undergrounds | The Holly and the Ivy [Open]

Date: Mid-December to New Year's
Who: Matt and Open
What: Matt loves Christmas and wants to make his first holiday in London the best one ever

I. Mistletoe

To say that Matthew loved Christmas was an understatement. He adored the holiday and looked forward to it every single year. It was more than the rush to buy the most expensive present or to display the most extravagant holiday display. Matt loved the spirit of Christmas and now that he lived in the city of Charles Dickens, Matt wanted to go all out in his new home.

While Simon was out of the flat for the day, Matt went to work. He found a Charlie Brown-esque Christmas tree and brought it home, decorating it in strands of popcorn and colorful ornaments that he purchased at a second hand store. Evergreen fragrant garland was wrapped around the door frames with red ribbon accents. It was classical Christmas flare that was warm and inviting. Nothing gaudy or too overly flashy - just enough to express what Matt believed the holiday to be about: family.

The decoration Matt loved the most was the mistletoe. He had bought a few sprigs at a florist shop and placed them around the flat in different discrete areas. Anyone who walked into the flat was sure to be beneath a sprig of mistletoe at least once. Matt couldn't wait to catch someone with a surprise kiss. It was a festive game, and one where there were only winners.

When Matt finished, he looked around the flat with a large smile on his face. His first Christmas in London was off to a great start.

II. Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve held a special place in Matt's heart. Traditionally he had spent the day at the hospital with his Mom, enjoying the precious few moments when he wasn't constantly reminded about her illness. The homemade gifts that she gave him were far more cherished than the gifts he discovered beneath the tree the next morning. Now that she was gone, Matt wanted to find a place in London that reminded him of his mother.

Walking through the streets of the city, Matt found himself outside the doors of a church. Christmas carols drifted out of the open doors. He stopped and listened to the music, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. He missed his mother and he only hoped that somewhere she was listening, enjoying the pretty sounds. He lingered outside, lost in his own thoughts as the service continued on inside.

III. New Year's Eve

Two words: Party. Time.

After the emotional rollercoaster that was Christmas, Matt was ready to ring in the New Year at a massive party. He was dressed to the nines - the most fashionable clothes he could afford on his meager budget. The possibility of losing himself in a party was exciting. The thought that he should be careful that his control over his charm influencing others will didn't even enter into his head. He needed to be reckless and New Year's Eve was the perfect night for it.

---
[OOC: Any of the prompts can work with multiple people. I'm hoping to have Matt get into some trouble at a New Year's party - possibly with a vampire. Feel free to PM me or ping me on plurk

chiralcath if you want to discuss possible plotpoints before threading!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sirius wasn't sure how to feel about Christmas these days. He hadn't had much cause to celebrate in the past few years, and it was hard to dredge up the memories of the happier ones he had had with his friends (and maybe his family those many years ago, though they usually got shrouded in bitterness). And even now, it wasn't like he could return to the old ways he used to do things. He didn't have anyone to shop for and doubted that he would receive any gifts. Dinner he could probably manage but it just wouldn't be the same without friends.

And before he knew it, it was Christmas Eve and it felt just like any other night. He remembered once having a vague sense of anticipation and he missed it. To fill the void, he went walking, his usual past time these days. He rounded a corner by a church and recognized the figure in front of it, vaguely.

"Going in?" he asked, approaching Matt.

Matt jumped at the sound of Sirius' voice. He had been lost in his own thoughts, not expecting anyone to speak to him. "You are incredibly good at sneaking up on a person," Matt said with a smile.

He looked back at the open church door and shrugged his shoulders. "Probably not," Matt replied. "I just like the singing. My Aunt used to drag me to midnight Mass. My favorite part was the music. Are you headed in?"

Sirius shrugged. He supposed he had gotten better at moving around unnoticed, but he figured it was more due to Matt being lost in thought than anything else. He wasn't that subtle.

"Nope, I've never been much of a church person. Just passing by and saw a familiar face. Just you around?"

"Yeah, my better half is out with his family. I suppose I should have gone along, but, I wasn't in the mood."

Matt pulled his scarf tighter around his shoulders, trying to shake the chill. "It's weird. I haven't felt homesick since I showed up. This is the first time. I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing."

Sirius nods.

"I couldn't really tell you, honestly. I think it makes sense though, this being a family oriented holiday and all. Bit hard when you're on your own."

Sirius didn't want to admit that he was almost used to the feeling. It wasn't, he reflected, the most positive of thoughts.

"I haven't had a chance to really feel alone, not with Simon around."

Matt realized how quickly he had connected with Simon. He'd easily taken to him and formed a bond of friendship that replaced the family he never really had. Strange that it only struck him as odd on Christmas Eve.

"I'm sure it will pass," Matt said, needing to keep himself from falling into negative thoughts. "Besides, you're here now. Can't really be alone around someone else, can I?"

"That is true," Sirius agreed, laughing. "Very hard to accomplish that. Did you have any other plans after listening to the music? "

Simon announced his return home from work with a pained yelp and some very creative swearing. Hewas a few inches taller than Matt, and one of the garlands hung low enough that he, poor unsuspecting sot that he was, ended up with a face full of holly and pine. His flat was not large enough for him to miss the other changes to his flat.

"...did you really hang a sprig of fucking mistletoe in my house?" He called, unaware that there were, in fact, more than that one sprig and that he'd actually managed to find his way under another one.

Matt emerged from the closet where he had been busy putting away the decorations he hadn't found a home for. He had to bite back a laugh the moment he saw Simon. His hair was disheveled and there was a branch of pine needles caught by his ear. To top it off, he was standing directly below another of Matt's surprise Mistletoe traps.

Matt walked over to him and reached up, taking the pine from his hair. "I'll take that to mean you like my decorations," he said before he planted a quick kiss to the corner of Simon's mouth.

"And you're going to have to watch where you stand around here. I'm a ninja when it comes to mistletoe."

Simon's eyes went comically wide behind his glasses and he froze in place as Matt kissed him. Eventually, he spluttered, "Take down all the mistletoe or I will evict you, I swear to god."

Matt laughed, not taking Simon's threat seriously. "I hope you know that was actually tame compared to some other kisses I've shared under the mistletoe. Relax - it's just a game. Imagine how much fun it will be when you invite girls over. Nothing sets the mood like a little mistletoe."

That earned Matt an eye roll. The one girl he ever brought home never needed mistletoe as an excuse; that was the point of the whole friends with benefits thing he and Skip had going. Sure, he would very much like it to turn into something more than casual sex and the occasional coffee date, but that didn't seem to be in the cards and Simon doubted very much that a little mistletoe would change that.

"Neither of us are bringing dates home with any regularity as it is. I doubt the mistletoe is going to do much to improve our odds."

He was way too worn out for this.

Simon suppressed a yawn, finding it hard to stay annoyed when he was this tired.

"You'd had better not put any in my bedroom."

Matt put his hand over his heart. "You wound me, Simon," he said. "Bringing up my lack of dates is certainly hitting below the belt. I must be losing my touch."

Or, his stringent use of his abilities were causing him to avoid his regular hook up at the local pub. The threat of rejection had never been an issue before he arrived in London. Now, whenever he started up a conversation with a stranger he constantly worried if they were talking to him purely because he had willed them to speak.

"Your bedroom is off limits, man," Matt replied with a shrug. "Unless you'd like me to put mistletoe there. I can easily take requests on appropriate placement in the flat."

"Well, if you don't want me to comment on your lack of dating prowess, don't cover my flat in dead plant matter," Simon replied, but the heat was gone from his voice. Though still vaguely annoyed, he was beginning to see the humor in the situation. Given a full night's sleep he'd even laugh about it in the morning, but for now the soul-crushing realities of working a service industry job at Christmas just had him too exhausted to be in a mood to laugh.

He yawned again, openly this time. "A woman tried to throw her drink at me because I'd given her half caf instead of quarter caf. Good thing my reflexes are better than a normal person's. It hit the wall instead, boiling hot. I hate everyone."

The Holly and the Ivy [Open]

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