MHA #2 | Friday Evening

[defenderofdesmoines]

So, given that Annie was planning on throwing a super-early Christmas party here in two weeks and that she and Diego would be gone next week to see her family, it was completely reasonable for the apartment to already be kind of festive, right?

Whatever, Annie said it was and would be taking no questions, thank you. She hadn't gone totally overboard yet (had to save something for when they got back from Iowa, obviously!), but she had totally just adopted the habit of putting Christmas music on when she was home, and burning a Christmas candle (it smelled like wonderful Christmas treats that neither she nor Diego were capable of baking!) and there was totally a little stack in the corner of the living room of deliveries that had already commenced for the party. The return of Christmas kegs!

Right now, she was taking things into her own hands and winding a few strings of lights through each of her several houseplants (now safely inside and off the balcony, where they'd remain for the winter), and taking extra care with the spider plant that she had no reason to think wasn't the original spider plant from last spring.

"You know what," she mused aloud, "I think the lights might need to be a permanent thing, because you guys are looking great."

[for the guy who gets to live in Santa's workshop for the next month and a half.]

Comments

[knife_bender]

"Do you remember how hungover you were last year?" Diego asked. "And you had to do all that cleaning?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

"It wasn't that big a deal with the vacuum. And I had a bunch of help," Annie said generously. Really the biggest issue had been that she had been so hungover she'd thrown up in the shower, and then she'd had to change a lightbulb, which had of course seemed impossible at the time. "But I don't think I'll do a keg stand this year. That was probably a mistake."

No 'probably,' it had definitely been kind of a nail in the severity-of-the-hangover coffin.

[knife_bender]

"I admire your restraint," Diego said. "Will we make out in the pantry again though?"

'Cause that had been nice.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"It's tradition," Annie told him, teasing as she leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek. "As is a demonstration of your lockpicking skills."

Which, especially after running into Summer last night, she was kind of feeling maybe she really did need to learn, herself.

[knife_bender]

"Good," he said with a grin. "Then I will not complain about whatever hideous sweater you want to put me in."

Even if it meant endless teasing from Five, which was absent from last year.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"You'll let me put you in a new one?" Annie asked, clearly both impressed and still kind of touched that she was afforded this privilege. "It was fun shopping for it last year, even if you tried to nix tinsel."

Oh yeah, Annie? Why was that? What made it fun? So subtle.

[knife_bender]

"Well you did a very good job convincing me that tinsel would be a good idea." And he was a pushover when it came to Annie's requests, hold your shock.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I was very convincing." It had probably had something to do with how she'd climbed into his lap for negotiations. Just spitballing, here. "So like, we clearly have to up the ante this year. I'm thinking maybe reindeer antlers and-or something with jingle bells."

So he would jingle every time he moved. Surely Diego would love that.

[knife_bender]

Diego pretended to think on that for a moment. "Hmm...what are you going to wear to make this worth my while?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Well, I had planned to just wear that little skirt with all the bows on it that I wore last year and like a sweater with a snowman or something," Annie mused, casually draping her legs across his lap. "But you know what, I'd be willing to let you pick out something worse in exchange for getting to choose your sweater. You've been patient."

And she also trusted him not to put her in anything too scandalous. (At least, not for public consumption.)

[knife_bender]

"I do like you in a skirt," he said, sliding one of his hands over her legs. "I like the idea of me picking out your sweater and you picking out mine."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Awww, that's cute. You're definitely getting jingle bells now, though," she decided, tempering that threat by leaning up for a kiss. "Or maybe one that lights up."

And it went without saying that it would, of course, be in a bright color.

[knife_bender]

Diego smiled into the kiss, knowing full well that it would be the most colorful sweater ever. "Five's not invited, in that case. At least not without a sweater of his own."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Oh, if Five tries to attend without a sweater, there'll be consequences," Annie assured him, snuggling close. "Summer and I'll have extras, just like last year. He gets to either put on a sweater or get glittered."

She'd chase your teleporting ass around this apartment with a glitter cannon, so help her, Five.

[knife_bender]

"I love that," he said, pressing a kiss against her jaw. "Either way I win."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I mean, hangovers aside, this is a party where everyone wins," Annie assured him. "I'm kind of thinking we should leave the guest room open, too. Someone's gonna end up crashing in there anyway, if it's anything like last year."

And was that a hint of mischief in her tone? Perhaps. Look, he was taking forever on this time math, it wasn't her fault if drunk people ended up messing with it.

[knife_bender]

"Think he'll throw a hissy if he sees people in 'his' room?" Diego asked. Judging from the look on his face, he wasn't all that worried about it.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I hope so," Annie said. "I only have so much entertainment lined up."

A pause as she shifted a little closer to wrap an arm around him before adding, "But if anyone gets into a fistfight, I'm gonna be, like, the Christmassiest bouncer ever."

Not that she was anticipating a repeat of the birthday thing -- especially since things were kind of better there across the board -- but just saying.

[knife_bender]

"That'd be kind of hot," Diego murmured, ducking his head down to kiss her neck. "You punching a guy while all tinsel-y and jingling."

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie tilted her head helpfully to get more of that, thank you. "I mean, it would kind of be on brand for, like, thugs or something to show up to this party. Or for the island to spring something on us."

Annie would like, knock on wood or something, but also a fight that wasn't driven by anyone's emotions would actually be kind of fun in the middle of a party.

[knife_bender]

Diego thought that would be an awesome way to end their party.

"I mean...I wouldn't complain about the evil candy canes and plastic reindeer..."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I mean, I always say anyone who busts in here deserves what they get," Annie told him, nuzzling lightly at his jaw. "Including candy canes or those reindeer. That would be kind of super fun."

And considering the whole drinking factor, Annie suspected those poor reindeer would receive even less mercy than last year.

[knife_bender]

"It would be," he agreed, bumping his nose against hers lightly. "But even if it doesn't happen, I'm sure we'll make our own fun."

They usually did.

"The mistletoe alone..."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Oh, I'm planning to cover the place in it," Annie assured him with a light kiss for emphasis. "You're gonna spend the next month getting interrupted with kisses because it turns out we're standing under mistletoe."

What an utter tragedy.

[knife_bender]

"Is that different from any other time we're together?" he joked. Lack of affection was definitely not a problem they had as a couple.