callipygos | holiday party post

Aphrodite's New York loft is done up to the nines.

The first good look as one enters is of twinkling Manhattan through the big windows, lights bright against a dark winter sky. The windows take up most of two walls; the rest of the space is largely empty, the star of the show a glowingly polished hardwood floor perfect for dancing.

There's a cluster of low-slung couches and chairs at one end of the room, velvet and leather and very inviting. They're situated by the fireplace, which lends them a cozy glow-- though it isn't cold anywhere in here, despite the windows.

Aphrodite is very proud of a few things about tonight:

1) The music, which spans a decent range of time periods and tempos, and will be playing for most of the evening.
2) The decorations, understated but quite lovely: softly glowing lights, silver and gold ribbons wound around columns and draped from the ceiling ... the occasional strategically placed bit of mistletoe.
3) Her dress.

And yes, darlings, there is a very well stocked bar and counter full of snacks.

That's what happens when you enlist the Three Graces to help you plan your shindigs.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oof!"

Kate's a small thing, but still big enough to throw John a little off-balance when she runs into him.

He quickly rights himself and brushes himself off. "My apologies, Miss Barlow, I didn't mean-"

Edited 2012-12-03 09:50 (UTC)

"John?"

She smooths her hands over her dress, quickly glancing down to make sure everything is where it should be in the tight fabric.

"Beggin' your pardon, I'm so sorry. I wasn't payin' attention t'where I was goin'. I was lookin' for ... "

She looks back up, and her voice trails off.

They're standing under the mistletoe.

John follows her eyes.

Then looks back down.

And takes a deep breath.

"I don't think we should do it."

"No!"

It's rushed and ever-so-slightly panicked.

"No, no, no. Nooo. Terrible idea. Awful."

But it is tradition.

"I mean," John says, taking half a step back and holding his hands out, "don't take this the wrong way, because you're a lovely young woman and one day you'll probably make some lucky fool very happy and whatnot, but I have a wife and a son, both of whom I love very much, and - I can't go 'round kissin' folk. Even if they are-"

He makes a vague gesture ceilingward that probably translates to that fucking mistletoe.

She chokes on a dry laugh.

"An' there is the matter of my bein' cursed. An' don't you take this the wrong way neither, but I'd hope t'never lay a kiss on you."

She glances heavenward.

Only, there is no heaven. Only goddamn mistletoe.

"I mean, I know it's tradition an' all, but Lord knows what could happen."

John nods. "There is that."

He strokes his chin, then lets his hand fall to his side.

"I say we go on about our leisure and try to forget that this ever happened.

"With alcohol, if necessary."

"Alcohol. Yes. That's a marvelous idea. In fact, there's a whole dang counter full of it."

The blush in her cheeks betrays just how young she really is.

Beat.

"Y'don't think it's bad luck, though. Do you?"

John is giving you all the confused looks, Kate.

"Don't think what's bad luck?"

Edited 2012-12-04 03:27 (UTC)

She points up.

"Isn't there somethin' 'bout black cats, an' not walkin' under ladders, an' what happens when y'don't toss salt over your shoulder when you've spilled the dish? When y'walk away from mistletoe, s'that like spillin' salt an' not tossin' it over your shoulder?"

Yes, Kate's superstitious.

"I've...never heard that one before, Miss Barlow..."

"All right."

She takes a breath, and nods.

"Y'sure?"

Damned if you do, damned if you don't — that's Kate's modus operandi.

"Well, if it'd make you feel better...I...suppose I could...kiss you."

Awwwkward.

"Oh god. No."

Her words are slightly muffled. It has a lot to do with the fact that she's just covered her face.

"No, I'm — I'm pro'lly overthinkin' things, an' — an' I've had one too many sherries, I think. It's fine. I'm sure it'll be fine. My luck ain't all that good anyhow."

This is why Kate runs away every Christmas.

What are holidays.

John nods, then gently lays a hand on her shoulder in full-on Dad Mode.

"How about this - we walk out from underneath this mistletoe, we tell a few jokes, we enjoy the rest of our respective evenings, and we put this particular...incident - at the back of our minds and keep it there. Sound good?"

Beat.

"And should the worst come to pass...well, it ain't like my luck's any better than yours."

Edited 2012-12-04 07:08 (UTC)

So, John has a hand on Kate's shoulder and they're talking kind of closely while standing under a sprig of mistletoe, and from across the room, Tommy is completely fine with this.

Except that last bit would be a lie.

All right, so he knows John is married and Kate says he's just a friend and blah blah blah, but Tommy is Tommy.

He makes a beeline for them.

"Hi!" he chirps, his smile a little sharp, as he glances between them. "What's up?"

Kate starts.

"Tommy."

Um.

She smiles, just a touch nervous.

"Nothin'. Jus' talkin' silly superstitions."

John nods and takes his hand off Kate. "Mr. Gavin. Hello again. It's as Kate says. Nothin' to worry about, I assure you."

He huffs out a short, sharp chuckle. "Pff, worried? I wasn't worried about anything. What would I be worried about?"

Glancing upward, he arches an eyebrow and points up at the mistletoe.

"Superstitions? You mean this bullshit? What about it?"

Blink.

"I, ah. Asked if there was any bad luck associated with it."

John nods, clasping his hands in front of him.

"That she did."

Discretion seems the better part of valor at this point.

Again, he glances from one to the other.

"Bad luck? Bad luck...how?"

"The ... tradition is y'kiss. So. I was curious if it was bad luck ... not to. Kiss. Which we haven't."

She's under the impression that last bit is important to Tommy right now.

She fixes him with a stern look.

John nods. "I have a wife and a vested interest in not unduly angering her, Mr. Gavin. It's as Kate says."

"...Right."

Tommy can identify with that. In fact he's always had a vested interest in not unduly angering the women in his life, and he'd definitely added Kate to the list. He regards Kate's familiar expression.

And he shrugs.

"Of course." He chuffs out another laugh with a dismissive wave. "You think I thought--? That you two--? Pff, c'mon. Whatever. That's-- no."

Jerking his thumb over at the buffet table, he turns to Kate. "I'm just gonna-- uh, go back over there. You want anything to eat, hon?"

He's trying.

Re: Mistletoe

ikissdhimbck - 2012-12-04 08:34 (UTC) - Expand

bornuntotrouble - 2012-12-04 08:42 (UTC) - Expand

gavin62truck - 2012-12-04 08:51 (UTC) - Expand

ikissdhimbck - 2012-12-04 08:56 (UTC) - Expand

bornuntotrouble - 2012-12-04 09:00 (UTC) - Expand