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clemkruckinnie · 10 days ago

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── ❆ DAY 04: christmas with shauna shipman

— summary: christmas with shauna shipman hcs.

— warnings: fluff, fluff, fluff. established relationship. not a warning but shauna’s mom is a sweetheart in this. gn!reader. the last hc turned into its own little blurb, i fear…

the shipmans and their holiday traditions and habits…

shauna’s mom takes holiday decorating very seriously. the moment the clock strikes midnight on december 1st, she’s on a mission. boxes of tinsel, lights, ornaments, and wreaths are hauled out from the garage, and she’s already made a list of things she needs to buy to outdo last year’s setup. shauna insists she’s not a christmas fanatic like her mom. “it’s too commercialized,” she claims with a dismissive wave. still, you catch her humming along to christmas songs on the radio when she thinks you’re not paying attention. and once, when you glanced over at her watching tv, you realized she wasn’t just mindlessly flipping through channels; she was fully engrossed in some cheesy holiday commercial. when her mom found out about the two of you, it didn’t take long before you were roped into the shipman family holiday traditions. “more hands make light work!” she’d chirped, thrusting a box of ornaments into your arms before you even had a chance to decline. now, as far as shauna’s mom is concerned, you’re part of the christmas prep team, and there’s no escaping it. “y/n,” shauna’s mom calls to you, standing on a stepladder as she adjusts a string of lights. “do you think this looks okay, or does it need more sparkle?”

“uh…” you glance at shauna, who smirks. “looks great to me!”

“don’t encourage her,” shauna mutters under her breath, sliding an arm around your waist. “next thing you know, she’ll be ordering glitter spray for the whole house!”

speaking of which: going to the christmas tree farm with shauna and her mom.

the place is already bustling with families when you arrive, the air crisp and tinged with the scent of pine. rows upon rows of evergreens stretch out before you, their branches snow-dusted. shauna’s mom heads off to inspect the taller trees, leaving you and shauna alone to wander through the rows. “okay, which one screams ‘shipman family christmas’ to you?” she asks, gesturing dramatically at the nearest row of trees. you pause, pretending to consider. “that one,” you say, pointing to a sad, crooked little tree that’s missing half its branches. shauna narrows her eyes at you. “you’re joking, right?” her lip is twitching as if she’s trying not to laugh. “absolutely not. It’s got…character” she counters immediately: “it’s got issues! come on, we’re not bringing that home!” eventually, after hours of roaming the rows of trees, you do settle for one: shauna stops in front of a tall, full tree with perfectly spaced branches and deep green needles. “what about this one?” she asks, glancing at you for approval. you nod, smiling. “it’s perfect!” shauna grins, clearly pleased with herself. “knew it!”

holiday nights with shauna and the yellowjackets.

the yellowjackets throw a holiday party this year (it’s always jackie or lottie who hosts it, of course). when shauna invites you to come along, she reassures you with a small smile, “don’t worry, i’ll stick with you. they’re not that scary.” and, true to her word, she stays by your side the entire night, guiding you through conversations and quietly explaining inside jokes when you feel out of place!! at dinner, she makes sure you sit next to her, her hand brushing yours under the table whenever she senses your nerves bubbling up. ever so often, she catches your eye, giving you a small, reassuring smile that grounds you and reminds you that she’s grateful that you’re there with her <33

later in the evening, when everyone has finished their food and jackie starts rallying everyone for a game of charades, shauna gently tugs your sleeve. “come on,” she lures, her voice low. she leads you out the back door to sit on the cold steps, away from the chaos inside. the sharp winter air bites at your cheeks, and you can see your breath misting in front of you as you both laugh softly, huddled close together for warmth. she drapes an arm over your shoulder, offering her jacket for you to wear.

“i’m really glad you came tonight,” she says quietly, her knee brushing against yours. as the muffled sounds of the others continue inside, shauna reaches out, her fingers brushing against yours again. this time, she doesn’t pull away or has to hide. instead, she lets your hand settle into hers, her thumb tracing small circles against your skin.

shauna, whose presents are always bordering on too perfect.

she pays attention to all the little things you’ve mentioned wanting, even in passing. she’ll take mental notes of every fleeting comment you make, tucking them away for when she has the chance to surprise you, whether this is for christmas or your birthday (or any other occasion). yet, when it’s time for her to open her own gifts, shauna is endearingly shy about it. no matter how small the present is, she’ll blush furiously either way, hiding her face behind her hands for a moment as though to collect herself. then, she’ll wrap you in a tight hug, murmuring how much she loves it (and you). her soft spots are 100% handmade gifts: even the ‘smallest’ things, like a handwritten note or a card you decorated yourself, mean the world to her. she keeps every single one of them tucked between the pages of her journal so that, on the nights when she feels particularly overwhelmed, she can flip through them, tracing the edges of the paper and rereading your words as a quiet reminder of how much she’s loved. other than that, you definitely get her new clothes (like a new signature flannel) or a burned cd with all of her favorite songs!!

stealing shauna’s cozy, knitted sweaters and/or flannels.

okay i’m definitely projecting here, but maybe you’re always dressed in only a shirt/top even though it’s freezing outside. shauna doesn’t know whether to be annoyed or concerned by your complete disregard for the freezing weather. it’s the middle of winter, and while everyone else is layered up in jackets and scarves, you’re walking around like it’s spring. you practically leave her no other option but to offer her clothes. she doesn’t mind the cold at all and she always has to make sure you’re bundled up. “are you actively trying to get hypothermia?” (…🧍🏼‍♀️) she mutters, already taking off her own flannel before you can protest. shauna drapes it over your shoulders, tugging it snug around you before you can argue. “don’t even start,” she says firmly when you try to give it back. “i’m fine. you, on the other hand, are a walking ice cube” (you know, now that i’m thinking about it, maybe this wasn’t the best shauna headcanon…) it becomes a habit after that: if you’re underdressed, shauna is quick to shove one of her jackets or sweaters at you. sometimes it’s a hoodie she pulled from her bag, other times, it’s something she’s wearing herself. she doesn’t say much about it -just rolls her eyes and hands it over with a soft, “put this on before you freeze to death” (okay now i’m pushing it) what shauna won’t admit, at least not out loud, is how much she secretly loves the way you look in her clothes: her oversized sweater hanging off your frame, or the sleeves of her jacket covering your hands!! the sight sends a little flutter through her chest every time she sees it!!

shauna, who might be really good at picking presents for her loved ones…

…but who procrastinates until the very last minute, which is weird, because she’s usually so determined to get everything done in time. so christmas shopping really seem to be the only exception here. a few days before christmas, she’ll call you with a casual “hey, do you want to come to the mall? i need help!” which really means she wants someone to keep her company while she panics over what to get jackie, tai, and the rest of the team (yours is the only present she already had prepared long ago.) it doesn’t come as a surprise that the mall is a nightmare of holiday chaos, and shauna grumbles about it the moment you walk through the doors: “why do people wait until the last minute?” she mutters, completely ignoring the irony in it. and, oh, by the time you’ve wandered through literally every store in the packed mall, you’re loaded with more shopping bags than you thought you could physically carry. “thank you for putting up with me” she tells you back in the car. before you can respond, she presses a soft kiss to your cheek “i owe you. big time!”

shauna who takes you on walks through the neighborhood.

once the first snow falls and her neighbors have put up their decorations, she loves bundling up and walking through your neighborhood with you; her gloved hand is snug in yours as your boots crunch softly against the frosty sidewalk. the air smells crisp and your breath comes out in little clouds as you both take in the glow of twinkling christmas lights decorating every other house. “okay, but why does that santa look like that?” shauna asks, nodding toward a giant inflatable santa slumped slightly forward, his grin crooked. you laugh, tugging her hand lightly. “it’s supposed to be…festive, i guess” “festive?” she echoes. “that thing belongs in a horror movie. if it starts moving, i’m running!” it’s always like that with the two of you; either enjoying your walk and the other’s company or occasionally poking fun at the neighbors’ decorations.

shauna, who spontaneously spends the night at your place because you’re snowed in.

at this point, your parents are used to shauna hanging around, especially since you two have been dating for a while. they wave it off without a second thought, telling you both to help yourselves to the kitchen if you need anything. “i guess that means I’m stuck with you,” you tease, already heading to the living room, where the fire in the fireplace crackles warmly. shauna follows behind, flopping onto the couch with a dramatic sigh. “you’re lucky,” she grins. you smile too and grab the blanket from the back of the couch, draping it over both of you as you settle in beside her. shauna leans against you, her usual teasing demeanor melting away in the warmth of the room. “everything okay?” you ask, glancing at her. shauna shifts slightly, her voice quieter than it normally is. “yeah” she assures. “just…i’m glad i’m here. with you, i mean!”

okay but winter mornings with shauna?

on the mornings when the weather is especially cold, shauna will wrap herself around you like a blanket. her arms are snug around your waist, and you can feel the steady rise and fall of her breath against your back before you’re fully awake yet. you stir slightly, shifting in her hold, and shauna tightens her grip with a quiet, drowsy murmur. “don’t move,” she mumbles, her voice muffled and still thick with sleep. “you’re warm. and it’s freezing” you can’t help but smile, turning your head just enough to catch a glimpse of her messy hair and soft, half-closed eyes. shauna’s face is pressed against the curve of your shoulder, her nose brushing against your skin with a cold touch that makes you shiver slightly. “good morning to you too,” you tease, your voice hushed in the early quiet of the room. “mhm,” she hums, her lips curling into a faint smile as she nuzzles closer, her legs tangling lazily with yours beneath the blankets. “too early for mornings. let’s just stay here!”

snowball fights with shauna are inevitable.

she claims that she’s ‘above it’ but will surprise you with a sneak attack the moment you let your guard down. “we’re not twelve” she’ll say with a dramatic sigh, though the grin she’s trying so hard to oppress instantly gives her away: the second you turn your back to collect some snow for your own ammunition, shauna pounces and a snowball slams into the back of your head. you whip around to find her already grinning at you. you retaliate by tackling her into the ground next: sprinting at her, breaths coming out in clouds, and launching yourself right into shauna, tackling her to the snow-covered ground. shauna lets out a yelp of surprise, but the moment you hit the snow together, the laughter comes; loud and contagious. once it started, she can’t seem to stop, her cheeks flushed from both the cold and the giggles.

shauna who also insists on taking you ice skating.

we‘ve talked about ice skating with jackie, but i feel like shauna would also want to take you out on some fun christmassy couple‘s activities. except that, for some reason, i can’t picture her being as good at it as jackie is. in fact, you both end up stumbling all over the icy rink, giggling and laughing the entire time as you try to hold each other up right: the rink is lit up with christmas lights strung along the edges, and holiday music plays faintly over the speakers. it’s the perfect kind of cheesy, festive date, and honestly, you’re surprised shauna wanted to do this in the first place. she usually rolls her eyes at stuff like this, calling it ‘too cliché’.

“okay, full disclosure,” she says as she laces up her skates. “i haven’t done this since i was, like, eight. so…don’t judge me if i totally suck!” as soon as you step onto the ice, though, it becomes obvious that neither of you are good at this. the moment shauna’s skates touch the rink, her legs wobble, and she grabs your arm with a laugh. “oh my god, this is worse than i remember!”

the two of you end up shuffling awkwardly across the ice, your movements more like walking than skating. every so often, one of you slips, sending the other off-balance, and you both collapse into fits of giggles.

christmas eve with shauna!

spending christmas eve at her house is quiet and cozy. the living room smells faintly of cinnamon and pine from the tree her mom insists on putting up every year. you’re curled up on the couch together under a shared blanket, watching cheesy christmas movies that her mom picked out before disappearing into the kitchen to finish wrapping some final presents. shauna pretends to hate them (“how many times can two people accidentally bump into each other under the mistletoe?”) but is absolutely humming along to the soundtrack by the end of the night. she’s also made it her mission of the night to steal sips of your hot chocolate every chance she gets, even though she has her own mug sitting untouched on the coffee table. “yours tastes better,” she insists with a grin, leaning in to take another sip before you can protest. by the end of the night, her head is on your shoulder, her hand resting lazily on your thigh beneath the blanket. she’s stopped trailing circles a while ago and, as the credits of the last movie roll, you’re almost sure she’s fallen asleep. that’s also when her mom finally reappears. she pauses in the doorway, smiling at the sight of the two of you curled up together <33

but also; christmas dinner with shauna.

when mom invites you to christmas dinner for the first time, you’re SO nervous about making a good impression! you know she already adores you: she’s always been kind, welcoming, and maybe a little too interested in whether or not shauna’s “special friend” would be joining them, before she figured you two out. (let me have my moment and believe that her mom would be your biggest supporter ever!!). but this is christmas dinner. a different level entirely.

“i don’t know why i’m so nervous,” you mutter as you smooth out your sweater for the hundredth time in shauna’s bedroom. “i mean, your mom already likes me…right?” shauna, sitting on the bed and watching you fuss, laughs. “likes you? she’s obsessed with you. you could probably drop the whole meal on the floor, and she’d laugh it off!” you roll your eyes, swatting at her playfully. “not funny! this is important. it’s christmas! what if i screw it up somehow?”

shauna stands and walks over, her hands gently finding your waist to stop your nervous fidgeting. “you’re not going to screw it up. she already loves you, trust me. but…” her voice drops into a teasing whisper as she leans in close, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “compliment her mashed potatoes. trust me on this one!”

you blink. “her…mashed potatoes?”

“yep!” shauna grins and pulls back, giving you an exaggerated wink. “it’s her signature christmas dish. she’ll melt. works every time.”

“you’ve tested this theory before, i take it?” you ask, raising an eyebrow. “oh, absolutely,” shauna says, deadpan. “it’s practically a rite of passage in this house!”

she remains right, as it turns out, and the dinner goes on smoothly once you’ve gotten through the initial nerves about it.

shauna keeps finding little ways to steady you regardless, grounding you in her own quiet, way. a squeeze of your hand under the table, her knee brushing against yours. at one point, she even reaches over to brush a stray hair out of your face, her thumb lingering for just a moment longer than necessary.

“you’re doing great,” she whispers during a lull in conversation, her lips curving into that soft smile she saves just for you.

by the time dessert rolls around the nervousness that had gripped you at the start of the evening are completely gone. shauna’s hand is still in yours under the table, her thumb tracing absentminded circles against your skin. when her mom leans across the table to pat your shoulder and say: “we’re so lucky to have you here this year,” you feel your heart swell.

later, when you’re helping shauna load the dishwasher, you turn to her with a small, sheepish smile. “okay,” you admit proudly “you were right. she does like me”

shauna snorts, nudging your shoulder. “told you so. she loves you more than me at this point. i should be worried!”

“never,” you say softly, and before you know it, she’s leaning down to press a quick, tender kiss to your lips. “merry christmas” she mumbles and you can feel her smile against your mouth without needing to open your eyes.

#AAAAAAAAAAAA

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clemkruckinnie · 11 days ago

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── ❆ DAY 12: underneath the mistletoe

— summary: college au in which you find yourself under the mistletoe with a stranger.

— warnings: fluff. strangers to lovers. first kiss. gn!reader.

you step outside onto the chilly patio of the christmas party, hoping for some quiet time away from the large crowds. the muffled sounds of music and laughter still spill through the closed door behind you, but out here, the air is crisp and quiet. it’s not even mid-december yet, but the frat boys inside seem to take every excuse they can get to spend their weekends getting wasted.

the cold bites at your cheeks, and you pull your coat tighter around yourself, your breath curling into soft clouds in the dim light. you’re so caught up in the stillness of it all that you don’t notice the figure standing near the edge of the patio until you nearly bump into her

“shit” you mutter instantly, stepping back. “i’m sorry, i didn’t know anyone else would be here”

she turns, startled at first, but her expression softens almost immediately. “it’s okay”

you’ve never seen her around before, otherwise you’d surely remember: she’s beautiful, you think, even through the slightly tipsy state that you’re in. with striking, dark eyes and gentle features, her brown hair falling down her shoulders loosely.

“didn’t expect anyone to join me” the stranger says. “i just need a break. you look like you needed some air too?” her voice is quiet but kind, as if she’s been waiting for someone to join her without realizing.

you nod, feeling a bit awkward but oddly comforted by her presence. “yeah. the crowd in there is…a lot. just needed to breathe for a second”

“tell me about it. they’re really committed to the whole ‘christmas chaos’ thing, huh?”

you hesitate for a moment before stepping closer, your gaze lingering on her profile. there’s something about the way she’s standing; her shoulders slightly hunched, her fingers fidgeting with the rim of her cup, that makes it obvious her mind is elsewhere.

pulling your coat tighter around your torso, you stop by her side, arms resting on the patio railing.

“wanna talk about it?” you ask over a moment of surprisingly comfortable silence. she looks out into the distance. there’s a streetlight not too far from the house. little snowflakes come drizzling down from the night sky above, caught in the beam of light,

“it’s just been..” the stranger shrugs. “complicated. back home, i mean”

“ah” you nod once, trying not to pry but feeling a spark of curiosity. before you can stop yourself, the question slips out: “home..?” you can’t help it, you want to know more, to make her feel a little less like a stranger standing next to you in the cold.

“new jersey” she says, smiling softly. it seems like she wants to know you too, when she adds: “wiskayok. i’m shauna, by the way. shauna shipman”

“y/n” you introduce yourself quickly. “so, shauna shipman, what’s complicated back home?”

a small, amused smile curls up her -shauna’s- lips.

“home’s…weird, i guess. things there, i mean. i’ve got these friends i’ve known forever, and i love them, but-“ she cuts herself off, shaking her head as if to brush the thought away. “sorry, i don’t mean to dump all that on a stranger”

you shake your head, leaning against the railing beside her, the chill of the metal seeping through your sleeves. “you’re not dumping. i get it! small towns can be…a lot,” you scoff lightly. “everyone’s in everyone else’s business”

shauna dips her head back a little when she laughs.

“exactly. when you’re close with someone for so long, it’s like they think they know everything about you”

you nod, her words hitting closer to home than you’d expected. “yeah. sometimes it feels like the people who are supposed to know you best don’t actually see you at all, right?”

her gaze lingers on yours for a beat, her smile faltering but not disappearing completely. “right,” she sighs, still looking over to where the snow is falling. “sorry, that got kind of heavy,” she adds, her tone lighter now. “that’s what i get for being here” shauna scrunches the bridge of her nose. “not really my scene”

“not your scene?”

“no” she shakes her head. “my roommate practically dragged me here. said i needed to ‘have some fun’ or whatever”

you smile, your curiosity piqued. “so, what’s your scene then?”

she chuckles lightly, shaking her head. “honestly? i’m still trying to figure that out”

“your first year too?”

“yeah” shauna looks relieved to have found someone equally new to this.

“well that what was your scene? you know…in highschool?”

that’s the question that gets her. “soccer” she tells you, immediately. “i was on my school’s soccer varsity team”

“soccer?” you ask, genuinely impressed.

“yeah” shauna nods. “jersey number 6. we won the nationals last year, actually. that’s how i-“ she pauses, considers it, then proceeds. “that’s how i know most of these friends i mentioned, i guess. the yellowjackets”

“that’s-“ now it’s your turn to consider your words. “actually impressive”

“it’s funny,” shauna says, smiling softly. “i wasn’t expecting to meet anyone tonight who’d actually get it. most people here are so…different”

“i’ll take that…as a compliment? i think?” you snicker.

“yeah” shauna nods. “yeah, you do that”

the two of you fall silent again. it’s getting colder, the snow falling in thicker flakes now. getting back home will be fun. you rock back and forth on the spot, trying to warm yourself up as your gaze wanders. that’s when something green and red catches your eye above. you blink, realization dawning.

“uh” you say, unsure why you decide to point it out to her. “is that what i think it is?” you point upwards and shauna’s eyes follow your outstretched finger. her brow furrow as she tilts her head. when she spots the mistletoe hanging right above you both, her lips part in a soft, “oh,”

her eyes flick back to yours, and you can see the faintest hint of pink coloring her cheeks, though she quickly tries to hide it with a quiet laugh. “well, that’s…festive”

you snort, crossing your arms. “that’s one way to put it”

for a moment, neither of you moves. shauna shifts on her feet, her fingers toying with the hem of her sweater. you swear you see her glance at your lips, but it’s so quick you could’ve imagined it.

“i mean,” she starts, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, “it’s not like we have to follow the…rules or whatever”

her voice is teasing, but there’s an undercurrent of nervous energy, as if she’s testing the waters. you raise an eyebrow, stepping just a little closer.

“if you know what i’m saying…” shauna trails off.

“i mean, it’s tradition, right?” you manage. thank god you’re still a little tipsy, otherwise you would’ve fled the scene immediately. or, at least, you would not have the courage for any of this. “what if we get, like, bad luck? is that a thing? can you get bad luck from ignoring a mistletoe?” now you’re just rambling, and shauna crosses her arms over her chest, grinning at you bemusedly.

the tension is suddenly palpable; warm, even in the winter air that surrounds you.

“look” you tell her. “if you’re not into it, we can just-“

shauna takes the final step forward, cutting you off completely. her chest bumps against yours gently, and suddenly, the rest of your sentence vanishes into the crisp night air.

“you talk too much” she mumbles with a grin.

and, just like that, the decision is made.

when you lean in to kiss her and shauna meets you halfway, the world seems to pause around you and everything else fades. the muffled sound of music from inside, the chill, the distant chatter of the party. it’s just her.

it starts soft and hesitant, like neither of you wants to rush or break whatever fragile thing this moment is. her lips are warm, a sharp contrast to the frosty air, and there’s a sweetness in the way she moves, as if she’s unsure but still very much willing to take the leap.

shauna’s hand brushes your cheek lightly, her fingertips barely grazing your skin like she’s afraid to press too hard, afraid you might pull away. but you don’t, you can’t. instead, your hands find their way to her waist, settling there through the thick layers of her winter clothes. you hold her there to ground yourself in this unexpected moment.

when shauna deepens the kiss just slightly, it’s as if she’s letting out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, finally allowing herself to melt into you.

the weight of her hand moves to the back of your neck, her touch growing bolder, more confident.

all tension from earlier seems to melt away as you get familiar with the way her lips move against yours slowly and she tilts her head just so, her mouth fitting more perfectly against yours.

when the kiss does break, eventually, her forehead rests against your own briefly and shauna’s eyes flutter open. her lips quirk into a small, self-conscious smile, and she lets out a nervous laugh.

“well,” she murmurs, her cheeks flushed. “i think the mistletoe did its job”

“i think it did” you tell her, softly brushing another strand of hair from her face.

the mistletoe still dangles above you by the time you two part. shauna’s small laugh fades into a soft sigh, and she takes half a step back, just enough to create space without fully letting go of you, unsure whether or not this moment is over.

“so…you’re not terrible at that,” you tease, trying to break the silence but your voice comes out softer than intended.

shauna smirks. “oh, i’ll take ‘not terrible.’ high praise, considering”

for a second, you both stand there, the distant hum of the party a low white noise neither of you really hears. you wonder if you should say something, offer to get her a drink, ask if she wants to sit down, but shauna speaks first.

“so, uh…” she hesitates. “was this just…a one time thing? are you gonna let me know the next time there’s mistletoe around?”

you tilt your head. “well, i wouldn’t want to leave it up to chance. maybe we should exchange numbers, you know? just to be safe”

“okay. yeah. that sounds…smart. very practical!”

shauna lets out a soft chuckle, nodding as you dig through your jacket pocket. you find a pen, thankfully, and hand it over to her. she takes your arm gently, holding it steady as she scrawls her number on your forearm. she even adds her name above the digits before she hands the pen back to you, her fingers brushing yours briefly.

“what about you, though?” she asks conversationally once you’ve taken it back. “do you come to these frat parties often? or are you just really dedicated to holiday traditions?”

you grin, shaking your head. “it’s not my usual scene. either. but…i’m glad i came tonight”

the words slip out before you can overthink them, and shauna’s lips part slightly, like she hadn’t expected you to put it like that. for a second, she doesn’t respond, but then she nods, her smile growing softer.

“yeah. me too”

#THIS IS SO FUCKING CUTE

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