#Yado wrote this whilst drinking

[what-yadoking-likes]

The Payday gang need the slightest whisper of an excuse to throw a party these days. How could they not? They had more money than any of them could reasonably burn through in several lifetimes, let alone the one they actually had - so throwing lavish parties for themselves and their CrimeNet associates was a no-brainer.

The countdown to midnight began. Jiro, Joy and Gao Fong dutifully raised their glasses, more observers than real participants - their new year would come later according to the lunar cycle, and was always more enjoyable anyway. Wolf and Hoxton clung to each other, eyes carefully watching the seconds tick down so they could kiss at exactly midnight. Sokol, Duke, Jimmy and Bonnie had pint glasses filled with - something - that they planned to down as soon as the clock struck midnight, with a fierce bet between them on who would down their drink fastest (they had roped Aldstone into being the timekeeper for this dubious event).

Nobody expected it to be Vlad that caused the most chaos. As soon as the clock struck twelve - and a chorus of Happy New Year went up from the TV and the heisters who weren't lip-locked or drinking furiously - there was a fierce gasp and strain of Ukrainian swears from Vlad.

The contractor hurried across the Safehouse to where Locke was standing, sipping champagne from a delicate flute. He grabbed the mercenary's face in both hands, and pulled him down for a kiss. Locke mmmph'd and struggled and spluttered until Vlad ended it, pulling back with an exaggerated "MWAH!" that had the Safehouse falling into expectant, surprised silence.

Locke was beet red, blinking as if to check whether that had really happened. Vlad was smiling broadly, teeth on show as he slung an arm around Locke's shoulders.

"Happy New Year, everyone!"