for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[lengthened]

( She waits for Donna to end the call. )

Thank you, Donna. This will make a difference.

[thefaxwhisperer]

Of course. And if I do hear from Rusty, I'll be sure to let you know.

[She's not holding her breath and she will be placing a call to Scarlett about this, but it's really the least she could do.]

I should get back to the party. Are you two planning to stay, or - ?

[Waverly glances back to Adal, clear that she could go either way, depending on what she's looking for.]

[lengthened]

Let me consult my date.

( She isn't usually this brazen, but Donna is her oldest friend. And she's going to test the waters. That's what this is, right? Even Waverly's jacket reads va-va-voom. )

[stupetballs]

[The blush heads up to her cheeks at the word "date," and she blinks, before realizing that this decision is on her. Well.

If this is a date, then this should be a date. She's not going to have her first date in a long time be crashing someone else's corporate holiday party, even if that would be a fun future date.

Instead, it's go big or go home.

She turns back to Donna, and shakes her head.]

Maybe another time.

[lengthened]

Another time. Thank you. Again.

( Leaving Donna behind, she snakes an arm through Waverly's leaning in, conspiratorially. )

Was that sprung on you?

[stupetballs]

[She pauses before shaking her head.]

No. I mean, kind of? But not in a bad way.

[Not in an unrequited way, which is the important thing.]

But if this is going to be a date date, I was thinking something more ... intimate.

[lengthened]

Tell me more.

( She stays close, hitting the button to the elevator. )

Speak of this intended intimacy, Waverly Earp.

[stupetballs]

Well.

[She hasn't planned a date in so long, but she thinks she can find something that works well and allows her to salvage their going-out outfits.]

I was thinking dinner, somewhere nice. Preferably with wine. At least to start.

[lengthened]

I haven't heard word I don't like. ( Stepping into the elevator, something occurs to her. ) I never answered if I have Christmas plans, did I?

[stupetballs]

You didn't.

[Waverly turns to face her as the doors close.]

Do you want to come to my place? I mean, it's going to be pretty casual. The dress code is pajamas and holiday-themed onesies but it's not mandatory, much as my niece may imply. But if you're free, and you wanted to just ... spend some time, you'd be welcome.

[She won't add the pressure of meeting her amnesiac father even with ... that's totally what she'd be doing.]

[lengthened]

Holiday-themed onesies. ( But despite that being against her dress code. She supposes the warmth of Christmas with Waverly, especially in the face of her son being somewhere, will feel better than going to the warehouse party. ) I want to. If you'll have me. Though, I confess, I have no knowledge of where to source this one-sie in such a short amount of time. I do own a few one-piece jumpsuits, but that feels overdressed.

[stupetballs]

As I said, not mandatory. I'm pretty sure Dolls is flat out refusing so you won't be the only one.

[Just be comfortable and be there, and that's all that matters.]

But good. I'm glad. I'm ... I've really been enjoying our time together, if that hasn't been incredibly obvious.

[lengthened]

Not even a little bit. ( She leans in close. ) Maybe from the very beginning. I do hope you like the real me.

[stupetballs]

I do.

[Waverly's hand comes up to brush a stray piece of hair away from Adal's face, before looking back at her with a smile.]

And I'm excited to get to know more, too.

[And maybe she should wait, save it for a mistletoe moment after a very comfy Christmas or for the end of this date they've decided they're on, but she finds that she doesn't want to wait. She wants to do the thing that scares her, that she's been wanting to do but trying to keep to herself. So she takes advantage of the quiet moment they have in the elevator, and leans in to kiss her softly.]

[lengthened]

( Her eyes close as their lips touch, and she lets it be as delicate as it deserves to be. As Waverly leans back, she can see her smile remaining. )

I've been waiting for that. It was worth the wait.

[stupetballs]

Good.

[Her smile widens as the doors to the elevator open on the ground level and she moves to step out, a familiar flush still settling on her cheeks as she makes her way out.]

Play your cards right over dinner, and maybe we can see what else we've been waiting for.

[lengthened]

Waverly Earp.

( She steps out behind her. )

One step at a time. Let's find somewhere and something we can sink our teeth into.

[stupetballs]

[Look, she will not apologize for having game.

But with that, she takes Adal's hand and off they head into the city for a lovely, pre-Christmas date.]