[NYE Party] happy new year and lots of fun

[nascensibility]

Who: EVERYONE, but especially you!
Where: Wonderland Ballroom
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG - PG13 (will change if applicable)
Summary: New Year's Eve Party
The Story:

[ Previously in the month all residents received an invitation to a formal event: a black tie affair to ring in the New Year. The ballroom and adjacent areas are decked out for the party starting at eight o'clock sharp, meticulously planned and executed, glittering décor to match the no doubt glittering attire as music pours into the halls from the dance floor.

Bars flank each side, service for all manner of alcohol unless a minor requests something, and the primary setting stage features an enormous clock for the countdown. ]




[ Where will you be when the clock strikes midnight? ]

Comments

[colorfulmoniker]

[There's one other important little detail that Emma has forgotten, among all of her memories: that she's easier to read than she likes to think she is.

He closes the distance a little more, holding his glass at his side so it's out of the way. The countdown hits thirty, and other pairs in the giant room appear to be doing the same he is - choosing a partner to ring in the New Year with. He doesn't meet her eyes yet, instead watching his finger tap tentatively against her arm, but he isn't smiling anymore.]

Because you're still here, love.

[cursebreaking]

[She'll deny it until the day she dies, but he's not wrong. Emma Swan is an open book, particularly to those who've taken the time to get to know her-- and while she doesn't remember that Killian has absolutely done so, he's no exception.

She raises an eyebrow at him, as if to challenge, but just as he says, she doesn't pull away. She stands her ground, even as his finger taps against her arm, contact that normally would have been her cue to cut and run.]

There's still time for me to leave.

[But not much.]

When I got here, someone told me that 'true love's kiss' would bring my memories back. [It sounds ridiculous, but--] What do you think? Can a kiss really do all that?

[colorfulmoniker]

[He smiles at the raised brows because that is such an Emma move, and one he's grown quite used to over the year. With a playful smile, he gestures to the room with a nod as the crowd continues to count, now from twenty and each digit a shout across the dancefloor.]

Only one way to find out, isn't there?

[The last time he attempted "true love's kiss", it hadn't ended the way he hoped; Killian wouldn't call a knee to the groin and a door in his face a prize for his efforts. A crooked gold star at best.

As the countdown reaches ten, he makes another step towards her until she'll be able to feel his breath on her lips, tinted with hints of rum.]

[cursebreaking]

[She half expects her fight-or-flight reflex to kick in, for her to decide that ditching is the best option after all, but her gut tells her to stay-- and if she's learned anything about herself over the last decade, it's that her instinct is always worth trusting. That same instinct had told her that no matter how crazy Killian's stories seemed to be, that he at least believed he was telling the truth-- and with enough conviction that it made a part of her want to be able to believe in it, too, to believe in this version of herself that had so many people who mattered to her.

She stands firm even as he draws closer, the countdown getting increasingly louder now that they're swiftly approaching the New Year, and the look she gives him is as much a challenge as anything she's said up until now. A few moments earlier, she might have wondered if he would actually follow through-- but not now, as the faint scent of rum accompanies him as he draws nearer.]

Implying your kiss is particularly significant?

[She's not a believer in 'true love,' curse-breaking or otherwise, but he seems pretty damn confident. She can't deny that holds her interest.]

[colorfulmoniker]

It could be.

[And as the countdown finally reaches zero and the crowd cheers, Killian falls silent and smiles, crooked but certain, and maybe even a little daring. His hand slips into the pocket of his vest while his hook taps against Emma's jaw to tilt her head up towards him, and there's nothing tentative about the way he presses his lips to hers.

Compared to the first (and the last) time this happened, Killian is sure of himself while his hook slides behind her head to curl into her hair. The hand that was in his pocket slides over Emma's and places the tiny vial of memory potion into her palm, closing her fingers around the bottle and keeping them there.]

[cursebreaking]

[She doesn't pull away. For all her cagey behavior, she only hesitates for a moment before leaning up into the kiss itself— and for as insistent as she'd been on the fact that she had someone back home, there's something about this that feels strangely right. Maybe it's only because it's been over a month since she's last seen Walsh, but she's never been the type to let her loneliness get the better of her, particularly not when it came to men.

Any vague hope she might have had for the kiss being magical, however, is dashed. Nothing changes, as much as a small part of her had almost believed that it might.

The kiss breaks a moment later, apropos for the occasion. Briefly, she's too hung up on the kiss itself to realize that he'd slipped something into her hand, but she quickly regains her senses, reaching with one hand to carefully grab hold of his wrist and lower the arm attached to his hook. She holds the vial up between the pair of them, seeing the brilliant blue of its contents for the first time as she does so.]

What's this?

[colorfulmoniker]

[He'd be lying if he said that it didn't sting – her pulling away so quickly, and moving his hook out of her hair. He'd have lingered a moment longer if it weren't for her separating them as fast as she did, and for a moment, his breath catches in his throat. He didn't dare forget the rush of adrenaline he felt the first time their lips met, or what it had revealed, but there's a frightening reminder that's come with this one.

Killian swallows hard and his glazed over eyes move first to the vial, then to Emma's face to watch her expression.]

... A memory potion. Regina made it. If you drink it, it will return everything you've lost.

[cursebreaking]

[She feels the faintest twinge of guilt for the expression that crosses his face, and that's new for her, as well. She's not used to getting sentimental over men she's known for ages, let alone ones she just met, but she focuses on the vial instead rather than letting herself dwell. Her brow furrows slightly, disbelieving, but the look she shoots him afterwards is questioning.]

A memory potion. Just like that?

[She grimaces, just slightly.]

How do I know it's not poison?

[colorfulmoniker]

[Killian moves half a step away from her and gestures to the potion in her hand with a very matter-of-fact shake of his head.]

Oh, you don't.

[He's not even the least bit surprised that it was the first thing she went for. What reason would she have to believe him anyway, other than to take all of the things he's told her to heart? That still doesn't prove anything, and he knows that, which is why he gives her an assuring nod in hopes that it'll ease her doubt a little.]

Faith, love. [And...] Why would I hand you a vial of poison?

[cursebreaking]

[Of course, her first response was and always would be skepticism. Her inability to trust runs deep, and as much as some part of her wants to believe in the best in people, life has taught her exactly how foolish that is. Her grimace remains, but there's a bit more humor to it now as she closes her fingers around the vial and tucks it away into her palm.]

Faith.

[She almost laughs, but not quite.]

I don't know. Why do serial killers do what they do? Kiss or no kiss, I still don't really know you.

[Except a part of her now feels like that's decidedly untrue. After all, he knows her.]

[colorfulmoniker]

[Oof, that's a bit of a low blow and Killian makes no effort to hide it. Did she just compare him to a serial killer?]

I know the hook can be a bit off-putting at times, love, but perhaps try to have a tad more faith than that.

[Please. Even just a little bit more. :(]

Regardless, I know you, Swan. Somewhere, deep down, you know that you want to find out the truth. All of your answers are in this vial. Whether you drink it or not is entirely up to you.

[cursebreaking]

[Add it to the list of things she'll have to apologize for later. The injured expression is impossible to miss, and for a moment, she looks fleetingly apologetic before setting her mouth into a hard line, glancing down at the cap of the vial still poking out from within her closed fingers.

She exhales, steeling herself.]

Alright.

[Not full acceptance, but:]

I'll think about it.

[colorfulmoniker]

Aye, that'll be enough.

[She doesn't need to apologize for anything. Killian bounces back from these things pretty quick (one of the perks of being a couple hundred years old is not being phased by a whole lot these days), and he licks his lips and separates them more with a few steps back.

Not without a roguish smile, of course.]

I'll be seeing you soon.

[That much, he's certain of. He believes she'll pull through, regardless of how long it may take her. Without another word, he turns on his heel and walks off to leave the party, quickly disappearing into the crowd.]