A/N: Alright, so in honor of the new year, I wanted to make it to thirty chapters for The Exotic and Unordinary. Thank you to everyone who has read it up to this point, reviewed, followed, favorited, and spared a laugh for it. I thank all of you and wish you an awesome new year!

I've heard beans symbolize coins for wealth of the new year, hence 'Lentils' and grapes represent days on the calendar, so that's why I chose 'Grapes'. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Eater or Game of Thrones.

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30. Alarmed Lentils and Grapes

Nerves

It was eleven fifty-five, just five minutes before the start of the new year and Soul was feeling content as he looked back on the months. Asura was secure on the moon, his friends were gathered around him, the hunting of kishin was the same as always, and the world hadn't caved in on itself from the sheer weight of everyone living on it.

Soul nodded, tapping a nearly full glass of wine. Tsubaki had brought it, though he didn't particularly enjoy the stuff. It seemed so dignified and sophisticated. Something the Evans' family passed around during the holidays.

The Death Scythe resisted the need the roll his eyes and turned to the clock instead. Four minutes until midnight.

"Black Star, you're too drunk to have a rational conversation with," came Kid's exasperated voice and Soul turned to where the Grim Reaper was being harassed by the smashed assassin. Black Star had an arm around the death god's shoulders and was looking irate as he tried keeping himself upright, a task he probably would have failed long ago if not for Kid's patience.

Soul frowned a little, pitying the shinigami. It had to be difficult, being the only truly sober person in the room thanks to his reaper abilities. The only person able to handle Black Star with liquor was another individual with liquor. Or Tsubaki.

Soul shook his head as Tsubaki gently eased Black Star away from Kid, gently hushing the boy as he began whining about Starks and Lannisters. Soul had the tiny inkling when he'd grabbed Game of Thrones that it'd be a bad idea to introduce it to Black Star when alcohol was also included. The assassin had been arguing with Kid about it for the past ten minutes, and the conversation had been flipped around twice before bunnies were suddenly included and Kid had deemed Black Star 'unable-to-compute-anything.'

"Juswait," Black Star slurred, wobbling out of Tsubaki's grasp and slinking over to the front door. "Stein knowss... He knows the truth on everthinh... That blonde... shit..." The assassin creeped out the door, leaving the rest of them staring before Tsubaki quickly scrambled after him.

Soul exhaled tiredly. Two minutes until midnight.

"Hey, Soul-Jam!"

Soul turned to the side, blinking in alarm as Patty flopped down on the couch next to him, giggling happily. He couldn't tell if the weapon had been drinking, for her mood seemed to be the same as ever.

"'Soul-Jam?'" Soul echoed in confusion. "What made you think of—?"

"So are you going to give anyone a smooch for the new year?" Patty inquired before he was able to finish his own question. "Big Sis told me awhile ago that's what some people do. I tried getting Kid last year, but he wouldn't go for it."

Soul raised an eyebrow, glancing over to where the reaper was sitting next to Liz and discussing something with tired eyes.

"I didn't really think about giving anyone a kiss," Soul admitted, crossing his arms behind his head and looking up at the ceiling. "I just thought I'd give a thorough cheer and be done with it."

Patty stuck out her tongue, poking the Death Scythe in the side with a teasing finger. "That's no fun, Mr. Death Scythe. Don't you owe your meister a little kiss for getting you to Death Scythe status?"

"She'd find it disgusting," Soul replied, pinching his ear as they began to burn a little at the thought. Although, his meister was into some of the gooey, romantic gestures, so she would probably allow a few seconds before the first Maka-Chop was dealt.

Soul shook his head, casting aside the idea. No, too risky and too ridiculous.

"I'm sure Blair wouldn't mind," Patty offered, looking into the kitchen to where the magical cat was flipping the usual black fish in a pan with flames tearing at the bottom.

"I'll pass," Soul muttered, shuddering inwardly . He didn't want to spend the first seconds of the new year crammed between the cat and the couch.

Patty released an impatient sigh through her nose, tilting her head backwards to look at the front door. "Tsubaki just left, so no luck there..." Slowly, she turned back to Soul, mouth situated in a funny line and one eyebrow stretched to the ceiling. "You don't think Big Sis will...?"

"No, no!" Soul interrupted quickly, waving a hand in dismissal before lowering his voice to a hiss. "I'm not going to kiss your sister, so quit worrying."

"Meow, look at the time everyone!" Blair called over the conversations of the guests. "We're on the countdown now!"

"Ten, nine, eight..." Began Maka and Liz, turning their attention to the large clock on the wall between two of Soul's posters.

"I don't think you can reach Kid fast enough," Patty murmured thoughtfully, tapping her index finger against her chin.

"...Seven, six...What? I'm not kissing him, either!" Soul seethed, not breaking eye-contact with the hands of the clock.

"Then I guess there's no helping it." Patty's eyes glimmered for a split second and her lips parted in a mischievous grin.

"...Three, two, one!"

Before Soul could proceed with his 'thorough cheer' and be done with the evening, Patty had twisted to get in front of him before planting a huge kiss on his mouth. The cheers of his friends rose up around him (for a frightening moment, he was afraid they were for him and Patty), and Patty broke away from the scythe, giving him a pat on the head.

"There. That wasn't so bad, was it?" she inquired, tilting her head to the side with an innocent smile.

Soul blinked, gazing back at the blonde in bewilderment as he felt his face grow warm.

"Breath," Patty commanded, gently patting his cheek. "Into your lungs and out again."

"Soul, you look like the old year strangled you on its way out," came Liz's semi-concerned voice as she took a swallow of her beverage.

"I'm fine," Soul assured the other girl, briefly considering what kind of predicament he would've been in had the Demon of Brooklyn caught his lips on her baby sister. It wasn't even his fault! He didn't expect her to suddenly just...

The Death Scythe shook his head, discarding the foreboding thought and earning a giggle out of Patty.

"Want to do another round?" she inquired sweetly.

"Huh?" Soul turned, mouth open in alarm before he quickly snapped it shut. "Well, I didn't really—"

"I meant Game of Thrones, silly," Patty laughed, turning and leaning against the arm of the couch and throwing her legs over his. "I wanna see the midget!"

"He's not a midget," Kid murmured upon hearing his weapon partner's outburst. "Remember?"

Damn. Soul thought, reaching for the remote with a shaking hand. I was too busy wondering what Patty's sister would do to me, but I never even thought about her meister, Death. Okay, nevermind. Liz is way scarier so my previous fretting has been justified.

Patty scrunched up her nose before shrugging and giving up. "He's short. C'mon, Soul. Hit play! Hit play!"

Wearily, Soul pushed the button on the remote and the next episode began, silencing everyone in the apartment. Soul was trying to forget his New Year's kiss and had just about succeeded with the help of pure carnage on the TV screen when Patty leaned over to him.

"Do you want to do another round after this?" she asked in a low voice, staring intently at the screen as a man was split in two.

Soul frowned, eyes sliding over to the demon weapon. "Another episode, you mean?"

Patty shrugged before a sly grin stretched across her face. "Maybe."

Soul turned back to the show, expression going blank. It took him a few seconds before his hand mechanically raised itself to plug his nose and the blood spurting from it.

"Soul, we watch this for the fun of it," Maka scolded gently when she noticed her meister's miniature nosebleed. "You don't have to bleed along with the characters."

Soul gave a sarcastic laugh and fixed Patty with an unamused stare. The other weapon, however, crossed her legs and looked quite amused with a hint of smugness.

Despite himself, Soul smirked a little. The nerve of her...

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A/N: Patty's nickname for Soul, 'Soul-Jam', is supposed to be a joke on the song Psychedelic Souljam from Soul Eater's soundtrack. Also, to anyone who might have noticed the strange detail about Tsubaki not being able to catch Black Star just as he went out the door, AutumnMobile12 and I believe this: Oddly enough, Black Star is a more efficient assassin when drunk.

Happy New Year, everyone!