(no subject)

[drawnbythesword]

Who: Asbel (drawnbythesword) and Cheria (healedbythelight)... And anyone in the house who may decide to get involved.
What: Horrible mistletoe shenanigans.
When: Backdated alllll the way to December 24th
Where: House 28
Summary: Chance encounters under the mistletoe are always awkward
Rating: G.

Comments

[healedbythelight]

[It is Christmas Eve. There is a bunch of mistletoe hanging in the doorway. Cheria knows what it does, because Richard explained it to her. She also knows that Asbel went out, but should be returning from his trip any moment now.

So she's waiting. Sitting on the couch near the doorway, she's listening very hard for the sound of the front door opening and closing. For the sound of footsteps approaching the living room. The moment Asbel appears in that doorway, she will bump into him.

If she misses her chance, it's just not meant to be. But if she succeeds, then maybe... Just maybe, there's still hope.]

[drawnbythesword]

[Eventually, Asbel does return home, carefully opening the door and stepping in.]

Everyone, I'm home!

[And with groceries.]

[healedbythelight]

[Oh, this is it! Cheria goes to stand by the door, back pressed up against the wall and listening intently. The moment Asbel approaches, she'll round the corner to bump into him.]

[drawnbythesword]

[Cheria bumping into Asbel just causes him to fall over backwards, not having the best of balance right now due to trying to hold bags of groceries. Thankfully, he manages to catch himself against the wall near the doorway.]

Guaah!

1/2

[healedbythelight]

[... That wasn't supposed to happen. Asbel was supposed to catch her in his arms. Why is he still holding those groceries? Now her perfect plan is ruined! Who knows when she'll get another shot at this?]

2/2

[healedbythelight]

O-oh! Asbel! I'm sorry! I didn't see you. Are you all right? [She's not moving from that doorway just yet.]

[drawnbythesword]

[That was definitely weird behavior on Cheria's part. Asbel straightens up now.]

Y-yeah, I'm fine. What were you doing?

[healedbythelight]

I was... just... [Uhm uhm.] heading out into the hallway to see what was taking you so long.

[Yes. This sounds plausible enough.]

[drawnbythesword]

Oh. [Well, that makes sense.]

Well... Could you take this bag, then? I have more groceries outside. [He had to sit them down to open the door.]

[healedbythelight]

Oh, ah... All right. [No harm in accepting the groceries, she supposes.]

[drawnbythesword]

[After handing off those groceries to Cheria, Asbel turns around and out the door, grabbing the other bags and coming back inside with them.]

[healedbythelight]

[Cheria glances around anxiously, realizing she has to leave her spot by the doorway to drop these groceries off in the kitchen. Well, if she hurries, she can be back under the mistletoe before Asbel passes underneath it.

To the kitchen, with incredible haste!]

[drawnbythesword]

[You just missed your chance, Cheria, as he comes into the kitchen holding the other bags.]

[healedbythelight]

[But she was standing by the living room doorway, so... All she has to do is lure him over there, later. First, let's unpack these groceries. The faster they're put away, the faster Cheria can return to her station.]

[ledbythewind]

[... and it's right about then that Richard pokes his head out of the room he shares with Isamu with a smile that looks just a little bit too innocent.]

Asbel, would you mind giving me a hand here for a moment? I need some help replacing the bulb in the overhead light.

[drawnbythesword]

Hmm? [Well, he was putting groceries away with Cheria, so... ...Oh, but it's not that much, so she should be able to do it by herself, right? And if she can't, she just wait for him to come back, right? Right!]

...Ah, okay! I'll be right back, Cheria. [Time to go with Richard! :D]

[healedbythelight]

Oh... All right.

[Cheria's gaze follows Asbel anxiously. Now he's venturing further into the house without her. Not to mention, Richard's smile was awfully foreboding. She hesitates for a moment, then silently follows after Asbel. Those groceries can wait.]

[ledbythewind]

[Good boy, Asbel, just follow him into that room so he can shut the door and make things a little more private...]

[drawnbythesword]

[Alright, alright, in he goes, and closed is the door now. Have fun, Cheria.]

[healedbythelight]

[Why are they closing the door to replace a lightbulb? That seems awfully suspicious to Cheria. You can bet she'll be eavesdropping.]

[ledbythewind]

[And as soon as that door is shut, he's going to be getting straight to the point.]

Asbel, haven't you noticed something odd about the doorway lately?

[drawnbythesword]

Huh...? [The doorway?] ...What does the doorway have to do with a lightbulb...?

[ledbythewind]

Surely you didn't think I actually asked you in here to help with a lightbulb.

[That's what Isamu is for.]

[drawnbythesword]

[Well, actually, he did.]

Then why did you?

[healedbythelight]

[Yes, Richard, why did you? Cheria is very curious to find out, especially after what she saw during that draft.]