Jan/Feb Catch-All Log for Neal Shenanigans, and a Network Post

[conning]

Who: Neal Caffrey, OTA
Username: johnrobie
When: Jan/Feb
Where: ALL AROUND, and on the Network
Summary: Neal poses a question about housing to the off-world folks, offers help with money management, and invites them to a house warming party. And tangles with the TDM prompts from January and February (tba). ...Also, he proposes to Malcolm. And invites Rue and Hob on a double date.

Warnings: N/A at the moment other than Neal and Malcolm probably being gross.


NETWORK POST (post-reboot) - UN: johnrobie

Question for the assembled:

If you could have any kind of living space, ADI sponsored or not, what would it be? Asking for a couple of reasons. One being that I've been here for almost a year and a half and while communal living is nice and everything, a genuinely private space is--to me--preferable.

I've been thinking about the people who came here from other places and have ended up staying long-term. Where they live, why they live there, what the trade-offs are. And whether or not it could be worth it to invest in ourselves independently to create some housing that's, y'know, ours.

And to that end: House warming party on the 31st, bring a favorite dish or drink. Standing invite to anyone who can see this. If you're one of us, you're welcome to come. Alcohol is also welcome. (Non-alcoholic beverages will be available and people can bring whatever else they want.)

Oh, and: if people want to talk at any point about how I was able to buy a house, I'm happy help with financial advice. I only started out a thief in a past life.

[Insert address and time here.]

[PROMPTS BELOW]

Comments

[2/2]

[ruevealing]

[wait WAIT]

A housewarming party? My dear Neal, do you need any help in planning such an event? I'd be most happy to lend a hand.

[or just like casually take it over completely. either or.]

[conning]

That's part of what got me thinking about this, seeing how cramped the average ADI apartment must be for you. Between that and getting our own place, it made me wonder.

I'd love your help!

[He doesn't NEED it, but what could be more fun than planning a party with someone else who likes planning parties??

Plus if he doesn't have to do the coordination all himself so much the better ok...]

[ruevealing]

I am touched by your thoughtfulness, dear friend. Truly, I would love to have a more spacious home, especially for whenever my dearest and I decide we are ready to live together, but for now, I am making due with what I've been given.

If nothing else, at least my roommates are quite the delight!

Perfect! I should love to work with you and make your grand vision come to life.

[don't worry neal, rue is happy to take the less fun parts of the planning off of your shoulders.]

[conning]

I wouldn't call it a grand vision--the space isn't exactly 'grand'--but it could be fun to make it... I don't know. Themed? Somehow?

You should come over. You can meet Malcolm. We're still in B1 for a little longer, but we can go over to the house.

[ruevealing]

Then I shall be over presently! I've been most excited to meet your darling beau!

[conning]

[totally properly formatted text to Rue:] Great!! Meet at B1, go from here?

In B1, Neal leans over on the couch to kiss Malcolm’s temple. “Would you be interested in going over to the house with Rue? They want to help with the housewarming party and I’ve wanted to introduce you.”

[abrightboy]

“Is that the Owl that makes clothes? I wanted to meet them; Tim said he lives with them now,” Malcolm says.

[conning]

“Owlbear,” Neal says, smiling at even getting to say the word, because it’s still so… different. “Better than both.”

He kisses Malcolm on the cheek and gets up so he can answer the door as soon as Rue gets there.

[ruevealing]

It's only a few moments later when there's a knock at the door, the owlbear beaming down at their friend when Neal answers. Their dress for the day is a little more casual, flowing and floral with short sleeves that show off their wings, a few freshly cut flowers tucked into their feathers.

"Hello, my dear! You look most well."

[conning]

Neal grins, standing well back to let Rue inside. "Welcome! You look stunning as ever. Malcolm, Delloso de la Rue."

He gestures from the former to the latter, then looks at Rue and gestures to Malcolm in turn. "Rue, Malcolm Bright. My fiancé."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm smiles broadly, reaching out to offer his hand.

“It’s so nice to meet you. Neal told me you helped make the costume he wore for the proposal. It was beautiful work.”

[ruevealing]

"An absolute pleasure!"

Rue offers a paw in return, their touch gentle against his own, a little extra cautious of their talons. But they hold nothing back in regards to the warmth of their expression.

"It was nothing at all. I was only happy to help make your day just as special as the two of you deserve."

[conning]

“Oh, I never showed you!” Neal holds his own hand out so Rue can see that he and Malcolm are wearing matching rings, little silver bands with a tiny diamond center flanked by two slightly larger square emeralds on either side. “I got these made from an earring Malcolm saw me pickpocket from someone the day we met.”

He’s not ashamed to admit it to Rue—he doubts for some reason that the owlbear will hold the minor transgression against him.

[abrightboy]

“He was robbing from the rude and giving to the underpaid,” Malcolm tells them with a grin.

[ruevealing]

"Oh!" Rue is quick to gently take Neal's hand in their paw, to draw it just a touch closer for them to get a perfect view of that gorgeous engagement ring. Truly, what a stunning piece of jewelry. Perhaps it's time for Rue to bully their own fiancé into getting them some pretty rings.

"Look how perfectly beautiful they are! And matching! I adore that!" They release Neal's hand with an affectionate squeeze.

"Unconventional, perhaps, but still utterly romantic."