#i might cross post on Insta when i get more serious with my art

[lyss-butterscotch]

Holy crap you’re alive, why has tumblr not been showing me your posts… Anywho, glad to see you again! Your work is still seriously so good! Not sure if you’re still active in insta at all, but I still send you funny reels from time to time

Greetings. Probably because i post randomly lmao

Thank you it means alot to me to hear that. As for IG, no im no longer active there because of the AI thing and IG is alot more algorithm dependant to even reach people. I still use it to see posts but i dont post or read DMs often.

[shewhospeakswiththunder]

Perhaps you’re feeling bored at home or, if considered an “essential” worker like me, you need a little fun and stress relief. Here is my masterpost of fic recs from my two years of reading so far. Maybe you’ll find something new, or reconnect with an old favorite. Either way--

Enjoy! 😷💕

Reylo Fics that Deserve All the Love

Near Kinsman by englishable

Englishable is just one of the best writers I’ve encountered in fandom. This historical western mail order bride AU is top notch quality.

The Masochism of Self-Defence by greyorchids

The Reylo dynamic in this Boston PD AU is steamy, but also heartfelt. 

So Much Thin Glass by walkingsaladshooter

Never knew I loved modern day Gothic AUs until I ran across this one.

Heaven Forbid by DarkKnightDarkSide

I was stunned by the author’s creativity in this Priestlo fic. So smutty. So... inventive 😉🔥

Sonder by deathbyhumidity

Two strangers passing each other by on the train. Soft, dreamlike, somber, poignant. Modern AU.

And Still I Would Remember by Inmyownidiom

A Victorian era AU of two souls that parted and come crashing back together.

So, You've Decided to Glamour a Human Girl. by selunchen

Faeries AU! Ben, a fae, and Rey, a human. Shenanigans ensue.

Live Long, and Prosper by SaintHeretical

For the Reylo Trekkies. Hell, even if you don't do Star Trek, read this. PHENOMENAL.

Mr. Solo & Miss Wellfound by LinearA

“Regency/Victorian AU, Ben sees Rey's stockinged ankle by accident.”

Diyari by Nervoustouch

Modern archeologists AU. Snarky banter with dashes of Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and Sahara vibes.

Drawn to the light of your burning sorrows by Kyriadamorte

The Mothlo AU you didn’t know you needed. Both gritty and soft.

Crown Glass by RebelRebel

Fantasy AU, with lots of beautiful imagery and engaging character dynamics.

Kohelet 3:16 (Call Me A Cab) by LinearA

NYC Jewish Leia and Ben. Skillfully layered plot, nuanced characterization. Smut is HOT.

By the Shores of Varykino Lake by hipgrab (merrymegtargaryen)

Unhealthy dynamics, definitely read the tags. “There’s a lot of fucked-up-ness”, in the author’s own words. But it’s good writing. Fair warning.

Let Me Put My Darkness In You by ArdeaJestin

Canonverse. Hux is an insufferable, pompous ass and Kylo Ren writes terrible, melodramatic poetry.

Wintertide by Zabeta

Whimsical and primitive in turn, this lives up to the style of a true fairytale AU.

The Forty Thieves by PoetHrotsvitha

Peaky Blinders/Gangsters AU. Rey starts as Ben’s bartender and ends up as so much more.

I Said to My Soul, Be Still by LinearA

Dark!Rey takes her man. 🥵🔥💕

Hux's Rousing Pep Talks by Riels_shorts

This fic is hysterical. It’s not Reylo, and I don’t care. My list, my rules.

It's All I Can Do To Leave You Alone by TazWren

Office AU. Silly, spunky, with a bashful Ben. 

Sip the Honey Sweet by dietplainlite

Anne of Green Gables-esque/Edwardian era AU, the title really says it all.

The Pull to the Light by HarpiaHarpyja

Entrancingly macabre. This modern/fantasy/monsters AU catches your attention from the get-go, and never lets you off the hook.

lay then the axe to the root by sciosophia

All the Bronte goodness, plus smut.

The Golden Age by TourmalineGreen

Golden Age of Hollywood AU in which Ben is a jaded actor in serious need of an image fix, in the form of fresh-faced actress Rey.

Never Be Your Curse by Kate_Reid 

Kylo Ren is a go-go dancer in this AU. That was enough to get my attention 😘

Gallows God by Killtheselights

Bursting with deliciously grim imagery, an intelligent take on Norse mythology.

Thunderstorms, Clouds, Snow, and a Slight Drizzle by aNerdObsessed

Who doesn’t love an ugly sweater Christmas party? Ben Solo, that’s who. All the nostalgic wintertime feels in this modern AU.

Though My Soul Has Set in Darkness by englishable

It’s not long, but it’s good. A lyrical dive into the mindspace of child Ben Solo. A true gem. Also not technically Reylo. Still don’t care.

I Dare You by tinylittlebrain

Daredevil Kylo has pissed off ER doc Rey Kenobi for the last time. Spicy!

stuck in colder weather by redbelles

Professor Ren stops grad student Rey from biking home in a snow storm. And takes her to his home. You can guess where this goes 😉

Between Sky and Sea by nessalk

Serious Indiana Jones vibes with a Caribbean flair. Painstakingly researched, and moments of true beauty and joy.

But Before Tomorrow by Kate_Reid

Such good writing. Canonverse.

The Sword of Prince Hector by englishable

Exploration of what redemption might feel like for Ben, canonverse. 

if compassion be the breath of life, breathe on me by Victoryindeath2

All the angst and unknowns that we were left with in the wake of TLJ are soothed in this canonverse piece.

build a ladder to the stars by redbelles

An exploration of events post-Crait. Fantastic, beautifully written.

nor are we forgiven (which brings us back) by TolkienGirl

Both Kylo and Rey get to see what life would have been like if they both got exactly what they thought they wanted after TLJ. Fascinating read. 

Forsworn by Erulisse17

This Mando/ST crossover has everything you could want--action, witty banter, space romance! So much fun!

Reylo Favorites & Classics

One Shots

59 Minutes by delia-pavorum (literaryminded)

For Science by KyloTrashForever, ohwise1ne

He Made It Through the Wilderness (somehow he made it through) by LovesBitca8

light carries on endlessly by lachesisgrimm (olga_theodora)

Grey by ocjones

The Idiot's Guide to Flirting by Violetwilson

High School/College AU

I Caught Fire by KyloTrashForever

Mountain Springs High School by animal

Epithumia by pontmercy44

Soul Searching by OptimisticBeth

Office/Workplace AU

Sensual Storytime by andabatae

The Food of Love by LovesBitca8

Historical/Dystopia AU

Hiraeth by Ferasha

a manner of virtue by neonheartbeat

The lamb's thirst by animal

Wanted by Inmyownidiom

She Who Would be Queen by sasstasticmad

go i know not whither and fetch i know not what by voicedimplosives

ABO

Knot My First Time by KyloTrashForever

Canonverse/Canon-divergent

variations on a theme of you by diasterisms (Reydar)

i will be the wolf by diasterisms

Sky Marked Souls by AnonymousMink

The Death of Kylo Ren by nymja

World In My Eyes by sasstasticmad

i'm always in this twilight (in the shadow of your heart) by diasterisms

Catch Me I’m Falling by violethoure666

Sword of the Jedi by diasterisms

You'll Be the One to Turn by postedbygaslight

Dark Crown by Violetwilson

Harry Potter AU

Nocturnal Studies And Other Peculiar Magic by WaterlilyRose

Otherwise Modern AU

Pretense by Celia_and

Insta-heart by slipgoingunder

Serotonin and Dopamine by pontmercy44

The Elusive Mating Dance of the Porgus Adorabilis by andabatae

Hanging by a Moment by crossingwinter

WAR DOGS by fulcrumstardust

miles from where you are by Mooncactus

Charcoal by luvkurai

Stay by jeeno2

coarse and rough and irritating by frak-all (or_ryn)

Blades Crossed by the-reylo-void (Anysia)

Embers by sciosophia

Mitan, Midi by animal

Janus by englishable

Say My Name by Graendoll

Thank You for The Music by hipgrab (merrymegtargaryen)

darling, so it goes by akosmia

This is the Sign You've Been Looking For by RebelRebel

Broken Things by midnightbluefox

One-Night Stand by delia-pavorum (literaryminded)

The Rebel Side of Heaven by jeeno2

On The Bumpy Road (To Love) by violethoure666

we could plant a house, we could build a tree by Like_A_Dove

I’d Like My Obituary to Hint at a Sequel by Violetwilson

Only If You Want To by Violetwilson

Not Reylo, Still Awesome

Gingerflower/Gingerrose, Armitage Hux/Rose Tico 

Between Sand and Sea by Brit Hux-Tico (birchwoods01)

If Ever I Would Leave You by Weddersins

Her Yellow Rainboots by Weddersins

Merrical, Cal Kestis/Merrin (Jedi: Fallen Order)

The Stars Alight by FlyingMachine

Heavy Ice by FlyingMachine

Caltrilla, Cal Kestis/Trilla Suduri (Jedi: Fallen Order)

No One Else by xanderwilde

call it what you want by xanderwilde

tear you to pieces by xanderwilde

Dramione, Hermione Granger/Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter Universe)

Now Is A Gift by SenLinYu

Sex and Occlumency by Graendoll

Zutara, Katara/Zuko (Avatar: the Last Airbender)

oracle bones by an orphaned account

Fics by Me

Virtue Ethics

Reylo College AU (completed)

Dr. Ben Solo, adjunct philosophy professor and part-time martial arts instructor, discovers a young woman in his Intro to Philosophy course whom he thinks may not actually be enrolled at the University.

Chiasmus

Reylo Role-reversal canonverse AU (WIP)

Scourge of the galaxy, Kira Ren, is tasked by the First Order to eliminate the last of the Jedi. When she captures hotshot podracer Ben Solo to extract Luke Skywalker’s location from him, things do not go according to plan. 

This Dance of Light, This Sacred Blessing

Snapshots of a modern Reylo AU. Smutty, prosey one-shot.

Listen Up, Kid

Canonverse Reylo Post TLJ one-shot

The ghosts of Supreme Leader Kylo Ren's past are back to haunt him with a vengeance. A well-meaning, familial kind of vengeance. Or, A Star Wars Carol.

Ben’s Body

Reylo Modern AU (completed)

Rey is an up and coming sculptor specialising in human shape and form. Her new next door neighbour has a body to die for and she's determined to preserve it in marble forever. Now she just has to convince dashing and reclusive Ben to model for her. Preferably naked.

Growin’ Up

Reylo High School AU (completed)

Ben Solo was supposed to only be ruining his own life with his bad decisions. Rey Niima was just trying to pay attention in class. Both get stuck in detention.

Seven Texts, 2 AM

Reylo Modern AU, smutty one-shot

Ben has good reasons not to have sex with his neighbor, Rey. She has other ideas.

Song of the Forest

Reylo Fantasy/BatB/Fairytale AU (completed)

Once upon a time, a girl with an unknown past appeared on the doorsteps of a lord’s manor, and now the forest at the edge of the lord’s property is calling to her.

A Season of Frost & Warmth

Modern Reylo P&P AU (completed)

When Ben shows up to a Halloween party with no costume, it only confirms Rey’s certainty that he is the world’s biggest jerk. Until it comes to light that maybe... he isn’t. 

Follow Me Home

Modern Werewolf Reylo AU (completed)

Rey gets stone drunk and brings home a big cute husky she found in an alley. The next morning, she finds a naked man built like a fridge sleeping on her living room floor, and no dog in sight.

The Gentleness That Comes

Reylo Modern AU one-shot

Underground boxer!Ben is resigned to his life of violence, until he meets a pretty new bartender one night.

Unlikely, Unbidden, Unbound

Gingerflower canonverse AU (WIP)

General Hux is imprisoned by the Resistance when the First Order falls. He had known his death was coming, it was simply a matter of course. He’s disappointed to learn the Resistance has other plans, and an unwavering policy of giving people second chances.

@thereylowritingden @reylofic @nancylovesreylo @grlie-girl @lilia-ula @greyforceuser @tazwren @mhcalamas

[welllpthisishappening]

Dropping Gloves...in the Name of Festive Fashion

It’s probably one of the more ridiculous things any of them have ever done. It’s also one of the better ideas any of them has ever had – it’s festive and in the spirit and the fans will love it. And maybe it’s kind of fun because it ends with another win and some positive press before the break and Phillip’s jacket is really just...a work of fashion art. 

The way Emma laughs at his jacket and sweater combination a few hours before puck drop is just a bonus. 

AN: Once again, I have no excuse for this. I am...vaguely stressed out in the real world side of my life and the Rangers keep winning games, which makes me want to write Blue Line things and steal ideas from the Boston Bruins. I definitely stole this from the Boston Bruins. Anyway, here’s 3K’ish worth of vaguely festive words and everyone sassing each other and Emma and Killian making out in other hockey arenas that aren’t the Garden. Also. More Insta art under the cut. 

It was Scarlet’s idea.

Of course it was. It was insane. The only person who would think it was a good idea was Scarlet. That was, however, until Ruby heard about it. And promptly let out a screech so loud that Killian was momentarily concerned she was going to, somehow, do damage to the paint on the locker room wall. “God, Lucas,” he mumbled, dropping back into the bench behind him and Emma shot him a look. Killian grinned in response, a flash of teeth and his tongue pressed into the corner of his mouth and she rolled her eyes.

“You’re an idiot,” Emma mumbled, but there was a note of something just on the edge of her voice and she didn’t say anything before she walked towards him, fingers finding the bottom of his hair.

Ruby glared at both of them. “I don’t want to hear it, Cap,” she said, crossing her arms like that would, somehow, make it all sound more official. “This is a good idea. We could get picked up by a shit ton of sites.”

“Is that the goal?”

Will laughed from some unseen corner of the locker room, the sound bouncing off the walls and, somehow, mixing with Ruby’s glare and the effect left Killian without much of an argument or a metaphorical leg to stand out.

“Would we classify that as a cliché?” Robin asked, walking back into the main room with ice taped to his shoulder and a pair of questionably adorable kids wearing jerseys behind him. “Or just like...a really bad joke?” “The second one,” Emma mumbled and Will cackled from wherever he was. Probably getting his leg checked after he blocked that shot in the second period and he was going to talk about that for, at least, a week.

Killian glanced up, eyeing Emma with something that felt a bit like stunned and impressed and maybe just like she was the center of the universe or something. The specifics weren’t important. “You wound me, Swan,” he said, but Will was still laughing and even Ruby was trying to turn whatever sound she was making into something that was almost a cough.

“Yeah, definitely the second one,” Robin agreed. “It’s because he thinks we’re all going to look better than him.” “That’s because we are,” Will shouted and Killian rolled his eyes, letting his head fall back against Emma’s side. She smiled.

“You know you don’t have to wear anything too ridiculous, Cap. We’re not even going to be here so the odds of The Post picking it up first is like...slim to none. Just you know, wear a hat or something.” “I mean, that’s not totally true,” Ruby muttered. “It’s not like the journalism industry is so hard up that they don’t send beat reporters on the road. It’s Boston, it’s not the western swing. And Cap, if we do this, you absolutely cannot only wear a hat. That’ll just be embarrassing for everyone and ruin the theme completely.” “You’re really selling it, Lucas,” Will said. His bag of ice was taped to his knee, a slight limp to his walk that he’d probably milk until the Christmas break.

“I am fine-tuning your idea, Scarlet. Or at least your idea theft.” “Theft?” Killian repeated and it couldn’t have been good for his neck to keep twisting up towards Emma. Or whatever happened to his entire body when Roland jumped up onto him, knee landing on, what felt like, half a dozen different internal organs.

He was already shouting about Christmas plans and snow and Henry had, finally, retired the original Jones jersey, but had recently started sporting a Stanley Cup champions version that was looking a little worse for wear as well.

“Are you going to get dressed up, Hook?” Roland asked, shouting the question in Killian's ear. “Henry and I are going to!” Killian glanced at the teenager in question, eyebrows lifted and Henry shrugged like it was the end of the goddamn world. “Scarlet thinks it’d be funny. Even if it is kind of unoriginal, but usually you guys don’t do stuff like this.” “I’m still not entirely sure what it is we’re doing,” Emma admitted, gaping at Will when he made some kind of noise in the back of his throat.

“Em, seriously?” he asked. “I told Cap about this, like, two days ago at least. He really didn’t say anything?” Emma shook her head and Will might have actually growled. “C’mon, Cap, what the hell? Sorry Rol. I’m not sorry, Henry though because you insulted my idea.”

“Ok, well, you’re not really making any of us want to do this, Scarlet,” Robin muttered, grabbing a stick out of his locket to hit at the back of Will’s legs.

“I am injured, Locksley!” “You blocked one shot. You’re a defenseman. That is literally your job.”

“I’m going to make you wear the ugliest sweater of all.” Robin brandished the stick again and Killian was never sure who moved first – him or Emma or Ruby, but they were a mess of voices and raised hands and pleas to relax, guys, seriously and both Robin and Will made hand gestures that were decidedly out of place several days before Christmas.

“It is some kind of miracle Gina isn’t here to see that,” Killian muttered, falling back on the bench and, that time, he tugged Emma down with him, a vaguely uncomfortable pretzel that also included Roland Locksley.

“If you tell Gina about that, I will find actual coal and give it to you, Cap,” Robin said. It sounded like a promise.

Or, possibly, a warning.

“Scarlet you want to tell me what your idea is now?” Emma asked, a blatantly obvious attempt to redirect the conversation.

Killian tried to bite back his smile.

It didn’t work.

Ruby rolled her eyes.

“We’re going to dress up,” Scarlet said simply. He nodded once – as if that explained anything – and Emma shrugged again when there weren’t more words. “You know...festive like.” “What?”

Killian made a noise, somewhere between amusement and disbelief that any of them were even considering this ridiculous thought, hooking his chin over Emma’s shoulder. And he didn’t expect Roland to explain it. “The Canadiens did it last year, Emma,” he yelled, leaping off the bench to start bouncing on the balls of his feet instead. “They all got dressed up and they wore funny suits and Santa hats and it was on SportsCenter and all over the internet and now Uncle Will wants to do the same thing here and Henry and I are going to wear hats.” “Bring up that SportsCenter fact again,” Ruby grinned. She leaned forward, wrapping an arm around Roland’s shoulders to tug him against her side and they both looked like they wanted to start bouncing up and down. “This is...it’s a great idea. Don’t say a word, Scarlet.” “I didn’t say anything, Lucas,” Will promised, but the grin on his face looked triumphant and Killian knew he was outnumbered.

“So we’re just going to steal festive-type ideas from the Canadiens now?” he asked. “I feel like we’re better than that.” Will nodded enthusiastically, eyes wide and it was like someone had just turned on an extravagant light display in the middle of the New York Rangers locker room. Everything felt a bit brighter. That was a cliché. “Exactly,” Will shouted. “That’s exactly what I’m saying, Cap. We’ve been officially screwed over by this schedule. Sorry, Rol. So we’re taking back some of the fun of the game. We’re going to look like idiots and the fans are going to love it.”

“I never agreed to look like an idiot,” Robin muttered. “I’ll dress up. I’ll wear a hat to match my kids, but I won’t look like an idiot when Lucas is already plotting some kind of social media strategy for the whole thing.” “How do you know I’m doing that?” Ruby asked and the entire locker room exploded in a general state of hysterics.

“Lucas, please. Don’t insult my intelligence like that.” “You can almost hear the gears moving, Rubes,” Emma added, a smile on her face and her fingers still tracing across Killian’s neck and it felt decidedly festive even if they were all going to look like idiots in Boston.

They were absolutely all going to look like idiots in Boston.

“Whatever,” Ruby grumbled. “This is good pub. I bet The Post runs a sidebar about it and we all get some positive ink before the break.” “All of those phrases were incredibly old sounding,” Will laughed.

“Locksley, hit Scarlet with that stick again.” Robin hummed, flashing a conspiratorial grin Killian’s direction and Will nearly tripped over his own feet trying to jump back. Ariel looked scandalized when she turned the corner, the heel of her hand pressed into her lower back.

“Are you guys serious?” she yelled and her hair seemed to get redder. Like it was gaining power. Or frustration. Merry Christmas. “Scarlet, sit down. Locksley, put the stick away. We won already. Cap, control your team better.”

“That was good, Red,” Killian grinned. “I feel like I’m about to get grounded.” She stuck her tongue out at him. And he couldn’t turn his laugh into a convincing cough quickly enough. “I will...tell Arthur on you. And pick out a garbage outfit for you to wear in Boston.” “What are you going to say to Arthur? Also have we considered Arthur in this whole dress like a Christmas tree kick we are on, because I can’t imagine a situation where he’s even remotely into any of that.”

“Cap,” Will sighed. “That is not the name. Festive forecheck. You’ve got to go for alliteration. Obviously. Someone back me up on this.” “I mean that’s not bad,” Emma said. “It just doesn’t really make sense. Give me, like, twelve hours to come up with something better.” “Deal. And Arthur thinks it’s a great idea because, surprisingly enough, some kind of win streak makes Arthur an almost bearable human being and front office thought it was genius.”

“No one said that,” Robin mumbled. “The word genius was never used.”

“Anyway,” Will continued sharply, talking louder like that would drown out any festive detractors. “Front office really does think it’s a good idea and in the spirit, that was an actual phrase, right Lucas?” Ruby nodded – even though it looked like it physically pained her to do so. “Right, right, in the spirit and fun and the fans will love it. So, you know... get all the Grinch’ing out now because we’re doing this.” “Can we make Grinch references when there are still a couple of days before Christmas?” Emma asked. “Also is there a dress code? How do you guys pick outfits?” Will’s eyes widened at the barrage of questions, but Killian felt something spark in the center of his being that was oddly similar to several lit fireplaces and hot chocolate and, probably, a bread pudding that was somewhere in the realm of edible.

They were going to the brownstone together again.

And Emma was still asking questions.

They stayed in the locker room for another forty-five minutes and, at some point, Emma actually found a notebook and started writing down rules and festive regulations and Will promised that they could all get outfits within the next forty-eight hours and, two days later, by the time they walked into TD Garden, the New York Rangers entire roster looked as if Christmas had exploded.

But, like, in a good way.

“You know,” Emma said, just inside the doors of the Garden with her own hat on her head because Gina took everything way too seriously. “I think you might just win the best dressed competition, Jones.”

He grinned, any sense of exhaustion from an absurd just-before-Christmas schedule that wasn’t quite over yet disappearing as soon as Emma pressed up on her toes and they should probably stop kissing in arenas.

Killian couldn’t really bring himself to care. There was some Christmas excuse, probably. And he loved his girlfriend a lot.

“Can you vote, love?” he asked, mumbling the words against the curve of her jaw and his heart grew three sizes when she laughed in response. The Grinch looked pretty damn good in his festive suit – even while wearing the single most absurd Christmas sweater he could find.

“That seems like cheating, doesn’t it?” Emma asked. “Do you not trust the fans’ judgement?” “I’m not entirely concerned with that.” “That was almost romantic.” “Almost.” “Win another game and I’ll reconsider.” “No goal?” “Didn’t want to be greedy.” Killian smiled again – what felt like the entire goddamn Yule Log burning in the pit of his stomach and that probably wouldn’t be good once he got on the ice. “A goal and an assist and you walk out of the arena wearing this absurd jacket.” “I think you just want me to wear your jacket,” Emma muttered, tugging on lapels and Killian was surprised the entire thing didn’t rip apart in her hand. The Christmas-patterned jacket, it seemed, was not very well made.

Killian shook his head, hands landing on her hips and they should have found a more private corner. Scarlet was shouting for him. “Putting words in my mouth, Swan,” he muttered. “A goal and an assist, love.”

“And what happens if you don’t actually win the best dressed voting contest?”

“I’ll wear the hat. We’ll just...swap.” “Those are lame stakes.” “Best I can do on short notice.” She laughed and the sound seemed to echo in between his ears and his rib cage and this season was different in all the ways he’d always hoped for. That was almost another cliché. He’d have to tell Mrs. Vankald later that week. “Yeah, ok,” Emma said. “Also. Arthur dressed up.”

Killian gaped at her, eyes wide and jaw hanging open and Will couldn’t seem to stop laughing, even as they walked towards the visitor’s locker room to the sound of shutter snaps and flashes.

“You look good, Cap,” Will grinned. “I mean...not Phillip good. But, you know, festive.” He tried to glare at him. He did, but there was something about the season, Christmas or otherwise, and kissing Emma, even without mistletoe, and he couldn't quite summon up the frustration. He probably wouldn’t even check anyone later. “Yeah and you look ridiculous. I don’t remember that jacket being so….bright.”

“‘Tis the season, Cap.” “I don’t think that’s the phrase you’re looking for. Was it really that bright when we ordered it? Why did you agree to this?”

There wasn’t really time between games to actually shop, but the internet existed – or so Regina was quick to point out when they explained the idea in the restaurant and Eric was only too happy to offer up several plates of food they probably shouldn’t be eating in the middle of the season while she pulled out a tablet and started hitting buttons and it all got fairly ridiculous fairly quickly.

Killian tugged on the side of Will’s sleeve, certain he could hear something rip and he groaned when the move earned him a punch to the arm. “Leave my jacket alone,” Will growled. “And I picked this suit because Rol liked it.” “You’re a pushover.”

Will shrugged, making a dismissive noise in the back of his throat and Killian couldn’t argue with that either. His own fashion choices were equally dictated by how much Emma laughed at the pattern of the jacket when Regina found it in some dark, holiday-themed corner of Amazon and if it managed to work a smile out of Henry.

“Whatever, Cap,” Will grumbled, kicking open the door to the locker room. “Lucas told me I’m already winning this best dressed thing we’re staging.”

“We’re a weirdly competitive group, aren’t we?”

“It’s an outlet.”

Killian hummed, shrugging out of his jacket and there were more cameras and Mulan was there and this whole thing was going to end up as a photo gallery on the site and sent to season tickets. “What’d you come up with for your title of you well executed event, Scarlet?”

“Was that a compliment? Also didn’t Emma tell you? It was her idea.” “We’ve got some other things going on,” Killian said evasively, waving his hand through the air when Will narrowed his eyes. “What’s the name?”

“Dropping gloves...in the name of festive fashion.” Robin guffawed from his locker, Phillip a few feet away and sporting a jacket that could give several disco balls a run for their money and Jeff’s tie was the same exact pattern as his jacket and his pants.

They all looked like idiots.

“We’re going to raise a ton of money though,” Phillip said, tugging on his jacket because it was covered in sequins and far too small. He was totally going to win best dressed.

“What?” Killian asked.

“Cap, seriously,” Will groaned. “Do you not even talk to your girlfriend? You live together.” Killian made a noise in the back of his throat, something he hoped sounded appropriately dismissive and he was fairly certain it didn’t work when he met Robin’s gaze. “Emma thought it’d be a good idea to auction off our jackets and we’re all going to sign the hats and we’re going to make a ton of very festive money for Garden of Dreams. Aurora was thrilled, right Phillip?” “She was,” Phillip nodded. “I think the word overjoyed was used several times.”

Killian nodded, pride joining whatever Yule Log was still burning in the very center of him and he’d probably score two goals that night. “Ah, well, it might not have been a bad idea, Scarlet,” he said, clapping Will on the shoulder and the crowd was louder than usual when they took the ice half an hour later.

They won the game, the lead story on SportsCenter and, per text message updates from David, the top post on the subReddit with some sort of absurd number of comments, and Killian walked out of TD Garden with a Santa hat on his head and a smile on his face and Emma had to push the sleeves of the jacket up to hold his hand.