terribly hard compared to making her angry. It was a little unfair, that she didn't wouldn't give him time to explain, or maybe a little sad that she didn't know him well enough to realize that sometimes he said stupid things. But it was rather... not nice. Bentley genuinely felt bad, but first thing was first: don't get beat up.

When they finally stopped, Bentley straightened out his clothes, sighing. "Thanks."

[kobacake]

Danny didn't stop walking until he glanced over his shoulder and saw that Evan had taken the initiative to drag Viana off to someplace (hopefully) less anger-inducing. He gave a sigh of relief. He'd figured there was a pretty high chance that she was going to charge after them both and take all her anger out on himself instead.. It was truly a Christmas miracle.

"Merry Christmas. That's your present." Danny hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his festively red jeans. "Not counting the thing I already got you."

[aphelionix]

Bentley blinked at him. "You got me something?"

[kobacake]

"Yeah, it's no big deal though." Danny shrugged. "I saw it and it seemed like something you'd like."

[aphelionix]

Huh. That made Bentley rather... happy, actually. "I look forward to it," he said, smiling. He kept in mind to find something for Danny, too. "I-I think I better go for now, though, before I ruin someone else's Christmas."

[kobacake]

"I'll drop it by later." Danny said before leaning in conspiratorially and whispering, "Yeah, good luck with that man. She's probably gonna have it out for you later."

With that, he waved a hand and wandered off to enjoy himself.

[aphelionix]

Bentley swallowed, even more worried for his life. An angry Viana was like a mad bull with its target acquired no matter what.

"See you," he said, waving back with a sigh. "And merry Christmas."