roadrunnermuses | open rp } { mistletoe shenanigans!

Well. If the dogs are going to swarm them, then he's just going to have to get down there and say hello to all of them. Pets are another rarity in the zombie apocalypse and he's not afraid of saying hi. Especially since they aren't big enough to turn.

"I'm glad I came too. The holidays shouldn't be spent alone, and I would be a fool not to want to meet all your friends here."

Maggie sits on the doorstep and rests her elbows on her knees, chin on her hand. Most people would hug her before greeting the dogs. It actually endears him to her that he doesn't.

"They're a handful, but they'll love you. Especially if you sneak them food when I'm not looking." The way to every dog's heart.

"I like having my own house and my autonomy, but I've never actually been fond of being alone. Good company is appreciated."

"Duly noted. I am not above bribery." Kidding. He won't slip them too much because he knows that that's not always good for the dogs, but he will swing around to sit next to her, giving the dogs room to climb up next to him. "And I couldn't agree more. The world has become way too isolated."

"Hello, Shelley," Maggie says as one of the dogs hops up into her lap.

It has, and Maggie lives in an isolated part of it. She leans over the few inches necessary to rest her shoulder against his. Maggie has never been as shy about physical contact as most of her generation. "You're welcome to stay awhile. I live in the middle of nowhere, so it's not a short trip for anyone."

"I appreciate that," he says with a nod. "I was actually kind of hoping you'd say that, because heading back to the city after seeing all of this just seems ... incredibly unappealing."

And that's putting it lightly. Because he also really wanted to see her.

Maggie laughs warmly. "You haven't even been inside yet." But she doesn't move immediately, leaning on him and petting the dog curled up in her lap. "I'm a better hostess once you get through the door and let me feed you."

She turns her head to look at Sweets, asking, "Any favorite holiday traditions you'd like to request while you're here?"

"I haven't really had any traditions in a while," he admits with a shrug. It's hard when you don't really have a whole lot of family to begin with. "But I'd love to experience some of yours."

"I think we can manage that." Maggie frees herself of canines and pushes to her feet, offering Sweets a hand. "Fair warning, some of my traditions involve absolutely atrocious Christmas-themed horror movies. If those aren't your cup of tea, I promise at least the food is good."

She doesn't warn about the mistletoe scattered through the house. People are free to ignore that, but Maggie does tend to kiss anyone standing under it at least on the cheek.

Sweets reaches up to take her hand with a grin. "I think I can handle terrible Christmas horror movies." Terrible horror movies shouldn't really be anyone's favorite thing, but when they're so awful that they're hilarious, he can't really bring himself to complain.

And watch Sweets walk right into the mistletoe without even realizing it.

Maggie notices, and she grins, and she leans in quickly for a very brief peck on the lips.

Then she steps back just enough to give a quick glance upward in explanation. She doesn't move away any further. If he wants a proper kiss, she's still standing under mistletoe. If he doesn't, that's fine too. She just hopes he didn't mind. "Maybe I should have provided fair warning about some of my other favorite traditions."

Mistletoe went out of style after the Rising. A few people still use it in their homes, but the idea of having to kiss near-strangers in a semi-public setting is incredibly off-putting to a society that has nearly eradicated casual physical contact in public.

He's definitely surprised, but not in a bad way. In fact, he rather liked it a lot. He glances up to see the mistletoe, and when he does, he can't help but smirk.

"What a coincidence. This happens to be one of my favorites too."

Maggie's face lights up, her grin shifting to something mischievous. "I'm glad. I have an advantage in that I know where all of it is. Feel free to rearrange the mistletoe around the house when I'm not looking if you'd like to make things fairer."

It's the only way to catch her off guard in return.

"I will keep that in mind."

Two can definitely play at this game, and he'll be looking forward to taking her by surprise. That is what mistletoe is for after all.

"It's only fair, after all."

"Life may be unfair, but I try to avoid it in here." She slips an arm through his. "In the meantime, are you hungry? Anything you'd like to drink?"

Maggie will let Sweets escape to rearrange her decorations eventually. She wants to play hostess for a little while.

"I am starving, and I'll take a beer if you have it?" Booze usually isn't a good idea when it comes to dealing with zombies, but it is the holidays, so Sweets will take the risk.

"I have most things. I keep the kitchen well-stocked." And Maggie has no such reluctance to drink, having grown up with the kind of security that lets you relax and not worry about your reflexes or the undead. At least, to worry in a much more distant sense than the rest of the population does.

She leads him over, arm still linked through his, and opens the fridge door with a flourish. "Take your pick." There's plenty to choose from. She may go with beer instead of wine herself tonight.

The kitchen already smells like home cooking, with chicken pot pies keeping warm in the oven and just waiting for people to eat them.

His mouth waters as they make their way into the kitchen, only momentarily distracted by grabbing a beer before he wanders over to the oven to get a peek at the pies. Food is one of his favorite things, that he intends to continue to enjoy until he dies and moves on to whatever undead things like to eat.

"These smell delicious," he says with a smile. "Did you prepare them yourself?"

Undead things like to eat living things, so let's just avoid becoming undead things altogether and continue eating Maggie's cooking instead. "I did. I like cooking. Besides, it helps me lure in guests so I don't have to share this place with just the bulldogs."

Never mind that Maggie grew up never having to cook for herself. When she decided that she wanted to learn, she did, and like most things Maggie decides to do, she does it well. She cooks, but she isn't so big on cleaning anything outside the kitchen. This room's neatness is a stark contrast with the homey clutter everywhere else in her house.

Sweets nods in agreement, before heading closer to get a better look. He can do a few basic meals, but cooking has never really been one of his better skills. There are things he can do, though.

"Since you cooked, you at least have to let me do the dishes."

"I do have a dishwasher, and it does a better job than you could manage by hand," she informs him, smiling. "I'll let you clear the table, if you insist."

"I do a traditional full Christmas meal here, though not always on Christmas proper. If you're willing to brave the grocery store with me tomorrow, you can make requests for dishes." Grocery shopping: not for the faint of heart. Some people, in fact, have never so much as entered a grocery store. Maggie shops there regularly.

Sweets considers for a moment as he gets ready to start gathering the dishwasher. He's intent on pulling his own weight, even if it isn't the gesture he originally intended.

"I think I can handle a grocery store. I still go to my local farmer's market sometimes."

open rp } { mistletoe shenanigans!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject