Who: Blake and Ethan
Setting: Their cabin

( I didn’t propose in my sleep, did I? )

who: Bear, Judson, Dustin and Blake
setting: security office

( son of a bitch )

Who: Tris and Blake
Setting: Gym

( As much as he hated it, Tris did occasionally make himself go to the gym. )

Who: Ethan and Blake
Setting: Their room, not long after the boat leaves Stockholm

( and trying admissions again )

Who: Blake, Ethan, Tris, Christian
Setting: Stockholm

“Hey,” Ethan said into the phone, shifting off of Blake when he heard the noise in the background. “Tris okay?” That was the first fear, that there was something wrong with Tris.

“Ethan, thank god. Tris is here. There’s...something going on. We need to leave. Now. Grab...whatever you can. Meet us in the lobby in five minutes. We have to get back on the boat.” Christian said everything in a hurried rush, gripping at Tris’ arm.

Tris took the phone from Chris. “Ethan. Looks like half the town is going to try and get on the boat. Five minutes. Chris and I don't have anything important in our room.” He looked to Chris for confirmation of that even as he ended the call, already confident in the answer. Material possessions could be replaced.

( WTF )

Who: Ethan and Blake
Setting: Their hotel suite in Stockholm, late, just as things go nuts

( now run! )

Who: Blake and Christian
Setting: Their room before docking in Stockholm

Christian let himself back into the apartment, flipping through the course catalogue of what classes were offered on the boat. He had a pen between his teeth, marking a few things, intending to show Velma the list once he’d narrowed it down. He headed for the kitchen, intent on getting something warm to drink but jumped out of his skin when he realized he wasn’t alone. “Ah!” He dropped the pen and pressed the book against his chest.

He closed his eyes for a moment then sighed. “Sorry, hey.” He didn’t know the tall hulk of a human that was Ethan’s sort of boyfriend, but he didn’t need to be afraid of him, right? No. They were roommates.

( it's only a little weird )

Who: Blake and Ethan
What: A little work out and talking
Where: Gym

( It's not just the noise that was bothering Ethan )

Who: Ethan and Blake
Setting: Their apartment, NYE
Warning: NSFW

Ethan had left a note for Blake, done in his nicest handwriting, inviting him to their living room for New Year’s, then went about making sure everything was right. He’d hung up twinkling lights, adding the pale lights on the tree that was still up in one corner of the apartment. Then he’d had food brought in, mostly finger foods, and chilled bottles of champagne. He’d put on a new sweater, something that was barely keeping him warm when he ducked out on the balcony for a quick smoke to calm his nerves. Why he was nervous was beyond him. Taking Blake out on Christmas Eve had been far more intimidating, as had the small collection of gifts that he’d bought for Blake that were definitely for Blake’s eyes only. For some reason though, just the two of them, celebrating a holiday all proper without friends to distract them, felt like a lot.

He double checked his watch for what time he’d told Blake to meet him, then Tris and Chris’ room to make sure they’d left then he checked the food again, peeking under the container lids. Then he was making the rounds to the lights, the flameless candles he’d set up and the bottles of champagne on ice.

( and admissions of truth )

RUMORS & LIES

your monthly dose of Odyssey gossip

Happy Holidays! Did you think I’d forgotten about you? Never ever! Kudos to America’s own pocket prince for throwing the most fabulous Halloween bash the Odyssey has ever seen. Clearly when you’re in costume, you can knock boots with whomever you want, wherever you want. Batman was seen with both our host and the ice princess! That boy sure does get around. And so does the duchess, out to lunch and all cozy with an unknown beau. Where was her fiancé during this secret soiree? Too bad the paparazzi didn’t get a better picture. There were plenty of pictures of the ginger crown prince and his new arm candy. How quickly he moved on, this time to a complete unknown. Is she something more? Or just another distraction? As the first woman to make it more than one date in years, it’d be nice to at least know her name. We have a knight on board! All we need is a Bishop and we’re close to having a full chess set. Apparently if you save a princess, you get knighted. But if you save an assload of people and you’re just a pawn, well… you get to keep your job. Thank God. It’s sad to know how little value Management places on it’s employees. Bah Humbug.

layout by tessisamess@ij

The knighting ceremony for Sebastian Ellison takes place not long after the boat leaves for open waters. The ceremony itself is done on a raised stage in the middle of the Atrium of the ship. It's a formal sort of thing, Prince Andrew presides, done up in his military dress blues, with a small crown tucked into his red locks. His brother and sister are with him, seated on the stage.

There are seats for those invited facing the stage, but anyone who wishes to attend can, and people lean against the railings of the open foyer of the boat to watch the process.

There's a reception afterwards in celebration of the newly minted Sir Ellison, but it's invite only and at the Royal Club. The list is limited to close family friends and guests of political or financial note. Drinks and food will be provided.

Who: Ethan and Blake
Setting: Their house after the Halloween Party
Warning: NSFW - Also, the 'L' word was said in a roundabout way

( ...all I want to do is love you...love <i>all</i> of you )

As promised, the night of Halloween the party at Ethan's house begins. There's food catered from the local village, drinks with official bartenders as well. The lower floor of the house he's been giving on the island has been decorated, each room with a slightly different them. The great room has pumpkins and orange everywhere, the back room that was probably a dining room before he had furniture moved out is a dancefloor done up in blacklights with a DJ dressed as a skeleton glowing under it.

Anyone who has heard about it is invited, and needless to say, just about everyone has heard about it. Ethan's easy to find in the center of it, bouncing from guest to guest.

The party goes on well into the early hours of the morning and for those who stick around, there's a breakfast buffet that gets rolled out somewhere around sunrise as the party finally starts to wrap.

Who: Blake and Henrik
Setting: Aboard the ship

( I think you dropped this )

Who: Blake and Ethan
Setting: Their room, not long after arriving
Warning: NSFW

Ethan liked the rooms, even if they were smaller than he was used to. Still, they were nice and the boat itself was glamorous. It would do. It wasn’t perfect, but the world was ending. It would have to do. He set his things on the bed, turning around before grinning at Blake. “Not the Ritz, but you know, could be worse?”

Blake set his things down as well and looked around. “A room doesn’t have to be glamorous,” he stated. “Not suppose to spend all day in it anyway. Plus there is room service, if you want, all kinds of bars, restaurants and you get a new place to explore every few weeks or so,” he smiled. “I’d say it definitely could be worse.” But he was sad to be leaving his parents behind, who seemed to be doing just fine and all, but still… “So, um…” he looked around the room again and then back to Ethan. “Will I always be known as Ethan’s Blake?”

( is that such a bad thing? )

Who: Ethan, Blake, Christian and Tris
Setting: Flashbackish - on their way to the boat

( let's hope no one gets seasick )