#happy season 3 of the test eve!

[killeroos]

THE TEST S01E08 - A NEW LEGACY

[cheynovak]

Last Christmas

Characters: Dean Winchester x Y/N Female character     

Summary: Y/N, a close friend of Sam and Dean, secretly struggles with her feelings for Dean as Christmas approaches, knowing it might be his last due to his demon deal. She convinces Sam to decorate the motel room and celebrate christmas one last time.

Warnings: none

English is not my first language 

Inspiration: season 3 ep. 8: A Very Supernatural Christmas

*Please do not copy my work, reblog/comments/likes are appreciated* 

It had been a long, grueling hunt. Y/N was exhausted, the adrenaline still wearing off as she leaned against the motel wall. Sam and Dean were nearby, packing away their gear with quiet efficiency. Even after years of hunting together, there was a comfort in their silence, a rhythm they’d all fallen into. But tonight, something felt different—heavier, like the weight of the world was pressing harder than usual.

Y/N stole a glance at Dean. His jaw was clenched, eyes focused on the weapons in front of him, but she knew his mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about the demon deal he made—the deal that was hanging over all of their heads like a dark, looming cloud. He’d given up his life to save Sam’s, and now his days were numbered. The thought alone twisted her heart, and she found herself staring longer than she should have.

“Y/N, you okay?” Sam’s voice snapped her back to reality. She quickly looked away from Dean, her cheeks warming.

“Yeah, just… tired,” she mumbled, forcing a smile. But Sam didn’t buy it, his brows furrowing as he studied her. He was always good at seeing right through her, but thankfully, he let it go this time.

Dean, however, didn’t seem to notice. He was already halfway out the door, saying something about grabbing food for the night.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Y/N let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She turned to Sam, trying to shift the mood.

“So… Christmas is in a couple of days,” she started, her voice soft, testing the waters.

Sam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, not really in the mood this year.”

Y/N had expected that. Dean’s deal hung over everything, making it hard to think about anything happy or festive. Still, she couldn’t help but want to give him something—one last Christmas, maybe, if things didn’t turn around. She had to try.

“Come on, Sam. I know things are… hard right now. But maybe we can do something small. For Dean’s sake, at least. It might be good for him—good for all of us.”

Sam hesitated, his jaw tightening. He stared at the floor, his conflict evident. “Y/N…”

“Please, Sam,” she interrupted, her voice almost pleading. “I just want this Christmas to be special. It might be our last with him.”

The room was quiet for a moment. Y/N saw Sam’s resolve crack, and finally, he nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line.

“Fine. I’ll take care of the eggnog,” he muttered,

--

Christmas eve arrived, Dean was out to get food thinking it would be a normal evening.

While Sam worked on the eggnog, Y/N busied herself with decorating the room. She strung up some old lights she’d found in a thrift store, their colorful glow bringing a little warmth to the cold, drab motel room. She even found a small, plastic Christmas tree earlier in the week, setting it up on the nightstand. It wasn’t much, but it felt a little like home.

As she adjusted the lights, she couldn’t help but think about Dean again. The feelings she’d been hiding for him for so long were bubbling closer to the surface. There was a chance this might be his last Christmas, and that thought sent a sharp pang through her chest. What if she never told him? What if he never knew how much he meant to her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Dean walked in, his arms full of takeout bags and a couple of poorly wrapped presents.

“Well, look at this,” he said, his voice bright with surprise. “You two went all out. Kinda makes this crap motel room look… festive.”

Y/N grinned, feeling a small wave of relief wash over her. At least Dean seemed to appreciate the effort.

“Got you some food,” he said, setting the bags on the table. “And a couple of things to open, you know, for the hell of it.”

Y/N and Sam exchanged a look, their silent agreement to make this night something good for Dean. Y/N grabbed her own gifts from her bag—a couple of books for Sam (ones she knew he’d devour in no time) and a shirt for Dean with a classic Chevy logo on it.

“Here,” she said, handing them over with a smile.

Sam gave her a grateful nod, flipping through the pages of one of the books before setting it aside. Dean, on the other hand, held up the shirt, a wide grin spreading across his face.

“Chevy, huh? You know me too well, sweetheart.”

Her heart skipped at the nickname, but she covered it with a laugh. “Figured you could use a shirt to work on baby, so you don't get all your good shirt dirty with oil.”

Sam handed her a small, neatly wrapped gift, and she opened it to find a bottle of shampoo—her favorite kind, the one she was always complaining about never finding on the road.

“I… I know it’s not much,” Sam said, scratching the back of his neck. “But I saw it and thought of you.”

Y/N smiled warmly. “It’s perfect, Sam. Thank you.”

Then Dean handed her his gift—a bottle of cheap perfume, the kind you’d find at a gas station. But when she opened it and took a whiff, it wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it smelled pretty nice.

“I know it’s nothing fancy,” Dean said, a little sheepish. “But it smelled good, and I thought…”

Y/N couldn’t help but keep sniffing the bottle, a grin on her face. “Dean, I love it. Really, it’s… nice.”

Sam noticed the atmosphere in the room chance when Y/N kept looking at his brother while smelling her perfume covered wrist.

The second Sam closed the bathroom door Dean shifted in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. "I really love it Dean, thank you." Y/N said. “Yeah, well… I had another gift in mind. This one was just easier to wrap.”

Y/N looked up, confused. “What do you mean?”

Dean hesitated for just a moment, then took a step closer. His green eyes met hers, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of something in them—something vulnerable, something he usually hid behind jokes and bravado.

Before she could process what was happening, Dean leaned in, his lips brushing softly against hers. Her breath hitched, and for a second, everything else—the looming deal, the darkness of their lives—faded away.

All that mattered was this moment.

Him.

When he finally pulled back, Dean looked a little unsure of himself, but there was a small, crooked smile on his lips.

“Merry Christmas, sweetheart,” he whispered.

--

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@jackles010378 @libby99hb @winchesterwild78 @suckitands33

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@deadlydivergentgirl @livya99 @deansimpalababy

[autisticlancemcclain]

fic rec friday 54

hello and welcome to fic rec friday! where, on friday, i rec five of my favourite fics.

all i want for christmas by tusslee

“Listen,” Lance squeezes Keith’s fingers in his hands, “I’m as bad at this as you probably are and this is going to be really cheesy, but that’s the way I was raised and I know I act like an idiot around pretty girls, but I’m an even bigger idiot around you. Go ahead and try to guess why that is. No, actually don't do that."

this one is gonna be an xmas special!! even though im writing this before halloween lol. anyways. this was so cute!! lance being all stressed about what he should get keith bc he's all in love w him any everything. so real.

2. You're Here (Where You Should Be) by @blue-wanderer

"And if you’re worried about the cameras just take care of them.” “Take care—! Take care of them? With what, Keith?” “I don’t know?” Keith asks, busily testing his foothold in the gate and generally ignoring the rising storm cloud of ire behind him. “With a gun?” “A gun? This isn’t some sort of black ops storming an enemy base thing! This is a Christmas tree thing!” “I don’t see a difference? You’re the sharpshooter. Shoot out the cameras.” “Let me just pull a gun out of my ass, Keith!” “OK, problem solved,” Keith agrees, taking another step up the gate. “Nothing is solved you dumb country space redneck!”

Or Keith and Lance may be disasters at decorating, but Christmas still manages to work its magic on them.

i bookmarked this like a year ago and let me tell you all i needed to hear was dumb country space redneck and i was hooked 😭😭 and it lived up to the name fr. hate the canon ending? want lance to not be a farmer while still acknowledging his struggles with homesickness? want some whipped keith and meddlesome kosmo? want some cheesy xmas feels? click ahead!

3. make my wish come true by angelbolt

“A world where one has to fight for custody of one’s boyfriend is a godless one,” Lance muttered, slumping so he was leaning against Hunk. Shiro exchanged some final words with Kolivan before the screen blipped out. Ah yes, the ideal Christmas Eve: long boring talks and war meetings. Wonderful. ❆❅❆ keith comes home for christmas.

fun game idea: take a shot every time you see a klance xmas fic with a mariah carey lyric. lol. ANYWAYS yall know me and established relationship + early season dynamics!! i am obsessed!! and this fic delivers!! grumpy lance pov who just wants the rest of the world to fuck off for a couple days so he can have his bf around. he's such a voice of the people

4. i'll be home for christmas by @thespacenico

A severe bout of winter weather threatens to stop Shiro from making it home for his first Christmas with Keith. Shiro is ready to do whatever it takes to keep his promise.

okay this one is from darcy's i've got you brother, which i am obsessed with and have cried over several times, and which just recently updated! this fic is so cute and a adashi with young keith always fucking gets to me, man. they're just so. shiro being so desperately determined to keep his promise to young keith who has had so many promises broken that he doesnt even expect shiro to try. but is happy that he does. sobbing.

5. the greatest gift of all by dumpsterdiva

Keith’s mouth hung open for a few seconds before he stammered, “D-do you really mean that?” Lance looked a bit sheepish as he said, “I… It’s crazy, right? I mean, it’s way too soon. You know I was kidding.” Keith straightened up. “Well, I’m not. Marry me.” “What?!” “You heard me, you coward. Marry me.” “That’s the worst proposal ever!” “Worse than you threatening me with marriage so I would stop talking about how amazing you are?”

YOU GUYS KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT PROPOSAL FICS. i feel ksjbskdbqjdbqwlwd about them. okay. and throw in a christmas setting??? and banter?? and a MODERN AU?? i am doing my best, people. this fic had me shoving a pillow into my face and screaming.

that’s it for today!! happy holidays! merry christmas!! i’ll see y’all back next friday for the next fic rec post!!!

[babyboywinchester]

my thoughts are just filled with ultra religious and pregnant sam.

i was thinking about how as kids and through his whole life, sam always prayed. he was a devoted follower of god. nothing shook his faith. as kids sam would be on his knees and pray every night and dean was so extremely jealous. he wanted to know why god had sam’s undivided attention.

so as they grew up, dean learned that sam wanted to wait for marriage. to find a nice girl to settle down with and start a family. obviously this did not fly with dean. so when sam is fourteen and dean is eighteen, because he wants sam so badly, they sneak into a wedding and as the priest is reading the marriage vows out, they get married. with twig and grass rings and hushed whispers as they hide.

they get back to the motel and dean looks sam in the eyes, and says “now that we’re married, we can finally sleep together.” sam just looks at him and smiles,because he’s happy they are married under the eyes of god and can finally have his brother without sinning.

now a month or two into marriage they are faced with a positive pregnancy test (because they were definitely going at it like rabbits). dean and sam are over the moon about the baby. dean is immediately overprotective even more and sam is annoyed a bit but also extremely grateful and finds it funny. i feel like they would welcome a baby boy first (Adam) and then a girl second (Eve) and then twin boys, named Cain and Abel. They would definitely name their kids as the first man and wife (who were also siblings but literally made for one another) and the brothers who betrayed and killed each other because not that they know it, but reflects their future.

- season 3 anon in my brainrot of supernatural

YOOOOOOOO WRITE THAT SHIT I WOULD EAT IT UP YEEEEEEEES FINALLY SOME GOOD FUCKING FOOD AROUND HERE

[whimsicallyenchantedrose]

CS Winter Bingo--Square 3 (holiday decorating): A Match Faked for Christmas, ch. 2

Hi there and happy holiday season!  In an attempt to continue procrastinating my season 4 rewatch drabbles–and to not feel guilty about it–I decided to participate in the CS Winter Bingo event.  I received nine winter/holiday related prompts arranged in a square like a bingo card.  My mission is to make a bingo by writing at least three of my prompts before winter is over, but I’m hoping to do better than that!  I’m hoping to finish all nine!  Given the nature of the event, you can expect a lot of fluff (but then what else would you expect from me, after all?)  I’m hoping to keep them short as well, but I’m usually not nearly as successful at that.  And without further ado, let’s play CS Winter Bingo!

Rating: G

Word count: 1391

Today’s prompt: Fake Dating: Holiday Edition

Other chapters: (1) (2) (4) (5) (6)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Match Faked for Christmas–Chapter 2

Killian had expected to spend a rather lonely and boring holiday season.  His brother, his last remaining family, had passed unexpectedly more than five years ago now, and his former girlfriend, Milah, had left him earlier that summer for another man.  (It was the sting of that rejection, in fact, that had led him to relocate to Storybrooke several months ago.)

The result was that he expected to have no one with which to spend the festive season.  Oh, he’d received an invitation to the Christmas party the Nolan’s were hosting on Christmas Eve, but he wasn’t even sure he planned to accept.  There was something supremely depressing about attending a party with a group of happy people when one was not similarly happy.

What he hadn’t expected was Emma Swan.

He’d noticed his next-door neighbor from the moment he moved in next to her.  She was gorgeous, of course, but it was more than that.  There was an undeniable spark, an undeniable attraction far beyond what he would normally feel for a beautiful woman he was just meeting.  He hadn’t felt anything like this at least since the moment he met Milah–maybe not even then.

Belonging.  He felt like they belonged together, as ridiculous as that sounded.

He’d tested the waters upon first meeting her, flirting, showing interest, making it abundantly clear that should she be amenable, he’d love to explore the connection between the two of them.

But she’d made it equally–and rather frostily–clear that she had no interest in his attentions, and so he’d backed off.

When the first cheesy, homemade Christmas card arrived, at first he’d wondered if he’d misjudged the situation.  Perhaps it wasn’t that she’d summarily rejected him.  Perhaps she was simply reserved or shy.  When the second, third and fourth arrived, he’d become suspicious, and when the fifth arrived just as Mary Margaret Nolan went past on her nightly walk with the Nolan’s dog Wilby, he was certain his suspicions had merit.

“Anything interesting in the mail today?” she asked casually–far too casually–as she stopped beside his home.

Oh yes, his instincts were certainly correct.  The handmade cards were far more the bubbly Mary Margaret’s style than the aloof Emma Swan’s.

When the final card arrived, with its overly sappy, romantic sentiment, he knew it was time to discuss the matter with Emma herself.

He didn’t know what he’d expected from the conversation, but one thing was for certain.  He hadn’t expected to return to his home with the new-found title of Fake Boyfriend.

He couldn’t say he was upset with the arrangement.  Being Emma’s boyfriend–even if the relationship was a sham–would necessitate they spend time together, wouldn’t it?  Perhaps the time together and the shared deception would soften the lovely Miss Swan’s heart.  Stranger things had happened, particularly at this magical time of year.

And so it was the day after their bargain was struck, that Killian found himself ambling over to Emma’s door, two steaming mugs of cocoa in hand.

It took her some time to come to the door–so long, in fact that Killian was on the point of leaving–and when she did, it was abundantly clear, he’d woken her.  Her hair was a riotous tumble around her shoulders, she wore plaid pajamas and big fuzzy slippers.  Her eyes were barely open.

Even just rolling out of bed like this, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

“Killian, what the hell are you doing knocking on my door this damn early on a Saturday morning?” she asked, arms crossed angrily in front of her.

“Early?” he asked, breezing past her into her home, “Swan, it’s 10:30 am.”

“On a Saturday,” she reiterated grumpily.

“I apologize for waking you,” he said, holding out one of the styrofoam cups to her. “I come with a peace offering.”

She took the cup without a word, one eyebrow going up as she peered up at him.  Finally she brought it to her lips and took a swig.  “Hot cocoa,” she said appreciatively, cupping her hands around the warm beverage.  “And you added cinnamon! How did you know to add cinnamon?”

He shrugged.  “Took a chance, love,” he said.  “I like it that way, I thought perhaps you might too.”

She took another long sip, humming appreciatively, the sound so primal, it sent a bolt of longing straight through him.  “Well your chance paid off.  Since you plied me with cocoa, I’m feeling significantly less homicidal about you waking me.”

He chuckled. “Glad to hear it.”

“So why are you here,” she asked after a moment.

“Keeping up appearances,” he said cheerfully.  “After all, if we’re to make Mary Margaret Nolan believe that we are in a relationship, we really should spend some time together.”

“I hadn’t thought of that,” she said softly, almost under her breath.  “So what exactly did you have in mind for us to do to keep up appearances.  What should we do to convince the nosy neighbors that we’re an item?”

He raised an eyebrow and grinned mischievously in response, and she chuckled.  “Whatever it is you’re thinking, no.”

He put a dramatic hand to his chest.  “You cut me to the heart, Swan.”

Her chuckle turned to a full blown laugh at that and she playfully swatted his arm.  “You are an idiot.”

He merely grinned–like an idiot–in response.

“So let me rephrase,” she said after a moment.  “What do you have in mind that doesn’t put a look like THAT on your face?”

Killian looked around her sparsely furnished apartment.  “Swan, it’s a week until Christmas and you haven’t got a single decoration up, so I propose that be our couple mission for the day.  We must get you a tree and make this place festive!”

For a long moment he thought she was going to refuse, but finally she nodded.  “Fine, as long as you help me take it down when the season’s over.  Give me few minutes to make myself presentable.”

“You look beautiful already,” he said simply, and his grin grew when her cheeks pinkened at the compliment, “but as to your terms I accept.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

That evening, David Nolan found his wife standing in front of their front window, peering intently across the street.  He chuckled, as he put an arm around her waist.  “You know Mary Margaret, I suspect our neighbors would be none too pleased to know the extent to which you spy on them.”

She turned and gave him a quick kiss before returning her focus to Emma Swan’s home. “They’ll get over it,” she said.  “David, look how well our plan is working!  They’ve spent the whole day together.  Look how happy they are!”

David dutifully looked in the direction his wife was pointing, and had to admit the couple in question did look like they were enjoying their time together.  They’d put a large, full Christmas tree in front of the picture window and had trimmed it with lights, garland, ornaments, talking and laughing as they did so.  Now nearly finished with their task, Emma stepped up on a ladder to place the star on the top.  The angle was awkward, and she leaned precariously, finally placing the topper just right….before windmilling her arms, losing her balance, and falling directly into Killian’s arms down below.

Mary Margaret actually cackled, clapping her hands in delight at that display.  “Just look at them!” she said triumphantly.  The two across the street stood still for a long moment–Emma in Killian’s arms, both looking into each other’s eyes in surprise and perhaps something more.  “At this rate they’ll be engaged by New Years!”

“I wouldn’t bet against you and your matchmaking skills, honey,” he said with a laugh.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Notes: Well, I didn’t manage to include nearly as many cheesy Hallmark movie tropes as I would have liked into this chapter, but I managed to include hot cocoa and “one character falling and the other catching them before staring into each other’s eyes”, lol.

Something tells me this “fake” relationship might not be shaping up to be quite as fake as Emma thinks it is!

Up next: caroling!

NEXT CHAPTER->

[pusha-t2024]

What are the best Christmas songs for a festive party?

As the holiday season approaches, many people are gearing up for festive parties filled with laughter, joy, and celebration. One of the key ingredients to a successful holiday gathering is the music. The right playlist can set the mood, get people dancing, and create unforgettable memories. But with so many options to choose from, what are the Popular Christmas Songs for a festive party? In this blog post, we’ll explore the ultimate playlist that includes upbeat classics, modern hits, and some surprises to ensure your holiday gathering is filled with holiday cheer.

1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

No holiday party playlist is complete without Mariah Carey’s iconic anthem “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” Released in 1994, this upbeat and catchy tune has become a modern Christmas classic. Its joyful lyrics and infectious melody make it perfect for getting everyone in the holiday spirit.

As soon as this song plays, you can expect smiles, dancing, and a sing-along atmosphere. This song perfectly captures the excitement of Christmas, making it a must-have for any festive gathering.

2. “Jingle Bell Rock” by Bobby Helms

“Jingle Bell Rock” is another essential track that brings a lively spirit to any holiday party. Released in 1957, this cheerful song features a catchy rhythm and playful lyrics that make it fun to dance to.

With its blend of rock and roll and traditional Christmas elements, “Jingle Bell Rock” invites everyone to join in the festive fun. It’s an excellent choice for creating an upbeat atmosphere, encouraging guests to hit the dance floor and celebrate together.

3. “Last Christmas” by Wham!

“Last Christmas,” released in 1984, is a classic that has stood the test of time. The song combines a catchy melody with heartfelt lyrics about love and heartbreak during the holidays. Its upbeat yet reflective tone makes it perfect for a festive party atmosphere.

The sing-along quality of this song will have your guests reminiscing about their own holiday experiences while keeping the mood light and festive. It’s a great track to balance out the more upbeat songs on your playlist.

4. “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano

“Feliz Navidad” is a joyful and bilingual Christmas song that captures the spirit of the season. Released in 1970, it features a simple, catchy melody and lyrics that wish listeners a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The infectious energy of “Feliz Navidad” encourages guests to join in on the fun, regardless of their native language. This song is perfect for bringing a multicultural vibe to your holiday party, making it an excellent addition to your playlist.

5. “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” by Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” is a holiday favorite that infuses rock and roll into the classic Christmas tune. The lively tempo and Springsteen’s energetic delivery make this song a crowd-pleaser.

This version of the song captures the excitement of Christmas Eve and encourages everyone to get into the festive spirit. It’s perfect for creating an atmosphere of anticipation and joy, making it ideal for your holiday party playlist.

6. “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love

Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” is a soulful and powerful ballad that has become a holiday staple since its release in 1963. The emotional lyrics and stunning vocal performance resonate with listeners, making it a beautiful addition to any Christmas party playlist.

While this song has a slower tempo, it provides a great moment for guests to pause and appreciate the emotional depth of the holiday season. It’s a perfect choice for creating a warm, heartfelt atmosphere at your gathering.

7. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” is a classic that captures the fun and excitement of holiday celebrations. With its upbeat melody and festive lyrics, this song encourages dancing and merriment, making it ideal for a party atmosphere.

The nostalgic feel of this song brings back memories of Christmas past, adding a layer of warmth and familiarity to your playlist. It’s a fantastic track to keep the energy high during your festive gathering.

8. “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” by Dean Martin

Dean Martin’s smooth rendition of “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” adds a touch of classic charm to your holiday party. This cheerful song evokes cozy imagery of winter weather and the joy of being indoors with loved ones during the holidays.

Its upbeat tempo and catchy melody make it a perfect choice for keeping the festive spirit alive. Guests will enjoy singing along to this classic tune, making it a memorable part of your holiday playlist.

9. “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” is a festive favorite that combines a cheerful melody with playful lyrics. Released in 1979, this song captures the joy of the holiday season and encourages listeners to celebrate with friends and family.

Its upbeat and whimsical nature makes it an excellent addition to your holiday party playlist, providing a sense of joy and lightheartedness that resonates with everyone. This song is perfect for creating a festive atmosphere that encourages mingling and celebration.

10. “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” by John Lennon and Yoko Ono

“Happy Christmas (War Is Over)” is a powerful song that carries a message of peace and goodwill. Released in 1971, it has become an anthem for those who seek to spread love during the holiday season.

The combination of joyful melodies and meaningful lyrics makes it a thoughtful addition to your Christmas party playlist. It’s a great way to remind guests of the true spirit of the season while still enjoying the festive atmosphere.

11. “Snowman” by Sia

Sia’s “Snowman,” from her 2017 album Everyday Is Christmas, is a beautiful modern addition to holiday playlists. With its enchanting melody and heartfelt lyrics, it captures the warmth and magic of the season.

This song is perfect for moments when guests might want to slow down and enjoy a more introspective vibe. It’s a lovely way to balance out the more upbeat tracks while still keeping the holiday spirit alive.

12. “Happy Holidays” by Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby’s “Happy Holidays” is a classic tune that captures the essence of the season. The song’s catchy melody and joyful lyrics make it a timeless choice for any Christmas party.

This track helps set a festive mood, inviting guests to celebrate the spirit of the holidays. It’s an excellent addition to your playlist, ensuring that everyone feels the warmth of the season.

Conclusion: Crafting the Perfect Holiday Playlist

When planning a festive party, the right music can make all the difference in creating a joyful and memorable atmosphere. The Best Christmas Songs include a mix of classic favorites and modern hits that resonate with everyone, encouraging guests to celebrate, sing, and dance.

From upbeat anthems like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” to soulful ballads like Darlene Love’s “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home),” each song brings a unique flavor to your holiday gathering. By incorporating a diverse selection of holiday music, you’ll ensure that your party is filled with joy, warmth, and the festive spirit that defines the Christmas season. So gather your friends and family, put on your favorite Christmas tunes, and let the celebration begin!

[music-industry-updates]

The Top 5 Christmas Songs to fresh the Mood

Christmas is a time of joy, celebration, and nostalgia. One of the most cherished aspects of the holiday season is the music that accompanies it. Certain Christmas songs have stood the test of time, bringing warmth and happiness to generations. These songs have become synonymous with the festive spirit, and their melodies and lyrics are etched in our hearts. In this article, we explore the top 5 Christmas songs that continue to enchant listeners year after year, making them timeless classics.

1. “Silent Night”

History and Origin: “Silent Night” (originally “Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht”) was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber, with lyrics by Joseph Mohr, in the small Austrian town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg. The song was first performed on Christmas Eve at St. Nicholas Church.

Impact on Christmas Traditions: The serene and soothing melody of “Silent Night” has made it a staple in Christmas Eve services and caroling traditions worldwide. It was declared an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2011, solidifying its importance in global holiday customs.

Notable Covers and Renditions: Many artists have covered “Silent Night,” each adding their unique touch. Bing Crosby’s version is one of the best-selling singles of all time, while renditions by Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, and Josh Groban have also received acclaim. Each version brings a fresh interpretation while preserving the song’s peaceful essence.

2. “Jingle Bells”

Background Story and Creation: “Jingle Bells,” originally titled “One Horse Open Sleigh,” was written by James Lord Pierpont in 1857. Though initially intended for Thanksgiving, its catchy tune and festive lyrics quickly made it a Christmas favorite.

Influence on Holiday Culture: The song’s lively and cheerful nature makes it perfect for Christmas celebrations, from school performances to community caroling events. “Jingle Bells” captures the fun and excitement of the holiday season, contributing significantly to its cultural prominence.

Memorable Performances: “Jingle Bells” has been performed by numerous artists, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Michael Bublé. Its versatility allows for various musical styles, from jazz and pop to rock and classical, making it a perennial favorite across generations.

3. “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby

Songwriting and Initial Reception: Written by Irving Berlin in 1942, “White Christmas” was first performed by Bing Crosby on his radio show. The song quickly became a massive hit, providing comfort and nostalgia during World War II. It won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in the film “Holiday Inn.”

Bing Crosby’s Iconic Version: Crosby’s rendition of “White Christmas” is the best-selling single of all time, with over 50 million copies sold worldwide. His smooth, warm voice perfectly captures the longing for a snowy, picturesque Christmas.

Cultural Significance and Awards: “White Christmas” has become a symbol of holiday nostalgia and sentimentality. Its enduring popularity is evident in its frequent airplay during the Christmas season and its inclusion in numerous holiday compilations. The song’s success has cemented Bing Crosby’s legacy as the voice of Christmas.

4. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey

Creation and Release: Released in 1994, Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” was co-written and co-produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. Despite being a relatively modern addition to Christmas music, it has achieved iconic status.

Chart Performance and Sales Records: The song has consistently charted during the holiday season since its release, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 multiple times. It has sold over 16 million copies globally, making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Modern Classic Status and Its Impact on Contemporary Christmas Music: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has influenced contemporary Christmas music with its upbeat, festive energy and catchy melody. Its enduring popularity has solidified its place as a modern holiday classic, inspiring countless covers and adaptations.

5. “Feliz Navidad” by José Feliciano

Inspiration and Composition: José Feliciano wrote “Feliz Navidad” in 1970, blending English and Spanish lyrics to create a bilingual Christmas song that celebrates the festive season’s joy and unity.

Global Reach and Popularity: The song’s simple, heartfelt lyrics and infectious melody have made it a worldwide favorite. “Feliz Navidad” is especially popular in Spanish-speaking countries, but its universal appeal has crossed cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Unique Bilingual Appeal: “Feliz Navidad” stands out for its bilingual nature, bringing together diverse audiences in a shared celebration of Christmas. Feliciano’s warm, inviting voice adds to the song’s charm, making it a beloved holiday staple.

Conclusion: These Christmas songs have become integral parts of holiday celebrations worldwide. Their melodies and lyrics continue to evoke the festive spirit, making them enduring favorites for all ages. Whether through the serene calm of “Silent Night” or the joyous energy of “Jingle Bells,” these songs capture the essence of Christmas, bringing warmth, joy, and nostalgia to listeners year after year.

[run-aled]

RED VALLEY: WHILE YOU WERE HYPERSLEEPING‘Part Four’

[transcript]

SCENE 1

THE CRYOSUITE. GORDON BUSTLES IN WITH A BOX UNDER HIS ARM.

GORDON: Eyyy! It's only bloody Christmas Eve! Hi Warren. Thought I'd come down and spend some of the evening with you.

GORDON MAKES A FUSS OF SITTING HIMSELF DOWN AND RUMMAGING IN HIS BOX NEXT TO HIM.

GORDON: I had a poke around in the cupboards and found some Christmas shit. There's a little 8 inch silver Christmas tree here made of tinsel. Look… you can have that. Oh… And speaking of tinsel...yikes.

GORDON PULLS TINSEL OUT OF THE BOX, STANDS UP AND DRAPES IT OVER THE POD.

GORDON: There. That fits quite nicely. Oh… Right - the piece of resistance...music.

GORDON PULLS OUT A TAPE RECORDER AND A TAPE.

GORDON: This is 'O Little Town of Bethmayhem', one of Pus Crank’s festive rock medleys. They were a regular fixture at the annual Unholy Night Christmas all-dayer at the club in my hometown. Ah… You would've loved it.

HE LETS THE MUSIC PLAY FOR A MOMENT.

GORDON: So, you look good. I mean your pod looks good. The bleep bloops sound happy. This pod is far more advanced than the ones used on other subjects that I've seen or read about. It's much smaller. More, uh, coffin-sized. Like umm, Spock's coffin in Wrath of Khan. It would fit nicely into a photon torpedo chute, I think? It's fully portable… apparently. They told me it can run on battery power for 100 years, Lightweight alloy, the wheelspop out the bottom if I press the unlock-

HE PRESSES IT. THE HISS OF HYDRAULICS AND A LITTLE BLEEPING ALARM AS THE POD UNLOCKS AND RELEASES IT'S WHEELS.

GORDON: Oh shit. Ah no, Shit. Lock. Lock. Lock. Lock. Lock.

IT HISSES BACK DOWN AGAIN.

GORDON: Christ.

PAUSE.

GORDON: Anyway. Tis the season, so thought I'd make this a themed visit. You had a Christmas here, Warren. Maybe not all that different to mine. Let’s see how that went shall we. Here's your Ghost of Christmas Past. We're Warren and Gordon, woooooooooo!

HE TURNS OFF THE MUSIC AND HITS PLAY ON HIS OWN TAPE RECORDER. WARREN IS MAKING HIS WAY THROUGH THE MESS ROOM ON CHRISTMAS EVE, 2018.

WARREN: Ding dong merrily on high. I’m making a recording. Youjoin me here at Red Valley, area of outstanding natural misery, National Heritage site of historical tedium, on Christmas Eve. At least, I think it's Christmas Eve. There aren't many indicators out here, I'm just going off a very small desk calendar from the office. Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer still won't even tell me their names, much less the actual date. Even now, when it's just me and them, they tap their little Overhead barcode ID badge and tell me it’s not my concern.

WARREN: I digress. It's bloody Christmas Eve, allegedly! It's 10:45 in the evening and this is Warren Godby, coming live from the Red Valley mess room with a warm bottle of dessert wine, seeing in the birthday of our lord and saviour by treating myself to a Christmas movie. Well,perhaps not an actual bona fide Christmas movie per se, because the collection here appears to contain no discernible festive...oh wait… Jingle All The Way. Two? Jingle All The Way Two? Who made a sequel to Jingle All The - WWE Studios? What the fuck is this?

HE FRISBEES IT.

WARREN: Actually, this DVD collection appears to have been lifted wholesale from Second Time Around. I think every second-hand place has more or less the same collection. Romcoms with red titles on white backgrounds, yes...not one but two copies of The Day After Tomorrow, yes...ex rental copy of The Passion of the Christ, never saw it, save it for Easter...Ah...the unwanted garbage sequel category...Godfather 3, Die Hard 5, Terminator: Genisys, ugh, Prometheus...come on...oh, wait, A Christmas Carol. Oh for fuck sake, CGI Jim Carrey version! Is it too much to ask for a muppet?

THROWS IT BACK.

CUT TO: TIME HAS PASSED. WARREN IS ON THE SOFA.

WARREN: So… Rodrigo didn't make it out of the final test on Tuesday. I came out first, I was in the recovery bay when whatever happened happened. They won't tell me what took place of course. But he's definitely dead. Saw Rumpleteazer mopping up the corridor afterwards. Not as bad as with Ryan, er… they were sponging down the cryosuite for half a day after whatever they did to him. Was he...when was that, was he… was he … was hethird or fourth to go? Why can't I remember that?

WARREN: I thought Rodrigo was going to win. He was young, barely mid-20s, pretty fit. Massive thighs. He was an addict, I knew that much. That was probably it. Still I… I thought he'd last longer than me.

WARREN: I don't really know what happens now. Just Mungojerrie left to tend to the place over the festive season, must've drawn the short straw. Halbech and Rumpleteazer disappeared a couple of days ago. They left in a truck instead of getting picked up by the usual helicopter.Bunch of Overhead roadies jumped out, packed up a lot of stuff this time. Definitely get the feeling that things are wrapping up round here. Jerrie’s in the farmhouse… don't know what he's up to. All looks cosy from here.

WARREN: It's not my first Christmas alone. I actually prefer them that way. Infinitely superior to the holidays I used to have growing up. Boo hoo… Woe is me, getting maudlin. Anyway, I expect whatever the next test is, it'll be the last one. So, let’s make the most of the night. Maybe I'll give Prometheus another shot. How bad can it be. Toodle pip.

CUT FOR THAT ENTRY, BUT THE TAPE ROLLS ON.

GORDON: Well, that wasn't quite the festive cheer I was hoping for, but hey, you're the one who-

WARREN CUTS IN.

WARREN: Oh my god. Oh my god. What was I thinking? Why...why was Guy Pearce even in that movie, why wouldn't you just hire an old person to play an old person...why did they run away from the doughnut spaceship when it was falling over in that direction, if they just turned 90 degrees and they wouldn’t have... forget it. Fine, Let’s do it, CGI Christmas Carol. Goodnight.

PAUSE.

GORDON: Okay. Do we think you're finished or-

BLUE SKY: Sorry, are you talking to me?

GORDON: No, I'm not talking to you. We're still not tal-

WARREN: Why would Robert Zemeckis dedicate so much time to making so many films about creepy dead eyed PlayStation characters? Why? What do you gain? Creepy android Jim Carrey as Ebenezer Scrooge, if Michael Caine was here, he'd step on your fucking neck-

CUT.

BLUE SKY: I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.

GORDON: Warren doesn't enjoy the motion capture period of the director Robert Zemeckis.

BLUE SKY: Robert Zemeckis is a film director who came to promi-

GORDON: I know!

WARREN: Who asked for more Die Hards? Who the fuck is Jai Courtney? No one knows!

GORDON: I'm sure I had some kind of plan for the Ghost of Christmas Present section of all this, but I've completely forgotten it.

WARREN: He’s here. He's in Terminator: Genisys as well! Who the fuck is this guy? How is he playing the son of John McClane and Kyle Reese-

BLUE SKY: Jai Courtney is an Australian actor-

GORDON: Oh my god! Everyone stop talking!

THE TAPE STOPS.

GORDON: Jesus. Well, this was remarkably similar to a family Christmas at my parents’ house, so thanks for that little triggering episode. I think I need some freezing cold air.

GORDON GETS UP TO LEAVE.

GORDON: Oh! Wait! I forgot the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come! Bit of a reach this but it's the best I could do in these uncertain times. A voicemail I got last night.

GORDON HITS VOICEMAIL ON HIS PHONE AND TURNS THE SPEAKER UP LOUD.

VOICEMAIL: Message received at 23:40 p.m. on Monday the 23rd of December.

A PARTY, IN A PUB MAYBE. CLIVE SCHILL, DRUNK, TO THE MELODY OF SILENT NIGHT:

CLIVE: Gordon night, Porlock night, Fuck this up, I'll set you on fire, alight, that's better, I'll set you alight.

CLIVE DROPS HIS PHONE.

VOICEMAIL: Next message received yesterday at 23:43 p.m. on Monday the 23rd of December.

CLIVE: Away in a Gordon, a dick on his head, the little lord Gordon is such a dickhead, I'll be coming in January to see how you are, if you've messed up anything I'll hit you with my car. I'll actually be coming in a helicopter though. A hel-ee-cop-tahh. Merry Christmas bitch, see you soon, love to Warren, kisses, what a dick. Oh hello darling, sorry Daddy was just making a phone call to one of his special frien-

GORDON TURNS OFF THE VOICEMAIL, AND SPENDS A MOMENT CHANGING THE TAPE BACK TO PUS CRANK.

GORDON: So that's something to look forward to, isn't it. I'll leave the music with you for a while. Look… I'll be back tomorrow, we can sing some carols or something. Merry Christmas, Warren.

HE TURNS PUS CRANK BACK UP AND WALKS AWAY.

CUT TO:OUTSIDE THE STATION. IT'S DARK, EVENING. LITTLE BREEZE, JUST SNOW FALLING SOFTLY. GORDON HAS LIT A BONFIRE. IT CRACKLES AS HE STANDS BY IT, STAMPING HIS FEET TRYING TO WARM UP.

GORDON: Personal log. It’s Christmas Eve. Oh, no, it’s it's actually Christmas Day now. I lit a fire with the left over wood. Thought it would be a problem with the snow falling but I tossed the dregs of some anaesthetic vapour over it. Nearly took my bloody eyebrows off.

THE FIRE CRACKLES AS GORDON THINKS.

GORDON: Don't know what I was thinking expecting anything cheerful to come from Warren's Christmas Eve. Bit of blind festive optimism I suppose. Anyway, that was actually his last tape. So, I know what happened next. They went for the big one, they put him under properly. Just like he is now. You know… I haven't really talked about what happened that first night here. Bryony let me watch it all. And I did, I stood there and I watched. They put him under general anaesthetic, put a tube in his mouth to ventilate him, started putting all these lines in his arteries and veins. They put gunk in his eyes to protect them and covered them up with goggles. They gave him an infusion to bring down his core temperature.

GORDON: Then… they transferred him into that pod, the giant cigar tube. No one was concerned. Except me. The pod then filled with water, or what looked like water. You could feel the cold coming off it. They let me touch it. It's like er… jelly. And all the time his heart is slowing, all the beeps are dropping in tone and pace and it looked like no one wanted to help, that they were just going to watch him… die.

GORDON: And then it all went quiet. And then the most absurd little ring tone noise, like when Sonic gets an extra life or something. And he was...hypersleeping. And I went to my new bedroom and had a panic attack. So... er, yeah… there we go! A little taste of life at Red Valley.

GORDON COMES OUT OF HIS THOUGHTS AND STEPS BACK FROM THE FIRE, GOING TO PICK UP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HE BROUGHT WITH HIM.

GORDON: The fire’s gone down now. I could let the snow put it out but it’s much more fun using the fire extinguisher, never used one in the real world, but here I use it all the time.

WITH A LOUD HISS GORDON LETS RIP, PUTTING OUT THE FIRE IN A FEW SECONDS.

GORDON: Yippee ki yay Mother Hubbard! THE FIRE HISSES AS IT DIES.GORDON: There is something to being out here all alone in the dark. You can be completely...honest.

HE THINKS FOR A MOMENT, BEFORE YELLING TO THE SKIES:

GORDON: I WATCHED PROMETHEUS THE OTHER NIGHT AND I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THAT BAAAAAAAAD!

SUDDENLY, IN THE DISTANCE, A SOUND. A CAR ENGINE STARTING.

GORDON: What was that?

HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON.

GORDON: What the...Hey!

HE STARTS TO RUN TO THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. THE CAR, OR VAN, OR WHATEVER IT IS, STARTS PULLING A THREE POINT TURN, TO LEAVE.

GORDON: Hey! If you didn't want to be seen, don't shine your full beams at me! Hey! I didn't mean that about Prometheus! Come back!

THE VEHICLE HAS TURNED AND WITH A CRUNCH OF GEARS AND WHEEL SPIN ON GRAVEL, DEPARTS. GORDON RUNS ON FOR ANOTHER MOMENT BEFORE GIVING UP.

GORDON: You better have been Santa!

HE TAKES A MOMENT TO CATCH HIS BREATH.

GORDON: Does Santa drive a camper van?

END.

[theragethatisdesire]

this did way too much to my brain so .....AOT boys as seasons ⚘

Eren

eren is so autumn-coded to me

loves sweaters and hoodies, big slouchy layers to combat the morning chill

maybe this is too self-shippy, but i'm obsessed with halloween being his favorite holiday

i hc eren as a HUGE horror fan

like every october he handpicks 31 of his favorite scary movies for an ABC-family style countdown until halloween

buys his daughter a little freddy krueger crewneck to match his

10000% wants to do ghostface roleplay

in college, he loves it because he can get drunk for an entire week with his friends and enjoy all the slutty costume ideas you come up with

as an adult, he goes HARD. like big corny blowups in the front yard, dresses up to hand out candy every year, takes your kids to every single trick or treating event in town

would have way too much fun carving pumpkins. buys like 5 just for himself so he can "test out all my ideas! what if i mess one up? i need a spare!"

drags you to haunted houses, hay rides, any sort of fall activity because he just loves it

Jean

y'all disappointed me on my cruel summer poll bc jean is a summer baby through and through

worked as a lifeguard every summer in high school and made some of the best memories of his life

secretly obsessed with the mamma mia soundtrack because it "sounds like summer"

loves to host a cookout. like, demands all of your friends make themselves free every sunday night to come over because he's strapping on his "kiss the chef" apron and grilling out

swears it isn't his favorite season just because you're wearing barely any clothes for 4 months. he has other reasons he just......can't always remember them when you're laying out in a bikini

totally buys a giant waterslide and leaves it in the backyard all summer for the neighborhood kids

jean's a big concert guy. his happy place is at an outdoor cover band concert in mid-july with an ice cold beer and your hand locked in his <3

life goal is to save enough money for a summer home so his kids can create summer memories in a special little town on the coast

Reiner

winter baby. such a winter baby.

not religious, but his favorite holiday is christmas. he loves all the pretty decorations, the music, and picking gifts for all of his loved ones

actually a damn good gift wrapper, like he's got you beat

1000000% dresses up as santa every year for the neighborhood kids and invites them all over to meet santa on christmas eve. like come hell or high water, he's putting that damn suit on and getting the kids on his lap

has to live somewhere it snows so he can build snowmen and sled with his kids

loves NYE too, the thought of a fresh start every 365 days is appealing to him

he loves all the opportunities he has to spoil you and show you how loved you are (christmas, valentine's, etc)

favorite movie is rudolph, he annoys the shit out of you every day humming it under his breath

always wants to host christmas eve dinner, like a massive party with all of your friends and family and eventually the kiddos, even goes so far as to convince everyone to sleep over and leave the santa presents under your tree for the kids in the morning this happens so regularly that all your friends' kids are convinced that "santa only comes to uncle reiner's house!!" nothing makes reiner happier than a full house on christmas morning <3 <3 <3

THANK YOU SO MUCH OP FOR LETTING ME BRAIN ROT UNDER UR POST like such a wonderful prompt :)

What season would you describe your relationship with your fav/s as?

[hwajin]

#! — ғʟᴜғғʏ ᴡɪɴᴛᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴋᴢ

genre: fluff

pairing: skz x gn!reader

note: i'm so hyped for christmas and i LOVE the time right before the holidays so here's a couple headcanons for the season jfjejdne, enjoy and happy holidays to everyone celebrating and a warm and cozy time to everyone who isn't <3

ᴄʜᴀɴ

sir makes an advent calender for you for sure 😩😩. like he doesn't buy one, he goes the extra mile and gets an idea to make 24 special presents for you HIMSELF (all of them rather small becasue he doesn't want them to overshine the main present on christmas eve, yet thoughtful enough for you to absolutely MELT at the fact he put so much effort into a seemingly irrelevant thing such as an advent calender???). honestly, in general, pre christmas and winter time, december all throughout january, is SO incredibly soft with this man. cuddles all the way, if not in bed cuz he has to work then on his lap WHILE he's working fr. both of you in hoodies of his, both of you in fluffy socks that keep you warm. you dozing off at some point, him giggling about it and taking a pic to keep the memory, and it's just all so warm and soft and cuddly :(((

ᴍɪɴʜᴏ

COOKS SO MUCH FOR YOU 😩😩. like he's in charge for christmas dinner so he needs to run some test meals and it's convenient that you're there cuz you can just taste test everything <33. is so sweet when he runs up to you with a hot spoon in his hand and tells you to blow first before digging in. in general the whole of december is very sweet with him but on a very lowkey level. he wouldn't go all in with being overly romantic, wouldn't die to visit winter markets with you — but seeing how much you like the sparkling lights that illuminate the city and how much joy it brings you to stroll around, kicking the snow beneath your feet, he can't help it and sees himself wishing to go out for yet another walk in the cold with you. oh and you can BET there's gonna be endless snowball fights. like endless. lino'd definitely keep track of who won last time and either is trying to get a revenge or would egg you on to get back at him. really just for the fun of it, he loves sillying around with you whenever you step foot into the snow <3.

ᴄʜᴀɴ��ʙɪɴ

ice skating dates allll the way, and winter market strolls!! boy is definitely a sucker for everything sweet and romantic around christmas and is so soft with you throughout all of december (he is always, but when the temperatures are cold it feels like he's this much more drawn to you, searching for warmth in your embrace and providing you with a warming body as well). and he eats SO much with you omg!!! like when you remind him of dieting or healthy eating man's is JUDGING YOU SO HARD cuz when else would you be able to go to a winter market when the snow is falling and order some chocolate covered fruits and roasted almonds and drink mulled wine and get all comfy and tired and sleepy together and end up sharing drunken kisses on your way home??? like that is a ONCE in a life time experience and he will throw every principle of healthy eating out the window if it means munching and sipping stuff in your company <333.

ʜʏᴜɴᴊɪɴ

SO IN LOVE WITH CHRISTMAS R U KIDDING. christmas time and especially pre christmas time is the very best with him. when you wake up to see it snowing — mind you, especially if it's the first ever snow this year — he will get so sappy and romantic and be all like 'we're soulmates now cuz we saw the first snow together' and he'll stay cuddling you for a while longer SUFFOCATING YOU before begging to go out with him to feel the falling snow on his face and hands. will also ADORE visiting winter markets with you, having some wintery food like roasted almonds and mulled wine which he gets so sleepy from. like he loves watching ppl being happy and winter markets give him the perfect view for it — most importantly loves seeing you happy tho, and the smile you have painted on your face while strolling around with him is unbeatable. also fucking loves to simply cuddle up at home with just the two of you alone and unbothered, not necessarily watching a movie even, but simply sitting and being warm together. like that's all he needs to be happy fr.

ᴊɪsᴜɴɢ

i feel like boy loves mulled wine so much you'd have to carry him home because he never learns and drinks WAY too fucking much because it's so tasty and ends up barely able to stand up straight. also just very loves all the snacks and cookies and sweets around the holidays, like will buy so much ginger bread it's crazy you'll end up eating it up until like february. OH AND GINGER BREAD HOUSE COMPETITIONS !!!! like he'd see it on tiktok at some point, people competing in building ginger bread houses and he simply NEEDS to know who'd win between the two of you. you'd blast some christmas playlist — not before going to shop for the ingrediants together and probably forgetting a couple because you just can't coordinate — and you'd set a timer to add a bit to the competition feeling. hanji SINGS his lungs out on every single christmas song, tries outsinging mariah carey and at some point you can't help but ask him to tone it down because your ears — as good of a singer as he is — can only take this much.

ғᴇʟɪx

BAKING DATES. LOTS OF THEM. like he loves baking normally anyways but doesn't want to overdo it if there's no occassion, but winter calls for baking millions of cookies on end and handing them out to every single friend he has (and their families, he just loves spoiling people). and he finds it so cute when the two of you get to bake together, like especially if you're normally not a big baker he LOVES kinda teaching and guiding you on what to do. every baking session would end up kinda messily because of mysterious reasons (you claim tho that it's never your fault the cookies look a bit ugly or are way sweeter than they should be), but despite that both you and him can laugh about it, enjoying that not everything has to go perfect for the both of you to have fun. is definitely a fan of winter markets, mentions WAY too often that it's WAY too cold tho so he prefers to stay home with you, cuddling up on the sofa with classic christmas movies and being all fuzzy and warm and soft <33.

sᴇᴜɴɢᴍɪɴ

is such a perfectionist when decorating the house OMG. you'd go decoration shopping with him, setting on a vibe and theme before spending WAY too much money and ending up only using like half the stuff anyways. and tho he has to say a LOT about where certain stuff should be hanging it's nevertheless so much fun to spend the time with him, getting your own four walls looking as pretty and wintery as ever. he'd be teasing you so much for no good reason other than to annoy you (and because he loves how much you always react to it), like messing with the christmas ball you want to hang up on the tree, or putting sparkly garlands around your neck, or suddenly coming up to you and planting a kiss right to your lips and watching you get incredibly flustered. omg and singing christmas songs with him??? or like, listening to him sing more than you singing yourself, but whenever a classic plays on the radio he hums with it and it warms your heart so so much you melt into a small puddle upon his voice filling the warm home.

ᴊᴇᴏɴɢɪɴ

no cuz boy is so soft throughout winter :(((. i know he plans your present months prior so he's all set for WEEKS simply to not stress over gifts, especially for you. puts lots of thought into the present as well, important to get you something meaningful that you'd be able to remember him by. the moment the first snow falls he's DRAGGING you outside with him, having snowball fights and building snowpeople and tackling you onto the ground to make snow angels <33. OMG and do y'all know those snow duck presses??? the ones where you put some snow in between and press together and a snow duck appears??? he'd have ordered it early enough to be SO prepared to use it when there's enough snow outside, making a whole army of little snow ducks and taking pics of them with you and him in front <333.

@leihey @happycandynoelle @hyvndee @cotccotc @etherealeeknow @linoskitty @unexceptional-h @rseanne @diue @es-kay-zee @urcracksisx @jeyelleohe @yunkiwii @meloohmel @nyrasneedy @seochhj @spidercomics @chans-starlight @angelwonie @lix-ables @yvniek4ng @ppiri-bahng @sstarryreads @svintsandghosts

[the-blind-assassin-12]

🎁🎁🎁 Lovely Weather

A SNEAKRET SANTA GIFT DRABBLE

A/N: Merry December and Happy Holidays, everyone!  Don’t mind me, I’m just here to leave another gift under the tree. These are my way of giving back to some of the lovely content creators here whose work brings me joy. I tried to personalize them a little bit for each person they’re dedicated to, but they’re just as much my gift to anyone who has ever shared their work or who has ever read mine. Thank you for being lovely <3

Gift Tag: @writeforfandoms - Who had this to say what I presented her with a choice of characters: “ijhfe;wnofhnwe you were not kidding when you said tough question.” But ultimately Jack won out, and I went with snowflakes, mittens & sleigh ride for the prompts. Jen, I hope this makes up for that devastatingly tough question. I hope it makes you smile and fills you with the kind of fluffy warmth that I feel whenever I read one of your stories. Thank you for being so lovely, and I hope you have the happiest, warmest holiday season! 

 WC: 2,880

Warnings: none. it’s 110% fluff.

“And last but not least, let’s get a look at our holiday weekend weather!”

The sound of a scissor blade being dragged along a length of bright red ribbon filled the few seconds of silence between the newscaster sending things over to the meteorologist, but Jack still heard you suck in an anticipatory breath. Raising his eyes from the tablet in his hand - he’d been reviewing some data that Ginger sent him regarding a prototypical weapon that would be available for testing in the new year - he looked over at you and had to hide the slight grin that pulled at the corner of his mouth. You were staring at the screen, scissors still in hand as you let the coiled ribbon bounce back toward the gift it was secured around, and he could almost hear the hopes and wishes that were swirling in your thoughts. 

Don’t you worry, gorgeous, there’ll be plenty of snow where we’re goin’. 

You didn’t know that yet though, so he kept quiet and watched as you waited to hear what the forecast would be. 

“Thanks Jodi,” the meteorologist said, standing in front of a map of Kentucky. “And it’s looking like a pretty mild one again, folks, which is great news for anyone who is planning to travel to see family or loved ones this year.” The radar screen circled around again, a few tiny splotches of light green popping up to indicate some patchy rain moving through the Louisville area on Christmas Eve the only precipitation showing anywhere on the map. The camera panned back out to show the weather person again, and with an apologetic wince they continued their segment. “But for anyone out there dreaming of a white Christmas, it looks like you’ll be waiting at least one more year.” 

You let out an audible sigh, Jack noticing the sag of your shoulders as the meteorologist handed the broadcast back over to the main newscasters, and even though he knew it would be better to keep his plan a surprise, he hated seeing you let down even if it was only temporary. It’ll be worth it though, he reminded himself. 

Still, he wasn’t about to let you stew in disappointment. “Hey darlin’.” He leaned forward to set the device he’d been scrolling through down on the wagon-wheel coffee table, head tilted to one side as you turned to look at him. “I’m sorry you didn’t hear what you wanted to.” Even though it's better that there won’t be any snow here, because then I won’t have any trouble with-  

Your expression softened, the lights from the tree and the ones hung around the window frame reflecting in your eyes and making your cheeks glow, and the sight scrambled the rest of his thoughts. “It’s alright, Jack.” Moving the gift you’d just finished wrapping into place under the tree, you shifted to your knees and faced him fully. A small huff of a laugh left your lips as you shrugged. “I knew it was a long shot, I was just…” 

Reaching for your hand, he pulled you from the carpet and up onto the couch. “You were holdin’ out for some holiday magic, hmm?” He let you get settled against him and then wound his arm around you, tugging you close enough to press a kiss to the side of your head. 

You hummed in response, one hand coming up to rest in the center of his chest. “I guess I was.” With another sigh, this one far less disappointed, you laid your cheek on his shoulder. “But I’ve got all the magic I need right here.” 

That made him laugh even as it warmed his whole being. “Well shucks, gorgeous, I know I’m good with rope tricks, but I ain’t sure that qualifies as magic.” 

Picking your head up, you rolled your eyes and gave him a playful smack. “You know what I meant, Daniels.” I do. The hand over his heart moved up so that your fingertips could trace the edge of one of the open buttons on the henley he wore. “I’m glad we were both able to get the time off. Spending the holidays with you is all I actually care about.” Your lips met the exposed skin just over the top of his collar, Jack tightening his grasp on you. “Snow just would have been the cherry on top.” 

Having grown up in sunny, southern California, Jack knew that the opportunity for you to have had a white Christmas was less than zero. Instead of snowball fights and hot chocolate, you’d spent your winter holidays as a kid on the beach with your siblings and your friends, building sandcastles instead of snow forts. Though you secretly always longed for the big, puffy flakes and frosty blanket, snowmen and sleigh rides and everything else that you’d seen in holiday movies, it wasn’t until you took the internship at the distillery in 2011 - and moved to Kentucky - that you actually thought it might be possible. 

“Just my luck that the last white Christmas in Louisville happened the year before I moved here, huh?” You’d since moved up within the organization, switching over from being a distillery employee to working in research and development for Statesman, opting to stay in Kentucky for the long and snowless haul. 

Jack let out a snort. “Wasn’t much more than an inch of powder,” he recalled, rubbing his palm up and down your bicep, “and it was gone by supper time.” 

You held up the finger you’d been touching him with, lifting your head as well so you could look him in the eye. “Still counts.”

“I guess it does.” Gonna be a whole lot more than that when we get up north. Wanting to keep his surprise under wraps until the last moment, Jack changed the subject. “Speakin’a weather, you hear from your parents? Their flight get in alright over in London?” 

Your brother had moved overseas a few years back after a long study abroad stint, finding a job and then a husband, settling down in the outskirts of the sprawling city. Since then, your parents had alternated between spending the holidays in the US with you and Jack, and traveling to spend time with Paul and Cal. They also occasionally made the trek across the Atlantic, but since you were only ever guaranteed a handful of days off surrounding the winter holidays, you rarely got the chance to do the same. This year you only had off from the 24th to the 26th of December, Jack likely having to go in the day after Christmas, or at the very least attend a virtual meeting via his glasses, so a trip to England was simply not in the cards. 

A trip up to the Adirondacks, though? That was definitely in the cards

“They did.” You answered his question and he nodded. “My mom called to let me know they landed while I was in my office this afternoon.” 

“Good.” A yawn broke free then, and Jack didn’t even try to stifle it. “You all finished wrapping gifts for the night?” 

“Yup,” you responded. “Just need to clean up and-” Then it was you who couldn’t keep a yawn from escaping.

“And then I think we should get some shut eye.” Need to get a good night’s rest so I’m sharp for the mornin’. “What d’you say?” 

Standing so that you could start to gather up and put away the wrapping paper, ribbons, labels, tape, scissors and other tools and decorations that Jack didn’t know what to call, you took his hands in yours and pulled him to his feet as well. “Sounds good to me, Jack.” You bumped your nose against his and then dropped a kiss to the corner of his mouth, where the bristles of his mustache met his lip. “See you in the bedroom.” 

– – – 

Both of you had fallen asleep quickly, the last few days at HQ having been packed ones in order to get things done in time for the holiday, and though Jack would have liked to let you sleep in the following morning, he couldn’t. Because the sooner we get goin’, the better. 

Waking you with a kiss, he waited for you to blink your eyes open, and when you did, the sleepy smile on your face felt like sunshine. “G’morning, gorgeous,” he greeted you through a grin of his own. 

“Hey, you,” you responded through a sigh, reaching up to wipe at your eyes. “What time is it, Jack? Why are you…” You groaned and shifted closer to him, seeking out the warmth of his body beneath the sheets. “We’re off, Agent Whiskey,” you mumbled. “We should be sleeping.” 

“Well, I’m afraid we’re not, darlin’.” It wasn’t the truth, and he didn’t like tricking you, but there was no other way to get you to HQ without raising too many questions, and he had to get you there, because that’s where the Silver Pony waited, all fueled up and packed with bags that Jack had put together for both of you the day before. 

That got your attention fast, and your eyes flew open as you propped yourself up on one elbow. “What?! What happened? Everything okay? I-” 

“Woah, woah there, easy, Iain’t sure yet what’s goin’ on. Just woke up to a message from Ginger sayin’ we needed to report soon as we could.” Jutting his chin in the direction of your nightstand where your work tablet sat next to your phone, he went on. “You probably got the same message. You can check it.” 

Sighing, you rolled to your other side and picked up the device. Sure enough there was a message from Ginger - one that Jack knew would be there because he had asked the woman to send it to you. Thanks, Ginger Ale, you’re a lifesaver. You pressed the heel of your palm into your eye and let out another sigh. “You’re right, I did get one, too.” Setting the device down, you sat all the way up, suddenly alert. “Says to report to the hanger, so I guess that means field work? Why would I need to go to-” 

“Not sure.” Jack shrugged and leaned in to kiss your cheek. “But I know if we don’t shake a leg she’s just gonna keep on sendin’ ‘em, and…” He trailed off and you nodded. 

“No, you’re right.” You tipped your head back to stretch your neck, taking a deep breath through your nose and then releasing it slowly. “Let’s get going, Jack.” 

“I’ll go start some coffee,” he said. “Can you be ready in ten?” 

Throwing the cover back, you swung your legs over the side of the bed. Even though Jack knew that you weren’t thrilled about the prospect of being called into work on the morning of Christmas Eve, you winked at him. “Be ready in seven.”

Perfect.

– – – 

Jack had intended to let the surprise go for as long as he could, but the second that you arrived at the hangar and it was empty, you knew that something was up. Your steps echoes in the large space, and you raised a brow in confusion. “Jack? What’s going on? Where’s Ginger? Where’s Champ or… anyone?” 

“Now, don’t be mad,” he said with a smirk as the two of you stepped up next to the sleek jet. “But there ain’t no mission, and we’re not here on Statesman business.” 

You scrunched your face, still clearly confused. “What? Then… why are we here instead of still at home in bed, Daniels?” 

Lifting one hand, Jack patted the metallic paneling of the plane. “Because we have got somewhere to be this weekend, and I don’t think you’ll mind so much once we get there.” 

That was all he gave you, along with a wink, and then he pressed the button that would open the passenger hatch, helping you up into it. He felt his heart swell at the trust that you placed in him, and then the two of you were in the air and on your way. 

Once Jack got the Pony off the runway and into the air, it didn’t take long for you to notice what direction he was flying in. “Are we… are we going to New York?” Cat’s outta the bag now. 

He knew that you meant the city when you asked, since that was where Statesman had another office in the Northeast, and since it wasn’t a lie he didn’t correct you. “Yes ma’am,” he answered. “Good eye.” 

You hadn’t said much after that, the headsets making communication possible but not convenient as you sat directly behind him, and you’d opted to simply look out the window at the world below you. But when he neared the metropolis and didn’t start to perform descent maneuvers, you spoke up again. “Jack? I think you overshot the city, I-” 

“I said, we were goin’ to New York, darlin’. I never said anything about the city.” 

“Upstate?” You asked, and Jack could hear the excitement in your voice.  “Jack? Are we going up-” 

“Hold tight,” he told you. “You’ll see soon enough.” 

And he was right, the flight coming to an end less than a half hour later at a small private airfield where the runways and tarmac were all clear - but the surrounding ground, trees, buildings and cars were covered by several inches of glittering snow. As he helped you down and out of the jet, your eyes widened and your mouth dropped open. 

“Jack…” Your voice was quiet and he knew that it was because you were taking it all in. “Jack, you…” 

Using your still joined hands, he tugged you into his chest and wrapped you in his arms. “How's this for a white Christmas, hmm? Better’n a little dusting down in Louisville?” 

You laughed, though there were tears of joy forming in the corners of your eyes. Jack swept them away so they wouldn’t freeze on your lashes. “Yeah, I’d say so, cowboy.” 

He grinned. Nice segway. “I didn’t fly you up here just to stand on the runway though, sugarplum. Got somethin’ else up my sleeve. But first I think we should bundle up, because it’s only gonna get snowier from here.” 

A glee-filled expression lit your face then as you let out a breathless sigh. “Lead the way, then.” 

– – – 

You got to the ranch about twenty minutes later, layering up in the backseat of the car that had been waiting for you at the airfield. There had been snow jackets and thick, water-proof pants, scarves, hats and mittens in the bags that Jack had stowed, and as you donned them all piece by piece, he kicked himself for not going with gloves instead so that he could lace his wool covered fingers with yours. These are warmer though, and that’s what’s best. You zipped up your coat and he couldn’t help the sly smirk that came with thoughts of unzipping it later when you were in your room, letting his fingers travel all over your body instead of just your hands, doing his best to warm you up after a day spent in the cold. Gotta get there first, though. 

“Why are you lookin’ at me like that, Jack?” You asked, breath puffing out in front of your mouth and snowflakes beginning to land on the crocheted hat you pulled on when you’d gotten out of the car. 

Reaching for your hand, he wrapped his around it. “Just thinkin’ about how much I love you is all.” 

That made you smile, rising on your toes to kiss him and licking away a snowflake that had landed on his lips first. “Love you, too,” you whispered without pulling away. “Thank you for this.” 

Hands going to your waist, he turned you around toward the barn that you’d been standing in front of just as it opened. “Don’t thank me yet. Got one more surprise for you.” 

As the door slid open on its track, a horse pulling an open sleigh made for two appeared, and you gasped with delight. “Are you serious right now?” 

The animal bobbed its head as it walked, puffs of white air coming from its nostrils as it let out a friendly huff. “I am, darlin’.” He leaned forward and around to kiss your cheek from behind. “You wanted a White Christmas like the ones in the movies? Well, you got one.”

Shaking your head in awe, you looked back at him. “How did you… when…Jack…” 

“Found this place when I was workin’ in the city last year,” he explained. “Needed somewhere I could go so I could ride and blow off some steam and… this ranch was perfect.” You muttered a it sure is, and he kissed you again. “Now, this beauty is gonna take us for a ride, and then we’re gonna warm up by the fire and watch the snow come down. How’s that sound?” 

You removed one of your mittens then, shoving your bare hand into one of his, twining your fingers inside the mitten and squeezing. “Sounds like the best Christmas ever, Jack.” 

Seeing the happiness on your face, hearing it in your voice and feeling it in the way you gripped his hand, he had to agree. 

.

.

.

This is the Ranch that I looked up for inspiration. It was the first one that I found in the area that did holiday sleigh rides. and when you see the names of some of the horses that they own, you’ll know why it was just too perfect to pass up. 

Thank you for reading! If you would like to be added to or removed from my taglist, please feel free to let me know by sending a message or by filling out the form on my masterlist :)  

tags:  @something-tofightfor @paracosmenthusiast @cannedbees @dihra-vesa @disgruntledspacedad @littlemisspascal @mishasminion360 @nyctophiliiiiaaa @practicalghost @tanzthompson @harriedandharassed @woodlandmouth @swtaura @trickstersp8 @princessxkenobi @imtryingmybeskar @wildmoonflower @mswarriorbabe80 @theredwritingwitch @silverstarsandsuns @competentpotato

[animepopheart]

Master List of Christmas Anime Episodes

Last year on my blog, we posted a full list of every Christmas anime episode known to man (well, maybe not quite...more on that below), based both on an old forum post that I think is now lost to time, and additional efforts to add missing episodes and update it.

Check out the list below if you want to anime-style Christmas cheer! And please help us make the list more complete by reblogging to get this out there and replying with which episodes we’re missing or any we got wrong! We’ll be happy to credit you if we add any episodes you tell us about.

Note: Linked reference notes below lead to articles we’ve written about those specific Christmas episodes.

.hack//Quantum (three OVAs)

009-1 (OVA) (Ep. 2) – “Holy Night”

Accel World (Bonus) (Ep. 7) – “Achel World Seven”

Acchi Kocchi (Ep. 10) – “Bear Encounter ⇔ Lovelymas”

Ace Attorney (Ep. 8) – “Turnabout Goodbyes – 1st Trial”

After School Dice Club (Ep. 10) – “Happy Holy Night” [1]

Aggretsuko (Ep. 11) – “We Wish You a Metal Christmas”

Ai Yori Aoshi ~ Enishi (Special) – “Beautiful Snow” [1]

Aikatsu! (Eps. 12, 114, 165) – “We Wish You a Merry Christmas!”, “Happy Tree Christmas☆,” “Luminas☆Christmas”

Amagami SS (series)

The Ancient Magus Bride (Eps. 16-17) – “God’s mill grinds slow but sure.,” “Look before you leap.” [1]

Angel Beats! (Ep. 7) – “Alive” [1, 2, 3]

Asteroid in Love (Ep. 8) – “Winter Diamond”

Astro Boy (Ep. 13) – “The Light Ray Robot”

Azumanga Daioh (Ep. 17) – “December / Incredible Santa / Christmas Meeting” [1]

B Gata H Kei (Eps. 4) – “Throbbing Christmas Eve. What Does a First Kiss Taste Like?”

B Gata H Kei: Yamada’s First Time (Ep. 11) - “Year 2 Class H’s Christmas Eve! Take Me To Bed!” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Baka to Test (Christmas special)

Baka to Test to Shōkanjū (Ep. 8) – “Runaway and Maze and the Summoned Beast Instrumentality Project”

Bakuman (Eps. 23-24) – “Winning and Losing,” “Imagination and Presentation” [1]

Bakuon!! (Ep. 8) - “Winter Break” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Bartender (Ep. 10) – “Christmas Miracle” [1]

Big-O (Ep. 11) – “Daemonseed” [1, 2]

Blend S (Ep. 12) - "I Love You!" (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Blue Period (Ep. 6) – “Serious Mental Breakdown”

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo (Ep. 2) – “Let’s Get Wiggy With It”

Bokura Ga Ita (Ep. 24) – Episode Twenty-Four

Boys Be… (Ep. 11) – “The First Snowfall”

Canvas 2: Niji Iro no Sketch (Ep. 23) – “Christmas Colored Decision”

Cardcaptor Sakura (Eps. 35, 62) – “Sakura’s Wonderful Christmas, “Sakura, the Cards, and the Presents / A Present For the Cards” [1, 2]

Cardfight!! Vanguard (Ep. 454) – “Examinees’ Merry Christmas”

Carole & Tuesday (Ep. 21) – “It’s Too Late”

Charger Girl Ju-den Chan (Ep. 10) – “Present!?”

Cheer Danshi!! (Ep. 7) – “Strain”

Chi’s Sweet Home (Ep. 58) – “Chi Wishes Upon A Star”

Chihayafuru (Ep. 23) – “The Night is Nearly Past”

Chocotto Sister (Ep. 24) – “Happy Christmas”  [1]

Chrono Crusade (Ep. 12) – “Holy Night” [1]

Citrus (Ep. 8) – “war of love”

City Hunter 2 (Eps. 37-38) – “To Kaori From Ryo, With Love At Christmas: Episode 1”, “To Kaori From Ryo, With Love At Christmas: Episode 2” (via tomodachi-to-koibito)

Comic Party (Ep. ?)

Clannad After Story (Ep. 10) – “Season of Beginnings” [1, 2, 3]

Crayon Shin-chan (Eps. 32, 127, 213, 258) – “Action Mask and Xmas,” “Miss Yoshinaga’s Eve,” “Christmas Party with Schoolchildren / Selling Christmas Cakes / Looking Forward to My Present from Santa,” “Miss Matsuzaka is Not Alone on Christmas”

Cyborg 009 (Ep. 11) – “Christmas Eve Mirage”

Dai Guard (Ep. 13) – “Things That Can be Forgiven, Things that Can’t be Forgiven”

Death Note (Eps. 33-34) – “Scorn,” “Vigilance” [1]

Delinquent Hamsters – “Christmas Eve Punks,” “Chris Moose is for Good Ham”

Denkigai no Honya-san (Episodes 3, 9) - "Party Hard," Snowy Night" (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Detective Conan (Ep. 42, OVA 2) – “Karaoke Box Murder Case,” “The Santa Claus of Summer” (via tomodachi-to-koibito)

Devil Lady  (Ep. 11) – “Box”

Digimon Adventure 02  (Eps. 38, 42) – “A Very Digi-Christmas  (Holy Night the Digimon Big Gathering!),” “Digimon World Tour, Part 3 (Love and Borscht, The Ferocious Battle)”

Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters (Ep. 13) – “The Christmas Disappeared!? The Calendar Thief Calendarmon!”

Dinosaur King (Ep. 45) – “Santa Saurus!”

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (Movie) [1]

The Disappearance of Nagato Yuki-chan (Eps. 1-2) – “Precious Place,” “Joy to the World”

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. (Season 1 Ep. 32, Season 2 Ep. 1) – “Frolic! Silent Night,” “Another Christmas Challenge!”

Doki Doki School Hours (Ep. 7) - "Santa Girl and New Years' Fun" (via @lancernolancing​) NEWLY ADDED

Doraemon (Ep. 486, 87, 488, 489, 643, 652, 692, 956, 1332, 1428, 1523 – “Day Changing Calendar,” “Nobita and Doraemon’s Christmas (part 1),” “Nobita and Doraemon’s Christmas (part 2),” “Mini Santa,” “Nobita’s Christmas Play,” “Snow in March,” “Flying Christmas,” “Time Skipping Pulley,” “Santa’s Chimney,” “Santa Mail,” “Santa Bag and Christmas,”

Dr. Slump Arale-Chan (Ep. 35, 87, 138, 162, 236) - "Bad Bad Santa," "Arale the Super Prize Girl," "Painful Christmas Day," "The Christmas Lie," The Horror of Black Santa!!" (via Matthew Lucas) NEWLY ADDED

Dr. Stone  (Ep. 21) – “Spartan Crafts Club” [1]

Dropkick on My Devil! (Ep. 3) – “Episode 3”

D.N.Angel (Ep. 25) – “The Black Wings”

The Duke of Death and His Maid – Episode 9

Ef – A Tale of Melodies (Series) [1]

Ef – A Tale of Memories (Series) [1]

Excel Saga  (Ep. 12) – “Big City Part II”

Di Gi Charat  (Eps. 16, 21) – “Usada Explodes,” “Di Gi Charat Christmas Special”

Fairy Tail (OVA) – “Fairies’s Christmas”

Fate/Grand Order -MOONLIGHT/LOSTROOM-

Flint the Time Detective (Ep. 13) – “Cavemen’s Christmas”

Food Wars (Ep. 79) – “A Midsummer Christmas”

Fresh Pretty Cure! (Ep. 45) – “We are Four Pretty Cures! Separation in Christmas Eve!!”

Full Moon wo Sagashite  (Ep. 37) – “A Present from Full Moon” [1]

Futari wa Pretty Cure (Ep. 44) – “A Holiday Visitor / I Couldn’t Be Happier!? Nagisa’s White Christmas”

Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart (Ep. 42) – “A Rink Full of Sweethearts? Slipping and Falling into Grave Danger!”

Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star (Ep. 45) – “Cake, Kazuya and Christmas!”

Gabriel DropOut (Ep. 9) – “Christmas and New Year’s Eve Surprise”

Gal & Dino (Ep. 1-2) - "Nice to Meet You! & Look, Kitties!", "My Friend's Coming Over & I Ran Into Your Ex" (via @lancernolancing​) NEWLY ADDED

Gakuen Babysitters (Ep. 12) (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Ghost Hunt (Ep. 12-13) – “FILE 5: Silent Christmas Part 1,” “File 5: Silent Christmas Part 2”

Gintama (Eps. 37, 200-201) – “People Who Say That Santa Doesn’t Really Exist Actually Want to Believe in Him,” [1, 2] “Santa Claus Red Is Blood Red,” “Everybody’s A Santa” (via squirrelstothenuts)

Golden Time (Ep. 24) – “Golden Time”

Golgo 13 (Ep. 37) – “Christmas 24 Hours”

Gosick (Ep. 22) – “A Christmas Carol Decorates the Windowsill’s Happiness”

(MS) Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (Ep. 5) – “Say it Ain’t So, Bernie!”

Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (OVA)

Gunparade March  (Ep. 12) – “Whenever You Say Goodbye”

Gunslinger Girl (Ep. 4) – “Bambola – Doll”

Hamtaro (TV)  (Eps. 25, 77, 129, 180, 231, 232, 283) – “Merry Christmas!,” “A Wonderful Santa Claus!,” “Mimi’s Christmas,” “The Mysterious Gift,” “Arriving to Your Smile!,” “It’s Santa,” “Merry Christmas!,” “A Christmas Ride!”

Hanamaru Kindergarten (Ep. 12A) - "A Hanamaru Christmas” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Happy Lesson (OVA)  (Ep. 3) – “Unsettling – Happy Mamas!”

Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto (Ep. 10) – “Demon Lord”

Hayate the Combat Butler (Ep. 1) “‘Unmei’ In English Is ‘Destiny'” [1]

HeartCatch PreCure! (Ep. 44) – “A Christmas Miracle! We Met Cure Flower!”

Heaven’s Lost Property (Ep. 13) – “Queen of the Sky”

Hell Girl (Ep. 8) – “Miracle of Christmas Eve”

Hetalia  (Eps. 28, 31) – “In The World,” “Academy Hetalia Christmas” [1]

Hetalia World Series (Eps. 19-20) – “How Everyone Spent Their Christmas,” “America and Christmas”

Hidamari Sketch (Ep. 12) – “December 25: Goodbye Ume-sensei”

Himouto! Umaru-chan (Ep. 8) – “Umaru and Christmas and New Year’s” [1, 2]

Hinako Note (Ep. 11) - “From One Year To The Next” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Honey and Clover (Ep. 4, 9) – “Actually, I don’t like Christmas all that much… …” [1, 2], “Did she notice? Why is it that I don’t tell her? / That brooch was so heavy”

Horimiya (Ep. 12) – “Hitherto, and Forevermore”

How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? (Ep. 10) – “Do You Like Christmas?”

I Can’t Understand What My Husband is Saying (Ep. 12) – “Fusion Sage Day” [1]

The Idolm@ster (Ep. 22) – “On Christmas Eve” [1]

The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls (Ep. 24) – “Barefoot Girl.” [1]

I”s Pure (Ep. ??)

Ichigo Mashimaro/Strawberry Marshmallow (Ep.12) – “Present”

If Her Flag Breaks (OVA) - "Christmas? Do You Think I'd Make Use of Something Like That?" (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

If I See You in My Dreams (OVA) (Ep. 3) – “One Snowy Christmas Eve…”

Invaders of the Rokujyoma!? (Ep 12) – “Invasion Going Well!?”

Irresponsible Captain Tylor (OVA) (Ep. 6) – “White Christmas” [1, 2]

Is the Order a Rabbit? (Ep. 11) – “The Girl Dons a Red Coat and Drives a Team of Rabbits Across the Christmas Eve Night Sky” [1]

Is the Order a Rabbit? BLOOM, episodes 10-11

Itsudatte My Santa! (OVA) [1]

Jeanie with Light Brown Hair (Ep. 25) – “Alone on Christmas Eve”

Jewelpet (Ep. 38) – “Merry Merry ☆ – Santa Comes to Town”

Josee, the Tiger and the Fish (Movie)

K-On! (Ep. 7) – “Christmas!” [1]

Kaitou Saint Tail (Ep. 12) – “Surprise! The Large Lizard Santa Claus?!” (via tomodachi-to-koibito)

Kakushigoto (Ep. 9) - "Your Lie in December" (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Kamichu (Ep. 13) – “We Do What We Want” [1]

Kämpfer (Ep. 12) – “Their Christmas: The Entrails’ Miracle”

Karin (Ep. 19) – “A Couple’s Eve is Embarrassing” [1]

Kasimasi – Girl Meets Girl (OVV)

Kids on the Slope (Ep. 4) – “But Not for Me”

Kill Me Baby (Ep. 10) – “Santa Icicle Snow Mantra”

Kimagure Orange Road (Ep. 38) – “Kyosuke Timetrips! The Third Christmas”

Kimi ni Todoke (Ep. 22) – “Christmas” [1, 2, 3]

Kin-iro Mosaic (Ep. 11) – “Try and Guess How Much I Like You”

Kissxsis (OVA, Ep. 2) – “Christmas for Two”

Kobato (Ep. 19) – “…White Christmas.” (via art-of-wandering)

Kodocha (Ep. 38, 89) – “The Special Christmas Kiss,” “Hallelujah on X-mas eve? My heart…”

Koi Kaze (Ep. 9) – “Wind Flower”

Koikimo (Ep. 4) – “On This Holy Night”

Kyouran Kazoku Nikki (Ep. 21) – “Black Santa is Sleepless in the Night”

The Legend of the Mystical Ninja (Ganbare Goemon) (Ep. 11) - "Santa Claus is a New Villain!" (via CancerDog) NEWLY ADDED

Linebarrels of Iron (Ep. 10) – “Over Drive”

Log Horizon  (Season 2, Eps. 5-10) – “Christmas Eve,” “A Lost Child at Dawn,” “The Suifū Maidens”(The Maidens of Watermaple),” “Akihabara Raid,” “The Changing Battlefield,” “Guild Master”

Love Live! Sunshine!! (Season 2, Ep. 8) – “Hakodate” (via avatar-of-thevast)

Love Hina (OVA) – Christmas Special [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions (OVA) – “Glimmering… Explosive Festival (Slapstick Noel)”

Lovely Complex (Eps. 2, 10) – “The Ex-Girlfriend Love Triangle?!,” “A Confrontation With The Ex-Girlfriend?! The Epic Breast-Baring Battle!!”

Lucky Star (Ep. 11) – “The Various Ways for Spending the Holy Night” [1]

Lupin III: Pt. 2 (TV) (Ep. 12) – “The Sleight Before Christmas”

Macross (TV) (Ep. 35, 64) – “Romanesque,” “Christmas is in the Hands of the Goddess” [1]

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s (Eps. 9, 11) – “Christmas Eve,” “A Gift for Christmas Eve”

Magical Princess Minky Momo (Ep. 41) – “Please, Santa Claus”

Magikano (Ep. 11) –  “Was it Really a Holy Night?”

Mahoromatic: Something More Beautiful (Ep. 5) – “Will I Catch a Cold Tomorrow?”

Maison Ikkoku (Eps. 2, 18. 39-40 –  “Love is in the Air? Which One Does Kyoko Love Best?”, “Kyoko’s Gift! What, You Mean It’s For Me?”, “Love Takes Guts! Godai’s Part Time Job Ploy!”, “A Bittersweet Favor! Budding Christmas Love!?” [1, 2]

March Comes in Like a Lion (Ep. 10) – “Something Given (Part 1) / Something Given (Part 2)” [1, 2]

Maria Watches Over Us  (Season 4) (Ep. 7) – “Blank Map of the Future”

Marmalade Boy (Eps. 40-41) – “A Holy night. I’m alone on Christmas Eve/The morning of lovers. Merry Christmas”

Martian Successor Nadesico (Ep. 13) – “There Is No Single Truth”

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch (Ep. 38) – “A Christmas Present”

Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch Pure (Ep. 38) – “Battle on Christmas Eve”

Minami-ke (TV) (Ep. 12) – “Of Christmas And Eves” [1]

Miss Caretaker of Sunohara-Sou (Ep. 12) - “Kotatsu, Year End, Santa” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid (Ep. 10) – “Troupe Dragon, On Stage!  (They Had A Troupe Name, Huh)”

Mitsudomoe (S1 Ep. 9. S2 Ep. 2) - "Santa Claus is my Eccentricity," “The Marui House Is Full” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Mother of the Goddess Dormitory (Ep. 8) - “Kiriya Wishes Upon A Christmas” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED  

Momokuri (Eps. 23-24) – “Excitement! Christmas,” “To the Day of a Cold: Part 2”

Motto! Ojamajo Doremi (Ep. 45) – “Merry Christmas with Everyone!” (via Henry, comments)

Motto To Love Ru (Ep. 9) - “For Whom The Bell Tolls” (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Ms. Vampire Who Lives in My Neighborhood (Ep. 10) – “The Vampire and the End of the Year”

My Little Monster (Ep. 10) – “Christmas [1]

My Love Story (Ep. 17) – “My Christmas”

My Hero Academia (Ep. 101) – “Have a Merry Christmas!”

My Senpai Is Annoying (ep. 3) – “And Then, It’s Christmas”

My Wife is a High School Girl (Ep. 26) – “I will always love you…”

Mystic Messenger (Christmas DLC) – “Christmas Eve”

Nekopara (OVA) – “Nekopara OVA Extra”

Neo Ranga (Eps. 35-36) – “What Happened to Christmas Eve?”, “Christmas in Crisis”

Neo Yokio: Pink Christmas

Nichijou (Ep. 22) – “Nichijou Episode 22”

Ninja Nonsense (Ep. 10A) – “The Ninjas Have Christmas”

Nisekoi (Eps. 3-4) – “Need,” “Mother”

Nodame Cantabile (Ep. 3) – “Lesson 3: Queen of Percussion”

Nodame Cantabile: Paris (Ep. 5) – “Lesson 5: Chiaki and Nodame Cross Paths” [1]

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu: Purezza  (Eps. 3-4) – “Ah, It Hurts…”, “Yūto’s Scent…” (via squirrelstothenuts)

Odd Taxi (Ep. 11) – “If We Could Go Back to That Day”

Oh My Goddess (OVA) (Ep. 4-5) – “Evergreen Holy Night,” “For the Love of Goddess”

Ojamajo Doremi (Ep. 45) – “Help Santa!” (via Henry, comments)

Ojamajo Doremi Sharp (Ep. 44) – “A Happy White Christmas” (via Henry, comments)

One Piece (?)

Orange (Ep. 11) – “LETTER 11” [1]

Oreimo (Season 1 Ep. 7, Season 2 Eps. 14-15) – “There’s No Way My Little Sister Can Write a Novel,” “I Can’t Confess to Her,” “My Little Sister Is This Cute”

Oregairu (Season 2, Eps. 6-9) – “Without Incident, The Congress Dances, But Does Not Progress.”, “However, That Room Continues to Portray An Endless Everyday Scene.”, “Even So, Hikigaya Hachiman.”, “And So, Yukinoshita Yukino.” [1, 2]

Patlabor (TV) (Eps. 10-11) – “Eve’s Trap,” “Eve’s Terror” [1]

Persona 4: The Golden Animation (Ep. 8) – “We’ve lost something important again”

The Pet Girl of Sakurasou (Ep. 14) – “Windows and Lights on Christmas Eve” [1]

Ping Pong (Ep. 6) – “You Love Table Tennis More Than Anyone Else!”

A Place Further Than the Universe (Ep. 10) – “Partial Friendship”

Pokemon (Ep. 65) – “Holiday Hi-Jinx”

Polar Bear’s Cafe (Ep. 37) – “Christmas Planning / Christmas Trouble”

Popotan (Ep. 8) – “Christmas”

Pretty Cure (Ep. 44) – “A Holiday Visitor”

Pretty Cure: Max Heart (Ep. 42) – “A Rink Full of Sweethearts? Slipping and Falling into Grave Danger!”

Pretty Cure: Splash Star (Ep. 42) – “Cake, Kazuya and Christmas”

Pretty Rhythm: Rainbow Live (Ep. 38) – “The Happy Bell on Christmas Eve” [1]

Prince of Tennis (Ep. 165) – “The Tenipuri Family Goes to Hawaii?! – Christmas at the Tenipuri Family”

Punch Line (Ep. 3) – “Mars Attacks!”

The Quintessential Quintuplets, season 2, episode 4 – “Seven Goodbyes Part 3”

Rainbow Days (Ep. 1) – “Episode 1”

Ranma 1/2 (OVA) (Ep. 2) – “Tendo Family Christmas Scramble”

Ranma 1/2 (TV) (Ep. 75) – “Step Outside”

Re-Kan! (Ep. 6) – “A Super Awesome Holy Night” [1]

Read or Die (Ep. 10) – “A Christmas Carol” [1, 2]

Recovery of an MMO Junkie (Ep. 1) -“IRL, Online”

Rental Magica (Ep. 12) – “Requiem for the Holy Night”

ReLIFE (Ep. 16) – “Date” [1]

Rent-a-Girlfriend (Ep. 8) – “Christmas and Girlfriend”

Rilakkuma and Kaoru (Ep. 9) – “Snowman” (via squirrelstothenuts)

RIN-NE (Ep. 22) – “Christmas in the Derelict”

Robotics;Notes (Ep. 15) – “I’ll Show You a Dream”

Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals (Ep. 39) – “Christmas is the Last Chance for Love! / Cleanup is a Chance to Wash Away the Past!” [1]

Sakura Quest (Ep. 20) – “The Phoenix in the Holy Night” [1]

Sakura Trick (Ep. 8B) - "A Cherry Blossom-colored Christmas" (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

Sailor Moon S: Hearts in Ice (Movie)

Saiyuki Reload (Ep. 13) – “~Lovely Baby~ Just a Tiny Tiny Story” [1]

Samurai Pizza Cats (Ep. 48) – “The Cheese Who Stole Christmas / Nyankii Santas Fly Through the Air” (via squirrelstothenuts)

School Rumble (Ep. 19) – “Here, There, Everywhere Is Christmas! Bravely Moving Forward For Christmas! Shatter, Christmas!” [1]

Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (Ep. 64) – “A Christmas Present of Death”

Seitokai Yakuindomo (Ep. 11) – “Santa’s Sexual Desires”

Senran Kagura Shinovi Master (Ep. 1) – “CHANGE THE WORLD”

Sgt. Frog (Ep. 39, 90, 192) – “Keroro Christmas Battle,” “Keroro Spring Cleaning Battle,” “Keroro, I Cannot Say Merry Christmas,” “Keroro, Christmas Prevent!/Keroro Platoon Cake is a Man’s Battlefield!”

Shaman King, 2021 (Ep. 20) - "Joco’s Christmas" (via art-of-wandering / @art-of-wandering​) NEWLY ADDED

SHIROBAKO (Ep. 12) – “Exodus Christmas” [1]

Shugo Chara (Ep. 10, 12, 13) – “Character Transformation!”, “Amulet Clover!”, “Sad Christmas Eve!”, “Big Disturbance! New Year Live!” [1, 2]

Sing Yesterday for Me (Eps. 9-10) – “Christmas Carol,” “A New Year of Beginnings”

Sister Princess (Ep. 20) – “Christmas Love Destiny”

Sleepy Princess in the Demon Castle, (Ep. 12) – “Sleeping Princess of the Demon Castle”

The Slime Diaries (Ep. 11) - "Where is Santa Claus?" (via DaijoubuJoeKun) NEWLY ADDED

SoniAni: Super Sonico The Animation (Ep. 11) - "A Saint Comes to Town" (via eyevocal) NEWLY ADDED

Space Brothers (Ep. 96) – “Astronaut and Father”

Steins;gate 0 (Ep. 3) – “Protocol of the Two-sided Gospel: X-Day Protocol”

Stellvia (Ep. 12) – “Confession”

Strawberry 100%) (TV) (Ep. 14) – “Christmas of Past Loneliness”

Strawberry Marshmallow (Ep. 12) – “Present”

Super Gals! (Ep. 39) – “Holy Night! – Ring! Ring! – Emergency Bell of Love!”

Sweet Blue Flowers (Ep. 11) – “Winter’s Fireworks”

Sword Art Online (Ep. 3) – “The Red-Nosed Reindeer” [1, 2, 3]

Tamayura Hitotose (Ep. 11) – “A Christmas Eve Story♪”

Tenchi Muyo: Daughter of Darkness (Movie)

Those Who Hunt Elves (Ep. 21) – “Those Who Wait For Noel”

To Heart (Ep. 12) – “The Season of Emotions” [1]

To Heart: Remember My Memories (Ep. 10) – “A Long Night”

Tōka Gettan (Ep. 9) – “Snow”

Tokyo Godfathers (Movie) [1, 2, 3, 4]

Tokyo Majin Gakuen Kenpucho (Season 2, Ep. 6) – “Militant Fist Chapter: A Christmas Eve Without Smiles”

Tokyo Mew Mew (Ep. 37) – “The Shining Tear: Celebrating Christmas with just the Two of Us”

Toradora (Eps. 17-19) – “Mercury Retrogrades at Christmas,” “Under the Fir Tree,” “Christmas Eve Festival” [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Toriko (Ep. 87) – “Merry Feasttmas! Gourmet Santa’s Present!”

Tsuki ga Kirei (Ep. 11) – “An Encouragement of Learning” [1]

Tsurezure Children (Ep?)

Urusei Yatsura (Eps. 10, 79) – “Pitter-Patter Christmas Eve,” “Mendo Family – Summer Christmas”

Usagi Drop (Ep. 3.5) – “Dear Santa” [1, 2]

Uta no Prince Sama (Season 2, Ep. 14) – “Shining Star X-Mas” [1]

Vandread (Ep. 10) – “White Love” [1]

The Wallflower (Ep. 12) – “Oh, My Sweet Home!”

Wedding Peach DX (OVA) (Ep. 3) – “Reunion ~ We Even Fight on Christmas ~”

White Album (Ep?)

Why the Hell Are you Here, Teacher? (Ep. 10) – “Tenth Period”

Winter Garden (TV)

The World God Only Knows (Ep. 6) – “Flag.6.0 I’m Ordinary?”

Wotakoi (Ep. 6) – “Bleak Christmas” [1]

Yawara (Eps. 116-117) – “Rich Idiot!”, “The Greatest Present”

Yes! Pretty Cure 5 (Ep. 42) – “Nozomi and Coco’s Christmas Vow”

Yes! PreCure 5 GoGo! (Ep. 44) – “Open! Everyone’s Present!”

Yo-kai Watch (Season 2, Ep. 23) – “A Very Christmas / The Koma-Santa Clause / Yo-Kai Ol’ Saint Trick”

You’re Under Arrest (Ep. 11) – “Santa Claus Panic”

Yuki Yuna is a Hero: The Great Mankai Chapter (S3, Ep. 5) – “Brightness Unleashed”

Yumeiro Patissiere (Ep. 12) – “The Seven Year Merry Christmas!”

Yuri on Ice (Ep. 11) – “Gotta Super-Supercharge it! Grand Prix Final Short Program”

Yuri Yuri (Ep. 7) – “Christmasery”

Yuru Camp  (Eps. 11-12) – “Christmas Camp!”, “Mount Fuji and the Laid-Back Camp Girls” [1, 2]

[graveltrip]

Made this list last minute, literally on the eve of the 1st quali of the year, but I'm so happy that in the end I did, because I thought about this list a few times over the season and as the end of the season neared, I was getting more and more excited to see what I said and this was so fun to read back.

max wdc - ✅ we all knew it was coming.

rb will start pushing checo towards retirement (if he acts up) - ❌ i do think the attitude towards him shifted in the team, after he started talking about going for the title, but it didn't really happen.

ferrari off track politics extravaganza - ✅ expected more, but we still got the santander for me is a terrible bank saga and vasseur went on a firing spree early in the season.

merc rivalry heating up, extra points if shit goes down in silverstone or interlagos - ✅ it did heat up, but i expected more serious trouble, interlagos and silverstone were such a bad shouts tho.

a new winner (probably lance) - ➖ oscar won the qatar sprint, but that's not a proper race win, so kinda.

the ocon vs gasly beef will go in an unexpected direction and it's gonna be way more under the wrap than people expect it - ✅ not entirely sure what i meant by unexpected direction, but i think it was either that they would get on better than people expect or that the team would cause problems in their relationship, which is kinda what happened (the latter interpretation is more likely the turth imo). i've seen some people say they enjoyed the "french civil war", but i think whatever has been going on between them stayed pretty under the wraps, so i don't really understand that line of thinking, but whatever.

andretti's calvary to get into the sport continues + the fia vs liberty media vs the teams/drivers thing will come back again - ✅ the latter was a way bigger thing in the beginning of the season than at the end, andretti is still trying to get into the sport, edging ever so closer to maybe one day being accepted onto the grid.

audi stirring up things in silly season - ❌ there were some rumours that alfa romeo/sauber/audi wasn't gonna re-sign zhou and some names were touted as his replacement, but nothing came of it.

the lando should/needs to leave mclaren talk will get even louder - ✅ it did get louder in the first 3rd of the season, but with the upgrades working out well it died down pretty quickly, still gonna count it as a point for me.

haas comfortably in the mid midfield - ❌ i truly believed in them based on testing and those first fps, they struggled even more than last year.

at least one of the at boys will lose his seat at the end of the season - ➖ i knew the yuki + nyck line up wouldn't last, but i thought rbr grew out of the midseason swaps.

big aston martin controversy by/around the summer break - ❌ the frontwing saga wasn't the kind of controversy i was thinking of here.

certain reserve drivers will get more media attention than some of the actual drivers and it's gonna be annoying asf - ✅ the weekly mick articles reusing the same 3 quotes were quite annoying and f1 media/ rb pushed danny a bit too much too.

lewis comfortably beats george - ✅ quali was quite even, but in the races, apart from some instances, lewis was cooking this year.

lance is gonna be closer to fernando than a lot of people expect, he will still lose the teammate battle tho - ❌ based this on how close lance was to seb last year, but fernando was in beast mode this year.

alpha tauri vs williams flop off at the back - ❌ they had an interesting battle at the end of the season, but it wasn't really the flop off i expected for the 2nd to last place.

oscar will be the highest placed rookie, but his season will be just okay - ➖ him being the top rookie this year wasn't that hard to predict, but i thought mclaren would be just okay/below par, so he wouldn't be able show much, but that wasn't the case afterall. had a really good rookie season, even if i think some people overrated him a bit at certain times, looking forward to see how he develops.

kevin vs hülk 1st lap incident with some spicy radio - ❌ i was so off with this prediction (i think it was a filler for the number 23), they are one of the chillest pair on the grid, raced each other pretty respectfully.

another not that bad, but undewhelming year from ferrari, questions around charles staying with the team start bubbling up again - ✅ yep

nyck will bring some of his fe antics to f1 and people won't be happy about it, he will continue where pierre left off when it comes collecting penalty points - ➖ i thought he would be way more unhinged, but his fe spirit didn't really shone through, apart from some rare instances.

someone will miss a race, so there will be more than 20 drivers in the standings at the end of the year - ➖ there were more than 20 drivers competing this year, but i thought it would happen because of illness, not because of rb nonsense.

alpine is not gonna the smoothest ride this year, but they will develop a good car by the end of the season - ❌ alpine not having the smoothest ride was the understatement of the century, the car was mid shit and didn't develop into much, massive firings in the middle of the season, esteban going through it this year, both drivers having a ton of bad luck etc. hope next year is better.

the las vegas gp is gonna have a ton of hype to the point of being cringey, but the race is just gonna be meh - ➖ yeah the show around the weekend was a bit cringey, but overall i enjoyed the race, there are things they can fix, but it was campy.

12/23 is quite good imo and I had a lot of fun with this, it was good to look back on this list from after the season.

2023 predictions

started writing this a few weeks ago, wanted to put together a list of predictions for the season for fun, then put it aside and ignored it. testing rolled around, i was far from finishing it and i didn't really care, but reading it back now, some of the calls i made were pretty solid predictions, so i decided to finish it, here is 23 predictions for 2023:

max wdc

rb will start pushing checo towards retirement (if he acts up)

ferrari off track politics extravaganza

merc rivalry heating up, extra points if shit goes down in silverstone or interlagos

a new winner (probably lance)

the ocon vs gasly beef will go in an unexpected direction and it's gonna be way more under the wrap than people expect it

andretti's calvary to get into the sport continues + the fia vs liberty media vs the teams/drivers thing will come back again

audi stirring up things in silly season

the lando should/needs to leave mclaren talk will get even louder

haas comfortably in the mid midfield

at least one of the at boys will lose his seat at the end of the season

big aston martin controversy by/around the summer break

certain reserve drivers will get more media attention than some of the actual drivers and it's gonna be annoying asf

lewis comfortably beats george

lance is gonna be closer to fernando than a lot of people expect, he will still lose the teammate battle tho

alpha tauri vs williams flop off at the back

oscar will be the highest placed rookie, but his season will be just okay

kevin vs hülk 1st lap incident with some spicy radio

another not that bad, but undewhelming year from ferrari, questions around charles staying with the team start bubbling up again

nyck will bring some of his fe antics to f1 and people won't be happy about it, he will continue where pierre left off when it comes collecting penalty points

someone will miss a race, so there will be more than 20 drivers in the standings at the end of the year

alpine is not gonna the smoothest ride this year, but they will develop a good car by the end of the season

the las vegas gp is gonna have a ton of hype to the point of being cringey, but the race is just gonna be meh

[castielcommunism]

I don’t mean this in a “I want to start fights with people” way, but I genuinely don’t get the strain of argument on here that the show itself is especially punishing towards Dean or that he’s treated unfairly compared to other characters.

Like usually the order of operations goes: someone will say dean is the POV character of the show, and his interpretation of events, his emotional state, and his needs are privileged above other characters. Someone will then respond and say this isn’t true and basically argue the opposite, citing character assassination (either deliberate or accidental depending on who you ask), especially in dabb era, as a big source for this argument. Like, he’s written as intentionally bad or malicious in a way that is OOC and casts him in a negative light by virtue of him doing XYZ awful thing. So he’s “punished” by the writers by being written as out of character.

And so like I said I don’t really get this framing very much? At least, when I say “supernatural is The Dean Show” I mean basically that - he is privileged above other characters. He gets more screen time, more character-centric arcs and episodes, more nuance, etc. This is especially true when comparing him to Cas, but I think it also holds true when comparing him to Sam (and I don’t think saying “Sam has nothing to do and very little personality in the later seasons” is a generally controversial statement? Like I love Sam but I agree with this, he’s given very little to do and it sucks).

And Supernatural does regularly punish its characters! Nobody can be happy. They get Mary back, she dies. They get Cas back, he dies and comes back and dies again. All their friends die, either because of Sam and Dean’s choices or by pure tragic circumstances. Jack dies. Dean has a breakthrough moment in season 3 where he ostensibly realises his father is an asshole and regrets devoting so much of his time and energy to him, only for the brothers to go on to praise their dad for virtually the rest of the show. These guys are not allowed to have long term happiness or catharsis. They are not allowed to grow.

So where my confusion lies is like, all the main characters on spn perpetually have a bad time. They’re all punished, both fairy and not, for their actions (Cas especially, he’s always failing and fucking up, which forms the basis of a lot of conflict in the show - godstiel and casifer to name a couple big ones). I think it’s also true that Dean is generally proven correct by his own assumptions, and when he’s not (ie, him thinking Jack is a monster for example), there’s no real reckoning moment where he’s like oh shit I just did this awful thing and was wrong, I need to go reflect on my actions and then become a better person. People might call him out for his shitty behaviour but nothing really comes of it. Like I can’t really watch spn without noticing that Dean is the de facto protagonist and occupies a special space in the narrative that other main characters don’t. He also holds power over Sam and Cas - he is almost always in the driver’s seat, both literally in the Impala and narratively in the story. There’s even a post on here joking that we need to invent a version of the bechdel test to measure how many conversations in the show don’t reference or relate back to Dean somehow.

And then ALSO another important thing is that like I don’t hate Dean for this lol. I just think it’s boring and bad writing. There are a lot of very good posts on here talking about how the show would be better if he were a deuteragonist. Asking how the show would shake out if he were de-prioritised and we got more arcs dedicated to exploring Cas and Sam is, I think, a genuinely interesting question, but you have to accept the premise that Dean is privileged in the narrative in order to ask that question.

So tl;dr I guess my point is like, every guy on spn is punished and tortured by the narrative, and Dean is the principle character of the show that every character arc eventually bends towards. And I think because of that, as much as his suffering is highlighted more and given more space (because he is, again, the protagonist - we don’t see Sam crying alone in a field because Mary died, for example), he’s also given more opportunities to be correct and is generally favoured on a narrative level even if the text of the show is punishing him for doing something. So I don’t really get what people mean when they say “Dean is unfairly punished” above and beyond the general punishment that happens on the show to every character

[fleckcmscott]

FleckCMScott’s Masterlist - Part 2

Oneshots and select novellas can be found here. Multichapters and artwork can be found on Part 1!

Explicit chapters/works are marked with an “*.”

See What Happened

Summary: Snapshots from the lives of Arthur and Y/N - based on your requests!

Read on Ao3 (uses Sarah’s name instead of “Y/N”)

On Tumblr:

Windows Open* - Y/N has a mild kink. Arthur loves her anyway.

“Strogonof” - Arthur reminisces about his and Y/N’s first dinner together. Y/N’s happy to relive it with him.

The Vanity* - Arthur tries to get ready for work. Y/N joins him.

The Knot - Arthur and Y/N finally have the wedding they discussed on their sprint to City Hall.

Adjusting* - Arthur moved in with Y/N nearly two weeks ago. It takes more getting used to than he’d thought.

Comfort & Joy - Arthur & Y/N celebrate their first Christmas together. Not everything goes as planned.

Home Early* - Y/N has to attend a conference for work. Arthur misses her.

Bittersweet - After a little prompting, Arthur tells Y/N about his first kiss.

The Find* - Arthur and Y/N tidy up their wardrobe. What he comes across surprises him.

Things Past - Arthur shares a childhood memory with Y/N. She sees it differently than he does.

Pre-Show* - It’s a big night for Arthur. Y/N helps him prepare.

Another Year - Arthur’s birthday is coming up. Y/N wants nothing more than to make it great.

To Have and To Hold* - Y/N makes an oversight at work. The resulting extra hours with Arthur delight them both.

Another Decade - Arthur discovers Y/N’s fortieth is just around the corner. He hopes to get the occasion right.

Awake* - It’s one of those rare mornings in which Y/N stirs before Arthur. She reflects on sharing life (and a bed) with him.

The Falls - Arthur and Y/N reach Gotham City Hall. Two weeks later, they share a taste of newly-wedded bliss.

Homemaking* - In the middle of the night, Arthur finds comfort in routine. When Y/N follows, he doesn’t mind at all.

Fun and Only - During a night out, Y/N and Arthur bump into someone from Arthur’s past. Y/N tries to decipher him.

Test of Time* - Y/N’s long work hours are hard for Arthur to bear. Together, they find a way to cope.

Bewitching Hour - October has been a blissfully busy month. With Halloween around the corner, Arthur and Y/N have some planning to do.

After - Arthur is heartened to have Y/N back by his side. But moving forward isn’t as simple as he’d daydreamed.

Twelve O’Clock - Gotham’s supposedly finding its way. Whatever her skepticism, Y/N and Arthur resolve to enjoy New Year’s Eve.

Out of Sight* - Y/N has an unexpected dash of inspiration. Arthur doesn’t require much convincing.

Photoplay - With Y/N’s encouragement, Arthur learns to enjoy a different kind of attention.

Coffee & Donuts* - Arthur’s thrilled to be part of a crowd. Though the evening doesn’t go perfectly, Y/N’s flirtations make it sweet.

Stepping Stones: Ch.1, Ch.2, Ch.3, Ch.4 -  Y/N and Arthur share a delightful life, one that isn’t perfect but wholly theirs. When his struggles take a serious turn, she’s surprised by the toll it exacts. Though the steps they’ll have to take aren’t easy, walking them together makes all the difference. (Read on Ao3 (uses Sarah’s name instead of “Y/N”)

Backward, Forward: Part 1, Part 2* - After Arthur’s release from Arkham, getting back into the swing of things proves to be a challenge. With a little help from Gotham’s favorite star therapist, he and Y/N try to meet it.

The Thread - It’s been nearly one year since a grocery run brought Y/N into Arthur’s life. He decides to make a plan.

A Cup of Cheer - While waiting for Arthur, Y/N gets ready to deck the halls with love and laughter.

Do Not Disturb* - During a much needed getaway to the Catskills, Arthur and Y/N make a few discoveries about themselves - and each other.

The Move - Arthur and Y/N ready themselves - and their belongings - for what comes next.

Heebie Jeebies* - It’s the Halloween season and Y/N’s working against the clock. After she recruits Arthur for help, the new look he creates sends shivers down both their spines.

The Loss - Arthur and Y/N come face to face with an inevitable step in the cycle of life.

Glad and Golden Hours - Two months after Arkham, Christmas Eve is on its way. Y/N and Arthur prepare to host their nearest, dearest friends.

Room Service* - A radio program spurs Arthur’s bolder side. What he comes up with is just what Y/N needs.

Tiny Sparks - On a beautiful night in Gotham, Arthur and Y/N enjoy a long awaited date.

Before - Released from Arkham State Hospital, Arthur works towards returning to his normal life. With a big item checked off his to-do list, his romantic soul spends the evening dreaming of the future to come.

Pillow Talk* - While Y/N spends some time away, she and Arthur find a way to play.

Making Motions - Months ago, Y/N shared an unexpected flight of fancy. Arthur decides to take it to heart.

Every Day - After their first New Year's celebration, Arthur and Y/N ponder how to proceed.

Silver Dollar* - An outage in Gotham provides the perfect opportunity for a special night.

Rain or Shine - Y/N cherishes the joys Arthur has returned to her life - and traverses echoes of the past.

Haunted Heart - Mabel invites the Flecks to visit for the holidays. On Halloween, more than trick or treats await them.

Frills and Thrills - A typical night becomes anything but typical.

Hearth and Home - During Christmas in Missouri, Arthur learns - and Y/N relearns - how to celebrate with family.

Something Old, Everything New* - After Arthur has a run in with the past, Y/N provides the shelter she’s always hoped to.

All Wrapped Up - Arthur reaches a milestone he’d never dreamed of. Y/N pulls out all the stops.

Take a Step* - Arthur and Y/N put away the mundane to create a memorable Valentine’s Day.

At Long Last - With Y/N’s help, Arthur begins to discover what openness truly means.

What Didn’t Happen

Summary: Since his debut, Joker’s been figuring out his new life. Through every shift, Y/N’s presence lingers.

Read on Ao3 (uses Sarah’s name instead of “Y/N”)

Help Wanted

Summary: Shaw & Associates needs a new girl. Patricia doesn’t get it.

​

[rin-bellatrix]

Santa Baby

"I'll wait up for you, dear." - Eartha KItt

Rhys is working late into the night on the eve of Mercenary Day. With no friends around to spend the holiday with, he might as well get some work done. But Fiona has other plans, stopping by to gift her boyfriend with some naughty holiday cheer... 🔞

Written for rhyiona lovers who enjoy some adult after hours holiday celebrations 😏 (that face is so sleazy I'm sorry 😂)

Header art by unluckycheese

Part 4 to this ongoing series that I just keep adding to. Not necessary to read parts 1-3 to enjoy this, not a lot of story relevant plot is involved with this one 😏 (The Face strikes again oop-)

Holiday wreath dividers from this post. Minors DNI divider from this post. Green ribbon with bell divider from this post. Red ribbon with holly/mistletoe divider from this post.

In case I haven't made it clear - this chapter contains smut! 🔞 Nothing in this chapter will advance the plot, so it can be skipped with no problems! If that's okay with you, then please enjoy~ 😉

Happy Mercenary Day~ ❤💚💛🤍⛄❄⭐🎄🎁🧸

Promethea shined with festive lights, the wealthy city sparkling with decorations of green and red. Golden stars twinkled atop trees and delicate baubles glistened with newly fallen snow. Shimmering lights flickered while nestled among plentiful wreaths that hung around Atlas' home base. Mercenary Day was only a couple of hours away and the head of said corporation was seated at his desk, fingers tapping and clicking away rapidly at his keyboard. The only light on in his office was what was reflected off of his monitor, and the glow from holiday lights all over Promethea that poured in from behind through his large bay windows.

Rhys sat all alone at his desk on Mercenary Day eve, having sent all of his employees off with a paid three day vacation. A happy employee was a loyal employee. There were no helpful secretaries to meet at the lobby, no security guards patrolling by on their routes. No chefs in the cafeteria, no researchers blackened with soot testing new weaponry in the R&D departments. No one was here, but Rhys needed to keep Atlas running at a bare minimum, because while he could afford to be a generous and thoughtful employer, that didn't mean that he could let his actual business remain stagnant in the meantime. Time is money, after all.

Sitting back against his plush office chair, he sighed as he flexed his left hand, stretching the tendons and muscles before shaking it out. Rubbing his dry eyes briefly, he idly wondered if he should grab another cup of coffee to help finish this one systematic report, or if he should just call it a night and come in early on Mercenary Day to get a head start on it after resting for a while.

Although it was the holidays, he wasn't really feeling the festive spirit. Mostly because he had no one to share it with.

Ringing up his oldest friend, Rhys had hoped he could reunite with the former Hyperion accountant, but the call only resulted in confusion and a notion to start hitting the gym. Vaughn was embarking on a massive group hike to bond during the season, some sort of spiritual expedition to celebrate the holiday while also bringing his group of desert dwellers closer. Rhys was...not the athletic type, and a prolonged journey on foot over large stretches of land just didn't seem like a good time to him. So the two best friends bid each happy holidays with promises to meet up in the future, and that was that.

Sasha had tried to visit, but she was off in a whole other solar system, and the weather over there had gotten very bad, very quickly. Snow storms had kept her indoors and far from the closest Fast Travel Station. This would be cause to worry, but the text she had sent informed him that yes, while she was stranded until the weather eased up, she had no concerns because she was currently located in a truly massive and opulent resort. Even if the snow didn't melt for months, there was enough high end food and drinks to last her and the other guests a very long while. Not to mention personal jacuzzis and trained masseuses on call. (Rhys was only a little bit envious.) She promised to pay a visit as soon as she could, sent him a picture of her enjoying a ridiculously expensive meal, and (with a minimal amount of gloating) wished him a Happy Mercenary Day.

Loader Bot and Gortys had sent a transmission about a week ago, notifying him that they were going to be in the area around the time the "human winter holiday" was to happen, and that they would stop by to celebrate the festivities with him, although very briefly. They were on their way to another galaxy and Promethea was only a very quick stop along their continuous journey. However, since then he hasn't heard from either of them and Mercenary Day was fast approaching. He wondered if they missed their deadline and were going to be late, or even show up at all. Apparently they were en route to watch a once in a lifetime event, something about an aurora borealis in a new planetary system that the human eye couldn't handle (Gortys had happily mentioned something about "eye sludge" and he had to stop her there). He supposed he could forgive them if they were running late and had to skip over him, because the next time that phenomenon was dated to happen wouldn't be for another 3202 years. So for now, all he could do was wait.

Athena and Janey had sent him a festive card, and in it they explained that they were spending some time with a teenager named Pickle (what kind of a name was that?). A picture of Janey's bright grin was only matched by Pickle's equally large grin, her arm slung around the kid's neck in a loose imitation of a choke hold. Athena's usually stoic demeanor was relaxed as she looked at the two, a small smile warming her face so that she didn't appear so cold. Their picture was centered beautifully on the front of the card, which now sat next to the framed picture of his girlfriend that he always kept on his desk.

Speaking of said girlfriend, he had of course tried to coax her into spending at least the day with him. But she was off on Official Vault Hunter Business™️ - as specifically requested by someone(s) in Sanctuary - and was currently too busy being knee deep in varkid guts (probably) to bother caring about mistletoe and fireplaces.

He did have the brief chance to speak with her earlier, and he asked over his ECHO device if she liked the present he was able to send her. It was a sleak jacket, made out of a new fabric that doubled as light armor. The sales lady hooked him once she explained that it was fashionable and functional. Not only would it help to keep Fiona safe, but she'd look good while wearing it too.

Fiona had smirked at him through the screen, only able to get out a quick "Yes Rhys, the jacket is beautiful, thank you-" before someone off screen called for her. She glanced away and Rhys felt the sharp sting of disappointment as she called back that she was almost done. She returned her attention to her ECHO device and offered her boyfriend an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I've gotta go... I'll see you soon, okay? Love you!" Rhys was barely able to reply with a "Love you too-" before their call disconnected.

He was glad that she had such a lucrative career in her newfound lifestyle choice - being a vault hunter really suited Fiona. She never had to worry about where her next meal was coming from, never had to worry about housing or lack of funds. She was able to navigate through her life now without having to worry if she or her sister were safe. Her confidence soared and she was finally comfortable enough to set her roots down. He just kind of wished that maybe they recruited a few more vault hunters so that she could have a bit of time off to spend with her loved ones, especially her boyfriend. Was this selfish on his part, absolutely. But he would never ask her to put anything before her career, because then that would make him not just selfish, but an asshole as well.

He just missed his girlfriend, that was all.

With a deep sigh that was heavy with longing, Rhys rolled his chair closer to the desk, zeroing in on where he had left off in his work when his ECHO comm beeped.

Lifting his cybernetic hand, he unfurled a mini hologram of Gortys waving at him. "Rhys!" she chirped, and her tone in that one word was enough to make him smile. "It's so good to see you! Sorry we were a little late, but we're here now! Could you open the doors?"

"Hey Gortys, sure thing, I'll be right there," he answered, standing and heading over to his large office doors. Flicking through some menus on his holographic screen, he remotely unlocked the metal doors and reached them just as they parted and revealed his two favorite robots.

"You guys, it's been so long! How ya doing?" He just managed to get the words out before Gortys rolled right up to his feet and threw her little arms around his thighs.

"Oh Rhys, we missed all of you sooo much! Loader Bot and I have been learning so much and having so much fun, but we always think of you!"

Rhys grinned, reaching down and affectionately rubbing Gortys' smooth dome as she still clung to his legs. "I'm glad to hear it, Gortys." He looked up and met the glowing red eye of Loader Bot's visual sensor. "LB, still rocking the sleek look I see."

"Indeed, this mechanical skeleton that the digital replica of Handsome Jack wanted to insert inside of you is made from the highest quality materials. There has been no need to replace or repair any of its initial structure. It truly would have gone to waste if it had been wedged inside of your rotting, boneless corpse, as the Jack AI had originally intended."

Loader Bot walked over to his first friend, reaching around the tall human to embrace him in a socially acceptable form of physical affection, hugging his meaty body close to his mechanical one.

"Uh... Yeah, I'm uh, glad it's working out for you buddy... Cool, cool," Rhys murmured, fighting off a wave of nausea as he patted Loader Bot's boney back. Clearing his throat, he pulled away to look at the two robots before him. "I know you guys gotta get going soon, when's the next time you think you can stop by?"

"Oh, it won't be for a while I don't think. The next galaxy over has very strict traveling laws. We're gonna be lucky if we are allowed to leave in the next fifty years!" Gortys supplied, rocking steadily by Loader Bot's golden feet.

"What?!" Rhys cried, gaping at them wide eyed. "Fifty years?!"

"Pay no mind to Gortys, she is exemplifying a new feature she had recently stored in her memory banks."

"Gottem!" she cried out happily, her digital eyes creasing with the smile implied in her tone.

"I have already advised her to delete it, but she refuses."

"Hey Rhys. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have made you worry. I blame all of this on Jo, it's their fault."

Placated that his robo pals wouldn't be held up on the other side of time and space for half a century, Rhys gave a sigh of relief and asked "Jo? Who's Jo?"

"Jo mama!"

Rhys shook his head in disbelief as Gortys rolled around in excited circles by his feet. The Atlas CEO hadn't fell for a 'jo mama' joke since he was in middle school. Apparently Gortys had discovered old memes. He wondered how much patience Loader Bot truly had... Then he remembered his days with The Stranger and immediately knew LB's patience would stretch much farther for Gortys than it ever had for him and Fiona combined. Which was a good thing. For Gortys.

"We will be leaving now, the ship we need to set sail on is departing in half an hour." Loader Bot offered his metallic hand and Rhys grasped it with his own, cool silver embracing gleaming gold in a firm handshake. "Enjoy this human celebrated winter holiday season. We will return for a social visit in less than fifty years time."

Rhys grinned, reaching out to pat his long time friend on his shoulder. "Thanks, and I sure hope so LB."

"It's a promise," Loader Bot said, using the same hand to form a fist. Rhys immediately curled his hand into a ball and the two bumped their fists together. "Come Gortys, say your farewells so that we can make it to our ship."

"Ooh, but I haven't even told Rhys about deez~!"

Loader Bot gently took hold of Gortys' little hand, leading her away and towards the elevators. "You may ask him next time, that way you have incentive to return and verbally harass him again."

Rhys called out to their figures as they disappeared around the corner. "Goodbye Gortys!" And just to make her happy, he shouted "Deez what?"

"Deez nuts! Hahaha- oh! Wait, what if he's allergic? Rhys! I take it back if you're allergic!"

The president of Atlas shook his head, a wide smile stretched across his face as he turned around and headed back inside his dark office. He adored those two so much, and honestly couldn't wait for their next, hopefully longer visit.

Now to get back to work... He tried to remember where he left off and what graph he had left to review as he walked over to his desk. But in the light from his monitor, he noticed his chair was occupied with another person.

Fiona sat in his chair as if it were her throne, her scarlet smile was coy and sultry beneath her shining jade eyes. Before he could take in any other details from her, his surprise and excitement got the better of him and he was rushing over to pick her up in a tight hug.

"Fiona!" he cried out against her hair and jacket, picking her up until the tips of her toes were barely touching the ground. She huffed a delighted laugh against his neck and shoulder, clinging to him as he squeezed her firmly. "Oh my God, what are you doing here? I thought you were busy!"

Rhys pulled back enough to look down at her, but he didn't loosen his hold one bit, almost afraid that if he let her go, she'd disappear and reveal that this was nothing but a bittersweet hallucination brought on from lack of sleep. But she was real and solid in his arms, the delicate scents of her perfume and shampoo wafting up to him, combining with the feel of her body heat seaping through his clothes. Her hands clutched his shoulders, the feel of her grip twisting the fabric only aided in proving that she was really here.

She parted her lips to answer him, but before she could get a word out, he dipped down and kissed her soundly. She chuckled against his mouth, and the feel of her sucking in a breath was cool against his lips. He pulled back again to look at her and felt himself in awe of her beauty as she smiled lovingly at him.

"Am I able to get a word out now?" she questioned, laughter tinting her voice.

"Sorry," her murmured, still in shock of having his girlfriend in his arms, when she should have been far, far away. "It's just... Wow..."

The vault hunter scoffed in amusement, reaching up to gently pinch at her boyfriend's rosey cheek. She couldn't believe just surprising him on Mercenary Day would get him to blush, but here she was, looking up at her tall CEO and basking in his affections. "Surprise~"

His response was to lean down and kiss her again, this time allowing her time to respond in kind. Fiona happily wrapped her arms around his neck, still barely standing on her tippy toes as he hadn't yet released her from his enthusiastic embrace.

She brushed her turquoise tipped fingers over his styled wavy hair, murmuring softly against his lips "Did you miss me?"

"Always," he answered without hesitation, squeezing her gently before slowly lowering her until she could stand on her own.

"Cute," she said, a satisfied smile quirking her lips as she playfully booped his nose.

He grinned in response before asking, "So are you gonna tell me how you got in here, or do I have to review my security protocols?"

"Let's just say that I have my ways~" she winked, before lifting her hand and flashing him a company keycard that looked a lot like his, before she flicked her wrist and the card disappeared. "And it doesn't hurt to have a pair of willing decoys to distract while I secure my entrance..."

"Ah..." he nodded in understanding, remembering that Gortys and Loader Bot could have easily entered his office since they did have authorization, but he hadn't thought about that as he was just too eager to see them again. "Interesting set up you have here. And the uh, supposed 'business' that was 'too important' to abandon?"

The former con woman grinned, tilting her head until she could peer up at him from beneath her lashes. "Another ploy to make you think that I couldn't make it in time to spend the holidays with you... Does that put me on the naughty list?"

"Hmm..." Rhys mulled over thoughtfully, pretending to think this over as he watched the mirth spread across his girlfriend's face. "It would seem likely, but I think you might be able to make amends. You've still got about an hour left before Mercenary Day, so if you're really good, you might avoid some coal in your stocking this year."

Fiona snickered, twisting her finger around one of the short curls at the nape of his neck, cocking her head to the side as she asked, "What if I tell you that I came by in person to thank you for the jacket you gave me? Would that help?"

He hummed in agreement, his fingers drumming along her waist as he nodded and answered, "That does seem like a step in the right direction."

The Pandoran stepped back out of his reach, leaning back against the edge of his desk as she tugged at the lapels of said jacket. "It really is a beautiful gift... Isn't it?"

For the first time since he noticed his girlfriend in his chair, he was able to get a good view of what she was wearing. The light from the city at night poured in from his bay windows, falling over her form in shafts of multicolored light that only complimented her beauty even more. She wore the jacket he bought for her, a dark burgundy knee length piece that looked so good on her. He was very happy with his purchase, and she appeared to be as well. Her hat was nowhere to be found, and her legs were bare because instead of her usual knee-high boots, she wore a pair of simple black stilettos.

Perhaps she wanted to go out to dinner after this, her attire more suited to a fancy restaurant rather than vault hunting. He was about to ask her where she'd like to go, when she spoke up first.

"Doesn't it look good?" she asked, watching him carefully.

"Definitely. You know, they had other colors but I know red is like, your thing and so I uh... I... I was um..."

His words trailed off as she slowly pulled the tab for the zipper down her body, letting the jacket part before she casually shrugged one shoulder out of the jacket, revealing that underneath, she wore a lacey set of black lingerie, and nothing else. She sat braced against his desk, peering up at him in nothing but the present he bought for her, a tiny set of underwear, and her black heels. "It looks really good, right...?"

Rhys swallowed thickly, his eyes roaming over the length of her bare leg that she stretched out to draw his eye. He nodded slowly, preoccupied with trying to burn this image into his mind forever. "Yep... Looks... Very good. Very very good. The best, in fact..."

She brushed the tip of her shoe along the side of his calf, while reaching out to tug on his festive tie to draw him closer. "Why don't you let me show you just how much I appreciate your thoughtful gift, hmm...?"

Rhys willingly drew closer to her, stepping in between her legs as she parted her knees to make room for him. "Oh fuck you're so hot, how are you this hot...?" It was more of a rhetorical question as it seemed like he was talking more to himself than actually questioning her, but all the same it made Fiona grin with pride.

She pulled on his tie to bring him down to her, parting her mouth eagerly as she felt his tongue swipe across her lower lip. His hands braced themselves by her hips as he leaned over and thrust his tongue against hers, making her sigh in pleasure. He tilted his face and reached up to cup the back of her head, angling her to kiss her deeper.

Fiona released his tie, letting her touch trail down his chest and stomach to his belt. Rhys pulled away from her mouth with a wet smack, reaching behind her to fiddle with his keyboard and save his work. The Pandoran nibbled along his jawline, moving on to kiss down his neck as she pulled his shirt partially out of his slacks to delve her greedy hands underneath to reach his bare skin. Rhys, meanwhile, was very distracted and more than eager to join his girlfriend in whatever she had planned. Finally, he manages to save and shut down his computer.

As soon as his monitor goes dark, he pushes it off to the side of his large desk, as well as any papers or miscellaneous items that could get in the way. When everything is all clear, he pulls back to look at Fiona properly, now with no other distractions in the way.

Greedily eyeing the new set of lingerie, he runs his human finger over the scalloped edges of her bra cup, the texture of lace delicate and expensive beneath his fingertip - a beautiful contrast against the smooth skin of her breast. "Is this a gift to me, from you...?"

Fiona's smile is sexy and mischievous, gazing at up at him as she slightly arches her back, encouraging more of his touch. "I used your money to buy this set. It was tailored specifically for me, but it wasn't too expensive..."

Rhys firmly cups her in his hand, her breast sitting full against his palm as he runs a thumb over her hardened nipple beneath the fabric. She sighs lightly as he answers, "Now that's a good investment..."

She chuckles quietly, meeting his bi-colored eyes as she purrs, "Glad you think so..." before tugging on his open vest to bring him down to her lips again.

She wraps her arms around his neck, her hands diving into his wavy hair while he reaches under her jacket to rove over her bare skin. She suckles on his tongue and he in turn reaches down to squeeze at her hip. She hums appreciatively, arching into his body as he brings his hands up to the back of her bra, unhooking the garment after some fiddling. She pulls back with a pop, gazing at him heavy lidded with a gentle smirk. "So eager, you barely had time to appreciate me in this before you're taking it off."

"It's not that I don't appreciate it, because I do, I very very very much do, but I haven't seen you in a month-" kiss "-I am so so so so so happy to see you-" kiss "-you look so damn hot right now-" kiss "-and you could be wearing diamonds and I'd still insist that you look best naked."

Fiona chuckled into the fervent kisses he placed on her mouth, letting him peel off her jacket and bra, dropping it off to the side as he kissed down her neck while his human hand came up to cup her bare breast. She sighed in pleasure at his knowing touch, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt and vest over his shoulder as his thumb swiped gently over a budded nipple.

"Rhys..."

"Oh Fi, I've missed you..."

He sucked against her pounding pulse and she let her head fall back, whining softly as she leaned back against his desk for support. Her right leg came up against his side, trying to pull him closer. She plunged her turquoise tipped fingers into his thick hair as he kissed down her chest and quickly sucked her other nipple into his mouth. Her soft moans echoed in his empty office, and she was always astonished at how quickly he could rile her up in so little time.

He alternates lovingly over her panting chest - finger, lips, teeth and tongue teasing her until she's pulling him up and back to her mouth. She bites on his bottom lip as she tugs his shirt completely free from his slacks, pulling it up in an attempt to get it off. With a groan, he pulls back enough to shuck his vest before tugging at his tie to loosen it, pulling it over his head and tossing it somewhere off to the side. He works at his shirt's buttons as Fiona reaches forward and begins to undo his belt. She peeks up at him as she slides it out of the buckle, working on the button and zipper next, and he loves the sight before him, wondering how he got so lucky to be the one Fiona wanted most of all.

Rhys shrugs off his shirt, exposing his bare chest and the large expanse of his blue tattoo just as Fiona is parting his slacks. She pauses when she glances down to see his festive boxers. He's very obviously aroused but she can't help but smirk at his Mercenary Day themed underwear.

"What?" he grouses, a blush high on his cheeks. "I was trying to embody the holiday mood okay?"

"Oh you're in the mood alright~" she purrs, reaching down into his pants to rub him through his festive boxers.

His eyes flutter shut and he moans softly, making the Pandoran bite her lip and pull him closer. She strokes him over his underwear as she kisses him, swallowing his sounds of pleasure as he ruts eagerly up against her hand.

Eventually he pulls away and immediately starts tugging on her panties, muttering in a voice thick with arousal, "I need to get these off of you now..."

The vault hunter laughs but insists that she's not gonna be the only naked one here. She helps Atlas' head push down his slacks and as he toes off his expensive shoes and kicks his clothing away, she looks down and sees that of course his socks are holiday themed too. She giggles and Rhys lays her gently back against his desk as he tugs her damp panties down her legs, stopping to gently remove her heels and set them carefully off to the side.

Fiona is now completely naked on his desk, and as he straightens to look at her, she props herself up on her elbows and curls a leg around his hip to bring him closer. Rhys wonders how he's gonna get any work done from now on, when all he'll be able to think about while sitting at his desk, is how good Fiona looks splayed over the polished, wooden surface with her lustful gaze trained on him. He eagerly leans over her, kissing her again as if he can never get enough of her mouth. She slowly reclines back until she's laying flat over his desk, wrapping her legs around him and grinding her wet core over the tent in his boxers. They both groan into the kiss, and Rhys quickly reaches between them to shove his underwear out of the way.

He grips the base of his erection and guides it between her lips, rocking slowly against her to coat himself in her slick. Fiona is mouthing over his throat, moving on to leave hickeys over his neck and shoulder, proud of the color it makes when her love bites pepper over the blue of his tattooed skin.

Finally he pushes against her entrance, and she lies back to watch his face, only to find his eyes meeting hers.

He pushes in slowly, giving her body time to adjust to his intrusive strokes. If the way her eyelashes flutter and her kiss-swollen mouth parts with exhales of pleasure, then he's doing a good job. He presses fully against her, and leans down to kiss gently at her parted lips. She returns his kiss eagerly as she flutters around him, and keeping his hips still is so hard when her walls are squeezing him so tight. His elbows are braced beside her to keep his weight off of her, but when she arches, her breasts push against his chest, her nipples grazing teasingly over his skin. She's got the heel of one foot hooked just underneath his ass, keeping him pulled close against her. Her other leg is curled around his back, the smooth skin of her inner thigh brushing up against his side.

"Fiona, can I-"

"Yes, please, move..."

Her legs relax enough to let him ease back, before he begins rolling his hips into her body. They sighed in pleasure simultaneously, her eyes falling shut but immediately opening to catch his gaze. He loved watching her face as he worked to draw as much pleasure out of her as he possibly could.

"Rhys..." she murmured, her hands trailing up his arms, over his shoulders and down his back. He rocked into her again, this time plunging into her quicker and she yelped, arching her back and digging her blunt nails into his shoulder blades.

He grazed his parted lips across her jawline and down the arch of her neck, stopping to suckle a bruise onto her collarbone as he began a steady pace between her legs.

She gasped and whined in his ear, and it was all he could focus on. The taste of her sweat on his tongue, the pounding of her pulse against his lips, the breathless, helpless way she called for him, the way his name sounded as she panted and writhed beneath him. Her body fitting against his like his other half, the wet, hot, sporadic squeeze of her core, the way she trusted him enough to allow him this opportunity. There was no one and nothing like her, and he loved her so entirely.

Fiona, Fiona, Fiona...

"Rhys, Rhys- Ah Rhys...!"

He pushed himself up to brace his hands on either side of her, watching her body bounce with every meeting of their hips. She was close, he could tell by the way she was trying to stifle her louder moans, and the way her hands sought any part of him to find purchase of.

With this angle, he could watch as she shuddered, her thighs tightening around him as her walls spasmed around his length, her hands curled around his biceps as her orgasm washed over her. Watching the pleasure reflected on her face and in her eyes was always his favorite part, knowing he was the one to satisfy her needs.

When she squirmed at the beginnings of overstimulation, he slowed his thrusts until he was fully sheathed inside of her, panting heavily as arousal still pounded through his veins.

She parted her eyes, gazing up at him through partially wet lashes, before tugging him down on top of her to kiss him thoroughly as she came slowly down from her high. Rhys waited, his patience tested but never broken, the need to finish still so strong in him, but he'd always wait until Fiona was ready.

She curled her arms around his shoulders and nipped at the shell of his ear, her sultry words like a fire in his blood. "We're not done yet..."

Rhys nuzzled into her bare shoulder, his hands sliding down her body until they found a firm grip underneath her thighs. He picked her up and took a step back, falling back into his overly expensive office chair.

Fiona quickly righted herself, and the movement sent a spike of pleasure straight to his gut, making his hands latch on to her hips automatically. She steadied herself on his lap, before swiveling her hips in a devious circle, making him groan deeply as his head tipped back against the head rest. As soon as she started bouncing in his lap, he spread his thighs to give her more room to maneuver. He looked down at where their bodies met, watching with hot, molten pleasure as she rode him just the way she liked. The sound of her hips slapping wetly down onto his was drawing him closer and closer to his finish.

There was literally nothing hotter than his girlfriend, his heterochromatic eyes taking in the way she moved over him and worked his body with confidence, her lusty smile and dark eyes were the most beautiful things he had ever seen. She leaned down, swirling her hips in the most delicious little circles and kissed him, drawing his bottom lip into a gentle bite. He felt his stomach tighten and knew he was about to come.

Wrapping his human arm around her lower back to keep her in place, he secured her completely against him, slipping his mechanical hand in between their bodies. His cool metal fingertips found her flushed bud, which made her flinch at first contact. He activated a steady vibration and she yelped, clinging to him desperately as she locked up with a sudden climax.

This time Rhys allowed himself to follow with her, his hips trying to buck up into her as he shuddered and ejaculated deep within her clenching walls. She whined in sensitivity, rolling her hips against his vibrating fingers as she continued to milk him, wanting to draw out both of their orgasms as long as possible. Soon though it became too much, and he slowly removed his touch to instead wrap his arms around her back to secure her to his chest.

The vault hunter sat in a boneless heap against him, panting against his tattooed neck as she savored the afterglow. He was so warm right now and his arms wrapped around her could easily lull her into a good night's sleep.

Rhys was trying to catch his breath, pressing his nose into her hair as he gently stroked a loving hand down her back. His pulse was beating wildly, and he knew that he had the most absolute, stupidest grin slathered across his face right now. But eventually, he knew he had to rouse his girlfriend from her light dozing.

"Hey, Fi...?"

"Mmm...?"

"Wanna head home and shower, then sleep in our comfy, cozy bed? Wouldn't that be better?"

"Mmm..." she sighed, seeming as if she was content to stay snuggled up against him. But she shifted slightly, pulling back enough to look him in the eyes. "Can we order take out? I'm starving..."

The company man's ego could probably not get any bigger than it was right now. "Oh~ Worked up an appetite did you?" His smug smirk was half irritating, half humorous. "I guess I can't blame you - I gave you a pretty good work out if I do say so myself..."

Fiona rolled her eyes, reaching up to pluck playfully at his nipple. He yelped, jumping in his seat which jostled them apart. She sat wet and naked in his equally wet and naked lap, watching as a fierce blush spread over his cheeks. "You were saying...?"

"Yeah, well..." He cleared his throat. "Let's uh, let's get home so we can shower..." From where she was now perched on his lap, he could feel their combined juices sliding down her thighs and onto his. "...A shower would be really good right about now..."

The Pandoran woman snickered, pushing herself off to stand on wobbly legs. She tried to stand confidently but her knees still trembled slightly and the sight blew up Rhys' male ego like nothing else. She caught sight of his smug grin, and combined with his tousled hair and the after shocks of pleasure still zinging through her body, she had to admit to herself that he was pretty damn sexy right now. Blushing lightly, she turned away from him to pick up her scraps of clothing from the floor.

The president of Atlas got up soon after and winced at the mess they made on his luxury office chair... But eventually dismissed it and went in search of his own scattered clothes.

Fiona shrugged on her new jacket as Rhys was cinching his belt. He looked like he had just dressed after taking a roll in the sheets - hair and clothes all mussed, bruises dotting his neck - and she supposed she didn't look much better. As she righted her clothes, subconsciously taking note of the stickiness of her inner thighs, she noticed Rhys pull up a call on his palm display.

As it rang, he whispered to her, "The usual?"

She nodded as the staff to her favorite restaurant picked up. She curled her arm around her boyfriend's, walking with him out of his office to the elevators. He punched the number in for the garage as he placed their orders, requesting for delivery at his apartment.

As he was getting ready to hang up, the worker on the other end chirped, "And Happy Mercenary Day Mr. Strongfork!"

Taken slightly aback, Rhys looked at the time and realized that it was indeed past midnight. It was officially Mercenary Day. He returned the sentiment and hung up, turning to look down at the woman at his side.

"Happy Mercenary Day, Mr. Strongfork~" Fiona cooed with an impish little smile.

Rhys groaned, shaking his head as he turned away and said, "Don't call me that when we're out in public..."

"Oh~?" she questioned, tugging on his vest to get him to face her. She could spot a light blush blooming across his face and over the tips of his ears. Interesting, perhaps something to explore at a later time...

He twisted and caught her in a hug, effectively hiding his blushing face from her curious eyes. "Happy Mercenary Day Fi... So far, it's the best one yet..."

Fiona nuzzled into his neck, planting a soft kiss against the black rings there. "I'm not done giving you your gifts yet..."

"Oh~?" It was Rhys' turn to shift into a playful mood, his initial embrace now taking on a flirty edge as his hands roamed suggestively down her back and sides.

She snickered, leaning against him as she threw her arms over his shoulders. She nipped him playful along his jaw, pulling away completely once the elevator doors opened on the garage level. She tugged coyly on his tie as she sauntered out of the elevator towards his car. "We've got the whole day to ourselves... Let's not waste it, hm?"

Rhys, despite the love making that had just happened, was practically salivating at the notion of spending all day with his incredibly sexy girlfriend. He fumbled around in his pockets for his car keys, eager to get on the road and into their large bed.

The rest of the night was just getting started, if Fiona's sultry smile and bedroom eyes were anything to go by.

🌟Happy Mercenary Day🌟

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