Gathering: New Year's Eve Gala

[concierge]

The annual Nexus New Year's Eve gala began at 8 in the evening. Too grand to be contained by the lobby or dining hall, the gardens at the front of the hotel were employed, with long strings of white lights forming a twinkling canopy from the front doors all the way to the hedge maze. The weather was temperate and calm, and the night perfectly clear.

Drinks were served at various bars set up throughout the gardens and lobby, with champagne cocktails being the specialty of the night. Wheeling through the crowd was a bartender with golden cart providing warm drinks on the go: Tom and Jerrys, rum punch, negus, and Irish coffee.

Crisply-dressed wait staff wove through the collected guests with an abundance of hors d'oeuvres for all different tastes. The Bistro remained open with a limited selection of items for those who were wanting something more substantial.

Above the front doors was hung a large, gold-rimmed clock counting down the last hours, minutes, and seconds of the current year.

Comments

[theprodigaldoctor]

He lets out a scoff, given that he's always been a touch of a crap liar and unable to really lie. "I don't know," he confesses. "I like what I do and I know that I should probably move on and do something else, but working for House is comfortable and he's always got new things for me to learn. It's just not so great when I compare myself to other people."

[only_hope]

"If it satisfies you, there's nothing wrong with that," Obi-Wan said, slightly softer in tone. "I would rather you be happy than ambitious. Ambition and pride have destroyed many a man and I'm not looking to see that happen again."

He nudged him lightly. "That got maudlin, didn't it?"

[theprodigaldoctor]

"New year is for reflecting and being maudlin, sometimes, I think," Chase admits, giving Ben an appreciative half-smile, still not sure what he's going to do, but knowing that he'll be thinking about it. "I don't know. I guess I'll come back around to it eventually. It's not like I have a bad thing going. I've got work, I've got this place. I've got you."

[only_hope]

"You do have me," Obi-Wan said firmly, sliding his arm around Chase and pulling him close. "So, I have heard that on earth, there's this tradition of kissing someone at the start of the New Year. Do you know anything about that?"

This, at least, was a lot more playful than before and Obi-Wan hoped to take his mind off other, more pressing things.

[theprodigaldoctor]

"I've heard about it," Chase notes wryly and in an even deadpan. He glances towards the clock to see what time it is and whether he's going to get to do it right now. "Still got a bit of time, though," he points out. "What do you think we should do until then?" he suggests, drawing them towards a few glasses of champagne.

[only_hope]

"We might need to practice. I'm not of a mind to be embarrassed in front of everyone because I don't know how to engage in an old earth tradition," Obi-Wan said, sliding his arm around Chase to pull him close.

[theprodigaldoctor]

"Oh, well, if it's embarrassment you're worried about..." he trails off, though, intent on leaning in for a kiss with Ben that he doesn't rush. He's still getting used to kissing the same person and the lack of surprise that comes with it, but it's really not half bad. In fact, it's something he could definitely get used to in the long run.

Not that he's sure how to bring that part up.

[only_hope]

Kissing the same person on a regular basis was something Obi-Wan hadn't had terribly much experience with himself. He had never been one for attachment, aside from the Jedi morals forbidding it, and he had always preferred to keep people at arms' length. Then, at least, it didn't hurt so badly when you inevitably lost them.

But Chase was different and Obi-Wan wasn't entirely certain how to broach the subject with him. Instead, he focused on the kiss itself, hand working its way into his hair.

[theprodigaldoctor]

Chase sort of melted forward the minute he let his brain stop working. He'd done a lot of this after the stabbing, but now he feels like he's coming back to rights again. And if he adds in the fact that he's starting to think more seriously about becoming his own man and leaving House, it feels like this really might be the start of a momentous year. He parts from Ben, hand on his chest.

"Hey," he murmurs, realizing he hasn't asked, "How are you? How are things back in your world?"

[only_hope]

"My future apprentice is a toddler," Obi-Wan said, chuckling a little. "And I live in a hut in the desert and talk to no one. It's not exactly very momentous or exciting but I suppose it means I don't feel guilty about coming to see you as often as I do."

He kept a close enough eye on Luke to ensure his safety, of course, but he didn't want to interfere with his childhood or upbringing.

[theprodigaldoctor]

"How come you don't leave the desert?" he asks curiously, his eyes narrowing slightly. He understands there's a duty, but he doesn't entirely get why he doesn't just pick up the kid and head to another planet where it's not so dry and as awful as it sounds. "And I could swing by yours," he says. "Just leave me a map," he jokes.

[only_hope]

"I don't want to be found. Darts Vader is a very skilled Sith. He could find me if he cared to look - the advantage of Tatooine is that he doesn't care to look there due to bad memories. I don't dare make myself memorable," Obi-Wan explained.

"It could end badly for all involved."

[theprodigaldoctor]

"So why not here?" he suggests instead, because he's not sure why they're not doing that when it's so safe here. "Does the kid, can he get here?" he says, trying not to feel too wary about the whole thing. "Are you safe?" he asks bluntly, feeling like that's the bigger concern right now.

[only_hope]

"I don't see a need to remove Luke from a stable, loving family," Obi-Wan said quietly. "I suspect part of the reason my apprentice turned on me was because of having lost his mother at such an early age. Currently, Luke is safe, and hidden, and given a luxury that his father never had. As to my safety? Anakin hates Tatooine. Why would he suspect I'm there? I'm not exactly famed for my love of the desert either."

[theprodigaldoctor]

Chase hates to imagine Ben sitting alone out there in a desert, his charge far away and hiding away from some evil dictator family-member. He slides his fingers over Ben's neck and strokes lightly, a frown on his lips. "I don't like thinking of you so lonely out there," he mumbles, trying not to be overheard. "I mean, I know I can't move here full time either, but I'd spend more time here."

[only_hope]

"It's all right," Obi-Wan assured him. "I am well aware of my duty and the sacrifice it requires. Besides, I'm not out there alone all the time. Sometimes I'm here with you, aren't I?"

This, he paired with a grin to make himself feel better about the whole situation.

[theprodigaldoctor]

"Yeah, I know," Chase agrees, feeling like it's just not enough and he's not sure how to say that without sounding a bit greedy. "What if I want more? More for you? More for us?" Because he hates the idea that Ben is out there on his own. "What if I just...came and stayed for weekends or something?"

[only_hope]

"I suppose it would be all right," Obi-Wan said, mulling it over. "Nobody knows I'm out there aside from you, anyway, and I rarely check in on Luke since I want to ensure he grows up without any outside influences. We'll be close enough to monitor that nothing goes south on the Lars farm and have some time to ourselves. Though, I have to warn you...Tatooine is awful."

[theprodigaldoctor]

"You're there, it's got to have some perk," Chase says, aware that he probably comes across like some cheesy line in a book, but he's happier when he's with Ben than he is on his own, alone in Jersey, still working for House. "Maybe you could sort of mark off a door here that leads to you and I'll stop by, keep you entertained and try and make Tatooine a little less awful?"

[only_hope]

"That could be easily done. I have never had trouble going back and forth," Obi-Wan said. "I could easily leave the door propped, if you wanted, and you could stop by. It's not much of a place but it is quiet and isolated so there's no chance of us being disturbed."

[theprodigaldoctor]

True, he'd probably get bored eventually if that were his life, but not if it's something he's doing just once in a while. Chase gives Ben a warm smile and nods. "Sounds like a plan to me," he agrees, not paying much mind to how it sort of sounds like getting a key. "So, want to find some place private for our countdown to midnight?"

[only_hope]

"Absolutely. I have no intentions of everyone seeing us engage in such an old and venerated Earth tradition," Obi-Wan teased, grinning a little at Chase as he did so. "Besides, I intend to take it quite a bit further than just a kiss. We might shock the more reserved among our company."

[theprodigaldoctor]

Chase gives Ben an amused look, leaning back against a table as he licks his lower lip and tries not to look too interested. "Really?" he coaxes, giving a nod of his head to encourage, "I might be amenable to hearing what you have in mind."

[only_hope]

"I think we ought to go out into the garden," Obi-Wan said, grinning wide enough to show a dimple. "And I think we ought to see just how quiet you can manage to be. Do you think you can manage it, Rob?"

[theprodigaldoctor]

"You always do have the best ideas," he promises, darting in to steal a slow kiss right on top of that dimple, easing back and giving Ben a fond look as he reaches out for his hand, tangling their fingers together. "I uh, I really like you." He thinks that in a little while, he could be saying 'I really love you' with ease, but they're not there. Not just yet.