#christmas writing

[keelt9]

Paper 1

Masterlist

The first time Max saw her, she was sitting with her legs crossed in front of an old clockmaker's workshop writing in red paper as the snow kept falling slowly all over the small town. 

Max’s family had the tradition of going to Benasque, in Spain, every Christmas and New Year, keeping far away from the busy world of racing and enjoying some time with family.

“What are you doing?” Max approaches the girl who didn’t bother to lift her eyes from her paper as she writes like her lifes depends on it.

“Writing.” Max bluffs rolling his eyes, but he insisted.

“Kinda obvious, what are you writing?” He tilted his head trying to read whatever she’s writing. 

This time the girl with a red beanie lifted her face, rubbing her hands trying to get rid of the cold. “A Christmas wish.”

“For?” Max couldn't avoided, she had something that triggered his curiosity. 

“For?!” Like Max just asked the most terrorist question, the girl sits properly and points to the big Santa Claus in front of the clockmaker's workshop, next to a red mailbox. “Kind of obvious too.” 

“Really?” Max looked at her like he was observing the most outrageous person. “He’s n…”

The girl stood flooding his paper and got his pen on her big red cape. “Are you a Grinch or something like that?”

Max laughs purely following the girl who carefully walked waiting for the cars stopped to cross the street. “It’s an old clockmaker's workshop with an old mailbox, what makes you think that could even work?”

The girl opened the mailbox where, to his surprise, had a considerable amount of papers and letters, the girl looked at him with a self-sufficient smile.

“You’re kind of sourpuss for having what 6 year olds, maybe 7?” Max opened his mouth in total disbelief, who the hell was this girl.

“6 and half.” The girl nods, walking back to the bench unconsciously making space for him to sit.

Max sat next to her. “Now what?” 

The girl laid back her head with a smile but didn’t look at him. “Well, I like to sit here and watch, from time to time you find interesting people who actually believe in Christmas magic.”

“I don’t say I don’t believe, it’s just I have my reserves.” Max stretches his neck and relaxes his body. “Let’s see if you have the right.”

For 4 hours they waited outside as they were covered in white and their faces turned red, spoke about every little thing like they were friends of life, and one more time the mysterious girl confirmed her theory. They saw little kids walking along their parents, teenagers who observed side to side of the street fearing someone could catch them doing something wrong, adults that simply stood longer like if closing the mailbox means as prayer and old people that after came across the street and gave them a small candy or coins for they bought something nice for these holidays.

When the few sunlights started to disappear, the girl stood and waved her hand to the other side of the street. 

“Well, Mr. Grinch, it's been a pleasure, I have a lot of fun.” Max felt overwhelmed but happy. “Thanks for joining me.” 

The girl extended her hand which Max gladly accepted and shook. “Oh my God! You’re freezing, you forgot your gloves or something?”

Max didn't forget them, it’s part of his training, resist the cold temperatures, hoping in a few years all these things bring thousands of joys for him and his family.

His lack of response made the little girl narrow her eyes but let it pass. “Put it on the fire as soon as you get home.”

Max chuckled. “Thanks, little elf.” He pointed to his beanie and her red black boots. 

The girl laughs purely nodding her head. “Same time tomorrow?”

“Count me in.” Max walks away but he notices he doesn’t have a name. “What's your name?!” He screamed as the girl kept walking backwards.

“I’ll tell you later!” 

As the years passed, that’s how Max spent every last two weeks of December, before parting ways the 2nd of January, walking around the small town, eating candies and spending hours in front of an old clockmaker's workshop; loving the company of a little girl with a red beanie and black boots. 

Their name never comes and honestly they never needed it. 

The year Max finally joined Red Bull he could barely wait for Christmas holidays to begin, he had big news to share.

But Christmas wasn't nice all the time, that year knowing he could turn in the main driver of Red Bull, his father strictly denied him to move far away from Milton Keynes, he must be there.

Max obedient waited at least for the 23rd of December hopping his father could change his mind, still he hasn't, so in a last attempted he asked to his sister Victoria, that please, at least she went there before New Years Eve searched in front of the old clockmaker's workshop for a girl with a red beanie and black boots, and told her he would go next year.

“Max, how would I know I found the right girl?” Victoria asked as they said goodbye in the airport.

Max shook his head and hugged his sister. “Please, just tell her to wait a little bit.”

The pleading eyes of his brother was all Victoria needed to agree and looked at the Christmas girl.

Unfortunately she didn’t get her goal, her mother and her flight connection delay a couple of hours by the time they arrived to Benasque, it was the first hour of the 4rd of January, even when Victoria went to the old clockmaker's workshop the owner told her the girl came like every year and go, last night.

“A little defeated, she waited for his little friend.” The owner said taking the red mailbox of the entrance. 

Victoria left her number in case the girl came but the owner was cleared, like the snow, she and her family only came that three weeks every year.

The next year Max started to make his own powerful path, fearing he could miss an important moment, he started to write all the special moments in a red notebook, he didn't want to miss any little detail for sharing with his little elf. 

The next year with a victory between his hands, and the support of his mother Max went to Benasque,  just maybe his elf could be already there. 

Until the day before Christmas she didn’t appear in any of the places they used to go. 

The old man came outside of the clockmaker's workshop with a cup of hot chocolate and gave it to him. “It’s weird for me too.”

Max took a sip seeing the marshmallow floating. “She came like always?” 

The old man smiles and nods softly like he could picture the scene of last year, a teenager girl coming in the last hours of Christmas eve with a folded blue paper for leaving in the mailbox.

“She waited a little bit longer that night.” Max felt his heart squeeze. “She waited for a last minute Christmas miracle.”

Max saw the mailbox and took a piece of paper from his notebook, leaving the cup next to him. “Do you have a plan in mind, young boy?”

Max smiled, writing as fast as he could. “Helping the big guy with a miracle.”

Max didn’t notice but the old man has a proud smile and the certainty that this bound is for life. 

With a folded piece of paper Max crossed the street, opened the mailbox and put his wish and understood why the adults years ago closed the lid carefully, fearing that their wish would not come true.

His first championship came and the little elf didn’t, like every year he waited for hours every day as he kept writing in his second notebook, but she didn’t come, and every Christmas Eve he left his same wish on the mailbox.

When his third Championship came he walked the street covered in snow with a backpack, now with 4 notebooks in it. 

However this time, the old man reached him before he even got to see the bench. 

“She’s here!” The old man's face is bright beside the cold wind. 

Max opened his eyes ready to run but he was stopped. “Wait boy. I heard from the woman at the bookstore that she was already here but she hasn’t come…”

“Thanks.” Max didn’t let him finish; he grabbed his arm before running to the bookstore three blocks away.

The woman repeated the same words, she was there, bought a book and left, without saying another word.

Max's blood froze but he had to ask. “Did she look sick?”

“Oh no, she is beautiful and healthy as always, the red cape is switched for a navy blue coat but stunning as always.” The woman smiles remembering how the small girl turned into this beautiful woman. 

“Did she have a ri…” The woman smiles tenderly at Max and grabs his frozen hand.

“Any man or ring with her, boy, she just seems anxious.” Max breaths out feeling his chest doesn’t hurt.

He tried to think where she could be but for years, they spent all their holidays around the town, she could be anywhere.

Following his ritual he took a piece of paper from his notebook with his wish and left it in the mailbox, just this time in the next morning, in the mailbox a blue piece of paper appeared.

“Take it.” The old man said take it out and give it to him. “Maybe it’s your miracle.”

Max with shaking hands and holding carefully, he unfolded the paper.

<Merry Chrisymas Mr. Freeze hands!>

She was there, she definitely was there.

“Are you nuts?!” Daniel said almost choking with his dinner.

Max has a plan in mind, using all his resources for having his wish come true.

“It’s just a few words in the air.” Max rest importance cleaning the corner of his mouth. “Besides it’s on the SIM, isn’t  harmful.”

Daniel rolls his eyes. “Harmful? No, but come on Max! Everything you said in a blink will be on X, instagram, facebook, and other platforms.”

“Exactly! More diffusion, more reach.” Daniel shakes his head knowing trying to change his friend's mind, even if it is useless.

“You already talked with your team? Redline team.” Max didn’t answer, just kept eating. “MAX!”

Max laughs. “I’m planning to do it tonight!”

His team agreed with the strong belief that Max won't get it, not because they didn't want it, just because he's trying to find an old friend with any name and just barely any information that could be used to find someone.

“Ok Max, your turn.” Crane mentioned preparing the next race.

Max feels nervous, he giggles before speaking. “I would love to get some help from all of you.”

The chat immediately went crazy saying they would be glad to help.

“I lost contact with an old friend, so I was hoping you can help me to find that person one more time.” The chat lights on asking for the name or country. “Well, keeping things private I’m only going to tell you, I’m helping Santa Claus just this year.”

Max reads the comment that it’s like finding a fish in the ocean, impossible. “We used to spend Christmas together, in front of an old clockmaker's workshop.” That’s useful information, Crane laughs reading the comment. “So, can you please tell; little elf, I’m giving a hand to the big guy with red costume.”

The moment quickly goes viral, all the people are moved by the fact a triple world wide champion lost an old friend and he’s trying to find it for Christmas. It's so tender.

What wasn't tender was how the season is going, the first races all point to another brilliant season for the team until it isn’t.

Max constant researcher is paused everytime, and by the middle of the year the only useful information he gets is that the team is using this research to make more people know about it. 

But Barcelona took him by surprise.

With another win Max is fully focused on celebrating until before leaving the paddock one of the girls in charge of liaison, runs to get him before he goes.

“MAX!” The girl looks like she's seeing a ghost, pale and with wide open eyes. “You must see this.”

She gives him what a plain sight looks like and an old photo, he takes it as they keep walking until the car.

Finally inside he takes his time, or that's what he planned to do until he notices he doesn't have to, he recognises the girl in the photo.

Standing in front of a big Christmas tree as another girl hugs her looking at the camera, the other girl older and taller, wearing a white cape and black boots is laughing; his little elf is standing there with that beautiful smile, her red cape, black boots and rosy cheeks.

“Where is she?” Max asks, grabbing the seat ready to open the door and go wherever she tells him she is.

“That’s the problem.” She moves her head indicating they're ready to go. “I don’t think she’s here.”

“What?” Max looks through the window in panic as the car keeps moving. 

The girl gives him a piece of paper, as a number on it. “The girl who gave me the photo is the older one, she said the girl in red is her little sister but…” Max notices the hesitation on his teammate.

“But…” The girl turns around to see him in the back seat, as she narrows her eyes, Max is going crazy every second.

“Well, she isn’t that confident you’re looking for her sister at the right moment.” Max didn’t mean to explode, however it’s hard to control his emotions. 

“What the fuck?!” He takes his cap rubbing his face in his hands. “Sorry, sorry, I just… What else did she tell you?”

“Call her, both of you need to talk.” 

Max's mind surrounds for endless questions. Where is she? Did she know he’s looking for her? How is she? Why isn't it the right moment? What the hell has to do her sister in all this? 

Arriving at his hotel room before going to celebrate he dialed the number, concreting a meeting tomorrow in the morning at his hotel. 

“This isn’t true!” Daniel screams so Max could hear him among all the noise. “Come on Max! You’re not that foolish to believe this.”

“It’s the only coherent clue I had!” Max takes a sip of his drink.

“Or maybe it’s the sign for you to give up.” Max looks at him with cold eyes. “It’s been 6 months Max, let’s be real we’re not in a movie.”

Lando finds them on the table. “Are you planning to stay here so I can bring you a cup of tea or have fun?”

Next morning Max wakes up earlier than usual, his mind full and confused with Daniel words and the photo in his hands, when the hour they meet approaches he walks more than 10 times to the door and back to his bed. 

Slowly he remembers when she turned 10 years old, and arrived before him. By the time he got to the bench she had in her lap a cheesecake.

“What is this?” Max pointed as she smiled, taking out a candle making space between them to put the cake. 

“It’s my birthday, well… it was, but I’m making my own wish come true.” She carefully put the candle in the middle of it.

“Weirdo.” Max smiles at the ways she is so excited. “Wishes don't tell unless you don’t want to make it real.”

“Reason why I’m making it real, duh.” The girl lights the candle carefully as crosses her hands, closing her eyes. 

Max immediately starts to sing a happy birthday song softly observing how her smile grows bigger, when it ends the girl blows her candle.

“Now, what was your wish?” Max asked, grabbing the spoon the girl gave him. 

“Spending my birthday with my best friend.” Max froze in the moment a spoon stuck on the small cheesecake and a girl eating like she just said the most casual thing of the world.

Max smiles softly seeing the photo one more time, fuck everybody, he’s follow his little elf steps, making his own wish true.

[deepperplexity]

Prompt 14: Deceptive Kindness [C4]

Pairing: Judge Turpin x Fem!OC

POV: Dual POV (OC, First & Turpin, Third)

Continuation of: Prompt 4. Darkest Night [C1], Prompt 8. Never-ending Consequences [C2], Prompt 10. Lingering Touch [C3]

A/N: I got an extra treat for you today 🤭 We get a little glimpse of this story through Turpin’s eyes - I adore writing his POV but I do it sparingly as the impact is always so intense when seeing things from his point of view while getting to be in his head for a moment 👏 And, of course, we need a dramatic reunion so we’re adding a little fear, a little darkness, and a little bit of frantic running to this 👀👌❤

Tags/TW’s: Infatuated By Her, Unwanted Thoughts/Feelings, Unwanted Touch, Fear, Being Restrained By An Unknown Man (Fearing Being Harmed), Feeling Safe With Turpin, Mutual Secret Pining, Nickname (so cute!), Being Carried, Protective/Harsh Turpin, Mentions Hating Christmas (of course he does), Dark And Gloomy, Angst With Tiniest Hint Of Fluff

Word Count: 2.1k

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Deceptive Kindness

⁛•⁛ Turpin’s POV ⁛•⁛

Miss Brimmer… Joyful, sweet, talkative little Miss Brimmer… He was incapable of casting her out of his mind. He had cursed himself for it, had bargained with himself, and lately taken to sulking. Yes, the high judge of London sulked in his gloomy library with his face contorted in a frown as he was incapable of reading the lawsuit spread across his desk with her infernally sweet face disturbing him every minute of each wretched day.

At this time of year, it was usually the infernal jolly mood and ever-chiming carols that had him occupied with the deep-seated need to snarl. Now, it was something apparently worse. A jolly, chiming, sweet and fury-inducing little woman with green eyes like the needles of a pine and a smile as bright as the midnight star.

Four days had passed since he left her at his home, not so much as a goodbye had been uttered and he had thought little of it at the time. Certainly, her energy had been warm. Obviously, her smile had been a lovely view. Her bright and loud chatter a constant and intrusive company, definitely. But warm…

He slammed his fists down and rose in a rush from the large chair. “This is madness, banish these foolish thoughts.” He knew her joy was far beyond his reach and despite being the depraved and selfish man he was, he struggled with the notion of putting out her light — trapping her to him would surely silence that joyful talkativeness that had slithered itself under his skin. It lingered, and the sound of Miss Brimmer’s constant, bright, and quick chatter echoed all around him as he marched from the library to the parlour despite her not being there.

He poured a glass of whiskey from the crystal decanter by the seating area. Beyond his windows, the bells of Christmas rang as snow flitted from the dark sky of night. He watched the fire before him, spreading a warmth he barely felt while the golden light reminded him of how you shined in the darkness of his home. Such as a star upon a Christmas tree… There had never been one in his house — a star or a Christmas tree.

He tapped his finger against the glass and took a slow sip. He remembered every word she spoke, strangely enough. He never took notice of others in such a manner, and never committed words not of the utmost importance to he himself to memory. But Miss Brimmer’s words were committed to memory — truly, burned with warmth and light into the membranes within his skull housing a dark mind usually so quiet and void of all things good.

Placing the glass back on the table, he stepped away from the fire and toward the large windows draped with wine-red velvet on either side. The darkness beyond was as deep as the dark within his home, within his heart. So it must remain. Quiet, dark, and the same as always. “Yes, the same as every damned Christm—” His eyes widened, he leaned closer to the frosty window as a running woman stumbled on her skirt and crashed against his gate in a tumble.

He tilted his head, looking down to see better. A pale hand grasped the iron of the gate, his heart revolted as the harrowed face of Miss Brimmer appeared between the bars for a second — her breath fogging in rushed bursts — before she turned her head to look back as she grasped for the handle to open his gate blindly. He staggered back a step, his heart pounded and for a second his mind struggled to comprehend what his eyes showed him.

⁛•⁛ Julianne’s POV ⁛•⁛ | A few moments earlier |

My breath fogged before me, the chill of December was biting in the dark of the late evening as I held onto the little satin bag with a tight grip and left the little shop behind as the woman by the counter wished me a Merry Christmas before the door closed. Uffh, cold and dreary, why does London feel colder than the countryside? I shivered and began my walk back toward the Rosemary Inn.

“Watch it!” a man shouted as I crossed the street and, before I knew it, I’d flung myself backwards, tripped on the slick cobblestone, and landed flatly on my back in the dirty snow. Great! Wonderful! This is absolutely a fantastic day! The Inn lost my package from Father, a horse trampled my foot, the barmaid spilt bear over my best dress, and now— “Ugh, I truly am a black cat crossing the street…”

“Miss, are you alright?” came the voice of another man, his slightly dirty face coming into view above me. “Need a helping hand?” he continued and I sighed. At least, the people are not too rude. A silver lining I assume one could call it. “Thank you, sir,” I said and reached for his slim hand flecked by soot. He helped me to my feet and I righted my dress, brushing off as much of the snow as I possibly could. “You ought to take care in the streets, miss.” “Yes, yes I ought, with my luck I shall surely be run over any minute. I am not suited for the big city, it seems.”

The man chuckled as I straightened. “Perhaps I ought to walk the lady back to her home, then?” “That is most kind of you, sir.” I took his stretched-out arm. “I must say I am surprised at how friendly London dwellers are. I have yet to meet an unkind person not willing to be of assistance.” I glanced at the man as he walked me down the street. Something was not quite right about him, though. “We are friendly people,” he said with another shallow chuckle that just did not sit right with me.

After another few steps, I came to a halt. “Thank you for your help, sir, but I can manage from here.” I released his arm but he grasped my wrist. “Sir, let go of me, please.” “I don’t think so, sweetheart.” His smile was a leer and my stomach turned at the sight of his crooked teeth. “Let go.” “No can do,” he chuckled and tugged. “A pretty piece like you is—” I wrung my wrist free. “Goodbye,” I said harshly and instantly turned.

A shriek left my lips as the man grabbed around my waist and pulled me toward the alley behind, away from the lit-up main street. “Let go! Let go!” I screamed and pushed at his arm before fear filled me and I threw my head back only to feel his nose-bone connect with my skull. He stumbled back, pulling me around with his hand stuck in the loop of the satin pouch around my wrist.

“Fuck,” he snarled with a hiss and grabbed the string by twisting his hand. “You bitch.” He tugged and I backed up at the same time, ripping the string with the pouch falling to the ground as I spun to run away. No, the gift! Leaned back and grabbed it but the man hooked his dirty fingers on my cloak and tugged. The string tightened roughly around my throat and I coughed through a gasp.

Reaching up, I grabbed the end and tugged. My throat was freed and I slipped out of the man’s grip. Before I drew another breath, I bolted. My heart roared, my limbs shook and my eyes seemed to take everything in with a blur. Run! Run! Run! Where-, where-, where do I go?!

“Get back here!” the man shouted and as I looked over my shoulder he was taking up the hunt for me. My eyes widened and dread surged through my body, fuelling my legs and forcing me to go faster. I sobbed while panting, holding onto the destroyed satin pouch with a numb grip. My feet pounded the cobblestone and snow below as I raced down the street of central London.

I took a sharp turn, seeing the shape of the man still running toward me before I kept going as tears streaked my cheeks. Despite the blurry vision, the dark town-house caught my eyes. Judge Turpin! My brain screamed and my heart eased as I threw myself forward, stumbling on the raised sidewalk and got myself flung into the iron gates with a loud rattle as my chest heaved.

Looking back I saw the man come to a sudden halt as his eyes flicked between me and the towering house while I fumbled blindly for the handle to let myself through. I found it, pulled down, and fell backwards in a heap before I managed to scramble back from the gate on my bum.

“Miss Brimmer!” came the roar of the judge whose refuge I sought. Looking back, he came rushing down the steps. “J-Judge Turpin, my-, my lord,” I choked out in a stutter as I slumped on the snow-covered stone beneath; relieved. “Miss Brimmer,” he rumbled in a harsh snarl before his large hands grasped my trembling shoulders harshly, he did not let go even as he sat me up. “Are you—” His eyes latched on my sore throat, exposed at the loss of my cloak. “What, happened?” he snarled as those steely eyes turned impossibly hard.

I gulped, taking comfort in his steady hands. “I— He—” my voice trembled too much to make sense “—grabbed me, grabbed-, grabbed-, grabbed at—” “Little light, look at me. Look. at. me,” he demanded as my eyes flicked about in a rush and adrenaline-fuelled fear. “Are you unharmed?” he asked, his voice was a low thunder which hid none of the rage hardening his entire face. “Y-yes, sir. I’m-, I’m unharmed, my lord. Thank you. Thank you, sir,” I pushed out in a rush as his grip on me softened when our eyes locked.

Judge Turpin helped me to stand, keeping a sturdy grasp of my hand before he wrapped an arm around my waist when my knees weakened beneath me. “T-thank you, sir,” I whispered, my brain turning quiet and my voice lowering as I held on to him. “I shall have their head,” he snarled under his breath and I was not sure if I had heard him right.

He led me inside, all the way to the parlour where a fire crackled and granted both light and warmth in the dark. He released my hand and I stuttered at the loss of stability, the loss of his touch, but then he dragged one of the two beautiful chairs and helped me sit right by the warmth of the flames.

I shook and trembled as the adrenaline seeped out of me and a chill so utterly dreadful crawled into me in its wake. “Little light,” he said while going down on one knee before me — grasping my shaking hands in his warm ones. “Did you see who caused you harm?” he asked, his voice that harsh thunder that seemed to roll through me. “I saw… most of him. But, he was dirty and in shadow, and I do not know who he-, he-, he—” “We shall discuss it tomorrow, when you are no longer frightened,” he said with finality. I gulped, already feeling my shoulders slump in his powerful presence. “I… am not frightened,” I managed to push out.

Judge Turpin arched a brow at me, unimpressed. “I do not take kindly to lies, Miss Brimmer.” “It is not a lie, sir… I am here, with you, safe. I am-, I am in shock, not frightened any longer,” I said, truthfully. I dared believe nothing could harm me when such a man as he was close. His nostrils flared. “You, little light, are mistaken. I am not… safety.” “Yet I feel safe, my lord…” And, a bit faint, perhaps. Yes, yes perhaps a bit out of sorts and a bit… confused… and faint…

“Deep breath, Miss Brimmer. Take a deep breath,” he ordered, squeezing my hands to catch my focus. I drew a deep breath. Ragged as it was, it was still steadying. “Good.” It was a soft word despite the deep voice. “Let us get you sorted for the night.” I nodded. “Thank you, sir…” But as I stood with his sturdy hand wrapped around one of my smaller ones, there was no stability beneath my feet and the world swayed. I reached up to my head, trying to focus my gaze by pressing against my forehead but there was little I could do to stop my knees from buckling and my body from sagging.

He caught me. A sturdy arm around my waist while his other hand still gripped mine. “Easy, easy now,” he said quietly and there was something deadly in the tone of it. “S-sir… I…” But I could not get the words out when the world turned darker by the second. “Miss— Little light,” he said rapidly as I collapsed in his hold. The world slowly faded as I was hoisted up into strong arms against a broad chest with a thundering heart.

To Be Continued...

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NEXT PART » Prompt 16: Thoughtful gifts [C5]

A/N: Well well well, I guess I have a thing for fainting women, huh? 🙈 Also, isn’t Turpin just the harshly-sweetest?! 😩👌 I’m adoring how he’s withheld and torturing himself with the whole situation rather than just taking what he wants as he usually does 👀🤭

I haven't gotten far on tomorrow's fic - I'm only about 500 words in - but hopefully,y I'll have time to finish it up later tonight so it's ready to go up early tomorrow 🥰👏 And Christmas is near now, we have celebrations with family over from the 20th to the 25th (hosting for both sides of the family this year too so I have so much to prepare 😅) but I feel good about this years Rickmas and how it's going so far so hopefully I can get ahead during this weekend and get a lot of writing done! 🙈❤

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[bangtanhoneys]

CHRISTMAS PROMPTS: Seokjin & Grace

Christmas was always done differently in the Bangtan household. They were either working or abroad, stuck doing something other than being with their families. On the rare occasions that they were with their families, Christmas Day was celebrated differently for each member of BTS. 

The only one to try to keep traditions going from her childhood in England was Grace. Christmas baking, the Christmas tree going up on the 1st of December and down before the New Year, Christmas carols on in the background, Christmas stockings hanging from underneath the TV screen, Christmas everywhere across the dorm. The boys had come to expect it and loved it. 

And when Seokjin bought his and Grace’s place, those traditions followed. 

This year was a little different. 

She had hit the 20-week mark in her pregnancy, and the Bangtan Baby was growing nicely. As Namjoon had reminded her that morning, the baby was the size of a banana, and she was experiencing all sorts of things: sleeping problems, headaches, constipation, and feeling hot and spotty skin which the make-up artists were loving her for.

But the Bangtan Baby was growing as the doctors wanted it to and each milestone was a moment to celebrate in the Kim/Chu household.

Pregnancy didn’t stop Grace from getting started on Christmas early and Seokjin had woken up that morning to find the Christmas tree already up, lights on and the boxes of baubles that Grace had collected throughout the years were on the floor, ready to go. 

Sleepless nights are meant for doing things your partner would normally scold you for. 

After clearing the list of things to do and schedules for work, Seokjin sat on the floor in his pyjamas and carefully unwrapped each bauble, handed it to Grace and flicked the bubble wrap to an awaiting Min-ji who pounced on every sheet. 

“Is this new?” Seokjin asked, coming across a thin box that had been left on top of another box.

“Oh yeah,” Grace confirmed once she drew her attention away from where she was carefully hanging a bauble that she had commissioned for their WINGS tour. “I ordered that last month and it finally arrived last week.”

Out slipped a 2D resin-made ornament that was an oven, with a cinnamon bun in the oven with the timer saying April 2025 and the words ‘Bun in the Oven’ printed on the oven at the bottom. 

“That’s hilarious and cute at the same time,” Seokjin grinned after sending it to the group chat then handed the ornament to Grace.

“Well, it wouldn’t be our Christmas tree without marking the Bangtan Baby’s presence,” she smiled as she slipped the pink ribbon onto the branch and made sure it was secure. 

Now the world knew and the boys knew what the Bangtan Baby was, the pink ribbon declared to everyone who came to view the tree that the next time the bauble would be hung again, the Bangtan Baby girl would be here.

[zer0-devoox]

Little "one short?" for @roxy4life merry christmas!

ZeroxRoxy (Md-personOcxMd-personOc)

Small disclaimer: I feel strange using the "" I usually write using the long dash so I probably have several errors, and also forgive me if the tradition is not exact/has errors English is not my first language

★Under the mistletoe★

...

After digging through almost two kilometers of old, thick snow, she couldn't say that her appearance was the most presentable; she definitely wouldn't accompany them three on another unplanned hunt (at least until New Year's).

Her robotic and tired legs dragged along the lonely alley after bidding farewell to the trio who would continue their nonsense until they got home. At this point, the only thing on her mind was to wrap herself in a blanket and activate rest mode.

Zero rummaged through her coat pocket to pull out the keys and somehow heard the click of the door opening obediently at the gentle brush of her hand.

“Babe, I’m home. Sorry for the delay, Uzi and the others were a bit—”

She was surprised to find the living room empty. She checked her phone to confirm that at no point had she sent a message saying she was going out; even if it were something important, her partner always communicated so she wouldn't worry.

She was worried right now.

Before pulling out her claws and wings and waking up the entire colony with a missing person alert, a noise alerted her from behind the wall leading to the kitchen.

“Roxy?” She called again, her killer concern slightly overshadowed by curiosity.

Her tail swayed behind her in anticipation. When she took a couple of steps closer, she distinguished those unmistakable blue strands, but a squeal made her stop.

“N-No, don’t look! I’m—this—everything is a mess!”

After her girlfriend's little shout, the girl with black and white hair tilted her head and took a quick glance around the room without finding any signs of a federal robbery crime.

“Love…” She used the most understanding tone she could muster. “What is it…?”

Roxy whined from behind the wall, and the sound of some bells caught the dismantling drone's attention.

“Are you…?” She couldn't hide her smile. “like… tangled?”

Another whine came in response.

“Come on, Kitty, it can’t be that bad.” She took a couple of steps toward the shadow. “Canny?”

“Don’t laugh…”

“I’ll try.”

The truth was that she was already laughing inside.

When she finally reached the wall, her precious tail flipped the switch, and light filled the room; it would indeed be hard to keep what she said.

“Y-You said you wouldn’t laugh,” replied the ‘Christmas tree.’

Zero held her stomach in a weak attempt to hide her laughter, which sounded more like the groans of a delayed hyena.

“H-how? Even, like… The star!” Her attempts to speak were interrupted by laughter.

Roxy squirmed; long wires adorned with lights in a festive triad of colors were wrapped around her arms, twisted around and even over her head. Her hands were immobilized by wrapping paper that also decorated her shoulders and fell like scarves. To top it off, a plastic star adorned her messy hair.

When the bicolor girl could finally suppress her laughter, it was replaced by a loving smile. She approached and placed a tender kiss on her favorite drone's forehead.

“I was baking a cake and some gingerbread cookies but…”

“Did they burn?”

“They’re fuel,” explained the girl in pajamas while Zero slowly removed the wires. “Since there wasn’t any Christmas food, I wanted to at least set up the tree before you got here.”

“Aww, you shouldn’t have! Especially since right now you’re like the family-friendly version of Enard.”

Playfully, she tapped Roxy on the cheek while letting out a soft giggle. The dissably drone removed the star and placed it on an armchair along with the lights.

“What about the bow?” asked Roxy while looking at her girlfriend.

“Don’t you want to leave it on? I’m tired but” her play ready look “I don’t mind giving you a little Christmas gift.”

Another laugh escaped Zero upon seeing Roxy's blush covering her visor; between giggles, she untied Roxy's hands and held them in hers. It wasn’t long before Roxy burst into laughter as well.

“Aren’t you like ‘dying of exhaustion’ to be in the mood?” laughed Zero amidst giggles from the girl with red-blue hair.

"I can always have energy when I have such a beautiful girlfriend."

Roxy playfully rolled her eyes when the girl raised an eyebrow, letting herself be held by the waist, wrapping her arms around her partner's comfortable shoulders.

"Your visor says otherwise, a 30% says the opposite."

The Bicolor let out a "boo" as she lazily leaned on the shoulder of the smaller one. She stayed there for a little while, letting out an occasional purr, enjoying the other one playing with her hair.

With a small grunt, she lifted her girlfriend, carrying her over her shoulders.

"D-Darling?"

"Mhm?" she mumbled, carefully placing her on her favorite chair, taking off her loose coat to reveal her snowflake shirt “cuddle time”

Roxy was already sitting on a pair of metallic feminine legs with a messy little head on her chest. She let out a genuinely sweet giggle while stroking her girlfriend's hair; she really loved mixing black hair with white, and Zero was too tired/comfortable to complain.

“Love,” Zero purred in response, “up.”

Obediently, she looked up, appearing both elongated and wide-eyed.

“W- How??” she exclaimed upon hearing the other girl's giggles. “Roxy, where in the world did you find mistletoe on Cooper 9?”

“I have my secrets too, darling.”

Zero struck a faux pose of indignation, but her smile betrayed her as guilty, and she broke her common sense for the smile of her girlfriend. She just buried herself in Roxy's chest, enjoying the caresses in her hair.

At one moment, Zero lifted her head with those red eyes that were asking for something. Roxy laughed and caressed her cheek as her eyes fell to her lips.

It was a subtle and warm brush from both sides, so simple yet neither wanted to pull away; feelings overflowed from the touch under the bell adorned with leaves and red fruits observing their fairy tale love.

When they pulled away, both smiled as if they had received that gift they had wished for all year from Santa. Zero grabbed a blanket nearby and covered both of them; the smaller one just snuggled into her chest.

“I love you,” Roxy whispered.

Zero placed a chaste kiss on her forehead and whispered

“I love you too.” while settling in to be as close and warm as possible.

It had been a good Christmas.

«End»

...

Finished!!! I would like to turn it into a comic, but I really didn't have the time; nonetheless, I enjoyed writing it. It's so sweet!!!!

Love write this ❤️

Happy holidays everyone 🎊

(In defense of Roxy, the Zero of this universe went through the same thing, so we’re equal.)

[sillyunknownkitkat]

Type of writing : headcanons and 2 small drabbles.

Plot: Phillip and his s/o preparing and celebrating Christmas.

Tw: kinda fem-ish reader but still gn, tooth rotting fluff, Phillip being bullied by kids, a bit of angst but full comfort here dw, reader has parents. uncanny fake death situation of Phillip, reader cries.

Definitely loves cuddles on the couch and watching a movie with the fire cracking in the background.

This man loves Christmas. It's not so much all of the traditions and stuff, just you being really happy about this and the cosy ambience that it brings.

Also, he forces the shadows to wear Santa's hats.

I think he has a pretty sweet tooth, so it's one of his favorite seasons because you make him hot chocolate with little marshmallows when he gets back from work.

If you want to see his eyes lit up, then bring him a Christmas market/festival. Phillip's eyes WILL light up like kids' ones.

Now let me tell you something. This blondie can't skate at all. It's really funny to see.

And that being said, he gets bullied by the kids on the ice rink.

Still would go again if it means that you're happy.

Now, I don't want to baby him because he is a grown man, but please throw a snowball at him. I promise you that it's going to be the best snowball fight ever.

If you have played until down, you know what I'm talking about, but if don't here is a video of the said scene

So I think he'd be more Mike-like, but tbh he could also be Jessica (I hope this makes sense). Also, you don't have to be a girl or anything for this exact interaction. He's just a bit cringe.

But that's okay, it's not a crime 😊

THIS.MAN.ALSO.LOVES.TO.DECORATE.YOUR.HOUSE !!!

I hcs he probably didn't really do anything for Christmas as a child.

It's supposed that he lived in South America, so it didn't really snow or anything. His parents didn't see the point in celebrating it.

Well no matter the reason that caused him to be "Christmas-starved", he still is.

I don't think he would go all out like you can see in some Christmas light contests, but he still puts quite the effort.

Inside the house, he would keep it pretty simple but with a good amount of things. Like fairy lights pretty much all around the house, whatever these are called in a banner like display, little Santa's, snowmans, ...

Now, to my favourite part, the drabbles ^^

1. Decorating your first Christmas tree together 🎄:

You moved him with him pretty early in the relationship. He justified it by saying something amongst the lines of "I work a lot, sweetheart. As sad as it is, I won't be here often. If things go south one day, I won't ever kick you out, don't worry. See it as you helping me around the house when I'm not there, and as a payment, you get a free roof over your head, yeah?"

When he just said it, you were kinda offended, but thinking back, he's not wrong. Plus, he doesn't force you to move faster in the relationship. It's just a win-win situation. Of course, he mostly proposed this because he loves you so damn much.

He never felt like that with another person. He swears (in his head) that you have to be his soulmate. How else could you guys fit so well together?

When December came close, he asked you if you would want to make a Christmas tree with him. You said yes, obviously.

You both went to get dressed in warmer clothes before going to the local Christmas market.

Hand in hand, walking and stopping every 30 seconds because one of you saw something that catched your eyes. You both probably went a little overboard with the stuff you got, but you wouldn't wish to go back in time to do otherwise. He was so freaking happy. It made you melt every time you looked at him and his big smile.

After a while, he asks you to go get a Christmas tree (pine?) before all of the good ones are gone. I don't think you would go in a "chop the one you want" type of thing, but in a more store like type of thing. He insisted you guys should get a real one instead of the plastic ones because even tho it makes a huge mess, it's more cosy to have a real one. Don't ask me how, but you got the most beautiful tree ever. It's a nice fresh green colour, not too tall but very large and fluffy.

Once both of you are happy with what you have, you go back to your shared house to actually decorate the said tree.

It starts with unloading the car, then putting everything in the living room and finally doing what you both waited for. Decorating.

You set the tree in the corner of the living room, not too far away from the chimney. He chose to start with the fluffy garland before the light ones and finally the little balls and bauble you got.

Finally, it's time to set the star on top of the tree, and you insist he does it. After all, it's his idea.

"Don't be silly, love. C'mere, I'll help you, " He says before making a come here motion with his hand. You do. He lifts you up by the waist, and you place it perfectly.

Once he puts you back down, you both walk a few steps back to admire your work. He gives you a side hug, and you could swear he's almost crying.

You take a picture of your tree and a selfie of the both of you as a souvenir of this amazing day you guys spent.

2. Spending Christmas together but discreetly.

After his fake death, he had to lay very low to avoid any suspicion. Which also means that this year, it would only be the both of you on Christmas.

You never spent Christmas without your parents, so this was really hard for you. Not only did you have to lie to everyone, saying things like what you were too sad to celebrate this year, that you weren't able to attend, ... but you also had to make they sad and worried.

Phillip knew that it was really upsetting you but didn't know what to do apart for apologizing for making you do all of that.

On the morning of Christmas Eve, you woke up quite early and sat on the couch in front of the tree. When you looked at him once more, you started crying. The worst thing is that you felt terrible to cry. Everything was doing better than it could've. Your lover was alive and well. You had anything you could possibly need.

And yet you still felt like garbage. Even more now that you were felling guilty from feeling this way.

Phillip woke up in an empty bed. Your side was still a bit warm, so he knew that you left the bed not too long ago. Usually, he would've woken up at you getting up, but he was exhausted. He stretched before lazily sliding in his slippers and going look after you.

When he got down the stairs, he saw you curled up with your knees to your chest on the couch. It broke his heart when he heard you quietly sob.

He instantly goes up to you and sits down on the couch before rubbing your back in a comforting manner.

"Hey... what's going on lovely?" He asks in a worried tone.

After taking a couple of deep breaths in and out, you explain the reason why you were crying. He carefully listens, holds your hand, and squeezes it from time to time to prove that he is listening to you.

Once you're done, he drags you in his harm to hold you and pet your hair.

"Oh, baby... I'm so sorry that we have to go through this. That I have to make you go through this. I promise you that everything will be okay, though. I love you so so so much. You can't even imagine. That's why I'm still very happy. I get to spend the holidays with you. The love of my life. I'm going to make sure that you spend an amazing Christmas 'kay? Do you trust me?"

You just nod against him, your voice being stuck in your throat from such sweet words.

"I love you too, Phil's, and of course I trust you," you say after a little while of being in this comfortable hold.

Sorry if this is really cheesy, I just am a sucker for lovey dovey stuff 😅

While Graves is not my favorite COD character at all, I can't lie and say that writing this didn't make me love him a bit more.

Also, I'm very sorry if he's ooc, I tried my best 🥹

I wish you a very merry Christmas and lovely holidays! 🍾☃️🎄

I hope you have a good day/night and that you're safe <3

I love you everyone!

[sparkles-and-trash]

Setting the mood is very important when writing Christmas fics 🎄♥️💫

[chatretr0]

Mickey Mouse Pencil Test

[slytherhys]

12 Days of Christmas - ACOTAR Edition

In the spirit of the Holidays, I will be writing & posting short stories about the ACOTAR characters for the next 12 days. Please note that some will be shorter than others and that this is simply meant to be a fun time for everyone that loves these characters as much as I do!

PS. I'm open to requests.

AO3

5th day of Christmas - Cookie Decorating

I'm dedicating this to Elisa for giving me so many good ideas for this challenge. I love you and you're the best and I hope this story does your idea justice.

It's just cookies! (Archeron Sisters Bonding)

If anyone happened to enter the kitchen of the townhouse, they would probably be extremely confused at the sight before them. Alarmed even.

Feyre stood hunched over a tray of cookies, a look of pure concentration on her face as she gently drew different patterns with the pipping bag in her hands. Stars, and snowmen, and Solstice trees appeared under her sister’s talented hands, each one looking more mouthwatering than the other.

On the other end of the counter, Nesta stared at the tray in front of her with disdain, holding the pipping bag in her hands with what could only be described as a death grip. There were already two cookies decorated, though Elain couldn’t be quite sure of what they were supposed to be. She wasn’t sure Nesta knew either if the frustrated look on her face was any indication.

When Elain had first suggested to her sisters that they all bake cookies for their family it had been a fiddle attempt at spending more time with them. Sure, she had only vaguely mentioned the fact they’d be baking them from scratch, but Elain had been confident enough in her skills that she had expected things to go smoothly. Looking around her, she couldn’t help but grimace, very much regretting the suggestion that any of her sisters step foot in the kitchen in the first place.

There wasn’t an inch of the kitchen counter that wasn’t covered in either burnt parchment paper or whatever ingredients had been used to bake gingerbread cookies (Elain couldn’t quite recall why cheese was one of them, but she tried not to think about it). Solstice-themed cookie cutters were pilled precariously by the sink, where every single baking tool Elain ever owned now seemed to be.

Out of the four batches Elain had originally planned to bake, only two remained. One had ended up in the trash, burnt and possibly toxic, while the other had been eaten by both Feyre and Nesta. Stress-eating, Feyre had offered as an explanation at Elain’s affronted glare.

Now, Elain couldn’t help but crave something to nibble on too. The baking should’ve been the hardest part of it, but Elain was close to tears as she watched both her sisters decorate the cookies. Between Feyre’s perfectionism and Nesta’s utter lack of talent, it was all Elain could do not to kick them out of her kitchen. Out of her house. Mainly as Nesta cursed rather colourfully for what was probably the tenth time in the past thirty seconds.

“Remind me again why I agreed to do this?” Nesta muttered under her breath as she tried to draw a smiley face on the snowman in front of her. At least that’s what Elain assumed she was going for.

“We’re bonding.” Elain said exasperatedly, hovering behind her older sister. “Stop squeezing the bag like that or else you won’t have any icing left for the other cookies.”

“I’d like to squeeze your neck, instead.” Nesta grumbled.

Feyre snorted. “I don’t think we’re very good at bonding, Elain.”

“If it helps, I don’t think you’re very good at baking, either.” Elain mumbled, biting her nails as she fought the urge to help Nesta. Her fingers were tingling with the need to reach for the pipping bag and just show her how easy it was to handle it. Or how unnecessary it was to completely strangle it.

Nesta eyed her cookies with a tilted head, then eyed Feyre’s cookies with envy. “How is it fair that I’m competing against Feyre? She’s a cauldron-damned painter.”

“This is not a competition.” Elain said, eyeing Feyre’s cookies. They did look beautiful, but Nesta didn’t need to hear that. Not when she was trying so hard. “This is a friendly, innocent activity. It’s just cookies!” She tried to be cheerful, but she feared she was edging lunacy. By the look her sisters gave her, she probably looked it as well.

“And if it were a competition, you’d at the very least get a participation medal.” Feyre smirked, ducking down just as a gingerbread cookie flew in her direction. She narrowed her eyes at her older sister. “That’s not very friendly of you.”

“Please, don’t waste anymore cookies.” Elain whined. At this rate, their friends would be lucky if they could get one each. “We don’t have the time to bake another batch and I refuse to bother Nuala and Cerridwen on Solstice.” Was she hyperventilating? It certainly felt like she was.

“Ladies,” A familiar voice sounded from behind Elain, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn around and watch as Rhysand strolled inside the kitchen. Not when it looked as if it had felt victim to one of Cassian’s drunken pranks. “Why is Elain having a meltdown?”

Feyre smiled, leaning against her mate as he reached her side. “We’re very bad at bonding.”

“And baking. Very bad at baking.” Elain added, mildly terrified as Azriel and Cassian too appeared in the doorway.

“Can’t be that bad, can it?” Cassian grinned, peering into both trays. He shrugged. “They look edible.”

Azriel grabbed a cookie, eyebrows rising as he tried to understand exactly what he was looking at. He didn’t seem to entirely agree with Cassian’s statement. “I’m guessing Nesta decorated these?” He asked, a smirk on his lips.

“Don’t be a dick.” Cassian said, chewing the head of a snowman. “They’re…” He tilted his head, narrowing his eyes as he eyed the plate in front of him. “abstract. Right, Nes?”

Nesta gave him a blank stare. “Sure.”

Azriel shook his head, trying to hide a smile as he eyed Elain. “Did you bake anything?” Was it her or had that felt more like an accusation than an innocent question?

Bastard.

She felt her face heat as everyone’s attention turned to her. “N-no.”  

Azriel narrowed his eyes, knowing smile on his lips. “Are you sure?”

“Why would she bake anything?” Feyre objected before Elain could say anything. “She asked us to do it with her.”

“And she trusts us.” Nesta added. Then paused, turning to her sister as if suddenly unsure. “Right?”

Elain nodded quickly, ignoring Azriel’s taunting smile as she focused on her sisters instead. “Of course I do!” She assured them, because she truly did.

Even if she had gotten up at dawn to bake a few batches as precaution. 

[cerseimikaelson]

Finally did the artwork for Baby Owl!

Any guesses as to who has joined our cast this week? Hint: Mr Broody isn't a fan of selfie sticks.

Comment down below any prompts you want to see for next week's episode! Christmas is upon the Olympians, guys, can't wait for some good old fashioned holiday chaos!

[keelt9]

Paper 2

Masterlist

A/N: Merry Christmas! I hope you spend this holiday calmly and the way it makes you feel at ease.

Remember to take your time, one step at the time. ❄️

From far away I send you a big hug!🍒

The table near the small tree and the window, the messages are in his phone still he keeps mumbling all his way until the restaurant. 

Why the hell is even sweating this much?

The restaurant is a little bit crowded with people having breakfast but his eyes fly right away to the table near to the plant and the window.

His heart drops seeing in the table a man thanking the waitress, who just left a cup of coffee. One more time the endless questions flow through his mind.

Who is he? Is the table correct? Daniel was right and it’s fake after all? Did she get married?

The man lifts his eye in time to smile at Max and wave his hand, insecure Max walks to the table gripping his phone tight, in his head the worst possible scenario is developing so fast. 

The man will introduce him to his little elf fiance, probably they are already planning on having a family, living in a nice house in the town, they could even have a pet.

Is she still the same little elf of years ago?

“Oh, please, don’t put that face on Max.” The man shook his hand. “I’m not her boyfriend or husband.”

Max sighs, but still feels tension over his shoulders. 

“Sorry, sorry, diaper issue.” Max recognizes the girl, is the one his little elf is hugging, her sister; carrying a baby girl in her arms. “Omg, are you ok? You’re pale as a ghost.”

Max feels like he just saw one.

“Yes, I… I'm just…surprised.” The woman smiles tenderly following Max's eyes to the baby she had in her arms.

“Oh, please, don’t be scared.” She extends her hand with a soft smile on her face. “I’m Isabell… your little efl sister.” Max grabs her hand. “My husband Gonzalo and this baby girl is my daughter, Noah.”

“She is so beautiful, just like her.” Max's eyes stuck to the baby, his pinky cheek and shiny eyes. 

Isabell smiles tenderly at her baby and caresses her face. “My mom said I shouldn’t be disturbed that much to my sister or my baby will be so similar to her.”

Max giggles observing Noah hide her face in her mother's shoulder. “She forgot to mention, I’ll give birth to her twin.”

Max laughs, feeling lighter and relaxed. “Why don’t we sit?” Gonzalo mentions carrying their baby so they can sit.

“I’m sorry if I make things in such a weird way, but I’m afraid I won't find another idea in my mind.” Isabell mentioned. “Listen Max, let’s be honest, my sister knows who you are.”

Max shallow, and call for a waitress, is too early for a drink? With this situation, he doesn’t think so.

“She found out about you, the first year you were in Red bull, when she saw your face on the screen I believe she could faint in any seconds.” She smirks softly. “From that moment on, every time she knew a race would take place, she barely moved from the T.V.”

Gonzalo laughs probably remembering those moments. “Every clothing item you release, she will have it by the end of the month. She never said but she became your fan no.1.”

Noah looks with all her attention to him making him make a funny face putting a smile on her little face. 

“When you have that accident on the track, she really anguishes, until you appear to be dizzy but safe.” Max quivers for a second but he needs to ask.

“She never contacted me.” Those words closed his throat. “If she…”

“Max both of you move on, or at least she's been trying.” Max notices the unease expression in Isabell’s face. “She refused to come back to Benasque, she is acknowledging about the radical new world you're living, that she's felt doesn't belong there, but also she refuses to move one, you know what I mean?”

Max shakes his head, this time Gonzalo speaks. “Max isn't a secret she stops considering you just as a best friend, you can tell by the way she speaks about you.”

Noah giggles as she tries to grab Max's hand. “But she met a guy a couple of years ago, he's an enchanting person with her, and even he confessed his feelings a couple of months ago…”

“No.” It was an involuntary response, Max felt his heart squeeze.

“She refused to give him a chance until I spoke with her.” Isabell bits her lips. “Reason why she went one more time to Benasque.”

Suddenly the sunny day of Barcelona feels cold making him shiver.

“In a way to say goodbye.” Max moves in his chair, he feels nauseous. 

“However you started to search for her, she doesn't know because after Christmas she stops looking at your accounts, she cleans all that resembles you.”

“Then…the..then how do you know?” He shutters and blesses God in that moment his drink came.

“I worked for a sports magazine, you make a big show of this, it's just a simple deduction, you are looking for my sister in law.” Gonzalo giggles. “You Max Verstappen looking for someone I see every weekend is something weird.”

Isabell gives her baby’s bottle to Noah. “Maybe I sound like a crazy protective sister but Max, I love my sister, and I want the best for her, that is why I'm telling you all this… I'm sorry but if you are only looking for my sister just for bringing back a friendship, trust me she will always consider you like her most treasured friend.” 

Max opens and closes his mouth a couple of times, but he's just empty. “The best for her is you keep going in separate ways, because having you in her life, I'm afraid she will be stuck one more time.”

Gonzalo perceived the conflict expression in his face and the fact his drink disappeared. “Don't worry Max, she's fine, healthy, making her dreams true, don't have to worry about her.”

Noah laughs seeing the faces her mother makes to her, this would be the last time to hear the closest sound of her laugh?

“What if I see her in the same way she saw me?” Isabell shakes her head.”What if I…”

“Max! You don't have to do this.” Max feels hopeless every second. “I didn't come here for an answer, I came to assure you she's fine, for you can be at ease.”

“No, no, no, I, me…I… I'm confused, sorry, it's just…” Max breaths slowly. “Every year, I travel with a backpack full of notebooks with importants things that happened to me to tell her, every special moment and the most random ones are noted there.”

Noah grabs his finger across the table. “I miss her like hell.” He carefully covers Noah’s ears. “Fuck, I been stupid.” 

The big eyes of the baby girl and the smile make him speak. “There must be a reason, right?” 

Isabell sees Gonzalo with conflicted eyes.

Max gets down his head. “Maybe I already know but I'm… what if I say something wrong?”

“Ok, let's do this.” Isabell leans over the table. “I won't rush anything, take your time, thinking about it carefully, when you are ready, give me a call, we can find out what to do after that.”

Max sees his empty drink taking a few breaths, what if that time is enough for her to finally leave him in the oblivion?

“Max, believe me, we have plenty of time.” It must be a thing between sisters, they look like they could actually read his mind. “She likes to take her time for important decisions.”

Max nods, unable to say another word, feeling so overwhelmed but happy and relieved. Isabell observes him unable to stop a soft smile.

“Well, it’s time to go.” She and her husband stand with their baby in his arms. “You have my number Max, call anytime when you have it all clear.”

Max stands, seeing the photo. “Do you mind if I keep with this one?” 

Isabell shakes her head. “All yours.” Noah mumbled, extending her little arms to Max. “You have a special charm Max, now I see it.”

Max grabs her little hand, shaking it, feeling shy for the compliment; the red cheeks with the top of the nose too, bring him soft memories and the concern that now, he has a lot to think about.

The summer break turns into agony, the past months he has been able to focus on the race leaving him zero time to think properly, he refuses to take a decision with the fuss of emotions of a race.

“So?” Daniel asked, sitting next to him cleaning the sweat of his forehead after a tough padel game. “You decided already?”

Max sits on the floor drinking a half of the water of his bottle. It’s the second week of the summer break and every time he tries to dig into the decision, he has a migraine after 15 minutes of thinking. 

His lack of answer made Daniel sigh. “Mate if it’s that hard, it could be a sign that maybe you see her as what it is?” 

“I don’t follow you.” Max leaned his arms over his knees.

“A dear friend of the past.” Daniel said, raising his hand waving it, Charles is walking right to them. “Just think about it with that perspective in mind.”

He can’t, Max simply can’t.

The next morning he postone all his meetings with friends and family, as he is making a small travel bag.

“It's summer?” Victoria mentions as they keep talking through the phone. “What do you expect to find there?”

Max didn’t even know but if there is a place where he always finds peace is in Benasque.

“Nothing, just a space to think.” Max sees Jimmy stretching on the window. “It will be a couple of days, don’t worry.”

“Max.” Max takes his bag standing in front of one of the trophies, next to it the photo of his little elf puts a smile on his face. “Take care, ok?”

The next morning he spent time walking around after having breakfast in the small hotel, his mind seemed to clear in every step.

“Look what the wind brings.” The old men from the clockmaker's workshop cross in his path. “Young boy, it’s early for you to come.” 

Max nods seeing him carrying bags. “Do you need an extra hand?” 

“Thank you.” He gives him two bags, as they walk to his store, talking about his life, 20 years have passed and Max feels he just met the old men who see every year.

He opened the door next to the shop, his house. “Want to come in? I have a nice limoned on the fridge.”

Max quiver for a second. “Or I have a tiramisu.” Max raises his eyes quickly. “The cute little girl mentioned it is… sorry probably it was your favorite.”

She remembers, that’s enough for Max to take a step inside of the house.

All in brown colors, a lot of photos hanging on every wall as he walks to the living room, where the old man asks him to wait a couple of seconds. 

He takes his time observing every photo, until his eyes find one that calls for his attention; it’s the Roman coliseum covered in snow.

He takes it as a memory that comes back to his mind.

“It’s almost impossible.” Max buttons the last ones from the neck part of her cape. 

The little girl rolled her eyes. “It has already passed! Why can't it happen again?” She stands taking the snow off her lap.

The night reached them and the cold is increasing, tomorrow Max must leave.

“You’re talking about snow in Rome!” She grabs his hands between her warming up before leaving. 

“Oh my God! You’re so pessimistic sometimes.” She rubs his hands, the gloves help to warm it quickly. “Ok, let’s say if it happens one more time, I swear, I’ll be there.”

Max scoffs rolling his eyes.

“Believe me, Mr. Frozen hands. I’ll make it.” She winks at him.

The old man finds Max with the photo in his hands; Max hears him unable to stop looking at the girl, well, the back of the girl.

“She made it.” His voice cracks unintentionally.

The man set the two plates on the small table. “Oh, indeed, she came back that winter with two photos, this is for me and the other one I guess it was for you…”

Max never came that winter.

“Fuck! How much I would love to be with her.” The man tilted his head. “She must look adorable.”

“I always knew, young boy.” The old man sat on his big sofa. “It’s true love what I saw in you two.”

“What?” Max turned around, unable to take his eyes from the photo.

“She said the same.” He takes a bite of the tiramisu. “She would love having you with her that day. After all she has something to reproach after all.”

That afternoon in front of the old clock downtown, the beeps of the phone seemed to last like an hour between each one. 

“Hello?” Max sighs, relieved, sitting on the closet bench.

“I love her.” Max whispers feeling the weight of his shoulders lifts. “That’s what I feel and I couldn’t say.” 

Isabell didn’t reply. “I love your sister…Please help me, don’t let her forget me.” Max panic fearing the worst. “I know it can sound stupid, we barely know each other, it has been 10 years, I changed, probably she did too. You may think I’m doing this in such a dumb way to keep myself in her life, but….” 

Max takes a deep breath. “I have been carrying a pen with a couple of notebooks for 10 years, more than one time I write about the fact I got stung by a bee! Omg, what a stupid man who isn’t in love does that? I’m frighten with the simple thought of losing her forever”

“Do you want to hear her?” Max held his breath. “We can coordinate things later, but we’re in the middle of a familiar reunion, you know? It will be so weird.” 

Max let go a breath that sounds like he’s had a hurricane inside. 

“Can I?” Isabell giggles with the fact that Max Verstappen is nervous.

“After you hear her I’ll hang out and I’ll call you later to coordinate something, ok?” Max stands excited walking around the bench, waiting. 

The sound of chattering and plates with laughs became slowly more audible, Max saw his hands, he’s trembling. 

“What are you doing?” Isabell asked. Damn it! Max is technically invisible and he feels so exposed every second.

Then the soft giggle drains the blood of his body. “Making a mojito, duh!”

She is there, she’s fucking there!

“See, ron, lemon, ice, mint and other things that dad said I will need.” Max imagines her in a beautiful summer dress. “Everything alright?”

“Well, I bet right now, yes, everything seems perfect.” Isabell sees her phone, Max is online. 

“Great, now, stop staring at me and give me a hand. I’m confused.” Isabell laughs while hanging out. 

Max looks at his phone with a smile that he’s sure will cause painful cheeks.

As he walks to his hotel, this time to write his brainstorm of ideas for meeting her one more time, he finds in one of the window displays a ornament for Christmas of a Santa Claus.

He stops in front of me with a smirk. “Give me a hand big guy, I swear that if you need it, I’ll be a good boy all these years. Just help me a little bit.”

He was caught by the reflection of a boy with a lollipop in his mouth looking at him with a weird face. 

He takes out his lollipop. “He doesn't understand.” Max narrowed his eyes. “You must send him a letter to the north pole with what you want.” 

Max giggles. “Besides, it's advice.” The kid is so confident. “Make sure to write in a pretty paper, with a pretty letter, make sure he fully understands what you want.”

“Louis!” A woman shouted a name, making the kid turn around. 

He nods. “I have to go, good luck!”

Max chuckles and screams as the kid goes with his mother. “THANKS FOR THE ADVICE!”

He focuses one more time on Santa, “Let’s make my wish come true.”

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

Tag: @anilovessadbooks

[xxlady-lunaxx]

Christmas with the Uppermoons 🌲 (Chaos with the Uppermoons)

Theme: SILLYNESS

Note: MERRY CHRISTMAS OR WHATEVER YOU CELEBRATE IN DECEMBER (or like happy random normal day of the week if nothing-)!!!

Anyways, here's the ships!: DouKaza, NakiDaki, KokuZan, KaiGyu (we'll pretend they're both alive at the same time), Gyokko x the christmas lights, Hantengu x ...air?? (idk I never write either of Gyokko or Hantengu LMAO.....) 

Ages brought closer together for KaiGyu and NakiDaki for obv reasons

Alright, let's see if I can finish this before the day of christmas <33 

Started: November 6th

Finished: (with a lot of procrastination) Dec. 24 (help)

Every year, on December 25th, the Uppermoons had a Christmas party. Which was ironic because, of all people, Muzan was the one that made them do it. Yes, Muzan. 

For some reason that none of the Uppermoons knew, Muzan had taken a liking into this human, Christian (i'm not even christian but i do christmas bc yes..) holiday and.. made his demons celebrate it. 

So now, like the past 500 years, they were readying for the holiday once again. 

This was the one day that they never went out on missions to kill. And the one day the Demon Slayers had a break. 

All of the Uppermoon's food would be stored up from a week before till now simply so they didn't need to go out and get their food on Christmas. This was, again, Muzan's idea.

Now this year was different, somehow. Different because, well, Muzan had a boyfriend. And he'd been rather keen on being a good one back, given that none of his relationships had been... successful. So, he had bought... a large amount of the most random gifts ever just to please Kokushibo (and if it wasn't obvious, Kokushibo is his boyfriend). 

And Muzan was attempting to be the matchmaker for his Uppermoons because they were so fucking oblivious!! (Like he wasn't as well.. It took him so long to realize Kokushibo liked him back and he could literally read his mind).

Muzan was pissed, though. Because a certain Uppermoon was trying to be the one to make all of the decorations and that certain Uppermoon was excedingly annoying. 

Gyokko, pleading, was showing Muzan a box full of vases which were supposedly his art and that he should be the one to make the decoration for the tree. 

"No!!" Muzan had shouted, and quite literally kicked the box of vases across the Infinity Fortress, breaking them to pieces. 

Gyokko cried for hours after that, and only because Kokushibo soothed him did Muzan stop himself from killing Upper 5. 

Later, Muzan called an Uppermoon meeting and.. 

"Gyokko," he said. 

The Uppermoon, still in tears, looked up. "What?"

"You must dress up as the grinch and then stay in the corner of the room all of Christmas and.. cry. Okay?" Muzan decided, crossing his arms. 

"What?!" Gyokko cried, "why??"

"Because I hate you!"

"I..."

Daki covered her mouth, trying not to laugh, and said, her words muffled by her hand, "I can get him a costume."

"Perfect," Muzan said. "Alright, now I hope all of you have been buying things for each other—if you got anything for Gyokko give it to him the day after Christmas because the Grinch doesn't deserve anything. Okay? We have only a few days to decorate the Infinity Castle so I hope you all know what to do!!" 

They all nodded simutaneously, Gyokko sniffing indignantly as he did. 

"Right. Now hurry up. Kokushibo, meet me in my office in a minute." Muzan turned and left, leaving the Uppermoons to prepare—and Gyokko to suffer in silence.

(Ehm. You might know by now that I don't particularily favor Gyokko 😇)

×××

"Kokushibo. I need your help," Muzan said, his voice lowering on the word 'help.' He'd never asked for help before in his whole life—honestly.

Kokushibo cocked his head. "Do you, now? What for?" he asked curiously.

"The Uppermoons are so stupid!—Not you, of course," Muzan quickly corrected. 

"Hm. Why so?" the six-eyed demon asked. 

"Because Akaza like Douma but he pretends he hates Douma and Douma—the stupid motherfucker—likes Akaza but thinks it's just that Akaza smells nice so he likes to be with him more, Daki likes Nakime but is too afraid to say anything, Nakime likes Daki but had bad experiences with past relationships so doesn't want to say anything, Kaigaku likes Gyutaro and knows which Uppermoon likes which and is rather loud-mouthed and a gossip but he never can tell Gyutaro how he feels, Gyutaro likes Kaigaku but doesn't know how to do relationships, Gyokko is, for some weird reason, madly in love with art, and Hantengu is scared of everything including air," Muzan said in one breath, sighing at the end. "So you see, they're stupid. And I'm trying to get the Uppermoons together—in relationships, but not Gyokko and Hantengu for obvious reasons—and I've not been able to!!" 

"Ehm.." Kokushibo stared at him for a minute, trying to process everything. Then he said, hesitantly, "I guess I could help? I'm no expert in this place but I can try.."

"Thank you!" Muzan said, relieved. "It was starting to get annoying trying to read their minds to see what they thought of my announcement and finding them only longing to be kissing some other Uppermoon. It's irritating." 

"Right..." 

The demon king put a hand on his desk and leaned on it, looking Kokushibo up and down. "So, why don't we go do something together now that we're by ourself? A little freedom before we have to put ourselves to dealing with the Uppermoons?" he suggested, grinning. 

Kokushibo laughed. "Alright, then."

×××

And hence began the matchmaking service of Muzan Kibutsuji. Oh, and Kokushibo of course.

First patients, were Uppermoon's 2 and 3. Or, the lemon and the strawberry as Muzan and Kokushibo called them when there weren't alone. 

Muzan proposed that they would first try to get Akaza to admit his feelings because... because Akaza was really stubborn. Well, so was Douma but they eventually agreed that Akaza would take a bit more convincing since Douma usually ended up agreeing pretty easily since he had no sort of handle on his own emotions. 

Muzan told Nakime to teleport both of the Uppermoons to one room in which they couldn't escape, then he would care for the rest.

After that, Muzan watched the two through Nakime's eye, seeing them confused at first.

"Hi," he said unceremoniously, his voice echoing into the room they'd been teleported to. 

Akaza and Douma looked up simultaneously. 

"Master?" Akaza asked, confused. 

Muzan nodded then realized they couldn't see him. "Ah, right. You two must confess until you both understand. And then I'll let you out," he explained. 

"Oh," Akaza said. His mind raced. Could it be that Muzan knew who he loved..?

Douma stared down at the ground and his hands fidgeted. "I...I confess that once, when all my cult members went to a festival, I was tired and hungry. And I... didn't want to go look for humans to eat... so I ate a chicken."

Akaza raised an eyebrow. "You what?"

"Ate a chicken..."

The shorter of the two bit back laughter and Muzan's voice rang around them. "You idiot! That's not what I meant when I said 'confess.'"

"It wasn't?" the blond asked, confused.

"No, you dumbass," Muzan said, exasperated. Why'd he chosen this person to be in the Upper ranks again? "Akaza, you go first."

Akaza's laughed stopped almost immediately and he averted his eyes, turning away from Douma.

Completely clueless, the rainbow-eyed demon tilted his head in confusion. "Are you okay, Akaza-dono?"

"Shut up," Akaza snapped, crossing his arms and glaring at the floor.

"Akaza," Muzan said sternly, as if scolding a little child. "Tell him." 

Akaza looked away and was silent for a moment before—"Fine." He turned back to Douma, his eyes narrowed. He looked very stern. Serious. 

Douma swallowed, fearing the worst. 

But then Akaza said, "I fucking like you."

And then the world melted away and Douma was blinking and staring up at Akaza with his eyes wide. "You do?"

"Bitch, didn't I just say that?"

"You aren't lying?" Douma asked hopefully.

"If I were lying Master would kill me!!!" Akaza snapped, getting irritated.

"I probably would," Muzan agreed.

Kokushibo, who was standing next to Muzan and being given the ability to see and hear everything that was happening, stifled a laugh. Muzan rolled his eyes at his boyfriend and shushed him before turning back to the two Uppermoons.

"Now, Douma, what do you want to say about what Akaza told you," he said, as if a parent trying to get his child to understand.

Douma thought for a moment—actually thought—and then said, "Thank you?"

Akaza sighed. "Why do I like you again?"

Muzan was having similar thoughts and, deciding that Douma was very much like a child, said, "Listen, if you don't figure it out I'm going to have you be punished!" 

Douma pouted. "Okay..." He turned to Akaza. "So, do you know what I'm supposed to say?"

"You're supposed to say about how you feel of what I said," Akaza said, cringing at his own words. He didn't really want to know. 

"Hmm..." The blond demon appeared to be deep in thought as he started pacing around the room. Then he stopped, quite suddenly, and said, "Akaza-dono!"

"What?" Akaza said, his tone bored now. 

"I like you too!" he said decidedly, making Akaza's eyes widen. 

Definitely unexpected.

"What?" he repeated, though more intrigued now. 

"I like you too, Akaza-dono! You said you like me, and I like you too," Douma explained. 

"Like... like-like, or just like?" Akaza asked slowly.

"Wut." Douma blinked. (I wrote duoma-)

"Like-like or friend-like?" Akaza tried. 

"What's like-like?"

"Like... love? Sorta? Or, like, more than friendship?" he said, confusing himself.

"Uhm... Like-like!" Douma exclaimed, poising his hands on his hips triumphantly for figuring it out.

"Oh."

A silence quite deafening spread through the room, making Douma fidget uncomfortably.

"Is that bad?" Douma asked after another moment.

"No, no it's not," Muzan said, answering for Akaza. "Now you two can go off and fuck now I don't care. Nakime?"

The biwa demon complied, strumming her instrument and teleporting the two Uppermoons to Douma's cult room.

×××

"Two down, four to go!" Muzan said, apparently very proud of himself.

Kokushibo agreed, sitting down on the chair in front of Muzan's desk. "Now what?" he asked.

Muzan hesitated and his previous triumph seemed to simmer down. "I... don't really know."

His boyfriend laughed, making him snap his head up indignantly. "Hey!! It's not like you're giving me any ideas," he protested.

"Okay, okay, fine," Kokushibo said, sighing. "Do we have a sort of deadline?"

Muzan tapped his chin. "Christmas?"

"But that's in, like, 3 days..." he whined.

"Yeah and we only have two more 'couples' to go through," Muzan said. "We just need some plan. What do Daki and Nakime like?"

Kokushibo shrugged. "Shopping? At least Daki does. Oh! We could tell them to go shopping for the gifts and then we'll make sure they grow closer through that?" he suggested.

"Yes! We can set them up to go to one of the stores that I pretend to be human in as a worker," Muzan decided. "I'll ask them if they're dating or something."

Kokushibo nodded. "Alright. And Gyutaro and Kaigaku...?"

"Ughh, I don't know," Muzan whined. "We'll think of that tomorrow."

He stood and clapped his hands, projecting his voice to make sure Nakime would hear him now. "Nakime! You and Daki must go shop for presents now. Understood?"

Nakime, confused, said, "Yes, Master."

There was the sound of the biwa echoing around them then Kokushibo and Muzan found themselves on a street. Muzan grinned, "Alright, you go think of something for Kaigaku and Gyutaro or whatever, I'll go do my shift now."

"Fun," Kokushibo sighed, walking off. 

×××

Nakime walked silently beside Daki, wondering why the hell she had to do this. Like, it wasn't completely out of the blue since Christmas was coming up, but it really was random. Especially since he'd said for her to go. Daki would be more reasonable but Nakime usually just put up the decorations.

Why this this year?

Or maybe it had something to do with the fact that Muzan had been trying to get Douma and Akaza together...?

She sighed, raking her hand through her hair which was pulled up in a ponytail, her eyes disguised as human ones—two human ones. Distorting but she couldn't cause confusion.

"You alright?" Daki asked, turning to her as they walked, their feet marking footprints in the snow.

"Mhm, just wondering why I have to go," Nakime grumbled.

Daki laughed. "You'll live. Or are you cold? I can hug you," she said, grinning. She was wearing clothes more appropriate for winter—Gyutaro had insisted—and she looked absolutely... adorable in them.

The biwa demon shook her head as they approached the first shop. "We can't walk like that," she remarked.

"You can carry meee!!!" Daki teased. 

"How are you to help me shop then?" Nakime pointed out, stepping through the door. 

"Finee..." 

They looked around, finding themselves in a clothing store. 

"Hmm, I should buy that grinch costume for Gyokko now," Daki said, looking around. "I'll meet you at the front, no? We can meet up when we're done so we can pay and go on, alright?"

Nakime nodded and the two split up, going each their own way.

×××

Muzan waited, drumming his fingers mindlessly on the counter. It took a while and he was starting to regret having decided to take on this job as he knew Daki took a long time to shop, but then they finally walked up to him and he stood up, making sure he kept down his aura to a less menacing one, more fragile and human-like so they wouldn't notice. 

"Hello! Having a nice christmas, I suppose?" he said, his tone cheery, matching his smile.

Daki nodded and placed her things on the counter—taking up half of the space. Nakime placed her things there as well which ended up only being half of the amount Daki had gotten. 

"Yep, you?" she said, fixing her ponytail.

"I'm doing alright, myself," Muzan said, picking up the first item. "Are you two dating? You seem very close," he commented, careful to not look too curious. 

He looked up and gave them a tentative smile.

It took them a second to realize what he meant and they flushed simutaneously, instantly shaking their heads in denial. 

"No?" Muzan asked, counting the payment. "Such a pity. Close friends, then?" he decided. 

"Ehm..." Nakime mumbled, her usually pale-white palor practically glowing with pink. "I suppose."

Daki nodded her agreement quickly. "Yeah... Close friends..!" she said, pushing what she was buying closer to Muzan, urging him to continue.

"Right, right. Nice to go shopping together, hm?" he said. 

"Yep!!" 

"You sure you aren't dating?" Muzan pushed, laughing. "Your 'friend' here is quite pink."

"I'm just cold," Nakime said quickly—too quickly.

Daki glanced at her, almost surprised, then nodded as well. "See, I told you you should carry me!" she said. 

Nakime sighed. "How would we carry this?" she asked, motioning to their things. 

"Uhhhh, with you hair," Daki joked. 

"Alright, here's the charge," Muzan said, jotting it down quickly. "Anything else?" he asked.

Daki shook her head. "That'll be it."

"Mhm, have a merry Christmas!!" he called out to them as they walked out the door. 

Once they were out of sight, he quickly placed the money in the cash register (idk what they used if it was smth diff so we'll just do it as it's done here now<33) and called out, "Kokushibo!! Go follow them!!"

Kokushibo, at Muzan's command, followed the two girls as they walked to the next store.

They walked in silence, their hands full with their things and their thoughts elsewhere. Both appeared to be flushed and most definitely not from the cold—especially since demons aren't affected in visible ways by cold.

Kokushibo followed them until they entered the store then he paused and went back to Muzan.

"So?" the demon lord asked, his eyebrows cocked in curiousity. 

"I think that you've at least sparked something other. They didn't talk or anything but they were... definitely thinking about it," Kokushibo said, smiling.

Muzan leaned over to him and gave him a quick kiss. "Good."

×××

"Okay! For Kaigaku and Gyutaro, we're going to need Daki. But since she's... developing her relationship with Nakime, we can have you talk to Kaigaku first," Muzan said, leaning back on his chair.

"Why me?" Kokushibo huffed.

"Because he sees you as a father," he said, rolling his eyes. "And you can just pretend you want to see him for training or shit, I don't care."

"...alright. What do I say? Or do?" the Uppermoon asked, confused as to where this was going.

"Just talk to him about random shit then drop big ass hints that he likes Gyutaro and that he should ask him out. Kaigaku catches on with that sort of shit really easily, don't worry." Muzan sat up. "Shouldn't be too hard."

"You say it so vaguely, though..." Kokushibo complained. 

"You'll do great, Kokushibo," Muzan assured him. "Want a good luck kiss?" he teased.

"Yes."

Muzan slipped around his desk and went to kiss him but arms wrapped around his waist and lifted him onto the desk. 

"Hmm, don't go too far Kokushibo," he warned, though he gave him a tender smirk. 

×××

Kaigaku stood in Kokushibo's house—a small human one with a lot of curtains and boarded up windows to make it look as if an abandoned one though it was far from that inside. 

"Soo, what am I doing here? Training again?" Kaigaku asked, his arms poised on his hips in a relaxed posture.

"No, just talking," Kokushibo said, sitting down on a chair he'd placed across from the one he's put down for Kaigaku—who wasn't even using it. 

"Hmm, what about?" the training-to-be-an-Uppermoon-demon asked, his eyebrows perked in curiousity. 

"Stuff."

"Elaborate."

"Sit down, Kaigaku," Kokushibo sighed.

He sat. (totally a sentence)

"Start the conversation, then. I've got to finish wrapping the presents," Kaigaku huffed.

"Alright. Hmm, so your place as an Uppermoon? You'll be taking as... Uppermoon six if there were to be any vacancies," Kokushibo said awkwardly, after a moment of silence. He honestly didn't know what he was supposed to say. He'd had a vague idea but then he'd gotten all caught up with Muzan and... shit, so it'd slipped his mind. 

"And...?" Kaigaku prompted. "I already know that, you know-"

"Right, right. Gyutaro and Daki are Upper six at the moment," the Uppermoon said, thinking quickly. He had to bring Gyutaro into the conversation.

"Mhm?"

"Maybe you should train with them? Like, Gyutaro, say! You seem to be around him a lot recently. Have you befriended him well?" he asked, mentally approving himself. 

"Oh, uh..." Kaigaku paused. "Yeah, sure. I've... befriended him, all right.

"Very well," Kokushibo said, noting the emphasis on friend.

"Why do you ask?"

"I want to make sure you have closer sight on what it's like to be an Uppermoon. You should really talk to Gyutaro more. Ask him out if you want to go and talk to him somewhere more... private?" Kokushibo suggested, a glint in his eyes proving he meant other than what he was saying.

Kaigaku, obviously realizing this, flushed. "Ask him... what?" 

"Out."

"I know, I meant, uhm..." he faltered. "Nevermind. Okay." 

"Great! And hopefully he can be more than just a friend, in which you two can bond together in other ways to give you more experience," the Uppermoon said. He stood, then, and said, "Have fun!" before walking off deeper into his house to wait for Muzan.

×××

And then it was Christmas.

Muzan and Kokushibo lay quietly in Muzan's room, both having wanted a bit of rest, when the door slammed open.

They jolted up. "Wha-"

"IT'S CHRISTMASSS!!!" Daki exclaimed, grinning widely. She wore a sort of onesie that was red and white with patterns of reindeers. "GET UP FUCKERS!!!"

"Daki!!" Muzan groaned. "Quiet down."

"NO CAN DO!!" she said, dashing off.

Kokushibo sighed. "We better get going then."

"Right. I'll go see if Gyokko has the costume on," Muzan said.

"Mhm." Kokushibo kissed him on the forehead and then the two demons stood and walked out of the room, noting the decorations put up all over the Infinity Fortress.

"It looks beautiful," Daki said as Muzan and Kokushibo entered the main gathering room. 

Nakime smiled. "Thank you."

"I know someone else she finds beautiful," Muzan said under his breath.

"What?" the biwa demon asked, turning her gaze to him.

"Nothing. Alright, Gyokko!! Where are you?"

Daki burst into laughter then, bringing the attention of the demons to her.

"What?"

"I gave him the costume of the grinch an hour ago and he'd been complaining that it's not fit for him to wear and that it's not artistic at all so he won't come out of his pots," she explained, pointing to one of the flower-designed vases sitting in the corner of the room.

Muzan shook his head. "Gyokko, get your cowardly ass out of the stupid vase and show us the costume. If you don't, I'm going to make sure every one of your pots are destroyed and your paints and materials are thrown into an ocean." 

Gyokko, obviously shocked by this threat, gasped and the sound echoed in the pot. 

"Well?" the demon lord said impatiently.

"Fine..." Gyokko whined, slowly but surely going out of the pot. 

There was a beat of silence as everyone stared at him, the bright green fuzzy—but somewhat soaking wet—fabric of the costume making him look worse than ever as he averted his eyes to the ground, his face flushed in a red hue contrasting against his usually pale skin.

And then—

Laughter rang out from Muzan making nearly every Uppermoon flinch in surprise.

"Nevermind, Gyokko. You already looked like shit before but that's worse. You can take it off... at midnight," Muzan decided.

Gyokko huffed. "Okay. How long till then?"

Daki grinned. "Nearly twenty four hours. It's nearing to one AM of today," she said giddly.

"...Fuck. Can I at least stay inside the pot?" he whined. 

"Nope, you have to stay out in that corner of the room the whole day, remember? And cry but I suppose that's optional," Muzan said, raising an eyebrow to see if he'd contradict.

"Fine."

×××

"Nakime!" Muzan hissed.

He was right behind Nakime, watching the other Uppermoons and Kaigaku exchange presents and talk. 

"Yes, Master?" she said.

"Put mistletoe over where Kaigaku and Gyutaro are in a bit, alright?" he said, his voice low in a whisper.

"Yes, Master." 

"Okay, now go talk to Daki or something and stop sitting by here the whole time. You can play  music later," he dismissed.

Nakime nodded. "Alright."

×××

Kaigaku was laughing as he spoke to Gyutaro when he noticed something above him. He looked up, his action being followed by a similar one by the Uppermoon he spoke to. 

"Mistletoe?" he said. "Was that always there?"

"No, I don't think so," Gyutaro said.

Kaigaku paused. "Gyutaro," he said suddenly, grinning.

"Huh?"

"People put up mistletoe because you're supposed to kiss if you go under it. We're under it," he said, raising his eyebrows slowly, trying to get Gyutaro to understand. 

"Wha...- OH." Gyutaro froze. "You want to..?"

"If you want to..." 

"So... yes?" he said slowly.

"Do you?"

"...yes."

Kaigaku nodded and leaned forward, pushing the box he held in his lap to the side. "Yes." He closed the distance between them, their eyes fluttering shut almost instinctively. 

When they pulled apart, both's cheeks were flushed and Gyutaro looked to be practically glowing, a shy smile forming on his face.

But then Daki gasped, and they turned to look at her. "What?" they asked in unison, as if the kiss had brought their words together.

"You guys... just... KISSED?!" Daki said, her voice almost in a shriek.

"Is that a bad thing..?" Gyutaro asked uncertainly.

"ARE YOU KIDDING?? IT'S THE BEST THING EVER!!" Daki squealed. 

Taken aback, Gyutaro took a moment to respond as he blinked, confused, at his sister. "It is?"

"You realize the both of you have been crushing on each other for, like, months and said absolutely nothing?!" she said, rolling her eyes.

"Months..?" Kaigaku asked, his eyes widening. 

"You too," she deadpanned. "You've liked him for longer, no?"

"Fuck off..." he mumbled. 

Gyutaro looked torn between backing up Kaigaku or his sister and he remained silent.

Douma, noticing this, turned abruptly to Akaza—who was about to go talk to Nakime—and said, "Akaza-dono!! We both like each other too! Can we kiss??"

Akaza glared at him. "Fuck no!"

"Why??" the blond whined, pouting. 

"Because you look like shit and you are shit," Akaza said, huffing and turning away.

"But... you like me!" Douma pointed out.

"My feelings have been corrupted."

"I wanna kiss you, Akaza-dono!" he said impatiently.

"Too ba-"

He was interrupted when lips pressed against his in a fleeting moment.

They stared at each other for a second, then Akaza turned red and turned away, covering his face with his hands.

Douma smiled happily. "You're pretty, Akaza-dono!" 

"I hate you," Akaza mumbled, the words too weak to be true.

"I love you too!"

×××

(watch me run out of ideas so imma end it now)

"Hmm, looks like they're having fun," Kokushibo noted, smiling.

"Yeah. What about Nakime and Daki, though?" Muzan asked, sighing.

"Don't force it, they'll figure it out themselves.

"Alright."

Muzan leaned against his boyfriend's chest, their arms and legs tangled up with each others comfortably.

"Love you, Koku... Merry Christmas," he said, stealing a short kiss from the Uppermoon.

"Love you too."

{Word count: 4152}

LY ALL

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS OR HAPPY WHATEVER!! <33

ALSO IDC I'M POSTING THIS HERE PAST CHRISTMAS I WAS TOO LAZY TO YESTERDAY

[tss-whumper]

concept for some christmas whump

feel free to use this prompt, just give credit!!

(cw -> manipulation, gaslighting/dog-whistling, emotional abuse, mention of cigarettes/smoking)

whumper gets whumpee a ton of presents for christmas and records them opening all of them. all of their friends and family are there too and it seems like the perfect christmas.

but as whumpee opens the presents, they realize that none of these presents are things they want. and not in an ungrateful way, either. they’re genuinely useless or harmful items. a pack of cigarettes when whumpee doesn’t smoke or has a respiratory disease. an entire closets worth of clothes that’s three sizes too small for whumpee. a blanket with a giant hole in it. a box of chocolates when whumpee is allergic to chocolate. whumpee tries to smile and be grateful. maybe whumper just didn’t know.

but whumper starts to egg whumpee on, and as the gifts get more and more derogatory and whumper accuses whumpee of not showing the pinnacle of gratitude, whumpee snaps.

“why are you giving me these things? i can’t even use them! you wasted your money just to make me feel like shit! i got you presents that you’d like, why can’t you do the same for me??”

and now, whumpee looks like a rotten, spoiled, selfish, overdramatic brat.

just like whumper wanted.

bonus points if whumpee has a reputation of being selfish or spoiled or aggressive, so nobody is really surprised when they act like this, and they're more tempted to take whumper's side. after all, whumper was just trying to do something nice. why did whumpee have to ruin christmas?

(also i'll bet you can tell by the colors which side i imagine in which position lolll)

[pockyyasii]

⁺🎄˖ 【 studying near xmas with your bf 】 ˖🎄⁺

⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ heres some sweet christmas-tinged content for you lovelies~!!

premise: you're studying for finals and your bf takes care of you (but its christmas themed!!)

🎄 he brews tea and hot cocoa for you (whichever you prefer), and always adds heart-shaped marshmallows ontop

⭐ forehead and head kisses when he walks past you

🎄 he sits next you while your working; just to hold your hand and traces loving patterns (like mistletoes or hearts) onto it

⭐ he makes sure you take breaks from your textbooks; you two spend this time together looking at the christmas lights outside and going for long walks in the snow (jungwon core)

🎄 he feeds you pudding whilst you highlight notes

⭐ when you finish your test, he hand a mistletoe in your room and as soon as you come home, he scoops you into your arms and kisses you so lovingly

🎄 ^^ "suddenly, strong arms wrapped around you, tipping you down to the ground so quickly your vision blurred the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. you blinked, twice, before your boyfriend leant down to face you and whispered, low and quiet against your lips, "you're all mine now, baby". he'd done this many times before, and yet you gasped as he pulled you forward again, and all you could when he kissed you was kiss him back, an exhilarated glee bubbling from your lips"

[sillyunknownkitkat]

sorry if the characters are not the most popular/requested, but I used a wheel app to decide those ones :)

Please reblog this so it gets more votes (it'll be more fun like that)

have a good day/night and be safe everyone <3

[wishfulsketching]

I have finally finished season 2 of Arcane and can now enjoy your art without fear!!! They should be happy together 🥺

I take it "they" means zaundads because that is what I've been drawing the most BUT, lets be honest, applies to like 98% of the characters in the show.

They should've been a big happy familyyyy

[bebx]