Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I ain't no kid." Otto grumbled, almost pouting.

Between the bantering, Otto sighed and scratched his neck. All this worrying was cutting in on the eating of desserts! Wilson's aid was met with hope, as Otto smirked at the addition of a hat to Jeremy's hat.

However, Jeremy's random factoid had the Joy-infected teen on his toes. "R...really?" He asked nervously, holding his neck with his hands.
No head means no mouth means NO EATING OF ALL OF THE SWEETS!

He nodded his head at Jeremy. “Yup! Wilson, and no problem!” Pleased with himself, Wilson threw the trio a thumbs up before returning back to his original group.

“A dance contest?” He frowned as he thought about entering. “Dunno. I might, but I wanna think about it a little more first.” Wilson reached up to comb his hair. Now that he was without his hat he probably had hat hair. Gah. Then he looked over at Reine’s dress. “Wow! That’s a really pretty dress you picked out. I like how you did your hair too. It’s very cute.” Innocent compliments are innocent.

"So glad you came!" Eva chirped happily, reaching down to give his sweater a little tug, "And your sweater is pretty awesome!" BUT ENOUGH SMALL TALK.

"HI GUYS, HIIII!" Minerva, Tedan, and Wilson received a really big grin (and a kind of scrutinizing look) before Eva turned back to Gale, she stared at him thoughtfully, looked back to the others, and went "HMMMM" very loudly. Now, who to pair up with Gale?! Maybe just...whoever was standing closest to him? Looking as suspicious as ever, the girl drew back from the blond boy, moving back to where Reine was. A grin spreading over her lips as she summoned Chara again and gave the staff a little twirl.

"So Reine, I've decided just to hold the mistletoe over Gale's head, and whoever is standing closest--OH LOOK, IT'S PUPPY."

Eva had been distracted in the midst of lifting the mistletoe over Gale's head. As a result, she (may have) ended up missing the blond boy, holding the plant over another pair's head instead...

1. Gale
2. Minerva
3. Tedan
4. Wilson

Jerry stared intently at the rows of bottles, his brows knit, his forhead sweating, his hands twisting.

He shouldn't.

But it was Christmas!

But he really shouldn't.

But they were *right there*, open for everyone to have a good time and when would be the next opportunity to-

NO no no he really shouldn't, not after so long...

Oh jackin'... just get a ********' drink if you want one, it's a party, aint it? I swear you're the biggest ninny I've ever-

"You're the boss!" Jerry didn't need to be told twice, a hand going to the vodka to slowly, reverently pour himself a glass. It was ice cold, pouring over the ice- this was sipping vodka. This was good vodka. Hunters knew how to live. He brought it up to his nose, sniffing slowly, Aaaah that smell, brought back memories....

Glancing over his shoulder, he spotted Robert and Petra, the glass hovering at his lips as he smiled and gave a meek wave and an encouraging thumbs-up.

Why didn't you meet him at his room? It's been awhile but isn't that how dates work? Or something. Atropos chatted on and on in Candace's head as the young woman hurried. She didn't run but she was clearly walking with a purpose. Not because she was late or anything, she was just so excited to be going to this gala. Especially in her pretty new dress and with her pretty manicured nails and her hair and her makeup and just...everything. She was so excited. So very excited. She couldn't wait to see Jerry, and to see everyone else decked out like the halls. Oh! Oh! This was a good time for a song! Deck the halls with boughs of holly~! Hehe! Ohhhhh! She was almost there! Would Jerry be excited to see her? She hoped he'd be excited to see her she was so ******** excited to be going to this.

She had a bow. She had a cute dress. She had candy cane nails--now everyone really did have an excuse to call her Candy--she had festive makeup, she had new shoes...she even had a silver and diamond encrusted Star of David pendant around her neck. It was her little homage for Jerry; she wasn't Jewish nor did she celebrate or know anything about Hanukkah, but she wouldn't just shove Christmas down his throat and force him to pretend it didn't exist. She was already a bad girlfriend, she didn't need to make it worse.

When she arrived she stopped at the door and just stared. It...it was so beautiful. If she wasn't worried about her makeup she would have shed a tear of joy. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Good job, Julie. Good job. Atropos made a gagging noise in the back of her head that she blissfully ignored.

Where was Jerry? She had to find Jerry! "Merry Christmas, EVERYONE~!" Candace cheered, laughing with delight and nearly skipping into the gala. Ha! She said it first! SHE SAID IT FIRST. Oh! There was Jerry! At the ba--oh s**t no! Nononono! Eyes widening, Candace hurried after Jerry. Now was not the time for booze! Now was the time for awesome Christmas things!

"Jerry, baby~! Darling, smoochybear. Gumdrop." Candace sidled up beside him and leaned in for a kiss, very gently pushing the hand with the alcohol away from his face with one hand. She even had a gentle grip on the glass so it wouldn't be dropped...and also so she could try to just straight up take it away. "I'm sorry if I kept you waiting I wanted to look perfect for you."

Gale, of course, completely missed Minerva's knowing look, instead focusing on the bright, smiling face of Eva and feeling pleased she was glad he had come and liked his sweater.

Even if it was bright red with a dancing sequined reindeer on it.

"Thank you," he said with a big smile. He glanced away for a moment, long enough to answer Tedan's question.

"I'm not much of a dancer, really, but I wouldn't mind entering if I had a partner."

If only to kick Bix's arse, anyway.

Bix, who was now standing in the center of the dance floor, seeing as how Julie had suddenly whisked off. Gale considered waving his best friend over, but then remembered that Bix had been off snogging Julie and hadn't said hello yet, so instead he turned back to the totally awesome group he was with.

And realized they were all staring at him.

And Tedan.

Gale stared blankly back.

"What?"

Clarice was passing by the bar when she realized what Candace and Jerry were doing, "Now sharing is caring but there's plenty for everyone..." she slid another drink over to them. "But Jerry you know you really shouldn't be drinking...without a coaster." Which she helpfully provided before leaving to help the masses.

Suddenly, there was a girl in his face. A girl that wasn't Ariane. Wide gold eyes stared in surprise, leaning away from her on instinct but...that didn't seem to help. "Errr...Who are you?" It was nice to hear it worked though! The hat was important. Because it was Christmas.

"...Oh! BYEEEEE ASHHHHH~!" Jeremy called after Otto, who had gained a new name because he was going to be the best! "Excuse me, misses~" He keened happily to both Minerva and Ariane, loosening his tie and unbuttoning the red vest. Clarice had said to just wear the tie and vest, right?! Well, since the brat was off to change, he was going to do just that.

Jeremy stripped shirtless right there, but at least put the tie back on.

...

...And then the vest.

"...What do I do with this now?" He murmured, mostly to himself, as he stared at his dress shirt. Too busy to notice Reine waving at him. Shiiiiiirt.