#we exchange Christmas gifts each year - usually something to eat

[nei-ning]

Lovely grandpa neighbor brought me home-made, still burning hot, mini pancakes with strawberry jam <3

[rhodesrider]

A Purple Christmas

Mafia!Judgement Day x Little!Fem!Y/N

Warnings: Some flashbacks, some cussing, age regression, mention of weapons, mentions of harassment, mentions of violence/gun violence

Minors! DNI! 18+!

~

Feeling the cool air in her room and soon the light shining on her face, Y/N smiled as she had a long night getting stuff together for her sweethearts while they were at work handling business. The presents one by one still in her room. She wanted to make something practical, that they would wear all the time so she took the time to make bracelets. For each one of them has a special charm. She opened her eyes slow and she yawned some hearing holiday music downstairs. Getting up slow stretching, going to do her usual face routine and putting on slippers peeking out the doorway trying to look downstairs. JD walked by the hallways and smirked seeing her some, motioning her to come down as he was carrying gifts as well. She nodded and went back to grab the bag full of boxes. She walked down carefully and squealed soon getting scooped up by Finn. “Merry Christmas little munchkin!” He growled and play tickled her holding her tight so she doesn’t fall. That got everyone attention and gave a smile to the whole group seeing her smile in the morning. “There’s my little princess!” Rhea squealed some as she loved the holidays the most and had her big gift ready between her legs. Finn put her down in her favorite chair in the living room and kissed her on the forehead one last time before going to his pile ready for her. “Ok so, Dom and Damian are fixing breakfast, and I know you’re hungry but we made a wheel so you can do something before we eat.” JD gave her the wheel kissing her forehead as well before sitting back down. “Is papa making pancakes?” Y/N ask as she examining the wheel. “Your favorite pancakes and fruit bowl. They also made some bacon and eggs.” JD answered as he fixed the three gifts he got Y/N on his side of the L-Couch. “Yummy! But ok I’ll pick now! I wanna exchange my gifts as well!” She smiled happy as she spun the wheel.

The first name was Dominic, “Dom Dom! Come on in here. JD tag in with him.” Rhea instructed and both nodded trading places. Dom smiled and went to Y/N kissing her all over and giving her three small boxes and one giant one. “Open them in any order babydoll.” He watched closely as Y/N started to open them, the first was a pandora bracelet, blank canvas, her last one was broke from a raid that happened to their house earlier in the year and two of her charms were stolen. Dominik protected her while the others handled the men that intruded and held her close in her room calming her down so she wouldn’t have a panic attack. After that he wanted to check but she didn’t want him to leave so he stayed and comforted her the whole time. Y/N shed a tear and he smiled placing it on her wrist for her. She smiled at the small engravement and kissed his nose. “Thank you Dom.” Y/N loved it. The other two were boxes with 3 charms in it each for the bracelet, he slowly restored it back for her and added more. And the big gift was next. “I hope you love it ,it was literally the last one.” He smiled. She opened it smiling seeing it was a giant gengar, a limited edition one that was a pale purple. “You got me a shiny gengar!” She squealed as it was one of Y/Ns Pokemon on her team. She helped Dom get into Pokemon and they always play the newest game the DLCs and battle each other. Y/N held the stuffie close to her and kissed Dom on the cheeks making him blush. Little did he know that Finn already spun the wheel and shoved him to the side excited. “Hey!” He was ready for a fight with Finn and his cheeky smile but Rhea put an end to that giving a look to both. “Stop the rough housing and gift her.” Rhea hissed. She giggled and tossed Dom his gift she made him, “Don’t open it yet ok?” He nodded smiling at the semi wrapped well gift.

Finn proudly took gengar and put him to the side of her and gave her two gifts and one big one. “Sure that was sweet and all pipsqueak but mine is gonna take the cake.” Damien overheard him rolling his eyes and in the process saying in his language “Se va a llevar el pastel solo porque ayudé.” (It’s gonna take the cake only because I helped.) JD smirked some knowing what he said and Finn rolled his eyes. “Why is papa Damien so mean to me?” Finn pouted and it made Y/N pout hugging him. “Ok lass go at it.” She giggled and she started to tear the gifts open. One box contained a beautiful necklace, with Finn’s initials. “Awwww finny…” she smiled and Finn helped her put it on. She opened the next and it was vinyls that she wanted for her collection, limited edition. The last one was an envelope, she looked at it and she teared the top opening it and seeing it was tickets to her favorite artist. She squealed to the top of her lungs and she jumps up and down soon gripping on to Finn hugging him koala style. She’s been wanting to go to the concert for a while but due to how everything is set up she couldn’t go by herself. But Finn took the time to talk to Rhea and she subsided her overprotective ways for her this once, but there was a twist. He had to go with her. “I thought you did like my music teddy bear…” she pouted looking up. He sigh swallowing his pride and shrugged. “Eh I’ll live. It’s only one night and you’ve been wanting to go so bad.” He kissed her and hugged her close. The last gift she opened was another large stuffed animal, the pokemon mudkip. “You said it reminded you of me so why not?” He laughed some. She hugged it close and kissed his cheek giving him his gift. “Don’t open it just yet.” She stopped him before he opened it like a kid on Christmas. He nodded fast and Damien finally finished up breakfast.

After that they started up the wheel again, and Rhea was next. She smiled and she placed her gifts in front of Y/N sitting in front of her watching her rip them open. One small one and one big one. She started with the little one. A necklace, a small locket with her and Rhea in a photo. “Mama I love it.” She smiled and Rhea helped her put it on layering it so it doesn’t overlaps Finn’s. “Now this is very special babygirl, this was passed down in my family. And mama loves you so much that she’s giving it to you. You mean the world to mama, to finny, to Papa and Dom Dom and JJ. You mean everything to us. So I want you to have this ok?”Y/N teared up and Rhea kissed her tears away giggling. “No crying baby. We love you.” Y/N sniffles hugging her again. And the big gift was a giant mimikyu, she was grateful for all the stuffed animals but she’s scared she won’t have any more space in her bed. Next was Damien, he smiled and got his three gifts. “Ok flower, I can’t top tears or squeals I honestly just want that beautiful smile I love seeing.” She nodded and she started to unopen gifts. Damien was always the calm note in Y/Ns time being with them. She would have night terrors and she would need comfort and Damien was always there to calm her and hum to her. One night as they were having a meeting and drinks, and Y/N doesn’t do people well. She walked down the steps to get some water from the kitchen, running into one of the security guards for the other gang that was visiting for a meeting. She was in a big shirt and slippers, saying excuse me to the guard. But he was blocking her way, taunting her some. “You must be the goths pet.” He smirked and looked at her up and down. She was getting uncomfortable, “p-please move…” she said low and the man smirked getting to her level. “I could eat you alive talking to me like that pet.” She was shaking some whimpering and she ran the other way quick upstairs. The man wanted to follow her but was stopped by the last person he wanted to see. “Where are you going?” Damien hissed and looking down at the shorter man, “No where man-“ “I wouldn’t lie. Try again.” The guard was silent and Damien sighed. He walked away and went upstairs slow hearing some crying upstairs.

Damien was growing angry hearing her cry, he hated tears falling from her beautiful face. He knocked on the door and soon hear nothing. “Mamas can I come in?” He heard a broken yes and walked in seeing her hiding under her blanket. “Princess…are you ok?” Damien asked low. He slowly uncovered her from under the blanket and saw that her eyes were puffy, and her knife in her hand. “Baby, why do you have that? Were you protecting yourself?” She nodded fast putting the knife on the other side and getting in his arms crying. Damien was so hurt and that put rage in his heart, someone wanting to touch what’s theirs. He rocked her to calm her down, “I just wanted some water, I’m sorry papa I shouldn’t have left my room…he scared me…” she said in the middle of sobbing. He rocked her more and hummed in her ear holding her close. “No one is ever gonna hurt you angel. Not while we are around.” That was a promise. And the man that bothered Y/N, well Damien put Y/N to sleep and dragged that man outside doing some unspeakable things. His anger is something not to be tampered with. Or what he loves.

Y/N opened beautiful gifts from Damien, handwoven jewelry and rings with beautiful gems inside. “I’m scared to even wear these…” she muttered. It was so beautiful that she feels if she wears them they will crumble to dust. “You don’t have to wear them now baby but I’m so glad you love them.” He smiled and kissed her forehead and nose making her giggle. She put on the woven bracelet and smiled at the beautiful colors. While they discussed some in the living room happy that she’s admiring the gifts there’s still one more person. JD. He was honest nervous about giving his gifts. He’s been with the crew for a while but not as long as they stuck together, and they all been sticking together as a family. Sometimes JD feels like he intrudes into a lot even though he works with them. “JJ?” The sweetest voice took him out of his thoughts and he looked up seeing Y/N over him as he was sat down. “You wanna open mine with everyone first?” She asked feeling he was a bit nervous on his first Christmas. He saw the box in her hand and nodded. They all started to open their gifts and they all saw a homemade bracelet. “I know it’s not much I just didn’t wanna let you guys be without this year…” she rubbed her hands together slightly nervous from their expressions. “Babygirl it’s beautiful..” Finn smiled putting it on seeing it was a black and followed by his favorite color. The same patterns with everyone else and special charms that symbolized them. JD saw his charm seeing it was a small angel. “You are one of my protectors no matter how long I’ve known I thank you everyday for loving me, accepting me and being here for me JJ..” he sniffled some letting a tear fall. “Thank you dollface.” He kissed her cheek hugging her. Dominik has an angel and a mood checker charm, symbolizing him watching her and communicating her moods and tempers, when she wants to be little and hide away, he’s her protecter and keep her moods in check so she can survive. Rhea has the angel and a figure of them hugging holding a heart. Symbolism of her being her first love, Rhea was her first everything and will always be her mama. Damien had the extra charm of an angel and a lion, royalty and a proud papa like most lions are. And Finn a charm of an angel and a jokester icon, always making her laugh and playing with her to keep her little and making her happy right to left. JD gave his gifts next, an Apple Watch with a cute band in the next box and new AirPods. “Thank you JJ!” She said excited to set it up and get it working on her phone. Rhea was proud of JD, and so happy that Y/N had a great Christmas.

“So baby who had the best gifts?”Dominik asked while they were all watching some Christmas movies. “I loved all of them silly! I can’t choose.” She smiled as she sat in Damien’s lap playing with his necklace. “It was me.” Finn muttered. Dom rolled his eyes. Rhea threw a small object at Finn giving him a look. “I’m glad you had a wonderful Christmas babygirl.” The warmest smile was still on JDs face looking at the bracelet grateful of his gift. “The best Christmas.” He mumbled kissing the charm.

Merry Christmas~

[heyiwrotesomethings]

Happy Holidays Maddy! 💕 Alright, so in the spirit of christmas can we do a Kirari x Sayaka x Reader where the reader invites her girlfriends to their home for the holidays while their parents go visit family? The reader basically teaches them how to have a normal, calm, and small christmas without gambling and stress. Just nice and fluffy <333 (and maybe kirai would be a little clueless to the idea of a normal christmas since they probably had to gamble for their own gifts-)

A Normal Holiday

Kirari Momobami x Sayaka Igarashi x She/Her Reader

A/N: Ignore the fact that it’s January please. If I didn’t have fifty requests to sift through, I would have tried to have this one done earlier. Anyway, hope you like it! Word Count: 2,555

“(Y/n), what is your favorite winter holiday tradition?” Kirari asked out of the blue. Presumably because she was looking for any excuse to not look over the dull election challenge propositions Sayaka had placed before her.

“My favorite tradition?” (Y/n) sat back in her chair as she thought, “I guess I like decorating cookies, the food in general is really good. Sledding can be fun too if there’s enough snow, watching movies, hanging out with the family… it’s too bad, with the election still going on, I’m not going to the family get-together this year.”

“You shouldn’t have to skip out on family time to monitor election matches,” Sayaka voiced, her brow furrowed in concern, “Do you need me to talk to Yomozuki-san to get you time off?”

“No, it’s fine. Besides, I wanted to spend the holidays with my two favorite people. I thought it would be nice.”

Sayaka blushed, a small smile working its way upon her lips. Then, back from her unnoticed pondering, Kirari chimed in,

“I am confused.“

“What about?” (Y/n) asked.

“Does your family not take part in the time-honored tradition of gambling for your right to the family banquet? That’s my favorite and then watching the younger children test their skills to earn desirable items.“

“Oh, uh, no. No, we don’t do that.” (Y/n) was well aware that Kirari’s upbringing wasn’t like most to say the least, but she always managed to catch her off guard with the little insights about her life she would casually drop as if some of the things she said weren’t the most horrifying things (Y/n) had ever heard.

“A shame,” Kirari seemed genuinely put out, “And you, Sayaka?”

“I usually study in preparation for the new term. My parents are away so it makes a conducive study environment.”

Again, (Y/n)’s heart twisted uncomfortably in her chest. Though Sayaka’s family life lacked the extreme eat-or-be-eaten mentality Kirari’s had, they were quite cold and withdrawn. It was no wonder to (Y/n) why Sayaka tried to be number one in all that interested her, number one of (Y/n) and Kirari’s hearts especially since her parents seemed so uninterested in Sayaka’s academic accomplishments.

“This is exactly why you two should come stay at my house over break. I think it would be good for you to try to have a normal holiday where you don’t sit at home alone or watch small children cry because they had to gamble away their toys. Ririka is encouraged to come too if she wants.”

“She told me she was staying with Saotome for break, actually,” Kirari disclosed, “I thought it would be interesting to see how Saotome lives, but she said if I came to her home, it would be, ‘on sight’, whatever that means. Ririka clarified that it was a form of threat. However that’s neither here nor there I suppose, I’ll be happy to join you for break, (Y/n). And you, Sayaka?”

“Of course I’ll come!” Sayaka nearly yelled. She couldn’t fathom loosing out on quality time with either of them.

“Great! Okay, do we want to exchange gifts? If so, we should establish a price limit.”

“Exchange gifts?” Kirari cocked her head to the side, “As in bartering?”

“If it’s easier for you to think of it that way, then sure. You give Sayaka and I something you think we’d like and we each give you something we think you would like. And Sayaka and I give something to each other.”

“Fascinating. And where does the gambling come in? If we lose, do the gifts meant for us get destroyed before our eyes?”

“No, no, there isn’t any destroying. Just giving.” (Y/n) wanted to be as precise as possible for Kirari, but she knew that her words could easily go in one ear and out the other with her.

Kirari hummed, she appeared to be elsewhere in her thoughts, but the little displeased pout of her blue lips at least gave (Y/n) an indication that she had been heard. Whether or not that would matter was yet to be determined.

Sayaka on the other hand looked very invested. (Y/n) could see that she had taken out a notebook. What she could possibly have to take notes on related to gift giving, (Y/n) was unsure.

“What were you thinking for the price limit?” Sayaka asked, a perfectly logical question.

“How about no more than 3,000 yen per gift?”

“Only 6,000 total? That hardly seems adequate.” Kirari chimed.

“It’s plenty for a couple sweet little presents. Trust me.” (Y/n) assured.

After the incident of their six month anniversary where Kirari bought Sayaka and (Y/n) a spaceship ride to the moon, the literal freaking moon, (Y/n) thought it would be a good idea to make sure they stayed in Japan, or at the very least, on Earth by limiting Kirari’s spending.

“If you say so… what can you even get for 3,000 yen? A carton of milk?”

“More than that.” (Y/n) answered with the patience of a saint.

Turning back to Sayaka, she could see the girl had taken out her laptop and a calculator. Her eyes ablaze with determination, she was no doubt treating this as a challenge. (Y/n) reached across the table to still Sayaka’s hands over the keyboard.

“Don’t take it too seriously, sweetie. We’ll love whatever you get us, right Kirari?”

“Anything I receive from Sayaka is sure to be unexpected. I will cherish it always.”

If at all possible, steam would have spouted from Sayaka’s ears from the combined touch and praise. She released a strangled noise of understanding and when (Y/n) pulled away to sit back down in her chair, Sayaka was more interested in slightly swaying in her chair with a giddy smile on her face.

“I had better see if Runa needs me for any last minute gambles before I go home. I need to get the house set up and I have presents to buy,” (Y/n) got up from her chair once more and maneuvered around the table to give Kirari and Sayaka their customary departing kisses, “Come over around noon on Saturday and be prepared to spend the night.”

When Kirari and Sayaka voiced their understanding, (Y/n) left them under the soft blue light of the humming fish tanks, excited to get to work.

***

It was all set.

Nothing too extravagant, but she did put up some decorations and lights around the living room and made the couch into a comfortable fort of sorts, her presents for Kirari and Sayaka placed next to the selection of movies they could choose from. She had sugar cookies baked and cooled, ready to be frosted with a sampling of colors. There would be the usual feel good holiday snacks and dinner as well. There wasn’t much snow outside, but they could make little snowmen if they wanted too. It was sure to be a good experience for the girls. (Y/n) hoped it would have a good impact on them.

The doorbell rang and (Y/n) leapt to the door. She grinned when Sayaka and Kirari came into view. Sayaka was carrying two overnight bags over her shoulders, one presumably Kirari’s, and two presents in her hands. Kirari also had two presents in hand and (Y/n) let out a silent sigh of relief at their ordinary sizes. (Y/n) hugged them both and practically dragged them inside.

“Come on in!”

“I feel as though your home gets smaller every time I see it.” Kirari drawled.

(Y/n) playfully rolled her eyes. She knew better than to be offended by Kirari’s blunt observations.

“It smells very nice in here.” Sayaka complimented softly, the warmth and gentle calm of the space already making the usually stiff and anxiety riddled girl feel more at peace.

“Thank you! Here, I’ll take those bags. You can put the presents by the tv over there.”

(Y/n) put the overnight bags away, then the fun began. They started with decorating cookies. Kirari looked quite interested at the prospect having never had to do any food prep in her life.

Kirari’s cookies looked every bit as if a small child made them. More frosting seemed to get on the counter than the cookies themselves. Meanwhile Sayaka’s looked immaculate, but she had only decorated four out of the thirty cookies (Y/n) had baked in the time it took her girlfriends to do ten each. They helped her out of course, and sampled their work.

“It’s quite good,” Kirari marveled, “I shall take a few back to Ririka when we reconvene. She would enjoy this sort of thing. It is missing the thrill of possibly being poisoned by Miyo and Miri, however.”

“I could mix some salt or something spicy into the frosting of one of the cookies if that’ll help.” (Y/n) half-joked, but seeing the gleam that came across Kirari’s eyes, she found herself desecrating a perfectly good cookie to please the decidedly stranger one of her two girlfriends.

She mixed a teaspoon of salt into a leftover frosting bowl and slathered one of Kirari’s messy cookies with it before putting it in a small line up for Kirari to choose from. Sayaka and (Y/n) watched expectantly as Kirari picked a cookie and took a bite.

“Safe.” Kirari hummed, her tone almost disappointed, before taking another bite.

After washing up, they decided to get cozy and watch a movie. Sayaka had never looked more pink than she was sitting between the other two while sharing a giant, fluffy blanket. She was definitely the most touch-starved out of the three, and when Sayaka seemed to freeze up, (Y/n) was worried they were overwhelming her. But when she tried to give Sayaka more room, her hand reached out to pull her back in.

Sayaka actually ended up falling asleep before the movie was even halfway through. Kirari and (Y/n) spoke softly about the plot over her head as the film progressed, occasionally getting sidetracked by how cute Sayaka looked.

Once the credits began to roll, (Y/n) and Kirari brainstormed what to do next. After spending so much time warming up beneath the blankets, the chill the outdoors promised seemed less appealing. (Y/n) proposed playing a board game and then having dinner.

Kirari was enticed by the idea of a game so (Y/n) let her pick whatever she liked from the cupboard while she tried to rouse Sayaka with a few kisses and sweet words. Her cute, sleepy confusion was so different from the usual serious expression she wore at school.

“(Y/n), what is this Catan game?” Kirari asked, while Sayaka rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“Oh that one is pretty fun. Basically, you play as a settler and try to collect resources by rolling dice—“

“So it’s gambling?”

“Uh, fundamentally yes. I suppose it is. You want to build settlements and cities near resources with numbers that have a better chance at being rolled, but if someone rolls a seven and you have more than seven cards, you have to give up half of them. It’s both parts strategy and luck.”

“We shall try this one then.” Kirari nodded with finality and strode confidently to the table with (Y/n) and a blanket burrito named Sayaka trailing behind her.

It wasn’t terribly surprising that Sayaka would come out as the winner. She had listened very intently to (Y/n)’s explanation of the rules and took as pure of a strategic stance as she could, not taking chances in placing her initial settlements on unlikely numbers. She also made sure to put them on diverse crossroads to ensure a possibility at every resource available. And she took advantage of the ports, and proposed very diplomatic tradings and got development cards and… yeah she was a beast.

Kirari, conversely, put her initial settlements in questionable places. (Y/n) could defend her first choice of placing a settlement right on the port for two resources instead of three, but then she put her second one between a twelve, a two and the desert. On the bright side, she seldom had to worry about the robber taking her cards when a seven was rolled. In fact, Kirari probably rolled the robber more than anyone which was good for her since it gave her the opportunity to steal a resource card for her meager pile. Then when it came to trading what little she had, she was very…personal about it.

“Sa-ya-ka,” she’d croon, “if you have an an ore to give me, I’ll give you a kiss.”

“Kirari, you can’t just—“ (Y/n) had tried to argue at first, but Sayaka was already pushing the card towards her, biting her lip in anticipation.

(Y/n) pouted and crossed her arms over her chest as she watched Kirari reward Sayaka with a lingering kiss. This behavior would not have flown if this was one of the election gambles that she needed to oversee on a daily basis.

“Done?” (Y/n) asked with a bit of snark when Kirari returned to her seat, leaving Sayaka a little out of breath.

“Not quite,” Kirari smiled, leaning forward, “(Y/n), if you have a grain you are willing to part with, I’ll trade you a kiss.”

(Y/n) sat still for a few beats then quietly slid a card towards Kirari’s pile.

Honestly Kirari probably could have won if Sayaka wasn’t Sayaka.

They left the game out with the intention of playing again later and then got dinner ready. Sayaka was more of a help than Kirari on that front, but thankfully nothing went terribly wrong. They had a pleasant meal and then remembered that there were holiday gifts to open.

First they opened the gifts (Y/n) gave and then the ones Sayaka gave, each was thoughtful and sweet and each recipient made sure to voice their gratitude, but then the time to open Kirari’s gifts came. Sayaka and (Y/n) shared a confused look as the pulled matching sleek keycards from their boxes. At first, (Y/n) though Kirari had ignored the price limit and got them exclusive limitless credit cards or something, but then Kirari supplied,

“You will be able to access my home at any time with those keycards. I trust you’ll make a habit out of using them often. Day,” Kirari smirked, “or night.”

“Kikikikikikiki—“

“I think you broke Sayaka.” (Y/n) managed to say, though she seemed at least a little flustered as well.

“She’ll reset herself soon.” Kirari assured.

(Y/n) leaned over to plant a quick kiss against Kirari’s cheek in thanks, “We will be sure to come bug you often.”

“I would hope so.”

***

They played another round of Catan and then moved back to the couch for another viewing of whatever caught their eye and eventually both Sayaka and Kirari fell asleep. (Y/n) carefully got up from the pile so she could take a picture with her phone. As she looked down fondly at the new photo, she blindly reached for a cookie from the counter.

She was really glad they had been able to get together like this. Hopefully they would continue to do so for years to come. Perhaps they could even get Ririka and Mary in on it, but with how much Mary hated Kirari it probably wouldn’t be likely.

“Oh! Bleh! Gross!” (Y/n) quietly yelled, spitting into the garbage. Of course she would be the one to end up with the salty cookie.

[giggly-squiggily]

miss rey is having a sick day and she's gonna spend it sending you kny modern au christmas thoughts 😌 working in this goddamn elementary school has gotten me into the spirit for the first time in years and i need to embrace this while it lasts.

growing up sanemi never really got anything big for christmas, over the course of november he mostly necessities like new shoes when his old ones didn't fit anymore or a winter jacket and then on actual christmas day maybe a dvd or something handmade. it got a little better once he was old enough to do parttime jobs but even then he used most of his earnings to get something nice for his siblings. when it came to sanemi money was always tight and he was okay with that if it meant genya or the others could get something out of it. and when he got older and his friend group started to give each other christmas presents, the first time they'd come up to him like "we got you something" he'd be like "... why would you do that 🤨" - literally the second kanae hears that he never really got nice christmas presents you KNOW she's dedicating eight months of the year to plan something for him and it makes him cry every single time.

with tengen it's the same thing but sort of in the other direction. got everything he never wanted for christmas every year which was annoying and draining and just felt so detached and performative. the first time makio hands him a box with self made cookies and says "i'm sorry, i would've bought you something but i didn't find anything you'd like" he almost proposes on the spot because it just feels so great to have people actually put thought into their gifts for him and not just grab the shiniest looking thing from a shelf. (not that he doesn't love getting shiny things but only if it's a shiny thing that the person picked specifically because they thought he'd like it)

obanai is the grinch for exactly however long it takes him to discover that mitsuri loves christmas more than anything. once he's a bit more open to the idea he also discovers that it's actually fun to exchange gifts and spend time together during the holidays (who can blame him, he never had that prior to going to university) and he gets really into it. people are always surprised by his great gift giving skills but it really pays off to sit in the corner and listen in on conversations quietly, he really picks up on a lot of wishes that way and when december rolls around he just knows what everyone wants or needs. on their first christmas together mitsuri gives him a little scarf she made and says "so kaburamaru doesn't get sick" and obanai decides right then and there that christmas is his favorite holiday of the year. (ONLY christmas eve and christmas day though and ONLY for exchanging gifts and spending time together, all the blinking lights and santa merch and mariah carey can go to hell)

tanjiro is always all over the place during christmas time because there's just so much to do and so much to take care of and oh son of a monkey i have to go gift shopping and oh fudge what am i gonna cook and fiddlesticks i forgot to put the tree up and GOD FUCKING DAMNIT INOSUKE STOP EATING THE ADVENT WREATH - it's a lot. so on actual christmas day he's usually exhausted and his friends have to tie him to his seat so he doesn't continue to run around and try to do everything for everyone. he still loves it tho, he's always participating in social projects around that time as well and getting gifts for homeless people, children in poverty and volunteering to dress up and collect kids' wish lists in hospitals etc.

sabito on the other hand grew to despise christmas because of his job at the elementary school. it's just too much. all the music and all the glitter and the all the christmas shows he has to attend (and organize!), the baking and crafting and reading christmas stories and looking out so children don't burn themselves with the candles and putting up that dusty old tinsel that makes his eyes water and pretending that santa is real, christmas is the bane of his existence. of course he gets his loved ones some gifts and maybe goes out to eat with them but once that's done he immediately goes home and sleeps through til new year's eve. everybody knows not to say merry christmas until sabito has left because one time they all said it when they met up during the holidays and when they got to sabito he went "if i have to say that one more time i'm gonna kill each and every one of you and then myself" and now they just do it when he's not around.

that's all the thoughts i have for now, sorry for barging in with this long ass ask like that 💀 stay hydrated, i send you a fluffy blanket and a kiss on the forehead but with a mask so you don't catch my cough :3

Oh Rey! *hugs and brings all the healing vibes and tissues* I'm sorry you got sick; something about this season just brings all the germs! And lets go getting into the spirit of things! :D

IJKRKJERJEJKRJ AHHHHHHH THESE ARE FREAKING DELIGHTFUL! Sanemi prioritizing his siblings and necessities is such a canon thing he'd do; and Kanae making it her life's mission to give him a good christmas is so KJEJJREKJREJ She's the queen of gifting- she knows everyone's taste and preferences and while it takes a while to get any info out of him, she'll find him something special. He's always so touched by it and makes it a point to do the same for her- saving up to get her one of those nice hair ornaments or dedicating any free time he has to making her something from scratch. He is a jack of no trades, but the effort is there and seeing her genuinely love it is the best gift to him.

Oh my god YES! I feel like Tengen doesn't really like christmas all that much? Mainly like you said, gifts always felt draining and preformative and also, despite growing up in a large family, maybe it didn't feel like a loving home? (Going a little into his canon background there) Like- his family held christmas parties every year but gifts were more like bragging rights over their guests vs actual care and thoughtfulness. Christmas with the girls is so much more special to him cause everything feels like they really thought of one another. (Also Tengen liking shiny things makes me laugh- he's like a crow ajerkjajekraejrj)

KLJERKJLEJKLRJKERJ OBANAI HELP! Grinch 363 days a year- the last two it fades away, especially with Mitsuri. He's a gift giving god; rivaling Kanae with his observation skills and such. You know he's always dressing Kaburamaru in his little scarf during the colder months- even when it starts to get a little worn down. (Mitsuri makes it her new tradition to make him a scarf every year after that.) They'd be the couple sneaking kisses under the mistletoe throughout the party.

TANJIRO YES! He's a little busy bee running about during December; baking treats and keeping Inosuke off the advent wreath (that's freaking hilarious oh my god) and volunteering and just- all of it! Christmas rolls around and he's so tired he can't even keep his eyes open for a good few hours into the day. It's his little reward for working so hard; a nice break on the big day ajerjaejarj

Sabito hating christmas is a whole mood akjekjrakjejkrajkerja He might have liked it at one point, but after working at an elementary school and being overdosed with the holiday spirit he is so burned out jareajreajjaerjkeajr (NOT HIM QUOTING ROSE KLJWJRKEJRJEJR) Of course he's gonna keep the vibes up for the children and his love ones but when the day is done he's hibernating with a heated blanket ajkaerjae

Just to add on:

Akaza wins ugly christmas sweater every year; he has so many cause he unironically thinks they're cute (and they keep him nice and toasty during the cold months). He gets matching ones for his favorite/only nephew Rui; they take pictures every year and have a whole album dedicated to it.

Douma is a pro figure skater without the pro part; good luck keeping him off the ice this season, especially if you put on "Theme of King JJ"; he also sings christmas songs non-stop and while he has a nice voice and can carry a tune, there comes a time when someone's about to shout "STOP SINGING ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, IT'S FREAKING JANUARY!"

Zenitsu is absolutely the one to plan a trip to a warmer part of the world during winter; he cannot stand the cold whatsoever and saves up every year to escape for a week or two. If it happens to fall during Christmas, he facetimes everyone with a drink in hand on the beach wearing pineapple sunglasses he bought at the souvenir shop like the absolute tourist he is.

Thank you for sharing these, Rey! They are absolutely delightful! :3

[rockheadcd]

@electrivolt said: "Hey, love—" he's trying to be gentle waking him up, careful kisses as he's basically laying on top of him under many layers of blankets. It's a wonder he even managed to wake up before Roark in the first place, and it took its own amount of effort too, but— it's worth it to surprise his love, isn't it? Just a little impatiently waiting for him to wake up now. "Merry Christmas, love." And the gifts are carefully wrapped and stacked in a neat pile on the nightstand for Roark to notice, a sweater covered in silly dinos, a set of dinosaur shaped taco holder and a dinosaur waffle maker he couldn't just turn down the moment it crossed his search, now could he? Are half of those a bit of a joke gift? Absolutely, but he knows his love very well by now, he knows what Roark will laugh at and cherish. Besides, the handmade card sitting on top of the pile is very genuine, a few more words of affection and appreciation getting to share another day like this with him. He's a little in love, isn't he? ( a lot. it's a lot in love. ) "We can go down and get breakfast when you're ready." They do have something to try out now after all, right? / chrimmy goodies.

All that really comes out is disgruntled groaning, the mandatory days off kicking his poor, overworked body into rest mode—sure, that usually meant he was up at a normal hour of the morning versus before the sun was up, but in between that was the scheduled visit to see his father and all of the 'mons living on Iron Island as well, chow down on some good eats, and then enjoy a nice evening exchanging gifts and drinks in front of a toasty wood fire. He probably was recovering from that ( what can he say, egg nog was good! ) more than anything, but part two was upon him in the form of a pound of blankets, the love of his life, and a bunch of kisses to bring him back to the land of the living.

He offers Volkner a sleepy smile, returning any kiss that lands against his lips. "Hold on.." Roark envelopes him in a warm hug instead, yawning, squeezing him tighter, then finally letting go when he's done. Getting out of bed is hard, but he doesn't even notice that Volkner brought his presents to him until he has to find his glasses to really see anything up close, surprised and content all at once. "Ah, you didn't have to bring them up here, love—" he comments, even as he's moving to sit up and put everything in his lap, navigating around his love, perpetually cold during this time of the year.

One at a time, he opens them up, more and more excited as he turns over each one, even burying his face into the sweater and contemplating putting it on now. "Aha, I think we have to make pancakes for the morning now with this, I can't say no to dinosaur bites." When he finally reads the card, where Volkner often put his most eloquent thoughts down, he just can't help but smile warmly, carefully putting it aside to hug him again and give him another kiss. "Merry Christmas—I love you so much!" Man, if he didn't have some presents under the tree, getting out of bed would have been impossible today.

"Alright, alright. I'm kinda hungry, so I guess we can make some breakfast. You also have your gifts to open up, too. They're under the tree and all."

As for those? Well, he knew Volkner to be one to try to not stand out, but he couldn't help when he found another feline-themed hoodie to keep him warm, little ears on the hood and all. The next, a simple thermos—the purpose isn't clear at first until he looks at it as if it's a blank canvas. Something to decorate, and something to keep his hot chocolate warm in this snowy, freezing season. Another is a pack of markers on the more expensive side in their purpose, Roark having done some research into his gifts, apparently. He can't really help it though, he tries to find things practical! And finally, as if Volkner needed another thing to sleep with, a heated blanket in blue that he'd certainly end up sharing with all of the Sunyshore 'mons, a nice, heavy wool to hold in all of that much-needed heat.

"C'mon, let's get out of bed—"

[purplesurveys]

1814

1. Who was the last person you forgave? How long did it take you to forgive them? I haven't had to forgive someone in a while; I don't get in much conflict anymore.

2. Is going mushroom hunting in the woods something that would interest you? No. Don't mushrooms like, run the risk of being super deadly? I don't have nearly enough knowledge about them to identify which ones would be safe to touch and such.

3. What is your favorite junk food? How about your favorite health food? Mozzarella sticks, arancini, pork isaw, French fries. Favorite health food...uhhhhh idk do salad wraps count? Haha they're my favorite thing to get these days! Saladstop has this Caesar wrap that I have probably at least once a week at this point.

4. Are you listening to anything right now? Do you normally listen to music while you take surveys? No, I prefer it to be quiet now. Sometimes I do but most of the time I find it really distracting and I end up taking like, double, triple the time I'd otherwise normally take doing surveys.

5. What were you doing the last time you hung out with a friend? It was well over a month ago but I saw my closest friends for a Christmas gift exchanging + dinner. We were supposed to head to a café after to continue talking, but while walking we saw this vapery(?) - idk what to call it, but it's a coffee shop that also sells vapes and allows you to do so inside - and went there instead and chatted it up with the owners since we were the only customers there.

Reena had to leave after an hour and the vapery was closing soon too, so Angela, Hans, and I went to Anj's house so we could TALK SOME MORE. Hahaha. We only see each other, like, quarterly now, so we're usually stuffed to the brim with stories when we have the time to see each other.

6. Is there anything about you that might cause others to dislike you? I tend to choose who I want to talk to, so those I might not approach may find me aloof and uninterested. It's because I am tbh, lol.

7. Is there anything you’re really particular or specific about, anything that has to be done a certain way every time? I'm very particular at work. I like things presented or explained a certain way; and I have the tendency to either overhaul a Powerpoint if I think it's lacking in how it's been made, or chime in for someone if I think they explain something in a way that I think is poorly.

8. Are there any chores you need to get done today? Just get rid of the mug and glass that's been sitting in my room and wash them.

9. Where was the last place you went shopping and what did you buy? I went to Landmark to buy a pastel gown + heels for the 18th birthday party of a family friend that I'm going to later this evening.

10. What was the last big change you made to your physical appearance? Dyeing my hair back to purple a couple of months ago.

11. Are you more likely to shut people out of your life or try to fix things no matter what? I will cut people off.

12. Where was the last place you went out to eat? Is going out something you enjoy or would you rather cook at home? To Red Keep last weekend just for some little me time. I had a spamsilog and a white mocha, which I had while filling in my journal and reading my book.

I like eating out because I can't cook, but I limit it because doing that everyday for every meal is super unsustainable. Plus with me resigning and not having an immediate job replacement, I'm gonna be a bit of a hardass on myself not to spend much until I can find a new source of income.

13. If you have any pets, do they seem to notice when you’re sick or sad? Not really, but it's okay with me. Kimi though is a different story; he liked keeping to himself but he would walk towards me if he can sense that I'm stressed or close to tears.

15. Is anything you’ve done lately going to matter in a year?  Yeah, absolutely.

16. What was the subject of your last phone call? It was a guy dropping off something at the office and needing to be guided STEP BY FUCKING STEP to get there. I don't have problems helping out people with directions, but I've also just never dealt with someone who needed to be told every turn, every stop, every move... and especially over the phone where I wouldn't be able to see where he was standing haha.

17. Are your hobbies something you’d rather do alone or with others? On my own. I don't like going to museums with someone else just cos it makes me super self conscious? Like I can stay 3-4 hours in one museum alone and I'm also not a big talker when I'm immersed, so I might just end up boring a companion to death.

18. Is there anything about yourself that you’re trying to improve? Trying to be gentler towards my teammates as I know everyone is overwhelmed and tired as it is.

19. What are you doing today? I went to the dentist and had a horrible experience because they were 1 hour late to our appointment; got a big order of flavored fries and corndogs to cheer myself up after the grueling wait; took a nap; and now I'm just killing time before I'd need to get up and prep for the debut I'm attending tonight.

20. What did you dream about last night? I can't remember. But in my nap an hour ago I dreamt that we went to Japan, but it was an overnight stay LOL so I spent more time at the airport than I did in the country.

21. When was the last time you visited relatives? Do you see extended family often? It was during the whole Christmas/New Year timeline when we drove out to see different sides of extended family. I'd say these things happen pretty much only during the holidays, but occasionally in the middle of the year when things end up being planned we'd also visit family then.

22. What was the last relaxing thing you did? Last weekend was a major Chef's Kiss weekend. I'm amazed at how peaceful it felt and the calming effect it had on me. Saturday I went to Red Keep where I dined al fresco, wrote in my journal, and read my book until the sun set and I couldn't read anymore. Sunday I spent the afternoon in UP where I sat under a tree and alternated between people-watching and finishing my book as the afternoon rolled on.

23. Will this weekend be better than last weekend? Nothing will top the past weekend, I'm afraid.

24. When was the last time you were there for a friend? Just the last couple of weeks. Angela's morale has been down what with the pressure of studying for the architecture boards, and I've been there to listen but also give advice if she needs it.

25. Do you have any jewelry you almost never take off? At one point it was the necklace Reena gave me, but it started to itch so I've removed it for now.

26. What are some of your favorite words? Poignant, eloquent, vivacious...and indicted and viscount just because I'm fascinated with how they're both pronounced nothing like they're spelled lol.

27. Do you have any journals from when you were younger? If so, do you ever go back and read them? No I think I got rid of them years ago because they were all pretty embarrassing to me and it's not really something I'd want to keep.

28. Are there any holidays you used to celebrate, but no longer do? I no longer observe Christmas for the Christian reason. I'm just here for the food.

29. What was the last occasion for which you dressed up? A family friend's daughter's 18th birthday party, from which I just came home actually.

30. Is there anything you wish you could say to anyone? I wish you could trust me more because today was very telling of how much you don't, and that kind of stung.

[postwarlevi]

What's your perfect Christmas with your two lovely men Jean and Levi? 🎄🎁☃️

Hi Jelly! I'm happy to say I wrote a lot today and I'm excited to share with everyone soon!

Anyway, back on track hehe

Jean and I are very festive and social during the Christmas season. Parties, get togethers, baking, matching sweaters. We're very silly.

We love decorating the house and have a large tree with lights and garland, the works, and put up wreaths and towels and figurines inside and out.

We host a get together Christmas eve for whoever can come and play holiday trivia games and make hot chocolate and apple cider and put on some Christmas movies for people to enjoy.

Christmas morning we actual go out to eat as some places near us are open. Connie and Sasha meet us and our families and we order what we usually would and leave a very nice tip for our waiter or waitress.

After it's finally alone time. We've gotten each other a couple gifts and one large gift for the house, say a new washing machine or something.

We go through our gifts and play with them, things like kitchen appliances or video games. We stay in our matching jammies and act like kids from noon until midnight, doing whatever we want, including the mandatory Christmas day nap.

Our pup Murphy gets in on it too and gets spoiled! New toys all over the house and extra treats. We call him on the couch to cuddle while we watch a holiday movie. If it's snowing out we take videos of him enjoying the snow, he loves it so much!

-----------

Levi and I are also social but not on such a grand scale. We bake for Christmas parties and participate but don't stay all night.

Decorations are minimal inside, a tree with the garland and lights, and some sentimental ornaments that we've had forever that Levi has to dig in the garage for.

Outside we put lights around the house and a couple moving reindeer that we light up for a couple hours at night for people to enjoy.

Christmas eve we go to his mom Kuchels house for a family get together with our families. Uncle Kenny tells dirty jokes and Levi threatens him but my family thinks he's hilarious. We listen to Kuchel read a Christmas story which everyone really enjoys, especially the kids. (Maybe next time this year we'll have one..?)

Christmas morning we put friends on speaker phone to say Happy Christmas while we bake and get some things ready, and head to the local Children's hospital to hand out stuffed animals and make sure families there have a nice homemade meal.

It's late afternoon when we get done and sit down with what we kept for ourselves to eat and watch a Christmas movie that I can get Levi to agree too.

We exchange a couple gifts, something we can both enjoy like tickets to a play or something. And I surprise Levi by pulling out a small cake for his birthday that he has no idea when I made. No, we're not forgetting birthdays around here :)

[forabeatofadrum]

There’s nothing ironic about show choir (25/30)

AO3

–

Prompt: Sleep

–

SIMON

It’s great being friends with Baz. Why did we never try this before? He’s sitting on gran’s sofa, eating cake and talking to my uncle about cars. Penny, Agatha and I invited him for our annual gift exchange. We’re going to make gingerbread houses later. The three of them are also staying over for the night, because that’s part of the tradition.  It’s nice that we get to share the tradition with him.

I am still obsessed with him, but now I can just say that I like being around him! We’re friends, actual friends!

Gran tells us the gingerbread is ready and we all move to the dining room.

“He’s a lovely fellow,” gran says when she hands me the gingerbread.

“Hm?”

“Baz. I am glad you brought him here.”

“Oh, yeah, we thought it’d be nice to include him.”

She moves to Penny to give her the gingerbread. I already start on piping the sides of my house and my friends join quickly. As usual, it’s a chaos, although Baz seems to be good at this.

“Finally we have someone with artistic talents among us,” Agatha jokes and Penny squirts some icing towards her. I also bump against Baz, who seems a bit surprised, but then he bumps back and the next thing I know, the four of us are pestering each other.

After fucking around for three hours, we finish up and gran assembles all our houses with magic. Then we go back to the living room for gift exchange. I give Penny a book, Agatha some glittery nail polish and Baz a little plushie of a goat.

“Because of Ebb,” I explain half-heartedly, but he seems to like it, so that’s a win.

Agatha gives everyone ugly Christmas jumpers and she demands we put them on at an instant. When Baz puts his jumper (it says HO HO HOMO), his head pops out of the collar and his hair is messy. One strand falls on his forehead.

“Here, let me,” I move it to the side and Baz’s eyes widen.

“Uh. Thanks.”

“No prob,” I say before putting on my jumper (mine has two baubles placed over my nipples).

Baz gives everyone fancy chocolate, which I immediately start munching on.

“Save some space for dinner, Simon,” he says. He calls me Simon now. I like it.

A few hours later, we’re all in my room. I’m in my bed with Agatha next to me. Even though we’re broken up, it’s something we both got used to. Penny and Baz are on the floor. Baz spelled it fluffy. Everyone’s asleep but me. Maybe I shouldn’t have eaten all that chocolate.

I watch Baz sleep. On my floor. We’ve shared a sleeping space for years, but now he’s here! I am not new to watching Baz sleep. I do it all the time at Watford, but this is different. I keep looking at him until I fall asleep myself.

[kleiner-ghost]

Today's polyam shipping (@polyamships) day theme is calendar.

I haven't written today yet, so here's a quick drabble about my favourite trio. They're trying to have a Christmas dinner.

TW: guns

The trio gathered on the roof of the UNATCO base. They hadn't really set a time, but JC had finished her debrief, and Alex saw her walk out, and Paul info-linked Jock, and now here they were.

The weather was as warm as it usually got in December. Jock had lost his leather jacket, and Alex was periodically tugging on the collar of his jumper. He would have taken the thing off, had it not stored the batteries for his remote hacking keyboard.

JC was the only one unbothered by the heat. Her nano augments were to thank for that.

"So, how do you wanna do this?" Jock asked, just as he finished setting up the picnic blanket.

"How should I know? I'm an orphan." JC replied.

She hadn't moved from spot where Jock had thrown down his jacket, which she was now using as a pillow.

"You bring that up a lot," Alex complained.

JC shrugged.

"Right, well I have spiced pudding, potatoes, and soy stuffing," Jock continued.

"And I have turkey,"

JC rose her pistol to the sky, and fired. Seconds later, a thin seagul - or perhaps a large white pigeon - landed on the picnic blanket.

Jock smirked, and Alex cringed, before noting:

"I don't think either of you know how Christmas works."

"Well, duuh." JC rolled over on the jacket so as to face the duo.

"You're the only Catholic here," Jock continued, "Should we pray to Jesus, or can we just eat?"

"Wait." JC jolted up, suddenly remebreing something, "Aren't there special trees named after Christmas?"

"Christmas trees are just regular pine trees."

"They only grow in the northmost parts of Canada. They're similar to those you have on the West Coast, but, fun fact, the leaf shape differs -"

"Yeah, yeah." JC cut Alex off.

"Back when your brother was still in the academy, we used to exchange gifts as well." Jock continued. "That's where that blue wobly figurine on my dashboard is from."

"My parents used to do that too." Alex said, with a small smile on the corner of his lips. It wasn't often he felt nostalgic when talking about his parents. "Did you stop when Paul graduated?" Noticing the look JC and Jock were giving him, he quickly returned the conversation on topic.

"No." Jock shook his head. "One year qe got each other an identical set of socks, and that was when realised this was stupid and we should stop."

"Oh yeah, the red ones with the little fish on them!" JC exclaimed. "Heh. Paul actually loves them. I think he bought an identical pair last year. Maybe we should pick up that tradition again..."

They sat in silence for a short while, thinking the idea over. There wasn't really anything any of them wanted or needed that they couldn't get themselves or ask for.

Alex gave Jock a 'some traditions are best lost' look, before asking:

"So, who wants a portion of cold potatoes?"

"Sure."

"I'll have some."

"Okay. Just move the dead bird somewhere else."

"Oi! I'm still having that!" JC protested.

Jock, who'd already gotten ready to throw the thing off the roof, gave JC a reprimanding look.

"What?" She asked. "My stomach is augmented."

[gillianthecat]

ooh, I was intrigued by this question when I first saw it last month, and i'm finally getting around to writing it up, now that the holiday is past. I love reading about your family's traditions and where they come from. The foods you list are making me hungry. I didn't dance growing up, but I did start ballet classes as an adult and I've gone to see a live Nutcracker or watched the old NYCB one several years since then. Those pants sound ideal for Christmas eating.

I'm half Jewish and, and think of myself as Jewish (and don't at all consider myself Christian, despite that being my father's heritage) but my family has always celebrated Christmas, as did my (Jewish) mother's family when she was growing up. I asked my mother and uncle this year if they knew why, but their parents never explained it to them. They lived in a majority Jewish community, but I guess the power of assimilation and culture christianity is strong in the USA regardless, especially at that time. So, if I think about it I do feel a little weird about celebrating a christian holiday, but mostly I enjoy the time for our family traditions.

What we do has changed over the years as my siblings and I have moved away from home, older relatives have passed away, and now that my sibling has kids, but that means what remains feels like the core of our family tradition. We almost always celebrate at my parents' house (although I didn't come back the first two years of the pandemic), we always have a (real) tree, we always exchange gifts, we almost always do stockings (even when there are no kids around), and we almost always host a dinner with some variation on same set of relatives and family friends.

The day of the dinner has drifted from Christmas Day to Boxing Day over the years as people have other family commitments. And up until a few years ago my mother and I had an unintentional tradition of choosing an elaborate menu of foods we'd never made before, just because they looked interesting in the cookbook, and then spending most of the day cooking. It always worked out and usually was delicious, but every time we would vow to choose something simple next time and never did. This year though we just made something easy we already knew and it was much less stressful lol. The one specific food we usually make is this zebra icebox cake, which is chocolate wafers layered with whipped cream and then cut at an angle. (Nabisco's "Famous Chocolate Wafers." The very simple recipe is on the box if anyone else wants to try it.) And we usually have lots of cookies around as gifts from other people, plus chocolate and oranges for the christmas stockings.

(not my photos, found online)

We always get a real tree, and whoever is around takes an evening to put up ornaments, of which we've accumulated four or five times as many as could possibly fit on a tree. Every year, even into adulthood, each of us kids got a matching yearly ornament, plus a family one to mark some trip or event of that year. Plus lots of fragile glass ornaments from my dad's youth and his grandparents, along with many many gifted ones from the years.

We always do a gift exchange, and spend an afternoon or evening opening presents. Usually the person passing them around from the tree wears a Santa hat. We sometimes try to cut back and either limit it to stocking stuffers or draw from a hat to only give to one person, but it never really works because my family likes giving gifts too much. My personal unintentional tradition is often to try and hand-make a lot of things and then get really stressed out about it at then end and sometimes give unfinished gifts. But sometimes I manage to avoid that stress! I did this year :-)

Oh and a puzzle! I think of that as a Thankgiving tradition, but we usually end up doing at least one puzzle while we're all together.

It's 10 days til Christmas, if you celebrate it at all what are some of your traditions? Curious to know.

I'm not really a Christmas lover, but I find my things to enjoy. For me, a Trini Christmas can't be beat. Our traditions, especially in food and music, come from our multicultural heritage: pastelles (pasteles), ponche de crème (crema) and parang music (paranda) from Venezuela, black cake (fruitcake darkened with molasses and soaked in rum and/or cherry brandy) from our English colonial history, sorrel (hibiscus) drink from our native ancestors, the tendency toward excess from our French influence. In terms of personal traditions, there are some things it doesn't feel like Christmas without: baking with my family; watching Sharon, Lois and Bram's Candles, Snow and Mistletoe CBC special (from my mother, who grew up in Montreal); the Nutcracker (a nod to my dance roots); the annual rewatch of Love, Actually; Mariah Carey's 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'; and my Xmas Eating Pants, a pair of leggings I bought in 2014 that are covered in reindeer, snowflakes and other assorted cold-weather Christmas staples.

What about you my moots, what are your traditions?

[hongcherry]

a white christmas || pjm (m)

"The present your Secret Santa got you isn't very safe for work."

🎄 Pairing: CEO!Jimin x Secretary!Reader(f)

🎄 Rating/Genres: M(18+); Smut, light fluff, ceo au, office romance au

🎄 Word Count: 5.4k

🎄 Warnings: Use of a sex toy in public, dirty talk, exhibitionism, unprotected sex (it's fictional so be safe irl plz <3), multiple orgasms, cum swallowing, soft dom jm, one spank heh, brief thumb sucking lol, ceo jm being sexy as hell im js, rip oc clothes

🎄 Project: Part of the 12 Days of BTS event

Prompt: A kinky Secret Santa gift exchange + Aftercare

🎄 Beta: @kookthief + @jimilter // You guys are amazing D:< Thank you so much for beta’ing this. I appreciate the effort you both took in helping me. I'm sending you both big virtual hugs!

🎄 Author’s Note: This is a lot longer than I planned D: I just got too carried away haha.

12 Days of BTS masterpost | main masterlist

The steps to your cubicle were bouncier than usual. Today was the day you’d discover who your Secret Santa was. You were excited to see who it was and what they had gifted you. You had always been a Christmas girl. You loved the holiday cheer and the pretty lights around the city. It made you feel warm and fuzzy despite the chilly winter weather.

Two weeks ago, the company had decided to host a Secret Santa gift exchange. The event had not been active in the past few years, but management decided it would be a great way to lift everyone’s holiday spirits. It wasn’t just limited to each department; meaning, you could be gifting a present to anyone in the building. Thankfully, you had received your giftee’s wish list so even if you didn’t know the person, you could still get them something they would like.

Being the secretary of the CEO had its perks. Park Jimin, albeit young to be a CEO, had been successful ever since he obtained the title four years ago. The former CEO and founder, Kim Namjoon, had gladly bestowed the role upon Jimin after seeing his work and leadership skills for years. You had been Namjoon’s secretary and were thankful Jimin kept you in the same position when he climbed the corporate ladder. Apparently, Namjoon had complimented your work ethic to Jimin and had insisted he keep you. You were sad to see Namjoon step down but happy he was finally living his dream—to travel across countries.

You were giddy even before sitting down. An email had been sent out yesterday that everyone would be getting their gift today, however, it didn’t entail exactly when you’d be getting it. The anticipation was eating you up and you’d only been here for twenty minutes. You weren’t sure how you were going to focus on your work today. You checked Jimin’s schedule, pleased to see he had a busy day today which meant you didn’t have to worry about him assigning you a new task.

As you expected, you barely did anything. The minutes must have been passing every 100 seconds rather than every 60. The day was going by at an agonizing pace. By the time it was nearing the end of your shift, you started to wonder if the company had forgotten about the gift exchange.

You absentmindedly scrolled through your list of unread emails, guilt nipping at your emotions when you realized you didn’t do any work today. Sighing, you clicked on an email that stated it was highly important. However, the faint sound of bells jingling had your slouched body straightened and your ears perked up.

“Ho, ho, ho,” a deep voice bellowed. People in the cubicle around you stood up, overlooking the short walls to see who had arrived.

Walking into the area was Santa Claus. A much skinnier Santa, but Santa nonetheless. The man had on a fake beard with a lopsided Santa hat. His sleigh was made up of a 2-tier cart that was decorated in tinsel and bells. You were pretty sure you saw a similar cart in the storage room the other day.

“We hope you’ve all been good because those on the naughty list won’t be getting anything,” Santa announced. Four other people dressed in elf costumes came from behind Santa and began grabbing presents from the cart.

Although the act was corny, it still had your lips quirking up. It was cute and they were really trying. You had to give them some props.

You sat anxiously as you watched your coworkers being given gifts of various shapes and sizes. After three more were distributed, Santa waltzed over to you with one in hand. He briefly checked the top of the gift before presenting it to you.

“Ms. Yn,” he said with a smile.

“Thank you,” you replied as you took the gift from him.

Two more gifts were delivered before Santa and his elves began to depart.

“Happy holidays, everyone! Stay safe! See you next year!” Santa waved goodbye before hopping on his modern-day reindeer—also known as an elevator—to continue his journey.

The present you were handed was simple. The medium-sized box was wrapped in penguin-themed wrapping paper, perfectly placed ribbon and bow over the wrapping. Tucked under one of the ribbons was a small notecard with your name in cursive. The eagerness buzzing in your body caused you to rip open the box. Maybe you were acting more ravenous than the average person opening a present, but the built-up anticipation was too much. You had enough time guessing what your Secret Santa had given you all day. Perhaps it was the fuzzy blanket on your list, or maybe the travel tripod? You were secretly wishing for the latter, but you would gladly accept either.

Both your guesses were wrong.

Laid inside the box was something pink and shaped funny. One end was bigger than the other and it curled almost in the shape of a “C.” There was also a small tube of something nestled in the side.

You squinted at it and leaned in closer to examine the pink object. You had an idea what it was, but surely that wasn’t it, so what was it?

Your eyes glided to the card laid in the box. It had your name written in cursive on one side and a message on the other.

I hope you put this to good use and meet me in forty-five.

W-what?

Your eyes grew at the realization that your initial guess was correct. Swiftly, you turned the small tube over to see what it was. Your heart began to hammer when you saw it was lube.

Your hands flew over the box, trying to hide the contents as you quickly glanced around. Even though no one could see you in your cubicle, you still felt exposed. It dawned on you then that you still didn’t know who your Secret Santa was. They were supposed to reveal themselves with the gift.

Did your Secret Santa really just give you a vibrator?

Thought it wasn’t any kind of vibrator. You recalled these kinds of vibrators could be used through Bluetooth and be controlled by someone from a distance away.

The thought astonished you and for a moment you forgot what the note had stated. How would you know where to meet them? You debated on if you wanted to follow through with the message. Was this person expecting you to use it now at work or at home tonight? Since they expected to meet you soon, you figured they meant now.

That made you nervous, yet excited. Were they planning to test it when you met them? Perhaps they wanted you ready so when you visited them, the vibrator was already set in place. The idea of you getting off in public had always made your heart race.

You were to meet this person soon and you already wasted ten minutes freaking out over the gift. With shaky hands, you grabbed and stuffed it in the bag you had brought with you before heading to the restroom. After hastily cleaning the object, you hurried into one of the stalls.

Just the thought of doing something so risky had already caused you to feel wet. You spent a few minutes circling your clit as you attempted to arouse yourself more so you were able to use the vibrator easier. Remembering the lube, you retrieved it from the bag.

You were able to slip the vibrator inside with ease. You bit your lower lip as you suppressed a moan at the feeling. Unsure how to turn it on, you began pressing the buttons on the top. Nothing happened.

You wondered if you needed to do anything else until vibrations emitted from between your legs. Your knees buckled at the abrupt feeling, a gasp leaving your mouth as you reached out to steady yourself.

The vibrations came to a halt not even ten seconds later. The sudden loss allowed you to catch your breath. You waited for the vibrations to begin again, but it didn’t. You frowned at that. You missed the feeling it gave you and you needily rubbed your legs together to try to get some friction.

At the sound of the bathroom door opening, you composed yourself in a hurry. You flushed the toilet to pretend you had used it before washing your hands and leaving the restroom. You clutched onto your bag as you made your way back to your cubicle. You forced yourself to calm your breathing. Just as you entered your cubicle, the vibrations started again.

You couldn’t stop the cry that fell from your lips as you stumbled into your chair, needing to sit down before you stumbled onto the floor. However, you almost fell out of your chair when you saw your cubicle neighbor peek their head over the short wall.

“Was that you?” the man, Jungkook, asked. “Are you okay?”

You could feel the back of your neck beginning to sweat at the thought of being caught. You instantly pressed your knees together as you tucked yourself under your desk. You were hoping your actions were subtle, but you doubted it. Jungkook eyed you skeptically, slight worry still dancing in his dark eyes.

The vibrations unexpectedly increased in their tempo. Your legs squeezed tighter together and your eyes widened, glancing anywhere but Jungkook’s face.

“I-I’m fine. Lightheaded,” you stuttered, not caring that your sentence was choppy. You just hoped he would understand and leave you alone.

“Okay,” he said slowly. His eyes narrowed at your body. Your chest was rising and falling faster as the seconds passed. “Do you want some water?”

You were about to tell him to ignore you when the vibrations rolled to a stop. You didn’t realize how tightly you were gripping your desk until your body relaxed from the ministrations.

“Got some ready, but thank you,” you replied with a shaky breath while you pointed to your water bottle. Jungkook’s gaze flickered to the object before nodding.

“Just let me know if you need anything,” he responded and hesitantly retreated into his cubicle.

“Thank y—ou—” You began to say, the last part of your sentence raising an octave when you felt your legs tremble.

You caught another worried look from Jungkook before he completely disappeared from your view. Oh fuck.

You glanced down at your lap; you tried your hardest not to squirm so much in your seat, but it was difficult. The vibrations were changing in speed and rhythm. If you stayed here, Jungkook or someone else was going to catch you. You were doing a horrible job at staying quiet.

You thought about going back to the bathroom, but you weren’t sure if you could walk with the vibrations. Your body felt weak and you were nearing the edge. It had been building and you were sure you were going to come at your desk if you didn’t make it to the bathroom. As if the device read your mind, the vibrations became more bearable—a simple humming rather than intense vibrations.

As you were gathering your strength to make a beeline to the restroom, your phone rang on your desk. The noise startled you and you hastily picked up the receiver.

“H-hello?” you greeted meekly; your breath uneven.

“Hi, Yn,” a familiar voice sounded from the other end. It was Jimin. You could’ve sworn you heard a hint of a smile from his tone, but you didn’t know the reason for it.

“Can I help you, Mr. Park?” you questioned, hoping he would hurry with his call. You had more pressing matters at hand at the moment. It was then you recalled you were supposed to meet your Secret Santa any minute. Where though? You still didn’t know.

“Actually, you can. Please come to my office. I need to discuss something with you,” he replied, voice light yet commanding. He was your boss and you had no excuse as to why you couldn’t meet him. You were just wishing it would be quick and he wouldn’t ask you what you did today.

The vibrations had come to a stop, causing you to let out a small sigh in relief. You didn’t want to explain why it smelt like sex if you had an orgasm in your seat. The simple thought had your face flushing.

“Be there soon,” you said before hanging up the call.

The walk to Jimin’s office wasn’t too long, but it definitely was a struggle with your wobbly legs. Perhaps he just wanted to discuss the agenda for after the holidays. You hadn’t seen him all day, so you were sure he had a list of tasks for you to complete.

Jimin greeted you with a smile and gestured for you to come in. He was dressed in slacks and a white button-up, tie loosened around his neck. His beauty was even better in person. It always amazed you that he was real. Someone with that face was not some CGI-created person. No, Park Jimin was real.

His office was big, but not massive, with wall-high windows overlooking the city. You had been in his office multiple times, but rarely at night. You hadn’t had the chance to see the view with the holiday lights. The lights in his office were dimmed, making the decorations easily viewable.

The sun had set, leaving the outside to be lit by the Christmas lights hanging around the area. It was beautiful and you found yourself walking closer to the window as if bewitched by the sight. The feeling between your legs was still present but subsided as the minutes passed.

“What do you like the most?” Jimin asked behind you, startling you from your daze.

You glanced behind you, confused. From your expression, he explained his question.

“What catches your attention when you look out there? For me, it’s the people. Seeing so many faces I don’t know makes me realize there’s so much out there I haven’t discovered yet. I may never discover it all,” he said, though his eyes never left yours. Maybe he was so used to seeing it, he didn’t need to look to be reminded.

His answer was melancholic. He sounded lonely, which was odd since he was always around other people. Though, you could still be in a crowd of people and still feel lost.

You peered back to look out the window.

“The lights. A lame answer,” you laughed awkwardly. “I think it’s cool to see how they enhance the city. You don’t even need the street lights this time of year. The other lights will light the way.”

Jimin hummed and you suddenly felt his presence closer.

“I don’t think it’s lame. I like the lights, too,” he said. You lifted your gaze to see his reflection in the window. He appeared at ease, yet tired. You were sure the constant meetings had drained his energy today.

The silence that loomed over the both of you had a thought pop in your head. Was it a coincidence he called you right when you were supposed to meet your Secret Santa? No, that couldn’t be possible. But you recalled how anyone could participate and that it was an event across departments. Your heart pounded at the idea of him being the cause of your shaky legs.

Despite this, you forced the question from your mouth.

“A-are you my Secret Santa?” you asked anxiously, still staring at his reflection rather than turning to face him—the real him. You weren’t sure if you could look him directly in the eyes right now.

Jimin gave you a soft, teasing smile as he retrieved something from his pocket. It looked like his phone, but you couldn’t really analyze it before you were sucking in a breath and reaching out to place a hand on the chilled window. Your legs trembled at the unexpected vibrations.

“Do you like your gift?” he questioned, thumb sliding against his phone. The vibrations lessened. They weren’t as powerful as before but you could still feel them.

“W-why did you get it for me?” you stuttered as you tried to focus on his words rather than what was between your legs.

“Because I like you,” he replied. The casual tone of his voice made you tilt your head in confusion.

“Would you have given whoever you picked this gift, too?” you questioned. The thought had occurred to you when he revealed himself. Perhaps he was just looking for a quick hookup, which wasn’t the problem. It was just that he was the CEO and you didn’t know what his real intentions were.

Jimin frowned at that and stopped the vibrations; the mood swiftly turned serious.

“No, I wouldn’t have,” he said. “I wouldn’t abuse my power like that. I got it for you because well,” he started and glanced away.

You watched in fascination as his cheeks became rosy. Was Park Jimin blushing?

“I thought you liked me too,” he finished. You thought about all the alone times you had with Jimin in the past. They started as formal, slowly transiting in exchanges more friendly. You had both given each other enough flirty comments that any third party would raise an eyebrow at. Even though you had denied your feelings for him—he was your boss after all!—you had always wondered how things would be if you weren’t his secretary. If you had been a random woman in the grocery store who had accidentally spilled her carton of milk on a handsome man in a suit.

“I-I do,” you confessed. Jimin’s lips twitched as he tried not to smile. “But I never thought you felt the same or would even act on it. I wasn’t expecting you to have been my Secret Santa—which I’m not complaining about because, wow, your gift feels really good, but I—oh gosh, I’m rambling.”

Jimin laughed at your run-on sentences and took a step forward, grabbing your hips in his warm hands.

“So, you do like your gift?” His eyes flickered down to your crotch which was covered by your skirt with a sly grin.

“Yes,” you answered quietly and swallowed harshly. Your body shifted in anticipation of what he was going to do.

“Would you like to test it out more?” he suggested, hands massaging your sides as he waited for your approval.

As soon as you nodded your head, he twirled you around and brought his lips upon yours. The kiss was quick and heated from the start. Neither of you wasted any time as you both slid your tongues against each other.

He pulled away, eyes shining in the dim-light room. He tugged you from the window to the couch in his office. When he nudged your legs open, you complied. Your feet rested on either side of you as you spread your legs. Jimin stared down at you with a wide grin. He sat down on a chair nearby and pulled out the device again. That was definitely his phone.

“Did you come yet, angel?” he questioned as he started the vibrations. It was just a subtle humming, but you knew that would only be the beginning.

“No. You called before I could,” you said, hands gripping the couch when he increased the speed.

“What a shame,” he murmured but he didn’t sound apologetic. Jimin watched with focused eyes as he slid his thumb multiple times. He had changed the tempo and the rhythm at which the vibrations occurred. They were faster and went at a steady beat.

Your legs trembled at the feeling and your toes curled at the stimulation.

“Let me see you,” Jimin said as he relaxed back into his chair, one leg resting over the other. He looked so laid-back that you could feel your body burning. There was just something about how he was watching you squirm in front of him, knowing he was the cause of your wobbling legs.

You hooked your fingers under your panties and slid them off before resuming your position. Jimin hummed in approval, a small smirk donning his plump lips at being able to see you bare. The hungry look in his eyes had you whining. Your hands came up and gripped your breasts.

The vibrations became more sporadic and the speed accelerated. Your earlier denied orgasm returned, approaching fast. You threw your head back as you squeezed your breasts, massaging them harshly as you rocked your hips in the air.

“Jimin,” you whined. You wanted to feel his lips against your cunt. You wanted to feel his tongue glide between your wet folds. You wanted to hear his sinful moans as you pulled on his hair. Though none of those things occurred. He simply sat in his chair as he watched you intently.

“I know,” he murmured and changed the settings. It had you jerking in your seat, closing your legs at the pressure building in your stomach. “I want you to come first then you can have me.”

You didn’t realize Jimin had stood up until you felt a set of hands prying your legs open. One of his hands rested on your cheek, rubbing your cheek fondly. The tenderness contrasting with the vibrations had your heart twisting.

Jimin leaned down, pressing his lips against yours briefly before pulling away. The whimper from your lips made him smile.

“You can do it, baby. Come for me. Don’t you want me?” he coaxed, rubbing the pad of his thumb against your pouting lips.

Your lips parted and Jimin slid his thumb in your mouth. You nodded and hummed against his digit, sucking on it as you felt the knot in your stomach begin to unravel.

Jimin licked his lower lip at the sight of your writhing body beneath him. You came, moaning against his thumb. Your legs quivered at the impact it had on your body. He retracted his thumb from your lips and peered down between your legs.

“Good job,” he cooed and gave one of your thighs a brief message.

He reached down and slowly pulled out the vibrator, causing you to gasp and cry at the empty sensation. He set the device next to you before pulling your body up into his. The sudden movement came as a surprise and you gripped his shirt tightly. He guided you back to the window and turned you to face the glass panels.

The lights were still vibrant as ever and people were scattered along the sidewalk like before. Cars passed as they sped to their destinations. No one was looking up at you, but even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to spot you easily since Jimin’s office lights weren’t fully on.

“Gonna have to do that again, yeah? Maybe at the next staff meeting,” he chuckled darkly. “What do you say?”

“Yes,” you said a little too quickly.

Jimin laughed at your eagerness and trailed his hands up your buttoned shirt. Before you could protest, Jimin gripped it and ripped it open along the middle. The act had the buttons flying off somewhere in the room. Your hands immediately grabbed his wrists to stop him from ruining it more.

“You did not—”

“I’ll buy you another one,” he reassured.

He gave you a teasing weak before pulling down your bra to expose your breasts. You tightened your hold on his wrists, but he ignored it.

“You’re beautiful,” he said and pressed a tender kiss to your cheek.

“You’re lucky I like you,” you huffed. Jimin smiled against your cheek and gave your breasts a gentle squeeze.

“I like you, too,” he replied before pressing you against the glass.

You inhaled a sharp breath when the cooled glass met your body. Despite the coldness, it felt nice against your warm skin. Your hands rested against the window as your breasts were squished against the glass.

You heard Jimin shuffling behind you. You pulled your skirt up to expose your pussy to him again. You wiggled your ass playfully, becoming impatient as the seconds passed.

Jimin chuckled at you, slapped your ass, then rubbed the tip of his cock against your already-wet folds. The sensation had you halting your movements; your heart racing. Jimin leaned forward to press another kiss to the back of your head before slowly pushing inside.

You both moaned in unison at the feeling. He was thicker than what you had experienced before. You gasped at the stretch but didn’t stop him. The pain soon melted away into pure pleasure.

After he bottomed out, Jimin waited a few seconds for you to adjust, hands rubbing your hips. When you started squirming, he began to thrust into you. Since your palms were pressed against the window, you had nothing to hold onto. Your body kept sliding up with each snap of Jimin’s hips. It felt so good to have him sliding against your walls.

“Are you wishing someone was looking at us?” Jimin whispered in your ear. He flattened his body against yours, keeping you firmly against the window as he stilled his movements.

You peered down below you. You hated how you felt a hint of disappointment when you saw no one had noticed you.

Jimin watched your face closely, a smirk forming on his lips when he saw your expression.

“Thought so,” he murmured and picked up where he left off.

His thrusts were filled with determination, spurred by your moans and whines as he fucked into you. His grip on your hips was tight but you didn’t mind.

“I wish someone was looking at you, too, though,” he confessed. “Want everyone to know how good you’re being fucked.”

“By you,” you added and started to move your hips to meet him halfway. “You’re fucking me so good.”

“That’s right, angel.” Jimin groaned at the way you moved your body, eyes shifting down to see how he disappeared between your folds.

“I’m close,” you whimpered. Your walls clenched around his cock and your legs began to buckle. Jimin gripped you tighter to make sure you didn’t fall.

“Me too,” Jimin said through gritted teeth. “Let go. I’ve got you.”

The softness of his words had you wishing you could kiss him, but the position he had pinned you in didn’t allow that. Instead, you nodded. You watched as people continued to drive or walk past. Although you couldn’t see anyone looking at you, you imagined someone was. The thought had you tumbling over the edge for the second time. Jimin’s name fell from your lips endlessly, legs giving out on you and you started to fall. However, Jimin’s hold on you was secure and you barely moved an inch downward.

It wasn’t long before you started to feel overstimulated. You mewled and wiggled in his grasp as he continued to slide in and out of your pussy. Just as you were about to nudge him away, Jimin pulled out and turned you around. He pushed you onto your knees; you were quick to get the hint and kneeled with your mouth open and tongue out.

“Fuck,” Jimin cursed at the sight and pumped his cock rapidly. You brought your hands to your chest and pushed your breasts up to make the sight more arousing for him. It seemed to work as Jimin came with a guttural moan, hot spurts of cum landing on your face and breasts.

You darted your tongue across your lips and hummed as you tasted him. Jimin’s breathing was harsh as he stared down at you, thinking how he got so lucky. He reached down and helped you stand up. He swiped a finger against your cheek, collecting some of his cum before bringing it to your lips.

You smiled as you wrapped your lips around his finger, licking it clean.

“Is this what people mean by white Christmas?” Jimin joked as he observed your state.

“No!” you shrieked and hit his chest playfully. Jimin laughed loudly and swatted your hand away.

“Well, they should. I kinda like this view better than the original,” he said. He walked to one of his cabinets in his office and pulled out a package of wipes. He pulled some out and started to clean off the mess he made on you.

You rolled your eyes at his comment and took one of the wipes to help. “You’re disgusting.”

“So, you don’t want me to give you a white Christmas next year?” he wondered.

The idea of spending the next holidays with him had the butterflies in your stomach go wild, however, you pushed those thoughts for later. Jimin took all the soiled wipes and tossed them in his trash bin.

“You’re not calling coming on my face as giving me a ‘white Christmas’!” you tsked, walking to the couch you sat on earlier. You eyed the pink device that was still one of the cushions. Jimin picked it up and stored it in one of his desk drawers, telling you he’d clean and return it to you later.

He came back to you grinning; he pressed a fleeting kiss to your lips. “Fine,” he relented. “Wait here, I have something to give you.”

“What?” You questioned and started fixing your clothes. Jimin ignored your question and took out two gift bags from another cabinet. Your gaze was down while he did so as you began to button your shirt only to realize some of your buttons were missing.

You were about to complain when you glanced up and saw the two bags in his hands.

“I thought Santa’s shift was over,” you teased as he sat next to you. Jimin smiled and shook his head.

“I guess these got left behind. Here,” he said and moved them near you. “They’re both yours.”

You hesitated as you took one from his hands. “But I didn’t get you anything.”

“Was I your Secret Santa?”

“No.”

“Exactly. You don’t owe me anything.”

You pouted at his response. “You already gave me a gift.”

“Count that as the appetizer. Now, I present to you your main course and dessert,” he said and gestured to the two bags.

“You call that,” you gestured to his desk that contained the vibrator, “an appetizer?”

“Just open the gifts, you brat,” he huffed playfully and nudged the gifts closer.

“Yeah, alright,” you dismissed and pulled off the tissue paper.

Inside the bag was a grey, soft blanket. The same one that was on your wish list. The other gift was a travel tripod. Your eyes were sparkling with excitement and happiness. It warmed Jimin’s heart and he watched you fondly as you spread the blanket open and covered you both.

“You really didn’t have to,” you said as you tinkered with the travel tripod. Jimin pulled your body closer, angling your legs so they rested across his lap.

“I wanted to get you something that was actually on your list, though,” he said, a faint blush creeping on his cheeks again.

You giggled and looked at him.

“I would’ve been perfectly happy with what you got me; especially because it came from you.”

Sue you, the line was cheesy. But it was worth it to see Jimin’s cheek redden. He cleared his throat and decided to change subjects.

“So, uh, you like me?” he asked nervously.

“Yes.” You nodded. “And you like me.”

The exchange was humorous and reminded you of kids finding out their feelings for their crush was reciprocal.

“Would you like to go on a date with me, then?”

You didn’t know how the same man who was so assertive in meetings could be the same cuddly, shy one next to you.

“Usually, people ask me on a date before they fuck me.”

“Well, I’m not like everyone else,” he countered and gave your legs a squeeze.

“I have to agree on that,” you said and brought his face closer to yours. “You’re the best.”

Jimin smiled as you pressed your lips against his. Without breaking the kiss, he shifted you to straddle his lap and moved the blanket over your shoulders.

What started as an innocent Secret Santa gift exchange turned into something better. After all, a date with Jimin was the best present you could have gotten this year. The Bluetooth vibrator was a close runner-up. You were positive this wouldn’t be the last time you used that gift. You weren’t sure if it would be in public again or at home. Regardless, as long as you used it with Jimin, you didn’t care.

Thank you, Ellie and Ash, for encouraging me to go with this fic title hehehehehhe

[moonctzeny]

get to you again

pairing: friends to lovers! hendery x fem!reader 

genre: smut, just a tiny teeny bit angsty I guess but with a happy ending, fluff

word count: 3k

warnings: raw sex, creampie, a little corruption kink?

summary:  “You wanted to lurch forward at him, tackle him onto the dusty road, and thank him by kissing every inch of his face. Hold him under the stars until you were covered with his smell, and the necklace wouldn’t be needed anymore; you could cling onto that memory instead. The urge was so strong that it made your heart physically hurt, knowing that you fell for the one person you shouldn’t have. But the heart wants what it wants, right?”

inspiration: get to you again - mac ayres

tagging the lovely: @markresonates

It had been too long since you last saw Hendery.

You two had met so unexpectedly, both trapped in a small coffee shop a couple years ago, drenched to the bone and trying to find cover from the sudden rainfall.

“I was going to ask you if you were willing to share your umbrella, but I’m guessing you forgot it on the wrong day like me”, he joked, so you decided to share a table instead. After the fourth time he had you clench your stomach in laughter, out of the sheer willingness to make a stranger like you cheer up, you decided to exchange phone numbers, thus starting what would become a beautiful friendship.

It wasn’t easy being an idol. Two promotions in Korea, then a reality show in China, then another comeback. You counted the days, one by one until he’d get to you again. Until you’d finally re-watch his favorite movie with him for the millionth time, just to get to watch him laugh over the same stupid lines.

You weren’t sure when you realized you had fallen for him. Maybe it was last winter, almost exactly a year ago when he handed you your Christmas present. He had driven you on a hill on the outskirts of Seoul, the only place he knew with some privacy from prying eyes, and the breathtaking view of the tiny city lights made the freezing cold worth it. You were both sitting against the hood of his car, admiring the big city that seemed to unravel at your feet when you opened the small velvet box.

It revealed a silver necklace of two wings hanging from a dainty chain, with his initials carved on the back of the charm. As you stared at it long enough to make sure you weren’t making things up, you couldn’t decide which one was more beautiful- the pendant or the stars in Hendery’s eyes as he waited for your reaction.

“It’s symbolic”, he started explaining, a little embarrassed with how much effort he had put into the gift, “I know I’m not around a lot to take care of you, but just know that I’m always there if you need me. Like your guardian angel”.

He sounded so wholesome while saying it, long bangs covering his eyes that bashfully avoided yours. You wanted to lurch forward at him, tackle him onto the dusty road, and thank him by kissing every inch of his face. Hold him under the stars until you were covered with his smell, and the necklace wouldn’t be needed anymore; you could cling onto that memory instead. The urge was so strong that it made your heart physically hurt, knowing that you fell for the one person you shouldn’t have. But the heart wants what it wants, right?

Tonight, it was beating as fast as the rhythm of the blinking Christmas lights decorating your living room. How could it not, with Hendery sitting only a few inches away, sharing a blanket with you? He was a few minutes late due to a last-minute photoshoot, but he arrived at your door bare faced and dressed in his favourite flannel shirt. He was just how you liked him, raw and soft and beautiful.

Unlike what you had predicted, he suggested checking out a new romantic comedy on Netflix. It was one of those that come out every Christmas season, all with the same low budget and cheesy acting that ended with some festive spirit that magically solves every plot hole. Two childhood friends, falling in love with each other, yet the girl thinks that the guy is way out of her league so she does nothing about it. The pure irony convinced you that the universe must be surely playing some sick joke on you, forcing you to look at a Hollywood version of yourself getting a happy ending for the next two hours.

“I don’t understand”, Hendery huffs in frustration, midway into the film by now, “why doesn’t the girl just tell him she likes him? What guy doesn’t want to hear that?”

“Maybe she’s scared of the rejection, or ruining everything-“ you start defending the character with a raised voice, realizing that maybe you’re invested in the movie a little too much, “sometimes there is this line between two people, and it’s comfortable to stay behind it because you don’t want to lose them in case something goes wrong”. You draw an invisible line with your index finger between your bodies, and Hendery focuses his stare on it as if it was real. He looks lost in his thoughts, still frozen in place before shaking his head and murmuring: “I guess you’re right”.

Your comment, his response, the sex scene playing on the screen. It all made you so painfully alert with his presence that your whole body tensed up and your mouth dried up like it was filled with cotton. You both chuckle in the midst of all the steaminess, as the actor fails to drag his former best friend at the edge of the bed by tagging on her ankle.

“What a loser”, Hendery scoffs mockingly at the character’s mistake, and you turn around to give him a side eyed glare.

“Relax, muscle man. Like you would do it better”

He mocks offense by opening his mouth dramatically, and you giggle at the distortion of his face that still somehow managed to look pretty. It was so cute, how he always wanted to look ‘strong’ in the eyes of others, reliable and macho. You didn’t care about any of that, you thought his resolutions were stupid. He was perfect in your eyes.

“Of course I would! I’m strong, look-“

The disaster played out in front of you like a filmstrip. His hands on your ankle, then his own ankle tripping over the blanket on the floor, and finally the feeling of his chest weighing down over your own. With him pressed so close against you, you were sure he must feel the way your heart is thumping, filled with so many emotions that it’s ready to jump out of your body.

The room was cold, but with Hendery’s sudden body heat coating you, you felt like you were on fire. The fleeting thought of you taking off your clothes, to relieve yourself of the suffocating feeling made your cheeks burn even more. Hendery’s neck was exposed just inches in front of you in it’s full glory, and you thought about where those veins on the side of it, visible through his pale skin, ended. You’d gladly kiss along the path they drew, let your teeth leave little violet blossoms on the way, while you’d make mental notes of what kisses made him react the loudest.

It’s his bangs tickling your temples that made you realize that he is still on top of you. You look up into his eyes, expecting a frantic look, maybe a string of apologies leaving his mouth. He was strangely serene, staring at your own lips instead, and for a second you thought he’d finally mercy you and give you what you daydream about every time he comes around. You’d kill for the sight of him with puffy red lips and blown out pupils, messy just for you. You’d kill for the feeling of his tongue against your own.

When he plants a kiss on your right cheek, right over the corner of your mouth, you think it tastes bittersweet. You were still high on the intimacy when he finally apologizes and rips his body away from yours, your crash back down to reality brutal. The movie was still playing on a high volume, yet all you heard was a deafening silence after his trip. You don’t object when he tells you he has to go before you get to see what happens to the couple behind the screen. They were eating you away, all the things you wanted to say to him as you sent him off, so much more than just a ‘drive safe, text me when you get home’.

Those thirty minutes after you close your front door felt like a lifetime. You replayed the accident over and over again in your head, the skin burning where he kissed you. The thoughts of calling him, telling him to turn around and finish what he started, were so loud that you felt like a crazy person.

You certainly thought you went insane when you heard a knock against your door. Peeking through the peephole, you’re surprised to see that, as if you’d unlocked the secret of manifestation, Hendery was standing once again in your hallway.

“Guanheng? Did you forget anything?”

He looked restless and fidgety as he walked back inside your apartment, like he couldn’t wait to let out whatever was on the tip of his tongue. His shoulders were coated in a light layer of snow that had managed to flush his face, and dampen his hair and eyelashes as well.

“No- well- yes, I-“. He stopped himself mid sentence and sighed, and you let him collect his thoughts. He looked serious, the expression foreign on his usually bright features, yet the way he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration made butterflies fly in your stomach. “What did you say about that line between two friends again? When we were watching the movie?”

You blinked back at him in confusion, waiting for him to tell you that he’s joking, he just forgot his charger, and he’ll see you again when his company allows him to. But he doesn’t, so you start to roll the pendant he gifted you between your thumb and index, trying to calm yourself down.

“It keeps two people that are meant to be together apart, but there is too much at stake to cross it”.

You start drawing that invisible line again, the one that separates the miserable comfort of denying your feelings for him and everything you wish you were brave enough to pursue.

He would be brave for the both of you.

Hendery grabs your lifted hand, bringing it on the side of his neck before he crashes his lips against yours. You don’t hesitate in kissing him back, hungry for his lips that taste as sweet as you imagined them to. He hasn’t realized how impossibly close to his body he has brought you, not until his embrace gets so tight that your necklace pokes uncomfortably against his chest.

You suck on his bottom lip and he welcomes you with his tongue, the kiss getting so heated now that you can’t help but tug on his hair to keep you grounded. Shivering from your action, his hands are now sliding from your hips to your waist, following the curves of your body until he reaches the underside of your breasts. You mewl against his lips as his thumbs dig into their softness, discreetly trying to cop a feel through your cotton shirt.

A moan leaves your mouth, lewd and desperate as he swallows it with a kiss, and he rips himself off of you when it seems to reach his stomach. He looks disheveled, as if he woke up from an intense, lucid dream; panting, sweating, staring at you with those big puppy eyes.

“We- we shouldn’t. We are going too fast, right?” You nod in agreement at his question but you’re not really listening. You had your fingertips placed on his moving lips, and he identifies the metallic smell as the remnants of you fidgeting with your jewelry earlier. “I should take you to dinner first, to that one place you like so much”. Losing interest in what he is saying, the words being too distant and grey when he stood so deliciously in front of you, you mindlessly start to unbutton his shirt, fascinated with that mole over his collarbone and wanting to see more.

The fire your fingers spread against his skin, in the midst of the chilliness of your living room has him groaning under his breath, with a voice as low and sexy as in his good morning calls. You can practically see him throw all his inhibitions out the window when he kisses you again, pushing you with his body until your back finds the nearest wall. Hendery’s hands are far from gentle now, leaving bruises behind all the soft spots he kneads with his fingers.

“I want you”, you confess with a whisper as you rid him off his flannel for good, and you can’t stop yourself from tracing all the lines of his toned abdomen. You can feel his heart thumping loudly in his chest, its fast rhythm matching yours. You grab his hand to lead him to the carpet next to the Christmas tree that is blinking along with the lights that adorn it- you’re too impatient in your arousal to take him to your bedroom and he doesn’t protest.

Hendery lays you on your back, finding his place between your legs as you wrap them around his waist to bring him closer. You remove your hoodie and the sports bra you had on, his lips immediately latching onto one of your nipples. He circles his tongue around the bud, licking and sucking on it interchangeably until you’re a begging mess underneath him.

Tugging on the elastic band of his sweats, you urge him to get naked for you completely, and he removes the extra garments with a strong pull. His sex bouces out of its cotton constraint, red and throbbing and aching for you. It makes the heat that’s pooling on your lower stomach spread even further, and you wiggle your hips to remove your sweatpants as well.

There’s something about the frilly pink panties you’re wearing- the innocent design on your shapely body that ignites a carnal instinct in him. He wants to ruin you, mark you, make you his. The sound of fabric getting ripped has your eyes bulge out in shock. You’ve never seen Hendery so determined.

He falls on top of you again, leaving urgent kisses on your jawline as he rubs his hard member against your heat. It’s driving you insane, how he’s so close to where you want him but not quite there yet, and you tug his hair again to make him look at you.

“I wanna feel you raw”

And raw was how he’d give it to you. You feel his warm hand over your stomach, keeping you in place as he aligns himself with your entrance, and the pressure his tip’s already feeling has him cursing out.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this”

He dips himself slowly into your pussy, careful not to stretch you uncomfortably much. His worried eyes are glued to your wide ones, reading your expressions to ensure they’re those of pleasure. And indeed they are, your eyes rolling to the back of your head when he bottoms out fully, a symphony of both your moans filling the room.

He starts out with a steady rhythm, your pussy adjusting to his size with every calculated thrust. You’re getting drunk with the intimacy, with his smell that sticks to your skin and the sweet nothings he whispers in your ear. You feel addicted to it already, to the feeling of having him be a part of you, and as his growing desperation has him picking up his pace, yours makes you wish you could live in that moment forever.

“I don’t think I’ll last much longer”

”Neither do I”

He can tell how close you are, your heaving chest and guttural sounds giving you away. His cold fingers find your clit then, rubbing your sensitivity in messy circles and pumping more blood to the area.

“Yes, baby. Let go for me”

Little stars of various colors dance around in your vision, framing the sight of Hendery fucking into you so beautifully. You enjoy the hypersensitivity that the continuing motion of his hips gives you, locking your legs around his waist as his thrusts turn sloppy.

“Come inside me”

Just those simple words, slipping out of your pretty mouth are enough to send him over the edge, grunting as he paints your walls in ropes of white. You feel him twitching inside you for a good while, your belly bulging in fullness. It drips out of you slowly when he finally gets off of you, his hands spreading your thighs apart so that he can admire his creation.

He chuckles in disbelief of what you two just did, removing a piece of fake snow that somehow landed on your hair. You can only admire the way his Adam's apple bobs up and down, all the little curves and shadows on his neck, his smile that gives you tunnel vision.

“All this time…”, he whispers softly, “you liked me too?”

You silently winced at the naiveness of his words, knowing damn well your feelings ran way deeper than a simple attraction. Nodding affirmatively, you avoid looking at his eyes by pretending to play with his fingers. You can’t let him see the way they have glossed up, yet the numbing feeling of disappointment is getting hard to ignore.

He doesn’t let you distance yourself from him further, lifting your chin up so you can make eye contact with him again. To your surprise, he looks way more nervous than you, subconsciously nibbling on his lower lip. He takes a deep breath, mustering up some courage before verbally letting his thoughts out of his chest.

“What if I told you I am in love with you?”

You were shocked at the confession, so much so that this reality seemed like a figment of your subconscious mind. You expected to wake up at any moment, to find yourself asleep on your couch, two feet away from him and still stuck in the sucky friendzone. But that moment never came, no matter how long you held your breath to trigger your awakening, and you let it go with a sigh and a blurb of your own thoughts.

“I’d ask you to be mine”

[ltwilliammowett]

Holidays at sea

Since we are approaching Christmas with great strides, I thought I would take a look at how this was practised at sea. Surprisingly, even though there were many different nations on the ships, Christmas was usually celebrated to some extent during the 17th and 18th century. Of course, you can't expect a Christmas tree or presents that were then exchanged among each other. It was rather the case that the morning was spent wishing each other a Merry Christmas, and then, if the time and situation allowed (during a battle or a hunt, this was not possible), a prayer was said after breakfast. After that, the daily routine went on, and only at dinner, if the captain was in a good mood, could there be something extra rum or grog or wine, or a special dinner, which usually included meat. The captain usually ate dinner with his officers.

(x)

On Whalers, on the other hand, there was more going on. There, the festivities usually revolved around the meal, which was sometimes restricted to the captain's table, but sometimes open to all. When Christmas became popular from the middle of the 19th century, families on the whalers took over the festivities ashore, decorating the cabin, hanging up stockings, exchanging gifts and eating well.

Sometimes the good humour spread to the crew. On the John P. West in 1882, Sallie Smith made popcorn balls to help her husband's men celebrate. William B. Whitecar, who spent several Christmases on the Barque Pacific in New Bedford, wrote in 1864 that one year the captain sent a cheese to the crew to celebrate. In another year, the daily routine did not change. In another year, all crew members received mince pies.

[spooky-nerd]

I Wrote an MSR Christmas Fic in September, Sorry

Christmas comes but once a year, or so he’s been told. Which means that he has 364 days (at least) to strategize. And yet, he never quite manages to be able to escape it.

He’s come close a small handful of times. A mere brush with victory followed by crushing defeat. In 1971 he was hospitalized with appendicitis on December 24. Unfortunately, the hospital gave out little teddy bears with santa hats that year to all of the children. In 1994, he tried lying low in his apartment, but Mrs. Sanders from across the hall had dropped off a fruitcake wrapped in red and green paper with a ridiculously frilled bow. The fruitcake had tasted horrible, but then that had been comforting, because he has never had a fruitcake that didn’t taste horrible and would find the very idea to be unsettling to say the least.

Twice he has nearly managed to avoid Christmas altogether. An almost impossible feat, and a coveted one amongst those who bemoan the holiday like he does.

He is not a grinch, as some would suspect, and his heart is not withered and cold. He does not have a propensity for stealing presents from under trees, and he has never once uttered the words “bah, humbug!”. He just does not care for Christmas.

This had come as a shock to Scully during their first year of partnership. She had whisked into the office on December 23rd in a cloud of merriment, smelling like peppermint and humming festively. “So, what are your Christmas plans?” she had asked innocently.

“Well, I’ll probably microwave some popcorn and watch Plan 9 From Outer Space,” he had said in complete seriousness. In spite of his delivery, she had laughed. Probably at the absurdity of it, which likely was obvious to outside observers, he had realized then. And yet, his world-weary soul had lacked the energy to care.

“You’re serious?” She had dropped the smile, and in its place was that frown of disappointment that he was rapidly becoming acquainted with. For some reason, he had felt a bit sheepish.

“Yeah, I’ve just never been one for the holidays.”

“But Mulder, it’s Christmas,” she had said, her incredulity ratcheting up impossibly higher.

“Oh I know, Scully. Trust me, I know. 104.9 started playing Christmas music in October. My building super put up tinsel in all the hallways on November 1st. I’ve been visually assaulted by this holiday on every street corner since the day after Black Friday. I know it’s Christmas. I just don’t really care.” He had shrugged, in case the rant came off a little too harsh. Not that Scully was easily intimidated. He was quickly beginning to learn that too.

She had shrugged, already poised to drop the subject. “Alright. Enjoy your popcorn, then.”

He had smiled. “Thanks, Scully.”

She had paused, turned back to him. He had gotten a whiff of peppermint again, and wondered if it was a new holiday perfume, or just the everyday magic of her. “You know, November 1st is a little early for tinsel.”

Looking back, it is possible that he had begun to fall in love with her then.

* * *

In the four years that Scully has been his partner, he has discovered that she has exactly one flaw: she loves Christmas. The music, the food, the gifts, the decorations, she eats them all up with a little festively-adorned spoon. At his request, she had refrained from stringing lights up in the office, but in exchange, he is forced to accept one Christmas gift from her each year.

Of course, he isn’t a monster, so every year, he buys her a present, too. Usually something quite ridiculous and useless. Their second Christmas together, he had bought her a mug depicting the entire cast of General Hospital. “It made me think of you,” he had said, to which she had raised an eyebrow and smiled, sliding her own present across the desk to him with false demureness. He had given her a suspicious look and ripped into the gift with exaggerated zeal, just to make her laugh. With delight he had pulled out a tie with little green aliens and flying saucers.

“Scully,” he had said, completely smitten. She had smiled and shrugged. He had decided that is was possible he didn’t hate gift exchanges as much as he had previously thought.

* * *

On December 23rd, 1997, he walks into the office and she is not there. It is not a surprise to him, but it is a blow nonetheless. She should be here, bringing him hot chocolate in addition to his morning coffee, placing a gift on his desk wrapped in ribbon so clinquant and overwhelmingly jubilant that it makes his eyes hurt. She should be here, making him dislike the holiday less and less with each passing moment. And if she can’t be here, he should be there with her. He calls Skinner and tells him he is taking a personal day. He does not explain further but he does not need to.

“Okay. Tell her I said Merry Christmas,” Skinner says.

“Thank you, sir. I will.”

* * *

Within an hour, he is at her doorstep with a hazardously overstuffed plastic grocery bag, a six-foot spruce that is growing heavier by the minute, and a gift wrapped in paper that had been sparkly at one time but has now transferred all of its glitter onto his coat.

It takes her a worryingly long time to answer the door. But she does eventually, looking completely drained, a sweater wrapped around her thin frame. She is cold all the time now and she never complains but it has not escaped his notice. She looks exhausted, but it stops his breath how beautiful she is all the same.

She is surprised to see him. Even more shocked by the one-man window display he has become.

“Mulder? What are you doing?” Confusion, but also a smile in her voice that he can see glittering in her eyes, too.

“I thought I’d bring the party to you, Scully.” He is still a little out of breath, but he smiles, and finally she laughs, melodic and joyful. She lets him in.

* * *

With the muted tones of Bing Crosby playing smooth and unobtrusive underneath, he makes them hot chocolate, dons a Santa hat, and gets to work decorating her tree. She sits on the end of her couch nearest him and opens up the little boxes of colorful Christmas ornaments, handing them to him one-by-one with delicate care. He gets tangled more than once in the Christmas lights, each time extricating himself in a flurry of limbs and curses. It’s worth it to hear her laugh. He wants to close his eyes and listen to the sound and pretend everything is okay.

When he is finished, she holds out her hands wordlessly and he helps her stand up. He wraps an arm around her and they lean against one another, admiring the finished tree. He wonders if she knows it means so much more to him than just a nice gesture. Her grip tightens around him in a brief hug.

“Mulder,” she says softly. “I don’t even know what to say. You really didn’t have to do all this.”

They are quiet for a moment. Bing Crosby sings that it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. He finds that he agrees.

“I wanted to, Scully. I wanted to be here. The office doesn’t feel right without you,” he says. “Besides, you would’ve done the same.”

She huffs a small laugh. “You hate Christmas.”

“No I don’t.” She looks up at him and he meets her gaze. “I don’t.”

* * *

Exactly one year later, she is safe and whole and mulling over a file, tapping an absent beat on their desk with her pencil. He bounds into the office, over-laden with a diverse assortment of ridiculous Christmas paraphernalia. He dumps it all on the floor in an unceremonious heap, shakes the snow out of his hair, and tosses her a goofy smile.

“Hey, Scully,” he says, out of breath. “Wanna help me deck the halls?”

When they are finished, the office has never looked more unprofessional. They couldn’t be prouder of themselves. Before she leaves for the night, she gives him his gift and a kiss on the cheek. Also very unprofessional, as is the alarming rate at which his heart is beating. It’s just about the only thing he can think about over the holidays, and that in itself brings clarity.

* * *

Her hand is icy where it settles atop his on the steering wheel. He risks only a brief glance in her direction. ‘It’s really coming down out there,’ he had said obligatorily about thirty minutes earlier, squinting into the critical sliver of light their headlights were slashing through the dark flurries of snow.

“Let’s stop for the night,” she says. He nods and gets off at the next exit without question.

They find a motel down a nearly deserted back road that makes them both touch the concealed weapons at their hips just for comfort. The attendant wordlessly accepts their cash and slides them a key.

“You know what’s messed up?” he says as he flops onto the bed after a cursory inspection for suspicious stains.

“What?” she says, rooting through her bag for their toothbrushes. 

“I don’t even know where we are.”

She sighs, a weary sound that he has gotten used to hearing in the months they’ve been on the road. Almost four months now.

“We are somewhere in the southern part of Kentucky. That’s all I know.”

“Scully,” he begins, the word absolutely riddled with guilt.

“Mulder, stop. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be.” They’ve had this small scrap of conversation several times. He keeps waiting for her response to change but it never does.

Silence except for her continued rummaging. Then, a triumphant “Aha!”

He peeks out from under the arm slung across his face. “What-“ He stops at the sight of her wearing a santa hat and holding a lumpy package wrapped in newspaper and held together with duct tape. She smiles and inclines her head triumphantly. The hat tilts adorably and the little pompom falls in front of her face. He laughs in spite of everything. In the spirit of the season, she joins him.

“Merry Christmas, Mulder.”

He shakes his head, in awe once again. “I love you.”

* * *

In an unremarkable house, in an unremarkable room, in an unremarkable chair sits a man. He is unremarkable in some ways and remarkable in others. He is holding in his hand a two-inch long replica of a Louisville Slugger that has been made into a keychain. A gas station trinket, unremarkable in some ways and remarkable in others. He turns it over in his hands and cannot help the smile that spreads across his face. It takes him back to a motel on a snowy night in southeastern Kentucky, and he has a mind to stay there awhile.

She walks in at that moment, wearing the most hideous sweater he has ever seen. After a moment of stunned silence he lets out a loud gut laugh. She smiles, spreading her hands in a silent ‘ta-da’. The sweater is red and green, and knit into it are alternating rows of Christmas trees, presents, wreaths, some colorful blobs that inexplicably might be potted ferns, and a pair of kissing reindeer, both of which have antlers.

“You look horrible,” he says, still chuckling. “I love it.”

“I found it at a Goodwill.”

“An ironic name for a store that would sell such an act of violence.”

She laughs. “I’m thinking of adding it to my regular rotation. I could get you one, too, and then we could match.”

“Well, people in town already think we’re crazy. Maybe it’s time to start leaning into it.”

She heads to the kitchen to make the hot chocolate, and he puts his hand in his pocket for the thousandth time that day, touching the small box like he’s afraid it will disappear. While she putters around the kitchen, he stares at the winking lights of their Christmas tree and gathers his thoughts.

Within minutes she is back with two steaming mugs filled much too full, sloshing dangerously. She sips a little out of both of them, burns her tongue, and hands him his. The mugs are hot. She pulls her sleeves up until only the tips of her fingers are peeking out and holds the mug that way. He watches the entire scene, completely enamored.

She throws herself onto the couch with a sigh and it is a Christmas miracle that she does not spill any of the hot chocolate on that horrendously festive sweater. He settles down next to her and sips gingerly from his mug, contemplating the mystery of those reindeer.

“Is it a misunderstanding of deer anatomy or a political statement, do you think?” she says, clearly reading his mind. He makes a mental note to open up an unofficial investigation into how she keeps being able to do that.

“All I know is it’s my favorite thing you’ve ever worn.”

“Aww. Thanks.”

“I am curious about those potted ferns, though.”

“Is that what they are?”

They wait there together, sipping and talking about everything and nothing until the hour whittles down to nil and the clock strikes midnight, Christmas Day. He puts an arm around her shoulders and marvels at the way her head fits so perfectly in the crook of his neck. He presses a kiss onto the top of her head.

“Merry Christmas, Scully.” He whispers it like a treasured secret.

She turns to kiss him. “Merry Christmas,” she whispers back. Then she is up, grabbing his presents. She is eager for him to see one of them, and has been carrying the secret of what it is around with her for weeks. She hands it to him first, and he makes a show of opening it agonizingly slowly. She rolls her eyes and shoves him gently until he picks up the pace.

“Oh wow, Scully,” he says softly when he pulls the tissue paper aside to reveal a vintage restored Polaroid camera. “Thank you. This…wow.” He runs a hand over the glossy surface appreciatively, and then points it at her. “Say cheese.”

Within moments, the photo of her completely unprepared and squinting painfully at the sudden flash develops.

“Ugh,” she giggles.

“I’m keeping it.” He slips it into his pocket before she can snatch it away. His knuckles bump the small box, and he swallows the sudden lump in his throat. “Okay, now it’s your turn.”

He retrieves the gift from under the tree and watches her open it. “Oh, Mulder,” she says, pulling the typewriter out of its box. He’d had to place an anonymous ad in the paper for that one. They had decided at the beginning of their life on the run that they would use only the most basic technology, which meant burner phones and nondigital alternatives. “It’s beautiful.”

It is. It’s an Underwood, glossy white, impeccably maintained. He’d paid a small fortune to a very old man for this one. They had met in a public park. He had paid in cash. The man had brought it in an old shoebox inside a brown paper grocery sack. The whole transaction had felt vaguely illegal. The man had looked at least 100.

“Thank you.” She gives him a hug. She smells like hot chocolate and peppermint. It reminds him of a Christmas many years ago. A conversation about why he didn’t like Christmas. Oh how things have changed.

“Actually, there’s one more thing,” he says when she pulls away. She raises an eyebrow. She hates to be outdone, especially on Christmas. Incredulity turns into disbelief when he pulls out the small box.

“Mulder,” she whispers. Her eyes fill with unshed tears when he gets on his knee in front of her, and if he’s going to make it through this, he cannot look at her.

“Scully, I-“ his voice catches immediately. He clears his throat. “I know that the past few years have been…well there’s no words for it. You are the only thing that has gotten me through. You’ve been there Scully, since the beginning you’ve been there and I- I can’t imagine my life without you. I want so much more for you. You deserve so much more, and I…I wish that I could give you more. But this is all I have to offer, Scully. This is everything I have. I want to grow old with you and, and love you and support you and laugh with you until the end of time. I promise to be faithful. I promise to have your back and to be there for you always.” He takes a shaky breath. “Dana Katherine Scully, will you marry me?”

He looks into her eyes, and he sees everything there. The love and devotion that had started small and fragile and had grown into something ineffably strong. He cannot imagine a life without this woman. Bing Crosby’s voice floats quietly over from the record player, singing about having a merry little Christmas. He wants a life with her, a thousand more little Christmases just like this one, filled to the brim with ridiculous, garish holiday cheer. She takes a deep breath, the words that will determine their future poised on the tip of her tongue.

“Yes. Of course I will.”

- - - - - - - -

Note: Btw, I wasn’t lying about that sweater

[emospritelet]

A Rose in Winter - chapter 5

Last time, Rumple and Belle went searching for Baelfire and were disappointed. Here's what happened next *writes frantically to try to finish the thing before Christmas*

[AO3 link]

-

They returned to the inn, Rumplestiltskin somewhat morose at the lack of progress with their search. They were still unsure about how the shower operated, but Belle ran a bath for them, coaxing him into the hot water and sitting opposite him so she could massage his leg. The muscles were hard and twisted, and she used her thumbs in sweeping strokes to work out the knots. He let his head thump back against the wall with a groan as she worked, and Belle felt a rush of pride as she sensed his tension easing. They stayed in the bath until the water grew tepid.

Rumplestiltskin had, thus far, dressed far more soberly in this new land than Belle was used to. He seemed to have returned to his more flamboyant style for the party, however, his shirt gold silk beneath a red brocade waistcoat, but still with his dragon hide coat over the top to keep out the cold. There was even a silk cravat tied at his throat, and she was reminded of how he had looked when they danced at Gaston’s castle. She smiled at the memory.

The majority of Belle’s clothes were practical breeches and tunics, and she had already decided that if there was to be dancing, she would move more freely in leather breeches than in the one dress she had brought. She wore one of Rumplestiltskin’s silk shirts to dress the outfit up a little, a deep blue that she was surprised to find he had packed, as she had never seen him wear the colour before. He eyed her with approval as he fastened the cuffs of the red silk that he was wearing.

“Thought it would look better on you,” he remarked, making her grin.

Coat on and boots laced, Belle brushed out and tied up her hair while Rumplestiltskin sat at the little dresser, tinkering with the locator spell. She watched as he stared intently, long fingers tracing patterns on the compass case.

“What are you doing?” she asked, and he wrinkled his nose.

“I’m trying to use a little of the magic to make the spell more accurate,” he said. “I’m not sure it’s all that successful. The needle is still swinging around like it doesn’t know where to point.”

He sat back with a sigh, and slipped the compass into his pocket.

“You’ll find him, Rumple,” she said. “I’m sure Baelfire wouldn’t want to miss a Midwinter party.”

He smiled softly at that.

“It was always a favourite time of his,” he said quietly. “We didn’t have much, of course, but I tried to make the best of it.”

“Did you exchange gifts?” she asked, and he nodded.

“We’d usually make something,” he said. “I used to knit in the summer evenings after he had fallen asleep, when there was still enough light to see by, and hide away what I made him until Midwinter. A sweater, or a shawl, or some socks. The food was always Bae’s favourite part of Midwinter, though. Each year I traded sheep’s cheese for a slice of plum pudding from the miller’s wife, and after he helped me drape the house in greenery, I made him honey cakes.”

“We drank spiced wine with our honey cakes,” said Belle. “When I was a little girl, the servants would bring me apple juice heated with cinnamon and cloves and anise and serve it to me in a wine goblet. I always felt so grown up.”

Rumplestiltskin chuckled at that.

“We could never afford spices,” he said. “Most of them came all the way from Agrabah, and the few for sale in the market cost more than I could make in a month. That plum pudding was the only time we got to taste them. And yet that woman Emma said they’re serving cinnamon rolls tonight, for all the people. Perhaps spices are cheap in this land. Perhaps they even grow on the trees out in the forest.” He gazed out of the window for a moment, his eyes unfocused. “Perhaps Bae gets to eat spices every day here,” he said softly.

Belle put a hand on his shoulder to give him a comforting squeeze.

“I think you should ask him about that when you find him,” she said. “Shall we?”

He nodded, patting her hand with a fond look in his eyes.

“I’m glad you’re with me, Belle,” he said quietly. “All those years alone made me even more melancholic than I was before. You’re like a ray of sunshine chasing away all the darkness.”

“You talk as though you didn’t bring light into my life too,” she said, her voice soft. “I was dreading what the future held until you saved me from it. We helped each other.”

He eyed her for a moment, then nodded.

“I hope so,” he said. “I don’t ever want you to regret the choice you made.”

She clasped his hand, squeezing his fingers with hers.

"I have every intention of being very happy with you," she said. "And I'm certain I will be."

He smiled, kissing her knuckles, and got to his feet.

“Come,” he said. “Let’s see how this land likes to celebrate.”

-

Emma had not been exaggerating when she had told them the whole town would be attending. The square was filled with people, talking and laughing and shouting greetings to each other. Food stalls had been set up along one side and the air was warm with the scents of frying sausages and potatoes, cinnamon and nutmeg and spiced wine. One the other side more stalls held fairground games; townsfolk handed over coins and notes in exchange for balls to throw at stacked cups, or rings to toss over prizes. Belle gasped in delight as she saw a band setting up on a low stage at the other end of the square, and tugged on Rumplestiltskin’s arm.

“Isn’t it wonderful?” she said excitedly. “Look! They have spiced wine!”

He was scanning the crowd with an anxious look in his eyes, but smiled at her.

“Let’s get something to eat,” he said. “One of those sausage things, perhaps. Followed by a cinnamon roll.”

“The cinnamon rolls are huge !” she observed. “Maybe we should dance before we eat one. I’m not sure I could move if I ate all that.”

Rumplestiltskin laughed, and led her over to the food stalls. Ruby was manning one that sold sausages in long bread rolls—hot dogs, according to the sign—and cones of thin-cut sticks of fried potato. A vat of spiced wine was sending up a heady scent, cut citrus fruit and cinnamon sticks floating in its depths, and Ruby was bouncing on her toes and grinning at them.

“Hey, it’s the cosplay honeymooners,” she said. “What can I get you? Hot dog with everything?”

“Yes please!” said Belle eagerly. “And some of that spiced wine.”

“Sure thing.” Ruby began assembling the bread and sausage, spooning soft fried onions over the top and squirting red and yellow sauces along its length. “I can recommend the eggnog too, but you might want to wait until later if you want to get any dancing done. Granny put like an entire bottle of rum in it.”

Belle eyed a large glass bowl set in a dish of ice. It was filled with a thick, creamy liquid, and she felt her curiosity rise.

“Later,” said Rumplestiltskin firmly. “Trying to negotiate icy paths with a limp and a cane is difficult enough without throwing lots of alcohol into the mix.”

She giggled at that, and took the hot dog from Ruby with a smile of thanks as Rumplestiltskin handed over more dollar bills. He received some coins in change and a cardboard cup of spiced wine, and Belle took his arm as they turned away. She bit into the sausage, tasting well-seasoned pork and a tangy, mustard-flavoured sauce with the fried onions. It was delicious, and she took another bite before offering it to Rumplestiltskin, taking the wine from him in turn. He made an appreciative noise as he chewed, his eyes scanning the crowds. Belle took a sip of the drink, tasting cinnamon, cloves and oranges on her tongue with the rich taste of red wine.

“Any sign of him?” she asked, and he shook his head, taking another bite of the hot dog.

“There are a lot of people out there,” she added. “I’m sure he’s here somewhere.”

Rumplestiltskin nodded, smiling at her as though he wanted to reassure her. Belle wasn’t fooled; she could sense the anxiety coming off him in waves.

“Let’s take a walk,” she suggested. “Maybe we’ll spot him in the crowds.”

She took the hot dog from him, handing over the wine, and they set off on a circuit of the square, alternating between bites of the sausage and sips of the wine until both were gone. Townsfolk were laughing as they ate and drank, children running here and there, hands and mouths sticky with sugar from the cinnamon rolls and fried doughnuts. The band was starting to tune their instruments, a few chords being played and the steady tap on a drum. A large man with a mass of shaggy hair strummed the strings of his instrument, a loud twang making Belle and Rumplestiltskin start. People turned at the noise, beginning to edge away from the centre of the square to leave a space clear for dancing. The noise of the crowd faded to a low murmur as a dark-haired woman stepped onto the low stage and approached the front. There was some sort of contraption there, a stick placed high on a stand, and she leaned forwards as though she was going to bite it.

“Merry Christmas Storybrooke!” she said, her voice echoing loudly across the square and making Belle jump again. “As Mayor, it’s my great pleasure to welcome you to our annual holiday party. The raffle will be held at eight-thirty, all proceeds to the town fund for the new children’s play area. Tickets can be purchased at any of the stalls. Good luck everyone, and a merry Christmas to you all! Please welcome our band for this evening, The Black Knights!”

She stepped back, clapping her hands, and the crowd applauded loudly, whooping and hollering as raucous music started up. It was loud, fast and cheerful, and couples flowed towards the centre of the square, dancing and twirling in time. Belle gasped in delight and turned to Rumplestiltskin.

“Come on!” she said excitedly.

She grasped his hand, and Rumplestiltskin laughed as she pulled him along, his hand cool in hers. The night air was bitterly cold, but she only found it invigorating as she threaded her way through the crowd towards the square. Children ran and squealed, woollen hats bobbing and weaving and the odd snowball thrown, and Belle felt joy fill her heart as she turned to face her husband. The music was different to that played in her father’s hall, closer in style to the tunes played on fiddle, flute and drum by peasants in the village square. She didn’t recognise all of the instruments played by the band, but the tune made her want to lose herself in dance, and she grasped Rumplestiltskin’s hand. He was smiling broadly, but he shook his head, jerking his head towards the cane at his side.

“I can’t dance to anything this fast,” he said loudly, over the noise of the music. “Go, join in with the others. You can come and get me when it’s something slower.”

She was disappointed at not being able to dance with him, but nodded reluctantly, turning to the crowd. A man with red hair and kind eyes offered a hand to her, and Belle immediately joined in with the circle of dancers. They formed a line and began weaving in and out, taking the hands of the person opposite and twirling in circles. It was wonderfully uplifting, and she laughed aloud, enjoying the feel of the cold air on her cheeks and the rush of heat from the exercise.

Rumplestiltskin was enchanted as he watched her, dark hair shining in the lights and a flush in her pale cheeks. The red-haired man was grinning at her, turning her around one more time before they changed partners and he began dancing with Ruby. Belle was now spinning around with a young woman with a broad grin and a shock of curls the colour of fire. He wished he could join her, and scowled down at his ruined leg. Scanning the crowd again, he saw Emma standing by the cinnamon roll stall, blonde curls lifting in the slight breeze, smiling as she watched the crowds.

“There’s Mom!”

Rumplestiltskin recognised Henry’s voice, and the boy ran past him, followed by a man in a heavy coat with short dark hair. He watched them reach Emma, who put an arm around her son’s shoulders before turning to the stall with him, and Rumplestiltskin smiled. No doubt Henry would manage to eat his way through one of those enormous cinnamon rolls in short order.

Idly, he reached into his pocket for the locator spell, glancing at it. He blinked rapidly, mouth opening in surprise. The needle was no longer spinning around aimlessly, but pointing directly ahead of him. Directly at Henry’s family.

As he watched, the dark-haired man leaned in to kiss Emma’s cheek, patted Henry’s shoulder and set off through the crowd. Rumplestiltskin looked down at the compass, watching the needle begin to bounce and spin once more, first pointing at Henry, and then in the direction the man had taken. He squared his jaw, shoved the compass in his pocket and set off after him, cane tapping rapidly on the ground as he limped on as quickly as he could. Realisation was dawning on him, an explanation for why the locator spell had been confused. Why it had wanted to point in two directions at once. He was barged by the crowd, some of them shooting him surprised looks or murmuring apologies as he passed, his gaze intent on his quarry. Thus far he had only seen the back of the man’s head, and he had to be sure. He had to know.

The man reached a series of small blue huts, each with its own door and large enough to admit one person only. He ducked inside one of them, closing the door behind him, and Rumplestiltskin stopped. There was a strange smell coming from the huts: a clean, mineral scent that reminded him of salt flats, and he leaned back on his heels and waited. After a moment one of the other doors opened and a man ducked out, eyeing Rumplestiltskin as he pulled on his gloves. Water closets, perhaps. His suspicions were confirmed when a mother and small child emerged from another, the mother telling her daughter of the importance of clean hands after going to the bathroom. Rumplestiltskin watched the door of the closet in front of him, his heart thumping as it opened, and the dark-haired man stepped out. It was the first time he had seen his face, but he would have known it anywhere.

“Bae.”

The word was almost hoarse, ragged and desperate. The man looked up sharply, and Rumplestiltskin felt his lip tremble. A ghostly hand grasped his heart, squeezing until it felt as though it would burst. It was hard to breathe, and he was thankful for the cane in his hand keeping him upright. The man was staring at him, dark eyes wide, and shook his head, twin emotions seeming to flit across his face. Astonishment, as though he could barely believe what he was seeing. Devastation, as though his life was collapsing in on him. Rumplestiltskin wanted to burst into tears.

“Is it you?” he asked, his voice breaking a little. “Is it really you, son?”

The man swallowed hard.

“Papa?”

[arrowofcarnations]

Wherever You Find Love, It Feels Like Christmas

~

Written for the magnificent M @opaleyedragon for the SW/C2C Secret Santa exchange! Some Christmas cub fluff for your yuletide enjoyment. Universe and characters by @lumosinlove!

(Also, yes, I did take the title for this fic from a song in The Muppet Christmas Carol, one of the greatest cinematic masterpieces of our time.)

~

“Okay,” Leo said, socked feet padding across the living room and a trio of steaming mugs in his hands. “I’m ready, unpause it. Scoot over, Harz.”

Finn shifted on the couch to give Leo enough room to sit. He took two of the mugs carefully from Leo’s hands, passing one down to Logan on his other side. “I love that we stopped the movie for emergency hot chocolate,” he teased, grinning as he lifted the mug to his lips. Leo could see the lights from their Christmas tree reflected in his brown eyes, soft and twinkling.

“Had to be done,” Leo shrugged, blowing gently on his own drink. He nodded toward the TV, where The Santa Clause was still frozen on the screen. “It looked too good.”

“Yours is better,” Logan declared, taking a long sip. His appreciative groan—and the foamy mustache above his upper lip—made Leo and Finn laugh.

Logan turned to meet Leo’s eyes, and Leo smiled at him, tilting his head. “Better than an elf’s?” he asked. “I don’t know, Tremz. She’s magical.”

“So? You’re magical,” Logan said immediately, and Leo bit his lip to keep the grin from splitting his face. “And so is your cocoa. Parfait.”

Leo took a sip of his own drink, savoring the rich chocolate on his tongue, and glanced at the steadily falling snow outside their windows. They’d spent the entire day alone together, enjoying some peace before the whirlwind of travel and family and big celebrations. It was the best Christmas Eve he’d ever had. The thought that he could have this every year, forever, warmed him from head to toe.

“Oui,” he said softly, leaning back against the cushions. “Parfait.”

They settled back into the movie, jostling each other as they battled for real estate under the oversized knit throw Celeste had given them as a housewarming gift a few months back. Leo rested his head against Finn’s as they watched, Logan tucked against Finn’s other side, and savored that, too—the closeness of his two favorite people to him, to each other.

It was nearing midnight by the time the credits rolled. Finn sat up and yawned hugely, stretching his arms over his head before reaching past the empty cocoa mugs on the coffee table to grab the remote.

“What do we think, boys?” he asked, looking from Logan to Leo as the TV flickered off. “Another movie, or?”

Logan, hair mussed and eyes sleepy from the long cuddle, pushed himself halfway off the couch to stretch his back out. “Ouais, sounds good,” he said, blinking up at them. “We already opened all our presents, and if I eat another of Knutty’s Christmas cookies right now, I’m gonna need bigger pants.”

Suddenly, Finn sprang into action, nearly taking Leo with him as he launched himself off the couch, still half-tangled in the blanket they were sharing. “Jesus, Finn, what—”

“I almost forgot,” Finn said in a rush, and Leo let his unfinished question hang in the air, cocking his head at his boyfriend. “Stay here,” was the only further explanation Finn offered before jogging down the hall and up the stairs toward the bedroom.

Logan raised an eyebrow at Leo as he maneuvered himself close enough to put his feet in Leo’s lap. “What was that about?” he asked.

Leo could only shrug. “No idea.” His hands found Logan’s, threading their fingers and giving a brief squeeze. “How’re your hips?”

Logan, who was watching Leo with half-lidded eyes and his side pressed against the back of the couch, blinked. “Quoi?”

“Sore?” Leo clarified, glancing at the jar of tiger balm that lived on the coffee table. They’d been playing hard, practicing hard, right up until the holiday break, and they’d all been feeling it. If Logan’s perpetual sore spots were bothering him, Leo wanted to help.

Rather than reaching for the jar, Logan tipped forward to catch Leo in a gentle, slow kiss instead. “I’m okay,” he murmured. His smiling lips were centimeters from Leo’s own, their noses brushing, and Leo smiled back, running his hands over Logan’s broad shoulders. “You are so…” Logan trailed off, shaking his head a little as he reached up to cradle Leo’s face in his hands.

“I’m so what?” Leo asked, the softness of his own voice surprising him.

“Just…” Logan shook his head again, still smiling. “J'aime ton doux coeur.”

Leo wasn’t sure his heart was any sweeter than Logan’s, but he knew it was swelling in his chest at Logan’s words, at the way he was looking at him. They were caught up in a slow, unending kiss when footsteps appeared on the stairs, then in the room.

Leo pulled back from Logan with one last peck and looked over at Finn, who was watching them with soft eyes. “Best thing to walk in on, wow,” he sighed, and Leo laughed.

“The best thing?” he asked archly, raising an eyebrow.

“Top ten.” Finn crossed the room but didn’t join them on the couch, sitting instead on the edge of the coffee table so he was facing the two of them.

“Okay, so,” he started, trailing off as he looked at each of them. He was fidgeting with something in his hands, and Leo realized it was a pair of small boxes, badly wrapped. “One more present.”

“Quoi?” Logan said, noticing the boxes, too. “But...I didn’t get you anything else, Harzy.” Leo nodded; they’d already exchanged all their gifts for each other after dinner.

“It’s a bonus present,” Finn said, and was Leo imagining it, or was he a little nervous? “It’s something for both of you. Well, for me, too.” He pressed one box into Logan’s hands, then the other into Leo’s.

Leo only looked down at it for a second before starting to tear away the wrapping paper, beyond curious about this so-called “bonus present.” Under the shiny, smooth paper was a velvet box, palm-sized. Gryffindor Jewelers was scrawled across the top in elegant gold script. Leo’s heart sped up; he lifted the lid, not knowing what to expect.

Nestled inside was a necklace, the delicate gold chain tucked into the cushion. Hanging from the chain were three circles in three different colors. They overlapped each other, intertwining together to create one pendant.

“Oh,” Leo breathed. He heard Logan whisper “Finn” a moment later. He looked up at Finn, who was watching them carefully, a hopeful smile on his face.

“You don’t have to wear them, if you don’t want,” he started. “I know you’ve got a necklace already, Lo, and you don’t usually wear jewelry, Nut, but I saw these and thought—they’re kind of us, the three, you know?” He reached under his hoodie, pulling an identical necklace out from under it. “I got one for me, too, so it’d be like...all of us together, on the ice or wherever. We’d wear them and know.”

Leo and Finn looked over as Logan slowly lifted his necklace over his head. Leo wasn’t sure he’d ever seen Logan take it off—not to sleep, not to shower. He took the new one out of its box, then fiddled with it a moment until he got the tri-color ring off its chain. Leo bit his lip as Logan slid it onto his necklace’s chain, the well-worn fleur de lis clinking against the shiny new ring softly. He heard Finn take a sharp breath in, and then felt Finn’s eyes move to him as he took out his own necklace and put it on, the pendant settling over his pounding heart.

“I love it,” Leo said around the lump growing in his throat. His smile was growing wider by the second as he looked down at his own chest, then at Finn’s and Logan’s. “I love you, Finn, of course I’ll wear this. Thank you.”

“Mon rouge,” Logan said, and Leo was glad to hear that his voice wasn’t the only one that had gone a little scratchy. Logan pushed himself off the couch and knelt in front of Finn, tugging him down for a searing kiss.

Finn was practically beaming now as he stroked a thumb across Logan’s cheek. “Yeah? You like it?”

Logan huffed, rolling his eyes before planting another firm kiss on Finn’s lips. “I’m never taking it off,” he mumbled, pressing a palm to the center of Finn’s chest, covering the pendant Leo knew was there. “Love you, Fish.”

“Love you,” Finn smiled. They both rejoined Leo on the cushions, but Leo didn’t let Finn get very far, tugging him onto his lap to press kisses across his cheeks, nose, forehead and lips.

“Love you too, Knutty,” Finn added, kissing Leo back with all the same tenderness. He glanced down, playing with the pendant before letting it bounce back against Leo's chest. “Looks good on you.”

The three of them stayed like that, cuddled up with each other and sharing lazy kisses, until the snow slowed to a stop outside the warmth of their home and they were all fighting off yawns and drooping eyelids.

Leo wanted to drag them to bed and wrap himself around them, letting their heat lull him to sleep. He wanted to wake up to a Gryffindor white Christmas and kiss them good morning, then make them all breakfast to the sound of Finn’s off-key caroling. He smiled as he remembered he could have all of that—he could have everything—and ducked down to kiss the juncture of Finn’s neck and shoulder, over the necklace chain.

“Merry Christmas,” he whispered, and had never meant it more.