hollow_moon | Jag - The Collingwood Christmas Party

The party was always the same. Big dresses, men in fine tailored suits, rich food, bountiful drink... It was opulent and glitzy, and Val sort of loved it. Sometimes they rented ballrooms or hotels, but this year his mother had chosen the family home, wanting to show off the restorations she'd had done, and take advantage of the decent weather that allowed their guests to explore the large and beautiful gardens.

He'd gotten a few curious looks from certain relatives when he'd turned up with Jag on his arm, but most of his family hardly batted a lash- And many were open and friendly, making a point of coming over and saying hello.

His mother, however, had been fairly illusive, so busy flitting about that she'd barely had time to wave hello. It was only now, when Val was wondering if maybe it was time to start heading out, that she seemed to appear out of nowhere and came rushing over. Her hair was a perfect shade of silver, long and thick, but styled neatly into a loose bun. She was wearing a long and flowing evening gown, but her jewellery was simple, a necklace with a single Tahitian pearl, and a set of simple silver channel earrings.

"Oh, Valentine! Look at you," she smiled, cupping Val's face in her hands and smiling warmly. "You've cut your hair! It looks so smart. Still not sure about the eyeliner- Though I'm impressed you can get the waterline filled in so well," she chuckled, kissing his cheek and then taking a step back. "You didn't think you could escape without introducing me to your friend, did you?"

Val smiled, and almost blushed- Though he'd deny it if anyone suggested he had. "Date, actually. Mum, this is Jag, Jag this is my mother, Margaret Collingwood."

Margaret smiled brightly, offering her hand. "Lovely to meet you, Jag."

Threaded | Flat

Jag had ended up relenting, and letting Val find him something to wear. The truth was, he had no idea how to go about choosing a suit, and the goal here wasn't to embarrass Val. The silver chain he always wore around his neck was hidden under his shirt, and he'd only kept a couple of his silver rings on, and done his best to tame his hair and trim his scruff. He thought he looked like a kid in a fancy dress, wearing those kinds of clothes, but Val seemed to like it, and that was what mattered.

He didn't feel much more at ease throughout the party, not that most people were arseholes. No, most of them were surprisingly friendly, but he couldn't help but feel like they wouldn't have given him the time of day if they'd run into him on the street. Or, maybe, like they would have given him money out of pity, rather than because his number was that good. His issues had issues, at this stage, but he managed to stay civil with the nice ones, and jaw-clenched with the few wankers he normally would have made a point to provoke. Jaw-clenched was a step up on looking for a fight.

It was worth it, though, for every smile Val gave him. Jag might not understand the appeal of this sort of party, but Val was happy to be here, and that was fucking beautiful.

But it had been a long evening, and he'd made a point not to drink too much, and now here came Val's mother. He couldn't help but feel offended, on Val's behalf more than his own, that it had taken her so long to come and see her son. The way he saw it, that should've been her priority. But the Collingwoods clearly didn't function in any way that Jag understood, and he smiled back at her, his unease difficult to pick up on for someone who didn't know him.

"And you, ma'am," he answered, wondering if that was the right way to address her. He tended to call everyone by their first names, but he was so out of his depth in this environment, and calling her Margaret didn't feel right. It didn't help that his accent set him so clearly apart from the lot of them, no matter how he dressed. "It's a lovely party."

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