snuggled up together like two birds of a feather would be ☆

[heaaarts]

[ Things are a little different this Christmas Eve. It's the first holiday season in years that many residents will be able to spend outdoors, and whatever drives the place has gone all out to make things festive. There are white lights and ruby garland strung up around lamp posts, red bows and wreathes adorning buildings. Even the trams are decorated, lit up on the outside and warm and cozy inside. There's a chill in the air, but for the most part it isn't too uncomfortable. Trees stripped bare of leaves by the change in seasons have had their leaves replaced by lights, and the occasional tree in the park bears large, shining baubles.

The ball this year is held in a new building, something that's popped up on the outskirts of the residential area overnight. (Of course, no one will be able to get inside until much later in the evening.) The park's a little smaller and crowded as a result, but not by much. It, like much of the outdoors, is covered in white. A light snow has been falling since early afternoon, resulting in a glistening bed of frost over the ground, the trees, and every rooftop. Much of it stretches out past the area, giving a wintery cover to most worlds. The fountains in Radiant Garden have frozen over into chaotic ice sculptures, and enough snow for a snowman (or snowmouse) can be found in Traverse Town, while the sound of carols comes from nowhere in particular in Disney Town. Hopefully no one tries to take the tram to Halloween Town for purposes of sneaking into Christmas Town. That world is barred off from entry no matter how hard anyone tries.

Somewhere around six in the evening, the doors to the ballroom open and remain so. Large wreathes decorated with red ribbon and crystal clear baubles hang on the doors. The building itself is decorated simply and tastefully, with red ribbons and streamers, dimmed lights and soft, instrumental music, perfect for the pristine dance floor. The ceiling, a true highlight of the room, is made of framed glass and gives a perfect, pristine view of the stars and snowfall outside. The tree this year is decorated with red, pale green, white, and more clear glass ornaments. Strangely enough, each is marked with a small tag. Just a simple old strip of paper, blank until someone gets close enough to see their name appear on one special ornament, in swirling red script. There are birds, hearts, stars... all kinds of simple, precious ornaments there to take. Maybe they mean something.

Like any good party in the DR, there's plenty of food. In the back room, separated from the ballroom by frosted glass walls, there are tables with glass tops and sheer white tablecloths, the largest of which is rectangular and has a placement of ham, roast birds, casseroles and vegetables, with nuts, popcorn, pretzels and cheeses further down. There are two smaller, round tables, one with drinks (non-alcoholic eggnog, ciders, and hot cocoa), and one with sweets like pudding, cookies, fudge, and sugared fruits. A group of much smaller, more cozy and personal tables are scattered in the corner near the food, with delicate placements decorated with classic red poinsettias. ]

{ ooc: LiveJournal mirror here. Happy Holidays, everyone! }

Comments

[captive_destiny]

[He falls silent, watching Riku from the corner of his eye. The horns seem so out of place, it's hard not to stare.]

[lightyin]

[He's not going to tell Riku not to stare, though he doesn't like it that much. He tries a minute more, then turns to Riku.]

...Can you help me get this off?

[captive_destiny]

...If you come closer.

[And perhaps crouch down a bit. This Riku's growth was somewhat stunted, and those horns are long.]

[lightyin]

[That's what he was going to do anyway. He does move closer and kneels, causing his dress's skirt to puff up around him.]

[captive_destiny]

[It feels awkward to have someone kneeling in front of him when he's used to it being the other way around. Still, Riku will barely feel him touching those horns to unravel the streamer, and he'll pick out the knots Riku managed to get in it carefully.]

[lightyin]

[Those knots aren't his fault. Really. He's going to stay still until he knows that Riku's done.]

[captive_destiny]

[Lies, he saw you fiddling with it on the way over. When he has it untangled he'll offer Riku the streamer.]

[lightyin]

[Shush you. He takes the streamer, looking around a couple seconds before draping it on the nearby tree.]

Thanks.

[captive_destiny]

[He steps back as Riku steps closer to do that, the chain clinking softly. He still feels very awkward about what happened between them. Really, he'd like to simply drop into a kneel and hide from the general populace until the ball ended or the chain disappeared, whichever came first. He certainly isn't prone to talking very much, a drastic change from how he was when Riku first met him.]

[lightyin]

[He turns his head slightly, seeing the movement out of the corner of his eye and wondering what it was about. He didn't know he was that close, but he gives Riku back his personal space when he's done.

At least until he decides to go examine the chain.]

[captive_destiny]

[He'll have to force himself not to pull away, but he looks decidedly uncomfortable. The chain only appears to be breakable, and is attached seamlessly to both the floor and the cuff at his ankle.]

[lightyin]

[Well, if it appears breakable, then he's going to try to break it. At least with his hands--he's not going to try anything drastic or silly.]

[captive_destiny]

[Good luck, no matter how hard he tries, neither of them will so much as stretch a link.]

[lightyin]

[That sucks.]

I think you're stuck for a while.

[captive_destiny]

[He sighs softly, having expected that. He's too well-behaved to make a scene trying to jerk the chain from the floor or attack it. Instead he'll just have to accept it. After all, it isn't the first time this has happened.]

Thank you for trying.