[Rl - Christmas dinner.]

[p_a_r_a_d_o_x]

[They didn't invite people over all that often but Christmas was a time to spend Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends. In Arthur's case both things were one and the same and he wanted to show that he cared every now and then. All was finally ready.]

Comments

Table

[p_a_r_a_d_o_x]

[Homemade food for everyone! Time to talk, joke, eat and drink.]

Bar

[p_a_r_a_d_o_x]

[There's eggnog, of course, but they have all the sort of drink. Fetch yourself one.]

Presents

[p_a_r_a_d_o_x]

[Gif exchange! If you brought a present for someone, give ti to him/her now~]

Eames & Arthur | Closed thread

[p_a_r_a_d_o_x]

[Arthur had Eames ready, he took care of it hours ago before he left to prepare dinner. And now it was gone.

The basket was still in his room, but no corgi puppy was in it. Cursing under his breath, Arthur started to look around the house, hoping the find the pet before Eames or someone else did.]

Mistletoe

[p_a_r_a_d_o_x]

[There's a few in random places of the house. Don't blame Arthur, he has no idea where that came from.]

[chapter_behind]

[James is behaving himself, and just having a glass of eggnogg. Sorry, anyone who wanted to see the show. No drunk admirals today.]

For Randolph and anyone else who wants to kiss him/laugh

[chapter_behind]

[James happens to be passing under a sprig.]

[number1112]

[11-12 goes up to the host with a smile.]

Thanks for inviting us.

[p_a_r_a_d_o_x]

You don't have to thank me, I'm glad you are all here. Are you enjoying Christmas so far?

[number1112]

It's been very nice. I don't think I've ever been so happy before.

[notjustathief]

[Eames had noticed Arthur missing for a little while, and wandered off to see where his husband had gone. It was probably nothing, but Arthur might have encountered some difficulty and needed aid. Or somehow gotten lost in his own house or something.]

Darling? You alright?

[His own gift for Arthur, meanwhile, was sleeping grumpily in a carrier hidden in a hall closet. Thankfully for Eames, his gift for Arthur was much lazier than the puppy.]

[archicheck]

[Ariadne will be casually enjoying some spiked eggnog and observing the party. She'd be happy for company, of course.]

[cravats]

[And Lyall bumps into him and looks up with a chuckle.]

Heavens. I thought I smelled mistletoe.

[chapter_behind]

[Conniving little -- James has been doing his best to maintain a polite distance, but it's hard, with Arthur and Eames and Reeve and 11-12 so intimate all the time. Harder still, when he doesn't believe for a minute that Randolph "thought" he smelled anything. He's got a good sense of his lover's abilities by now.

With great affected concern, he rests a hand quickly on Randolph's forehead.]

Off balance, professor? That's hardly like you. And you appear to be smelling things, too.

[cravats]

Not at all, my dear admiral. Look up.

[He points up at the mistletoe hanging over their heads.]

I'm afraid we must follow tradition.

[chapter_behind]

[James looks up, precisely as ordered -- and then does a fair imitation of looking confused and concerned.]

I don't see anything. Perhaps we should have you examined by a physician, my dear.

[Of course, he can't help the small smile that threatens to break free. But there's no way he's rewarding Randolph's behavior. At least not yet.]

[cravats]

I suppose it was a trick of the light, then. I do beg your pardon, Admiral.

[He steps back. If James doesn't want to play, Lyall is hardly going to make him.]

[chapter_behind]

[Not so fast, Randolph. James has one of his hands firm in his own, and he laces their fingers together, refusing to let Randolph draw further than an arm's length away.]

Perhaps you should look again, then.

[cravats]

[Oh, so now we're behaving, James? Randolph glances up again and chuckles.]

Well, perhaps it is there after all.

[chapter_behind]

Perhaps it is.

[Excuse you, Randolph, he's been behaving this entire time. You're the one arranging ambushes.]

Perhaps you should come up with better reasons than tradition if you're looking for something.

[cravats]

But I do so enjoy traditions.

[He smiles and leans up.]

And I desperately want to kiss you, you look amazing.

[chapter_behind]

[Well, he did dress specifically for the evening. James leans in, brushing his lips very lightly to Randolph's and resting a hand on his cheek.]

Thank you, love.

[cravats]

[Randolph leans up to kiss him more firmly, hands on his chest.]

You're welcome.

[chapter_behind]

[Well. That's awfully intimate, but James isn't going to push Randolph away.]

I'm very glad to see you tonight.

[cravats]

I'm always glad to see you.

[He couldn't resist more kisses. And he's not sorry.]