#but it will be an issue if i dress up like a christmas tree :(

[nickbutnodick]

argh i just realized that if i wrap myself in fairy lights and then try to go to school tomorrow i will inevitably set off the metal detectors and have to be wanded and then i will have to explain that i wrapped myself in fairy lights to the school security guards

[godmadeaterribleerror]

No Love Lost Series Masterlist

Read on A03! - Listen to the Playlist!

Rating/Warnings: 18+ for canon-typical violence, swearing, mental health issues, mentions of rape/non-con, and sexual content.

Tags: Soldier Boy/Supe!Female Reader, enemies to friends to lovers, canon divergence, slow burn, smut, angst, fluff.

Series Summary

Three years ago you were normal, the only demons you had to fight were your own, and you the most you knew of Vought and the Boys were what you saw on TV. But then you met Homelander at a stupid party, and woke up the next morning in a cell.

After almost two and a half years of you being Homelander's little project, Soldier Boy was woken up only go rouge and be put back under. Somewhere in there, you escaped. And before Queen Maeve went underground, she told William Butcher about the Anomaly, a powerful supe who recently escaped Vought captivity and may have an agenda against Homelander.

One month later, the Boys found you.

You spend the next five months helping them best you can, though your control over your powers is weak and your fear of Homelander makes you useless in combat. But you get an idea. A stupid, dangerous idea that turns you into Soldier Boy's keeper, giving him a second chance to take down Homelander, you hanging over his shoulder, a threat should he want to go nuclear again. It's exhausting and frustrating, and you might kill him and yourself as soon as this is over, but you said whatever it takes.

And this is what it takes.

Author's Note

This story is non-canon compliant, with the two main differences being;

1) Butcher doesn't have brain cancer, because I said so.

2) All of Gen V didn't take place, because I don't want to deal with the whole supe-plauge thing. Also that's too many characters to keep track of squad.

Because of this, the story will start in a similar setting as s4e5, but with different events leading up to it, and will deal with similar themes and have similar events to the rest of s4, but at an inconsistent rate. If you have any questions about other, smaller changes I have made, feel free to ask!

Navigation Key

❤️‍🔥 = Smut

🚩 = Additional Warnings

Chapter List

Chapter 1 - Where Winning Looks Like Losing Chapter 2 - A New Kind of Tension Chapter 3 - You've Torn Your Dress 🚩 Chapter 4 - You Might Be The Same As Me Chapter 5 - Popped, Cool, and Ready to Go Chapter 6 - I've Been Searching for a Fortified Defense Chapter 7 - The Blinding Ultra-Violence 🚩 Chapter 8 - I Just Find My Way Back ❤️‍🔥🚩 Chapter 9 - Can't Cover It Up ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 10 - Lead Me To The Ark ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 11 - The Wolves or The Ocean Rocks Chapter 12 - While My Blood's Still Flowing Chapter 13 - The Terror of Knowing Chapter 14 - Choke on Sun Chapter 15 - I Found A Martyr ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 16 - Let It Flood ❤️‍🔥 🚩 Chapter 17 - Make My Chest Stir Chapter 18 - Something In The Static ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 19 - Don't Look Back 🚩 Chapter 20 - Forget to Fall Down Chapter 21 - Some Things You Just Can't Speak About ❤️‍🔥 🚩 Chapter 22 - I Stayed In The Darkness With You Chapter 23 - Wherever You're Going ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 24 - You'll Never Be Alone ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 25 - All I Know ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 26 - I’ve Loved Everything About You That Hurts ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 27 - Just A Shot Away 🚩 Chapter 28 - Something That I'm Supposed to Be ❤️‍🔥 Chapter 29 - All My Bets On You Chapter 30 - Every Demon Wants His Pound of Flesh 🚩 Chapter 31 - I'd Do It All Again ❤️‍🔥

More Than You Could Ever Know - A No Love Lost Christmas Special

Part 1 - The Boys start Secret Santa, Ben pretends to do his job. ❤️‍🔥 Part 2 - Ben and Ryan go shopping, and you all try to find a tree. Part 3 - You and Ben have a Christmas Eve date. Many gifts are opened.

Bonus Footage (Standalone Chapters)

Dying’s Up to Me - A Prologue. Takes place 6ish months before Chapter 1. 🚩 They're Never Gonna Find You A Home - Request! Everyone adjusts to your life with the Boys. Takes place 5ish months before Chapter 1. 🚩 Back to Here - Request! They get horny at the dining table, and Butcher takes it personally. Takes place in Chapter 14. It's So Simple - You make Ben do icebreakers. He's a little bitch about it. Takes place in Chapter 14. Just Your Time - You give Ben internet lessons. Takes place in Chapter 14. As Much As I Do - Request! Ben finds you dancing, is immediately very normal about it. Takes place after Chapter 14 and around Chapter 15. Calling Your Name - Ben's first birthday awake isn't great. Takes place in Chapter 19. ❤️‍🔥 I Skip My Pride - You share some music with Ben over text. Takes place in Chapter 22. The Only Place That I Call Home - It's team game night, and everyone is sick of you and Ben's shit. Takes place in Chapter 24. ❤️‍🔥 Can't Help Myself - Request! Ben has a breeding kink, and you're incredibly horny, so it works. Takes place in around Chapter 24 and Chapter 25. ❤️‍🔥 Anywhere Else Is Hollow - A halloween special episode! Takes place in Chapter 25. It Was Smiling Down - A Ryan pov Chapter. Takes place between Chapter 26 and Chapter 27. A Call To Motion - Request! There's a lot of things you're good at. Sex with Ben is one of them. Takes places in Chapter 28.❤️‍🔥 I Want You Only - You and Ben go shopping. Takes place in Chapter 28 ❤️‍🔥 I’ll Hold Your Hand - Request! You get your period, and Ben has to do his job and take care of that. Takes place post series.

Found Footage (Post-Series Chapters)

Just Too Important - You and Ben head to Costco. Takes place about two months post-series. Dreams of Love - Request! You and Ben have to babysit. Takes place ten months post-series.

[buckyalpine]

Buttercup

Bucky x Reader

Childhood friends to lovers. Thought of this randomly and I thought it was so cute because imagine chubby baby Bucky in love with his cute little neighbor. Imagine this little boy with his messy mop of brown hair on his head, rosy cheeks, blushing over his friend who he adores so much. He toddles over to her porch, excited over the very important game of hide and seek they had planned for the day.

Y/n, y/l/n, or Buttercup according to him is his favorite person in the whole world besides Stevie. He loves Steve, he knows he does, but Buttercup is different. He gets these little butterflies in that chubby belly of his whenever they play together. He's usually a rambunctious devil but not at all with her. If she wants a tea party, he'll sit with her on her yard with a picnic mat spread out, always sneaking a few cookies from the jar for them to share.

She really likes the swing that hangs on the branch of the tree in front of his house. He'll push her with all his might till she squeals with laughter; a big toothy grin on his face when she says faster Bucky. When she trips over and scrapes her knee, he's dashing to his house to find a band aid, blowing on the cut just like his ma does when he hurts himself, he's so careful with his shaky little hands.

"Tank you Bucky" You say between a sniffle, kissing his cheek without thinking, the both of you innocently blinking at each other before running off and playing again. All Bucky knows is that he wants Buttercup by his side for his whole entire life.

So imagine his joy when he finds out its a possibility.

He's in his nicest buttoned shirt, tucked into his dress pants and polished shoes, hair combed over to the side. He kicks his legs while sitting with his mother, father and sisters, watching one of their family friends recite their vows at the altar. Winnifred already had to place her hand on his leg twice to keep him still, warning him that he had to behave at weddings since it was an important day.

"Why are they getting married?" He asks, wondering what the big deal was if they were in church on a Saturday.

"Because they care about each other Jamie, they'll be happy together forever" She whispers, pulling her squirmy little one onto her lap so he can see better.

“Can me and y/n get married mama?” He asks with large innocent eyes, hopeful she’ll say yes.

“You wanna marry y/n, huh?” She coos, brushing back the strands of soft hair that cover his forehead. “Y’know you’ll have to take care of her baby”

“I know” He nods with confidence, of course he'd always take care of his Buttercup.

“And you’ll have to work real hard" Again he nods, just waiting for her to say yes, maybe he can get married tomorrow! "You gotta love her with all your heart"

"I do mama, I do!"

"Then one day baby boy, one day you can marry her"

"But I wanna marry her now!" Bucky doesn't understand what the issue was, he knew he loved his Buttercup right then and there, why did he have to wait?

"Just wait a little while okay? My sweet little boy" Winifred laughed at her baby's fallen face, kissing his flushed cheek. "Before you know it, it'll be your turn"

Patience wasn't Bucky's strong suit but if it meant he'd be with you, he'd wait as long as he had to. He sat on the soft grass with you under the shade of a tree, sipping on a cup of lemonade your mom had brought out for you both.

“I wanna marry you” he pouts, "But mama says I have to wait and dad said I gotta ask p'mission first"

"Then we can be best f'wends forever?" You ask excitedly and he grins in response.

"F'wends forever"

"You promise?"

"I promise"

Now I thought about stopping this fic here but....

Some may have thought that eventually his puppy love lose its fire but no. His crush doesn't ever die down. Not when he nicks a flower from his mothers prized garden when you turn 5. Not when he gives you his favorite brown bear for Christmas. Not when he saves up all his allowance to buy you your first porcelain doll for your 10th birthday. It just grows and grow until he stands before you, wiping the tear that slips down your cheek when he comes to say good bye before going off to the army.

“One day m’gonna marry you doll" He whispers, doing his best to blink back his own tears while you sniffle against his chest.

"You promise?" You ask him with the same innocent doe eyes you had when you were little,

"I promise" He hugs you tighter, not wanting to let you go, the both of you spending the afternoon under the same shady tree. His mothers ring is kept safely in a box, tucked away in his room. He'd spoken to your father in private as soon as you'd both turned 18, not wanting to waste a second. All he had to do was return, safe and sound to his Buttercup.

Bucky goes through hell, sees the worst things imaginable, some days he struggles to keep his eyes open, cuts and wounds littering his battered body. However, when he closes his eyes and thinks about her smile, the way he'd get butterflies when she giggles, he knows he has to survive and come home. It doesn't matter how hard it is to keep going now because one day it'll all be worth it.

Which is why he practically runs home once the war is over, zipping in and out of his house and up to the porch next door, panting with flushed cheeks. He hears shuffling on the other side, his heart beating erratically while clutching onto the ring, the knob clicking open.

"Buttercup?"

"Jamie!" You gasp, tears running down your face in no time as you throw your arms around him, your feet lifting off the ground as he spins you. "You're back!"

"I promised you doll" He presses his forehead against yours before sinking down on one knee, smiling up at you while you choke back a sob, his hand holding onto yours.

"Buttercup, will you-

"Yes, Jamie yes!!" You nod frantically, while he happily slips the ring onto your finger before kissing you deeply, only pulling away to breathe. He doesn't give you long, pulling you back for more, his tongue laced with yours, unbothered that you're both on the porch, most of the neighbor watching quietly with steamy eyes.

Honestly, imagine how emotional everyone would be seeing the handsome soldier with his beautiful sweet bride up at the altar, going rom little babies to children to two souls that were meant to be together from the start. So cute.

[sirfrogsworth]

Photo Restoration Project - Part 1

A long time ago, Katrina sent me some old photos of her family I could restore. Her parents have been helping me from afar for years and I really wanted to do something nice for them. Unfortunately my dad got much worse and I pretty much forgot about this project for quite some time.

But then I decided to visit Katrina in Orlando and we discussed having dinner with her parents and I remembered these photos. So I thought I would fix them up so I could present them as a gift in person.

The first and most important photo was from her parents wedding.

Old photo prints can fade over time due to UV light exposure. From what I understand, different colors fade at different rates and red/orange tones tend to be the least susceptible to this fading. Thankfully all of the color information is still there, it's just that the darks are not as dark and the lights are not as light. The dynamic range got squeezed like an accordion. However, if you do a levels adjustment on the red, blue, and green channels individually, you can unsqueeze the accordion and balance everything back to the way it was.

But you can't always save everything and there may be other damage that needs fixing. If something becomes pure white, there is no way to restore that detail. Thankfully I was able to use the new generative fill feature to bring back detail in the dress, the flowers, and the tuxedo shirt.

And because I hate front facing flash and how it makes colors look ugly and sterile, I may have also added a marble floor and pillars.

Next up was a photo of Anastasia, Katrina's mom, protesting Henry Kissinger on behalf of her home country of Greece. This suffered from the same color fading issues.

What made this one a little more tricky was an uneven fading. The left side had to be adjusted independently and the top was even more faded. I had to isolate the trees to bring back their color. And the protest signs were difficult to read, so I enhanced those as well.

Next we have this lovely photo of Anastasia tending to some house plants.

This photo was actually in decent shape. It lost a little contrast, had a little bit of fading, and her top retained almost no detail I could recover. Recovering accurate skin tones is probably one of the most important skills I learned when restoring these photos. I wanted to keep that filmic look of the era while avoiding making people look jaundiced or pale. Lightroom's new masking feature that let's you isolate every aspect of the people it detects in a photo. This made fixing skin tones much easier. I could isolate just her face or her lips or her hair or her eyes and make precise individual adjustments. This process could have taken a great deal longer without this feature. But, I brought back proper contrast and color, added a little bit of detail to her top with gen fill, and hopefully got fairly accurate skin tones as well.

Next up, forward facing flash strikes again in a photo of Mike and Anastasia during Christmas.

Film did not do well in low light. If it was indoors and nighttime, you pretty much had no choice but to use flash. But a flash is a very small, bright light source and this causes a very unflattering result on humans. Today we have much more powerful flashes with rotating heads. We can bounce the light into the ceiling or off a wall and increase the size of the light source to get a more flattering result.

In this photo I wasn't able to do much, so I just balanced the skin tones and brought out some hidden detail and called it a day. It's still a lovely memory and thankfully film has such character that it negates a lot of the unflattering aspects of direct flash.

Next up is some cuteness...

A big priority when editing photos is to make sure the subjects are the star of the photo. And in this one their faces were a bit obscured in shadow. There was also a lot of haze in the background hiding the beautiful vista. Not to mention when I cleared that haze, there was this super faint hint of something in the sky. I can't tell if it was a rainbow, but I decided to believe it was a rainbow. The only thing that I am still struggling with, and this seems to be common with a lot of old photos, is green. Getting a good, saturated, natural green to look right has been very difficult. Everything I try ends up looking toxic or fake. The only thing that ends up looking right with the rest of the photo is more of a yellow-y brown. It's something I'll have to work on as I learn, but as long as the overall photo looks balanced and natural, I'm okay with not perfectly nailing the greens.

Up next we have a lovely scene on a Greek dock...

As far as editing goes, this was pretty basic. I just undid the fading, adjusted the skin tones, replaced the blown-out sky, and made the colors pop. But I think this is actually one of my favorite before and after shots. I just love how such a simple fix brought this scene to life.

A new car is a big deal and Anastasia looks so proud here...

This image has another common issue in addition to the typical fading of colors. It has a yellowish orange color cast. This could have been an issue with the film used or the development process or a chemical reaction on the print. A color cast is a lot like looking through colored glasses. It's like a translucent color material was put on top of the image. This can be a little trickier to deal with, but if you know your color theory, you might already know the solution. Blue is the opposite of yellow/orange on the color wheel, so if you introduce blue to the image it should balance out. Also, add a sky if it was missing.

Next up we have a landscaping project...

This one wasn't too tricky, but there was one interesting issue I had to address. All light has a color temperature. Daylight has a temperature of around 5500K. But the inside of the garage was being lit by reflected light and so that light took on the color temperature of the things it was bouncing off of. So I had to mask out the people and the car and address the color temperature inside the garage to make everything look balanced. Also, the green fought me hard on this one. And with the theme of this picture being plants, I felt I really needed to find a tone that worked. I think I finally got there, but I spent way too much time in the color picker doing trial and error of green tones. Also, new sky.

With this next one I actually did a pretty thorough explanation of how I edited it. But this was probably my favorite puzzle to solve from this collection of photos.

I'll do the abridged explanation...

The physical photograph was printed on a paper with a very heavy texture. And when it was scanned, the light from the scanner bounced off that texture and created a pattern of unwanted highlights.

I was worried this was impossible to fix and I almost gave up on this photo. But after one final Google search I discovered something called "Fast Fourier Transform." It's a mathematical formula that can be used to detect patterns. And the image editing software Affinity Photo, just so happens to have a filter called FFT denoise that helps you remove unwanted patterns from scanned photos.

And thanks to that filter, I was able to remove a substantial amount of that pattern...

Then I did my standard clean up techniques...

Oh, and I decided to try learning how to colorize.

Photoshop has a new set of experimental filters and a colorization tool is one of them. It is not great yet, but it is a great starting place. Instead of having to hand paint every single thing in the photo, Photoshop gave me a base to work with and I could take it from there with traditional techniques.

That's all I have the energy for today, but there are a bunch of cool restorations to talk about. Hopefully you all find this interesting. It was such a great gift to give to Katrina's parents. And spending that time with them and making them happy felt like I was with my own parents again. So we all got a gift in that wonderful evening.

Part 2 coming as soon as I have the energy!

[taojjang]

𐙚 christmas morning with riize .ᐟ

⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ advent calendar, day twenty-five: the finale! pairing: bf!riize x reader, genre: fluff! warnings: SO MUCH LOVE </33

synopsis: how riize would make your christmas feel extra special!

a/n: merry christmas my briize friends! i hope all of you guys had an amazing christmas! the advent calendar is coming to a close, so i wanted to show my appreciation for everyone who showed support! i had so much fun writing these holiday fics and i'm glad so many of you enjoyed them <3 i still have five (and maybe a bonus winkwink) fics that i'll be posting to make up for my mini hiatus, so this will not be the last. again. thank you so much ! 🧡

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　⋆ ˚ ۪ ⋆ ୨୧

✩ shotaro ⸝⸝

shotaro is the sweetest boy in the world, so of course christmas morning would be like a dream come true! the night prior, taro snuggled up with you and stroked your hair until you fell asleep. but the second he heard your light snores, he cautiously snuck off to the living room and began his christmas magic. he grabs a huge bag of gifts he's hidden in the basement and begins wrapping all of them by the christmas tree, ensuring not to exceed the squeak of a mouse.

the next morning, you shake taro awake and press frantic kisses on his face, desperate to open the gifts you've been waiting weeks for. but once the two of you reach the living room, your excitement melts into a puddle of pure astonishment and adoration for your sweet bf :(

"surprise! merry christmas, honey!"

✩ eunseok ⸝⸝

eunseok can't help but smile every time you go on and on about how excited you are for christmas. he loves seeing that silly little grin every time he brings up the holidays so much to the point where he mentions christmas almost every few hours. your jittery anticipation is just so cute <3

but that does not mean he's nice! even though you woke up so much earlier than usual and begged him to get up and open gifts, he would shake his head and say you're not allowed to open gifts until you eat :( so he cooks this luxurious and well-balanced breakfast so good you forget all about being upset! he buys you tons and tons of clothing and jewelry so you can always think of him when you wear the pretty clothes he picked out for you <3

"you would look so pretty in this dress, darling."

✩ sungchan ⸝⸝

no matter the time of year, sungchan is always spoiling the hell out of you. you tell him about a pretty necklace you want and its at your doorstep within days. he never lets his pretty princess miss out on all the fancy things she deserves. so of course he goes all out for christmas!

when you send him your christmas wishlist, he makes sure to buy every. single. item. there is nothing he wouldn't buy you. even if you wish for a unicorn and a gun he WILL get that horse armed with the meanest glock you've ever seen. the only issue is... he's a bit of a procrastinator. after you open all of your gifts on christmas, he'll keep his head low and giggle in shame, admitting he ordered your gifts a bit late and they won't be here until mid january. but you can't even be mad at him because that silly bf of yours is the best gift you could ever ask for :(

"i'm sorry princess... i swear i got everything on your list!"

✩ wonbin ⸝⸝

wonbin being the sweet little perfectionist he is, he'll be up all night worrying if you'll like your gifts or not :( he's lying beside you, biting his nails and fretting if he got everything on your wishlist while you're out cold. but the next morning, you couldn't understand what he was worried about.

everything was like a dream. all of your gifts were wrapped in the fanciest shiny wrapping paper and even decorated with pretty silk ribbons on each box. he even put together multiple gift baskets for you, filled with all of your favorite snacks and even cute photos of the both of you :( how could he ever doubt himself when he's the best boyfriend in the world?

"did i get everything you wanted, baby? if there's anything i missed, just let me know."

✩ seunghan ⸝⸝

seunghan just can't contain his excitement! he wakes you up a little earlier than planned with dozens of kisses peppered all over your face because he's just so eager to give you your gifts :( you're a bit cranky from being woken up an hour earlier than necessary but once you begin opening his gifts, you forget every complaint you've ever had.

all of his gifts would be packed with so much love and consideration. everything was wrapped in your favorite color and even had small cards inside every single box. every gift would have a little note attached to it, telling you the silly stories of the troubles he's endured to get you that gift. some gifts would even have cute blurbs about how cute you'd look using the gift :(

"i'm sorry for waking you up early, angel... i hope these make up for it!"

✩ sohee ⸝⸝

this little sohee guy is silly alright. no matter the occasion, sohee is always gonna find a way to make you either laugh until your stomach hurts or massage your temples in frustration. he loves messing with you, so of course he had to buy an elf on the shelf this christmas. every day since december first, that elf has been nothing but a menace. some mornings he'd kindly leave a bunch of hershey kisses on the kitchen counter for you, yet other mornings he'd trash your entire room with toilet paper and call it a snowstorm.

if you didn't have a headache already, there was no way the elf would leave you alone on christmas. on christmas morning, sohee would wake you up with this silly grin on his face telling you to get ready quickly so he can show you your "gifts." but of course the frickin elf made a huge igloo out of the gift boxes, leaving it in the center of the living room and sitting on top of it with that smug smirk on his face. you couldn't lie, it was quite impressive.

"WOAH!!! HE GIFTED YOU A NEW HOUSE!!!"

(ps. you saw him on the doggy monitor getting up at 4am to make the gift igloo, but you couldn't get enough of his proud little smile so you kept quiet!)

✩ anton ⸝⸝

your baby anton is so stupidly in love with you :( he'd spend months in advance searching for the perfect gifts for you, buying everything you mention wanting. you knew about this after seeing a note on his phone with all of the items you've spoken about, but you didn't expect this christmas to be even more exciting than you'd concluded.

he would be super duper excited to give you the gifts he prepared because they're just so heartwarming </3 anton would handcraft those mementos of his favorite photos of you and your favorite flowers. everything would even be wrapped in your favorite color with silly little stickers all over them :( anton never misses even the smallest details about you. he does all of this for you but even if you got him just a simple hoodie, he'd probably tear up (yes he's a loser for you).

"you deserve even more than this, my love."

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　⋆ ˚ ۪ ⋆ ୨୧

⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ tag list! (ask or comment to be added!)

@endtostartbreathin @gacktsa @hanninova @ramyeonzprincess @taroddori

[igncrxntripley]

their secret weapon pt. 13

synopsis: the group comes face to face with the mastermind behind this evil plan, and y/n works with a friend to devise a plan.

a/n: crawling on my hands and knees to get this done BUT IT HAPPENED.

mentions: poly!judgment day, overall SFW, some cussing, some fighting, fem!reader, mentions of sadness, alludes to feelings of depression.

tags: @thesithdiaries @cassiesgreta​ @roseheartsworld @theworldofotps​ @babybatlover @ripleyswhore @auburnwrites @obl1vionblackhart​ @emogoblin-666​ @hereliespumpkin​ @embertargaryen​ @neptune-lover​ @bunnysmyname @i-have-issues-lol​ @ares-athena​ @thatonepansexual2000​ @witcherfromwallachia​ @infamousvampcx​ @christinabae​ 

3 weeks until wrestlemania; 3 weeks until this nightmare would hopefully be over for the judgment day, and they could be reunited with their fifth member. none of them would lie and say the time she'd been away had been easy for anybody in the group though, as y/n being ripped away from the loving grasp of her partners was for no other reason than to get into the heads of those who turned their back on edge.

the house was quieter without her. road trips to the next city and hotel rooms were no longer the same. dressing rooms didn't have the same energy without her. and the entire time it killed the group to know y/n was so close, yet so far away.

and what tormented all of them? kept finn up at night, made damian clench his fists and rhea squirm at the thought? that they had yet to confront edge and tell him exactly how they felt. the man who helped build up y/n as a superstar, was also the man who ripped her away from her lovers; one way or another, the judgment day was going to make sure he got a piece of their mind. it didn’t matter how it happened.

the judgment day was going to make edge’s life hell until wrestlemania.

finn found himself sitting in the group’s bedroom, looking through boxes of y/n’s memorabilia and random things in boxes. most of this stuff was things she just hadn’t gotten around to unboxing when they moved her into their home, but as finn took a closer look, he began to realize why she’d waited.

photo albums. all of which contained pictures of y/n with her chosen family. her first christmas with the copelands, where beth bought all of them matching pajamas and made their family take a picture in front of the christmas tree. the beginning of her career, where beth stood in a practice ring with y/n and coached her through different finishers and submission moves. those long nights backstage at different shows, where a young y/n was absolutely exhausted and adam would keep her comfortable against his side so she could get some rest.

old trophies and titles, random pieces of ring gear, old things from edge and beth’s careers that they’d given y/n…she wasn’t just forgetting to put these things up or take them out of boxes. y/n was scared to do so. she didn’t want to literally open up a box full of hurt and fear after all the pain they’d caused. she was literally and figuratively repressing those emotions.

as finn sorted through the box and tried his hardest not to let his emotions get the best of him, rhea walked into the bedroom and took inventory of the different things in front of her partner. she took a seat next to him, gently rubbing his back and feeling that tension rising inside of him. “she’ll be coming back to us soon, love.” the aussie spoke softly. “only a few more weeks. she’s in good hands.”

“johnny and candance may be good hands but they aren’t her home.” he mumbled. “the fact that they’re treating her like a child and doing this to her is ridiculous anyway.” finn spat, putting the photo album back into the box. “y/n’s an adult. and the one person she sees as her father, one of the most important people in her life, won’t let her come home? our bosses are backing him up? rhea, it’s…” he couldn’t even finish his thought. he shook his head and tried to calm down his boiling anger.

rhea nodded and held finn’s hand. “there’s not much we can do right now.” she said quietly. “we’re all upset. but she’ll be home soon.” she gently turned finn’s head towards her own, holding the irishman’s cheek. “you’re the one who’s going to show him why no one messes with us.”

*****

that moment rhea was speaking of? it came a lot faster than anyone in the judgment day could have emotionally prepared for. it was like the movies, where finn and edge turned the corner at the exact same time and stood face to face for the first time since their newest member was ripped away from the judgment day. finn swore he could feel the anger radiating through his body at the sight of edge; claws were itching at his spine, his stomach felt like it was on fire, and his fists were clenched tight by his side. he took your princess away from you, my prince. it's time to take back what's rightfully yours.

the corner of edge's lip curled into a snarl. in front of him was the man who seemingly corrupted his mentee, the one who took her away from him and beth as another way to get under the skin of the founder of the judgment day. in his mind, he never took y/n away from her newfound family. he was only trying to give her a break from them! he wanted her to take some time to think about her recent choices and possibly remember what exactly the foursome had done to not only her, but himself and beth over the last few months. edge didn't see anything wrong with what he did. the hall of famer was only doing right by the young woman he saw as a daughter.

finn tried taking a deep breath, but his mouth was moving before he could even think about what he was saying. "i'd walk away the other way before i do something i regret."

edge couldn't help but chuckle at finn's statement. the prince was already trying to act so tough? so intimidating? it didn't phase edge one bit. "wow, not even a hello? no how are you?" he playfully looked finn up and down, noting the second bandana in finn's pocket that most likely belonged to y/n. "why so hostile, finn?"

"you know why, don't play dumb with me." finn poked his finger into the rated r superstar's chest. "you know what you did to me, to y/n, to all of us! and you thought the best thing to do was take her away from us when you've ignored her for the last, what, six months? that's not very fatherly of you, adam. more cowardly than anything."

again, edge chuckled. his eyes were growing dark, and he dared himself to step even closer to finn. "i don't need you telling me what's very fatherly. as far as i'm concerned, she's better off without the four of you." he challenged, almost getting joy out of how angry finn was getting at him. "you let her get kicked into a table? she took a spear for you? you doubted her spot in the judgment day? y/n doesn't realize it yet, but the four of you have caused so much more harm than good." edge flashed that cocky smile at finn. "we can continue this conversation in the ring tonight. i'll see you soon."

watching edge walk away, practically reeking of revenge and pure anger, caused all of those feelings within finn to intensify. if he could have unleashed all of that anger backstage, he would have; but finn also knew one wrong move meant having to wait even longer to have y/n in the arms of her four partners again. he wasn't going to risk that, no matter how badly he wanted to wreak havoc.

finn could be patient. he'd wait the three weeks until wrestlemania to give edge a piece of his mind and see their princess again. those three weeks would be hell, but finn was also planning on throwing edge into the deepest pit of pain and agony once he got his hands on him.

only a little while longer, my prince.

*****

each day without her loves, without her family, was causing y/n to fall further into this spiral of sadness. nothing was the same anymore without dominik's laugh, rhea's hugs, damian's bodyguard-esque presence, or finn's kisses. the longer she went without her little family, the more y/n was spiraling into feelings she hadn't felt in a long time, if ever.

sure, she had JD. that was the closest thing y/n had to finn while being away from the judgment day. but it wasn't her finn. being at NXT without any of them by her side wasn't the same. y/n didn't even see the purpose anymore in coming to the PC to work. it was so much easier to hide in johnny and candace's guest room, the lights off and hidden under the covers with rhea's sweatshirt clutched in her hands. no matter how many times she wore damian's t-shirt or looked at goofy pictures with dom, nothing eased the aches in her body.

y/n had practically stopped answering her phone at that point. every text, every phone call, it was ignored and went without response day after day. it didn't matter who it was from, there was radio silence on her end. sometimes the gentle knocks from either candace or johnny on her temporary room even went unanswered. and while people were concerned, it felt like no one was going to do anything to fix it.

no one...except for one particular irishman.

when JD hadn't seen y/n at the PC, she stopped showing up to NXT, his texts and calls went unanswered, he knew he needed to check up on her. finn was trusting him to take care of y/n while she was away, and that meant doing whatever he needed to do for y/n to be even the slightest bit okay. what he didn't realize, even while walking up to the front door of johnny and candace's home, that she already was slipping even further into this deep hole. if JD would have waited any longer, there's no telling how much deeper princess would've fallen.

the hurried, repeated knocks at the front door pulled y/n from her cave of blankets and her partner's hoodies. there wasn't much that could do that as of recent, but she managed this time. she took her time going to the door and opening it, but the sight of JD brought tears to her eyes for a multitude of reasons. guilt, sadness, hurt, anxiety, even a little bit of hope. "you shouldn't be here-"

"y/n..." JD said softly, not even letting her finish her thoughts. his voice alone broke her even more, and before y/n could think twice JD had his arms around his friend in the tightest hug he could manage. he wasn't sure when the last time she got one of those hugs was, so he made note to do it now. to remind y/n she wasn't alone.

y/n wrapped her arms around JD and gripped onto him like her life depended on it. at this point, it basically did; this was the first time in weeks she had someone who wasn't her dad, hunter, or shawn around her. someone who was on her side and actually seemed as though they wanted the best for her. y/n's hands gripped onto JD as tight as she could and she finally let the tears loose down her cheeks. "i-i'm so sorry."

"don't be. you have no reason to be sorry." JD said softly, gently ushering y/n inside with his arms still around her. "come on, y/n. talk to me."

even though y/n wanted everything she was feeling to just pour out, she couldn't. the words were caught in her throat and everything she'd held in for the last month couldn't find its voice. the only thing she could manage were pathetic whines and whimpers, until finally some of those words were choked out. "i just want to go home."

JD's heart broke. he'd never understand why anyone thought taking her away from her family was the right answer. no one was paying attention and noticed that this wasn't helping the frustrations between the judgment day and edge, because they were too focused on themselves. everyone ignored the consequences of their actions.

maybe JD shouldn't have spoken up, but he could only find one answer to the sad statement that left y/n's lips. "who's stopping you?"

y/n's cries slowed down into sniffles and she slowly pulled back to look at JD. "they said i couldn't." the answer felt so simply, yet the solution was even easier. and it never once crossed her mind out of fear of the consequences.

"did they take your key? are they bothering to watch your every move?" JD asked softly, wiping the tears from y/n's cheeks. "you live there too, y/n. no one can stop you from going home. not to the place where you pay the bills with everyone else. the place you call home." JD gently rubbed her arms, managing to give her a smile. "go home, y/n."

again, the answer seemed so easy. the solution was self explanatory. but y/n didn't about it once, until JD mentioned it out of fear for how edge or her superiors would react. needless to say though, JD's words were enough for her to pack her bag and rush out to her parked car in the driveway - the jeep that hadn't moved in days since she stopped going to training sessions. even in the rare cold, florida rain, y/n was rushing home to her people with those same tears rushing down her cheeks.

while the drive wasn't long, it felt like an eternity until y/n was in the driveway of the home she shared with the four people she recognized as her family. she knew their travel schedules and saw everyone was home from their own vehicles being in the driveway and the dimly lit lights through the window, but even after parking and standing in the rain ready to start taking her life back, her legs didn't move.

y/n was terrified, worried someone would catch her and she'd have to face the consequences of going home before she was given permission. even though she didn't need permission, she stood in the rain for a solid five minutes debating if she should've even made the move. but eventually she did it; her tears mixed with the raindrops, and y/n made her way to the front porch before pulling out her phone. her shaky hands sent a quick text to rhea, the aussie being the first of her four partners to pop up in her messages, and waited for someone to hopefully give her the piece of mind she wanted so badly.

"let me in? please?"

[bee-the-loser-recs]

.✩✮✩✮ Themed Fic Recs: Winter ✩✮✩✮.

Groups: BoyNextDoor, P1Harmony, The Boyz, NCT, Stray Kids, Ateez

BoyNextDoor:

★ Kiss Culture By @ihangelic 4.7k, Jaehyun x reader, established relationship, winter holidays, mention of Jaehyun being sick, planning winter dates, fluff, smut, pet names, whiny and clingy Jaehyun ★ Going to a Christmas Market By @4ranghaes Drabble, Sungho x reader, established relationship, Christmas Market date, really cute & fluffy, looking around the stalls, competing to pay ★ Building a Gingerbread House By @4ranghaes Drabble, Riwoo x reader, established relationship, having the place to themselves, winter themed dates, planning their decorations for the gingerbread house ★ Christmas as Parents By @4ranghaes Drabble, Taesan x reader, they have a son and daughter, fluff, decorating the Christmas tree, really sweet ★ Decorating the House By @4ranghaes Drabble, Taesan x reader, established relationship, Christmas time, setting up the decorations, really fluffy, mentions of mistletoe, teasing and playful flirting ★ Ice Skating By @4ranghaes Drabble, Jaehyun x reader, established relationship, going ice skating together, it's snowing, fluff, date night ★ Visiting your family By @4ranghaes Drabble, Jaehyun x reader, established relationship, Jaehyun is spending time with reader's family for the first time, having a roast dinner, cute, fluffy

P1Harmony

★ Dirty Santa By @memorabxlia 1.5k, Theo x reader, non-idol au, established relationship, Theo turns up dressed as Santa, holiday moment, dirty talk, smut, banter

The Boyz

★ Double a decade By @from-izzy 5.7k, Sunwoo x reader, holiday seasons au, childhood friends to lovers, idiots in love, mutual pining, fluff, a tinge of angst, platonically sharing a bed, cute, reader is sick at one point ★ Holiday Miracle By @from-izzy 5.2k, Ju Haknyeon x reader, childhood friends to lovers, oblivious idiots in love, fluff, winter time, making snow angels together, mutual pining, so cute ★ Only for the kids By @odxrilove 0.8k, Jacob x reader, friends to lovers, Christmas dinner at reader's house, fluff, being mistaken as the boyfriend, hidden feelings ★ First Snow By @stayteezdreams 3.3k, Hyunjae x reader, belief about experiencing first snow together, trying to find one another, fluff, childhood friends to lovers

NCT

★ Skating with you By @from-izzy 850, Haechan x reader, established relationship, holiday theme, going ice skating together, being taught how to ice skate, fluff ★ Rum, eggnog and an accidental confession By @neonun-au 4.2k, holiday au, fake dating to get family pressures of your back, Christmas time, accidental confessions, fluff, pining, past university partners ★ Mistletoe while you work By @starlightkun 6.9k, Jisung x reader, established relationship, secret relationship, co-workers, office workers NCT, friends Haechan & Jeno, holiday themed, messing with friends ★ Out of left field By @starlightkun 16.3k, Jisung x reader, brother's friends trope, Chenle is reader's brother, rich kids Chenle & reader, spending Christmas together, parental issues, college au, fluff, slight angst [I genuinely love all of her works, like check out the masterlist]

Stray Kids

★ King Candy By @petrichor-han 1.0k, Han x reader, established relationship, holiday au, decorating gingerbread houses, mentions of future marriage, fluff ★ Home for the Holidays By @petrichor-han 0.8k, platonic Skz x reader, best friends, platonic but flirty, playful arguing, taking holiday photos for a card to send to families, fluff, humour

Ateez

★ Secret Santa By @lilacmingi 3.1k, Hongjoong x reader, fashion designers, secret santa trope, love confessions, fluff, cuties ★ Scrooge By @lilacmingi 3.4k, Seonghwa x reader, Scrooge/grumpy x Christmas lover dynamic, roommates to lovers, fluff, learning to like Xmas ★ Snowman By @lilacmingi 3.6k, Yunho x reader, Snowman Yunho, magic of love, innocent Yunho, lonely reader, cuties, kiss ★ A Christmas wish By @lilacmingi 4.3k, Yeosang x reader, Christmas cheer elf Yeosang, falling in love, magic snow, fluff, cuties, best friend Skz Han ★ Mall elf By @lilacmingi 2.6k, San x reader, mall workers & mall elves, helping out a friend, friends to lovers, cute, fluff, reader is great with kids ★ Elf in training By @lilacmingi 3.4k, Mingi x reader, they're elves, Mingi is abnormally tall, fluff, cute, kissing in the snow ★ Rosy By @lilacmingi 2.1k, Wooyoung x reader, they're elves, Wooyoung has glowing cheeks when embarrassed/flustered, fluff, cute ★ Grinch By @lilacmingi 2.4k, Jongho x reader, grinch Jongho, whoville reader, childhood friends to lovers, falling in love, cuties, fluff

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for telling my mom to either get me what I've asked for, or to just get me gift cards?

This probably makes me sound horrible and ungrateful, but this is an issue I've had for about the last ten years of my life. I love my mother dearly, and I am so insanely grateful that we are in a financial position where we can receive gifts at all. I'd genuinely be happy with just a card and a cozy day in, but my mom always insists it isn't Christmas without at least one or two things under the tree.

I always ask her routinely as we inch toward the later months of the year what she'd like, and I do my best to get her exactly what she wants. I'll get her one or two other things too, like some skincare or chocolates or shoes or something, but I always stick to what she actually asks for.

If she asks me for a specific dress, she'll get it. If she asks me for a certain type of perfume, she'll get it.

The same....Cannot be said for her.

I've begged her over the years to just stick to getting me what I ask for. I don't ask for anything expensive. I think the most expensive thing I've ever asked for were concert tickets, and I offered to pay half. I just more or less wanted help actually getting them, because as we all know, concert tickets sell so fast its like you blink and they're gone, and the more people you have trying to get them the more chances of success.

Usually I'll ask for something like a particular poster I saw online, or a bedding set, a new phone case, ect. Small, easy to get things because honestly, I don't need that much.

What I actually end up with is a bunch of random stuff I will never use and clothing I'd never wear and once or twice, tickets to do things I hate doing.

Its like she asks me what I want then goes out of her way to get me the exact opposite of what I've asked for. She always pouts at me and berates me for 'looking disappointed' or never using anything she gets me (I hold onto it for a few months then quietly give it away to a friend or thrift store).

It makes me feel guilty, but this is a conversation we have every. Single. Christmas.

(For example I'll ask for, say, a pair of white shoes. What I'll actually get is a box of wind up toys from the dollar store, expensive paint brushes when I've never touched paint in my life, and a box of chocolates from a brand I don't like.)

This year, once again, she asked me for my list, and I just gave her some stores and told her I'd like gift cards to those places. She gave me a weird look and dropped it, but asked again a few times, and each time I just reiterated what stores I wanted gift cards to.

Well lo behold, I come home from college and there's packages under the tree. Proper packages, not just envelopes or anything else that a gift card would realistically be in.

I guess I was staring at the tree with a weird/sour expression, because it wound up starting an argument between us. Her argument was she's getting me gifts, I should be grateful, and she tries really hard but I'm just 'impossible to please.'

My argument is I tell her repeatedly exactly what I want and not once have I ever gotten what's actually on my list. In which case, why the fuck should I bother writing a list? I'd rather have the gift cards so I can buy exactly what I wanted in the first place.

She said I ask for clothes, I get clothes. I said I ask for specific clothes and she gets me ones that I wouldn't even look at in the store, let alone buy.

The whole argument ended up with her calling me an ungrateful asshole and confiscating my gifts to return them all after the New Year. She told me I can just have the money from returning them and 'be fucking happy for once.'

Its Christmas Eve and she's still not speaking to me. I feel terrible, but I'm also relieved. Either this means from now on she won't get me anything, or from now on if she asks for my list she'll actually get me what's on it.

My dad is staying in the middle. He said I'm right, and over the years he's tried to convince her not to buy all that stuff, but he also said I should've just done what I always do, fake a smile, and get rid of it later.

Is he right or was this fight a blessing in disguise? Am I the asshole for ruining Christmas or am I justified in voicing what I have for the last ten years running?

What are these acronyms?

[chloessleepystories]

A Year with Santa Claus

How many references can you find to favorite holiday stories?

I was lying on the couch in the living room Christmas Eve, laptop on my tummy, all the lights out except the lights from the tree. It was pretty. It was peaceful. It was boring.

But at least it was quiet – my younger siblings were nestled all snug in their beds, while mama in her kerchief and dad in his saggy tightie-whities were settled in for their long winter’s siesta after six glasses of cheap Walgreens wine. I was browsing dirty hypno Tumblr on my laptop and getting progressively hornier, so I shucked off my sweatpants and started stroking.

When suddenly I heard a jingling and a twinkling on the roof, as of the prancing and pawing of little hooves. And then, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a shower of soot on the floor, and the fireplace full of Santa Claus himself.

My long pale bare legs splayed, my sweatshirt hoisted up over one small teenage boob, and my sticky fingers covering my crotch, I must have been a sight. But all I said was: “I’m not cleaning that up.”

I guess it takes a lot to surprise Santa. His mouth hung open for a minute or two, but he quickly recovered – dropping his sack of toys and fumbling with his big belt buckle.

“Do we have time for this?” I whispered.

“Silly child,” he said. “Time is never an issue.” He threw a handful of gold dust in the air and instantly, time seemed to stand still. The clock stopped between ticks. The sprinkles settled on my bare body, and on my face, and tingled wherever they hit. I mindlessly slid forward off the couch and onto my knees, as a wave of peace and joy warmed my mind and hardened my nipples. He pulled my sweatshirt off as I gazed up at him, completely naked, my smile spreading as he stripped off his furs.

I gotta say, I was expecting an old fat man – a right jolly old elf – but I have been MISINFORMED, y’all. Turns out Santa is big, yes, but it’s almost all muscle. And he’s a silver fox – silver hair, short silver beard … with tattoos … “NICE” on his left forearm, and “NAUGHTY” on his right. And his name isn’t actually Santa, it turns out – but Sander…

His cock was impressive, majestic, and it tasted like cinnamon. His precum was like frosting, so sweet – undoubtedly from all the cookies. I sucked and slurped as he stroked my hair, and moved gently in and out of my mouth. It felt so good to serve him, to please him … then he picked me up as if I weighed nothing, and settled my dripping cunny on the head of his cock.

“It’s so warm!” I whispered. “It’s like you’re burning me up from the inside!”

Sander grinned, and there was a twinkle in his eye. “That’s me,” he said. “I’m Mr Hundred-and-One.”

He used me like a toy, but gently and lovingly, filling me so full with every thrust. He lay me back down on the carpeting, under the tree, and I looked up at all the pretty lights, in a daze, as he pumped into me for what seemed like hours … until finally Santa came down my chimney. Again and again, he came down my chimney.

I lay there panting as he dressed all in his furs again. I wasn’t sure if I could form words. When he knelt beside me, I whimpered like a broken doll. “Do you have to go?”

He smiled, shaking his head, and took out a sprig of mistletoe from his coat pocket. He held it over me. “I’m taking you back to my workshop, my dear. I’ll fix you up there … then I’ll bring you back here …” He broke a mistletoe berry under my nose. My eyes rolled back, and in an instant I was unconscious.

The next year passed by in a blur, a candy-colored, peppermint-flavored haze of sex and sweets. (If it was only a year – but I had my doubts about that. It seemed like it was always “nearly Christmas” around Sander and his people, and it was a perpetual aura of excitement plus exhaustion.) Time ceased to have any meaning. I learned to serve the elves. I made cookies with Mrs Claus – a process she enjoyed very much. And the things I ate and drank filled me with Christmas cheer, in different ways.

Some chocolates seemed to chip away at my intelligence. Some fruitcake seemed to leave me in a drugged-out blissful stupor for hours. Sometimes I seemed sharp and alert, but the only thing I could think of were the Christmas carols playing over and over in my mind, accompanying thoughts of various sex acts.

“Try some of this,” Mrs Claus would say as we cooked and baked together in her kitchen … And I would find myself licking the sugar from her hands, then sucking on her fingers, then going down on her snatch of silver-and-gold.

“Look into my eyes,” Sander would say, and I would gaze into his eyes for a while, smelling his breath of peppermint and pipe tobacco, but somehow not hearing the words he spoke into my unresisting ears … until I would awaken with “NAUGHTY” choking my throat,  just a little bit, while “NICE” was kneading and stroking my sex.

I was his favorite toy. He loved finding new games to play with me, to make me entertain him, or the others … or to make me happy. One of his favorites was turning me into a snowman. “There must be some magic in this hat I found,” he would say, then he would plop it on my head, and I would instantly freeze. He and the Missus would play with my body, and it would respond, but I could barely feel it – I was nearly numb, and the arousal would be far away. No matter what, I couldn’t cum. My eyes would leak in my frustration, but I couldn’t move, and could barely feel, a frozen snowman … until they removed the hat. Then everything would flood back into my body at once, and I would scream and shake and almost pass out from the explosion inside every cell.

Once, Sander hypnotized me into believing I was one of the reindeer. My name was Olive … Olive the other reindeer. He took a red thread, and he tied some antlers to the top of my head, then he led me into the stables. He left me there for hours … playing all the reindeer games.

I ate sweets and I breathed magic. I learned … I grew … I changed. My ass rounded and my breasts filled out as I grew older, more womanly, no longer a teenager. The elves would use my body for hours, as if they had never seen someone as tall as me, never had access to sexual partners before … as if they needed the practice. I loved letting the elves practice on me, my holes, my tits … it was like being swarmed by sex-starved puppies, and I loved it.

But the day finally came when Sander told me he needed to send me back to the world. It was almost Christmas again … though whether it was the same Christmas I had left, or the next one, or any other Christmas, I neither knew nor cared. I wept, and Father Christmas held me close. “I will always know when you’re sleeping, and when you’re awake,” he whispered. “I’ll know if you’ve been bad or good – so be good and naughty.”

“Yes Daddy,” I nodded, sniffling.

He touched my tears, with wonder and concern. “What’s this? What’s this?”

I sniffled.

“Santa baby?” I asked. “Could I make one wish, this Christmas?”

I could, and I did. I wished not to go back to my family, but a different one. He even let me pick one out. It took some time, and some research, but it was worth it.

Then, when I was finally ready, he gave me a cup of hot cocoa. I sipped it, then felt the sugar plums and fairy music swell. “Say … what’s in that drink,” I murmured as I lost consciousness.

So … here I am. Under the tree, dressed in lingerie and a cute little Santa hat – switched “off,” ready to be turned on by love and Christmas magic when the family come downstairs in the morning.

I picked a kind looking widower named Bob, who had to raise several kids on his own. The youngest, Tim, is sickly, but has made it to age 18, and I know I can make him, and his brothers, and their father, all happy. It gives me sexual pleasure to serve… so I’ll cook, and clean, and bake the best cookies they’ve ever had – and fulfill their sexual fantasies too. Sander even left instructions and trigger words for some of the games we’ve played, and modes he’s installed. I know I can make them all very happy.

I will miss elf practice, though.

[kiwiana-writes]

Kiwiana's Christmas Fics

This was doing the rounds last year, so let's bring it back (and update it) for 2024!

Red, White & Royal Blue

[TBD… coming 2024-12-21 to an AO3 near you]

…

Got a will to win and a Cheshire grin [Alex/Henry; rated E; 4,952 words]

Please find attached the list of collective bargaining agreement breaches reported by the Sports and Recreation Floor in December. As the designated union representative, it is my responsibility to ensure that the rights and interests of our members are protected and upheld, even (or maybe especially) during our busiest time of year. In accordance with the grievance procedure outlined in our collective bargaining agreement, we request that Santa’s Workshop takes immediate corrective action to remedy these breaches. Please set up a meeting at your earliest convenience to discuss these issues further and explore appropriate resolutions. Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

All Those Christmas Clichés [Alex/Henry; rated M; 7,500 words]

Daily triple drabbles: snapshots of the lead-up to Christmas 2023.

Schitt's Creek

I see every part of you [David/Patrick; rated M; 1,514 words]

Patrick is a straight-up aficionado when it comes to giving gifts. David has known this from literally day one of their relationship, when he pulled a bunch of tissue paper out of a blue gift bag, looked away from a sentimental receipt in a solid frame and into a pair of earnest eyes, and thought, 'I hate it when Stevie's right.'

How the reindeer loved him [David/Patrick; rated E; 2,178 words]

David wraps an arm around him, hand splayed across his chest to pull him close. “Tell me,” he says quietly. “I want you to dress up as Santa,” Patrick rushes out in one quick breath.

This is all I'm asking for [David/Patrick; rated E; 3,957 words]

But by the time they clean up after the party, and Patrick tactfully offers to take the garbage bags out to the shed to give the Roses a bit of family time, it’s well after eleven and David can only assume all their plans for the evening are out the window. That is, until they turn out of the motel parking lot and instead of Patrick putting his hand on David’s knee like usual it lands halfway up his thigh, fingers tracing absent circles around his inseam, and David realises that at least one part of the plan is still very much on the table.

Dear Santa… [Gen: David, Alexis, Patrick; rated G; 2,191 words]

Letters to Santa, 1987-1997

Do you wanna fuck a snowman? [David/Patrick; rated E; 7,216 words; co-write with @ships-to-sail]

David mimics her stance — and he has to admit, she’s not entirely wrong. In the quickly disappearing light, already blurred a little bit by the still-fallen snow, the snowman does look a little like he has tree trunk thighs and a well-formed ass, rather than being Frosty-shaped. But it’s the best they’re going to do, and David’s toes are officially cold.

I need some Christmas spirit [David/Patrick; rated T; 626 words]

David can handle his alcohol, is the thing. So no, it doesn’t occur to Patrick to warn him.

It probably should have.

Happiest Season

We always walked a very thin line [Abby/Riley, Harper/Abby; rated T; 2,775 words]

The girlfriend — Abby — stumbles over a lie about being Harper's orphan roommate, which… wow. Girl is a bad liar. Riley kind of wants to take her by the hand and tell her she’s going to have to get a lot better at that particular skill if she’s going to be in a relationship with Harper Caldwell. She doesn’t though, because it’s not her place and because who knows what, if anything, Harper has told Abby about her?

Tagging @blueeyedgrlwrites @cactusdragon517 @celeritas2997 @cha-melodius @clottedcreamfudge

@cricketnationrise @dumbpeachjuice @everwitch-magiks @firenati0n @getmehighonmagic 

@hgejfmw-hgejhsf @indestructibleheart @inexplicablymine @lilythesilly 

@myheartalivewrites @nontoxic-writes @notspecialbabe @orchidscript 

@piratefalls @rmd-writes @sherryvalli @sparklepocalypse @stereopticons 

@thesleepyskipper @thighzp @tintagel-or-cockleshells @welcometololaland @whimsymanaged and, as always, anyone who wants to play! 

[beardedmrbean]

Cruise staff seemingly dressed up as white supremacist Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members during a Christmas-themed event, horrifying passengers as they marched by the swimming pool.

P&O Cruises Australia issued an apology after footage surfaced online of a group of eight staff walking through the pool deck of the ship wearing their white cleaning uniforms and pointy hats

“Is this appropriate for 2024?” a passenger captioned the clip after uploading it to Facebook.

The cruise company says the housekeeping crew had no idea what they looked like when they chose to dress up as “upside down snow cones” for the event during a Pacific Explorer voyage from Melbourne to Hobart in December.

“We regret if a recent incident on a Pacific Explorer cruise offended any guests,” a P&O Cruises Australia spokesperson told news.com.au.

“Several crew members dressed up as snow cones for a Christmas family event, not understanding how their costumes could be misconstrued.”

The spokesperson explained the crew was only in public view for a short time before management acted quickly and had them remove the costumes.

“The crew members were horrified and extremely apologetic when they learned of the distress their outfits could cause.”

Kl Klux Klan, commonly shortened to the KKK or the Klan, was a racist group who notoriously hunted down black people to hang them from trees, and left burning crosses in the front yards of the homes of black families.

Lynne Scrivens, communications director of P&O Cruises Australia, explained the housekeeping crew are from all over the world and “never heard of the organization” when management pulled them aside to immediately remove their outfits.

“No one can seriously think that was their intention,” she told 2GB host Ben Fordham on Wednesday.

“They are limited with what resources they have on ships,” she said, adding they make do with what they have when it comes to costumes.

They were so distressed … they really are so hardworking and try their hardest to deliver guests amazing holidays.”

Scrivens said no guests made a formal complaint about the costumes at the time, however, she described the incident as “very unfortunate.”

“[We] accept and take full responsibility for it.”

Terri, from Melbourne, who was on an eight-day trip with her husband, filmed the incident and uploaded it to cruise forums on Facebook.

She described it as “offensive KKK costumes” – however she doesn’t believe it was intentional.

“They had been promoting it in the ship’s newsletter – it was going to be a tug-of-war battle between the crew – and we were there to watch what we thought was going to be an awesome event,” Terri, who wished not to reveal her surname, told news.com.au

“And then the crew came out. I looked at my husband and said ‘It’s housekeeping OMG’ and my husband was like ‘OMG get the camera, get the camera out, no one will believe us’ because it was just so out there.

“We were like, ‘Are we seeing this correctly’, it was so bizarre – you can hear it on the video it just went quiet,” Terri said.

She said the lady sitting in front of her had a face like “what the hell” which was “basically the vibe of the whole ship.”

Terri requested a “please explain” from the cruise liner but claims she didn’t receive a response, adding it is “not tolerated in this current environment and education is desperately needed.”

“I spoke with one of the crew and they told me they were asked to take their hats off straight away which they did without hesitation. I just thought this has got to be an innocent mistake.

“I was shocked. But in saying that this is the third P&O cruise we have taken, We love it, but this has left a bit of a sour taste.”

[reve-de-sang]

for the Dec 17 prompts "ornaments” and ”vacation" for Vamptember's 12 Nights of Christmas. set during the 1910 courting era, just before christmas

“Some man of leisure,” Louis smirked at him. “Someone with a lotta time on his hands.”

“He would have to be debonair and stylish,” Lestat said, wide-eyed and wondering. “A man of the world, intelligent and discerning, but not so handsome that he outshone your beauty, were such a thing possible.”

Louis gave a sharp laugh at the shocking audacity. Lestat knew the flirting titillated him. Was safe. Deniable. The scent of a feast carried on a draft from a dining table Louis would never allow himself to sit at.

Lestat reached for his umbrella and opened it, pressing the issue by shifting to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Louis under its expanse. Louis looked and felt nervous, but by god, Lestat reasoned, it was 11:30 at night. It was practically raining.

Lestat’s entire upper arm was electric where it was pressed up against Louis’s with this rare physical proximity. He willed his jaws and cock to calm down.

Louis’s breathing was shallow, and his pupils marginally wider than could be explained by the shadowy park. “You comfortable there?” he teased uneasily.

“You were so lost in my excellent conversational skills you failed to notice we were getting quite wet.”

Louis shrugged. Lestat did not sigh at the delightful movement against his arm. “I’m dressed for it. Little water never hurt anyone.”

“But this is more comfortable, no? Why suffer,” Lestat murmured.

“…Yeah, you’re right,” Louis smiled softly.

Oh. Oh, Lestat loved it when Louis let his guard down like this. Became soft and pliant around him, a rare peek at who Louis could be in another world. Lestat wanted to sweep him off his feet and carry him home.

Lestat may have accidentally bled something through of that subconsciously, because Louis said, “Say, they ever deliver that Schiele?”

Lestat blinked. “Yes. I meant to say, it arrived late last week.”

Louis nodded. “I was really taken with that one.” He made brief eye contact with Lestat, trying to be braver than he felt, pressed so close in their cozy, humid space under the umbrella. “You should collect him.”

Lestat would. He wanted to. He wanted to feather a nest for Louis, buy him every painting that passed from Egon Schiele’s brush. “As you wish, Louis.”

Louis gave a half-embarrassed laugh. “Well, don’t do it for me. Just if you like him.”

“You have excellent taste in art,” Lestat said. “And we are quite in accord in our preferences.” Lestat smiled then, greatly daring with the suggestion of a double entendre. Louis seemed to catch it after a beat, and his eyes moved to Lestat. Louis’s mind seemed quite blank then, but he wasn’t panicked. Just warm. “…In art.”

“Yeah,” Louis smiled, holding his eyes. This time next year, Louis will be in my home, Lestat vowed. Hoped. There would be a Christmas tree. He would buy all the ornaments in New Orleans, all the garlands. So many gifts—

(x)

[writingfromabox]

Alone on Thanksgiving? (adamsapple)

Working on a fic using this ad as a prompt because all I can think of is Adam making this post:

Not done yet but I think if I manage to finish it, I’ll put it on AO3. What I have written under the cut:

Adam had placed the ad out of sheer perverse humor, absolutely certain that no one would bother to call him on it. For a short while, he achieved some internet fame as people passed it around on social media, obviously getting a kick out of the idea. He’d joked around with the girls at the bar and tattoo parlor he worked at, saying his Thanksgiving plans were all wrapped up and this was the way he’d be swimming in pussy by the end of the month.

Obviously, the whole thing was meant as a fucking joke. So, when he got the email from a Charlotte Morningstar, he’d been tempted to send her back something rude about her reading comprehension. Like, was it not clear that this was comedy? The fuck. 

He showed it to Lute, who was in the middle of sketching out something for a client: a lion, holding a dagger in its mouth. Her skilled fingers easily traced out the minute details of the animal’s mane, her mouth set into a frown in concentration. The frown slipped into a wicked smirk as she read the email, her eyes lighting up slightly. 

“What’s the problem?” she asked, setting her pencil down and giving him an expression that attempted innocent curiosity. Lute’s face wasn’t made for that, and her sharp amusement made her look like a cat waiting on a mouse to walk into a trap. “I thought this was your big holiday plan. I thought you were looking forward to all the ladies with daddy issues and the ‘fuck you dad’ sex.”

Going to Lute for sympathy for his bad decisions never turned out right, but for some reason he kept trying it. He just grumbled and put the phone back in his pocket.

“Anyway, why not do it?” Lute asked, turning back to her sketch. “It’s free dinner. Your ass doesn’t have family to go to on Thanksgiving. I’m too busy this year to do our usual ‘neither of us can cook’ dinner. You’re extremely good at being an annoying asshole, why not turn it into a fun way to get free turkey?”

Adam folded his arms and tried to be more insulted about that accusation, but the wheels in his head were already turning. Unfortunately. It wasn’t even as though this would be the worst decision he’d made on a holiday, really. That would have been the time one of his biker friends convinced him to dress like the grinch and steal their ex-girlfriend’s Christmas tree. 

The night had ended in mayhem, with the tree sparking a minor electrical fire and Adam ending up tossing it into the outdoor pool. And then ripping off chunks of flaming grinch suit, screaming, as his accomplice hosed him down. 

Apparently, the ex-girlfriend’s kid still had nightmares from watching it out his bedroom window. 

Compared to that shitshow, this would only be a minor sort of shenanigan. Probably something he wouldn’t walk away with a property damage felony with. It wasn’t technically illegal to pick fights by antagonizing someone’s probably elderly, decrepit dad. Unless he, like, actually punched him. And Adam had some amount of self control as long as he didn’t dip into the recreational beverages. 

“Well? Figured out what you’re doing yet?” Lute asked, looking up at him from her spread out stack of sketches. Someone seemed to have ordered one of a goth bear holding a chainsaw. The holidays always brought out the weird shit.

He shrugged, mulling it over. The girl had a whole screed laid out, with a father who was being a dick about her attempts to house and reform former criminals. She’d gone on some rant about the program itself and he zoned out every time he tried to read it, the whole thing seemed like she was some kind of charity ball debutante getting pissy about her dad giving her some hard truths.

Not like it mattered either way to him, in the end, as long as he got a dinner. Adam would be lying if he said it didn’t sound like fun to fuck with someone and get rewarded for it. 

And so it came to pass that Adam decided to agree to be the fake dinner date of this do-gooder princess for Thanksgiving, with about the same amount of logical thought that went into his usual decision making. Which was to say, absolutely none. 

[snow--berry]

Random Headcanons #3

Characters: John Price, Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, John "Soap" MacTavish, Simon "Ghost" Riley

John Price

•Has fought with Ghost over what tea is best.

•Favors Gaz and Ghost and he thinks he's slick but EVERYONE knows.

•Has bunny slippers just because I said so.

•Started getting grey-hairs early because of a few certain people. *cough cough* Soap and Gaz *cough cough*

•He knows Laswell's wife.

•Watches old movies and when people tell him that the movie he's watching is like 20 years old he almost dies.

•Best dad!

•Waits until New Years Eve to throw away the Christmas tree.

•Almost impossible to out-drink.

•Doesn't understand what a peepaw is and why Gaz, Soap and Roach are calling him one.

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

•He'd wear make up and a frilly dress if you asked him to.

•He'd get matching dresses with Soap.

•Listens to loud music at night and thinks no one knows but everyone does.

•Low-key intimidated by König. Just like most people.

•I feel like he'd also go by he/they.

•I feel like pink, purple and green would all be good colors on him.

•Him and Soap totally kiss, we all know it. Ghost is not happy.

•Laswell is his unofficial mom.

•He can't choose between cats and dogs.

•One of the most confident and mentally healthy people in this place.

John "Soap" MacTavish

•Stares at Ghost's ass on a regular basis. Sorry not sorry.

•Sings Scottish songs in the shower and has no shame about it.

•Also has a big and loving family.

•Would totally wear a dress or a skirt and no one is surprised.

•Easier drunk than you'd think. And really silly when drunk. And loud.

•But he's just so lovable!

•His accent also gets really thick when he's drunk so like 90% of the time no one even knows what he's saying. Just something about Ghost. And that's about all we know.

•Skilled artist. Just check out his canon diary/journal!

•Cat person. He devoted three pages in his diary to how much he hates dogs.

•He IS the dog. Just look at him!

•ADHD

•Pain in everyone's ass without his meds because he's gone in half a second and no one knows where he went.

Simon "Ghost" Riley

•Blonde hair. Light brown eyes. I have a hair cut in mind too but Idk how to describe it.

•Stares.

•Autistic

•Sensory issues big time, especially when it comes to touching things or being touched.

•He knows Roach is in the vents but isn't bothered enough to stop him.

•He also isn't bothered enough to explain Price what a peepaw is.

•He randomly picks people up. Like Roach can be doing the most random shit and Ghost will just pick him up because he's had enough.

•He's also picked up Soap and Gaz.

•He wants to throw Graves like how you skip rocks at a lake.

•Pls don't put them next to eachother. One of them will die and it's not Ghost.

•I actually don't care for Graves I just don't want Ghost to get in trouble for killing Shephard's pet chihuahua lap dog thingy.

[diviluscorner]

Summary: Last minute you're forced to host Christmas. Apparently, there's a service to help with such an issue.

A gift for the lovely @jetii as part of the Life Day ClonexReader Fic exchange hosted by the amazing @cloneficgiftexchange!

I could not stop laughing over the prompt "Need a Hand" and it being about Echo. This then developed.

Read on AO3

“Don’t worry, we got you help.”

Those fateful words spin round and round your head as you walk to the door. When your family emergency yesterday turned into you hosting Life Day tomorrow, panic set in. This month has been overwhelmingly busy, so much so you haven’t had time to decorate. Your house has sat depressingly sparse, not even a tree in the corner, and you swear the neighborhood has labeled you the bah humbug house because there isn’t even a hint of cheer out your door. It’s not your fault all the deadlines you had to make all fell late in the year—since your coworkers couldn’t be bothered by the fact you celebrate the holidays as well.

You would love nothing more than to have your house decorated and smelling of peaceful scents associated with pleasant and happy childhoods.

Instead, you’re in a panic hoping that the grocery delivery at your door will have all the correct ingredients since you don’t have time to go out yourself. You’re going to be lucky to get presents wrapped at this rate. Hand hovering over the panel, you cast a glance at the large pile of gifts you need to wrap and hope you’ll have time to finish those.

However, you haven’t started on tomorrow’s meal, you haven’t baked, cleaning is just beginning, you haven’t decorated…

Opening the door, you sigh in despair. “If you could just put those on—”

Eyes widen as you gaze at the Wookie standing on your porch.

No, not a Wookie.

A man dressed in a Wookie onesie with stunning brown eyes.

He clears his throat and glances at his… paw? “Rawr, rawr, rawr, rawr, or as we say in basic, heard you need a hand to help you with your plan. I’m Echo with Handy Can!”

Lips pursed to the right, you don’t know whether to be embarrassed that your family thought you needed this, laugh at the absurdity of the moment, or feel sorry for the man dressed as a Wookie. Leaning against your doorframe, you allow yourself a precious moment to take in what’s happening to you. “Well, I definitely don’t have a complete plan but since you’re here I could use a hand.”

Those stunning brown eyes focus on you, and he gives a sharp nod. “How can I be of assistance, Miss?”

“I need someone to get the holiday boxes out of storage, but… I’m worried your claws may scratch it all up.”

A hint of amusement dances in his gaze and you find yourself wondering what he looks like when he laughs.

Or even how you would make him laugh.

“I can assure you, these claws will not damage anything.”

Stepping back to let him in, you give a smirk. “That specified in your contract.”

“Sure is. Right below a promise not to chase the mailman.”

Oh, he has a sense of humor, you think and dread its effects on you. With everything this month has dumped on you, you don’t need some sweet talker to cause an even bigger problem in your life.

No.

You’ve been there before.

“Where can I find the holiday boxes?”

After directing him to the storage area next to the laundry room, you hurry to clean all the refreshers in the house. He definitely doesn’t need to work on those. You’ll give him little tasks to tidy up, and likely set him on decorating while you tackle the bigger issues.

Dread creeps back in your soul as you vacuum the house. You understand the small housefire emergency and why Life Day had to be moved, but perhaps one of your other relatives or friends could have offered to host. It isn’t a secret that you’re overworked and haven’t had a full night’s sleep in the past six weeks. You’ve been working over fifty hours a week with no reprieve.

Wiping sweat from your forehead, you find a pit in your stomach. It’s not that you hate hosting, you love hosting. You’d do it more often if work would allow for it. In all honesty, you’re not even upset with friends and family.

You just want to make sure everything is perfect for tomorrow.

It’s been a rough year for all, and if you can bring them even a few hours of joy it’ll make everything worth it. Well, maybe not the job, but at least others having a moment to breathe will bring a smile to your face and a lightness to your soul.

You’re halfway trapped in the hypersonic oven when the door chimes again. Tossing your gloves in the sink, you make your way to the door.

“Delivery.”

Sighing with relief, you direct him to the kitchen. “If you could just load the counter next to the conservator, I can handle it from there. Thanks.”

Another thing off your list.

With the arrival of food and supplies, there’s a gentle ease on your shoulders. There is still a lot to do but at least you’ll have food to feed all the hungry mouths tomorrow. They’ll be full and content and for a moment they won’t need to think about any problems.

They can enjoy Life Day as it’s meant to be celebrated.

“Having a party?”

Peeking out of the hypersonic oven, you look at the man dropping off your groceries. He’s got a charming face and there’s something alluring about the way he leans against your conservator. However, you want him out of your house.

“That time of year,” you respond and stand. Taking a few steps towards him, you hope to move him out your front door again. “I’m sure with how hectic everyone is you have a lot of deliveries.”

“I have a few minutes to spare.”

“Oh, I’m glad you have a few. I’d love a few extra minutes.”

“Maybe I could help,” he says casting a glance around the house. “Seems like a lot of work for one girl.”

Halfway to the door, you pause as you realize he’s not following you. “No. I’m good.”

He moves towards you, and you consider darting out of your own house. “I don’t have any deliveries, so it’s no trouble—"

“What do you think of wrapping lights around the garland, Mesh’la?”

Looking up to the balcony of the second floor, there’s a man dressed in a Wookie outfit holding garland and lights who you’d forgotten with all this cleaning. Smiling, you’re glad those observant brown eyes are focused on you. “That’s a perfect idea.”

When you turn back to the stranger, you see him hurrying down your walkway. Locking the door behind him, you jog up the steps.

“He gone?”

“Yes, thank you.” Relief settles over you as you clear the landing and see him tangled in lights.

“Good. It would have been a few seconds for me to figure a way out of this.”

You give a small chuckle as you help untangle him from the lights. “Looks like you’re the one who needs a hand.”

“In all fairness, I did have a plan,” he responds. “It… uh, just didn’t work out like I thought.”

Pulling the last bit of light string from his hood, you smile at him. “Seriously. Thank you. If you hadn’t been here…”

“Might be slowing your progress a bit, actually.”

“Not sure about that,” you respond and begin weaving the garland around the banister. “Seems as if you’re making this easier for me. I never would have thought of lights on the banister.”

“The white ones,” he replies and begins threading those delicately through the garland. “They’ll sparkle like newly fallen snow.”

Pausing at the end of the garland, you look up at the man in a Wookie onesie and admire the way those lights catch his jaw line while shimmering in his gaze. You probably shouldn’t entertain a thread of hope to see him laugh or perhaps have a cup of caf with him. However, he’s clearly not the shopper intruding on your peace earlier.

Ending the lights with your garland, he looks at you. “I already decorated the outside of the house while you were cleaning. I’d like your approval. See if I need to change anything.”

Heading outside, you stand on the sidewalk and gaze up at the lights lined perfectly across your eves. The railing across your porch is lined in red and white lights reminding you of a candy cane and the joy bubbling inside your chest spills onto your lips in a sweet smile.

“This is beautiful,” you whisper as frosty breath wreathes your face. “And you did this so quickly.”

“Hoped you might like it, Miss.”

Your brow wrinkles in the next moment as you clear your throat. Echo is only here to complete a job he’s been hired to do. You’re silly to think anything more could ever come of it. Unfortunately, the first decent man you’ve come across in what seems like eons wants nothing more than to get paid.

And with that, your bubble of hope bursts.

The rest of the afternoon is filled with polite chatter as gifts are wrapped and placed under a tree. There are some moments your heart thumps a little harder as you bump into each other in the kitchen. Your skin grows warm when he accidentally brushes your hand when he gives you baking utensils. All things you try hard to crush, but your heart seems deaf to the truth.

You will never forgive your family for this.

And you will never host another event.

Pausing your repetition of placing cookies on a cooling tray, you look up at him and try to discern what he just asked.

“Uh, is… Is this what a normal Life Day consists of?”

“My family gives gifts, bakes, eats, laughs, there will be a few arguments, but most will leave feeling joyful.”

“Sounds nice.”

“It can be.” Turning your attention back to the cookies, you work to be polite while your heart again flutters. “Families come in all varieties.”

As dusk lights pinks and greys through your windows, you whip up a quick stew in hopes of feeding the man in a Wookie outfit who’s assisted you all day. You’re not hungry at this point. Not when you wish this wasn’t a one-time deal.

Setting the stew before him, you scan your house to see, not just décor making it feel like a home, but a lightbulb in your kitchen that burnt out three weeks ago has been replaced. The handle on your holovision unit has been fixed. To top it all off, your hearth has been cleaned and now crackles with a warm little fire.

Your stupid heart patters at the thought, but your stomach drops through the floor.

Since purchasing this house, you’ve never had the benefit of an extra set of hands. Sure, your parents come over, but they can’t be here for every little thing. You’ve learned to replace toilets, sinks, and repair holes in walls. You’ve learned to fix pneumatic door locks, the conservator and the sonic dishwasher. You’ve learned how to live alone which means sometimes kitchen lights stay dark, handles hang, and—

“Are you going to eat?”

Looking at the man in the Wookie onesie, you see those stunning brown eyes tinged with worry.

“You’ve been working hard since this morning. Dinner might be good for you.”

…and sometimes you forget how to care for yourself.

You aren’t sure how you missed him ladle you a bowl or when he guided you to sit next to him, but he gives you a smile as he continues eating your stew.

“If we could’ve had food like this on the venators, none of my brothers would’ve been able to fight,” he says with a smile. “We’d have been eating all day and the Seppies would’ve won the war.”

“It’s not that good,” you deflect.

“If this is not good, I’d love to try your amazing.”

He’s just saying that, you think and pick at your meal.

“Somethin’ the matter, Miss?” He glances around your house. “I think we’ve marked nearly everything off your list.”

“You don’t need to be so kind,” you reply and put your spoon down. “I’m sure my family tipped you well.”

He blinks. “Uh… what?”

“My family would’ve paid you well, so no need for these niceties.” Grabbing your bowl, you dump it down the sink. “You can go now. Everything that’s going to get done is finished. Thank you.”

Picking up his bowl, he gives a cautious look.

“Leave it there,” you say as pleasantries fade. “I’m sure you can find your way out.”

And it’s nice to hear the door shut as you turn off the music.

｡.•°•.｡｡.•°•.｡

Giving the punch a stir, you’re surprised your parents are ten minutes late. While it’ll be an hour before everyone else begins to arrive, they are always determined to show up early to check on you. This year, there’s no reason to check on you. Not after yesterday.

When the doorbell rings, you draw a deep breath and let them in. They greet you with hugs and kisses like normal, but it’s your mother who gives you a long, hard look.

“What’s wrong?” she asks.

“Yesterday was tiring.”

“Well, if you hadn’t sent away the help we enlisted,” your father replies and there’s a sorrow in his eyes as if he knows you’re hurting inside. “We tried to help—”

“Sent away?” you question.

Your mother nods. “Yeah. He declined payment and said when he arrived you were already finished.”

“I was…” Without a second thought, you grab your coat from the closet. “I’ll be back.”

Rushing out the door, you’re not even certain where you’re headed but after a quick holonet search, you’ve got some idea. It doesn’t take you long to get into town though finding the tiny shop is a bit more difficult. Turning down an alley, you find the shabby door and enter.

The man, no longer in a Wookie onesie, stands behind the counter flipping through a holozine on gardening tools. He looks up only for those stunning, brown eyes to widen. “Uh… Did I mess something up?”

“Why didn’t you take the payment?”

“Payment?”

“You lied to my parents about all the work you did yesterday. Why? You earned every credit and probably more.”

He closes his holozine and turns towards the shelves behind the counter. “Consider it a Life Day treat.”

“My Life Day treat was not doing all that on my own.” And having you to do it with, you add silently. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing,” he states and takes out a datastick which he studies as if it’s the most fascinating thing in the galaxy.

“There has to be something—”

“Miss, we’re square. Your stew was enough, and as you said, I was only there trying to up my tip anyway.”

Reaching the counter, you place your hands on it and look at the man. There’s a gentle downward tilt to his lips that wasn’t there yesterday. You also notice a line of divots on each side of his head along with a mechanical hand that the Wookie onesie hid yesterday. When he mentioned his service in the war, you hadn’t thought to ask him much about it.

You hadn’t thought to ask him much for fear of having your heart rejected and shattered.

“Echo, why don’t you come try today’s cooking?” you suggest and prepare your stupid, fluttering heart to be torn to shreds.

Those stunning brown eyes glance your way. “I don’t want to impose.”

“Trust me. You wouldn’t be imposing.” You then give him a teasing smile. “After all, I have a plan to finish the roast, but I really could use a hand.” And you hear the most heartwarming laugh in response.

[dramioneasks]

Christmas Fics 2023 (Part 8):

Keep It Like a Secret by PacificRimbaud - M, one-shot - He regards her with interest, cool as the ice in his G&T. “What do you want?” On close inspection, he's a bit deadly. It's the combined power of self-regard, an open ear, and a cunningly tailored suit. Hermione wants— “An expiration date would be nice.” She suctions up the watery dregs and signals for more. “Let’s say I want . . . a year. Exactly one year of monogamy without the possibility of further commitment."

When Love is Found by Biirdiee_Rose - T, one-shot - “You’ve read Charles Dickens— yes?” “Yes, I read Great Expectations when I started exploring muggle literature.” “Well, he wrote a book called A Christmas Carol.” She bends down to grab a few gifts from beneath the Christmas tree. “Ah, so we’re from the book then—” “Sort of,” She interrupts, “Then they made a movie of it with these little puppets called The Muppets, and it was my favorite.” - Hermione and Draco go to a muggle Christmas party with the theme to dress up from a favorite Christmas movie. Hijinks ensue.

Mutual, I'm Sure by LadyUrsa - E, WIP - If Draco Malfoy could have one wish in his life, it would be to not be a Veela. Wait, no. It would be to not have Hermione Granger be his mate. Fuck, at this point he would settle for Hermione Granger just being aware of the painfully obvious fact that she was his mate. But only as long as it resulted in monogamous bliss. And getting a cat. ** Two meddlesome best friends, two idiots who are bad at feelings, and a snow-filled Christmas reunion in Vermont. The only thing this White Christmas is missing are some musical numbers.

Cookies, Spice and Other Mushy Non-Practical Stuff by Trombones - G, one-shot - A very short Christmas Dramione one shot. Featuring your favourite Harry Potter snow man, a haughty but caring Draco and a Hermione that can't help but be won over by his charms.

The Well-Traveled Sage by MarinaJune - M, one-shot - Bookseller Hermione Granger, some shop holiday decor, and Draco Malfoy in need of a last-minute holiday gift.

An Ode To Falling In Love by Ada_P_Rix - M, one-shot - He gave her a lopsided grin then, his hair falling into his eyes as he looked down at her. "I think you're drunk." He observed her after a few moments, his eyes glassy as she rolled hers up at him. "And I think you'll regret the hangover in the morning." Hermione gave him a look that had him raising his eyebrows at her. "Amongst other things." "Well you know what they say, Granger-" Malfoy stumbled slightly, causing her to cling to his arm and pull him further against the side of her body as they walked along to the apparition point. "The truth always comes out when you're shitfaced," another grin from him had her shaking her head; Hermione had never witnessed him being this intoxicated before. "All kinds of nasty little secrets end up spilling out with the alcohol-induced vomit."

Santa Baby by Biirdiee_Rose - E, one-shot - “Now, if I were to say yes to this whole…thing, what do I get out of it?” She asks hesitantly, hating the way he perked up immediately. “My, my, Granger— how Slytherin of you.” She narrows her eyes and he relents, surely very aware he did not have the upper hand in the situation. “You’ve been shot down for funding time and time again for that very generous Wolfsbane project–” Now it was her turn to perk up, spine straightening as she leans over the desk, hands clasping as her brain puts together what he’s offering her. “If you agree to this, agree to being my girlfriend until at least after Christmas, then I will fully fund your Wolfsbane project for the next two years.” - Draco Malfoy needs a favor, and Hermione Granger seems to be the only witch around to fit the bill. Attempting to get out of yet another marriage contract, Draco tells his mother he’s dating the one and only Hermione Granger. One little issue, they’re not actually dating. With a good old fashioned bribe of funding the Wolfsbane Project she’s been trying to start for years, Hermione reluctantly agrees. No need to worry dear readers, it’s not like they’d develop feelings for each other or anything… Right?

The Christmas Party by arielle_reads - M, one-shot - Robards hosts a Christmas party for the Ministry but his gift-giving plan goes awry when everything gets swapped. Firewhiskey shots are introduced and Draco worries someone else will get the present he chose for Hermione.

Magical Merry Mistletoe by greyditto - T, one-shot - What happens when pureblood tradition, a Yule party, and a Secret Santa gift exchange all take place in the same event? Naturally, Draco's nearest and dearest conspire to get him what he always wanted...

Icy Truce, Warm Hearts by Serpent_Sortia - E, one-shot - The war has been raging for years but things are starting to go the Order's way thanks to the information provided by a spy high amongst Voldemort's ranks. Hermione is called out to meet the mysterious informant on a snowy Christmas Eve so he can deliver important news... until their meeting spot is compromised.

Messing with Christmas and How to Fix it by Astrangefan - not rated, one-shot - Hermione has been homesick for a home she no longer has. She finds some old decorations at Grimmauld and brings them back to Hogwarts. Draco likes what she's done, but says it in a way only Draco Malfoy can say and everything goes wrong. Now he has to come up with a grand gesture to apologise.

The Holiday by LunaLunaria - E, one-shot - A remix of The Holiday (2006) featuring cinnamon roll with hidden depths Neville Longbottom, chaotic manic pixie Pansy Parkinson, hyper-productive, seduce-me-with-your-brain Hermione Granger, and literary bachelor with a side of snark and sentiment Draco Malfoy.

Wolfsbane and Mistletoe by yes_a_witch - E, WIP - Seven years after her 8th year at Hogwarts, Hermione is feeling lonely. Ron and Harry are both happy with their new families, and her work is meaningful yet taxing. Though she has branched out and made new friends since school, none provide that sense of community she’s been missing. When Malfoy invites her for Christmas with the Slytherins everything changes in ways she never expected.

‘Twas The Night For Traditions (Some Old, Some New) by megiswritingsomething - M, one-shot - Christmas Eve traditions were sacred for Hermione, Draco, and Scorpius - such a shame Draco is nowhere to be found as the night drawls to a close… OR The one where Hermione reads ‘‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to Scorpius while reminiscing about their Yuletide traditions. Meanwhile Draco is MIA on urgent Christmas-related business.