poly_chromatic | ║ eighty-fourth stanza ║ action

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dead poets society - todd anderson

║ eighty-fourth stanza ║ action

[You might expect Todd to be hiding inside today, between the nature of the day's curse and how shy he is. He isn't though; he was in at the library in the morning, and he's never been one to call out for curses. It's his fourth holiday season in the City already, so it's not as if he hasn't been through this before.

That doesn't mean he likes it, though. As he makes his way through the snowy streets of the City to the bookstore Neil runs, he does his best to move swiftly, keeping his distance from others and keeping up his pace to avoid being grabbed.

Of course, not even Todd can avoid everyone.]

[ooc: You can also hit him up after he and Neil leave the bookstore - together. Oooh~.]

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[Let's be honest, curses like this always have an upside for someone. Neil isn't exactly pleased to end up kissing strangers-- by and large he doesn't mind, but they've had a few distinctly unpleasant encounters-- but between the two of them it's nice to have the excuse.

It means that, when he looks out the window and sees Todd coming down the block, Neil moves down the counter a bit, positioning himself under a convenient sprig.]

[All Chekov wants is a book on theoretical physics that he hasn't read yet. The library was no help, so he set out for a bookstore he had heard of.

It most certainly wasn't his intention to overshoot the bookstore and all but running Todd over before proceeding to kiss him.]

[Korra hasn't been in the City long, and she comes from a world without any kind of mistletoe tradition. So this whole sudden compulsion to kiss people? Quite understandably a shock.

She's still reeling from her last kiss (she'd forgotten how soft girls could be...) when she bumps into Todd.]

Oof! Sorry!

[ the library. Of course Todd had to be in the one place Arthur might actually venture out to on a day like today ~~not that he has ulterior motives or anything, urk...~~ so it's with a very true surprise that Arthur muffles his exclamation of surprise when he almost runs into the young boy. ]

Ah, sorry. I was looking for... [ his voice trails off as he frowns, staring at the boy. ]

Do I know you?

[ Things always look so different when they're not confined to a two inch square screen. He can hardly be blamed for not making the immediate connection. ]

[And here is the decided upside to this particular curse, the bit of it he always takes some secret delight in. Once he manages to escape into the store, it's straight up to the counter with a smirk.

No greetings are really necessary other than the kiss he plants on Neil's lips as he leans in over the counter. Of course it's good for appearances that the sprig is there, but it's hardly necessary. Todd couldn't even tell you for certain that it had an effect, and it certainly didn't compel him to make the kiss quite as long or deep as he did.]

[Well that's unexpected, even if it shouldn't be. Less the kiss, really, given the way the day has gone, and more the suddenness of it.

Between the awkwardness and the element of surprise, naturally Todd stiffens up a bit. He barely even caught a glimpse of who he's been accosted by.]

Oh--

[He's caught off guard by that, of course - such is the nature of bumping -- and he shifts his weight slightly, regaining his balance.]

Korra, hey. Um... it's all right. You okay?

[ Arthur's moment of uncertain perhaps recognition is enough to get Todd's attention. He's not much better at recognizing people from the screen, though he has had some practice at it by now, but the voice helps him make the connection. ]

Arthur?

[ He's pretty sure, at least. ]

Um... I'm Todd.

[Suddenness is one of those things that tends to accompany people who are always moving, at slowest, at a jog.

Once the mistletoe allows the kiss to end (is that a bird flying by with the plant?] Chekov backs away from Todd. Pavel isn't much fazed by curse-induced kisses or sudden events, but it was evident from Todd's reaction that it isn't mutual.]

Sorry! Sorry--ay, I will watch where I am going, sorry.

[ the light of dawning recognition passes over his features ]

Ah, yes. I do believe we have spoken then.

[ a w k w a r d ]

Uh, do you usually come to the library? [ because he can't exactly just run away to find Rain without a tiny bit of conversation first. That much, at least, he has learned. ]

[Korra shakes off the fog and gives Todd a little grin.]

Oh hey Todd. Yeah, I'm fine. I just had an interesting encounter with some mistletoe.

[Honestly, it's a bit lucky that there's no one in the shop right now. There was a time when this curse would have made him blush-- even knowing there was no earthly reason anyone would suspect them-- but he finds now that he's far too interested in kissing Todd to care what anyone watching might think.

Leaning most of his weight on the counter, he reaches up to curl a hand around the back of Todd's neck, not ready yet to end this.]

[Well then. Todd's certainly not going to object to that - not today. There's nobody within the shop to see them, and anyone passing by on the street won't think anything if they catch a glance of two people kissing during this curse. There is a certain thrill to it, being so blatant in public, but without the mistletoe, he'd never even consider it.

Right now, though, he leans in deeper, one hand on Neil's shoulder to ensure his steadiness over the counter.]

[Really, it's mostly the startle - as much as this kind of contact with strangers makes Todd awkward, and it does, the unexpectedness didn't exactly help.]

Um, that's-- it's uh. It's okay.

[He clears his throat, quietly, and shrugs.]

Curse.

[He gives a sort of quiet laugh with a somewhat sardonic smile at that.]

Yeah, it's... well, it's sort of a tradition here, really.

Oh, well... yeah-- yeah, I do. I work here, some days.

[ Impressive. Not that Todd would really be one to judge anyone else's social skills. ]

[That counter is decidedly in the way. Though, really, if they were to kiss the way Neil would like to-- pressed against one another, heedless of the world around them-- sooner or later some passerby would grow suspicious. And he's not quite that bold.

But he's bold enough not to break the kiss yet, laughing a little as he pulls back just enough to nudge a little closer, stretching over the counter and clutching at the other boy's shirt with his free hand.]

Yes, undoubtedly.

[Oh! Chekov thinks he recognizes him.]

We spoke on the network?

[ he's only awkward when it comes to people he doesn't know. Or has prior knowledge of or... Well, everyone, really. This whole "equal status" thing takes some getting used to you know. ]

Ah. I see.

[ he coughs then and looks around ] Well, I can't say I know much about maintaining a library. It's... awfully dusty isn't it?

Weird tradition. Then again, pretty much everything here is weird.

[It really is, but it's also good to have for the sake of looking a little less eager.

As much "less eager" as they can look with that hand grasping his shirt, especially as Todd's free hand finds its way to Neil's jawline when he nudges back in closer.]

Yeah... yeah, we did.

Um. I'm Todd.

[He smirks at that.]

Most of it is, yeah.

It's... a Christmas thing. The City sort of likes holiday curses.

[ There's a little smile at that dusty comment. ]

Um... yeah. It can be.

This one's a little more difficult to deal with than most, since everything's always moving around by itself.

Todd Anderson from 1959, correct?

Seriously? What does kissing have to do with fat men and that murdered guy?

[ he nods and slides a glance to the books ]

I still haven't figured out how they do that. Books should stay where they're put after all.

[ not to mention it made it almost impossible to find anything. He had to hunt far and low for a week when he first arrived, looking for that blasted "dummies guide to cell phones." And you can bet he didn't want to ask for help in finding it either. ]

Um. Yeah.

That's me.

[ what ]

Um... well, it's... more about how you celebrate Christmas than the origins or the stories. Being together with your family and friends, the people you love. One of the traditions is when a couple is under a piece of mistletoe at Christmas, they're supposed to kiss. The City just... kind of takes it a little far.

They should, but... well, a lot of things don't do what they should in the City. This is just one of the more inconvenient ones, really. You sort of just learn to trick it, I guess... if you're focusing on finding something too hard, it tends to keep it away from you.

[Less eager is tough to achieve, though he knows he ought to be making more of an effort to restrain himself. Still there's a certain thrill to getting away with it.

But much more of this and he won't be able to stop, so he does manage to pull away. Slowly, inch by inch, with brief laughing kisses between, because he doesn't really want to.

If anyone saw this, their cover would be beyond blown. Even at a respectable distance, he's doing a terrible job of smothering his grin.]

[You can blame Lucy. She didn't explain Christmas very well.]

Why do you have to kiss someone just 'cause you're standing under a plant?

[ he rubs at his temple, a sudden headache coming on ]

I'll keep that in mind.

[ shaking his head, he squared his shoulder and then gave Todd a tiny little nod ]

Thank-you, but I probably should let you get back to your work. It's been good finally meeting you.

[ next time, the taven. He can't let Merlin have all the fun. ]

Superstition.

[ shrug ]

It's really only supposed to be couples, but... the City sort of takes liberties with it.

Yeah... plenty of books to reshelve so they can get back to shuffling around.

[ And with a smile and small nod. ]

It was good to meet you, too. Properly.

[And when Todd pulls back on his part a little, finally, he laughs as he does so.]

My, that's a powerful curse.

Unbelievably so.

[It's honestly all he can do not to reach and grab Todd's hand, small contact in lieu of the closer, but there's a certain amount of decorum he'd like to hold on to.]

Busy day?

[not that he's jealous.]

[His little smirk sticks around for a moment longer, before he shrugs at the question.]

Not that bad. Maybe I'm better at avoiding it by now.

[He's not even asking. Not that he's consciously avoiding it, but he's probably easier given to jealousy.]

Hmn.

[That means something to the effect of good, make up for it with me, but obviously he won't be saying that, now or any time aloud.]

[ he backs up a step, just in case a wayward mistletoe appears from out of nowhere. He'd truly hate to mar this meeting. ]

Well, at least you'll never be lacking in work. [ he nods himself ] It was a pleasure.

[ and he'll just pivot and walk off. Truly, he'd hate to ruin... whatever this was. ]

[Todd just smiles. He's got a pretty good idea of what it means.]

Hmmmmn.

[Mimicking you just a little, Neil.]

Closing up soon?

Not too much longer. It's been a pretty slow day.

Good.

[ Good that not too many people have been in to kiss Neil, good that Neil is ready to go home soon. Take it either or both ways. ]

Anything I can help with?

[That odd, poorly suppressed smile crosses his face again. He glances at the wide window-- only partially obscured by large stacks of books-- then back at Todd.]

Want to help me neaten up the back room?

[The back room, it is worth noting, is very nearly empty.]

[Todd quirks an eyebrow, and laughs slightly.]

I guess I could help out.

[He passes Todd the key for the back, and goes to lock the front door. Some risks, after all, are not worth it.]

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║ eighty-fourth stanza ║ action

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Hurr, please disregard my lack of English-knowing.

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Pssssh your English-knowing is just fine <3

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Thank you. ^^;

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<3

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