#mistletoe connection 2023

[toomuchlovereviews]

Mistletoe Connection (2023)

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I like a good meet-cute, okay? What’s cuter than bumping into a handsome businessman while being dressed as an elf? Plus, it is easier to like a Hallmark movie when the characters aren’t one-dimensional. I think Kate was a good choice as the main character because she had a bit of mischief in her eyes. Within the first ten minutes, she is sneaking past a secretary, traipsing into a meeting and demanding that she speak to the boss. Does this mischief stay through the entire film? No, which was a letdown.

Watch this if you:

enjoy a festive, romantic movie and can get past the Hallmark dialogue

need a MEET CUTE !!!!!

Similar titles:

Home Alone (1990) (whimsical and festive classic, very warm and fuzzy)

[starlightkun]

ahh! i’m here! sorry i’m late… but i brought peppermint bark! and more movies! go ahead and pick the next movie, i’m going to make a cup of hot cocoa while you decide

➥ want from me ── 1.7k

strangers to coworkers to lovers, sleeping with a stranger at the office holiday party and oops! they're your new coworker trope, fluff ── in which you did not plan for the handsome stranger that you took home from the office holiday party to end up also being the new transfer to your team. you also did not plan for a repeat of that night. but you had also never planned for park jisung.

⏯ play movie

➥ mistletoe while you work ── 6.9k

established relationship, secret relationship, meddling coworkers & equally unhinged reader & jisung, fluff, humor ── in which you and jisung truly had only meant to keep your relationship private from your colleagues until jisung's new employee evaluation. then two of your coworkers tried to convince you to sleep with jisung for his own good. and how could you pass up the perfect opportunity for some office shenanigans?

⏯ play movie

➥ out of left field ── 16.3k

college au, brother's best friend trope, baseball player!jisung, rich kid!reader, fluff, slowish burn ── in which a missed connection in the library during finals week turns into two weeks at your family's winter home with your brother's cute friend on the baseball team. as long as you and your brother don't kill each other before you even get there, this could be the best christmas ever.

⏯ play movie

➥ 2023 hallmark movie marathon

[slxtarchive]

𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 ❥ 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐲

𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬. the storytelling of yours and madz relationship…

𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭. yes, can be seen here.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬. nothing just cute madz and reader content.

𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬. we need more madz fics and sorry this is so shorttt

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭. 500+

you and madeline became friends around october 2023. you both connected on the spot. when you first met, you both fell into easy conversation and had a lot in common. there was never any awkward silence when you were alone together, it was easy and simple.

you both continued to hang out and build your friendship further. you’d spend many days together trying out new restaurants, and going to different hang-out spots, she showed you around places she’s been before — it was great.

around december was when things changed between you two. madeline started to form a liking toward you that passed the line of friendship. you were oblivious to her attraction and feelings toward you but you felt yourself reciprocating.

you found yourself waiting and anticipating her text back, her calls, her questions. you enjoyed it when she would rant or talk about her day and her reactions and emotions while explaining. you loved making her laugh because you found it the most angelic thing you’ve heard in your life.

you just loved everything about her.

you both told each other on christmas day. maybe a bit cheesy but when you had got her the most thoughtful gift there was a bit of silence followed by the seal of a kiss.

“there’s no mistletoe.” you teased her as she pulled away. her smile reached her eyes.

“oh shut up.”

after that, you started to appear in her vlogs. people thought nothing of it assuming the two of you were best friends until most recently a few pictures of you two were leaked. it was a photo strip of you two in the photo booth and you didn’t look like just friends.

there was no telling how that photo strip got leaked or how anyone could’ve gotten it but after that people were 100% sure that you two were more than just friends.

that day madz was scared of your reaction. she didn’t know if you were ready or if you wanted to be public in the first place. “i’m so sorry, i don’t know how the photos got out.” she apologized over and over. when she told you about the leak you didn’t know what to do or how to respond. you were in shock. “i promise.”

her facial expression was laced with concern.

you thought more about what it meant. i mean, you already were an established couple ever since you’d asked her a few days after new years, what was the harm of being out as a couple on social media?

you placed your hand on her shoulders. “hey.. hey it’s okay. i promise i'm not mad or sad or anything other than happy. i like that everyone knows that you’re my girlfriend. do… do you like that?”

she smiled moving closer to you causing you to wrap your arms around her neck. her hands moved over to your waist. “of course i do. i’ve wanted to tell them since you asked me to be your girlfriend.”

you smiled at her response. “good.” you whispered pecking her on the lips.

the next day while you both were napping and she had woken up before you, she took a picture of you cuddling her and lying on her chest. she layered a song over the image and posted it to instagram. immediately her story was flooded with likes and people flooding hers and your dms about the relationship.

she continued to cuddle you relieved that the whole world knew you belonged to her and she belonged to you.

© slxtarchive

[amywritesthings]

mistletoe (on the clock.) / nanami x you

pairing: nanami kento x f!reader word count: 1.7k summary: It's your annual holiday party at the office. You and your coworker Nanami Kento end up in a precarious yuletide predicament. tags: mistletoe, holiday office party, explicit language, sexual tension, hair pulling, kissing, make corporate speak horny in this house

part of the twelve days of amymas 2023 !!!

Office holiday parties shouldn’t be mandatory.

Eight, sometimes bordering up to twelve, hours under fluorescent lights was more than enough anguish — add four extra mandatory 'fun' hours and you see why half of your colleagues spend their nights bar hopping to cope.

However, if these annual holiday parties weren't mandatory, most of your colleagues would never bother showing up in the first place.

You sure as hell wouldn’t.

(And you're pretty sure the tall blonde you spy from across the room wouldn’t, either.)

It’s only your first year with the company, but it’s already one year too many.

You'd taken a few gap years between college to figure your shit out, travel a little, but you still ended up in the grand corporate scheme.

The nine-to-five lifestyle is nothing less than soul sucking. Commuting back and forth is such a pain. 

By the time you make it back to your tiny one-bedroom flat, the night is too cold to enjoy anything beyond your warm bed.

But... there are perks to the job, sometimes.

Free lunches are great.

Business connections don't hurt.

Not to mention you've grown fond of one person who makes your commute a little tolerable:

Tall. Blonde. High cheekbones. Voice as smooth as honey.

Nanami Kento.

Stoic on the outside yet considerably kind on the inside, Nanami has equal parts ruined and consumed your days.

The sheer sight of him in his tailored suits without a strand of hair out of place can make you weak in the knees, so you make it a point to always talk to him sitting down.

And he seems to like you, for what it’s worth.

Nanami always makes sure to bring you tea and water in the morning to stay hydrated.

He stops by your cubicle to tell you there's free catering in the break room if you missed the memo.

No matter how late you end up staying, he always makes it a point to never let you walk to the train station alone.

It’s sweet.

It’s more than what anyone else has ever done for you in your life, so naturally?

You're into him.

Bad.

Of course, that means you’re too chicken to invite him over for dinner.

God knows you can’t cook a decent course to save your life, but you’d order in — it’s only one string away from officially asking him on a date, masked as a favor repaid.

('Tis the damn season; it may be your time to take a little leap of faith if he's going to be standing there all alone for this insufferable party.)

Emboldened by the spiked eggnog in your system, you decide to jump:

You make a beeline through the crowds of laughing colleagues, all varying stages of intoxicated, straight to him.

In truth, you're eager to blend as a wallflower beside him.

Nanami almost instantly catches you in the crowd, but he makes no motion to meet you in the middle.

He moves a pace to the right, silently offering you the corner to hide in.

You have to be brave.

You have to make the first real move.

(Attractiveness aside, it's just Kento. He must be at the end of his social battery, too.)

“Hey,” you greet.

“Hello,” he replies, smooth as butter.

“Having the time of your life over here?” you joke, pressing your back into the wall.

He hums in a noncommittal fashion. “At the very least, this party is much more tame than the one they threw last year.”

“Is it?”

Kento nods. “Someone overserved. Shirts flew. Marriages shattered.” His strong brow furrows. “Though I wanted to ask, even though I've been here longer: has Mr. Hiro always been a happy drunk? I recall differently.”

“No, that’s a fairly new development. His wife finally finalized the divorce last week,” you gossip under your breath. “I had to field the call myself.”

“Oh?” Nanami asks, turning a sharp chin your way. “Ugly?”

“Very.”

“To call and finalize over the phone at the office is—”

“Ballsy.”

A sly smile tugs at the corner of his lip. “I was going to say a choice, but sure.” 

Nanami clinks his ceramic ‘work hard, play harder ’ slogan mug to yours — a past gag gift from that Gojo Satoru friend of his, you’re sure — and pushes his body from the wall. 

“Do you need a refill?”

You nod, holding up your empty eggnog mug.

"Thanks."

"How spiked do you want it?"

"Blackout levels," you joke. It earns you an even larger smile, albeit shortly lived.

He plucks the handle from you easily enough, but you notice how his eyes flutter above your heads and… stay there.

Weird.

Unable to help yourself, you lift your chin to see the captivating problem for yourself:

Hovering over the two of you this entire time has been a pesky little bundle of leaves, tied together with a tiny red bow.

Shit.

Mistletoe.

(Were these things even allowed in the office? Surely hanging one constituted breaking at least four different Human Resources violations in one swift sweep.)

You open your mouth to make a joke, but—

“Has that been there?” Nanami asks, and you can feel your face grow hot.

“I— Maybe?” You clear your throat. “Did you stand under it on purpose?”

(Way to go, moron.)

Nanami considers, then shakes his head.

“I had no intention of kissing anyone in our office, I assure you,” he replies, and you feel yourself deflate a little. “Though I guess this is an opportune moment.”

Oh?

You pretend to look unbothered, arms crossed over your chest.

It takes you biting your tongue to avoid asking outright.

“What do you mean, opportune?” you ask instead.

Blink and you’ll miss it: Nanami smiles, albeit barely, before turning his chin back to the mistletoe in question.

“I would prefer taking a woman out to dinner before kissing her, but I suppose if you were interested, then we could be a little unconventional. It’s likely the swift kick in my ass I needed.”

Your brows slide to your hairline as you regard him in equal parts confusion and hope.

“Wait, you…” 

Words.

You have to remember how to speak.

The whole point of this job was to be suave, but you’re failing miserably at it at the moment.

“You were interested in going to dinner with…”

“You?” Nanami finishes, and he angles his larger frame towards you. “Was it never obvious?”

Obvious?

Now you really felt like a fish out of water.

Nothing about Nanami Kento was obvious.

You could barely get a read on him, even if he did all of those really nice things for you—

Oh.

The realization hits you like a subway train, leaving you breathless.

The blonde stares down at you, patiently waiting for an answer.

You blurt. "Do you still want dinner after?"

"I don't think many places are open at this hour, but if you're not hungover tomorrow, I could call."

"I'm not picky," you reply. "I love takeout."

"We're not getting takeout on our first outing," Nanami snorts.

"Like I said, very-much not picky."

A moment passes.

You both stare at one another, waiting for the right timing to...

Well, do anything.

He wants to take you out to dinner.

Nanami fucking Kento wants to take you out— 

And kiss you.

Actually, that part is more important right now.

"So the... unconventional part."

"The mistletoe," he adds.

"Right. Is that still on the table?"

"Do you want it to be on the table?"

"Is that a serious question?" you counter, before leaning in a little closer. "Okay, but what if someone sees?"

Nanami shrugs a shoulder, resting his bare forearm against the wall you lean against. His button-down shirt is rolled up to the elbow, making your mouth water.

His body shields you from the rest of the people in the office. 

One quick peck and none of the drunks on this floor would be any wiser.

“Are you that concerned?” he asks.

When his featherlight touch raises your chin to meet his gaze, he makes your decision right there and then.

You’ve wanted Nanami for so damn long.

Now the opportunity is presented to you like a holiday gift, and you’re not one to be ungrateful.

“Not anymore,” you admit, wrapping your fingers around his speckled yellow and black tie.

Like two magnets, you pull him in by the tie and he drags you in by the chin, connecting your lips in a searing kiss.

Nanami is warm, stronger than you anticipated. You melt against his lips as they gingerly move against yours.

You want him to push you against this wall.

You want to what he'd do if you dropped to your knees the way you’ve imagined doing every single time he’s sitting at his desk with those goddamn dress slacks bunched against his thighs.

You want so much in so little time that you bite his lower lip, causing the blonde to groan with need.

He slides his fingers along your jawline, snaking up past your ear and into your hair.

His fingers curl around the strands, tugging playfully.

Then, abruptly, he pulls away.

No.

Too soon.

You could topple over with how quickly you chase him, but he stops you with his index finger pressed to your lips.

“Nanami!” 

A voice calls him, slurred and hiccupped, from the other side of the room.

You freeze, unable to do anything but stare into his brown eyes. 

“Get your ass over here!”

“Group photo,” Nanami reluctantly murmurs to you, and your shoulders sag. “Before everyone starts digging out the hard liquor.”

Still, he leans back in to drop a gentle peck to the tip of your nose.

When he pulls away, he drops the arm against the wall to hold his palm out to you — an invitation.

“Let’s circle back after.”

He doesn’t need to tell you twice.

You take his hand and never look back.

.

[octofaewrites]

Octofae’s Fic List™️

All of my works can be find here:

I write for a variety of fandoms, so here we go - fandoms include: Bleach, Pokémon, Winx Club, and a few others!

Bleach - IchiRuki

Series

Masaki Lives! AU

Bleach, but Masaki was the parent who lived instead of Isshin.

The Noodle Saga

Crack Series involving Ichigo pining away for Rukia while Renji is trying to protect his captain’s dignity. (He is terrible at it.)

The Mystery of the Rukongai Crater

Paranormal Investigators, but make it Hallmark!AU

Conversations with the Future In-Laws

Hypothetical scenarios where Ichigo & Rukia talk to their future in-laws.

IchiRuki Month

Collection of works for IchiRuki Month

IchiRuki Week

Collection of works for IchiRuki Week

Stand Alone Stories

Performance Review

Three Casual Acquaintances™️ start a podcast as they try to solve the mystery of the sudden death of a neighbor in their swanky apartment complex.

Operation Christmas Play

Ichigo is trying to be romantic and Urahara has the connections.

Bleach - Others

Ready, Set, Caw….?

Renji/Orihime - jokefic written for a friend! Two dingdongs try to make cookies and a random crow keeps trolling them.

Through space and time, my love belongs to you (Chapter 1)

GrimmIchiRuki - Rukia is getting married to Grimmjow and Ichigo is sad because he’s hopelessly in love with them both - his life is surely over… or is it?

This story is a multi-author, round-robin project for GIR weekend!

Other Writers: kleinegirl87, AiTsuki97, Mako_After_Dark, AriadneKurosaki

Pokémon -

Pokémon: Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl

Merry Mishaps

Dawn, Lucas and Berry decided to exchange presents. Their starters do a bad job of being helpful.

No pairings - Written for the Pokémon Winter Wonderland Zine 2023

Pokémon: Legends Arceus / Diamond/Pearl/Platinum - VoloKari

Series

Somewhere over the Sea

The Pirate AU that no one needed or asked for.

Conversations at the Company Water Cooler

Idiot coworkers in a situationship and too dumb to admit they’re dating.

Sweet Like Honey

Friends with Benefits™️ who are benefiting across Hisui.

As the World Falls Down

Angsty Soulmate AU, where I don’t let them be together.

Volokari Week

Collection of stories I did for Volokari Week 2023

Stand Alone Stories

Déjà Vu - I’ve just been in this Place Before

I want to be cool and do a reimagining of PL:A; I’m just not cool.

Time Won’t Fly (Dead Dove - MIND THE TAGS)

Akari not in a good place.

Doll (Dead Dove - MIND THE TAGS)

Akari is not having a good time. Set in BumbleTee’s Cop AU

When My World Shakes, I Feel Alive

Sweet conversation between Dawn/Volo after getting her drunk idiot roommates to bed.

Shopping is Serious Business

Crackfic. Volo’s real punishment for trying to subjugate Arceus is having to go shopping with his daughter and her equally high maintenance friend.

Pokémon: Scarlet & Violet - Arviana

Safe & Sound

Juliana is tired from her near death experiences and meeting ghosts and gets a much needed Arven-hug.

Sucker.

Arven can’t tell Ogerpon no.

Treasure

Arven reflects on how his family is his treasure

Paradise is Nothing but a Smile

Arviana Picnic Date!

And, maybe it was ego swinging

The AU where Turo pulled his head out of his ass and was a parent to Arven.

Home is Where the Heart Is

Juliana made it back from Blueberry Academy and is beyond glad to be reunited with Arven

Pokémon: Scarlet & Violet - Draymine

I created a Discord Server for Draymine, Arviana, and Kiercey - Other ships are welcome! It can be joined HERE - (18+ Please!)

Series

You are in Love

An on-going series featuring snapshots through Drayton and Carmine’s relationship.

Stand Alone Stories

Well, this is a choice

Jokefic - Kieran sees that Crispin has awful dragon claws for feet and Drayton and Carmine’s alone time keeps getting interrupted.

Elevator Woes, Smash Bros, and Mistletoe

Jokefic - Crispin is the only single guy in his friend group and the elevator rides of Blueberry Academy are long ones. Established Draymine and Kiercey in the background.

a lot to live without

Sometimes, life doesn't go the way one wants it to. TW: Major Character Death.

Pokémon: Scarlet & Violet - Kiercey

Kieran & Lacey.

Building a Home

Just a moment in a post-canon setting in which Kieran and Lacey are quite silly.

[kimmiessimmies]

Make this night count...

"Look at all the colours! Isn't it pretty, James?"

"Very. The view is great from up here."

"It was a good idea to book this room for tonight."

"I'm full of good ideas."

"We have made things difficult for her this year, haven't we, James?"

"For whom, lovely?"

"Our author. This. Us. It was never part of her plan, was it?"

"No, but, haven't we also made things great for her?"

"Yes, I think so."

"Well, we've made things great for us, either way, Sade."

"Cheers to that, lovely."

"Sade..."

"Hmm...?"

"You wouldn't let me kiss you under the mistletoe because of where it might lead, but... since we're here now... Will you let me kiss you for New Year's?"

"Umm... No, I don't think so...

"Oh... Sorry..."

"I'm not going to let you kiss me for New Year's, James, because I'm going to kiss you first."

"Wha..."

"Happy New Year, you."

"Happy New Year, my girl..."

......

....

...

"James?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you think she'll let us be together in the new year?"

"We'll have to see, love... Let's make this night count while we're here..."

My dear followers,

This year has been very... intense... for me. I already wrote a long post about my mental health struggles, which put a huge stamp on my year. However, 2023 will also forever be the year I went back to my Sims, back to my stories, and back to Tumblr.

I spent five years away. Both because real life took over and because I had gotten into a rut with my Sims and the story. I never forgot them, though, and never stopped loving them. And suddenly, somewhere in February, it clicked. Everything fell into place, and I knew where I wanted to go with it all. In fact, it was this boy up here, my dearest James, who pulled me back. His story was suddenly clear as day to me. But how to begin? So, in March, I decided to just start writing. Then, I dusted off my game, found that all shortcuts and cheats were apparently in my muscle memory, and started shooting pictures to go with what I had written. And once I got going, I didn't stop. Everything I wrote in 2023 (and that's a lot!) even if it seemed unrelated, was geared towards James's story and the big moment that still lies ahead. However... As I've emphasised several times by now, I didn't account for this girl... So now it's like James said, "We'll have to see."

Coming back to my story brought me so much this year; I went from gameplay-based to story-based and found out how much I truly LOVE writing and how much it helps me, especially now that I'm going through rough times. Encouraged and inspired by someone dear to me, my story gained a title and came to Tumblr in full. I learnt to not only accept the benefits of poses, but how incredibly enhancing they can be to bring my ideas to life when used right. I reconnected with old contacts and made new connections too, some of whom proved to be true friends outside of this Tumblr/Sims world too. I've loved getting caught up on the stories I used to follow and discovering new ones. I've been amazed at how good CC has become in five years and pleasantly surprised to see there's still a good crowd playing TS3 in addition to the great things some of you are doing with TS4. All of this has been bright spots in my darkness.

And now we're entering 2024. I hope it will be light and bright for all of us. May the good days outnumber the bad ones and may we continue to feel the joy these little pixel-people bring us. Happy New Year to you and yours.

Much love. ❤️

-Kim

P.s. I know, I know; Some of you are now very disappointed you didn't get to see James and Sadie "making the night count." Just for all of you filthy animals I have one more post in this non-canon series set to go. Be forewarned; this one is very NSFW (And Not Suitable To View At New Year's Parties With Lots Of People Around) and will be labelled mature. I also have a sneaking suspicion it'll take Tumblr about 3 seconds to take it down, so I have an alternative post with Pillowfort link waiting in the wings. Going live as the the New Year hits where I am, at midnight GMT+1. See them making the night count by clicking here!

[allmentalyart]

It's been a while since I last posted here! Reason for that is this giant art project that I started in December 2023. I ditched it in February last year and picked it back up in November 2024. I originally planned on getting it done in time for Christmas, but my plans got cut short and I had delay it till the 2nd of March of this year!

Enjoy my lovely beans celebrating a holiday that doesn't exist in their world XD Some of them, namely Luna and Shadow, got knowledge about our earth holidays and so the whole family decided to join in and try out this little celebration :3 For them it's a holiday of joy, love and gifting your loved ones something of meaning, so they don't have any connection to religion in this.

OCs featured from left to right:

Joleen (black and purple dragon)

Toxident (purple and blue dragon)

Daitya (black and red dragon)

Alokit (golden dragon)

Shaytan (black and yellow dragon under the tree)

Mirto (the bat in the tree)

Tarek (green dragon)

Yuraka (feathered blue dragon)

Nira (blue dragon)

Luna (white and rainbow dragon)

Shadow (black and blue dragon)

Nemesis (white dragon holding the mistletoe)

Tenebra (the very colourful purple dragon)

Demon (black and green dragon)

Nisa (cat on couch)

Sparky (dog on couch)

Cookie (hedgehog on couch)

Satab (brown dragon entering the room)

Acita (leopard entering the room)

This project was so much fun to make! I wanna redraw it one day and hopefully get it done in one go instead of having a nearly one year break inbetween. Tho at the same time I am happy I had this break! You can definitely see my progress in art. The complete right third was drawn in 2023, while the left 2/3rd are from 2024/2025. I am especially proud of the anthro versions of my lovely OCs! Yeah, they can both walk on their hinds and on all four legs. It's up to the dragons what type they prefer. Daitya for example always walks on his hind legs, while Shadow prefers to walk on all four! Just some little details I love to add in :3 On another note…this project 100 % gave me an art block XD The time it took me to finish was sprinkled with complete art blocks for weeks. I didn't draw that much cause of this! Now that It's finally done, I did finish quite a few art pieces already! You'll see some more art from now on again :D

Time taken in total: 74 h

✅Likes, shares, saves and comments are highly appreciated ❌I own the copyright to these artworks! Any usage of it without my consent is prohibited. This includes the usage of my art in AI or NFTs. I don't consent to this. Art theft and tracing is prohibited as well!

[likes-words-and-shrimp]

~2023 Symphonia Fic Recs~

Wanted to start off the new year (a little late, haha) with some fic recs for Tales of Symphonia! This is going to be focused on fics that were specifically published/updated in 2023, so some of these stories will vary in length as well as in rating, and you'll most likely see some repeating authors. A small disclaimer: I like to read stories that are in-line with my general preferences and likes (such as fave ships and characters) so I'm admitting some bias in these recs, but I also believe these fics are very much worth reading and want to share them! Much of this is also from the top of my head, so apologies in advance if I miss some additional fics!

Each will be a link to the story and author, rating and word count, and with a very brief summary of the fic. These are in no particular order.

With that, let's go! All fics are under the cut! (And just past New Year's Lloyd):

-

And A Sense of Guilt I Can't Deny by AdeptArcanist (G, 1.7k) - Frank was never the sort of man to consider himself extraordinary. He was just another boy who grew up under Iselia’s auspices, taking the peaceful days for granted. He never expected that he would be the father of the next Chosen. A character study revolving around Frank Brunel, his upbringing under the Church, and his connection with Colette. A beautiful fic that gives more of a voice to one of Symphonia's overlooked minor characters.

Passed between these hands of ours by Umbry2000 (G, 3.2k) - The passing of joy from one person to the next, like stones pressed from hand to hand. Lloyd and Colette meet with a young member of the Chosen lineage and teaches her how to skip stones, interspersed with wonderfully written flashbacks to them as children. Takes place post-canon.

Wings of the Dawn by FrostGlaive (T, 56.9k) - Yggdrasill is determined to have his Angelus Project completed. In a frantic bid to save his son, Kratos tries a temporary measure. But plans never go as intended. A canon-divergence fic where Lloyd is captured in Welgaia by Yggdrasill, his key crest then removed from his Exsphere by Kratos. A very interesting take where Lloyd is unwillingly put on the enemy side and has revelations differently from canon.

Rewind by ignitible (T, 20.9k) - "A person’s memories is tied to their time. -- There will be nothing for them to remember." A post-canon fic that mixes in an adventure/mystery plot with the age regression trope in such an engaging way. Begins with most of the party searching for missing persons in the Shadow Temple before they get separated-and discovering who gets hit with the trope is half the fun in reading to find out! Currently an ongoing fic.

Forever and Always by kimberriez (G, 6.6k) - Lloyd was raised by a blacksmith, he knows all sorts of things about metal, about craftsmanship. What he can't quite figure out is why Kratos has a wedding ring, and what about it looks familiar. A dad reveal, set right after Colette is kidnapped in Ozette. A canon-divergence fic that plays with the timeframe of when Lloyd realizes who Kratos is, and gives some really touching interaction between the two as a result. Part of a series of different dad reveals.

stargazing by almost_home (G, 2.3k) - Lloyd invites Genis for a sleepover. Pre-game. A small and sweet fic about Lloyd and Genis as children, spending time together at Lloyd's home. Overall a really adorable portrayal of their friendship.

Like Starlight by MannaTea (T, 5.4k) - Aithra Brunel is sixteen when she accepts the oracle and her new title: Sylvarant’s Chosen of Regeneration. A really beautiful and tearful story centering around one of the past Chosens of Sylvarant, particularly detailing about her journey and the tragedy that ultimately befalls her.

A Good Luck Charm by sistaofpeace1 (G, 1.3k) - A simple trinket turns out to be far more meaningful. A cute feel-good Kratos/Anna fic with Anna helping Kratos fight off some bandits, as well as Kratos not knowing what a mistletoe is. Hilarity ensues, leading to some nice fluff.

just down the dirt road by Baron_Ali (G, 1.1k) - Memories and nostalgia shrouding his childhood home give Lloyd pause; Colette sets her dork back on track. This story takes place one year after Lloyd and Colette's Exsphere journey, and delves deep into the difficulty of the quest and how it's beginning to weigh down on Lloyd and his confidence in tackling it while Colette reassures him. An incredibly sweet and warm fic that has a lot of lovely imagery in its storytelling.

The place of our dreams (let's go there) by holy_kami (T, 6.3k) - He probably thought he did a good job of hiding his pain from them, but Colette was all too familiar with feeling alienated because she was so starkly different from everyone else. In fact, she and Zelos were more alike than anyone else she knew. A Zelos and Colette fic that takes place before and after Zelos' betrayal. Incredibly great introspection between both of their roles as Chosen and how it brings them both an understanding of each other.

complications you could do without by almost_home (G, 3.7k) - Raine is injured in the Temple of Ice, and Zelos has a rough time with it. A really fascinating fic about Zelos experiencing past trauma when Raine gets injured. This story does a great job portraying his dynamics with the entire group overall, along with a touching scene between him and Raine for a bit of closure.

Heart Beats by Umbry2000 (G, 1.7k) - She counts the steady beats of his heart, and promises to always protect him. The style of this fic winds around Colette and Lloyd's physical interactions, and written in such a genuine way that leads to a bittersweet ending. A great mixture of fluff and angst.

Vita by MannaTea (E, 4.1k) - Half-elves can now attend formal schools as well as teach in them. They can join the church, attend the theater, walk into any medical facility and receive treatment, and practice medicine. But they cannot marry humans. A Regal/Raine fic where Regal's own unique healing magic is put to good use while he and Raine meet secretly. Takes place in the backdrop of a vote where it would be decided if half-elves and humans can get married, making for a suspenseful and emotional story.

The Great Interdimensional Curry Quest by VSSAKJ (G, 1.1k) - Filled with a burning yearning for the universe’s spiciest delicacy, Symphonia's Spice-Loving Gnomelette leaves the Temple of Earth behind, setting off on a journey through time and space (and other Tales of games) to treat his taste buds to even hotter and heartier meals. This story technically spans over other Tales of games, but is focused on the silly gnomelette from Symphonia that demands something spicy from the party. Just a really fun fic where this NPC travels across different worlds and dimensions for the spiciest food in existence!

A Cowgirl Comes-a-Ridin' by Night Sky (E, 7.3k) - They called them Lloyd the Kid and Colette the Angel. A notorious couple wanted by the authorities in all of western Sylvarant. Slipperier than a snake in slime oil and luckier than a mimic chest in a seemingly looted ghost town, these two had the highest bounty on their heads in the west: One million gald reward for each. Dead or alive. As the title implies, a really hilarious but also sexy fic set in a Western AU, taking place while Lloyd and Colette are out on the run and settle for the night. Both are adorable goofballs just having a good time with the writing style making this such a fun ride to go on. Also, Sheena is the sheriff tracking them down!

Break Open the Sky by MannaTea (M, 102.5k) - What kind of “Hero” of Regeneration would she be to leave an infant to fend for itself? Someone had to have left it here for a reason. The question was, of course, why? But as she lifted the little thing carefully into her arms, the motion reminding her of nights so far in the past, now, the why seemed almost tragically clear: this baby was of mixed blood. A Raine-centric fic (with eventual Regal/Raine) where she must take care of an abandoned half-elf baby that was left to her. An incredibly well-written fic that deals with Raine's issues of abandonment and past trauma, combined with a good deal of worldbuilding for Symphonia and examining the still-thriving deep-seated prejudices for half-elves.

Pretty Ribbon by CamTheYaoiFan (G, 492) - Presea grapples with the intricacies of female friendship, and wonders why she fumbles even more around Colette. But Colette is patient and kind, and Presea finds herself feeling especially drawn to her. A very cute little fic about Presea navigating her feelings for Colette and what she means to her. Perfect for a short and sweet read. Includes fluff and also some fanart in the story.

Snow Angel by amuk (T, 1.1k) - Colette was clumsy. Sheena had known this for a while now. Every place they’d ever visited had a Colette-shaped imprint. Yet, for some reason, she thought that teaching her how to skate was a good idea. A really light-hearted Sheena/Colette fic where the two go ice skating together. Clumsiness happens, but for a really great and romantic effect. Expect sweet fluff.

sings the tune without the words by MannaTea (T, 23.3k) - 4,000 years after the events of Tales of Symphonia, our heroes have been reborn. This tale belongs to Lloyd and Colette. A Lloyd/Colette multichapter fic that takes place in a modern AU, but with the twist that it's also a reincarnation AU! Follows along Lloyd and Colette's lives from childhood to old age, with some familiar faces along the way, with both uplifting and tragic moments in-between.

A Held Note by fowl68 (G, 11.5k) - Dirk poured tea for their ghost. She never sat with him, but she would drift closer, drawn in by his voice and conversation. She talked, sometimes, endless questions about her baby and where was her baby? She never absorbed the fact that her baby was sleeping in the bed just upstairs. A story that examines the 'what-if' scenario of Anna and Martel being wandering ghosts during the events of Symphonia, interacting with the cast during different points in their lives, from childhood to adulthood. A really introspective look at how their deaths affect Symphonia's story overall.

Mirage by Umbry2000 (G, 2.7k) - The role given to Colette Brunel had been that of the Chosen. It was a role only she could play. And she played it to perfection. An introspective-fic about Colette with an incredibly well-written look into the pressures of her role, and how it affects her even after the events of Symphonia. Has some brief Lloyd/Colette as his presence helps her break from the shell she's built around herself.

Rather Be Happy by Phylarologist (T, 4.6k) - Lloyd and Colette take a break from their Exsphere-gathering journey to have the worst date imaginable. Just as the summary explains! But with the added angst that eventually occurs near the end and the very reasoning for why Lloyd and Colette are on a bad date. A wholesome fic with that dash of hurt/comfort.

Missing the Ground by sapphose (G, 1.9k) - The group's journey to the Temple of Earth is interrupted by a long detour to the Toize Valley Mines. Can Zelos and Regal face what awaits them on the southeast continent? This fic is part of an ongoing role-reversal AU series with Zelos as the Chosen of the declining world. The story is a brief look into his journey, where Zelos is already losing some of his humanity, as well as dives into his dynamic with the party. A really intriguing portrayal of Symphonia's worldbuilding if the situations were reversed.

Strangely Sacred by fowl68 (G, 19.6k) - The power of the Summon Spirits takes a toll if you're not careful. Sheena can't always afford to be. How the party learns to support each other. Each chapter of this fic examines Sheena's bond with a Summon Spirit and their power--but is also a really wonderful exploration of Sheena's dynamic with each party member, using the Summon Spirits as the connection. Very well-written one-on-one character interaction.

Formative by sykilik101 (G, 6.3k) I am who I am because of you. And, maybe, you are who you are because of me. A story that examines Lloyd and Colette's relationship at different points during their childhood years together. Beautifully captures the nuances of their friendship and blossoming feelings for one another, all while learning about what the Chosen role entails and how Lloyd gradually goes against it for Colette's sake.

Oblivion - We are all monsters here by KujaTribal (M, 25.5k) - Kratos had Lloyd during the ancient war and Lloyd sacrificed himself in order to protect Martel. Several thousand years later, Kratos rules over both Tethe'alla and Sylvarant and Zelos is set on the journey to regenerate the world. An AU where Zelos as the Chosen is sent on a journey, but with a twist! The entire story is extremely canon-divergent, where a lot of characters are shifted into entirely new roles. (For example, Forcystus and Magnius are Zelos' best friends and have major roles, and Zelos is a half-elf!) Very fun to read just to see how familiar characters are set-up in this new imagining of Symphonia's world. Currently an ongoing fic.

To Those Left Behind by LiaLox (T, 5.6k) - A collection of short stories on what it means to feel time flow differently, on what it means to love, to leave, and to be left behind. This collection has two chapters so far, but they both examine some unique themes and characters in the Symphonia universe. First chapter is told from Phaidra's perspective and her realizing Kratos' identity from her deceased sister's letters, while the second chapter focuses on Emil from Dawn of the New World and his future with Marta.

Innocent Little Secrets by KujaTribal (G, 1.1k) - Raine shares a tiny little secret. A very adorable Zelos/Raine fic that takes place during canon. Both Zelos and Raine show a little of their vulnerabilities to each other that leads to some really great fluff. Another great short and sweet read.

The Unexpected Dog (Protozoan) Father by shibabunny (T, 2.9k) - A few months after Kratos and Anna settle in Luin, the couple, along with Lloyd and Colette, who are now engaged and in town visiting the older couple, discover a pile of puppies surrounding Noishe. And some seem to have an uncanny resemblance to the loyal protozoan. This is a really adorable fic taking place in an Anna-lives AU about Noishe having puppies. What makes this fic really engaging is how much Kratos doesn't want to give away the puppies, showing a very soft side of him! A super cute read.

--

And that's a lot of recs! If you'd like to check out any of the above fics, definitely give them a read and leave a kudos/comment. I haven't read every fic that was made in the past year either, so you can always check AO3 for more fics!

...And if you've read this far! I'll throw in an extra bonus of some of my own fics that I wrote in 2023 and particularly like for anyone's interest.

-

Being an angel is pretty inconvenient, huh? (T, 36.1k) - Lloyd had never been too fond of his wings. But they were still useful, and convenient when they needed to be. It only made sense to use what he had. Until his wings changed one night, and became permanent, with real feathers attached to bone. And they were heavy. A Lloyd/Colette fic spanning seven chapters, focusing on Lloyd's mana wings and their transformation into permanent ones. Deals with some brief body horror, party dynamics, themes of change and acceptance, and an eventual happy ending.

To Sow the Seeds of Love and Adoration (T, 8k) - Tabatha knew that a doll that failed in her purpose must be discarded. She was flawed, with a voice that continued to halt and assess every syllable, with a body that refused to house the soul of the woman she was made in the image of. Focuses on Tabatha both before and during the events of Symphonia, along with a look in to her and Altessa's close relationship. Was an art/fic collab with @frayed-symphony which is included in the story!

Resemblance (G, 2.7k) - During a rainy day in Asgard, Kratos takes up cooking for the party. Colette notices quite a few things. Just as the summary says; Kratos cooks for the party, (specifically seafood stew!) Meanwhile, Colette makes a few connections between him and Lloyd throughout. Lloyd also gets caught in the rain.

-

Thanks again for reading and hoping for a great 2024!

[cap-ironman]

2023 Cap-Iron Man Exchange Gifts unveiled on January 6

It’s the tenth day of reveals! Each day we will be revealing gifts created by 2023 Cap-Iron Man Holiday Exchange and Community Gifts event participants. The gifts will remain anonymous until January 11, giving everyone a chance to enjoy the works and guess the identities of creators. (Remember, if you've got a work in the collection, please remain anonymous until after creator reveals!)

Here are today’s gifts!

★ I have promises to keep for gottalovev (Ultimates, 2290 words)

After a mission goes south, Steve and Tony trek through the woods to a safe house to which Tony has a personal connection.

★ make this gingerbread house a home for Reioka (MCU, 5000 words)

Steve is determined to make this Christmas the best one Tony has ever had. With gingerbread cookies, home alone, and maybe a little mistletoe.

★ temporary configuration of disrupted stars for Perlmutt (MCU, 3043 words)

There's a lot for Steve to learn about the 21st century. And himself.

★ where you already belong for Mistymoon27 (MCU, 1380 words)

Tony looks down, and blinks in surprise when he sees Steve Rogers’ ever-blue eyes gazing sleepily back at him, his head resting lightly on Tony’s chest. “Well,” he says finally, wincing a little at the dryness in his throat. “I’m not sure I ever figured you for a cuddler, Cap.”

To check out all of this year’s gifts (so far!), head over to the 2023 Captain America/Iron Man Holiday Exchange AO3 Collection.

When your gift is revealed, please be sure to comment and thank your gifter!

If you’re the creator of a gift that’s now been revealed, you can reply to any comments and stay anonymous — AO3 will automatically show you as "Anonymous Author" until the creator reveals.

Finally, you may want to change the publication date of your work to today’s date so that it shows up at the top of AO3's feeds. AO3’s guide is available here and we have a more detailed version here. Happy holidays, and we hope you enjoy all of the revealed works!

♥ Your 2023 Cap-Iron Man Holiday Exchange and Community Gifts mods

[xxsycamore]

New Year, New Napo

╰┈➤ 🌟 Napoleon's New Year's morning begins with him working on his bad habits.

Napoleon Bonaparte/Main Character • rating: G • tags: Fluff; Morning Kisses • wordcount: 720 • masterlist

a/n: And this is the last fic of the year! Thank you for your support in 2023, it was a great year and I got to write so many things I loved🥺❤ This fic is inspired by this amazing drawing that @bicayaya made for me! I'm still screaming...

It's the shifting of the body next to her that pulls MC out of the depths of her slumber first. Dancing around the surface between reality and dream, she chases after the gradually drifting away words of someone in her sleep, nose scrunching as she tries to remain asleep. A chuckle that comes from somewhere far away from the dreamworld suddenly floats to her ears more clearly, closer by - and then comes the ultimate reveille. A pair of plush lips casting a butterfly caress against her own, covering them fully for a mere second before disappearing with only the faint warmth remaining behind.

"Nnng…mm.." MC groans as if to announce to her kisser that she's now awake and he needn't repeat his ministrations. Though she'd be lying if she said she didn't consider playing asleep for a second longer, even with that confused, still-sleeping brain of hers.

Heavy eyelids open to take in the new day - that's right, a new day of a brand new year, she now remembers, the last remains of pleasant tiredness linked with the lavish partying of last night still sparkling in her muscles as she lazily stretches out in bed.

"Good morning, Napoleon."

"Good morning, mon amour."

MC giggles at the haplessly inlove look in Napoleon's cyan eyes. Is he going to enter the new year being like that, once again? She can't blame him, the same way she can't blame sleep for giving her an equally dreamy look in her own eyes right now.

"How come you woke up earlier than me, hmm?" She pokes his cheek, using the proximity of him leaning over her, glad that he's blocking the blinding sunshine that found them in their bed. It's great that they're having a sunny New Year's morning. She can jump right out of bed and embrace the energy of this new beginning. After a good cuddle session, that's it.

"What can I say. New year, new me."

"Pfff!"

Napoleon frowns in reaction to her dismissive laughter, propping himself up on an elbow with pettiness in his demeanor. "So much for my partner supporting me in my New Year's resolutions, I see."

"I do, I do!" MC hastily assures, patting his arm. "I was just wondering, if you truly woke up on your own, how come you still sleep-kissed me…?"

"That wasn’t a sleep kiss, Nunuche."

Huh? Eyeing him with suspicion, MC tilts her head, ready to hear his explanation.

"We had to kiss because we were under the mistletoe."

"?!"

His other hand that was rested above MC's head ever since earlier when he was leaning above her suddenly comes into view, holding up a mistletoe for her to see.

"What the-"

"Whoops, I guess we're under it once again. Here I go, close your eyes."

"Napoleon-"

Not able to keep up with his sudden burst of nonsense, the best MC can do is close her eyes as told, accepting the inevitable kiss of the man above her. This one is slower and somehow more mischievous, with him nibbling on her lower lip and withdrawing before she can take her revenge.

As soon as their gazes meet, Napoleon holds up the mistletoe again, and dives down for another kiss.

"Napoleon!!" Her protests leave him searching for new targets for his kisses, smooching her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her eyelids squeezed shut in a laughing fit, her forehead.

"What's up with you?"

"I told you, Nunuche. New year, new me. I'm not going to sleep in anymore, and that means no more sleepy kiss attacks."

MC looks at him in disbelief. This is still too much to take in first thing in the morning. Still, she somehow connects the dots.

"So you used the mistletoe as an excuse to keep on with your bad habits…"

"I don't know what you're talking about. It was hanging right there above us when I woke up in your embrace."

"Hahahah…hahaha! Yeah, you totally are as silly as you were last year."

"Hey…" Napoleon's brow furrows once again, announcing that he's had enough of not being taken seriously. He captures MC's wrists on both sides above her head, playfully wrestling with her as she keeps laughing at him and squirming in his grip.

"Happy New Year, Napoleon. Please never change."

"You'll regret wishing for that."

Taglist: @arsnovacadenza @ale-teodora @kimi00twin @otomelady @privilegedpancake @g-kleran    @pumpumnnnp @thesirenwashere @ravenarld @kimmy-banana @devonares @galaxyprison @sadshaxk @starshards26 @thewitchofbooks @acethephoenix256 @ikevamp-shrine-2 @nad-zeta @crystal13unny @lordsister @ikemen-banshou   @themysticalbeing @otome-scribbles @rhodolitesrose @coornn @kpop-and-otome @queen-dahlia @kisara-16 @chaosangel767 @ikemenlibrary @queengiuliettafirstlady @aurora-morning @aquagirl1978 ​ @ikemenlover24 @mcofthemansion @joy-the-reader @katriniac @ikemen-writer @tele86 @lovely-bubb1es @aria-chikage @babyblue0t7 @rhodoliteschaos @shrimpy-kitsune @nightghoul381 @xbalayage @lucyw260 @kittygrimm88 @lokis-laugh @judejazza Let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

[schmem14]

20 questions for fic writers!

Thanks for the tag @maesterchill! Read their answers HERE.

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

My stats tell me that I've written 50, but 5 are multi-chapter collections, so... a lot. Yeah.

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

733,820. If you asked me three years ago if I could ever write that much I would've laughed in your face. Isn't growth amazing?

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Harry Potter (though I do read some Good Omens, Carry on Simon and Bagginshield stuff)

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

UGH. I don't want to be honest here, since 2 of the five are Dramione fics I've now listed as ANON because of harassment reasons. I'll give you the NEXT five instead ;) 1. 93 Diagon Alley (Harry x George) They were roommates 2. HP Cocktober 2022 Collection (Multiple) Prompt fest 3. Solace (Harry x George) Unhealthy coping mechanisms (sex) 4. When Malfoy Met Granger... (Draco x Hermione) WHMS remake 5. Mistletoe, or Die F***ing (Harry x Fred x George) Self-explan.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes. I try to, because the BEST part of sharing is connecting with people who enjoy what I've done. Community, ya know?

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Mastermind (Draco x Hermione, Draco x Harry, Draco x Ron, Ron x Harry) The worst UHEA I've ever inflicted on y'all is this Dronarry fest 2023 story. Dark stalker Draco goes off the rails in the end. It's a masterpiece, I'm so proud of it.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

From Sunset to Star Rise (Harry x Ron) Cozy fall vibes, falling in love, little to no angst (Ron has a tiny bit of anxiety, that's all)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Yes. Mainly the bigger ship ones (Dramione, looking at you) If you're wondering WHY I write rare pairs a lot, it's because rare pair fandom is a safe space with AWESOME people. We may be few in number, but WE GO HARD and LOVE HARDER.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

ALL KINDS (though I'm not great a fluffy smut). Check out my HP Kinktober Collection 2023 posting daily RIGHT NOW. It's very kinky and dark.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

The closest I've come to crossover is more like "inspired by a vibe." I wrote a Community (TV Series) inspired paintball fic here: All's Fair in Love & War & Paintball (multiple ships)

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

No, BUT I've had people post me on Goodreads. Read my thoughts on why this is bad fandom etiquette HERE

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I've had many requests, but no one has followed through yet.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

No! But I'm interested in this concept, especially if the co-author is someone I vibe with.

14. What’s your all time favourite ship?

STAWP. It's too hard a question! Lately, I'm obsessed with Dronarry, and any combination of those three. I also think I'm more in love with stories than ships. If it's an amazing story I end it with "OMG this is the BEST EVER" and I say it about a lot of ships.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I'm writing a multichap Drarry fic where Draco is a wandmaker, and it's falling in love fluff. I'm terrified to write them because I feel like I'll get torn to shreds because the Drarry fandom is too amazing for the likes of little old me. I'll just read Drarry and call it good, and MAYBE I'll get the courage to finish someday.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Ideas. I'm chockful of ideas. Also, I read a ton, so I think the more you read, the better you write.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Fluff. I HATE writing fluff. Why is it so hard?

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I don't typically do it because I'm monolingual and don't want to fuck it up. I don't mind when others do it

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter!

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

How to Care for Your Monster Book: A Guide by Rubeus Hagrid  (Hagrid x Monster Book of Monsters) Y'aaaaaallll... I have no regrets about this fic. It's the only fic I've ever written that is perfect, I'll never top it, it's just so funny and weird (like me).

Tagging: @the-francakes @mugsdontlie @swoontodeath @vukovich @mintawasalreadytaken @peachpety @nv-md @lumosatnight and anyone else who wants to

[dansnaturepictures]

12 of my favourite photos to take in December 2023 and month summary

The photos are of; Goldcrest at Lakeside Country Park, Blue Tit at Lakeside, Long-tailed Duck at Hayling Island Oysterbeds, mushrooms in Abbey Gardens, Roe Deer at Lakeside, turkey tail mushrooms at Fishlake Meadows, Silver-sided Sector spider at home, winter heliotrope at Lakeside, view at Winnall Moors, view at Southsea, view at Hayling Island and the stark looking rose bush in the garden with a few fading rose hips and yellow leaves.

December was a charming month packed full of wild wonder for me, a month where I had to do things a bit differently led to a huge focus on local areas and a couple of relatively fresh places for me visited and I saw some amazing wildlife to have a fitting end to an incredible year for me. In my birdwatching a final addition to my highest ever year list to bring my 2023 total a neat 220 came in the form of a bird I have a huge bond with and admiration for, the Black Redstart at Southsea Castle. This came a day after being mesmerised by wonderful views of the Long-tailed Duck and other birds at Hayling Island. Red Kite, Marsh Harrier, Stonechat, Rock Pipit, Nuthatch, Kingfisher, Jay, Mute Swan, Brent Geese, Red-breasted Merganser and Great White Egret were other key birds of my month. On my Lakeside walks the Goosanders continued to give with more fantastic sightings of them and the Common Gull was another welcome frequently seen winter visitor. Cormorant, fine views of Tufted Ducks, the cheery constant of Great Crested Grebes, Goldcrest, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, marvelous Redwings, Song Thrush, Wren, so many smashing moments seeing Long-tailed Tits, Kingfisher and Ring-necked Parakeet have been other key Lakeside sightings to bring me joy this month.

It has naturally quietened down for insects this month but I did manage a butterfly sightings with a probable Peacock seen quickly flying over at Lakeside and a hoverfly there on Christmas Eve. Grey Silverfish as well as frequent sightings of Long-bodied Cellar spider and the Silver-sided Sector spiders were interesting to see at home. It has been a memorable mammal month ending perhaps my greatest year of watching mammals with magical moments connecting with Roe Deers at Lakeside and Winnall Moors and a fair few Grey Squirrels and Brown Rats seen. Likewise with fungi a quieter month but multiple turkey tail sightings and some splendid candlesnuff fungi among others kept the interest up.

In a wet and relatively mild month a notable thing was how almost bizarre it was to notice things with plants a few weeks/months ahead of where they should be, from the verge at Lakeside bursting with winter heliotrope in flower and a violet to the hazel catkins beginning to adorn the landscape and the forsythia hedge out the front having a few flowers. Wild carrot and white deadnettle were two of a few of the summer/all season flowers I enjoyed in flower in places too. It was a great month of observing seed heads from fleabane to hogweed including gripping old man's beard and in an incredible fruit year bits of fruit still going like rose hips, hawthorn berries and holly berries. Mistletoe a key seasonal sight. Finally I enjoyed many breathtaking moments immersing myself in the outdoors at special sites taking in beautiful landscapes, with great sky scenes including the rainbow and the moon key to this month too. Happy New Year all!

[mamamittens]

Connections and Party Favors

This is part 7/12 of December Event 2023 for @spitfire-of-the-sea

Ace X OC(Saki)

(background Thatch X OC(Nikia), thanks for letting me slide them in lol, it gave me the perfect excuse to instigate a meet-cute)

Warnings: Mild social embarrassment via mistletoe incident.

Word Count: 2,179

Saki fussed at her hair while Doctor Marco drove. It was a bit awkward, really. He was the lead researcher on a big project they’d been working on together for over a year. She’d never describe him as overly warm, but he was friendly enough with a cup of coffee in his hand. Shockingly, once he heard she had no holiday plans, he offered an invite to his family Christmas dinner.

“Thatch thrives on the challenge. He’s gotten too used to the same black holes every year. A new face is just what he needs to keep him on his toes.” Marco chuckled over a petri dish. She’d waffled a bit, politely giving him space to take it back if it was offered in reflex. But no dice.

So here she was, dressed nice but not too nice for the family dinner of what was essentially her boss. Red sweater dress with a white cardigan and black ankle boots she’d fussed over just about as long as she had her hair. She’d literally changed her mind about a dozen times before settling on a simple twist braid down her back. Thankfully, Marco was dressed fairly nice in a crisp white button up and black slacks.

So clearly this wasn’t a totally relaxed affair or excessively fancy.

“You look fine, Saki.” Marco murmured gently with a smile as he pulled down an impressively decorated street. Lights strung up in the trees and along eaves in dazzlingly coordinated displays. “Mostly by accident, this neighborhood is mostly my folks. Then again, we’ve got a lot of people doing a lot of different things. This didn’t use to be such a nice place to live…” Marco shrugged as he pulled up on the street near a house with the front door open and people moving in and out, carrying supplies.

“That it?” Saki asked softly. Marco nodded with a quirk of his lips.

“Yep. We’ve got a lot of people that will be coming in and out just for a plate. We wanted a smaller party this year. We did reserve a proper venue for New Years though if they don’t scare you off tonight.” Marco laughed, shutting off the car and getting out. Saki followed quickly, still fairly nervous. Her heels clicking on the sidewalk as they walked up to the house.

The difference between the cold, foggy air outside and the warm, bustling atmosphere inside was stark. Like being wrapped up in a blanket fresh from the dryer. People moved like water around the house, chatting easily and clearly very familiar with everyone else. The interior was clean with many homey, cluttered touches. Bookshelves filled with media and nicknacks alike. Throw pillows tucked into the corners of chairs and the couch. Pictures lining the wall with no real order but each holding a clear emotional touch from faded childhood photos to more recent candid prints. Several of people Saki could see in the house right now, in fact.

Saki hesitated, lingering near the door awkwardly. Uncertain if she should sit down—would that be rude? Or perhaps offer help in the kitchen? She ended up sort of floating deeper into the house, close to the wall. Fretting and trying to refrain from wringing her hands or fiddling with her hair after spending so much time on it earlier. She kept moving over a little more to make room for people, pushing her deeper into the house and closer to the kitchens.

The warm atmosphere of the house, filled with the scent of delicious food still cooking and the chaotic chatter of people made her dizzy.

Suddenly, a gentle hand nudged her away from the doorway and she jolted, an apology already spilling from her lips.

“Oh! I’m s-so sorry!” Saki frantically gasped, eyes wide as she realized it was a woman just a few inches taller than herself. Swimming in a thick orange and cream colored sweater that looked borrowed with blue jeans and boots. The woman’s hand gently pushing further away from the doorway as she smiled a little awkwardly herself. Dark blue curls bouncing around her shoulders with thin teal braids draped down her back.

“You’re fine, hun. There’s just a bit of mischief out an’ about tonight.” She informed her just loud enough to be heard over the other guests, her words lilting and soft in a southern accent. She looked up at the doorway with fond exasperation, Saki’s eyes following to see a sprig of mistletoe taped to the center of the doorway. “Thatch thinks he’s bein’ slick. Thought you’d like a bit of warnin’ before someone get’s drunk enough to shock you… I’m Nikia, by the way.”

Saki laughed, tension easing from her shoulders.

“Saki… isn’t this a family function?” She asked. Nikia rolled her eyes.

“Yeah. It is. But no one here is above embarrassing their folks. And Thatch has been needy lately so I guess he thought the tricks were necessary to get his fix.” Nikia huffed, her pale cheeks a bit rosy as she pushed up her glasses. A man sidled up behind Nikia, grinning with flour on his cheek and reddish hair styled in an impressively put-together pompadour. He loomed over the both of them, but only glanced at Saki.

“You rang, lovely~?” He asked, clearly flirting. Saki noted that the sweater looked more like the man’s size than Nikia’s.

“Not for an interruption, no. Stop spookin ‘er, Thatch. She’s clearly used to Marco and he’s better at pretending to be stable than the rest of ya.” Nikia sassed with a fond smile despite her sharp tone. Thatch pouted, almost seeming to deflate as his arm wound around Nikia so he could rest his chin on her shoulder.

“You really going to shoot me down like that? Under a mistle toe and everything?” Thatch whined and Saki felt more like she should find somewhere else to hide.

She’d been at enough parties next to insufferable couples, thanks.

Nikia clicked her tongue, reaching up to press her hand over his cheek.

“With a face like that?” Nikia responded softly, brushing away the flour gently before kissing the spot she cleaned. “Yes. Get back to work, you’re the one that wanted to fly solo.” She cackled, flicking his nose. Thatch huffed, lingering for a moment to kiss her cheek.

“Fine. You lost dessert privileges though!” Thatch declared.

“The hell I did! I made the fuckin’ dessert, you heathen!” Nikia barked to his retreating back, the two laughing at each other. “I know there’s a lot of em, but just remember they’re all nerds in their own right and you’ll be fine. You get along well enough for Marco to drag you in, after all! Oh, and keep an eye out. I know this here ain’t the only bit ah mistletoe Thatch pulled out.” Nikia laughed with a friendly wink.

Saki smiled, a little less nervous as she tried again to mingle with Marco’s family. She was actually kind of succeeding. Apparently, Marco was very well liked in his family but also respected. Having stepped up many times when their patriarch and father-figure had health issues and could not oversee large family matters. So getting along with and working under Marco gave her early brownie points in their eyes.

She was talking with a man named Haruta who was an unabashed gossip when she leaned against the wall. Or rather, thought she did. She actually missed it by a few inches, her shoulder grazing the doorway as she fell back with a yelp. But rather than bashing her head into the floor, she was caught by warm arms. Strong, firm hands gently lifting her up as Haruta’s face lit up with glee.

“Are you alright, miss?” A smooth voice asked, her head tilting back to look.

“O-Oh! I’m fine! Just misjudged the wa—” Saki’s voice died.

He was pretty. That was her first thought, startled as she was. Tan skin even in the middle of winter and freckles splattered over his sharp features. Eyes like silver but kind under dark strands of loose curls. He wore a plain shirt and likely only because it was a family gathering if the sheer heat he put off was any indication. Still, he smiled down at her, just as flushed as she was.

“I’m glad! Hey, you’re Saki right? Marco said he was bringing a coworker and Thatch said you hadn’t run off yet. It’s nice to meet you! I’m Ace!” Ace grinned. And though Saki was momentarily stunned, her eyes slid away from his bright smile to just past him.

Up in the doorframe was yet another sprig of mistletoe taped to the ceiling.

To her mortification, her immediate thought was to thank Thatch’s persistent desire for chaos—and likely teasing his partner.

“A-Ah… yeah, I’m Saki. There’s uh… above you.” Saki added softly as she righted herself finally to stand properly. Ace had a good handful of inches over her in height and width, his broad shoulders doing her heart no favors. Ace wrinkled his nose in a surprisingly cute gesture before looking up. Freezing in barely restrained, awkward horror. Saki laughed, feeling just about the same as he did.

Oh sure, she wouldn’t mind a cheeky kiss from a handsome man like Ace, but for a first meeting? She certainly wasn’t that bold!

“You can ignore it, you know.” Nikia said suddenly behind them, Saki nearly yelping in shock as she laughed. “Or I could swap with you.” Ace bristled.

“Hell no! Thatch would kick my ass if I tried that!” Ace hissed nervously, suddenly a bit pale. Nikia grinned sharply with plenty of teeth.

“Now, who said I’d kiss you? You fishin’ for something, darlin?” Nikia teased with a wink as Ace flushed, denying it quickly.

“Nope! Don’t you drag me into your shit, either!” Ace protested vehemently. “You’re both instigators, I swear!”

Ace pulled Saki in and—before she could register what he was doing—kissed her.

Now, he probably meant to kiss her cheek.

But that was not what happened.

And Haruta was howling as Ace froze, his lips on hers in a soft press. He smelled faintly of a bonfire, turkey, and cologne. His eyes wide as he realized what had happened, Nikia quick to laugh too as Ace yanked himself back. Saki giggled a little as Ace flailed, trying to apologize.

“Ack!? I-I’m so sorry, I meant to kiss your cheek—the mistletoe—I!” Ace fumbled, face beet red as people nearby laughed at his misfortune.

Although Saki was also a bit embarrassed, she could only laugh as she pulled out her phone and opened her contacts. Handing it to him with a smile.

He looked shocked as he accepted it, seemingly not understanding what she was getting at.

“I wouldn’t mind getting caught with you again… if you don’t mind swapping numbers? We could go for coffee later or… something.” Saki trailed off, aware of how bold of a response that was to a mistake. She could see Thatch lean out of the kitchen, openly eavesdropping with an intensely invested expression. Ace slowly smiling wide in elation.

“Well?! Are you going to keep her in suspense or what?!” Thatch demanded after a moment.

“Yeah, don’t be rude, Ace.” Nikia teased, poking his side as she offered Saki a cup. “Tea. Got to it before someone spiked it with booze.” She murmured as Ace rushed to enter his number. The room erupting in cheers when he handed Saki her phone back.

Saki took a sip of shockingly sweet tea and smiled.

It was more than a little embarrassing, but more than worth it for a kiss and his number.

“So… wanna grab a plate and go outside where there aren’t nosy shits everywhere?!” Ace hissed at the people still watching, including Thatch and Haruta as Nikia had already slipped away. Dragging Thatch back into the kitchen despite his protests.

Saki laughed, putting away her phone and grabbing Ace’s hand.

“I’d love that!” She grinned and Ace pulled her close, guiding her through the crowd and helping her fill her own plate of hot food.

“We’ll be back for dessert.” Ace promised, his own plate piled high with food as he opened the back door onto a large patio.

It was still cold out, the night air lit by dozens and dozens of lights draped across the eaves of the house. But cuddled up next to Ace, Saki felt perfectly warm. The two of them laughing over good food and a promise of something more.

She apologized later to Marco for lowkey ditching him for his brother but he waved her off with an amused expression.

“It was cute. I can’t wait for the pictures to come in so we can all tease Ace about it later.” Marco laughed with a sly glance. “So… you coming to the New Year’s party too?”

“Actually… Ace already invited me.” Saki admitted.

Marco grinned, openly pleased.

“Oh, he’ll never hear the end of it now, yoi~” Marco crowed, Saki laughing along with him.

[girlelle]

Mystery on Mistletoe Lane (Hallmark movie) review

I love a good mystery movie with a well written storyline! This is a Hallmark Movies & Mystery Christmas movie which premiered Dec 2023. Filled with mystery, clues, romance and and obsession with Christmas. Upon taking a new job and moving to a new town, Heidi Wicks (Erica Cerra) and her kids discover a mystery in their new historic home (Mistletoe Manor). A local handyman David (Victor Webster) connects with Heidi and her kids to find his own connection to the historic house as he helps them solve the mystery. The movie is set during the holidays, Christmas time and Heidi's new home reveals a very special story. The house is full of riddles and clues to solve. Lots of hiding places. Who better to solve the mystery than Heidi's kids? They set out to find all the reindeers and riddles to solve the story behind Mistletoe Manor. Along the way, Heidi's kids get help from a special guest to help finish the last few riddles. They're getting so close to cracking this case. hahahaha After a divorce, will Heidi find a new romance? With their new discovery, Heidi believes this is just what the town needs to come together again. If you like finding clues and solving riddles and mysteries, then his movie is for you! And the movie is set during Christmas time. What more can I say - lol Heidi's kids are the real MVPs in this movie. They were not happy about the move, but the mystery of their new home kept them so busy that they forgot about being upset about the move. The sister and brother duo worked well together to unravel all the clues and riddles. One of the best Christmas mystery movies from Hallmark in my opinion. If you want to know what the mystery is and how David is connected to the historic home, you'll have to watch -as I wont reveal any spoilers---this time! I give this movie 4 out 5 stars for a well written storyline. I think the writers could have made the connecting dots a little harder for viewers to solve. However, still a great movie!

[pridepages]

eARC Review: Mistletoe and Mishigas

A HUGE thank you to M.A. Wardell for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:  

Sheldon Soleskin should be having a horrible day. Even though he’s been unexpectedly transferred to a new school right before the holidays, has only one day to set up his new classroom, and just discovered his twin sister's been hiding an invitation to his ex-boyfriend’s Christmas Eve wedding, he’s still ready to take on the world with a smile on his face and a skip in his step. Theo Berenson just wants to be left alone to his custodial duties. But when the chipper new first-grade teacher needs help moving furniture the Sunday after Thanksgiving, he's forced to do something he detests. Help. To make matters worse, Theo's overbearing parents are coming for Hanukah in a few weeks, and he's told them he has a boyfriend. Except he doesn't. Because who would want to date an oaf like Theo? Working together, these opposites discover they might be able to help each other out. Agreeing to be each other’s dates, they become friends as they practice for their upcoming events. But when all the rehearsing starts feeling a little too real, and both men's pasts come roaring back to haunt them, will they be able to pull off the ultimate holiday masquerade?

RELEASE DATE: 10/10/2023

See my full review under the cut!

With apologies to the spooky gays, we're about to get festive!

(Note: in the interest of fairness to readers who don't yet have access, this will be a spoiler-free review without text quotations. I'll post again more fully in October when the book hits shelves!)

Anybody in education knows all about the sophomore slump.

Anybody who's ever written fiction can tell you that the second book is harder than the first.

Anybody who's ever read can tell you that second books frequently miss the mark.

Pop Quiz: How many apply to M.A. Wardell's Mistletoe and Mishigas?

Answer: None of the above!

I've been a Wardell fan since his debut, Teacher of the Year. Without being a direct sequel, Mishigas lives in the same universe. More notably, it brings the same magic.

Wardell has a particular gift: his fiction takes two seemingly incongruous things and blends them together.

On the one hand, the atmosphere of these stories is unfailingly cozy. It's feel-good. Readers feel safe and loved as they follow these characters. There is a sense of security that, no matter how many growing pains the characters must endure, they will end up happy.

On the other hand, these books tackle serious real-life issues. Characters live with trauma, neurodivergence, and simply with human flaws and blindspots. Wardell is able to weave in some of life's painful realities with grace and compassion that leaves readers hopeful--'if they can make it, then I can too!'

It goes without saying that representation matters, and that anyone who lives at the intersection of queer/Jewish/educator will feel a particularly special connection to this book. There's nothing like a holiday tale that speaks directly to the people who don't celebrate Christmas!

But one of the really special things about Mishigas is that you don't need to be any of those things to love it.

You don't even need it to be the holidays.

You just need a heart ready to grow three sizes that day.

(Sorry, I had to do it!)

[nysocboy]

Kurt Ostland: the Disney Channel's Slab grows up and beefs up

Mr. Young (2011-13), on Disney XD, featured Brendan Meyer as a genius who graduates from college at age 15 and, instead of taking a professorship at MIT and working on the string theory of the universe, becomes a high school science teacher.  In standard teencom style, he has a best friend, a crush, and a bully -- all students at the school -- and hilarity ensues.  And a lot of tongue-lolling, jaw-dropping "Girl of My Dreams" heteronormative ideology

But it wasn't totally execrable. There was a gay-subtext bromance between the buddies, and the bully Slab (Kurt Ostlund) only expressed heterosexual interest once.  Plus he had some gender-atypical traits that key in to gay stereotypes.

I've checked the adult careers of the three main male actors, and it looks like Slab is the only one with gay potential.  So let's take a look:

But then he went full-on bear to play gay-vague or "no expression of heterosexual interest" characters, such as a comic book fan who is targeted by a ghost for stealing important issues in an episode of Supernatural (2018).

Soldiers in Project Blue Book (2019) and The Terror (2019).

Strong Boy in 15 episodes of Snowpiercer (2020-2022), about a train that carries the last survivors of humanity after the world becomes a frozen wasteland.  He is brain-addled from his trauma, but eventually recovers, joins the resistance (there's always a resistance), and sacrifices himself to save his friends.

A Christmas romcom, Mistletoe Connection (2023), but Markian Tarasiuk gets the Girl. Kurt plays his gay best friend.

How to Rob a Bank (2024) is a documentary about Scott Scurlock, who robbed 19 banks in Seattle during the 1990s. Kurt plays Mark Biggins, his guilt-ridden accomplice in several of the robberies. I can't tell from the plot synopsis if they were a gay couple, but no girlfriends appear.

Kurt fills his instagram with bodybuilding photos, and has perfected the gay clone look

The full post is on RG Beefcake and Boyfriends