cuddlecity | → i don't want a lot for christmas, there is just one thing i need

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→ i don't want a lot for christmas, there is just one thing i need

CHARACTERS: Barbie House Residents & You.
LOCATIONS: That pink little number where superpowered girls live.
WARNINGS: None in post, please let me know if I need to change that.
SUMMARY: Ugly sweater party time.

( If you know Kimberly and Clary at all, then you'll know there's been a festive treat in the works for a while. People will have received their personally designed invitations during the week, but neither of them have been shy in mentioning the party while wandering the city laden with shopping bags. The house is suitably decorated - enough mistletoe to potentially be a biohazard - but with a little help from the world's best ( and most stylish ) warlock Magnus Bane, it's definitely looking the part. And if it's a little small, well outside is covered in lights too, an army of space heaters dotted in their garden to make things as cosy as possible.

There's multiple flavours of punch, though be wary of the one that smells overwhelmingly of gingerbread, someone was a little heavy handed with the liquer. If that doesn't float your boat then the living room table is laid out with different drinks and snacks, some more festive than others. Eat, drink, be merry. And if you hear Blue Christmas at any point in their festive playlist, please track down Baby and give him a hug ( or a drink ... or one of those sprigs of mistletoe. )

The only rule ( and it's definitely a rule ) wear a Christmas sweater or suffer the wrath of women scorned. Though maybe not something with tassles or baubles, Simba might be after them. )

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( She's had more than a couple of drinks by now and it only serves to make her feel quite a bit more sociable which, honestly, is saying a lot since she's already been especially extroverted in the party environment. It almost feels like being back at work, so it's easy to feel comfortable here. That'd probably sound weird to anyone she admitted it to, so she's been keeping that thought to herself.

Jo is sort of waiting in a perceived line for another drink — she's buzzed enough not to realize that these people aren't standing in line at all, they just happen to be hovering between herself and the alcohol, having a conversation — when she feels someone bumping against her. She turns to the source of the apology and smiles brightly, recognizing Baby and opening her mouth to greet him before hearing the exclamation that makes her, too, look up.

He's not the only one whose face reddens, but she tucks her hair behind her ears and smiles, shaking her head a little before rising onto tip-toe. )

You can cheat and use my cheek if that'll make you feel better.

( She's grinning a little when she says it, because she's not going to push her luck, Christmas tradition or not, with a guy who's probably still mourning the loss of his girlfriend, even if she would love a perfectly good excuse to see what it's like to kiss him. )

[ Seeing Jo there is kind of a relief - at least it's someone he knows, even if the reason they know each other is an embarrassing one for Baby. Sure, their meeting hadn't been under the best of circumstances, and he still feels stupid about it, about how drunk he got, how sad he was.

Not that he isn't sad anymore. But he's got a better handle on it now, and he's standing under mistletoe with a very pretty girl that's only been lovely to him since they met. Really, it doesn't feel like hardship to be here, right now.

So he grins down at Jo, remembering all too well a time where he wasn't that bad at flirting and it wasn't tainted by the sadness of Isabelle being gone. He knows he has to move on, keep himself going. And this is harmless. His fingers hover above Jo's shoulder for a second, before he reaches out and mimics her movements, making sure her hair is tucked behind her ear. ]

If you'd like me to, I'd happily kiss you. It'd be my honor.

( If it's possible, she blushes a little bit harder when Baby mirrors her movement and tucks her hair behind her ear as well. She smiles and looks down for a beat before looking back up at him.

Here's the thing: Jo has never really had time for relationships. She's had them, of course, but they never last and she never initiates things because, back home, her life was just entirely too hectic and revolved way too much around her male best friend. Guys never seemed to appreciate that it was a professional and platonic relationship and women always seemed too annoyed by Jo's attentiveness to her best friend and boss always taking precedence over her attentiveness to them. Needless to say, she's a little rusty.

...and it's been a while. Besides, Baby is a good looking guy and isn't the whole part of the bargain that she is affectionate with other people in order to pay the debt of the wish so that she gets it? )

I would love for you to kiss me, when you put it that way.

( She's up on her toes again so that she can try to close some of the massive height gap between them and Jo smiles again a little sheepishly. It takes an actual effort for her to use a hand on his shoulder rather than one of her extensions to keep herself steady on her tiptoe. )

[ Baby can only smile a little wider, gently tugging one of his earphones out of his ears with his free hand, just to feel a little bit more present, or at least appear so.

He brushes the back of his fingers against Jo's cheek as she leans up into him and he leans down, the size difference between them making him huff out a chuckle just before he kisses her, gentle and chaste - a mistletoe kiss. He lingers, though, just for a few moments, his eyes closing as his thumb brushes her cheekbone before he pulls back. He licks his lips as his eyes open slowly, the two of them still close. ]

Merry Christmas.

( His touches are more affectionate than she's used to with regard to something like a silly tradition, like mistletoe, but it certainly isn't unappreciated. She echoes his amused huff with one of her own after they part, her eyes still closed, as his thumb brushes her cheek. For a moment, her eyes don't open and when they do a few beats after his, Jo looks up at him through her eyelashes.

He hasn't pulled back super far; he's still close. Jo wets her lips and catches her bottom one between her teeth. )

Merry Christmas.

( That comes out a little more breathless than she'd have liked, but even that realization just makes her huff again, a silent sort of laugh that comes out more like a puff of air, and she lets herself down onto flat feet again. )

Mental note: always meet Baby under mistletoe. Got it. Cool.

( It's good to see him feeling at least a little better, even if she isn't going to bring up their first meeting in order to make mention of that. )

[ Seeing her reaction, Baby can't help but feel a tiny beat of pride swell in his chest, a moment of thinking, still got game, before it's gone. Arrogance isn't really his thing, and it's quickly replaced by warm appreciation, grinning at the look on her face, which is probably mimicked on his, feeling a little dazed. ]

We can make it a yearly tradition.

[ Which isn't something he should say, not when he's all too aware at how fast people can leave this place. He knows all too well. But he also wants to make new memories, and new traditions, and he's not like Isabelle. He's not good. It'll take him a long time to get his wish fulfilled. ]

Although I'd think mistletoe doesn't necessarily have to be involved.

[ Now that's flirting. ]

( Jo laughs a little, because she appreciates that that must be a joke. After all, kissing under mistletoe is already a tradition, that's literally why they did it. )

Man, what a long time to have to wait.

( Also a joke. ...mostly. )

No, huh? I could get behind creating a new kissing tradition sans mistletoe...I'm listening...

( Because really, why not? Kissing is awesome and he's an attractive guy. Plus, he's fun to be around. Even when he was wasted and bummed out, she still enjoyed his company. )

[ Straightening up, Baby steps back, a hand curling around Jo's forearm, just to guide her from under the mistletoe, where they're still apparently straight in the middle of the biggest concentration of people this house can support. One of the advantages of being taller than most is that he can spot a quieter corner easy, leading her there.

He just wants them to be able to talk without being bumped every three seconds by everyone around them. He's really glad to be sober this time around, able to think and feel more clearly than he has been able to before. While everything is still muddled by his heart - still freshly broken and barely starting to mend itself back together - he can appreciate that he likes being around Jo. ]

I like you, and your company. I don't really - [ He pauses, mouth twisting a little as he tries to find the right words. It's not his forte, finding more comfort in music and lyrics than in trying to express himself with proper sentences, but he's got to give it his best. ] I don't want to lie to you, Jo. I'm not looking for anything serious.

[ Really, he's not looking for anything, but if he does happen to stumble onto something, he's not one to turn his back to it. He just wants things to be clear. He chuckles, feeling himself flush all over again. ]

But I'm also probably getting ahead of myself, here.

( Following him to a quieter corner, Jo notices for the first time just how hot it's getting to be in the little house crammed with excited people while wearing a Christmas sweater. She hadn't really registered that fact until just now...

Jo sets the realization aside for the moment and settles against the wall in said corner and smiles at him a little when he looks a little torn before revealing that he's not looking for anything serious. Baby is going to have to get to know her before realizing that that? That's a non-issue for her. )

I don't want to lie to you, Baby. I might never be looking for anything serious.

( At least, not while she's here. That sort of thing isn't in the plan because forever isn't in the plan. She'll be here for a while, however undetermined length for the moment, but she isn't planning on staying here forever. She loves home and her job and she'd miss Dave too much if she didn't go back eventually. )

Maybe a little, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I think it's probably better safe than sorry to mention, in case I was aiming for something serious. Better not to waste my time or yours if that was the case, but you're good. I'm not, either. I'm just looking for some fun.

[ Relief floods through him at her answer, and the look she gives him - like it's no big deal, and she's more amused than anything. It feels a little like a weight lifting off of his stomach - he is not one to lead anyone on, but Isabelle had made it very clear, from the very beginning of their short time together, that she was not looking for them to be looking elsewhere.

Which, at this point, Baby is pretty sure he doesn't want to do again. Not yet, anyway. He can't. But fun? Fun he can do.

So he chuckles, a pleased, relieved sound between the two of them. ]

Oh. Oh good.

[ He bites his lip. ] I guess I was getting ahead of myself but I'd rather do that than lead anyone on. But if we're on the same page, then... we should, I don't know. Make some plans.

( Jo can practically see the relief washing over him in his body language and it makes her smirk a little. Most girls are probably looking for something more serious, she supposes, but Jo isn't interested in tying herself down to one person, male or female, in a place she doesn't mean to stay in for the long haul. She's here to have fun and make Dave successful for life via her wish. There's really no room for serious relationships in Cadelle when she thinks of it that way. )

It's okay, I appreciate what you were trying to do. We should make plans, though. I need to find a job after the holidays. Then we'll have two schedules to work around and it'll be easier to make plans that won't have to be rescheduled or fall through or whatever.

Or...between now and then, we could get together...

( She gives him a coy smile at that, looking up at him through her eyelashes. )

If you're interested.

[ Considering he's tried, and quickly lost everything he attempted to build - long term - while in Cadelle, there's no way Baby is ready to go back to that. No, if Cadelle taught him anything, it's that it's completely temporary, and he's not going to get his heart crushed again. He can't bear the thought.

But this - the easy flirting and the possibility of fun without strings, that appeals to him, right now. Knowing he wouldn't get anyone hurt, including himself.

Reaching out, he brushes his fingers down along her arm, the fabric of her jumper soft again his fingertips, before he reaches her hand, slotting their fingers together. ]

I'm interested. Also, you need help finding a job?

( Jo tilts her head a little, grinning with her bottom lip caught between her teeth as his fingers move down her arm before lacing through her own. She gives his hand a little squeeze. )

What are you doing after this?

( The party, she means. If she can skip the whole going home alone thing, that might be kind of cool, actually. )

Yeah, actually. I have no idea where to even start. I have my nursing degree but less of an interest in nursing and several years experience backstage in the film industry but no film industry in sight, so I'm sort of at a loss, here. I'm totally open to ideas, if you have any.

[ Baby's stomach drops a bit at the obvious invitation, heat reaching his cheeks again. ]

Um. Nothing, I guess. Why, what have you got in mind?

[ Because. He's game. ]

We can have a look, later. There's this directory of all the places that are looking for people, maybe there'll be something you like, there. Or a class you can enroll in. I know I wouldn't want to have nothing to do.

( And now Jo's stomach starts to tumble a little. This is about as far as she typically has to go when it comes to taking the initiative. Usually, in her experience, the guy feels the need to take over the conversation's lead for whatever reason. With women, she approaches things entirely differently, so it never feels so nerve-wracking. )

I don't know, I'm not doing anything after this either. We could go hang out. Have coffee?

( Because even on the moon, 'having coffee' is datespeak for having sex. Although, she does really enjoy coffee, so even if it's not the same thing here in Cadelle or wherever Baby comes from, she figures it's still a win if 'having coffee' literally means having coffee as far as he's concerned. )

I don't mind having nothing to do for a little while because it means I can look around and everything, but yeah, I'll go stir crazy sooner than later, so that would be really cool of you, yeah, thanks!

[ ...Have coffee. Yeah, no, in his world, being offered coffee in the middle of the night definitely means sex, too. And for all his earnestness and eagerness, Baby already feels like he's got ahead of himself earlier in their conversation, so he'd not going to do so again, but taking the lead and offering something she might not be into.

But now... ]

Yeah? You're offering to make it?

[ Might as well make sure she's not meaning Dinah's bottomless filter coffee. If she says yes, he's pretty sure he's in. ]

Of course. It was one of the first things I did, get a job. I hate the idea of being idle and like. Not earning my keep, you know?

( Her eyebrows lift a little and she grins as she looks back at him. Jo gives him a slow nod and winks, catching her bottom lip between her teeth. )

Yeah. I'll make it.

( And just like that, she's far less interested in staying at the party a whole lot longer than she had been about two minutes ago. )

I'm good with waiting until the holidays are over, but then I'm going to need to for sure find something to do. I worked fourteen to eighteen hour days, pretty much six to seven days a week, depending on Dave's projects, so I'm overdue for a Do Absolutely Nothing sort of vacation for a little while. But yeah, I'll go nuts if I wait much longer than that for kind of the same reason. So yeah, I totally get it.

[ His fingers gently squeeze hers again, pulling Jo a tiny bit closer with a tug as he sits on the arm of the closest couch, just to be a little bit closer still. He can't quite stop the way his stomach drops with anticipation at the looks they're exchanging, the unsaid promise in their words. ]

Sounds like you do deserve a vacation. I felt like I needed one too, when I first got here, but I quickly got restless. I did plan and throw a huge beach party, though, that was cool.

( That little movement is a bit of a relief, because it suggests to Jo that they're on the same page and this is going to go the way she'd been hoping. Her eyes move to his lips as they move when he speaks and then she looks back up at his eyes. )

Yeah, I'm overdue. It'll be winding down soon, though. Then we'll have to figure out how I can make myself useful around here. A beach party sounds cool, shit I'm sorry I missed that.

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→ i don't want a lot for christmas, there is just one thing i need

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