#the bestest christmas gift of all

[golden-cherry]

deal - cl16 (25/?)

Pairing: Charles Leclerc x Reader

Series Summary: Your whole life has gone to shit. Your boyfriend broke up with you, you just lost your job and the Monegasque, who suddenly stands in your doorway, claims that it’s his apartment.

Chapter Summary: Having lunch with friends always leads to sharing information. And girl, those friends don't hold back.

Warnings: 18+ (mentions of smut), fluff, Kika is the bestest friend on this planet, mentions of Carlos and his girlfriend (yes, I consider this a trigger)

Word Count: 3.3k

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A/N: I just reached 2.6k followers and wow!! thank you so much!!! I love you! and this one is for you!!! feedback is appreciated.

Although it's only a few days until Christmas, the sun is shining so brightly that it's pleasantly warm as you and Kika leave the furniture store. As planned - but still with an uneasy feeling - you have left the almost overflowing shopping cart in front of the checkouts and while Charles pays for your "early Christmas present", you and your friend walk to the restaurant.

"I hope all this stuff fits in the car." Kika curls her mouth into a grin. "The mirror I wrote on the note - you know, the one they have to get from storage - is pretty big."

"I'd like to have your guts," you answer her. "Just picking out a huge mirror without knowing exactly whether it will fit anywhere in our apartment."

Kika grins and points to her brown eyes. "Eye measurement, baby. Those marbles are that big for a reason."

You have to stifle a laugh. "If you say so."

While the Portuguese woman plans where in your room she will place which decoration, your thoughts drift off. 

It bothers you a little that Charles wants to spend so much money on you. And for no good reason. "I want you to feel comfortable" was his explanation, which is of course very courteous and loving of him. But you could have bought the things with your own money. At least a small part of it. 

Would he expect a similarly expensive gift for Christmas now? If so, what could you get him? What do you give someone who already has everything? 

"Are you mad at me?" Kika interrupts your flow of thoughts and grabs your elbow. 

Confused, you turn to her. "What?"

"I - I don't know." When she stops, you're forced to stop too. "I didn't tell you that Charles is a famous Formula 1 driver. You - you confided in me about Raphael and I kept you in the dark about your roommate." 

You exhale. "Kika..."

"I wasn't a good friend and I'm sorry about that. Charles had asked us all not to tell because he wanted to protect you and enjoy the time with you when he was just Charles to you. Even if it wasn't fair to you. I can understand if you're angry with me and-"

"I'm not angry with you," you interrupt her and smile at her. "You're Charles' friend first and foremost and I can't blame him or you for keeping his secret. It doesn't affect our friendship in the slightest."

"Promise?" Her tone sounds a little more pleased than it did a few moments ago. 

You nod. "I promise."

She hooks back into you. "Thank goodness for that. I felt super bad because I couldn't tell you. But it wasn't my secret and it wasn't my place to tell you. And I'm really relieved that you see it the same way." She rests her head on your shoulder as you continue walking. 

"So you're a model, huh?" you ask her. 

She nods. "Yes. Well, I put a lot of effort into it and it's very tiring at times." Kika shrugs her shoulders. "But because of that - and Pierre, of course - I get to travel a lot and see great places. And I really appreciate that." She looks at you. "Now that you're unemployed -" You give her a dirty look. "Maybe you'd like to take my pictures sometime. And then I can post it on my Instagram and maybe other models will want to book you."

"You haven't seen any of my pictures yet," you reply with a laugh as she grabs your hand and jumps up and down. "Of course we can. We can try it out if you like."

Your friend looks around briefly before letting go of you and moving away from you. "How about now? I know you don't have your camera with you, but you can use my phone. The photos won't be as focused as with a real camera, but it should be enough to get you started." 

She hands you her cell phone before standing opposite you against the wall of the house. You watch her uncertainly as she fixes her hair. "Are you sure about this? What if the boys are already waiting for us?"

"Let them." She pulls her black jeans up a little so that they sit loosely on her hips. "It won't take long. And I trust you. So here we go."

While Kika turns, repositions herself and smiles at the camera, you take as many pictures as you can. In between, you adjust her purple cardigan so that it sits in the middle of her narrow shoulders, tell her how her feet should be positioned to emphasize the curves of her body and even tousle her hair once so that a few strands fall loosely into her forehead. 

When you look at the pictures after ten minutes and favor three of them, she looks curiously over your shoulder. "They look great. Really outfit of the day vibe." You hand the phone back to her. "I like this one. And this one. You've captured my butt well," she grins and puts the phone in her black handbag before hooking it back up to you. "And now let's go. I'm really hungry and I don't want to keep your tiramisu from you."

Oh well. 

Charles' words - "Then lie down on the bed, mon amour. I'd like to see how you look on it" - haunt your mind and the images that appear in your head don't make the situation any easier.  

For example, Charles kneeling between your legs and his gaze wandering hungrily over your body. How his hands rest on your thighs to open them a little wider so that he can lie comfortably on his stomach between them. How he slides his fingers under the hem of your panties to slowly pull them off your legs. And the way his mouth moves up from the soft skin of your thighs to where you want it to be. Need it to be. The way he opens his mouth and licks his tongue over his lips before closing the distance between you and - 

"Watch out. You start drooling." When you give Kika a confused look, she pokes you in the side. "I didn't know you could daydream about tiramisu."

"I wasn't even thinking about tiramisu," you defend yourself, but Kika doesn't believe a word you say. 

"Of course not." You could even hear her grin if you weren't looking at her. She lifts her hand and puts it to your cheek, playfully wiping the non-existent spit from the corner of your mouth. "I hate to repeat myself, but you're really not very good at lying."

You chew the inside of your cheek and look down at your sneakers. "Is it that obvious?"

"That you're totally into tiramisu? Hardly," she replies wryly, but puts her arm around your shoulder. "Let's be honest. A trained eye like mine can spot something like that, but if you're worried about the boys seeing it - you really don't need to worry. They wouldn't even recognize a dessert if you put it right in front of them."

"I just don't know what to do," you confess to her. 

Kika purses her lips. "Would you be ready for tiramisu after everything that's happened?"

A question you don't know the answer to. After Raphael's betrayal, you had actually sworn off men for a long time for fear that something similar would happen to you again. You tried to build a wall around your heart, but Charles has broken it down piece by piece and now there is only him. He has spread inside you, in your head and in your heart, and you are hungry for him - a feeling that you have never felt for Raphael before. A feeling that takes you by surprise and overruns you like an avalanche and you are helplessly at its mercy. 

"It's not the end of the world if you're ready for it," Kika assures you and her smile is genuine. "And when you're ready to give the tiramisu its real name, I'll be here if you want to talk about it."

You hug your friend tightly, causing her to let out a loud gasp. "Thank you, Kika. Really."

"You don't need to thank me. After all, I'm going to make full use of the mirror in your room soon and use you for your photography skills."

A few minutes later, you arrive at the small restaurant. As you enter through the glass door, you can already see the two men sitting at a table at the back. And Kika was right - apart from the four of you, the restaurant is deserted. 

"Where have you been?" asks Pierre as you join them. While Kika sits down opposite her boyfriend, you take the empty seat next to her. "We've been waiting for ages."

"We had to stop for a moment because I wanted to take photos," Kika explains and shows them both one of the pictures you took of her.

Pierre grimaces in amazement. "Very good photos. I hope you tag her in them too."

Playfully indignant, she puts her hand to her cleavage. "Of course! What makes you think I wouldn't do that? It might even land her more photo shoots with other models." She leans in your direction. "But as long as I remain your favorite model, everything's fine."

"You are and always will be my favorite model, Kika," you reply and briefly lean your cheek against the top of her head before she sits up straight again. 

While Kika and Pierre argue lovingly, you feel Charles pressing one of his legs against yours under the table. When you look at him, he smiles. "Everything okay?" he asks silently, tilting his head. 

You nod. "Everything's perfect." You press your leg against his as well.

The risotto you ordered doesn't taste too bad, even if it is a little more fancy than your typical meals. The boys talk about their sport and you try to understand everything, but when the conversation eventually turns to engines, you stop listening. 

You watch Charles as he talks energetically and passionately to his friend about his job, while the French mainly listens. He tries to explain things with his hands, waving them wildly in front of his face, and if you didn't know him, you'd think he was a bit out of his mind. But there is something twinkling in his eyes, a spark that shines brighter and brighter the longer he talks about Formula 1.

It makes him so attractive that you have to swallow. 

"How are Carlos and his girlfriend doing?" Kika interjects into the conversation. "I saw on Instagram the other day that they went on a trip together."

You look from Kika to Charles. "Who is Carlos?"

"My teammate at Ferrari. The other driver," he explains briefly with a smile before turning to Kika. "I've seen that too. Santorini or something, wasn't it? It was definitely nice, but let's see how long it lasts."

You have to ask again. " How long will it last? That doesn't sound like you have much faith in the relationship."

Kika, who has taken a sip of her water, puts her glass back on the table. "Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with faith," she explains and takes her cell phone out of her bag. She taps on it a little until she hands it to you. 

You see an Instagram page of a Becca, also a model, it seems. 27 years old, model at the Bijou Management agency. Her last post is actually from Santorini and alongside all the pictures of her lolling by the pool is one of her with a man. Carlossainz55 is tagged in the picture.

"When you're famous, it's harder to have a relationship," Pierre continues. "Not everyone is so lucky and falls in love with someone who is a good match for them. Sometimes rumors surface about people that aren't true, but still damage reputations. And to counteract this, some people go into relationships that put them in a good light."

You look around in confusion. "So it's a marketing strategy? So that people can sell themselves better?"

Charles nods. "These PR relationships are very conspicuous and usually easy to see through, but even then they distract from the actual rumor."

"And Carlos and Becca are in one of those PR relationships?" Your friends nod. "And what's the rumor that needs to be put to rest?"

Charles bites the inside of his cheek. "Carlos was with a young, super-nice woman for years. When they broke up, there was a rumor that he had a secret family and even a son. That this was the reason for the break-up. And that triggered a few conversations at Ferrari." He shrugs his shoulders. "And then they pulled Becca in for him."

You furrow your eyebrows. "Pulled her in? How do you find someone to willingly agree to a fake relationship like that?"

Kika catches your attention. "Some racing teams have a cooperation with certain modeling agencies for such cases. Which of course makes the whole thing even more conspicuous. But just think how much publicity the girlfriends get from it. It definitely doesn't hurt the modeling job."

"But you also have to understand that millions of euros are attached to a driver's reputation," Pierre explains. "Fans buy tickets to see their favorite driver. They buy merchandise like shirts, caps or whatever to show their loyalty. And loyalty is not exactly low. Ask Charles. One priest has his whole Instagram page dedicated to him."

As you look at your roommate, he can only nod. "That's true. Fans put their favorites on pedestals, praise them to the skies and would defend them to the bitter end. But a rumor that is so serious and has consequences like falling sales figures - anything is better than fans who refuse to support their favorites."

"And why do you think it won't be good for much longer?" Charles looks nervously around the room as if he doesn't know what to say, and his friends also avoid your gaze and your question. "Guys, I don't know these people. So, whatever you tell me - I can't do anything with the information anyway. Is there another woman?"

"It's not exactly another woman," Kika mumbles into her glass and all heads turn in her direction. "What is it? Like she's going to run to the nearest news agency and tell them that the Spanish Ferrari driver isn't exclusively into women."

You raise your hands placatingly. "In case it's not clear - of course I'll keep everything that's said around the table to myself. I'm not crazy and risking our friendship."

"I didn't expect anything else," Charles replies with a smile that could melt glaciers. "I couldn't bear it if we weren't friends anymore either." 

As you look at him and mindlessly lick your lips, you feel Kika's elbow gently on your arm. 

"What do you think? Do you fancy some tiramisu?" 

Your gaze lingers on Charles and when he presses his leg a little harder against yours, your breath hitches. "I'm craving it."

And indeed. The tiramisu isn't as good as the one at the restaurant where you met Kika and Pierre, but it comes close. You try to look away from Charles, but every time you look at him, his eyes are already on you. Something that makes you even more nervous than it should. 

When you get into the car a short time later, unnoticed, you glance briefly over the seats back into the trunk. "Where's the new bed?"

Charles straps himself in and has the seat belt fastened against his torso. "They'll deliver it between Christmas and New Year and set it up straight away. Then I won't have all the work and Pierre won't have to lug it around with me."

"For which I am very grateful," replies the Frenchman, steering the car through the streets of Monaco. "I don't even know how we're going to transport this mirror without breaking it. It was already barely possible to get it into the car."

"That sounds like a you-problem," grins Kika, looking at her boyfriend through the rear-view mirror. "You're the strong men. You'll find a solution while we get all the little things into the apartment. Right?"

The question is directed at you, but apart from a nod, she can't expect anything else in response. Charles's fingers are once again wrapped around your calf, his thumb gently stroking your warm skin and you can't think of anything else but the feeling of warmth that spreads through you from this small touch. 

It takes a good hour for both the mirror and the rest to get to the upstairs in your apartment. After Pierre involuntarily teaches you several swear words in French and Kika decorates your entire windowsill with fake plants, they quickly make a run for it, worried that you're both going to take even more advantage of them than you already have. 

"We've had a good day so far," you call out to Charles from the kitchen as you pour you both a glass of water each. You don't know where he is, but he will probably have heard you anyway. 

"Definitely," comes his voice from the living room. As you follow it, you see Charles sitting on the large couch, his head back and his eyes closed. Only now do you notice how thick his neck is. Is it from all the training for Formula 1?

"Here." You hold his glass of water out to him and he opens his eyes to accept it. As you sit down, he takes a sip. You watch his Adam's apple bounce as he swallows. 

"Thank you," he replies quietly and rests his arm on the back of the couch. A sign for you to lean against him, which you definitely don't refuse. 

As you snuggle into his side and breathe in his unmistakable scent, you feel tiredness overtake you. "But it was exhausting."

""Mh-mhh." 

"Thanks again. For my early Christmas present. Even though it wasn't necessary," you joke, but as rigid as Charles is sitting next to you, he doesn't seem to be in the mood for jokes. And as you follow his stare, the roses on the white piano come into your field of vision. The reason why you suggested the trip to the furniture store. And suddenly your tiredness is blown away. 

"Do you happen to know anyone who has something like a fire bowl or something?" you ask your flatmate. 

This question seems to break him out of his spell. His gaze wanders from the roses to you and he raises an eyebrow in confusion. "A fire bowl?" You nod. "Joris has a rooftop terrace and we've had bonfires there before in the summer." He licks his teeth once. "What do you need a fire bowl for? You're not thinking about sitting around a fire with sticks and marshmallows in winter, are you?"

"Not exactly," you reply and get up from the couch. As you look down at him, you hold out your hand. "Come on, mon joli. I have an idea."

[argumentativeaxolotl]

Random Human AU Cars headcanons that probably don’t make any sense before I go to bed bc I can.

Lightning McQueen:

- Has accidentally called Doc “dad” before

- Has accidentally called Strip “dad” as well

- Bro can literally not stop moving- like he will not sit still and he tries so hard

- He has the shortest attention span ever if it doesn’t have to do with his friends or racing

- He actually really enjoys American Football and plays a modified version with Mater sometimes

- He was an orphan growing up

- Bro would 100% go apeshit feral if he lost a game of Uno

- Loves carnivals

- Dog person

- Forgets he’s rich sometimes and he can make his own decisions about money

- His love language is hugs and gifts

- He bought the Hot Wheels of his car and continues to buy every variation

Chick Hicks:

- Bit other kids as a child

- Filled water guns with lemonade and shot at people’s eyes

- Daddy issues(actually this is canon isn’t it?)

- Cat person

- Frighteningly good at card games like Casino “house always wins” levels of good. Like bro will somehow know what your cards are without even looking at them

- He put rocks in snowballs

- Alcoholic

- Loves anything horror, gorey, and True Crime

- He’s notoriously bad at getting people gifts, like seriously bro is not allowed to buy anything for anyone for Christmas or their birthdays that’s how bad it is(someone usually gets it for him)

- He probably has a huge gambling problem

- His love language is giving gifts

- He gives gifts as a form of apology because he’s shit at words

- Literally the best mustache in all of cars- like he keeps that thing at top condition 101% of the time

- He never actually finished school because his dad forced him into racing as soon as he could

- Probably had rabies at one point and somehow survived

- If you somehow manage to become a good friend of his, he’ll actually be super chill w/ you

- Rich as FUCK

Strip Weathers:

- Legally adopted Cal after his parents passed away(or sumn idk)

- Has several scars on his arm from the crash during the tie-breaker race

- He, Tex, Lynda, and Cal were practically inseparable after the crash

- He and Tex are literally the bestest of buds like they are homies to the MAX

- He doesn’t hold any ill-will against Chick even if he should and is allowed to

- The “Boy Scout” of racing(think Superman or Captain America)

- He listens to “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X while working with his horses. Cal cringes every time.

- He never swears unless he’s serious about something or is extremely upset or concerned

- He almost fainted when he met Doc for the first time, almost immediately asking for an autograph

- He has a ranch full of horses and enjoys horse racing as well as car racing

- Received an apology gift of both cologne and a miniature trophy from Chick

- He let Chick sign his cast after the crash

- He’s tried to teach Lightning and Bobby how to ride horses with Cal’s help. It did not go well

- He wanted to be a doctor for a little while before switching career paths

- Racing is literally in his blood(he comes from a very VERY long line of racers)

- Weirdly good at writing. Like for no reason.

- He heavily fanboyed over Doc when he was younger

Doc Hudson:

- He loves Lightning as his son

- He thinks of Sally as a surrogate daughter

- Unironically says “back in my day” whenever he’s telling a story

- He owns a shotgun and it’s hidden away in his house, far away from Lightning(who keeps trying to find it with no luck)

- He knows the most shit out of everyone and all their backstories. Bro hears the gossip and goes “nice”

- He loves watching fruit dissection videos on YouTube for some reason

- Bro is great at knitting. Like seriously. Give him ten seconds and you’ll have a whole ass sweater with a theme and everything

- He is an alcoholic(especially after his crash)

- Never got married or had children… until Lightning and Sally lmaooo

- He nearly started crying tears of joy when Lightning called him dad the first time

- He has several large burns and scars on his legs and lower back from the crash(like shit is really bad dude)

- His favorite movie is the original ghost busters

- He is a cat person

- He is a neat freak at heart yet gave up trying to clean out his garage because of all the bad memories

[hellshire-harlot]

Can’t stop thinking about Childhood Best Friend!Simon Riley. So here.

TW: Mentions of bullying, based heavily off my own childhood, Reader is GN and a child (and presumably American), Fluff and a sprinkle of angst, Autistic!Reader, Simon’s backstory

You meet him when your locker is placed next to his in the second grade. He’s a scraggly little kid, quiet with studious, curious eyes. He doesn’t talk much, like you. You like him almost immediately. Then he opens his mouth, telling the boys who always pick on you to ‘sod off’. He has a funny accent, and you like it.

His name is Simon, which you think is a pretty name. And like all childhood friendships, the bond is as strong as it was quickly sealed. When your teacher calls all of you to the carpet for a lecture or a lesson, you and him always sit together, criss-cross-applesauce like you’re supposed to. When you get fidgety, you bump your knees against each other’s, a silent little language only the two of you know.

Where once both you and him were very quiet, together, you come out of your shells. As much as your teacher likes seeing the two of you blossom, she does have to remind you not to chat during class when there’s work to be done. But it’s hard! You’ve never connected with someone like you have with Simon.

At lunch, you both sit together, always. Usually you sit in a quieter part of the cafeteria, at the end of the long tables where few people sit. During lunch he tells you about his brother, Tommy, and you think he talks so much to distract you from the fact that he has precious little to eat. You don’t like how little he eats, so you parcel out portions of your own (admittedly meager) lunch for him. He insists you don’t have to, but you insist that you do, because that’s what friends are for! He likes being your friend. From that day forward his stomach rumbles a little less each day.

At recess you and him play the wildest games, either just the two of you or with another group of kids. After all, the playground is the neutral ground- all rivalries, all bullying stops the second the recess bell rings and everyone steps out into the mulch. He’s really fast, and a little too strong for his age and size, and you think maybe sometimes he lets you win. Never once do you stray too far from one another; you and him both silently fear that leaving even once will reveal that the other is merely an illusion.

You think differently than most other kids. Simon does too, and in that you find kinship. When numbers jumble in your head, he helps you, solving problems with ease, and when he struggles to get through his writing assignments you guide him through each paragraph. Art class is a favorite you share. Watercolors stain your little fingers, and a dot of pink paint remains on your nose from when he dabbed just a bit on the tip. Together, you make works of art that your teacher is left in awe of.

Where once classes were an endless boring struggle, time passes in a golden, hazy bliss with him at your side. He has the same mind as you, something you’ve never encountered, and it’s magical. Suddenly all the bullies, the cruel kids and the indifferent teachers, cease to matter, because you have the bestest friend in the whole wide world. He takes the bus home, and you get picked up by a parent each afternoon, and every time you have to part for the day you hug and promise to bring him something nice to eat for lunch tomorrow. From the car window, your parent watches on, thrilled that their child has made such a wondrous friend.

Weeks turn into months turn into years. Simon cries when you make him a Christmas gift in class, you hug him so tight he can barely breathe when he leaves a Valentine’s gift in your locker, the only one to do so. You beg your teachers and parents to keep putting you in the same class as him, and blessedly, they allow it. From second to third to fourth grade things remain the same. It’s hard sometimes, but Simon is going through the same things. It’s nice not to be alone, and even when everyone else turns against you, he stays by your side.

It’s in fifth grade that you both finally convince your parents to have him over for a night or two. And when Simon comes to your house, your parents go a little quiet. You don’t know why- yeah, he’s a little scrawny and thin for his age, and he gets banged up sometimes, but who doesn’t? You’re too young, too sweet, to know the truth behind the visible ribs and the endless bruises and scars on your friend’s body. But your parents are keen, and when they realize the extent of Simon’s situation, they know they have to do something.

The next morning, your dad cooks a huge breakfast for all of you, and Simon is thrilled to be eating so much delicious food! Your parents, though worried and protective, are utterly enchanted by your friend. They make sure to keep you and him occupied over the weekend while they do what they need to do. Neither you nor him overhear the endless calls they make in adjacent rooms to various services. The final straw is when you accidentally knock something onto the kitchen floor, and Simon panics. When your parents come in to see if you’re alright, he puts himself in front of you and orders them in a voice far too mature to leave you alone. As if they’d do anything to you, as if they’d hurt you. As if he needed to protect you.

That night, you and him share a sleeping bag because he has nightmares about snakes and men in skull masks. You give him one of your stuffies to hold. Deep into the night, two people, skittish and dirty and scared, are welcomed into your house.

Simon’s mom and little Tommy.

Through the school’s counselor your parents got ahold of Simon’s mother, telling her to pack what she could and come to your home, where she and Tommy would be safe. Simon is both confused and happy to see his family at the table for breakfast the next morning, and you’re thrilled to meet his family. But the talk around the grownup table is all serious, and so you and Simon and Tommy are left in another room to play.

In the afternoon CPS comes knocking, to interview Simon and his mom. They look him over, jot down his address, and leave, and only a few hours later they call your parents again to inform you all that Simon’s dad has been arrested. He’ll never touch Simon or Tommy again.

After that, things are kind of a blur. Simon’s mom gets full custody when his dad gets life in prison for his crimes, which you learn more about as you grow older. When the house next door to yours opens up, you help the Rileys purchase it, and the fence between your adjacent lawns gets taken down. More years pass, as you and Simon and Tommy grow up all together.

Some things get worse over time, but Simon is there. Always. And he’s not going anywhere.

[ladye-zelda]

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

Tis the season. I want to thank everyone for this wonderful year, even if I only joined in May XD

Thank you people who have been following me; I know I haven’t been posted anything of what you wanted in a long while and I sincerely apologize; I hope to change that around in the new year

And to all my mutuals, you guys are so amazing! I almost feel not worthy to be your guys’s friend since you guys are all incredible people and it almost feels unreal that we are friends

(This is gonna be a bit long so it’s all under the cut XD)

@cal-the-duende I am so sorry we haven’t been talking a lot recently, but thank you thank you thank you so much for being one of my bestest friends during my time on Tumblr. You are the bestest cal I have ever met, and I hope you can still be your cal self for the new year!

@uniquevoidflowers akfjskjfkajfmskjfskjfa you are so so amazing!!!! I can’t believe we are even friends because you have an amazing talent and I hope everyone will be able to see it!

@strawberry-catcake-deactivated2 I know you have deactivated (so if anyone can contact her you can send this message to her) but I am so grateful to be your friend! You are so talented and I know you may not see it but everyone else knows it and you are also an amazing individual. Honestly, I am a little jealous of your talent and I hope I can be good enough in digital art to be able to get to your level of talent

@unexpectedstormy you are so kind and amazing; thank you so much for being my friend! You’re talented and funny; I am so grateful that we are friends! May the koroks give you lots of gifts and good tidings this holiday season!

@webhead3345 you are a very talented individual! I hope we get to talk more in the future; you are very kind as well!!

@adrift-in-thyme ahhhhh you’re so very talented and I have always been a fan of your writing (Time meeting the blood moon has given me the feels) and I am so happy we are friends!!

@smilesrobotlover AAASKFJKSJFKAJFHGS I always love when we talk about the craziest things; you’re so nice and respectful and you’re also someone who I aspire to be!

@silvercaptain24 there are really not a lot of words I can say to express how happy you make me. You are so amazing and I hope we can remain vods!!!

@endlessartpumpkin aakshfkajfkakfksjkfjakfjkajfksjfa you are SO TALENTED and I DONT KNOW HOW WE ARE EVEN FRIENDS and AAKSGKSJDKSJFDKFJDJJFKSJFEA /pos; it makes me happy when you’re on my dash and I am very grateful we’re friends!

@geminiskulleta you are also SO TALENTED and a GENIUS when it comes to all things loz; I hope we can talk more in the future because I wanna join all those conversations with you and Isa (just haven’t because social anxiety and often don’t know what to say lol; plus I didn’t want to disrupt y’all’s genius conversations)

@gemglyph I know we’ve only barely interacted, but I am happy when we did! I still use that version of Sky that you came up with and he is so adorable! Thank you so much for everything!

@hotcheetohatredwastaken I know we have also barely interacted, but it makes me happy when you appear on my dash!

@here4dragons dragon!!!! It makes me happy whenever we speak. I know it’s been a while, but I still consider you an amazing friend!

@isasan347 IIIIISSSSAAAAAAAA! Talking to you about Zelink (and ALTTP especially) always makes my day; so very happy that we are friends!!!

@karmaisdue I know we may not talk directly, but you’re probably the fastest mutual I have made solely on the fact that we once shared the same pfp 🤣

@kiwi-der-vogel AAAAAAA I love your art style!!! It is so unique and makes me happy and you’re an amazing person and AAAAAAAA

@kate-m-art Your art is so soft and cozy and you are also an amazing person and so kind! I hope to learn more about the legacy au and the cryptid au and all of your other aus because all of them are so amazing!!!

@link-or-sherlock I know we haven’t spoken in a long while but you are an amazing person who is also a really good friend of mine. I hope we get to talk more soon, because I miss when we get to infodump on each other or joked around like we did; but even if we don’t, you are still my friend

@mothielad Hi!! It’s been a while, I know, but I am happy to have known you!

@nancyheart11 Nancy!! You’re so kind and amazing; I am glad to be your friend!!! You’re also very talented in art, embroidery, and writing!!

@nocturnalfandomartist Hi! You’re so awesome and amazing and talented in art and writing I am still in awe on how we are friends. I will definitely try to be more active in trying to interact with you, because you definitely deserve everything because of the things you create!

@pallweople to all of the pall weople; thank you so much for letting me be a part of this!! You are all so fun and I hope I get to be a part of it more in the future!

@phoenix-arts7 Hi! Your art is amazing and I definitely cannot wait to see what’s in store for your au. I wish you many happy things in the future and may you be able to pet all the kitties you can!

@prince-of-red-lions I know we haven’t spoken in a long while but I am happy that we are friends! Thank you so much for being very kind and amazing!

@randomburstsofcreativity random!!!! You definitely helped me through a rough time, and I will always appreciate it. You are a nice, amazing person and I am happy we are friends!

@srah-the-violist I know we’ve barely interacted, but I consider you a friend! It makes me happy whenever you’re in my dash, and you are amazing!!!

@taruuu Taru!!! Thank you for helping me in Genshin; you are very amazing and I wish you many, many great things!!!

@uncleskyrule I remember reading your In Sickness and In Health story and I adore your writing style! You are very talented and I’m happy we are friends!

@whyoneartheven Evie!!! You are amazing!!! Thank you for being a good friend to me; you are so kind and i am happy we’re friends!

@wolfstorm888 Wolf!!! I’m sorry it has been a long time since we’ve spoken; thank you for joining me and Peggy in Triforce heroes and you are very amazing! You are very nice and I am happy we are friends!

@telemna-hyelle It is mindbloggling to me how we are friends. You were kind of the first tumblr user I have been following (before I got a tumblr account) and to be your friend has been such a high honor. Thank you so much!!

@skyward-floored It has been such an honor that I have been your friend. You are such a talented, amazing writer and I am so happy to be your friend! I wish I can say more, but I honestly don’t know the words I can say to express my gratitude on how much you’re an amazing person

@skyloftian-nutcase Thank you so much for helping me during a few hard times I went through. You are such a kind and selfless person and I hope to follow in your footsteps to become such an amazing person

@margindoodles2407 Margin!!! You are so amazing and talented and AJFSJFJSKGJKSFJKDGJKDHFJSHSWA we gotta talk more about stuff because AAAAAAAAAAAAA YOU’RE COOL

@theabyssfairy You’re so talented I have no words. Your art style is aesthetic and I always love the crossover ships you make and it always makes me happy XD

@anadorablekiwi Kiwi!!! You are amazing and wonderful and I have so many words to express my gratitude for you but I don’t know if they’re good enough to really say. Thank you for helping me during my rough times and you are so kind and amazing and I hope you can see how wonderful you are!

@silvrash-797 It has been such a pleasure to speak with you as well!!! You’re such a talented writer and are so kind and sweet!!!

@thepinklink I know we haven’t spoken a lot but I love your art and I think you’re amazing!!

I don’t know if I have missed anyone, but if I did I apologize. Thank you guys so much for the year, and have an amazing holiday and new year!!!!

[iceunhie]

synopsis: Kaveh doesn’t really like Christmas shopping with you for one (1) reason: You have horrible taste in matching Christmas outfits. 

warnings: 1.1k words, slight mention of Cyno and Tighnari, small mention of Collei BC she's my daughter my baby fr, modern au!! bff kaveh has my heart honestly he'd be such a good friend yet u still have to tell him to take a breather on his issues like get this man some help pls judgy kaveh but he swears it's in good faith lol

mhie’s notes: participating in @2023gisecretsanta's secret santa event! this piece is for the wonderful @june-again <3 i hope you enjoy this fic and have a wonderful happy holidays !! took a little break from romantic writing since you said you preferred platonic heehee,,, i shuld really write for kaveh more he's so silly

“No.”

You sigh, before plastering your best sopping wet cat expression. “Please, Kaveh? My wonderful, amazing, incredibly talented, bestest friend—”

“First of all, gross–” you stick out your tongue at him. “And second, [Name], I already told you this a million times and I'm going to say it again. I will not be caught dead in that… that abomination.” 

“C’mon, pleasee? It's just to take pictures with, I swear!” you say as you shove the red, abnormally large Christmas jacket to your best friend’s face, trying to at least get him to relent for just a few minutes. You do not succeed, and this only furthers the mortification in his eyes. This has been something Kaveh had been dreading for a long time already. 

It'd been a pretty okay day, his design for a new architecture project was approved and he was looking forward to excitedly sharing the news with you over a nice meal after work, only to be faced with the hell that is Christmas shopping near the Grand Bazaar in downtown Sumeru with Cyno and Tighnari, who are currently browsing through the rows of nice ‘make-your-own-plushie’ kits to give to Collei as a gift.

After you lot met up after your respective work and caught up by a delicious meal in a fancy restaurant (his wallet is screaming bloody murder right now though), the first stop he was immediately dragged to was a clothing store by you, and normally he would gladly pick outfits with you without complaint, but you were a huge fan of picking these tacky (sorry, but it's true) Christmas jackets that came in pairs to match with him. Best friend privileges, you say, but that absolutely clashes with his style. Like, he loves you, really, you're his friend and partner in crime and probably the only person he trusts more than Al-haitham, that bastard, anyway, but that (the sweater) is nothing but a fashion disaster waiting to unfold.

So he crosses his arms, Kaveh giving you a withering stare. “In the first place, why this sweater of all things? And that color?!” 

“It looks good on you! See, it even matches with your eyes! It's modern.”

“It's horrendous, that's what.” 

“Hey! You criticizing my style choices now?”

“Uh, duh? Why else are we friends? Why else am I your best friend, huh?” 

“Still, it's the holidays, so indulge me just this once, please?” 

“Excuse you, just this once? Last year was that green jacket that was too itchy for me to even wear! And the Christmas tree design in it wasn't even halfway finished!” 

“Hey! The Christmas tree print on it was still cute though, don't lie. And you wore it anyway.” you say dismissively, and you press against the sleeves of the jacket.

“Well, yeah, but–” Kaveh stops himself, before giving you an exasperated expression. “Wait, no, that isn't the point here! The point is, we should just look for better options!”

“Aww, but this one has a reindeer and elf print on this….” you sigh, disappointed. Kaveh eyes you with skepticism before turning to the aforementioned sweater. 

Okay, maybe it wasn't so bad… the reindeer print and the elves helping out the Santa Claus on the jacket front was kinda endearing… wait, no, don’t be swayed! 

“In any case,” he snips, putting a hand on his face and eyeing you distrustfully, “We can talk about that—” he gives the jacket a horrendous look of distaste, “later. For now we should just meet up with Cyno and Tighnari.” 

Before Kaveh can exit the store, however, you pull him back. “Nuh uh! Those two are going to take forever getting presents and you know it.” and just when he thought he dodged a bullet, you immediately give him the jacket, send him over to the fitting rooms and even have the mind to say ‘take your time!’ and then leave him be.

So, inside the fitting room, Kaveh can only try to struggle to find the utter appeal of the very, very questionably designed Christmas Jacket. There are two beings on his shoulder right now, the one with imaginary angel wings and of course, the one that's undoubtedly the devil.

‘Do it for [Name]! Please, this is exclusive best friend privilege and you're just going to throw it away? This is tradition!’ the nicer one says, endlessly using his moral compass as means for Kaveh to accept, and he almost does, really, but of course, with the angel comes the devil.

‘[Name] will understand if you don't wanna wear it! Besides, they've never had the best taste in fashion when it comes to Christmas jackets! Surely just one refusal won't hurt?’ 

“Okay, stop, stop!! I'm getting too into my head right now, I have to weigh the options….” Kaveh mentally chides himself and the little voices in his head, but ultimately comes up in a slump; on one hand, refusing you was fine, he knew that you would respect his decision, as you had always had. But… if he accepted just one night of humiliation, which will no doubt come in the form of Al-haitham and Cyno giving subtle and noticeable teasing when all of you gather around the local Lambad’s Tavern to celebrate Christmas Eve. Heck, even Collei would probably give him a look of pity! Kaveh hates it, really, but then again, it was just one night….

And you’d be disappointed! Also, what if instead of him who has to endure the matching Christmas jackets, what if you would match with someone else? No way, no way. Those were his best friend privileges and he was not forsaking them. Hmm, this was seriously a hard decision to make.

One day of humiliation versus the loss of potentially Kaveh’s and your Christmas tradition forever and likely the appearance of being a horrid friend– okay, he was overreacting here, but still! A horrid friend to you. Would he, in all his good conscience, really turn you down?

“Ooh, looking good there. I told you it wasn’t too bad!” you’re smiling and slightly smirking (no doubt you knew about his moral dilemma) at him when Kaveh comes out of the fitting room, donning the very oversized, very unfashionable jacket. “Oh my god, Al-haitham is never ever going to let you live this down.”

“Yeah, I can see that.” he grumbles, clearly swatting your phone away. “Can we just get it over with now? I swear I'm going to be so sweaty in this jacket. You’re lucky you have best friend perks.”

“Heh, don’t mention it! No one can resist my wonderful and amazing personality. Now, wear this too-!”

“Wait, hey! I never agreed to the Christmas hat-! Hey, [Name]!”

@ MHIIEEE 2023 : do not copy, repost or plagiarize my work.

[runnning-outof-time]

How the Bestest Boy Celebrates the Holidays

Request: no - @raincoffeeandfandoms and I were talking about Christmas Cyril and this popped into my mind.

Pairing: no pairing … just Cyril, Alfie, and Tommy with the mention of the lovely OC Rose Solomons

Summary: Cyril’s two dads owners discuss how their canine best friend should be treated on the holidays.

Warnings: language (Alfie’s present…does it even need to be a warning?), two gangsters who are secretly softies when it comes to a certain dog - this is just a silly little story, y’all.

Word Count: 629

A/N: I hope you enjoy this little piece that I came up with after chatting with Flor….Cyril deserves to have the best holidays! Also thanks to the lovely Flor for this amazing picture - it’s what sparked this entire idea. Enjoy! :)

I’D LOVE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! - YOUR COMMENTS & REBLOGS HELP ME WRITE!

“You’ve got Cyril’s presents all ready, yeah?” Alfie Solomons asked as he leaned back against his office’s chair, the phone receiver pressed to his ear.

Tommy Shelby sighed. The man on the other line hadn’t even greeted him. “He’s a fucking dog, Alfie,” he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, “please don’t tell me this is why you called.”

“He’s our fucking dog though, Tommy. He deserves some fucking presents, don’t you think?” Alfie quipped back, waving his hand in the air even though he was sitting by himself.

“I’ve been too busy to deal with it,” Tommy tried another strategy to deflect Alfie’s topic.

“And you think I haven’t been busy? Hmm?” Alfie quickly shot back, “you think the reason why I traipsed my way over to your fucking gaudy mansion for four of the last eight fucking days was to see you? You’re wrong, mate. I came for that dog. I only come for that dog. And then he enjoyed himself at Margate for the final four, was pampered like he should be. His gifts were custom-fucking-made, Tommy. But now you’re going to sell him short.”

“You made all of his presents?” Tommy picked one of the points Alfie made and asked him to elaborate on it, trying so hard to stay interested in this conversation. The conversation that was centered around a dog, and how said dog should be treated during the holidays.

“Nah, Rosie made most of ‘em,” Alfie answered nonchalantly, unable to stop a grin from forming as he mentioned his wife, “she sent me out to grab the rest…like the treats and whatnot.”

“And I’m needed to do the same now?” Tommy asked another question.

“It’s what’s right, Tommy,” Alfie insisted, “unless you want him thinking that Hanukkah is better than Christmas…then by all means, keep fucking it up for yourself.”

“Christmas isn’t until the 25th of the month, Alfie.”

“That’s just a week away.”

“Yeah, so I’ve got a week to get what I need for him.”

“It should be ready for when he returns, which is tomorrow.”

“Alfie…”

“Thomas,” Alfie leveled his tone to match the Birmingham gangster’s. “It needs to be right for him.”

Tommy let out a long sigh. There was no way he was going to beat Alfie Solomons at this fight, not when the other man’s mind had already been made up. They’d known each other too many years now for Tommy not to realize that that was how the baker from Camden Town operated.

“Is there anything else you wanted to discuss?” the blue-eyed man asked after a few moments had passed, deciding to change the topic of conversation. Silence came in response. “Alfie?” he checked to see if his confidant was still on the other side of the line.

“Nah, mate. That was it,” Alfie’s response was quick, and it made Tommy sigh again, “just make sure that dog’s presents are sorted, or it’s your fucking head on the line, got it?” The second half of his statement held a threatening tone.

“Got it,” Tommy responded. He was unable to get another word out before the line clicked and went dead. Alfie had hung up on him.

Tommy sat the phone back onto the hook before pinching the bridge of his nose and letting out a sigh. Alfie was taking this whole holiday thing way too far. He was making a much bigger deal out of it than was needed.

Besides, if he knew the Peaky Blinder as much as he claimed he did, he would have known that Tommy already had all of Cyril’s presents purchased and in order…and that he had had them ready weeks ago.

That’s what the bestest boy deserves on the holidays, right?

I’m really not sure who I should tag in this … so I’m just gonna add some mutuals/people on here who might be interested - I’m sorry if I forgot anyone! Hopefully it gets sent out…..

@raincoffeeandfandoms @zablife @call-sign-shark @evita-shelby @cillmequick @emotionalcadaver @toms-cherry-trees @look-at-the-soul @thomashelbyswife @loverhymeswith @shelbydelrey @brummiereader @peakyltd @forgottenpeakywriter @there-goes-thefighter @hoodeddreams13 @peakyswritings @theshelbyslimited @gypsy-girl-08

MASTERLIST

[bwoahtastic]

tis the season for grandpa keke to reprise his role as father christmas once again to great his cutie grandbabies; mousy, sebby and maxy. seb and nicky are (as always) excited for santa's arrival bcs they be good boys for momma and papa, but it's maxy's first christmas with the wolff's (and tonio, kimi, and checo's family) he's so in awe that santa came to see /him/? cus jos never gave him gifts in general and always said he was a bad boy so santa doesn't like him.. so when keke comes in as a santa and gives maxy a gift? the lil cub just cries and when nico & toto asks whats wrong, the poor lil thing can only hiccup 'maxy is a good boy' 😫

cue adults tearing up bcs the cub is instanly cuddled by an army of a pallas kittens, sebby and mousy and it's nicky that squeaks 'always best boy! ever!'

Oh plss! Keke would be an excellent santa! Sebby knows its grandpa birdie and nicky peobs knows but is also little enough to still believe in christmas magic so his little kiddo brain just ignores that santa clearly smells like grandpa birdie.

Maxy is still new to all this and has ever celebrated Christmas before so little kitten is so in awe when santa comes in! He is dressed in a cosy sweater and maybe momma tonio tied a bow to his lil tail! Maxy sitting with sebby and nicky, and the pallas kittens and Logie ofc, and suddenly santa comes in and all the pups are excited but Max is a little skittish and hides behind Papa Toto and Papa Kimi, cos maybe santa will be mad cos Maxy is always bad boy! Santa/Keke seeing Maxy is hesitsnt and kneeling down, smiling that he came to see Maxy too and Maxy is suddenly crying his little heart out! The adults trying to figure out why he is crying snd Maxy manages to sob "Maxy finally good boy!' And everyone realises what is happening...

Maxy instsntly bombarded by all the pups, everyone purring and Nicky squeaking Maxy is always the bestest! Maxy would be so happy and even dares to sit on Santa's lap after🥺

[hannahhook7744]

I Don’t Know Why All The Trees Change In The Fall, But I Know You’re Not Scared Of Anything At All;

Cover:

Summary: Isabela’s son is a mama’s boy. Trigger Warnings: Confusion, fear, jealousy, thoughts of violence, swearing, blasphemy, anger issues, and repeated use of the word ‘stupid’. Encantober 2024: Leaves. The way Isabela is thinking of Pedro is based off this wonderful fic: https://archiveofourown.org/works/37560733/chapters/93751921

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

Arlo Emo Marquez Madrigal, son of Isabela Rojas Madrigal and Bubo Marquez, at five years old didn't yet know why all the trees changed in the fall (or why the leaves changed whenever his mother wanted them to). 

Or whether Snow White's house was near or far away. 

But one thing he did know without a doubt was that his mamá wasn't scared of anything at all. He knew this because he'd seen it first hand, on multiple occasions.

He'd seen her chase off the mean old dead fish lady with a cactus after she insulted his mamá’s Tío Bruno. 

He'd seen her chase off his papá’s mean old papá and hermanos with an Épée. 

He's seen her chase the donkey farmer with a chancla after he tried to ask Tía Luisa to help him catch the donkeys again on Christmas morning. 

Arlo had even seen her pick up spiders with her bare hands and had seen her wrestle one of her potato people out of Parce’s mouth  and send the jaguar to the corner. 

So, yeah. Arlo or Mi pequeña flor, as his mamá liked to call him, knew that his mamá wasn't scared of anything at all and he'd even wager all of his allowance with Primo Camilo on it if he hadn't been banned from gambling by his padres. 

Which was exactly why when, during his gift ceremony, his hair went from soft and dry to liquid-y and move-y he ran in terror straight for his madre without even glancing at his door or his siblings’ new doors because he knew she'd protect him from whatever his gift had done to him and make Casita fix it.

And he knew she would because he had the bestest mommy in the Encanto. “¡MAMI! ¡MAMI! ¡MAMI! ¡MAMI!” 

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

To Arlo’s disappointment, mamá couldn't fix his hair. 

His hair, that had gone from wavy and curly and pitch black (like both his parents) to teal water with live, moving goldfish in it—because apparently his gift could affect his appearance far more than just making eyes go from hazel to green like it had with Tío abuelo Bruno. 

Arlo hated it. 

He hated his stupid new hair and wanted his cool old hair that made him look like his parents’ clone back. He hated his stupid Hy-dro-kin-esis or his water bending as Tío abuelo Bruno and Primo Cy called it. He hated that his head was always wet and that he could feel the fish moving, and that his papá and mamá couldn't play with his hair anymore. He hated that he couldn't cuddle with his parents or his siblings and cousins without his hair dripping everywhere. 

Arlo hated his stupid water-filled room that drip, drip, dripped non-stop no matter the time of day. He hated how the water rose when he was upset and how people he didn't know in town kept trying to touch his hair. 

He hated everything about his gift and he hated the miracle and he hated Casita and he hated his Tía Mirabel for handing him her magical door knob during the ceremony.  But most of all he hated his siblings and cousins for getting gifts they loved when he was stuck with one he hated that kept giving him ear infections that Abuela Julieta’s food couldn't heal. 

Why did his hermano Miguel Jr (or Smiley or MJ as he had been nicknamed) get to make shields out of thin air? Why did Miguel Jr get to make a shield bubble that he could run into walls with, without getting a boo-boo when Arlo was stuck with water bending?

Why did his hermana Zoey get to talk to and fix machines that he could befriend while Arlo was stuck with water bending?

Why did Princesa get to make different gasses?

Why did Elmira get to play with music and make things happen?

Why did Claudine get to turn invisible and why did Rachel get to make things come to life by sewing?

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

Why did Cesare get telepathy and Cornel get to see the dead and Cy get to see the future like Tío abuelo Bruno did?

And why did Rick get to tell when people were lying?

Why was Arlo the only one with a gift he hated?

Why did Casita and the miracle hate him?

He didn't want this gift. He wanted something cool, like being the next miracle holder or his mamá’s gift! Preferably something like his mamá’s gift. Not a dumb ol’ gift that ruined his hair and ruined his room and ruined his cuddles!

Arlo couldn't even draw the leaves on his mamá’s vines and plants anymore without the water from his hair dripping onto his drawing and dampening the paper!

It wasn't fair!

He wasn't even allowed to swim anymore either ‘cause the adults and bigger kids were scared that they wouldn't be able to see him ‘cause of his hair if he drowned. He loved swimming and now he couldn't. 

He couldn't play outside while it was cold either or sleep in someone else's bed with them without getting everything all wet because of his hair anymore either! It wasn't fair. 

It wasn't. 

And he didn't know why his mamá couldn't fix it— didn’t Casita know that his mamá was the bestest mamá and that she had to listen to her? Didn't the miracle know that?

Arlo hated them for not listening to his mamá and he hated that his mean old gift made his mamá sad. He even tried to hide how much he didn't like his power after he saw how much it upset her but the fish haired boy wasn't sure if he was successful because she kept trying to tell him that he'd grow to love his gift to make him feel better.

That abuelo had picked it out just for him. 

That water was the reason her leaves and vines and leaves and flowers and leaves could live. That his water could save her plants in a drought. Whatever a drought was. 

But it didn't make him feel better—because he knew that his mamá was just lying for his benefit; something that only served to make him despise his gift more because it had turned his honest madre into a liar —which he knew was a bad thing because his bisabuela Alma said that lying was rude and not good and not nice, and that they shouldn't lie. 

And if his madre was a liar because of his gift, then his madre was bad and he didn't want his mamá or his papá to be bad. 

But they were. All because of his useless, awful gift.

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

“See how green and lively the water makes the leaves, hijo? Isn't it nice?” Isabela asked, trying to keep the desperation out of her voice as she kneeled in front of her five year old with a big fake, painfully forced smile on her face. 

Hoping that her son wouldn't notice that she was trying to fake it till she made it. It, in this case, being love for her son’s gift. 

Since the mad scientist of a florist, quite frankly, despised her poor little son—who was so much like her that it hurt—’s gift. Maybe the artist would have liked the gift given to her little mini-me if Arlo himself had liked it but she would never know because her Arlo didn't like his gift and didn't want it.

El infierno, her little flower had even gone as far as begging for Casita to take it and his room back. 

It killed her and Bubo to see their son in such pain, especially since they had done everything they could think of to ease the boy's misery with absolutely no results other than Arlo trying to hide how much he was rejecting his gift from them. Which neither of them wanted in the slightest. 

Dios, the first thing Isabela was gonna do when she died was strangle her abuelo for giving her poor flower such a dreadful gift—if he was even responsible for this whole ordeal, that was. Not that the artist doubted that her grandfather was responsible for the miracle and their gifts; oh, no she was fairly confident that that was the case ever since Mirabel had suggested it. Mirabel was hardly ever wrong these days and Abuela had even confirmed that it did sound like something her Pedro would do. 

El absoluto imbécil.

And Cornel did say that Pedro had even admitted to being responsible for choosing the gifts each of them had gotten. 

Oh how she couldn't wait to ring his neck for the gifts he'd given her triplets and for the mischievous nature Camilo had undoubtedly inherited from him. El bastardo.

Dios, Isabela hadn't been this mad since she found out while giving birth that she was having triplets. 

Arlo scowled at the potted plant—something he'd never have done before his disaster of a gift ceremony—scrunching up his nose and hugging what was now his stuffed flower. Glaring at the plant as if it had done something to personally offend him as a fish attempted to swim out of his hair. “ No. ”

Oh, juro por Dios, she was gonna murder her abuelo for a second time when she next saw him.

[haitaniapologist]

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. ( zhongli x reader )

╰┈➤ you always believed in christmas miracles, but he took this concept to another level for you.

pairings — zhongli x fem!reader.

warnings — reader and zhongli are single parents before meeting each other, t*xic relationship (not with zhongli), mentions of domestic v*olence and ch*ating, a bit of misogyny and overall prejudice of the society with single mothers, fluff with children and between the parents, sugestiveness at the end.

word count — 5k

notes — this is a repost from the beggining of the year bc i had some problems back then, but this fic was supposed to be a christmas one and for zhongli's birthday. either way, it's now here! reblogs and feedbacks are appreacited &lt;3

you’ve always loved christmas. 

it was a time when everything was magical, especially when you were a child, but such a magic didn’t die when you were growing up — it actually only grew, especially after you had your daughter. her father, your ex-husband, wasn’t the biggest fan of christmas. zandik was a doctor, and a logical one, and he almost spilled to your daughter that santa wasn’t real in the last christmas you three spent as a family, though you couldn’t tell if he was being mean or the idea of santa claus was so illogical that he didn’t comprehend why your daughter should believe it. 

either way, nahida still believed in santa, and you were sure your boyfriend and his children would do anything to keep such magic in your daughter’s life — and you couldn’t be more grateful. 

ganyu and xiao were two sweet hearts, accepting to go shopping with you to buy presents for your daughter and their father. it was a tradition that was passed down from your father to you, always bringing you along when he went to buy presents for your mother and siblings — you loved nothing more than to choose what they would be given, and seeing their eyes lighten up with the perfect gifts you had chosen. you used to take nahida with you, too, when you and zandik were still together, and you knew she loved to see the small smile on her father’s face when he opened his gift and saw the shirt or the new white coat his daughter had chosen for him. 

but that was in the past now, and your ex-husband didn’t want anything to do with nahida now. 

it was a shame, though. despite the bad way your relationship ended — with him cheating on you with one of his coworkers while you stayed at home taking care of your little treasure and doing everything to please him — nahida was still his daughter, a child that he had spent hours and hours talking when she was still in your belly, a child that he had treasured and did lots and lots of plans with you while she laid on his bare chest in a warm night of summer. but ever since your divorce, he hadn’t made any effort to be present in his daughter’s life again, but it didn’t seem like nahida was missing him. 

your boyfriend was a better father figure to her, anyway. 

after your divorce, you didn’t have anywhere to be — your ex husband made you quit your job after you got pregnant, so you could put all your energy into taking care of your baby and raising her the bestest you could. your best friends, cyno and tighnari, offered you a place to stay until you had a job and a good income to be able to live on your own with nahida, and you couldn’t be more grateful to them. if it wasn’t for them, you wouldn’t have been hired in your boyfriend’s company as his secretary and become the neighbor of his younger brother, who played matchmaker for the both of you. 

zhongli was a kind boss, always understanding when you needed to call a sick day whenever nahida needed you, to the point that rumors about your involvement began even before you two were actually together.

apparently, he had always looked at you with a lovestruck expression that everybody saw except you — because, in your head, how could a man as successful as him, as handsome and kind as him, would look at you with love in his eyes instead of pity? with a failed marriage and a little girl to take care of, you had already made up your mind that you would never find love again. but zhongli was stubborn and would do anything to show you that he was different than your ex-husband, his plan coming to fruition when you found a job in your actual line of field, with venti’s and ei’s help. 

you were, at first, a bit hesitant in opening your heart again for another man. but you came to know that you and zhongli had passed by the same situation, a cheating wife that left him for her new affair, leaving two small children for him to take care of. if it wasn’t for venti and ei, in the words of the said younger brother of your ex boss, zhongli wouldn’t be able to raise his children to be such good kids. another thing that made you more prone to open yourself to him was the way he treated nahida, in such a care that you never saw your husband treating her — zhongli always coaxed giggles and giggles from her, and you knew you were in love with him watching him play with your daughter as if she was his own. 

now, after one year of being together and two months of living as a family, it was the first christmas you five would spend together. 

“aunt y/n, do you think daddy will like a new shirt? we can buy it blue to match with my hair!” ganyu’s excited voice took you from your thoughts, and you smiled at the young girl, nodding at her words, like xiao glared at his older sister.  

ganyu and xiao were nine and seven, and the kindest children you ever met. they had accept you and nahida in their lives as if you both had always been a part of it, and the three of them had a very special bond — none of your friends had children on nahida’s age, and it was good to see the sibling bond she was forming with zhongli’s children. she and ganyu became sisters in less than a day, and while xiao was shyer than his sister, nahida was already calling him big brother by the end of the first week you all were living together. you and zhongli couldn’t be happier, being able to be together and watching your children getting closer — he’d always whisper how good of a mother you were while kissing your forehead, making you hide your face on his chest due to embarrassment. 

“i think he will love one.” you agreed, hand messing ganyu's blue curls. “but maybe for his birthday? we need to remember that we need to buy two gifts for daddy.” sometimes it was bothersome the fact that your boyfriend's birthday was in the new year's eve, a date when people were already celebrating, but you tried to make it more special for him — zhongli's birthday celebration started as soon as he wake up, and it went through the whole day. he would turn thirty-four this year, and you wanted to make it as special as you wanted christmas to be. 

“why didn't daddy choose a better day to be born? like us, or nahida!” xiao's complaint was cute, his hand clutching your skirt and his brows furrowed in an unhappy face. 

you smiled at the younger boy, watching as ganyu looked at the dress shirts in the store. “we don't choose the day we're born, little man.” it was cute how he still flushed at your pet names for them, and you wondered if someday he'd grow too tired of them and ask you to stop. you hoped not, because both of them, ganyu and xiao, already had their special places on your heart — right at nahida's, but you feared it was too soon to call them like that.

“hmpf.” he pouted and you giggled, fighting the urge to pinch his cheeks and call him cute. 

“aunt y/n!” ganyu called you, a beautiful blue dress shirt in her small hands. “i'm sure daddy will like this one! it's like my hair!” she proudly exclaimed, a smile full of white teeth adorning her chubby cheeks. but before you could answer, you heard an irritated sound coming from xiao’s mouth, who was still clutching your skirt, narrowed eyes looking at the shirt his sister chose. 

“what about my hair then?” he asked and you sighed, knowing it would take a while to make those two agree on something. 

— 

zhongli smiled seeing the christmas’ lights shining on nahida’s green eyes. 

he had always worried about his relationship with your child, even before you two were a thing — it was embarrassing how much he had daydreaming about being in a relationship with you, a thirty two three old man fantasizing about his twenty-seven secretary, but he couldn’t help himself. not when you smiled so sweetly at him, always making sure that he had a cup of water and coffee with him and that he wasn’t overworking himself. you were zhongli’s dream woman, and he knew he needed to court you properly. 

you first told him about your daughter in a rainy day, after you had received a call from your friends, eyes glossy with tears — you explain that she had a fever through the whole night and you left her with your best friends so you could work, but it seemed like her condition was worse since you left. zhongli didn’t think twice about offering you a ride to your friends’ house then to the hospital, his heart contracting itself seeing your distressed face. you reluctantly accept, and the rest was story. 

that day was the confirmation that you needed that you should accept his moves on you, already searching for a new job so you could fully welcome zhongli in your life. the way he made nahida feel safe, despite the doctors' scaring and the needles in her little body, made the tears you were holding back to fall from your eyes — your ex-husband’s last words ringing in your head, of how much of a bad mother you would be without him and his help.

now, zhongli was walking hand in hand with your six-year-old daughter through the jewelry store, trying to look for the perfect ring to propose to you. 

“what gem do you think mommy would like, nahida?” he asked, his amber gaze eyeing some diamond’s rings on display, hands unconsciously reaching to take nahida between his arms so she could help him choose. she nuzzled between them, sighing contently before casting her green orbs on the rings and gasping softly. zhongli suppressed a chuckle — he missed when his children were small and innocent like her.

she pointed to a gold one with some green details, the diamond shaped in a heart with some emeralds around it. he wasn’t surprised though, as her favorite color was green — even the tips of her hair were dyed green, a courtesy of the day she, ganyu and xiao spent with venti. “that one, uncle ‘li!” she exclaimed, her face lightening up at the thought of your finger adorned with it. “but why are you gifting mommy it, uncle zhongli? my papa used to give her clothes or books.” nahida was the most intelligent and curious kid zhongli ever met, and he knew she’d ask why he wanted to give you a ring — though the mention of her father brought a sour taste to his mouth, he could never be angry at her for bringing him up. 

she was too small to understand how much her father made her mother suffer. 

“well,” he started, smiling at the vendor and pointing to the ring nahida liked. “i want to marry your mommy, and i’m going to ask her with the ring i’ll buy today. do you think she’ll accept it?” 

he didn’t want to admit it, but his heart was hammering inside his chest like he was a teenager once more — nobody knew about his plans of proposing, and zhongli wanted to keep things a surprise to everyone, but he knew he needed to ask nahida’s permission first. she was your entire world, just like his children were his, but he wanted to make a space for himself there, like you and your little girl had on his. and nahida’s acceptance was what he needed to feel confident enough to ask you those three little words. he knew you wouldn’t do anything that would hurt or put her in danger, and he couldn’t blame you. you were a single mother in a world that looked down at you with disdain in its eyes. 

though, nahida’s words caught him by surprise. “you promise you won’t make mommy cry like my papa did?” he looked puzzled at her, though he understood what she meant. “mommy thinks she hides things from me, but i’m not dumb. i remember when papa left us, she cried so much! and i don’t want to see her crying again.” she hid her face on his neck and zhongli sighed, stroking her back. 

“i promise, my sweetness. i will never make mommy cry sad tears, alright?” he almost didn’t notice her small nod, but he felt her small hands gripping the back of his dress shirt tighter. “does that mean i can marry mommy?” 

his heart felt more at ease when he heard her giggles. “of course!” nahida exclaimed while coming out from her hiding spot, a big smile on her face. “does that mean you’ll be my daddy, too?” as much as her voice had excitement on it, zhongli could recognize a bit of shyness, alongside the soft pink dusting her cheeks — but he felt his heart warm, and even though nahida didn’t know that, he already considered her his child, his youngest daughter. and to know that she wanted him to be her father figure was better than any other scenario he could think of. 

“yes, i’ll be your daddy too, my sweetness.” 

—

you looked down fondly at ganyu and xiao, both of them looking at their ice creams as if they were the richest treasure in the world.

at the end, they decided to buy a blue shirt as zhongli’s christmas’ present, and a gold wristwatch, with his black ornaments, as his birthday present. it was adorable to see how dedicated they were to find the perfect gift for their father, debating and arguing to try to find what he would like the most — in the end, you knew zhongli would use his gifts to work, showing his employees how cute and thoughtful his little angels were. 

“this ice cream is so good, mommy.” you smiled, at first, hearing xiao’s words, napkin ready to clean his lips off the almond cream around it — but you stopped dead in your tracks when you noticed how he called you. 

you never wanted to take their biological mother’s place in their lives, though zhongli always said that she never loved them like a mother should — she saw them as a way for him to continue married to her, so she could maintain her lifestyle as a ceo’s wife intact, partying and cheating on him behind his back and leaving his children to be taken care by nannies. once, he admitted to you that his biggest regret was choosing such a woman to be the mother of his children, whispering soon after that what happened to him and her led him to you, and zhongli couldn’t be more grateful. hearing him calling you that, although, filled your heart with warmth and your smile grew wider. 

xiao was more introverted and reserved than ganyu, perhaps because of the so little time he spent with his mother before she and zhongli divorced. you thought he would be the last one to call you that, and you would be alright if he never did — the love you felt for them and the love they felt for you couldn’t be described in just a simple title. 

“you’re getting your mouth all dirty, dummy.” as a good older sister, ganyu scolded him gently, though her mouth was dirty with some of the chocolate toppings of her ice cream. “it isn’t mommy’s job to clean you.” 

you didn’t know if it was influence of her brother or just the mood that made her call you like that too, but you swallowed the lump in your throat. “it is mommy’s job to clean him, baby. it’s mommy’s job to look after the both of you, and nahida, and daddy too.” you tried to explain, napkins ready to clean them both. they giggled and, to any onlooker, you looked like a happy and small family — as you were, though two components of it were missing. 

however, your giggles died down when you spotted familiar curls of light blue hair and a pair of red eyes looking straight at you. 

you could recognize zandik’s eyes anywhere you went — they were sharp and calculating, the emotion shining on them always indecipherable. you used to find them beautiful, especially in the early days of your relationship with him, when they used to shine and sheer adoration, but now they only brought a sour taste to your mouth. but as soon as you noticed his presence there, you returned your eyes to your children, continuing to smile at them. 

“mommy!” before you could say something, you heard your sweet girl’s voice, her small hands waving at you while she was perched comfortably between zhongli’s arms.

“daddy and ‘hida are back, xiao!” ganyu exclaimed, feet already taking her to where her father was standing. you offered your hand to xiao, who took it with more enthusiasm than normal, you two followed his big sister to finally find the two other members of your family. 

though you could still feel your ex-husband’s gaze on your back. 

you sighed relieved when zhongli’s arms embraced your body, burying your face on his neck — his sandalwood scent managed to ease your heart a bit, though you were still waiting for disaster to happen with zandik around. you heard the girls’ giggles and xiao’s little ‘tsk’ at your display of affection, and you could feel your boyfriend’s smile while he kissed your lips. 

“i hope these little rascals didn’t give you any trouble, my dearest.” he spoke, voice deep and soothing, as if he could sense your distress at the moment. you smiled, shaking your head, while ganyu and xiao snuggled themselves in your sides. 

surprisingly, xiao was the first one to speak. “we would never give mommy any trouble, daddy.” you watched as surprise and pure love passed through zhongli’s features, his eyes the warmest you ever saw — it was as if he had dreamed about the day his children would finally acknowledge you as their true mother, despite the blood running through his veins. ganyu nodded and joined her brother’s chorus, nodding. 

“you’re the only one who we give trouble to, daddy!” 

you ruffled their heads. “i hope my little rascal didn’t give you any trouble, my love. i know how curious she can be.” you returned his question to him, hands still caressing xiao’s and ganyu’s hair, winking at your little girl who giggled between zhongli’s arms, that being your favorite sound in the world. she looked so at ease and at her place being nursed and loved by him, as if he was the one supposed to be her father from the very beginning. 

“my fault. she inherited it from her father, i suppose.” 

you didn’t remember his voice being so cold, as if it was the chill of the first snow of the year — it wasn’t fitting no, as your husband hailed from the west, from a place that never snowed. maybe it was the influence of some of his coworkers from the north, but you still remembered when that voice used to be your source of peace and comfort. “zandik.” you greeted him, not bothering to turn around to look at him, more concerned in protecting your children from his venom. they seemed to understand how dangerous he was, clinging to you even more. 

though, the worst part was watching nahida’s expression seeing her father after so long. her eyes were wide, but her lips were trembling and her small hands were clutching zhongli’s shirt with a strength you never saw before. you wanted nothing more than to just take her away from here, but zhongli’s expression told you he was willing to protect her like you would. it hurt you to know that your daughter was aware of the monster her father was, and you felt as if you had failed your mission to protect her childhood innocence. 

he chose to ignore your presence, focusing his attention on zhongli and nahida, as if his ego was hurt by the fact his daughter didn't run straight to his arms. “why a strange man is holding my daughter, y/n?” you turned to face him, instinctively putting ganyu and xiao behind you, hoping to protect them.

“he's my boy—” 

“he's my daddy!” nahida's voice cut you off, leaving everyone speechless. “he's going to marry mommy and not make her cry like you did, papa.” she explained, voice quiet like a feather reaching the ground after failing — though, to you, her words resonated inside your head, for two reasons: she was too young to be worried about someone making you cry. 

and zhongli wanted to marry you. 

zandik answered with a dry chuckle, his eyes shining with the same anger it did back then. “what poison about me did you feed to my daughter, you bitch?” you watched as his hand started to move towards your figure, and you closed your eyes, memories of the day when you confronted him about his cheating played in your head — the screams and the tears, the harsh words and his hands bruising your face. 

though, the impact of his fist in your jaw didn't happen again. 

you opened your arms to see zhongli in front of you, nahida being supported only by one of his arms but looking worried at your shaking form, his other hand holding zandik's arm, fingers squeezing your ex-husband’s wrist — even ganyu and xiao got away from their hiding place, now in front of you, as if they were ready to protect you. 

“do not ever dare to touch my wife like that again, scum, or i will make sure you regret messing with my family again.” zhongli said, voice firm and demanding. “get out of my sight or else nobody in this world will make me stop hunting you for hurting y/n.” 

— 

it pained him to see you like this. 

zhongli could see how strong you tried to look for the children, especially nahida. after the encounter with her father — and his boyfriend now, the same man who zandik had cheated on you with, who was lurking in the shadows until zhongli stepped up — she was visibly shaken up, not leaving your arms until your little family arrived home. in the walls of her safe place, nahida regained her light, and xiao and ganyu seemed relieved, ready to play with his little sister. 

nor you or zhongli touched the subject in front of them, and he was waiting for night time, the only time when he was alone with you in the confines of your shared room, to extract your real feelings. he could see how your smiles didn’t reach your eyes, or how your laugh seemed forced — it seemed like the kids did too, all three of them snuggled in your arms during the movie you were watching, while you were snuggled at his side. he couldn’t ask for anything better than to have the love of his life and his children safe in his arms, though his mind was running miles trying to find a way to make your husband pay for what he made you and nahida go through.

another thing that he wanted to discuss was the little secret nahida spilled. 

he didn’t blame her, of course. zhongli understood it was her way of protecting him and her mother from her father’s words, and he couldn’t be more grateful for her actions — it was a testimony of how well you were raising her, and also a testimony that you both were better without the shadow of zandik looming over you. nahida now had space to grow her opinions and be whatever she wanted, and zhongli was happy that he was able to provide such an environment for her, alongside you. 

the sound of the door opening made him tear his eyes from his book, gentle gaze now focused on your form. you were wearing some pajamas pants and an old t-shirt of his, and he swore you looked the most beautiful you ever did looking like that — perhaps, you in a white dress walking down the aisle to meet him could beat such a sight. he opened his arms and you took no time to just jump between them, face nuzzled on his neck, his warm hands drawing circles on your lower back. you sighed contentedly. “how is she?” he knew you were putting nahida to sleep, being the one who aided you in putting the children in their respective rooms, staying a bit more in her room to make sure she was alright. 

“she’s still a bit shaken up.” you answered, voice muffled by his shirt. zhongli tightened his arms around you, kissing your hair. “i explained to her that zandik will never take her away from us, but she made me promise it at least three times.” your chuckle was a sad one, and he feared you bursting into tears for someone who didn’t deserve it — though, he couldn’t help and feel warm inside by the fact you included him and his children in your family. 

he kept his silence, only humming, knowing you had to say more. “why is he like that? why i couldn’t see how horrible he was from day one?” you seemed defeated, and his blood boiled at the sensation of your tears soaking his shirt. 

zhongli knew very well how you felt. “love normally clouds our senses, dearest.” you took your face from its hiding spot, meeting his amber eyes — gentle and shining with endless love for you, making your heartbeat race just like in the first time you saw them. “but he will never try to approach you or nahida again, do you hear me?” he held your face between his large hands, thumb caressing your cheeks in a loving way. you nodded, giving him a smile that resembled your normal ones. 

“i wish you were nahida’s father from the start, ‘li.” you admitted, a pout on your lips. he pecked them briefly, almost giving you no time to melt into the kiss, kissing your forehead soon after. 

he helped you to get up from his embrace, legs straddling his thighs, while taking a small black velvet box from under your pillow. “if you say yes, i can.” 

you looked between him and the velvet box as if you didn't understand what was happening, but in reality, you couldn't believe it. why zhongli, a man so fine like the most delicious wine, wanted to marry you? a poor excuse of a woman and mother, who still got shaken up with the presence of her ex-husband? you knew he deserved someone so much better than yourself, but you wanted to be that person — but the tears were already glossing your vision and your head came to rest on his chest, his hands holding you close to his body.

you cried like a child, the velvet box between your hands and zhongli's long fingers between your hair. his warmth was almost soothing you, almost whispering that you were made and born to be in that position, between his arms and feeling his love for all eternity. 

your sobs calmed in the same intensity zhongli's love professions became more and more passionately, his words making you see that even if you didn't feel like you were deserving of his love, he felt like you were. and that was enough, you came to realize — zhongli's love was his to give to anyone he deemed worthy of, and he deemed you and your daughter worthy of his endless affections. 

“yes.” you whispered against the pale skin of his neck, now a bit red from the small love bites you gave him after you calmed down. the velvet box was still resting in your hands, and after giving his neck another kiss, you positioned yourself to face him and his amber gaze, eyes already tearing up by the love shining on them. 

zhongli's hands were ready to open it, showing you the most beautiful ring you ever saw in your life — a gold band with a heart shaped diamond in the middle, some emeralds, as the same color as your sweet girl's eyes, around it, making the ring perfect for you. you nodded again, heart racing when he took your hand in his and put the ring on your finger. as soon as you felt the cold band in your warm skin, you cupped his face, bringing his face to meet yours in a passionate kiss.  

“thank you.” zhongli whispered against your lips after he broke the kiss, and you smiled, though not ready for his next words. “thank you for loving me, for choosing this scarred and brute man to be your husband.” you just stroked his face, letting him talk his heart out. “thank you for being the best mother for nahida and now to ganyu and xiao.” his lips soon found your face once again, now caressing your cheek. “i love you.” he whispered with his nose on your cheek, his plump lips pressing a big and sloppy kiss there, his hands now roaming through your body — you knew what he wanted, already grinding your hips against his. 

“you'll make me cry again.” you managed to say between the shaky breaths leaving your mouth due to his wandering hands. “i— ah— love you.”

both of you couldn't wait to be intertwined as one for eternity, expressed by the sounds and movements of your bodies — and the proposal would always be remembered by you as one of your christmas's miracle.

[pandoradoesotherstuff]

How Your Companions Would Spend Christmas at Camp:

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A/N: Happy holiday's everyone, no matter what you celebrate or don't celebrate! I hope you have a good time, irregardless. 🥰

This is just a fun little something because, although I'm in no way religious, I like this time of year. (To a certain extent. 😂😂)

Enjoy! ❤️

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

Astarion:

Doesn't remember how he used to spend the holidays before.

Quite happy lounging about camp and telling everyone else how to decorate the tree properly. "It's blatantly obvious I have the best taste in camp, darling. You can't expect me to do the hard work and make the decisions. That's what our oh so fearless leader, Tav, is for".

Develops a taste for mulled wine and wonders aloud if mulled blood could/should be a thing.

Gale:

Absolutely loves the idea of spending Christmas altogether.

Suggests getting a tree because he can finally have one that Tara won't knock down.

Spends the entire day cooking with numerous fires and self stirring pots.

Backhandedly complains the entire time but then refuses anyone's help.

Falls asleep as soon as he's finished eating but insists he's merely just "resting his eyes".

Halsin:

Single handedly carries the tree into camp.

Doesn't need a ladder or a flight spell to place the star on top.

Insists he doesn't want a gift from anyone but loves the jar of honey Tav gave him and refuses to share.

Whittles everyone a personalised duck. I.e, Shadowheart's wears her Sharran circlet around its head. Astarion's has fangs. (Or should that be Goostarion.)

Karlach:

Is 100% the most enthusiastic for the celebrations.

Excitedly tells anyone who'll listen about her childhood Christmases.

Keeps cursing Zariel/Gortash for not being able to kiss anyone underneath the mistletoe.

Bursts into carols at any given point, although she doesn't remember most of the words to them, so instead, she makes it up as she goes. Scratch enjoys barking alongside her.

Lae'Zel:

Doesn't understand what this "crest-mass" is all about even after Karlach explains several times.

"This sounds like a frivolous waste of time. Istik children would be better off training as to avoid being slaughtered by their enemies."

" Bah...humbug? What does that mean? I've never come across such a word in any of the teachings. It may be very powerful to be so rare"

Starts to like the idea of "crest-mass" more when Tav gifts her a new heavy crossbow.

Shadowheart:

Pretends like she isn't that interested in the celebrations but finds herself humming along to carols she didn't know she knew. (Thanks Shar!)

Develops a taste for mulled wine along side Astarion.

Helps Karlach and Tav to decorate the tree, sad that it doesn't bring back any childhood memories like they have but keeps it to herself.

Gets (mulled) wine drunk before dinner and sleeps through the whole thing, wakes up just in time for dessert.

Wyll:

Heartily agrees that celebrating Christmas would be good "for morale".

Gets drunk after dinner and tries to dance with Lae'Zel. (She refuses)

Shares a sweet moment with Karlach after she gifts him a "horn care" kit.

"I've never been more glad to have missed my prey, Karlach. Mizora was wrong, you're anything but heartless.

Scratch:

Is absolutely the bestest boy ever. Enough said.

[bastetwastaken]

Happy December, friends <3

I know I'm not super active- work is so busy- but I wanted to offer something to you all for this festive month. A little christmas present if you celebrate ^.^

So I put together a list of prompts which are delightfully cliche and will hopefully give you warm fuzzy feelings and bring a smile to your face <3 <3

Send me an ask, a ship and a prompt and I'll write you a silly little drabble which will be so tooth rottingly sweet you'll be sending me your dental bills.

Things to keep in mind: - Any YGO ship or pairing is welcome (bear in mind that I usually write Monarch or Puzzle though so I'm not as well practiced with other ships) - NSFW is fine, but it may take me a little longer to write. - Feel free to include as many details as you may want in the drabble, I'll do my bestest to fit them in ^.^ - I'm trying to keep things winter themed where possible, but the free space is literally just that, send me whatever you like. Please do not send me something which requires super heavy angst that I can't slap a happy ending on. I'm here for a good time my friends and I don't like my fiction to make me sad- life is hard enough.

Buying a christmas tree

Decorating a christmas tree

Buying decorations

Mistletoe 

Making a snowman 

Hanging christmas lights around the home

Baking christmas treats 

Their first christmas as a couple

Walking around the city to look at the lights

Keeping each other warm 

Ice skating

Gift giving 

Cuddling in front of a fire 

Making snow angels 

Going to a christmas market 

Enjoying hot chocolate/mulled wine

Playing in the snow 

Snowday! 

It’s their first christmas together as a couple in their own place and they’re not entirely sure what to do

Deciding to just stay home and spend the holidays together

The family have left and they’re finally alone and can enjoy their evening

They don’t celebrate Christmas, but they still like the way the holiday feels cosy and warm to them. 

Free space

................

On a side note;

This month can be a magical time, but also a very lonely time.

I have a girlfriend who is also a very lovely V-tuber who will be streaming on Christmas day to provide company to those who may not have any irl. She's funny, talented, so very kind and also a huge Yugioh nerd (she definitely won't mind me saying that). Check her out on Twitch here.

[itty-bitty-mess]

I know Christmas is over now, but I kept thinking about holiday-themed ways to be mean to bitties. Of course you could thread ribbons through their bones and use them as decorations, just to listen to the crying and begging of your bittybones ornaments slowly trail off into nothing, maybe put a hot bulb inside them to make them glow... but then there's the more psychological side, getting them hyped up for presents and then giving them nothing because they've been bad, or giving them only terrible gifts, like a "special necklace" that's actually a shock collar, or maybe some newspaper to line their cage with or just an old sock-- stuff that makes it clear you just didn't care at all about doing anything for them for Christmas, because they're basically just a burden that gives nothing back.

OOOOOOHHH I LOVE this ideas so much!!! This sounds so fun!! Nothing better to get you in that christmas spirit than to torment your useless little bitty in every way possible lol. Here’s some more christmas themed ideas for you. I may have gotten a bit carried away with some but I hope you like them!! Happy holidays!!

TW: BITTYBONES AB//USE, BITTY WHUMP, BITTY T*RT//URE

Text under the cut bc its long!

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A Softybones who finds the perfect napping spot in a stocking by the fire. However, what he doesn’t know is that the stocking has a hole at the bottom, so once he hops in, hoping to find a warm and cozy spot to enter his daily slumber, he slips through the hole and falls directly into the fire. Of course, he screeches and cries at the top of his tiny little lungs because he’s literally burning and melting, but his owners just ignore him as he burns and melts into a puddle of nothing. Once he’s finally gone, the family goes back to opening their presents, as if nothing happened

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Your Sansy has done nothing of use since you brought him home from the adoption center, and no matter what you try, he outright refuses to help in any way. He doesn’t care if he leaves a massive mess every time he enters the fridge for a snack nor cares enough to clean his gross little cage everytime he does his business.

Suddenly, you get an idea to make him useful for once. You make him an tiny angel costume - a bitty diaper, a halo made from a pipecleaner and a pair of wings made from cardstock - and forcefully dress him up against his will. Once he’s all dressed up, he’s clearly humiliated, but you’re not done yet.

Before he can protest or take off his ridiculous costume, you shove a cotton ball deep into his throat. As he chokes and tries to pluck the cottonball out of his throat, you tie up his arms and legs together with some gold ribbon. He’s immobile and helpless and is terrified of what you’ll do to him.

Finally, you hang him on the christmas tree, using his tied up arms as the hook. He squirms and tries to spit the cottonball out, but he can’t as it is way too big to do so by himself. He stops moving as much once he realizes you hung him at the highest spot on the tree, so if he managed to free himself, the fall could easily kill him. You can hear his muffled pleas and apologies, begging to be freed and let go.

But you ignore him and leave him hanging on the tree, ready to be humiliated by all your friends and family who are on their way to celebrate with you. They all point and laugh once they see him, and he spends the rest of the night being utterly ashamed and humiliated, trying not to cry.

────────•~❉᯽❉~•────────

A spoiled and ungrateful Blueberry constantly throws tantrums every christmas everytime he opens his presents and they’re not the right color or don’t look like they do on tv. He thinks he’s entitled to others’ gifts and has been caught opening gifts that weren’t for him, defending himself by saying he deserves those too because he’s “the gweat and wovable Blueberry!! The bestest behaved bitty evah!! MWEH!!”.

This Christmas you decide you, or in this case “Santa”, wont get him anything at all, but you plan to really drive the message home to the little pest. Once you and your family are opening the presents, Blueberry screeches and cries everytime a present isn’t for him. Throwing himself on the floor, kicking and slamming his fists as he throws a fit.

At the end, once all presents are opened and gone, Blueberry is inconsolable, crying nonstop because “how dare Santa forget about him!”. You see your chance and get close to him, looking him dead in the eyes, and tell him: “Well, Santa himself told me that you’ve been such an unbearable and ungrateful little brat that he decided you’ll be on the naughty list forever, and he won’t ever bother delivering gifts for you ever again. In fact, he told me I should take away all the toys and nice things from your cage since you don’t value what you’re given.”

Cue even more crying and screeching from an utterly heartbroken Blueberry who just realized he’ll never recieve any gifts ever again. His crying increases even more once he runs to his little cage and sees all his toys, bitty furniture, water bottle and all other luxuries are completely gone.

You force him to watch as you shove all his belongings on the fireplace: his favorite bandana, his racecar bed, his favorite teddy bear, etc. All reduced to ashes. He cries and begs you to stop even getting to his kness to plead with big fats tears rolling down his cheeks.

Blueberry is inconsolable, his furniture is gone, his nice clothes are gone, his toys are gone, his fancy cage is now empty and Santa hates him forever!!! He’s never allowed to keep anything ever again and spends the rest of his life pathetically begging for his things back, and regretting his every action to the very end.

────────•~❉᯽❉~•────────

Your Papy bitty has been nothing but a nuisance since the moment he got home. His failed attempts at helping you end up making the mess even bigger, leaving you to clean up after him and to do even more work. Everytime you want a calm and silent moment to yourself, he screeches and whines that he needs to be with you, demanding you place him near your soul immediately. You were actually close to dusting him that one time he tried helping you wrap some gifts but ended up unwrapping the ones you had already done, insisting you were doing it wrong and that he’d wrap them “the right way”. Except “the right way” ended up looking like it was made by a messy two year old.

One snowy morning, Papy hops into your bed and starts jumping nonstop on top of you, squealing about the snow and ordering you to get up to play and make a snowman with him. Although you wake up incredibly annoyed and angry at him, you get an idea. You help him get dressed into his tiny winter clothes and open the door to your backyard. He runs outside and squeals in excitement, he loves the snow!!! He makes pea-sized snowballs and a small snowman his size, he makes tons of snow angles and even builds himself a snowfort!!

All throughout, you watch him from inside the house, there’s no way you’re stepping outside at such low temperatures! You carefully close the door to the backyard, making sure to lock it as silently as possible to keep him from noticing, and go back to your warm and cozy bed, snuggling under the covers and drifting off to sleep without that annoying thing bothering you.

After hours of playing in the snow, Papy is exhausted and could really use a warm bath or some hot cocoa right about now! He goes up to the door but notices its closed, “Oh, they probably didn’t notice they locked the door!! They’re probably nearby!! Surely my dear owner would NEVER leave me alone, locked out in the snow!! Nyeh!!” He says to himself. He tries knocking the door, calling your name thinking you’ll probably hear him and let him inside.

He keeps on knocking, and as time passes the knocking gets more and more desperate. Its getting colder and darker, and Papy is growing hungrier and colder by the minute. “HUMAN!!! HEWWO??? AM HUNGWY!!! PWEASE LET INSIDE!!!” He yells, using his annoying baby voice thinking that could do the trick, but nope. You’re still cozy and comfortable in bed, deep in your slumber and having wonderful dreams, dreams were Papy gets crushed into dust multiple times nonstop.

The sky gets darker and the air gets colder, and before Papy even notices it’s already night. He’s freezing, his bones are frozen and he can’t feel his fingers or feet. He keeps knocking, more like banging, on the door, scratching and trying to pry it open. He’s desperate as his delicate bones freeze slowly and painfully. He keeps crying out your name, begging to be let in and apologizing for whatever he did that made you angry. He tries looking for other ways inside. But all windows and doors are locked.

Despite the despair, he tries not to cry to avoid his tears from freezing and sticking to his face. He tries getting as close to the door as possible, hoping to feel even the slightest hint of warmth from inside. He closes his eyes as he hugs himself, hoping to wake up back inside wrapped in warm clothes and showered with love.

The next morning you wake up nicely rested and relaxed. No annoying squeaky voice to scream your ear off at your every step. You take a look trough the window to the backyard and there’s no Papy on sight. Earlier that morning there was an tiny pile of dust outside the backyard door, with Papy’s tiny winter clothes on top, but as the morning progressed it mixed with the snow and the clothes were blown away by the wind. You put on some cozy pajamas and make youself some hot chocolate, you relax the rest of the day binging your favorite christmas movies and enjoying your now bitty-free life.

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A person decides the best gift to give their partner this christmas is an adorable little Blueberry!! How wonderful!! How cute!! The Blueberry is more than overjoyed, he’s so excited to get a warm home with yummy food and wonderful toys and all the love he could ever ask for!!!

He even sticks out his tongue to the other bitties as he’s being picked up by the Bitty Shop employee and prepared to be taken home. He’s so special and important!! Once he arrives to his new home, he’s super clingy with his new Daddy!! He’s so happy to be here!! He can’t wait to meet Mommy too!!

Daddy sticks a cute metallic blue bow on Blueberry’s head and places him inside a a wrapped gift box. Blueberry waits in anticipation for the moment where his new Mommy opens the box and sees him!! He’s sure she’ll love him too!!

Unfortunately, the couple ends up have a huge fight during christmas before they even get to open their gifts. Blueberry hears them screaming and calling each other horrible names. He cries, he’s so scared, why are Mommy and Daddy fighting?

Suddenly he hears things being thrown around, specifically each other’s gifts. Oh no!! All those nice gifts they got each other!! The sound of things breaking can be heard from all the gifts that get thrown around. Blueberry is terrified, it’s christmas!! Its supposed to be all about meeting their new bitty and showering him with love!!

Suddenly, Blueberry jumps to his feet as he feels his box being picked up, its his time to shine!! Surely his cuteness will be enough to stop the fight and bring peace back into his new hom. Surely Mommy and Daddy will love him so much they’ll stop fighting!! He finds himself smiling as widely as possible, trying to put up the “widdle baby” act as best as he can. He’s face to face with his new Mommy, who is staring down at him with a… disgusted expression?!

“I TOLD YOU I DIDNT WANT ONE OF THESE SHITTY THINGS!! WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU GIVE ME A BITTY WHEN YOU KNOW I FUCKING HATE THE THINGS!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!!” She screeches in Daddy’s direction.

H-huh?

“WELL IF YOURE GONNA BE A BITCH ABOUT IT THEN THROW THE THING AWAY, ITS NOT LIKE I SPENT MUCH ON IT OR ON YOU ANYWAY!!” Daddy snaps back.

W-What?!?

Before Blueberry can even open his mouth, he’s flying all the way across the room and hitting the wall skull-first.

*CRACK*

His skull cracks right in the middle and his lower jaw gets shattered completely. Blueberry is screeching in pain, big blue tears cascading nonstop, he’s so confused but can’t even ask Mommy nor Daddy for help. His jaw is broken and he cannot speak, he’s crying but Mommy and Daddy are too busy throwing things at each other to care.

He tries holding his jaw together, barely babbling to Daddy, begging for monster candy. Daddy, incredibly furious, grabs him by the legs and starts swinging him and smashing the bitty’s head against a nearby table nonstop. He’s probably trying to hurt his partner by destroying the gift he got her.

The next morning, the now broken Blueberry gets returned to the shop. The employee is a bit surprised by just how horrendous the thing looks now. He’s barely recognizable as a Blueberry and cannot even speak anymore. Tears fall nonstop from his cracked eyes, one eyelight is gone.

He has no chance of being adopted again by an owner, no one would want an ugly broken bitty like that one, especially not during the holidays. The employee decides to shove him in the Discount Bin, maybe there’s someone that could use him as a guinea pig for an experiment or as live feed for their pet.

────────•~❉᯽❉~•────────

During the holidays, you can see Bitty Shops giving the craziest discounts any shop could give, and bitties seem to try their hardest to appear as charming and cute as possible. Sometimes you can even see some bitties on the shop windows straight up begging passerby to adopt them, crying and on their knees. They seem desperate and scared that the end of the year is near, because they know what happents to the bitties on the shops that do not get sold before the New Year arrives.

Once New Years Eve arrives, the unsold bitties get tied up to fireworks by the shop employees, being set off to fly across the sky and then blow up in a delightful show of dust, light and color. Everybody loves seeing the fireworks for New Years Eve, the colors are wonderful and seeing poor crying bitties blowing up in the sky is always a fun experience for the whole family!!

────────•~❉᯽❉~•────────

Your younger brother had a habit of shaking his gifts first to figure out what they were. You often adviced him against it, telling him that one day he would end up breaking one of his gifts that way. He often ignored your advice, until that christmas morning where you saw him shaking a particular gift extremely hard. You could hear something small rattling and squeaking inside, and even some very faint cracking sounds, but he still couldn’t figure out what it was.

You assumed he finally learned his lesson once he opened the box to find a Sansy bitty inside, with all his bones broken and shattered into pieces and with both arms already turning into dust. He could barely speak as all his teeth had broken and he couldn’t even move as his legs had just began dusting.

Your parents decided to simply flush him down the toilet, not even considering monster candy or any other remedy. It’s not like your brother particularly cared for the bitty anyways, since you saw him quickly move on to the next gift as if nothing had happened, but you did notice that he stopped shaking his gifts after that incident.

────────•~❉᯽❉~•────────

Cherry cried nonstop as you hung him up in the tree, at the highest spot near the bright glowing star. You had shoved him inside one of those DIY ornaments that were made of clear plastic and were hollow inside. He banged the plastic capsule nonstop, begging you to please take him down, promising to be more grateful for the gifts you give him from now own.

You shook your head at that, maybe he should’ve been more grateful for the used trash you sloppily wrapped up for him. He should be happy to recieve even a cup of dirt, he should be grateful despite how horrible or awful your gifts for him were. Its the least he could do after being such a useless burden that provided nothing and only pissed and cried all day.

He panicked and began soiling himself once he saw you walk away back to your bedroom. He begged you in tears to not leave him here, PLEASE!! ITS TOO HIGH!! ITS COLD!! PLEASE LET HIM OUT!! THIS ORNAMENT IS TOO SMALL!! HE CANT BREATHE!! HES SCARED!! PLEASE!! His inconsolable screams intensify once he hears you close and lock your bedroom door. He’s drowining in his own waste, left all alone at such a high spot on the tree. He keeps calling your name between sobs, but you ignore him.

The next morning, you find the broken shards of the ornament on the floor. There’s dust scattered around as well, and you find Cherry’s little soiled pajamas at the top of one of the little dust piles. You shrug and decide to make yourself a nice coffee to start your day. Afterall, you had better things to do like that christmas lunch with friends!

────────•~❉᯽❉~•────────

[husbandograveyard]

happy birthday Hazel!! 🥳🥳 hope you’ll have a wonderful day! ❤️

for the weirder asks, may I ask about 5, 21, and 46?

Hiya Coony!! ♡♡ thank you, its so good to see you around again, I hope you're doing well ♡♡♡

I have a super chill day planned 🥰 very much taking it easy!

As for the asks~

5 - What color are your eyes?

My eyes are the same as my name: Hazel ☺️ light brown with definite green tinges. If the light hits them right, they are golden almost. They're pretty big and genuinely one of my best features (not that u asked) 💀

21 - Something you've kept since childhood

A bunch of my plushies, letters from my best friend after i moved. Letters from my (now) girlfriend we sent back and forth. Some small gifts/souvenirs. I keep a lot of small things in my memory box. Some would call it mild hoarding, i just feel bad throwing things away that people put effort in.

46 - Favorite holiday film?

Not a big holiday person, not a big movie person (series all the way). Im gonna have to say the Grinch (w Jim carry) or the Nightmare before Christmas? The Grinch never fails to make me giggle at least a bit and i am just and elder emo, i have to love my man jack, my girl sally and bestest boy Zero!!

Thank you for stopping by, sending you so much love~!! ♡

[cloudcountry]

time for tree reactions <3 all of them will be under the cut or in the reblog!!

abel you dropped so much RIZZ on my tree!!! but for seriousies thank you :(( youre such a sweet person and im so thankful we got to meet and talk and get so comfortable with each other!! you're one of the closest friends for sure and i love you lots and lots <3 im glad you got so much goodies this christmas and i hope the next one is even better for you!!

BONKS YOU YOUR ART WAS AMAZING AND YOUD ONT EVEN NEED A PROMPT!!! youre so speedy at liking posts and reblogging my writing yorue always my first note atp AHJSGDJHASGD im so happy to be auburn aubie aux cord silly silly to you!!

................................i love you too.

merry chrimis soru!!! i hope leona spoiled you rotten :3

im assuming this is winnie? ANYWAY thank you!! youre just as sweet if not more so!! :(( argh telling me to take better care of myself really punched me in the gut ouf but thank you its always something i need to hear HGSAFDHASG thank you for looking out for me <3

RUBIA YOURE SO SWEET THANK YOU FOR TEH CONSTANT REMINDERS AJSHGDJASHD the extra ggifts in there made me giggle C: thank you so much, i will cherish all of them.

hi edie!! man i wanted snow too but i also didnt get any :(( i hope texas treats you better next year,,, although im pretty sure its always REALLY hot down there. thank you for being so lovely too!! <3

happy holidays!!! <3

DOOOOOVE!!!!! im also happy to have met you even though you're the reason theres so much chaos on my blog!! <3 and thank you for cursed edits as much as it pains me to say this. you are a creative genius in the worst and best ways. mostly best.

TANHNK YOU??? CRIES :(( I HOPE YOU HAVE A LOVELY DAY TOO!!!

INSPIRING??? NO ITS NOT WEIRD AT ALL I LOVE HEARING FROM PEOPLE THAT READ MY STUFF!! this was genuinely so sweet of you to send, its nice to know people see the environment ive cultivated around myself and consider it admirable ^^;

THANK YOU HARU <33 YOU ARE TOO!!

HI JACKDAW ANON!! i hope you do as well <3 of course i listen!! yoru ideas are always so fresh and creative, you have such a beautifully creative mind!! aww thank you for thanking me :(( thats so kind

JASHDFJA AN AZUL LEKTER :((( I REMEMBER REAIDNG THIS FOR TEH FIRST AND VIBRATING ON MY BED HELP MEEEE AND THE ORNAMENT?? MEANING???? HELP THIS WAS SUCH A SWEET LETTER THANK U FOR ACKNOWLEDGING MY HARD WORK COMING FROM AZUL THAT IS HIGH PRAISE :((

HENRY :(( THANK YOU SO MUCH TAHTS SO CUTE HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

thank you aims you ARE a gift <3

BONKS YOU YOURE TEH BESTEST EVER AMARI YORUE A REAL ONE FOR DEALING W ME ON TEH 2DS HELP ME i cant velieve you amde a tumblr for me though omg jasjsjjssdhhshasshsh I LVOE YOU TOO YOURE ONE OF MY BESTIES EVER

happy holidays to you too sapphy!!! <3

RINRIN HI!!! i hope your winter goes well too!!! im always happy to see you around too ^^ i lvoe you too fr!!!

GO AWAY SAKI (i lvoe you :C)

:((( I GET SO SOFT WHEN U CALL METAHT MERRY CHRISTMAS COOKIE <33

ASHJDGJAHSGD ZELL YOREU SO SWEETETT?!?!??!?! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!! GO HAVE FUNA ND BE FREE !!!!! BEST WISHES TO YOU AND ALL OF YOUR SILLY ADVENTURES!!!! IM GLAD YOU STILL FIND MY RAMBLING FUN :3

SHSHHSH I LVOE U TOO KYOI?!?!?! BONKS UUUUUU I WILL DW!!! I HOPE YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON IS JUST AS MERRY!!!

xen thank youf or senidng this to me this letter made me squeal and scream and flail and kick my feet thsi was GOLDEN thank you so much!!!

this is a sweet :((( thank you axvie, i wish the ebst for you too <3

I DIDNT EXPECT TO GET A WHOLE FIC IN MY TREE BUT IM GLAD I DID ?!?!? SHHSDHGSFGHJ HES SO CUET WHEN HES NERVOUS AND THE MATCHING SWEATERS MADE ME AWWW AND THE MISTLETOE?!??!? AJAHDAHJGGHDSAGHADHGADGHJGHJDSAGHJADSHJGDGHJGHJDSGHJDSGHDSAGJHSGDJHAGSJHDAGJHDSGJHADGJH PASSES OUT THANK YOU WHOEVER SENT THIS IN ITS SO CUTE IM DYING

[dimootri]

"the bestest christmas gift in all of teyvat!"

time taken: 1.5 hrs

[boombrothersasks]

Christmas check-in! How's everyone doing on getting presents?

"Not too bad!" Sonic rushed in and out of view coming back with a few small, simple items. "Just some stuff, easy to get, they'll like it. BUT FOR TAILS, MY BESTEST BROTHER BUDDY, I...GOT...A NEW... PLANE WING! Because...it broke...while he and Eclipse were flying...and he was jumping on it...and fell...and Tails couldn't find another wing to fix it with so I found one for him! Awesome, right? Its so awesome. I'm the best gift giver ever."

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

"I made everyone robo companions!" Tails looked excited and proud for a moment. "...Then they exploded. Those were some cool few minutes though. Sticks probably wouldn't have liked it, but I thought, maybe she misses Buster? So, I don't know what to get them now. But I can figure it out!"

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

"It was easy!" Rouge answered confidently. "No problem at all."

"IS THE PROCESS COMPLETE OR WILL WE BE REQUIRED TO BREAK MORE WINDOWS."

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHUT IT." Rouge lightly hit Omega's armor with her shoulder.

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

"Hey! We're working on something here!" Knuckles shouted from afar, quickly pulling a rather random curtain down over an area surrounded by palm trees. Sticks only hissed.

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

"Well, I'm getting everyone sweaters!" Amy answered before diverting to someone else. "You're getting better! See, having a little patience wasn't so hard, was it?"

Amy turned over to Eclipse, who looked like he was shaking in place.

"Another cup of coffee, Amy."

"You had ONE and you're shaking. No more coffee for you."

"I NEED TO STAY AWAKE. THIS IS IMPORTANT. COFFEE."

Amy glared at him.

"...Please."

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

"So...how much do I need to pay for this?"

"You figure it out."

"Don't mess with me now, I just traveled from miles over to get this stupid...climby thingy for my brother. Do you know who I am? I'm Shadow the Hedgehog, and I can make things difficult for you if you don't cooperate."

"I know who you are. Fine. The price? Your soul."

"I really don't need it that bad. Do you want my money or not."

"YOUR SOUL."

"I'm leaving."

"Do that and I'll curse your entire family."

"How?"

"Somehow."

"That's not an answer."

"Is too."

"IS NOT."

"IS TOO."

Shadow growled. "You're a child. Just give me the thing."

"HA! YOU BELONG TO ME NOW!"

"Non-superstitious cancel-out."

"You're so going to regret this."

"I know. The things I do for that alien..."