The Valentine's Date Auction [OPEN]

[diamonds_forever]

WHO: Eveyone who signed up + the school in general
WHAT: this thing
WHERE: Right here, in the Institute
WHEN: Saturday evening, the 14th
WARNING(S): Given the nature of the event, I almost expect it, but remember the rules regarding that kind of thing. Take it off the log if it goes there.

⊗Never let it be said that Emma didn't know her stuff. Not content with the paltry and tired and cliche decorations Kurt and subjected the students to at previous events, she had completely taken over, using a combination of her wealth and mutant powers to create a sort of bohemian love palace for the students. Dance floor, tables, the finest foods. This was not a party the likes of which they had seen before... unless they were part of the older crowd, and had witnessed Emma at work before.

Was she good or was she good? On the stage, Emma stood proudly, taking each of the auctionable singles to the stage, one by one, and selling off just a fraction of their free time to the highest bidder. And the fact that it was all for charity left the whole situation comfortably guilt and obligation free.

Of course, as the host, she was more focused on the party and its guests as a whole than any particular individuals... Attempts at sneaking off probably would go unremarked upon. Probably.

[[ OOC: Each auction will receive its own top level, as well as a top level for general mingling. PLEASE CONSULT THE PLOTTING POST BEFORE BIDDING ]]

Comments

[comparative_insanity]

[Oh, he knows he can't possibly do anything to Emma, and he's also fairly certain she's not bidding five thousand for the pleasure of Feliks' company either. So he simply smiles at her - beams, really - holding up his hands, palm out.]

Ten. And you know I will keep going, right?

[niepokonany]

[Honestly. Honestly, what in God's name is happening right now? Is this real life? His power still doesn't affect people, right?]

Um...

Fai? Kotku, what are you doing?

[He's not objecting, not uncomfortable, just honestly confused as to why someone who gets so much more of his time and attention than literally anyone else would pay anywhere near that much for more of it.]

[...He's got his brilliant moments, but no one's ever said he doesn't have ones where he's dumb as dirt, too.]

[diamonds_forever]

Twenty. And yes, I can tell. I don't even need to read your mind to know that. But I don't intend to concede either, darling.

You're acting, but not putting the right thought behind it. And I know I taught you better than that.

[comparative_insanity]

[It's true. This is a short cut. It's just so he can trick himself that it will be little bit easier to properly ask if he already feels like he's fought for it, like he's stood up for his feelings for Feliks in a small way. It's an illusion, but it's a small lie he wants to make himself believe, so that maybe he'll be braver.

He's so bad at not acting like this.]

Twenty-five. Have you got any better ideas?

[He doesn't know how to properly answer Feliks, doesn't even want to linger with his gaze for long, so he flashes him one of those borderline smiles, halfway between real and not.]

[diamonds_forever]

Twenty-seven.

You have better ideas. You're refusing to listen to them.

[comparative_insanity]

[But he can't win this in terms of money, of course he can't, and suddenly the situation is so utterly absurd. It's just another way of trying to make the whole thing easy, even though he knows nothing will, and he's really just a coward.

There are better ideas, and none of them should happen here. This is public, showy, done for his own sake and not for Feliks'. Selfish.

He sighs, fighting an urge to just leave, run, not deal with this stupid mess he's put himself in.]

I think we can safely say you win the betting. So if you excuse us... I will be borrowing the prize for a while. Feliks?

[niepokonany]

[Feliks frowns, because seriously, Fai, what are you doing? He thinks for a moment, then folds his arms, pointedly refusing to take a step.]

If there's no rule about the host betting, there's no rule about me betting, or pooling money, either!

Fai? Bet twenty-eight, and tell me what this is about. Come up here and whisper if you have to, I don't care.

[He's still clueless, still refusing to accept the little nagging voice of hope because he knows how much it can hurt him, but he's not about to be some kind of passive spectator in whatever is going on here. That isn't how he does things.]

[Supporting his best friend even when he's out of the loop and a little annoyed about it is totally how he does things, though.]

[comparative_insanity]

[Oh God, this is such an unbelievable fuck-up. Fai literally looks like a deer in headlights right now, and after a moment or two shakes his head a bit jerkily, sending Feliks a pleading gaze.]

Feliks, I'm- I really just need to talk to you. I shouldn't have started this whole thing in the first place, it was... pretty stupid. She's right.

What I should have done all along is just to talk to you, but if you don't want to right now, I can wait. [Why does he keep doing things like this with his life? No seriously?]

[niepokonany]

[He didn't mean to make him feel like that.]

[He's never been really great at making people's feelings do what he'd like for them to. He can make people laugh, he can goad them and tease them, but he's not really great at saying the right thing. Fai's usually a comforting exception to that rule.]

[Fai might cover up his feelings to everyone else, but Feliks can see painfully clearly that he's scared, that he's ashamed, that he's kicking himself for something.]

[What is he so scared of? Why would he put make this into such a big thing, then be scared of it going wrong? What does he feel like he's done that's wrong?]

[There's... there's really only one way for Feliks to make this make any sense. Even if it doesn't make sense with what he's assumed is true for five years.]

[And if he's wrong now, well, Fai can forgive him for getting the wrong idea from all this, can't he?]

I'm not really sure what I said that sounded like "yeah, I totally feel like waiting around for your answer."

[He hops down off the stage, walks directly over to Fai, leans up as far as he can, reaches up to drag him down, and if Fai doesn't prevent him, plants a solid, thoroughly unambiguous kiss on him.]

[comparative_insanity]

[At first he's not sure what is happening, not sure at all; all that he actually is sure of is that he wants to sink right through the ground and stay there, until he can actually trust himself to make adult, non-disastrous decisions. He wants to fade, too - his power can't fool everyone in there, but if he really tries...

No. He promised. That's a thought that actually manages to get through his panic-stricken brain. He promised. It's one of the most important things in the world.

And then- Prevent him? Fai couldn't prevent anything that is happening right now any more than he could stop the moon mid-orbit. Not any more than he can stop his arms going around Feliks, and he throws himself into that embrace so forcefully that he's backing the smaller man right back against the edge of the stage, one hand twisted in his hair and the other in the back of his dress, but still kissing him as tenderly as if he's afraid that the moment will shatter like glass if he makes even one wrong move.]

[totallystoned]

[Reki begins a slow clap. Throughout the room, money begins changing hands.]

[seduceme]

[Yep, she's won some money by Feliks initiating the kiss so she's looking about as smug as the proverbial cat with a bowl of cream-dunked canary.]

I think it's time to bring out the champagne.

[totallystoned]

Champagne? I'm his surrogate big sister. I've earned something stronger than that.

[Another first, Reki acknowledging she's earned something.]

[seduceme]

I'm only sad this means Fai will be unavailable. He was so... bendy. [Shrugs and checks the time.] I think the liquor store close to campus might still be open.

[totallystoned]

[Reki's not going to comment on that, because it makes him sound like Gumby.] My scooter's right outside. What will you have?

[diamonds_forever]

Get some fine sodas for Meluin and Yuuko as well. They helped make this happen, too.

[seduceme]

I suppose it only stands to sense we should 'ave some strong vodka-based cocktails as well in honor of no longer 'aving to cope with Feliks' drunken outbursts throughout the school over his unresolved sexual tension.

[totallystoned]

[There's the sound of a Vespa from outside. Reki returns soon with vodka, orange juice, a six pack of craft brew, and Italian soda and chips.]

[niepokonany]

[Feliks might have started it, and enthusiastically, and he's not about to back down. On a practical level, though, he just has much less goddamn clue what he's doing than Fai when it comes to kissing. It catches him right off guard how overwhelming it is, and it doesn't take long at all for him to be right up against the stage, arms looped around Fai's neck, standing up on his tip-toes even in his heels.]

[He could... He could really get used to this. The sudden intensity in everything about Fai, and the warmth of his lips, and the hand in his hair, and... and there's really no mistaking this, is there? There's no accident, no misunderstanding, no compromised state, nothing to take away from the reality of it.]

[After a few moments, he suddenly bursts out laughing. He throws himself into a tight hug, and tugs at Fai's hair in teasing admonishment.]

Oh, kurwa. Oh, my God, you didn't tell me, you big dork!

[And all he can do is laugh with relief, and cling to him like he'll never let go.]

[comparative_insanity]

[Feliks' laughter has always been congagious, but in this case, Fai is already right on the verge of it as well. As Feliks throws himself at him, Fai simply buries his face in his neck - something that does very little to muffle the relieved fit of giggling - and picks him up, twirling the both of them around. Sorry, anyone who happens to be hit by ballistic stiletto heels while this is happening. Also he kind of bumps Feliks against the stage a bit and almost overbalances them both - this sort of thing never happens in movies, man - but he manages to catch them both just in time with a not-entirely-dignified little squeak.

And then there's more laughter, and Fai cradling Feliks' face between his eyes, gazing down at him like a man slightly dazed, or possibly downright concussed with happiness.]

You didn't tell me either, you big loser. And you're by far the bravest of the two of us.

[He feels some more kisses ought to be acceptable, scattered all over Feliks' face, and he sees no reason not to go with his gut.]

[niepokonany]

[Feliks's dress turns abruptly longer, fluffier, and swishier in the skirt as he's whirled about. He laughs even harder as they come close to toppling over, feeling close to bursting with relief, like he might just start shaking, like he might cry from the intensity of it even as he finds himself physically unable to not smile.]

[Has Fai always looked at him like that? He has, he realizes -- he just didn't let himself see it, because he was too scared he was just imagining it.]

[He can't stop touching Fai's cheeks, his lips, his hair, looking at him like everything else in the whole world has just ceased to matter whatsoever, giggling at the light little kisses.]

Well, I was scared! I mean, like, I thought you didn't want me to, and... and you're my best friend.

[No matter what else he is, he'll always be that, too.]

[comparative_insanity]

Didn't want you? I know I'm an idiot, but I'm not that stupid.

[Even though Fai only has eyes for Feliks right now, his powers will be doing some funny things to anyone standing where they can catch a glimpse of his face. For one, he seems to quite literally be surrounded by a glow. For another, all his happiness and relief is being forced outwards in a strong enough impression that it will start spilling over into others - as if people weren't relieved enough. But the effect is a little bit like getting mildly tipsy.

And Fai... he doesn't even notice, even though his eyes are bright golden like honey. Because Feliks smiling at him like that, touching him, being solid enough in his arms that he can tell for sure it's not a dream... that's enough. It's more than enough. It's everything he ever wanted and he'll never get enough of it.]

And you're my best friend too - my best friend and the love of my life. And that's just as well because after being this stupid, we really and truly deserve each other... right?

[niepokonany]

[Speaking of totally unintended power use, the long, fluffy skirt is absolutely staying, and has incorporated itself into a ballgown with little off-the-shoulder sleeves. Fai appears at some point, possibly during all the twirling, to have gotten himself a suit that would look right at home on a Disney prince, complete with some very flatteringly tight pants. The room may have gotten a temporary, illusory makeover, too. Just a bit. Specifically, the area of it near them may look very like the ballroom from Beauty and the Beast.]

[He bumps his forehead against Fai's, fingers wound gently into his hair, pink-cheeked and giddy.]

I hope so, 'cause you're not getting rid of me now! I'm not dumb enough to lose you again.

[comparative_insanity]

[The fact that the room around them changes, that their clothes are changing, is something Fai only vaguely registers. To him, it really only makes sense, because to be honest he feels as if the world remaining the same from this moment on is just... impossible. Everything will change, and yet - and this is the best part - it will stay the same. He hasn't lost anything, and he's spent so much time being afraid to do so that he didn't realize that he was losing time.

And time is the most precious thing he could possibly share with Feliks, loving him openly in every way.

He leans in, lips brushing Feliks' ear as he whispers:]

Will you marry me?

[gloriousandfree]

[Clapping from the peanut gallery]

Finally!