#it started snowing and i needed a profile pic so i decided to finish this piece

[beggarnaut]

im in the mood to play the megami tensei games again... 

[femaletwstsupremacy]

𝐅𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫…

𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭. 𝐅𝐞𝐦! 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐲𝐮𝐥

Sypnosis: Small little stories from the Heartslabyul cast with their S/O on Christmas.

HEARTSLABYUL...A dorm based on the Queen of Hearts’ spirit of strictness…

To you and everyone else's surprise Riddle decided to stay on campus for winter break. When asked about the matter she stutters in her speech with her face turning into a brilliant red, a reason? Does she need a reason to stay in NRC for winter break? Out of character!? Off with your head-! Trey only managed to save the poor Heartslabyul student by a slim chance. Since then, no one dares to question her decision lest they face the wrath of their dorm leader and get their precious heads cut off. But truthfully, the reason why she wanted to stay on campus was because you were here. Not only that it was Christmas, a holiday that wasn't all that celebrated in her household. And she's sure she won't be feeling any form of happiness if she were to go home, since all she would be doing is staring longingly at the window. Watching her neighbors enjoy themselves in a celebration she can't join. So she wishes to experience the Christmas festivities with you, even if it is just the both of you huddling next to the fire together for warmth. She could even be playing in the snow with you, a childish display, she knows. But she can't help but enjoy it. Maybe you two could bake some Christmas cookies, while she isn't confident with her skills she will still help you out as much as she can. Her face turning red when you lick the cream that got on her cheek....Or would you perhaps like a kiss under the mistletoe?

By the time Christmas rolls around, Trey's family bakery is packed with orders. She remembers it all too well, those times when she would bake, bake, bake, till her hands got sore. Her siblings weren't exempted from this either, all of them running to Trey to cry and complain about how tiring it is. But even with all the complaints and exhaustion they always end up finishing all the orders right before Christmas eve. Now that she's in NRC and most definitely far from home she makes sure to have a piece of her family with her. That being said every time December rolls in she starts making an extensive amount of Christmas themed pastries. But now you're here! And more than willing to give her a lending hand. Baking treats just seem much more fun with you, the jokes, the laughter, hell even the impromptu flour fight. Though you both had to clean it up quick before it was off with your heads. By the time she has to leave for the winter break, she makes sure to gift you a bag of sweets before she goes. When she hands you the bag, your confusion is evident from your expression. She chuckles a bit, you're so endearing sometimes. Think of it as something to remind you of her while she's gone.

Cater is always on top when it comes to anything trendy, and every year Magicam blows up with Christmas posts. The theme for this year specifically being couple photos. She'd most definitely be missing out if she didn't take a few festive pics with you no? As most know, Cater is extremely picky with angles. That fact being obvious with the very nice looking photos in her profile. But all those troubles are completely gone since her beloved S/O is here! Every pic she takes of you is perfect in her eyes, she won't let you say otherwise. Seriously, she took pictures of you from every angle and she swears you look so attractive. Just how did she end up with such a photogenic partner? She takes a lot of pics, and I mean a lot. All of them having you as one of the primary subjects, you're practically running away from your girlfriend with the amount of pictures she takes. She begs you for one last selfie together, although you refused, Cater was persistent. Eventually giving up you let her take a supposed 'last' selfie, but unfortunately for poor unsuspecting you Cater sneaked a kiss on your lips while taking the photo. You look so cuteee, and your expression was priceless! She might as well keep this one to herself <3.

Deuce's eyes shone like a child while she told you how excited she is for the Christmas season. Ace teased her relentlessly for her excitement, with Deuce's cheeks flushing a bright red in embarrassment. But you thought her excitement was cute, it's not everyday you find someone her age so excited for Christmas. So for the holidays Deuce plans to spend it all with you (and her mom), as such she rooms with you and grim in the ramshackle dorm. Of course as payment for letting her stay she makes sure to give you a gift of her appreciation which also just so happens to be her Christmas present for you. When she hands it to you her expression was one of determination and embarrassment, she looked at you with barely hidden back excitement when you took the gift in your hands and start to unwrap it. Inside was...a photo album? Seeing your confusion Deuce's shoulders slumped a bit and her determined expression faltering, not wanting your girlfriend to be more upset than she already is you opened the album on a random page and the sight was something you least expected. It was a photo of you and Deuce, you remembered taking it with her at the VDC. You flipped through the pages and found more photos of you and Deuce, you raised your head and fixed your eyes on the girl in front of you. Your expression questioning "Well...It's been a long time since we dated and...I wanted to give you something that will remind you of the time we spent together" You swear to the seven you have the sweetest girlfriend in the world.

In NRC, there were plenty of students who pretended to not like Christmas. Saying that it's childish and they're far to old for it, but in truth they appreciate the holiday way more than they let on. Unfortunately for you, Ace was one of those types. When Deuce excitedly brought it up once Ace was quick to tease the hell out of her. Earning her an embarrassed Deuce shooting back at her teasing remarks. You had asked her about it when you two were finally alone and she went on and on about how dumb and childish it is, I mean who get excited over pretty lights and presents under a tree? Apparently her, though she tried really hard to hide her giddiness with off handed remarks on how boring it is you still managed to read her like an open book. As the days pass by with the 25th getting closer and closer, Ace's excitement got more and more obvious. She looks just as excited as Deuce was when she ranted about the holiday. And your theory was right, she was excited, almost wishing you'd give her a gift. Maybe take her out on a Christmas date..? Catching herself, Ace immediately discarded her previous thoughts. Why would she even be thinking about that? She's not excited, she doesn't want those things to happen. Well, that's what she tells herself. But somehow, you made those exact thoughts come true. Can you read her mind or something??? She didn't have time to ponder over it any longer when you dragged her by the hand into the bustling town. Maybe...just maybe she likes Christmas...

[quonit37]

Hello

Hello people from 2019, I am quonit from 2017, March 8, Wednesday. Technically this is my 1,000th post, and so to celebrate, I would make a post post at 2019.

Why 2019 to be exact? Well I don’t know. A while back I saw an expiration date on a jar of olives, and it was on 2019. I started wondering what it would be like at that year. I’d be -------------------------------------------------

I don’t know how many followers I will have at this point and what they think of me, but whoever they are, hi! Sense I haven't blocked you you must not be a porn bot!!!

Well, I know my in 2019 will still draw, but I know that my art style will have changed over the last few years, so here is a few pictures to remember my old style!

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My First Landscape

Technically, it’s my second, and it isn’t finished The water doesn’t look like it’s flowing and well... it doesn’t really look like water.

The profile pic I use for everything

A quick 3 minute draw that I ended really liking. Drew it because I got an ask (very uncommon, may be common in the future when this posts) asking if Snowflake loves the snow. I don’t know if older me will do much with snowflake anymore but fun to remember.

A Casual Drawing

Hey remember that crappy Story of the River thing you made? Younger you drew a picture with some Easter eggs related to it. I wonder if 2019 me can draw with thin lines....

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Does 2019 me still get mad at anything even close to a stereotype? Do I still fight for fair (NOT EQUAL) rights?

I hope so. Trans people are just as good! Gays/Lesbians are still great! I would name all of the things but this is more or less a quick post...

Oh! How many sideblogs do I have and how are they all doing? Did that “letquobehonest” go well?

Hope you are doing okay :3 Also, happy new years to anybody looking at this post!!!

2,000 post landmark!

8/3/2017

It is honestly shocking that it is only four months till 2018, 2016 was so long, and even though it has been a full year it still feels like August of 2016.

If anybody is wondering I’m -- now.

I guess I should do an art update.

Casual drawing-

I’m started doing more colored line work. Many people seem to enjoy it and  even though it takes me a lot longer it helps the overall atheistic of the drawing. I’m still struggling with background though.

Profile picture-

Oddly enough I can’t find the file, I might’ve recycled it my accident. It is a picture of Quo coming out of a purple box. I think I should redraw it but instead with Quo’s summer outfit.

Edit (1/27/2018):

Finished with edit

Most recent detailed picture-

Because I needed to do something for Contestshiping Day becuase I forgot it was Contestshipping day, it makes me wonder what I will draw in the future.

I recently got Zen Writer which helped me decide to start SOTR again, and there is a less promising comic series I started planning for which is Year One and Two.

Wonder how those two will go...

9/30/2017 / 10/1/2017

I hit 3,000 the day before I wrote this so that is why there is two dates.

How do I update this again?

Well I got Ezvid to start working again and I’m making speedpaints. My casual drawing artsyle now has much thinner lines and (I can’t really tell yet) is less squishy... even though I like squishy art.

Example:

(original post)

Thinner lines was a request from blue fox ( @the-fox333 ) and I think it does look better now. I haven't done a detailed art piece recently but here:

(original post + speedpaint)

Much thinner likes and it’s less squishy. I also started playing around with a few different tools in Sketchbook pro so there will probably be many more effects in art.

I also (finally) started being able to draw hugs! Mainly an accomplishment for myself becuase in my old 2015 diary I started wanted to draw a lot more and always reminded myself that whenever I tried to draw hugs they always end up in failure!

(original post)

I also started working on pixle art again.

still alright for pixel art but I need to do a f*cking animation so

I’ve decided to also say my follower count at the end of each update.

85

Anyways that’s it for the update.

11/14/2017 - 4,000

huh, this post keeps having updates closer and closer together the longer it exists.

ANYWAYS

So I think art is still improving :/ Recently I redrew this:

to this:

Better colors, thinner lines, better shading (i didn’t actually shade with the second one but), and different hair. Pretty good improvement.

5000 Posts Update:

Date: 1/27/2018

Followers: 109 (Also I FINALLY befriended AJ)

Profile picture: 

Though normally it’s this:

Special Interest: Anything Zarla (more specifically her Left4Dead Respectawoman AU that none of my followers know or care to care about, and I’m not going to force it on them)

Project: Trying to color in a bunch of traditional doodles in digital and finish an animatic by the 31st

Art:

That’s it I think, hopefully this new setup will be able to keep this post more organized.

Thinking of starting a positivity blog.

6000 Posts Update:

Date: 3/5/2018

Followers: 116

Profile Picture: Same as last entree

Special Interest: Still Zarla

Project: Jockey Ghost (though I guess finish the redrawing of multiple March drawing from last year)

Art:

[link]

I like this new setup, it’s really nice.

7000 Posts Update:

Date: 4/9/2018

Followers: 120

Profile Picture: At this point I’m wondering why even change it

Special Interest: I’d say still the ladies

Art: I don’t have the comic done so I’ll look through my stuff and see what I got done.

There we go.

But in all honesty I drew this picture at the end of April Fools in 20 minuets so I recorded myself drawing a bunch to see how long it actually takes me to draw so this picture actually does have something going for it.

But honestly... I can’t find anything I finished that month. only beginning stuff and not being able to finish it because of (one of) the problem(s)...

Edit 4/17

MARCH ME DO NOT BE SAD, I AM HERE TO HELP!

LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL DRAWING YOU MADE THIS IS MARCH AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL

~Extra stuff~

On March 20th my friend made me humiliate myself in spending 30$ on a game about lawyers (Ace Attorney PHOENIX WRIGHT THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY AVAILABLE ON THE NINTENDO 3DS haha). My brother and I are still working on the RPG, today I found out how adorable Sha looks in a dress, and I got back into DnD I guess...

2019 used to seem like this mystical year in the far future but it’s only a few months away now. It just seems normal and I think to myself “I will see this and this is stuff that just seems I’m writing to myself now”.

8000 Posts Update:

Date: 5/31/2018

Followers: 126

Profile Picture: stiiiill Larz

Special Interest: I’m not sure but probably Ace Attorney with all of the time im spending on it.

Art: For April I finished the comic and May is almost over so I’d say the art for may is the “How to Talk to Short People�� comic i did for Apollo/Klavier so I’ll put both of them down here.

(dev version here)

(Post for it (also me from the future add in a dev link (got it) ) )

I like them both very much.

~Extra Stuff~

I’m not sad about putting stuff here! Why would I be? I should stop being sad about making things sometimes.

9,000 posts woahhhh

Date: 7/18.2018

Profile picture: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT for pride month i changed it to this and haven't changed it back.

Because of this profile picture Dravid asked me to draw him a new one kinda like this but with a cat and using yellow orange and red.

Special Interest: Steven Universe!

Art: for June I’d say it’s the one i drew for Bardic Feline’s birthday

and for July... well the month hasn’t finished yet but probably the cowboy post!

post link

I like the collab i did with @this-is-a-error but that isn’t entirely mine so i don’t think it counts? idk.

~Extra Stuff~

I’m doing fine right now! The ghost has 24 days before i comes out and AH im scared and happy at the same time. I still need to refine the singing more and finish the singing pose but we’re so close we’re gonna finish this! :D

10,000 Post Update

Well that’s a fuckton

Date: 9/8/2018

Followers: 134

Profile picture: Changed it for August 11th

perfect right?

Special Interest: Ladyverse/DDLC

Art: August is the Jockey Ghost and if not August is... this?

i didnt do much art in august lol. and it’s pretty early in September so i cant say anything for sure. It’ll be the comic i make for bardic but if that doesn’t count who knows what.

~Extra Stuff~

August 11th was GREAT. Lots of things happened and I made a tv show with riot and levi.

Problem: I miss @thefandomnomad! and imma do something about it! Because it’s been 6 months and im not okay! Fun stuff yay 10,000 is fucking huge see you!

11,000 Post Update

It’s been a while.

Date: 11/24/2018

Followers: 144

Profile picture: Hey remember Deltarune came out

Special Interest: Deltarune/Gaynote/Ladyverse

Art: ack uhhh it’s been two months let me see...

For October: 

(These seem older than a month old geez...) The second one was a collab with Riot so it may or may not count.

For November:

Both of these are redraws of something Error did, and it’s their reverse outfits.

~Extra Stuff~

I’ve been spending a lot of time on Discord which is why it took me much longer than normal to post. It’s pretty soon till the release of Juan and Sha and I’ve neglected them so I need to finish ;-;. Right now I’m working on the quests for them, and getting error to do dialogue. That’s about it maybe I wont even update this post until After 2019 hits (scary ack)

12,000 Post Final Update

damn

looks like i made it

Date: 12/29/2018

Followers: 160 (I’ve been getting a lot for some reason)

Profile picture: Think it’s still the same

Special Interest: Ace Attorney Frozen AU

Art: look

(im so proud of myself I finally did a good pallet challenge)

~Extra Stuff~

I shouldn’t be here haha.

It’s like... 3 days before this is supposed to post... and dang 2019 used to be so far away... The passage of time a lot of the time seems strange to me. But, I guess it’s cool I’m pretty much there now. And I have enoguh art to made a “2018 art progression” thing, which is cool.

Well, I guess this is a goodbye. The last I’ll be able to edit this post. I’ll start another one- no doubt. I  just think it’s weird to abandon this post after so long... haha. Well, bye, I guess.

[dzpenumbra]

12/23/22

Alright well... over the past few days I have been followed by 12 bots. And I just tried to do my civic duty and report these things... and... I can't really find a good way to do that. I mean, the thing that made the most sense was "impersonation". Because, you know, they're not actually people, and they steal people's likenesses for profile pictures - which is surreally creepy, I mean honestly, imagine running across a profile that wasn't yours that had your face as a profile pic, good lord my heart goes out to those people, that's haunting. But Tumblr won't even let you file an impersonation report unless you are the person in the photograph. Is this a thing where fucking idiot teenagers cried wolf too many times? This shit is out of control.

I mean, for me it's just obnoxious, and super depressing, but for a site as a whole it's just a really fuckin bad look. Just sayin.

Okay. I'm done talking about that. XD Today was... unexpectedly productive.

I woke up early, like 6 hours of sleep early. Like my essential oil diffuser hadn't even gone into hibernation mode because it hadn't finished its 6 hour shift yet. I woke up and went back to sleep a few times, tried to browse social media to reset the vibes. It's just a comfort thing, again my dreams haven't even been bad, just vivid. But I'm so fucking useless to the world when I first wake up that I don't even have the wherewithal to remember to write my dreams down. I remember reflexively trying to capture highlights when I first woke up, but it was like trying to hold water in trembling hands or something. I guess I'm just out of practice. I need to get back into doing a pre-sleep mantra kinda thing to remind my subconscious to practice, every second counts when it comes to dream recall.

When I finally got up for real, I got kitty some food, got some breakfast and decided to start recording for a new Rimworld series. Yep, a new project. Another one. And a fucking movie, to boot. So the concept is to take a playthrough and record it, paying close attention to story points the best I can and trying to get good cinematic shots. I want to do a sorta... RP playthrough, voicing over the main character through the form of a journal or log or something, recalling her story. Or someone reading her journal or something. That part I won't be able to figure out until the story is over. But I'm doing the new DLC and I'm playing the Sanguiphage scenario, but with a bunch of mods for more immersion and personality. And I plan to do a movie of it, rather than do it episodic like my last one. And very in-character. I think it'll come out pretty cool, time will tell. It's a good longer term project because I can do other projects while it plays itself in the background.

The first playthrough was a bust, it went south very quick and the story wasn't really interesting. The setup was amazing, but they just got taken out by wildlife in the first week so that was like... bummer. So I did yoga, showered and went skating. Skating was pretty sick. I got a few 3 shuvs pretty clean, I got a standing still heelflip (which I haven't gotten in probably 2 years?), a moving kickflip and found this... I don't know what it was, some kind of big metal cover on something? I packed snow around it and set up a ride-on grind and it slid okay. I got a 5-0 across the whole thing, it was like 8 feet or something. But... yep, there's a but... I tried a boardslide, and I really was hesitating for a while because I didn't know how it was gonna go... and there was a big screw thing poking up that I didn't see... and it tore up the bottom of my board pretty bad. And now there's a big groove in it and it just... killed all my speed. Even on flat. Even on hills. I'll see how much tuning it up will do, but to be honest, it's really deep. So... fingers crossed, we'll see how that goes tomorrow.

Came back, made buffalo chicken pizza, which came out really good. Did all the dishes and cleaned the counters. Killed it. Played/recorded a new Rimworld playthrough over dinner and it looks promising. When I was getting a little... bored of it... I had something pop into my head. I don't know how I got to it but... when I was packing, some random dude sent me a message on Reddit. He was replying to a post he put up 9 FUCKING YEARS AGO. He was requesting a Baroness tab, back then I did full-band tabulature, transcribing by ear for every instrument. You know, as educational tools, so people can learn how to play the songs they love. That's how I learned guitar. My acoustic case is still full of printed out sheets of tabs, like dozens of them. This dude wanted me to tab out Mtns. (The Crown and Anchor) by Baroness, off Yellow, and I didn't know the song well. But I took it on. I remember doing it, and getting really close to finishing it. Then I'm guessing my life went to shit, because I never sent it to him. And that harddrive is now pretty much fucked. Pretty sure, not really brave enough to try to get shit off of it again.

So... I had a thought. Why the hell am I putting in effort to make Christmas gifts for people who treat me like garbage? Why don't I give this a go, make a special gift for someone who obviously really cares about this song so much that they're going to follow up on it almost a decade later. And I did. And I fucking hyperfocused on it the way that only transcribing music and super inspired art can do for me. I sunk into that for probably 3-4 hours? Lost all perception of time. I transcribed most of both electric guitars and bass, drums are gonna be tomorrow along with the acoustic and lead guitars. I'd say the bulk of it is done though. Pretty cool feeling. It's been a while.

So, I'm gonna drop the tab to that guy on Christmas, and he better have Guitar Pro because I really don't feel like doing any of that .gp5 conversion or - god forbid - make it a pdf or some shit. I mean, I can if I have to, but like... I put a lot of work into getting the sound right, you know? They're kinda meant to be experienced in Guitar Pro.

So yeah, that was pretty much my day. Now it's almost 3AM again. And all the snow is disappearing. But it's okay, I have plenty of really cool shit to do.

Kitty is calling, bed time.

[lonelypond]

Santa Cutie And The Christmas Cookie Queen

Love Live, NicoMaki, 6.5K, 1/3

Another year's worth of Christmas fluff. Maki Nishikino is the heir to North Pole Nishikino Industrial, touring factories for manufacturing tips. She won't settle for anything less than the best Christmas cookie ever. Nico Yazawa is a local TV news personality in quiet Tudor, Pennsylvania. She won't settle for anything less than her own media empire. They meet one stormy night on a bridge. But have they met before?

Storming Into Town

HERE:

Tudor, Pennsylvania. Any breaking news would have to wait as two of the most prominent women in local news had just sat down to their monthly lunch and gossip at the Round The Corner diner. Which was not around any corner and instead provided a stellar view of the most congested roadway in the county.

Ignoring the view, Channel 10 news personality Nico Yazawa, dressed for the weather in a light pink sundress, ebon hair in a ponytail, put down her fork and frowned at the fair haired woman opposite her, “You can’t just stalk my cameraperson. You have to actually ask her out. I gave you her number.”

“Can’t we do a trade. Like the NWSL?” Channel 15 news anchor Tsubasa Kira, tailored and trousered, hair teased, chuckled.

Nico’s crimson eyes sparked with indignation, “You don’t need a daredevil camerawoman and I do. Plus, Nico doesn’t do sports anything.” Nico decided she was finished with her salad, pushing the plate to the edge of the table

“But there’s athletes and legs and shorts and muscles and sports bras and...I know you like legs.” Tsubasa bit into a drumstick, leering.

“No class. That’s why you’re trapped in a small media market, Tsubasa.” Nico raised her hand, palm out, head shaking. The waitress dropped her chicken and waffles on the table. “Nico likes comfort food day.”

Tsubasa wiped her fingers on a napkin, “So why is Nico trapped in the local market?”

Nico batted her eyelashes and blew Tsubasa an empty kiss. “Nico is not trapped. Nico is the next Martha Stewart so Nico is building her fanbase and considering her options.”

“Romantic options as well?” This Tsubasa was genuinely curious about. She and Nico had been friends for almost half a year and while she knew Nico was gay, she had no idea if Nico was dating, had ever dated or was at all interested in dating.

Nico ignored the question, mouth full of waffle, “Ask Honoka out. Give yourself a treat.”

Tsubasa sighed and turned to look out the window, picturing a ginger haired whirlwind of energy with the kindest, brightest blue eyes. Nico continued to chew, happy at her successful diversionary tactic.

THERE:

There was nearly always snow, in some form. An aesthetic choice, here at North Pole Nishikino headquarters, a bustling company town, long hidden away in a cleft in the Poconos, only approachable through reindeer flight or a secret access road from the coolest, craziest diner in any non urban American locale. Maki Nishikino, red hair windblown as always, lavender eyes nearing maximum merriness, only heir and proud protector of the Nishikino-Claus legacy, smiled at the light fluster of snow that blew across the back of the diner parking lot. Jym brought over her chicken and waffles and Rin Hoshizora’s triple sized bowl of ramen.

“The bowl’s as big as your head, Rin.” Maki tapped her knife on the edge, Rin fending it off with a large spoon.

Rin decided not to wait for revenge, brows lowered over determined green eyes. She rarely got Maki alone to talk. “Did Eli give you the “get married and continue the family” legacy talk yet?”

Maki hissed, glaring, eyes narrowing, knife and fork paused in the act of cutting her dinner into chewable chunks.

“Ha!” Rin pounded a hand on the table and her broth sloshed over the side of her bowl. She slurped some noodles before continuing, “I knew it. Eli had that look. Kayochin owes me a date.”

“Do you have to win bets to get Hanayo to go out with you now?” Maki’s eyes twinkled at her best friend, mirth cresting over aggravation.

Rin stuck out her tongue as Maki finally to bite into drippy chunk of waffle. Excellent gravy. This was her test meal for any diner she ran across in her travels and no one did gravy nearly this well, “No, I don’t. We’re getting married.”

Maki grinned, the engagement was a childhood joke turned tender reality. “I know. I heard you shout when she said yes. And I was in California.”

“So when are you getting married?” Rin continued speaking, even while slurping through her noodles, most of her attention on her meal.

Maki was tempted to knock Rin’s bowl off the table, but that would just make a mess for the staff, “That requires dating, Rin, and I haven’t dated anyone since freshman year in college.”

“Yep. Slow learner.” Rin shook her head, her voice mournful. “Kayochin and I had such hopes.”,

“I am not a slow learner.” Maki shouted, half rising out of her seat, then realizing the rest of the diner patrons were looking at her. She slumped back. “I just want…”

Rin snorted, staring incredulously at her second oldest friend. “You can not still seriously be waiting for someone who bakes Christmas cookies better than your great grandmother. That’s not normal. Kayochin and I looked it up. There are no cookie sexuals.” The boisterous Rin had never been more serious, “You were only 5 when you decided you’d marry someone who made cookies better than your great grandmother. You were supposed to grow out of it.”

“You were 5 when you decided you’d marry Hanayo.” Maki put more force into cutting through gravy soaked waffles than was actually required. Splatter made it to Rin’s ramen bowl.

Rin leaned forward, pointing index finger a stern rebuke. “Kayochin is not a cookie. Because you can’t marry a plate of cookies. You can’t kiss or hug or…” Rin paused, catching Maki’s blush. “Anything with them. And your great grandmother started off looking like a movie star and then grew into cookies and gray hair and twinkly eyes. “There are pictures. And that’s what your parents say.” Rin stopped, for almost a whole minute, unheard of for the for the energetic elf, then her green eyes brightened with inspiration. “So look for a movie star.”

Maki blew out enough air to stir Rin’s short bangs, “Celebrities don’t do homey.”

Rin’s finger tapped the table after each word. “Buy. A. Cookie. Factory. For. Cookies.” pause” Date. A. Pretty. Girl. For…”

Maki threw a forkful of gravy and chicken across the table.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Maki grumbled as she opened the door to her suite. Too hot. July, of course, everything and everyone was sweaty, especially when you’re spending your time inside factories, crawling around assembly lines, getting hands on training on the mechanics of assembly lines and robotic arms. At home, the factory floor was three times the size of most Maki had seen here and constantly busy but there, if Maki stepped outside or opened a window, there was a cool breeze and a hint of Arctic whatever time of day or year. Maki had not fully appreciated that until now.. Air conditioning was a poor and noisy substitute and the sounds and smells of downtown Tudor were unexceptional. She needed a taste of home but Rin would tease her if she texted or called again. So Maki opened up the TWIG app and typed #ChristmasCookies into the search. That would be no surprise to anyone who knew her. Her profile photo was a white plate with “Gimme Cookies” scrawled across it. The first picture in the box was a tempting pile of very crisp looking ginger snaps, darkly caramel in color, crystallized ginger shards scattered over the top...Maki’s mouth watered, she could almost taste the slight bite of bitter in the treacle sweetness of the molasses. She clicked through. The cookies had been posted by @StormCookie, whose avatar was a very cutesy cartoon girl in a pink apron, awkwardly balancing a plate of cookies. Her profile linked to To Weather Any Storm, a lifestyle blog for those gay and girl and single.

Caption: Testing recipes for my Christmas cookies well in advance. Santa appreciates having the best when he stops by (*｀▽´)_旦~~.

This is true, Maki acknowledged and surprised by a suddenly silly mood, found herself typing a response.

SantaChan: Papa prefers oatmeal cookies, but I’d definitely bring some of the reindeer by for yours.

The response was almost immediate.

StormCookie: Why hi there, @SantaChan (*＾▽＾)／. Does your Papa let you take the sleigh out often?

SantaChan: It’s the family business. I’ve been the official cookie tester for years (^-^)ゝ

StormCookie. Ho ho ha! You sound like Santa Cutie ʕ￫ᴥ￩　ʔ

Maki blushed. This was definitely silly, @ing some anonymous lifestyle blogger who happened to post a really appetizing picture of her favorite cookie, but it was so much better than admitting to Rin how bored she was. Or getting another lecture from Eli about how valuable modern methodology could be.

SantaChan Why #ChristmasCookies in July?

StormCookie To meet weirdos like you?

SantaChan ⊙︿⊙

StormCookie Only kidding. Check your messages (*・∀-)☆

Maki checked for a notification.

StormCookie Hey, @SantaCutie, kinda looks like Christmas is all year round for you from your pics but I take my vacation now and spend it doing some of my Christmas blog stuff in advance.

SantaChan Practical.

StormCookie Yep. I’d let you taste them, but TWIG doesn’t deliver.

SantaChan ( ・・)つ-●●●ԅ(º﹃ºԅ)

StormCookie ha! So what’s your story, Santa Cookie?

Maki stared at the walls of her suite, very vertical wall paper, practically colonial themed furniture, moderately comfy. She threw herself back into the nearly historical couch, stretching her legs.

SantaChan Bored. Just started living in a hotel for 6 months because of a work gig. Staring at the walls. They’re stripey. Now staring at the ceiling. Not so stripey.

StormCookie SantaSilly. Get up and take a walk.

SantaChan It’s hot out there. I like blizzards.

StormCookie The ice cream?

Maki snorted.

SantaChan The storm, @STORMcookie ^.~

StormCookie (❤ฺ￫艸￩) Have to run. But I’m making more cookies tomorrow morning (*´ー`)

SantaChan: Looking forward to it ԅ(º﹃ºԅ)

NOW:

Nishikino Maki, lavender eyes narrowed, lips in a tight smile, bucket helmet protecting her head, goggles protecting her eyes, revved her throttle as her motorcycle navigated Rt. 30, grip still holding in the middle of a mid November hurricane. Maki knew it was crazy but she was tired of being the dutiful daughter. Studying manufacturing processes and sitting through meetings was BORING. Five months of BORING. She missed the crazy moonlight rides in the open sled, cold winds whipping her hair back, reindeer dancing joyfully across any wisps of cloud they could catch. The motorcycle couldn’t replicate that but there was a zest in controlling so much of her current destiny. She cut across the wind, turning down a side street that would bring her back to her hotel. She revved halfway into the turn, then throttled down as she pulled off the highway.

She was nearing a particularly picturesque bridge, even in this low light. Surprisingly, Maki wasn’t the only one on the road in the storm. She could barely make out shapes, a large van, two figures, one petite in a pink raincoat, looking as if the wind might pick her up and flip her into the river at any moment, taking a full hit from a suddenly surging wave. Maki slowed down, dropped her bike before she got to the van and yelling “Stupid” while she sprinted toward the woman. As she leapt to save the woman from falling over, her boot caught on a tree branch hidden in debris and Maki stumbled forward, falling against her target, who had to drop her microphone to catch Maki in both arms. Maki screamed as they both fell forward, but the jerk of a safety harness stopped them, the woman’s arms wrapped tightly around Maki’s torso.

“NICO!” An enraged voice shouted over the wind.

Maki found herself staring into crimson eyes nested behind long, luxurious lashes. Two carved dark pink lips pressed together then mouthed “Don’t move” before shouting “Umi” over Maki’s shoulder.

Maki felt hands pull them both upright and hustle them toward the van. Her ‘rescuer” kept an arm around Maki’s waist while muttering words Maki could only make out a few of, “Perfect shot...Nico was almost...crazy…”

Crazy was probably a reference to her, Maki realized and then she was pushed inside a warm space, someone was pulling off her helmet and her rescuer had wrapped separate blankets around them both as Maki raised a wet, shivering hand to pull down her goggles. Then she stripped off her sodden leather gloves. A fawn haired woman shoved a mug of something hot in her hand and an orange haired woman kitted out in rain gear shut the van door behind them.

“That was exciting, Nico!” The ginger haired woman giggled, wiping down an expensive video camera with a chamois cloth.

“Too exciting thanks to…” Maki’s rescuer was very small and she’d unzipped her coat, placing her hands on aggressively cocked hips, crimson eyes bright and waiting.

There was a pause. The woman snorted and shook her head, turning away to grab her own mug of...Maki took a sip, coffee. The coffee committeewoman smiled gently, “I’m Kotori Minami,” she pointed to the ginger, “that is Honoka Kosaka and you probably already know Nico.

Oh, names. “Maki Nishikino.” Another sip as words turned into sense through a barrier of wet chill. “Why would I know Nico?”

Honoka doubled over, chortling, as the van door opened again, and another woman, this one with blued black hair threw in a safety harness, “Are you all all right?”

“We’re fine, Umi. Everything worked.” Nico (Maki was still trying out the name in her head) rolled her eyes, “This one doesn’t even know who she was trying to drown.”

“Hey!” Maki attempted to stand but was too tangled in cords and blankets. “I was saving you.”

Nico watched curiously as Maki tripped over her own boots again, almost tipping her coffee forward and was forced to sit back down abruptly.

Umi looked at Maki, amber eyes serious, “That was incredibly dangerous. You could have both been killed.”

Maki shrugged. Another safety lecture to ignore. Nico took a delicate sip of coffee, still watching Maki, lips a wire of disapproval.

“Let’s get going, Honoka.” Umi opened the door again and Honoka jumped out after her, both sliding into the front seats a moment later. “Can we drop you somewhere?”

“I have my motorcycle so no thanks.” Maki finished her coffee, inhaling some calm before she tried standing again.

Nico crossed her arms over her chest, “It’s a hurricane. 60 mile per hour wind. Debris.”

“I’ll go 70,” Maki winked, forcing herself not to shiver as she put the blanket aside.

“That’s not how it works.” Nico muttered, turning aside with a “This is stupid” as Kotori smiled gently at Maki.

“We have to get back to the station.” Umi announced, checking her phone.

“Station?” Maki paused at the door, puzzling over the glare Nico was giving her.

“Channel 10.” Honoka bounced, rocking the van, “I got some good footage before you crashed into Nico. Watch us at 11.”

“Oh. Okay.” Now this made more sense. Nico was a reporter. Maki watched little television but she was finding herself curious about the group of women in front of her.

Nico put her mug down with a clunk, “Thanks for trying to save me.”

“You’re wel...”

Nico cut Maki off, “Go home before Nico has to cover your next near fatal road accident.”

“We do weather and lifestyle, Nico.” Umi chided, giving Maki a wave. Honoka turned on the ignition as Maki stepped out the back. When Honoka hit the gas, everyone heard a metallic crunch, followed by Nico screaming “Honoka!”

The van turned off and Umi got out, wind and rain still whipping everything. Maki’s bike was unusable, the weight of the van having crushed her front tire and wheel frame. Umi shook her head, her voice apologetic, “I guess we will be taking you home after all.”

Maki was never going to intervene in a potential disaster again. They seemed to be contagious. And Nico had come around outside the van again, Maki’s helmet in her hand. “You forgot this, Red and Risky.” Her lips thinned again, disdain striking Maki as chillingly as the wet wind and dead leaves. “So much living dangerously.”

“It’s Maki” Maki snapped, losing her temper as she wondered what to do about the bike. “And I can live however dangerously I want.” No matter what my parents say, Maki continued in her head. This was an echo of too many recent arguments. She wondered if she’d made the Naughty List yet. Then she’d be having the “you need to come home” conversation with Eli and as bored as she’d been, she wasn’t ready to go back yet. But this incident had started from a positive impulse so she was probably covered.

“Maki.” Nico’s voice cut through wind and rain. “Get inside the van. We’re taking you home. You can call AAA on the way.”

“I’m at the Yorktowne.” Maki stated automatically. It wasn’t that far away.

“Not a local?” Nico asked, suprised.

Maki shook her head, taking the helmet and following Nico back to the van, “Studying manufacturing for the family business.”

“Ah,” Nico opened the door, “Harley.”

“And some other places.”

Nico jumped up into the van, suddenly cheerful. “Welcome to Tudor, Maki Nishikino.” And then she smiled, her crimson eyes and pink lips bright, guiding beacons that made Maki forget she was standing in a storm, and a warm hand took hers, pulling her up against the smaller woman again, “Nico hopes you have better nights from now on.”

Maki was safely back in her hotel room. She’d called a wrecker about picking up the bike so that was someone else’s problem. She’d stripped off her wet clothes, which meant ALL of her clothes and they were lying on a pile on the sink. The shower had been hot, but not warming enough. It wasn’t quite 11 so Maki grabbed her phone and snapped a picture of the pile by the sink. She hadn’t posted to TWIG yet today and StormCookie usually posted around midnight so there’d be a chance the other woman would see it.

Soaked socks and underwear, not the most attractive pile, but very much the now thing for Maki. And a caption.

SantaChan: Got a little too close to the weather tonight （－－；

Maki never took a selfie or showed her face in her photos. She still only had a small number of followers and Rin, aka ElfCat, was her most frequent commenter, as expected of a best friend. But there was also StormCookie, who had become a regular presence since July.

Notification. PM. @StormCookie.

StormCookie: very suggestive for this time of night. Shocking. (∩╹□╹∩)

Maki blushed a little. If she were honest, that was exactly the sort of reaction she’d been hoping to get. Which was, she admitted, a little pathetic, to only flirt with someone she’d probably never meet and who didn’t know who she was. But then she didn’t get so nervous.

SantaChan: Too cold to care :;(∩´﹏`∩);:

StormCookie: Drink something warm and get under the covers, SantaChilled.

SantaChan: Suggestions?

StormCookie: Check my timeline out.

Maki slid through her feed. Half an hour earlier, StormCookie had posted a mug of hot cider, poured out of a beaten up old green Thermos. The caption read: Always carry this for rainy, windy nights.

SantaChan: looks warm.

Instant reply:

StormCookie: It is. Stirred with a stick of cinnamon to seal the magic in. Have to run. Call Room Service and get under those covers

ღゝ◡╹)ノ♡

Maki sighed and threw herself on top of the pillow pile, grabbing the remote and the phone. Room service number she had memorized, now which station had that crazy cute group of news people said to watch at 11? 11 at 11? No, 10 at 11. It would distract her from thinking that she’d be a lot warmer if StormCookie were here, pouring her a drink of anything out of that beat up, family Thermos.

Nico had finished the live portion of her broadcast segments and Umi was putting the equipment away for the night. “Hey Umi?” Nico picked up a wrapped bunch of cable, following after Umi, “Do you have that biker’s number?”

“Yeah. Got all her information for the insurance claim.” Umi opened the storage cabinet, settling the camera on its shelf, taking the cable from Nico with a frown, “But I don’t know that you should use it for personal reasons.”

Nico leaned into Umi’s shoulder, “Nico would never do anything inappropriate.” Umi made a suspicious noise as Nico continued, “Nico wants to invite her to the studio so we can apologize. She seemed lonely.”

“She seemed mostly drenched.” Umi grunted, arms crossed.

“Why, Umi…” Nico started, after a half giggle.

“Don’t stretch yourself.” Umi’s smile was slow to spread across her chiseled features but sly, “Or I won’t give you her number.”

Nico chuckled, getting in a quick hug.“Text me the deets. How’s the propose to Kotori plan going?”

Umi grabbed Nico, tempted to shove her in after the camera, nearly lifting the much shorter woman off the ground, “Shush, Nico. Don’t mention that here.” Umi surveyed the room to see if anyone else had noticed Nico’s comment.

“Sorry.” Nico pulled out her phone, “Send the info. I want to call that redhead.”

“It’s nearly midnight, Nico.” Umi pointed out as she complied with Nico’s request, “Reasonable people are asleep.”

“We’re not.” Nico hit Call, “Thanks, best producer in the business.”

“Why is this so urgent?” Umi finished putting things back in their place.

“Nico will look cute tomorrow when we do the “holiday cookie” segment.” Nico’s smile hit full wattage as her attention turned to her phone call, “Hi, is this Maki? This is Nico….yes, we fell off a bridge together...just wanted to make sure you recovered from trying to drown Nico.”

Umi heard an indignant, “Drown? I was saving…” and went in search of her girlfriend, who had probably fallen asleep on a couch in the greenroom by now.

Well that was close to the most exasperating phone call Maki had ever been a party to. She glanced at the clock on her phone. And at 12:01 in the morning too. Just because Maki had watched the show and answered her phone didn’t mean she’d want to spend her lunch break tomorrow touring the station and watching a holiday cooking segment. Besides, elves didn’t really wear green, slouchy hats with bells on them. Rin usually worked testing sports equipment in a North Pole Nickshikino ball cap turned backwards. Rin had bought them for everyone as a joke three years ago and it had turned into uniform wear for all the elves in her section.

Still...the rest of Nico’s crew had seemed nice. And Maki still hadn’t met very many people in Tudor yet. Not that she’d be staying much longer. But she should probably go to inspect the holiday cookies. After all, that’s what Rin had put on her business cards. Maki had wanted to go with just a simple “Maki Nishikino, North Pole Nishikino Industrial” but Rin had gone behind her back and convinced the printer to add “Christmas Cookie Tester and Santa, Jr.” Which meant Maki couldn’t actually hand them to anyone and Rin gave them to everyone they met whenever she and Maki were together.

Messaging Rin.

M: Hey, Rin, thought you should know, tomorrow, I fulfill my most sacred duty.

Rin was actually awake. Well, this was the season of endless overtime.

R: Giving Santa an heir (ᗒᗨᗕ)

M: Shut up, Rin. That’s not what I meant. And if it was, I wouldn’t tell you.

R: (*≧艸≦) what’d you do?

M: Going to test Christmas cookies 且_(・_・ )

R: Made by a cute girl (ﾉ∀`♥)

M: No. A reporter.

R: Maki made a friend (ʘ言ʘ╬)

H: You met someone! Who?

Of course, Hanayo was awake and Rin had shared this wild rumor the elf was creating, based on one text from Maki. Maki shook her head at her best friend, glad Rin wasn’t in the room to see the blush.

M: I didn’t. I just thought Rin would like to know I’ll finally get to use my Christmas Cookie tester business cards. It’s nothing major.

R: SEND PICTURES!

M: No.

R: ( p_q)

H: Have fun, Maki (*´∇｀*)

R: KISS THE COOKIE GIRL (~￣³￣)~

M: Thanks, Hanayo. Go to sleep Rin.

R: (~￣³￣)~(~￣³￣)~(~￣³￣)~(~￣³￣)~(~￣³￣)~

H: Good night, Maki.

R: (~￣³￣)~(~￣³￣)~(~￣³￣)~(~￣³

And another victory for Hanayo in the wrestle Rin for her phone competition, Maki thought with a grin. Taking care of reindeer (and dating the constantly in motion Rin) actually kept her seemingly unathletic friend in excellent shape. Maki looked forward to spending time with both of them once she got back home. Too bad things were too hectic this time of year for them to make a quick visit. Hanayo would have enjoyed all the colonial architecture and cozy Christmas decorations downtown. And Rin would have enjoyed teasing Maki.

Rin pulled her phone back, glaring at her smiling fiancée, “Hey, Kayochin! I was having fun with Maki.”

Hanayo smiled, fingers gently petting short orange hair as Rin lay in her lap, “You were teasing her. If you make Maki self-conscious, she won’t go.”

Rin pouted, “She better send pictures.”

Hanayo giggled, “She will if the cookies are good.”

Maki had spent the morning working on painting and finishing a Harley so her jeans were spattered with paint and metal polish, but she didn’t have time to change. Pulling the Harley ballcap over her sweaty hair, she parked her rental in the news station’s lot, trying to figure out where the main entrance was so she could find a receptionist to guide her. Nope. Went in what turned out to be the back way, wandering gray corridors, with a few people rushing past her.

“Can I help you?” A young woman with a clipboard and an earpiece asked politely.

“I’m here to see Nico.” Maki shoved her hands in her bomber jacket, holiday wreath embroidered on the back, her last name on the front. Nico had said anyone could point Maki to her, but the redhead became more nervous as the young woman looked her up and down, then spoke into her mic, “Ms. Yazawa, your lunch appointment is here.”

“Maki!” Maki heard a yell behind her and whirled. Nico was rushing through a set of double doors, wearing a sleek red dress, decorated with holly leaves and candy canes. Her crimson eyes sparkled, her lipstick was candy cane striped. Maki wondered briefly how you got that effect as Nico took her arm, pulling her back through the doors. “I had Honoka posted at the front door, watching for you.”

“Sorry. Came in the closest door.” Maki pushed her hat back a little, suddenly self conscious about her clothing choices as she noticed how well the lines of Nico’s dress fitted the smaller woman curves.

“Not a problem, Nico found you.” Nico was wearing heels that brought her nearly up to Maki’s height and moving faster than Maki merging into a highway. It was impressive, “We have time for a short tour before Nico’s segment. Honoka’s really sorry about your motorcycle.”

“It’s okay. Insurance is handling everything.” Maki muttered as they approached a kitchen island set, with a stove behind it, decorated with oversized candy canes and gingerbread men. Nico smelled like mint.

“Nico is glad you weren’t on the bike.” Nico paused, letting Maki’s arm go, and leaned back against the island, arms stretched out, dark, shiny hair bouncing against its bows, leg raised so her foot rested on the stool behind her, “And that the hurricane blew out. Nico loves the thrill of weather stories but right now, I’d rather be inside near a warm stove.”

Silver flakes scattered across Nico’s lips seemed to be catching the light, drawing Maki’s attention. She wondered if the texture of the flakes would be smooth or scratchy to the touch and looked up to see Nico’s eyes watching her speculatively. Self conscious again, Maki felt too warm in her jacket but all she had underneath was a tattered t-shirt so she shoved her hands further into her pockets and nodded, taken in the details, seeing a plate of Christmas cookies and moving toward them, “Did you make those?”

Nico glanced at the plate of exquisitely decorated sugar cookie snowpeople. “Oh, Nico is using those in the shoot. They look perfect. Like Nico.” Maki was amazed Nico could say something like that without a pause or blush. But Nico just continued to smile at her.

“Hey Nico!” A shout. Maki recognized the black haired producer who’d taken her insurance information. “They need to check your mic.”

“Sorry. Nico will be right back. Don’t touch anything.” Nico winked and whooshed away, leaving Maki open mouthed and awkward. And surreptitiously grabbing a cookie from the bottom of a pile, one whose absence wouldn’t be missed at all. With two quick bites all the evidence would be gone. Two quick bites Maki was sorry to have taken, she thought as she chewed discretely, the oversweet sandiness of the cookies disappointing.

“Hi!” Another wind whooshed in, the ginger haired cameraperson, “Nico said you snuck in past me.” A hand was extended in Maki’s direction as startled, she choked down the remnants of cookie.

“Hi!” Maki shook hands, trying to remember the name, “Honoka.”

“Sorry about your bike. Nico and Umi were so mad at me.” Honoka didn’t sound upset at that at all. “Any more moving vehicle incidents and Umi’s not going to let me drive so at least your bike was parked.” Blue eyes blinked cheerfully at Maki, “You work at Harley?”

“I’m kind of interning. Studying assembly processes.” Maki decided that was the best answer.

“Cool. Nico said you weren’t from around here.” Honoka ignored all the bustle around them as Nico got into position on the set.

“Poconos.”

“Cool.” Honoka nodded.

“Usually.” Maki chuckled, Honoka looked puzzled for a second then grinned.

“Good one. We’d better move away from the set.”

“Don’t you have to run a camera?” Maki wondered, as both cameras had operators behind them. The set was very bright and isolated, cables running everywhere.

“Nah. Umi’s got me keeping you out of trouble instead.” Honoka headed toward a couple of folding chairs, “We can watch from here.”

Nico, now wearing the supposed “elf hat” had been a whirl on the seat, mixing and grabbing and smiling and kneeling down to assist a little girl onto the counter, where she and Nico sang one of Maki’s favorite Christmas carol, “Jingle Bells.” Then Nico interviewed a local woman collecting toys for inner city families and gave a few fireproof your tree tips.

“This is Nico’s favorite time of year,” Honoka whispered.

“Really?” Maki smiled as Nico perched on the counter, elf hat askew, candy cane lips wrapping themselves around the words to “Happy Holidays.”

“So leave a peppermint stick for old St. Nick hanging on the Christmas tree” Nico crooned as Maki substituted peppermint lipstick in the lyrics and tried to keep her attention on whatever Honoka was saying. But Honoka had paused too as Nico swung one well toned calf over the other and blew a kiss toward the camera.

“Yep. She always makes a huge plate of cookies for everyone.” Honoka licked her lips and leaned back, hands linked behind her head. “And brings leftovers for sandwiches the day after her big family meal.”

Maki remembered the gritty taste of the cookies and wondered about Honoka’s enthusiasm. Nico waved at the camera as she finished, winked at Maki, let someone take the mic off her and bounced over to where Maki and Honoka were sitting.

“I saw you singing along. Nico did well, right?” Nico chirped at Maki, offering her a candy cane.

“Impressive.” Maki nodded, as she stashed the candy cane in her pocket and pulled out her pocket watch, inherited from her great grandfather on the Claus side. The dial had a chimney with stars at the numbers and a moon at the apex. “But I have to get back.”

“Nice setup here right, all the latest tech.” Nico bragged as she tilted her head, curious fingers almost reaching for the pocket watch.

Maki closed her watch. She didn’t have the heart to tell Nico that the North Pole studio set was five times the size with channelled grooves for cables so she put the most awed look she could muster on her face, remembering Nico’s crossing her legs as she sang. “Thanks for inviting me to stop by, Nico. I enjoyed it. Good luck with the rest of your holiday segments.”

“Thanks.” Nico didn’t move as Maki stood, and once again the redhead found herself nearly in the arms of the newscaster as Nico frowned, looking around. “You didn’t get lunch. I packed you a sandwich. Where’d it go, Honoka?”

“Oh, that was for Maki.” Honoka fumbled Maki’s chair as she stood, “I ate that one. I thought it was extra. Sorry.” She tapped Maki on the shoulder, “It was a really good sandwich. You could tell Nico cared.”

Nico glared and muttered, her toe tapping an increasingly urgent rhythm. Honoka headed toward the exit, with a furtive air.

Maki shrugged, “Thanks for the thought.” She considered for a second and took a hand out of her pocket, offering it to Nico. Nico stared down at it, then into Maki’s eyes until the redhead ducked her head, breaking eye contact. Nico took Maki’s hand with a sigh, her handshake warm and firm. Maki was surprised at the strength.

Maki tried to break the handshake but Nico didn’t let go, her other hand covering Maki’s. “Let Nico take you out to lunch sometime, since you missed out today.”

Oh. Maki felt her face redden and her throat constrict. Oh. She pulled her hand back with a sudden backwards leap, “Um...um...I’m pretty busy. But maybe I’ll see you around?”

Nico suddenly looked shorter and Maki was a little sad for upsetting her. “Just turn on your tv. Nico is always there when people need her.”

Maki inhaled, squaring her shoulders, reaching out a not noticeable to anyone but her trembling hand to Nico’s shoulder, “Thanks, Nico. It was nice to see some friendly faces.” And then she smiled, trying to show Nico that she appreciated the offer. Which left Nico a little breathless and a lot confused as Maki speed walked out of the building, a lingering warmth spreading from Nico’s shoulder as the memory of a shy, sweet grin etched itself into Nico’s heart. She turned, puzzled about Maki’s reactions and spotted Umi with her hand in the Christmas cookie pile.

“No, Umi, don’t eat those.” Nico yelled.

Umi paused, a cookie halfway to her mouth, “The shoot’s over. We don’t need them anymore.”

Nico’s heels clicked as she rushed across the floor, “Jill the PA made those.”

“So what?” Umi’s brows furrowed as she examined the cookie.

Exasperated, Nico grabbed the cookie and tossed it into the garbage, “Thanksgiving Day leftover chili Jill the PA…” Nico rolled her hand at Umi, trying to lead her producer to the answer.

“Thanksgiving Day left.....” Umi had a vivid memory of half the staff rushing to the nearest trashcan two hours after the potluck lunch and Kotori coming back from Urgent Care with a with food poisoning diagnosis the Friday after Thanksgiving. Plans to visit Kotori’s family had been torpedoed by cold sweats and disinfecting. Umi hastily dumped the remaining cookies into the trash under the counter, washing her hands for twice the required time.

“So what do you think of Nico’s rescuer?” Nico piled plates into the sink as Umi dried her hands.

“Maki?” Umi handed Nico a plate, “Did you ask her out?”

“She said she was too busy.” Nico bit her lip, “But she seemed surprised at the idea.”

“Do you think she’d not gay?” Umi asked.

Nico shook her head, “Nico knows when someone doesn’t mind looking at Nico.”

“According to Nico, if I remember rightly, Nico is everyone’s favorite view, the reason our ratings are top of the market.” Umi chuckled, glancing at her phone.

“Ha ha,” Nico leaned into Umi, enjoying the friendly warmth, “Nico is serious.”

Umi let Nico rest for a minute, considering, “You have her number. Try again. Maybe she’s nervous. Try texting.”

“Is that how you’re going to ask Koto…” Nico teased.

“Be at the van in 20 minutes,” Umi moved briskly toward the exit Honoka had taken, “We have to get out to the Tree Farm.”

Nico pulled her hat off her head, smiling at it fondly as the bell tinkled, “Today, Nico is a Christmas elf.”

“Ditch the heels and the height’s…” Umi lingered in the doorway.

“Next time I’ll let you eat the poison cookies.” Nico threatened, leaving the hat on the counter for a PA to deal with.

“Honoka can’t navigate without me.” Umi’s voice carried back.

“Nico has GPS!” Nico shouted, then laughed at herself as the people scurrying to strike the set decorations stared at her.

After a day made longer by a stomach that had decided not to agree with something she’d eaten, Maki got into her hotel room, tossed her hat toward the desk and fell into the sofa, whipping out her phone. She blamed the cookie. Rin would be disappointed.

SantaChan: So @StormCookie, why can’t the girls I think look cute ever cook?

The reply was immediate.

StormCookie: I look cute and am the best cook you’ll ever meet.

SantaChan: and yet, I see no pictures. Or location.

StormCookie: 1. Celebrity, can’t reveal identity. Bosses wouldn’t appreciate side gig.

SantaChan: we’re dm’ing

StormCookie: nothing on the internet is private. 2. Also, Cute is more than looks. Or are you that shallow? Shallow is NOT cute.

Maki snarled at her phone, tempted to toss it after her hat. Then she breathed out, shaking her head at herself. No need to let a bad mood fester. Or inflict the sour taste in her mouth on someone who had become a friend.

SantaChan: Sorry, just grumpy. I’m tired of never knowing what to do when someone’s cute and I feel like a grubby, awkward slob. Plus, I ate bad food.

StormCookie: Ooh, sorry about the bad food. I had to save someone from that today

Maki wondered where StormCookie had been when she needed her.

StormCookie: Have room service bring you ginger ale or ginger tea. And you are obviously 100% Cute Girl™. Don’t worry. Dating’s simple. You can try out my easy system. It’ll be a good listicle for my blog.

SantaChan ●.◉

StormCookie: Trust me. First step: get out of your hotel room.

SantaChan: No.

StormCookie: Go see a movie. Eat dinner somewhere with simple food -- and flirt with a waitress. For practice. It’ll take your mind off things that didn’t go right.

SantaChan (▼-▼*)

StormCookie: Trust me. Get out of your hotel room ᕕ(╯°□°)ᕗ At least go downstairs to the restaurant. Or find a bar with a pool table.

SantaChan: There’s a place with pinball machines….

StormCookie: See, that sounds fun. Get out of your hotel room.

SantaChan (-｡-; All right.

StormCookie: Ginger ale first and nothing spicy (＾-＾)＿日

How could Maki get room service to deliver StormCookie to her room? That would be the easiest solution. The best parts of Maki’s days were the nights when she and StormCookie would just chat.

SantaChan d(-_^)

StormCookie: Then get out and talk to someone.

SantaChan ∠(^ー^)

StormCookie: Let me know when you need Step 2.

SantaChan: Thanks. Good night (⌒.−)＝★

StormCookie: Have fun! That’s an order （σ｀・∀・´）σ

Maki left her phone on the table and pulled the blanket up to her chin. How long did she have to wait until the nightly news? Would Nico’s segment look different edited. Nico. Maki stared at the ceiling -- not stripey -- and pictured Nico in front of her, so close she could smell the peppermint her lips must taste like, crimson eyes bright and warm. Maki wondered what would happen if she texted Nico after the broadcast to find out if the lunch offer still stood.

A/N Hi there. This year I'm channelling The Shop Around The Corner and You've Got Mail rather than Hallmark or Lifetime movies, but the intent is still to be so much gayer than any Christmas content you'll find on your TV, while giving still giving you that good old fashioned holiday fun feeling.

Enjoy!

[earthdeep]

ok so

having finished silver snow I've now done all the story content easily available to me, even tho the two music tracks in the extras menu that are ???ed out still do worry me

and tbh I don't have much to say abt silver snow itself bc it is almost identical to verdant wind HOWEVER I'm taking this opportunity to ramble my thoughts on the game as a whole, in a format that will likely not make sense to myself let alone anyone else

I guess I'll start on my thoughts on the lords? + rhea bc she's basically a fourth lord. so like, personal fave is still edelgard bc I am gay and angry with the state of the world, followed by claude bc he's fun and also probably the best person out of all the major players in this game, then rhea further back for being fucking terrifying to me and yet also woefully incompetent at the act of doing anything important, and dimitri is waaaaaaaaaaaaay down at the bottom of the barrel bc I am not here for angry white boys. I'm incredibly disappointed in the fandom wrt how much they adore dimitri. not surprised, mind you, since I've seen the cullenites in the dragon age fandom and their years of bullshit. but still, el and claude have so much more going for them (and are hotter to boot lbr) that it makes it suuuuuuper difficult to claim race and gender has nothing to do with it. but I'm totally sharing some of that blame with the game too, bc dimitri did get brought up in a good light more than, say, claude did in the eagles routes. which is super shite since claude's the fucking helpful one. srsly I had to sit through dream!dimitri in silver snow and you couldn't give me another claude scene- oh my god I just realised I didn't here from him again after he went missing. son of a fuck my dude just disappeared. like I assume he ran off to almyra like every other time but I just never saw him again.

actually, since we're on the topic of claude not being widely beloved enough by the fandom for me not to side eye them, leeeeeeet's point out a little smth smth with 3h's darker skinned characters. bc.... eesh. dedue? absolute life debt mode to the whitest of boys, hobbies include household chores, big brawny lad who's only recently literate. if disney wrote this character he would currently be locked in the vault out of shame. but I guess if it's not a pattern- oh hello cyril. at least HIS life debt is to the whitest of ladies instead! literally, her dragon form is the actual colour white. at least catherine used to be a noble, even if it's in danger of being cancelled out by her also being a brigand. and I don't think she's any good at chores either which is good. but like, the devotion...

we have claude and petra too, who thankfully have lives of their own. but it's hard not to wince when claude is called some variant of sneaky for the hundredth time (he's all talk yo...) and petra's post timeskip outfit makes me feel kinda gross if I look at it too long. it's annoying bc her face makes me feel gay things and then the camera pans and I'm back to oh yeah, they really wanted the tropical princess halloween costume huh.

at least judith's cool. and even wears trousers. I've never seen her in action in my game bc I overlevel and get through fights too fast for her but we stan her on this blog anyway. and this is already the third 3h lady I've had this response to but I am super gay.

anyway that elephant has finally been ushered out of the room, time to ramble about narrative things. bc what the fuck was three houses doing? verdant wind and silver snow were the same but for the final boss (and BOY is that final boss an asspull in both routes) while azure moon is similar but with entirely different factions being discussed, then crimson flower is just HALF A ROUTE?? and tbh crimson flower was I think the best, not only bc it was p unique and let me hug edelgard but also bc it was as short as it was. all the other routes dragged to hell and back as a result of being restrained by the calendar. you have so much fucking energy by endgame that it's a fucking chore to use it all, and you can only go two weeks before you've taught everyone on your main team and need to go explore and feed them or give them shit and then you need to use up all your energy and collect some more ingredients for the meals you keep having and then decide what you're going to do with your free day now all your paralogues are done and you don't want for ore or gold or levels so do you- ugh I know I could just skip but it feels wrong to do when not story appropriate. the calendar system works during the academy phase and fits the almost slice of life feeling it has, but once there's a war on it just destroys the narrative tension. war isn't hell in three houses, war is purgatory.

and now for something completely different: the church n stuff. it sure is very based on the real life church! as an agnostic lesbian maybe you can guess how high my hackles raised whenever anything particularly churchy came up. I do wonder whether IS underestimated how heavily that could sway the viewpoint of the player. bc I walked in ready to burn that fucking monastery to the ground if I'm honest. it's rare to be able to do that to christianity allegories in video games (*cough*dragonage*cough*) so crimson flower appealed to me a lot in a way I'd guess wouldn't to certain others (*stares at the white boy stans*) and it's kind of a kick in the teeth to be railroaded into worrying abt rhea in verdant wind. I purposely avoided support with her during that run and yet my dialogue options the moment she vanished were byleth caring abt her well being. game, the most I care at this point is that she is alive enough to give me some fucking answers on the shit she's been doing this past millenium. and that specific factor makes me wonder whether silver snow was done first and basically copy pasted to serve as a different route, forgetting that the player may not have the same objectives since they've been rolling with claude the visionary for the past year.

honestly the golden deer in general get kinda shafted by the game. I've seen others point it out too, but they get like no exposure outside of claude unless you seek them out. of the eagles, edelgard and hubert are always major characters appearing as bosses multiple times, although the others do fall to the background. then dear god the lions. both ashe and sylvain have entire month's missions dedicated to a part of their backstory during the academy phase! and even while dimitri dies after a single battle away from his route, there's a good chance dedue's coming back for more. claude gets a couple letters and a single battle and then he's out. let us ally with claude you bastard of a game.

I got sidetracked there but like the ashe and sylvain getting prominent story beats in all routes I think was a bit of a lost opportunity. and also probably is the reason sylvain is actually as popular as he is. dude's kind of a scumbag and it really does take being contextualised by his obscene amount of trauma to start understanding or liking him. it also helps he's easy as fuck to recruit and a very viable unit so u have a gameplay route to getting attached to him (legit 3/4 of my playthroughs had me fielding him as one of my regulars).

but think of the potential to add that to other characters! imagine seeing the conditions that led leonie to obsess over jeralt! meeting all these (completely alive!) siblings we keep hearing about then not seeing! killing bernadetta's father! the possibilities are endless and could be easily explained by rhea assigning tasks to students who already have relevant context or whatever. just ugh some of the choices made by the writers annoy me.

sfdlkdfkjdj I don't know how to connect this last bit at all, bc it's just observations abt like the models n stuff. I like how they've obviously set materials up for all the models to easily change clothing colours to differentiate factions. that's cool. they did that with skin tones too, so if you zoom in on like the agarthans you can see their weird super pale complexion (tho for some reason their battalions have regular skin?). tho it does make it weird when the 2d portrait is always the same. this duscar soldier sure doesn't look like his profile pic.

anyway that was the last thing on my mind abt this game. kinda anticlimactic to end on, I know, but rather in the spirit of things. only crimson flower knows what a satisfying conclusion is, after all :) long live lady edelgard yo.