Zane was, as many could attest to, quite a moody person. It was not on purpose; It was just who he was by nature. A likely result of his father's anger and his mother's protectiveness, if one really cared to speculate. Regardless, he liked the solitude that followed being "emo". He did not, however, like that title. Though it was true in part, he was no more an emo than he was extroverted. He had his own tastes and likes that did not fall under any specific archetype. Travis, in much different a way, was the same. While Travis was rather boisterous and quite a fan of japes, he was not exactly a popular person as often he was perceived. He preferred a more refined group. But he was, in fairness, a party person.

As it so happened, the two were at a party now, sitting together in a corner. Occasionally, Reese or Brendan would join them, as Reese did not know many people here well and Brendan was rather socially anxious. Mostly, though, the two were alone. It was a Christmas party of their friends' orchestration, and it was quite fun for the most part, but only if one had someone to talk to. They did, but most of their conversations went something like the upcoming one:

"So," Travis started. Zane didn't look up from his phone, which he had started checking a few moments prior. "You're friends with Aphmau, huh?"  Zane perked up slightly, finishing typing a response to a text he had received from Laurence about something he didn't really care about. "Best friends, actually. Except when she eats my food. Then I take her off the list of driveways to be plowed and watch her fight with Kawaii~chan over who should shovel the driveway while Katelyn actually does it. It's better than an apology, really." He replied with a hint of jest in his voice. Travis stared at him before awkwardly looking away. "Right." And so the two were plunged into silence once more. Zane went back to checking his phone.

Eventually, Travis got up to get a drink, and Zane looked up to see where he went before looking back down at his phone. With a sigh, he watched as it died right in his hands. He had charged it to 100% before the party, so he would let the fact that it was currently at 0% speak for itself. Regardless, he had nothing else to do, so he joined Travis in the kitchen. For some reason, in the kitchen, speaking felt more tempting. Which definitely had no correlation to his dead phone. And, alas, him without a charger.

"So. Um. You like Katelyn or something. That right?" Zane asked Travis as he sipped lightly at a rather fruity concoction that he was fairly certain had alcohol in it. Travis nearly spit out his drink, his cheeks flushing with a light yet noticeable pink. "What? No! Not at-- Why would I-- N-No! Jeez." There was a brief pause before he continued. "Or, well... Out of respect for her, I don't. She doesn't like me, from what I can tell. It's kind of annoying, but, you know. You can't change someone's feelings. And I don't know why I'm telling you this..." Travis sighed, dragging a hand down his face as he watched the rest of their friends socializing or making some vague effort to do so in the living room. "I guess I like her. But I know she doesn't like me."

Zane shrugged, sipping at his drink once again. "I really don't care. I'm just asking. Aphmau can't really keep her mouth shut when it comes to gossip-- not that that's a bad thing in my case. I have a lot of blackmail now. 'Accidentally acquired, purposefully used'. That's what I like to say. The only annoying part is when she gossips about me. She's somehow managed to unearth the most embarrassing facts about my childhood from my mother. They probably gossip too. Or something like that. Er... I had a point. I swear. Oh-" He took a breath, ceasing what had somehow become endless yammering before he was even drunk. "I heard from Aphmau that there was something between you and Katelyn. That's why I asked."

Travis chuckled, looking back at Zane. "You're weird." He spoke with a soft chuckle and shook his head. After a moment, he seemed to realize that what he had said might be rude, and he elaborated. "Not in a bad way, I mean! I think we're both equally weird. You're dark and stormy with an occasional affinity for girly stuff and I'm... basically just that but manlier." He flexed to emphasize the point before laughing and putting his arms down. Zane blinked. He didn't return Travis' gaze, considering what the other had said. He supposed it was true, to some degree. They were both weirdos. In a good way. "I agree. But I can be plenty manly, you know. It's not like I'm a twink or something."

Travis snorted into his drink and Zane stared at him. "What?" He asked, suddenly feeling a little defensive. Travis' laughter slowly died in his throat. "Nothing. I just... I didn't expect those words to come out of your mouth. There's nothing wrong with being a twink, though. Twinks can be manly. Sometimes..."

Zane shrugged. Now that he considered it, it was a funny thing to think about. He chuckled, the sound feeling a little unnatural coming out of his mouth but overall fitting. "I guess. I suppose I wouldn't mind being called a twink. But I wouldn't be caught dead in pink. It just isn't my color. Purple is clearly superior. Plus, Twilight Sparkle is more purple than pink. And she's an icon." Travis stared at him blankly before looking back at the other partygoers. "I like Rarity better. Just for shits and giggles. She's kind of funny, in a sophisticated way."

There was a moment of silence where Zane's head whipped around like a tape measurer slamming into itself after being fumbled by its user to stare at Travis as he processed what the other had said. Travis, startled, looked back at Zane. "You like My Little Pony?" Zane asked. Travis nodded vigorously, afraid and a little confused. Zane's question sounded more like a statement and he didn't want to know what happened if he objected. Zane continued staring for a moment before brightening slightly. "So do I. I didn't know you were cultured."

Zane turned his head, his eyes locking on Aphmau and Aaron under the mistletoe. The two were kissing, and he gagged beneath his mask. They were happy, and that was great, but the open affection was kind of gross to him. Travis looked where he was looking and stilled. "They look cute." Zane nodded quietly. "Yeah."

Zane let his eyes linger for a moment longer before they began to wander around the darkened kitchen the two stood in. It wasn't entirely bathed in shadows, but it was darker than the rest of the house. That was probably to draw attention to the living room. It made sense. To him, at least. His eyes stopped on the ceiling, as he noted the mistletoe hung directly overhead. He blinked, looking back down at Travis and deciding not to mention it. They were friends, albeit rather distant ones. It was best not to jeopardize their practically nonexistent relationship.

"We should head back to the living room. My legs are tired." Zane suggested with a sigh. Travis nodded, picking up his drink and starting off towards the living room. Zane downed the rest of his own, gagging slightly at the tangy taste before washing his cup and throwing it in the recycling. He then followed Travis out into the living room and the two edged their way around the group to sit on the couch. Garroth joined them, looking freshly flustered, and hid his face in a pillow. Zane eyed his brother with interest before looking out the window at the snow with vague detachment. "What happened to you?"

Garroth didn't say anything except for a muffled "shut up". Laurance joined them soon thereafter, looking almost as humiliated as Garroth. His cheeks were tinged a deep pink, and he didn't meet anyone's gaze. Zane eyed him before looking back at Garroth and bursting into laughter. Travis connected the dots soon thereafter and snorted. Neither Garroth nor Laurance looked particularly happy about the development but preferred it to being badgered with out of pocket jokes by their friends-- namely Dante.

At around nine, people began leaving to shovel their driveways and get some sleep. Or, in Reese's case, go home and talk to his brothers. Zane himself was rather partial to leaving, but he would admit that he was just a bit tipsy. Not enough to constitute the label of drunk, but enough that he needed someone to go with him so he wouldn't fall on his ass if there was ice. Aphmau was busy, but she was the only person he really trusted with that role.

Zane sighed, looking around the emptying room. Garroth and Laurance had snuck out at some point when Dante was busy talking to Katelyn, and Brandon had left at six to go and recharge his social battery. Other than Travis, Zane didn't really know anybody here well enough to ask them to take him home, and he wasn't about to ask that of them. Nor would he be asking Katelyn, who he was fairly certain would punch him if he asked her anything of the sort. She was still on bad terms with him, and he wasn't much of one to force any interaction, especially when he himself hated talking. Most of the time.

He grabbed his phone, instinctively trying to turn it on to tell the time. He stared at the blackened screen for a moment before scoffing and turning it off. Whatever. "Stupid dead phone. Being dead. Ugh." He complained, pocketing it. Travis raised an eyebrow at him, curious as to what he was talking about before seeing him pocket his phone. "You want to go back to my place? I've got a charger. A bunch, actually.

Oh. That would work. "Sure, I guess." He replied awkwardly. He didn't really know what else to say. He didn't want to spend his evening at Travis' place, but he didn't want to wait any longer to ask Aphmau to take him back to his place, and he didn't feel like asking Travis. He supposed it was ironic, but he really didn't care.

The two donned their coats and set off down the road. It was, as Zane had feared, quite icy, but beautiful in a dangerous sort of way. He sighed, staring at the snow as it fell and pulling up his hood oh so slightly. Travis walked beside him, humming the tune to something or another and being careful to avoid the ice.

At one point, Zane slipped and instinctively clung to Travis for support. Travis wobbled but held his ground, looking up at Zane and then laughing. Zane blushed in embarrassment, pushing the other away. "Shut up." He grumbled, but he was smiling beneath his mask. Travis' laughter slowly faded, and he smiled. "You're really something, you know. You act so aggressive and yet you're so soft and needy inside. You're like a cat, kind of." Zane didn't like being called soft or needy, but he had to admit that it was kind of true. Still, it annoyed him. But, cats were nice, he supposed. "I guess. You're kind of funny too. Like a rabbit. Except I'm pretty sure I can outrun you." Travis chuckled, gently hitting his shoulder. "Not on this ice, you can't." Zane rolled his eyes before playfully glaring back at Travis. "Whatever."

The two continued on for a while, having to trudge through the unplowed snow. It took a lot longer than it would have if it was summertime. Or, really, just not snowy. When they eventually reached Travis' house, Zane could hardly feel his cheeks. The pair quickly ascended the steps, being careful to avoid the ice. Travis fumbled for his keys and then unlocked the door. Once inside, he closed it and took his shoes off. Zane looked around curiously for a moment before doing the same.

"Nice place." Zane commented as Travis moved to get the fire going. "Thanks. Pretty much all my money has gone into renovating it." Zane nodded approvingly, taking note of how different it looked than when last it was owned. He had lived on the street for a while and had known the past owner for a brief period of time. The house had been rather gothic then. Now, it was almost cottage-like, with a certain 'masculine' touch. The sage green walls were definitely a bit of a reflection of character as far as Travis went, but they fit well with the ornate wooden flooring-- that of which Travis had decided to keep.

"I can tell. Anyway... That charger?" Travis turned his head to look back at Zane before remembering why they were here and nodding. He quickly finished with getting the fire started and threw some paper from the rubbish bin on the flame so it would catch before disappearing upstairs. Zane followed behind him quietly, standing and watching as Travis dug through his closet before pulling out a bin that was practically infected with chargers and cables of all sorts. Travis fought with one for a moment before getting it untangled from the rest and handing it to Zane with a power plug. "Yeah, uh... It came with the house. The bin. They all work, from what I can tell. I don't know. Can't be bothered to test them. But, uh... You want to stay over for the night? We could stay up... or not. I really don't care. I... didn't really think this through." Zane looked away, pocketing the charger. "Me neither. I guess it would be fun to stay over. Or something. I don't really want to walk all the way down the street just to sleep in my own room and be bored."

There was an awkward silence, and then Travis moved to get up. "Yeah." Zane stared at him before moving to open the door. He didn't remember closing it, but it had shut anyway. "After you." He said, holding it for Travis. Travis eyed him before walking through and letting Zane close the door. "Downstairs, then?" He asked. Zane nodded in agreement. "Downstairs."

The two proceeded down the steps to the living room where the fire looked a little desperate to be stoked once more. Travis dealt with that while Zane found a comfortable spot on the couch and claimed it as his own, setting up his phone nearby. The couch was a leather recliner that he was surprised Travis could afford, but he wasn't complaining.

Travis joined him a moment later, grabbing the remote and flicking through the channels. "Want to watch something?" He asked, looking over at Zane. Zane shrugged, enjoying the heat of the fire. "My Little Pony, if you have Netflix." Travis did, and he clicked over to the channel with ease, the action accompanied by the telltale noise of the selector moving across the screen. They didn't speak for a while, watching the first episode in silence. In truth, Zane was on his ninth rewatch of the series and was somewhere around season seven, but he didn't object to starting over again.

The two watched the show for a while, eventually getting to episode five at which point Zane was starting to nod off. Travis didn't notice until the other was conked out asleep against his shoulder, at which point he tensed and eyed them curiously. He was about to ask what they were doing before realizing they were asleep and pausing My Little Pony in the midst of Rainbow Dash realizing she had ink on her eye and had been pranked by Pinkie Pie. He didn't want to disturb them, so he just sat there awkwardly for a while with his thoughts until eventually falling asleep himself.

Outside, the snow continued to amass, while inside the fire slowly died. It was peaceful, and that was all it needed to be.