#merry christmas happy holidays & i LOVE your art

[gotchibam]

May this lil chunky-chu bring joy & more blessings upon you this holiday! ✨

[bookwormgirl123]

The Road to Recovery

my contribution to the EPIC Secret Santa. some moments of Athena’s recovery after God Games, for the lovely @willoillo. Athena’s my favourite character, too, so I hope I did her justice. Happy holidays!

The first thing she registered was a throbbing headache. “You’re okay,” a relieved voice said from in front of her. Behind her?

She attempted to sit up, only to be met with more throbbing pain, this time in her back. She gasped and collapsed back onto the bed.

The bed? She frowned, finally observing her surroundings. This wasn’t her room. Where-

“Athena!” This time, she recognized the voice as her brother, Apollo’s. “Are you alright?”

“I’m always alright,” she huffed, attempting to turn away from him but only being met, once more, with debilitating pain. Against her will, she found herself letting out a whimper.

Apollo didn’t respond, but she could practically hear him rolling his eyes. 

“Okay, Athena, what hurts?” He asked gently.

“My head,” she murmured after a moment. “I have a throbbing headache.”

“I suppose you could say, a thundering headache!” Apollo said cheerfully. 

Despite her injuries, she managed to fix him with her trademark glare.

~~~

Athena found that the least humiliating way to deal with this was to pretend to be asleep. Constantly. Especially since Apollo had said he wasn’t sure how long she would be there.

However, being as intelligent as she was, Athena knew that this “disguise” (if you could call it that) wouldn’t be the most effective (especially surrounded by her fellow gods, who could probably spot a needle in a haystack).

Nonetheless, it seemed to work. While she got a few visitors, most left her alone (perhaps more out of sympathy than conviction, which once upon a time she would have hated, but now, oddly, she appreciated it).

That was, until her father came to visit. For the longest time, he didn’t say anything - just stood there (but she could tell he was there - you could always tell when he was there. It was his power, his aura).

For the longest time, he just stood there. Though she had shifted her position so that her back was facing him, she couldn’t help practically see Apollo avoiding his eyes.

Finally, Zeus spoke. “Is she awake?) Athena knew with near certainty that he, indeed, knew that she was awake. Apollo uttered a response incomprehensible to her, a slight quiver in his voice. 

Zeus stepped towards her, and Athena could feel her heart rate accelerating (dammit, she didn’t even know that could happen to Gods).

She took a deep breath, and her heartbeat went back to normal. Just in time, too, for Zeus had made his way to her bedside. She forced her heart to continue at a normal rate, which was something she knew for a fact Gods could do.

Zeus kneeled down next to her, and Athena knew, right then and there, that he knew she was awake. She held her breath, but he said nothing. He let out a sigh, brushing his hands gently across the scarring on her arm. Athena wondered if this was his version of an apology.

Athena briefly considered hiding the chills that went down her spine as he brushed her arm, continue the illusion of sleep, but she decided it was no use. He knew she was awake. Still, she refused to meet his eyes. Perhaps she was too prideful, or maybe too afraid. Even to Athena, it was hard to tell.

Zeus sighed, seeming to recognize his defeat, but he continued tracing the thunder-shaped scars along her arm.

To her own shock, Athena found herself drifting to sleep. Maybe Zeus (or Apollo) had put a spell on her. Perhaps it was natural. Or maybe, a small part of her mind told her, this is comforting. Zeus is your father, and, well…

Athena was thankful that she fell asleep before she finished that thought.

~~~

“Athena, darling!” while she had been sticking to her fake-being-asleep routine (which so far only Zeus had seen through) this particular voice was hard to ignore.

“Hermes,” she greeted, a mix of annoyance and affection in her voice. That was, until she remembered he had likely come bearing news. She realized her face had lit up. “Is-“

“Yes, darling, your little mortal’s free,” Hermes said, plopping down onto her bed with his usual dramatic flare. 

Athena couldn’t help but laugh, a relatively unusual sound for her to make. Whether it was from joy, relief, or something else entirely was beyond her, but she was laughing, and she liked it. 

The joyous moment was soon interrupted by the door being burst open, everyone’s eyes darting right over.

“Poseidon?!” Apollo cried. Athena jerked right up into a sitting position, which she immediately regretted, but stayed in to avoid looking weak in front of her least favourite relative. 

To everyone’s shock and amazement, it was Athena who first uttered the words, "are you okay?”

He did, indeed, not look okay. He was covered in stab wounds. The interesting part was that they came in threes. It didn’t take a genius (which Athena decidedly��was) to figure out that Poseidon

Poseidon’s attention swerved towards her, and he strode right over, a fire (maybe not the best way to describe the God of the sea) in his eyes.

“Athena,” he hissed. “You should keep your little mortal on a leash.”

Athena hadn’t noticed Hermes snickering beside her, and it seemed, now he was holding back full-blown laughter.

Athena paused, thought for a moment, then, for the second time in the past five minutes, found herself laughing.

After managing to control her giggles, she looked Poseidon dead in the eye, an asked: “are you telling me Odysseus did this?”

A bright red spattered across Poseidon’s face, and he looked as if he might attack her then and there, before Apollo’s voice cut through the silence: “Uncle, could you come over, and describe what happened, please?”

Once he was a safe distance away, Hermes and Athena continued their laughter, until Hermes said, in a faux-serious voice: “careful, big sis. He looked like he might’ve attacked you, then and there.”

“Please, I could take him.” Athena said with a grin.

This caused them to burst into hysterical giggles once more, and Athena briefly wondered exactly what sort of medicine Apollo had given her…

~~~

Fortunately for her reputation, that was Athena’s only delirious episode (though she assumed her reputation probably wasn’t doing so well for other reasons).

It wasn’t until later that Athena realized the implication of her rather… unsavory encounter with Poseidon: Odysseus was alive, and (probably) well, and most importantly, free! Why, he was probably on his way home right now! Or maybe he had already arrived? The thought made her ecstatic.

It wasn’t until later yet that she realized the second implication, which not so long ago would have been far more important to her: her efforts weren’t in vain, and her reputation may recover after all.

It seems as though the Goddess of Wisdom may have learned something or another about her world view…

[THE END]

[maxsdesoto]

Hello fellow Eugene-Lovers, I come bearing gifts

Riley (The Human) is the Self-Insert of @anotheroneofthegaysharks and Franklin (The Fish) is the OC of @lapinibernatus !!!

[seven-thewanderer]

Totally didn't almost forget it was today, but either way...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! (if you don't celebrate Christmas then that's completely fine!! Then I wish u a very nice rest of the year!!! Or a happy Kwanzaa if you celebrate it!! Or a very late happy Hanukkah!!)

Now I know this isn't really a christmas gift (cus I doubt I could draw either 1 thing that every one of you likes, and I definitely wouldn't be able to draw a single thing for each of you cus I'd get burned out quickly T~T), but I did draw something that is hopefully wholesome enough!!

So, again...

Merry Christmas, happy Kwanzaa, happy late Hanukkah, and a happy rest of your year!!!

And here's the 'gift'!!

(I know I haven't been shutting up about Forky, so sorry yall gotta hear about them again, but I won't infodump, it's just a drawing gift this time!!)

I hope you guys have an amazing day!!!!!!

[babygirlificationn]

Sometimes I remember that I can literally draw whatever I want and then I get drunk with power.

Extremely silly comic under the read more. You have been warned.

The Christmas spirit possessed me to draw this.

[bikatski0]

I had an idea

Christmas Postal Cards!

I did my first one as a gift for my best friend (10 years of friendship, Holly molly) here it is!

Happy Hollidays!

🎄✨

[naffeclipse]

I'm rattling you so hard right now, each and every single one is gold!! Oh my gosh, the expressions are incredible. Eclipse is having the time of his life, Y/N is surviving (I think,) Vanessa knows what's up, and Michael is legally gagged! The original and alternative to "Behold!" is *chef's kiss* I LOVE THE VANESSA IS THE POLAR BEAR GAL ALSJDFLASFDJ Michael, oh my gosh, dude needs a vacation and a full body massage, look at him, he's so weathered! The Hare Y/N energy of AP Y/N is so accurate, gosh, it hurts lol

THE YETIS I LOVE THE YETIS!!! The yeti with the spaghetti is my favorite aldsjflasdfj

Thank you so much for sharing! ♥

And for the holidays I give you memes! Memes everywhere!

I hope that all of you are having a wonderful time, but if not, I at least hope these silly doodles brought you a little joy!

I'm going to keep this short and sweet today, so to round this of: These doodles are based off of the fanfic Apex Polarity, which is written by the lovely @naffeclipse and Eclipse' design is based off of @themeeplord 's fantastic design!

And as a bonus, you will find an alteration and a bunch of Yeti slogans/puns under the cut:

and if you're wondering why I made so many gd yeti puns, it was for michael's mug. You gotta have some fitting and funny slogan for all mugs. Btw If any of you know some good yeti slogans and/or puns, please call me, I've been struggling.

Michael; local cryptid believer, but not cryptid enjoyer

Vanessa; POLAR BEARS

Eclipse; I'm having the best time of my life! :D

Y/n; I'm having A TIME :')

[tanblaque]

Merry Christmas / Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to you all!

This year was tough, but it was also one of my best years! I've experimented a lot with my art style and had fun. I hope to make more in the upcoming year. I am so lucky to have you all, and I am very thankful for your support and kindness, I wouldn't have gotten this far without you.

I love you all so much 💖

[thriftedtchotchkes]

you're a mean one, mr. miller

pairing: joel miller x f!reader

summary: you and ellie decide the solution to joel's grinch-like approach to the holidays lies in finding him the perfect gift

warnings: jackson era, grumpy old man!joel, significant other!reader, fluff, mild angst, gift giving, christmas at the miller's, so many polaroids

word count: 3.8k

12 days of pedro masterlist - ty to @hellishjoel for organizing this project <3

The Miller household always gets a little tense around the holidays. When the days shorten and snow begins to fall, Joel throws himself into patrols and plans for winter-proofing Jackson, and it's all he'll talk about for months. It's obvious he does it on purpose. 

Christmas is basically an unspoken no-no under his roof, and there might as well be a swear jar for the word if his reaction is any indication. He refuses to acknowledge it and only tolerates the day itself because he knows it makes you and Ellie happy. 

You just wish it made him happy, too. You know it used to. Every year, Tommy regales stories about their Christmases in Austin as kids, and later with Sarah. Joel loved Christmas. 

They used to visit the tree farm, pick the tallest, fullest tree they could fit in their living room, and decorate it the very same day. Their attic and even parts of their garage were home to lights and tinsel in every color you could think of, and ornaments Sarah brought home from art classes and the yearly holiday fair at school.

All of that changed after the outbreak. It wasn't just her passing that did it. It wasn't even the threat of death or worse lurking around every corner. It was time. 

Joel just got used to life without it. After 22 years of missed holidays, he decided he didn't actually miss them at all. He couldn't afford to spare precious resources or energy on anything that wasn't necessary for survival. But that isn't the point of Christmas, is it? 

You celebrate your loved ones and their joy. You celebrate life. Here in Jackson, he finally has all of that, but if Joel is anything, he's a stubborn man set in his ways. You can tell he's still resistant to the idea because he genuinely believes there are better uses for his time.

You can also tell he's afraid to let his guard down. You just haven't figured out a way to show him he doesn't have to be. No one's safety is guaranteed in the world you live in, but you're protected now. And that responsibility isn't solely on him anymore.

If you could give him anything for Christmas this year, it would be peace. One day, even just a few hours of tensionless shoulders and a wrinkle-free brow would be a gift for all of you. He deserves to enjoy something merry and cheerful again, just for the sake of it.  

So, you ask the person who knows him best in the world for help.

"What do we think about getting Joel a Christmas gift this year?"

Ellie glances up from her guitar with the most incredulous look you've ever seen on her face. 

"Depends. Do you have a death wish?" she jokes, draping her arm over her instrument so she's sitting more comfortably. She's settling in—you both know this is about to be a painful conversation.

"No, but—," you sigh, leaning against the door behind you. It's still chilled, even through your coat, from when you barged into the shed and interrupted her practice. "I don't know. He wouldn't make that big of a deal, would he? It doesn't have to be anything flashy, just something small. Something nice."

"So, you wanna get Joel something nice for a holiday he hates? That makes total sense," she says, rolling her eyes.

You don't appreciate the sarcasm, but you expected it. She knows as well as you do that Joel won't be thrilled by the gesture, if he even accepts it.

"El, come on. I could really use your help here," you try to appeal to the part of her that usually can't say no to you, and thankfully she's starting to cave. "If there's anyone who can come up with a present Joel will actually like, it's you."

She sighs. Her fingers drum an arrhythmic beat on the wood grain while she thinks, a habit she must've picked up from Joel.

"Look, Joel's not really a 'thing' kinda guy," she replies, and she's probably right. He's never been the kind of guy who has physical attachments. "When's the last time he actually gave a shit when something broke or got lost? Even his watch is broken."

"Yeah, but that's different. You know it's different," you counter softly. But you can see the point she's trying to make. "Okay, so we don't get him a 'thing'."

She nods, waiting for you to offer another idea, but you're even more stumped than you were when you got here. 

"Maybe you can draw him something?" you grimace, grasping at straws now.

"His house is full of shit I've drawn," she deadpans. "Plus, I thought this was an us gift. That sounds like a 'me doing all the work' gift."

You let out a frustrated groan, and your head thunks dully against the door. You knew this wasn't going to be an easy task, but you thought it would at least be possible. Joel's a complicated man—it's one of the things you love most about him—but his wants and needs are surprisingly simple. 

He loves a home-cooked meal, especially meat and potatoes. He enjoys cold beers with Tommy on the porch during the summer and walking Ellie through complicated picking patterns when she's stuck on a song. He likes relaxing on the couch and watching old Westerns or cheesy action movies, and craves your body, soft and pliant, under his after a frustrating day on patrol.

But you want this to mean more than any of that. A special something that goes beyond the norm to loosen some of the springs that keep him wound up tight and constantly in motion. 

You glance around Ellie's space as your hope begins to dwindle, and the corkboard above her bed catches your eye. It's always been there, covered in doodled-on scrap paper and photos of her family and friends, and you're positive you've seen it hundreds of times since you've been in Jackson. But this time, it gives you an idea. The idea.

"That Polaroid camera you found in Eugene's basement—the one in the library. Does it work?"

Ellie's brows furrow at your sudden question. She clearly didn't expect it, but you're hoping she'll be on board once she finally catches on.

"Uhh, yeah, Cat and I were messing around with it the other day. Worked pretty well for us," she replies hesitantly, pointing at the entertainment console next to you. "It's next to the PlayStation."

Humming in response, you squat in front of the shelf to inspect it. It's in great condition, even better than you expected. Even the flash button lights up and whirs just like you remember. 

Before she can protest, you whip around and snap an extremely candid, brightly lit photo of her. If the look on her face is the same one you just caught on film, then you're already off to a great start.

"Dude, what the fuck? What was that for?" she groans in annoyance, blinking the bright spots out of her vision.  

"A scrapbook," you grin. "For Joel."

She's still glaring at you as she rubs her eyes, but she bites back whatever retort she was about to say. You watch her expectantly as she chews on the idea, relief blooming in your chest when she finally nods.

"I guess that could work," she says slowly, still thinking over the logistics in her head. But then she frowns. "When exactly did you plan on taking all those photos? Not to be a downer, but Christmas is in like, a week."

Damn, she's right again. It'll be hell in a handbasket to fill an entire scrapbook in that amount of time, and even if you manage it, it'll be a half-assed attempt at best.

No, if you're going to do this, then you're going to do it right. No rushed or slapstick presents for the man who already hates Christmas—Joel deserves better than that.

"What if we let Joel do his bah-humbug thing one last time? That's probably his idea of a perfect gift, anyway. Then next year, it'll be this," you hand her the fully-developed Polaroid.

It shows Ellie hugging the guitar Joel made for her, but there's no sign of the shocked annoyance that followed the camera flash. Instead, she's smiling. She has that rare, unguarded expression on her face, the one reserved only for people she trusts. It's a tender moment of peace, forever frozen in time.

She looks up at you, and you can see it in her eyes. She gets it, now.

"You do realize it's still a 'thing' present though, right?" she interjects playfully, and you have to resist the urge to grab the wood polishing cloth on the table next to you and swat her with it.

"Yeah, but it's a sappy thing. Admit it, Joel's a huge sap and you know it. You said it yourself, his house is basically a glorified fridge with your art magnetized to the walls."

She rolls her eyes again, but you can see the smile tugging at her lips. She knows it's true.

"So, you'll help me?" you ask, daring to hope that she'll agree.

"As long as you don't pull this shit again, I'll do whatever you want," she lifts the Polaroid, shooting you a dirty, but affectionate look before handing it back to you.

A grin breaks out across your face, and you bolt across the room to hug her awkwardly around the instrument still sitting in her lap. She places it down so she can wrap her arms around you properly. 

Physical affection has never really been Ellie's thing but if you catch her at the right moment on the right day, you might get lucky. Today, you do.

"So, when do we get started?" she asks, pulling away.

"Right now," you reply, unable to contain your excitement. For the first time in over two decades, Joel Miller might actually have a merry Christmas, and that's something to celebrate. 

"Now?" she gapes at you, looking over her shoulder longingly at her guitar as you drag her out of the shed. She barely has enough time to grab a coat before you're out in the cold with nothing but each other, a camera, and a plan.

"Now." 

ONE YEAR LATER

Jackson in the spring is one of the most beautiful things you've ever seen, even among your memories of the world pre-outbreak. Snow remains on the mountain peaks in the distance, but the foliage below blooms with the promise of warmer weather. Somehow, you managed to capture it all—fresh flowers in the shop windows, friends and neighbors shedding their coats and congregating in the streets, and the post-winter excitement that spreads more and more with each sunny day. 

You hid the stack of photographs in an empty jumbo box of tampons in the hall closet, positive they’d be safe from Joel’s prying eyes while you and Ellie continued your mission.

In the summer, two new foals were born, and Ellie and Maria spent almost every day at the stables to help out where they could. They even named them—Shimmer was Maria’s choice, and Ellie named the other Callus just to piss off Joel. Not only did it work, but it resulted in some of the cutest pictures of the season. 

Joel and Tommy built a porch swing for Maria and their rambunctious toddler and spent countless balmy nights drinking Tommy's extra-strength whiskey and shooting the shit. They even broke out their guitars every so often and managed to bully Ellie into playing with them once or twice. You caught that on camera, too. 

Slowly but surely, the memory box filled up, and the photos were transferred to a scrapbook you and Ellie made yourselves—with a little local help. One of the school teachers happened to be a former librarian with a bookbinding hobby, and graciously gave you a treasure trove of old, tattered books that were perfect for your project. 

By autumn, everything was falling into place. Ellie adorned those pages with painted leaves in shades of red, orange, and yellow to complement the photos you took at the town’s annual Harvest Festival and Thanksgiving potluck. You hopped around from booth to booth, table to table, and thanked your lucky stars that Eugene was a hoarder and held onto every pack of film he found over the years.

Now, it's the night before Christmas and you have a single shot left. One last photo intended for the final page, but you can’t think of anything you haven’t already documented. Looking around Tommy’s living room, there are plenty of moments you’d love to capture, and yet none of them feel like the moment. 

How the Grinch Stole Christmas plays in the background while you sit on their couch, curled into Joel’s side with Ellie’s head on your lap, but you’re barely paying attention, still lost in your thoughts. Joel isn’t paying attention, either—he was unsurprisingly averse to the movie to begin with—so when you don’t laugh along with everyone else at the Grinch’s antics, he immediately knows something’s up. He kisses your temple, careful not to jostle Ellie.

“What’s got you so in your head you’re not even laughin’ at Jim Carrey? I thought you loved this movie,” he murmurs against the shell of your ear. His familiar Southern twang somehow warms you up more than the fireplace crackling next to the television. 

“I do. I think I’m just getting a little sleepy, is all,” you reply softly, sagging into him. “Winter dance prep sucked this week. It’s like everyone conveniently forgot they volunteered to help.”

He nods, mumbling an apology into your hair.

“Guess that makes sense. All that runnin’ around you’ve been doing with that camera of yours probably ain’t helpin’ either,” he says offhandedly, and your brows furrow in response.

It’s not the first time he’s mentioned your sudden interest in photography, but with his gift sitting less than 10 feet away under Tommy and Maria’s Christmas tree, it seems more than a little suspicious. You catch Ellie glancing up at you in your peripheral, and you meet her gaze as discreetly as you can.

“Yeah, maybe,” you laugh it off, hoping it doesn’t sound as tense to Joel’s ears as it does to yours.

“What are you doin’ with all of those photos anyway? I swear, you take ‘em and then they disappear into thin air,” he presses on, none the wiser.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” you joke, shaking your head as if that’ll shake off all of his incoming questions. But it doesn’t work nearly as well as you hoped.

“Y’know, I was wonderin’ that myself,” Tommy interjects from the recliner to your right. “You’ve been takin’ photo after photo for almost a year, and I don’t think I’ve seen a single one.”

Maria scoffs next to him, coming to the rescue before you’re forced to come up with a believable explanation. 

“Mind your own damn business,” she smacks him in the chest, then shoots you a sympathetic look. 

You asked for her help not long after you and Ellie started planning Joel’s gift, so she knows how important this is. The last thing she’s going to do is let her husband’s need to stir the pot ruin it. But Tommy’s not the type of guy to give in that easily.

“I’m just sayin’, might be nice take a look at ‘em. You probably got some good ones of the kids in there, ‘specially from birthdays and holidays—,” he manages to get out before Ellie cuts him off.

“Can you guys have this conversation somewhere else? Some of us are actually trying to watch the movie,” she sits up from her spot on your lap to glare in his direction. 

Then, Tommy abruptly stands like something just occurred to him and strides across the room to the mantle above the fireplace—right where you set the camera down earlier. Your heart leaps into your throat. 

“Hold up. This thing’s still got one shot left, don’t it?” he asks excitedly, and you’re not sure how to shut him down without drawing too much attention to yourself or sounding mildly hysterical.

“Well, yeah, but—“

“Oh shit, s’got a timer and everythin’,” he continues, fiddling with its limited settings. He turns back towards the rest of the group and holds up the camera with a grin. “C’mon, everybody get together. We’re takin’ our first official Christmas card photo.”

“But, Tommy—,” you try again, but you’re drowned out by Joel’s sad attempt to leave the room.

“Look, I said I’d watch the movie, but I sure as hell didn’t agree to take a damn Christmas photo,” he grumbles, moving to stand, but you latch onto his flannel before he gets too far. He softens at your downtrodden expression and settles back in.

“Just to be clear, m’doin this for her, not for you,” he amends his previous statement gruffly, throwing an arm around your shoulder. You kiss his cheek gratefully, and Ellie pretends to gag as she shuffles to sit between your legs.

“Whatever you say, big brother. All you gotta do is sit there and look pretty. Think you can handle that?” Tommy teases him, making one final adjustment to the camera's placement. “Alright y’all, here we go.”

He sets the timer, then runs to the couch, squishing into the only available spot between Maria and an armrest. Everyone huddles together with varying levels of smiles and grimaces on their faces while you wait for the camera to go off. Except, it doesn't.

“Wait, how long did you set the timer for?” you peer around Maria to see Tommy looking genuinely dumbfounded.

“…Does it not just go 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, shoot?” he asks sheepishly.

"Oh my god, are you kidding me?" Ellie groans, leaning back against you, and the entire couch bursts out laughing. 

And in that moment, the flash goes off.

Yeah, this is the one.

The photo in your hands feels like the culmination of every memory you made and preserved in the past year. Five faces—and one tiny sleeping one—look up at you, fully developed and as happy as you've ever seen them.

Tommy and Maria sit side by side with their son in her lap, their heads thrown back in laughter. Next to them, Ellie sits between your legs, mid-knee slap, as you cackle with your chin resting on top of her head.

And then there's Joel, grinning from ear to ear as he looks on at the family he's fought so hard to protect. The family that's safe and sound, and enjoying an ordinarily special day, just for the sake of it. You can only hope that a book full of photos and everything it represents will be enough to convince him once and for all that it's the truth.

As you slide the final Polaroid into place, Joel sidles up behind you and wraps his arms around your waist.

"What's all this?" he watches curiously as you close the book and swipe your hand lovingly across the cover. Then, you pick it up and turn in his embrace, leaning back against the kitchen counter. 

"A gift," you reply carefully, hugging it to your chest. 

You glance over to where Ellie's still sitting in the living room, but she shakes her head and offers you a small smile, her delicate way of telling you that you're on your own. You take a deep breath before continuing.

"It's a Christmas present from me and Ellie," you explain, hoping to convey even a fraction of what this means to you. "Look, we know this isn’t necessarily your favorite day, but...we still wanted to do something nice for you."

He nods, his expression frustratingly unreadable. But then he does something unexpected.

"Y'gonna keep huggin' it or are you gonna show it to me?" he drawls jokingly, and your brows shoot up in shock.

"You wanna see it?" 

His face falls, and you immediately feel terrible at the brief wave of hurt that crosses his features. You didn't mean to sound so surprised, but you didn't anticipate this easy acceptance.

"'Course I do. The two of you spent a whole year workin' on this thing, why wouldn't I?"

That grin you know he loves lights up your entire face, and you turn to place his gift back on the counter. Flipping to the first page, you step aside and let him explore it for himself.

He takes in each moment of each season slowly, running his fingers across Ellie's doodles between photos and in the margins. Spring is framed by butterflies that you're somehow just realizing are painted in all of Sarah's favorite colors. 

Ellie added so many painstaking details you'd never talked about. You're not even sure how she knew something like that, but you're grateful it's there. Joel notices it too, and reaches down to take your hand, gripping it tightly for the rest of the book. 

He's silent as flips through summer and fall, and when he finally reaches winter, you feel him begin to tremble beside you. 

The last page sits open in front of you, the photo from earlier flanked on either side by notes from you and Ellie. As he reads, then rereads them, you can see the cogs turning. He's starting to understand why you did this—and how something as simple as a photograph isn't just a look back on a life well-lived. It's a reminder to keep living.

“This is…,” his brows furrow as he tries to find the words to express the conflicting thoughts racing through his head.

“I—I’m sorry, I didn’t get you anything," is what he ultimately settles on, but when he looks up at you, his eyes are wet. You immediately drop his hand to cup his cheeks.

"You didn't need to. I have everything I've ever wanted right here," you tell him gently, brushing away the tears threatening to fall. 

You glance over at the familiar faces in the living room, the same ones looking up at you from the page below, and he follows your gaze. The tension in his body begins to bleed away the longer he watches them, and you learn the wrinkle in his brow isn't actually the permanent fixture it always seemed to be.

He reaches up to cover one of your hands with his own, and you can feel his heart racing through his fingertips. In the back of your mind, you wonder if this is the moment it happens. If his heart grew three sizes bigger today, and if he's finally ready to give himself the gift of peace.

“Merry Christmas, Joel Miller," you whisper, kissing him deeply as the sweet voice of Cindy Lou Who brings the movie credits rolling in the distance to a close.

thanks for reading and happy holidays!

dividers by @saradika-graphics

[the-axylotl]

TUMBLR SECRET SANTA!!

☆ What is tumblr secret santa? - basically, I, (santa) will give everyone who wants to join the url of someone else who wants to! On the 12 days leading up to christmas, every day, you send an anon ask to the person youve been given... Youll be their secret santa!! On the 25th of DECEMBER, everyone goes off anon and gives the person they've been sending asks to a gift! This can be art, a fanfic, a picture or song they might like... it can be anything!

☆ whats the point? - the point is to hopefully make some new friends, and spread positivity, community and platonic love during the christmas season! I'll try to match everyone with someone they dont know well or interact with, who matches their interests, and their age range! (Minors with minors, adults with adults)!

☆ What are the rules? - Not many rules, I'd just say no nsfw or hateful messages on anon (especially if youve been assigned a minor! If you start sending nsfw to minors you WILL be reported!!!) And its important to send a message every day! If your secret santa stops sending you messages, or starts making you uncomfortable, let me know and I'll replace them! One last rule, you need anon asks on to join! This wont work if your secret santa cant be secret!!

☆ How to join? - just like reblog or interact with this post! If enough people dont join, I might not be able to arange this! You can also DM me or @a-literal-frog if you dont wanna make it public just yet! The deadline to join is the 11th of December, the day before it starts, but if you see this after, DM me anyway, and you can be a backup if a secret santa breaks the rules!

I hope you guys join, and enjoy spreading community and making friends this season! Merry Christmas (or happy holidays) everyone!!! :D

[nova2cosmos]

Awwwwww them!!!

So Cute!!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!💃✨🥰💜💜💜💜

Ty!! Crayon!!

Merry Xmas!!!

Micro by me

Himeros by @nova2cosmos

Blithe by me and nova

CPAU originally by @loverofpiggies

[icanseethefuture333]

Tis' the season 🍧: How will you spend the holidays + What gift will you receive? 💝

Pile 1:

Shufflemancy -

Jingle Bell Rock by Hall & Oates

Speechless by Don shay

Baby I Miss You by 2NE1

Abundance, Peace, Nine of Swords, Eight of Swords, Eight of Wands, Justice, Three of Cups, & Ten of Cups

I see that for this holiday, you will be be feeling very abundant and peaceful! There is someone who will miss you very much, you could miss them just as much. I believe someone from your past is wishing to come back into your life or reach out to you to talk. This decision on allowing them to come back into your life will be entirely up to you. I am getting that this is a past romantic connection, but it could also be platonic/family member. (clarified by After Last Night by Silk Sonic ft. Thundercat & Bootsy Collins) I see that this person could even show up at your place 👀? They are very determined to express how they feel to you. I believe you will choose to do what's best for yourself. I believe you will focus on spending time with friends and family for the holiday. Appreciating the ones who have shown they truly care for you and moving on from whatever doesn't serve you. "I choose to cherish the people who value me the most" ♡

Gifts: text messages, phone calls, "I'll be home for Christmas", "you are so special to me", letters, blessed friends & family connections, return of someone from the past, an apology, flowers, and cookies

Pile 2:

Shufflemancy -

Last Christmas by Wham!

Chilly by Niki

Drive It Like You Stole It by Sing Street

Loneliness, Courage, The Tower, Two of Swords, Ten of Wands, Seven of Pentacles, The Hierophant, & The Star

I see that you could be going through a difficult time in the beginning of the holidays :(! I'm sorry about that! For some of you, you could be currently in separation from your partner or going through a break up. For others in this pile, you and someone close to you are growing apart. Things could be hectic and feel like things are crumbling down. Not to worry though, pile 2! I see that this tower moment coming for you is just to bring much needed change into your life. You have to find the courage to want to get past this (clarified by How Does It Feel by Summer Walker). You could be wanting to push through the holidays. Instead of thinking "Let's just get over it with", try to be more positive and be determined towards your goals. You must learn how to have faith and believe in little miracles again. If you want change in your life and feel unsatisfied with the current circumstances, you have the power to do anything you wish in life. You just have to be brave and go after what it is you seek. I also see that you will harness your skills and put them to use. You have a lot of potential. Your talents and skills could attract a lot of financial abundance into your life.

Gifts: car, something blue 💙, snowflake, jewelry, a trip to see the ball drop in New York City, visiting a building thats significant to you, religious sanctuary (church, mosque, or temple), and guide books

Pile 3:

Shufflemancy -

Merry Christmas Darling by Christina Perri

Moments In Love by The Art of Noise

Happiness Over Everything (H.O.E) by Jhené Aiko ft. Future & Miguel

Surrender, Purpose, Queen of Wands, Knight of Wands, Four of Wands, Five of Wands, Wheel of Fortune, & Ace of Swords

I feel like this pile has been very naughty this Christmas if you catch my drift... 😳😝. I see you are trying to get "warm and cozy" this holiday with someone you've been seeing for a while. While for others, this could be someone you hook up with. (Channeled song: SHOOT! by Itzy) I see for some of you there is someone you fancy but are afraid of confronting them regarding your feelings or how they feel because you worry there will be some kind of rejection. I'm telling you this is literally a sign for you to shoot your shot (like a free throw! 🏀). There is a lot of options you will have romantically (or even sexually) this Christmas. There also seems to be people who wish fight for you attention. For my singles, you will take a chance towards an opportunity and it will go very well! I see you will also have a lot of good luck regarding your relationships. It is time to take action and communicate your ideas very clearly. Release control this holiday and take a break! Allow yourself to relax and take time to reflect on what fulfills you emotionally as a person. This could also be time for you to think what it is you'd like to do for the new year. Make a vision board or make a list of your goals for the new year. It is also urgent to take care of your health during this season! Some of you could be more prone to sickness and can catch a cold or flu. So sanitize frequently and take your vitamins!

Gifts: Sex, dates, celebrations, parties, weddings, anniversaries, engagement rings, homemade soup, and lottery tickets

Pile 4:

Shufflemancy -

All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey

I Got It by Charli XCX ft. Cupcakke, Brooke Candy, & Pabllo Vittar

Diamond by f(x)

Envy, Acceptance, Five of Swords, Three of Pentacles, Ace of Pentacles, Four of Cups, Seven of Wands, & Seven of Swords

This pile is focusing on their bag for the holidays! I see a lot of financial abundance coming your way. There could be a lot of people who are sending you nasty vibes and are jealous, so make sure to pray up and protect your energy 🧿. Some of you should do spellwork or invest in something that has to do with self protection. You have overcome people's sabotage and backstabbing, despite people's vindictive and malicious intentions, you still see the best in people. For some of you, you could have gotten into a argument with someone close to you and want to try to make amends. While for others, you will speak to a higher up at your job about the mistreatment or unfairness you have experienced at work. I feel that you will demand for a raise or promotion otherwise you will quit your job. I actually see things working out for you. I also see this other person who's fucking with you finally backing off and will realize you're not taking their shit anymore. I also see that you will stop holding resentment towards others and will stop trying to force people to change when they don't want to. You will have new ideas and could see things from a different perspective. "I accept what I cannot change and focus on what I can make happen". I also see that you are going to be doing a lot of shopping for the holidays! So budget and manage your finances wisely.

Gifts: Money, shopping sprees, gift cards, electronic banking/wiring, raise, promotion, vacation day/day off from work, holiday cards, postcards, good credit score, and you could mostly focus on giving gifts to others than receiving.

Pile 5:

Shufflemancy -

Love to Keep Me Warm by Laufey ft. Dodie

Just Like Magic by Ariana Grande

From Time by Drake ft. Jhené Aiko

Worry, Growth, Page of Swords, The Lovers, Three of Cups, Page of Wands, Justice, & Six of Swords

There is a lot that has been heavy on your mind and heart, pile 5. I believe some of you are having some sort of existential life crisis or have been wondering where you are going in life. I remember there was this saying that goes: "You don't need to know everything, because if you knew everything, life wouldn't be interesting!". You have to give yourself time to grow and find what place in the world makes you feel whole and safe. If you don't fit in anywhere than you don't need to. Don't try to force a puzzle piece that doesn't fit, instead be patient, and see that your piece could possibly belong to an entirely different puzzle. I hope that makes sense for you. I see that for this holiday you will be taking time to retreat and wish to expand your consciousness. There could be a lot of delays happening in your life or things not going as planned (flights delayed, canceled plans, road blocks, etc). There is a reason for this because you need to focus on self love and learn how to accept love from others. You will come across people who are "angels" in human form. People could be more kind, helpful, and caring towards you than usual, this is a sign from the universe to show you that there is hope. I also see that you will feel more brave regarding a decision in your life that you have been putting off. I am channeling a lot of messages here for this pile. Some of you, you will successfully win a lawsuit or a legal court will allow something you petitioned. A few of you will elope with a romantic partner in a court house. The other group for this pile will be approved for a visa to travel or will get to live overseas. Then for the majority of the people who have chosen this pile will embarking on a expedition or will discover the "journey to the soul". All of these situations will be very uncomfortable for you because it is meant to take you out of your comfort zone. Allow yourself to receive help from others and let your guard down for once.

Gifts: help, moving boxes, meditation, luggage, passports, visa, approved court documents, end of a long legal battle, bon voyage party, financial compensation, and new home

Pile 6:

Shufflemancy -

8 Days of Christmas by Destiny's Child

Peek-A-Boo by Red Velvet

Fell In Love by Brent Faiyaz

Friendship, Success, Two of Cups, Ace of Pentacles, Two of Wands, Strength, The High Priestess, & Nine of Cups

For the holidays, you will be spending time with your closest friends! Perhaps there will be a potluck thrown or everyone will come together to cook dinner. Some of you could even live with your best friend! Or will make plans to live with or live closer to a friend. If you are someone who doesn't have friends, I also see you making friends in the new year! When it comes to your career, a business partnership could be on the table or you will make great connections that will help you level at your job (channeled song: New Phone, Who Dis? (Remix) by Cyanca ft. Durand Bernarr) You could get a new phone number or disconnect from your phone entirely next year. You are very determined to achieve your goals for the new year and have no time for any bad vibes this holiday ✨️. You will be feeling very confident and more empowered this year (period, pile 6!). Your intuition will be more enhanced this time of the year. So if you peep any fuckery going on... it will not go unnoticed. It's giving: "I know my worth and I'm the queen/king of this shit". (Channeled song: Cleo by Shygirl). A wish fulfillment or manifestation of yours will come true this holiday. Your mindset will be very abundant and your self concept will be impeccable during this time.

Gifts: new phone, potluck, friendship bracelet or necklace, money, gift cards, business offer, job offer, pass job interview, approved application, trophy, award, scholarship, and contract offer

Pile 7:

Shufflemancy -

Christmas Without You by Taeyeon

Coming of Age Ceremony by Park Jiyoon

Want Some More by Nicki Minaj

Discipline, Death (2x!), Two of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles, Three of Pentacles, Three of Swords, The Devil (reversed), & The Empress

This pile's energy is so intense 😳! I feel like this pile had a good year then things suddenly have gone downhill for you. For some of you, you could have broke up with someone who was cheating on your or was toxic for your mental health. While for others, you could be ready to cut some people off from your life or have done so already. This person is bitter you have moved on and you are prospering in life. I also see that you will be disciplined during this holiday. You have goals that you are determined to achieve and will not allow any fuckboys (girls or theys lol) get in the way of your success. I see you feeling more fulfilled this holiday and enjoying the luxuries of life. You will be enjoying your freedom from these toxic people from your previous lifestyle. Overall you're riding solo this holiday. Make sure to budget and be careful with your finances! If you exceed your spending limit, it could cause complications in your life.

Gifts: Jewelry, luxury items, food, a enrichment program, visit to a winery (or anything that allows you engage in your senses), restaurants, trip to a spa/salon, pillows, blankets, and candles

Pile 8:

Shufflemancy -

Merry & Happy by Twice

Tell Me by Wonder Girls

2nd Fiddle by Leikeli47

Pride, Love, King of Pentacles, Three of Pentacles, The Star, Four of Pentacles, The Emperor, & Queen of Pentacles

"Pride & prejudice" could be a significant book/movie for you watch this holiday. I feel you and a loved one are at odds right now. (Channeled song: Love Is A Battlefield by Pat Benetar). You & this person love each other dearly but are acting so STUBBORN 😭. I feel that this person will want to make amends with you but you will be feeling petty and give them the cold shoulder/silent treatment because you do not want to put your pride down. Think about if losing this person or not being able to have another moment with them this holiday would be worth it. Don't let your pride sabotage a good thing, pile 8. There will be a conversation that will be healing and needed for you both to grow in your relationship. It is necessary to discuss what would bring stability in your lives. The biggest message for you this holiday is learn how to pick your battles.

Gifts: artwork, stationary supplies, vase, pottery, shoes, hats, sweaters, jackets, veils, head scarves, rosary, cross, religious symbols, earrings, go to see Christmas lights, and visit a manger, a farm, ranch, or barn

Pile 9:

Shufflemancy -

I'll Be Home For Christmas by Kacey Musgraves & Lana Del Rey

Relax Your Mind by Cookiee Kawaii

Got 'Til It's Gone by Janet Jackson

Forgiveness, Gratitude, The Tower, Nine of Swords, The Hanged Man (reversed), Three of Wands, Ace of Cups, & Knight of Cups

This pile could be feeling very nostalgic this holiday. Some of you could be grieving the loss of a loved one. I am so sorry my love :(! While for others, you are grieving your past. There is something about losing time and wishing you could go back to fix things. Pile 9, you have to forgive yourself. The past is the past and you have to learn to find ways to cope and focus on the present. There is a lot of mental stress you are experiencing or you could suffer from past trauma. Whatever the case may be, holding onto the past is not benefiting you. There is a lot of mental anguish you are dealing with and it's time for you to release the emotions you have been feeling or kept inside of you. I see for the holiday you won't be stuck in this chaotic and depressing energy anymore, that things will actually turn around for you, you just have to be willing to have faith and trust in yourself. This is a very significant message, but you guys need to start speaking to the universe, your spirit guides, ancestors, etc. Some sort of spiritual figure who can guide you. If you are not a spiritual person, then please do your research on the higher self. If you are losing faith when it comes to the universe or any other holy figure, trust in your higher self to guide you. Write a letter to your past, present, and future self. Release whatever is not serving you, pay attention to what you are currently feeling, and think of who you want to be in the future. It is not too late. You can achieve anything you set your mind to, pile 9. Once you have done something along those lines, I see that you will start to feel more optimistic and ready to seek this new desire of yours. An adventure is out there waiting for you! There will be a boost in your confidence and you will be more kind regarding your past mistakes. Self love is your main focus for the new year. I also see for this holiday you will cherish the moments you have with your loved ones and talk to them about the bittersweet feelings you have. They will be understanding and attentive to your needs, as you will for them.

Gifts: photo album, family videos, picture frame, plants, cups, flasks, visiting or a memorabilia from your childhood home or hometown, boat ride, holiday suite, cabin, trip to a resort, & visit to a chapel

[luci4theminorannoyance]

Hello!!!

Because tomorrow is christmas could u write about valeria x fem!reader?

So basically reader is also working for the military and she has been gone for a year long mission but she came back for christmas to suprise valeria because valeria dosent know reader is coming for few weeks💗(u dont have to do this if u dont want to btw)

And merry christmas!❄️

a/n: merry Christmas and happy holidays! :D, I’d love to write this- I planned to write it all today earlier but I ended up blacking out from a really bad cold

Valeria:

-her cartel job was scary work, and work she never wanted you even to be mentioned in. So she kept you far away from it all in a little town in a house both you and her called home

-she usually visited more frequently, but over this past year she was so busy and always so close to trouble that she only called and wrote, making sure you knew how loved you were as her girlfriend even when apart for so long

-knew that you were sad not seeing her for so long so she secretly planned it so she would come home for Christmas Day! She knew you adored it and would adore to find her waiting for her to wake up

-snuck into the house in the very very late night, making sure you were sound asleep and then taking a shower and washing off all the grime and guilt of her work. Setting up her gifts for you under the tree, and waiting for you to wake up

-loves the sight of your face as you see her in front of you, her eyes lighting up and her strong arms picking you up and holding you tight in her arms

-utterly lavishes you in kisses, attention, and of course- gifts! Anything you could want. Perfume or makeup? Bought with gold in it. Art supplies or gear for your hobbies or work? Wrapped under the tree perfect. New clothes or new equipment for things you enjoy? Of course she got you the best

-she adores spoiling and surprising her girlfriend for Christmas Day <3

[snake-queen7]

It's Christmas Eve so it's time for Christmas art!~☆

This holiday season, I wish you a lot of joy and kindness, many magic gifts and delicious food, lots of socks and ugly sweaters and time to relax solo or with your loved ones ❤️🎄✨️❄️💚

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays~🎉

And yes, Harriet's standing on a chair xD ♡

[ducklooney]

Although I love Topolino comics (Italian comics) which have great art styles, I'm still sad that other comics like the Dutch ones are pushed aside, because those comics also have a good style, like this one in this photo.

I don't know the author of this work unfortunately, but it shows Donald Duck and Daisy Duck with their nephews (Huey, Dewey and Louie) and their nieces (April, May and June) celebrating Christmas and how the children got presents. The real Duck family! To all who celebrate, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Also, be sure to like and reblog this with a random photo otherwise 2024 gonna be the unluckiest year of your life.

[sterekfests]

Welcome to our Winter round of Sterek Fests! Sterek Winter Fest will run from November 26 - January 6 in celebration of Winter, whether you are excited to begin decorating for Christmas, have last-minute shopping to do for the holidays, or just want to enjoy the cold weather and snow with your pack or family, there’s a little something for everyone!

Check out our Rules and FAQs. 

We also have a Discord you can join.

How to Participate:

Participating in Sterek Winter Fest is easy and stress-free! This is a no-commitment fest where you can participate as little or as much as you want. Participate in one week and none of the others if you so fancy, or participate in all of them! We have an AO3 Collection for you to post all of your creations in!  This fest is open to both Fic and Art, so create to your heart's content!

How to post:

You can post your creations to any website that you want, as long as they are viewable to the public, whether that’s Tumblr, LiveJournal, DreamWidth, or our AO3 Collection. @sterekfests so we see your creations to reblog them. Use the tags #sterekfestswinter2023, and #sterekfests for generic tags. For weekly tags: #sterekfestsbeginning, #sterekfestssnow, #sterekfestswonderland, #sterekfestswant, #sterekfestschristmas, #sterekfestsmidnight

Late Posting:

Late posting is always welcomed! The collection will stay open for late submissions. You can find our Summer and Fall collections also if you’d like to add to those collections.

If you have any questions, feel free to send us an ask!

- Liam (@sterekbros) & Dori (@evanesdust)

Keep reading to see all the awesome theme weeks ahead!

November 26 - December 2: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” 

With Christmas music playing in the background, it’s time for Derek and Stiles to decorate for the holidays. Do they pull out old, familiar ornaments as they reminisce about past Christmases? Or are they building new traditions, weaving fresh memories into each tinsel and bell? Either way, it will be a perfect little Christmas moment. 

December 3 - 9: “Let it snow.” 

The weather outside might be frightful, but that won’t stop Derek and Stiles from enjoying the snow. Whether they’re building snowmen, throwing snowballs, or making snow angels, they’re bound to have a fun time. 

December 10 - 16: “Winter Wonderland.” 

This holiday season, Stiles and Derek can look forward to snow-covered landscapes, twinkling lights, and quaint little shops full of festive cheer. Maybe they wander through town, observing the festive decorations. Or perhaps they find joy in small moments, as they slide down a big, wintery hill. No matter how they choose to spend their day,  laughter is guaranteed. 

December 17 - 23: “All I want for Christmas.”

Christmas wishes are abundant this winter season, whether that means Eli wants the latest toy on the market, or Stiles wants to spend time with his family and pack during the holiday season. Perhaps Derek is spending his time shopping for the perfect present for his mate and pup, or Stiles is trying to create the perfect holiday atmosphere leading up to Christmas. Either way, Stiles and Derek spend the holiday together, sharing winter feelings and love this chilly season.

December 24 - 30: “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.”

It's Christmas time, whether that's in Beacon Hills, New York, or somewhere else around the globe where Stiles and Derek are celebrating Christmas. Maybe they're at home, sharing their first Christmas as a couple, or it's Eli's first Christmas with the Pack. Either way, the gifts and love they share will warm their hearts this Christmas season.

December 31 - January 6: “Kiss me at midnight.”

The countdown to midnight has begun! Are Derek and Stiles spending their New Year's in New York City watching the ball drop in Times Square? Perhaps they're spending time at home together while they watch the ball drop on TV while their kids sleep in the next room. Or maybe they're meeting for the first time at a New Year's party and kiss at midnight. Of course, they fall in love. Share their New Year's and resolutions with us this winter season! 

@thebigbangblogproject @teenwolffandomevents @sterekevents