formerfratboy: (tastes sweet on my lips)
formerfratboy ([personal profile] formerfratboy) wrote2011-12-12 01:52 pm

[for Karen: NYE]

Even with the island turned into some sort of Victorian wonderland, the island residents couldn't be deterred from having their traditional New Year's Eve party. Tradition meant a lot, after all, especially in a place where things were so often unpredictable. After the year they'd all had -- the disappearances, the magic, the murderous toys -- something normal was highly welcome.

And for Nick, the party was always a welcome milestone in his life, too. For he and Karen, so many years ago now, this was where it had all started. After much thought and nervous waffling back and forth, he intended to make this year's party the most memorable of all of them.

Dressed in the best Victorian finery he'd managed to find -- it had been all three piece suits and top hats and cravats for him, with the way the clothes had shifted to match their new environment -- Nick wound his way through the different tables at the party, picking up two glasses of champagne, and then heading back to Karen's side.

"The countdown's going to be here before we know it," he said, handing her the glass.
callofkaren: (Crush.)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2011-12-13 06:29 am (UTC)(link)
Though she'd gone with more comfortable things during the day and had a few occasions to dress up from time to time, Karen still wasn't over how crazy the corsets were. She'd made it only an hour into the party before she regretted it, and had to loosen the ties as much as she dared for some relief. It helped with all the food and drink she was eating, at least, and she was determined to enjoy her New Year's Eve in a city she'd only ever dreamed of visiting, even if it was the wrong century entirely.

At least she looked great.

She gave Nick a grin and thanked him for the champagne, already feeling a little buzzed from the few drinks she'd had and flushed with excitement for another year. It was a milestone for them, not only an anniversary, but proof that time had gone by and she still had Nick, when it seemed like everyone important disappeared one by one.

"I can't believe the year's already done," she said after taking a sip, and she reached over to straighten out a part in his shirt, which was mostly just an excuse to feel Nick up. Because why not?

[identity profile] formerfratboy.livejournal.com 2011-12-14 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
Nick reached up with his free hand, covering Karen's hand on his chest with his own. "I know," he said, squeezing her hand just the tiniest bit. "It always goes by so fast." He managed to ignore the passage of time most days; it was really only whenever he found himself talking to someone new that he remembered just how long he'd been on the island. "I mean, just yesterday, I feel like Utica was a puppy chewing on all my stuff."
callofkaren: (Somebody likes it.)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2011-12-14 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
"To be fair, she hasn't changed that much," Karen says with a chuckle. She's tempted to lean in for a kiss, but that would defeat the purpose of the countdown, and it takes more of an effort to lean in close to Nick with the ruffles of her dress in the way.

[identity profile] formerfratboy.livejournal.com 2011-12-15 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah," Nick said, "now she's just much bigger." It was easy to pick up a wriggly little puppy when she was misbehaving. That wasn't quite so easy anymore.

"It's sure been a hell of a year, though," he said, before taking a long sip of his champagne. It wasn't all bad, but it wasn't all good, either. It wasn't every year that saw them get attacked in their own homes by evil toys. "At least the place has made up for it by giving you that dress," Nick added with a bit of sly grin. He couldn't help it, she did look beautiful.
callofkaren: (So cute.)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2011-12-19 12:18 am (UTC)(link)
"I know," Karen said, glancing down at herself. Even with a month of Victorian fashion behind her, she was still pleasantly surprised at the actual cleavage the corsets gave her. It almost made up for not being able to breathe for a while. "I feel like a giant puffer fish or something, but I like it."

[identity profile] formerfratboy.livejournal.com 2011-12-20 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sexiest giant puffer fish I've ever seen," Nick said, grinning broadly. He let one hand rest at her waist, fingers settling easily at the even more pronounced curve of her waist, courtesy the corset.

"And also, hopefully less poisonous," he added after some thought. "Those things can kill you, I think." He wasn't sure where he learned that from. Probably Grissom, who had always been a fountain of useless trivia.
callofkaren: (044)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2011-12-24 01:21 am (UTC)(link)
"I'll take that as the compliment it is," Karen said modestly, "and I promise I'm not poisonous at all." She tiptoed, glad to get off her heels for a few moments as she leaned up to kiss him. Sure, it wasn't midnight yet, but she figured she was allowed.
callofkaren: (002)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2011-12-31 09:10 am (UTC)(link)
"Soon," Karen said, arms still around Nick's waist as she looked up at him. He'd been acting a little antsy all night, and she still hadn't been able to put a finger on why that was. She peeked around his shoulder to get a glimpse at the clock, and was grinning when she looked back. "Another minute or two. Happy anniversary."
callofkaren: (Default)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2012-01-01 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
"Considering we went from two beach bums to council members, I'd say yeah," Karen said with a soft laugh. There were things she always wished for -- friends not to leave, not to have Spongebob try to kill them -- but in the end, she had Nick and she still had Sam and all her friends. Life was a little more dramatic on Tabula Rasa, but it was still a good life. "We did good."
callofkaren: (Default)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2012-01-02 09:11 am (UTC)(link)
"The best," Karen agreed, though she knew by now that the next year would bring just as much pain as it would joy. Just like her life would have been like back in Scranton, minus the fantastical elements.

"We're not going to miss it," she said, squeezing him a little as his gaze wandered around again.
callofkaren: (Default)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2012-01-05 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
"We will," Karen reassured. They hadn't missed a New Year's Eve in four years, and she wasn't about to break their anniversary tradition now. "Promise. It'll be the most amazing New Year's kiss ever.'
callofkaren: (004)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2012-01-10 08:10 am (UTC)(link)
Karen stared.

Still flushed from the kiss and the excitement of the new year, she almost didn't understand what Nick was doing, but when it hit-- when she realized he was proposing, she couldn't speak for a few moments.

With Nick being such an old school tradition kind of guy, it made perfect, absolute sense that he'd choose now and just after the kiss to ask her to marry him. And there wasn't even a question about what her answer would be, because when it came down it, he'd always been there since the first day they met.

Karen nodded, letting out a small laugh in surprise and joy before leaning over to kiss him briefly, tradition be damned from that point.
callofkaren: (002)

[personal profile] callofkaren 2012-01-13 06:48 am (UTC)(link)
Karen had a fleeting moment to wonder how and when he'd managed to get rings without her noticing, but it flew out the window when it struck her that Nick was asking her to marry him.

The only thing she could do was nod and be glad that she wasn't going to cry and ruin all her makeup. "Yes. Of course, Nick, yes."