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rotgsecretsanta · 4 years ago

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2020 Secret Santa Masterlist!

Here are all of the works posted for RotG Secret Santa 2020 as of January 31, 2021!

Prompt 3: I wish for something Sandy related. Maybe something featuring dreams and golden signs. If one or many other Guardians are in it, it would be cool, but not necessary. ;) Art by sp00kfr0st

Prompt 4: Strange relationship between Pitch and Jack before Jack died. The Man From the Dark and a boy who sees him, both longing for someone. Oh, and Pitch losing the only human that saw him, believed in him and loved him. You’ll be Okay by hezuart Longer Longing by winterswrathe

Prompt 5: Bunnymund/Pitch Black - Anything goes, from fluff to angst, in art or fic. Just no Noncon please. Art by winterswrathe

Prompt 6: Orchestra Art by bunnimew

Prompt 7: NDU Proto/Jack (the only two people in the dorms during the holidays) I Can See Your Ghosts by sylphidine

Prompt 8: Perchance Jack's complicated relationship with the moon? Arguing? Grief? Confusion? Comic by hezuart

Prompt 10: Rainbow Snowcone (Jack Frost / Tooth Fairy) Can be anything, just please no NSFW! :D Art by ladyfr0st

Prompt 13: A reverse-power AU, with Jack Black and Pitch Frost? Art by insert-skill-here

Prompt 15: Tooth/Pitch Black - Anything goes. Fluff or angst, art or fic. Just no Noncon please. Art by overmooneleven

Prompt 16: Something with Jack and Pitch! Call It What You Want by askwenjing

Prompt 17: How all of the Guardians are doing with covid and how the world is. Fic by apropoptosis Epiphany by askwenjing

Prompt 18: Jack/older Jamie - Jamie is getting bullied or is having a hard time making friends and Jack comes to visit him at college. Shielded in my Armor by Sylphidine

Prompt 19: (No ship) Pitch, North, and those horror movies where Santa is the villain. Nightmare After Christmas by bunnimew

Prompt 21: MIM!!! With his past, create an angst piece of homesickness and loss. Art by ksclaw

Prompt 22: Dark Jack/Uncorrupted Kozmotis (Pirate/Navy sort of vibe) Fic by apropoptosis Never Lands by eclipseyeger High Seas Hijinks by bunnimew

Prompt 26: North carrying pitch, bridal style. (Otp) Art by ksclaw

Prompt 29: Sandman and Pitch Black playing chess in an old garden. Art, please. Art by ladyfr0st Art by nimohtar

Prompt 32: Jack's cute little Sister Emma Knows Best by bunnimew

Prompt 33: (before the events of RotG) Jack loves to dance on his own under the moonlight. One day he notices Pitch watching him and invites him to join. Art by bunnimew

Prompt 35: Tooth with a sweater/jumper. Art by sp00kfr0st

Prompt 36: Dark Jack/Pitch (u kno ;) ) Art by ladyfr0st Don’t Blame Me by askwenjing

Prompt 38: epilogue to the movie, maybe Jack checking on Pitch later out of sympathy? Afterglow by askwenjing Art by ladyfr0st

Prompt 40: Captain Pitch J Black on the Nightmare Galleon Art by ksclaw

Prompt 43: Pitch black with dreamsand butterflies A Dream Too Good to be True by askwenjing

Prompt 44: Gen, no pairings, the main Guardians and Pitch book or film characters, any kind of AU (pirates, cowboys, royalty etc), fancy costumes etc (No gender swap/crossdressing) Knights and Pages by sylphidine

Prompt 45: A ROTG Hogwarts AU crossover maybe? Fic by apropoptosis Yule Never Live This Down by bunnimew

Prompt 48: Color palette swap, Pitch black and Jack Frost. (Otp) Art by bunnimew Art by heyitsmoonbard

Prompt 49: found family Beautiful Ghosts by askwenjing

Prompt 50: Jack/Bunny - Bunny coaches Jack through a panic attack, maybe triggered by Jack feeling like he messed up his Guardian duties or something. Fic by sarsfe

Prompt 51: Kozmotis Pitchiner/Lady Pitchiner. Anything goes, with art or fic, just no noncon and no changing the ship. Art by ladyfr0st

Prompt 57: Any human AU where Bunny and Pitch can be bros / friends. Art, please Art by winterswrathe

Prompt 58: Feudal Japan Art by hezuart

Prompt 60: Nightlight x Katherine and/or Jack x Katherine in a mermaid AU. Art by ksclaw

Prompt 61: Jack/Pitch OTP - Dragon Riders AU. Bonus for soul bonds/mind bonds/creature bonds. No gender swap/crossdressing Soul Riders by bunnimew

Prompt 64: Jack + trees and/or Ents (Gen, or if you insist on romance, blackice) On Trees and Mistletoe by Nimohtar

#rotgsecretsanta2020 #rise of the guardians #masterlist

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sylphidine · 4 years ago

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[ROTG] Shielded In My Armor

Written for @rotgsecretsanta for Prompt #18... “Jack/older Jamie - Jamie is getting bullied or is having a hard time making friends and Jack comes to visit him at college.“

Sorta-kinda songfic, wrapped around Simon & Garfunkel’s “I Am A Rock”. Angst alert.

_________________

A winter’s day

In a deep and dark December

I am alone

Gazing from my window

To the streets below

On a freshly fallen silent shroud of snow

I am a rock

I am an island

It was nice to be the one being hugged for once, instead of always having to initiate the hugging. Jamie let himself relax for the first time in months, leaning his head against Jack’s shoulder, feeling the rapidly-dissipating chill of Jack’s hoodie against his cheek. This had been a longer-than-usual semester for him since he’d transferred to a four-year university after a year at community college. Moving away from home, leaving friends and family, finding out that even among the weird kids he was just too weird to hang out with… Jamie needed Jack now.

And apparently Jack needed him.

-----------------------------------

I build walls

A fortress deep and mighty

That none may penetrate

I have no need of friendship

Friendship causes pain

It’s laughter and it’s loving I disdain

I am a rock

I am an island

Jamie noticed the differences in the Burgess Believers between the first summer after high school graduation, when everyone was still at home and happy to hang out with each other, and the second summer, when those who were in college or on their way there had things to talk about that the ones who were joining the work world did not, and long awkward silences replaced never-ending conversations.

He’d convinced himself that after all their years of living on the same street, he and Pippa were meant to be together as soulmates, ignoring all her wise words about the strength of platonic love.

He’d convinced himself that the bond of their experiences fighting the Boogeyman would override the personality differences between him and Cupcake, and that theirs would be an eternal friendship, ignoring the signs of her envy of his stable family life.

He’d convinced himself that he and the twins would always share the same interests since they’d known each other since kindergarten, ignoring that Caleb was a completely separate person from Claude and not an interchangeable cog.

He’d convinced himself that Monty would always be shy and awkward, ignoring the facts right in front of him that confidence can be gained and make a person stronger without any visible clues.

He'd convinced himself that Sophie would always need him to lean on, more than he'd ever need to lean on her.

Having his convictions shattered had an equally shattering effect on him.

The differences didn’t seem to affect anyone's status as Believers; they all still had fervent faith in the existence of the Guardians, and that faith still bound the seven of them to having something in common. But the dynamics of their group kept changing, slowly and inexorably; too often Jamie heard of Jack visiting the others one at a time, rather than Jack visiting when two or four of them were together in the same place.

[It was rare that they were ALL together in the same place, that second summer.]

He hated that he was relieved to go off to the school he despised, but which would give him a good degree, rather than being upset at behind.

Jamie hated change, and wanted to stop Time.

So when Jack flew in his window at uni just before Finals week, Jamie was very happy for the constancy of an immortal frost spirit.

They lay together on Jamie’s bed, arms wrapped around one another. Jamie had never been more thankful about landing a single in his dorm; transfer students usually didn’t get so lucky.

“I… am a… O-bli-GATE CAR-nivore.” Jack kissed Jamie on the nose and used a hint of teeth, just because he could. “And you… you are…”

“Crazy for putting up with you.”

“I am wounded! I die! Oh, farewell, cruel world!” At that, Jamie kissed Jack back.

The vinyl record kept spinning on the turntable, spilling out glittering guitar-strummed melody and bitter dual harmony.

Don’t talk of love

Oh I’ve heard the word before

It’s sleeping in my memory

I won’t disturb the slumber

Of feelings that have died

If I’d never loved I never would have cried

I am a rock

I am an island

I have my books

And my poetry to protect me

I am shielded in my armor

Hiding in my room

Safe within my womb

I touch no one and no one touches me

I am a rock

I am an island

They were each lost in their own thoughts as the album side ended and the turntable clicked itself off. After a long moment, Jamie blurted out, “How did you ever manage to stop yourself from becoming this guy? Three hundred years alone, humans not able to see you, other spirits either ignoring you or actively hostile to you… seriously, why aren’t you, like, totally an emotionally detached sociopath?”

Jack took far too long to answer, and Jamie’s heart thumped, and his brain shouted at him, he’s going to leave you too!

Finally Jack replied, “Every kid I ever saw, even if they never saw me... they had fun when I was around. I made a difference in their lives, even if they never knew who did it. I had all of you kids to show off for, year after year, until your generation opened its eyes and believed in me.” His voice thickened. “And hopefully generations after you will keep believing in me.”

Jamie hugged Jack tighter as the frost spirit shuddered, cold tears and warm trickling from two sets of eyes.

And a rock feels no pain.

And an island never cries.

#rise of the guardians #rotgsecretsanta2020 #rotg fanfiction #bennefrost #jamie bennett #jack frost #sylph writes

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sarsfe · 4 years ago

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Prompt #50!

Sorry this is so late! @rotgsecretsanta this is Prompt No. 50 for Bunny coaching Jack through a panic attack! I hope you enjoy it!

“Damn it…” Bunny said under his breath as he brushed the snow from his shoulders. “At least it’s not another ’68…” he grumbled as he walked further into his Warren.

Easter had been a success. Or at least as much of a success as it could be with a blizzard ripping through half of the North American continent. This was one of the earlier Easters landing on March 23rd. And even though it was technically in springtime, Jack had his fair share of snowstorms after that threshold. Bunny never minded having some of them, only under the agreement that the bad ones didn’t happen on Easter.

“It’s fine,” he sighed to himself as he patrolled his Warren. “The eggs got hidden, children still found them, and the belief is still strong,” he smiled as he greeted his stone soldiers while they started cleaning up the mess they had made.

-----

A few days later, Bunny traveled to North’s workshop. He was hoping to find Jack there since the grumby normally bothers the living daylights out of him right after Easter. It was particularly intense at this time since there was nothing to do but clean. Being unable to find the trickster anywhere, he went to North’s study, hoping to get some kind of answer to his absence.

“Hey North,” Bunny said entering the study seeing the man fiddling with his latest ice sculpture.

“Bunny!” he laughed heartily. “I’m glad to see Easter didn’t tire you out this year.”

“Ha, ha very funny,” Bunny smiled as he rolled his eyes. “I would’ve been better without the snow, but it went better than last year.”

“Speaking of snow, have you seen Jack?” North asked, turning away from his sculpture to look at Bunny. “I haven’t seen him poking around for a few days.”

“I was actually coming here to ask you that,” he stated, with some concern. “When did you last see him?”

“When he went with you to the Warren before Easter,” North said as he stood. “Did he not help you?”

“No, he did,” Bunny said. “But he left the day before to tend to some snow in the Himalayas. Then Easter happened and I haven’t seen him since.”

“But you said there was snow on Easter?” North asked as he grabbed his coat.

“Yeah, a decent blizzard—”

“Something must be happening…” North observed. “I will talk with Tooth and see if he went her way. You check in with Sandy.”

“Got it,” Bunny nodded, thumping his foot on the floor, a tunnel opening as he traveled through.

Bunny traveled around until he was able to see the dream sand dancing around through the town around him. He was able to see dreams of dancing eggs, and his image sprouting from the different dreams that Sandy would bring. He followed the tendrils until he found the massive dream cloud that hovered in the sky. Getting his attention, Bunny saw Sandy descend, smiling happily and congratulating him on a successful easter.

“Thanks Sandy,” Bunny nodded. “Ya dreams are still riddled with easter,” he smiled. “But I came to ask if you’ve seen Jack anywhere. No one has seen him since the day before Easter.”

Sandy communicated that he had seen Jack on Easter, but that he had seemed in good spirits. He’d said that there was some snow that he needed to tend to and that it would be a nice surprise for some children before he’d flown off.

“Did he ever say where he’d go?” Bunny asked, seeing Sandy shake his head. “It’s been almost a week…”

Sandy mentioned checking in Burges since that tended to be a place he would scamper off to for some fun with the children.

“I’ll go check,” Bunny nodded. “Keep an eye out and I’ll let you know if I find him. Hopefully he’s just hiding out there for some fun,” he stated getting a concern nod from Sandy.

“I’ll let you know if I find him,” Bunny said before tapping for a tunnel.

Burges wasn’t a big town in Bunny’s standards. By the end of an hour he had hopped through most of the town with no sign of the winter spirit. He tried taking to Jamie and his friends, but they hadn’t seen him since Easter.

“He did seem upset though,” Jamie said. “He said something about the snowstorm and you being mad.”

“I mean I’m not happy it happened, but I’m not going to tear the grumby apart,” he stated while Sophie climbed over his shoulders while they talked.

“I’d go check by the lake though if you haven’t yet,” Jamie continued. “He normally goes there when he wants to be alone.”

“I’ll go there next,” he said flipping Sophie over while she giggled. “Thanks for the help.”

“Let Jack know we miss him. Snowball fights aren’t the same without him.”

“I will,” Bunny nodded before traveling through his tunnels, appearing in the forest just outside of Burges.

Bunny knew Jack came to this area a lot, but never to the lake. He had told Bunny that it was the lake he had drowned in before becoming a guardian and it was also the place where Pitch had been defeated. It seemed to hold a lot more meaning to Jack than Bunny had realized.

It didn’t take long to find the hooded boy sitting by the lake. He was tapping his staff on the lake making more and more layers of ice so no one else would ever fall in. Being curled in on himself, he wasn’t able to see Bunny coming towards him. When placing a gentle hand on Jack’s shoulder, Bunny could feel him flinch harshly by the contact.

“Hey, don’t worry it’s just me,” he chuckled, while Jack scrambled to stand up. “Where’ve you been mate? You got everyone worried,” he asked turning to concern as Jack gave a forced smile.

“Oh, you know, this way and that,” he shrugged with a nervous chuckle.

“What’s going on Jack?” Bunny asked with concern. “You’re worrying me.”

“I’m fine really,” Jack chuckled taking a step back from the other as he started to feel his chest tighten.

“Jack,” Bunny said with concern. “You don’t seem fine.”

“Oh and I’m sorry about Easter,” he laughed uneasily as he started to breathe harder, taking a few more steps away from Bunny. “It was a bit of a shitstorm on my part…”

“Jack I don’t care about that,” Bunny scowled. “What’s going on?”

“You don’t care?” Jack laughed. “I fucked up Easter.”

“Jack,” Bunny said gently taking the other by the shoulders. “You didn’t fuck anything up.”

“But the Blizzard… It happened on Easter and we’ve talked about snow and Easter with what happened in 68 and I couldn’t stop it… I just wanted a bit of snow but got carried away… I’m supposed to protect the children. I just wanted to have some fun and—”

“Jack!” Bunny exclaimed to get the other to look at him. “You’re getting carried away,” he said gently as he guided them both to sit by the lake. “No one was hurt in the Blizzard. Easter was a success. You didn’t jeopardize the children.”

“I’m a guardian… I shouldn’t have let that happen.”

“Jack nothing happened,” Bunny said, letting the other lean against him. “You just gave the Midwest a snowy Easter. Even I can’t complain about that.”

“But it’s Easter.”

“There’s been snow on Easter before 68 and there’ll be snow on easter in years to come. It’s spring. We get a mix of winter and summer until a balance is met. I’ve known this for eons,” Bunny explained as he held on to Jacks shaking figure. “It happens despite me not wanting it, but it’s not something that I’m going to hold against you.” He finished, Jack saying nothing as tears started to travel down his cheeks.

They both sat by the lake for a time while Jack let his emotions out. It’s wasn’t often that Bunny would see Jack like this. He knew that the winter spirit took his guardian duties seriously and seeing how he was now solidified how serious he had become.

“I’m serious though Jack. I’m not upset with you,” he said gently rubbing at his back. “And don’t hide something like this. We don’t want you to be feeling like this. We all mess up and no matter what happens, we’re all a team that helps each other, okay?”

“Okay,” Jack nodded as he sat up, wiping at his eyes. “I am sorry though,” he sighed.

“It’s alright. It wasn’t anything that wasn’t manageable,” he encouraged. “But you really do have everyone worried.”

“Fuck,” he sighed covering his face again. “I didn’t want to worry you guys…”

“I know,” he stated while they stood up. “Let’s go find them,” he said getting a tight hug form the other.

“Thank you, Bunny.”

“No problem you show pony. Let’s go before North sends out the calvary,” he chuckled.

End

#rotgsecretsanta2020

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bunnimew · 4 years ago

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@insert-skill-here !!!!!

For request #10 :)

I hope you like it❤️

@rotgsecretsanta

#rotgsecretsanta2020 #Jack Frost #Toothiana #rise of the guardians

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ksclaw · 4 years ago

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For @rotgsecretsanta for the stocking stuffer prompts.

Nr. 60 Nightlight x Katherine and/or Jack x Katherine in a mermaid AU.

I made Nightlight a deepsea mermaid and Katherine a sort of marine biologist. I hope you like.

#ksclawart #rotgsecretsanta2020 #rotgsecretsanta #rise of the guardians #guardians of childhood #Katherine Shalazar #Nightlight

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bunnimew · 4 years ago

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Secret Santa 2020- Prompt 33

WELL IT’S A MARVELOUS NIGHT FOR A MOON DANCE~

For prompt 33- (before the events of RotG) Jack loves to dance on his own under the moonlight. One day he notices Pitch watching him and invites him to join.

I’m sorry I took a humorous spin but I HOPE YOU LIKE IT! xD

@rotgsecretsanta

#rotgsecretsanta2020 #rotgsecretsanta 2020 #rise of the guardians #rotg #rotg fanart #themew #jack frost #pitch black #blackice #blackicerotg #pitch be like #THE AUDACITY OF THIS TWINK #but we all know he likes it

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ksclaw · 4 years ago

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For the @rotgsecretsanta stocking challenge, someone requested some Pitchmas Shipping with North carrying Pitch in bridal style

(Pitch is totally into it but he’s not gonna admit to it)

#ksclawart #Rise of the Guardians #rotgsecretsanta2020 #rotgsecretsanta #Pitchmas shipping #black christmas shipping #Nicholas St. North #Pitch Black

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rotgsecretsanta · 4 years ago

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@hezuart ~~~

Secret Santa 2020 - Request #16

@rotgsecretsanta

For request #16: Something with Jack and Pitch!

This request is very vague so I really have no idea if I did it right. Though, this request has not been filled yet so I take it up. I hope you like it. If I did it wrong, I apologize.

Disclaimer: Rise of the Guardians belongs to Dreamworks and Call It What You Want belongs to Taylor Swift. I do not own them.

——

Call It What You Want

It had been months since Pitch’s defeat. Pitch was devastated that he had lost everything… again. He was once all powerful in the Dark Ages until the Man in the Moon thought that he was no longer useful and replaced him with the Guardians.

Since then, nobody believed in him anymore. Humans just wrote him off as a bad dream. Even other spirits stayed away from him because he was the Boogeyman and the Nightmare King. He felt lonely and rejected.

His heart was empty, and that feeling was unbearable. He wanted to feel whole again. He thought that if he destroyed the Guardians, all the children would believe in him, and he would never feel lonely again. After all, he was the Boogeyman – he scared children and that was his job.

He had planned it for hundreds of years. He had perfected his ability in turning sweet dreams into an army of Nightmares. He knew every of the Guardian’s antics. He was ready to strike them before Easter.

He almost succeeded destroying the Guardians. However, the boy named Jamie Bennett refused to stop believing in the Guardians. Jack Frost was able to reach him first and strengthened the boy’s faith. The winter spirit had sided with the Guardians.

Pitch had underestimated the belief of children. He always thought that children would never have the courage to fight him back. This time, they were not afraid of him, and they turned the tide of belief battle.

Once again, he lost to the Guardians. His Nightmares turned against him. He was all alone and powerless once more. He thought it was all over for him.

My castle crumbled overnight I brought a knife to a gunfight They took the crown, but it’s alright

To Pitch’s surprise, Jack came to see him. The winter spirit revealed that he had been trying to find him. Jack did not want Pitch to be alone forever. He knew that feeling all too well.

Pitch thought Jack was pranking him, but Jack was sincere this time. Jack wanted to make Pitch feel better. He did not care how the Guardians would think – he was willing to break the rules for Pitch.

All the liars are calling me one Nobody’s heard from me for months I’m doin’ better than I ever was ‘Cause

My baby’s fit like a daydream Walking with his head down I’m the one he’s walking to

Pitch pulled out a small smile. Even though he was still hurt that Jack rejected his offer in Antarctica, he was willing to give Jack a second chance.

So call it what you want, yeah Call it what you want to My baby’s fly like a jet stream High above the whole scene Loves me like I’m brand new So call it what you want, yeah Call it what you want to

Jack began to spend some time with Pitch. He encouraged him to interact with kids. At first, Pitch did not like the idea because he was certain that the kids would not like him. However, Jack assured him that they would accept him because fear was part of human nature and it was important. His words made Pitch feel that he was important and valued.

Pitch took up Jack’s advice and carried out. It was a difficult start, but Jack kept supporting him. Soon, Pitch began to gain a steady number of believers. Children began to respect and appreciate him.

All my flowers grew back as thorns Windows boarded up after the storm He built a fire just to keep me warm

The Guardians was quick to catch Pitch gaining strength and believers. They fought him. They were unwilling to let Pitch gain power in fear that he would tip the balance. Pitch hated them for always seeing him as a threat and ignoring his importance to humankind. Though, his hatred towards the Guardians faded away when Jack jumped in to protect him.

All the drama queens taking swings All the jokers dressing up as kings They fade to nothing when I look at him

Jack admitted that he was helping Pitch to gain believers. The Guardians were shocked and displeased to hear that. They thought that Pitch was manipulating Jack. Jack denied and tried to convince them that Pitch needed his help.

The Guardians knew that they could not change Jack’s mind, so they begrudgingly accepted his decision. Jack knew that he messed up again as if he never learned his lessons. This time, however, he was certain that his actions were right.

And I know I make the same mistakes every time Bridges burn, I never learn At least I did one thing right I did one thing right

Jack and Pitch knew that they could trust each other. They comforted and supported one another. They even shared jokes and laughed about it. Pitch felt happier than ever, and he found himself staring into Jack’s blue eyes. His eyes could light up his darkest night. Jack had the same thought about Pitch’s eyes as well.

I’m laughing with my lover, makin’ forts under covers Trust him like a brother Yeah, you know I did one thing right Starry eyes sparkin’ up my darkest night

That was when realization hit them. It was obvious – they loved each other.

My baby’s fit like a daydream Walking with his head down I’m the one he’s walking to So call it what you want, yeah Call it what you want to My baby’s fly like a jet stream High above the whole scene Loves me like I’m brand new (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) So call it what you want, yeah Call it what you want to

Jack wanted his relationship with the Nightmare King to be a secret. If the Guardians knew about it, they would forbid it strongly. They would argue that Pitch was trying to take Jack away as if he owned the winter spirit. Jack did not believe in that – he knew Pitch better than the Guardians did. Besides, Pitch also knew Jack better than the Guardians did.

Jack expressed his concerns about their relationship to Pitch. Pitch understood and assured that he would be fine. He asked Jack whether he would run away with him so they could live together and start a new life. Jack was surprised by his question, but he said yes.

I want to wear his initial on a chain 'round my neck Chain 'round my neck Not because he owns me But 'cause he really knows me Which is more than they can say, I I recall late November Holding my breath, slowly, I said “You don’t need to save me But would you run away with me?” Yes (Would you run away?)

Jack moved in with Pitch. His home was now Pitch’s lair, but he was able to visit Jamie and his friends in Burgess anytime. Now that they were together, they were happier, calmer and more contented.

My baby’s fit like a daydream Walking with his head down I’m the one he’s walking to (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) So call it what you want, yeah Call it what you want to My baby’s fly like a jet stream High above the whole scene Loves me like I’m brand new (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) So call it what you want, yeah Call it what you want to

They no longer care what the Guardians said about them. What mattered most was that they finally had each other.

(Call it what you want, call it) (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) (Call it what you want, call it what you want, call it) Call it what you want, yeah Call it what you want… to

And that was enough for them to be happy about.

#rotgsecretsanta2020 #rotgsecretsanta #rise of the guardians

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rotgsecretsanta · 4 years ago

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The List is Live!

Sign ups are officially closed and it is time to begin building the wonderful gifts we will give to each other between December 24th and January 6th!

We have a total of 15 participants this year (Not counting me!) who have given us a lovely list of 64 great ideas! This means there’s plenty to go around, tons of stuff to pick from, and room for endless creativity!

Things to keep in mind:

+ This is a gift! Do your best to make your giftee happy this season! + Try not to change anything about the request. We all know inspiration can get away from us, but if they ask for fluff, try for fluff. If they ask for angst, try for angst. Same goes for any tropes or pairings requested, or tropes or nopes excluded! + YOU DO NOT KNOW THE AGE OF YOUR GIFTEE. No NSFW! You might be making something naughty for a minor!! + You are free to pick more than one request! If you finish your first, come back and do another! + Keep track of the number of your request! That way when you post, you can simply say, “This is for request #67!”

THE LIST IS HERE!

#rotgsecretsanta2020

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bunnimew · 4 years ago

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Soul Riders

Rating: Teen Fandom: Rise of the Guardians Relationship: Jack Frost/Pitch Black Tags: Dragon Riders, Soulbonds, Alternate Universe, some violence, Pre-Relationship, Jack takes Yolo to heart Summary: Jack is the favorite in these dragon races. Being in North's good graces has always afforded him room to be as unconventional as he would like about it.

Still, going back to save a rival from certain doom and assuring your own loss in the race seems a tad bit more than 'unconventional.' Jack does it anyway.

For @rotgsecretsanta 2020 #61: Jack/Pitch OTP - Dragon Riders AU. Bonus for soul bonds/mind bonds/creature bonds.

Jack indulged in the heavy, racing beat in his chest as his dragon just barely cleared the top of the stands to swoop low over the crowd. He unhooked one foot from its stirrup and hung dangerously off the other side, his beloved Flurry obligingly lifting his legs out of the way so that Jack could high five an entire row of kids on their way to the starting line.

The crowd cheered for him as he swung back up into his seat. Flurry landed gracefully several yards away from where they eventually needed to be when the race started. There were too many bodies, human and dragon alike, for a bulky ice dragon like him to set down in place from the get-go, and besides, the showmanship of parting the sea of competitors to take their place in the prime spot was too good to give up. North liked it when he played up his status and Jack liked it when he turned heads, so it was a win/win.

Flurry snapped his tail, instinctively feeling the proximity of an unwelcome guest, and Jack, tied into Flurry’s instincts, slid out of the saddle immediately so they could turn together to face the pair who dared invade their space and their spotlight.

Of course it was Pitch.

Continue reading on AO3!

#TheBunni #blackice rotg #rotgsecretsanta2020 #rotgsecretsanta 2020 #Jack Frost #Pitch Black #blackice #Dragon Riders #Soulbonds

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bunnimew · 4 years ago

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Yule Never Live This Down

Rating: G Fandom: Rise of the Guardians Relationship: Gen or Jack Frost/Pitch Black Tags: You can read it as Gen or Blackice, It's mostly just shenanigans, Hogwarts AU, Yule Ball, I didn't sort them so you can sort them in your heart, Jack dances with everyone Summary: For @rotgsecretsanta 2020 #45: A ROTG Hogwarts AU crossover maybe?

It's time for the Yule Ball. Anyone and everyone at Hogwarts is crowded into the Great Hall.

And they all want to dance with Jack.

On AO3 Here.

For a month the Yule Ball was all anybody at Hogwarts talked about, and now it was here.

Jack felt pretty fancy in his nice robes. They weren’t top of the line, but they looked good on him and chances were something would be torn by the end of the night so best not to invest too many galleons in them, anyway.

As if thinking it brought fate on, Jack felt himself swept up into a huge pair of arms as soon as he walked through the doors of the Great Hall.

“Jack!”

“North!” Jack cried happily. He tried to get his arms around the man who might as well be his father, but physics wasn’t on his side.

“Yes!” the man agreed and Jack laughed. “We must dance!”

Jack squirmed and North put him down, only to push him toward the dance floor. “Aren’t I supposed to dance with other students?”

North waved him off. “You can do that later. First dance with me!”

Jack shrugged and accepted it as how his night was going to start. They didn’t have to wait; the champions always had the first dance but Jack had been fashionably late (or at least he imagined it to be fashionable), so everyone was already crowding the floor. North parted the mob like only he could do and lifted Jack into his arms once more.

“Yanno,” Jack said with his arms pinned at his sides, “usually dancing implies I get to use my feet. At least a little bit.”

North grinned at him with such beaming pride and joy that Jack couldn’t even pretend to be bothered. “Nonsense! Dancing is dancing! We are on the dance floor, no?”

Jack thought about it for roughly two seconds. He was pretty sure there was a flaw in the logic, but. “I’m just gonna go with it.”

North spun him around and Jack ducked his head and prayed his robes would make it longer than ten minutes.

The song hadn’t quite ended when North finally let him go. He was confused until a flutter of color caught his eye. North bowed out of their dance and Jack spun to face Toothiana, who looked absolutely gorgeous in her gown of every color.

“Wow, you are looking magnificent,” Jack said in awe. She giggled and took his hands for a dance.

“You’re too good at flattery,” she accused. “How can I know when you’re telling the truth?”

Jack gave her his most earnest look. “I am always telling the truth when I compliment you.”

She gave him a look of her own. “Seriously, you’re dangerous.”

Jack shrugged. “Yeah, that I can’t deny.”

She laughed again and they fell into something that resembled a waltz, but there was no coordination to their steps. They skipped and twirled around the dance floor to any and all quick beats, even knocked into some other couples, but if anyone minded, nobody stopped them. Jack was out of breath long before the song was over but he didn’t care. Tooth was one of the few people who could keep up with him at his fastest and he was going to enjoy every second of terrorizing the dance floor with her.

They only stopped when the music finally did, and collapsed into the nearest pair of empty chairs to grab their breath. Difficult to do, because they were still laughing so hard.

They grabbed the first drinks they saw without caring what they were and only realized after half the glasses were gone who their hydration salvation was.

Sandy set the rest of the tray on the table and sat down to join them. He conveniently had handkerchiefs for both of them and Jack had never been more convinced that Sandy was a being of pure magic than he was then. Somehow a plate of food appeared, and Jack was even more impressed.

“How do you do that, Sandy?” Jack asked. “Know just what everybody needs?”

Sandy winked and pushed another tiny sandwich toward him and Jack gave in with a roll of his eyes.

“Alright, fine. I’ll let you have your mysteries for now.” As if Jack ever had a hope of unraveling Sandy. “But I’ll figure you out, one day!” Best to keep his bravado firmly in place. He had a brand, after all.

And sure enough, just as Jack was beginning to bore sitting there at the table, Sandy grabbed his hand and pulled him back onto the floor.

Their dance was smooth and easy and Jack definitely pissed less people off this time. Jack twirled Sandy, then Sandy would twirl him. He let Jack lead, which Jack appreciated, except half way through Jack realized he wasn’t the one setting the tone or the pace at all. They were dancing to Sandy’s calming beat, with little steps here, a bit of a kick there, and a slow spin that was all fluid grace.

Jack loved it. Just because it wasn’t his usual didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate taking it slow. They made it through two songs like this, before the peace inevitably had to end.

A throat cleared, and only one person cleared their throat like that.

“May I have this dance?” Bunnymund asked pointedly, holding his hand out for Jack and definitely not Sandy.

Jack had half a mind to pretend, anyway, just to piss him off. But tonight was supposed to be a fun night for everyone, so he took mercy on him and grabbed Bunnymund’s hand. “Yeah, sure. See you later, Sandy!”

Sandy pivoted on the spot and saluted with a casual grace that only he could pull off before disappearing into the crowd, which… was also something he was remarkably good at doing, come to think of it.

That’s when the war started.

Bunnymund stepped forward to lead before they even had their hands in place. Jack had been going for the lead position and nearly tripped when he had to step back. So when Bunnymund went for the lead position, Jack purposely stepped into his space to return the favor. Jack’s hand dove for Bunnymund’s back, but he caught it just in time, which happened to be exactly what Jack did to Bunnymund’s hand on the other side.

They managed to shuffle in an odd circle and at least not interrupt everybody else as they struggled and pressed against each other’s hold, each trying to lead, neither gaining an inch. They mostly staggered sideways, neither willing to step back, neither willing to give any ground. It was basically a metaphor for their entire relationship, including any and all group projects Hogwarts had ever given them. Jack really wondered why Bunnymund had decided tonight was a grand night to subject each other to this.

It was even more exhausting than dancing with Tooth, but also… a lot of fun in its own way. Jack had never claimed to be a good dancer anyway, so why not spend a whole song formally wrestling in dress robes and pretending he actually cared about leading just to piss Bunnymund off?

It was his favorite pass-time, after all.

Jack would never know if it was Toothiana or Bunnymund himself who took pity, but as the instruments quieted and the song began to change, she fluttered by in a whirl of color and stole his dance partner away.

Jack had just begun to slink off to the side of the dance floor when a voice stopped him.

“You seem to be on your own for the first time all night. Does that mean you’re free for a dance?”

Jack thought he knew that voice, but no. His ears had to be lying. Jack turned on the spot to face his newest challenger and was shocked to find it really was Pitch Black.

They didn’t have a single class together. They weren’t even in the same year! How did Pitch Black know Jack was alive, much less that he was free for a dance?

Apparently, Jack in a shocked state would agree to anything, because his hand was in Pitch’s and he was back in the middle of the dance floor again. The song was a quick one, and Jack simply adopted the same method he had with Tooth: step wherever he damn well pleased and hope it matched the music. Pitch seemed much more practiced, which was probably a good thing, because Tooth was easy to forgive, but Pitch and Jack tended to encourage grudges. If they slammed into another couple now, house points were definitely going to be lost.

The realization came slow, the same it had with Sandy. Jack wasn’t leading this dance, and he probably should have noticed that a while back, but the shock was still running through his system. They skated across the floor, somehow in time with the music and somehow in tandem with the rest of the dancers. Jack tripped and Jack slipped but the little hiccups didn’t seem to matter; he was quick enough on his feet not to fall and always hopped right back into the swing.

He was finally starting to relax and really feel the rhythm of the beat when everything stopped with a record scratch only he could hear as Pitch pulled him close and tipped him arse-over-teakettle right there on the floor.

Jack clung to Pitch’s shoulders to make sure he didn’t fall, and wondered what the fuck was happening, and when his brain would catch up.

The answer was never. Pitch set him back to rights and twirled him half a dozen more times for good measure, and when the beat was gone, so was he.

Jack stared after him until Pitch was impossible to see through the crowd of people and… hey, Pitch and Sandy had that in common. Who’da thought?

Suddenly Bunnymund and Toothiana were back at his side and Jack couldn’t quite make himself look away as he smacked a hand into Bunnymund’s chest.

“Hey,” Jack said, hearing the daze and distraction in his own voice. “Was that real?”

“Which part?” Bunnymund asked. “Getting ditched or losing your virginity on the dance floor?”

Jack spun around and smacked him much harder.

Tooth laughed and grabbed for Jack’s hands. “No, you’ve definitely just been standing here for the last six minutes fantasizing and all of us left you to it because we’re horrible friends.”

“You’re horrible friends, alright,” Jack muttered.

Just then he felt a nudge at his hip and turned to find Sandy, who winked multiple times, waggled one eyebrow, did a gesture with his hands and arms that made Jack feel uncomfortable, then smiled.

Jack shook his head and turned around. “Why do I even admit to knowing you people?”

Toothiana snorted, but Bunnymund’s laugh was louder as Jack pushed his way off the dancefloor.

“You’re all terrible people and I am going to bed!” Jack announced.

Just shy of the doors out of the Great Hall, North stopped him with two firm hands on his shoulders and the biggest, brightest smile Jack had ever seen.

“So, he is your boyfriend, yes?”

Jack fought back rolling his eyes and kept his groan internal. He was never going to live this down.

#TheBunni #rotgsecretsanta2020 #Jack Frost #nicholas st. north #Bunnymund #Toothiana #sanderson mansnoozie #Pitch Black #rise of the guardians

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sylphidine · 4 years ago

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[ROTG] Knights And Pages

Fanfiction for the @rotgsecretsanta Stocking Stuffer 2020 event.

This story is for the requester of prompt#44:

“...Gen, no pairings, the main Guardians and Pitch book or film characters, any kind of AU (pirates, cowboys, royalty etc), fancy costumes etc (No gender swap/crossdressing)”

I hope a bookstore AU is something you will enjoy. I tried to include everyone I could think of from both the books and the movie.

Happy merry everything!

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DECEMBER 13TH: THE INFORMATION DESK

Manny beamed as he looked out from his station first thing in the morning, his gaze covering the sales floor of Knights And Pages from one end to the other. Twelve days until Christmas, and, childlike, he was not yet sick of the holiday music piped over the sound system.

He held Petrov, the grey tabby store cat, on his lap as he perched on his stool, and crooned a nursery rhyme into one pointed ear, jigging the cat up and down in time with a beat only he could hear.

Horsey horsey don't you stop / Just let your feet go clippety-clop / Your tail goes swish and the wheels go round / Giddy up, we're homeward bound.

Petrov had been born in a stable and had spent his entire kittenhood around horses; he moved in a most uncatlike fashion. His heavy “trotting” tread could be heard yards away on the bookstore’s old floorboards. Nevertheless, he was an excellent mouser..

The cat soon tired of being held, and wriggled out of Manny’s grasp. He had his indoor fiefdom to explore, after all.

The first customers of the day were making their way to the cashwrap, and he was soon busy answering phones, writing up special orders, and putting books and gifts aside for layaway.

DECEMBER 14TH: THE RECEIVING DEPARTMENT

The building that housed Knights And Pages had once been a loom works, and it showed. The basement below the bookstore’s main floor was dotted here and there with huge spools and odd bits of repurposed machinery that served as cubicle dividers for North and his crew: Phil, Henrietta, and Dingle. The two conveyor belts bisected the area even further, but somehow the underground space still felt open and welcoming. Perhaps it was the constant hum of activity; perhaps it was the fact that the cheesy Muzak did not reach down here, and North instead got to play CDs featuring his beloved Russian composers at top volume.

Multiple times a day, the “down” conveyor belt would be in use, taking in deliveries from the building’s garage at street level… UPS, Fedex, DHL, etc. Books from publishers and wholesalers, other items from varying vendors. Each delivery’s contents would be tallied off by the four workers, matching invoices on their computers, and having labels with titles, SKUs, and prices made for them. Then the contents would be sorted and reboxed with their destinations marked on them, namely the specific department head for whom they were meant. It would never do to send Tooth’s amethyst geodes to Sandy’s bakery, for example, nor would it be wise to send the shipment of autographed copies of Bracken MacLeod’s latest horror novel that Pitch had ordered to Nightlight, who supervised the Poetry and Drama division.

At 4pm each day, the “up” conveyor belt came into play, sending the sorted parcels to the sales floor. Someone from each department would be there to wheel away the items to their section of the store, and to have their understaff get fresh stock onto the shelves. The “special orders” came up last, to go straight to the Information Desk and have customer phone calls made.

With only eleven days until Christmas, the incoming deliveries were arriving at a fast and furious pace, and there was little time to rest between sorts. Dingle tried to make everyone laugh by sticking out his ridiculously long tongue and pretending to lick each package before it went onto the “up” belt. He was only stopped with the growled promise from Henrietta that she would dunk him upside down in the local river and hold his head underwater until Easter. She could do it, too, being just as beefily built as her brother Phil.

Finally 4pm arrived and North bellowed cheerily into the intercom, as he did each day, “Time to put wonder into the world!” Those whose turn it was to unload gathered near the chute opening and got ready to pull boxes off the conveyor belt. Today it was Pippa, Fog, Cupcake, Caleb, Amin, Sascha, Will, Petter, Monty, and Doris.

Petrov watched from his perch of office supply cartons stacked near the backroom where the admin staff worked, the black tip of his tail twitching.

DECEMBER 15TH: THE GIFT SHOPPE

Tooth was thoroughly impressed when she arrived at her kiosk that morning. Pippa Chandler and Tooth’s younger daughter Baethiana had set up the booth beautifully. The new blown-glass teardrop suncatchers were hung at staggered levels off a bar suspended from one of the mill’s overhanging pulleys; they glittered in the winter sheen from the skylight above. The new shipment of greeting cards had all been slotted neatly into their proper fixtures, as tidily as if she’d been there to supervise.

She hadn’t wanted to take a “sick” day yesterday; it was an unwritten rule in the company that no one got time off between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. But Tooth’s older daughter Vanish, returned home for the college holidays, had brought along a boyfriend from what Tooth privately termed “the European division”, and she felt she needed to give the matter her personal attention. Abelard seemed a harmless, mousy fellow, but Vanish had confided in her that he could sometimes display a fiery temper. The couple had weathered some external personal storms together, however, and after Tooth had given Abelard the shovel talk last night, Tooth felt assured that he and Vanish had a future.

Now she smiled as she set up for the day. She heard a familiar thump-step behind her and reached down to skritch Petrov under his chin. He yawped up at her and showed her his canines, incisors, and premolars, all pearly white after his last vet visit. His deep rumbling purr gave Tooth a warm feeling that lasted throughout the morning and afternoon, despite the hustle and bustle of sales.

DECEMBER 16TH: THE SPECULATIVE FICTION ZONE

Pitch paced the floor between the shelves that demarcated the Horror section and the Urban Fantasy section, stopping, turning and retracing his steps in the direction from whence he came once he hit the bend of shelves labelled Paranormal and Time Travel Romance. That separated his department from Katherine’s, the other boundary being the Graphic Novels aisle that was part of Jack’s domain. He made a turn to walk through Mystery, another through Science Fiction, and one more to stand behind Fog in the Swords & Sorcery section.

The boy was deep in concentration, trying to find room to shelve the newest Brandon Sanderson tome. He jumped when Pitch’s shadow fell over him.

Hands clasped behind a rigidly straight back, tight-fitting blazer worn over a black silk shirt buttoned up to the neck and paired with black slacks whose sharp creases screamed of personal tailoring, Pitch knew he appeared intimidating and unapproachable to the younger booksellers, cashiers and interns. But he knew how to show appreciation for diligence, and he made a point now to compliment Fog on his tidiness and his skills in building attractive book displays.

Pitch had never forgotten all the years where he'd toiled unseen and unvalued until this job had fallen into his lap. He had his daughter Seraphina to thank for that.

Sage, his assistant department head, arrived for her shift, grumbling about humanity in general and bad winter drivers in particular. She pulled her heavy braid out of the bun which had gotten messed by her hood,, recoiled it,, and pinned it back in place. Pitch greeted her with one of his rare smiles; they understood one another well, two seemingly curmudgeonly people who could surprise listeners with delight when they opened up about their pet fascinations and interests.

He walked back to his nook where his laptop was set up and sat down to write his weekly blog, as all the department heads were required to do. Today's book review was for a small press anthology called A KRAMPUS CAROL. He was tempted to don the Krampus horns headpiece that Sage had given him last year, but refrained. Time enough for that later in the month.

Pitch's concentration was broken by the arrival of Petrov underfoot, batting one of those dratted plush snowballs that decorated the Kids and Teens Zone, on the other side of the wall next to his hideyhole. He looked down his long nose at the unrepentant cat and intoned, "You dare to have fun in my presence?" Said unrepentant cat looked back at him and blinked slowly.

Admitting defeat, Pitch leaned down, scooped up the snowball toy, and threw it down the aisle for the grey tabby to chase.

DECEMBER 17TH: THE KIDS AND TEENS ZONE

Jack still had no idea how he had been chosen to become a department head, of all things. He was much more interested in chilling out and pursuing fun times, whereas his two department coworkers, Cynara and Eleanor, seemed to be much more attuned to hard work and deadlines. They both were former elementary school teachers and knew more about picture books and early readers than he would ever know. His own reading tastes tended to lean more towards material for the upper grades and the high school crowd.

But the three managed to complement each other in their knowledge bases, and they genuinely enjoyed working with each other. Tall, thin Eleanor never missed the opportunity to sling a pun in casual conversation, and pixyish Cynara had a wicked sense of humour that the kids who came to their storytelling events adored. [The kids also adored when Cynara would take off her wig and twirl it on her finger, not ashamed in the least of her bald post-radiation head.]

Jack had a new intern this holiday season, who introduced themselves as “Cupcake”. They were tall for their age, sturdily built, and dressed in a mix of denim and lace. Their jacket was bedazzled on the back with their credo, “Battle Ballerina”. They didn’t say much, but they were always helpful, and many of the other understaff throughout the store had learned to appreciate them, after a period of being intimidated by their height and their seemingly perpetual glower… until they smiled. Then they almost… well, Jack thought to himself, GLOWED.

That was enough introspection for the day. People would start thinking he’d grown up and turned all serious. Time was a’wasting, and snowballs wouldn’t throw themselves.

As if on cue, Petrov strutted into view, and Jack could swear the cat winked at him.

Who to prank today?

DECEMBER 18TH: THE BAKERY / COFFEE COUNTER

Neither Caleb nor Claude could stop yawning this morning. Their mother Honoria had dropped them off at Sandy’s at the crack of dawn to pick up the daily batch of pastries and croissants that Sandy had made in his own kitchen. Then the three drove in to stock the little enclosed kiosk at the bookstore that served as a small cafe. The only benefit that the twins could see to having their day start so heinously early was that they got to go home that much earlier than everyone else.

Sandy turned on the glimmering curtain lights behind the counter, which cast a golden glow over the space. It seemed like a bright island compared to the rest of the darkened bookstore, something out of a children's story about Dreamland.

Claude said to Caleb, "You want to do urns or utensils today?" The question was mostly a formality… Claude knew his brother was much better at making coffee than he was. But they split the cafe work evenly between them, as they'd done with other things all their lives. Caleb grinned back at him, "I'll make it so you can drink it."

"Cool."

His hands moving slowly but efficiently to craft a delicious display of wrapped baked goods, Sandy was in his quiet happy place. These few hours before Knights And Pages opened to the public made him feel like the master of his domain. He could weave himself half a dozen dreams in silence and serenity before having to deal with the noise and bustle of commerce.

Although he often found himself the listener to other people’s dreams, as well, during the course of the day. Being small, round, and genial seemed to draw people to him like frozen travellers seeking a hearth to rest by.

Sometimes, that was almost enough to drown the call of a long-ago, distant life.

Movement caught Sandy’s eye. A small grey shadow separated itself from the other shadows outside the glass door of the cafe. Sandy smiled; Petrov had arrived for his vanilla frosting fix… not to eat, merely to sniff. He’d never known a cat with such self-control.

Perhaps today would be a good day, after all.

DECEMBER 19TH: THE ART DEPARTMENT

“No, no, no! Gauguin does NOT go next to Miro! Were you raised in a barn?”

“Bunny, why are you yelling at the cat?”

“Because you’re late, and Amin’s not in until 4pm, and I have fourteen cartons from Taschen to put away, that’s why. I’m dealin’ in perishables, here.”

“Sorr-eeeee!!! If you hadn’t noticed, it’s sleeting to beat the band out there. Jamie nearly skidded off the bridge driving us in ---”

The tall Australian interrupted, his mood changing instantly from annoyed to concerned as he looked Sophie over. “Are you OK? Y’coulda called out, ya know, if it was that bad.”

The blonde scoffed and pushed her wet messy bangs out of her eyes. “Call out during the Christmas rush? I’d never hear the end of it. ‘Oh, teenagers these days, they don’t know how to cope with anything, one little snowflake and they panic’, that sort of thing.”

Bunny had to laugh, she’d scored a perfect imitation of some of the grouchier customers they’d had to deal with over time. Sophie had been volunteering at Knights And Pages since she was ten; Bunny had met her by literally falling over her as she sat in the middle of an aisle, poring over drawing books. She was fifteen now, and looking forward to being able to actually call herself an employee.

Petrov, bored now that he was no longer being engaged in scintillating conversation about Post-Impressionists and Surrealists, lashed his tail back and forth and wandered off in high dudgeon.

DECEMBER 20TH: THE SCIENCE DIVISION

She had won the war, even if she’d had to give ground [or, more precisely, had to seem to give ground] in several battles. But Seraphina’s department was better-stocked than it had been in years, with everything from Sascha’s picks for materials science, recommendations from Taras for both the bestsellers and forgotten classics of astronomy and physics, and her own zoology and meteorology selections.

Seraphina had sneakily allowed Jack to think he’d overruled her by cross-shelving Ruth Spiro’s “Baby Loves Science” children’s books alongside her beloved Kaku, Feynman, Penrose, McPhee, Muir and Carson titles. She personally thought it a brilliant idea, but couldn’t let that twerp think he knew better than she did.

She felt a twinge of sadness when she thought of Taras. His practical knowledge of astronomy weighed a lot more in her opinion than the suggestions of pushy sales reps trying to tout their latest catalogues. She knew, however, that he’d be moving on to better things at the university after the holidays were over. Yes, Taras would be missed.

Which brought to mind questions about what her own future held. Her father was settled nicely in his new life, thanks to her. Sascha had bloomed and blossomed ever since Seraphina had started giving her the authority to act as an assistant buyer, turning her love of tinkering and invention into a concrete research tool that would stand her in good stead. If Seraphina decided to return to active fieldwork, she could ask for no better than Sascha to step into her shoes here at Knights And Pages.

A furry body curled around her ankles.

“Would you miss me, Petrov?”

A trilling purr was her only reply.

DECEMBER 21ST: THE LITERARY FICTION AREA

“Tall William! Jamie Bennett! To your posts, front and center. Murasaki waits for no man!”

Both boys groaned as they answered their department head’s summons. That pun was excruciatingly bad, even for their boss, who was known for bad wordplay.

“Why do I have to be Tall William this year?” grumbled Will, who stood barely an inch taller than Jamie’s five-foot-eight in stocking feet.

“No clue,” replied Jamie. “My mom says there’s always been a Tall William here as long as she could remember. A Christmas superstition.”

Mr. Qwerty fluttered - there was no other way to describe his unique way of locomoting - from shelf to shelf, his feet barely seeming to touch the ground as he stroked the spines of some of his favourite classics with affection. Shoppers browsed in the aisles in front, behind, and around him, and for all the attention he paid them, he might as well have been an invisible creature of fantasy and folklore. For Mr. Qwerty, the written word was more important than any human, other than those humans who produced the written word and those humans who took on the awesome responsibility of bookselling.

Petrov refused to be ignored, however; he leaped atop the shelving cart next to where Mr. Qwerty stood, meowing loudly. That got the fussy bespectacled man to emerge from his bibliophile's reverie.

“Ah, Yule Cat! Claw us not, for as you can see, we all have new raiment!” He proudly tweaked his splendid bowtie, while Jamie and Will made unseen faces behind his back.

They were both careful, however, to make sure that Petrov saw that they were both also wearing new bowties.

DECEMBER 22ND AND DECEMBER 23RD: HISTORY, POETRY AND DRAMA, ROMANCE

Any seasoned bookseller worth their salt knows that the final two days before Christmas Eve are a kind of calm-before-the-storm situation, and that less experienced staff might find intriguing ways of breaking the “hurry up and wait” tension. Thus no one who worked at Knights And Pages was surprised to observe, over those 48 hours:

A sword fight with NERF swords between Emma and Petter in the History section

Monty, who worked in the Poetry & Drama section, and Doris, who worked in Romance, hotly debating in all seriousness whether “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” was an example of the epic form, and whether the Grandpa in the story would get married again

Joanna and Madeleine not taking sides with their department mates

Ombric, Nightlight, and Katherine, as the respective section heads involved, undecided as to whether they should interfere, resign, or go home with stress headaches

DECEMBER 24TH: THE SHOPOCALYPSE AND ITS AFTERMATH

The breakroom table was loaded with food, actual food, as well as candies and cakes. As was traditional, no one knew who had brought what dish, although a few guesses could be made. The only rule was that every dish had to be labelled with its ingredients, and that utensils for gluten-free food had to be kept far, far away from any other utensils.

All the section heads made scrupulously sure that employees had staggered breaks so that EVERYONE could partake in the buffet over the course of the day.

Finally the last customer was ushered out of the bookstore, and both understaff and higher-ups heaved a collective sigh of relief that they’d survived another holiday season.

Manny made sure that Petrov’s litter box was scooped, that both his food dishes and water dishes were full, and that the heat was on in the back office before everyone left for Christmas.

Later that night, moonbeams shone in through the skylights as the grey cat prowled the sales floor one more time before heading up the backstairs to his TRUE domain.

Mister Lessmore, the proprietor of Knights And Pages, scooped Petrov up in loving arms, and they both snuggled down in the overstuffed armchair for a long winter’s nap.

#rotgsecretsanta #rotgsecretsanta2020 #rise of the guardians #guardians of childhood #sylph writes

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