[OPEN] We'll Take A Cup of Kindness Yet

[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:

[The morning of December 31st, all residents will receive a handwritten invitation slipped under their door.]



You are cordially invited to attend a party
celebrating the New Year

Wonderland Ballroom
8 pm - 1 am

Semi-Formal Attire
Buffet & Bar
No RSVP Required

All Ages Welcome

For inquiries, contact E. O'Connell

[Punctuality in planning is important: the ballroom itself will only be ready for guests at exactly 8 o'clock, bedecked in glittering golds and the red-green of Christmas' vestiges, still clinging to the old year. Dining tables surround a central dance floor, bars and buffets dot the edges of the room and both holly and mistletoe are expressed liberally through the interior.

Mingle, dance, eat and be merry! The New Year will come in at midnight - the band will play and the drinks will flow for long after.]

Comments

Cullen | OTA

[morework]

I. CLOSED TO HAWKE

[ He plans this. He wrestles with the part which tells him how much better his time would be spent on discovering Wonderland's secrets. Eventually he finds the voice that points out that a day or two will not make or break their progress here, and latches on to its words. And then he plans this.

And on the evening itself Cullen excuses himself. He tells Hawke that he will be back on time, that he only means to finish up work in the library. He tells Hawke later to get ready, via message, and that he will be done shortly. In one of the empty rooms he finds the right attire. And then he returns, and knocks on his own door, waiting eagerly for it to open. ]

I was hoping to pick you up for the party.

II. OPEN TO ALL

[ Hawke is the reason Cullen attends a Wonderland party at all, now even more than last time. Without him he looks lost at best. His attire may fit, but the rest of Cullen stands stiffly on the sidelines of the event, waiting for his partner to return from mingling.

He nurses a glass of champagne, untouched, and clutches it like a shield. If he uses it right, it might stop other people from approaching him for a conversation; or worse, a dance. ]

[wickedwest]

Careful, hold it any tighter, and it might break.

[Don't mind her, she's just taking a break from the party because wow, parties are sort of exhausting, aren't they? This isn't as bad as the anniversary ones, but still. So she's made her way away from the mass of people, drink in hand.]

[morework]

[ He compensates with a looser grip. It nearly slips from his grasp. --On second thought, his way is fine, thank you. ]

Would it matter? We may as well give the magic here something more to replenish.

[ Maybe one day its source will grow tired. Now that would make attending such a celebration worth it. ]

[wickedwest]

[She's pretty sure there's a line between holding it like it's warding off something and almost dropping it all over the place. Keep trying Cullen, you'll find it someday.]

Hardly takes much to repair a broken glass. Was more worried about your outfit than anything else.

[What? It's nice. Be a shame if it got glass and champagne all over it.]

[morework]

Is there anything the closets could not replace in a heartbeat?

[ ugh, FINE. He holds it properly now. The thought of needing to go and change is incentive enough. ]

[wickedwest]

Suppose not. Wasn't brought up to think of things that way though, and old habits do die hard.

[Despite being a witch, it's not like she always was. Couldn't magic new glasses or outfits growing up, that's for sure.]

[bloodmagics]

[When Cullen excuses himself, Hawke has no idea what's to come. Cullen is often finding his way to the library, so he doesn't think twice about the reason given and goes back to wrestling with Dog and their newest mabari. He drags himself away from the two when the message arrives and asks the closets for a suitable outfit and is more than a little pleased with what he gets.

Someone knocks at the door, and when he opens it, an eyebrow raises until--]

-- Well, how can I say no to that?

[And because he can't resist:]

This is a romantic date, yes?

[morework]

If this-- [ No, what? He had- he had just the right opening phrase laid out, it escapes him now, but he had-- oh. Oh.

( There is something to be said for a blush that matches the shade of Hawke's attire exactly. ) ]

Maker.

[bloodmagics]

[Hawke can't help the laugh that bubbles out of him because Maker, Cullen looks so cute like that. In the end, he takes pity on him and cups his cheeks to pull him into a kiss.]

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. But it worked out in the end, so I can't complain.

[Another kiss, before he steps backwards.]

You were saying, before I interrupted you?