Mila wasn’t sure how she got roped into this Christmas charity. Most of her department was there so she didn’t want to miss out. She sat quietly, plastic cup of white wine in hand as she watched the bidding war commence on the man before her. She considered bidding herself, what harm could come from it? Worst case scenario someone outbids her. The bidding was about to end before the brunette quickly raised her card, face gaining redness as they threw Mila’s bid in. “Going once, going twice, sold to the woman in the third row.” Mila looked around, knowing they were talking to her. Fuck. She had won. What was she going to do now?
Christian was, admittedly, not paying too much attention as the auction continued. Cards were flying up around the room and his director was shouting things out with as much fervor. There wasn’t much for Christian to do except stand there and hopefully not look as out-of-place as he felt. Finally, though, his director called out that the auction was closed and someone had won. Christian followed his director’s gaze to the woman who had ‘won’ him, feeling a bit of relief run through his system. Though he didn’t know her well, Christian recognized her from the hospital. At least it wasn’t some weirdo that won. Christian smiled and then stepped off the stage, making his way over to the third row of seats where she was. “Hello. Ah, I’m Christian,” he thought to introduce though they’d already said his name.
“I should be honest, I was thinking Netflix and Chinese dumplings. Also ice skating and hot chocolate.” Rosette said earnestly. “Nothing x rated on my mind. I’m still healing from my fiancé’s death.” She clinked her glass with him. She had good days but since March 5th she’d been grieving quietly.
“We’ve got to stick together my friend, our director goes after any single or good looking staff member and drags them into an auction. My fiancé signed me up last year and it was scary. My date wanted me in a French maid costume and talking to him in French while saying master.” She shuddered a bit. “I swore I’d protect whoever it was this year.” She gave him a wink.
“I’ve got you buddy.” She promised with a quirky smile.
"Some friendly fun sounds perfect to me,” Christian returned. In honesty, he hadn’t been prepared for much beyond friendly relationships as of yet. He’d only spent just over a year in the city and the man was still trying to get his bearings while completing his residency. That was probably why he’d missed hearing the news about Rosette’s fiance. There was a vague memory from the springtime about hearing something about it, but nothing substantial. Christian couldn’t even imagine. He also figured, though, that she was tired of hearing the typical condolences. So instead he nodded and raised his glass a hair in acknowledgment.
Christian knew the auction sounded like a terrible idea but he didn’t think it was that bad. “They really made you go through with that?” It was unbelievable sometimes what kind of trouble the hospital staff could get into. “You’re truly a saint, then. Anytime you need anything, I’m there. I owe you for this,” Christian added with a light laugh.
Being that they both worked in the hospital ER, Belle and Christian knew each other. They weren’t super close or anything but they worked together and he seemed really nice when they did speak. She couldn’t help feeling bad for him up there. She wasn’t positive, but she had a feeling he wasn’t there because he wanted to but more like he had been ‘forced’ in to it. Isabelle herself had almost, got roped in to being auctioned off herself, almost, but she had managed to wiggle her way out of it. Christian it seemed hadn’t been so lucky.
Belle heard them call out for bids and immediately saw tons and tons of bids come out. Was she surprised? No. He was certainly handsome, their was no denying that. In fact if she hadn’t been so hung up on Benji still, she may have even tried going out with him herself, if he would of been interested,which he probably wasn’t. She didn’t see herself as a good candidate for anything. She watched as the bids went higher and higher and than she did something impulsive. Something she couldn’t believe she was doing. But she told herself it was only to save him from some potential crazy person. If that was the only reason or not she didn’t know, but she soon heard herself yell out a high bid. One which she was certain nobody would beat and she was right. She smiled as she walked up to him “hey, I hope your not too disappointed”. She told him “I just didn’t want you to end up with some psycho”. She said with a chuckle.
The auction flew by before Christian could fully understand what was happening. He heard numbers flying out and his boss was feverishly calling out for more. Concern bubbled in him as he noticed the people who were bidding. For the most part, he didn’t recognize people. He had assumed that since this was a hospital charity event that he might recognize someone. Instead, it seemed to be mostly strangers. How would he know if any of these people weren’t complete weirdos?
Someone above must have been listening, for as soon as Christian thought through his worries a familiar voice called out. A fond smile worked its way onto his features as Belle won the auction. She was, from what Christian could tell, an amazing woman. They worked in the same department so had a few conversations here and there but nothing too intense. Christian couldn’t have thought of a better situation to be in, considering everyone else who had been bidding. “How could I be disappointed by getting to spend time with you?” Christian returned lightly, “You might’ve just saved me.” The man definitely wouldn’t mind having time to get to know her. “So, the day is yours,” he added with a bright smile.
“This all seems pretty sketchy,. Selling a day of someone’s like… Feels like modern day slave trade,” Theodore spoke to his friend Greg was the bids were called out around them. Charity events were something they occasionally got invited to. When they did Theodore dressed his best and always wrote a check of some kind, forcing Greg to do the same. They had healthy salaries, they could afford to share it when needed. His attention lingers on the male on stage, a gentle smile tugging at Theodore’s lips at the others smile. It was rather charming. Christian, that’s his name, Theodore reminded himself. He liked the name, it rolled off his tongue easily. In his own little world Theodore didn’t notice he was staring, or that his work colleague had indeed noticed his interest on the auction item.
Greg’s hand rose with Theodore’s auction paddle, bidding on Christian until no other bid competed against him. Theodore was snapped back into the present, and away from day dreaming, by people clapping in his direction. “Don’t say I didn’t get you anything for the holidays,” Greg laughed as he wrote out a check. “Now go collect you prize.” Theodore was pushed in the direction of Christian Looking completely surprised at the events unfolding around him.
The auction moved quickly, almost too rapidly for Christian to follow. There were two women going back and forth until suddenly a new person raised their hand for a bid. Before Christian could get a good look at who it was, his boss was announcing the winner and pushing him in the way of the man. “Have fun with your day off work!” his boss called after him. Perhaps that was the shining light of the situation.
At least, Christian was sure of it before he finished walking toward the man who had won the bid. The clear expression of surprise on the stranger’s face made Christian’s own crinkle as he smiled brightly. This wouldn’t be so bad after all. “Ah, I’m Christian,” he tried, though chuckled at his own sentence before adding, “They already said that though.” One of the other people bidding for him had been from the hospital, but who was this? Christian was sure he would have recognized this man if he’d been around his workplace before.
Rosette was in the Audience cracking up at the situation. She had done it last year at her Fiancé’s meddling as the French nurse. She watched Christian and rose her bid card. There was an older woman who was also bidding so a war started.
Thirty minutes later The bid went to Rosette with 300 dollars. She smiled and the director joked, “It seems that Rosette Roux from last year’s auction won.”
She rose and walked up to pay the auctioneer. “It’s for Charity.” She called out smiling playfully. “Hey Christian! Let’s chat.” She said cheerfully, her accent lacing her words.
She led them to her table and offered him a drink. “So what shall we do for the day?” She teased playfully.
This was better than what Christian had expected. Many scenarios had flown through his head when he was finally told what he’d signed up for, but someone from the hospital winning the bid certainly didn’t come up. He’d been to the event the previous year though was too new to fully take part - he could vaguely remember Rosette being up where he was then.
“It’s good to see you here,” Christian spoke up as he hurried off the stage toward where she was. “I think I owe you one.” He walked with her toward the table, nodding his head in thanks as he took the drink in hand. A small laugh ran through him then, “I’m open. It’s your day, isn’t it?”
Christian still wasn’t sure how he’d gotten roped into this. That morning he’d been finishing his graveyard shift in the emergency department and was more than willing to pass out until next week - or at least until his next shift. That afternoon he’d gotten a mysterious text from his boss asking if he had anything to do that night and if he happened to have a significant other. Christian was suddenly regretting that the answer to both questions was ‘no’, for now he was on stage at the hospital’s charity event. “Win a date with our own resident emergency pharmacist Christian Ambers! You’ll have him to yourself for 24 hours - or until you’re done with him!” his boss announced, cracking up the whole time. If it weren’t the holiday season, then Christian was sure he would have run off the stage right then. Instead, he cracked a smile and placed his hands on his hips, trying to appear as at ease in the situation as some of the other people ‘up for auction’. “Happy holidays,” Christian called out before his boss called out for bids. It’s for charity, he had to remind himself, what could go wrong?
(ALANA, 19, EST, SHE/HER, SEXUAL ASSAULT) Have you seen (CHRISTIAN AMBERS) around New York? They look a lot like (MATTHEW DADDARIO) but i don’t think they’ve even realized it! Some people say they are (DETERMINED AND PASSIONATE) and (IMPULSIVE AND IDEALISTIC) but all we know for sure is they are (TWENTY-SEVEN), (CISMALE, BISEXUAL) and work as a (HOSPITAL PHARMACIST). I guess only time will tell but for now we’ll just call them the (BOXER).
BACKGROUND
Christian was raised in a tiny town in Iowa - by tiny, there was around 500 people in the entire town. He lived with his two parents and his two younger sisters.
His family was considered below the poverty line. His mother worked as a secretary for a local business and his father was a mechanic who struggled to find profit. They both worked various other jobs to ensure they wouldn’t lose their home. This left Christian as the oldest sibling to watch over his sisters when their parents were working.
The man would always describe his home-life as loving and happy. They never once felt comfortable with their financial situation but the Ambers made the most of it. They were always involved in town events and were the type of people to head the PTO board and go to every single high school football game even when their kids were all in elementary school.
It was a no-brainer when Christian picked up football and baseball in elementary school and immediately fell in love. He had made a deal with the coaches to be the one to take care of the equipment and to clean up the stands after every game in order to waive the fee to play. He worked his ass off for everything he did and that led him to be a varsity starter in both sports.
Through his entire life, college was never in the question. Christian assumed he would take over his dad’s business when the time came. That is, until he was in a major car accident when he was sixteen years old. He was life-flighted to the city hospital where he even coded once. He was severely injured and it totally changed his life. It was then he learned about the role of a pharmacist in the hospital - they’re the ones making the dosages for code victims, they’re in the emergency department actively assisting the doctors in anything related to medications on the spot. He knew after a pharmacist saved his life that he wanted to do the same.
Christian landed scholarships and work-study programs at UNC and worked tirelessly to afford the schooling. Eventually, he earned his Doctorate of Pharmacy and made it out with mountains of debt.
His residency program took him all the way to New York City. He is currently finishing his second and final year in residency and it is expected that he’ll be offered a job at the hospital he’s doing his residency in.
PERSONALITY
Christian is as determined as possible. He grew up fighting for everything in his life and so he’s no stranger to a challenge. The man often meets challenges with a strict mindset that he would never quit until he gets through it.
He’s charming. Christian grew up learning to call people “ma’am” and “sir”, and to always respect people even if they’re the most aggravating person he’s met.
The idealism that carries him through life can be a bit troublesome to others. He’s the type who thinks he can save everyone still and will act brashly to do so. He refuses to develop a chip on his shoulder and because of that gets played sometimes - he won’t see the worst in people even when it’s justified.
He’s deeply protective of those he cares about. One example, he learned how to box and fight after his sister was roughed up on her way home from school one day. Since then, he’s taught a self-defense course after work that is geared toward victims of violent crimes.
Christian doesn’t know when to stop. He works until he’s burnt out, he’s sometimes overprotective, etc.
All in all, he acts similarly to how one would expect a small town boy to when he moves to one of the largest cities in the United States
(( wow, that was a lot and I apologize for that. if you’re still here, feel free to message if you wanted to plot. any connections are open, just message. ))
