2022 Advent Challenge

Armin knew that he wasn't doing a particularly good job of feigning interest in this party. But in his defence, it wasn't anything fun – most of the people here were his work colleagues and their friends and family, and they were all acting rather prim and proper, talking about the company's future and other horribly dull things. Nobody was cracking rude jokes, nobody was truly relaxed, and everybody was being polite. It was a stifling atmosphere.

'Your boss is here,' Janet muttered, tugging on the sleeve of his suit jacket. 'And you look bored out of your wits.'

'I am,' said Armin without hesitation.

'Yes, but you're not making a very good impression, are you?'

'He isn't going to fire me just because I snubbed his work party,' said Armin, although privately, he wasn't sure. Mr Davidson was the kind of guy who seemed laid-back, but it was all an act and he'd definitely fire someone if they offended him enough.

'Just make more of an effort. We won't be here for much longer,' said Janet coaxingly. 'Remember, the nanny is only watching Fred and Julie until nine.'

Armin made a non-committal noise. Just then, a middle-aged, plump man in a purple suit and green tie walked over to them. His name was Mr Sandalwood and he was... well, just as boring as everyone else here. Every interaction with him was mindless polite small talk.

'Ah, you two. It's just wonderful to see you here,' he said, grabbing Armin's hand and giving it a hearty shake. 'Got any plans for Christmas yet?'

'Just the usual, Mr Sandalwood,' Janet replied.

'Yeah, we're going to have a nice dinner, just us and the kids. Then we'll be going to Riverside to visit my relatives the day after Christmas,' said Armin.

'Lovely to hear that. It sounds very cosy.'

They exchanged a few more lines of stilted dialogue before Mr Sandalwood mercifully wandered off to strike up an equally dull conversation with someone else. Armin let out a breath and turned to Janet.

'This is horrific. Can we leave now?'

Janet gave him a look that was supposed to be stern, but was falling dangerously close to amusement. 'You and your hatred for formal events.'

'It's ridiculous. No-one is even talking about anything interesting.'

'That's because they're not friends, who can relax and be themselves together. Many of them are trying to impress their superiors and peers, or make themselves look good.'

'I'm not,' said Armin. 'I don't care what any of these people think of me. I'm certainly not going to suck up to anyone. If they don't like me for who I am, then they can get lost.'

Janet's mouth twitched into a reluctant smile. 'I do like your free spirit. But it's going to get you into trouble one of these days.'

Armin glanced around, seeing a few more businessmen closing in on their location, no doubt in search of more small talk. In a stroke of inspiration, he seized his wife's arm and pulled her away, away from the crowd, toward a quiet corner decorated with tinsel and flickering candles. As much as he liked to complain about the party, he'd admit that the Christmas decorations were rather nice. There was even a huge pine tree nearby, which helped to hide him and Janet from the eyes of the guests.

'There. That's better,' he said, now standing behind the tree with a feeling of satisfaction.

'...Are you really just going to hide here until it's time to leave?' said Janet.

'Hey, they probably won't even notice our absence.'

'That's not the point.'

'What, did you actually want to spend the next half-hour making chitchat with a bunch of snooty conservatives?'

'I didn't mind. Besides, do you want your boss to find out that you hid behind a Christmas tree during his event?'

'Well, it would be funny...'

She smacked him on the elbow. 'Your job is our main source of income!' she loud-whispered. 'Who's going to support us if you get fired?'

'We've got a decent amount of money saved up, and besides... I can get a new job quickly enough. I normally do.'

This was true; Armin was generally very good at getting jobs, but rather bad at keeping them. His last job had lasted three months. His current stint at the post office had lasted four – so far.

'You're ridiculous,' Janet sighed, and Armin couldn't hold back a smile when he recognised the exasperated, yet fond, note in her voice. There were times, perhaps understandably, when she got really annoyed with him – he couldn't expect them to be on the same wavelength 24/7 – but this wasn't one of those times.

'So, which of us is going to fake a stomach affliction so we can leave?' Armin half-joked.

She smacked his arm again. 'We're not going to be here for much longer. Be a man and deal with it.'

Armin sighed, but good-naturedly. 'OK. I suppose we'd better go back out and--'

'Wait a minute.'

'...What?'

Janet's gaze had suddenly become fixated on something above Armin's head. Before he could ask what the hell she was looking at – or look up and see for himself – she reached up, gently but firmly grasped his lapels, and pulled him down for a kiss.

It wasn't a particularly long kiss, but it set his nerves alight and pulse racing with confused excitement. Between the two of them, Janet was less often the one to take initiative. Armin didn't mind, as springing things on her was something he enjoyed, as long as she wasn't opposed to his shenanigans. But with her soft lips against his and the faint chitchat of the unsuspecting guests in the background, he certainly wasn't complaining.

'...Well,' he said afterwards, staring down at her and slowly running his tongue over his lips, 'that was interesting.'

'There's a sprig of mistletoe on the ceiling,' Janet informed him. 'Now come on, let's go.'

She pulled him back to rejoin the party, and Armin was too surprised and happy to even resist her grasp.