roadrunnermuses | open } { mistletoe meme

[ Parties in general aren't Anna's scene. Let alone ones where there's a high likelihood that someone tries to make a move because of a hanging plant.

But Jo had twisted her arm enough, so here she was. In an expensive, tastefully decorated townhouse by herself, feeling awkward. Eva at least made sure that Anna didn't show up looking like she was still at work. A simple long-sleeved maroon dress that actually fits instead of trying to hide her curves, simple black heels, long hair curled and pinned to one side. She's even wearing make-up and ditched the glasses. She's almost a different person.

Almost.

The grip on her elbow catches her attention immediately and she skids to a halt, shooting a look up at Neal questioningly. Then he explains. ]

What? Ohh. Great.

To be fair, I think she only expects the established couples to make use of it, but I figured I should warn you.

[He does offer her a smile, once they've moved a suitable distance away.]

But I'm glad you came.

That's... actually kind of sweet. [ She admits after a second, expression softening faintly as she does a quick scan of the room. Unfamiliar territory and all that.

His comment earns a quirk of her brow and a slight smile of her own. ]

I'm sure you've been waitin' anxiously for me to get here and profile all of your... friends. I told you before, it's not a party trick.

If it is a trick and you do it at a party, it is by definition a party trick.

[He's just saying.]

But I wasn't going to ask. Just mention that I invited my friends from both sides of the aisle, and I didn't tell them who was who.

[So if you wanted to go figure it out, that might be the kind of fun to have while not being overwhelmed by all the new people.]

Anyone ever tell you what a smartass you are? [ At least her sarcasm is padded with the faintest hint of amusement behind the usual mask of guarded annoyance she wears around him. ]

I think the real fun for me is figuring out which one is your friend Mozzie. If he's even here, given how skittish he is around cops from what Burke's told me.

[ But yes, it does sound like a fun way to keep an eye on things from the outside. At least until she spots someone familiar that isn't the host. Why she didn't just drag Adam here as her 'date' is possibly the great regret of the night. He's dorky enough to make friends with just about anyone, and watching him get all flustered by Peter would be a nice payback for the comments being made about her and Neal. ]

[He smirks, because that should be interesting.]

Oh, Mozzie is definitely making an appearance. But I have a feeling he won't be that hard to figure out.

[If the fic I wrote is canon, they've already met, though Mozzie definitely introduced himself as Mr. Havisham. If not, Mozzie's just Mozzie, but he will definitely be playing hard to get.]

[ Wait until she figures out she's already technically met him. ]

Please tell me there's wine at this party. Also, knowin' you, it's bound to be the good kind that I could never afford on a civil servant's salary.

[He puts a hand at his chest like he's wounded.]

It's like you don't even know me. Of course there's wine.

[And it is the good stuff, of course. He holds out a hand, gesturing for her to follow him to the bar.]

[ Wait, is that a smile and a non-sarcastic chuckle at the feigned hurt? There's a first time for everything. ]

Or I know you too well. Keep up, Caffrey. [ She teases, giving his chest a gentle pat as she steps past him in the direction of the bar. ]

[He pours them both a glass of wine, and Neal watches as Mozzie goes to make his approach from behind her. He sees Anna and stops, slowly making a show of starting to turn around and go the other way, as though he might get Anna's cop cooties on him.]

So - how're things? I assume that people are continuing to commit terrible crimes, and you're not out of a job yet?

[ Anna's brow quirks curiously as Neal looks past her, clearly watching something. It could be any number of things, and she's highly tempted to turn around, but she resists and instead simply accepts the glass from him with an appreciative nod. ]

Well, it's the holidays so crime is up and I'm on mandatory overtime, so you could say business is boomin'. To not bein' out of a job anytime soon... [ She quips a little darkly, lifting her glass in a toast. ]

[He smirks as he takes a sip of his own drink.]

I knew a grifter once who loved the holidays because it brought out the worst in everyone. She liked to watch families from afar to mine material for her identities.

[She always called them "parts" but she was always an actress at heart.]

But I don't know. When you never really had hallmark-esque holiday, it's can be disappointing to hear that other families are just as dysfunctional as yours.

That's... kind of brilliant, actually.

[ She'll admit that a bit begrudgingly, because while she's not a fan of the grifter part, she can at least give credit where it's due for a brilliant idea. Being an unofficial profiler and being a grifter could be considered two sides of the same coin. ]

Or sadly reassuring. [ Yeah, she's just going to sip her wine instead of opening that particular can of worms. What? She's got no illusions about the 'magic of the holidays' or 'Christmas miracles'. ]

[Neal smirks a bit as he watches her sip her wine.]

Ahh, I see you also grew up with the slightly awkward Christmas experience?

[In Neal's case it was a mother broken by his father's actions and an adoptive mother who was just trying to do the best she could. But he doesn't like airing his mother's dirty laundry.

Even if he hasn't spoken to her in years, she's still his mother and she did the best she could.]

[ Her brows raise slightly as she takes another long sip of wine in response to his question. It's none of his business, but it wouldn't be the first time he's gotten something personal out of her. ]

Depends on whether we're talking pre- or post-divorce. [ Though not necessarily by much. It was the same sort of Christmas for her, only her siblings got two. ]

[He winces.]

Divorce is rough. And unfortunately not an uncommon situation in this day and age.

[ She shrugs nonchalantly enough, doing a quick scan of the room. ]

It's not as big a deal when you're eighteen. My siblings were more traumatized by it; I just thought it was about damn time.

I didn't meet my dad until I was in my thirties.

[Well, that's not actually true, but at least in a way he remembers.]

And my mom never really recovered from the circumstances of losing him, so it made Christmas a little inconsistent.

I'm not sure which is worse. Not knowin' him until you're in your thirties, or having him around the first 18 years of your life and dealin' with the constant narcissism and neglect because you're not American enough. You might have lucked out.

[ The words are muttered sourly, until she realizes what she's said and she freezes. Way to go, dumbass. ]

Shit, I'm sorry...

[He shakes his head.]

No, I definitely lucked out. You think I annoy you now, I would have been much worse under my father's influence.

[Sam Bennet didn't do anyone any favors as a parent.]

He came into my life to make it worse, and then he left before he could suffer the consequences.

You annoy me a lot less than you used to, Caffrey.

[ His words do bring a sober look to her face as she finishes off her glass of wine. She sets it down on the bar and reaches out to gently place her hand on his shoulder because Christmas makes her nicer? Don't ask. ]

I'm so sorry. You deserved better. [ Is that a hint of tenderness in the way she's looking at him? ]

[Careful, Morasca. You might actually get him thinking you like him.]

It is what it is. But it answered a lot of questions I had so it wasn't a complete waste.

[ Oh, yes, we can't have that, now, can we? Anna has a reputation to uphold, of course. Her hand lingers for a minute on his shoulder before she pulls it back and shifts to lean against the bar. ]

I'm glad something good came out of it for you. It brought you here, so it's not all bad, right? [ A rare moment of optimism. Man, the holiday is making her soft. ]

I like to think so.

[And Mozzie finally caves because they're hanging out by the bar, so naturally Neal is blockading his access to the wine. He slides up to the bar and rests a hand on it gently. "Neal." He pauses, then acknowledges Anna. "Detective."]

Mr. Havisham.

Fancy meetin' you here, Mr. Havisham. [ Anna says with a nod at the man who has just joined them at the bar before taking a step back to shift against the bar and get herself another glass of wine. ]

Merry Christmas and all that, if you celebrate.

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Not me completely forgetting about Mr. Havisham or anything.... 🙃

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Sorry this took forever T.T