Chapter Text
Some part of Naoko is embarrassed to do this. She isn't sure how this works, but her company specifically invited her to a christmas event. Not even an event, for some reason her fathers company throws a ball the evening before christmas and its themed. Of course it is.
She doesn't exactly understand why a japanese man would throw a christmas ball. Naoko never even celebrated Christmas beyond her father bringing her some sweets from his yearly worktrip. Which apparently was for a ball. This is fine.
Naoko's roommate seems shockingly unbothered that she will leave over the holidays. “I thought you didn't celebrate christmas?” PD looks up from a book its reading. Its very ligth blonde hair is up in clip messily, the few pieces falling out framing its pale face really nicely. Naoko will miss seeing how pretty it looks when its all calm and tranquil. Then again, Naoko will miss PD either way.
“I don't. But my company apparently throws a ball on Christmas. And now I need to travel and organize a date” Naoko doesn't feel properly capable of traveling. Not unrelated to wearing pink Pyjama pants and a blue top. Nothing about her is remotely capable of leaving her house, even her black hair isn't styled in her usual pigtails, but rather hangs down wet.
“If you want I could go with you? I have no family for the holidays and I still have a suit in my closet for another far too fancy work event.”
“Thank you so much. I owe you.”
“You don't, it's fine. I'd rather go with you. We are friends, I enjoy time with you, I had to take dance lessons and I do own a proper suit. I would need to check what you plan to wear though. And have you inspect my shirt.”
Naoko nods. “We pack tomorrow?”
PD nods.
Maybe things can go fine.
Porter seriously is concerned by what exactly is going on with his boss. Which over 60 year old man is so excited to host a ball each year? Are they sure he isn't developing serious issues?
He of course tells all of this to Alex. He isnt sure if they count as friends, or just as barista and customer that like to do things together. Like Porter complaining about his boss, the ball he is hosting, and the stupid demand to bring a plus one. And how he cannot hire an escort because they all think he wants sex.
Alex listens. Shockingly well. “So the most handsome man per vote in your company can't find a date?”
“Not exactly easily at least. Besides that my boss is setting up dozens of mistletoes every single year, so theres always a ton of kissing involved. I just wish I still had my last exes number. She lived for huge events.”
Porter wouldn't call himself attractive. He knows he's the most intelligent person in the company, of course, but he wouldn't claim to be attractive. His hair is coily, blonde and self cut to be just not long enough to bother him, his skin is a medium brown and he's tall. The thing stopping most dating partners are apparently his eyes, which are ember colored and unnaturally lifeless to most.
Honestly, Porter would argue he'd be outclassed if Alex were to join the company. He is short and heavier then Porter, sure, but the amount of times Porter has lost himself staring at him is too often for anyone's well-being. His hair is on the edge of light pink and light purple, with bangs covering one of his eyes, which Porter knows isn't exactly one anymore, and is usually tied back. His remaining eye is green, and one of the few not sharp features of his face. He has a rather large, rather prominent roman nose, and relatively thin lips. Porter has also been picked up by him despite the size difference too many times to not mention how easily he's able to pick him up and put him in his lab. He uses a wheelchair, which sometimes gives Porter the excuse to admire how strong his arms seem.
Alex looks at him. “If you so desperately need a pretty young thing, I'd be fine to be that. What colour dress should I get?”
“Something very dark would look very good on your skintone- Wait you'd actually do this?”
“I worked as an escort for roughly… 13 years? And I know you absolutely don’t want to sleep with me.”
Porter stocks for a second. “Please go with me. I desperately need someone.”
“Honestly, I'd rather spend my holidays with you then being sad and lonely. I'd need to know the dress code though.”
“I have not the faintest clue. The boss self describes it every year as white tie but he won't be angry if people show up in black tie event wear. He did allegedly fire someone who wore jeans to the event. So I'd ask you to not do that.”
“I did not plan on it. To be honest, I just want to be more feminine for once.”
“I don't mind if you want to. Thank you, for going with me.”
“Thats what friends are for.”. Porter's heart stings a little at those words.
Murasaki is going to slaughter her boss. She is going to find Mori Ougai and she is going to hit him with whatever paperweight is in his office until hes bloody and dead.
Murasaki doesn't even celebrate Christmas. She is incredibly sure this guy isn't even celebrating Christmas himself. Maybe Mori Ougai was send by the gods to test humanity. Maybe he really needs attention or mayhaps she should consider the paperweight plan.
Unfortunately it would be unethical to kill Mori Ougai. Even if Murasaki would delight in it. Even if the old bastard deserves pain.
She now is in a meeting at a café. With her least favourite person in the firm. Sei Dazai is a huge bitch.
Unfortunately, Sei Dazai is also the closest thing Murasaki has to a romantic partner. It was supposed to be a one time thing. Unfortunately one time turned into too many one times, and now they meet once a month to sleep with each other. Well. Murasaki does all the work while Sei lays there.
Sei's brown hair is tied back in curls, with a red bow wrapped around it. Her office wear is a messy suit she unbuttoned to reveal the bandages she wears. Her eyes are split down the middle between cold brown and brigth blue. Something about her bothers Murasaki.
Murasaki herself has her black hair up, decorated with 3 kanzashi, full white face makeup with red eyeshadow, slight blush and red lipstick, as well as a bit of mascara. She had to learn how to apply makeup to her monolid eyes, but now it frames her deep brown eyes. She wears white pearl earrings. Her suit is far more neat, consisting of a black suit jacket and black pleated skirt with a white turtleneck, black tights and heels. She likes to think besides the heavy white makeup she looks proper. It does contrast her tan skin and black hair nicely.
Maybe Murasaki needs to find better people in life. But she didn't, so now here she is.
“I propose you a deal. We go together to that event, claiming each other as a plus one.”
“And whats my benefit?” Sei's cold brown eyes look at her. “I can skip the event, because the boss doesn't worship me as much as he does you.”
“He doesn't worship me. Besides, maybe that is why you never rise up. I go to absolutely every event he hosts even if it is nonsensical.”
“Keep telling yourself that princess.”
Murasaki for a brief second debates on if her coffee is bad enough she should throw it at Sei. Luckily for Sei, she does like this one. As much as her boss is making her hate christmas, she likes the mint flavor a lot. Maybe she should stock up on it.
“You know what, fine. I will go to that stupid ball with you. I need to increase my standing with the boss anyways. We are not pretending to be some couple though.”
Conan finds the thought of work events depressing. She already sees these people near monthly. Does seeing them with the knowledge they dressed up for this make it nicer for them? Especially a ball on Christmas day her boss just invited her to seems a little silly.
Then again, she doesn't know how many times her partner dressed up distracted her from work. Like right now. It's almost 7 am, and Virginies shift is over. Sweet as she is, she spend the last hour getting groceries. Conan just got done.
Virginie is tall, pale and blonde, with a penchant for bouncy curls Conan knows she has naturally, big blue eyes and a deep love for bright pink lacy tank tops with usually rather plunging necklines combined with miniskirts she has, that may seem too much like some people, but Conan isn't complaining, especially with the confidence Virginie has. Today she wears a giant faux fur coat, seemingly very cozy. Her boots are insanely heeled. Virginie likes to show off being able to walk in 10 inch heels with no issue. She opens it, and reveals a black and pink mini dress below that's not appropriate for November. She wears heavy makeup, and her lipstick matches the dress.
“Dear, I have returned.” She turns to Conan. Conan suddenly feels mild embarrassment. She wears brown slacks, a beige button up and a brown open vest. Her black hair is messy, and her brown eyes are framed by eyebags. She is somewhat tan, despite barely going outside. Conan prefers to not be feminine, even if she feels underdressed sometimes.
She has been a butch since she transitioned. It's something comforting to her. There's something nice about being a handsome woman, not a pretty one. Virginie never made her feel lesser for it either. They both are quite extreme in their gender expression. Virginie once said they view being a woman as two very different gender performances. Conan feels inclined to agree with her. Yet, shes very sure, there's nothing quite as comforting as getting to look at their shared spaces and seeing both parts combined.
Virginie immediately throws herself on Conan. “So glad to see you. How was work?”
Conan smiles, “Good. How was your job?”
“Good!” Virginie removes her shoes. “Anything fun happened?’
“My boss decided to throw a christmas event apparently. Its an overly fancy ball.”
“Isn't your boss japanese?”
“Yes. Maybe he is christian? Then again, with how tacky christmasy the invitation was, I doubt it.”
“I also like to be tacky and I celebrate Christmas.”
“I am also very certain you aren't exactly Christian.”
“That's not important. I was raised christian, you know?”
“I sincerely doubt that.”
“I was! One of the whores even had a Statue of Christ. She would tell me stories of the bible. Very sweet woman.”
“That explains your through knowledge of the bible.”
“I am still in contact with her. She's lovely. I need to bring you to her sometimes. But if you want a stunning date who is going to get you jealous glances, id gladly be that.”
“That may be the thing to convince me to go. That and getting to kiss you all day”
Virginie giggles, before giving her wife a kiss. “Like that? Dear, you can always do that”
Conan smiles, Virginie cuddling into her. “I do want to go. Even if its just to show off having a beautiful wife.”
“What if I want to show off my handsome wife? Because I am quite sure you are far more handsome than any man.”
Conan smiles. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Virginie cuddles into her. “Happy to go there with you.”
Elena is very sure she should be allowed to not show up to a work hosted event that wouldn't impact her performance.
Unfortunately, she is too high up in the company, so her day before christmas is planned. It's especially unfavorable considering her new... fling? She's not sure if Katherine even considered spending the holidays together.
Especially considering her being a mother of multiple children. Well... no. Katherine has one daughter, and one son. Elena met Amy, a sweet young woman, making her regret every parenting choice she made.
She never met Katherine's son. She heard much about him, but largely in tears, late late at night, in which she held Katherine and told her how little of a choice she had.
Still, inviting her for a holiday event seems too far along. Katherine is not even what you may imagine as a girlfriend. She is arguably more someone who you'd want to call a wife.
The issue is taken out of her hand, when Katherine notices her tenseness. "Is everything alright?" Her tone is sweet, but not sugary. Katherine doesn't seem able to be sugary. Elena doesn't miss it.
"Just, at a work event I am expected to bring a plus one too. I don't know who to bring. Most people I know aren't good conversation partners."
"If you'd want, and only if you'd want, I could go with you." Katherine offers, smiling. "Amy and I celebrate and exchange gifts on the 25th usually, and if you'd like you could join that too. She specifically said she'd not mind."
Elena looks down. "I'd honestly love that. Thank you for inviting me to your celebration”
“Its not an issue. I want to include you in my life, at least I want to try. I apologize if dating isn't my strongest skill, I never did it much.”