pippamars

[pippamars]

[pippamars]

Pippa didn’t have a problem with letting people, particularly her family, and some of her friends, know she cared. She thought that was important to spread the love and remind people that they were loved because life was too fucking short to not tell someone you loved them (except when you had a crush because who needed that embarrassment in their lives? She certainly did not)

The only problem was that Pippa had a temper, a bad one and she spent a good portion of her days grumpy. It wasn’t intentional, at all, she was just… well, she was just grumpy. Her dad (as in Chef Mars, her dad dad, because daddy was Delia’s dad. Not that it mattered at all) said she got it from his side of the family, which she could believe because her aunt was quite the bitch.

But anyway, Pippa always made sure to try and work on it, because even she didn’t like being so upset all the time. It pushed people away, and Pippa, generally, liked people. Hence her caring spree (and driving all the way across the fucking country just to get her heart stomped on, but even that didn’t stop her). Still, sometimes she had no control over it, so she came off as unapproachable, unless you were Autumn, who did not care one bit for her cranky attitude, and instead let her be grumpy while trying to get her to cheer up, which Pippa appreciated.

Because sometimes you just needed someone who didn’t give two shits that you were upset all the time, and just worked on getting you back to your happy place. And for that, she had Autumn, and she loved that about her.

Come to think of it, she loved a lot of things about Autumn, but more on that never.

And well, she knew Autumn’s reasons for keeping people happy and in good moods stemmed from her home life, and a bunch of other things she really didn’t like to talk about, even when Pippa gently tried to make her, and she always wished it weren’t the case, but at the same time, she was glad she was the way she was, regardless of how she got there.

Pippa’s eyes crossed briefly when Autumn tapped her nose and she shook her head, as if to shake her off, the bells on her antlers ringing slightly. “Not my scene? Do I seem that uncultured to you?” she joked and smiled at her. “I know I don’t have to come, but I want to come,” Pippa said, and shrugged, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

And she really did want to go. She wanted to support Autumn that day, because she had a feeling her shitty excuse for parents wouldn’t care to make it (or Fitz wouldn’t bother telling them in the first place) and she shouldn’t have to rely on only Thomas to be there for her for things. So Pippa was going, and she’d drag Delia with her, and maybe their dads once she stopped being so bitter about them being gone, so they could all show their appreciation. Fitz deserved it.

Pippa grabbed the Mason jar extended to her and smiled. They were actually pretty cute and so very much Autumn. She kind of loved them. “Cheers,” she said, clinking her glass and taking a sip while looking over at her over the rim of the jar. “Okay, first of all, this is delicious. And second, let’s not discuss my family because I will have a flare up of bitterness, and it’s mean that you want to discuss my misery, and it makes you a terrible friend,” she told her, though the smile never left her face. Because Fitz makes her smile so much, and she’s honestly not even that bitter anymore that she’s not with her family on Christmas (okay, she is, because she’s just naturally bitter, but like Autumn made her feel a tiny bit better and holy shit, slow down, Pippa Drew).

“Instead, we can sit here and watch movies over cookies and lasagna, and more of this martini, because holy shit the guys do not know how to make this,” she said, thinking of her coworkers, who were actually pretty epic bartenders, but they didn’t know how to make this, or they were holding out on her. "And you can properly update me on what you've been doing lately, because your annoying, but brilliant facial expressions don't always shine through via text message." Well, that was a load of word vomit, she thought as she took a seat on the couch.

mistletoe — f2f002 [a holiday interlude]

[pippamars]

While she preferred to not acknowledge her whatever for Fitz, she wasn't completely blind. She saw how Autumn looked at her whenever they were together, and she'd be lying if she said it didn't make her wanna kiss her and nail her to a wall right after. She looked at her like she wanted to eat her (ahem), and had for quite some time, looking back. But she wasn't about to admit to noticing (even if by all the times she'd kissed her and then some because of it during their trip she'd ended up, inadvertently, admitting it).

And her looks weren't always lust-filled, or whatever. Sometimes, she looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing in the world and those were the times when things got to be too much for Pippa because there was no way someone should be allowed to look at someone like that. And part of her thought, deep down, that not even Fitz herself realized she was looking at her like that.

So yeah, not blind,  not exactly a secret. Still, she didn't read too much into it because that fell into the acknowledgment category.

"You totally made that shit up, but thanks for the words of comfort," Pippa smiled in gratitude. "I'm sure there's truth to that somewhere," she winked.

She caught sight of Autumn's reddened cheeks, and if her heart skipped a beat then she totally wasn't about to admit to that. God, she was cute. "Can people come to that? Like guests? Or is it like critics and artsy people only?" she asked.

Pippa set Dudley down on his paws so he could run off freely and turned her attention back to Autumn. She made a mental note of her swift subject change and decided to not get her on it until later. "Pipper--Peppermint drink, first," she said rolling her eyes at her own error. "And then lasagna." She followed her into the kitchen then to help serve them both. "And then you can tell me why you're alone on Christmas, aside from the obvious." She quirked a brow expectantly, hoping she looked menacing enough to get her to talk.

mistletoe — f2f002 [a holiday interlude]

[pippamars]

↳ INSTAGRAM: @marsandthepips uploaded a new photo:

look who showed up in fucking canada on christmas. @heytheredelia and @chefmars none of you talk to me. #merryfuckingchristmas

↳ 5 LIKES, 4 COMMENTS: 

view all 2 comments:

@heytheredelia: how was i supposed to know you weren't here?! the point of a surprise is to not spoil the surprise. fly in tomorrow! @chefmars: baby, we had no idea she was coming. @marsandthepips: @heytheredelia  @chefmars i'm not to talking either of you. pass the memo over to daddy, too.

[pippamars]

Pippa had yet to put a label on anything she felt for Fitz. Because, as has already been stated, she felt a bunch of stuff for her that she refused to acknowledge, therefore labeling it would mean she was acknowledging it and she couldn’t exactly do that. Because when you acknowledge things, they have a weird way of not disappearing, ever. So here she was.

See, after New York, when Autumn had been so kind to her while trying to make sure she was okay. Yes, it had led to hooking up a little more than planned, but for Pippa, something in her heart had changed when it came to her.

But for someone trying not to acknowledge her feelings, she sure had a habit of adding fire to the flame. She’d come right into the dragon’s den to find Fitz looking as adorable as ever in her Santa hat with that same flirty smirk that never seemed to leave her lips and annoyed Pippa to no end just because she liked it so much. So yeah, problem there.

She smiled a bit at Autumn’s comment and shook her head. In her own way, Fitz could be so sweet, and Pippa was finding herself swooning a little tiny bit at that. She’d never admit to it, of course, but her heart had done a little dance at her words. “Delia and I are the curviest of our family,” she explained, trying to will away the tiny smile trying to form on her face. “We get that from our birth mom’s side. But daddy’s side… they’re all super fit and health conscious, which I think frustrated him to no end. So he married a chef,” she snorted before continuing. “Our cousins don’t give too much of a shit, but our aunts are kind of unbearable. Our dads tell us not to listen to them, that they’re ridiculous, and it’s true, they are, but sometimes, they strike a nerve.”

“Delia’s more careful in the fitness department, but since I’m always cooking and tasting and just eating, especially around holidays, I just kinda…” she trailed off, motioning to her body. She smiled at Fitz though, and if you asked her later, she’d deny, deny, deny, but she felt a hint of a blush creep to her cheeks. “Obviously I know I’m hot. Hello.” Pippa’s nonchalant always kind of failed her, especially now, as her blush intensified. 

Pippa made a note of how flustered Autumn seemed to get about the art walk flyer in her hands, especially with how quickly she snatched it away. She smiled again, this time bigger at the mention of her getting chosen. “Fitz, that’s kind of awesome,” she told her seriously. “Your work is incredible, you totally deserve this,” she said. "Congratulations." And okay, blame the Christmas mood for making her nice despite her bitterness. This totally had nothing to do with feelings. Nothing at all.

mistletoe — f2f002 [a holiday interlude]

[pippamars]

Since their trip and since New York had stepped all over her heart when she’d driven all the way out there to see him, Pippa had played everything a bit closer to the vest when it came to relationships. Sure, she and Fitz had their thing while driving out there and driving back, but when they were back in Seattle, she’d stuck more to her family, especially with everything she’d learned out there about the world and herself, hence her current attachment-induced bitterness.

But she’d made sure to not forget about Autumn (please, like she could) and everything she’d, knowingly and maybe unknowingly, done for her, and so she’d made sure to at least try and take care of that friendship, even if it was just via text messages (and everything else they’d done since). She cared for her. A lot. Maybe even more than she realized. And there was no way she was about to drop that friendship.

Time wasn’t on their side however, what with Fitz busy in the art world, and Pippa taking more responsibilities at The Mars Bar with her dad with the cooking and now slowly (terribly) learning to tend the bar with Charlie and Ethan after realizing that maybe keeping the Mars family business wouldn’t be as horrible as she thought.

All this meant was that because she was so busy and because she barely saw her, seeing Autumn again was quite the highlight.

“It might as well have destroyed him and the sleigh,” Pippa grumbled bitterly. “I mean, how can my entire family ditch me on Christmas?” she asked as Autumn grabbed the food she’d brought. “Granted, they did offer to take me to Canada, or well, my parents did, but I wasn’t in the mood without Delia.” She stretched her arms over her head a bit, and followed Autumn toward the kitchen. Lowering her arms, she leaned against the entrance way, waiting for her to finish. “And well, she’s the better one at handling our aunts ask me if I’m ‘not a lesbian’ anymore, and why I got ‘fat’.”

And yeah, she was over the whole ‘family not totally okay with the bisexual thing’, but sometimes it did sting, and sometimes she felt stupid because she let it sting, but Delia, darling Delia, always did have her back, especially when it came to this sort of thing. So having to face it alone, especially now that she missed her sister so much and was so emotional about it, she may just end up crying and then end up feeling stupid about that, too.

“My priorities are always in check, thank you very much.” She made a face at her. “And I know I didn’t have to bribe you, but how could I guarantee you wouldn’t punch me for moping all over your apartment? Plus, I made cookie dough and would probably end up eating it all myself, so,” she shrugged. With a hint of a smile, she nudged her back and tilted her head toward her. “I’ll be waiting for your best work.”

Pippa looked around the place and then at Autumn. “Well, that sucks; I love Conga lines,” she said dryly. “I think the fact that you and Studley,” she knelt down to pick up Fitz’s puppy, curling him into her chest. “and alcohol, beautiful, wonderful alcohol, are here is enough for my pity party and pretty much all the company I need.” She scratched behind his ears.

“I thought Thomas would be here with you,” she said, heading over to the couch. “Or that you’d be out with him or something.” Pippa glanced across her coffee table, ready to put her feet up. However before she could, a colorful flyer caught her eye. She quirked a brow and set Dudley down on her lap as she picked it up. “What’s this?” she asked as her eyes scanned the paper.

mistletoe — f2f002 [a holiday interlude]

[pippamars]

Pippa obviously couldn't see herself, but she was more than positive she looked pitiful in her ugly, lonely Christmas sweater and Rudolph antlers (she hadn't even painted her nose red!). But could you blame her? Although, for someone so grumpy, she sure could be sentimental. So, naturally, said grumpiness would make her hold this over Cordelia's head for the next (at least) three months.

Because Christmas was her favorite holiday. Aside from the obvious bonding she and her sister did over the day, she just loved the snow, and the food, and the cheesy movies on TV. She loved that her dads always seemed to be extra in love during the holidays and had no qualms about showing it. It was just a tradition for the Mars family. They did stupid shit like caroling, even if it was just at home, and they decorated together and wore matching pajamas. It was their thing. And now they were all in different places and it just didn't feel like Christmas.

And don't get her wrong, it wasn't like she was 'Miss Celebrate Everything with Family All the Time'. She'd gotten in trouble many a time in the past for skipping out on (or trying to, anyway) other holidays, but this was Christmas for Christ's Sake (Literally for his sake) and it sucked that her family was so far away for it.

Pippa glared at Autumn's commentary as she stepped into the apartment. "Don't remind me; I'm so bitter," she huffed. She glanced around the room, taking in the space that was so inherently Fitz with easels and paintings and brushes and artwork. She'd been to her place a good number of times, but each time she always seemed to spot something new. Today, it was her Charlie Brown themed Christmas tree which was actually pretty cute and she half expected to hear Linus and Lucy start playing in the background.

Dudley caught her attention then with his barking and Pippa (finally) smiled fully. "Hey Studley," she greeted. "I'll say hi in a minute, I promise." 

She looked up at Fitz. "I'm almost shocked you didn't take advantage of that perfect opportunity to make another play on my name." Pippa quirked a brow at her as a hint of a smirk formed on her lips. "But yeah, I'll have one. Where can I put this?" she asked holding up the food items in her hands. "I brought you lasagna and cookies to put up with my moping."

mistletoe — f2f002 [a holiday interlude]

[pippamars]

text message — pip&fitz

AUTUMN: that's for me to know and you to not, sorrrrry.

AUTUMN: and I'm not drunk at all dude come on how much of a lightweight do you think i am?

PIPPA: /fitz/

PIPPA: Well.

[pippamars]

mistletoe — f2f002 [a holiday interlude]

Pippa Mars was absolutely positively miserable this Christmas. And okay, maybe she was being completely overdramatic, but could you blame her? Delia, her one and only twin and favorite person on the planet, had chosen Brazil and her arm candy of the month Eleanor, over spending Christmas with her, something they'd done since they were a speck in their birth mom's uterus. That's a shitton of Christmases. Who breaks a tradition like that?!

And okay, Eleanor was hot. Like, to the point where if she hadn't been doing whatever it was she was doing with (to) her sister, she probably would've bedded her ages ago, so she could see why Delia would prefer to escape to a warm paradise with her, but still. This was Christmas. This was their thing. They even had matching sweaters!

Again, maybe Pippa was being overdramatic and a little bratty, but bottom line was she missed her sister and hated that she had to spend Christmas without her.

On top of it all, her parents had invited her to Vancouver with them to visit their Aunt Alison for Christmas, and while that was all fine and dandy, Pippa wasn't in the mood to hang out with family who'd spend the entire time asking her if she was dating anyone or why her jeans looked tighter since the last time they'd seen one another. She'd told them that she wasn't in the mood for Christmas without Delia and that she'd stay home watching movies the whole time, all of which was probably true. They'd laughed it off and called her grumpy, and with a kiss to her head left her alone for three days of Christmas cheer in Canada.

After an entire day of freedom and moping, Pippa became completely bored with being all alone in her house. There were only so many times she could alternate between her Netflix binge of Gilmore Girls (whatever), rubbing one out, and planning different meals to make and eat herself before it became monotonous. 

And then she got an idea.

She'd been texting Autumn on and off, over the last few days about random shit, and she didn't know why she hadn't gotten the idea to go bother her for Christmas. After their roadtrip adventures, Pippa learned that Autumn was on the short list of people who could stand her grumpy mood and not totally hate her for it.

And while things between them regarding where they stood were kind of confusing (even if they did get handsy every now and again), Pippa thought the idea of a holiday with Autumn sounded kinda nice. (she thought the idea of everything (literally everything) with Autumn sounded kinda nice, but that was another conversation for another day)

So after pulling a batch of Christmas cookies out of the oven (with dough she made herself, thank you very much), and wrapping her freshly made lasagna, she hopped in the shower to wash off the 'bed smell', as her daddy liked to put it, off her body. She changed into loose, boyfriend-fit jeans (because her butt really had gotten a little pudgier lately with all the food she'd been eating/cooking in the last month), and her half of her and Delia's matching Christmas sweater (Thing 2 in the front; with 'if lost, return to Delia' on the back, ONLY THERE WAS NO DELIA TO BE RETURNED TO, she huffed.) Drying her hair hadn't taken too long and she popped a headband with attached antlers on her head before packing up the food and heading out to Autumn's house unannounced.

It had started to snow when she made it outside to catch the bus and she pouted. Delia loved snow on Christmas Eve.

The ride was short and she made it close to Autumn's place in no time. She walked the rest of the way, catching the door just as someone was heading out and wishing them a Merry Christmas on her way in before hurrying up the stairs. As she reached her door and heard the music coming from inside, she was reminded that she was coming by unannounced and that Autumn could've been having a party or that she could've been with someone in there.

Crap.

Well, whatever, she was already here, wasn't she? She knocked three times, heard Dudley bark, and waited.

[pippamars]

text message — pip&fitz

AUTUMN: Google is not the same as real life, haven't you ever learned that? you went to europe, you should know these things. i expected more from you.

AUTUMN: and for the record, that's information that i cannot and will not disclose - every girl is entitled to her secrets, even if those secrets are nothing more than a location of a massive wiener.

AUTUMN: while i AM bae, i have only had TWO tequila shots. SO HA.

PIPPA: touché.

PIPPA: now (that you've so rudely woken me up) I wanna know where you are...

PIPPA: so this is half sober you talking? i'm concerned.

[pippamars]

text message — pip&fitz

AUTUMN: BECAUSE SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO YELL, DUH.

AUTUMN: and whether or not i like penises is so not the point, the point is that there's a giant dick out here and what if this is the last giant dick I ever see in my young life?

AUTUMN: unless I somehow find myself in an elevator with Bieber at some point in time, but whatever.

PIPPA: okay, solid joke.

PIPPA: that's why Google exists, Fitz. you can't experience things just once anymore. But where the hell are you that there's a giant dick there?

PIPPA: and how much bae you had to drink because there's no way you're sober. Although you're always like this so...

PIPPA: have* not bae...

[pippamars]

text message — pip&fitz

AUTUMN: BECAUSE WHEN ELSE AM I GOING TO GET THIS OPPORTUNITY?

AUTUMN: CARPE THAT FUCKING DIEM, PIPPERONI.

PIPPA: you don't even like penises. AND WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING?

[pippamars]

text message — pip&fitz

PIPPA: fitz, it's two in the morning. why are you taking selfies with a giant penis in the background?

[pippamars]

[pippamars]

I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked | Ida Maria

[pippamars]

Pippa knew deep, like way deep, in the back of her mind that she should tread carefully going forward. She had come on this trip with one mission and one mission only (besides all the other little petty reasons) and that was to go to New York, and make sure her New York (could she even call him hers? That was a little stupid) was alive, and well, and know that he hadn’t completely dropped off the face of the earth without telling her. Thinking these thoughts about anyone (mainly Autumn… no, especially Autumn) was out of the question. Because even if she and New York weren’t exclusive, she couldn’t get sidetracked here. Plus, she’d have to spend the whole drive there and probably back with her and she really couldn’t jeopardize that. It’d just be a trainwreck if she did.

Though she probably should’ve paid better attention to everything, and she meant everything, Autumn had going on. The girl was going to make her brain melt if she wasn’t careful. And on top of all that, their current conversation, coupled with Pippa’s curiosity, weren’t helping the situation.

She really needed to snap out of it. Fast.

Her eyes followed Autumn’s lips as she spoke, before shifting them away, and back onto the road in front of her. She licked her lips and exhaled, trying to be as nonchalant as possible. Luckily they’d shifted from the topic about doing the nasty with band members, which did wonders for her concentration, to her car. “Well, I’m sure Daisy will appreciate that you didn’t leave her for a newer and younger model,” she chuckled, glancing back at Dudley as Autumn scratched behind his ears. It was cute how much she loved her dog, and how much the little guy seemed to love her back. “Which means your mixtapes won’t have to go to waste. And phones come with all that fun junk anyway, right?”

But then they were back to talking about Lollapalooza and the girls she’d encountered there. And Pippa had to admit, the idea of getting up close and personal with pretty much famous people was pretty fucking rad you asked her. Plus, she’d already made a mental picture, and it’d just be evil of Autumn not to tell her. And then she did tell her and Pippa had to squeeze her legs shut a little tighter, and her mind had gone a little blank.

Ho-Ly Shit.

“Holy shit.” She could only echo her thoughts because now the image in her mind had morphed and a little corner in the back of her mind was making her wonder how many times she could make Autumn scream, which shouldn’t be on her mind, or about her doing said number on her, which she really truly should not be thinking about at all. This was clearly going well. “Well then.” She bit down a little harder on her lip. It was all she could say without sounding like a complete idiot. She blinked a few times and turned to her. “My props to you.” She breathed a chuckle and turned back to the road. She’d need a minute after that one.

“It’ll be fun! We can over exaggerate and everything.” She gave her a cheesy grin. “Fine, no food carts. Food poisoning will probably put a damper on things anyway. But I’m definitely all for this body weight in pizza plan. And before then, we have to stop at some point halfway so I can cook for you.”

Because she had to. Not just because they were ‘bonding’ right now, but because that was just Pippa’s thing. She liked cooking for people and trying new foods and getting people’s opinion on them. It was all helping her make herself a better chef. (And okay, maybe it was because they were bonding a little bit) “I can make a bunch of stuff to try,” she said, getting a bit excited. “And I mean, I can probably make your favorite food, too, if you want,” she added, trailing off then because she knew if she kept talking she’d end up rambling, and probably boring Autumn to tears.

Pippa laughed a little at her interest in Isabella, and leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes as she thought back to her time in Italy. Isabella had definitely been one of the biggest perks of her trip, so much so that she’d gone out with her at least three times (that she could remember, one night she may’ve been a little more gone than she’d like to admit, and could barely remember a thing, just waking up in her bed the next morning) in the whole time she’d been in the Venice leg of her trip. “Could you really?” And she couldn’t help the tiny smirk on her lips or the slight tug low in her belly. Think good thoughts, Pip. Think about food, and Delia, and not about how Fitz might feel… She was repeating it in her head like a mantra. This wasn’t working out in her favor. “Well, she did say to call next time I went over there, and I think she’d be down for a plus one.”Okay that was totally unintentional. She really hadn’t meant to… crap, there went those mental images again.

road trip; day one. → f2f001

[pippamars]

↳ instagram: new photo from @marsandthepips

Caught her. @fitzsticks