caughtinanetwork

Entry tags:

[video]

Everyone, we're coming up on a very important day, the last of its kind before we turn over to a new year.

As with all such momentous occasions, I think we at the Villa should host a holiday party. On that date, precisely.

[This is actually a message intended for other Villa residents, but whatever, the rest of the bubble will get to enjoy the rare sight of the young reaper looking, dare we say, a little jolly? A little affected by holiday spirit?

Actually, more like he's being a fanboy.]

Of course, I'm speaking of December twenty-first, being the last day of the year that is a perfect palindrome, the numbers of the month being a mirror-image of the date.

[Good old 12/21.

Death the Kid's fingers, gloved and interlaced, tuck up under his chin as he exhales with contentment (and a little longing, that total weirdo), letting out a plume of steam. The moment is abruptly shattered by a snowball planting itself against the side of his head, startling him out of his reverie.

It's a good thing the SFC cuts out when it does. No one should witness the Snowball Retribution Apocalypse (Shinigami Version).]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Like she doesn't usually have her hands full with the villa residents popping in and out.

Gosh.

At least the scene inside is something out of a postcard; fire going ~~where does the smoke go is it polluting the bubble~~, a neatly folded pile of towels on the table and a folded pile of blankets ready to be used on the couch.

Maka herself is out of sight, still fussing over the cocoa.]

[There's still some snickering and snorting as the boys enter, soaked to the bone as to be expected, but the grins have hardly diminished in the wake of the cold.

That doesn't make the warmth of the Villa, the towels and the fire any less welcome, though. Rin gets to them first and tosses one to Kid, using his on his thick hair first.]

Need any help, Maka?

[Never mind that the rest of him is still sopping wet.]

[Kid then breaks off, peeling off his sodden parka and mumbling about getting a change of clothing.

He isn't gone long, scrubbing at his damp hair with the towel Rin had thrown his way, and returns not even ten minutes later, not only dressed in a fresh pair of dark slacks and a pink crew shirt and black knit sweater, but with a bundle of clothing he tosses at the half-demon as he arrives.

What do you mean, it's a little weird to go picking out clothing for a friend from their own wardrobe?]

Sorry to take so long, I just can't abide the damp.

Nope, I've got it!

[Huh, he and Rin were together, in that case--]

Did you want some hot cocoa too, Rin?

[Because she's going to start fixing up Kid's mug posthaste.]

Huh? Oh! Yeah, sure! That sounds great!

[Mmm hot cocoa.

Rin blinks at the clothes being handed to him, but oddly his first thought isn't "why did Kid go through my things" and actually "wow I must be more soaked than I thought. Oops."

He's just as weird as you are, Kid. In his own ways.

He ducks out to the bathroom for a minute and comes back out, properly changed in to his blue long sleeve and baggy black sweats. He passes by Kid, giving his arm a tap with his fist as well as a grin.]

I'm gonna have to get a rematch one of these days.

[Not that he expects to win, but he can damn sure try.]

[Then again, wasn't Rin raised with others in a church? Privacy was probably a luxury not always afforded anyway; as he departs to change, Kid joins Maka over by her work with the cocoa. Hot chocolate has a rich, sweetly pungent smell that's warming even all by itself, after the crisp cold above the water's surface.]

Manage to make friends with any new books while we were gone? [might just be small talk, but there's recent amusement still spilling over the brim of a rarely filled cup, and Kid can't exactly stuff it down for the sake of a refined appearance.

The tap of Rin's fist at his shoulder makes him turn his head.

What was that about restraining himself? He hears his own laughter even before he can think to stop it.]

You're a glutton for punishment, I'll take you on anytime!

Ha ha.

[She has to raise an eyebrow at their jubilant behavior as she passes Kid his mug and starts to work on Rin's. It would almost be infectious if Kid didn't feel the need to take a crack at her about reading.]

Sounds like you two had fun.

Hey if you can dish it out, I can take it! Ain't gonna find anyone else in this damn bubble willin' to deal with your cheap shots!

[The grin on Rin's face has a hint of pride to it - not because of any victory (there were a few in there) but because he feels he accomplished something. Sure they were probably far more serious than any two teens needed to be during a snowball fight, but Kid obviously had fun.

That's a win in Rin's book.

He looks to Maka, that grin still there as if to say "look, look what I did! This is good, right?"

Even his tail was going.]

It was fun. Even if he did bruise the shit outta me.

[Accepting the mug of steaming hot cocoa, Kid is deterred only momentarily to say:] Thank you. But I am curious about what you've been reading lately.

[He's been trying to track down that 'Demon Kings of Gehenna' book, which has proven a little elusive. If he continues to have no luck locating the book, he might bother Maka about whether she's seen anything like that in the bubble.

Rin looks like he might burst with pride or amusement, perhaps both at once. Made suddenly and acutely aware of his own enthusiasm, he presses a fist to his mouth, clearing his throat.

Right. Yes. Dignity.]

Is this your way of requesting that I start holding back?

[Dignity can be maintained even while joshing a friend.]

Are you kidding? I think this is the first time I've seen you laughing or smiling for an extended amount of time since you got here.

[Or in general if we're being nitpicky.]

[Also it's on a shelf above her bed, Kid, just ask.]

Anyway, what were you guys doing out there? Rolling around in the snow? [Here, Rin, she's passing you your mug.]

[Rin takes the mug, just holding it for a moment to let the heat warm his cold fingers. The grin remains, even if Kid is attempting to regain composure.]

Hell no.

[Seriously, Kid. Give it all you've got, Rin will just keep coming back for more.]

Snowball fight!

[Embarrassed, the young grim reaper attempts to conceal the telling flush behind the mug, tipping it to sip its hot contents.

Not that he particularly blames her for her observation; if there's anyone who has ever seen him that delighted about anything, it was likely only the Thompson sisters--and only while he was busy gushing over something especially and unexpectedly symmetrical.]

Rin proved a capable opponent, but truth be told he started it.

[Putting down his mug, he brings up his empty hands.]

Since you weren't able to join us...

[The usual black crackle--and all at once, a sphere of packed snow drops into his palm.]

You can throw this at Rin.

[He kept one, that bastard.]

...Eh?

[Throw it at Rin?

She just stares at it as though it's a hefty dog turd Kid's holding and not a snowball.]

I can?

[Her throwing arm probably isn't as good as it used to be (and it wasn't anything to write home about in the first place).]

W-what?! Hey not fair, I don't have any fancy hammer space to hide snowballs in!

[Turning the puppy eyes on Maka now.]

C-come on, he won! You wouldn't kick a guy when he's already down would ya?!

Of course you can. I don't want you to miss out.

[This is delivered with the usual deadpan expression, which begins to crack the moment he spies Rin attempting to fire Puppy Eye Lasers in Maka's direction.]

Quickly, the snow is beginning to melt.

[Also, it's cold.]

[She takes it, turning it over in her hands to keep the water from dripping down onto the floor, looks from Kid to Rin...

Then throws the snowball smack in the center of Kid's chest.

~~SHOT THROUGH THE HEART! YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME~~]

Like he said, you already won.

[The ultimate winner is her.]

[Rin was fully expecting that snowball to come at him, but when it hits Kid--

Welp. Rin's gone. Don't expect him to breathe any time soon, he's too busy cracking the hell up.]

[HE JUST CHANGED HIS SHIRT, MAKA, HOW COULD YOU?

Flabbergasted by the fact that she just pelted him with the snowball, Kid plucks despondently at his sweater and shirt, holds up a finger in a 'one moment' sort of gesture, and proceeds to abscond back to his room.

So much for that hideous pink shirt. TIME FOR OUTFIT CHANGE #2.]

...[And now she's cracking a smile.

Which turns into giggling.

Welp now Maka's doubled over, holding her stomach and laughing.]

[Sorry, Kid. Your suffering is amusing to the two of them.]

[Oh god he can hear you two from the other room, damn it!

A few minutes later, thoroughly embarrassed and now dressed in -- with the same slacks as earlier -- a white button-up shirt and black cardigan, Kid returns to his mug of hot chocolate with the air of one who is determined to put the last five minutes behind him.]

...

[And she still has the gall to smile at him.]

So? Are we going to just stand around in the kitchen all day? I laid out blankets for a reason, you know.

[Rin is grinning to, and trying to stifle any further snickers. He lets out a cough at the question about standing around the kitchen, coming around the counter to give Kid's arm a tug.]

Blankets sound awesome right now. C'mon.

[Unwilling to sound like a broken record, Kid opts to only mouth the word 'Blankets' at Maka, while allowing Rin to tug him along in his wake with an equal measure of mild confusion.

Oh, well. Yes. Blankets would go a good way toward chasing off the lingering cold, even if the cocoa had been deeply warming.

Someone has already decided to occupy a place in front of the fire; Pip is curled up, tail covering his nose, contentedly dozing in the firelight.]

[And that whole deal with the snowball made her hands wet and cold, so she follows them wiping her hands on her sweater to dry, then rubbing them together to put any sort of feeling back.]

Looks like Pip's already settled in, at least you have company. Want me to go up and get a book or something for you, Kid?

[Why no, she doesn't have any intention to settle in with them. It's rude to just invite yourself in on things like that.]

don't you tell me what to do

but we wuv you

ACCEPT OUR LOVE

WOW NO, WAY TOO SOON

oh come on we just want cuddles

how can you say no to these faces

very easily

sob she doesn't love us kid

my heart, it is broken 5ever

oh you big babies here <3

eeee <33

<33333333

weirdos, the lot of you

best weirdo boyfriends

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject