2020-01-03 - Cuddlefest 2019

No need to Dream of a white Christmas: it's here, and oh boy, it's been a hella white one so far, with the heavy snowstorm that's left the town buried in the stuff for the past several days. It's finally clearing up today, though, and that's a particularly good thing for James, who was going to go out into the street no matter how bad the snow was, because there was no way in heck he was going to miss spending Christmas with his new girlfriend. As he tromps through the snow towards her front door, he's wearing a hoodie and jeans as usual, though beneath the jeans are some long johns, and the hoodie is extra thick. And on top of all of that is a very nice and expensive looking woolen coat- that is at least 4 sizes too big for him and looks like a trenchcoat on his frame. But, hey, it's also miraculously warm thanks to the Yule Cat's blessing, which is apparently a thing that happens in this town, so he's wearing it everywhere til' it warms up again. He's also wearing a Santa Hat, because 'tis the friggin' season. Slung over his shoulder is a large messenger bag. He knocks on the door a couple of times.

He really doesn't have long to wait once he knocks; in fact, he may only get to the second or third knock before the door swings wide to reveal a beaming Diana. She, too, is wearing a Santa hat, because of course she is. She's wearing Christmas ornament earrings, a jingle bell necklace, this ( https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Christmas-Sweater-Hedwig-Women/dp/B07G29RCJZ/ ) Hedwig ugly Christmas sweater, high-waisted pants, leggings that he may be able to tell have Christmas trees on them, this ( https://www.craftychica.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/photo2.jpg ) holiday bracelet, and no shoes. She immediately reaches for him, trying to pull him into a hug, as she exclaims, "You made it! I was worried, with the roads and everything. Happy Christmas!"

James eeps as he's pulled into the hug, but quickly leans into it, returning it warmly before leaning back to smile back at her. "It'll take more than that to keep me away. A yeti, probably, that'd do it. Thankfully, we remain yeti-free for now, so, here I am.", he replies, then leans in to kiss her softly. "Merry Christmas."

"Okay, sure, but then I have to warn you: if I spot a yeti anywhere in the vicinity, I will shoot first and ask questions later. They don't get to mess up our Christmas." Diana grins, and leans right back into that kiss. "Merry Christmas, yourself. ...oh!" Her eyes widen, and she reaches for his hand, trying to pull him into the house. "I shouldn't leave you out on the porch! I suppose you can come in." She blushes, and once she's out of the way of the door, he can see a short, squat fake Christmas tree, slightly bowed from a little too much in the way of ornaments and tinselry. It's lit up, and beneath it are two presents: one's about the size and shape of a shoebox, while the other is likely to be a book. The house is as spotless as ever, and he can smell the authentic Christmas (and Thanksgiving) scent of Chinese takeout on the air.

James grins as he's pulled fully inside, quickly kicking off his boots so as not to track in snow to the spotless house. "Let the yeti beware, then." His smile widens and warms as he spots the tree and the presents beneath it, and he takes off his coat before reaching into his messenger bag and pulling out a carefully wrapped item that also looks like it might be a large book. "Want me to slip this under the tree too?"

Diana's already excited expression brightens even further at seeing the probably-a-book, and she nods her head eagerly, saying, "Yes, please!" And she throws in a cheek kiss for good measure. She closes the door behind him, and there's probably a coat rack near the door. "Would you like anything to drink? You know the sorts of stuff I tend to have on hand. Plus I also grabbed Coke, Pepsi, and sparkling grape juice."

"I'll take a Coke?", James calls, as he moves towards the tree. His cheeks still a little pink from the kiss. He slips the present under the tree- taking a moment to nudge curiously at the other presents -before turning back towards her. "Looks like the storm's finally breaking. Which I appreciate. I don't mind a little snow, but this was getting a little ridiculous."

When he nudges the other presents, he can be pretty sure of two things. One: the shoebox-sized present contains something noticeably lighter than shoes, and two: yep, that other one's a book. It's not a thick book, clearly, but is about the size of a normal sheet of paper, as far as surface area. Diana can be heard in the kitchen, and returns with a glass of Coke and the first of what will no doubt be many boxes of takeout Chinese. "It arrived a little early this time. And I'm really glad to hear that, about the storm. I think I saw something about a snowman contest online, but didn't really look into it. Guess those'll be staying around for awhile!"

James freezes at the mention of the snowman contest. "... gods I hope not.", he says, as memories of being chased and pelted by stinging snowballs by a suddenly animated snowman when he tried his hand at it are still fresh in his mind. He sniffs at the air as she starts bringing out the food. "Oh, good, I'm starving.", he says. "Want any help with it?"

"Not a fan of snow art?" Diana asks, curiously tilting her head, and then laughs lightly at his reaction to the food. "Well, we can't have you starving. Not on my watch! And sure! Come citizen! To the kitchenmobile!" And her kitchen... is very brightly-colored. Very brightly-colored, indeed: https://5.imimg.com/data5/JD/US/MY-18925298/yellow-kitchen-cabinet-design-with-windows-500x500.jpg (Although it's not so large.) There are lots of cow and chicken-themed decorations lying about, as well. She begins passing him takeout containers, and once again she has CLEARLY ordered way too much food for one meal and two people. There's a nice variety on display, though!

James squints as he enters the kitchen, making a mental note to bring his shades next time. His attention is quickly taken up by the food he's being handed, through he does make eye contact with one of the chicken decorations and there is a quiet acknowledgement of a kindred spirit there. "I used to be a fan. Less so these days. It's too aggressive.", he says, before heading to deposit the delicious payload off at the dinner table.

"Aggressive snow art? Huh. You mean like... yellow snow? Or like, snow in the shape of a giant phallus? ...that might also be yellow." Diana wrinkles her nose as she piles up the rest of the takeout near the exit to the kitchen for James to ferry, and then starts grabbing serving spoons and the like. The chicken decoration continues to stare into the distance. Thank goodness.

"The kind that pelts you with a barrage of snowballs and then gives you the finger while you run away.", James deadpans as he returns to the kitchenmobile for the next shipment. "I swear this town is out to get me, Diana."

"It's always possible," Diana thoughtfully gives him the comforting news, tapping her chin. "I mean, so far as I know the Veil and what lies beyond haven't been proven to be sentient, but that also means they haven't been ruled out as sentient, either. Or the city itself could have cognition, of a sort. Anything's possible in our brave new world of Glimmer and Shine." She brings the serving spoons and forks into the living room, setting one into each dish. That done, she nods and then moves to help him with the last of the takeout boxes.

James gives a half-hearted laugh. "So the city might be sentient, and it's got a grudge against me for some reason. I feel so lucky.", he replies, then gently bumps his shoulder against hers as they carry the last of the food out. "You sure you wanna be with a guy who's on the town's shitlist?"

"I didn't say it definitely has a grudge against you," Diana says with a shake of her head. "Just that it's technically possible. I mean, there's a LOT possible, at this point. That's why it's fascinating! It's a bit like when explorers were trying to map out the world, and had to learn new methods as they went!" She looks incredibly enthused about it, and bumps her shoulder back up against his. "And even if it theoretically did have you on its shitlist, of course I would. How else will I get the chance to persuade it otherwise, hm?" She grins.

James smiles a little sheepishly at Diana's words, just watching her enthusiasm as she talks about it. "You are a madwoman, you know that, right?", he asks, and slips his arms around her waist once all the food is laid out. "And me all the madder because I believe you'd totally do it, too."

"I should hope so!" Diana says with a laugh, leaning against him. "We're all mad here," she teases, and kisses the tip of his nose. "I mean, what else would I do... just let the city hate you? Tch." She grins, pulling him in for a warm kiss, or at least trying to, while one hand rests on his shoulder.

James happily leans into that kiss. "Don't give a shit what the city thinks of me. Just so long as

James happily leans into that kiss. "Don't give a shit what the city thinks of me. Just so long as you like me, I think I'm good.", he murmurs against her lips, a look of warm contentment on his face once the kiss breaks. "So! Dinner first, or presents first?"

"I like you," Diana decides after a teasing pause, and pecks his forehead. She smiles over at him at his question, admitting, "Much as I want to shove presents at you, you did say you were starving." She laughs lightly. "So I suppose I'll let you eat a bit first." She grins.

James blushes faintly, ducking his head as she pecks his forehead. "I like you too.", he says, voice a little softer in the way that implies that maybe there's a different l-word lurking behind it. (Solid 27% chance that word is 'lesbians', fair warning). "Well, I wouldn't say starv-", he begins to say and then his stomach growls. "... yeah. Food. Now."

There's an extra-warm smile for him when he gets that soft voice, lesbians or no, and Diana leans in to lightly press her forehead to his. Bonk. She laughs, though, at hearing his stomach growl. "Oh no, I've changed my mind. Definitely presents," she teases, but then slides some of the takeout boxes his way, serving spoons and all.

James grins at that little bonk, and then laughs as she speaks. "You are a beautiful monster, but still a monster.", he replies to her teasing, then winks as she slides him the boxes. He sits down, quickly starting to serve himself, starting to build those little food landscapes that she's seen him do before. "Y'know.. I'd been prepared to spend the holidays on my own...", he mentions as he spoons out some more food onto his plate. "I'm really glad I don't have to anymore, though."

Diana laughs at being called a 'beautiful monster,' and she nods her head. "Guilty as charged," she admits, and reaches for a box to start scooping out some food for herself as well. She looks over at him, head tilting at his words. Her expression takes on a rather sappy quality as she says simply, "Same." And then she wrinkles up her nose before adding, "Hashtag 'this,' for sure." She even points at him demonstratively. More seriously, she then says, "I thought the same thing for Thanksgiving, honestly. I figured I'd be eating Chinese and moping." She grins.

"Then I guess we both lucked out, yeah?", James says, smiling warmly in between bites. He's eating a little faster than usual, either because he's hungry or because he wants to get to the presents. "I still don't know what made you want to talk to me that night- I was going through some stuff that night, I can't exactly have been terribly captivating.", he says, chuckling.

Diana wrinkles up her nose, blushing. "Everybody was having these really touching reunions with family they hadn't gotten to see in a really long time. And then my Uncle Louis shows up, and your uncle as well, and... and I didn't really want to see him, and you didn't seem to want to see your uncle, either. And I felt for you. You seemed like you could use a friend." She smiles softly. "And I turned out to be right." She leans over so their shoulders are touching, then nudges his leg with her own.

"You're usually right, I've noticed.", James replies, nudging her back gently. "I'm glad you did... and I'm glad I wasn't stupid enough to walk away that night without getting your number. I mean.. I almost was that stupid.", he says, then his smile softens. "You made that night better. You make... well, every night better."

Diana kisses his cheek, and then blushes like WHOA at his final words. She looks down, cheeks cherry red, and smiles to herself before saying, "I think if you wouldn't have gotten my number, I'd probably have just jotted it down and shoved it at you." She laughs lightly. "I liked you a lot already, even then." She grins, then gives a happy little sigh.

"You did?", James asks, and gives her a playful smile. "Weirdo.", he teases, and bumps her shoulder softly. "Lucky that 'weirdo' is my type, though." He then leans in, kissing her rather soundly.

"I did," Diana confirms with a grin, and bumps his shoulder right back. Once again, she says, "Guilty as charged," and then she's returning that kiss just as soundly, one hand coming up to stroke his cheek while the other rests on his shoulder, making sure he doesn't escape.

James has zero intention of escaping- he instead happily lets the kiss linger. When they come up for air, he smiles a little dazedly. "I actually couldn't even look at you that night.", he admits. "You were just this... beautiful, sincerely nice, just.. amazing person. I was kinda in denial that you were actually talking to me that whole time."

Diana keeps her eyes closed for just a brief moment once that kiss ends, and then smiles warmly as she opens her eyes. She rubs her thumb along his cheek lightly, giving a gentle shake of her head to those last words. "I'm sorry you were hurting so much. I felt really lucky to be talking to you. Someone that seemed caring and funny and intelligent... it was a good night, definitely."

Now it's James' turn to blush, and he sighs, happily. "Thanks.. for sticking with me through my... y'know... weirdness. I know I can be a lot, sometimes.", he murmurs. "And I know, you're gonna say I don't need to thank you for that, but... really.", he says, and pulls her a little closer. "Thanks."

Diana wraps her arms around his waist, giving him a gentle shake of her head and then a soft kiss. "Thank me if you want, but it was-- I wanted to see you smile. And then you did, and it was amazing. Heck, I should be thanking YOU." She smiles, and then says, "In all seriousness? You're not a lot in any 'too much' sense of the word. You hurt sometimes, or you get nervous. And that's okay. It's okay to be a human being." She teases, "I'll allow it."

James says, "You sure? 'Cause I was thinking of being a hedgehog for a while, just seems simpler. But I guess if you'll allow it, I can stay human.", James teases back. "Though, think about it. Hedgehogs are adorable and they fit in a pocket.""

Diana laughs lightly, shaking her head. "Nope, sorry. They are adorable, and they do fit in a pocket, but they're not as fun to smooch on." Pause. "...or so I've heard." Another laugh, and she squeezes him lightly. "Besides, can you imagine having all the problems you do now, only without opposable thumbs? Tch." She grins.

"Yeah but then I'd just curl up into a ball of spikes and hiss until my problems went away.", James says, then pauses. "... which admittedly isn't that different from how I deal with my problems now." He grins. "But seeing as I'm more pro-smooching than I am pro-hedgehog, I think I'll stay like this." He glances at the food, which has disappeared mysteriously while they've been chatting. "... so... Presents?"

Diana nods her head firmly. "Presents." She kisses the very tip of his nose, and then begins to pull back. "You'd be adorable hissing, by the way, in your little ball. Just saying." She grins, standing and reaching for his hand. "The question is, who opens a present first, and which of your presents do you want to open first, whichever of us starts?"

James grins back, and takes her hand as they make their way back to the tree. "Well, I only got you one thing... which I now feel faintly awkward about. But.. one of mine, then yours, then mine? You pick."

"No way, don't feel awkward! I'm just an overachiever, that's all." Diana winks, then sits down cross-legged in front of the tree. "And I like your idea! You, then me, then you! No overloading on one person. ...sorry, I get really overeager for stuff, sometimes. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. Anyway! Pick one!"

James chuckles. "And I'm an eternal underachiever, so, it evens out.", James replies, sitting down next to her and looking at the presents. "Alright, let's go with this one.", he says, reaching over to open the shoebox-sized one.

"It does seem like that'd work out well," Diana muses, and then smiles, going quiet while he opens his present. Inside the shoebox-sized one is... a shoebox. No, really! But it's still light enough that it's clear it's not shoes in there, unless they're for very dainty feet! Instead, when he opens the box, he's likely to be almost bowled over by the strong emotional resonance the object inside contains, of a child spending hours with it, hours upon countless hours. It's a doll. That's all it is. A Barbie doll, even, much like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Barbie-FXP00-Doctor-Doll/dp/B07FDRJBK2/ It's a doctor Barbie, nothing more, nothing less. Missing a bit more hair than it might've when new, and only wearing one shoe under her lab coat and dress, but the stethoscope is intact, if only barely. Diana says nothing, just ... watching him. There's really very little negative about what he feels from that doll. The child playing with it was a little lonely, spending more time with the doll than friends. But the time spent was clearly well-loved and cherished, and the child bears more than a passing resemblance to Diana, albeit one about eight or nine years old, with her hair in tight pigtails.

With her attunement to Glimmer, Diana might see something happen- a literal little spark, a shine, as he gently takes the well-loved doll out of the box. His eyelids flutter for a moment as he gasps, the strength of the visions and emotions he gets from the doll as intense as any he's felt before. He's silent for several long moments, eyes far away, lost in the gift she's given him. When he comes back, he's blinking back a tear or two. ".... Diana. I... This is... I can't... take this... can I?", he says, lips curling in a quivering little smile. "This... this is yours. It's you."

Diana sits up just a bit more at that spark, looking excited in that way he tends to love seeing. She bites her lip at the gasp, nervous now, but doesn't speak just yet. She just watches him nervously, perhaps uncertain if he's doing all right, but not sure if speaking would make it worse. Her eyes light up, though, when he comes back out of it and seems so touched. He saw a lot of 'Diana saves the world' play in there, and maybe that's a part of why she reaches out, pressing her hand onto his, and then moving them closer to him, pushing the doll gently his way. "She was mine. And now she's yours. And... and she's me, sure, but now she's you, too." She bites at her lower lip, running a hand along his shoulder. "You deserve nice things, James. Nice memories, too-- whether your own or someone else's."

James sniffs a little, but nods and smiles. "I'll keep it safe. I promise.", he murmurs, and smiles weakly- still recovering from the unusual experience of getting something good from an object. Even more when what he sees just makes him love her more. "Thank you...", he says, and then gives a laugh. "Now I don't know if my gift is good enough!", he says, chuckling and shaking his head. "I'm gonna need to step up my Christmas game."

Diana smiles at his promise, nodding, and then teases, "If you dump me, you have to give her back, though." She laughs lightly at his final words though, shaking her head. "My other present for you isn't emotional at all. And since I can't sense that kinda stuff, it wouldn't have meant much if you'd done the same. So... I'm sure your gift is a good one." She opens her mouth, pauses, and then leans over to kiss his shoulder. "My turn!" she says with a grin, and reaches for her own gift, starting to open it after a gentle and curious shake of the package.

Oh, it's a book. The moment she picks it up, she can tell without a doubt it's a book. It even has a bit of that book smell, you know the one. When it's opened, it's a large, brown volume, hardcover, showing a little bit of wear and tear and age, but overall in magnificent quality. The title on the spine reads 'The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology, by Rossell Hope Robbins'. It's a bit of a classic of the occult, and finding an original 1959 copy isn't easy, but somehow he got one. "I used to live not far from a bookstore that had a good occult section.", James explains. "I got them to ship this one out to me. Do you like it?" Inside, the book is an interesting and almost entertaining amount of information, both about witches and witch-hunters, written in a non-partisan manner, neither painting the witches as monsters nor the hunters are perfect heroes. https://ebay.to/2kdmSAe

The very moment Diana spots that title, her face just lights right up. She traces the title with her finger down the spine, and then very gently opens it, looking awed. Just as suddenly as her face lit up, she gently closes and sets the book aside so that she can absolutely TACKLE him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank you thank you thank you!" she says, outright beaming. "This is gonna be so great!" she adds, sounding excited.

James blinks, startles as she tackles him, falling back with her wrapped around him and laughing. "... so I'm guessing you like it.", he says, grinning happily up at her.

Laughing, Diana nods her head. "I like it," she agrees, and then boops his nose, like so: boop. "And I like you, too." She smiles warmly, and then leans in to give him a warm kiss. "You're pretty okay, you know that?" She grins, leaning in for another kiss, and then says more seriously, "Merry Christmas."

James returns every kiss with tender interest, happy to lay back with her in his arms like that. "... Merry Christmas, Diana.", he murmurs softly, entirely happy and content for the first time in as long as he can remember. And he's completely forgotten about the last present, because there's a Diana there cuddlesmooching him.

That present is a casualty of Cuddlefest 2019. It's a shame it had to go that way, but Diana's busy with smoochin' and cuddles, so that present can just hold its horses. ...metaphorically. In fact, she leans down to kiss him again, running a finger down his cheek.