[GV] - 6 - Festive

[relinquishing]

Golden Victory isn't about to go two months without a proper change in decor! Their fearless leader hasn't seemed to be in the best of spirits (falling into a coma can do that to a guy), so things aren't quite as extravagant as normal. Instead of playful, things seem a bit more ambient - warm golden lights, rich red tablecloths, holly, garland, maybe even a sprig of mistletoe here and there for the mischievous heart that may wander. And... well, it's a bit of a mystery how they managed to get it through the front door, but there's a well-lit tree taking up one corner of the main floor.

Per usual the rules and employee roster are posted near the door. It seems a bit quieter around here than usual.

Hosts:
Angelo
Asbel Lhant
Duke Pantarei
Fai D. Flourite (assistant chef and appointments)
Guy Cecil (bartender)
Ioder
Jade Curtiss (bartender)
Malik Caesar (bartender)
Peony Malkuth IX
Rin Okumura (chef)
Serph
Sora and Roxas
Zelos Wilder (Only takes appointments with women.)
Please note that some hosts may be unavailable due to coma.


The staff are free to their normal wardrobes this month... well, for the most part. Red, white, green and gold seem to be all over the place, encouraging to fit in with the Christmas spirit. There may even be some fur or a little more ~*sparkle*~ than the hosts might be used to. A certain emperor may have taken the liberty of making sure there's at least one spectacular outfit front and center for them to wear.

Comments

[coolerthansora]

I guess not.

[All right, he's okay now. He glances over at Axel.

...spoke too soon. Axel's face looks so warm in the glow of the tree. He wants to reach over and touch it, and he finds himself leaning closer.]

[flared]

[Axel looks over at Roxas when he sees him getting a little closer. Not gonna say anything, though. Maybe he's just trying to get a better look at the tree or something, right?]

[coolerthansora]

[Wrong.

Could he really...? He's actually considering it seriously now. He has been thinking about the whole thing for a while, and by now he's pretty sure he wants to give it a try. He just needs to say or do something, to let Axel know. Right? There's no going any further without that.]

Um, Axel...

[He hesitates, and then just points upward.]

1/2

[flared]

Hm?

[Axel glances up- Oh. Is that... oh.]

[flared]

[Axel looks back to Roxas with an awkward laugh.]

Heh. Imagine that. Sure adds to the decorations, doesn't it?

[coolerthansora]

Yeah.

[Roxas opens his mouth to say more, but then closes it again and just looks quietly at his friend. He still sits leaning slightly towards him, not having moved back any, waiting to see if there's any indication one way or another. If Axel seems like he really doesn't want to, then he won't, but...

There's a nervousness fluttering in his stomach as he settles more into the idea of it.]

[flared]

[He can see that look on Roxas' face and it doesn't take much for Axel to figure out something's not being said here. He tilts his head at him.]

You were gonna say something?

[coolerthansora]

[The plan here isn't words exactly, and he's a little surprised Axel doesn't seem to see it. Still, he wants to know, so... he's going for it.

Roxas shifts in his seat, turning more towards his friend. Bringing a hand to Axel's face to guide it into the right angle, he leans in closer. His breath catches as their lips near, and then he firmly closes the last bit of distance.]

[flared]

[Axel waits for Roxas to say something... but in the end it looks like that's not exactly what he's meant to be waiting for anyway. That hand at his face is a dead giveaway.

Initially he just stares at his friend, thinking he's probably joking with him, but, no. No, this is definitely not a joke. With their lips pressing he glances around, leaned back and fingers digging into the couch, but then he abruptly pulls away, turning his head off to the side.

What-]

[coolerthansora]

[That reaction- Was it that bad? He didn't expect it to be like that one day, but he'd hoped it might be a little welcome. He drops his hand, sitting back.]

I thought-...

[He thought it would be okay. Axel usually takes things so much in stride. Now he's thinking he really should have just kept it to himself.]

[flared]

[Axel doesn't say anything for a long time and keeps himself glancing off at nothing in particular...

But he really doesn't want to upset Roxas. It's not like it had been bad. It just caught him off guard; that's all.]

Sorry. It just... surprised me.

[coolerthansora]

Really?

[He brightens a little at that, though he doesn't think that can be the only explanation.]

I- I thought maybe you'd noticed.

[Nothing specifically, but just how much he likes being near you. They are closer than they used to be, aren't they?]

[flared]

Just didn't think you'd actually... do that.

[A nervous laugh then he looks at Roxas out of the corner of his eyes. It wasn't his intention to upset him, really.]

... Is there something you wanna talk to me about?

[coolerthansora]

[He blushes as he relaxes a smidgeon more. Surprised, that's all. Maybe that really is all.]

Well, I guess...

[What to say exactly? Even if it's not a total rejection, it still seems pretty clear Axel doesn't reciprocate. Not now. Like he's never thought about it.]

Would you ever- want that?

[flared]

[To be honest, taking things any further between them hasn't been at the forefront of his mind these days, and Axel almost feels stupid to have set Roxas' feelings aside. But out of all people...

Axel laughs weakly again, head slightly tilting downward.]

I'm not so sure I'd be any good at it. Feelings and all–

[But he tries to be positive. Don't discourage Roxas.]

–But who knows? Maybe.

[coolerthansora]

[It's the "maybe" that makes him smile again at last. He's not just dismissing it, and the main obstacle seems to be the one Roxas was expecting-- Axel not believing he can feel that way. He'll just have to do some convincing. It's easier to develop feelings if you think it's possible in the first place.]

...I think you'd do okay.

[flared]

[He looks back up at that.]

Heh. You say that now.

[That's right. He can try to pass this off as something more lighthearted.]

[coolerthansora]

[That's more like it.]

Well, you're pretty emotional already.

[flared]

Huh? Where've you been all this time, Roxas?

[He shakes his head and after a moment leans back to flop on his back on the couch. This is still cozy. And maybe his face won't glow so much from down here! Right?]

You need a heart for that stuff, man.

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas watches him, and then looks back out at the tree. Not gonna flop down with him, that's probably a bad idea.]

And what about for being friends?

I don't think what they told us makes sense anymore.

[flared]

[Looking at Roxas, Axel actually does feel kind of bad for stopping what they were doing. Hmph. And here he goes telling the kid that he doesn't have feelings.]

Well, that's hard to say. ... Guess we'll never really figure it out so long as we're here. Not like we really need to anyway, right?

[All that Nobody stuff will just make things more complicated.]

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas looks pretty good in the light of the tree, too, doesn't he?]

Why not figure it out? We're not gonna get the chance anywhere else.

[flared]

[... 'Cute' comes to mind.]

I dunno. Just seems like a lot of of work.

[He folds his arms over his chest.]

And maybe a lot of work for nothing once we do get out of here.

[coolerthansora]

It's not nothing.

Maybe- they won't remember any of it, but that doesn't make it nothing.

[flared]

[Oh. Right. This again. Axel clears his throat.]

Mm... Well, if that's somethin' you wanna do, then who am I to stop you, right?