Just a short one
Who: Lucci and George
What: Kissing and semi-actual love triangle resolution
Where: The Aquarium Bar
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG-13
George hovered near the door, fidgeting a little anxiously as everyone watched the clock count down the minutes until midnight. Three to go. She spun her champagne flute in her fingers, taking a deep breath and steeling her resolve. Luckily Lucci was also near the door so this would be easy. She took a small step toward him. "Almost midnight," she said, needlessly, with the rest of the crew cheering and shouting.
"Mmhm," said Lucci. He was slightly drunk and finding that leaning against the wall was easier than standing up straight, given that his balance was already shot due to his arm. "I don't think I asked if you have any resolutions."
George moved a little closer, half because it was loud and half because she just wanted to be closer to him. "Something along the lines of learning to see the good rather than focusing on the bad, I think. I've been fucking terrible about that all year. You?" Two minutes left.
"Something like that," Lucci agreed. "Be more optimistic." And try to focus on things other than this whole tangled mess involving George, but he wasn't going to say that.
"And working things out instead of sitting on them and just hoping they'll get better or easier," George said, almost to herself, watching the clock get closer and closer to midnight. He heart clenched in anxiety.
Lucci didn't know how to respond to that. He swallowed. "...That's...a good goal."
"Mm," George said. "You have any others?" She looked up at him, still ridiculously aware of how long until midnight.
"Put Hattori on a diet," Lucci said. He tried not to wonder why George was standing so close to him.
"Oh yeah," George said a tiny bit of anxiety making its way into her voice, "you told me about that earlier.
"Did I?" Lucci was pretty sure he remembered that. He convinced himself it was just the alcohol making this situation seem like anything more than what it was.
"Mmhm," George said, "A couple days ago." Less than a minute left. she took another deep breath.
"Oh, right." It was getting close to midnight. Lucci was struck by a sudden urge to move closer, but he couldn't. Not unless she did first.
George eyed their other crewmembers and when she was sure none of them were looking she did move a little closer. Thirty seconds.
"...Not long now," Lucci said quietly. "Do you think we might...have a toast, or something like that?"
"Yeah," George said. At midnight we'll all yell 'Happy New Year' and drink our champagne," she said, adding the next step in her head. Twenty seconds.
"Oh," said Lucci. He meant to say 'I don't usually celebrate the New Year,' but what actually came out was "What do we do until then?"
"What?" George asked, tilting her head in confusion. "There are only fifteen seconds left. We just. Count down the last ten. So...right now. Ten...nine..." Her stomach was suddenly full of butterflies.
"Oh," Lucci said. "Right." He wasn't sure why he felt so...nervous, like something was going on that he wasn't aware of. Instinctively, he glanced over to where everyone else was gathered. "Eight, seven, six..."
George eyed the door, mentally plotting out how she was going to get them both out of there. She threaded her arm through his. "Five, four, three..."
"...Two, one, zero." Everyone cheered. Lucci almost jumped, having been somewhat distracted.
George cheered along with everyone else and chugged her entire flute of champagne before setting it down on the nearest bench. She tugged at Lucci's arm hoping against hope that he'd follow easily, otherwise this was going to just be awkward.
Lucci followed without protest, glancing back once; he didn't think anyone could see them leave.
George smiled a little as they left the room and closed the door behind them. "So..." she said, flushing a little. After a moment's hesitation she decided to just go for it. Unfortunately was a little too tall for her to reach his mouth when he was standing at full height, so she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to her, kissing him squarely on the mouth.
Lucci had been half expecting that and half not at all. He'd been prepared enough to kiss back, at least. There were a million questions running through his head, mostly pertaining to what this was supposed to mean, but he ignored them all just for the moment.
George pulled away after just a moment, too anxious to let it linger any longer than that. "Happy New Year," she said softly before she let him go.
"...Happy New Year." Lucci was...well, a lot of things; happy, slightly worried, confused. Did this mean she'd made a decision? He couldn't just ask, though. He had to wait until she said so.
"...sorry," George said, face flushing. "I just...it's tradition..."
"I know," Lucci said. "Don't be sorry. I just...I'm not sure what to say. But it's not as though I disapprove of you kissing me." He smiled, just a little.
"...I want to try this," she said suddenly, a little louder than might strictly be appropriate. Luckily the rest of the crew were still cheering and being noisy in the Aquarium Bar.
For about two seconds, Lucci was completely and utterly convinced that he hadn't heard that. Then, faintly, just in case, he said "You do?"
George nodded, her insides all twisted up in uncomfortable knots. "You sound surprised," she said a little sheepishly.
"I just...well, I suppose I didn't think that...I just wasn't really sure you would..." He swallowed. "Really? You really do? Because I - that's--" Lucci didn't know what to say. He was still in disbelief.
George smiled. She was still freaking out internally, but the look on Lucci's face right now was kind of priceless. "I really do," she said, not quite as sure about that as she was trying to sound.
"Oh," Lucci said, still sounding completely blown away. The corner of his mouth twitched like he wanted to smile but couldn't figure out if he should. "...Can I kiss you again?"
George sighed, relieved. She wasn't sure how she was expecting Lucci to react, but this was very good and her insides settled down just a little. "Yes," she said tilting her head up.
Lucci brought his hand up to the side of George's face, leaned down, and kissed her again.
George moved closer to him, kissing him back harder than before.
Lucci figured it was going to take a bit for it to really sink in, but for now...it was New Year's Eve and he got to kiss George and she actually wanted to try this, wanted to...be with him. And he was happy.
George wrapped one arm around his back and buried her face in his shoulder, hugging him as tightly as she thought she could without hurting his arm. she breathed in deeply, trying to ignore her reservations, trying not to think of Usopp, trying to enjoy this moment. "I love you," she said.
"I love you too," Lucci said. Luckily his arm was at least set to the point that, as long as the cast didn't get jostled around too much, it didn't really hurt to have it pressed on. "I really, really do."
"We should probably go back in," George said a little reluctantly. "They'll miss us."
"...Yes, probably," Lucci said reluctantly. He really didn't want to go back, but she was right. Still, he didn't move yet.
George pulled him down to kiss him one more time, quickly, then pulled away and went straight back into the Aquarium Bar. She definitely needed some more champagne.
Lucci followed, hoping no one would catch them, because that would be a little awkward to explain. He felt kind of light-headed, and only part of it was champagne. The situation was still thoroughly surreal.
George went back into the crowd that was the crew, wishing them each a happy new year as she passed them. She looked over her shoulder at Lucci as she mingled, and smiled softly, in the moment actually happy. There was still the whole Usopp thing, but right now. Right now she had something she wanted, and since Usopp didn't know he wasn't heartbroken. Yet. George poured herself another glass of champagne. It's a new year, she thought, taking a large sip. I hope this one is better than the last.
Lucci caught George's smile and returned it, steadfastly ignoring any reason that he shouldn't be happy about this. It was still good, definitely good...he just hadn't expected to get what he wanted, and now that he had, he wasn't exactly sure how to react to it. For now, he was just going to drink more and celebrate and worry about the rest of it later.
What: Kissing and semi-actual love triangle resolution
Where: The Aquarium Bar
When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG-13
George hovered near the door, fidgeting a little anxiously as everyone watched the clock count down the minutes until midnight. Three to go. She spun her champagne flute in her fingers, taking a deep breath and steeling her resolve. Luckily Lucci was also near the door so this would be easy. She took a small step toward him. "Almost midnight," she said, needlessly, with the rest of the crew cheering and shouting.
"Mmhm," said Lucci. He was slightly drunk and finding that leaning against the wall was easier than standing up straight, given that his balance was already shot due to his arm. "I don't think I asked if you have any resolutions."
George moved a little closer, half because it was loud and half because she just wanted to be closer to him. "Something along the lines of learning to see the good rather than focusing on the bad, I think. I've been fucking terrible about that all year. You?" Two minutes left.
"Something like that," Lucci agreed. "Be more optimistic." And try to focus on things other than this whole tangled mess involving George, but he wasn't going to say that.
"And working things out instead of sitting on them and just hoping they'll get better or easier," George said, almost to herself, watching the clock get closer and closer to midnight. He heart clenched in anxiety.
Lucci didn't know how to respond to that. He swallowed. "...That's...a good goal."
"Mm," George said. "You have any others?" She looked up at him, still ridiculously aware of how long until midnight.
"Put Hattori on a diet," Lucci said. He tried not to wonder why George was standing so close to him.
"Oh yeah," George said a tiny bit of anxiety making its way into her voice, "you told me about that earlier.
"Did I?" Lucci was pretty sure he remembered that. He convinced himself it was just the alcohol making this situation seem like anything more than what it was.
"Mmhm," George said, "A couple days ago." Less than a minute left. she took another deep breath.
"Oh, right." It was getting close to midnight. Lucci was struck by a sudden urge to move closer, but he couldn't. Not unless she did first.
George eyed their other crewmembers and when she was sure none of them were looking she did move a little closer. Thirty seconds.
"...Not long now," Lucci said quietly. "Do you think we might...have a toast, or something like that?"
"Yeah," George said. At midnight we'll all yell 'Happy New Year' and drink our champagne," she said, adding the next step in her head. Twenty seconds.
"Oh," said Lucci. He meant to say 'I don't usually celebrate the New Year,' but what actually came out was "What do we do until then?"
"What?" George asked, tilting her head in confusion. "There are only fifteen seconds left. We just. Count down the last ten. So...right now. Ten...nine..." Her stomach was suddenly full of butterflies.
"Oh," Lucci said. "Right." He wasn't sure why he felt so...nervous, like something was going on that he wasn't aware of. Instinctively, he glanced over to where everyone else was gathered. "Eight, seven, six..."
George eyed the door, mentally plotting out how she was going to get them both out of there. She threaded her arm through his. "Five, four, three..."
"...Two, one, zero." Everyone cheered. Lucci almost jumped, having been somewhat distracted.
George cheered along with everyone else and chugged her entire flute of champagne before setting it down on the nearest bench. She tugged at Lucci's arm hoping against hope that he'd follow easily, otherwise this was going to just be awkward.
Lucci followed without protest, glancing back once; he didn't think anyone could see them leave.
George smiled a little as they left the room and closed the door behind them. "So..." she said, flushing a little. After a moment's hesitation she decided to just go for it. Unfortunately was a little too tall for her to reach his mouth when he was standing at full height, so she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down to her, kissing him squarely on the mouth.
Lucci had been half expecting that and half not at all. He'd been prepared enough to kiss back, at least. There were a million questions running through his head, mostly pertaining to what this was supposed to mean, but he ignored them all just for the moment.
George pulled away after just a moment, too anxious to let it linger any longer than that. "Happy New Year," she said softly before she let him go.
"...Happy New Year." Lucci was...well, a lot of things; happy, slightly worried, confused. Did this mean she'd made a decision? He couldn't just ask, though. He had to wait until she said so.
"...sorry," George said, face flushing. "I just...it's tradition..."
"I know," Lucci said. "Don't be sorry. I just...I'm not sure what to say. But it's not as though I disapprove of you kissing me." He smiled, just a little.
"...I want to try this," she said suddenly, a little louder than might strictly be appropriate. Luckily the rest of the crew were still cheering and being noisy in the Aquarium Bar.
For about two seconds, Lucci was completely and utterly convinced that he hadn't heard that. Then, faintly, just in case, he said "You do?"
George nodded, her insides all twisted up in uncomfortable knots. "You sound surprised," she said a little sheepishly.
"I just...well, I suppose I didn't think that...I just wasn't really sure you would..." He swallowed. "Really? You really do? Because I - that's--" Lucci didn't know what to say. He was still in disbelief.
George smiled. She was still freaking out internally, but the look on Lucci's face right now was kind of priceless. "I really do," she said, not quite as sure about that as she was trying to sound.
"Oh," Lucci said, still sounding completely blown away. The corner of his mouth twitched like he wanted to smile but couldn't figure out if he should. "...Can I kiss you again?"
George sighed, relieved. She wasn't sure how she was expecting Lucci to react, but this was very good and her insides settled down just a little. "Yes," she said tilting her head up.
Lucci brought his hand up to the side of George's face, leaned down, and kissed her again.
George moved closer to him, kissing him back harder than before.
Lucci figured it was going to take a bit for it to really sink in, but for now...it was New Year's Eve and he got to kiss George and she actually wanted to try this, wanted to...be with him. And he was happy.
George wrapped one arm around his back and buried her face in his shoulder, hugging him as tightly as she thought she could without hurting his arm. she breathed in deeply, trying to ignore her reservations, trying not to think of Usopp, trying to enjoy this moment. "I love you," she said.
"I love you too," Lucci said. Luckily his arm was at least set to the point that, as long as the cast didn't get jostled around too much, it didn't really hurt to have it pressed on. "I really, really do."
"We should probably go back in," George said a little reluctantly. "They'll miss us."
"...Yes, probably," Lucci said reluctantly. He really didn't want to go back, but she was right. Still, he didn't move yet.
George pulled him down to kiss him one more time, quickly, then pulled away and went straight back into the Aquarium Bar. She definitely needed some more champagne.
Lucci followed, hoping no one would catch them, because that would be a little awkward to explain. He felt kind of light-headed, and only part of it was champagne. The situation was still thoroughly surreal.
George went back into the crowd that was the crew, wishing them each a happy new year as she passed them. She looked over her shoulder at Lucci as she mingled, and smiled softly, in the moment actually happy. There was still the whole Usopp thing, but right now. Right now she had something she wanted, and since Usopp didn't know he wasn't heartbroken. Yet. George poured herself another glass of champagne. It's a new year, she thought, taking a large sip. I hope this one is better than the last.
Lucci caught George's smile and returned it, steadfastly ignoring any reason that he shouldn't be happy about this. It was still good, definitely good...he just hadn't expected to get what he wanted, and now that he had, he wasn't exactly sure how to react to it. For now, he was just going to drink more and celebrate and worry about the rest of it later.