[video]

[symmetrophile]

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).]

Comments

[symmetrophile]

[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.]

[heartandsoul]

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

Which turns into giggling.






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

[keepsthefire]

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

[symmetrophile]

[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.]

...

[heartandsoul]

[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.

[keepsthefire]

[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.

[symmetrophile]

[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.]

[heartandsoul]

[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.]

[keepsthefire]

[But Maka, cuddles!

Well, it would be nice, but he doesn't say anything about it. If she joins them, great, if not no big deal either. Really he just wants to be warm now. Even if he likes the cold it does get a little tiring after a while.

He flops down on the couch and bundles up underneath the thick blanket, reclaiming his hot coca once he's settled.]

[symmetrophile]

[Rin has taken leave of them to go see a fireplace about a couch and warm blanket, and Kid takes advantage of the fact that he's no longer being tugged along to turn around and regard Maka with a fist on one hip, his head canting to the other side.]

You aren't joining us?

[Disappointing.]

In that case, I'll do without a book. At least sit with us a while, Maka. Unless you have something else you need to get to.

[heartandsoul]

Doesn't seem right to invite myself when I've been here all day and there's no pressing need to warm myself.

[But he's already asked and forcing him to push the issue is even ruder.

Sigh.]

Okay, just for a little while.

[keepsthefire]

Don't need a reason to enjoy our company!

[Thank you for bothering her about it, Kid.

Rin smiles over at Maka, motioning for her to come over with his hand. You know you want to snuggle with your cold boyfriend.]

[symmetrophile]

[Bothering his friends is something of a specialty; Kid only seems satisfied when she relents, stooping to collect a blanket--

--only to stop mid-reach to give Pip's sleeping form a few moments of attention. His fur is warm from the fire, and the Eevee lifts his head, chirps a sleepy rendition of his usual brill, and tucks his head back between his paws.

Just a pit stop on his way to warming up, really. Go snuggle your cold boyfriend, Maka!! I mean, really, he's discreet, but even Kid took note of Rin motioning her over.]

[heartandsoul]

[Yes, snuggling a stone-cold bundle of cling sounds like a lovely thought.

No but really she didn't need to be told twice, the moment Kid stopped at Pip Maka was settled down next to Rin and burrowing under the blanket with him.]

It's nice to see you're still so modest despite being beaten in a snowball fight.

[keepsthefire]

[He's not that cold. He is a demon after all. He's probably already warmed up, he just wants snuggles.

Which he's getting, and as soon as Maka is under the blanket he puts his arms around her, grinning like a dope as he usually does.]

Hey he beat me fair and square. I ain't got a reason to be a sore loser about it.

[symmetrophile]

[Ultimately deciding to leave Pip to his admittedly absolutely adorable dozing, Kid stands, shakes out the blanket, drapes it across his own shoulders, and stoops again to retrieve the mug of hot cocoa he had left behind on the floor.

A few moments later, he's joining them in near proximity, but not on the now thoroughly occupied couch.

Kid simply seats himself on the floor immediately in front of the couch, resting his back against it, enveloped in the casual drape of the blanket across his shoulders, and cradling his mug in his hands between his bended knees, feet flat on the floor.

Sure is some cuddling action going on directly behind him, and maybe him just kind of chilling right there is (more than) a little awkward; apparently the reaper doesn't mind at all.]

Besides, it was a lot of fun. Rin makes an enthusiastic opponent. Ah--speaking of-- [He tips back his head to regard them.] --have you ever played basketball?

[heartandsoul]

[There's an involuntary shudder from her at the mention of basketball.




Then a tug on Kid's collar.]

Come up here with us, stupid.

[keepsthefire]

Basketball?

[Rin just lets Maka take care of dragging Kid's sorry butt up on the couch.]

In middle school... when I wasn't gettin' in trouble for throwin' the ball too hard at the kids I hated.

[... Rin there are certain things you shouldn't admit.]

[symmetrophile]

[It's a moment of Kid's gaze fixing on Maka's, her fingers tugging on the collar of his shirt, that prompts him into getting up, blanket falling from his shoulders.

This, he collects as he climbs up onto the couch, gathering the fabric onto his lap as he settles in.]

Did you? I should be safe. [Since he isn't hated, but gosh you were a lively brat, weren't you?] But perhaps we could find a game all three of us can enjoy.

[He caught that shudder, apparently.]

[heartandsoul]

[You eesholes never told her the rules, even to the end.]

All three of us?

[keepsthefire]

Basketball wouldn't be any good with just three anyway.

[Going to casually not bring up the getting in trouble thing again ok? Ok.]

Board games maybe? 'cept you two would probably kick my ass at anything we play...

[symmetrophile]

It wouldn't be only the three of us, but if we could--

[Kid pauses, pressing his knuckles against his mouth to stifle the abrupt need to yawn. This, he attributes to the comfortable setting; all the warmth after a lot of activity in the cold, and it being the afternoon already besides.] --I think it might be nice. What in particular it is doesn't matter to me.

[He lifts his mug to his mouth.]

Maka, what do you think? You're among one of our most athletic and well-read in the EAT class, why don't you choose?

[heartandsoul]

D-don't say that, I don't know about a lot of games besides ones you can play by yourself.

[Now why did Kid have to yawn, the combination of two other warm bodies and hearing him yawn is making her yawn.]

We could make a game out of our Soul Perception, but that's not one Rin can participate in either. Hmm...[she might be...subconsciously pulling Kid closer to her again so he can lean on her shoulder as she's leaning on Rin's.]

I can't really roughhouse as much as you guys either.

[keepsthefire]

[Damn it Kid, that shit's contagious you know. Now Rin is yawning, and snuggling further down in the blanket, failing to fight off a wave of tiredness that's pushing him to just fall asleep right there with Maka.

And maybe Kid if he's heading that way, too. Really Rin isn't about to complain who he falls asleep with - it's pretty damn comfortable like this.]

How d'yknow if we've never tried, huh... ?

[Yes he's tiredly muttering about the Soul Perception comment.]

[symmetrophile]

[Oops. Kid's patient zero, starting the inexorable spread of the contagion known as a yawn. Too drowsy to consider even the formality of fussing, the reaper allows Maka to pull him eventually against her shoulder. His head leans against her like it's the most natural thing to do, but his eyes are already almost entirely shut.]

Why not teach you how to resonate? It has a variety of uses. Besides-- [That sounds more like a sigh, with still other words waiting in the proverbial wings, but he doesn't continue his sentence.

Talking just seems like more of a chore presently than it's worth. He'd rather just experience the enveloping warmth, the living thrum of familiar souls nearby. This is nice, a luxurious new experience to redefine what 'comfort' means.]