TFDC: Day Five -- Camaraderie

Matt and A’s Home
Tokyo, Japan
December 2014
Christmas Day

“Are you honestly sure that it’s alright for me to bring her along, Mack?”

“Yeah, I’m sure. A doesn’t mind guests as long as they aren’t serial killers or those wanted by the law,” the man answered lightly. Jian gave a (tight) smile and glanced around him, Mack noticing that the man was often looking around to see if someone had arrived. “Who’s it, anyway?”

“A dear friend of mine – don’t give me that look,” Jian chastised. Mack had made a face and the Taiwanese other had smirked in reply, “She’s someone I met a few months ago. And no, she isn’t as interested in men as to women.”

Mack gave a mildly guilty smile, his eyes softening. “Right. Be here in thirty?”

“I will. See you.” The call ended and Mack looked up, pocketing his phone soon after. The festivities were in full swing in the living room, the scientist hearing the eager chatter of the rest of his friends.

Touta was watching as A tore open his gift, the Englishwoman gasping in surprise. (“Oh my God, you didn’t have to–” “No shut up, you’ve been pining for that for weeks!”) Kenichi and Peters were talking sports while drinking from their beers, laughing and arguing here and there. Away by the window, J and Matt were having a quiet conversation. Matt had been relaying what had happened to him since he left the Wammy’s, and J was listening while giving input here and there.

Mack, at first, thought of their ‘group’ as rather odd. After all, they comprised of four police agents, one forensic scientist, two businessmen, a bartender and an ex-model. And hell, Mack didn’t even know who the ex-model yet except for the fact that she was a (most likely bisexual) female and an old friend of Jian’s.

“Mack, when’s Jian arriving?” A asked. She and Touta had walked up to him, the former wearing the latter’s gift; a cream-colored cardigan with gold-colored buttons. “So I can prepare a few more drinks for him and his guest.”

“Give it thirty minutes. Nice cardigan by the way,” he added, and A gave a twirl. Touta merely smirked. “Was that the one you spent an hour searching for, T?”

“Might have been the one,” he shrugged. “But it was easy to acquire. Can’t blame me, the store was huge.” A made a face at him and walked off to the bar, taking out a few bottles as well as two glasses. The threesome proceeded to talk while A prepared the drinks, Touta retelling his tale in great detail.

In the living room, Kenichi took an easy drink from his beer and listened as Touta told him all about baseball. “So wait a minute – who do you support?”

“New York Yankees. Nearly sobbed when Jeter took his final bow,” the brunette replied, memories of Derek Jeter’s play throughout the years coming to mind. “The family’s been supporting the team since I was young. I’ve got all kinds of merc,” the American laughed.

“Yankees. I think I watched a game of theirs when I was in the States a couple of years back, in the stadium itself. Can’t remember against who. It was a good game,” he said, and Peters nodded enthusiastically. “…huh – so that explains why A’s been asking me if I have connections with those merc sellers in the States.”

“Connections?”

“Mhm. Oh well. You’ll see it in your gift,” Kenichi replied cheerfully, watching in plain amusement as the six footer gaped and scrambled for his gift, which he had left on the other couch.

TFDC: Day Four -- Devotion

A and Matt’s Home
Tokyo, Japan
December 2014
Christmas Eve

Matt still couldn’t pin what exactly about her drew him to her. He knew that it was a mix of many contributing factors – her physical aesthetic, her complex personality, the depth of her and far her mind could go; but even after years of being with her, he couldn’t trace which part attracted him like a moth to an open flame.

And as amusing as it was, it frustrated him. Matt would spend minutes, nearly hours watching her as she did her thing and each quirk of hers always made him smile; whether it be the way she would let the corner of her lips perk up into a half-smirk when she reached a likely conclusion, or the way she would tap her pen against the paper when in deep thought. Even the simple sight of her scanning papers and analyzing data was enough to catch his attention.

People always said that when treating someone you love – a significant other – they should be treated like a temple; something incredibly holy. Something that was to be worshipped and treated carefully. After all, the soul in a body could be likened to something divine that was to be found in a beautiful temple.

But Matt thought of that as bullshit. A – his A – was definitely not a temple.

If anything, A hated to be treated like something fragile; like fine china in a display. She may have had nicks and bruises from growing up, wounds that didn’t quite heal or scars that were still there, but she gave them no second glance.

If he could liken her to something that wasn’t a temple, then she was a canvas of experience.

He liked to think that everyone was born pure – clean – a clean canvas. Throughout a person’s life, they’d get streaked and slashed with color, color that would represent either emotions or experiences. At the time of death, then they’d be what all people were destined to be: a masterpiece.

“You’re doing it again,” she teased. Matt snapped out of his reverie and looked up; A was standing in front of him, a smile tugging at her tips as she held cups of hot chocolate in her hands.

TFDC: Day Three -- Forgiveness

Peters’ Apartment
Tokyo, Japan
December 2014

God, the idiot was obstinate.

(But could she really blame him? She had been away for months.)

She had told him to get over her and find a new person and move on; besides, who could want a messy-haired, slowly-recovering, sharp-tongued lady? J had been a hundred percent ready to detach from the American, as much as it would hurt. She had prepared herself for coming back to a changed lock and merry laughter from within the apartment; laughter than came from him and laughter that came from an unknown other.

But, no.

J came back to an unchanged lock and an empty apartment which smelled lightly of food and laundry. From that, she could arrive at three conclusions.

1. Peters hadn’t changed the locks at all. He was either too lazy or too stubborn to change them.
2. Peters was still at work, even at this time.
3. The lack of clothes strewn on the floor and the fact that only a single pair of utensils had been discarded told her that he was the only occupant. 

J hadn’t returned her things back to the respective cabinets and such, not really. She definitely wasn’t sure if Peters even wanted her back. Nonetheless, she stayed seated there, on his couch, flipping through the channels and sipping from a cup of coffee she had brewed only moments back.

She was never the type who would be easily surprised. Everyone who knew her knew that this was pure fact; surprising J was nearly an impossible feat. So when she heard the door creak open, she jumped – and felt irritated at herself for jumping at such a simple thing.

“Really, J? You’re jumping at a fucking opening door?” she grumbled to herself, attempting to calm the storm raging in her heart. She felt her heard thud wildly in her chest, threatening to fight its way out due to the intensity it was experiencing.

Deep down, she knew that if it had anything to do with Peters, then she would be jumpy.

TFDC: Day Two -- Courage

Keji Bar
Tokyo, Japan
December 2014

It had been a quiet day for the Keiji, which Jian had earlier thought of as weird.

During December, bars would usually be packed, especially on the days leading to Christmas. A brief glance at his phone told him that it was only a few days until the holiday, and he had braced himself for a wave of customers. Surprisingly enough, however, the amount of people who came in and left was nothing too unbearable, nothing too stressful.

Jian found himself able to take a break every few hours, relaxing and stretching here and there while snacking up and eating when he earned the chance. Even after he finished his lunch, he was surprised to see that the guys running the bar didn’t quite need an extra hand or two.

Either way, he stuck around and helped out when needed. He would rather stay and help for the pay than stay home and rest up alone. Jian Lee was a people person – he liked surrounding himself with the company of people, liked talking to them and making them laugh, making them feel comfortable under this warm, accommodating gaze.

On that particular night, he was about to close up shop. Jian decided to be the last man standing, offering so to the manager, who had gratefully agreed.

The streets outside were quiet. He had just removed the apron around his waist and took off his black bowtie when the door had opened, the chimes alerting him of a new presence. “I’m sorry,” the person – a male – apologized, “Were you just closing up? I can find another if I need to,” he spoke quickly. Jian quickly put a smile on his face and shook his head.

“You can come on right in. Keiji’s always open to those who need it,” he offered kindly. The stranger cracked a smile and took off his hood, and Jian nearly froze on the spot upon realizing who it was.

Macmillan Thomas stared momentarily at the man at the bar, facing breaking out into its usual, carefree grin. “Oh. Long time no see, Jian.”

“Indeed. Have a seat,” the other replied, Mack gratefully taking the stool right in front of the bartender for the night. “What will it be?”

“Give me what you feel like making,” the American said a few beats after. He added, “You might if I smoke a bit?”

TFDC: Day One -- Intimacy

Noriko’s Apartment
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
December 2011

For once, Noriko had the night to herself.

Her manager had invited her to an optional party – one where she could associate with other models and other contacts, famous stylists and hairdressers and whatnot. The manager had explained that it could be a chance for her to meet others outside the company and break into the international world even more, but the girl denied the request and instead opted to stay in her home instead.

Everyone else who she knew was going. Kishi Yamanaka, one of her close co-workers, opted to look for a new partner in the pool of attendees. Asami Iwasa and Hisaki Yuasa, the Golden Couple of Seiko Industries, would be attending, naturally. Noriko had listed off the names in her head. Inari and Yuki, twins, were attending purely out of boredom. Natsume was one of the few who had called in sick for the day, stuck home with the flu.

Noriko shifted on the couch. A thought popped into her head.

Was Naomi going? “Don’t be stupid, Inoue. Of course she is,” she sighed.

Of course Naomi would be going.

Naomi Hirano, their most-requested for and constantly-featured model. Naomi with her bleach blonde hair and sparkly eyes. Naomi who, just like Noriko, moved out of South Korea to Japan in order to make a name for herself.

She and Naomi were good friends – maybe even good enough to be deemed as close. But Noriko didn’t know exactly how close they were. Perhaps close enough for Naomi to invite Noriko to that same event which was happening, but perhaps not close enough as to actually drag the short-haired girl there.

“Whatever.” She took a sip from the plastic cup, feeling the soda rush down her throat and give her a bigger jolt of energy. “Cheer up, Inoue. You’ve wanted this break for weeks. Claim it,” the model reassured, but it didn’t exactly work. At all.

She heaved a heavy sigh.

Perhaps she should have gone – followed her manager and rode off with Naomi in the blonde’s car, maybe have bits of fun on the way.

Was it too late to actually go? Her silver dress was still in the back of her closet; she could pair the thing with her favorite pair of heels and prettify herself in less than twenty minutes – how far was the building?

And in her clusterfuck of thoughts, she didn’t notice a sharp knock on her door the first time.

Launching: The Five Days of Christmas

Hello, Darlings! 

To officially start off the Christmas Break, I decided to do a little something for you guys (as well as myself because hey – gotta have some fun before school starts again).

So from today, December 21 until December 25, we’re going to be celebrating The Five Days of Christmas or TFDC. Basically, for each of the five days, I’m going to be posting an OTP short which involves Christmas as well as a certain trait which the OTP exhibits the most.

Oh my God I am so ready. SO READY.

It’s definitely not much, I know, but it’s the least I can do for this Christmas. ^_^ Additionally, from today until December 31, I’m going to be fulfilling a couple of requests my friends asked me to do. I already have two on my list and I can’t wait to torture their feels deliver what they want!

I hope you all look forward to this as much as I do. :D Expect the first short to be posted sometime tonight – and expect to see a familiar face make a reappearance… 

It's already pretty obvious. *coughs* #NaoKo

An Advanced Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you all!