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

[tactician]

"Are you?" said Weiler knowingly. "So the ship gets Christmas presents now, is it?"

[aphelionix]

"Well, it's kind of for all of us, technically... Wouldn't want to get stranded out in space now, right?"

[tactician]

"The chances of us getting stranded are phenomenally low, and even if the ship were to stop functioning, we could easily contact someone to come get us," Weiler said, turning them about the floor with a small smirk. Since it was the holidays, however, he let up after a few moments. Locke had already had his fair share of embarrassment today after that mistletoe incident, hadn't he? "But, I suppose no, I wouldn't want to get stranded either."

[aphelionix]

He rolled his eyes as they came to a stop, and if it counted for anything to Weiler, he didn't seem embarrassed by their unfitting ballroom dance. Locke even let their clasped hands dangle between them for a moment.

"Better to not get stranded at all, if you ask me," he reasoned. "But speaking of... What do you want for Christmas?"

[tactician]

Weiler led them both back into an obscure corner anyway. He didn't mind the possibility of attention or making their relationship ever the more public knowledge, but he, like Locke, actually preferred to play private matters much closer to the heart. He shook his head.

"I'm not really in want of anything," he admitted, leaning back against the wall. "You don't have to do anything particularly special."

[aphelionix]

"I'd like to," he admitted, looking out at the festive goings-ons around them. It was rather warm and homey, for being a group of mafia members. "I haven't been able to do anything special this time of year in a long time."

[tactician]

Sliding sideways, Weiler let his weight rest a little on Locke's arm as he loosened his tie, a little hot under the collar from spinning around under all those bright, multi-colored lights. Warm and homey - that was about right.

"I'll think about it, but I honestly have everything I want already," he laughed.

[aphelionix]

Locke smiled slowly, leaning just as much into Weiler.

"Is that right?"

[tactician]

"You could go the traditional route and buy me a tie," Weiler suggested, tilting his face up to look at Locke. "What do you want?"

[aphelionix]

"An iguana," he answered.

[tactician]

Weiler blinked. "...A lizard?"

[aphelionix]

Locke nodded. "Yes."

[tactician]

He pushed off the wall. "You want a lizard for Christmas?"

[aphelionix]

A smile broke his serious expression, and he shook his head.

"Not for Christmas, but one day. In a more stable lifestyle."

[tactician]

Weiler huffed, thumping Locke on the chest. "And here I was wondering where we could put a tank in our room."

[aphelionix]

Locke grinned wider, laughing. "It might fit in the closet."

[tactician]

"I could get you a lizard," Weiler said, thoughtfully tilting his head. "But maybe that'd be better suited for when we're off-base. For Christmas, maybe something more...personal."

He smiled. "Or at least easier to transport."

[aphelionix]

"I think I have everything I want, too," he said, hands sliding into his pockets. "But if you must, some warm socks might do."

[tactician]

Weiler smiled slowly, eyes bright in the shade of the corner, where the filtered lights couldn't quite reach. "Your feet get cold at night, Herr Locke?"

[aphelionix]

Smiling, Locke pulled him in a step closer, enough that the tips of their shoes were almost touching. "I'm surprised you haven't noticed, considering I warm them with your feet."

[tactician]

"I must've gotten too used to it," Weiler answered, hands on Locke's sides. "And to be fair, it gets pretty warm under that blanket."

He leaned up, balancing on his toes to bring his mouth level with Locke's ear. "Is there anything else you want to do at this party?"

[aphelionix]

"I take it you're ready to go?" he asked quietly, but answered anyway. "I think I'm good."

[tactician]

Weiler nodded against the side of Locke's face before he stepped back, his hands slipping into his own pockets. He looked happy, like he usually did these days, and a great deal more carefree. They would begin working soon, but his prospects were still looking better, brighter, and suddenly a lot less lonely.

"We've made our mandatory appearances. Let's snag some cheese, punch, and maybe a sprig of mistletoe for ourselves and head back."

[aphelionix]

Locke couldn't help another chuckle at that. That was another thing about Weiler - his company made him laugh. He was a silly man at times, and right now, he was more than grateful he was his. That was enough for him for Christmas.

"Right behind you," he said, pushing off the wall.