Remnants of the Earth
AEDOLIS => Haviah => The Citadel => Topic started by: Anonymous on May 28, 2011, 08:28:36 pm
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[ooc: Ze link to the OOC thread for this event! (http://http://remnants.spiritsoftheearth.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=0&p=26821#p26821)]
Bart wasn't sure why he not only had to participate in this stupid event (because Nuriel said so), but he had to host it at his apartment (because Nuriel said so). But he did, so begrudgingly Bart had cleaned up and rearranged his apartment, borrowing some chairs from some other Pilots so not too many people had to use the floor.
His apartment was simple and uncluttered. A few plants and a number of pictures scattered around the living room. And books. A large number of books filled the bookshelves along the walls. A couch, love seat and a few arm chairs had been formed into a rough circle in the middle of his living room.
He wasn't even sure how this game was played. Nuriel apparently saw it on the idiotic teen drama he was obsessed with and now he was ordering all the Pilots and candidates to play the game. Originally the dragon had wanted one giant game, but Bart had lost it at him and Nuriel had compromised with at least separate games.
Bart was not kissing some candidate. They were children! About all Bart knew about the game was that it involved kissing and apparently spinning a bottle. And booze. Bart was going to include a lot of booze in his playing of the game. He had already had a few beers and was working on another one.
-
It was times like these when Keziah was reminded of just how fucking awesome being a Pilot was. Seriously, where else would one find themselves ordered to kiss a bunch of hot, well-built military men and women, and all on the government's credit?
Yeah, that's right. Awesome.
She'd even dressed up a little for the occasion, wearing a low-cut shirt that showed off her cleavage. Yeah, she'd come prepared.
Striding up to Bart's door, Keziah let herself in and gave the man a merry wave, a bag of booze (namely rum and tequila) cradled in her arms. "Whoo, I am so ready for--wow, am I the first one here?" she asked, then made her way into his kitchen to unload the alcohol onto his counter. "Fancy. Guess that means I get a head start! Where's your shot glasses, hon?"
[hr:5qbx9qeo][/hr:5qbx9qeo]
Gabriel did not want to be here.
Did not. Want to be here. Oh gods. He was going to die. Everyone was going to be there. Everyone. Well, not everyone, but it could be anyone. Who knew who would wind up in their group? Sabela, Cross, Raley.
Roman.
Yeah, dead.
But orders were orders, and so he'd teamed up with the equally reluctant Alaric. At least they could suffer together and during the walk there, he'd started coming up with plans to cheat. With a telekinetic nudge, he could make it land on Alaric. That wouldn't be so bad! They were platonic soul-brothers so there was no risk of weirdness.
Marching into Bart's home, he shot the other Pilot a glower. "Your dragon's out of control."
-
"Where they always are. In the cupboard." Bart gestured with his beer and smiled at Keziah, "I bet you are lovin' this aren't ya?" Though, he wouldn't lie, shots sounded really, really good. Heading over, Bart leaned against the doorway to the kitchen, "You better be pouring me some."
And then Gabriel arrived. Looking over his shoulder, Bart shrugged, "Ya know what? Why don't you go change his damn mind? Or maybe ya should thank me for talkin' him out of makin' us do with with the candidates."
[hr:1z8trjmj][/hr:1z8trjmj]
"Candidates? Oh, gross." Alaric wrinkled his nose as they entered the room. He felt sick, his stomach in knots. They were split into groups, so maybe all the really awful people wouldn't be in this group.
He didn't want to kiss anyone. Even Gabe being that close to him made him uncomfortable. Let alone anyone else. He didn't want to see that look in their eyes when they had to kiss him. This was not going to be fun.
-
Rummaging in the cupboard, Keziah fished down two shot glasses, then two more when she noticed Alaric and Gabriel arrive. She poured tequila into all four. Even if those two didn't want them, someone would.
"Oh, gimme some credit, will ya?" she said, walking over to him so she could hand him his shot. "I've known you far too long to fall short now."
With a smile and a one-eyed wink, she downed her own shot. "And you're damned right I'm eating this up. Buncha hot young things and seasoned, brawny types? It's like a wet dream come true. Speaking of..." She turned and called to the newcomers, "Hey, boys! Booze is in the kitchen if ya need some liquid courage!"
[hr:391ejovo][/hr:391ejovo]
Gabriel made a face at Bart. Candidates? Dear gods. "Hurray for small miracles then, I guess," he said without sounding enthused at all. He was a little too nervous to be excited and, of course, he hid his nerves behind irritation. The last thing he wanted was to look--and feel--obviously vulnerable.
He looked at Alaric and tried for a reassuring smile, then glanced toward the kitchen. "Uh, guess I'll take a beer if you got any." Just enough alcohol to settle his nerves; not enough to get him shit-faced and doing something he'd regret later. Like getting new tattoos. Or worse.
-
Raley let himself into Bart's apartment and draped himself over the back of an armchair. "What's up losers," he said to the room at large. Keziah, the two co-dependent tools, and Hamilton. Whoo yeah. They were really in for a party now.
He wouldn't mind kissing Keziah he supposed. Or Sabela. And Shiloh was kinda cute. This was a stupid idea, sure, but it was no more a waste of time than anything else he'd be doing. And, with any luck, he'd get to watch Alaric and Gabriel squirm.
A few minutes later, Paris arrived. When the order had come, he's rather expected he would be with the candidates. This...would be quite awkward.
He took a stance out of the way, hands clasped behind his back. "Sirs," he greeted. "Pilot Llown ordered that I participate in the Pilot's...morale-building exercise. Is there anything I can do to help?"
-
"And that's why I love ya." Bart leaned over, kissed Keziah's cheek then downed his shot, giving a low, pleased hiss at the burn, "Though, a real friend would have lime and salt. I'll forgive ya this time though."
For Gabe, Bart gestured at the fridge, "Got beer in there. Help yerself."
[hr:592zbih7][/hr:592zbih7]
Alaric had brought his own drinks. Alcohol had weird effects on him and if he wasn't careful, he would end up sick. But there were other things he could drink that got him drunk without any of the side effects.
And then Raley entered. Alaric stepped away a little, eyes narrowing. Of course he would be stuck with Raley, his least favorite person...ever.
[hr:592zbih7][/hr:592zbih7]
"Hello! Am I late?" Malachi had been planning on being here a little earlier to offer to help set up, but he had gotten a bunch of work that needed to be done before the mandatory game. Because god knows his damned supervisor couldn't be assed to actually work.
But he was here, dressed to kill in a white shirt, black vest and tight black pants. With a black newsboy cap and his glasses to finish off the look. He took a seat next to Raley, knowing no one else would want too. And he could deal with him well enough, even if Raley wasn't his favorite person.
"Ah, charming as usual Raley. And you wonder why you never get invited to parties."
[hr:592zbih7][/hr:592zbih7]
When the candidate arrived, Bart was about to get mad when he realized it was one of the Stage 5 kids, the one with the creepy stare. What the fuck was his name? But he was at least old enough to be a Pilot.
Waving him in, Bart smiled, "Come on it. It's all set up. Ya want a drink kid?"
-
"Well aren't you spoiled," Keziah said with a laugh and a quick, one-armed hug. "Didn't have time for a store run, sorry. Next time, I'll make it up to ya."
She turned when she heard Raley enter to shoot him a mock glare. "Hey now. I'd watch who you're callin' a loser. You may have to kiss one of 'em. Be nice and maybe you'll get a good kiss out of it."
[hr:3d6rgvni][/hr:3d6rgvni]
Gabriel had just grabbed a beer from the 'fridge when a familiar voice made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end and his mouth go dry. Wow. Un-fucking-believable. He'd jinxed himself.
For a moment, he wanted to just stay in the kitchen. Not go out there, not have to deal with his smug-ass face that made him want to punch things--namely said face. But he took a deep breath to compose himself, took a moment to crack open the beer and take a gulp, then slowly meandered out and into the living room.
"S'up, asshole?" he greeted Raley cheerfully, putting on his biggest grin and giving a jaunty salute, and he may as well have flipped him the bird for all the spite he poured into the action. He took his place next to Alaric and gave a friendlier wave and smile to Malachi--ugh, why was he near Raley?--and the new kid, Paris, and took another drink of beer.
[hr:3d6rgvni][/hr:3d6rgvni]
Shiloh wobbled into the apartment, already more than a little buzzed. He'd started early. Like, about as soon as he'd received the order. Only proper way to do this, 'cause shit like macking on other dudes didn't count when you were wasted. He flopped down onto the couch and stretched out onto it, head resting on one of the arms and feet propped against the opposite one.
-
Spin the bottle... wasn't this a game that teens were suppose to play and feel all silly in giddy about? Well, whatever. It seemed there wasn't a choice in getting out of it, though that didn't mean that she couldn't prepare for it ahead of time. No doubt, there would be at least a few alcohol poisoning cases that would need tending to. Thankfully Callista had made sure that the infirmary was ready to handle any amount of cases that might arise from this night of revelry.
Seeing that it was a casual get together, she left her usual lab coat back at her place. This would probably one of the rare times that anybody saw her in anything then her working cloths. Her normal heels were traded for a different pair of stiletto shoes that were strappy, and had ribbon that criss crossed around her legs to be tied off just over the rise of her calf. She wore a nice black pair of carpi pants that was tailored to fit perfectly to her curves. Tucked into it was the hem of a black halter top shirt that was low cut enough to not only show off a fair amount of cleavage, but to show glimpses of the leopard print bra beneath should it shift in just the right way. This also allowed anybody to see the dragon tattoo displayed across her shoulders. Oddly enough, it was one that she'd had long before she'd ever become a candidate.
She gave a knock on the door before she entered. "Greetings, I have come barring gifts," she declared as she held up a large bottle of hard liquor. After all, it was impolite to come to a party empty handed.
-
"Only cause you like to spoil me." Bart held out his shot glass for another shot. One more and then he would go back to beers for a bit. When Sterling entered, Bart gave a small wave, "Come on it. Booze can go into the kitchen."
He headed into the other room, taking a seat by Shiloh. Looks like he was gonna get to babysit, "Yeah yeah. Let's all play nice here." Not that he could blame Gabriel. Sade even got under his skin and Bart liked to think of himself as a people person.
Reaching over, he smacked Shiloh against the thigh, "Well, ya seem ready ta go. Wouldn't have thought ya would need liquid courage fer this Shy."
[hr:2hqy84di][/hr:2hqy84di]
Unlike Gabe, Alaric had learned over the course of candidacy that it was better to be quiet. It took a lot more than a simple baiting line to get him to react. Bullies did it for the attention and Alaric no longer gave it to them. Or at least really tried hard not too.
Using Bart's counter to open up his drink and took a long swallow before nudging Gabe, "Wanna grab the comfy seats before everyone shows up?"
[hr:2hqy84di][/hr:2hqy84di]
Christian didn't bother to knock, coming in on the heels of Callista, "Well, this is one shitty party. Who did you piss off Gabe?" It had to be Gabe, because no one killed a party faster than his cousin. Well, maybe his weird ass friend could.
Wrapping a shoulder around Paris, Christian studied him, "Hello freshmeat. Who are you?" Kid was cute, but really needed to work on that expression.
-
"Huh? Oh, yeah!" Spotting the love seat, Gabriel tore his attention off of Raley, gave Alaric a nudge back, and headed over to it. He slid into a seat and pat the spot next to him.
That was when Christian entered. Flashing his cousin an innocent look, Gabriel held up his hands, beer can in one. "Hey, I didn't do anything. He started it."
[hr:19mbe0hi][/hr:19mbe0hi]
Shiloh drew his legs up to give Bart room to sit, and when he did, he stretched his legs back out to drape them across the other man's lap. Ever since that mission, he'd started to grow more comfortable with him. He was chill, calm, didn't talk down to him or make him feel stupid. He jolted and cracked his eyes open at the light smack.
"Eh? Oh, naw. Jus' started th' party early, s'all," he said, cracking a grin.
[hr:19mbe0hi][/hr:19mbe0hi]
Keziah poured both Bart and herself another shot, then headed out after him and claimed one of the arm chairs. She beamed a grin at Callista. "More booze. Excellent. We're gonna be good and sloshed by the time this night's through."
Tipping her head back, she downed her shot. "So, we got a bottle yet? Stragglers can catch up! Let's get this baby rollin'!"
Locating the bottle, she snatched it up and gave it a spin. It went several rotations before coming to a stop on...Raley.
She blinked, then barked a laugh and shook her head. "Well, what'd I say? Now c'mere and lay it on me, Echo!" she said, teasing.
-
"Paris, sir." He was able to be so much more at ease around the Pilots than he used to be, and had no problem offering Christian a friendly smile. The emotions fighting for dominance in this room had him entranced. He was going to love this, especially the more the rest of them didn't. He wouldn't even mind the kissing either. "Adjutant to Pilot Llown."
[hr:z5m40ygy][/hr:z5m40ygy]
Cross held the door open for Sabela when they arrived. "Looks like they got started. Good luck. Hope you get someone sexy." He winked at her. He was talking about himself, of course.
[hr:z5m40ygy][/hr:z5m40ygy]
Raley threw his hands up when the bottle landed on him. First fucking one! "Whoo! I was pulling for you, babe." He gave Keziah a sweet kiss on the lips. His turn now! He got his hand on the bottle but paused when Blaine poked his head in the door.
"Did you guys start already?" He'd been dragging his feet the whole way here. He did not want to do this. Christian was here, among certain other people.
"Yep!" Raley beamed. "Just in time for my spin."
"Fantastic." Blaine joined the circle, and said a little prayer it didn't land on him.
Raley was having so much fun with this already, he was biting his lip in anticipation. "Oh! And before we really get started, I think we can all agree no telekinesis all right? No cheating. Respect the integrity of the game."
He gave the bottle a spin and it landed on...Malachi! Another one he didn't mind. He was having good luck, not that he would really have minded kissing anyone here. Including the ones who he knew didn't want to kiss him. That would be fun for a whole different reason.
Raley plopped back down in his seat next to Malachi. "Let's have it, sugar."
-
Alaric flopped down next to Gabe, wishing that the worst people ever weren't here. Though, he wasn't really sure how he felt about Cross being there. After that mission, things were a little better. Sort of. It was weird.
[hr:2ay56zw7][/hr:2ay56zw7]
"Well, my odds aren't great." Sabela grinned, "I wonder who will be stuck kissing you."
It was a little hard finding a seat, but she managed to grab a spot next to Keziah. Raley was going! How fun.
[hr:2ay56zw7][/hr:2ay56zw7]
It was rather funny watching how excited Raley got over kissing Keziah. It was almost funny. Though, he wouldn't mind kissing her either, she had a...charm about her.
When the bottle landed on him, it took him a moment to realize. Blinking, he stared for a moment, then had a lovely perverse idea. Swinging his leg over, he straddled Raley, wrapping his arms around Raley's neck, "Oh yeah, talk dirty to me baby."
And then he gave Raley a long, deep tongue filled kiss.
-
This was the best game ever.
Raley got a hand into Malachi's hair, just in case he got any ideas about stopping what he'd started. He wasn't going anywhere. He gave Malachi's ass a squeeze with his other hand.
It was at that moment that Roman walked in. He sighed, watched Raley and Malachi for all of a second, and turned right back around. "I'm out. Write me up, whatever you have to do."
-
Oh. No.
Gabriel stared in unbridled horror as Raley and-- "Malachi!" he yelped. "What the fucking fuck?! Seriously?! You?"
MALACHI! This was proof he had no taste! He expected more from him why did he have to fail him now?! Aaand yep, there they went, eating face and dry-humping. Basically. Right there. He clamped his mouth shut with a little gagging, retching noise, clapped a hand over his mouth, and turned away to face Alaric.
"Oh. Oh gods. I just threw up in my mouth a lot. I think I'm gonna be sick. Yep, throwing up. Here it comes. Nightmare fuel forever."
Keziah, on the other hand, was content to watch. She leaned forward in her chair, staring intently. "Yeah, it's all good, don't mind us."
That was when Roman walked in. Gabriel swiveled in his seat, saw him leaving, and lunged to his feet. "Oh like hell you are!" he snapped, and dodged around the chairs--and the making-out happy couple, barf--to practically tackle Roman from behind, latching onto him and wrestling him back toward the room. "You are not leaving me there."
-
"Oh Gods I never wanted to see that EVER." Alaric jerked his face away, gagging slightly. The very idea of anyone wanting to kiss Raley was uncomfortable and brought back some uncomfortable memories.
"That's disgusting!"
[hr:2gojktrk][/hr:2gojktrk]
Bart jerked to his feet, pointing at Roman, "Ya get yer sweet ass back here. I will tackle you down so help me. I ain't sittin' through this alone!" Roman did not get to get away while he had to sit here and play this stupid game.
"Roman. How could you!" Nuriel's voice was chiding, "If you try and leave, I shall be forced to punish you."
-
Callista nodded, and moved into the kitchen to drop off her bottle her bottle and make herself a drink. She chuckled softly to herself as she listened to the others interact, and was pleased that people were behaving themselves for the most part.
It was fairly easy to tell when Roman tried to escape, the poor bastard. He would have been better off waiting outside the door and try to listen through. Either way it was too late now. She collected the drink she had just made, and walked over to where Gabe had captured the other pilot.
Holding the glass out to Roman, she gave him a soft smile. "When in Rome..." she said, allowing the man to fill in the blanks.
[hr:1gl238le][/hr:1gl238le]
Smash Cat had hunted down his twin earlier on in the day so that he could prepare him for the night. After all, he simply couldn't allow the man that shared his looks to go to this event looking all Old Fashioned Conservative. He needed a new look, and Smash was going to give it to him.
So when the time of the party came around, he slung an arm over Dante's shoulder and steered him towards Bart's place. Tonight was going to be fun.
Smash was dressed up in his usual sexy rock star clothes, while Dante was currently wearing a pair of well tailored black pants, and a long sleeved deep red shirt that had swirling patterns on it in black, the shirt clinging in all the right places.
Dante felt more then a little out of place in these clothes, and it showed with how he held himself, one arm crossed over in order to tuck against his torso tightly.
When they entered, Smash guided Dante around the people in order to find him a place. "Damn, looks as though we're already late. Everybody, this is Dante. This is his first time at a real party like this, so try to be gentle with him," he said with a grin. Then he dissappeared into the kitchen to find something to drink.
-
"Hey! Let go, I did not sign up for tha!" Roman twisted around—difficult with Gabriel attached—and pointed at Raley and Malachi sucking on each others' face. "Bart, I will fight you to the death over this. Not even kidding." And he'd do it with Gabriel latched onto him like a lamprey, too.
It was Nuriel that finally stopped him attempting to get away whilst dragging Gabriel along with him. Nuriel had a wondrous imagination for a dragon. Roman did not want the imagination bent upon disciplinary measures. "Fine. Fine!"
Callista had the right idea. "I'm gonna need way more than this," he said, snatching the glass from her.
[hr:24xf6tuy][/hr:24xf6tuy]
On his way to his seat, Cross punched Dante lightly on the shoulder. "Loosen up. It's a game." He looked so uncomfortable. Actually, half the people here looked surly and unhappy. What was wrong with a party?
-
"No one signed up for that," Gabriel muttered, content to remain draped over Roman now that he'd stopped struggling. He was also quite content to remain out here where he didn't have to see what couldn't be unseen. Or hear the kissyface smacking noises. A shudder coursed through him and his stomach twisted again, but he pushed disgust to the forefront of his mind, focusing on that instead of other things.
This game was going to push it. It already was.
"So yeah, no whining. It's only fair. As our superior officer, you gotta be our morale support. Rally the troops. Be a leader. Take one for the team. Feel our pain. Et cetera."
[hr:29lc5jg3][/hr:29lc5jg3]
Adrian stepped past Gabriel, Roman, and Callista then and let himself inside Bart's apartment, stopping short to give Raley and Malachi an appraising look. His eyebrows climbed. They were really going to town there. Huh. Cool. And here he'd been thinking this was going to be a lame party, but he could get down with this.
"Nice. So are we doing seven minutes in heaven, too? Minus the closet?"
-
Bart was ready to take Roman up on that offer. Because he wasn't doing this alone. There was no way Roman was getting out of this awkward hellhole and he was stuck hosting the damn thing.
See Roman! It's better to stay! And now fun will be had! Go! Go! Maybe you will kiss a pretty blond! Nuriel's voice was smug, though it would almost have been worth it to inflict a punishment on Roman. Despite the fact he adored Roman, Nuriel did enjoy pushing his buttons. Because Roman was never fully prepared for the way Nuriel's mind worked.
Though Bart was done watching the two make out, this game would take way too long and just...fuck. Crossing over to where they were, Bart grabbed Malach and hauled him bodily off Raley, "That's enough. Damn kids. It's a kiss, not a damned dry humping session.
Malachi was a little dazed by that. He wasn't sure why he had felt the need to do that, but just watching everyone's reaction to Raley had been too weird. Laughing and adjusting his hat, he gave the new people a small wave, then looked around for the bottle.
Locating it, he gave it a quick spin, watching it come to a stop on Blaine.
-
"There's a lot more where that came from if you run out. Though after this one, you have to get the rest yourself until you can no longer walk in a straight line," he said with a soft smile. She also offered a smile to Gabe as well. It might have been odd for her to appear so laid back, and one of the few people actually enjoying themselves, since most of the time people only ever had the chance to see her when they needed to visit the infirmary for something, or their scheduled check ups.
Tonight wasn't about work though, even if it was a mandatory party devised by slightly off kilter dragon. In reality, they could have been made to do something worse then this.
Turning around, she caught Bart pulling Malachi off of Raley, and she couldn't help but chuckle. "Hey Bart! I hoped you locked your bedroom door."
[hr:1cju9vt5][/hr:1cju9vt5]
Dante looked up at Cross and nodded, "Uh yeah... guess it's just that I haven't really been to many parties that are like this," he said softly. Taking a moment, he looked around the room, half of these pilots he couldn't even name... though Aria took pity on him and filled in the blanks as they came into his sight.
He knew Gabe and Alaric though, even if it wasn't very well, and he gave them both a soft smile and a wave.
By now Smash had his drink, and realized that this party was missing something vital. Music. Thankfully he came prepared. "Hey Bart, I don't suppose you have a stereo system in here?"
-
"Aw, Bart," Keziah said, mock-pouting as he broke up the make-out session. "And here I wanted to watch them embarrass themselves. Jeez, am I the only one who knows how to react here? The key is to stare creepily."
And it had been hard to keep a straight face through all the grown men squealing like girls that had seen a spider. Yeah, Raley was a douche of a kid, but she felt like she was missing something here. Wasn't like he had boils on his face.
She waved to Smash and Dante as they entered. "First time for everything, eh? Shots in the kitchen. If you're nervous, that'll fix you right up."
[hr:1m3q9j10][/hr:1m3q9j10]
Adrian ducked into the kitchen to make use of the booze, whipping up a simple rum and coke before returning to the room. He took a seat in front of the couch and stretched his legs out. The room was a mess of crazy, warring emotions ranging from sheer panic (what?) to amusement to irritation and enjoyment and everything in between. Who knew a simple dumb teen game would be responsible for this...turmoil.
In a bunch of adults.
He sipped his drink, speaking to no one in particular. "I still think seven minutes in heaven is an excellent add on. Bart, how big are your closets?"
[hr:1m3q9j10][/hr:1m3q9j10]
Stretched out on the couch again now that Bart was no longer occupying it, Shiloh shot Smash a wary look. "Better not be shitty pop crap."
-
Bart took his seat back with Shiloh, lifting the kids legs and letting him drape them across his lap again. Shiloh was a good kid and Bart liked his company. He wasn't real bright, but he was easy to be around, now that he finally managed to get him to relax.
To answer Smash, he gestured to the old stereo up against one wall. It had been a high end stereo years ago, but now it was pretty old, "Over there. Ain't real fancy though, but it'll get the job done."
He took another long swallow of beer. Fuck this shit. It was already a lame party and a lame night.
[hr:1mmhjz3b][/hr:1mmhjz3b]
Alaric shot Blaine a sympathetic look. While kissing Malachi wasn't that bad, well, though Alaric really hated the idea of kissing anyone here, but having to lip lock with anyone that had just had Raley all over them was, well...disgusting.
Though Christian was just amused, "Well well. This should be interesting. Try pulling his hair Malachi. He likes that."
-
Smash wrinkled his nose in response to that question. "Of course it's not any of that pop crap. What do I look like? Some sort of pretty boy teen heart throb?" He shook his head with a chuckle, "Hope you don't mind rock though."
He nodded to Bart when he motioned where it was. "That's alright, just as long as it can play music!" Making his way over, Smash took out the music he'd brought and went about getting it going. Though not too loud so that people could still carry on a conversation.
[hr:17hi6vri][/hr:17hi6vri]
He might have been a little late, but that was alright. T'liika had spent the last little while making sure that all his work was caught up for the next day.
"Hey everybody," he said as he stepped into the room. A quick look around the room and he found Alaric, and he offered the man a smile.
-
"I am not taking that for the team." Roman pointed at Raley. "Or that, or that, or that either." He pointed at Cross, Shiloh, and Sabela in turn.
On the way to their seats he pulled Gabriel close so he could complain without anyone else hearing. "We should have found some mission to go on as soon as we got wind of this. We need an escape plan the next time Nuriel gets one of his ideas."
[hr:3p06gnxf][/hr:3p06gnxf]
Raley licked his lips and got himself back in order. "Jealous you're not gettin' any of this?" He winked at Bart.
He caught sight of Roman then. "Oh, hey! Too bad Temple's dead or we could make him kiss his own brother!" He collapsed back into his chair laughing over that.
[hr:3p06gnxf][/hr:3p06gnxf]
Blaine had really been hoping he could get through this without having to participate. He wasn't...himself. Usually he'd be making jokes and being generally dismissive of the whole silly business but so far he'd only sat in his spot, head canted to hide his eyes with the brim of his hat.
He sighed when the bottle landed on him and got up to make his way to Malachi, but when Christian spoke he tripped. Gods fucking forbid he get through this without Christian ruining his life.
-
"Please. Like I would want you." Sabela brushed a strand of hair back into place, "Just because Gabe's got a hard on for you doesn't mean the rest of the world does."
[hr:2w8fsjyn][/hr:2w8fsjyn]
Christian moved forward quickly, grabbing onto Blaine and holding him tight, grinning at him, "Careful there. Wouldn't want to see you hurt, though you might like that, hmmm?"
[hr:2w8fsjyn][/hr:2w8fsjyn]
Bart tensed, giving Raley a dark look, "Shut yer fuckin' mouth or I will break your damn teeth."
-
"Yeah, well, that, that, that, and that are what you get for not thinking of that sooner," Gabriel whispered back. "Funny thing is, I distinctly recall you encouraging the crazy! What was that about the whole swimsuit thing? Oh yeah, that was real funny. Not so funny now, huh?"
That was when he caught Raley's comment and he instantly went stiff. "Fuck off, asshole."
[hr:3hs8vxvp][/hr:3hs8vxvp]
Shiloh made a face at Roman, eyebrows raising. "Let's keep it tha' way..." he grumbled under his breath, rolling his eyes.
-
"Oh what? What, it's disrespectful to say that a dead person is dead now? It's not like I insulted him. Right? Huh?"
Raley looked to Cross for help, who was very pointedly not looking at Raley just then. Raley had laughed a little too long and a little too loudly at that whole idea.
[hr:id3qty1z][/hr:id3qty1z]
Blaine looked Christian dead in the eye. "NOT in public. Stop." He wrenched out of Christian's grasp and stepped over the bottle to get to Malachi. He went somewhere else entirely as he leaned down and gave him a quick kiss. Trying not to think where Malachi's lips had just been.
"Okay." One spin, then hopefully he would be done for the duration of the party.
Please be someone good, please be someone good.
It landed on Smash. Blaine's knees just about gave away in relief.
-
"Shut. Your. Mouth Pilot." Bart's voice was hard and he looked ready to do some damage if Raley pushed this. He didn't care if he ruined Nuriel's grand plan and got written up. It would be worth it to break that shits face. Temple's loss was still raw with Bart and he wasn't ready to accept it yet.
[hr:q6wys02f][/hr:q6wys02f]
"Why you gotta be like that? You just ignore me and it breaks my heart. If you just paid attention to me, I wouldn't have to get your attention like this." Christian's eyes narrowed a little at the kiss, but it had been almost nothing, so it didn't bug him much.
Though Smash might be another story. If Blaine kissed someone else and liked it, Christian was not going to be happy.
[hr:q6wys02f][/hr:q6wys02f]
Malachi was a little surprised at all the hostility and he winced as Raley kept stepping into landmines, "Hey, Raley, did you hear anything about that new cyber joint they just developed? Have you gotten to play around with it yet? I was reading about it and I was curious if you know anything. Can it really take twice as much weight as the current ones in use?"
-
Smash sighed to himself as people were starting to grate on each others nerves already. This was suppose to be fun and relaxed... even if it were a forced event.
Satisfied with the music situation, he was about to head to the kitchen in order to get himself something to drink, when he noticed that the bottle had landed on him. "Well this is a pleasant surprise," he said with a slightly seductive smile as he sauntered over to Blaine.
He'd never given too much attention to the other pilot in the past, but in these few moments, Smash took the time to really check him out. He was rather pleased with what he saw.
"Blaine, right?" he said in a smooth tone, just a little lower then his normal voice. He slid his hand up along the man's chest and up over his shoulder, entangling his fingers into the hair at the nap of his neck. "We might as well make this as pleasing for each other as possible," offering the other an easy smile.
Leaning in, he hesitated the moment before their lips touched, as though giving Blaine a chance to back out, before closing the rest of the distance. Their lips touched, as Smash gave Blaine a slowly deepening kiss.
-
"I'm gonna punch him," Gabriel told Roman, taking a seat on the floor in front of the loveseat so Roman could take the seat next to Alaric. He couldn't stand Raley. He was trying really hard for the sake of this party not to fly off the handle, but the guy was pushing every button and at least he wasn't alone. He didn't want to think about Temple right now. That was still raw.
"Just some advance warning. Sorry if it gets you extra paperwork but if he doesn't shut the hell--"
He cut off and stared as Smash kissed Blaine, face coloring.
[hr:cxtzkluf][/hr:cxtzkluf]
Seeing what Malachi was doing, Keziah leaned over toward the two of them. "Cyber joint? Man, you kids are dating me. I didn't hear about this. What is it?" She flashed Bart a sidelong sympathetic look.
-
"Yes sir." Raley sneered at Bart, then turned to Malachi and Keziah. "Aw, fuck yeah, I got to see it in action. They're thinkin' of bringing it in, giving it to our boys. Just gotta get the license from Thanatos."
[hr:3vecgs89][/hr:3vecgs89]
Roman leaned forward, draping his arms over Gabriel's shoulders. "So it if points this way, you're taking the hit for me, right?"
[hr:3vecgs89][/hr:3vecgs89]
"Uhhhhh..." These people where not getting the point of Spin the Bottle. You weren't supposed to make out with everyone!
It's still better than having to kiss Raley, he thought. He hesitated just a moment, well aware of every eye in the room turned their way. All the attention put butterflies fluttering in his stomach. He was so grateful it had been Smash that he gave him the kiss that he seemed to want, slow and lingering. Blaine may not have cared for kissing one way or the other, but he knew how to do it well enough.
-
What. The. Fuck.
Christian's body went tense and he had to force himself back into his chair to keep from ripping them apart right then. A display of jealousy was not part of his agenda tonight, but that fucking queer was messing with his toys.
As soon as the kiss was over, Christian stood and wrapped an arm around Blaine, "Hey, come show me where the bathroom is."
"Better not argue slut or I might be forced to do something drastic."
[hr:95po7vi4][/hr:95po7vi4]
Sitting next to Roman was really not his idea of a relaxing time and Alaric was already very, very tense. And the hostility flying around the room wasn't helping. He fidgeted with his bottle, wishing things could at least go back to being not awful.
But he attempted to at least attempt to make conversation, "Damn! I wish I had thought to bring a human shield!"
[hr:95po7vi4][/hr:95po7vi4]
Malachi relaxed a little as he managed to distract Raley. Thank gods for small favors. He knew Raley didn't really mean anything by it, but the man was a moron sometimes, "Really? When do they think we'll have use of it? Will it be a field test or finished product?"
-
"How long do they think that'll take?" Keziah pitched in, smiling. This...was not her idea of a riveting conversation, really, but she'd take one for the team. If it kept the peace, so be it!
Besides, Raley was a little shit, sure, the sort that must have been a nightmare as a candidate and got chucked out of classrooms, but he wasn't so bad right now. Wasn't so bad when he kissed her, either.
[hr:3opim0q5][/hr:3opim0q5]
Gabriel leaned against Roman and tilted his head back to look up at him. "Oh, honeybear, I love you, but not that much."
And yet even as he said it, he felt a pang of jealousy as he realized what not taking the hit would mean. "Think we could get away with cheating?" he asked Roman, then nudged Alaric's foot with his hand. "Cheating. You in? Better than a human shield!"
-
Nephele sighed deeply as he stood outside the door. Really, playing spin the bottle at their age? He had other things that he could be doing right now... like reading a book, or washing his tail...
There was no point in lingering outside the door any longer. As he was about to knock, the door opened for him. Great, there was already a lot of people here, and it didn't appear as though there was all that much floor space left.
Being ten feet tall, he had to duck down in order to pass through the door. Nephele didn't spend a lot of time around the other pilots, since he felt really out of place. As far as he knew, he was the only centaur that was a pilot. It also didn't help that he was also from a rather large sized breed.
"Um... hello. I don't suppose there's an empty spot, somewhere out of the way, that I could just... lay down and stay there for the rest of the night?"
[hr:15mxhlx9][/hr:15mxhlx9]
Right as he ended the kiss, he whispered just loud enough for Blaine to hear him. "If you wanna pick this up later tonight... my door is open, for whatever you may want to do."
Then Christian was dragging Blaine away. It was easy to see that man was jealous, and that Blaine wasn't all that into him. It wouldn't last that long.
But now it was his turn to spin the bottle, and he gave it a good spin. When it stopped, he almost laughed at who it landed on. The person whose dragon was responsible for this entire night.
"Looks like it's finally your turn Bart," he said with a smile, moving over towards him.
-
"O...kay?" Blaine said. That could be fun, hanging out after the party. Maybe he could convince Alaric and Gabe to come along.
Before he could even ask, Christian was drawing him away. "We're...gonna miss the spin." His lame attempt at keeping them in the room with everybody else. It was his best shot. He wasn't going to risk Christian causing a scene over this in public, and he didn't doubt for a second that Christian would do it either.
He lead the way into a hallway, around a corner and out of sight of everyone. The bathroom was further down, but he stopped there and hoped Christian wouldn't take issue with it. He didn't want to be closed up in a room with him way on the other side of the apartment.
"What? Make it fast, they'll wonder what we're doing."
[hr:3s7pyk5u][/hr:3s7pyk5u]
"No, see...they're not actually after the actual thing," Raley said. "Not to use anyway. They're just willing to pay the licensing fee so they can get their hands on it and reverse-engineer our own design. Then we won't have to keep relying on Thanatos for this shit."
[hr:3s7pyk5u][/hr:3s7pyk5u]
"What are you thinking we could do?" Roman wrapped his arms around Gabriel and made himself look interested in the game. If they could find a way out of this, he was in.
-
The hallway was fine with him. Grabbing Blaine's hair tight in his hand, Christian yanked his head back and smashed his lips against the blonds. It pissed him off he was agreeing to go off with that girly ass faggot Smash.
His free hand pressed Blaine's hips tight against Christian's, grinding roughly against him.
[hr:1qnnv29v][/hr:1qnnv29v]
"Are you going to get to be in charge of that?" Malachi was actually interested. He loved tech and wanted to be part of the tech team, but he was stuck with the Ministers until he died.
[hr:1qnnv29v][/hr:1qnnv29v]
"Whatever the plan is, yes. I am all for it. I do not want to kiss anyone here." Alaric would do just about whatever it took to avoid that. He wasn't even sure he could kiss anyone here without having a full blown panic attack.
[hr:1qnnv29v][/hr:1qnnv29v]
Bart shifted, moving Shiloh's feet. The bottle would land on him. Well, might as well get this over with, "Alright, here we go." He stood up and moved to where Smash was and gave him a simple kiss, nothing too fast or too slow.
-
Keziah made a little sound of appreciation, though Raley might as well have been speaking alien. She got the gist of it, though. "Clever! Think Thanatos'll notice?"
[hr:2kl22a8n][/hr:2kl22a8n]
"Telekinesis, of course!" Gabriel answered both Roman and Alaric, and leaned back fully against the love seat, drawing his knees up. Idly, he rested his hands on Roman's arms and focused again on the game--then looked away again when Bart got stuck kissing Smash.
This was just getting painful.
"Okay, so here's the plan. We make sure it doesn't land on us. Flick it at someone else whenever it does. Think we could pull it off? Romance, you got the subtlety!"
[hr:2kl22a8n][/hr:2kl22a8n]
Sitting up finally--Shiloh sort of regretted it, because he got an eyeful of Bart and Smash. Which was just awkward. But at least it hadn't been him. That had been fuckin' close.
-
"Right..." Nephele murmured to himself when it seemed that nobody noticed his arrival, not that he really expected anything more. Instead he looked around the room for the best place for him to settle down at. Upon finding a spot, he moved rather carefully for a creature of his sized, before shifting in order to lower himself down onto the floor. In all honesty, he could probably be used as a living love seat.
[hr:3cwe6ud7][/hr:3cwe6ud7]
Smash licked his lips after the simple kiss, knowing that he probably would have been pushing things if he's tried for something more. He smiled to Bart and offered him the bottle. "Let's see if you stick with this all male trend so far, or if you manage to have the bottle land on own of our fine females."
His smile was genuine, and so were his words. Sure not everybody could get along, and some really didn't know when they were stepping over the line, but oh well. People were who they were, just as long as it didn't spill over into their ability to work with others.
-
"Not here!" Blaine's eyes rolled toward the entrance of the entrance of the hallway, looking for a shadow, a shift in the light, anything that might indicate someone might be coming. Oh gods, if someone saw him like this. Bart, Alaric, Raley...they were all right there, mere feet away.
His mental voice rose into a panic as he twisted about and tried to get out of Christian's grasp without making too much noise. "Stop Christian, NOT HERE!!"
[hr:3ccaggfz][/hr:3ccaggfz]
"Of course telekinesis! But it's not going to be that simple."
Roman specialized in getting underneath the notice and detection of other psychics, but even he couldn't pull off telekinesis in a room full of people all looking for it.
Not without some kind of interference.
"You two will have to give me cover. Telekinesis, whenever the bottle is slowing. Move something, slap Raley across the face, whatever. Sloppy telekinesis if you can manage it. As messy as you can get it without making it look intentional."
There was a bleed off of the excess kinetic force required to move anything, barely perceptible when performed by an expert psychic. Roman had taught himself to wreak all manner of havoc within that faint, transient veil. Helped that they were all getting drunk, too. He should be able to slip something in with the telekinetic chatter in the air, and he had a few resources of his own. Anything that would take their sight and focus off the bottle, even for a second, would be good. Bart would be the real challenge. They'd gone head to head a lot over the years, and Bart knew most of his favorite tricks.
"You realize they'll make us kiss whoever they want if they catch us, right?" His luck, they'd probably give him Cross.
[hr:3ccaggfz][/hr:3ccaggfz]
"Psh. Thanatos don't care," Raley said. "They've got something bigger and badder in development already I guarantee. I'll probably be consulting on the connectivity initiative but..." He waved a hand. "It's not that exciting. I'd do just about anything for access to Thanatos's cybernetic R and D department. That's where the real shit's at."
He glanced over at Bart and Smash, but the game had gotten boring. "These people need to get more drunk."
-
Christian let Blaine squirm for just a moment longer before he released him, grinning down at him, fist still twisted into that pretty blond hair, "What are you going to do for me? If you want me to stop, better think of something worth while."
His other hand pressed Blaine tighter against his hip, whispering against the other Pilots ear, "You wouldn't want your precious friends to see you like this, now would you?"
[hr:3p195cgb][/hr:3p195cgb]
"Are you kidding? Too much force and not enough control is like my specialty!" Alaric kept his face composed, looking after where Blaine had vanished. He was wandering what that was about. He didn't think Blaine was friends with Gabe's asshole cousin, but maybe?
[hr:3p195cgb][/hr:3p195cgb]
"I bet you would. I doubt I would ever see you again if you got into that place." Malachi glanced back at the game, where Bart and the weird long haired guy were kissing. He could have sworn there had been a rule passed that Pilots had to have cut to their shoulders. Maybe it had been changed?
[hr:3p195cgb][/hr:3p195cgb]
Well, that hadn't been too bad, though Bart took a long pull from his beer before reaching for the bottle. If he didn't know better, he might have suspected Roman of nudging it toward him, but he was keeping a [/i]close[/i] watch on that bottle.
Though, he had done his duty and after this spin, if he was lucky, he might be able to nudge it away from him and sacrifice Shiloh on the alter of kissing.
He gave the bottle a quick spin and waited to see who it landed on.
Fuck. Balls.
It was Raley.
-
"Yeah, well, guess that just means we better not get caught, huh?" Gabriel said, reaching for his beer and taking another gulp. And as much as he wanted to take Roman up and slap the shit out of Raley, he also didn't want to do anything too overt. "Want some?" he said out loud, holding his can up to Roman. They'd been silent way too long.
"I think between my awesome and Ally's finesse we'll be al--"
Bart spun, and the bottle landed on Raley. Gabriel froze, cold dread gripping him. He felt for Bart, really he did; he felt for anyone that had to lock lips with that. But, more importantly, this meant Raley (who was apparently a black hole sucking everyone to his lips, fed by everyone's intense desire not to get him) would be spinning next. And he didn't care what it took, he was not getting him and he was not taking that chance. "Shit. Okay. Let's make it count."
He tossed a worried look Alaric's way and set the beer down so he could reach over and give a light tug on his pant-leg. "You okay?"
[hr:2308rirb][/hr:2308rirb]
Ahh, this was boring. Adrian had hoped to see more Pilot on Pilot action but everything so far had been pretty PG after the Malachi-on-Raley action. With a sigh, Adrian climbed to his feet to wander back to the kitchen for a refill.
He paused when he saw the centaur, who looked a little put-out. He was practically radiating it. "Drink?" he offered, holding up his own glass and nodding toward the kitchen.
[hr:2308rirb][/hr:2308rirb]
Keziah grinned at Raley's comment. "A lot of 'em could benefit from that," she agreed, glancing around the circle. "This has gotta be the most awkward party ever. And!" she said, raising her voice to carry. "Seems like some people are sure spending an awful long time on the crapper! Potty breaks don't exempt you, y'know!"
-
Nephele blinked when Adrian took notice in him, it was a bit of a surprise, but he didn't show it. Instead he nodded with a soft smile. "Please, that would be great."
[hr:111xrdh7][/hr:111xrdh7]
Having found a seat, Callista settled down in order to watch the show. When she'd heard that one of her son's was up in the game, she'd headed to the kitchen in order to get herself a drink. Now that it was over, she was happy to return.
No doubt there would be others figuring out a way to try and rig the game, but she also knew that Bart's dragon would already have thought of some sort of punishment for them for trying to cheat.
[hr:111xrdh7][/hr:111xrdh7]
T'liika had passed on fixing himself a drink for the time being, in favor of a glass of water. Taking a moment to look around, he moved to the empty spot closest to Alaric. "Hello," he said with a soft smile as he took his seat.
-
"Did you hear that?" Blaine said in an urgent whisper. "Did you hear, they're getting suspicious! Just save me the time and tell me what you want!"
He didn't care what it was, didn't care what he might be forced to agree to. Christian still had him, and he couldn't even move his head. This didn't look any better than the kissing would have. If anyone came around that corner, he would never be able to explain this away, and he had to come up with a reason they were taking so long.
[hr:1ztivs7p][/hr:1ztivs7p]
Roman took a swallow of Gabriel's beer then passed it back. For all that he thought this a magnificent waste of time, he didn't care about the kissing. He could bring himself to kiss anyone here. Oh he'd complain about it plenty and he wouldn't like it but he'd still do it. The cheating was more to see how long he could get away with it in a room full of psychics.
[hr:1ztivs7p][/hr:1ztivs7p]
Raley gave a hoot and laughed. "Yes! It's my lucky day. I'm kissing everyone here before this is done!" That was his new goal. He wanted to get his lips on every Pilot in the group tonight.
They'd had a few harsh words before, but the game was back on and Raley wasn't going to hold a grudge. "C'mon over, sexy," he said, grinning at Bart.
-
Christian just griiiiiined at Blaine, the smile slow and wicked, "What do I care if someone finds out. I don't care." He lowered his head, kissing along Blaine's neck, "If you want me to stop, you have to agree to spend the entire night at my place."
[hr:miiim6ce][/hr:miiim6ce]
Alaric shook his head slightly, watching Raley with a sick feeling in his stomach. There were a few people here he could handle kissing, but most of the people here he couldn't even handle touching.
"I can't. Not him."
[hr:miiim6ce][/hr:miiim6ce]
"Fuck." Bart stared at Raley for a while, debating if it was worth the punishment. It almost was, after that Temple comment. Fucking little shit stain.
But Bart never really backed down from anything so he got to his feet, marched over, grabbed Raley by the shirt and hauled him up to smash his lips against Raley before dropping him back down to the couch.
-
"Yes, fine!" Blaine's fear reached a feverish pitch and send him spiraling into the future, where he saw Roman manipulating the bottle with telekinesis. He came back up with vacant, dazed expression that his precognition always left him with.
"Roman's...going to cheat at the game," he muttered, only recalling the promise he'd just made in some far away corner of his mind. He hadn't entirely caught back up with himself, with the present just yet.
[hr:1398oe8a][/hr:1398oe8a]
For a few moments there Raley thought Bart was going to smack him or something. He was being such a lousy sport about this. The kiss was hardly satisfying, but getting physical could be fun, too. "Damn, Bart. Like it rough do you?"
-
"Perfect." Christian started to release Blaine when the man suddenly went limp in his arms. He had seen that enough to know he was having a vision. He held the blond, waiting for the moment to pass.
"You okay? Need me to get you anything?" The fact Roman was going to cheat didn't really shock him. He did want to see if he could catch it. A challenge.
[hr:2ofy78hh][/hr:2ofy78hh]
"Yup." Bart turned and raised his beer at Roman in a salute, "As Roman would know."
-
"What?" Gabriel had been focused on levitating his almost-empty beer can and trying to ignore the current Raley kiss-a-thon (thank you, Roman, for keeping them safe), but it dropped to the floor then. His head whipped up and he stared at Bart in dawning horror. "What? As he'd know what?" he blurted, and threw a panicked look back at Roman as though waiting for him to deny it.
"Oh, gods, really?! No!"
-
"Why so shocked? We were room mates, all that sexual tension." Bart ran a hand down his chest, winking, "Who can resist this hot bod? Didn't Roman tell you he likes 'um hairy?"
-
Blaine got his mind back together and remembered who he was with, and what he'd just promised to do. He wrenched away from Christian walked away, shooting him a look with all the malice and indignation he was capable of behind it.
He didn't even care if Christian stayed behind or followed immediately after. Didn't care what it made others think. Anger blinded him. He avoided eye contact with anyone else and went straight for the kitchen and the alcohol.
[hr:j2kdpjsn][/hr:j2kdpjsn]
Bart got a raised eyebrow from Roman. Talk about ancient history. It wasn't exactly a secret, they just never had much occasion to bring it up. Now he'd gotten Gabriel all freaked out. Roman shrugged at him in response. There was no getting around that odd prudish streak of his.
[hr:j2kdpjsn][/hr:j2kdpjsn]
"Okay, okay, let's keep going." Raley was thrilled he got to spin again. He knew damn well that a lot of these dicks didn't like him, and he hoped they all had to suck it up and kiss him. He paused with his hand on the bottle to savor the suspense, grinning, eyes traveling around the room and landing on each person in turn. He stopped at Alaric and lingered on him, letting a hint of cruelty seep into his smile.
He gave Alaric a wink and spun...
...and it landed on Bart again. "Haha! We have to use our tongues this time."
-
"God, what is with everyone? It's a game and everyone acts like it is life or death." Sabela rolled her eyes at Cross, reaching down to pull a bottle of wine out of her huge purse as well as the corkscrew, "It's a kiss!"
Holding the bottle between her legs, Sabela quickly and expertly opened it. Fuck glasses and fuck sharing. She was going to get drunk, make out with a bunch of people and have a great time. It was like people were against having a good time!
[hr:37xph1wq][/hr:37xph1wq]
Smirking, Christian trailed after Blaine, looking very, very smug, "If you are gettin' a drink Blaine honey, would you mind getting me one?"
He was just so fun to tease. Christian couldn't help himself.
[hr:37xph1wq][/hr:37xph1wq]
When the bottle spun, Alaric watched it warily, ready to grab the pillow across the room and bring it to him if it looked like it was landing anywhere near him. And then he saw Raley's look and his eyes narrowed, unconsciously pulling his lips back in a snarl, his clawed hand digging into Bart's sofa.
Fuck Raley and fuck him hard. If he didn't get that look off his face, Alaric was going to shove that bottle down his throat.
But luckily the bottle landed on Bart again and Alaric relaxed slightly while Bart swore again, "Fuck. Apparently you like 'um hairy too. And I ain't usin' my tongue. Ya probably got freaky ass diseases."
"Boo!" Christian flopped back onto the couch, "That's breaking the rules. You get someone twice, you have to use tongue. Now let's get some real action in here!"
-
Gabriel wasn't the only one Bart's announcement had shocked. Shiloh's mouth had dropped open and he was staring at the man, and then at Roman. That was probably the last thing he'd expected, to learn two buff, powerful, high-ranking men (and Shiloh had come to look up to Bart ever since their mission)...fucked. And Bart?
He shot a look Christian's way as he returned, then crossed his arms over his chest and settled back, keeping any comments to himself. He was totally fine staying in the background and so far his luck had been holding up.
[hr:2e4ukewt][/hr:2e4ukewt]
"Jeez, you guys are like teenage girls, gotta go potty together, huh?" Keziah remarked when Christian returned, then laughed when the bottle picked Bart again. Poor guy. "Dayum. You're sure popular tonight." At this rate, he was going to start competing with Raley.
[hr:2e4ukewt][/hr:2e4ukewt]
Gabriel thankfully didn't have much time to relish the horror of Bart stroking his chest and...oh gods. There were just some things he could have happily gone on not knowing and--wait. Roman did a guy?
But before that thought could really take hold, Raley was spinning, and Gabriel readied himself, prepared to knock his beer can over and watching the bottle, and Sade, intently. That was when he caught his look. It wasn't directed at him, but a quick glance proved his suspicions right.
He didn't know if there was something going on between them beyond creepy expressions, if Raley was talking to him, too. But it didn't matter. A look was enough, Alaric had been freaked out since coming here, and he fucking hated Raley, and no one did that to Alaric.
"Back the fuck off him, Sade," he 'pathed, and leveled a glare at him. "Leave him alone. Now."
[hr:2e4ukewt][/hr:2e4ukewt]
Adrian returned from the kitchen with two mixed drinks and passed one to the centaur. "There you go. Coke and rum. I hope you don't mind. If you'd like something else, I can get you that instead."
-
"Oh, I'm late," Llyn pouted as he knocked on Bart's door. His hair was wet and his clothes less ostentatious than usual, and he looked a bit tired out, but that wasn't going to stop him from watching his colleagues squirm about maybe having to kiss each other. He carried a fancy liqueur bottle in one hand, as if to make amends to anyone who might have to negotiate his mouth.
He'd brushed his teeth and everything. It was beyond him to imagine why anyone would be opposed to kissing someone who tasted like raw meat, but he'd received his fair share of complaints from people whose opinions mattered less to him than those of his coworkers. So, for the sake of not offending anyone who outranked him, he was minty fresh.
"You left it open, I'm coming in," he announced, stepping inside, face set in the same grin he always wore. "And I brought a drink, so you can't complain that I'm here." He hastily mixed himself a drink in the kitchen before joining the circle, sitting next to Gabriel just to unnerve him. "Hello, everyone."
-
"Go fuck yourself," Blaine 'pathed to Christian. He threw back another shot.
[hr:3cbwytei][/hr:3cbwytei]
Paris had lost interest in the game as soon as Blaine and Christian had walked back in the room. What was going on there? Blaine radiated hate. Not some piddling little anger, but real fury and loathing. The Pilots' lives were no less tumultuous than the candidates' it seemed.
[hr:3cbwytei][/hr:3cbwytei]
How could Raley behave himself when they instigated him like this. Here he was, smiling and cracking jokes and not trying to aggravate anyone just like Cross asked him and Gabriel had to go and start something.
He couldn't deny he was glad for it. He was tired of being nice to these tools. Still, not his fault.
"Whaaat?" he 'pathed back. "I didn't do anything. You're the one harassing me over nothing. And what's wrong with Al? Can't speak for himself now?"
He slid over to Bart and pressed himself against the other Pilot, wrapping an arm around his neck. "Gonna be rough with me again?"
-
"Aw honey, now that is just hurtful." Christian pouted in the direction of the kitchen, "You don't have any need to be like that."
God, it never got old messing with his toy. And fuck that long haired freak for touching what was his. When Llyn arrived, he gave the guy a small wae. Creepy fuck, but he was bringing good booze, "Hey! You sharing?"
[hr:2ot4zgfm][/hr:2ot4zgfm]
Malachi glanced between Gabe, Raley and Alaric. There seemed to be some weird tension going on there and he didn't get it. Sure, it was easy to dislike Raley, he often disliked the other Pilot. But this seemed to go beyond simple dislike.
[hr:2ot4zgfm][/hr:2ot4zgfm]
Bart raised an eyebrow at Raley, keeping his temper in check and refusing to let the little shit win, "Why? Ya inta that? Sorry but irritatin' bitch boys don't really do it for me." Grabbing Raley around the waist he bent him back and gave him a long, closed mouth kiss.
-
"Gods, will you shut up?! Shut up!" This was a disaster. You couldn't say things like that around these people and hint around and not expect them to wonder. Blaine retreated into an out of sight corner of the kitchen and rested his forehead against the cool stainless steel of the refrigerator and tried to stop the shaking in his hands.
[hr:153j3re6][/hr:153j3re6]
"Well that disqualifies half the people here then," Raley said, taking his seat again. He glanced briefly at Gabriel when he said it.
-
"Less talking, more kissing! That was a bitch kiss!" Sabela took a swig of her wine, right out of the bottle. Glasses were for pussies. How did all these people just fail at parties and what was going on with the blonds?
[hr:1xb8yv97][/hr:1xb8yv97]
Alaric flicked Raley a rude gesture when he looked over at Gabe. He was stressed out and not in the mood for this shit. He just wanted to get this night over without a court martial for ripping Raley's face off.
[hr:1xb8yv97][/hr:1xb8yv97]
"Only cause you asked so nice baby." Christian grinned, so amused with Blaine's reaction. Bitch wanted it so bad and was terrified people would find out. Delightful. Though with Blaine freaking out in the kitchen, that had his attention wandering.
And it settled on Shiloh. He caught the other Pilot's eye and winked at him.
[hr:1xb8yv97][/hr:1xb8yv97]
"Oh yeah. That's real clever Sade. Your mama must be real proud." Bart let the other Pilot go and went back to his seat, lifting Shiloh's legs out of the way. Reaching down, he quickly spun the bottle and watched it spin.
As it slowed, Alaric quickly reached out with his telepathy, snagging a pillow with his telekinesis and managed to get it across the room without exploding it. As the bottle finally finished settling, it landed on Nephele and Bart blinked. Well...that was an odd one.
-
"Have at it," Llyn invited. "I don't plan on finishing the whole damn thing." He grinned and watched Bart and Raley bicker with each other, delicately sipping his drink. "Men are so bad at this game... not that I'm an expert, but it seems whenever you throw too many boys into a game like this, someone winds up with the bottle smashed over his head."
-
Nephele looked up at Adrian and smiled softly as he accepted the drink. "Oh no, this is just fine, thank you." He took a sip as he looked around the room then back to Adrian. "I certainly hope tonight doesn't end with people needing to be taken to the infirmary."
He was about to say more, but then he noticed that in all the commotion, the bottle had landed on him. Though considering he was a rather large target, it shouldn't have been that surprising.
"I would get up to go over to you, but I'd rather not take the chance of stepping on anybody," he said softly.
[hr:14acs40x][/hr:14acs40x]
Smash Cat noticed that Blaine was taking an extra bit of time in the kitchen, and that something was obviously going on between him and Christian. It was about time to refill his drink anyways, so he got up and headed towards the kitchen with his empty glass.
He moved closer to Blaine as he was getting his drink. "Hey," he murmured softly. "You doing alright?"
[hr:14acs40x][/hr:14acs40x]
The door to Bart's place opened, and Trance walked in. He was yawning as he clutched his little stuffed panda. Normally he wouldn't have brought it with him, but he wasn't entirely awake at the moment. "Sorry I'm late. Euphoric only just woke me from my nap."
The catboy pilot made his way over to the couch and plopped down on an empty spot and snuggled in. He still needed a little more time to awaken before he really took in his surroundings. As it was now, the room was full of people, and that made him happy enough to purr softly.
-
"Ah, well, makes sense." Bart hauled himself to his feet and made his way over, bending down to kiss the centaur lightly on the mouth. It was a little weird kissing someone really nonhuman and he hardly knew the guy.
But it was soon over and he made his way back to his seat.
-
"Well deary, are you looking forward to this evening?"
Nelson gave the elderly Pilot a sidelong glance. Truthfully, he was absolutely not looking forward to this little get together. It made him quite nervous to be stuck in a room full of Pilots of all ranks. Rhosyn patted the Candidate's arm. "It won't be so bad." She lowered her arm. "And you should really put up your shielding."
Nelson immediately complied with the suggestion, muttering a thanks. He kept having problems remembering to do that. He really needed to look into learn how to keep that stuff up while asleep. "So, how long did it take you to make all these cookies?" He glanced down at the tray in his hands and the few trays floating around the Pilot's body. Seeing the floating desserts in the hallway had made him stop and stare, he'd even asked the Royal how she did it. He'd gotten a chuckle and a comment about longevity and control before having a tray floating into his hands.
The rest of their walk was in silence as Nelson was intent on not saying anything stupid to the Pilot and Rhosyn was busy thinking up ways to get out of this or, at least, participate as little as possible.
Their attendance wasn't a question, of course; you don't argue with a dragon. Their participation, however, was a bigger concern. Rhosyn had better things she could do like visiting her granddaughter or her son-in-law - she really needed to do that, it'd been a long while. Baking was always a pleasurable pastime. Heck, sleeping would be better to being here. Nelson had other concerns, namely rank. If he'd been put with the candidates, he would have been comfortable being at the top. With the Pilots, however, he foresaw him being sent to grab most of the Pilots drinks when he wasn't being mouth-raped.
Nelson hadn't solved his problem by the time they had gotten to the door. Rhosyn, on the other hand, was going to cheat. It wouldn't take much airflow to nudge the bottle away from her. With such on their minds, the door fwooshed open to a very full room, very tense room. it set Nelson even more on edge.
"Hello everyone!" Rhosyn called out, the trays of sweets following her in. "I do hope nobody minds that I brought a few things to nibble on." She made her way to the kitchen, depositing her goods and directing Nelson to do the same before heading back where everybody else was. "So, is anybody going to give up their seat or are you younglings going to make an old lady stand all night?" Nelson decided to stay in the kitchen, hopefully nobody would drag him into the...festivities.
-
"Guess which half you're in, bitch," Gabriel shot back at Sade with a cheerfully fake grin, right as Bart gave the bottle a spin. Acting fast, he levitated his beer can and snatched it out of the air, feigned a sip--and was relieved when the bottle landed on Nephele.
Saved again.
Except now Llyn was sitting next to him. Shooting the man an uneasy look, he scooted sideways a little, just enough so he wasn't rubbing shoulders with him. The guy wasn't a Raley, Sabela, or Cross, but he unnerved the shit out of him, anyway.
[hr:3ak8jsbm][/hr:3ak8jsbm]
Noticing Christian winking at him--looked like luck had run out--he flushed and looked away, focusing on Bart.
"Yer sure popular tonight," he said, attempting conversation.
[hr:3ak8jsbm][/hr:3ak8jsbm]
Sighting Rhosyn, Keziah looked at the others, then shrugged and rose from her seat. "You can take mine," she said, and walked over to settle down in front of Sabela's seat. "If you'll bring me a cookie on your way over," she added, winking her one eye. Or maybe she was just blinking. It was a little hard to tell sometimes.
-
Ah shoot.
He was late. However, Bunny was not exactly known for his punctuality. It seemed to go against his very nature. Gods forbid he was ever waiting for something to start or someone to show up. Either, he was exactly on time to the second, or more commonly, and easily, he found his place in time where all the fun had ended. And his dragon was no help, not in the least. Athena would purposefully give him the wrong time, just to see him squirm trying to make up an excuse and what he could get away with. She found it amusing.
But Bunny had a good reason for his mess up! It had been one of the few days he had off and naturally, he spent it with his daughters. They had been building a pillow fort in the living room, or rather a pillow castle with a drawbridge and everything, and he simply forgot. His oh-so-helpful-dragon reminded him belatedly.
"You should have brought something to make up for it." He heard her speak in his mind as he wheeled himself and his wheelchair through the accessible ramps heading to Pilot Hamilton's place.
"Like what? One of Kinsey's macaroni collages?" He said back and caught sight of two other Pilots, err, one Pilot and a Candidate. He wasn't expecting a Candidate. It made him feel a little better being late, if those two were.
"It would have been creative." She said. Now he was wishing he had.
As Bunny came closer to the apartment he could practically see the tension radiating off the walls, streaming out from the open door which he entered, following behind the two others and the floating cookies(which smelt delicious). He didn't need to be an Empath to see the I'm-going-to-tear-your-throat-out-atmosphere, or feel it to be exact. But it helped. In a bad way.
He had been hoping just to slide on into the room, however, it was a good deal crowded which left him to try and strategically place himself near one of the couch ends without getting stuck behind it.
-
The kiss wasn't that bad. Short and sweet and to the point. Nephele paused to take a sip of his drink before using his telekinesis to move the bottle close enough to him that he could lean over to give it a good sip.
It spun around a few times before it stopped and pointed to Llyn.
-
"Good evening, Gabriel," Llyn said, a particularly humored grin on his face tonight. "Long time no see." He reveled in the blond Pilot's discomfort, holding his gaze until he was distracted by a jab in the ribs and a finger pointing at the bottle. It was indeed pointed right at him, and everyone had their eyes on Nephele.
"Hmm. Trying to remember whether I've ever kissed a centaur before." He found Nephele interesting; the man's hair--not too different from his own--only served to make him look more like a wild horse, and his kind (well-trained) brown eyes... Llyn wished he could fake eyes like that.
He set his drink on the floor and entered the circle on his hands and knees, giving Nephele a come-hither grin. "First time for everything, isn't there?"
-
When Llyn joined them, Alaric glanced over, and gave him a small smile, "Uh, hey." He still felt on edge thanks to Raley and the other Pilot was, well, nice and all, but there was just something down right creepy.
[hr:2olt2bsv][/hr:2olt2bsv]
Bart gave the centaur a grin, trying to get past all the anger that Raley tended to invoke in him. He just needed to relax. The kid was a shit, but there was no reason to let things get out of hand.
He lifted a glass at Shiloh, "How's that work? Can't get a date ta save my life, now people can't stop kissin' me."
[hr:2olt2bsv][/hr:2olt2bsv]
When Bunny entered, Malachi waved, brightening at the sight of his old mentor. And he was very, very glad he was late. The last thing he wanted was Bunny there to witness him straddling Raley and shoving his tongue down his throat.
"Hey, you are late! Want my seat?" He stood, offering the spot to the other Pilot.
-
When he saw the look that Llyn was giving him, he felt his face heat up just a little bit. "Uh yeah.... I don't suppose you want to come all the way over to me. After all, it's not as though I'm the most delicate breed," he said softly. In fact, he was probably one of the largest and heaviest breeds that still existed.
-
It didn't matter where he was, he supposed, Bunny was feeling the tension beating down on him. This was the part were wished that his telepathy was strong enough to shield out heavy doses of emotion; the kind that no one cared to keep under wraps themselves. He couldn't turn off his Empath abilities, neither. But, like a good Pilot, he had an anchor and wouldn't lose himself easily in the mix. That would be amateurish.
He heard Malachi's voice, though it took a second to spot his former candidate, until he stood up and offered his seat. A smile quickly appeared, lighting up Bunny's face. He waved wide and excitedly. "No, no! I'm all right." He pointed to his wheelchair. "Kind of a handy thing."
Bunny noticed belatedly that his gesture, the wide wave that shouldn't be used in close quarters, nearly hit one of the Pilots sitting close to him. Or it did hit them. He didn't know. "Whoa, sorry!"
-
"It would be my pleasure," Llyn replied to the centaur. "Wouldn't want to trample any cocktails." The thin Pilot was always quite in his element, creeping everyone out. He'd only enjoy himself more--albeit less responsibly--as the alcohol accumulated in his bloodstream.
His lips pressed roughly but chastely to Nephele's. Better that he not start nicking people with his teeth until they started not caring about things like that. Besides, the last time he'd had horsemeat, it hadn't agreed with him.
He bowed low to scoop up his drink on the way back to his seat, shooting Alaric a smirk. "Evening..." Malachi's movement caught his eye, however, and he found himself subtly recalculating his own seat position so to stay across the room from Bunny. Much as he enjoyed making people squirm, the squirming the Empath did when he was around was a little too conspicuous.
-
Malachi gave a small laugh, "Right, right. Sorry Bun. Wasn't thinking."
He took his seat again, then gave Llyn a puzzled look, "You have to spin now."
-
Blaine started and turned around. This was already getting out of hand. He was doing a poor job of seeming like his normal self. "Yeah. Fine. Just...not thrilled with the game is all."
-
Standing again, Bart headed into the kitchen, a little concerned about Blaine. He seemed really bothered by something and Bart was starting to wonder if he needed to punch someone else besides Raley tonight.
Leaning against the counter, he studied the blond, "You okay? Ya need ta go? I'll work somethin' out with Nuriel if yer...uh...sick or somethin'."
-
"Right, but now I can't be assed to get up," Llyn replied, sipping his drink. He gave the bottle a telekinetic twist, and watched impassively as it spun down. When it stopped, it was pointing at Keziah.
Llyn waved at her. "Hey, sexy. Let me kiss your eye-socket instead?" He smirked and leaned towards her, flipping his hair over one shoulder.
-
Keziah gave a surprised laugh, glanced around the room, and then gave a light, casual shrug. "Well, since ya called me sexy..." she said, and flipped her eye-patch up, baring her empty socket. Hey, you only lived once, so why not? Besides, between the alcohol and just knowing it would elicit a reaction, she was all for it.
"Lay it on me, big boy."
-
"Hope I'm not alcoholic enough to sting." Llyn grinned and moved in close, and teased Keziah's eyelid with his tongue, gently French-kissing her eye-socket, lapping up the disgusted groans and semi-ironic cheers the action elicited from anyone paying attention like an actor on stage.
"Thank hell you don't put mascara on that one too," Llyn joked, moving back to his seat. "That would have been icky."
-
Gabriel recoiled in horror--but couldn't quite look away, even though he wanted to gag. It was like a train wreck. Full to the brim of do not want, EVER, but the morbid fascination held him captive so he couldn't stop watching.
"Llyn! What the hell?!"
[hr:yufbpa0h][/hr:yufbpa0h]
Out of alcohol, and deciding he needed more while that was going on, Shiloh pushed up off the couch and, wobbling slightly (he'd been pretty buzzed before he'd even gotten to the apartment) he headed over to Sabela, leaning heavily on the arm of her seat.
"Hey," he said. "How strong's yer wine?"
[hr:yufbpa0h][/hr:yufbpa0h]
So, when Llyn said kiss her socket, Keziah had been picturing, say, a peck. What she hadn't been imagining was for him to stick his tongue in it. That...now that was definitely one of those experiences she could say 'yep, did it once, never again' to.
But for the sake of the spectacle, she bit back her groan, tried not to squirm from how fuckin' weird that felt, and laughed at the horrified reactions as she drew away. "My, my. That was...exciting," she said, and rubbed at her eye. Yuck. "You sure know how to show a lady a good time."
Flipping her eye-patch back down, she reached for the bottle and gave it a quick spin. After several rotations, it came to a shaky stop on Bunny.
"Hey, there," she said, and because he couldn't exactly come to her, she went to him--and settled herself in his lap. "Don't worry, I won't make you kiss my eye."
-
For the seductive way that Llyn had approached him, Nephele was surprised with how conservative the kiss was. The man didn't seem too bad... that was until he french kissed Keziah's eye socket. At that moment he was thankful that he'd kissed the man first, and he took a deeper sip of his drink.
[hr:1jc2gj2a][/hr:1jc2gj2a]
Dante was sitting there, just watching and observing for the time being. It just seemed that more and more people kept coming into the room. Even though he had grown up in the citadel most of his life, he really didn't know too many of the others here. Smash had pretty much forced him into these showy clothes and dragged him here, and now his 'twin' was in the kitchen, probably trying to secure a bed warmer for the night.
[hr:1jc2gj2a][/hr:1jc2gj2a]
Smash frowned a little when he heard that, since the game was suppose to be fun. No doubt it had something to do with why Christian had pulled Blaine off with him. He was about to say something when Bart came in to check on Blaine as well. Maybe he could work with this.
"I could always go with him to make sure that he arrived back at his place alright, and keep an eye on him... just in case," Smash suggested. It wasn't meant to get into Blaine's pants, but because he was the kind of person who was concerned about others.
"After all, I know better then most how bad the after effects of a vision can be, even just a minor one."
-
~~~Authorized Time Skip~~~
The game had been going on for a little bit now. Blaine had taken the chance to escape that Bart had offered him, and Smash Cat went to escort the other precog back to his room... at least that was the theory.
Nephele had settled into things nicely. He'd even offered to allow people to sit on his back, since it was broad enough for at least two or three people to sit on his comfortably.
Trance had managed to find a lap to curl up in. He really was like a cat when it came down to things, though one of the rare ones that actually liked to be affectionate. (This means that you can claim him to be in your character's lap if you'd like.)
T'liika had been flirting with Alaric a little bit off and on, though generally he was his normal friendly self. He really hadn't been drinking all that much, figuring that there was more then enough other people who were trying to become as drunk as they could.
Dante had managed to avoid having the bottle land on him so far. At this point he was coming out of the kitchen with a glass of wine. It was more suited to his tastes then the first drink that Smash had given him in the evening.
Callista was taking her turn to spin the bottle now. She'd known that Gabe and the others had been cheating now and then, but had said nothing about it. Though they'd been becoming a little more bold about it, and pushing the limits of how often the could cheat. As the bottle was starting to come to a stop, there was something knocked over as a distraction, and the bottle was knocked to keep spinning a little longer.
It came to a stop on Callista's son Dante, who had just come back from the kitchen. She hadn't blown the whistle on the cheating party, since it really hadn't done any harm, but this was crossing the line.
"Okay, this cheating has gone on long enough," she declared, giving each of the guilty party a hard glare. "Gabe, get your ass over there and kiss my son for me. At least 30 seconds, with tongue, and it had better be a damned good kiss." The tone of her voice left no room for arguments. "Also, if you guys cheat one more time, I'll make sure the lot of you are assigned to Infirmary detail for the next month."
-
Bart was finally starting to relax a little, getting over Raley's irritating little comments earlier. The several beers he had in him were helping as well. He had his hand on Shiloh's foot, the younger Pilot's legs still stretched over his lap, absently moving Shiloh's foot left to right.
Roman was cheating, that he had already picked up. And he couldn't believe he hadn't thought of that. The subtly of it was brilliant, and the little movements and nudges from Alaric and Gabe were a great cover. He would never have noticed if he hadn't known Roman so well.
Sabela was well into her bottle, phone in hand and wishing she could be somewhere else. This game should have been a fucking party, but everyone was acting like the end of the world. Making out with Keziah had been fun, though a little gross after the other woman had let Llyn molest her eye socket. Ugh.
She glanced over at Cross, "How long do you think we'll be stuck here and wanna go do something actually fun when this is over?"
Malachi was still chatting with Raley, trying to keep him happy and distracted so he wouldn't keep putting his foot in his mouth. It was just easier for everyone when Raley wasn't being a tool. Though, Malachi didn't really think he was all that bad.
Christian was relaxed and feeling pretty okay, though his eyes kept following Blaine. It amused him that the long haired freak Pilot thought he could sniff around Christian's leftovers. After the little freakout Blaine had, the blond wasn't going to be cuddling up to anyone.
Alaric had just been starting to think they were going to get away with it when Callista spoke up, informing the room that Gabe had to kiss Dante. And with tongue. He knew his friend well and jerked to his feet, not wanting to have to kiss anyone either, but wanting Gabe to have to less, "Whoa, no! It wasn't Gabe that was cheating. It was me. I cheated, so I'll kiss Dante."
-
Whatever amusement might have been had from this evening had long since run it's course for Cross. It had been fun, but the game was starting to drag. No more funny stuff was happening, and he couldn't give less of a shit about Roman and whoever cheating.
"We should get Malachi and Raley, too," he said. "Go make our own party."
Roman sat back and projected nonchalance and disdain. He figured they'd catch him eventually if he kept it up. Got too bold, he did. He should have cut it off sooner, or let
the bottle land on him a couple of times and they might not have caught on. Still, it boosted his ego that he kept it hidden from all of them for as long as he did.
While Alaric and Callista exchanged words, he lightly ran his knuckles down the back of Gabriel's neck to get his attention. "Sorry."
He hadn't been able to keep them out of the game entirely, but no way would he let them incriminate themselves in this. That was a punk move. No one here could prove they'd been helping him out.
"Alaric, sit down and stop insulting me. I didn't need either of these two to pull off something that simple."
No one was getting the chance to argue the point. He got up and pulled Dante to him, wrapping an arm around the other Pilot's waist. He didn't kiss him as long as Callista would have liked—which was freakin' weird of her to say of her own son anyway—and he wasn't going to stick his tongue down the kid's throat either, but he made it a decent kiss, one that should satisfy everyone and let them move on.
-
"Okay, first off, that's fucking gross Starling. Who wants to watch their own kid makeout with people? I don't even want to know what family night looks like at that place. It totally ruined my lady boner about getting to watch Roman kiss someone." Sabela pouted, curled up against Cross on the couch.
"I vote Roman rekisses! Someone not totally skeeve-tastic. Because incest is gross."
She tilted her head back to look at Cross, "Whoa...are there really that few fun Pilots? How sad is that?"
"I vote he's got ta kiss Gabe. See cuz, you can't say I never did anything for you. Now go make out with him. And while you're family, I fully embrace my pervert nature and plan on watching." Christian grinned, lifting his glass.
Alaric sat down, flushed and feeling stupid and totally relieved and so grateful to Roman. He was going to make that man meals for a month. Anything he wanted. Alaric did not want to kiss anyone here.
-
"Yeeeah, I ain't drunk 'nough fer incest shit yet," Shiloh mumbled, and took another gulp of beer, scooting further down on the couch, quite relaxed using Bart as a foot-rest.
Alaric's timing couldn't have been more perfect. His friend knew him well, because he had been half a second away from flipping his shit. It was one thing to get caught and made to kiss as "penance" in the normal kind of spin the bottle, just for funsies, ha ha how funny sort of way. Gabriel wouldn't have enjoyed it, it would have still made him uncomfortable and he'd really rather not, but it was doable.
Callista, though? Callista crossed some serious lines.
Some of the tension melted out of him, though, and he closed his mouth, swallowing the words he'd been about to say and feeling a stab of guilt that Alaric--who was no less comfortable with this stuff than him--was taking the fall. A caress along his neck made him shiver and he twisted to look at Roman, but before he could say more than a, "You tried," in return...
He was off playing hero and yeah, Gabriel could have kissed him for that--though he also could have gone without seeing him macking on Dante. Like, could have gone his whole life without seeing that and died truly and perfectly happy. A mixture of great relief, appreciation, and irritation swirled inside him and he looked away, caught Alaric's eye instead and cracked a smile, hoping to convey his gratitude.
That was when Christian opened his trap, and Gabriel felt his face go red.
He grabbed a pillow off the couch and chucked it at his cousin's face. "Christian!" But he shot Roman a look as though gauging him, half-expecting him to refuse or be weirded out or something. Despite this being a game where everyone was expected to kiss anyway.
Keziah laughed, fully enjoying this--and how uncomfortable everyone was over a game. Of course, she'd also had more than a couple drinks and had let someone lick her eye-socket, for gods' sakes. She really didn't have many boundaries completely sober, either.
"Whoo! I'm likin' all this cute guys kissing stuff. Do it! Mentor to mentee! There oughta be more of that," she said, and gave Raley a meaningful wink.
-
Callista rolled her eyes at all the protests and people making a big deal out of it. Seriously, did they honestly think that she'd say that without knowing that Roman would step in. She knew that group all too well, and if one of the younglings was put in a bad spot, then Roman or Bart would step in.
"Figured you were the one really behind this Roman," she said once Roman had kissed Dante. "I really wouldn't have minded if this last time I spun it, you're cheating hadn't made it land on my son."
It seemed the others had a problem with what she had done. Maybe it had been under handed, but really, this was a game. It wasn't suppose to be taken seriously. These youngsters seriously had a lot to learn still, and even more to learn about her, if they really thought she was being serious about things.
Then again she supposed that couldn't really be helped, since most of them had only known her as the head of the Infirmary. Not many people wanted to think that their doctor could let loose to have fun, or even joke around like this. Callista also couldn't help but wonder just how many of them knew just how vicious she could be in the heat of battle, or when in the midst of a mission. It was easy to forget that side of a battle medic when there wasn't a war going on.
As soon as his mother had declared that Gabe was to kiss him, all he wanted to do was turn around and head right back into the kitchen. However, before he could react, Alaric had stood and volunteered to take Gabe's place. Now he was more like a deer in the head lights. Dante's mind didn't even have time to catch up, and before he knew it Roman was kissing him.
It was a nice kiss, nothing like what his mother had demanded from Gabe, but that's probably why she'd demanded it. He knew that the more outrageous thing she had told them to do, then the closer they'd do to what she really wanted them to. Though his mind wasn't really thinking about that right now. All he could think about was that Roman was kissing him, and that the man was a really really really good kisser.
When the kiss was over, he'd nearly dropped his wine glass, and his knees were a little weak. "Oh wow..." he murmured before reaching out to the nearest thing that he could sit on, or else his knees were going to give out right then and there.
-
Christian caught the pillow with a laugh, "What? I try and help out my favorite baby cuz and this is how I get repaid? Harsh."
Dante's reaction to Roman's kiss had him lifting his eyebrows, "Damn Roman. What did you do to him and can I be next?"
-
"Like freakin' hell you can!" Gabriel blurted, lurching to his feet and marching over to Roman. Grabbing the front of his shirt, he pulled him around to face him and jerked him close. His face was burning but fuck it! He did his best to ignore it, face set in an expression of determination, and looked up at Roman.
"Alright, honeybear, gimme some sugar," he said--and promptly tangled his hand in Roman's hair, tugging his head down and pressing their mouths together a bit more aggressively than necessary.
-
"That was an unexpected turn of events," Nephele murmured softly. It seemed as though things were either about to wind down, or start becoming more intense. Whichever it was, it was probably going to happen soon.
-
Roman found himself wrenched around—by Gabriel. For a few lingering moments they stood looking right at each other, Gabriel with his face going red and Roman with his eyes wider than he thought they'd ever been in his life.
He had time to only mutter out a word of disbelief. "Really?—Mmph!"
He could swear he felt his own face heat up. If he blushed here he'd have to shoot himself. He didn't know what to do with his hands and they fluttered uselessly for a second before settling hesitantly on Gabriel's waist.
The surprise had rocked him. Thoroughly knocked out his composure. But Gabriel...Gabriel was kissing him and he couldn't but respond to that, heart going a little too fast, leaning into the kiss now on his own.
-
It was only when Gabriel's lips were pressed to Roman's that it truly sank in that he was kissing him, and a wave of holy hell what am I doing? crashed over him. But it had gotten a little too much, between Bart's comments, Dante smooching him, and then Christian and--shiiit what the hell was he--
Then he felt Roman's hands on his waist, felt him lean into it, and for a moment he let go. Closed his eyes, forgot they had an audience, opened himself to it. His hand relaxed in Roman's hair and slid down to rest against the back of his neck. This would probably be the one and only time, and even if it was just a game...well, he could pretend a little.
It lasted longer than it should have for just a game. When Gabriel finally broke the kiss, he felt all jittery, his heart racing and head light because he couldn't believe that he'd just done that. He stared at Roman for a moment, licked his lips nervously, and cleared his throat. "So. Um. Now we're all, uh, properly punished and sorry and stuff." He realized his hand was still gripping Roman's shirt and he quickly let go, taking a step back and shoving his hands into his pockets.
Just a game. It was just a game. Everyone else had done it, so it wasn't like it was weird.
-
"Come on cuz, stop drooling over your boyfriend and spin. Game ain't over." Christian grinned and took another drink. This party sucked and he hoped the sooner people got some kissing in, the sooner he could go home. Maybe he would take Shiloh with him.
Or Keziah. Bitch was pretty hot, even minus an eye.
-
Callista spoke up, "Yes, Gabriel... it would seem that it's your turn now." She would have encouraged Dante to take a turn, but it looked as though he needed a moment to regain himself.
-
"Can it, Christian!" Gabriel snapped, jerked abruptly back to the present and feeling his face heat up anew. Dammit! Averting his eyes and pointedly not looking at Roman, now feeling just awkward, he grabbed the bottle and gave it a quick spin. He didn't even bitch about having to do it, even though he would have liked more than anything to not have to. But right then, strangely enough, it felt like smooching someone else was the way to ease up the embarrassment.
Because then what he'd just done wouldn't be so weird.
Not Raley not Raley not Raley not Raley not Raley... he chanted in his head, though it didn't matter, because if it landed on him he wouldn't kiss him. Flat out wouldn't, and he'd take whatever penalty that earned him. Sabela, too. And he'd throw in Christian, too, because that was just wrong. There were no powers on this earth that could make him.
It came to a stop on Bart, and Gabriel gave a sigh of relief. A bit too loudly. Of all the people there, short of Alaric, he felt that was okay. Doable. He didn't like it, but he could trust him not to do anything weird.
...Even though he was still more than a little boggled by that Roman comment.
-
Bart hadn't actually been paying attention when Gabe spun and didn't actually realize it had landed on him until Shiloh nudged him. He stared at the bottle, blinking, "What the fuck? Is someone doin' that?"
Why weren't the ones that wanted to kiss getting picked? Well, Gabe wasn't too bad and Bart got to his feet, wrapped one arm around Gabe's waist, cradled his head with the other and dipped the blond down low. He mooshed his lips to Gabe's with a loud sound, though he made no attempt to deepen the kiss in anyway. Might as well give the audience a show and he imagined the blond would rather people not focus on him just kissing Roman.
-
Roman stood there awkwardly once the kiss was over. They stared at each other, and he wasn't able to break free of it until Gabriel pulled himself together enough to speak. Roman shuffled back off to the couch without a word and dropped down onto it. He huddled there, arms crossed, feeling and looking surly.
-
Thank gods he could trust Bart to make a joke of it, but Gabriel still made sure to keep his lips pressed tightly together just in case--because he just wasn't all that comfortable with anyone's face being that close. Er, with one exception, but he was not thinking about that right now! Instead, he made a muffled sound of surprise when Bart dipped him low, grabbed onto his shoulders to try to keep his balance...
And all too late, he had a sudden and acute moment of oh my god, he kissed RALEY.
Several. Times.
Gabriel cut the "kiss" short, turning his head partway through it so Bart got him on the cheek instead. He pulled himself upright and took a step back from him, trying not to look as suddenly horrified and disgusted as he felt. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his hand and forced a laugh for show, made an exaggerated face. "Blech, I think you slobbered on me, thanks!" he said as he turned back for the couch, and paused when he saw Roman's expression.
It normally wouldn't have bothered him, but...considering.. .
He felt himself flush again but pushed past it stubbornly, reclaiming his seat on the floor and staring pointedly ahead.
-
Gabe seemed alright with the joke for a moment, then all of a sudden the blond got really tense. Bart wasn't about to push anything, so he quickly finished the 'kiss' and let Gabriel go. He wasn't sure what had happened, but he would ask Gabe about it later.
Spinning the bottle, it came to a stop on Cross. Well, he didn't really know Cross well, besides being a friend of Sade's, but Bart didn't have a problem with the guy, "Welp, looks like you're next." He was still half wondering if there wasn't more cheating going on. How was he the one that kept getting landed on?
-
"Finally!" Cross had been hoping for a lot more kissing action and had pretty much been sitting here for nothing this whole time. Too bad it was with Hamilton. That was about as exciting as kissing a wall.
He came to Bart, give the required kiss, and spun the bottle all without pausing. C'mon Sabela! C'mon!
It landed on Alaric, which was not all that much better than having to kiss Bart.
-
It took Alaric to notice the bottle had landed on him. When it did, his skin want a paler blue and his hand tightened around his bottle and he backed into the couch, shaking his head, "No. No way. Not him."
Not anyone really. There wasn't a person in the room Alaric felt okay kissing. He wasn't sure he could even kiss Gabriel or Blaine and he was friends with them. He felt sick and hot and he shook his head again, "No."
-
Nephele arched his brow a little bit as Alaric was protesting the fact that the bottle had landed on him. Speaking of bottles, he looked down at the glass that he'd been drinking out of, and sighed. "It's empty......" Yes. It seemed as though the centaur was a bit drunk at this point, as he pouted at the empty glass as though it might go and fill it's self up for him.
-
"I'm bored now. That was very unfun and disappointing!"
Bart raised his eyebrow, despite the fact that Nuriel couldn't see it, "Sorry? What am I supposed to do about that?"
"Nothing. But I'm bored so you can go."
Bart gave a pleased sigh, "Welp, just got told by the higher ups that we can go home. So get the fuck out."
Herding half drunk Pilots out of his room was a little tricky, but he was on a mission.