#lbsc secret santa exchange 2023

[haphira]

Multimouse and Viperion watching the city at night.

LBSC Secret Santa Exchange 2023

For: Inkmousey

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC 2023 Year In Review

Happy New Year! Here's a look back at what we've accomplished this year.

27 works for the 2023 Valentine Exchange (sign-ups for this year's exchange are open now)

4 works produced for our first Lukanette Mermay event

9 sprint fics, plus 15 fics and artworks from our Sprint Secret Santa

117 minifics for our October minific challenge

3 fics for our brand new open-ended, random prompt generator challenge, LBSC Smooch Roulette

2 fics by two groups of authors for our in-server round robin

We held an art round robin that is still ongoing.

We held two motivational months in our discord server to cheer everyone on with their WIPs.

It's been a busy year for everyone, but we hope you've enjoyed the events we've been able to hold, and the results from them! Many thanks to everyone who participated, not only through writing or producing art but also through reading, commenting, cheering people on either publicly or in private, lurking, and otherwise being a part of our community, whether we knew you were there or not.

Discord server link

[haphira]

A Lonely Christmas?

For @inkmousey, LBSC Secret Santa 2023

“Yes, Maman, I’ll be fine here by myself.” Marinette spoke into her phone. She was organizing her scrap materials... again. She picked up a teal-green square that reminded her of Viperion and set it aside to use later. 

“I just worry about you being alone on Christmas. You know we can always fly back-”  

“Maman. You and Dad have wanted to see your extended family for years now, and with the commissions I have, I wouldn’t have been able to go anyways, I’ll be fine! Promise.” Marinette reassured her mother for the fifth time today. Her parents landed in China yesterday and they wouldn’t stop fussing over her. She loves them dearly, but it was starting to feel like she was 14 again.  

“I’m 18 and more than capable of taking care of myself. Enjoy your vacation and give the family my love, okay?” Marinette sighed as she heard her mother's relucent agreement and hung up. Marinette sighed again as she put her scrap materials away.  

“Geez, they always worry too much about me, I’m fine and not alone!” Marinette turned to Mullo who was sleeping on her pillow next to Marinette. Smiling softly, Marinette quietly got up to make herself some tea and maybe pull out a cracker or two for Mullo when she wakes up.  

After setting the electric kettle to boil, Marinette brought down some of her favorite relaxing tea and her favorite mug from the kitchen cabinet. The quiet of the kitchen was starting to get to her. Normally the kitchen is busy with smells and laughter intermingled with talking. A creeping loneliness was starting to show itself, but Marinette grabbed her phone and set some holiday music to distract from it. She has been home alone before, and it's not a big deal. Why would now, be any different?  

Now, it was time for family and friends, but no one has the time for you, a villainous voice in Marinette’s mind said. She shook her head to dispel the thoughts, it wasn’t the time for depression to make a nuisance of itself. She had a duty to Paris and her commissions to think of.  

Hearing the kettle click off, Marinette grabbed the boiling water and made a mug of tea. Grabbing a few crackers along the way, she headed back upstairs to her bedroom where Mullo was waiting. She watched her Kwami sleep peacefully and Marinette put her tea on the bedside table.  

Mullo woke up to the sound of Marinette flopping onto her bed with a sleeve of crackers held to her chest. Muffled music still played from her phone in her back pocket. Another sigh escaped her. Maybe her parents weren’t over worrying about her. It was the first Christmas she had spent alone, and Marinette was... unhappy. 

Hawkmoth has been terrorizing people left and right, since the holidays started. It was all hands-on deck this year. Marinette felt glad she was relied on but, also sad that she couldn’t join her family in China. Until Hawkmoth was caught, all Miraculous holders were grounded to Paris. The upside was that she might even get to see Viperion. Although it was highly likely he, like the rest of the holders, had Christmas plans, Marinette let out another sigh.  

Marinette reached out for the tea she made and pulled her phone out of her pocket to silence the music that was still playing. Sipping the hot tea, Marinette contemplated what to do for the night, it was Christmas eve, and the weather wasn’t too cold, so she could go out on a run through the city patrolling.  

“Hey Mullo, what do you think about going out for a while?” Mullo munched on a cracker and smiled at her holder. 

“That sounds wonderful, Miss Marinette! I bet the night lights would be beautiful!” Mullo squeaked. Marinette nodded; a small smile graced her lips. Going out might be just the thing she needed, after grabbing the rest of the crackers, Marinette transformed into Multimouse, leapt out of her skylight and into the night air.  

The air was a little crisp, but Multimouse’s suit kept her warm as she sailed through the sky. Landing and bounding off to the next building Multimouse breathed the freedom that the miraculous gave her. After patrolling the city for about 30 minutes, Multimouse decided she would rest at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Upon reaching the top of the tower, Multimouse found a decently comfortable spot and sat down to look at the lights of the city. The city was beautiful at night, all lit up with Christmas lights and hardly anyone around. It gave the night an almost magical feel to it.  

Multimouse couldn’t have been there more than 10 minutes when she heard a crunch of gravel behind her. Whipping around Multimouse saw Viperion walking up to her, quietly gazing at her with a soft look on his face. She realized that Viperion was walking noisily on purpose to let her know that he was there, the kindness he showed warmed her heart and cheeks.  

“O-oh, Viperion! I didn’t expect to see you here.” Multimouse watched as Viperion gracefully sat down next to her and looked out at the city. They sat quietly for a few minutes, just enjoying the air and night lights. Their fingers a hair width apart from touching, shoulders brushing against each other when they moved to situate themselves.  

“S-so, why are you out here?” Multimouse asked. She nervously played with her fingers before looking up at Viperion and settling down again in a relaxed position.  

“My family has plans and I couldn’t go with, so I’m here by myself.” Viperion answered. He looked questioningly at her. 

“Oh, same. My parents left to visit family elsewhere.” Multimouse responded to Viperion’s unvoiced question.  

Viperion hummed, “Hmm, seems we both are alone this Christmas.”  

“Yup.”  

Silence blanketed them again, but it was comforting, to have someone nearby that understood. Viperion turned away from the city to look at Multimouse again. Multimouse sensed his gaze and looked back at him.  

“Come with me, there’s a place I want to take you,” Viperion said as he offered his hand out to Multimouse.  

She took his hand and stood up with him, “Where are we going?” Multimouse asked. Viperion just smiled and butterflies erupted in her stomach. They jumped from one rooftop to the next and kept an even steady pace. Then in ten minutes' time they reached their destination, Palace of Versailles.  

“Wha-” Multimouse started but Viperion put a finger to her lips, making them tingle. They were close together and Multimouse swallowed hard.  

“Trust me,” Viperion whispered. He removed his finger from her lips and took Multimouse’s hand as he led her into the gardens of the palace. Multimouse followed Viperion in a slight daze as they ventured further in. 

The gardens were covered in snow, winter plants sprung up here and there and the quiet of the city made Multimouse want to keep the serenity. When they reached the center of the gardens there was a fountain. Surprisingly water was still running through it. Viperion sat down on the edge of the fountain and Multimouse sat down next to him.  

“I come here occasionally when I'm feeling a little down.” Viperion said softly, almost a whisper, as if he too, was afraid to break the peacefulness of the gardens.  

Multimouse breathed deeply, enjoying the crisp night air and tranquility of the gardens. Smiling softly at Viperion she scooted closer to him and snuggled up into his side. This was an often-enough occurrence that neither of them thought much of it. Tonight, however, felt different. Maybe it was because of where they were, or the fact that it felt like a date, or maybe because it was Christmas, but Multimouse felt like this moment was way more... intimate, than the times before.  

“Hey, Mousey?” Viperion asked softly, slightly turning his head to gaze down at her. His mint green eyes slightly glowed while he looked at her. 

“Hmm?”  

“Happy Christmas,” he commented, Multimouse thought it was still too early for midnight but when she heard the clock tower strike 12 a moment later, she realized that this night had been going by quickly. 

“Happy Christmas, Viper.” Multimouse looked down at their hands feeling a charged energy in the air.  

Multimouse glanced up to see Viperion watching her, a blush rose up on her face, but she didn’t look away. Multimouse’s heart started to pound away in her chest as Viperion stared, he moved slightly to the side he cupped her back with an arm and moved his face closer but slowly toward her own. The air felt electrified and Multimouse licked her lips in anticipation. That grabbed Viperion’s attention, his gaze flickered down to her lips before looking back into her eyes. A silent question hung in the air, Multimouse realized that Viperion stopped, just a few inches away from her lips, and concluded that he was waiting for permission. Nodding her head slightly, Multimouse slowly closed her eyes as the two shared a soft kiss.  

It was a sweet and memorable moment for them. After pulling away from each other, Viperion rested his forehead against Multimouse’s. They breathed in each other's air, silently staring at each other, smiling softly with sparkling eyes. They still had lots to talk about, but at that moment everything was perfect. As they snuggled up to each other, Viperion and Multimouse sat in the gardens for a while longer, enjoying the peace and tranquility of the night. Later there would be talk of relationships, boundaries, identities revealed, and what they wanted for the future. For now, though, Viperion and Multimouse enjoyed the company of each other on what started as a lonely Christmas that developed into something more.