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[parodeity]

DAVE STRIDER

consider this your warning about stairs. itll just keep happening bro. im telling you man

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[windeity]

You might want to change a little? [There's a thought.] I mean I would not mind if you wanted to stay like that because you're hot either way, but you might want to think a little more...fancy?

[parodeity]

Am I? [ but he doesn’t pursue it, the flippant-not-flippant remark left behind as dave just nods along. ] I can do fancy.

[windeity]

Do fancy. I promise you you will feel better about it for the main thing.

[parodeity]

Then let’s head back? [ unless john seems interested in lingering. ]

[windeity]

[And he'll nod and head back out to the car. Same song different verse, the radio's still on and he's casually singing along when it's a Christmas song he likes as he drives them back to the dorm. It's later in the afternoon at least...that should be fine, he thinks, and he parks while letting Dave out of the car to head upstairs.]

Think the tree's still standing?

[parodeity]

I doubt she managed to knock over the cat tree. [ mewpac is perfect ]

[windeity]

You give your daughter way too much leeway. [And up they go...where the cat tree is in one piece and Mewpac's content and curled up on it. So there's that. John just shakes his head and he's moving to his closet already, opening it and pulling out a suit. So that's how that's going.]

[parodeity]

[ a suit. okay. dave just behaves accordingly, raising his eyebrows and moving to his...previous side of the room that is now desks and closets, whatever, ]

[windeity]

[Give him a second to get dressed and stuff. It'll take a bit of time and he doesn't bother fixing his hair or anything,but there's even a tie and the piano cufflinks. He's not explaining though.]

This one's going to be a better surprise.

[parodeity]

Do you want me to not guess? [ but okay. suit pants and jacket and tie and vest and cufflinks. ready to go. ]

[windeity]

Absolutely not. I'm also going to tell you to keep your eyes shut on the ride there. We're going full undercover ops, secret mission, all that good stuff.

[parodeity]

We know I have a guess, though, right? [ that's teasing, but he shrugs. ] Can do, though. Let's hit it, Mr. Bond.

[windeity]

Okay, you might have a guess but you don't know the full extent so I still win. [But he grins and grabs a spare jacket to toss into his sylladex, grabbing his keys again and heading for the door.

Once they're in the car, he makes Dave seriously shut his eyes while they drive and this time he doesn't say anything. He's tempted to keep the whole thing quiet. Eventually the car stops though.]

Okay. You can open your eyes. [And when he does, Dave will notice they're at the community theatre for some reason.]

[parodeity]

[ he has some very specific guesses but sticks to not guessing and opens his eyes.

his eyebrows go up and he silently looks at john. WELL? ]

[windeity]

[Leave! Him! Alone! He gets out of the car and he goes to open Dave's door, opening it and offering his arm to escort.]

Don't look at me like that. I could make you close your eyes again on the way in.

[parodeity]

You'll note I am sticking to the rules and haven't told you my guess. [ ...he takes the arm. ] Fancy.

[ normally john just leans over him to get the door? ]

[windeity]

It's Christmas. [Whatever that means. But he leads Dave to the doors of the theatre and through the lobby, down a darkened hallway and to what looks like a closed door. It takes a moment but he grabs a key out of his pocket, unlocking the door and escorting Dave inside. It's dark and Dave might be able to catch the reflection of mirrors but John lets go of his arm then.]

So...[It's dark and John's shoes echo a little on the wooden floor as he walks away to do something.] Do you remember when we went ice skating? The first day it snowed and stuff. What did we talk about?

[parodeity]

Eve. [ but yes. ] Learning a new dance. Ballroom dance competitions. Unless we are talking about the part where I mentioned the burger badge again, or the part where I lied via omission about what I like about winter.

[windeity]

Cool, so you do remember and also we will talk about lies of omission later. [There's a flicker before John plugs in a strand of lights to an extension cord and Dave can see what's up.

They're in what looks like a dance practice room, a bunch of origami stars hanging from the ceiling with white lights strewn through them to light the room like baby chandeliers. There are a few birds mixed in with the stars as well. The floor's a little scuffed but there are decorations up on the sides and an iPod player in the corner on a small table. John tried setting up a ballroom and maybe it's not perfect but he still looks a little pleased with himself. The Johns in the multiple mirrors look pleased, too.]

...let me lead this time?

[parodeity]

[ they won't talk about it if john forgets!!!!

it's dave strider. his expression stays mostly the same as he takes it in, but something in his chest tightens and he holds out his hand. ]

You can lead whenever you want, Egbert. I never mind. [ who leads and who follows. it's not like he doesn't usually fall into following john in the general way of things, knight to heir. ]

[windeity]

I know, but at least this time I know what I'm doing. [He hits play once his iPhone's set up and an orchestra begins to play from the speakers as he moves to take Dave's hand and his waist, giving it a few moments before he's leading them into a Viennese waltz. Given there's a lack of his usual hesitation or counting he's apparently been practicing at some point.]

[parodeity]

[ dave follows without need for thought, even dancing non-lead. ]

Have you been taking lessons? [ for him. why. ] Also, are we in here legally or illegally?

[windeity]

The benefit of you having like sixty jobs is that I can watch YouTube videos and practice in our room when you're gone and in between making stars. [A turn.] But we are here legally! I didn't feel like getting arrested on Christmas. [He's careful in his movements because he's still a little sore from Bucky beating him up, but whatever.]

[parodeity]

[ will he be bruised all christmas. dave’s lips curve up, slightly. ] Don’t think you could handle hard time?

[windeity]

[He's doing his best but they're fading at least.] I could absolutely handle hard time if I had to? That would just be really shitty of me to do on Christmas when I said I was planning everything. And also I doubt my professors would buy that as an excuse.