#god I just - I keep re-reading this it's so fucking fantastic you're a great writer *thank you* oh my god

[redvsvblue]

Gift giving: a guide by Lil J

Hey dude! Happy holidays! 

I just wanted to write you a little something to say thanks for helping me with stuff and always hitting back with such enthusiasm whenever I come to you for advice or you know…a grammar lesson.

Feel free to post this or not - I just wanted to say cheers mate and have a great holiday season. 

(TJ’s note: Submitted by @ironicpalmtree!) 

—-

Jeremy’s finishing up the ritual, his hands shaking so badly the chalk begins to crumble while he draws the final curve in the circle. He can’t quite bring himself to pick up the lighter just yet, instead turning to the kitchen bench where a tiny wrapped box sits waiting. God, he can’t help but think; hands reaching out to tentatively touch the box, this is so stupid, why am I even fucking doing this? The box shifts slightly as he taps it and he draws back like it’ll burn him. The little red ribbon tied around seems so cheesy now and Jeremy cringes a little before pushing the thing behind a stack of take-out pamphlets so he won’t have to look at it. “Fuck this.” He says to the empty room, picking a cloth out of the sink to help him wipe away the chalk circle he’d sketched on the tiles. There’s a buzz as his phone vibrates against the laminex bench and Jeremy jerks instantly towards the noise. It’s Michael, with an hours late response to his invitation for a Mario Kart and beers night at his place. Micool: Sorry Lil J. Gav and the girls just want a quiet night in. Maybe after Xmas? :)  Jeremy slides his thumb a little more forcefully than necessary over the lock button and lobs his phone at the couch. He ignores the vague hurt pulsing through his chest as he drops the cloth back in the sink basin and returns to the summoning circle. The cheap plastic of the lighter creaks as he closes his fist around it, hesitating for several moments before lighting the herbs and dropping them in the centre. Barely a second passes before Ryan appears with a snap and a billowing cloud of white smoke - what a theatrical prick. Jeremy backs away from the circle, pressing himself into the corner of the kitchen and tucking his head down so his chin is brushing against the soft cotton of his t-shirt. “Evening…” Ryan drawls, tail already out and swinging absently from side to side. Jeremy finally looks up, bottom lip tucked anxiously between his teeth as he meets Ryan’s smouldering gaze. The bastard’s smirking - as per usual - but he’s giving Jeremy a curious look, head cocked slightly as he takes a few cautious steps closer. Jeremy tries to rid himself of his anxiety with a shake of his head and he pushes himself off the counter so he stands within arms reach of the demon. Ryan reaches out slowly, tracing fingers down Jeremy’s arm until they circle around his wrist and lift his hand up. Lips are pressed reverently to his knuckles. His hand is turned around and a soft, dragging kiss is pressed to the tender flesh of his inner wrist. Ryan’s lips linger there, as if he can feel Jeremy’s blood trying to jump out of the pulse point. “So…” Ryan murmurs, eyes dark as he drops Jeremy’s arm and steps in close enough to share his radiating heat. “What favour do we need today?” Jeremy’s breath catches and his heart - which was starting to slow down thanks to Ryan’s soft tone and tender touches - jumps right back up to max bpm. “Uh.” Jeremy says dumbly, his voice coming out dry and raspy. His eyes flicker briefly towards the box - still buried behind take-out pamphlets - before he wrenches his gaze and away and casts wildly around the room, looking for anything broken. “The- the sink!” He eventually gets out, reaching up to pull at his collar nervously, “It’s…broke. Yup, the sink is broke.” Ryan’s giving him a bemused look now and he’s backed away a few steps to give Jeremy space while he has a minor panic attack. “The sink.” The demon repeats, his voice expressing amused disbelief. Jeremy nods, gesturing towards the chrome basin to clarify his point. “It’s…broke.” The demon shuffles over to the offending kitchen feature, fiddling with the tap and watching in silence as water proceeds to come out with perfect pressure. A quick swipe through the stream and a look of total unsurprise on Ryan’s face tells Jeremy the temperature was also a-okay. Fuck…think Dooley think! Jeremy flounders around as he watches Ryan turn around and fix him with an unimpressed expression. “I meant the bathroom!” He blurts out, gesturing wilding behind himself, “The sink in the bathroom is broken, not this one.” He lets off an embarrassingly high pitched laugh that makes Ryan’s eyebrows rise an inch higher than they already were. “But you said it was the kitchen sink…” The demon says, crowding in on Jeremy once again. “You gesticulated very heavily at this particular area when I asked.” Jeremy swallows heavily, making a weird gulping noise that was more at home on a Warner Brothers cartoon then in his kitchen. “Uh.” He gets out again, eyes flickering accidentally towards the take-out pile. Ryan follows his gaze, stepping curiously forward when he spots that fucking red ribbon peeking out above a stack of grease-stained paper. Before Jeremy can get a word in, the demon has teleported over to the other side of counter and plucked the little box from its hiding place. “What’s this!?” He coos, turning the thing around in his hands and lifting it up to shake it by his ear. Jeremy says nothing, just gapes like an idiot while a feeling of cold dread floods through his stomach. “It’s nothing- nothing, not for you!” He chokes out, hurrying over and snatching the gift out of the demon’s hands. Ryan studies Jeremy for a moment, confused little grin turning predatory when he spots the flush working its way up Jeremy’s neck and the high flags of colour on the young man’s cheeks. “Jeremy…” The demon’s voice has almost dropped into a growl as he saunters over. “Is that for me?” Hell hot hands settle on Jeremy’s hips, before a soft mouth and rough stubble are brushing by the sensitive skin of his neck. “N-no!” Jeremy squeaks, jumping when a hand reaches down to grope at his jeans. “Are you sure Jeremy?” There’s a tongue snaking behind his ear, teeth nipping quickly at his earlobe. Jeremy makes a negative sort of noise, squeezing his eyes shut when Ryan rears up to look him in the face. “Jeremy.” “Uhuh.” “Jeremy. You know, as a lust demon, I can be very…persuasive.” “Mhmm.” The demon dips down to suck at his neck, hands snaking around to grab at the meat of Jeremy’s ass. “Tie you up…” He murmurs into Jeremy’s jaw. A tail comes up to tug at his wrists. “Keep you on edge for hours…” Teeth graze past his adam’s apple. Jeremy whimpers and tries to turn away but a hand snaps up to his nape to keep him in place. “You’d be begging me for release.” A puff of warm breath brushes his by ear. “But darlin’, I can tell you, it’d never come.” Jeremy sighs as the demon pulls away fully, giving him some time to reconsider his answer. He glances shyly up at Ryan, blanching when the demon’s hungry expression only deepens. “I guess…” He looks back down at the box, scuffing his feet awkwardly against the kitchen tiles, “It might be…” Ryan makes a positive noise, urging Jeremy onwards as he begins to falter. “It could be for you.” Jeremy mumbles into his shirt, fingers pressing in so tight he almost crushes the box. The demon makes a happy little noise, shuffling forward and holding his hand out excitedly. “What for?!” He gushes, quickly pulling back when Jeremy finally drops the present into his open palm. “Well…” Jeremy says awkwardly, turning round to look at his pathetic little Christmas tree that’s sitting on the coffee table. “It’s uh. It’s a Christmas present.” Ryan looks up sharply, giving him such an intense look that Jeremy begins hopping uncomfortably from foot to foot. “For me? Really?” Christ, the literal fucking demon is giving him such pure, innocent puppy dog eyes that Jeremy might actually begin to tear up. “It’s really stupid. Just something I saw and I thought of you and it made me laugh and now that I think of it I really shouldn’t have -“ Ryan stops him with a finger to the lips and a small hushing noise. “Just…let me open it will ya?” Jeremy holds in another whine as he watches the demon turn his attention back to the box. He unwraps it delicately; fingernail zipping through the single strip of tape and letting the festive green paper unfold after he pulls off the ribbon. It reveals a simple little cardboard jewellery box - the kind you find at those cheap, teen-focused accessory stores that value pink decor and fluorescent lights. That’s convenient considering that’s exactly where Jeremy got it. Oh god, he thinks, digging his fingernails into the fleshy part of his palm, why the fuck did I do this? I’m such a fucking idiot, Ryan’s gonna think I’m such a piece of shit - The box pops off and Ryan makes the most precious gasping noise when he sees…it. Jeremy closes his eyes. Not wanting to see the mocking look on the demon’s face when he realised how much of a big fucking idiot he is. “Jeremy…” “I know, I know!” He interrupts before Ryan can say anything soul crushing, “It’s stupid, I don’t know why I did it…” “I love it.” Ryan continues, a little giggle escaping as he pulls the necklace out and scrambles to latch it around his neck. Jeremy can’t suppress a giggle of his own when he sees his gift around - again - a literal fucking demon’s neck. A cupcake. Complete with a purple wrapping and peach-orange icing is nestled in the hollow of Ryan’s throat. “I uh saw it and I remembered how much you love my cupcakes. And it’s orange and purple and I just thought…” Jeremy trails off helplessly when Ryan steps in close again, hands sliding gently down his waist and a chin settling down on his head. “I love it.” The demon whispers, squeezing at Jeremy’s hips slightly. “It’s perfect.” “Oh.” Jeremy huffs, warm relief spreading through his chest. “That’s…good.” With a snap and a slight lurch Ryan’s teleported them to the bed; blankets already pulled up and lamps dimmed. Ryan’s tail meanders up his thigh, slipping under his shirt and tracing patterns on his stomach. “I feel bad…” The demon speaks up after a sufficient amount of cuddling. “Why?” Jeremy asks, nestling his head further into Ryan’s chest. His eyes slip close for a second, but they snap open quickly when the tail moves to brush at his fly. “I didn’t get you a present.” The words are purred into Jeremy’s neck and the young man can’t help but shiver. “But I think I’ve already told you how I’ll make it up to you.”