GP - dreaming of a black christmas

[lcrpg_npc]

The repurposed railway arches that housed Beagle's bar and restaurant were decked in shades of black: black christmas trees glittering with sparkly and satiny black ornaments, black wreaths with perfectly tied bows, black garlands draping along the walls and bar, ribbons edging the long banquet benches in the restaurant dining room. A gentle snow seemed to fall from the ceiling, a specially designed lighting effect much more pleasant than the cold and wet that would've accompanied real snow. Christmas music played over hidden speakers, setting the mood without interfering with conversation.

The Kraken Black Christmas feast was a different spin on the holiday than you'd find most places, and yet, a christmas feast all the same. All the flavors of the season were there, both in the bar's specialty cocktails and in the feast itself, served banquet-style to those fortunate enough to get tickets - mulled wine, egg nog, roasts and stuffing and puddings, and so much more. Yet the food and drinks all shared the same theme as the decor, shades of black augmented with squid ink, charcoal, or black sesame seeds.

Guests had been encouraged to continue the theme with black festive attire, but it wasn't required, and spots of color could be found here and there along the table or mingling in the bar. There was one thing everyone could agree on, though. No matter how black the theme, the mood was anything but dark.

Comments

[quartermaster_q]

Q had only barely had time to stop off and get changed, but he had pulled on something simple and black before rushing over to meet Bond.

Taking a moment to clean his glasses and fix his hair, Q made his way over to the double-o.

"Looking for a stand in for me, were you?" he asked, nodding up at the mistletoe.

[0_0_7]

"Using a bit of Christmas magic to bring you to me, I should think," he grinned.

[quartermaster_q]

"You've got magic now, have you? That sounds terribly dangerous," Q said with a faint smile. "Just think of the damage you could do with a spell or two," he teased, pausing to order his drink, then leaning against the bar.

[0_0_7]

"Just imagine the possibilities," he grinned. "No more budget worries, to start."

He knew Q branch was facing a tight budget for the new year. Magic could help there at least.

[quartermaster_q]

"I think you're quite dangerous enough already, Bond," Q replied, lips quirking upwards slightly on one side. "Besides, if you had magic, what would I do all day? I'd be out of a job. Can't have that, I've two cats to feed, remember?"

[0_0_7]

"And we can't have that. Oberon and Titania out on the street? I hardly think so," he replied, his smile bright as he imagined such a ridiculous scenario. "All right, then. No magic. Just the status quo and an up and up mortgage."

[quartermaster_q]

"Yes, work must continue. I've requested time off for Christmas though. Just a week," Q admitted.

[0_0_7]

"As did I. But things may change. A holiday for me is never guaranteed," he said. It was especially true with that lunatic coming into office across the pond shaking up the world with tweets and bluster. Who knew how long before China felt provoked or Russia felt entitled...

[quartermaster_q]

"I know. ...I know," Q sighed. "Would be nice though. We could travel, Paris, Spain... Tokyo? Somewhere fun."

[0_0_7]

"I don't know...I rather like Christmas in London, don't you?" he asked. "No place like home for the holiday..."

[quartermaster_q]

"Well, yes, of course," Q said, about to say something more, then deciding against it.

[0_0_7]

"Ah, that's a pregnant pause if I ever heard what. Out with it," Bond said.

[quartermaster_q]

"Well... It's just, if we go away, we could just vanish for a few days. Hide from the world we know, and have some fun. ...We could even elope," he said, only half joking.

[0_0_7]

"Hmm," Bond said, short and quiet, then he took a sip of his drink. "That has been on my mind since Russia," he mused.

[quartermaster_q]

"We could wed in Rome or Venice..." Q smiled, slipping an arm around the double-o and looking pleased by the idea. "Vegas even, if you rather," he teased.

[0_0_7]

Venice only made him think of Vesper, and Rome made him think of Luccia. In fact, there were very few places that didn't have baggage.

"Vegas might be fun," he said. "I haven't been there in years."

[quartermaster_q]

"Really? Oh, um, alright. Was sort of joking about that one, James," he admitted.

[0_0_7]

"I'm teasing, Q. if we marry in America it will be somewhere grand. A warm beach, or perhaps New York. Vegas is for those willing to gamble on love."

[quartermaster_q]

"New York could be fun," Q admitted. "I suppose we've still got a little time to think on it."

[0_0_7]

"Or we could go...anywhere, really. Anywhere at all. Put up a map and throw a dart," Bond said thoughtfully. "I'm sure there's some corners of this Earth I haven't been to."

[quartermaster_q]

"We could," Q smiled. "Or we could just find an abandoned underground bunker and hide until the year is over," he smiled softly.

[0_0_7]

"2016 has been a bit of a mess, hasn't it?" he commiserated .

[quartermaster_q]

"It's been a misery," Q said, touching the lapel of the other man's jacket, simply wanting to touch and be near since he could. "I've had you though, that's made it brighter."

[0_0_7]

"Mmm, yes," he agreed, toying with Q's collar. "You've been the best thing in my life for so long now."

He moved his drink so he could steal a brief kiss.

"Tell me again that you want to marry me."

[quartermaster_q]

"Oh, well, I definitely did before all that talk of Vegas," he teased, returning the kiss and then smiling softly.

"I want to marry you, James," he whispered.