Later on in Holiday Central...

[jonathan_archer]

::peruses the almost empty cookie plate as last couple of crewmen leave the Captain's Mess... bites into a big chunk of chocolate, smiles, familiar strains of music still weaving through the now-empty room

Comments

[linnis_paris]

::was just relieved not like was the only doctor who missed the fun::

::passes last of carolers in corridor, offering a double take at tinsel adorned annikahansen and jenay_paris::

::steps into main mess with headshake, moving to dig through remaining snacks...sniff the eggnog...will have just a little::

::is about to leave, but stops to listen to noises from with Captain's Mess...peer through half open door::

::follows a trail of tinsel::

Need a hand?

[jonathan_archer]

::still bent over, breath restricted by position, is painstakingly trying to get each piece::

Well... nope, more like a hundred... hands... this is... I don't know why... tinsel was... invented...

::finally waves hand in frustration at the floor and stands up with a little effort::

Bah... forget it... ::room spins just a little as blood rushes from head:: Whoa...

::reaches out for nearby chair, blinking, shaking head as everything clears... well, not everything, apparently, but manages a distracted smile for Linnis::

So thought you'd gotten out of decorating duty, eh?

[linnis_paris]

::offers smile, automatically reaching out to steady him as well::

::sniffs again::

Was that what you were doing?

[jonathan_archer]

What, the... that?

::gestures to floor::

The tinsel's all over the damn place... which makes the room look all ho-ho-ho but... well, I asked for it actually.

::settles hands on hips::

So I won't complain until after New Year's, heh...

::thinks::

Do Ocampans have a winter... or, whatever season... something like Christmas?

[linnis_paris]

No, no, it was...

Maybe not...nothing...the eggnog. Tradition.

::pinches bridge of nose, trying not to look too flustered...was trying to not make him uncomfortable, after all::

Let's just let it be.

[jonathan_archer]

::isn't listening, is too caught up in the embarassment... not to mention the many levels of guilt that begin to pop up::

I... I... it was me, it wasn't you, no, I'll take responsibility, complete responsibility... for that... the... thing...

::is babbling, knows is babbling, knows sounds stupid babbling... continues nevertheless::

Boy, you were right I'm more than tipsy, I must be, I just haven't ever done that before. I mean, I've done that before, obviously, but not after a few glasses of punch... or nog, whatever...

[linnis_paris]

::eyes him::

::sighs::

::reaches out to yank at an elbow, forcing his attention::

Jon. Shut up.

It's okay.

[jonathan_archer]

::stops talking in mid-sentence, looking at Linnis, very worried::

...

But... you're married... I'm...I may as well be, I'm acting like it... I've got kids, for crying out loud... oh boy...

::almost paces in place if it were possible::

And jeezus the last thing I want to do is screw up this friendship... ::rubs hand on forehead... feels like could crawl under the floor if it were possible::

I'm sorry, really. Really really.