smash_logs | merry merry christmas, and I want you to know

Entry tags:

merry merry christmas, and I want you to know

Who: YOU
What: KISSLETOES
When: December 14th - January 1st
Where: Everywhere
Warnings: Sloppy makeouts.

SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING...

title or description

The entire school has become covered in mistletoe overnight. It grows out of the walls! The ceilings! Everywhere you least expect it? HOW CAN THIS BE??

It's probably best not to think about it. Attempts to uproot the plants or burn them away only makes the plants grow back faster. For the time being, it seems the school must live with it.

[OOC INSTRUCTIONS:
+ Post dudes, get kisses!
+ Some (NOT ALL) plants are cursed. If you manage to step under a cursed plant, you will exchange a memory when or if you exchange a kiss. The memories will be first-person and very vivid, and characters will feel like they are experiencing the memory in real time, though in reality the transfer is instantaneous. Memories can be as short, long, happy, sad, or traumatic as you like.
+ If you'd like to participate, we highly suggest making a list of a few memories (with accompanying links/descriptions) that are up for grabs, and linking or posting the list in your top-level comment. Memory exchange is COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. When in doubt, OOC communication!
+ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE TAG YOUR CHARACTERS
+ That's it, we love you.]

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If Marie was there, more likely Vinnie would've avoided it altogether, for the Wartortle's sake and his own, and just spent Christmas alone. For that reason, he hadn't really thought of it as a Red family event, just... two brothers and anyone who wanted to join them. Sonny was the most inviting soul he knew, after all.

But maybe some bad blood still lingered, in Voile's mind. He couldn't entirely blame her. Though no one had truly been at fault, he knew from personal experience that such situations only made the sadness all the more frustrating, with no one to rightfully direct it towards.

"S'not just Sonny. There's a Jumpluff joining us and Skid might play games with us later." It was just reassurance that she wouldn't be the odd one out, but she didn't have to accept. "It's up to you, though."

"That hardly seems like a place I belong," she admitted with a soft laugh. "I implore you to enjoy the holiday with your family."

For evidently talk of Sonny was more than enough to keep her out of things. She'd read more than once that someone only had power if another empowered them. Voile may have been strong and mildly independent, but when it came to emotional sentiment, just about every single person overpowered her. And those who had a grasp at some point in time over her heart had even more sway.

Much to her chagrin.

"I thank you, however, for the generous invitation. How rude it was of me to assume that you did not already have plans." But she was still smiling and still looking kind, which took more effort than she'd anticipated it to. "Yet they sound lovely."

"If you're sure," Vinnie said, with a hint of hesitation. He knew she was just gently letting him down with a soft no. Of course, it was her decision - he had no wish to force her do anything that would make her uncomfortable.

They'd only been spur of the moment plans, but right now the Venusaur was glad for them. It just gave him something to do, something to work on that'd distract him from the emotional conflict that loomed over him. He wasn't even honestly sure if he'd be able to enjoy the company fully this way, but as long as he had some sort of job to do, he wasn't completely unneeded.

Maybe he was just fooling himself into thinking that Sonny needed him too. He'd thought that way about Sasha, but in the end, all he'd been doing was stifling her from becoming the proud young woman she was. It was an old fear, but one beginning to re-emerge. He needed to be needed. For something. Anything.

It was the source of that protective urge that would come over him when loved ones were concerned. Frowning just a little out of concern, he still had to remark, "I don't like the idea've you spending Christmas alone, though." There was a beat as he tried to come up with a solution, and landed on, "Maybe I could join you later...?"

Since there was no original intent to even extend the offer to him, Voile managed to evade what possibly could have been incredibly awkward for her, and she had neither lost nor gained anything. Holidays were a thing for certain. Only one of them she'd spent with her actual team. And briefly she'd gone back to Lilycove to visit Alcin, just for a fleeting peace of mind. But now she was back at the academy and wasn't quite up for another trip to Hoenn.

And if she was honest with herself, she was under the impression that trying to spend holidays with anyone where she wasn't distracted likely wouldn't be a very enjoyable time. So in the end, it was probably for the best that Vinnie had his plans. Better for all parties involved, because it could have easily made Voile all the more bitter towards him, and for no reason intentionally on his part.

"It would not be the first," she replied, though hardly sounding displeased by it. Was she lonely? She couldn't say. She just didn't know and she was beginning to think that being alone suited her. Because she still couldn't rely on anyone. Maybe Warren. Maybe. "I doubt I'll be doing anything of interest, so it probably is for the best to be granting that time to the others. I'm not a good hostess when it's not a contest or a host club."

Vinnie smiled, though it was a little sadly. "You're still putting everyone else before yourself," he observed. But it was something he couldn't reprimand her for, even if he maybe wished she didn't - not without being at least a little bit of a hypocrite. It was a tough habit to break. And even if Vinnie liked to think he was learning to be a bit happier by being more selfish these days, there were still times that he'd feel a surge of guilt for it.

He couldn't change that nature of hers any more than he could change the seasons - but at the very least he could try to reassure Voile that she was still someone important to him.

"You don't need t'be a perfect hostess all the time 'round me. You know that, right?" On instinct, Vinnie leaned in and nuzzled his cheek against her hair, with his flower smelling ever-so-sweeter so it could impart a small gift of his aroma onto her as well.

"You're still putting everyone else before yourself."

Like she hadn't heard that before. Worse, she couldn't even argue it because there would be no point. So I am, she thought. And I'm disgusting for it. Disgusting for my heart, and for being influenced by others for the sake of others. We'll see how long that lasts. On the other hand, Vinnie wasn't too terribly different. She'd never known the Venusaur to be particularly self-indulgent and it wasn't like she could chide him for it. Especially since she was only recently learning how to be a little more self-centered herself.

Admittedly, she felt multiple things the moment he leaned in. A wave of irritation that she knew was hers. The affection she almost didn't mind, but it was very conflicting. Like the heart and the mind were brandishing blades and striking at one another until they met in a death lock. While she toyed with the idea of pushing him off, she found it'd be far too suspicious. So she gave him a few moments to be endearing with her before she tried to snake her way out from him and the proverbial way he held her.

"I-I'm aware," she managed to get out with a dejected sigh. "Old habits die hard, or something like that. Pretty sure that's the human turn of phrase. Better to be a good hostess than to be a bit—a not good one," Voile corrected herself sharply. "My point remains. I should probably be using my time to plan upcoming contest and host club for springtime."

Vinnie was pretty sure he just imagined it, but did Voile almost swear? He blinked, and tried to shrug it off. Still, it was surprising. She was probably more stressed about putting up proper appearances than she wanted to seem - maybe it'd just put more pressure on her if he pointed it out?

Maybe he was just making things worse.

He wanted to be there to support her, so he ought to just support her, right? Plain and simple. She was perfectly responsible already, so it meant respecting her choices, even if he couldn't help but be a bit worried for her. Protecting someone who didn't want it would just be like making the same mistake with his siblings all over again, he reminded himself. Injecting himself where he wasn't needed only ended up pushing people away - or worse, causing resentment.

So, he breathed in deep and tried to look encouraging. "Look, no matter what you do, I'm sure it'll be amazing. A host club event sounds like the perfect thing t'welcome in the spring. And you probably have a ton of contest dresses you need t'plan."

And thankfully he didn't dare address anything she stumbled over. Because he was right. She stressed a lot as it was, and had tried to let go of it. But the funny thing about stress was that there was an unrequited adoration where it was concerned. She could turn her back on it and pretend it didn't exist and yet there it was, waiting for her when she came in for the day, and sleeping with her in the night.

Enough that she was ready to stop going to her room period. Even sleeping in the commons room would be easier and as she was standing there talking with Vinnie, she was highly considering just such a thing.

"Yeah," she replied with a nod. "It'll be fine. My events always turn out spectacular, so a spring club and contest deal will be just as fabulous as everything else I've done." Because it was true and she knew it. When she touched a host club or a contest, it became perfect. It wasn't even bragging, because it was matter-of-fact and anyone who'd been to any of those things witnessed it firsthand.

"When I get everything set up, you better make sure you attend. That is, if I still can't convince you to be a poster child for me this year."

"You're still after me for your posters?" His face cracked in a slightly flustered smile of disbelief - it'd certainly been a long time since the last time she brought that up, but it looked like she'd hadn't ever forgotten.

Back then, he hadn't exactly been in a great state when it came to being comfortable in his own body. With the scars over his back still fresh, the idea of being around Voile for any length of time with them exposed, much less plastered around the halls, was too shameful to even think about. But it'd been years since then, and his recovery had been nothing but positive for a while. The scars themselves had receded by a fair bit already, allowing Vinnie to regain confidence over his own body.

Sure, the idea of people looking at posters of him a bit more than he wanted to admit (since he was a tough man type and all), but... well, he did want a way to help Voile. She'd pretty much handed him one. Besides, Bulba probably wouldn't object to the posters? ~~Completely forgetting about his insecurities regarding Vinnie and beautiful ladies~~

"You know I'd definitely attend," he told her. "And... well, maybe I could be convinced. A little."

"What can I say?" Voile shook her head and offered up her shoulders in a shrug. "I'm stubborn. When I want something, I want it."

And I find a way to get it.

Her smile was thinner than it usually was, but not overt or in excess. "I think you'd be well-suited for it, still. I can't be in my own posters, though naturally I would be first choice. People will see plenty of me, after all." She made something of a 'tsk'ing sound and continued. "I can tailor an outfit just for you. Something that screams you and makes you comfortable. I'll make it extremely easy on you, Vincent. I would only need you to come in for garment discussion, textiles, materials, and two or three fittings, and then hair and makeup."

Was that a tsk pointed at his taste in clothes?

...Well, she did have better taste than him, he couldn't deny that. Probably he deserved some tsk-ing.

"Uh-huh. Easy." Vinnie smirked in good humour. It was rather nice to see her talk like she was in her element, even if it was still a bit intimidating to someone who'd never bothered with dressing up much. (She said easy, but it still sounded like a lot to him...)

"You're a hard woman t'say no to once. I don't think I can do it twice."

"All right," she conceded. "Easy for me." Voile motioned to herself and cocked an eyebrow, "But that's because I'm used to it. I'm going to try to make it as easy on you as possible. The only thing you have to do is stand still while I take your measurements, fit things to you, and make some of your best features more prominent."

"You're a hard woman t'say no to once. I don't think I can do it twice."

And something about hearing him say it inflated her ego all the further. She enjoyed hearing it, especially from someone like him.

"If that's really the case, then perhaps you should save yourself the trouble and just say yes this time around. Who knows, maybe you'll find something that'll be worth your while."

Standing still through for all that sounded like a different kind of excruciating, actually. But he didn't say so out loud.

Vinnie chuckled. "Al'right, al'right - you can stop twistin' my arm. You got your yes already."

There was a confidence and twinkle in Voile's eyes that he just felt reassured seeing. It made him feel a lot better for agreeing to help, especially with how internalized she was before.

"Twisting your arm?" she asked with some feigned surprise. "You are so dramatic. I always thought that was my gift."

And Warren's, though she wisely kept that to herself.

"I guess since you're so nice to agree to it that I'll have to find a way to compensate for the trouble." Voile nodded, as if confirming it with herself. "I'll find something at some point in time for the contest."

~~Something that was not going to be her coming onto him, surely.~~

"Y'don't actually have t'do that. I just wanna be able t'help you out," Vinnie insisted. The fact that he felt useful in some way was payment enough. That was already more than he could ask for.

"Besides," he added, "bein' able to do something with you is enough for me already." After all, how often did he get to spend quality time with the Gardevoir these days? He enjoyed her company, but they did lead very different lives. It'd be interesting to see her world for a change. New experiences and such.

~~Just come onto him the whole time, do it.~~

"Oh, listen to you..."

Voile couldn't resist laughing. She shook her head, as if in a sort of disbelief. "Keep talking like that, I'll starting turning red and I can't hide that." But she was still grinning like nothing else even considered bothering her.

"I didn't know you were so interested in doing anything with me. I was pretty certain your interest in me was purely of a guardian to his ward. Basically, as long as I was vertical and breathing, that was good enough for you." She chortled softly. "How flattering."

Laughter was a pretty infectious thing - and Voile had a very pretty laugh. Vinnie snorted mirthfully, defending himself with, "Well, I've never seen you sew before. How'll I know if you're remembering to breathe when you're working?"

All jokes aside, though, he did want to do better by her and be a bit more accessible. It'd mean he could keep more of an eye on her as well. His teasing smile softened into a thoughtful one as he said, "It's almost Christmas. Why not shoot for the stars an' hope for standing, breathing, and happy."

Standing, breathing, and happy.

And for some moments, Voile had to contemplate what the meaning of the word 'happy' actually was. There had been days that she thought she was happy, but considering she felt like those days had been outright lies, she couldn't find it in herself to actually believe in them, or the concept they were trying to sell her. But somehow she knew better than to tell Vinnie she didn't dare believe in happiness, or that it was just some stupid idea meant to tie people over until they inevitably keeled over and died in loneliness.

No. Saying any of that was an absolute no-no and she definitely knew to keep those kinds of thoughts to herself. Besides, even if she died alone, which she expected, she'd at least have a ghost to welcome her to his side. How heartwarming, indeed.

"For yourself, right?" she teased him gently. "Make wishes for yourself, Vincent. You never seem to, so I think you can afford one day to do so."

Make wishes for yourself. It seemed like such an easy thing in theory. Simple, straightforward - but somehow, it still scared him. So many times, it felt like whenever he did try to pursue something for his own sake, that one selfish choice made everything worse, no matter how good his intentions.

Cultivating his own happiness was important, he knew that now. But when pressed, there was no wish he could think of that didn't come with its own consequences. All of his wants and needs were a tangle, twisted in knots with his innate sense of obligation.

It was already enough that he could pursue his own goals in life, though it had meant the ties to Red and his family suffered. He had a boyfriend now, but the choice had destroyed the tenuous connection between his rival and his little brother. And he even took opportunities for this direction in life, even if that meant leaving that boyfriend for months.

"I've... already done my share," he said, sheepish. "If the rest've December was uneventful, that'd already be enough for me."

"You think there is a quota that you cannot exceed?"

Voile didn't know what to think of that. Vinnie was abnormally selfless, not too unlike herself, It was difficult to scold him when she lived in such a similar lifestyle. She knew better than to try changing him and she'd had no intentions to. Only to plant suggestions in hopes that he wouldn't only hear them, but that he would truly listen and take her words to heart.

Even if her intents were meant to benefit her in the end, she still had some truth to them and that was simply second nature to say the things that really needed to be said. Provided she thought it wasn't a complete waste of her time.

Voile shook her head, as if how he answered didn't truly matter and perhaps it didn't. She made no implication either way. "Maybe it will be," she replied with a subtle shrug of the shoulders.

"Not quite like that," Vinnie amended. "S'just, chasing after wishes tends to change the balance of things. And I think I've had my fill of that already," he said with a sigh that lingered with regret.

Wishes were harmless enough, but they had no substance unless you had the drive to pursue them. For all Vinnie wished that things would change, people needed time to rest, for fields lie fallow for a little while, before one day they'd be ready to heal. Though he wanted to rush things, he didn't have the means or know the steps.

In his contemplation, he began to think out loud, "People can be pretty fragile inside. I didn't always realize it, but..." There was a beat before his brain caught up with him and he hastily added, "I guess that's probably not new t'you, actually." Being so in tune with the emotions of others, the ebb and flow must've been obvious to her.

"...chasing after wishes tends to change the balance of things."

Voile supposed she could sympathise with the statement. Hard to argue the validity of it, really. She'd wanted to once upon a time, she supposed. For even she had been stubborn once and more keen on living in denial than truth or reality. None of that changed the weight in his words, however, or that they held a great deal of merit.

So she nodded slowly, choosing to hold onto those words and turning them over in her head whenever she needed them. As he continued, she found herself smiling. Weaving her hands together, Voile didn't argue, but didn't outright or enthusiastically agree. At least not at first.

"No matter how strong someone is on the outside, it is merely a shell. Like armour. Everything soft sits beneath it and the deeper you go, the softer it is. Everyone is fragile and everyone can be broken. You just can't break everyone in the same way."

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merry merry christmas, and I want you to know

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ugh I have no suitable icons

I'LL PRETEND.

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