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.

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"I'm thinking...that if we went hunting for one, we could probably find a camera in either the kitchen or the bedroom."

"It's - the camera we're hunting for, right?"

She's still picturing a pretty bulky box and big flash lamp.

"Sure! Unless you'd rather snoop around her apartment for something else."

"I think the camera will be enough."

Then again, she's also not suggesting that they just ask if one's around.

"To adventure?" he asks extending an elbow in her direction.

Her expression doesn't change, but there's just a beat of hesitancy.

(It's not nerves - she just hasn't quite stopped thinking about the last person from the Bar who flirted with her.)

But then, her smile widens slightly, and she takes his arm. "All right."

It's weird. The momentary pause, the widening of her smile. It reminds him of April during the first few months they lived with her. When he and his brothers were comfortable to talk to, but strange to actually touch.

"I was just thinking, you remind me a lot of a woman I know from home. I'd say here, but I have no idea if this here is actually, home."

"I don't think you remind me of anyone from home," she replies, sounding only a little apologetic.

"But it seems like my world is pretty different from most others'"

Mike laughs.

"My brothers would say yours is the luckiest of all possible worlds. To not have someone like me in it, I mean.

But aside from a criminal lack of awesome," he says standing up just a little bit straighter. "What do you think makes your world so different?"

Not having siblings, Asami's not entirely sure how to read Mike's first comment.

But she answers easily enough, "Well we don't have - New York. Or any other place anyone else has told me about. And the only people who have heard of any place from my world are others from it."

Or people who have talked to others from it.

"Not having a New York certainly does put your universe of origin in a league of its own. It takes all kinds to make a multi-verse."

He pauses mid-step as something occurs to him.

"Yours isn't the world without shellfish, is it?"

"... no, we have shellfish."

Maybe not the exact same kinds of shellfish, but.

"Huh," he says his pace picking right up where it left off. "That's just as well. I mean...no shellfish, no New York, and no me? Uh uh. That's just not right, is what that is."

There's a small grin at that.

"Maybe, but I still didn't recognize some of the things on that table."

Cheese isn't quite as big a thing where Asami is from, though it has its fans.

"Oh yeah? Did you back away slowly or taste the adventure?"

"I- didn't get past the drinks," she admits.

"Backed away slowly," he says with a nod. "Not that I'm judging, because I get it. I do. Eating something off at the beginning of a party? Is no way to spend the middle and end of a party."

It's fair enough, but she answers -

"Maybe I'm just choosing my adventures a little more carefully tonight."

"Yup, that's totally me," he says holding his hand out to trace at the words on the imaginary Marquee before them.

"Michaelangelo: More Trustworthy Than A Buffet Table At Aphrodite's House. I should totally get that printed on business cards, or at very least made into some sort of certificate suitable for framing."

"Or I'm willing to take the risk for a camera."

Everyone needs their priorities.

His hand stays extended as they walk, and his eyes fall closed.

"Shhh. Let me have my moment of awesome."

"All right, but I'll need you to help me find this thing."

He seems to know the place better than she does, after all.

He turns towards her and smirks.

"There are worse things than being a means to an end," he says chuckling.

It took some doing but they finally weave their way through the other party guests and arrive at the door to the kitchen. Mike pushes open the door and holds it for Asami.

"After you, Madam."

"You know what we're looking for," she protests, albeit while smiling, as she walks through the door. "I just..."

This tapers off, as she takes in all the appliances with plugs and shiny glowing digital clocks.

"I know right?" says Mike in equal awe...though for entirely different reasons.

Mike has kitchen envy.
Bad.
Right now.

"It's just...so beautiful. And clean. And beautiful...and...That is the prettiest espresso machine I have EVER seen."

Re: Lounging

mix_it_up - 2012-12-13 06:02 (UTC) - Expand

mnt_mike - 2012-12-13 18:04 (UTC) - Expand

mix_it_up - 2012-12-14 03:30 (UTC) - Expand

mnt_mike - 2012-12-14 03:39 (UTC) - Expand

mix_it_up - 2012-12-15 02:58 (UTC) - Expand