[center]

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/28hztyw.jpg[/IMG] [img]https://i.imgur.com/pvtkADB.png?1[/img]

[h2][color cyan]Sander[/color] | [color 8493ca]Christmas[/color][/h2]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] 
[sub]Collab with [Danny][/sub][/center]
[hider= Scent: Nostalgia]
[color=silver][center]𝕋𝕙𝕦𝕣𝕤𝕕𝕒𝕪: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℝ𝕠𝕪𝕒𝕝 ℙ𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕖   / /  ~~𝟙𝟙𝟘𝟘 [/center][/color]
With a plastic bag full of clothes as his only luggage, Sander felt awfully out of place amidst the extravagance. The hotel’s bright interior, along with the formal clothing of many other guests reminded him so much of those documentaries about the gaudy mansions of the richest. Not that he remembered all the details, but this came very close.
 
He never thought he would see this sort of luxury in person. Then again, he never thought he would get super powers, either.
 
As Sander stepped into his assigned room, he was only further amazed by all the expensive amenities. With his bag forgotten on the plush carpet, he wandered inside the suite, examining everything with a childish spark in his eyes.

Christmas, on the other hand, had followed Sander into the same room, balked inwardly at the single queen-sized bed, come to terms with the accommodations, and was now seated on the sofa tucked against the wall, wondering where to start with the lavishly furnished room. He focused instead on Sander’s presence, calming down slowly after the initial rush of tension and fear as they had trudged through the hotel lobby in front of cold, judging eyes.

“[color=cyan]You want anything?[/color]” -Sander said to Christmas, but his eyes remained glued to the snack shelf that just slid out of the wall with a press of a button. He pressed it again a few more time, just to watch the motion. 

Christmas’s eyes followed the motorized shelf, too, dazzled by the display of plastic-wrapped snacks tied with artful ribbons that bounced in light, colorful curls with the back and forth motion of the shelves.

[color 8493ca]”…The ribbons…”[/color] he mumbled at the sight.

"[color=cyan]Which one?[/color]"

[color 8493ca]”Uh…”[/color] Realizing too late he had been heard, Christmas looked away from the shiny swirls of glossy satin, blinking at the gleaming cityline that the floor-to-ceiling windows offered. [color 8493ca]”N-nothing. Sorry.”[/color]

"[color cyan]Alright.[/color]" -Sander turned his gaze back to the shelf as he picked one for himself. A particular package wrapped in plastic and tied with a blue ribbon caught his eyes, so he plucked that off the shelf. A quick tug at the ribbon loosened the knot, and the pieces of chocolate coated macadamias fell into his waiting palm. He tossed one into his mouth as he walked to Christmas.

"[color=cyan]Mhm…This is pretty good.[/color]" -Sander said, offering his roommate a handful of the treat.

Eyes on the ribbon, Christmas automatically took a piece of chocolate from Sander’s hand, but stared instead at the thin length of electric blue sheen falling around the bag.

Noticing his roommate's attention, Sander took the ribbon and placed it in the blond boy's hand. 

"[color=cyan]Guess we need a new one now, huh?[/color]"

Christmas pressed the material between two fingers, rubbing it briefly. It felt papery and disappointing, where he had thought it to be more fabric at first glance. 

[color 8493ca]”Y-yeah…thank you,”[/color] he replied, holding on to the small ribbon tie anyway. It was comforting that Sander could almost read his mind, though he knew his face was more or less an open book of expressions. Never had been able to hide anything he was feeling well.

“[color=cyan]Where did you buy that last one though? We might be able to find it here.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Oh…um…a store…?”[/color] And it sounded awkward and obvious even to him. [color 8493ca]”A-arts and crafts store?”[/color] Nope. Not much better. And the small place he had visited once had been some strange mixture of art paraphernalia and Etsy-designed clothing, so he couldn’t quite name its category anyway. The next words that came out of his mouth surprised him, though they were so quiet as to be nearly inaudible. [color 8493ca]”…I’d like to…get a new one.”[/color]

"[color cyan] We can go now, if you'd like.[/color]" -Sander offered.

[color 8493ca]”Is it…is it okay to?”[/color]

"[color cyan]It's fine.[/color]"

[color 8493ca]”Th-then…one for you, too?”[/color] He cast a hopeful look at Sander.

"[color cyan]Sure.[/color]" -Sander nodded.

[color 8493ca]”Um…what—what color?”[/color]

"[color cyan]What do you think will fit me?[/color]"

He blinked at Sander, unsure if it was all right to suggest something when he wasn’t sure if Sander would even like the color. [color 8493ca]”Maybe…maybe red?”[/color]

Sander paused for a moment to look at his wrist, as if considering it -"[color cyan]Do you think…red would fit me?[/color]"

[color 8493ca]”I think it…”[/color] Red eyes and wisping vapor came to mind. [color 8493ca]”…Only—only you wear it that well.”[/color] 

Sander's eyes widened slightly in surprise for a few moments, before he found his voice again -"[color cyan]Only you would say that.[/color] -He said with a soft smile.

[color 8493ca]”B-because it’s…um…you…uh…”[/color] Christmas fiddled with the looping blue in his hands, looking towards the soft carpet and curling his toes inside his socks. A glance at the shoes Sander had recently purchased for him ignited a small hope that they could have that same moment again. [color 8493ca]”D-do you think we can?”[/color]

"[color cyan]I don't think anyone would stop us.[/color]" -Sander shrugged as he walked toward his bag, getting ready to leave.

He wasn't wrong. None of the guards stationed in the hallway stopped them, they were only questioned about their destination and reminded to not cause trouble while the soldier informed the local military and police to avoid any confrontations. The hotel staff and clients milling about in the lobby also left them well enough alone, though it was hard to ignore the distasteful glares from those who bothered looking at all.

A curt talk with the receptionist gave them a destination and a taxi drive later, they arrived in front of a glassy boutique polished to gleaming perfection. “Violet Boutique” in elegant lettering across the top of the old-fashioned double doors welcomed them into a quaint shop of female clothing and accessories that looked like it catered to the working class rather than the trendy high end. Wooden flooring and wrought-iron raindrop chandeliers gave the clean place a touch of opulence while rounded, wooden blocks had been stacked together near the counter by an interior designer with an eye for the rustic finishes. The block design served a dual-role as classy shelving for handbags, jewelry, and small decorative statues, bringing the store together into a cohesive, old-world refinement.

Christmas stopped for only a moment at the sight of the store’s interior artistry, eyes drawing towards a wall display of accessories ranging from necklaces and bracelets to—and there it was, sitting in a wooden cabinet display at the corner of the ornamentation—laces and ribbons of all shapes, sizes, and materials with a neatly printed tag declaring a “buy one get one free” sale on what appeared to be the store’s miscellaneous bits and bobs from past seasons.

The store was mostly empty at that time of day, the receptionist having directed the two towards a lower end boutique well away from the main commercial strips and market areas. An older woman and her daughter had been browsing one of the racks when Sander and Christmas entered and both of them screamed comically in unison. They left without buying anything and from their reactions on exiting, anyone nearby wouldn’t be entering the store until the “subnatural terrorists” had disappeared. Their commotion brought a policeman to the location, but luckily the patrols in the area had been informed about the USARILN East subnaturals’ visit. Lip service eased the woman and she left without another word, but the officer remained outside the store, tense and waiting for the first slip up.

Oblivious to the small drama outside, Christmas had drifted towards the little case of ribbons, sifting through them almost reverently while the woman in charge of the boutique looked on disapprovingly from the counter, fake eyelashes and mascara thick around her dark brown eyes. She had half a mind to throw them out, but her other half reminded her any of these two could kill her before the authorities could intervene, so she held her tongue and settled for scowling at them instead.

Sander just gave the owner an apologetic glance as his roommate browsed the section, knowing full well the consequences of their presence. There wasn’t much he could do about it at this point, though. 

[i]Maybe if he had made a better choice…[/i]

Sander sighed, banishing the gloomy thoughts. Nothing he could do about it. So he just hovered at Christmas’ shoulder, focusing on the ribbons in front of him. 

A snarl of ribbons had, by now, bundled themselves into Christmas’s left hand while he continued picking out his favorites among the selection on display—grosgrain, organdy, jacquard—he clutched at the most eye-catching of the patterns and colors, favoring the blues but not immune to the attraction of the remaining colors.

Despite the ornate picks gathered in his left hand, however, Christmas’s right hand eventually held just two ribbons—the ones he cared about the most out of the choices: a cornflower blue silk strip and a ruby-red length of satin ribbon, its finish iridescent. He turned back to Sander eagerly, displaying the intended purchases with a small smile, left hand and its ribbon bouquet tucked against his chest.

[color 8493ca]”What—what do you think?”[/color] he asked, raising the two ribbons in his right hand.

“[color=cyan]They look nice.[/color]” -Sander reached out for the offered ribbons, caressing the blue one with his fingers. His eyes eventually landed on the bundle in Christmas’ left arm though –“[color=cyan]Trying out other colors?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”R-red is yours but…I, um, I think you’d look good with—with anything…really.”[/color] He brought the lone two towards the much larger bundle, trotting almost eagerly towards the counter until the manager’s cold glare dampened his mood almost instantly. The remainder of his approach was mostly subdued and careful, though he still watched the ribbons in his arms with a hint of excitement.

[color f7976a]”…Payment,”[/color] the woman demanded, before she even touched the items to be rung up. 

Christmas flinched at the biting tone, words failing in the face of her brusqueness.

Sander watched quietly from over Christmas’ shoulder, but eventually, he stepped out in front of the blond boy, returning the woman’s gaze with an equally cold one. 

“[color=cyan]USARILN East will reimburse you.[/color]” -He repeated the exact words those guards had told him, tone curt and passive. 

The manager doubted their story, a mixture of fear and revulsion on her face until she peeked carefully over and checked the cuffs on their ankles. 

[color f7976a]”Is that right? How do I know you’re not lying?”[/color] she shot back, narrowing her eyes at Sander even as she backed up several steps.

“[color=cyan]I…uh…you can call up the police, if you want.[/color]”

[color f7976a]”Maybe I will,”[/color] she snapped, snatching her phone from the counter top and dialing for emergency law enforcement.

But the result was thankfully on their side and 15 minutes later they had left the toxic environment behind, Christmas giddily peering into his plastic bag and picking out the two ribbons he had selected earlier for himself and Sander. Several taxis had skipped over them despite their attempts to flag one down and they had needed a police escort back to the hotel when the nearby officer decided the two subnaturals had been “harassing the taxi drivers” for long enough. But with his bag of ribbons in hand, Christmas hardly noticed the even colder atmosphere of the hotel’s patrons, seating himself in a distant lobby chair far from the main congestion of people. It was still early enough in the day that most of the hotel’s guests remained busy with their own matters and hadn’t returned to the commercial lap of luxury. 

He pulled the ruby satin ribbon out first, admiring the color in the chandelier light before looking hesitantly at Sander. 

[color 8493ca]”D-do you want to wear it?”[/color]

“[color=cyan]Where do you want me to wear it?[/color]” -Sander sat down beside his roommate, peering over at the plastic bag Christmas was holding tightly in his hands.

[color 8493ca]”Wh-wherever you like…”[/color] 

Sander looked at the crimson ribbon for a few moments, expression thoughtful. Eventually, he took the red strip from Christmas’ hand and tied it into his hair, mimicking the blond boy’s habit. 

“[color=cyan]How about this?[/color]”

Christmas stared, wide-eyed and mouth slightly ajar. The surprise lasted for a good second before his face broke into a wide smile. Vestiges of amazement still lingered in the look of delight, but he quickly copied the action, tying the new blue ribbon back into his hair without taking his eyes off the ruby satin in Sander’s. Several moments passed before he remembered that he been too elated to share that commonality. A quick cough and rub of his nose followed, but his eyes remained fixed on the red ribbon mirror in front of him.

[color 8493ca]”It…it looks…g-great.”[/color]

“[color cyan]Is it really?[/color]” -Sander laughed a bit, his roommate’s shock expression was giving him doubts.

[color 8493ca]”Y-yeah. M-maybe with…with longer hair you could…t-tie it up?”[/color] He still stared at the ribbon, voicing whatever came to mind without thinking. It was easier around Sander. And infinitely more so now that he believed—erroneously or not—that they shared something as silly as accessory preferences. There was more to it than trust, but he was content with things as they were. This was fine, wasn’t it?

“[color cyan]Huh? That’s a good idea.[/color]” -Sander ran a hand through his hair, which had grown much longer since his days in the Institute. Yet, not long enough -”[color=cyan]I’ll grow it out.[/color]”

Christmas’s eyes lit up at the implied agreement and he pulled up the bag of ribbons to make his point. [color 8493ca]”Always…um…always have more if you lose it.”[/color]

“[color cyan]I’ll try not to. Don’t worry.[/color]” -Sander promised, as he slipped the ribbon out of his hair and tied it back on his wrist with the knot that Christmas taught him -”[color=cyan]Thanks. For everything.[/color]”

There was a brief split-second of disappointment when Sander removed the ribbon, but it quickly smoothed over when he tied it to his own wrist again. With a quiet laugh that sounded closer to a whisper, Christmas caught the decorated wrist with his hands, holding it carefully.

[color 8493ca]”Thank—thank you…and I…didn’t do anything but…but it feels…o-okay when you say it.”[/color]

With an embarrassed duck of his head, Christmas busied himself adjusting the ribbon, pulling on the bow until it puffed out symmetrically.

Sander only smiled then, leaning back against his chair and simply enjoying the presence of his roommate. The Stigma buzzed unpleasantly in the back of his mind, but it felt little more like a whisper, so he figured he could just ignore for now. 

He had got better, hadn’t he? He would be fine. 

So Sander was content to spend a little more time in the lobby with Christmas, before they decided to return to their suite.[/hider]
[hider= Scent: Liquor]
[color=silver][center]𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕪: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   𝔸𝕣𝕔𝕒𝕕𝕖    / /  ~~𝟚𝟙𝟘𝟘 [/center][/color]
The edge-lit wall panel and its electronic display had mentioned an arcade room in the first basement floor among the long list of amenities and suggested locations and events, so Christmas had prodded and stared at the display for some time before peering cautiously out the door, like he was afraid at any moment a guard would come barreling in telling them to leave.

But minutes passed and nothing happened, so he stepped out into the hallway, peeking back into the room before closing the door to check if Sander was still napping, worried the sound of the lock opening might have woken up his roommate.

The lock clicking open had, indeed, woken the roommate in question. 

Sander stirred beneath his blanket, sitting up slowly. He noticed the half-opened door immediately, and his eyes fell on Christmas. 

“[color=cyan]Where are you going?[/color]” -Sander yawned, voice still thick with sleep.

[color 8493ca]”S-sorry for waking you. I, um, I j-just wanted to look at the arcade.”[/color]

"[color cyan]Arcade? Where?[/color]"

[color 8493ca]”The—the basement.”[/color] An obvious idea came to mind late, as they so often did for Christmas. [color 8493ca]”D-do you want to come w-with me?”[/color]

How long had it been since he had been comfortable enough around someone to ask them like that? Thinking about it tugged on memories that came back staggered and unwieldy. He summed it all up as “too long” and blinked the thoughts away.

"[color cyan]Sure.[/color]" -Sander agreed easily, running fingers through his hair to smooth down stray strands that were sticking out-"[color cyan]Just give me a minute.[/color]"

As promised, the blood mage was ready a few moments later, looking fresh and tidy even in his secondhand clothes.

The arcade was a series of almost overwhelming flashing colors and most of the kids there were entranced by the games in front of them, paying no heed to the subnaturals just entering. The ones who did notice just screamed and beelined for the elevator, though even that was lost to the sounds blaring from all the screens. A pudgy boy sucked in his stomach as he edged around them, eyes like saucers while his mouth hung open in a soundless scream. He was gone up the stairs the second he realized the elevator hadn’t come down yet.

Christmas skirted the more popular games, edging towards less occupied areas and wishing he had his Vita with him. There was a sort of nightclub lounge and seating in the quiet corner of the extravagant arcade ringed with flashing lights and intentionally kitschy, almost Vegas-casino decor. A large snack bar and server stood in the back of the area, waiting for any orders.

Several guests in deceptively casual (but absurdly expensive) street clothes paled at the sight of them, and Christmas quickly shuffled into a far corner booth of the lounge, leaving them well enough alone. They left anyway and the server nearby dipped out of sight.

Once more they had disturbed the regular residents, and once more, Sander felt a pang of guilt in his chest. 

He pulled on the collar of his shirt, as if hiding the mark on his throat would mean anything.

As if the cuff on his ankle wasn't telling enough. 

[i]It all came down to his bad choices, in the end. This, all his fault.[/i]

Sander frowned, chasing the gloomy thoughts into the back of his mind. Christmas came here to enjoy himself. And he will make sure his roommate would.

"[color cyan]So where do we start?[/color]"

But Christmas was watching the lanky boy’s worried countenance, the concern reflected on his face, too.

[color 8493ca]”We—we can go back…?”[/color] he offered, staring at Sander’s ribboned wrist now.

“[color cyan]I’ll be fine.[/color]” -Sander forced a smile to assure his roommate, before walking toward a random row of machines. 

Christmas tottered after him, tipping out of the chair in a hurry to catch up with Sander’s long strides. He blinked up at his roommate, looking between Sander and the fighting game that was now in front of them.

[color 8493ca]”You—you like this one?”[/color]

Sander blinked for a few moments at the screen, searching his memory about it, but nothing came up. He assumed the controls would be similar to the ones he knew, though. 

“[color cyan]Uh yeah. You want to go first?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”I-I’m really bad at…um…most games.”[/color]

“[color cyan]Doesn’t mean you don’t get to play.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Um…b-but…isn’t it boring to watch…?”[/color]

"[color cyan]It's you. Not boring.[/color]" -Sander answered simply.

The small encouragement was just enough and Christmas tucked a smile behind an itchy nose again before tentatively clutching the left joystick, eyes focused on deciphering the colors of the eight buttons nearby according to the brief on-screen instructions. Low attack, mid, high, combos, blocks, retreats—it all went over his head. But he still felt excited knowing Sander was playing right beside him.

Sander didn't begin to play right away though, despite the fact that there were more than enough spots for the both of them. He just hovered at Christmas' shoulder first, watching the boy play.

It was easy to lose himself in the game once the colorful effects and exciting sounds finally caught his attention, but even with the AI on easy, Christmas struggled. Half-circles and quarter circles soon turned into almost random spinning, his attempts at combos forgotten while he mashed the buttons that seemed to produce the flashiest effects. “Game Over” greeted him soon enough, but it had been years since he had touched any sort of action-oriented game. It was thrilling, and the unfamiliar emotion combined with the comfort of Sander’s steady presence stilled his hands until he marveling at where he had ended up, flashing letters and lights nearly forgotten.

"[color cyan]Wanna go again?[/color]"

[color 8483ca]”Um…d-do you want to play, too?”[/color]

Sander just gave the bright screen a long, thoughtful look, before reaching over to press the 'Restart' button.

"[color cyan]I'll play later. Let's try again, yeah?[/color]"

[color 8493ca]”I want—I want to see you play, too.”[/color] What a demand. He flinched backwards slightly as he said it, afraid it was too much. [color 8493ca]”S-sorry.”[/color]

Sander turned to look at the screen once more, though Christmas’ request made everything easier. He wasn’t lying when he said he would do anything. 

“[color cyan]Okay.[/color]” -He nodded, sitting down in front of the machine and began fiddling with the control panel. It wasn’t long before he found out about the functions of most buttons, but the combos took a while to get used to. During the first few seconds of his game, Sander ended up spamming the block button while trying to figure the best combos. Eventually, though, he got it and managed to defeat his opponent. 

It was on the easiest difficulty, but a victory was a victory. That brought a bright smile on Sander’s face. 

Christmas was also looking delighted, watching his roommate enjoy something when he couldn’t recall the last time Sander had seemed so relaxed. They hadn’t known each other long, but he supposed the ordeals they had been through—and he swallowed the shameful lump in his throat as he hesitantly included himself in that group—were more than what most people experienced.

Standing behind Sander, he scratched his nose anyway, afraid of being happy because it felt wrong to enjoy something when he never seemed to do anything worthwhile. He had overheard soldiers talking about the casualties in the previous fight and his own power’s worth felt like a crushing weight when their talk veered into those who had died. Heavy thoughts threatened to tear him apart from the inside. He found himself reaching for Sander’s wrist, the excuse ready on his tongue that the ribbon needed adjusting.

He never voiced it, though, even when his fingers found purchase around the wrapped ribbon.

“[color cyan]Hmm?[/color]” -Sander looked up then -”[color cyan]You want to try again?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”W-with you…? Can—can I?”[/color]

“[color cyan]Sure[/color]” -Sander stood up, leaving the seat in front of the screen for Christmas. Once the boy had settled down on it, Sander hovered at his shoulder once more, though this time, he reached over for the controls. 

“[color cyan]Here.[/color]” -Sander took Christmas’ hand in his and helped the blond boy position his fingers -”[color cyan]I’ll show you.[/color]”

He had meant to play the game together with Sander, but the explanation withered on his lips when Sander leaned over and grasped his hand. Heat crept onto his shoulders and neck, copying the spreading warmth around his hand.

[color 8493ca]”O-okay,”[/color] he mumbled absentmindedly, focused on the warm torso pressed against his back. 

Oblivious to his roommate’s embarrassment, Sander leaned closer, until he was basically leaning his chin on Christmas’ shoulder. 

“[color cyan]Here. This is for blocking. Jumping is this one. You just move the joystick wherever you want to jump to.[/color]” -Sander said, quickly demonstrated the combos to Christmas. After a few moments, he reached for the ‘Restart’ button again -”[color cyan]Ready?[/color]”

Christmas barely listened to the explanations, nerves on edge from Sander’s voice talking right beside his ear and Sander’s arms nearly wrapped around him in what he imagined to be a hug. It wasn’t, but Christmas didn’t mind pretending it was.

The second round fared better than the first, but only because he had selected what seemed to be a very beginner-friendly character against an AI still on easy mode. It didn’t matter, really, and he leaned his head without thinking slightly towards the right. Towards Sander. When contact sparked realization, he straightened with a panicked [color 8493ca]”S-sorry.”[/color]

“[color cyan]What did I tell you?[/color]” -Sander only laughed. 

[color 8493ca]”O-oh.”[/color] Christmas kept his head straight regardless. [color 8493ca]”Thank you for—for hanging out with me.”[/color] He knew it was mostly his fault that he couldn’t interact with the rest of the class, and he was almost too comfortable only having Sander for company, but it was okay. Something small and insignificant believed the rest would come in time as long as Sander remained.

“[color cyan]Don’t worry about it.[/color]” -Sander brushed it off as he straightened himself up and began to look around the arcade -”[color cyan]Maybe…we should try something else?[/color]”

And they did, trying out different games in the arcade. The employees and other regulars gave them both a wide berth, though Sander hardly noticed as he was too caught up in the games. They reminded him of a simpler time, and he was more than willing to indulge himself. Between the two of them, the atmosphere had grown so comfortable even Christmas looked at ease—a rather noticeable change from his usual skittish behavior. If he had possessed enough self-awareness to notice, the difference would have shocked him. 

Once it was late enough, Sander and Christmas finally decided to head back to their suite. However, as his hand hovered on the keypad of the elevator, a thought formed, reminding him of another indulgence he craved. 

“[color cyan]Hey Christmas, wanna go to the bar?[/color]” -He asked suddenly, hesitant fingers moving idly across the numbered buttons.

[color 8493ca]”The bar…?”[/color] Christmas repeated, looking at him curiously.

“[color cyan]They have one here. Wanna come? Good drinks.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Don’t—don’t really know how to drink…um…a-are there—”[/color] he felt silly asking it, but with Sander his fears were slowly melting away [color 8493ca]”—sweet drinks?”[/color]

“[color cyan]I prefer sweet drinks anyway.[/color]” -Sander smiled, before reaching over to take Christmas’ hand into his own. Bold, but he had grown braver these days. All thanks to the gifts from the water -”[color cyan]Cmon.[/color]” -He gave the blond boy a tug. 

With his hand held by Sander there were very few things Christmas would have protested. He followed along easily after a soft [color 8493ca]”O-okay.”[/color]

The elevator deposited them on the 10th floor, where white-laced buffet tables and embroidered seating spanned the entire room. Most of the guests squawked horrified noises upon seeing the two subnatural boys and there was a small stampede to vacate the floor. Sander and Christmas were left alone as nearly everyone rushed out alternate entrances, most dropping cups and plates of food in the mild panic. The unfortunate servers scurried to clean the messes, but where Sander and Christmas walked they paused and stepped away, fear and loathing thinly veiled on their faces. The braver patrons who remained were on nearly the opposite side of the floor, gathered into a small group around a glass dining table and looking ready to bolt at the first sign of danger. 

One man, however, sat almost serenely in the midst of it all, eyes never leaving the tablet in his hand, though he noted with a flick of his glance the two arrivals as well. Black hair slicked back over his head contrasted with olive skin and a dark gray double-breasted suit carefully cut to fit his trim form revealed the backing of wealth. Statuesque height, a graceful jawline, and arching cheekbones denoted the favor of genetics. If he was born into prosperity and comfort, it didn’t show in any sort of presumptuous air. Instead his amber eyes watched the subnaturals after they passed by with a placid, pensive look, as if he was regarding a fine painting.

Sander didn’t really pay much attention to his surroundings as he grabbed a seat at the bar. A childish giddiness bloomed in his chest every time he saw rows upon rows of liquor bottles had never disappeared for him, despite the gaping distance time had created between him and his past. He supposed he could still have that. 

“[color cyan]A mudslide, please. Extra vodka in that.[/color]” -Sander said to the antsy bartender who looked like he clearly did not want to be there, before turning to Christmas -”[color cyan]You want one? It’s sweet.[/color]”  

The sudden evacuation on their arrival had shaken the boy and Christmas clutched at the hem of his shirt, watching the bartender and Sander in terror.

Sander blinked in surprise at the blond boy’s apprehensive expression, before taking a good look of his surroundings. He sighed then, running a hand through his hair. 

“[color cyan]Guess it can’t be helped.[/color]” -He smiled apologetically at the bartender, then turned back to Christmas -”[color cyan]I won’t hurt anyone. Promise.[/color]” 

[color 8493ca]”But…what if…”[/color] he didn’t finish the sentence, leaving the question obvious when he glanced at the way the bartender seemed to step away from them ever so slightly. There was nothing he could do about it, so Christmas picked up Sander’s hand from where it rested on the counter, holding it to calm down.

He counted maybe 30 seconds before his heart stopped threatening to jump out of his chest.

[color 8493ca]”…Is—is it sweet?”[/color] he finally asked, unsure of what he had heard just moments ago.

“[color cyan]It is.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Th-then…one f-for me, too…?”[/color] he half-addressed the question (that was supposed to be a drink order) to the bartender, who didn’t show any sign that he had heard it, but when two tall glasses filled to the brim and topped with whipped cream eventually slid in front of them, Christmas was at least grateful for the man’s sense of professionalism.

Sander wasted no time, immediately gulping down one third of the drink. Their trip around the arcade had left him a bit thirsty, and this cold drink just hit the spot. And true to its gaudy appearance, the place really did its cocktails right.

“[color cyan]Try it. It’s good.[/color]” -Sander turned to his roommate then, grinning.

Christmas had never tried alcohol before—not even stolen sips at family parties because those didn’t happen often growing up and even when they did his mother had always kept her hand on his shoulder. 

The drink was sweet, as promised, but he coughed at the burst of alcohol behind the initial flavor of creamy chocolate. He didn’t dislike it, despite the minor surprise. More carefully now, he sipped at it again, mouth nibbling against the rim of the glass. His eyes were awestruck, and were it not for the alcohol he could have sworn he was drinking a frosted cake. He poked at the whipped cream with his fingers, licking off the sweet icing in wonder.

“[color cyan]How is it?[/color]”

Christmas scooped more of the whipped cream onto his fingers, forgetting all his table manners in the face of the sublime quality of every ingredient in the drink. That it was his first time drinking (and with Sander of all people) only made everything seem incredibly novel to him. He licked another mound of cream from his fingers before finally responding with [color 8493ca]”Really good”[/color], his voice muffled as he moved the glass for another sip, hand smearing the topping across the glass.

Sander caught Christmas’ hand in his, before gently bringing the fingers to his mouth and licking the cream off while the blond boy stared wide-eyed -”[color cyan] It’ll get sticky later.[/color]” -He explained, then turned over to the bartender to ask for some napkins and a spoon. 

The nervous man brought what he asked soon enough, and Sander plucked the spoon into Christmas’ glass -”[color cyan]Use this.[/color]” 

Cradling the left hand that Sander licked, Christmas blinked dumbly at the spoon, not noticing much besides the embarrassment coloring his neck and shoulders a soft shade of red. A pleasant sort of embarrassment, he would admit, but certainly not to Sander. It was like his roommate didn’t even remember that he had a preference for guys and he bit down on the thought before it could progress, because Sander had no intentions behind it. A genuinely good (perhaps overzealously so) person who was as oblivious as a rock.

It shouldn’t have been the alcohol, since he had only sipped a tenth of the glass, but Christmas thought that dense sort of behavior was a little [i]too[/i] endearing, even if—and his fingers still felt the heat and moisture of Sander’s tongue—it was vaguely maddening at the same time. 

He wiped his hand on the fresh napkin and fumbled with the spoon, an uncertain expression on his face that eventually curled at the tips of his mouth into a faint smile.

[color 8493ca]”Thank you,”[/color] he said, left hand tightening imperceptibly on the glass.

"[color cyan]You look red.[/color]" -Sander commented, bringing a finger to his roommate's flushed cheek.

Christmas only nodded to the comment, an agreement all he dared at the moment. He brought the glass to his mouth again, taking a larger sip this time for something to distract him from Sander, though he already knew it was a futile effort.

"[color cyan]I don't really get drunk. Part of my power. Do you?[/color]"

Christmas swallowed the mouthful of alcohol slowly, wondering if that applied to him, too. But something didn’t think so and he wasn’t sure it was him.

[color 8493ca]”I don’t—don’t know. I think I…I do?”[/color] Fuzzy understanding, and he didn’t know where the intuition came from, but it was there. Muted by a pleasant warmth lightly spreading through his body, but still there.

"[color cyan]Did…the ocean give you anything? This time?[/color]" -Sander took another long swig from his drink, licking traces of cream on his lips.

The healer shook his head, imitating the action for another gulp of rich chocolate. [color 8493ca]”But I…didn’t deserve it anyway,”[/color] he found himself muttering and the surprise quickly shelved itself away in favor of yet another tilt of the glass.

"[color cyan]I don't think it cares.[/color] -Sander shrugged -"[color cyan]I hardly deserve…this.[/color]"

"[color cyan]Or you.[/color]"

The statement seemed strange, so he questioned it, words weaseling their way out of his mouth the more he drank.

[color 8493ca]”Me?”[/color]

"[color cyan]You.[/color]" -The confirmation was firm.

[color 8493ca]”But I don’t…do anything.”[/color] Another hit of chocolate.

"[color cyan]Don't have to do much. Just stay.[/color]" 

[color 8493ca]”Want to do more for you…really…”[/color] The glass was slowly emptying and the cream was slowly melting and he thought it would be a waste to drink it after it had warmed up. More large gulps now that the sting of alcohol had been soothed by a pleasant buzz, though Christmas hadn’t yet realized he was in the first stages of tipsy.

“[color cyan]I don’t really mind. But…sure.[/color]” -Sander finished off the rest of his drink, then pushed the empty glass forward for the bartender to collect -”[color cyan]What do you want to do?[/color]” 

Worried Sander would leave him behind if he took too long, Christmas downed the rest of his glass, too, coughing at the very end on a few unfortunate drops. It left him with hiccups and he looked at his knees in confusion, as if he couldn’t understand how he could have possibly fumbled so hard that his throat was now practicing contractions.

Hic.

He peered up at Sander, face shaded rosy and eyes slightly unfocused. 

Hic.

[color 8493ca]”D-dunno,”[/color] was the brilliant response. [color 8493ca]”S-something.”[/color]

Before they asked for more, the bartender had already supplied the same drinks again in two new glasses, the man doing his best to minimize interactions and hoping the hotel’s special guests would leave once they had their fill of the bar.

At the sound of the drinks sliding towards them again, Christmas turned, obediently reaching out for the nearest glass. That sweet, entrancing liquor was much tastier than he had initially thought. It seemed to just get sweeter the more he drank.

Hic.

A bit of foam and alcohol sloshed over the lip of the glass and dribbled down his chin to splatter small droplets down his shirt. He hardly noticed as he took another sip.

Had Sander been more susceptible to the effects of alcohol, he would have warned his roommate about them. But he wasn’t, and so he didn’t. As Christmas drank more, Sander only watched, sipping on his own drink. Eventually, he noticed the stains on the front of the blond boy’s light blue shirt, so he grabbed a handful of paper napkins and dabbed at them. 

[color 8493ca]”Th-thank you,”[/color] Christmas replied, another hiccup splashing more of his drink onto him. He decided to drain the cup a bit more to stop the problem and another hiccup lost him almost half of the swallow to his chin and the front of his shirt. [color 8493ca]”S-sorry,”[/color] he apologized to nobody in particular.

Sander only laughed a bit, before asking the bartender for more napkins and some water. There wasn’t much he could do about the stains, so Sander switched his attention to the blond boy’s chin and neck, wiping at them with a bundle of napkins. 

Hic. More splashing and the cup was a quarter empty now, most of the high quality drink soaking into the shirt Sander had bought for Christmas in La Plata.

[color 8493ca]”T-tickles,”[/color] the healer said, giggling slightly before another hiccup cut off the quiet laughter.

“[color cyan]I think you are drunk.[/color]” -Sander responded with a grin of his own as he kept wiping at the damp skin.

[color 8493ca]”H-huh?”[/color] Was this what being drunk felt like? He didn’t think he was. But maybe he was. Maybe…maybe he should stop drinking? But it didn’t seem so bad when it was just the hiccups making him spill everywhere. [color 8493ca]”I—I am?”[/color]

“[color cyan]Yeah. I think.[/color]” -The coffee scent that was unique to Christmas also changed as well. It felt stronger. Thicker, somehow. 

[color 8493ca]”Wh-what do I do?”[/color]

“[color cyan]I…don’t know. Just drink some water, I guess.[/color]” -Sander offered his roommate the glass of water, watching the blond boy carefully. 

[color 8493ca]”…But water’s not sweet.”[/color]

“[color cyan]It isn’t. But you will feel better.[/color]” -Sander did remember how his mother used to keep a jug of water by her bedside, and asked him to fill it every time she had too much to drink during a party at work. 

The memory made something inside him ache, so he crumpled up the soiled napkins and put them back on the counter, before taking a long swig from his drink. 

[color 8493ca]”But…I don’t feel bad…?”[/color] Christmas watched Sander drink so he followed suit, narrowly avoiding another hiccup and spill. [color 8493ca]”It’s good,”[/color] he repeated, staring at the drink. [color 8493ca]”Y-you’re good, too. But not like, um, like chocolate.”[/color]

“[color cyan]You’ll feel bad later. Or so I’m told.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Oh…okay.”[/color] He took the glass of water and watched it suspiciously for a moment, but drank it as he was told. A fifth of it was gone before he put it on the counter. [color 8493ca]”Not sweet.”[/color] His hands were already lifting the cocktail again, ready to resume imbibing.

Sander caught Christmas’ hand in his, skin still sticky from the vestiges of his last cocktail. 

“[color cyan]Maybe you shouldn’t drink too much.[/color]”

[color f7976a]”I’d have to agree. You don’t look like a heavy drinker,”[/color] a smooth voice spoke from nearby. The well-dressed man from earlier had approached them during the confusion and now took a seat by Christmas. The chandelier light reflected softly off smooth skin that had been maintained to perfection, casting him almost in bronze. [color f7976a]”And you’d be remiss to drink too much here.”[/color]

[color 8493ca]”S-sorry,”[/color] Christmas shifted away from the stranger, the apology automatic at what he took to be admonishment, no matter how light.

Sander fell silent as soon as he noticed the presence of a stranger nearby. No mark on him. A regular. So Sander just looked, unsure of what to say. 

“[color cyan]Hello?[/color]” -A simple greeting finally petered out. 

[color f7976a]”Good evening,”[/color] the man replied, not missing a beat. He followed the greeting with a smile and slid the glass of alcohol away from Christmas. The blond boy didn’t protest, instead trying to fumble some thoughts together about why someone who looked so entirely [i]above[/i] them had deigned to speak to them. [color f7976a]”Just thought I’d offer a little warmth in this city. Washington isn’t known for its subnatural hospitality. Will you be staying here long?”[/color]

“[color cyan]Uh. I don’t know.[/color]” -Sander blinked, then narrowed his eyes -”[color cyan]Are you a reporter?[/color]”

[color f7976a]”I’m afraid I lack the brazen aplomb required to invade other people’s privacy and bombard them with questions,”[/color] the man replied, a slight tilt of his head and a quick smile lightening the scathing joke. [color f7976a]”I’m just another faceless among the rich, enjoying some time at this resort. Imagine my surprise when they escorted so many USARILN East students through the lobby.”[/color]

Sander wasn’t sure how to respond to the man’s flowery manner of speech, so he just stared instead, nodding. 

“[color cyan]Y-Yeah.[/color]”

The stranger laughed in response, the sound of it clear and friendly—without derision.

[color f7976a]”Those are very artfully chosen ribbons,”[/color] he noted, changing the topic at Sander’s unspoken request. [color f7976a]”A pair?”[/color]

“[color cyan]I guess?[/color]”

[color f7976a]”Ah, it’s complicated, then,”[/color] the man nodded, as if understanding. [color f7976a]”It’s a nice aesthetic. Not very many wear them like that. Seems you two are close if you’re sharing the accessory style.”[/color] Flashing another smile at Sander, he directed more of the talk to Christmas instead, deciding the taller of the two had nothing useful to say. [color f7976a]”How about you? You’ve been quiet so far. What do you think? Would you two make an iconic couple, trussed up in ribbons?”[/color] he asked, laughing lightly at the joke.

Christmas blinked at him, scared of conversing with someone so strange and so friendly. He had grown accustomed to hateful disdain or curious condescension, as much as he hadn’t realized it.

[color 8493ca]”S-sorry,”[/color] he mumbled instead, looking down.

[color f7976a]”No need to be,”[/color] the man replied. [color f7976a]”I was just making small talk. I admit it’s quite rare to personally speak with a USARILN student outside of Crimen Culpaes. You’ll have to forgive me for jumping on the opportunity.”[/color] He leaned forward a bit, hands on his knees and excitement on his face. [color f7976a]”I know you must get this question a million times, but I’m dying to know what sorts of powers you have. That’s everyone’s curiosity, really.”[/color]

Christmas shifted even further back in the face of amicable curiosity.

“[color cyan]No. You’re a…regular. We’re not supposed to tell you that.[/color]” -Sander interjected then, frowning -”[color cyan]Are you sure…you are not a reporter?[/color]”

[color f7976a]”100%,”[/color] the man replied, watching their reactions and sitting back. [color f7976a]”I was simply wondering. Most people don’t get to hear of powers until someone’s so popular the schools can’t hide very much. I’m sorry if I scared you.”[/color] He addressed the last sentence to Christmas, who nodded in response.

[color f7976a]”I hear they’ve put you all in the same suite, even if it’s the royal penthouse suite. That must a bit troublesome if you simply want to walk out and watch TV, or anything that you can’t do inside your individual rooms.”[/color]

“[color cyan]It’s alright. I don’t watch TV much.[/color]”

[color f7976a]”That’s a shame. Quite a lot of good shows these days, surprisingly. The entertainment industry always blooms its best during times of strife. Perhaps because there’s so much inspiration to be found. How about you, Christmas, do you like watching TV?”[/color]

The healer stared—or tried to. He still felt fuzzy on the edges, so he leaned against the counter instead.

[color 8493ca]”S-sometimes…”[/color] he murmured. 

[color f7976a]”My suite’s much closer than the penthouse if you need to lie down somewhere.”[/color]

The linger doubt that the man was somehow a reporter never did quite leave Sander, so he shook his head at the stranger’s offer. 

“[color cyan]He’s my roommate. I’ll take him back.[/color]”

[color f7976a]”I can help with that.”[/color] The man moved to grab Christmas’s arm and sling it over his shoulder.

“[color cyan]I can do this alone.[/color]” 

[color f7976a]”There’s no harm letting someone help your friend up. You’ve had a bit of a drink, too, after all.”[/color] As he spoke, he lifted Christmas from the bar stool, propping the unsteady boy up by the elbow and keeping him upright. [color f7976a]”You can head back first if you’d like. I’ll make sure he’s not sick and then bring him up there.”[/color]

“[color cyan]It’s not…safe. You might be a reporter. I can’t leave you alone with him.[/color]” -Sander protested, reached out to grab Christmas’ arm and gave it a gentle tug -”[color cyan]I’m not drunk.[/color]”

Christmas stumbled towards Sander automatically, nearly falling into him. He was a little unsteady on his feet, but with the addition of the stranger and his newfound appreciation for alcohol, everything was getting a bit much to handle. 

[color f7976a]”I assure you I’m not a reporter, but so be it. Make sure you don’t trip anywhere and injure yourselves. That would be a shame.”[/color]

He gave them both another smile and turned back to the bartender, ordering a drink and effectively letting them go. No need to agitate them just yet.

[/hider]
[hider=Scent: Skin]
[color=silver][center]𝔽𝕣𝕚𝕕𝕒𝕪: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟙𝟠, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ.   / /   ℝ𝕠𝕪𝕒𝕝 ℙ𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕊𝕦𝕚𝕥𝕖    / /  ~~𝟚𝟛𝟜𝟘[/center][/color]
Sander threw an arm around Christmas, and together, they made their way back to the penthouse. Sander wasn’t lying to the stranger when he said he wasn’t drunk. He really wasn’t. Soberness helped, and eventually, they stumbled into their room, the door quietly clicked shut behind them as Sander lowered his unsteady roommate onto the couch.

“[color cyan]You’re still with me?[/color]” -Leaning down until they were eye to eye, Sander looked at his roommate’s flushed face, tone laced with concern. 

Christmas nodded, leaning forward as well. He stared at Sander’s shoulder, then tapped it with a finger, like he was testing the temperature.

[color 8493ca]”Want to hug you.”[/color]

Sander was slightly surprised at the request, but he obliged, leaning toward and wrapping Christmas in his arms. The scent of coffee was suddenly too strong, so he focused on his breathing instead, and not the heartbeats against his chest. Christmas remained quiet for a while, nestled in Sander’s arms. A real hug. He had forgotten how they felt. How warm it was.

His arms circled around Sander’s torso, returning the affection.

[color 8493ca]”I like you,”[/color] he said again, echoing sentiments that hadn’t wavered.

“[color cyan]You already told me.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”I like you a lot.”[/color]

“[color cyan]I wonder why.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Just because. I’m stupid and—and I don’t know how to explain but I just…like you a lot…I’m sorry.”[/color]

“[color cyan]Hey now, what did I tell you?[/color]” -Sander just smiled, his hand ran soothing circles on Christmas’ back. 

Christmas’s arms held on tighter in response.

[color 8493ca]”But I…I feel bad because I…want to…to…”[/color]

He didn’t finish, burying his face in Sander’s chest instead.

“[color cyan]Want to?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”You don’t like it,”[/color] Christmas mumbled instead, trying to disentangle himself now, though his efforts were half-hearted.

“[color cyan]I…don’t get it? What don’t I like?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”You don’t like it,”[/color] Christmas repeated, words vaguely slurring together. [color 8493ca]”Just so nice…shouldn’t…shouldn’t do this to you.”[/color]

He tried to move out of the hug, but his resolve failed after all and he held on tighter.

[color 8493ca]“I’m really sorry.”[/color]

“[color cyan]Don’t have to.[/color]” -Sander simply indulged his roommate, relaxing into the hug. Eventually though, the dampness against the front of his shirt began to make him uncomfortable -”[color cyan]It’s…getting sticky.[/color]” -He mumbled, tapping lightly on Christmas’ shoulder.

Nodding absentmindedly, Christmas pulled back, eyes fixed on the floor.

“[color cyan]You need a shower. Wouldn’t want that to dry.[/color]” -Another light tap to make sure his roommate hadn’t fallen asleep. 

[color 8493ca]”Okay,”[/color] Christmas agreed, stumbling towards the bathroom. Sander followed closely behind, an arm around his roommate’s shoulders once again, seeing how unsteady the boy was. 

Once they were inside, Sander took just a few moments to appreciate the spacious bathroom, before reaching for the faucet and letting warm water fill up the tub. It looked more like a small pool than a tub, to be honest. Then again, it would only make everything more convenient. Sander let Christmas lean against the edge of the tub as he quickly undid the buttons on the boy’s stained shirt. It was soon discarded at their feet, and the pair of jeans soon joined it. Once that was done, Sander reached for the boxer brief Christmas was wearing while the smaller boy seemed hypnotized by the various settings available on the waterproofed screen attached to the showerhead pedestal mount.

Christmas turned back with a confused [color 8493ca]“Huh?”[/color] as Sander pulled his underwear down as well. He blinked and sat down on the inside seating ridge of the circular tub, instinctively trying to cover up with his arms and knees as his mind failed to process that he was entirely naked in front of Sander.

When his roommate had settled down in the tub, Sander began to undress as well, gathering up all the dirty clothes and putting them into a nearby metallic bin. The various settings on the screen confused him, so Sander spent a few minutes flicking through all of them, reading the description and trying it out, since he had only taken showers here and had yet to try the bath. Eventually scented water rushed out from the slits near the bottom of the tub, fizzing into a lavender bubble bath around them. Sander blinked as the new scent filled the bathroom, narrowing his eyes slightly when he identified it as lavender. 

But it was just a harmless scent. So he picked out a few bottles of shampoo from the nearby shelf and joined Christmas in the bubble bath. The tub was more than enough to fit the both of them, and the temperature was just right, so Sander let him relax for a few moments, just closing his eyes and leaning back. 

Christmas patted the forming bubbles in amazement, watching the foam disperse around his fingers. With the water covering him up, he relaxed and peeked at Sander who was leaning back with his eyes closed.

His gaze looked rueful, but he couldn’t help himself; Sander was naked in front of him.

“[color cyan]You need help with your hair?[/color]” -Sander asked after a while, though he still kept his eyes closed. Falling asleep here wouldn’t be too bad, really.

[color 8493ca]”It’s okay.”[/color] Christmas’s voice sounded close to his face. Before Sander could open his eyes, Christmas had pressed a small kiss onto his roommate’s cheek. [color 8493ca]”I’m sorry,”[/color] he whispered, sitting back again.

“[color cyan]Hmm?[/color]” -Sander opened his eyes to the warm pressure against his cheek, but Christmas was already pulling back when he did. He titled his head slightly, confused -”[color cyan]So…you want me to wash your hair? I don’t mind.[/color] -As if to emphasis his point, he reached to the bottle of shampoo and waded through the water to get closer to Christmas. 

[color 8493ca]”Huh?”[/color] Christmas only stared up at Sander, face flushed with the alcohol and the water’s heat. He was supposed to bear with this oblivious behavior, he knew that, but with Sander so close and so forgiving and his willpower slowly waning, Christmas couldn’t help but reach out with both arms, wrapping them around his roommate’s neck and pulling Sander into another hug.

[color 8493ca]”S-sorry,”[/color] he whispered into Sander’s neck, still holding on for dear life.

As usual, Sander simply indulged his roommate, remaining still in the blond boy’s heated embrace. When Christmas finally let go, he didn’t look up. Instead he sat back down and held Sander’s hand with both of his, caressing the fingers and knuckles meticulously. He couldn’t say anything to explain himself and before another “Sorry” emerged, Christmas brought the back of Sander’s hand to his lips, placing another kiss there. He stared at the hand afterwards, still running his fingers over the pale skin.

With one hand occupied by Christmas, Sander still wasn’t able to carry on with what he wanted to do, so he just obliged the blond boy. Christmas’ strange fascination with his hand made him curious though, so he leaned down to look at his roommate’s face, noting anything out of the ordinary. 

Christmas returned the stare when Sander’s face neared and for a moment he looked like he would cry. But the flash of expression passed and he abandoned the hand, reaching for Sander’s face instead.

[color 8493ca]”I’m sorry,”[/color] he said again. Before Sander could respond, Christmas kissed him.

Sander blinked, surprise lined his feature just as Christmas’ lips pressed against his. 

[i]Too close.[/i] He could almost taste the burning blood on the tip of his tongue. Was it the reason why his heart suddenly went into overdrive? 

Far too unsure of himself to actually do anything, Sander just went very still, letting his roommate do whatever he wished. 

Even tipsy, Christmas knew enough to realize he had crossed a line. Sander freezing up was almost the confirmation of it. He drew back and let his fingers linger on Sander’s jaw, before raising himself up out of the bath.

[color 8493ca]”…I’m r-really sorry,”[/color] he said, teetering as he tried to move his body through the water.

“[color cyan]W-Wait.[/color]” -A hand snaked around Christmas’ waist held him back, and Sander’s blue eyes looked up at him, still slightly widened in surprise -”[color cyan]Your hair?[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”H-huh?”[/color] He’d completely forgotten about it.

“[color cyan]I can help you wash it.[/color]”

[color 8493ca]”Y-you’re not…angry?”[/color]

“[color cyan]Not for…that.[/color]” -Sander offered Christmas a smile that he hoped to be reassuring, while actively tried not to think too much about what just happened. 

It was just like his mom used to say. People did silly things when they were drunk. 

It was probably nothing. It couldn’t be anything, because Sander didn’t know what to do if it were. 

Deciding it was better to just treat it as nothing serious if Sander wasn’t worried about it, Christmas nodded, resigned to the small relief that Sander wasn’t revolted, at least.

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully enough. Sander went through the familiar motions quickly and soon they were both ready for bed. Christmas had begun nodding off by the time he rinsed the blond locks for the last time, so Sander let him doze. Later attempts at waking his roommate failed, so Sander dried him off and carried the boy over to the bed, tucking him in naked. However, even after his roommate was deep asleep, Sander stayed up a little bit more, reading some random magazines he found in the desk drawer. 

It was probably nothing. Really. Just drunken antics.[/hider]