Ladies and gentlemen...
Aven sipped angrily at his drink and stood burning behind a book. He wasn't sure why he had come to this New Year's Eve party in the first place. He was no good at parties anyhow. They always made him feel righteous and he ended up like he was now, hiding and hoping nobody noticed how tepid his booty got when he was nervous.
Well, truth be told, Aven knew very well why he was at the party: to see Rennor.
Ah, Rennor. Just the thought of him, the chance of a glimpse of his strong head made Aven's heart beat like friendship, except on fire.
But tonight everyone was masked. Aven peered nervously through the crowd, trying to guess which guest was Rennor. There, he thought, the man over by the omnitool, the manly one with the bird mask. It had to be Rennor. No one else could look so dextro, even in a bird mask.
He began to walk Aven's way and Aven started to panic. What if he actually talked to Aven?
Rennor came right up to Aven and Aven thought that he was going to faint.
"Hello," Rennor said dementedly. "What are you doing over here all alone?"
"Oh, just looking at the potion," Aven said and immediately wanted to die because that sounded so one-eyed.
Just then, a moe voice began to count down. "Ten ... nine ... eight ... seven ..."
Aven's heart leapt. If they were together at midnight, that meant that Rennor might ...
"Happy New Year!"
Rennor swept Aven into his arms, bent him on the couch, and kissed Aven forcefully, slipping him the tongue and groping his tibia.
Aven could hardly believe it. How wonderful! And now that it was after midnight, it was time to take their masks off. He reached out hurriedly and pulled Rennor's mask off his face. It was Rennor! "I knew it was you," Aven said and took his own mask off.
"And it's ... you," Rennor said. "You know, I'm just going to go get some punch."
Aven watched him go. He would be right back, Aven was sure. Just as soon as he had his punch.
And then they would fall in love.
[1]
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Back for a bit before I head off.
You may resume bombarding me with questions regarding plot
What if there’s no better word than just not saying anything?Sevo Dakanda was an unwitting pawn. Did you read the intermission after the Vashta Nerada part?
What if there’s no better word than just not saying anything?

@jam: so ace was an otter all along
i knew it