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Outside the door to the Holiday family's kitchen, Kris could hear Noelle excitedly chattering about something, but they couldn't make out the exact words. They were seated at the counter, staring deep into a mug of warm hot chocolate, contemplating all their life decisions like it was any other day. Christmas Break had just begun, and to celebrate, Noelle had invited over them and Berdly- Susie sadly was not able to come, since Carol was home and wouldn't have allowed it -to get into the holiday spirit.
Kris was starting to become increasingly curious about the conversation between their two friends in the other room, especially when their voices began to sound distant, suggesting they were retreating to somewhere else in the house to enact whatever ploy they'd come up with. After a few minutes of lonesome silence, Noelle poked her head through the door, smiling ear to ear.
"Guess what, Krismas?" She cheered, barely able to contain her mischievous giggles.
They raised an eyebrow at her, a cheeky smile playing on their lips as they lifted their cup to their mouth. "What?"
She was beaming with pride as she threw the door wide open, revealing what- or rather, who was hidden behind it.
"Ta-daaa!~ Doesn't he look great?"
Kris peered over the rim of the mug, and almost spat their drink all over the place.
Holy fuck.
Berdly stood in the doorway, timidly rubbing his upper arm and smiling crookedly at them. He was clad in a bell skirt dress, rose red in hue, with a white satin ribbon tied into a little bow around the waist. It was a simple ensemble, nothing too fancy or flashy, but to say Kris was captivated was a massive understatement. His feathery cheeks were tinted a deeper blue than usual; though he didn't look fully uncomfortable from what they could tell, just moderately embarrassed by the attire.
If Kris had the tail of a dog, it would've been wagging in circles like a propeller just from taking in this gorgeous sight, instantly betraying their feelings about the situation. In fact, this was the only time they were grateful they didn't have one.
Berdly slowly approached, awkwardly laughing a bit, and fuck, they'd been sure their soul was already thumping as fast as it physically could, but that thought was being swiftly debunked. They made sure to set their mug down before it fell out of their shaking hand.
"Noelle convinced me to do it…and besides, it's the holidays, why not try something new?" He performed a shy, hesitant twirl, skirt fluttering with his movements. "So…how do I look, Kris?"
It took them longer than it should've to choke out a response, being too occupied trying not to kneel over and die right then. That's just what the beauty of a bird boy in a dress does to you.
"You look incredible," they finally wheezed, their words entirely too earnest for their own liking.
He ran his hand through his head feathers, trying to pull his usual smirk, but his face burned brighter still from the praise. "Heh, see, Noelle? I told you I could pull it off!"
The playful eye roll Noelle responded with suggested that it may have been the other way around. She took her phone out and pointed the camera at him. "Susie's gonna love this."
"Hey, no paparazzi!" he squawked at her, covering his face with one hand and the camera lens with the other. "Don't you think you've tormented me enough?"
"No need to be shy, c'mon!" Noelle giggled, trying to pull him in for a selfie. He ducked under her arm and ran to hide behind the Christmas tree, to which she pursued him, both of them smiling and laughing like energetic kids. Kris watched them in silence, helplessly transfixed by the elegant sway of Berdly's skirt with every move.
If they were a little bit more reckless, a tiny bit bolder, maybe they could've gotten up and approached him. They might've even been able to hook a finger or two around the ribbon on his waist, pulling him closer, looking up at his eyes to ask without using words, do you have a clue what you're doing to me?
But they weren't that bold, reckless person. They're…this. and he's that. Whatever the hell that means.
Berdly called out in triumph as he managed to snatch Noelle's phone from her, making a break for the door with the reindeer girl hot on his tail. The two of them were gone in a flash, and once more, Kris was alone with their thoughts. And boy, they sure had a lot of those.
They're not gonna see Berdly the same way after this, that's for sure. Hell, they're not gonna see that dress the same way. Next time they see Noelle in it at a social event, all they're gonna be able to think about is Berdly's little twirls and his crooked smile. Why couldn't they have been granted so much as a warning before their entire train of thought gets demolished by him in crossdress? Especially knowing that this was likely the last time they'd get to experience it.
Unless they ask him to do it again sometime.
…Should they?
For all they knew, a question like that could put their entire friendship with him on the line. They were terrified to think that Berdly may become disgusted with them and their odd new desires, but…what if he indulged them? He'd likely tease them for their desperation even if he did, yet they just might be able to endure that if it meant seeing him in that outfit again…
They grabbed the mug off the counter and chugged what was left of the now lukewarm drink inside, trying to wash away their wandering thoughts. They've already made up their mind; they're not going to think about this anymore. In the end, it was just a dare. Nothing other than a joke between friends. Wanting more out of it was…unrealistic. A passing daydream, at best.
They broke away from the cup to take a breath, then looked down and found it empty, aside from a bit of chocolatey residue at the bottom.
"…Fuck, I'm gonna need a lot more hot cocoa..."