#these r my favorite ever ty grand cross

[goat-sin-of-lust]

DECIDED TO MAKE THESE TRANSPARENT its kinda. bad. but then again it was for me only but im soo nice and decided to post it <3 if i missed spots ur welcome to edit it to fix it :P

[mego42]

fav animated films

tagged by @joeyjoeylee and @pynkhues (ty ladies 💖)

i’m gonna be real with y’all, it physically hurts me to see some of you dismissing animated films as for kids and cartoons. if you’ll allow me to put on my art kid hat for a second, i have a (usually drunken) impassioned rant that i roll out around the topic but to spare y’all and sum it up, it is an ART FORM made up of three different art forms in a trenchcoat and quite frankly, you fav ~films COULD!!!!!! NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!

mary and max

you want an animated movie that truly deserves the film moniker? look no further. this gorgeously stop motion animated film is the story of an eight year old australian girl who forms an incredibly unlikely friendship based on a life long pen pal relationship with a 44 year old new yorker with asperger’s. it’s a really beautiful story that, fair warning, gets pretty dark at points but i can honestly say has moved me like very few films have possibly for personal backstory reasons but also because it’s so damn good. idk, it makes me cry a lot. also, the soundtrack? incredible.

fantastic mr fox

i love wes anderson, i think he’s an artist and a master of visual and micro-storytelling. fantastic mr fox isn’t my all time favorite of his portfolio (that prize rotates between the royal tenenbaums, moonrise kingdom, and the grand budapest hotel), i love this movie a lot and it is one of my favorite animated films. it’s another stop motion (LISTEN THAT IS SUCH A COOL TECHNIQUE AND HONESTLY BREAKS MY BRAIN WITH EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO IT) and the visuals can get downright eerie in a way that makes me shiver with glee.

coraline

another stop motion! the visual style of this movie is so gorgeous and complicated, i lost a bet over whether or not it was digitally or physically animated. i belligerently insisted capitalism would never allow for an animation studio to build such vibrant and intricate sets because there was absolutely no way that would be even a little bit cost effective and i have never ben happier to be wrong, tbh. the first time i watched this movie i immediately watched it two more times back to back bc i am very normal when i love stuff.

coco

i watch this movie a minimum of three times a year.

up

the first ten minutes of this movie is a greater love story than most love stories could ever aspire to be and that’s just the launching point for the rest. i am an absolute sucker for both found family and cross-generational relationships so this hits on multiple levels.

wall-e

this movie makes the list for a couple of reasons. one, I remain in awe of the kind of storytelling pixar can do without dialogue. two, it’s an inside joke between me and my husband (i’m eva, he’s wall-e, i never said it was a complicated or even a good joke but it makes me squishy nonetheless). we actually had a wall-e wedding cake topped with wall-e and eva funko pops and i hear it was gorgeous. i never saw it bc my flower girls stole it and smashed and ate it all in the back seat of their parents rental car.

spider-man: into the spider-verse

this movie is a mfing instant classic and if you haven’t seen it you’re only hurting yourself. the story is impeccable, the combination of depth and humor is absolute perfection and the animation is I N C R E D I B L E. they scrapped current CGI convention and went back to the hand-animation technique of shifting movement every second frame (alternating which frame, the first or second, depending on the vibe they wanted to give the scenes). they also scrapped motion blur to give the whole thing a sharper, more staccato feeling that (imo) really ramped up the energy and made it feel more comic book in a vague but crucial sort of way and also unique from other animated movies. THEN they went in and did the line work, painting and dot effects on top of all of that to give it that hand drawn, living painting feeling and honestly the whole thing is so lush and gorgeous if i think about it too much i want to punch myself in the face.

kubo and the two strings

look, the casting of this movie is a trainwreck, enough of one that i waffled a lot about putting it on this list. the fact that they told such a steeped in japanese culture story with all white people is a disaster and everyone involved should have known better. on the flip side, it’s one of the most breathtakingly beautiful animation jobs i’ve ever seen in my life so idk, i hold both of those facts in my head at the same time i guess.

anastasia

i have such a soft spot for this movie, I vividly remember seeing it in the theater. idk, it’s fantastic

the secret of NIMH

looking back this movie was SO DARK and i was SO OBSESSED WITH IT as a kid (still kind of an, tbh, in spite of the relentless cat slander, it’s incredibly thematically rich)

idk who has been tagged already so no pressure if you’ve already gone or you don’t wanna @nickmillerscaulk @foxmagpie @riosnecktattoo @jazillia007

[night-rook]

Addict | Katsuki Bakugo x Reader

Word Count: 3754 Reader Type: Female, 3rd POV, Extoic Dancer Story Type: Inspired by music, My Hero Academia Beware: Curse words, Mention of Sex and Drugs Key terms: (Y/n) = Your Name (Y/F/N) = Your Full Name (S/N) = Stage Name (H/C) = Hair Color

                                  ━━━💥 🧡 💥 ━━━

Flashing lights blink throughout the club as the crowd goes quiet. The women who were performing walked down the stages and started to serve drinks instead to the hounding members. In the center of the room, a man blew a long stripe of smoke from his cigarette. The cloud of toxicity trailed through the air and led to center stage. Taking a deep breath, her hands reached above her and gripped onto the metallic pole. She inhaled the poison just as the neon lights shifted on. Enlightening the crowd with her reveal. Her outfit had the horny pricks beneath her drooling for more. The black shorts fit snuggled with green straps tight on her thighs. Her extremely cropped top had an orange cross over the black fabric, the nice rack in full view from the low v neck. The entire club floor vibrates when the song starts to play. As if under a trance, her arms fanned around her body before gripping the pole fan out her legs. The male crowd immediately roared at the simple display just as she spun on the pole. The boss man blew another cloud of poison towards her and caused her to inhale it as she walked the catwalk. She dropped to the floor and slowly crawled on all fours. Dragging out the hungry that everyone had. Just as the music striked up, she smoothly sat up while arching her back. She fell back and spread her body out on the cold stage. Her mouth silently lipping to the song that played for her showcase. Sweat built up on her skin as she danced for them all. The heated liquid evaporated off her working body as mist slowly formed in the club. Every person in the room inhaled the mist. Their eyes dilated when the thin haze entered their system. Men had tents building up in their pants while females began to get wet. The more she danced, the more everyone’s drive heightened. A pair of sharp red eyes watched from a bar in the far back. He took in the way the dancer moved her body. The way she pushed against the metal as if it was a person. He didn’t miss a beat when she gracefully spun. He licked his slightly chapped lips when she hung upside down on that metal bar. The tent in his jeans was suffering from the compression while his mind went wild at just witnessing her work. Running a hand through his hair, Bakugo took a sip from his drink. He looked back up at the stage and marbled at the beauty more. Her outfit stuck to her body so well. A smirk formed on his mouth at knowing the suggestive choice in that clothing theme. The small bells that hang off the green belt rang despite the deafening volume of the music. As she crawled once more on the stage, he leaned forward on his seat to see her remove her skin tight top. His breath got stuck in his throat at the stripping. Underneath the clothing, she displayed the bondage lingerie. Bakugou leaned back in his seat and bit the inside of his lip. His ears picked up the wolf howling and whistling for the dancer, but he got up from his seat and headed to one of the bouncers. As the music came to its end, she climbed onto the pole with ease. Timing just right.. She pressed her back to the pole and propped her feet up. She puffed out her chest and spread her legs apart to give a view just as the music ended. Her body huffed and puffed from the showcase while the neon lights flick to signal the end of her performance. She sighed and walked off the stage to head back to her room in the back. She didn’t bother to get the money that had rained over to her while she danced, the guards and girls will gather it for her. She just wants to rest. Crashing on the loveseat in her room, the dancer let out a loud sigh. She covered her eyes with her arm and enjoyed the little silence that was in her room. The music behind the door was still loud but it was muffled enough to where she could hear herself. Taking the moment, she reflected for a bit. (Y/f/n) was once a wishful girl. She was the eighty percent who had gotten a quirk. She was part of the percentage that wanted to be a hero. To save people and be seen as someone great. However, she was ripped away from her dreams of ever being someone great.  Her quirk wasn’t what she hoped. During primary school, it wasn’t grand and could pass as just an aroma. Her young mind was just happy that she had a quirk to begin with. As she aged, she idolized the Rated R Hero: Midnight  for they shared a similarity. When middle school came, she was everyone’s favorite pastime. She “helped” everyone. The boys came to her for release due to her quirk drugging their hormones into overdrive, using her body to their pleasure. The girls seeked her out and asked for bottles of her sweat, allowing them to have more time to get filled with their lovers. “You know they’re just using you, dumbass.” a rough voice told her as she walked home. She only smiled at him. That sweet smile that always calmed his rather aggressive nature to a dull growl. She knew. She was alway aware that they were using her for a quick fix. Her body matured like wine after middle and high school, but she didn’t become a hero. Somewhere along the way, the young adult walked into the wrong crowd. Tying herself in a web of paid pleasure while venom attacked her body. She was trapped in a world of exotic performance and chained down by it to live. Dropping from the radar for years, her old classmates never knowing where she went or what happened. She clenched her fist tightly and bit back the cries that clawed at her throat. Getting up from the loveseat, (Y/n) walked over to the vanity. Her empty (e/c) stared at the mirror as it reflected back at the performer. She dug her nails into the wooden frame of the dresser as the reflection only showed her what she was. The boss's star display, his favorite toy. The longer she stared, she could see the image of him behind her. Closing her eyes, she could feel the poison starting to go down. Her mind can't be sober for this. She pulled open a drawer and took out a small box. (Y/n) lightly poured out the white substance and lined it out on the counter. Knock Knock "(S/n), you got a client." a muffled voice interrupted her just as she was able to inhale the dose. Straighten up and tidying up her appearance to look more appealing for the customer. She took a deep breath and formed back to her service attitude as the door opened. The guard let the client in and bowed as a means to respect them. "My apologies, (S/n)-senpai, He requested you." She smiled at the man and waved her hand to signal the guard to leave them be. Once alone, (Y/n) loosen her robe and laid down on the bed that rested in the center of the room. She shifted her kind smile to that of flirtatious as her eyes drank up the well built male. "Well, ain't you a cute one. What would you like, sir? I'm yours for the time being.. unless-" "Cut the shitty act." he growled at her. Blinking at his response, the woman sat up slightly. She didn't expect a harsh impression until they got into bed.  He dug his hands into his pockets and glared down at the female. He didn't move from his spot by the door. His crimson eyes wander around the room while she curiously stares at him. The blond man walked around, picking up the faint scent of liquor and cigarettes. His nose scrunches up in disgust at the foul smell that surrounds the room. The room was fairly clean despite the environment it was in. Furniture wasn't crap, they looked pretty well kept and polished. The cushions were surprisingly cleaned as well as the floor. His sharp eyes couldn't catch a spec of filth. He was about to return his attention to the female but something pecked from the corner of the room. White powder. The sight of the substance causes a vexatious wave to drown his entire body. Bakugo knew that she was in the red but this was.. Turning on his heel, he headed straight at her. His nostrils flaring out as he tried to contain his temper. His eyes burning more with emotions as he stares down at her.  Bakugo had spent eight years to get to where he is. Being the second best hero of Japan, he had his own agency and often worked with his former classmates. His motivation was to be better than everyone but he had another reason behind him. When she disappeared, he worked to look for her. He spent three years in a search for her whereabouts, asking her family and anyone who was in her social cycle. Until a year ago, his friends had decided to go out for dinner. He was eating when he heard her voice on the other side of the restaurant. It was faint but he could always recognize the soft ring that hid when she spoke. His eyes took a glance in the direction he heard her from. He remembers feeling fire burn through his entire body. Seeing his first and only love as a human toy drove him to work harder. He worked his ass off to gain enough and beyond support so he wouldn’t have to worry. All he gained was just to save her from the hell she was trapped in.  “(Y/n).” he simply said. His eyes staring straight into hers.  Her confusion grew more. How did he know her name? Why did he look angry enough to kill someone? This whole time he hasn’t said a word and wanders around the room. Only to say her name? Who was this strange man. “I’ve known every client who requests for my services and never once came across one who came to me without having to drive themselves to exhaustion.” she raised a brow while sitting up completely. “You came in here and only said my name with a rude comment as well. Who exactly are you?” “Katsuki Bakugo.” was all he said. Her eyes widened. Her body ran cold. The memories that became mere dreams came rushing back to the front. She took a better look at the man that stood there at the foot of the bed. His slim build had taken a drastic shift in muscle since high school. His spiked hair seemed more wild. Those crimson eyes that would always show his anger were solid but shined like ruby gems. She remembers those times when they would study after school. The times he would have her try his spicy cooking, even though her body would scream in agony. He would help her do her hair when trying out new styles, scolding her for bleaching her (h/c) locks because he liked the natural color she had. He was her shoulder to lean on when someone would break her heart. He would beat anyone who harassed her, his fists were Rated E for everyone when it came to protecting her. Tears started to form as more memories flashed before her eyes. Bakugo reached out and gently placed his hand on her cheek, using his thumb to wipe away the droplets that slipped out. His eyes grew soft at how she cried and leaned into his hand. Taking a seat by her, he lifted her up and placed her on his lap. She clenched onto his shirt and buried her face into the black muscle shirt. He whispered sweet comforting words to her, feeling his shirt drench from the water works. The pair remained silent for a while. “I want you to pack what you need. Forget about clothes, I’ll get you a brand new wardrobe. Forget about makeup, we can get a new set.” He pushed her away only slightly to see her tear stained face,  “Forget about anything that will remind you of this shithole, ya understand, Teddy Bear.” “B-But what if they-” “I’ll take care of it all. You don’t have to worry about a thing.” He smiled at her. It wasn’t the smug smile she had grown to remember as a teenager. Not the type that those horny beasts gave when they feast upon her. His smile was genuine and sincere. She nodded and got up to gather the little she had. She didn’t bother to pack a bag, all her belongings were tied to the job. Looking at the blond, he wrapped her in his jacket and pulled the hood up. They walked out the door. Bakugo kept his eyes open as he escorted them out the club, but as they neared the exit she stopped him. “Wait.. I need to do something first.” He let her walk over to the guard and watched for anyone who tried to approach her. (Y/n) tapped on the large man’s shoulder and smiled up at him. He asked her what was wrong after taking notice of her reddened eyes and the running mascara. To the guard, the female was always nice and kind. Seeing her with an unkempt appearance wasn’t common, even when dealing with clientele.  “I want you to have everything from tonight, Benny. Take that beautiful family of yours to dinner, buy your wife that ring you’ve been saving for, get your kids the toys they wanted,” she smiled at him and pat his cheek when he looked down at her in shock. “Whatever remains, give it to the girls. Tell them that I send my wishes.” With one last smile, she held onto the blond’s hand and waved goodbye to the bouncer who stood by the door. Getting into his car, Bakugo drove them out of the area and towards his place. His hand holding onto hers as the scenery blurred around the car. He would sneak glances and smile to himself, she looked relaxed for once in her life. The entire drive was silent but she didn’t mind. She looked away from the window and looked down at their hands.  Coming to a stop in front of a large building, Bakugo cut the engine and got out the car. He walked over to her side to open the car for her. He leads her into the building and towards his apartment. When he opened the door and held it open for her, she curiously walked in. Her eyes are taking in the spacious room. It was so big! She turned her head to him and caused him to chuckle at her overwhelmed expression. (Y/n) in turn blushed. “Only the best for my little bear.” He placed his hands on her waist and pushed her back into his chest, wrapping his arms around her. She tilted her head up at him and reached her hands up to place them on his cheeks, “What if I didn’t come with you…” “I wouldn’t take a no, that’s for damn sure. I’ll drag your ass out and blow up the place if someone tried to take you.” he looked at her and held her closer. “You’re the only reason I made it this far, Teddy Bear. While everyone called me an asshole, I would hear your cheers.” His arms tighten around her figure as he leaned down to rest his head on the crook of her neck. She leaned her head into his and closed her eyes.  “I searched for you every day for four years. Then I saw you with some bastards and saw how unhappy you looked, even with your shitty acting. I had to get you out of there.” he clenched his teeth and buried his head into her shoulder, quietly growling at the memory. “Their hands all over you, that hollow laugh… I’m so sorry you had to deal with all that alone, (Y/n).” The female slowly turned to face him, lifting his head to see the broken emotions in his ruby eyes. Tilting her head, she rubbed his cheek and gently booped the tip of his nose. He blinked at the small action. His scowl ceased when she simply tapped his nose. The old habit when he would scowl himself for losing, she would always do it to distract him. “Don’t ruin that cute face, Kats. You look like a gremlin when that ugly scowl takes over.” she giggled as he just blinked. He could only smile at her before attacking her with tickles. Her laughter echoed off the walls as he continued his tickle attack. His ruby eyes shining at the beautiful laugh that escaped her. The innocent smile on her face wasn’t like the fake ones he had seen during her performances. Lifting her up in his arms, Bakugo walked towards his room. “You can borrow my clothes tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll go hit the shops." He led them to the bathroom that was attached to his room.  Setting her down, he turned to get the shower on. She sat down on the toilet and waited for him, admiring the male. He had greatly grown since they were teenagers. The sound of water running caught her attention as she had zoned out. He patted her head and headed out the door. "You go ahead and shower. You can pick out what you want to wear from my dresser, I’ll be in the kitchen and fixing up something to drink.” (Y/n) watched him leave and close the door before standing up from her seat. Having her back face the mirror, she took off the article of clothing she had and let them drop to the tile floor. She blissfully sighed when the warm water hit her skin, standing under the showerhead for a moment to enjoy the feeling. No loud music. No cigarette smoke. No fluids. No night stands. Washing her body off, she slowly cleansed herself of everything. The memories of having to remove the filth flashed through her mind, but his words echoed over them. I’ll take care of it all. The empty feeling in her body filled with warmth at the thought of finally escaping hell. A scent of caramel reached her when she washed the shampoo off. Giggling softly as the sweet smell surrounded her. It was different from the floral scent she would use to cover the hazy tobacco. It was gentle and reminded her of the blond. Turning off the water and stepping out to dry herself, (Y/n) left the bathroom and went back into his room. Her eyes glanced around the clean bedroom before landing on the dresser across the room. She walked over to it and searched through his clothes for anything comfortable. Pulling out a hoodie and a pair of briefs, she slipped into them and looked up to see a photo frame on top of the dresser. A small girl and boy grinned at her, his hand holding onto the little girl’s hand while also waving at whoever took the picture. The next photo was a teenage version of the pair, they sat at a table unaware that someone had taken a picture. A teenage Bakugo fed her a spoonful of red curry while it looked like he was chuckling. Her heart thumbed heavily at the sweet memories that were behind those two photos. She placed a hand over her chest and smiled softly. Shaking her head, she left the bedroom to join the boy in. She jumped onto the counter stool and watched him fix two mugs of tea for them. He turned his head and noticed her sitting, handing her the mug of chamomile tea. He leaned back on the counter and faced her, taking a few sips from his mug. “I’ll be sleeping on the couch if that makes you comfortable. I know with everything you've been through, you’re probably used to sleeping alone.” he spoke after a few minutes. She lifted the mug up to her lips and softly blew into it, trying to cool down the hot liquid. Her eyes glanced up at him before softly whispering,  “I don’t mind having you by me..” “Are you sure? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, sweetheart. I’m okay with taking the couch until you adjust to everything.”  “I’m sure! I don’t get sleep as it is… my- The boss won’t let me with clients coming every hour.” she looked down on the marble countertop, clenching onto the mug as the man’s face appeared. Bakugo noticed the change at the mention of the head bastard. He reached and placed his hand on top of hers. They did a number on her as she slowly turned her attention to him. Her eyes were fogged over as she thought back to those countless hours of the night she stayed up. Those painful minutes of drunken movements and smoked filled air. The men forced themselves onto her as the boss watched from his place on the loveseat. The nights when he would even use her for his own joy. Letting out a shaky breath, she slowly returned to reality and forced onto the blond in front of her. “Let’s get some rest. We got a big day ahead of us tomorrow, (Y/n)” She left out a quiet yawn as he led the pair into the bedroom. Bakugo tucked (y/n) in first before slipping into his side of the bed. She wasted no time on invading his side and cuddling up to him, stealing his warmth. He chuckled lowly and wrapped his arms around her, running a hand through her hair. Their bodies molding together like puzzles. She buried her head into his chest and listened to the beat of his heart. The slow rhyme lullabying her to sleep as he rested his head on top of hers. Bakugo soon heard the soft breathing and held her closer to him. Closing his own eyes, he let the sands of sleep slip onto him.

                                 ━━━💥 🧡 💥 ━━━

[chrysalispen]

you know what, fuck it, palate cleanser! 

disgusting tooth-rotting established relationship fluff ahoy (in other words MY. BRAND. /bangs on table like a toddler) before i go back to this chapter 

also, yes. tataru made everyone gaudy starlight jumpers. i need ugly christmas sweaters to be a thing we actually get in-game from her pls make it happen yoship ty

=================================== 

Aurelia smiled as she sat cross-legged on the well-worn meeting sofa, crading the mug of hot chocolate in her hands. All told, the party had been a success, and no one here need know how much effort had actually gone into obtaining the tree. Tataru was practically glowing with happiness over the reception of her handmade jumpers, the room was abuzz with chatter, and the lights strung through the branches of the Coerthan spruce cast a soft and lambent glow that spilled across the floor of the workshop.

Aye, all in all, a successful Starlight.

Her smile faded ever so slightly when she looked down at her drink. She still felt a bone-deep pang in her chest every time its sweet scent wafted into her nose, but at least she could bear to actually drink it these days, and that was progress in itself. Maybe with more time to salve the wound, she might be able to feel the fondness without the sorrow that still accompanied it.

One step at a time, though. She tilted her head back to rest against the cushions at her back, and after a moment felt a warm weight settle in at her side and an arm over her shoulders.

"Not falling asleep already, are you?"

Aurelia tilted her chin in the direction of that voice and cracked one eye. "Not just yet."

"Hn." After a pause: "You did well. It looks good."

"What does?"

"Your arboreal handiwork."

"What... oh," she chuckled, realizing he meant the tree. "You wouldn't believe the ridiculousness I had to go through to get it here."

"You might be surprised."

"Well, it was important to Tataru, so..."

The weight at her side startled, then shifted. "That reminds me. One moment, I'll be right back."

She watched him go, noting with something like bemusement that for all her grousing about his presence, one, Tataru had even made Nero a natty holiday jumper, in his favorite color, and two, he was actually wearing it.

Her smile returned full-force.

Her chocolate had gone cold by the time he returned bearing a rather bulky steel box in his hands. "So, I was going to give this to you later," he explained, setting it down in front of her feet, "but as usual I've no idea when you might be off again and I supposed sooner might be more ideal."

Still smiling, Aurelia set the mug on the side table, leaned forward, and unfastened the latches on the box. Her eyes went wide at the contents.

"...Nero, this is-"

"A portable cryocentrifuge, yes."

"What- you found one?"

"Not... precisely. I had to cobble it together using an older schematic, and several components I can safely say are not something one can locally source, so that did require a jaunt down into some of the old R&D floors within Castrum Centri earlier today." He paused, a slow and very amused grin stretching his lips. "...Which now I'm thinking about it, some things make a bit more sense."

"I'm not quite sure I follow," Aurelia said, her face flushed with happiness of her own, "but hells below, Nero! You didn't have to go to this trouble."

"It wasn't that much trouble."

He said that, but she had seen that the tips of his ears had turned pink, which for him was what passed for a blush. She found it terribly cute but wasn't about to say so. As much as the man lived for validation of his work from others, complimenting his thoughtfulness quite often left Nero flustered, and she knew he wouldn't appreciate it if Cid were present to see he wasn't as unflappable as he pretended.

So instead she smiled at him and said,

"You're going to have to tell me all about your building process when you help me set it up in my work space. It's late tonight. Tomorrow perhaps?"

"I-" A surprised hesitation, then a half-tilted smile. "Tomorrow it is."

She latched the box shut, sat upright, and leaned comfortably into his side with a yawn. The last two days had been rather eventful but the cushions upon which she sat were cozy, the room was warm and dimly lit, and she was in the company of a family she'd chosen for herself watching them talk and eat and open gifts and bask in their fellowship. For the moment at least, she was content. It was a good state of mind to put one to sleep.

"Look at you," came the low, teasing rumble from the man whose cheek was now resting upon the crown of her head. "Had I known you'd be that pleased I'd have put it together long ago."

"That's because you're actually a good sort when you want to be, you know." At his quiet scoff she allowed herself a little chuckle. "Don't worry, Scaeva, your secret's safe with me."

"Good. I should hate to have this lot think that perhaps I might actually enjoy their company."

"Yes," Aurelia said, voice dry, "can you imagine how ghastly that would be? Making friends? The absolute horror of it all."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were making fun of me."

"Would I do th--" She froze mid-sentence, her smile gone. "Ah, bugger, Nero, I didn't get anyone any gifts!"

"You don't need to give me anything."

"Nero, no-"

"Stop. I made that for you because you are constantly working, be it some grand sweeping mission for the 'good of the realm' or somesuch, or your personal research into recreating medicines for the people here. I wanted to make at least one small part of your life a touch easier." She felt, after his pause, the press of lips against her hair. "That is the gift, not the centrifuge."

She was going to ruin the moment if she said anything else, so she didn't. Instead Aurelia studied the lanky man in his new wine-colored jumper and hesitantly reached for the other hand that lay free in his lap. He let her lace his fingers through hers without comment, but when she squeezed he squeezed back.

They said nothing else after that. They sat together in comfortable silence watching the wind spit snow onto the frosty window by the huge tree, and she found herself wishing every Starlight could end so well.