Welcome to Gaia! ::

Priam needed a few seconds to process, but there was a little smile on his face--because no amount of pain or stiffness could really stop it. He was overwhelmed, but for the first time in a long time it didn't just seem bad.

It had been years since he was overwhelmed by possibilities, by the chance to find happiness. He appreciated their patience with him, that they would be willing to give him time to figure things out. To work with him.

There was a sick, churning anxiety in the pit of his stomach, but he shoved it far away. It didn't belong here, not now. Not with them.

For as nervous as he was, he was too comforted by Sterling's gentle touches on his forehead. He knew he was starved for attention. He'd known for years. The dogs were a good substitute, but human attention suddenly propelled him into the land of the worthy.

It was cute to hear Yu say that Sterling was the first person he dated, and Priam very clearly remembered the conversation they'd had after his run-in with Ilya. He wondered how many Christmases Yu had ever gotten to experience and enjoy.

"If you start snoring, it means you needed the sleep. The only thing you have to worry about is Odie trying to see if he can fit his nose in your mouth, but they're both more likely to try and curl up on you to help you sleep better."

It was easy to talk about holidays, events. It was still thinking in that he had agreed to a boyfriend. Boyfriends. Dating.

His face was red again, but he found himself elated with the idea that he was wanted. There was a voice in the back of his head that didn't belong there, a voice that wasn't his, telling him that he would never be good enough, that no one would want him, that he'd thrown away the only good thing he'd ever get.

And then, it was gone, and for the first time in a long time, Priam took a breath without that thought weighing on him.

Maybe the relief was fleeting.

But Sterling and Yu banished the thoughts from his head, and for a brief second he found he was horrified that he might cry.

"You know, I haven't really celebrated a Holiday with anyone but my brother in so long. And sometimes he's too busy to be around. But I've always hated spending Christmas alone. I'd love to get a Christmas tree with you two. The baking, the feasts. You'll both be in your element. I love decorating, and telling stories. Christmas movies," he said, like it was explanation enough.

He closed his eyes, finding that it was best to stop his head from spinning, but removed the security seeing Sterling and Yu brought. "...Most of them are so bad. You'll judge me so much, Yu. I love my room, you two. Thank you. I hope, when I'm feeling a little better, you'll let me take over the couch in the living room so I can--" he was red again, but he managed the words. "--So I can still stay close to you."

“Staples… lots of staples and some of that cotton they stuff toys with.” Yu supplied when the subject of foot rests came up. He at least knew how to work with that sort of thing.

The idea of Christmas, lord it was so close wasn’t it. He hadn’t given it that much thought in so long. There were so many years where he’d had so much else on his mind, and it was at best an after thought in brown paper bags and if they were lucky, a shoelace for a ribbon.

He reached out and took the hand reaching for his, Squeezing gently to find a sense of stability as much as comfort.

A wonderland… he thought about all the store fronts and light poles wrapped in tinsel and had to quirk a smile. He’d frequently found the streets more magical than any home he’d been part of for the holiday.

“As long as it’s not the movie with the…bb gun and the leg lamp. I’m absolutely down for Christmas movies.” he offered.
He’d seen most of that in bits and pieces and decided he didn’t like that one at all though he could’t say why exactly.

“I uh… promise not to bake any Cookies, I don’t want to burn the house down.” He teased. “But uh… we can pick a Dinner and I can make a feast of it probably.” He offered.

He wondered, a little frantically what you got people for Christmas, especially when you were dating them.

“Then a wonderland is what you’ll get. Both of you. I’ll see to it.” Sterling pressed another kiss to Priam’s temple and then swept to press on to Yu’s as well. “Rest, Priam. We’ll be here when you wake up. If you need us, just call. But, I know I’ll be checking on you often...because I’m paranoid obviously.”

His mind was already whirring, wanting to make this the very best Christmas ever, for the both of them. And he’d even bake a few things for Ilya, just because.

“We’ll always help you remember how to be happy, and I want you to sleep right now. You need it. You’ve had a rough couple of days, and there’s a rough few weeks coming up. But you’re alive, and we love you...and we’ll be here when you wake up. We’ll be here all the time when you wake up.” Sterling lowered his voice and squeezed Yu’s hand, moving to rest against the male, his gaze on Priam’s, looking at him so very fondly. “Love you both.” Honestly, he didn’t think he would ever get tired of the phrase.