#Day 6 Rockin' Around the Tree | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

teenage-mutant-ninja-freak · 1 year

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Heyo! Love your work btw *chef kiss* I'm obsessed with your poly turtles stuff. Could you maybe do some Christmas poly headcannons? Seasonal Activities they do with their s/o, possible gifts they receive, fav cookies/treats, fav Xmas music. Idk just some festive stuff? If you're busy that's cool 😎 your poly turt stuff has me needing more haha. Thanks!

Ok, I'm pretty sure I got this before Christmas and it's now May. I'm so sorry. I won't go into all the reasons I haven't really been writing because it's a lot but I want to get back into it so here goes with this very unseasonal post lmao

and thank you everyone for you patience as I get back into the swong of writing for my blog

Raph

This big hunk of red and green first

He's very seasonal if you think about it

He's also super (secretly) into the holidays

catch him doing his rendition of rockin' around the Christmas tree very loudly when he's off his tits on eggnog

((side note I think he would hate eggnog but would drink it solely because it's festive))

He's secretly super sentimental and he knows you love this time of year so he really puts his back into it

I'm talking it's the 1st of December and he wakes you up in a full Santa outfit and white beard (that he knitted himself) yelling "Ho Ho Ho!" and asking if you've been naughty or nice

it's like 6am so you, naturally, tell him to piss off

to which he makes a big show of trying to shove you into his Santa sack because "Someone needs a trip to the North Pole to learn the Christmas spirit"

He's also pretty good with crafts

obvs you guys can't go outside and be seen so he creates a whole winter wonderland in the lair (without telling the others, Mikey was the only one who appreciated it tbh)

also he's a great cook so you spend evening after evening baking sugar cookies and decorating them, sipping hot chocolate with a candy cane in it and whipped cream on top, making warming winter soups.

In terms of gifts, he gets you anything and everything he even thinks you might like

real big spender this one

handmade too items like a scarf he knitted for you because your old one was a bit worn, handmade card, he even did a little snow globe that he made with figures of you and him inside of it

he'll say "I know it's lame" or "It's not the best but I tried" but it means the world to you

Leo

Big boy blue up next

I see him loving a very traditional, old fashioned, classic Xmas.

His big thing is that he loves to decorate the tree with you

but you would always bicker about how it should look

"No, I think a gold and red theme would look better!"

"But, Leo, we have all of these cute glass candy canes I wanna hang!"

"But I have a vision!!"

so this year he decides to buy like 6 trees (and by buy I mean forage, steal or cut down)

so you can both have your own trees and decorate them however you want

this, obviously, becomes a Christmas competition

your very unwilling judges are Leo's brothers and even Splinter

they have never looked more uncomfortable than when you and Leo are very passionately stating your case for why your tree is better than the other's and it ends in you both throwing baubles at each other

about half an hour and a lot of tinsel lying everywhere later you decide that maybe you're both a little too competitive

but Leo reassures that "That's why I love you"

He's so big on quality time with you

lot's of sitting by a crackling fire, sipping coco and letting soft Christmas songs play

he's made a playlist of v gentle ones like Eartha Kitt's Santa baby, Conventry carol and god rest ye merry gentlemen.

it's all about the mood w/ Leo

as far as gifts, it's has to be something personal and sweet

a pressed flower in resin from the first day you both met, a silver heart shaped locket with a pic of you both in it, some sort of talisman that's supposed to keep you safe in ninja superstition

Mikey

Time for chaotic good to come to play

Mikey just manages to capture that almost childlike enthusiasm and wonder for the season

He has a funny habit of wrapping your gifts to look like something else

last year you were certain he'd gotten you a rocking horse but it turned out to be a new phone and headphones

"How long did it take you to wrap it like that?"

"Don't ask questions you don't wanna know.....3 hours to make the horse part look right"

normally he gets you silly but sweet gifts

lots of sticking filler things

oh and he gets you an actual stocking too, but like a comically oversized one to fit all the gifts

stuff he's made too

one year he made you 50 hand cut paper snowflakes with 50 reasons he loves you written and drawn on them

also stuff you guys can do together

video games he knows you'll find fun, stupid interactive games that you can play, that kinda stuff

he does a special Xmas scavenger hunt for you each year that the others pretend is stupid but it keeps getting more elaborate as time goes on and even they are started to get invested in the ending

there's a theme and everything ranging from polar express to murder at the Christmas party to Santa's grotto....

he also never fails to dress up as Mrs Clause every year (because Raph insists on being Santa and at first Mikey just wanted everyone to laugh, but now it's kinda a tradition)

Donnie

oh my sweet gadget boy

he's super big into cocktails, the sweeter the better

and you always get to name them together but you both have a warped sense of humour so the names are getting out of hand

you pick a fave each year as well

last year was "The abominable snowman's frozen left nut" and the year before was "Mrs Clause putting glass shavings in Santa's food because he came back with the clap"

I told you they were bizarre....

his gifts are always thoughtful and so romantic

I HC Donnie as being a super romantic guy

whether it be a painting he made of the constellations and planets in correct placement on the night the two of you first kissed

or a wreath of dried flowers and plants to hang on the door that came from the field behind your childhood house

but this year it's a scrapbook filled to the brim with every detail of the two of you, all dated and with a little annotation telling a story as to why it's in there. photos, cards, handwritten letters, magazine cut outs, diary entries.... it's all in there and it's enough to make you cry.

He also sneaks you out on Christmas eve every year without the others knowing (they'd flip if they came to know that he was stealing you away at that time)

but he takes you up to the rooftops to sit on blankets and drink hot chocolate (spiked with a little rum, it's Donnie after all...) and look at the lights and snowflakes and people bustling home to their families and you sit and feel at peace and laugh as you make up backstories to each individual you see scurrying home

you lean against his shoulder and every year that he does this it feels more magical than the last

#tmnt #tmnt mikey #tmnt donnie #tmnt leo #tmnt raph #teenage mutant ninja turtles #christmas #poly #poly edition #christmas edition #tmnt x reader #tmnt/reader #tmntxreader

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haunted-headset · 10 months

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Masterlist

Key: 💘: fluff 💔: angst/hurt with no comfort 🧾: poem 💔🩹: hurt with comfort 🤷‍♀️: idk what genre this is lol 💙: hehe funny ☁ : writer's favorites

Fics: 1. We Fell In Love In October 💘 2. Come Be Lonely With Me Pt. 1 (Pt. 2 ) 💘 3. I'll Say Your Eyes Are the Stars in My Skies 💘 4. I Wanna Be the One That Makes Your Day 💘 5. Everybody Talks Too Much 💘 6. Talk to Me 💘 7. Breathe for Me 💘 8. There's a Reason London Puts Barriers on the Tube Line 💔🩹☁ 9. Take My Hand: Chp. 1 (Chp. 2) 💘 10. Love Me Normally 💘 11. Anything to Make Me Feel Less Numb 💘 12. There's Pretty Ways to Turn Me Down 💔☁ 13. Did You Just Flinch? 💔🩹 14. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree 💘 15. I've Got You 💘💔🩹 16. Going Postal At The Party 💘💔🩹 17. Oh, Distant You. 💔 18. You're Back! 💘☁

Poems: 1. The Day That Cupid Came 🧾💘 2. A Cup of Coffee 🧾💘 3. Bookworm 🧾💘 4. You Deserve It All 🧾💘 5. I Would Never Fall Unless It's You 🧾💘 7. him. 💔

Head Canons/Extras: 1. Is That Too Scary for You? 🤷‍♀️💙 2. Wilbur panic attack headcanons 💔🩹 3. Tori Spring headcanons 🤷‍♀️ 4. Wilbur x trans reader headcanons 💘 5. Revivebur cuddling Y/N headcanons 💘 6. Texts from CC!Boyfriend!Wilbur 💘💙 7. Lovejoy member!reader x Wilbur hcs 8. insta posts with boyfriend Wilbur! 💘💙☁ 9. Camera Girl (hcs)💙💘 10. haunted-headset dictionary 💙 11. Sick boy Wilbur headcanons 💘 12. Drunk boy Wilbur headcanons 💘 13. dadbur & daughter hcs 💘

Current number of fics/hcs/poems/extras: 38

#masterlist

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rythmicjea · 5 months

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20 Questions (plus a bonus) for Fic Authors

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

2. What is your AO3 wordcount?

222,958

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Currently: Riverdale (and I have an ongoing Zack & Cody fic)

Past: Doctor Who, The Magicians, and Star Wars

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Haven't broken 100 kudos on a fic yet but I'm close!

I. My Dearest Korkie with 91

II. 6-2-4-8-4-6-3 with 75

III. Plums and Mugs with 70

IV. Casualty with 69

V. Kindness in Lies with 54

5. Do you respond to comments?

Every. Single. One. I love them. Fuck me up with questions about what you've just read. If it's not spoiler-y then I'm happy to explain. Hell, even if it might be a tad spoiler-y I still will lol.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Oof... that would probably be a tie between We Had Fun (the main character just straight up kills people) or We Belong Together (where it seems like the couple doesn't actually end up together, but I promise they do!).

7. What is the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I love making people cry. I used to say "if you're not crying, I didn't do my job". But um... do WIPs count if I already know how they are going to end? lol

I'm going to say for finished I Only Have Eyes For You (This will make you cry) and The Magician Queen (this is a classic Holiday Hallmark Happy Ending)

For WIP (that is actually finished I'm just not posting all at once) The Suite Adult Life

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Not yet. I welcome thoughtful critiques though!

9. Do you write smut? If so, which kind?

LMAO. By looking at my repertoire you would think the answer is "no". However, I literally wrote a collection of short stories just to write smut. It ended up more tame than expected and very romantic. BUT I do have some pretty explicit scenes in some stories.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest crossover you’ve ever written?

No. I've just not been inspired and I tend to stay away from reading crossovers.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No :(

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No, but I've tried to get people to write with me.

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

OMG that's like asking who my favorite child is? I mean that's just so unfair- it's Jeronica. Jughead/Veronica is my heart and soul. 80 years of sexual tension just can't be beat lol.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I hate to say it but... I don't have any. I think Not Another Riverdale Love Story (nicknamed Narwals) is the closest. But I know how it's going to end and I just posted chapter 7 and am currently working on chapter 10. OO! I know, it's pure porn. Just pr0n all day long. Rockin Around The Christmas Tree. I have two out of the four chapters posted. I have the last chapter 75% of the way finished. I just have to write smut for one pairing and then it'll be finished.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Existing dialogue and minute details. I like to use and reimagine current dialogue of the shows into my stories. And I drop blink and you miss them hints throughout.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Smut. I've gotten a lot of compliments but I still think I suck at it lol.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I'm pretty good at French but I love writing dialogue in another language. I don't write whole scenes in it. But I have two characters that know passible Japanese so I dropped some in a chapter. But I make sure to translate in the ending A/N.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Sailor Moon!! All the way back when NO ONE knew what fanfiction was.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Oh goodness... I love them all for different reasons. I think if I were to do this as Word Association it would be My Dearest Korkie. It's G-rated and less than 400 words but packs a punch! I think it really proves that a G-rated short short story can be just as good as a 300k+ multi-chapter E rated fic.

Bonus Question

21. What story of yours do you think needs more love?

The Suite Adult Life - I wrote this without knowing the show existed until I was suggested clips on YouTube. I never watched the clips, I just did one google search, read one synopsis, and one relationship timeline. Then out popped 100k+ words... I'm still kind of baffled by it lol.

Tagging- anyone else who wants to participate!

#ao3 #writing #ao3 fanfic #writers #riverdale #jeronica #vughead #Star Wars #reylo #obitine #the suite adult life #the suite life on deck #the suite life of zack and cody #cody x bailey #The Magicians #Doctor Who #the doctor and rose

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right-brain-of-froggy2 · 2 years

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It’s Christmas Season!

Both Froggy One and I have been a little inactive as of late due to life (sigh), but it’s finally December 1st and the winter holiday season! While I don’t have much time now to write anything new to celebrate, I figured I could do a little masterlist for all my Christmas in July stories :) Enjoy!

AO3 link if that’s more your fancy

I’ll put links to the days under the cut so not to clog up all the blogs!

Day 1: Christmastime Is Here

Day 2: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Day 3: Little Saint Nick

Day 4: The Nutcracker

Day 5: Baby, Please Come Home

Day 6: Here Comes Santa Claus

Day 7: Wonderful Christmastime

Day 8: Do You Hear What I Hear?

Day 9: Deck the Halls

Day 10: Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Day 11: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Day 12: Up on the Housetop

Day 13: Who Spiked the Eggnog?

Day 14: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Day 15: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Day 16: Frosty the Snowman

Day 17: I’ll Be Home For Christmas

Day 18: There’s No Place Like Home (For the Holidays)

Day 19: To Christmas!

Day 20: Text Me Merry Christmas

Day 21: Silver Bells

Day 22: Silent Night

Day 23: Baby, It's Cold Outside

Day 24: Cold December Night

Day 25: Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy

Day 26: Bonus! Chapter 7 cookie recipes

Day 27: Bonus! A Very Penny Christmas

Day 28: Bonus! Chapter 14 written letters

Day 29: Bonus! Chapter 7 cookie recipes part 2

Day 30: Bonus! Chapter 9 Kayo POV

Day 31: Bonus! 12 Days of Rescues

#thunderbirds #thunderbirds 2015 #thunderbirds are go #thunderbirds tos #thunderbirds fanfiction #Scott Tracy #John Tracy #Virgil Tracy #Gordon Tracy #Alan Tracy #Kayo Kyrano #christmas #christmas in july

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behindthelabels · 2 years

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One Line One Fic

Rules: pick any 10 of your fics, scroll somewhere to the mid point, pick a line, and share it! Then tag 10 people.

Tagged by @doctorhelena and @cafecitowriter

I hate decisions so used a random number generator to pick from my 75 posted fics.

1. Wrapped in Red - Steggy

It’s a careless risk because she hasn’t done her due diligence on him. She trusts him, and knows implicitly he is not someone that's trying to hurt or manipulate her (an instinct that she would roll her eyes at if anyone else expressed it to her). She has faith in him; knows he is who he says he is.

2. The Wedding - JamieClaire

No more Frank, not tonight, just for tonight—it is her wedding night after all. Just this one night she'll indulge the lust and attraction that percolates between Claire and Jamie Fraser, then she will stop, will once again be faithful to her other husband.

3. Foiled Plans - OutlawQueen

She doesn't like that, not one bit. She won't be able to kill him if he doesn't hold up his end, so she has no way to force him to do it. She can understand why he mistrusts her, she doesn't trust him, but she can't let this go down this way, he has far too much to gain.

4. Lovers and Friends - JamieClaire

All he can do is long for her, and oh, how he does. But that's all it can ever be.

5. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - OutlawQueen (of course it was sex there is so much sex in this fic)

Every thrust of his hips against hers is hitting her g-spot perfectly making her moan out again and again. She's too loud but he's talking, in this bedroom voice that just makes everything that much hotter, telling her how good she feels, how wet she is, how badly he's wanted her.

6. Seven - OutlawQueen

He hates bras, they never come off easily, he always makes a fool of himself with those evil little hooks that never seem to come out. He's seen women pop their bra off quickly and as far as he's concerned, it's magic, because it always takes him several tries before he even gets one clasp undone.

7. One Last Time - OutlawQueen

His lips find hers, a bit sloppy and desperate, and it reminds her that this isn't over yet, thank god. She doesn't have to give him up just yet, can enjoy him and his body a little more before she lets go for good.

8. Strip it Down - OutlawQueen

He stops gawking long enough to find a seat and then the show begins. And it’s the sexiest thing he’s ever seen in his life. They aren’t allowed to touch them which is good, Robin doesn't know if he would have been able to control himself if he’d been allowed to touch them. It was bad enough trying to rein his hormones. And the rules didn't prevent the two incredibly sexy women from touching them, and most of the attention was on him because he’s the bachelor.

9. Past the Pointe of No Return - OutlawQueen

When the next one starts, he immediately knows that this is where Regina watched up until.

This is… wow.

Racy, that's for sure. It's surprisingly hot, this dance, and actually quite complex. It's not his style, but it would be a challenge.

10. He Can Do This All Day - Steggy

Steve is in no rush, but Peggy’s head is swirling with images of what’s to come. She deepens the kiss, nibbling Steve’s lower lip in the way that never fails to make him groan. The sound has her biting back her own moan because the sound of his pleasure never fails to spur her on.

Tagging: @roboticonography @somewhereapart @formerlyir @captainjimothycarter @theawkwardterrier @flyinghome-againstthewind

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deadcactuswalking · 2 years

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REVIEWING THE CHARTS: 31/12/2022 (Christmas Garbage. Just Christmas Garbage)

This week included Christmas Day and surrounding days into its tracking – as cool as it would be to send off 2022 with a week of returns and new arrivals, it’s still holiday season on the charts so before we usher in the new year... let’s talk about Christmas music. Because of course. “Last Christmas” by Wham! is #1 once again and welcome back to REVIEWING THE CHARTS!

Rundown

The sheer amount of holiday streaming this year meant that this week is home to many a new peak for a Christmas song. The only non-Christmas song in the top 10 barely counts because it had a Christmas-adjacent Amazon Original remix which is pushing it here. Talking about that top 10, since it’s this week, I may as well crib the format from the last. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” by Andy Williams is at #10, “Fairytale of New York” by the Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl is at #9, “Someday at Christmas” by Lizzo is at #8, “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms is at #7, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Bublé is at #6, “Firebabe” by Stormzy is at #5 thanks to the aforementioned Amazon version, “Rockin’ Around by the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee is at #4, “Merry Christmas” by Ed Sheeran and Elton John is at #3, “All I Want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey is at #2 and of course “Last Christmas” takes the top spot.

Now, pretty much all of this chart is related to Christmas one way or the other because ACR rules don’t mean squat with the sheer amount of streams they get. It’s probably more interesting talking about the holiday songs that didn’t make the top 75, which is what I cover: The Darkness, Sam Smith, George Ezra and even Queen couldn’t really breach the canon this year, not that those songs aren’t valid holiday celebrations. The Darkness’ “Christmas Time (Don’t Let the Bells End)” should get a bit more play, especially if we’re going for wacky and melodramatic Christmas songs, which aren’t really my favourite. In earnest, I prefer the miserable ones. Not only are there eight new Christmas songs on this chart, but many of the old ones hit brand new peaks. Joy. Just to humour this nonsense, I’m actually going to try my best to list them here. Outside of the top 10, those reaching new peaks include “Underneath the Tree” by Kelly Clarkson at #12, “Let it Snow” (three times) by Dean Martin at #20, “Feliz Navidad” by Jose Feliciano at #21, “Sleigh Ride” by the Ronettes at #22, “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Michael Bublé at #23, “Snowman” by Sia at #28, “Let it Snow” (three times) by Frank Sinatra at #33, “Santa Can’t You Hear Me” by Kelly Clarkson and Ariana Grande at #34, “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole at #35 (that’s a classic), “Jingle Bells” by Sam Ryder at #41 (that’s not), “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives at #42, “Christmas Without You” by Ava Max at #43, “Let it Snow” (one time) by Michael Bublé at #44, “Together this Christmas” by Maisie Peters at #47, “Oh Santa!” by Mariah Carey, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson at #50, “Cuddle Up Cozy Down Christmas” by Dolly Parton and Michael Bublé at #57 and “Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck Berry at #62. Got all that? There’s more.

Several of those were songs that returned to the top 75 for this week and pretty much this week only until next year. Other songs first returning to the top 75 this year – and therefore gone the next week – include “Christmas Wrapping” by the Waitresses at #73 (which has always been one of my favourites), “Mistletoe and Wine” by Cliff Richard at #71 (which hasn’t), “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” by Perry Como at #69, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” by Bruce Springsteen at #58, “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley at #56, “Santa Baby” by Kylie Minogue at #54 and probably my personal favourite Christmas song of all time, “2000 Miles” by the Pretenders at #51, reaching its highest chart placement since 1984. Finally, they see the vision.

Now finally, I suppose we should cover our notable dropouts, right? Songs exiting the UK Top 75 – which, again, is what I cover – after five weeks in the region or a peak in the top 40 are considered “notable” and oh my God, it was a bloodbath. And there’ll be another one next week. For now though, both of our Christmas #1 novelty debuts from last week, “F the Tories” and “Food Aid” are gone, but the rest... well, we say farewell – for pretty much this week only I imagine – to “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” by Metro Boomin, Future and Chris Brown, “Rocket Science” by Clavish and D-Block Europe, “10:35” by Tiesto and Tate McRae, “Nobody Gets Me” and “Shirt” by SZA, “Lift Me Up” by Rihanna, “golden hour” by JVKE, “Lionheart (Fearless)” by Joel Corry and Tom Grennan, “Hide & Seek” by Stormzy, “How Do I Say Goodbye” by Dean Lewis, “PSYCHO” by Anne-Marie and Aitch, “Forget Me” by Lewis Capaldi, “I’m Good (Blue)” by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha and “Mockingbird” by Eminem – because of course it was on the chart last week, it’s still 2022 after all.

Of course there aren’t any non-holiday gains. What a stupid question for you to definitely be asking. Now, we have a grand list of eight new arrivals, all of which are holiday singles. I’m writing this on the 30th. All festivity has been sucked out by this point, but for now, I suppose it’s Christmastime for another hour or two.

NEW ARRIVALS

#72 – “What Christmas Means to Me” – Stevie Wonder

Produced by Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua

I’d say that the gloves are off for this episode – I have no room to be nice on a post-Christmas Christmas week – but that’s after this one because I’ve always considered this in the upper echelon of Christmas songs, even if it’s a bit of a sleeper. Plus, it’s Stevie Wonder – when do I get to talk about Stevie Wonder on this show? I’m not going to waste this chance being mean. I will try and keep this one and the next few very short though. Again, I’m not putting in the time or effort for this week of all weeks. Whilst this song may fall into the overly festive crop, the bombast is somewhat limited by the not-so-great mixing you can expect of 1967 that gives it an almost lo-fi feel when it comes to the choir. It helps that Stevie’s belting his heart out too, he’s never not been a convincing performer, and he’s selling very genuine content. Sure, it’s littered with clichés but they’re well written and cute, co-written by Marvin Gaye himself so it’s unlikely they could ever go wrong. What surprises me is that this wasn’t a single and didn’t actually chart until 2021 where it debuted at #97. I have no idea why this one didn’t catch on sooner.

#70 – “Last Christmas” – Lauren Spencer-Smith

Produced by who cares?

You know the deal by now. It’s an Amazon original, it doesn’t get reviewed – and Lauren Spencer-Smith, really? Your pop career is a year old. You’ve yet to put out a good song let alone an album. Who in their right mind would try and listen to any other version of this song other than George Michael’s original? He wrote those lyrics perfectly to fit his voice and cadence: anything else is a poor imitation. Naturally, Piran suggested “Take me home” by PinkPantheress. I’ll keep it short but I don’t like this all that much, which is disappointing, since PinkPantheress tends to hit more than miss. I really don’t like the awkward chorus on this one and whilst I like the lyrics about maturing, they come off a bit on-the-nose when she delivers them this way and without a true emotional climax to the song, which may have a second verse at least but lacks a real bridge apart from an instrumental section which repeats much of the same warping synthwave-drum and bass combination which does feels a bit stock. Sorry, not a fan, and especially not a fan of the cheap slowed-down trap beat in the outro, why is that even there? They also suggested “DESPECHÁ” by ROSALÍA, a song I much prefer, even if through the obnoxious Auto-Tune, some of the personality is lost, but for a song with such a stiff feeling rhythm, I don’t really mind. The minimalism of it all doesn’t come off as a surprise from ROSALÍA considering her recent work, and it leads to a song that feels very laser-focused on its aim in making a simple dance song, to the point where there isn’t even a build up as much as there are just synth passages and for whatever reason, it clicks with me.

#68 – “My Only Wish (This Year)” – Britney Spears

Produced by Joshua Schwartz and Brian Kierulf

Jive Records released a Christmas compilation in 2000 and since Britney was on that label, we get her addition to the Christmas canon, which was recently re-released in 2020, charting first below the top 75 in 2021. Let me be clear: these are the dregs. These are songs that nobody actually wants to listen to – they have their fans but these are radio filler songs and streaming playlist fodder added by some kind of label bribe. Spears’ slippery voice does not work on such a peppy sleigh-bells instrumental that feels very much in the fashion of Mariah Carey, and she is completely unequipped for organic production, really, and I’ve pretty much always felt that way. The more electronic and alien she gets, the better she is, and this is about as far from that as you can get, so unless you really like Disney cheese and pointless vocal riffing with sickly sweet writing, this probably will be on the low ranks of your December playlist turnaround.

#67 – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” – Frank Sinatra

Produced by ???

There are many versions of this song, originally sang by Judy Garland, but Sinatra’s 1957 version gets some attention nowadays and whilst the man could sell any content with his voice and charisma, the choir tends to sound a bit ghostly nowadays, and it’s not really as warm-sounding as it should be. I’m not surprised this one took until 2019 to even chart at #100 because with the choir, the echo on Sinatra’s vocals and the oddly tense strings, it seems a bit... creepy if anything. It’s not a bad rendition, but sometimes songs aren’t released as singles on release for reasons not unknown to the audience. Doesn’t Phoebe Bridgers have a version of this? With no disrespect to the classics, can’t we make that chart instead?

#64 – “All I Want (for Christmas)” – Zoe Wees

Produced by who cares?

Zoe Wees is a German singer mostly known for her 2018 song “Control” which was a sleeper hit in Europe. It never charted here, so her chart debut is an Amazon original. How embarrassing. Callum suggested “Heal” by Jason Allan, which apart from an awkward synth line and a pretty cool guitar solo, is your absolute standard pop punk song and is just completely serviceable. It gave me nothing to say, so Jade suggested “Rely on Me” by Sigala, Gabry Ponte and Alex Gaudino, which is... just a house song. It has your typical diva vocal, your typical 90s pianos and is completely serviceable other than a slightly unique and catchy vocal refrain but not much else. An anonymous suggestion from Basildon gives me “Werewolf” by Absurd, a Nazi black metal song. I may need to find better suggestions.

#61 – “Under the Mistletoe” – Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge

Produced by Jesse Shatkin and Aben Eubanks

Brett Eldredge? At this time of day? At this time of year? In this country, localised entirely within #61? Apart from the novelty of a B-list country singer even getting close to the UK charts, this is one of your typical bombastic, fake-sounding modern Christmas songs, and that melody in the chorus is particularly grating, as Kelly sells it all without much emotion as much as there is just volume, which leads to a really tough listen when that chorus comes around with the standard swell and horns that sound genuinely terrible, kind of like they came from Pokémon Emerald. Brett Eldredge goes for a low-key delivery for the most part... you’re singing with Kelly Clarkson, man, what are you thinking? I like both of these artists fine most of the time but Christmas music is not their lane. At least it’s an original track so they’re not butchering anything, I suppose. Also for some reason, I thought that these two were married, but turns out that they are not and I was mistaking them for Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton... who somehow have even less musical chemistry.

#57 – “Little Saint Nick” – The Beach Boys

Produced by Brian Wilson

Oh, come on, I can’t complain about the Beach Boys in the 1960s. This 1963 tune is in the canon in the US but has only just found its way across the Atlantic, and I’m pretty happy that it has, since whilst it’s definitely not essential: it’s 1960s Beach Boys. The harmonies are great, the vocal inflections are youthful and charming, the jingle bells didn’t yet feel like a cliché, and it’s incessantly catchy with hooks coming out of the wazoo, in a surprisingly subtle way also, in a way that the Beach Boys weren’t yet at this point in their career. They spend half the time gushing about how cool Santa’s sleigh is and describing it as if it were a sports car, how can you not at least take kindly to this?

#49 – “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – Priya Ragu

Produced by who cares?

Priya Ragu is a Sri Lankan singer based in Switzerland who is making her chart debut, though she has charted on the UK Asian chart before, with yet another Amazon original. Again, how embarrassing. Listen, it’s the end of the year: I’m not ending with a bang but the most pathetic of whimpers and you’ll have to live with it, damn it. Callum suggested “Bloodline” by Sam Tompkins and that may just be the most least impactful song I have ever heard in terms of production and a grossly possessive one lyrically... and it’s from the less important of the two guys on that “To the Moon!” song because... sure. It even goes for an intense drum crash at the end but it just sounds so stagnant because there are no stakes. He then suggested that I write Spider-Man vore so I’m blacklisting him from suggestions. Dillon suggested “Righteous” by Mo Beats, an instrumental rage cut with a really sprawling drizzle of video game-esque synths. It sounds like a SNES and whilst it may have the fuzzy mixing of a rage beat and is a bit too unchanging to work perfectly, I’d love to hear someone rap over it and it’s definitely a lot more unique than anything Yeat has ever touched. He also suggested “Da Rant” by Morray, an expectedly earnest cut from Morray who brings all of his passion into a freestyle over a slick enough soul loop and trap beat, wherein even his off-the-cuff freestyles end up sounding like they have all these soulful, calculated melodies and backing riffs. The delivery is great, the rhyme schemes are nice, and whilst the content is nothing new for Morray, it’s an honest rags-to-riches story. It may feel a bit too off-the-cuff though, as Morray tends to switch the topic back to flexing too much than he should given that he sometimes starts off a conscious idea and just... never comes back to it. Also, “the world is cold, Russians” is just... stupid. Regardless, for inspirational trap-rap in the Rod Wave lane, Morray pretty much clears anyone I’ve heard, and I’m excited for that next project. Thanks to everyone who suggested a song this Christmas season to help with my boycott against Jeff Bezos.

Conclusion

Well, three of these songs are Amazon originals and therefore not real songs, so that leaves the other five. Best of the Week is going to the Beach Boys for “Little Saint Nick” – it’s far from my favourite in their catalogue, but they were a once in a lifetime group in terms of talent. The Honourable Mention goes to Stevie Wonder for “What Christmas Means to Me” for many of the same reasons: a legend making a damn good festive track just a bit before their prime era. I said all the soppy end-of-year crap last week so I’ll cut it straight: Worst of the Week goes to “Under the Mistletoe” by Kelly Clarkson and Brett Eldredge, with a close Dishonourable Mention to Britney Spears for “My Only Wish (This Year)”. As I said, these are mostly the dregs, and the purge next week where we start anew with 2023’s pop music will be refreshing. For now, thank you for reading and I’ll see you – literally – next year!

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tfblovesmusic · 19 days

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Maligayang Pask-OH SHIP! Mixtape 1, Listening Guide 1

Section 1: The Ber Months Begin

Jose Mari Chan’s “Christmas in Our Hearts,” the official Christmas anthem of the Philippines, commences the playlist as a moderato overture. Immediately following it is Paul and Storm’s “The Way-Too-Early Christmas Song.” Though it takes place on November 1, the lyrics ring true too – at least in the nation in which its Christmas season kicks off 2 months prior. Bing Crosby’s actual “Christmas Song” follows it as a contrast.

A string of songs usher in the holiday season. The Washington Symphonic Brass’s arrangement of the opening chorus of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio - "Jauchzet, frohlocket, auf, preiset die Tage" - follows The New Christy Minstrels’ cover of “We Need a Little Christmas” in great fanfare. The Kidsongs Kids tell the listener, “Christmas is Coming.”

Rock band Jingle Punx exclaims, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” as Amy Grant announces, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Paul McCartney, Jimmy Fallon, and The Roots jam out, simply having a “Wonderful Christmastime.”

Section 2: Consumerism and Conniptions

For some secular people, Christmas means physical presents and great spending. Maestro Forte tells the Beast, “Don’t Fall in Love,” as the mall Santas convince elf Buddy that “Nobody Cares About Santa Claus.” The Bob Rivers Comedy Corp endures the “Twelve Pains of Christmas.” (As much as I don’t condone corporal punishment, the segments in which the kid throws a tantrum makes you want to take your tsinelas to his upos, di ba?)

The consumerism theme segues as the Pet Shop Boys sing their anthem on Christmas “Shopping” and Meryl Streep croons about “Money, Money, Money.” The Brothers Bright declare that “It’s a Wonderful Life.” As the consumerism gets deeper into the listener’s head, the ensemble of She Loves Me get stressed about “12 Days to Christmas.”

Section 3: In Search of Advent

Immediately after the tangent on consumerism, holiday stress, and seasonal villain songs, Faith Hill questions the true meaning of the holiday, asking, “Where Are You Christmas?” Then, treble Andrew Swait and pianist Andrew Plant vainly plumb through the confusion it with Benjamin Britten’s arrangement of “I Wander as I Wonder.”

The Gesualdo Six - Guy James, Alexander Chance, Joseph Wicks, Josh Cooter, Michael Craddock, and Samuel Mitchell – sing in anticipation of the Reason of the Season “Veni, Veni Emannuel.” The choir of All Saints Church in Beverly Hills – accompanied by organ and bassoon – likewise seeks out the infant Jesus in the David Hurd anthem, “A Stable Lamp Is Lighted.”

The Montreal Symphonic Winds plumb the mystery of Advent in their arrangement of Bach’s organ chorale Nun komm der Heiden Heiland, BWV 659. Then, the Purcell Quartet, Dame Emma Kirkby, Michael Chance, Charles Daniels, and Peter Harvey usher the listener deeper in the mystery via the opening of the cantata (BWV 61) of the same name as the chorale prelude.

Section 4: Cool Yule Jerk!

The segment naturally opens with Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas.” The Eurythmics declare a “Winter Wonderland,” and Barney, Baby Bop, and BJ announce that “It’s Snowing.” The Acoustix sing Kay Thompson’s medley of “Jingle Bells” and “Sleigh Ride.”

Then, the vocalists share two winter tales. Stephanie J. Block sings “The Ballad of Sarsaparilla Safirovich” and the Kidsongs Kids construct “Frosty the Snowman.” Then, Sarsaparilla Safirovich appears in winter clothes and does a jive with Frosty as The Capitols sing “Cool Jerk.” They join the kids in Bette Midler’s “Cool Yule.”

Section 5: Tree-Trimming Party

The Kidsongs Kids “Deck the Halls.” Meanwhile, the Bob Rivers Comedy Corp seems to have trouble doing so, stressing over “Decorations.” When all the trimming is sorted out, Amy Grant leads them to a dance party, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

Section 6: Christmas in War and Peace

It’s worth noting that some of the most inspirational secular carols were written during Christmases in times of war. And included in the section are a few musical perennials.

The segment commences with Anne Murray’s cover of a serviceman’s seasonal promise, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The feelings are intensified on the widows’ walks of their hometowns, with Darlene Love bemoaning about being “All Alone on Christmas.” Mariah Carey also stands at her widow’s walk, belting, “Baby, Please Come Home.”

The servicemen who made it alive return back to their hometowns as the Carpenters announce they are "Home for the Holidays." The Oak Ridge Boys dedicate their ballad, “Sincerely, I Remain,” in honor of them. The listener envisions a POW table, dimly lighted by a sole flame from a candle as the Cambridge Singers solemnly sing John Rutter’s “Candlelight Carol.” Kathy Troccoli asks the listener – civilian, veteran, or active duty member – to “Go Light Your World.”

Calls for peace intensify, as Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli become united in “The Prayer.” Grant crafts her “Grown-Up Christmas List,” as Murray also asks Santa Claus for “A Little Good News” through the next year. Andreas Scholl sings a seasonal berceuse from Bach's Christmas Oratorio – “Schlafe, mein Liebster, genieße der Ruh'” – to the Holy Infant, amid the war and chaos.

As the Harlem Boys’ Choir prays to God to “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” Bette Midler assures the listener that God is watching them “From a Distance.” Crosby and David Bowie loudly beseech peace with their medley of “Peace on Earth” and “Little Drummer Boy.” Mme. Dion finally exclaims, "Happy Xmas (War is Over)."

Best listened with Spotify Premium.

#Spotify #christmas songs #maligayang pasko #ber months #filipino christmas

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dailyjimmybuffett · 7 months

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Everybody's Got a Cousin in Miami

"Psst!"

"Psst, psst!"

"Hey Jimmy, you know anybody in Miami that can get me a passport real quick?"

"Oh yeah, yeah man. I've got a cousin up there. He knows everything about everything. Let's see if I've got his number here somewhere, yeah. No, he works out of a payphone, oh yeah, I've got it here. Okay. Today's international investor, whatever that is. Yeah, everybody's got a cousin in Miami. Here we go."

It was was ninety miles to freedom, but they took the risk Though ocean was all motion and the wind was brisk The deadly gunboats never saw them in the pale moonlight They were off to Cayo Hueso by the dawn's early light

The gringo in the garden called the customs man They answered all his questions, were allowed to land The ladies shared a hairbrush and their husbands had a Coke And they were taken up to Krome to meet with their kinfolk

Everybody's got a cousin in Miami Everybody understands the impromptu Dancing in the heat to the beat that turns your clothing clammy Everybody needs to have a dream come true

In a third world jungle, not so far away Lives a natural drummer with a dream to play He's the brother of the lizard and the flying fish But he's enchanted by the pictures from the satellite dish

So his mama packs his bag, knots his red necktie Sends him north to her relations with a kiss goodbye He's bewildered by the plane ride and the immigration line Until he sees his Christian name upon a cardboard sign

Everybody's got a cousin in Miami Everybody is an aborigine Dancing in the heat to the beat, it turns your clothing clammy Everybody want to win that lottery

"And the winning numbers are 7, 6, 5, 3, 7, 9 Uh, close, so close History lesson, history lesson"

It's hard to believe this city started as a trading post Home to the Seminole, pirate, and pioneer Between the river of grass and the old Mosquito Coast Before the railroad claimed the southernmost frontier

I am umbilically connected to the temperate zone It brought me life, it brought me love I never have outgrown Brought me one too many nights along that Biscayne shore And one too many mornings in the Grove drugstore

In one way or the other, we're all refugees Livin' out this easy life below the banyan trees Smoothing off the rougher edges of the culture clash We've got a style, we've got a look, we've got that old panache

Everybody's got a cousin in Miami Everybody understands the impromptu Dancing in the heat to the beat, it turns your clothing clammy Everybody needs to have a dream come true

"I do, I do Let's take it down boys Down south to those little latitudes Ya ya, ya ya! Thank you, Robert"

Everybody's got a cousin in Miami Everybody is an aborigine Dancing in the heat to the beat, it turns your clothing clammy Under the stars, in the bars down by the sea

Oh me now Everybody's got a cousin in Miami Everybody has to have that impromptu

"What are we doing now?"

Dancing in the heat to the beat It turns your clothing clammy Everybody needs to have a dream come true I do. I do.

"I had this dream the other day. I was down on the Equator. I didn't know whether I was up or down. I couldn't tell the difference. It was hot and we were rockin'. And the Coral Reefers gathered around me and they said, 'We want a raise or we're going to quit.' And that's when I woke up. So play, boys, play".

#jimmy buffett #fruitcakes #everybody's got a cousin in miami #Spotify

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emptyingthebucket · 1 year

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Day 29. Mile 2674. Sept 14. Early in the morning we all gather to board a bus.

It's a long ride to the Canyon de Chelly [de-SHAY] National Monument. We walk around the gift shop while waiting for the trucks to arrive.

We fill 2 trucks. So there are about a dozen of us in each truck.

The trucks are open-sided. 6 tires on 3 axles. Fortunately, it rained recently, so the dust is not too bad. This is a bumpy ride. It's terribly rutty.

The rock formations, the petroglyphs, the cliff dwellings are ancient.

They name the rock formations and they see animals in the rock shapes as well. We had a bit of a hard time understanding our guide so we weren't really sure what he was describing each time. Beautiful views none the less.

The valley of the canyon is flat with an abundance of trees and other vegetation. Residents of this canyon farm and raise sheep for their wool. The wool is used to make rugs to sell and to make clothing.

After our truck ride, I de-plane. No, it isn't a plane. It's a truck. So, I de-truck. Ut-Oh. I'm walking on wobbly legs. Oh my. Too much rockin' & rollin' in the truck.

Next, we're served an excellent lunch at the Thunderbird Lodge. Yum. Apparently, they've changed their approach because we are all served in minutes, whereas last year's tour, they waited over 45 minutes.

Back on the bus, we drive to Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site in Ganado AZ. It was built in 1878 by John Lorenzo Hubbell. It was a mainstay for the Navajo to trade their jewelry, rug, art, and furs for supplies. It still operates today and is the oldest operating Trading Post on the Navajo Nation. Mr Hubbell had an enduring influence on Navajo rug weavers and silversmiths because he demanded and promoted the superior craftsmanship of these Navajo Artists.

Our Guide is Navajo and shares her perspective of the Trading Post. We visit the Hubbell Home. It has most of the original furnishings. The ceiling in the grand hall is decorated with hand-woven baskets. The baskets are nailed to the ceiling upside down. According to Indian tradition, this is bad luck.

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aestheticvoyage2023 · 2 years

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Day 2: Monday January 2, 2023 - “Home List 2023″

Important new years work being done around the Finca this week includes reviewing and resetting our home list for the new year. It was a fun exercise as we sat down to reminisce on how much we really rocked it this year, while also then dreaming up what it is that we think we can and want to get done for making a home in 2023. No finish lines - HGTV style.

In 2022 we aced 7 of our 10 goals for the house. Wow I can’t imagine when we made this list a year ago, that we’d be that efficient! No wonder we’re broke! This included an upgrade to the mailbox so that we don’t have the ugliest one on the block anymore, removing the old diesel Air Conditioners, Polishing the Tile Floors, Updating the electrical box, Furnishing and finishing the Great Room, Redesigning and flooring my office, and of course the monster project of updating the master bath. What a year! We also aced some of the “other projects” including building a dog food system, pressure washing the pool, removing the big old Pool Heater, and trimming the palm trees. Not listed, but one of my favorite projects of the year was making my own coffee table!

With the excitement of reflecting on all that we got done this year, we started to throw out ideas for what would go on the Top Ten for “making a home” in 2023. This time we totally figured a toddler into the math! We settled on:

1. Finishing The Three Closets 2. Design and Update Backyard/Sideyards including a Hammock System. 3. Tile Project on Fireplace 4. Sand and Stain all doors 5. Update Dining Room Chandelier 6. Do something with the Hutchesses 7. Laundry Room Flooring 8. Build Shed 9. Popcorn all gone / paint living room 10. Paint Kitchen Cabinets

If we get 7 of those aced this year, we’ll really be rockin! Will anything be left for 2024! Cant wait to get to work on bringing our visions for The Finca to life - - especially on my personal favorite “build shed.”

Song: Cinematic Orchestra - To Build A Home

Quote: “How often have I lain beneath rain on a strange roof, thinking of home.” ― William C. Faulkner

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newcountryradio · 2 years

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New country 25e jaargang #1155 (714) van 12 december 2022 (wk 50) tussen 19.00 -22.00 op Smelne fm

Album van de week: John & Nienke - A Good Day – neo music

Artiest Title

1. Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pederson – Dimming Of The Day

2. Luke Bryan – Light It Up 2017

3. Patty Loveless – Christmas Time’s A Comin’

4. Lainey Wilson – New Friends

5. Cody Johnson – Diamond In My Pocket (live)

6. Parker Mc Collum - Stoned

7. Mac Powell – Love Is The Reason Sofi

8. John & Nienke - When The Needle Hits The Vinyl *album vd week*

9. John & Nienke – Because I Love You - *album vd week

10. Tyler Hubbard – Dancin’ In The Country --favoriet

11. Morgan Wallen - Days That End In Why

12. Bailey Zimmerman – Fall In Love - #1

13. Jamie O’Neil -There Is No Arizona

14. Keith Urban = For The Grace Of God

15. Alan Jackson – Gone Country

2e uur Christmas :

16. Kenny & Dolly - Once Upon A Christmas --favoriet

17. Alan Jackson – Let It Be Christmas (let it be christmas 2002)

18. Alan Jackson - O Come, All Ye Faithful (let it be christmas 2002)

19. John Berry - O Holy Night

20. Kelly Clarkson - Silent night w/ trisha & reba)j

21. Collin Raye - It Could Happen again Sofi

22. Garth Brooks – Belleau Wood

23. Carrie Underwood – The First Noel

24. Faith Hill – Where Are You Christmas

25. Rhonda Vincent – Rockin’ Around The Chrismas Tree

26. Blueridge Mountain Bluegrass Band – Christmas Time’s A Comin’

27. Tim McGraw – Christmas Around The World

28. Gary Allan – Please Come Home For Chrismas

29. Ricky Van Shelton – Country Christmas

30. Merle Haggard – If We Make it Through December

31. Carrie Underwood – Jesus Take The wheel - *Trucksong

32. Rice, Rice, Hillman & Pederson – So Begins The Task

33. Willie Nelson – Can I Sleep In Your Arms * juweeltje

34. Billy Strings – John Deere Tractor

35. John & Nienke – About Friendship And Trees *album vd week

36. John & Nienke – You’,ve Got Mail .*album vd week

37. Amber Kamminga - Somewhere Next Year

38. John Denver – Take Me Home Country Roads (3in1 )

39. John Denver – I’m Sorry

40. John Denver – Thank God I’m a Country Boy

41. Brad Paisley – Selfie#theinternetisforever

42. Jessica Andrews – Who I Am

43. Toby Keith – You Shouldn’t Kiss Me Like This

44. Diamond Rio – One More Day

#maandagavond smelne's country avond

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bigboxochristmas · 2 years

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Yuletidings 2002: Jingle Bell Boogie!

1. Christmas Day - Detroit Junior 2. I Told Santa Claus - Roomful of Blues 3. Christmas in Hollis - Run-D.M.C. 4. Santa Bring My Baby Back - Elvis Presley 5. Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - U2 6. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - The Tamlins 7. Christmas Time - The Chris Stamey Group 8. Merry Christmas Baby - Luther Johnson 9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - The Cadillacs 10. Go Power at Christmas Time - James Brown 11. Deck the Halls - Metal Mike 12. Every Valley - Cast of ‘Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration' 13. Rock ‘n’ Roll Christmas - George Thorogood & The Destroyers 14. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - The Harmony Grits 15. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree - Cajun Gold 16. Santa Claus - Little Charlie & The Nightcats 17. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - John Cougar Mellencamp 18. God Rest the House - Jeff Lorber 19. Jingle Bells - Buck Owens & His Buckaroos 20. Jingle Bells - Yello 21. What are You Doing New Year’s Eve - King Curtis 22. Holiday PSA - Peewee Herman

------------------------------

I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure I did this one in 2002. After the comparatively solemn mood of 2001’s post-9/11 collection it would make sense to want to do something more upbeat and fun. As the subtitle makes clear, this collection was meant to be “Dance Music for a Cool Ride at Yuletide”. Beyond that there was no particular theme or genre, just an eclectic mix of holiday tunes for the listener to bop around to: some funk, some blues, some rock & pop, some reggae, some zydeco, some rap, some doo-wop, some fusion, some country, etc.

Highlights include: the jubilant funk of “Christmas Day” by Detroit Junior; Run-D.M.C.’s holiday classic, “Christmas in Hollis”, built around a sample from Clarence Carter’s “Back Door Santa”; U2’s cover of Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)” - pretty much the only version to come close to the power of the original; the fake-out, wonder-bread intro to the greasy funk of “Every Valley” from Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration; Yello’s hyperspeed “Jingle Bells” and the easeful seduction of “What are You Doing New Year’s Eve” by King Curtis.

The cover art was another repurposed Christmas Card.

DOWNLOAD

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anansianansi · 4 years

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Day Six: Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Lexa turned on the left blinker and checked her blind spot before changing lanes. Setting her hand at the top of the steering wheel, she looked out first through the windshield, then to the left. She missed driving, and she missed drives. Now that the house was less empty, with Raven and Luna around a lot, too, she was starting to really feel the cabin fever. And it didn’t help that the weather wasn’t making it as easy to go out running as much. She glanced over at Clarke, who had her nose buried in her phone. She pinched the screen, zooming in and out, using her finger to travel vast swathes of the city in seconds, her face scrunched with concentration, a little pink tip of her tongue sticking out like an arrow pointing to one of Lexa’s favourite kissing spots - the mole above the left corner of her lip. Lexa fought the urge to lean over; the holiday rush, even in the middle of a pandemic, had busied the roads, and as irresistible as Clarke was, Lexa was in no mood to cause a pile up; she filed it away to get to later. She settled for putting a hand on Clarke’s thigh, instead. “So what’s the story with this elusive Spruce Man?”

“Well, that’s the thing; he could be a Pine Man this year. Or Fir, or Juniper. Then there was the year when he was the Ginkgo Dude. Never a dull moment with this guy.” She looked up and out the front windshield. “The trees are always so worth it, though. They’re these beautiful, lush things, ripe with..I don’t know, like, Christmas. The whole house smells incredible for days.” Clarke paused, a slow blush creeping up her cheeks. “And you know, it’s our first one together. So I want it to be special.”

Keep reading here.

#clexmas20 #7daysofclexa #lovelockdownclexa #Day 6 Rockin' Around the Tree #catching up slowly but surely

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aerisahale · 4 years

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Catharsis

Pairing: Clarke Griffin x Lexa kom Trikru Fandom: The 100 Length: 4,311 Summary: Raven invites Clarke to stay at her house over Christmas break after the university forces all the students out of on-campus housing. Clarke doesn't expect to see her angry ex-boyfriend or the incredibly gorgeous friend of Anya's. Read it on AO3, if you prefer!

The chair to Clarke Griffin’s desk in her dorm room is the best seating in the small space and Raven Reyes is quick to throw herself down into it, bag hitting the ground with a thud. The bright lettering stands out against the mild background. Raven’s eyes are drawn to the flyer immediately. “Getting kicked out?”

“Just for the holidays. I have that extra semester to make up before it’s a full eviction,” Clarke says as she flops down onto her bed, her equally heavy bag hitting the floor hard.

“You going home?”

“Probably. Mom’s in Pakistan working at a Doctor’s Without Borders clinic that helps women and other refugees in the area, so I’ll have the house to myself.”

Squinting at her friend, Raven cocks her head. “Christmas alone?”

“It’s fine. I can catch up on The Mandalorian.”

“What did you do last year?”

Clarke sits up, eyes on the floor. “Bellamy and I went to his parent’s house.”

The remorse is easy to see on Raven’s face. “Sorry, Clarke. I know it’s still a sore subject.”

“It isn’t,” Clarke says quickly.

Too quickly. Raven raises a brow.

“It shouldn’t be,” she amends. “I ghosted him. Not the other way around.”

“You did the best thing for yourself. That doesn’t mean it’s not going to hurt.” Raven reaches out and places a comforting hand on her friend’s knee.

“It’s been almost a year. I really am mostly over it. This is just the first Christmas in years without him.”

“You’ve been through a lot together. Despite how it ended, you cared for each other for a long time and that means something. It will always mean something.” Raven smiles her warmest smile and squeezes the knee she’s resting her hand on before pulling it away to snap her fingers. “Listen. Come to my place. You can stay in the spare room. We’re even throwing a Christmas Party.”

Clarke looks hesitant so Raven throws in a drawn out please with her best pout until her friend gives in. “But nothing crazy.”

“Just a few friends, no worries.”

“Thanks again for having me over,” Clarke says as she takes sets out the trays of food Anya handed her. Lining them up neatly on the countertop of the kitchen pass-through window, Clarke takes an extra moment to observe them in the whole of the setting.

An enormous tree sparkles in multiple colors in the corner of the living room, near their fireplace. Garlands, lights, and holiday-themed décor are arranged perfectly throughout the public spaces, down to the Christmas linens and hand soap in the bathrooms. All the invited guests have a stocking hanging over the fireplace as a party favor and three gifts currently sat wrapped beneath the tree for the white-elephant gift exchange planned for later in the evening.

Clarke knows all the names but one. The first hanging from the mantle is Octavia’s. Octavia, Raven and Clarke had all gone to school together and Clarke used to date her brother. She and Octavia played soccer together for awhile until the latter had transferred schools mid-year in their sophomore year. They were fairly close until that happened.

The next is John Murphy’s. There were so many John’s in high school that everyone started calling him Murphy and it stuck. Murphy wasn’t always her favorite person, as her moral compass did not quite point in the same direction as his, but she did not foresee them having any issues. She had a particularly fond memory of a time where they both got called to the principal’s office—both for very different concerns—and they had shared a pair of headphones while waiting.

After his was Emori Emmerson’s. She only knew of her. They did not frequent any of the same social groups growing up, but she had fallen in with Raven and Murphy, the latter of which she was dating. As far as Raven told it, she was fun to be around and had the same sense of humor as Raven.

Nathan Miller and Eric Jackson followed Emori’s and Clarke hoped they were still together. They started dating in their junior year of high school and seemed like a picture-perfect couple. She still saw the occasional Facebook post of stunning settings such as where they held hands against the backdrop of a vivid sunset. If anyone was going to make it through as high-school sweethearts, it was them.

Remember when they said that about you and Bellamy? Her traitorous brain completes the thought before she can stop it and it makes her angry. She argues back, Remember all the times he blamed me for things that were out of my control? Like the time you refused sex because you were on your period?

Satisfaction makes her smile when nothing else decides to bubble to the surface. Focusing her attention on the final stocking, the name she doesn’t know intriguing the curious, non-traitorous part of her mind. Lexa. She finds herself whispering it under her breath, enjoying the feel of it rolling over her tongue.

A knock on the door pulls her attention and Raven claps her hands as she sets the napkins in her hand next to the plates that were beside Anya’s appetizers that Clarke had laid out. The front door opens to reveal Miller and Jackson first, gifts tucked under their arms as they each pull Raven into a hug with their free arms. Those three converse for a minute before Raven takes their jackets and hangs them in the breezeway closet while Jackson puts their gifts under the tree next to the other three.

Miller sees Clarke first and waves to her, Jackson’s attention going that way moments after. She moves to hug them both, greeting them. “How have you guys been? I’m so glad to see you!” Privately, she adds, Together.

The exchange pleasantries as Raven starts pressing buttons on their stereo system until Christmas pop spills out of the speakers distributed well throughout the house. Clarke can hear it coming from the kitchen even. The lights on the Christmas tree dance to the beat and Clarke knows Raven enjoyed setting that up.

Another knock finds John and Emori on the other side of the door and the couple enters. The conversations of seven people fill the house with chatter and laughter, swirling with the Christmas music and the emerging, mouthwatering scent of warm sugar wafting out of the kitchen. The dancing lights distract Clarke from the next guest that enters, letting the cheerful music sit in her soul like a hearth fire, warmth filling her bones. It’s not with regret that her eyes find the next guest, she just wishes she had been paying attention because the woman she finds steals her breath.

She only sucks in another when the stranger is coming towards her, guided towards the food by Raven. Clarke panics. She ducks into the kitchen and finds herself staring into the fridge for absolutely nothing. The amount of cheese sticks Raven has stuffed into the crisper drawer is concerning, however. At least its twin is actually packed with vegetables.

“Oh, Clarke!” she hears Raven say and she takes a moment to pre-compose her reply to the inevitable introduction. Armed with her most charming smile, she turns away from the cheese overload, closing the door behind her. “This is Lexa! She’s a friend of Anya’s.”

“Nice to meet you! I’m Clarke!” She holds out her hand and tries not to wince at how overly-perky she sounds. Raven gives her a weird look and she knows she’s doing too much. She tries to dial it down by three notches as she asks, “How do you know Anya?”

There is an awkward moment where Lexa just stares at Clarke and she begins to wonder if she forgot to ask the question out loud until Raven says, “They grew up together, a lot like we did.”

The doorbell rings and Raven excuses herself, leaving Clarke and Lexa alone in the kitchen, alone in the uncomfortable silence as Clarke mulls over the fact that the other woman has yet to say anything to her. She wonders if the silence was better when the woman trips over her speedy question, “You’re the pre-med student that Raven goes to school with?”

“Ah, yeah, yes. I graduate in April. I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage?”

“Sorry,” color warms her pale cheeks as Lexa clears her throat and says in a much more paced tone, “Anya mentioned you might be here. What is your major?”

“Double-majoring, actually. I have one more semester to get my Bio and Chem degrees. Then off to med school.”

“You’ve already taken the MCATs?” the woman asks and Clarke is caught off guard.

“Yeah! Took them in my junior year to save time. I start at Harvard Med right after graduation.”

Surprise widens the woman’s green eyes and Clarke’s heart races. “I will be attending Harvard in January.”

“Small world,” Clarke jokes in an attempt to soothe her nerves. “What are you studying?”

Lexa smiles and the house around Clarke is spinning giddy circles to match the butterflies in her chest. “I also took the LSAT in my junior year. I just finished a double in Poli-Sci and History.”

“A lawyer!”

“Indeed. The real goal is to get into Congress, down the road. I hope for more, but that is my realistic goal.”

“That’s amazing! I have this feeling that you would be impressive at it.” Lexa smiles wide. “Thank you, Clarke.”

The way Lexa’s voice pops on the K of her name has Clarke wondering what she would sounds like if Clarke had her quivering under her mouth and the way Lexa is looking right through her, as if she can read her thoughts, has heat creeping up her neck and across her face. To distract herself, she turns towards the living room, surveying through the pass-through window.

Her eyes lock with familiar ones, the last ones she ever wanted to see again. His eyes were already on her and she feels trapped all over again. She spins around and suddenly finds herself breathing heavily. Lexa lays a hand on her back, rubbing a soothing circle as Clarke continues to chase her breath.

She turns back towards the party to see Raven looking at her with concern, mouthing, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t know’ and Bellamy just behind her, eyes locked on the spot on her arm that Lexa’s hand gently remains. Only when Lexa’s arm drops back to her side does Bellamy say coldly, at odds with the words themselves, “Nice to see you again, Clarke.”

“Wish I could say the same!” Clarke blurts before pushing past him and beating a hasty retreat to the far corner of the living room.

Octavia finds her shortly and fills her in on what she has been doing, over the years. She keeps glancing at the kitchen door but she doesn’t think Bellamy has left there yet. Chuckling weakly at a joke that Octavia made, she jumps when Bellamy is suddenly at Octavia’s elbow, eyebrows drawn in anger. He speaks quietly enough that Octavia and Clarke are the only ones to hear him. “Why are you joking around with her?”

“We were friends before I switched schools, Bells.”

His voice rises slightly louder, people close to them glancing towards the group. “Friends? You don’t even know what you’re saying, Octavia.”

“Bellamy.” Clarke says his name in warning at the same time as Octavia tells him to stop making a scene.

“No, I think it’s time you—it’s time everyone knew the real Clarke Griffin,” Bellamy raises his voice, the conversation in the house falling silent as everyone focused in on them in the corner. The cheerful Christmas music and rhythmically twinkling lights at odds with the suddenly tense air. “You changed schools because of Clarke.”

“What?” Octavia asks. “What are you talking about? What is he talking about, Clarke?”

Shame fills every inch of Clarke as she stares at the ground, all eyes on her. Torn between running and praying a miraculous sinkhole swallowed her and only her, Clarke stays rooted to the spot. She tries to look at Octavia but can’t meet her confused gaze.

“Clarke planted the drugs in your locker that got you expelled from Arkadia High.”

The chill in Octavia’s voice actually makes Clarke shiver and she finally gathers the courage to meet her former friend’s furious eyes, “Explain, Clarke.”

“You…You all know how…competitive and ambitious I was in high school. I…put the drugs in your backpack the day before and then told the school officer about them. I thought it would just get you kicked off the team! We were both up for Captain and—at the time I thought it was what I had to do to win. I was young and dumb. I swear I had no idea you would be expelled. Please, Octavia, I’m so sorry.”

Octavia doesn’t say another word, storming out of the front door. Clarke is quick to follow, just behind her as the dark-haired woman keeps her steady march towards, well, Clarke isn’t really sure. Suddenly, she stops and whips around, finger pointed right at Clarke, jamming it into her collar bone to enunciate her words.

“You never told me? You never owned up to it? Even after you saw the consequences of those actions?”

“Octavia, I’m so sorry. Nothing I can say can ever make up for that.”

“I had to go to court!” Stab. “I had to go to therapy!” Stab. “No one believed they weren’t mine.” Stab. “Except Bellamy, and I guess I know why now.”

“No, no!” Clarke is quick to say, pleading with her eyes. “Octavia he always believed you. I only told him later when I was beyond drunk and feeling extremely guilty. I swear, he was always on your side.”

“And the worst fucking part, Clarke? Is that you lied! For all these years.”

“Please, Octavia. I know I can never make it up to you now, but you have to know, if I could go back and do it over, I would never have done it. I hated the person I was and I’ve learned from those choices. I choose every day to be a better person. I’m becoming a doctor to save lives, not ruin them. Maybe that’s why, if I’m being honest.”

The anger drains out of Octavia and Clarke holds her breath. “I was angry for a long time. I never knew how they got there. I did a lot of unsafe, unhealthy things that I regret while coping with that anger.”

“I’m so sorry,” Clarke breathes out.

“Look, I’m trying to say: I get it. We all have done things we’re ashamed of. All we can do is move forward and be a better person than we were yesterday. I definitely can’t forgive you yet, but let’s take it a day at a time and not let this ruin Christmas any more than it has.”

Clarke admires the woman Octavia has become, wonders what she went through to become this level-headed woman before her. In high school, Octavia would hold the longest grudges. Quick to anger and quick to give it a home adjacent to her heart where she would house it forever. It is part of the reason Clarke could never come clean about what happened.

Octavia heads back in, but Clarke stays in the cold a moment longer, taking a few deep breaths to calm her emotions before following back into the warmth. The Christmas music filled the quiet house, as everyone murmured quietly to one another. Bellamy stood in the back and it looked like he was quietly arguing with Octavia.

It took the party a while to lose the tense atmosphere, but it eventually did. Clarke kept near Raven, worried what the others must think of her, learning one of her deepest regrets. Not too long after the conversation picked back up, Raven pulled out a game of Pictionary and divided the group into teams. One team had Raven, Anya, Clarke, Bellamy, and Lexa and the other had Octavia, Miller, Jackson, Murphy, and Emori.

Clarke is chosen to draw first, and after Emori earned her team 4 spaces on the board, the turn passed to her. The first things she had to draw was stained glass. A church window came to mind and she quickly sketched Saint Mary as the centerpiece to a Curved window with lines to represent the where the glass was different colored. She thought this was going to be hard for any of them to guess but Lexa guessed correctly at the same time as Bellamy shouted, “Mary, the mother of Jesus!”

“Yes, but not exactly correct. Lexa got it, though. Roll for us?” Clarke tried to say it as gently as possible.

It turned into a competition between the two, or at least, as far as Bellamy was concerned. Every time it was Clarke’s turn to draw he would try to shout over Lexa, usually incorrectly. He would glare every time Lexa was right and he was wrong. Eventually, the game ended and Clarke’s team won, but barely. Despite the problematic moments, Clarke really relished how well Lexa got her.

She offers to help clean up as Lexa starts doing it. They gathered up the pieces and fit it all neatly back into the box. Clarke smiles at her. “Let me show you where it goes.”

Clarke leads her down the hallway to a closet and opens the door for her. She reaches in and turns the light on towards the side and Lexa slides past her to add the box to the stack of board games already in there. As Lexa turns to leave, she caught Clarke looking up and swallowing. She follows her gaze. Mistletoe.

Clarke glances back down in time to watch Lexa’s eyes dart up and she suddenly realizes how close the two are. She chuckles and attempts a joke, “Who puts mistletoe over a closet door? I feel like this is some sort of ‘coming out of the closet’ joke.”

“We don’t have to—” Lexa starts.

“But it is tradition—” Clarke stumbles.

“It is—" Lexa gets out before she’s crashing her lips into Clarke’s, missing by slightly too much before she pulls back and finds her center, placing a proper kiss on the shorter woman. Clarke moans into it, surprising herself, as she parts her lips for Lexa’s tongue that wastes no time in seeking askance.

It’s over as soon as it starts, as the sound of a toilet flushing just further down the hall has them pulling apart. Bellamy emerges and there’s no making excuses for what they’d just been doing. Anger further clouds Bellamy’s face as he says, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

He storms past them and down the hall, turning back to shout. “Good riddance, you fucking slut.”

Octavia’s reply in the second sudden silence of the party at Bellamy’s hands issues down the hall, “You did not just slut-shame someone.”

“Yeah, I fucking did. Clarke is down her making out with Lexa after she fucking ghosted me.”

Clarke and Lexa head back out to the scene being made about them in the living room. All eyes are once again on Clarke as she confronts her ex-boyfriend. “You act like this, Bellamy! You act like this and worse, all the time. This is why I left you!”

“We spent years together and now you’re fucking some random chick!”

“First of all, it’s been almost a year since we broke up. Second of all, we were not fucking, clearly.”

“Third, she can do whatever she wants!” Octavia intercedes. “We don’t slut-shame in this house.”

“Once again, O, you have no idea what you’re talking about. The things Clarke and I have been through together mean something.”

“Look-“ Clarke starts to say, but Bellamy is hearing none of it, already set on his path.

“She was a secret fucking teen mom and now she’s hooking up with a stranger in her friend’s fucking closet. This is ridiculous. I’m glad I broke up with her. I clearly don’t know her at all.”

“What the fuck, Bellamy,” Clarke growls. “It took two to be that fucking teen mom!”

“Teen mom, for a minute, anyway. I’m fucking out. Fuck this shit.” He slams the door behind him and Clarke sways. Lexa is at her elbow and quickly has an arm around her waist.

“Let’s go sit down, okay?”

She lets the other woman guide her to the couch, taking a seat beside her. The soothing hand from earlier is back, rubbing circles into her back, and this time, Clarke leans into it. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, building a dam around the tsunami of emotions coursing through her, knowing her friends want an explanation.

Lexa is a silent but reassuring presence at her side. Raven looks heartbroken. Octavia is furious. The others wear looks of mild concern to curiosity. Raven is the first to break the silence, “You don’t have to talk about it.”

“I—I want to. It’s time. It’s been years. I got pregnant in senior year. Bellamy’s, of course. It’s why I worked so hard to graduate early and why I took classes online for the first three semesters. I gave birth to a beautiful, amazing, healthy baby girl, but I wasn’t ready to be a mom. So, she was adopted by this lovely couple with enough money and time to give her an amazing life that I wasn’t sure I could guarantee her.”

She takes a few deep breaths, bolstered by the hand on her back, by the awe on her friend’s faces, by the love. “I was really depressed for months afterwards. Bellamy always supported my choice, he just didn’t get it, you know? I joined a Post-Partum Depression support group and ended up becoming friends with this other woman who also gave up her child and was experiencing a lot of the same feelings I was. Eventually, I worked through it.”

“I was different afterwards, and so was Bellamy. He was irritable, blamed me for a lot of things that weren’t my fault. I think deep down, even beyond admitting it to himself, that he blamed me for us not having our child with us. I think he felt pressured to support whatever decision I made and never voiced any of his feelings on it and it led to the rift that formed between us, until, one day, I just left.”

All of the shame and guilt that Clarke has carried with her for years felt lighter. Something else had changed tonight, and Bellamy was still an asshole, but it was all cathartic in some way. She smiles over at Lexa. “Nothing like meeting a cute girl and finding out all her deepest, darkest secrets, am I right?”

Lexa laughs and everyone else joins in. The atmosphere lightens and people begin a few side conversations. Raven throws herself into Clarke’s lap and pulls her into a tight embrace. “I love you, Clarke. I’m so sorry that this all happened tonight, but I hope it turns into something that helps you heal. I’m always here for you.”

“I love you, too, Raven. We should probably talk more about it, but later.”

“Oh, and, by the way, there might be some mistletoe hiding up there above the couch!” Raven points as she darts off Clarke’s lap, leaving her next to just Lexa, who she pulls into another kiss, drawing hollers from the crowd. “You owe me ten bucks,” she hears from John Murphy and she breaks the kiss in laughter.

“I know it’s been a pretty intense night, but I really am pretty attracted to you and I heard I might be living in the same city as you in a few months.”

“I feel the same way, Clarke. Following the tradition of candor this evening, Anya hoped we might hit it off tonight. She told me all about you and I was so stunned by how beautiful you are, I forgot how to talk when she introduced me.”

“Let’s exchange numbers for now and we can see how things play out once I move out there?”

Lexa smiles and kisses Clarke again. “I’ll miss these lips, but that sounds good.”

-- One Year Later --

“We’re going to Raven and Anya’s for Christmas, right?” Clarke asks.

“That’s the plan. Is Bellamy going to be there?”

“He is,” Clarke begins, stopping Lexa’s protests with, “but he’s bringing his girlfriend, and he seems to really be working on himself. However, in honor of last year, I proposed a new game to Raven. Confessions: The Game of Secrets and Lies. With a few custom added cards to carry on the tradition of last year, but it’s his turn.”

“Clarke.” Lexa frowns.

“All in good nature! I promise. Not like he was. Besides, it was pretty smooth sailing for us after all that!”

“Just because it worked out for us, that doesn’t make it a good model to cementing the foundation of a new relationship.”

“Okay, but it made mine and Octavia’s relationship even stronger!” Clarke adds with a sweet smile at her girlfriend. “Fine! Without the custom cards. Maybe. I reserve the right to be petty.”

“I am really glad I met you that night.”

“Maybe there will be more mistletoe!”

“Any excuse to kiss me?”

“As if I need an excuse! No, this party I’m going for scandalous!” Clarke directs a devilish smirk towards Lexa. “Gotta keep ‘em guessing.”

Lexa laughs. “Alright, scandalous, it is. Let’s practice right now.”

Clarke groans as Lexa bites right into the spot she knows drives her crazy. Their clothes hit the floor as they make their way towards their bedroom, thoughts of Christmas parties long gone.

#Clexmas20 #Day 6 Rockin Around The Christmas Tree #Clexa #Clarke Griffin #Lexa kom Trikru #Lexa x Clarke #The 100

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