anonymous prompted: "The remote is two feet thataway and I don't feel like moving. We're stuck with this." Raphril

I'm setting this in gladrial's Northampton Echoes verse. She has a great flair for banter that I sorely lack, but I gave it a red hot go to try and blend our two styles. It helps if you've actually seen the movie referenced, but oh well, lol.

ooo

Outside the farmhouse the snow drifted softly onto the yard and the woods beyond, lacing the glass of the windows in intricate icy patterns. The fire crackled and hissed in the fireplace, smoke pluming up the chimney as logs of wood steadily crumbled to ash. On the couch, Raphael and April huddled beneath an old quilt, fusty with the scent of mothballs.

Raphael glared at her, one big hand mindlessly fondling her feet where they rested in his lap beneath the quilt. "Seriously? You're really gonna make us watch this?"

April shrugged and leaned her head against the back of the couch, smirking at him. "I'm cosy. And this looks like it could be kinda fun."

He cocked a brow ridge at her. "Showgirls?"

April giggled and brought the quilt up a little higher around her neck. "C'mon, give it a shot. I've heard it's really funny."

"Funny as a gun to the head," he grumbled, but made no attempt himself to move.

Truth was, they were both just barely clinging to wakefulness. It was past midnight and there was no light in the den but the flickering glow of the fire, the house dark and silent around them, the whisper of snowflakes against the window threatening to lull them to sleep at any moment. But this was the only time they had together. The only time they could cuddle, and kiss, and pretend there was nothing but peace and the sweet joy of each other's company.

"This is actually physically painful to watch," he announced barely ten minutes in.

She kicked him gently, giggling. "Shhh, you'll miss the intricate plot details."

"Seriously, April. I am in agony over here. This is even worse than having to sit through one of Leo's Space Heroes marathons. It's torture."

April rolled her eyes. "What exactly do you want me to do about it, tough guy?"

He grinned. "You could help ease my pain." He waggled his brow ridges at her suggestively.

She cocked one red brow at him, her lips pursing. "Oh, really? How do you suggest I do that?"

Abruptly he kicked up the quilt, dropping a giant, three-toed foot heavily into her lap. "How about you rub my feet for a change?"

"Oof - oh you - stop it!" April snorted, choking back her giggles as she shoved uselessly at his massive foot. "Shh, or you'll wake everyone!"

Raphael stretched back on the cushions, arms behind his head. "Me? You're the one making all the noise." Slyly, he wiggled his toes into her tummy and she squirmed and smothered her laughter behind her hands, trying in vain to writhe away from his tickles.

"You're missing the boobs!" she wheezed desperately and abruptly his head snapped around to gaze wide-eyed at the tiny flickering screen.

"Woah!" he breathed, and dropped his foot onto the rug again. "This movie might not be so bad after all."

April sighed and rolled her eyes again. "Speaking of torture…"

Raphael elbowed her lightly. "Hey, this was your choice, remember. Damn, this girl's only got two emotions - screaming and punching." He counted them off on two thick fingers, then lifted his arm for April to scoot under, the two of them huddling close, the press of their bodies deliriously comforting against the cold, late night.

After a while April snorted, and shook her head quickly, trying to shake off the drowsiness that was leadening her eyelids. "We should make up a drinking game for this movie."

Raphael knuckled one eye. "Take a drink every time this chick overreacts about something."

April smiled, and snuggled closer to him. "Take a drink every time someone says 'Versayce'."

"Take a drink every time we see nipples."

"Woah, that's a quick way to get alcohol poisoning. Take a drink anytime Cristal says 'darlin'."

"Uhhh - " Raphael fought back against the fog descending on his brain. "Take a drink every time some really weird, kinda dykey girl bonding is going on."

April smiled at him wryly. "Does that include all the remarks about each other's nails?"

Raphael thoughtfully scratched his neck. "Nah. Those need their own shot."

April tittered and lay her head on his shoulder. For a moment they watched in silence and then Raphael sighed.

"This would be way more fun if we actually had some booze to drink."

April chuckled. "Want to call it a night?"

His arm tightened around her a little, hand squeezing her shoulder. "Not just yet."

The movie played on as the fire began to die. The shadows of the room grew deeper and longer and their eyes grew heavier, their heads swimming and bowing together. Beneath the quilt their fingers entwined and her hand folded into his, warm and close and sweet.