#twelve days of christmas (straight no chaser)

[aj-lenoire]

happy 24th birthday to my favourite christmas song!!

i was in a thrift shop the other day and they were playing the most unsettling variations of normal christmas music, culminating in this rendition of the 12 days of christmas except it was like 12 guys all singing over each other and going “no!” and interrupting the lyrics with random other phrases until they deadass just started singing 5 golden rings to toto’s africa. can anyone confirm that this is a real song and not that i stroked so hard i astral projected into a universe where everything is somehow worse than it is here

[strangedreamings]

Ever wanted to write Christmas fics in December but you were just too busy? Then Christmas in July is for you!

This year's Christmas in July theme is "Christmas songfics," however you want to incorporate the song into the fic. As always, this is open to all fandoms, all ships, and all ratings.

I know I posted these earlier but I had conflated two different songs, so they're now two separate prompts, so you get 32 this year instead of 31.

There's no need to wait for each specific day to post, and there's also no need to post all 32.

If you're wondering about AO3's stance on songfics, it's "Please also keep in mind that you may quote lyrics as part of a transformative work, but you may not reproduce the entire song text unless you have the right to do so."

I don't have the time or organization skills to set up an AO3 collection, but if you tag your works as "fandom christmas in july," everyone will be able to see them.

We Need A Little Christmas

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Where Are You, Christmas?

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

The Christmas Waltz

Christmas Through Your Eyes by Gloria Estefan

Silver Bells

Carol of the Bells

Merry Christmas, Darling by The Carpenters

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Deck The Halls

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)

You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch

Do You Hear What I Hear?

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

The First Noel

Joy To The World

What Child Is This?

White Christmas

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser

The Twelve Pains of Christmas by Bob Rivers

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

All I Want For Christmas Is You

Grown-Up Christmas List

O Holy Night

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy

Last Christmas

Blue Christmas

Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer

A Marshmallow World

Sleigh Ride

Auld Lang Syne

[kanerallels]

So, what are your OCs favorite Christmas songs?

Good question, vod! Okay, here we go--

Jade's favorite songs are the Villain Pub "Twelve Days Of Christmas" and "White Winter Hymnal" cover by Pentatonix. Scarlet likes "Linus and Lucy"-- "A Charlie Brown Christmas" is her second favorite Christmas movie

Frank is a fan of "The First Noel" by Phil Wickham, and he actually likes "White Winter Hymnal", too. Christmas music is one of very few things he and Jade don't argue about (they're in agreement about every song except what the best cover of "Twelve Days of Christmas" is. She says the Villain Pub one, he says the Straight No Chaser one is a masterpiece. Neither of them are actually wrong.)

Nicholas loves "Old City Bar" by Trans Siberian Orchestra, and pretty much any of the MANY instrumental Christmas songs, but he also likes songs like "O Holy Night" and "O Come Emmanuel". Samuel, on the other hand, has more eclectic taste. His top two favorite songs are "One Night In Bethlehem," a song by ApologetiX, and "Light Of Christmas" by TobyMac and Owl City. But he also loves "His Favorite Christmas Story", which he has in common with Jewelea. Her favorites are basically For King And Country's entire Christmas album, and also "Winter Snow" by Audrey Assad and Chris Tomlin

Well, that was a lot of links and an unnecessarily long answer. Ah, well!! Merry Christmas!!

[miss-nerd-alert]

Christmas Comedy Songs. Especially the ones by Straight No Chaser.

Who Spiked The Eggnog, The Christmas Can-Can, Nutcracker, The Twelve Days of Christmas, they’re all brilliant.

Please note that these are illustrative examples, not the only songs I think fit those categories: if you have a favorite that's not listed, see if it fits in one of the categories and vote that way.

ETA: Realized I put "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" as a really long gloria song instead of "Angels We Have Heard on High." Whoops. (IMO "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" should be "repeat chorus at the top of your lungs")

[cantteachanoldguardnewquotes]

Tagged by @energievie thank you!! 💕💕

✨Joy list—song edition ✨

Pumping Blood cover by Peter Hollens

Here's To Never Growing Up by Avril Lavigne

Twelve Days Of Christmas by Straight No Chaser

Someone To You by Banners

Something Just Like This by The Chainsmokers

On Top of The World by Imagine Dragons

Work Of Art by Rachel Platten

High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco

Things Are Gonna Get Better by Neffex

I'm Yours/Perfect Two by Madilyn Paige

Mama Said by Lucas Graham

Gambling Man by The Overtones

Tagging @jar3  @sidebyside-withafriend @spookyvoidangelskeleton  @amillionwips    @nicolodikaysani @the-fit-law-student @king-author @kinda1938 @eylittlered   @reverend-ezekiel @usbournejez @4-the-chaotic-one @aconfusedwriter @sofiastars04 @pierremichelofavignon @minnie-bby @boudoirwriter @hamster981 @nickyxjoe-tog @thevashta-narada @fire-in-her-blood @legobrickcow @fuinixe @highvoltagecenataur @flamingbluepanda @babydillpickle @bandthatyoulove @dinlukedyke @fandommaniac123 @readergirl1013 @asmuchasidliketo @flyingsnail-art @resuscitateme20 @the-constellation-collective @ineedmoresleepahhh  @captain-grammar @advntrsofnrdgrl   @gilanchillin @hesall-andhesmore @autumnsoldier13 @imjustapeachpeachingaround @veryoldmuchguard @therenegadesexualmystic @leilimds   @alannister-always-pays-her-debts @megloveslokitoomuch @goldheartedsky @luadehades feel free to ignore it's just a suggestion. If you've read this far consider yourself tagged just tag me back so I can see it. If you would like to be added to my tag games interact with this post 💕💕

[ijustdontlikepeople]

3, 9, and 30 for the 3 song asks please! -hazel

Hey Hazel!!

3. three songs you were recently obsessed with

2011 - 5 Seconds of Summer

I’m Good - WALK THE MOON

I’m Trying (Not Friends) - Maisie Peters

9. three songs that get you in the Christmas Mood

Here We Come A-Wassailing - Arr. J Rutter

O Holy Night - Bing Crosby

The Twelve Days of Christmas - Straight No Chaser -Live

30. three songs you really want your followers to know (for reasons other than all those above)

Here are three songs from my favorite live performances I have attended

Disconnected - 5 Seconds of Summer

Give Me Love - Ed Sheeran

Kiwi - Harry Styles

Three songs asks!

[scribhneoir-sidhe]

got tagged by @jadeandquartzes for these, thanks!!

nicknames: Most of them are either completely random, as with my fencing name Bastille, or plays on my real name, like Cactus Man. It’s a long story.

zodiac: Cancer, though for the love of god just leave it alone, I don’t need whatever the astrological equivalent of psychoanalysis is. 

height: A bit less than 6′1″ at the last measuring, although I get quoted different things seemingly every year and everyone has a different opinion of how tall I am.

last movie: The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf. Wasn’t too bad actually!

last thing i googled: Wizard With A Gun (it’s a game).

fave musician(s): Oh man, mostly folk and folk adjacent ppl. If we’re choosing favorites I’m gonna go with The Longest Johns, Colm MacGuinness, and the High Kings. 

song stuck in my head: Breath and Bone, the trailer song for Wizard With A Gun. The cowboy vibes are real y’all, I can’t stop listening to it.

other blogs: I don’t have many, only OverheardatHEMApractice actually has any content (which is just HEMA shitposts that come out of our practices), but I do have the URL theorderofbrendan, just in case I ever decide I want to actively make content for The Ashtown Burials. Since I’m apparently the only one on tumblr who’s read those books.

blogs following: It’s a more reasonable number than I expected! 76!

amount of sleep: Uhhhh depends on how late I can sleep in. Usually at least 6hrs but typically more in the 7-8 range. It’s been more difficult recently, I’m adjusting to jet lag, but at least I don’t have any classes yet.

lucky number: I’ll be honest, no clue. Maybe three? Good things come in threes.

what i’m wearing: Jeans and a t-shirt. Sorry y’all, no fashion guru here.

dream job: bookstore owner and writer.

dream trip: I might actually get to go on it! I’d love to take a week to travel around Ireland, visit Dublin, Galway, and Cork, where my family is from.

fave foods: the quesadillas from my local Salvadoran/Mexican place. God the cheese is 😍

play an instrument: Ha! Played a few. Did I ever sound good? Debatable. I stick to singing for the most part nowadays, though I occasionally inflict the pennywhistle on those within hearing distance.

languages: English and Spanish if you want a conversation. French if you want to torture us both. Gaeilge if my one semester of instruction where I learned very little counts.

fave songs: Stick to the Craythur (or The Humors of Whiskey, depending on who’s singing it), Straight No Chaser’s Twelve Days of Christmas, Joli Rouge by the Dreadnoughts, Ramblin Rover (I like a couple versions of it), Chant (Reprise) from Hadestown, Finale from In the Heights, Almost (Sweet Music) by Hozier, and The Song of Beren and Lúthien (Clamavi De Profundis’s version).

random fact about me: My current favorite plaza in the city of Seville is Plaza de Doña Elvira. It’s got shade, it’s got a fountain, it’s got doves, what’s not to love!

describe yourself using aesthetic things: Button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up past the elbow, warm light on silently falling snow, seeing something beautiful that makes you want to sing, the satisfying thwack when a sword connects, the warmth of someone’s head on your chest, the well worn crease in the spine of a book, the moment between waking and sleeping - sleeping and waking that feels like peace, a cool breeze off warm water.

tagging @isaakandreyevs, @rosemary-and-time-to-sleep, and @gendermybeloved and anyone else that wants to!

[marta-bee]

Christmas simply won’t be Christmas without any presents “Twelve Days of Christmas” by Straight Chaser.

You’re welcome, Tumblr.

[svtskneecaps]

Rules: answer questions and tag blogs you are contractually obligated to know better!

so @kwonthefire tagged me thank u for giving me an excuse to talk about myself you KNOW i will jump on that shit with absolutely no hesitation you’re incredible

Name/nickname: vic

Gender: woman babey

Star sign: cancer

Height : HAHA TALLER THAN MY OLDER SIBLING S H O R T  L M A O

Time: 5:50 am don’t tell my friends i’m going to bed when i post this i swear

Birthday: july

Favourite bands: seventeen, and i vibe to like, panic!, twice, does the cast of newsies count as a band?

Favourite soloists: listen i’ll vibe to anybody with solid lyrics or a good melody so like, halsey, carrie underwood, taylor swift has been a big one recently, anna nalik, miranda lambert, yknow. all the shit i listened to like six years ago has returned to my playlist cause i’m Stressed tm (ngl the house that built me came on and i actually started crying in the middle of making enchiladas w my entire family like i went straight from DOUBLE BUBBLE DISCO QUEEN to sobbing in the sauce)

i mean not actually the sauce you know what i mean

Last movie: ah shit probably like. pollyanna or something. NO WAIT IT WAS THAT FUCKIN SECOND BORN ROYALS MOVIE ON DISNEY+ THAT MY FAMILY WATCHED WHILE SORTING ALL THE OLD CLOTHES WE DON’T FIT ANYMORE

Last show: shit uhh i think it was like. the three caballeros yknow that animated series with donald duck it’s on disney+. unless we count my mom’s episodes of criminal minds that she watches in the room next to me

Song stuck in my head: an absolutely bizarre combination of that “she’s a wh*re” song clip from tik tok, “the world will know” from newsies, the rock violin cover of the phantom of the opera from the umbrella academy, and like. the twelve days of christmas as sung by straight no chaser, specifically the section where they start doing africa. i don’t know what’s going on either.

When I created this blog: idk a while ago. like three years? four years?

Last thing I googled: ah shit. probably something for premiere pro, adobe software sucks it’s the least intuitive shit i have ever used literally the program i used to write in java worked easier than fucking premiere pro

Other blogs: @ismyreadinglistgoodenoughforyou and i have a couple more but those are classified by order of [redacted]. i can reblog onto @tctwriters but that’s not technically mine it’s OURS anyway follow tctwriters

Do I get asks: nah dude which sux cause my favorite thing to talk about is me l m a o

Why I chose my url: dude i don’t remember i wanted to rebrand from the god awful ‘ismycapsloudenoughforyou’ so i think we went, ok, so seventeen. svt. and my discord status was probably “stop bullying jeonghan’s knee >:(” so they were like, ok knees. and i went ah SHIT, KNEECAPS and then i just. did that.

Following : my guy do you think i know

Followers : like a graduating class worth

Lucky numbers: idk like 12 and 7 and maybe 32

Avg hours of sleep: o jesus well uh. anywhere between 4 and 12 it depends on if i have something to do the next day

Instruments: i can play viola and some flute, i’ve briefly dabbled in piano, ukulele, harmonica, and accordion

What I’m wearing right now: haha state football merch and socks that clash very drastically bc it’s goddamn cold in my house fuck

Dream trip: honestly any trip is my dream trip as long as a couple specific people come. like literally a trip to the grocery store could be my dream trip as long as these specific people are there yknow. people make the trip more than the actual places, for me

Favourite food: o i forgot to answer this one uhhh dr pepper isn’t a food but i don’t eat and my veins run with the stuff

Nationality: american ahaha

Favourite song: ah shit dude it depends on my mood i can’t answer this rn i literally just got “WILL WE LET EM STUFF THIS CROCK O’ GARBAGE DOWN OUR THROATS” stuck in my head and now i can’t actually remember any other songs anyway it’s Home Run stream Home Run by Seventeen guys stream Home Run it’s a fucking bop and the music video is absolute quality i literally didn’t listen to another song for a week and a half after it dropped and i’m not kidding in the slightest stream Home Run by Seventeen guys.

Top three Fictional Universe: it has been so long since i’ve experienced anything that’s original fiction i mean like, jowling kowling rowling is a fucking terf and we hate her LMAO so the only harry potter universe i can vibe with is one that’s thoroughly headcanoned to squeeze all the bullshit out of it, but i vibe with those kinds (i’ve written those kinds, or tried anyway lmao).

also i couldn’t actually read the Lord of the Rings series bc Tolkien’s prose was just way too dense for me to enjoy without it feeling like i was reading a textbook, but i read the Hobbit and i talk to my dad about it sometimes cause he listens to a podcast where they analyze it, and literally the absolute care and time he put into making every section of that world feel alive is absolutely buck fuckin wild to me i mean fuck it up Tolkien that’s fucking incredible. that is batshit insane you incredible man, godspeed.

and doctor who is lit as fuck, tbh i vibe hard with the rtd era shit, they kind of lost me at eleven and also took that shit off amazon prime before i was done watching shitheads but like you have to admit that’s a giant fictional universe and it feels Alive as hell and i vibe with that hard like i vibed so hard i fuckin started writing my own goddamn season just bc i wanted to play around in that lovely lovely sandbox so kudos to them i guess

not in that order

anyway idk who to tag so if you’re seeing this from tctwriters and actually have notifs on for that blog, you’re up dummy i love you. i’d say anyone who wants to take it but nobody ever does so this is for the tctwriters i’m calling you out SPECIFICALLY.

[dudleyguildford]

Fluff #8 robron 👀 bonus points if it reminds you of our Hogwarts au

you know the way to my heart @robertisbisexual​ 💖

“okay, where are all my jumpers?”

It starts with a Quidditch game.

Robert’s been boxed in on both sides by two bastard Gryffindor chasers and they won’t let up. It doesn’t help that he can’t see anything because of the sodding rain whipping at his face and eyes, bruised clouds roiling above him like a tidal wave. He can hear his team mate screaming at him to ditch the mutts but they have him pinned, the pair of them grinning eagerly. He forces his broom down, attempting to extricate himself, but they follow at his heels, refusing to let him slip away. He weaves and twists, yelling obscenities at them, but still they crush in, laughing all the while. 

And then he sees one of the pillar’s up ahead, takes a calculated risk, and heads straight for it. It’s a game of chicken, daring them to follow him when he’s going to plough head-first into solid wood. But they’re Gryffindors through and through, pride is sort of their thing, so they speed up to match his pace, the three of them shooting forwards, just waiting for the moment one of them breaks.

Later, he’ll be smug at the fact that he didn’t swerve. The chasers double back at the last possible second, but Robert doesn’t have the time to do the same, and careers through the bright red fabric billowing in the rain and smacks off the timber behind. 

He wakes on the wet sand, broom somehow in tact but his nose most definitely not. Blood pools warm and overly-sweet in his mouth and he groans, curling into himself as his team rush around him. Someone asks if he’s dead and he mutters a mangled, bitter retort, head ringing. He wipes a hand across his face, wincing, and then winces again when he realises the sleeve of his jumper is now stained scarlet. The Slytherin badge across his heart has taken a similar battering, smattered with blood, and he sits up, using the falling rain water to try and wipe it clean. 

A hand appears in front of him to haul him upright and he takes it without thinking, realising too late who it belongs to. Aaron Dingle stands before him, dark hair almost black from the rain and agonisingly windswept, those muscular arms barely concealed by his fiery red cloak. 

“Game’s over,” he says matter-of-factly. “You should get cleaned up.” 

He’s gone before Robert can answer with a biting, sarcastic remark, flanked by his ever-loyal friends. Robert shrugs off the help of his own team, refusing to let any of them in, and stalks off to the changing room. It’s only once he’s washed the blood off his face and stripped out of his ruined clothes that he realises he’s been left something. A red and gold jumper, the letter ‘A’ scrawled onto the label inside, is sat waiting for him. A note is stuck onto the collar: You never know. Might suit you.

Robert only picks it up for a moment, just a second to know how the thick wool feels in his hands, before throwing it back onto the bench where he hopes it will be discarded with the rest of the rubbish.

The next time it happens, a potion’s just blown up in his face. Literally.

Priya rolls her eyes at his utter stupidity, immediately requesting a partner who actually knows what they’re doing, while Robert attempts to wipe whatever substance is coated in his hair and down his front. Professor Pollard looks on with mild amusement, which Robert makes a mental note of so that he can complain yet again about the man’s lack of professionalism, before asking if anyone has any spare clothes Robert might be able to borrow.

Despite the Quidditch incident, he’s still surprised when Aaron steps forward to offer the jumper he’s currently got slung over the back of his chair. 

“I’m not wearing that!” Robert exclaims, nose wrinkling at the very idea.

“Like any of us want you wearing our colours,” chimes in Adam Barton, who Robert dislikes for a number of reasons, the primary one being his attachment to Robert’s younger sister. 

Aaron, on the other hand, looks unfazed by Robert’s outburst, still holding out the jumper. “You want it or not?” he asks, gaze intent, and Robert finds himself unable to speak. Professor Pollard eventually answers for him.

“Put it on, Robert, and then try your Draught of Peace again. This time following the instructions.” 

His hands curl around the offending garment and Aaron returns his focus back on the work in front of him, leaving Robert to silently wonder what is going on, before reluctantly pulling the jumper over his head. It smells a little of pine needles and earth and sweat, and despite Aaron being a few inches shorter than him, the jumper fits well on the sleeves, which only leaves Robert to assume that on Aaron his hands must disappear completely. It’s an oddly endearing idea, and one which is confirmed when Robert’s thumb grazes the loose threads which have come undone at the cuff from having been pulled repeatedly over Aaron’s knuckles. 

It’s such a small detail but it feels like an intrusion all the same, like a secret only Aaron, and now Robert, know anything about. Something just for them alone. Robert carries the knowledge of it with him all lesson, and is so distracted by the image of Aaron, lion-hearted and brave as he is, with his hands permanently covered by the folds of his jumper, that he almost causes his new draught to explode in much the same way as the last.

Professor Pollard shouts at him to pay attention for once, and when Robert huffs a sigh, he’s sure he sees Aaron give him what very much looks like an encouraging smile.

When Christmas hits, Robert finds himself wandering the abandoned corridors of Hogwarts alone. His father had naturally written to say he expected him home – not wanted of course, just expected – and Vic had practically dragged him towards the carriage in a bid to get him on the train, but in the end he had dug his heels in. 

“I have my exams soon. I need to stay here to study,” he had argued, which was only partly a lie. He did need to focus on his work, especially if he wanted to get decent grades in a bid to find himself a generously-paid career… and some much-needed freedom. But mostly he had no intention of returning home to the place where his mother had tragically lost her life only a few years ago. Andy, ironically, had never seemed to let it bother him, and had ushered Vic away with the promise that Christmas would likely be easier all round if Robert stayed where he was.

The school had been kind enough to put on a generous spread for those children who had no family, or whose families had no interest in their children. He had sat at the Slytherin table with a handful of other students, refusing to chat and instead eating his dinner quickly and in silence before making a hasty retreat. 

The boys had set up a small Christmas tree in the common room before they all left for home, and Robert sits on Christmas Eve, watching the candles flicker against the pine needles, and opens up the few, small presents which Jack had sent through. It amounts to no more than a few textbooks, a wand cleaner and a new quill. The tags attached are blunt and to the point, talking about the practicalities of each item without displaying any kind of warmth. Robert hadn’t expected anything else.

And now he finds himself wandering the halls in the dark, the portraits of various historical figures and long-dead professors chatting to each other as he heads back along to Slytherin’s quarters. They hiss as the light from his wand blinds them, asking him to put it out immediately, and he ignores each of them in turn, much to their annoyance. 

The chambers, which have always been a place of refuge for him, feel strangely eerie on his own. The green water laps at his window and in the distance he sees the murky shadow of the lake’s Giant Squid darting down into the freezing depths. He drifts off imagining himself floating into the darkness as well, only to wake with a start what feels like moments later, even though it’s now bright outside.

He foregoes breakfast, instead staying in bed to languish while his cat, Cassie, pads on his stomach before curling, warm and content, on his lap. Her charcoal fur is soft beneath his fingers and he spends an hour or so just staring at the wall opposite, remembering Christmases past when his mother was still alive. 

By the time he shuffles along to the Common Room, it’s gone twelve. His feet are a little chilly and he sets the fire alight with his wand before sitting by its flames. Cassie follows him, circling the Christmas tree and batting at some of the decorations with a mischievous paw. She settles eventually next to a parcel wrapped in gaudy, gold paper that’s been tucked close to the trunk. Robert sighs, wondering which of his fellow Slytherins has forgotten to take it with them, but startles when he reads his own name on the tag.

The parcel is soft and pliant and Robert squeezes it, wondering if it might be some kind of hexed cushion that will attack him, but after several seconds of waiting, his curiosity wins out. He almost laughs once the paper is ripped off. The Gryffindor jumper is new, unlike the one which had been offered to him a few weeks earlier, and on the label, rather than the familiar letter ‘A’ is in fact a similarly written ‘R’. He strokes a thumb across it, and Cassie, equally curious, rubs her head against the Gryffindor crest before meowing. 

“You’re supposed to be on my side,” he mutters, snorting a laugh when she rubs her head again against the scarlet and gold wool, her approval evident. Since you like mine so much, the scrawled note says. Robert smirks. It wouldn’t hurt, he supposes, and with absolutely no one to see him and therefore judge, he doesn’t have much to lose.

He wears it for the whole of Christmas day, hiding it beneath his cloak when he attends lunch and dinner, and doesn’t think too deeply about why he finds himself suddenly chatting to the students at his table or apologising to the portraits for disturbing them when he does a little midnight tour of the halls again. And if he happens to fall asleep with the jumper still on… well, it’s only because he was feeling the chill.

One minute Robert’s being shoved back against a timber beam and the next he has a tongue down his throat. He’s not complaining. Given the choice between a punch to the jaw and a breath-stealing kiss, he will always choose the latter, but still. This isn’t entirely what he had expected.

Aaron’s got hands everywhere, so much so that Robert almost wants to make some kind of squid-inspired joke, but frankly his head is no longer in the driving seat and he doesn’t have the wherewithal to string together a sentence, let alone attempt to make Aaron laugh.

The match had ended a good twenty minutes earlier – Slytherin’s scraping into the lead at the last minute with a less-than-legal point which had naturally sent their opposing side into a tailspin. Aaron had been the most aggressive, even threatening to hit one of Robert’s teammates for daring to smile about the outcome. Possibly if Robert had kept his mouth shut, they wouldn’t be where they are now, and he’s never been more glad at his lack of reason and logic when it comes to arguments. 

“Off,” Aaron growls, already tugging at Robert’s jumper. He lifts his arms so Aaron can pull it over his head before doing the same with his own. It’s February, not far off Valentine’s Day, and Robert’s skin recoils at the wind’s knife-edge sharpness which cuts him to the quick. But then Aaron’s hands are back on him, burning through to the bone, and he shivers for a different reason entirely.

He’s never been kissed like this. There’s been plenty of touching and far too many sloppy mouths and desperate moans all screaming inexperience, but there’s never been anything like this. Robert gives himself willingly, happy for Aaron to control the pace which feels, right now, like a runaway train. He bucks his hips when Aaron’s hand finds his arse, gasping into each other’s open mouths. It’s not enough and too much all at once, and Robert’s head is spinning with the feel of Aaron all around him. 

It takes a little more concentrated effort when it comes to their trousers. Buttons and zips have to be fumbled with, and the sight of Aaron’s erection almost does for Robert right there and then. They go still, no longer panting, barely even breathing, as Robert takes them both in his hand. He knows what he likes, but it takes him a couple of strokes to realise that Aaron likes things a little looser, a little faster. He’s more impatient than Robert would have imagined, and it builds to a crescendo without warning, the pair of them spilling over before either have properly gotten time to savour it. 

In the ensuing embarrassment, Aaron’s cheeks flaming and Robert’s eyes darting everywhere but at the boy in front of him, they don’t focus on who is wearing what. They agree to leave separately, avoid any potential questions. Robert heads straight for the Slytherin chambers, glaring at the curious and confused looks he gets as he marches down the corridor. It’s only once he’s safely back in his room that he realises why everyone had been so pointedly staring at him.

It’s barely dawn and his stomach is growling, but he’s truly never felt happier.

Aaron is a furnace curled against his side, one palm splayed flat across Robert’s heart while the other is lodged somewhere under the pillow. He’s snuffling in his dreams, quiet little huffs of air which make Robert grin, and every now and again he’ll press himself even closer as if trying to fuse their bodies into one. 

It’s the first time Robert has slept in this bed. Aaron’s bed. It sends a thrill up his spine, thinking about them hastily casting silencing charms around the four poster, legs getting tangled in the sheets as they discarded their clothes. It had been building for months now. Longer, really, if Robert was being honest. It had been years of harsh words and bitter remarks, the push and pull of two hearts yearning without knowing it, before eventually all that anger and frustration had melted into careful glances and coy smiles and tentative, but hopeful touches. 

And now they’re here. Lying together with the curtains drawn, light just filtering in through the cracks, as the Gryffindor boys sleep soundly, blissfully unaware of Robert and Aaron’s late night… activities.

He thinks of his mother, of her gentle eyes and her supportive words, thinks of her hand on his shoulder telling him things would be all right. And he can’t help but think of his father too, what he’ll have to say about it all. You always said Gryffindor was the only good house, Robert thinks, and turns to press a kiss against Aaron’s forehead. Maybe Jack will be happy his son has found himself someone noble to love, someone brave and bold and fierce just like Jack had always hoped Robert would be. Of course, the fact that that person happens to be a boy… 

He turns back to the morning light, refusing to let today be spoiled. It feels like the beginning of something huge and terrifying, a new era of sorts. He can almost feel the seismic shift of the world beneath him, as if the planet itself has realised the monumental journey he and Aaron have been on to reach this moment, and is equally as shaken by it. 

He lets his fingers trail down the ridges of Aaron’s spine, feels the hollow dips at the base which make Aaron squirm and groan against Robert’s shoulder.

“Morning,” he whispers, and grins because he always thought Aaron was the sort of madman who rose with the sun, but in actual fact he’s the complete opposite, fighting tooth and nail for an extra few minutes of sleep. His hair, normally styled with some kind of product which Aaron’s muggle cousin had gave him, is now manic and utterly beautiful. It’s a cloud on top of his head, pure fluff, and Robert buries his face in it, the curls tickling his nose and cheeks.

“Ger’off,” he hears Aaron mumble but Robert can see the corner of a smile mostly hidden by the duvet and knows he's secretly enjoying every second of it.

He kisses his temple, then his cheek, then his nose, until eventually Aaron disintegrates into uncontrollable laughter, a giggling mass that Robert wraps himself around. His mouth aches from smiling so much but he won’t force it down, not this morning. 

They stay curled around each other under the covers for a good ten minutes or so, staring into each other’s eyes, not saying a word. Occasionally Aaron lifts his chin and Robert answers with a kiss, or a brush of noses, or just a simple smile that Aaron is only too happy to reciprocate. But eventually the cold April air finds them and Aaron shivers, rubbing at his bare arms and sliding out of the bed to get something warm to pull on.

He sits hunched on the floor, pulling out various garments, before eventually whispering: “Okay, where are all my jumpers?”

Robert watches with amusement, knowing the answer but wary of saying it aloud. He waits until Aaron has almost taken every item of clothing he owns and dumped it on the floor, then finally says: “I don’t think they’re in there.”

Aaron huffs a sigh and looks up at him from where he’s kneeling by the bed. “They’ve got to be.”

Robert fights a grin but loses badly. “They’re really not.”

“Do you know summat I don’t?” 

He laughs into a pillow, currently picturing his own chest of drawers with the rather generous pile of red and gold jumpers all folded inside, and says: “I think they might all be in my room.”

There’s a beat of silence where Aaron just sits and digests this information, before he finally answers with an incredulous: “You what?”

“Well you did keep giving them to me,” Robert argues, but he breaks into laughter again almost immediately. He can’t help it, what with Aaron’s eyebrows practically reaching his hairline.

“Are you telling me you’ve got all my jumpers stashed in your room?” he clarifies, and Robert presses his lips together, nodding.

“Pretty much.”

Aaron stares at him, stunned, but thankfully after another few seconds his own smile creeps back. “I knew you liked them.”

Robert thinks about all those nights spent alone, pining for a boy he wasn’t sure liked him back, sat in his boxers and a Gryffindor jumper, the sleeves tugged over his hands just like Aaron. Thinks about the mornings, before his roommates had woken, stood in front of the mirror and imagining what his life might have been like if he’s been sorted into Gryffindor instead of Slytherin. He thinks of the weekends and holidays without his family, and finding comfort in Cassie’s fur and his collection of Aaron’s jumpers which still smelt of him if Robert buried his face deep enough. 

“Maybe,” he answers, cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He’s still not good with vulnerability, and every confession he gives Aaron exposes him a little further, opens him up more to rejection. So it’s a relief when he feels the bed dip with Aaron’s weight, and feels a hand at the side of his neck, warm and heavy.

“Say it,” Aaron murmurs, but it’s not a demand. It’s a plea. “Say it.”

He looks up, those blue eyes ensnaring him like a honey trap, and he gets so lost that his mouth moves before he can think. “I like them,” he admits quietly, and because he’s already too far down the hole, says: “I like them ‘cause they’re yours.”

Aaron’s expression flickers like an old reel of film, smarting a little at the honesty. Robert’s learned not to be afraid of it, learned that Aaron’s just as scared of all this as he is. 

“Soft.” It’s the gentlest of accusations and Robert chances a smile. Aaron catches it, returns one of his own, and the warmth of it blooms sweet and true inside his chest.

“Want me to stop?”

Aaron hums his disagreement, stretching to draw the curtain back over and plunge them back into darkness. “Not just yet,” he whispers, seeking out Robert’s lips and pulling the duvet over their heads.

[stickers-on-a-laptop]

Unconventional Christmas song list

I hear waaaaay too much conventional Christmas music at home (and a lot of Bublé when out and about), so here is what I will be listening to.

Warning: very random

Jingle My Bells Remixx by The Living Tombstone/Jacksfilms

Christmas Swag by Nigahiga

Caramelldansen (Christmas Version) by Caramella Girls

YGS Christmas Special by Jacksfilms

The Night Santa Went Crazy by Weird Al

A Dick on Christmas by Jacksfilms ft FamilyJules

Merry Flippin Christmas by Bowling For Soup

The Christmas Can-Can by Straight No Chaser

Wimpy Boy Bands: Christmas Carololing by Jacksfilms

Christmas Sex by Jacksfilms

Justin Beiber’s Christmas Wish by Jacksfilms

All I want for Christmas is a Girlfriend by Jacksfilms

California Christmas Time from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

The True Meaning Of Christmas by Jacksfilms

9 New Christmas Songs by Jacksfilms

9 More New Christmas Songs by Jacksfilms

Royalty Free Christmas Songs 3 by Jacksfilms

Royalty Free Christmas Songs 4 by Jacksfilms

Carols of the Bells: Otamatone Cover by TheRealSullyG

Jingle Bell Rock: Otamatone Cover by TheRealSullyG

All I Want For Christmas is You: Otamatone Cover by TheRealSullyG

Villain Pub: 12 Days Of Christmas by Hishe

The Twelve Days of Your Annoying Girlfriend by Jenna Marbles

Christmas Songs in Real Life by Nigahiga

Progressive Christmas Carols by Paint

Feels Like the Very First Christmas from Spongebob

Don’t Be a Jerk from Spongebob

One More Night till Christmas from A Muppet Christmas Carol

It Feels like Christmas from A Muppet Christmas Carol

Thankful Heart from A Muppet Christmas Carol

Christmas Town from Elf the Musical

In The Way from Elf the Musical

Sparklejollytwinklejingley from Elf the Musical

A Christmas Song from Elf the Musical

Nobody Cares About Santa Clause from Elf the Musical

There is a Santa Clause from Elf the Musical

Counting Down to Christmas from A Christmas Story the Musical

Up on Santa’s Lap from A Christmas Story the Musical

Somewhere Hovering Indiana from A Christmas Story the Musical

We Need a Little Christmas from Mame the Musical

A New Deal for Christmas from Annie

Twelve Days to Christmas from She Loves Me the Musical

December the Twenty-Fifth from Scrooge the Musical

Most of these are on YouTube (yes, a lot of Jacksfilms; he likes Christmas), while some are from musicals my mom managed to get her hands on somehow

[machtaholic]

I was tagged by my Parabatai @prettyinsoulpunk

How old are you?: 37... geez ... 

Surgeries?: Does getting tubes put in my ears count?  If so, then one

Tattoos?: Three.  No plans to get more, but you never know!

Ever hit a deer?: No, thankfully I’ve never hit any animals.  I have driven through TWO monsoons, omg that was terrifying!

Sang karaoke?: Once at the first Bitecon.  Haven’t since but I’d like to

Ice-skated?: Maybe?  I have a vague memory of maybe trying it back in Indian Princesses when I was little but ... most of my childhood memories are ... blurry

Ridden on a motorcycle?: Nope.  Never.

Ridden in an ambulance?: Once when I was a baby.  I split my forehead open when I was 18 months old, so they rushed me to hospital in an ambulance.

Skipped school?: Not really. //shrugs//  I was a goody two-shows

Stayed in a hospital?: At least twice ... once for the stitches in my forehead (I was in ICU for that) and probably once for the tubes in my ears.

Broken a bone?: Broke my right big toe ... broke my pinky toes more often than I can count.

Last phone call?: @krissielee

Last text?: @prettyinsoulpunk

Pepsi or coke?: PEPSI!!! Oh totally Pepsi!!

Favorite pie?: apple, peach, chocolate creme ... PIE!!

Favorite pizza?: There is a pie I LOVE to get from this place called Cortina’s near my work and it’s cheese, tomato, garlic and onion.

Favorite season?: Toss up between autumn and winter.  Autumn is kinda warm here, and winter kinda dries out my skin but ... yep! 

Received a ticket?: Nope!  //knocks on wood//

Favorite color?: Purple all the way!!

Sunset or sunshine?: Both actually?  There’s something about both.  Seeing the first rays of the sun kiss the earth, and seeing the sun dip below the horizon and sending the earth to sleep.

Favorite Christmas song?:  Hmmm ... maybe the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ by Straight No Chaser?  Kind of a comedy version on the song.

Cupcakes or cookies?: CUPCAKES! Totally cupcakes!!

Only if you want to, but I’ll tag a few peeps ... @cinematicnomad, @crazyassmurdererwall, @tattooedsiren, @smackalicious and @trekkiepirate

[theotherstephencobert]

January 13 - Blog A Day

What’s something funny that happened this week?

Can I be frank here? THIS WEEK SUCKED. Between my tripping during my run on Monday and whacking my left knee on the sidewalk (that damn left leg again!) and me having to work late three nights because someone was sick or couldn't come in till way late, and a few other things... well, this week was a joke that forgot the punch line.

The closest thing to a laugh I got was this weekend when I was reviewing the Christmas songs I recorded off the radio this season and got to hear The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser one more time.

Life's that way sometimes.

[secretariatess]

Tis the season for Straight No Chaser’s version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

[goofygoldengirl]

Christmas On Crack!: The Most Cursed Christmas Playlist In Existence

Welcome To The Christmas Parade: Oneboredjeu

The Twelve Days Of Christmas: Straight No Chaser

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town: Daisuke Namikawa, Hiroki Yasumoto and Hiroki Takahashi

The ChrisChrisTree: Companion Tree

Santa Buddy: Michael Buble

The 12 Pains Of Christmas: Bob Rivers

Holy Fuck It’s The Gunch: Yeah Yeah Beebiss 1

Santa Claus Ain’t Coming To Town: Jim Bruer

Christmas With The Devil: Spinal Tap

We Wish You A Merry Christmas: Katsuyuki Konishi, Noriaki Sugiyama, Masaya Onosaka, Yasuhiro Takato and Yuki Kaida