londoncallingrpg

It was that time of the year, a time that used to fill Valentine with joy. Christmas was so wonderful usually, after all, but not so much this year. He simply wasn't in the holiday spirit. However, he'd planned this charity event months ago, and there was no cancelling it now.

It wasn't as flash as ones he'd held in prior years, his museum open to the public with collection buckets all over for people to give what they could to ensure a better holiday for those in need. Music filled the space, and there were performers all throughout the space. Yes, he'd had to up security for the evening to keep his many occult related items safe, but- Well, it was worth it, he supposed. If nothing else, it seemed to be enough to stop his mother from worrying so much about him for a bit.

All were welcome and admission was free. The bar was reasonably priced, and there were a few free nibbles donated by a local restaurant. All and all, not a bad night for the bored and the generously inclined.

(Use this like you'd use any GP! OTA)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

sunsongs

"My hands are more interested being on other things anyway." And Anael wouldn't let him get into trouble with bad magic regardless.

"But I don't see why we can't take a look around, so you can see what needs dealing with later."

From:

whispersoflove

The first pronouncement had Anael shoot Coby an amused smile, but then he sobered up and nodded. "Yes. I'll come back while you sleep."

From:

sunsongs

"That annoying, all too human need for sleep." Coby rarely regretted it, except when it interfered with time he could be spending with Anael, but in this case, at least the time would go to something useful beyond the sleep itself. "That sounds like just the time."

From:

whispersoflove

"It only annoys you," Anael pointed out with an amused smile. He liked simply lying in bed with Coby while he slept.

From:

sunsongs

"Curled up in bed with you is one of my favorite things. I hate sleeping through it." Coby was exaggerating a little, but his eyes smiled. He slept better with Anael in his arms. But if he had the choice, he rather make the most of their time together. It was still the best time for Anael to come back to the museum.

From:

whispersoflove

"At the risk of sounding very creepy, I like being with you when you sleep," Anael replied easily. "You get that cute little wrinkle between eyebrows when you're dreaming."

From:

sunsongs

Coby laughed quietly. "I don't think you're capable of creepy, lovely. Awe-inspiring, when you want to be. But not creepy." From anyone else, though, saying something like that would probably be a little creepy.

From:

whispersoflove

"I'm sure I could be creepy if I tried," Anael answered thoughtfully. "I mean, I don't want to, but."

From:

sunsongs

"Yeah, but you don't want to." Anael wouldn't want to be creepy; it wasn't like him, and that was the difference, Coby thought.

From:

whispersoflove

"It'd be an odd thing to want," Anael thought out loud, and smiled at Coby. "I'd much rather be lovely."

From:

sunsongs

Coby leaned in, his words for Anael's ear alone. "Always, my angel."

From:

whispersoflove

Anael's smile brightened and warmed all at once and, heedless of anyone around them, he stopped walking to give Coby a sweet, happy kiss.

From:

sunsongs

Anael didn't need to let his Grace out for Coby to feel the warmth of love and joy with him. Anael's kiss was enough. "Lovely. We should be careful, though, or I'm going to forget to pay attention to the exhibit."

From:

whispersoflove

"Like we've been paying much attention at all," Anael pointed out, amused and fond. But then he did resume walking, only to stop by the display of an old horned mask. "Can you feel that?" he asked curiously, wondering how much angel still existed within Coby.

From:

sunsongs

Sometimes Coby thought he sensed things no human should. Something in Anael the night they met. A glimmer from both the demon Crowley and his angel. Something wrong in the man who'd attacked Curnen on Halloween. But whatever it was was easy to dismiss as all in his head, or memory playing tricks after he discovered there was something different to possibly sense.

So he looked at the mask, trying to... feel, when he didn't know how or what, glanced at Anael and back to the mask again. Finally he shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. Or maybe it's like hearing sounds in static – I want to feel something, so I convince myself it's there."

From:

whispersoflove

"There's like... an aura, surrounding it," Anael stated with a small smile, so Coby could know whether what he thought he was feeling was anything like what Anael did. "Protective. Like an innate... goodness to it." He shook his head. "Sorry. I'm terrible at putting words on these things."

From:

sunsongs

Another moment passed after Anael described what he felt, then Coby shrugged again. "Your words are just fine. But I'm standing here with you. Protective. Innate goodness. I sense plenty of that, right here in my arms."

From:

whispersoflove

Anael looked up at Coby with a smile, and of course, couldn't help but kiss him, a hand gently cradling his face. The rest of the world fell away, in moments like these. "My words aren't fine," he told him in a murmur. His words were not meant for anyone else. "They fail me when it comes to telling you how much I love you."

From:

sunsongs

Anael never needed words for that. Coby could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch, in his kiss and the one Coby needed to follow it with, in the answering light in his chest, in the way the world faded away in moments like these. "Think Julie'll mind if I steal you away, my love?"

From:

whispersoflove

"I doubt it very much," Anael told Coby honestly, "but let me warn her, so she doesn't look for me."

From:

sunsongs

"Of course." If they'd been sneaking off to a quiet corner, Coby wouldn't bother, but no way they'd leave without letting Julie know first. Anael had come to the party with her. "So we'll know she can get home okay too."

From:

whispersoflove

"...that, too," Anael acknowledged belatedly, since he tended to forget about that kind of practical issues. But now he made a mental note to make sure with her that she could get a cab home. "I'll be right back," he told Coby, before turning to find his friend.

From:

sunsongs

Julie was special to Anael, which meant she mattered to Coby too, and he had a lot more practice thinking about mundane comings and goings. Another night, he might've suggested Julie leave with them, but tonight the love he felt and wanted to share with Anael didn't leave much room for another. So he waited, giving Anael the time he wanted for his goodbyes, because after, Anael would be his as much as he ever was.