#Yes I too would like to have Santa Richter drop in my chimney if only I had chimneys and lived in a place that called for chimneys

[alstroemeriadissonance]

Aaaa I really love this one! To be honest this hits really close to home--I've spent quite a few Christmases alone, so I totally get Rosa here. I have also experienced how it is to spy my (crush? Object of affection?) in a crowd and, all giddy-like, meet up with them in a similar fashion as in this story... This gives me a lot of nostalgic fuwafuwa feels aaaa

Also Santa Richter...

The cheery, fun atmosphere when they got changed into costumes is just infectious! I'm just awash with giddiness at this point.

Thank you very much!!!

Unexpected Christmas Company

For the @themistypewriter Secret Santa event. Merry Christmas @alstroemeriadissonance! This was a very last minute piece so I hope that you will enjoy your present!! Pairing: Vyn x Rosa WC: 2587 A/N: This is slightly AU. This is set before NXX. Before Luke returned. But Rosa becomes acquainted with Dr. Richter after she met him at an art exhibit and became his TA. Wrote this on the whim and within a few hours since I wanted to get it done before Christmas ended in my timezone.

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Rosa closed her eyes and buried her nose into her scarf when the wind from the pedestrian blew past her face. She kept her hands gripped tight around her mug and pressed more of the heat into her fingertips. She blinked her eyes open and gazed around the square. People were doing their last minute Christmas shopping and there were couples enjoying dates with each other. She smiled lightheartedly, wishing she had someone to spend Christmas with.

To her dismay, but as expected, her parents didn’t return home for the holidays. Her childhood best friend is still MIA, so she knew she wouldn’t be seeing him. She declined Kiki’s invitation to spend Christmas with her and her old college friends to avoid any awkwardness. Celestine had suggested to see what Artem was doing for Christmas, but Rosa couldn’t bring herself to intrude on her senior partner’s holiday plans. So she decided to get herself ready with no exact plan for the holiday. She walked to her usual coffee spot and asked for her usual order. She chose to sit outside in the brisk winter air to people-watch, as if that would help curve the loneliness she felt.

She tapped her nails against the glass and she sighed. She watched as her breath became a light mist and it drifted up into nothing. She took a careful sip of her coffee, the bittersweet drink filling her body with warmth. Rosa pulled the mug away from her lips, she held it close to her chest as she let out another sigh. When her gaze moved back to the square, she noticed a familiar head of silver hair. Dr. Richter? Her eyes widened and she quickly placed her mug back on the saucer.

Rosa dug around her coat pocket for her phone. She fished it out and her fingers tapped around the screen to send a message.

Rosa: Hello, Dr. Richter! Merry Christmas! What are you up to on this lovely holiday?

Her eyes stayed glued on the doctor that was across the square. He stopped in his tracks to find his phone on his person. Once he got it out, he resumed his walk with his head down to look at the phone, the typing bubble popping up. She felt a tinge of relief that her hunch was right.

Dr. Richter: Hello, dear Rosa. Merry Christmas to you. I am on my way to the toy store to buy presents to hand out in the residential pediatrics department.

Rosa’s eyes lit up when she read his message. Even on the holiday, Dr. Richter is working hard for his patients. She hesitated a little before she responded:

Rosa: Would you like some help?

She bit her thumb nail as she waited for Dr. Richter to text back.

Dr. Richter: I couldn’t burden you with such a task if you already have your own plans.

Rosa smiled to herself as she typed out her next message.

Rosa: Just think of it as an extension of my TA work!

She believed that her and Dr. Richter had gotten closer in the last few months since she became his TA. When she visited her alma mater to see an art exhibition, she crossed paths with him. While they admired the art together, she had mentioned how she would like to volunteer around campus in her free time, to which Dr. Richter offered her a TA position. Rosa accepted without hesitation because she was interested in learning more about psychology.

Through the last few months, she would go whenever he asked and she was always so intrigued by every lecture that Dr. Richter presented. After his lectures, she would follow up with questions about his lesson for personal indulgence. She found his voice rather enchanting and she loved listening to his voice as long as she could. The vibration of her phone pulled her out of her reverie.

Dr. Richter: Well in that case, if you want to see it like that. I wouldn’t mind the company and a second opinion for toys. Would you like me to come get you?

Rosa chuckled and responded quickly.

Rosa: No need. I can come to you~

Rosa stuffed her phone into her pocket and she stood up. She pushed in her chair, then picked up her saucer and mug. She left her dishes in the designated bin before she walked away from the outdoor terrace of the coffee shop. Dr Richter had walked some distance from when she originally saw him. She looked around the square for the head of a silver mane.

She zig-zagged through the crowd, her eyes diligently searching for the doctor. She tried to avoid bumping into people, but when she reached the large Christmas Tree in the middle of the square, the crowd started to get denser. Rosa started to bump shoulders with strangers and she repeatedly apologized. She sighed when her attempt at finding Dr. Richter didn’t seem to work out. He couldn’t have gone too far.. What the heck?! She scratched her head. There went her attempt to try to surprise Dr. Richter. She retrieved her phone, but when she was about to call him, her phone rang instead.

“Hello? Dr. Richter?” Rosa answered her phone.

“Rosa? When you said you were coming to me. Whatever did you mean? Are you out in the city square?” He questioned her.

Rosa chuckled and her eyes continued to search around. “Yes, I saw you from where I was at the coffee shop. That’s why I texted you. I was going to surprise you by approaching you. But I seem to have lost you.”

“Well, what do you see in front of you, Rosa?”

“I am surrounded by a bunch of people. Behind me is the Christmas tree. Mmm,” she paused, “I can also see the huge marquee for a sale for some cosmetic brand.”

“Okay. I suggest that you stay where you are.” Dr. Richter’s voice is calm in her ear.

“Alright, Dr. Richter.”

The phone call ended and she stayed in her spot. She turned back around to give herself a better view. As she waited, she hummed along to a Christmas carol, rocking on the heels of her feet. She fell quiet when she felt a pair of hands land on her shoulders. Then a voice whispered in her ear, “Merry Christmas, Rosa.” She felt their breath brush on her cheek, causing a blush to spread along her cheeks.

Rosa couldn’t help but smile. “Merry Christmas, Dr. Richter.” She responded as she twirled around to face the man the voice belonged to. He looked warmly down at her, his golden eyes sparkling like the lights that adorned the Christmas tree behind her.

“It is lovely to see you on this beautiful holiday.” Dr. Richter tells her, his smile polite.

“It’s nice to know that I am not the only one out and about for Christmas.” Rosa spoke with a soft chuckle.

“Are your parents not home for the holidays?”

She shook her head. “Sadly not. But nothing of a surprise. They were rarely home this year in general.”

“Well, you can definitely join me to buy presents to bring joy to children who are in the hospital.” Dr. Richter nodded his head and removed his hands from her shoulders, one hitching behind her elbow. “Let’s get going before the stores close.”

He helped lead her out from the crowd to the safety of the open square. His hand moved to his side and the two walked side by side through the rest of the square to get to the shopping district.

“You said you were at a coffee shop when you saw me pass by?” Dr. Richter asked her.

“Oh, yes. I left my apartment with no real plan for the day. So I just decided to go to the coffee shop to start.” She shrugged her shoulders. “But coincidentally crossing paths with you beats not having any real plans for Christmas.”

The two arrived at the large toy store, brightly lit to invite consumers to enter to finish their last minute Christmas shopping. “I have to buy about a dozen toys. The nurses compiled a list for me so I wouldn’t have to play too much of a guessing game on what to get everyone. But I know most of the kids personally, so I want to make sure to get them all something they’d love.”

Rosa nodded her head as her eyes perused all the displays set up around the entrance of the store. “My goodness. Toys sure have changed a bunch since we were kids, huh?” she observed.

Dr. Richter laughed softly. “I suppose so.”

He led her deeper into the store. They were welcomed by a worker donning a red and green apron and a Santa hat on her head. The two of them acknowledged her, but walked in the opposite direction after telling her they wouldn’t need assistance.

Rosa followed behind Dr. Richter as he scrolled through his phone to make sure he finds all that he needs. When they arrived at the aisle with all of the plushies, Rosa’s eyes lit up. She immediately went up to the section that had cute fluffy puppy plushies. She took one off the shelf and she squished it between her hands. “So cute!” She squealed quietly. It was a cute shiba inu that she always dreamed about owning. Since she was so busy, perhaps a plushie version of it would suffice.

“Is that something that you like?” Dr. Richter asked beside her.

“Oh, uhm..” Rosa blushed then placed it back on the shelf. “Yes. I wish to adopt one in the future when I am less busy.. It’d help keep my apartment less lonely.” She answered him.

Dr. Richter nodded. “A dog is the perfect companion. Hopefully one day, you will be able to.”

Rosa glanced down at the large basket full of toys that Dr. Richter was holding.

“Do you need help carrying those, Dr. Richter?” She asked him, reaching out to grab some of the toys to take a load off the basket.

“No, thank you. It’s not too heavy. I was just wrapping up to grab the last of what I needed. Why don’t you wait outside and once I finish, I will meet you outside.” Dr. Richter suggested.

“Okay!” Rosa agreed and made a beeline out of the toy store. She waited quietly and she glanced up at the sky. It was rather grey and gloomy. She wondered if perhaps it was meant to snow later in the day. She shrugged her shoulders and continued to wait.

Minutes passed and Dr. Richter approached her from behind. “Ready to head back to the research center?”

“Yes!”

The duo make their way back to the hospital. They’re greeted by some nurses. “Dr. Richter, welcome back! We have some bad news. The man who usually plays Santa had an emergency. So we don’t have a Santa…”

Dr. Richter’s eyes widened. “Are there any male nurses who’d be willing to play the part?” He asked them.

They shook their heads in unison. “Unfortunately, no..”

Rosa watched as Dr. Richter rubbed the bridge of his nose. “That means only one thing, huh?”

“You have to be Santa Claus…” The nurse said to him with a tiny chuckle.

Rosa couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. The nurses swept Dr. Richter away to get things ready. After a half hour, Rosa looked up from her phone when she heard shuffling down the hallway and a lot of giggles. Dr. Richter was dressed up in a Santa Claus outfit nearly two sizes too big for him. She laughed quietly behind her hand, then opened her camera on her phone.

He hid behind his hand as if that would help him disappear. She took a few pictures, then he told him to put his hand down and he obeyed. She took better pictures of him and he smiled in embarrassment. One of the nurses dragged the large red bag to him. “Here you go, Santa!”

Dr. Richter blushed a little as he took the red bag where it was cinched. He lifted it up and rested it on his shoulder with ease. “Rosa, care to accompany me?” He offered her his free hand.

She pointed at herself. “Me?”

He nodded. “Yes. After you get changed.” A smirk appeared at the corner of his lips.

“Eh?!”

“The nurses have a Mrs. Claus outfit you’d be able to wear.” His voice sounded too cheery.

One of the nurses approached her and pushed her through the same hall Dr. Richter just came down. “Wa-Wait! N-No!” The nurse brought her into a random hospital room with the outfit set up on the bed.

The nurse was relentless as she got Rosa out of her clothes and into the red dress and white tights. “We also have a pair of red heels. What size are you?” The nurse asked her.

Rosa told the nurse her size and she bent down to pick up the pair of heels. She flipped it over in her hands and frowned. “Oh, it’s too big.. I suppose you can wear your heels with this outfit.” She put the heels back down then grabbed one last accessory off the hospital bed.

The nurse gave her a Santa hat and she carefully put it on her head. Rosa slipped it onto her head and turned to the nurse to help her fix her hair. The two of them exited the vacant hospital room. Dr. Richter was in the same spot where they left him. When she rejoined him, he offered his arm. She placed her hand on his arm and they made their way through the hospital to visit each child he bought presents for.

Each child was excited to see the two of them. They always gasped and asked if it was really Santa and Mrs. Claus. The two of them just had to smile and agree. Some of the children even hugged her tightly after they received their gifts. Rosa’s heart filled with joy and happiness from seeing all the excitement on every child’s face.

This truly beat anything that she could have possibly done with her day alone. Once they were finished, the nurses took a picture of the two of them together in front of the decorated Christmas tree in the lobby. “There’s one more gift that I need to give out.” Dr. Richter whispered in her ear.

“Huh?” Rosa pulled away a little to look at him, the nurses still snapping pictures.

Dr. Richter stuck out his hand and one of the nurses shuffled forward to put a plushie shiba inu into his hand. Rosa gasped and glanced down at the plushie.

“This is for you. Merry Christmas, Rosa. Thank you for being my Mrs. Claus for the evening.” He smiled at her as he placed the plushie into her hands.

She took it in her hands and gazed at it lovingly. “Thank you, Dr. Richter! Now I feel bad because I didn’t even get you a present.” She averted her gaze up at him.

“Not necessary. Your company is the greatest present I could ever ask for,” Dr. Richter reassured her.

Rosa smiled widely at him. “Merry Christmas, Dr. Richter.”