undergrounds | HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS... (DEC CATCH-ALL)

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HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS... (DEC CATCH-ALL)

I. THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

Faolan draws his coat tighter around him, not so much cold as uncomfortable where he stands, peering into the window display of the store in front of him. He's not been Christmas shopping in... Nearly a decade, if he's being honest with himself. This year is the first he's had reason to in a long while, and while grateful for that fact, he'd spent so much time avoiding the rush he'd forgotten it all. Forgotten how many people there were out in the shops at this time of year. Forgotten about the music.

He glances up at the speaker above him, frowning at it as it starts to pipe up its next Holiday song. The most wonderful time of the year indeed, Faolan thinks to himself. He's got one person to shop for, and he hasn't the faintest idea of what to be getting for him. Save for that he should be. Lancelot's asked him over for the holiday, and he'd have to be a pretty shit friend not to get him something in return for his hospitality. The only question is what. Being on a budget and having very little idea what the other man would like, Faolan is rather at a loss.

If he has to listen to much more of his holiday music he's going to go mad, though. Grumbling low to himself, Faolan fishes his headphones out of the pocket of his jacket and shoves one into one of his ears. At least he's half spared now, he thinks to himself as he turns and, peripheral hearing now gone, walks into the next shopper over--

II. DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW

Faolan slouches behind the line, waiting to switch lines on the way over to Hillingdon. He's been waiting there for god knows how long, and he's half expecting that he'll be waiting there forever. God only knows how late he's going to be in, at least no one's going to be expecting him right away. He wonders (rather dramatically, but then he's been waiting there for a while already, and his normal hour-long commute is dragging on ever longer) if anyone will notice his absence in time or whether he will perish here out of starvation or boredom or whether he'll wind up going mad and getting himself arrested just to have something to do.

His one saving grace perhaps is that he has thought to bring coffee. It's only from his coffee maker at home, nothing fancy, but it's caffeinated and since he's got it in the travel mug that Lancelot had given him for his birthday, it's still warm now too. Though it's going fast.

He pulls his phone out of his pocket to flick through it, thinking about possibly calling someone to complain, but who would he call that isn't already at work or probably still sleeping. So with a sigh he slips it back in his pocket and raises his coffee for another sip...

III. O TANNENBAUM, O TANNENBAUM [CLOSED TO HILLINGDON MEMBERS]

Faolan certainly isn't one for this season. Nor is he a particularly social person at all. But he has been saying to all the other members about how there needs to be more of a sense of community to Hillingdon, and while he has no intention of forcing any sort of holiday party on them, well. He did threaten free food to Sirius, and he figures that may not be a bad idea after all. Nothing fancy, but he makes certain that there's a fire going in the fireplace, and he's brought in some donuts and made some coffee and hot chocolate and set it out.

It's by no means a formal party, and it's by no means a required get-together. But Faolan makes it a point to sit out at a table in the sitting room himself, in front of the fire as he works on a bit of the records-keeping that no one but the man in charge would have ever expected there to be for a place like this. And anyone who passes through is welcome to join him, or to talk to anyone else who passes through for that matter. To sit with him in front of the fire and speak to him or quietly on their own as he does his work, it doesn't matter to him. If you build it, they will come, or so the saying goes. Faolan's certainly counting hoping so, at least...

*** ooc note: Hillingdon members, feel free to use this as something of an open post if you like -- just note if the thread is intended to be Open To All (OTA) if you do! :)

IV. FROM NOW ON OUR TROUBLES WILL BE MILES AWAY [CLOSED TO LANCELOT]

Faolan chews on his lip as he makes his way up the walk to the front door of Lancelot's flat. He doesn't quite know why he's nervous about this. Maybe it's because he hasn't been asked to join anyone for a holiday in so long, he can barely remember the last time he's spent one with anyone. Maybe it's because he knows himself and he knows that he's probably making something out of nothing. That he's probably worrying about what he's brought with him more than he should be, and that Lancelot could care less, as long as he's there himself. But he can't help who he is or the fact that he finds himself standing on the other man's front step, fretting over a gift, not for the first time.

At least this one is better than a Monkey's paw, he thinks to himself, as he adjusts his overnight bag over one shoulder and the bag of gifts in his hand, before he steps forward and, hesitating, rings the bell. The muffled sound of music creeps out at him through the cracks in the door, and Faolan shifts slightly in place, struggling to make it out as he does.

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Faolan glances down at her as she bounces around the flat, taking another few bites of his food as he does. He has to note, she's certainly gotten bigger and a lot better around people since the first time he'd met her. At least, as far as he's noticed. He wonders how long Lancelot had had her before they'd met, if she's barely a year old and he's already known him for nearly half of that time.

"Am I taking too long for you, then?" he asks her, reaching for his coffee once more. He takes another sip of it, glancing to Lancelot even as he continues to address the dog, "Not all of us are naturally early risers, you know."

But you should be! If the sun is up, Faolan, you should be up too!

"She can wait a little longer. Come here little lady," he coaxes, and holds out a hand to her -- gently encourages her to sit beside him with her face in his lap so he can smooth fingers through her fur and feed himself one-handed. Her tail swishes excitedly as he soaks up the attention, still a little tense and barely restraining the urge to jump up and pace about again. "Settle down, there's a good girl. We'll go out soon, I promise. Then you can teach Faolan how to fetch!"

Faolan raises his eyebrows at that. "Teach me," he repeats. "Is there some secret technique to it then? Some sort of dog-owner, inside information that I've never been privy to, having been lacking in a canine companion?"

He realizes of course that in asking such a question, he's feeding right into the other man's indulgences of such things. But he doesn't mind, really. He rather enjoys Lancelot's ridiculous sense of humor, truth be told. Which probably isn't a secret to anyone by now, all things considered. It's not the first time he's indulged the other man, after all.

"Of course. It's a very complicated and exciting game, isn't it?"

Lily's tail thrashes faster and she leans harder into Lancelot as he ruffles her ears, smirking at Faolan a little.

"Sometimes it becomes a tug of war, sometimes a great stick fencing battle, sometimes a game of chase. There are a lot of rules to it you'll have to learn."

"Mmm," Faolan says, making a pensive noise and nodding in response to the other man's words as he shovels more of the food into his mouth. "Sounds complicated. Chase, fencing..."

He glances down at Lily as she wiggles and tries to contain her excitement. "Well, like you said. You'll have to teach me. And be patient with me if I get it wrong at first. I've never had a dog before, and certainly not a dog who fenced."

He laughs brightly at that, shaking his head as he finally finishes up his food and waits for Faolan to follow suit. Then they're bundling up against the weather outside, persuade Lily into her harness and taking her outside. She fusses around their feet -- studying the world curiously and warily at the same time. She walks to heel well enough but everything is exciting, so every so often she surges forward to sniff at things or people. Richmond park isn't too busy, quiet both due to the less than ideal weather and the day meaning most people were inside celebrating in the warmth and safety of their homes. Lily bounds about excitedly, fetching the ball Lancelot has bought along and running about dragging sticks with her tail thrashing excitedly. She's not exactly careful, sometimes running past them both so the stick whacks the back of their legs or flailing them about so bits of wood fly everywhere, but she's certainly enthusiastic about playing. Even if that means her white fur doesn't stay entirely white. Once the coffee runs out and Lily begins to tire they make their way back, gently clean up Lily as best they can and head inside. Lancelot ushers Faolan to sit down and relax, offers him the TV remote as Lily flops out and begins sorting out things to begin mixing up a drink for later in the night so it has time to chill -- heating it in a pan and stirring it before bottling it.

There are a few holiday films on, nothing especially good, and Lancelot hums under his breath absently as he fusses around the kitchen. He sets out light, snack-like food for lunch for people to dip in and out of -- corners Lily to give her a good brush while she's relaxing and consequently gets a layer of white fur all over himself. Her collar gets a new bright red ribbon looped and tied in a bow through it and a jingly bell that is nice and seasonal but may well become irritating after a while. She gets back enough energy to play tug of war with a rope and Lancelot lets her win.

Dinner ends up with Lancelot arranging the table with festive napkins before ladling out the stew. It's stock is thick and strong, tomato and paprika and onions and herbs mixed with the clams and mussels and shrimps. Meant to be a good hangover cure, Lancelot tells Faolan, so in truth they're probably doing things the wrong way around but... he shrugs, just smiles, playfully lowers his voice to tell Faolan all the shellfish mean some people think it is an aphrodisiac too.

He has sweet sponge for after too, light and flavoured with honey and ginger -- mixed in with walnuts and almonds. Pan de Pascua, he tells Faolan, and digs out a bottle from the fridge that he began chilling earlier. Best with Cola de Mona! It's what he mixed and put in the fridge earlier, smelling of coffee and cinnamon and sweetness and definitely alcohol. He winks as he pours some out for Faolan, warns him lightly that it's strong as he pours some for himself. The sweet, smooth flavour is deceptive enough that it's far too easy to drink too much. It's similar to eggnog, perhaps, only lighter and of course chilled.

Faolan has... Truthfully, really enjoyed his day. From playing outside with Lily to watching television while the other man cooks, exchanging easy conversation with him as he does. Dinner is delicious, although this is hardly a surprise. (What is a surprise is the way that Lancelot leans close to him and lowers his voice like that, to tell him some people consider what they've eaten an aphrodisiac. And with the way that Faolan's body reacts, to the closeness, to the other man's voice, to the idea of Lancelot having fed him something like that, knowing as much, it might as well have been.)

Luckily he's calmed down by the time dessert comes around. Sweet cake with some drink that Faolan's never had before, but as he raises his glass to take a sip, it's good. Sweet, smooth, and as the other man has said, packing a secret punch behind all of that. He watches the other man from above the rim of his glass, raising his eyebrows at him in turn. "Are you warning me for my own sake or for yours?" he asks, with a wry smile as he takes another sip before setting the glass back down on the table.

"Both!" Lancelot tells him cheerfully, and takes a small sip of his drink. "Worst it might do is send me to sleep, but I've never seen you overdosed. I wouldn't know what to expect. Can I trust you?"

He jogs an eyebrow as he takes a bite of his cake, content to enjoy it with the warm burn of the drink.

Faolan jogs an eyebrow at the other man right back. "Can you trust me?" he asks in return, and laughs slightly in response to the question. "Lancelot, it's as you've said yourself. You've never seen me overdosed. Unless you're planning on pouring me the entire bottle, I think you'll be safe."

He tilts his head, raising his eyebrows further before leaning forward and taking a bite of cake himself in return.

"Ah, but you don't know how much alcohol I put in this or how strong it was. How can you be sure it would take the entire bottle?"

He smirks playfully, finishes the rest of the cake and checks his watch idly.

"I think The Lost World is on, if you like dinosaurs? Or we can rent something, pick something off my shelves, watch one of the hundred countdowns of things that happened this year, play twister...."

The way his lips flick up again suggest that the last suggestion may be a joke.

Faolan raises his glance at the other man to make a face in response to the other man's joking about. "Let's avoid the countdowns and the boardgames, thanks," Faolan suggests, slowly working his way through the cake and savoring his drink. "I could watch the film with the dinosaurs, unless you've got something yourself you'd rather." He shrugs slightly. Truth be told, he hasn't seen it yet. He hasn't been to a film in a theater in ages, and he's hardly at his flat long enough to sit down and watch one on television.

He isn't particularly bothered one way or the other. "Dinosaurs should at least be exciting enough to keep you awake through the film, shouldn't it?" he asks, cocking his head to the side slightly. "I should hope, at least. Unless it's old news to you at this point."

"I will readily admit that I've seen quite a few dinosaur films, but they are reasonably exciting..."

His shrugs, moves the bottle and his glass over to the side table by the TV and shuffles the empty bowls to the washing machine.

"It isn't as good as the original, but it's noisy enough to keep us awake." Satisfied, Lancelot heads back toward the futon and flops down onto it -- picks up the remote to hop through the channels while gently fussing at Lily's ears as she pushes her face into his lap. "It's probably better when you've been drinking, too."

Faolan takes his drink over to the futon himself, sinking down beside the other man himself and raising his eyebrows at the suggestion of the film to be better with alcohol, though it's certainly an idea. One that he'll soon be able to report on, at that.

"I'm not about to make a critique of it," he says. "So long as it's entertaining, I won't complained. Hell, even if it were terrible..." He turns to Lancelot with the quirk of a smile. "Even the worst film can be entertaining. Especially with a good drink, yes." He sits back in the futon.

"Are you going to watch with us?" he asks Lily, watching as the dog noses about.

"Hmmm, it's a PG film. She can watch, we can cover her eyes if it gets too scary."

Lily wags her tail hopefully and Lancelot tugs the dog blanket down beside himself and shuffles to make her a bit of space, lets her hop up and curl herself between them with her paws across his lap.

She will not need her eyes covered, she is a brave and fierce beast!

Faolan watches as Lancelot pulls the blanket down and allows Lily to hop up between them and make herself comfortable. And while he regrets that it means the other man must sit that much further away... Well, Lily seems to really enjoy herself and this special privilege to join them on the furniture. Then again.

"Oh, I see how it is," he says, giving the other man a look over the rim of his glass before moving it to his other hand and out of the way of Lily's happily swishing tail. "You can use her as a blanket and while I've got the fan on."

Ah. Lancelot smirks slightly but moves to fix this all the same, quickly burritos Lily up in the blanket (which causes her alarm and confusion for a moment! What is going on?!) and gets up to shift her to one side of the futon, drops himself back beside Faolan and unflips the blanket so it lays over his lap.

"There!" he declares, although unfortunately the momentary excitement has Lily now standing on the futon and wagging her tail, turning in the small bit of space to sniff the offending blanket and Lancelot. "Come on, sit back down! Come on, Lily!"

He leans slightly to hold his glass out of the way as she debates if it is now safe, what with blanket monsters potentially trapping you and moving about at will.

Faolan flicks a smile at Lily's antics -- and Lancelot's, to be honest. He hadn't expected that he would have moved himself or the dog, but he's not complaining about it. Lily's tail really does create a breeze, even curled up over her back as it is.

"Thanks," he says, before addressing Lily. "Isn't that better now?" He reaches a hand out across Lancelot towards her, carefully keeping his drink in the other, trying to coax her towards him to lie down across Lancelot's lap again. "Now we both can appreciate you properly."

She fusses a moment, sniffing at Faolan and pacing about -- Lancelot gently steering her (so her paws don't step anywhere delicate) and eventually persuading her to settle. Lily drapes across Lancelot's lap, head on her paws as she soaks up attention from both of them. He smooths her forehead and ears as they settle in for the film, Lancelot leaning over every so often to whisper commentary and laugh at particularly ludicrous parts -- cringing as the T-Rex begins its San Diego rampage.

He refills their drinks absently once they get low, sinking down on the futon and as the credits roll and whispering to Lily that she has to get up -- vanishes away to the bathroom to relieve himself then comes to flop back down.

"Fifteen minutes to midnight," he points out, and wrestles Lily into his lap -- grins at Faolan a little as she excitedly attempts to lily at his chin. "Think we'll see Santa Claus?"

Faolan pets Lily through the film as well, ruffling her ears and combing his fingers through her ruff and trying not to think about how close he has to come to petting Lancelot's lap in order to do so. He eventually withdraws his hand and thinks about sitting on it for a time, but settles for cradling his drink two-handed (and possibly indulging in it more than he might otherwise have done).

As Lancelot settles himself back down on the futon beside him after the film is through Faolan is almost sure that he's regained his composure again. And he's almost sure that he might have had a little too much to drink as well. "Santa Claus?" he asks, raising his eyebrows slightly as he does. "Don't go putting thoughts in her head like that, everyone knows you have to be sleeping for him to appear." He leans forward and peers at Lily. "Have you been a good girl this year?" he asks. "Will he be bringing you lots of presents? I have the funny feeling that he will, you know."

Her tail swishes faster as Faolan leans to peer at her, excitement ramping up, and she turns to begin licking at Faolan instead.

"She's been a very good girl!" Lancelot protests, "Lily is always a perfect lady, aren't you Lily? Yes you are!"

His arms come around her to gently tug her back an inch, saving Faolan from her affectionate assault with a huff of laughter.

"And of course, such a good lady is always given plenty of presents. Good behaviour is always well rewarded."

Faolan does his best in the face of such doggy affections, but he's grateful when the other man reels her in and rescues him from her.

"Always a perfect lady, huh?" he asks, with a wry twist to his lips as he does. Still, she is a good dog, and aside from some over-excitement every now and then, she really is well-behaved. He sits back in the futon and swirls his drink that he's been nursing, taking another swig of it. He's already had perhaps more than he otherwise might have done, but it is Christmas Eve, and he's got nowhere to be tomorrow but here.

He looks down at his watch himself and then over at the other man. "Not long now," he says. "Think you can make it?"

"Absolutely!" Lancelot says brightly, and grins at him. "The alcohol did have coffee in it, after all."

He tickles at Lily, holding her against his chest and blowing at her fur so she wriggles and fusses until she finally jumps clean and starts bouncing about in front of them.

"Lily is excited for Christmas! Aren't you Lilydog?" She's certainly excited about Lancelot playing with her, it seems. "All the good dogs should be in bed, Lily! Why aren't you in bed, hmmm? Are we a bad influence on you, Lilydog? Are we?" She bounces again, jumps back up onto the futon and invades Lancelot's space once more.

"Ah," Faolan says, watching the other man's antics with the dog. "I suppose that does explain some things then, yes." Like why Lancelot isn't falling asleep on him like he might otherwise have done, especially after drinking as much as he had with him. And also the wrestling with the dog besides. Alright, less so on the second point. He's pretty sure that he'd be doing all of that entirely sober, 'Lilydog' and the likes included.

He flashes the other man something of a grin. "I think she'll be fine, having stayed up with us. You said that it was a tradition of yours, didn't you? And besides. When have you ever been a bad influence on anyone?" he asks, mischievously. Lancelot just doesn't quite seem the type, though.

"Oh, plenty enough. Give me time."

He grins again, ruffling Lily's fluffy mane as she rolls herself and wriggles against him contently. It's hard to say if his enthusiasm is fuelling her or vice versa, but they're certainly winding each other up.

The church is not far from Lancelot's flat, and he's in the middle of rubbing her stomach while she squirms about when the bell begins to toll midnight. Lancelot looks up, listens to it count the hour then smiles brightly at Faolan.

"Merry Christmas!" he announces, then leans over Lily again. "And Merry Christmas to you too of course!"

He leans in to kiss her snout, then over to kiss Faolan quickly on the cheek before nudging at Lily to move.

"Up, up!"

Faolan's enjoying watching Lancelot messing about with the dog, watching Lily squirm around happily in the face of the other man's attentions. Sitting back on the futon himself, he's had enough to drink that his reaction time is slow, as are most of his thought processes for that matter. And as such, he doesn't anticipate Lancelot leaning over to kiss him.

It's just the quick press of lips against his cheek, but it's enough for a blush to light up on Faolan's face. He can blame it on the alcohol of course, but Lancelot's smarter than that. So he does his best to hide his face in his glass and do anything but give himself away in that moment. Luckily, with Lily to fuss over, Lancelot seems to be pretty otherwise preoccupied himself.

"Merry Christmas to you too," he responds, after a long moment. "I, ehm." He fidgets slightly, knowing he's being awkward but also unable to contain himself in that moment. "Thank you. For having me over. For the holiday."

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