The "Technology Meets Tradition" gala was in full swing, a bizarre yet surprisingly cohesive blend of Alastor's old-fashioned charm and Vox's modern innovation. Sleek holographic snowflakes cascaded from the ceiling, flickering to life against the warm glow of vintage string lights. The tables were adorned with ornate centerpieces of pine and holly, dotted with miniature, glowing projections of classic holiday scenes.

At the center of it all were the two masterminds behind the event: Alastor, dressed in his signature crimson suit with a festive twist of holly pinned to his lapel, and Vox, sharp in a black suit trimmed with glowing blue accents that pulsed softly to the rhythm of the music. "This turnout is better than I expected," Alastor said, surveying the room with a grin. "Though, I could do without half the room staring at their infernal devices."

Vox chuckled. "They're admiring my upgrades, Al. Not everyone wants to live in the Stone Age."

"Stone Age, you say? Why, Vox, the radio is an eternal classic. Unlike your little gadgets, which are obsolete the moment you finish updating them."

Vox smirked, leaning closer. "You sure like to talk down about my tech for someone who willingly planned this gala with me."

Alastor's grin widened, his eyes gleaming. "Oh, darling, I simply saw the value in letting you handle the... flashy parts."

"Well," Vox said, his screen briefly flickering with static, "let's see if you appreciate this."

He gestured dramatically, and the enormous Christmas tree in the center of the room lit up, not with traditional lights, but with hundreds of tiny holographic ornaments, each one displaying a personal message or memory from the guests. The crowd erupted in applause, marveling at the display. Alastor clapped slowly, his expression unreadable. "Well, I must admit, Vox, that's... quite the spectacle. Borderline sentimental, even."

"Sentimental?" Vox scoffed, though his screen flickered faintly pink. "It's just coding. Don't overthink it."

Later in the evening, Alastor wandered over to the refreshments table. He scanned the options with mild disinterest, wrinkling his nose at the sweets dominating the spread. Vox appeared at his side, holding a cocktail that glows faintly blue. "Not a fan of the desserts, huh?" Vox asked, watching as Alastor bypassed the cookies and macarons.

"Hardly," Alastor replied. "Sweets are overrated. Too cloying for my tastes." He picked up a glass of mulled wine instead.

"Figures," Vox said with a chuckle. "You'd probably prefer black coffee and a raw steak."

"Correct!" Alastor said brightly. "How astute of you."

Vox hesitated, glancing around before leaning in slightly. "Look, Alastor, I wanted to say... this whole thing? It's been fun. I didn't think working with you would actually be... enjoyable."

Alastor raised an eyebrow, sipping his wine. "My, my, Vox, are you attempting to pay me a compliment?"

"Maybe I am," Vox said, his voice unusually sincere. "You've got this... way about you. Annoying, sure, but... kind of fascinating, too."

Alastor chuckled, his grin sharp. "Flattery will get you everywhere, darling. But tell me, what are you hoping to gain with all this charm?"

Vox's screen flickered with static again, a faint blush of pink glowing across his face. "Maybe I just wanted to say I like you, okay?"

Alastor tilted his head, studying Vox with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "Is that so? And here I thought you merely tolerated me out of necessity."

"Well, maybe I don't," Vox said, his tone defensive but his screen betraying him with a faint heart icon. "Tolerate you, I mean. Maybe I actually... enjoy your company."

Alastor's grin softened, his sharp edges dulling just slightly. "Well, Vox, consider me... intrigued. Perhaps there's more to you than circuits and screens after all."

Vox's screen glitched, his face now fully glowing pink. "Yeah, well... maybe there's more to you than old radios and creepy smiles."

Alastor laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "Careful, darling, or I might start thinking you're sincere."

"Maybe I am," Vox muttered, his voice low.

The moment lingered, the noise of the gala fading into the background as they stood there. For once, Alastor didn't laugh or tease. Instead, he simply sipped his wine and gave Vox a knowing smile, one that seemed to say, Let's see where this goes. The gala ended with a toast. As the crowd cheered and the holographic snowflakes fell around them, Vox looked over at Alastor, his gaze softer than usual. "Hey," he said, his voice quieter than before.

"Yes?" Alastor replied, still caught up in the festivities, but with a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.

Vox hesitated, almost as though he was contemplating whether to speak at all. The air between them felt charged with something unspoken, something that had been building all evening. After a moment of silence, he finally said, "This was... nice."

Alastor turned to him, his grin returning in full force, though his eyes now held a touch of warmth that wasn't usually there. "Yes, it was. Who knew you could be tolerable company, old sport?"

Vox's screen flickered, his expression turning a bit more nervous. "Maybe I don't just tolerate you, Alastor... maybe I actually... enjoy being around you." His voice was quieter now, his words not as sharp as usual.

Alastor's smirk softened, and he took a step closer to Vox, his eyes studying the digital face in front of him with a mix of amusement and intrigue. "Well, Vox, I do find you... fascinating in your own way. And I have to admit, you're not nearly as insufferable as I once thought."

Vox's heart raced a little faster at the compliment, but before he could fully process the words, the moment shifted. His screen flickered a shade of deep pink, and with an impulsive burst of courage, he leaned forward quickly, pressing a soft, quick kiss to Alastor's cheek. It was brief, but it was enough to make both of them freeze for a heartbeat. Vox immediately stepped back, his face glowing even brighter. "Uh, oops. Sorry, didn't mean to..."

Alastor blinked, stunned for a moment. He stood there, perfectly still, and then slowly raised an eyebrow. "Well... that was unexpected." He said, the edges of his usual grin curling into something a little more tender.

Vox's voice wavered as he cleared his throat. "I, uh... I mean, it's just... you're kind of... well, you're... alright, alright? That's all." His words tumbled out in a rush as he tried to hide his embarrassment.

But Alastor's gaze softened, and he slowly reached up, running a gloved hand through the air in a soft, reassuring motion. "Vox..." His voice was almost gentle, something that wasn't quite like the usual, confident tone. "You're a complex little creature, aren't you?"

Vox looked up, his screen flickering slightly, unsure of what to expect. "I guess you could say that."

Alastor smiled, a little more genuine than before, and leaned in just a fraction closer. "Don't worry, darling. I'll let you off the hook for now. But next time..." He let the silence hang in the air for just a moment before his grin returned. "Next time, you'll have to do better."

Vox's heart skipped a beat as the warmth from Alastor's words seemed to wrap around him. It wasn't exactly a promise, but it was enough to make his chest feel light. "I can work with that."

And as the evening continued to wind down, the two of them stood together amidst the laughter and lights, the air between them charged with the electric potential of something new and uncharted. Neither of them said anything more that night, but the unspoken understanding between them lingered; a moment that despite its fleeting nature, would likely be remembered for much longer than either would admit.