#scrooge x mrs claus

[k-obi]

Single and Ready to Jingle

Sinopsis La chica que ama la Navidad se enamora del Grinch—es un milagro navideño. Lo que empieza como una terrible cita a ciegas se convierte en un trato. La verdad es que probablemente no ayudó que apareciera vestida como un elfo, pero esa es una historia para otra ocasión. Nuestro inció fue, en el mejor de los casos, difícil, por eso es tan frustrante que no puedo dejar de pensar en su sexy…

[httplilyyy]

𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐄 || 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐇 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐌𝐒𝐎𝐍

pairing: leah williamson x reader

request: ‘begging for a fic w leah about kissing under the mistletoe 🙏’

summary: christmas decorating full of domestic fluff and a little mistletoe kiss

warnings: the ‘L-bomb’, fluff, established relationship, a little make-out sesh

word count: 1.6k

a/n: i actually think this is the first fic where i haven't incorporated any swear words in it

woso masterlist it’s the most wonderful time of the year

To say you've been putting it off is an understatement. You dont think someone has said the word ‘no’ in the span of a month as much as you have. But today you finally caved in. Christmas decorating. The bane of your existence.

It wasnt that you were some sort of Scrooge per say. Having to put up the Christmas tree is what made you dread this time of the year. Your girlfriend thought differently though. You were reluctant to give in but you couldn't say no to her for much longer.

It was now the weekend before the first of december and you were currently bringing out all the boxes full of christmas decorations whilst your girlfriend sat on the sofa, watching as you carried each box into the living room.

Leah sat there, a hot chocolate in hand, observing you as you placed each box wherever she pointed to. After going backwards and forwards for god knows how long you finally brought in the last box, placing it down on top of Leah with a chuckle.

“Comfy?” You asked, taking a seat beside her and quickly grabbing the hot chocolate from her hand that was outstretched to avoid the box currently on her lap.

“Hey!” Leah exclaimed, snapping her head towards you before she took the box off her lap and placed it on the floor.

“What?” You grinned, proceeding to take a sip from Leah’s hot chocolate.

“Okay, that’s too far.” Leah feigned annoyance, pointing at you as you smugly had another sip of her drink, an eyebrow raised in a way of saying ‘and what are you going to do about it?’

“You ready to conquer the Christmas decs?” You questioned, handing Leah her hot chocolate back.

“Oh, no, no, no.” Leah chuckled, placing her, now empty cup, on the coffee table in front of her.

“No?” You wondered, looking at her with confusion written all over your face, “so what was the point of me getting all the decorations out?”

“For you to do the decorating.” Leah said.

“Me?” You looked at her like she had grown two heads. “You want me to do it all? What will you be doing?”

“I’ll be helping out.” Leah said a smile tugging at her lips as she got up from the sofa and started to open up certain boxes.

“Helping out my ass.” You muttered sarcastically under your breath as you took one glance at the christmas tree to your right.

“What was that?” Leah turned around, an eyebrow raised in question.

“Nothing,” you said quickly, standing up and shaking your head from side to side, “I love you.”

“Mhm.” Leah hummed, her lips twitching up into a smirk before she turned back around and you felt yourself physically deflate.

“What's first on the list?” You wondered, walking up behind Leah and placing your hands on her hips.

“The Christmas tree.” Leah beamed as she turned around in your arms, practically beaming as you internally, and probably externally, groaned.

“Fine, let's get it over and done with.” You huffed, backing away from Leah to get the christmas tree.

“We should get a real one next year.” Leah suggested as she rummaged around, trying to find the baubles.

“Absolutely not.” You said, shaking your head as you pulled out all the parts for the tree from the box.

“Come on, stop being the grinch and have some festive spirit.”

“Alright, Mrs Claus.” You chuckled as you told Alexa to play a christmas playlist. “Better?”

“A little.” Leah smiled.

After a little bit of contemplating on many things, including your life, you finally decided to get started on the tree. You clicked each piece into place until the tree started to take its form.

It's not as bad as you think and make it out to be. You get the tree done within twenty minutes and with a little swear words thrown in every now and then, it is finally done.

You stepped back, settling your hands on your hips as you looked at the tree, dropping your head to look at your feet with a defeated sigh knowing what was next. Lights, tinsel, and a whole lot of baubles.

You gladly took a step back, letting Leah take over this part and going on to do some other decorating around the house. Once you were finished putting up the odd decorations here and there you walked back into the living room seeing Leah standing on her tip-toes struggling to put the star on the top of the tree.

“Need a hand?” You chuckled, leaning against the door frame with your arms crossed as you watched on in amusement.

“Yes please.” Leah huffed, shoulders slumping in defeat.

You pushed yourself off from the door frame and walked over to your girlfriend, you gently took the ornament from her hand and placed the star at the top of the tree.

“Thank you.” Leah said softly.

“It's what I'm for.” You shrugged with a childish grin.

“Just one more thing.” Leah said, well grimaced.

“What do you need me to do?” You questioned, knowing what Leah was going to say.

“Outside lights.”

“Where are they?” You sighed.

“By the front door.” Leah smiled sheepishly.

“Of course.” You chuckled, shaking your head with a soft smile. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Please don’t kill yourself out there.” Leah joked, placing a kiss to your lips.

“I’ll try not to.” You said, stealing one more quick kiss before making your way to the front door.

Sliding on your coat, you took a hold of the box filled with Christmas lights and walked outside. You went into the garage to find the ladder, which didn't take long as it was leaning against the wall.

Already freezing every bone off your body, you took the lights from the box and propped up the ladder. You climbed the dodgy thing and went along the guttering, placing the lights as you went along.

After it was all done, you stepped down from the ladder for the final time and turned on the lights to see if they were working and, to your relief, they were.

You packed up everything that you used, placing the ladder back in the garage and the unused lights back in the box before you walked back into the house. The warmth soon took over your body leading you to let out a content sigh.

You wandered through the house trying to find your girlfriend however she was nowhere to be seen. You called out to her and she replied for you to meet her in the living room.

You pondered on what was going on seeing as you just looked in the living room and she wasn't there. You sat yourself on the sofa, listening to the christmas music playing on a low volume as you waited for Leah to be finished with whatever she was doing.

“Do you trust me?” Leah said as she came into the living room, standing in front of where you were sitting on the sofa.

“Of course.” You replied softly.

“I’m going to need you to close your eyes.” Leah pleaded.

“Okay.” You did as you were told and closed your eyes.

You felt Leah take a hold of your hands and pull you up from the sofa. She wrapped an arm around your waist whilst you placed one around her shoulders. Leah blindly led you through your house till you came to a stand still.

Leah removed her hand from your waist and moved to stand in front of you once again. The defender stood quietly, taking in each feature on your face. You rocked backwards and forwards on your feet, waiting for what was next.

“You can open your eyes now.” Leah said quietly and so you did.

You stood looking at Leah and nothing else, not really getting the point of what was going on till you were told to look up.

Your gaze was focused on one object which happened to be stuck to the door frame of which you were consequently standing under. You dropped your gaze back to Leah and looked at the defender with a smirk.

“Mistletoe.” You stated quietly, a small smile forming from your face.

Leah nodded, nervously toeing the ground making a small chuckle escape your lips. You gently cupped her cheek and brushed your thumb over her cheekbone.

You lean forward to pepper kisses to her forehead, then to her nose, to her cheek, jaw, all over her face. Then finally your lips brushed against hers. Soft and slow. Drawing a content sigh from Leah.

You moved your hand from Leah’s cheek to bury your fingers in her hair, the other hand sprawled out on the small of Leah’s back, pulling her closer until your chests were pressed together. The defender clutching the bottom of your shirt, feeling as it slowly rides upwards.

Cold hands of your girlfriend sneaked up your shirt, touching the bare skin of your stomach. Her cold fingers in contrast to your warm stomach made you involuntary tense at the sensation.

It was a breath of fresh air to kiss her, an intoxication quickly making waves in your body as you got drunk on the woman you got to call your girlfriend.

You didn’t want to pull away but the need for air got the better of the both of you. Pulling back momentarily, you rested your forehead against Leah’s.

“Maybe you should put one above our bed. You said in a hoarse whisper.

“If you're lucky.” Leah smiled, her fingers drawing patterns on your stomach.

“You should place them all around the house actually.” You suggested, a smile forming on your face as well.

“And keep them up all year ‘round?” Leah teased.

“That's not a bad idea.” You shrugged with a grin.

“I love you.” Leah said, a soft laugh falling from her lips as she gently shook her head before bringing you back into one more kiss.

[zahri-melitor]

The Best of DC #22

This is another reprint edition of a bunch of Christmas Stories, I'll run through them:

A Swinging Christmas Carol - Teen Titans #13 (1996). I have already covered this. No Santa, just A Christmas Carol retelling.

Merry Christmas - Batman #247. Still no Santa. A family gets trapped in the snow and comes across a mysterious house with an old man astronomer inside. They encounter a criminal inside who wants to kill them all. Batman turns up and ends up punching out the criminal (after they all get herded back out into the snow). They're saved by a Bright Star In The Sky (according to the astronomer) as apparently a very convenient supernova goes off and blinds the criminal right as he's trying to shoot them.

Freddy Freeman's X-Mas - Captain Marvel, Jr #46. Only fake Santas. Freddy's moping about Christmas a bit as he wishes people wanted FREDDY not Captain Marvel, Jr for things. Then Mrs Fortheringham invites him down to the orphanage to celebrate with the kids. One sad kid points out they never get any presents, so Freddy goes on a quest to find some, runs into an old villain of his playing Santa, Lightfingers Louie, who agrees when Freddy asks him to come play Santa for the kids, and gets the X-Crooks Club to put in to get presents for all the kids. One of the X-Crooks doesn't want to give money (Hard John), and ends up beating up Louie and stealing the Santa suit and presents. However when he is taken to the orphanage by CMJ he suddenly realises how terrible it would be to deny these children the presents. It is very, VERY Shazam.

A Christmas Peril! - Batman #27. This is another A Christmas Carol retelling (surely they could have spaced these out better). This is far looser and involves an orphan rich young boy named Scranton who is called Young Scrooge for trying to extort people in business (he's cornered the Christmas Tree market using thugs for instance). His uncle turns up dressed as Santa to be his guardian, and Scranton thinks Santa is stupid. Batman and Robin turn up and take Scranton to see the damage his thugs caused (in the traditional 3 visits, and wants to spot fix the issues he sees). Scranton is apparently also getting robbed in turn by his butler. His uncle figures this out and is captured, then Scranton returns and also gets captured...but Batman and Robin save them, and we get the return of the decked out Christmas Batplane. Still no real Santa though.

The Sandman: The Seal Men's War on Santa Claus - Cancelled Comic Cavalcade #2. FINALLY ANOTHER SANTA.

Titus Gotrox, a rich old man, mocks Jed Paulsen when he comes asking for contributions for the Christmas fund and promises a million dollars if Jed can prove Santa is real. Jed then summons the Sandman to help him find Santa.

I'm going to level with you - I do NOT understand this Sandman, but there's a bunch of travelling by magic and witch power.

Sandman and Jed get set on by Santa's Elves who think they are Seal Men, not the Sandman. They're told off by Mrs Claus. The Seal Men have apparently kidnapped Santa! (the Seal Men are in fact seals dressed in people clothes who walk on their back flippers)

Sandman and Jed get captured and end up with Santa. Sandman breaks them out:

Ah yes of course, the hypno-sonic whistle would be useful to widen chimneys, Santa, if you don't want to undergo the Superman Shrinking Exercise Plan.

However they are once again recaptured, to discover why the Seal Men are mad at Santa - they've been getting useless gifts! Sandman and Jed say this must have been a mix-up, some kids in the Sahara Desert 'must have been getting frozen fish' and the king of the Seal Men lets them go. (Why do the seals have a king? Don't ask that question).

Santa then sorts everything out and comes to visit Titus Gotrox and guilts Titus into handing over the 1 million dollar cheque.

Robin's (Very) White Christmas - Batman Family #4. Once again only many fake Santas. Dick's still dating Lori Elton in this one btw.

Millionaire "Father" Bruce Wayne, hey Lori?

Dick will admit he's cold, but he still won't wear pants as Robin.

Anyway in this story Dick's helping out with the Christmas fundraising drive at Hudson Uni in a blizzard, hoping to get on his flight home to Gotham before it's cancelled.

Except oh no! the airport is closed! And Dick doesn't seem that cut up about it as Lori invites him over for Christmas. Except...surprise Bruce, Alfred and Aunt Harriet flew in earlier to surprise Dick when they saw the weather forecast, so both families have Christmas together. (Dick really does not seem thrilled by this state of affairs)

The Man Who Murdered Santa Claus! - Justice League of America #110. Someone murders a department store Santa.

These panels about why Barry, Ray and Ralph can't turn up are hilariously funny to me, as apparently Barry's hanging out in the 30th century for Christmas, Ray Palmer is probably contributing to why he ends up divorced, and Ralph Dibney is just very in love with Sue and on holidays.

Also Hal Jordan slipped on some soap in the shower and knocked himself out, so we get John Stewart instead as Green Lantern. (No seriously. That happened).

Anyway an incredibly dull plot involving a villain called the Key ensues where he snares a member of the JLA in each of his traps, but the Phantom Stranger saves each of them. Then the Key still sets off the bomb of his plan, the JLA evacuate the city neighbourhood, and John Stewart contains the explosion with the Lantern ring. John Stewart also rebuilds all the tenement houses destroyed in the explosion "without roaches, rats, collapsing ceilings and such".

Next up: a whole lot more 80s comics titles I've never heard of.

[lizzaroona]

Goldie, entering the mansion:Hey everybody- where's Scrooge?

The fam:

Mrs. Beakley: Oh... Did we not tell you?

Goldie: Wha- Tell me what?

Huey: He's in the north pole.

Goldie: The north pole? Why?

Della, sipping hot cocoa: He and Santa, they're... You know... 💅

Goldie:

Della:

The fam:

Launchpad: He's Mr. Claus now 😃

[cutiepisenpai]

12 days of Fluffmas Day 4 (Christmas Movies)

Shouta Aizawa x Reader

Warnings: none just fluff

In your comfiest pajamas, candy, popcorn and hot cocoa at the ready. You flip back and forth trying to decide on which movie to watch. It’s not like you haven’t seen them all time and time again.

“Pick a movie.” Shouta grumbles sitting next to you on the couch.

“Then help me pick a movie.”

“It doesn’t matter just put one on.”

This is the start of a staring match you are guaranteed to lose.

“Fine, we can watch The Santa Claus and talk about all the theories.” You say finding the movie and pressing play.

“What is the point of watching the movie is you’re going to talk the entire time.” He sighs.

“We already know what will happen, it's not like we’re going to miss something.”

“Then we can just not watch it.”

“Oh you’re a mean one Mr. Grinch…” You sing to him.

“I am not a Grinch because I don’t want to watch Christmas movies.”

“Bah Humbug Ebenezer Scrooge.”

“Stop it.”

He gives you a glare that puts fear into not only his students but the criminals he catches. But having known each other since your UA days that glare did not faze you in the slightest. You simply smiled at him ignoring the look.

“Ok so people have been talking about how they think Scott Calvin has always been Santa Claus and he kept screwing up and having to start over as Santa again.” You explain.

“What does that even mean?”

Perking up and sitting cross legged you start to explain the theory about the elves and how Scott was a toy maker. You spend the entire movie explaining the different theories. The movie plays in the background mostly unwatched aside from a few pauses and rewinds to show specific parts of the movie. In the end you end up watching all three movies and debate on a few different theories about the movie.

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

Even The Grinch Needs A Sidekick

Summary- 4k Mike (Me from Playing It Cool) x You. You have been busy, and today is no different. A children's Christmas Party at the hospital where you work is taking up all your time. Mike calls in Scott for some culinary help so you can have a relaxing night. Mike also finds a new friend and brings him home. Fluff. I really don’t think there are any warnings, but if you all pick up on something, go ahead and let me know. The lovely divider made by @firefly-graphics​ Happy Holiday Everyone

A/N- This wasn’t what I had planned for this chapter. But you know what, sometimes the story just does what it wants, damned if the writer wants that. I do love it though. 

Previous Chapter- Tonight It’s Scrooge McDuck

You tugged on your scrubs, having pulled out your favorite pair with The Grinch dressed as Santa Claus, Max with his single antler and little Cindy Lou Who with her red Christmas bauble. You hummed while grabbing your bell earrings when Mike came into the bedroom, glancing at you all dressed up for the hospital. “What's the occasion?” He questioned while turning you around and looking you up and down. 

“A group of us are going down into the children's ward to hand out some presents. I know I'm not supposed to wear the decorated scrubs, but it's once a year. Tomorrow I will go back to those boring as fuck ones.” You leaned up to kiss him swiftly before stepping around him. “But I'm going to be late, and I have an order of cookies to pick up on my way to work.” 

Mike followed you out, unlike you, he wasn't in a rush anywhere. It was a few days before Christmas and just as he had promised, he was about halfway done with Brian's script. The detective drama story line spoke to him a bit more than the rom-com scripts he was stuck with last time, and was finding it a hell of a lot easier to spend his day thinking about. 

You were busy packing a bag with some stuff you had picked up for the kids, and Mike grabbed a bagel he wrapped earlier, toasted lightly with cream cheese as well as a to go mug of coffee, you were distracted and listing off your to-dos when he handed them to you. “Don't forget to eat, and I got dinner tonight.” 

“Oh thank you, I know i have been all over the place the past week.” You paused when you saw what he had and took them to set the mug beside your bag, and pack away the bagel while continuing to talk to him. “You know… tonight is Chopped, and I shouldn’t be late tonight.” You bit your lip in a grin and turned to face him. “We might be able to beat our record.” Hinting at a bedroom game you two played, just for the hell of it.

Mike's eyes crinkled in the corner knowing well what you were playing at, reaching out to grab the front of your shirt and ease you forward into his arms, a grin softening his features as he wiggled his brows. “Think we will beat our time tonight. It's been awhile since we’ve messed around.” His hands slid down to cup your ass cheeks through your scrubs, making you arch into him, and you chuckled while easing your arms around his neck and tilting your head to press your lips to his, teasing darts of the tongue dragging against his bottom lip before pulling away, not letting the kiss get to that deep needing way. That has caused you to be late before and you weren’t going to let yourself be late today.

“That will have to wait till tonight Mike.” You wink at him as he groans as if waiting was not in his plan. “See you later tonight, and smile Baby, no being a Grinch just before Christmas.” You shouldered your bag and backed to the door to stay out of his reach, and slipped out the door with a grin. Mike snapped the door open as you were heading down the stairs. 

“Love you to Y/N” He shouted, and you waved back at him before disappearing from sight. Mike closed the door behind him, and pulled out his phone to scroll through his contacts. Hitting Scott’s name, he pressed dial and waited through the rings before a groggy voice answered. 

“What Man, it's 7 am, what in the hell do you already want Mike?” Scott snapped out and Mike grinned hearing his best friend. 

“Good Morning to you to Scott, are you still up for helping me tonight?” Mike asked and Scott groaned out a yes before hanging up. Whistling Mike grabbed a piece of toast and went to his computer to get to work. A text came through a short time later, a grocery list for Mike to pick up. 

Mike was coming back from the store with the ingredients Scott sent him a list of when he heard something shuffling in an alleyway he was passing. His head tilted when he heard the whimper that shifted into a scared woof, and Mike turned partially into the dirty alleyway, a particularly smelly dumpster half blocked it from sight and the light bright street seemed to grow into a darker ominous presence the further he stepped in, listening intently for that noise again. “Hello?” He asked cautiously, and all that filled his mind was somebody stashed behind the disgusting dumpster, and then he would be pulled into questioning by the cops… 

I really gotta stop watching those dramas Y/N liked so much he thought to himself as he peered into the edge of the dumpster to see nothing then dirty black garbage bags that had been torn into. Nothing unusual. But under the dumpster came a whine, rather pathetic, and Mike looked down between his feet to see a black nose with streaked white fur peek out with a loud sniff against his shoe, and a tilt had it grabbing at his shoelaces that were half hanging loose. “Hey!” he exclaimed and backed up to see the nose disappear back under the dumpster.

 “Here boy… or girl, whatever you are.” Mike called while shifting to a kneel while setting his groceries aside and landing carefully on his palms to lean down and peek under the dumpster. At first there was nothing to see, but then a puppy was trying to wriggle its way out the other side, on its belly with its back legs stretched out behind him. 

Mike was quick to bolt around the dumpster to see the puppy almost out from underneath it. Covered in mud and who knows what else, his head much bigger than the rest of his body, Mike was able to nab the puppy on the nape of his neck and pick him up, which he hung there growling and barking, his hind end and tail curled up in the fetal position. “Okay little guy, just hold on. Promise not to bite me and I will quit holding you like this.” Mike folded his arm to cradle under the puppy’s backside, and let him lean against his chest. He weighed practically nothing, it seemed all his matted fur made him appear bigger then he actually was. Once he was supported, he quit squirming and studied the man. All while Mike studied him back, now unsure of what to do with him. 

Big brown eyes started to droop as a wet black nose bopped against Mikes, and that sealed the deal. Sure there apartment didn't allow dogs but Mike couldn't just leave him there. “Guess you're coming home with me. I already know Y/N will be thrilled.” He grabbed his bag of groceries and made his way back to the apartment, sure to rush up the three flights of stairs and try to shift puppy, and groceries into one arm to get his keys. The puppy ended up wriggling in his arm and he set him down between his shoes to dig out his keys from his pants pocket while the wide eyed mutt peeked around his leg and bounded down the hallway, yipping. “No! Boy get back here.” Mike shoved the door open, along with the groceries before he sprinted after the fleeing canine to get him back. Scooping him up, he rushed back towards his door when the neighbor poked her head out. “Mike, what are you doing?” 

“Uh nothing Mrs. Beatrix… Sorry to have bothered you.” He waved one handed over his shoulder while trying to contain the squirming pup in his arms. Once he dipped into the apartment, half tripping over the bag of groceries, Mike slammed the door shut and set the puppy down, who dropped nose to the floor and started weaving back and forth. 

“Listen man… if this is gonna work out, you have to help out.” Mike said, kicking off his tennis shoes and grabbing the bag to bring to the kitchen, right behind him was the pitter patter of nails on linoleum and while he was emptying the bag of stuff for Scott, a pair of paws pressed against the back of his calves. A loud whine issued, and looking over his shoulder, he chuckled. “Hungry, arnt ya kiddo? Okay, lets see if Y/N has any ham left over from the night before.” He turned and searched the fridge, the puppy right there with his head stuck in it as well. 

It was much later when Scott came over, Mike was working on his script as well as keeping an eye on the new house guest when his ears perked to Scott entering the apartment, his arms filled as well with a couple bags that he set down. 

“Uuuh, are you babysitting someone's dog?” Scott asked curiously while his shoes were getting inspected. And Mike snapped his laptop shut to look over the edge of his desk at them. 

“No, I found him wedged under a dumpster. I couldn’t leave him there.” Mike dropped his hand and gave a soft whistle, which the pup gave Scott one last sniff before barreling back to Mike which scooped him up into his lap, scratching behind his ears. 

“What do you think Y/N will say?” Scott dropped his bags onto the counter and started to unpack and add his ingredients with the stuff Mike had picked up earlier. 

“I think she will be secretly thrilled.” Mike ruffled the pups ears and then set him back down on the floor. He moved to a stand and crossed into the kitchen to scrub his hands clean. “She loves dogs and watch her insist we keep him.” 

“Even when your landlord doesn't allow dogs here?” Scott was asking with a slight laugh while peeling open all the spices, and Mike took his time making faces down at the pup while drying his hands. 

“Eh, hes hardly around and we will figure it out. Besides, I would like to get out of this building, nothing ever works. Last week the hot water was out for the hundredth time it seems. This block always loses power first and last to get it back. Time for an upgrade, Brian already has another script for me to work on after this one finishes. If I really work on it, I should be done right after Christmas.” 

Scott grimaced a bit, but kept himself turned away from Mike while listening to him. “You know… a break afterwards might not be a bad thing, You’ve been writing steadily since before October. I know you're on a streak, but you have to come up for air sometime.” 

Mike shrugged at Scott. “Hey, I gotta take the pieces where I can get them right? Money is good and getting my name known will help in the long run. It's nothing I can’t handle. I know I’ve been distant a bit with Y/N, why you are here today, teaching me how to roast a chicken.” 

“I don’t know how you convinced me to do this. What person doesn't know how to cook a meal for their partner? You two have been dating for two years and this is the first time?” He scolded Mike while grabbing vegetables to give a rinse in the sink. The pup had planted himself between the two men, his ears perked while swinging his head back and forth to listen. 

“Take out, out to dinner, breakfast? I don't know, it just hasn’t happened. But tonight my man, with your help, I’m changing that. Y/N has been working hard the last couple weeks, and I know this will make her feel special.” Mike rolled up his sleeves, preparing to help Scott with whatever he needed while winking at their guest. “And who better to help me then you? You and Neil took all those cooking classes together. So what is on the menu tonight?” Mike leaned in to look at a bag, which Scott shooed him out and reached in pulling out the last thing Mike expected, a whole chicken. 

“Roast chicken, garlic baby red potatoes, a nice side salad, and rolls. You really can't get easier than that, and it speaks sophisticated.” Scott informed him while placing the chicken in the sink. 

“Easy? Dude that's a whole damn bird.” Mike scoffed while coming around the counter. “What do you want me to do with it?” 

Scott was already going through the kitchen, grabbing cooking pans and aluminum foil. “Well you can start with unwrapping the chicken and giving it a rinse.” 

Mike gave the chicken a look and took a breath. “No big deal, right pupper?” Mike directed at the puppy, who yipped in excitement and tipped his head back to give a cheeky howl, making both the men laugh at his reaction. 

The crash course into cooking had Mike's head spinning. Scott had him chopping, dicing, sprinkling seasonings, tossing stuff together and when he finally got the pans into the oven, he took a deep breath. “Okay what's next?” Mike was now on his toes, ready for the next project but Scott was busy washing his hands. 

“Now you wait an hour, check it by popping one of the legs near the joint and seeing if the juices run clear. Also let it rest when you take it out for good, or else it will be dry as hell.” Scott informed while drying his hands. “Also you need to get cleaned up. And give the poor dog a bath.” Scott leaned down where the puppy scooted away from Mike and sniffed at his fingers, giving them a lick first and then a playful bite which Scott shook his finger loose from the tiny teeth. Mike watched a moment before checking his phone. 

“Y/N will be home soon, so I will get on that. I bet he's a pretty cute pup under all that dirt.” Mike leaned down to pick him up, and Scott straightened, grabbing his reusable grocery bags and tucked them under his arm. 

“Text me tomorrow to let me know how it came out and we on for Saturday at the bowling alley?” Scott approached the door and Mike followed, turning the pup around to wave his paw at Scott.

“Yes Uncle Scott.” Mike mimicked in a joking high pitched voice, leaving Scott rolling his eyes at his friend. 

“Bite him would ya? You still got those sharp baby teeth.” Scott let himself out and Mike twisted the puppy once more to face him. 

“What an ass huh?” Which rewarded him with a resounding woof in agreement and a nip at the end of his nose. “God damn it, you weren't supposed to listen to him.” Mike grumbled while retreating to the bathroom, knowing the timer would let him know when to check on the chicken. “Okay, what's safe to use on you?” he questioned while setting the pup down in the bathtub and pulled out his phone to google while starting to put warm water in the tub. 

You trudged up the apartment's stairs, a few gift bags hanging off your arm from some of the long time residents at the hospital. You were exhausted and really looking forward to opening up that bottle of wine you’ve been saving and crashing on the couch with Mike. 

Jingling keys from your coat pocket and letting yourself in, the first thing that you noticed was the smell of chicken and potatoes wafting in from the kitchen, making your stomach roll in hunger and your mouth water. Following your nose, you went to drop off your bags when you called out “Mike? Where you at?” You had expected him to be in front of his glowing computer screen, where he usually was when in the middle of writing a script, but not tonight. 

“Will you stop it? I'M IN HERE.” You heard him call from down the hallway, and after you toed off your shoes, you started down to hear something whining and splashing. 

“Mike… what's going on?” You question as you stop at the bathroom doorway to see something you never expected to see. Mike was kneeling next to the tub and hanging off the edge was soggy paws and a soapy puppy giving the most pitiful look up at him while wagging his tail, sending a trail of water and soap spreading all over the room. 

“I said cut that out!” Mike wailed while reaching to catch the tail and squeeze out the excess water from it before letting it go, which just started the sloppy wagging again and a howl now while Mike attempted to rinse him off. “Welcome home Baby.” 

You just melt at the scene, grabbing a towel off the counter and unfolding it while Mike moves to a stand, picking the soaked dripping pup with him and you go to wrap him up in the fluffy towel. “Mike, where did you find this sweet baby?” You croon as you go to gently rub him dry, cupping his face and smiling at him. 

“Well… Under a dumpster a few blocks away.” Mike let you take the pup in your arms as your gently swaying him back and forth, still crooning and nuzzling him while hes giving licks to the tip of your nose. “I couldn't leave him there.” 

“Absolutely not.” You turned to leave the bathroom, leaving Mike to drain and rinse the tub while you brought your new friend out to the living room. Having him still wrapped in a towel, you settled on the couch and started to unwrap him from the towel, seeing his little yawns as he curled up on your scrub clad thighs. “Who would just leave you out there all alone little baby?” 

Mike finished up, taking a quick peek at his chicken, which had turned a deep golden brown, and the scent of sage and butter wafted from the open oven. Pulling it out, he listened to you talking to the puppy while setting it on the counter to let it sit before cutting into it. 

“Wine?” He called out while pulling out your favorite glass, already knowing the answer when you resounded a yes from the other room. Pouring it, he went back in to sit down next to you, handing you the wine and tossing his arm over your shoulder to pull you in closer. Tucking in his side, you hummed softly while softly petting the snoring pup in your lap. 

“We should think about what we're going to do with him.” You sigh a bit, scritching behind his ear while he twisted in your lap and went belly up, your fingers tickling along the pink of his belly. 

Mike considered it, letting his own fingers trail along your shoulder. “Why not keep him? We only have a few months left of our lease. About time we move right? Maybe something bigger.” 

You had never heard Mike talk like this, like in the future setting. He had always been in the moment, by the seat of your pants kind of man, and you were always a bit nervous to even bring up the future with him. You cleared your throat a bit while looking up at him, straightening a bit, which jostled the puppy just a bit and woke him up with a whining yawn, stretching in your lap. “You really want that Mike?” You searched his face and he shrugged, a tinge of pink along the top of his cheeks. 

“Well I wouldn't mention it if I didn't Y/N.” He teased while reaching for the pup who started to wriggle around in your lap, and set him down on the floor before pushing himself to a stand. “Come, I actually made a real dinner and you still gotta tell me about work. Did that intern drive you crazy today?” He efficiently changed the subject, which you let him. Slipping into his hold, you went to help him in the kitchen. Leaning over the counter as he transferred the chicken, you inhaled deeply. 

“You made this Mike?” you asked incredulously with an arched brow, waiting for him to confess that it was an order in and he made it look homemade, but he smirked at you while starting to carve. 

“I will have you know I made this myself.” 

You gave him the look, the one that demanded the ultimate truth. 

“With Scotts help, okay. But I did the work.” Mike plucked a piece of chicken loose and held it to you, which you popped in your mouth, licking at your lip and grinning at how it tasted. Reaching for another piece and plucking a piece to give to the puppy waiting patiently at your foot. “Scott just instructed me on what to do.” 

“His classes are paying off. Maybe he can become our free instructor.” You joked while going around the counter to finish helping Mike get stuff ready and for the first time in a while you two sat at the table instead of crashing in front of the tv with junk food. Soon plates were pushed aside, full from the excellent food and tired after the long day, you went to take a quick shower while Mike cleaned up the kitchen. 

Coming back out dressed in sleep shorts and a tank, you found Mike laying on the couch with the puppy standing on his back legs, front paws on the couch trying to jump up. Mike scooped him up onto the couch with him, whispering to him. “Looks like your staying boy, what are we going to name you? Buster? You almost look like a Buster.” You approached the couch and Mike shifted enough so you could lay down along his side, half wedged on him and between the couch, laying your head on Mike's shoulder. 

“Hmmm, what about Scout?” You wiggle your nose at the puppy, who efficiently ignored both names, proceeding to chew on Mike's shirt, the Christmas lights on the tree being the only glow in the room. You smiled and whispered out. “Hey Max… look at me.” 

Which the brown and white puppy immediately perked up, and Mike shook his head. “Max? Why Max?” 

You grinned while watching Max perk up every time Mike said his name, your giggle muffled against his shirt. “We needed a Christmas dog name.” Then you hummed out Your A Mean One Mr.Grinch. “Max can be your sidekick now Mr.Grinch.” 

Mike gave a laugh, running his fingers along your hips, making you laugh out and trying to pull away. Max growled out, barreling against you and Mike to tug at Mikes hand, and you grasped the pup to set him aside gently so that you two rough housing didn’t end up getting him hurt. 

“Seems like he is more your sidekick Baby.” Mike smirked as he pulled you in closer to him, flushing kisses against your neck and rubbing up and down your back. You settled back in against his chest. “Ready for bed?” He asked, calculating how many hours were left so he could write a bit after you fell asleep. 

“Mmhh, it was such a nice evening, I hate to end it so soon.” You tilted your head up to press your lips to his and Mike pushed up to a sit. 

“We will pick it up tomorrow. Besides, I should probably take the rugrat out to potty, now that it’s dark out.” 

Your arms eased around his neck and you gave him a more passionate loving kiss in thank you, and eased up. “I will see you when you come back up Mike.” Max sat there watching the two of you and you ruffled Max’s ears, then headed to the bedroom. Mike watched you go down the hallway and then looked to see Max had ditched him to go check out the tree, sniffing excitedly when Mike's eyes sprang wide to see him pop a squat. 

“Max! No!” Mike yelled, springing up to catch the pup. 

[internethorrorfan]

My Christmas Playlists

Since 2016 I've made an annual Christmas playlist and posted them online. I thought I'd post them here since I also posted my annual Halloween mixes. Enjoy!

Jingle Jangle Jukebox volume 1: Halloween on Christmas

https://8tracks.com/plan9fromouterspace59/jingle-jangle-jukebox-vol-1-halloween-on-christmas-final-version

Tracklist:

Intro-Silent Night Deadly Night tv spot Happy Fangs-All I Want for Christmas is Halloween Bobby "Boris" Pickett-Monster's Holiday Gary Roadarmel-Here Comes Krampus The Crypt Keeper-12 Days Of Cryptmas Irving Force-X-Massacre PelleK-What's This? (Danny Elfman cover) Spinal Tap-Christmas with the Devil The Coffin Caddies-Halloween on Xmas The Damned-There Ain't No Sanity Clause Alice Cooper/John 5/Billy Sheehan-Santa Claws Is Coming To Town (Eddie Cantor remake) Interlude-Krampus tv spot The White Coffin Terror-Silent Night Deadly Night BaptismOnFire-Jeff the Killer's Carol of the Bells Jerry Goldsmith-Gremlins Theme Christopher Lee-Jingle Hell Zombina and the Skeletones-A Chainsaw for Christmas Type O Negative-Red Water [Christmas Mourning] Rise Against-Making Christmas (Danny Elfman cover) Venom-Black Xmas King Diamond-Christmas Wednesday 13-Buried By Christmas The Krypt-Keeper 5-Christmas From Beyond The Grave Schoolyard Heroes-I Want Your Soul For Christmas Danger Mode-Santa's Slay Ride Len Maxwell-Merry Monster Christmas Shadow-New Year's Evil Outro-Silent Night Deadly Night part 2 trailer

Jingle Jangle Jukebox volume 2: Songs of the Season

https://8tracks.com/plan9fromouterspace59/jingle-jangle-jukebox-vol-2-songs-of-the-season

Tracklist:

Intro-M&M's Holiday Candies 1992 Commercial Halford-Get Into The Spirit by Twisted Sister-Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (Judy Garland cover) Paul Di'Anno-Another Rock and Roll Christmas (Gary Glitter cover) AC/DC-Mistress for Christmas Jaunter-Carol Of The Bells Weird Al Yankovic-The Night Santa Went Crazy The Ravers-(It's Gonna Be a) Punk Rock Christmas The Dickies-Silent Night Keith Richards-Run Rudolph Run (Chuck Berry cover) Cheap Trick-Come On Christma Joan Jett and the Blackhearts-Little Drummer Boy Interlude-TMNT VHS 1990 Christmas Commercial Queen-Thank God It's Christmas Slade-Merry Xmas Everybody Hanoi Rocks-Dead by X-mas Trans-Siberian Orchestra-Wizards In Winter Fight-Christmas Ride 220 Volt-Heavy Christmas The Darkness-Christmas Time [Don't Let The Bells End] August Burns Red-Frosty the Snowman (Gene Autry cover) Dokken-Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Eddie Cantor cover) King Diamond-No Presents For Christmas The Kinks-Father Christmas live version Korn-Kidnap the Sandy Claws (Danny Elfman cover) Ronnie James Dio/Tony Iommi/Simon Wright/Rudy Sarzo-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Outro-Pepsi Nintendo Holiday Game 1989 Commercial

Jingle Jangle Jukebox volume 3: Yuletide Madness

https://8tracks.com/plan9fromouterspace59/jingle-jangle-jukebox-vol-3-yuletide-madness

Tracklist:

Intro-Excerpt from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Queen-A Winter's Tale Billy Squier-Christmas Is The Time To Say "I Love You" The Ornamentals-Goth Christmas Timecop1983-Mistletoe Fantasies Trans-Siberian Orchestra-This Christmas Day Belly of the Steel Beast-Christmas Films Again Paul Di'Anno-White Christmas (Bing Crosby cover) Anti-Nowhere League-Let It Snow (Vaughn Monroe cover) Within Temptation-Gothic Christmas August Burns Red-Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (Gene Autry cover) The Ramones-Merry Christmas [I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight] Stryper-Winter Wonderland (Richard Kimber cover) Santa Claws and the Naughty But Nice Orchestra-Wherever I May Roam (Metallica cover) Interlude-Holiday Mcnuggets Commercial Orion's Reign ft. Minniva-Deck the Halls Helix-Wonderful Christmastime (Paul Mccartney cover) Lacuna Coil-Naughty Christmas Doro ft. Tom Angelripper-Merry Metal Xmas Danny Elfman-Scrooged theme Grave Robber-You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Thurl Ravenscroft cover) Bob Rivers-I Am Santa Claus Lita Ford and Cherie Currie-Rock This Christmas Down Christopher Lee-Darkest Carols, Faithful Sing Love Cinema Vol 6-The Battle on Christmas Dawn A Hero For The World-Christmas Medley Outro-Merry Christmas Intermission ad

Jingle Jangle Jukebox volume 4: It Came From The North Pole

https://8tracks.com/plan9fromouterspace59/jingle-jangle-jukebox-vol-4-it-came-from-the-north-pole

Tracklist: 

Intro-Excerpt from Die Hard (1988) Weird Al Yankovic-Christmas At Ground Zero Lee Montgomery-The Warm Side of the Door The Cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000-Patrick Swayze Christmas John Williams-Home Alone Theme Twisted Sister-The Christmas Song (Nat King Cole cover) Tenacious D/Sum 41-Things I Want Joey Ramone-Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) [Darlene Love cover) Halford-Christmas For Everyone Corey Taylor- X-M@$ August Burns Red-Flurries The Misfits-Island Of Misfit Toys Bart Graft-Yuletide '88 Interlude-Christmas McDonald's Commercial The Reverend Horton Heat-We Three Kings Phaserland-What Does Christmas Mean To You Helix- Christmas Time Is Here Again Gary Hoey- Jingle Bell Rock (Bobby Helms cover) Leo Moracchioli-Last Christmas (Wham! Cover) Oni Logan/Tony Franklin/Craig Goldy/John Tempesta-Deck The Halls Tin Idols-It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Andy Williams Cover) Trans-Siberian Orchestra-Christmas Jam Fear-Another Christmas Beer Orion's Reign ft. Minniva-Joy To The World 45 Grave-The Snow Miser/Heat Miser Song (Dick Shawn/George S. Iving cover) Michael Kamen-Ode To Joy Thor-Gonna Have A Rockin' Christmas Outro-Home Alone (1990) Trailer

Jingle Jangle Jukebox volume 5: A Punk Christmas and a Metal New Year

https://8tracks.com/plan9fromouterspace59/jingle-jangle-jukebox-vol-5-a-punk-christmas-and-a-metal-new-year

Tracklist: 

Intro-Don't Open 'til Christmas Trailer Grave Robber-Scary Christmas To You Rival Skulls-Nightmare Before Christmas Sloppy Seconds-Hooray For Santy Claus (Milton Delugg cover) The Vandals-Oi to the World Bad Religion-Hark! The Herald Angels Sing The Krypt Keeper 5-Punk Rock Christmas El Vez-Feliz Navi-Nada The Yobs-Another Christmas Impact-Punk Christmas The Misfits-You're A Mean One, Mr. Grinch (Thurl Ravenscroft cover) Misfitsmas-Christmas Eve Stiff Little Fingers-White Christmas (Bing Crosby cover) Interlude-Elves trailer Carnage Inc.-Jingle Hell Trans-Siberian Orchestra-The First Snow Psychostick-Red Snow Acid Witch-Black Christmas Rob Halford-Donner and Blitzen August Burns Red-Winter Wilderness Twisted Sister-Oh Come All Ye Faithfull Ice Nine Kills-Merry Axe-Mas Gary Hoey-Carol of the Bells Gods Of Fire-Here Comes Krampus Gwar-Stripper Christmas Summer Weekend Exxperior-Kidnap The Sandy Claws (Danny Elfman cover)   Theocracy-Christmas Medley Girlschool-Auld Lang Syne Outro-New Year's Evil Trailer

[worryinglyinnocent]

Fic: Old Traditions and New

A @rumbellesecretsanta gift for @nerdrumple

Santa: worryinglyinnocent

Prompt: I thought I was alone

Word Count: 6,215

Summary: When his son announces his intentions to spend the holidays with his girlfriend instead of coming home, Lennox Gold thinks that he is destined to spend this Christmas alone. Belle French soon puts paid to that idea.

Rated: G

=====

Old Traditions and New

Belle always knew that the holiday season had properly started by two things. The first was the frost on the tower clock-face in the morning still being there in the evening, showing that the weather had well and truly turned. The second was the appearance of Mr Gold in the library.

That was not to say that Mr Gold was not a regular visitor to the library in his own right. Belle often saw him looking things up in obscure reference books, no doubt seeking out details of the value of or repair methods for some strange new item that had come into his possession at the pawn shop. Nevertheless, at the beginning of December, Mr Gold always came in to borrow one specific book. The Complete Guide to Christmas Baking and Decorating had been checked out by Mr Gold more times than the rest of the library patrons combined, and his borrowing of it was as traditional as Santa Claus and Christmas trees.

When Mr Gold walked into the library on the first Monday of December, Belle knew that the holidays had begun.

“Good morning, Mr Gold! I bet I can guess what you’ve come in for.”

She had surreptitiously sneaked the book off the shelves before she opened the library in anticipation of this very moment. Truth be told, she’d been doing that for the past couple of years now. It seemed sacrilegious to break with such a long-standing tradition and she would have been mortified if Mr Gold had come into the library only for someone to have beaten him to his favourite book. It was unlikely, she’d admit – it was rather an old-fashioned work – but she wasn’t about to take that chance, not when she seemed at times to be the only person in the town with whom Mr Gold actually got along.

He gave a sad smile when he saw her bring the book out from under the issue desk where she had been hiding it, and he shook his head.

“No, not this year, Miss French, although I do thank you for your conscientiousness. We’re having something of a break with tradition this year.”

“Oh.” Belle was slightly taken aback by this. Obviously she knew that some traditions couldn’t last forever, and she knew that Mr Gold’s son was growing up and moving on and was no longer the same little boy that he had been when these traditions had no doubt started.

The thing that perplexed Belle the most, though, was that Mr Gold did not seem to be at all happy about this break with tradition, and she wondered what could have brought on his melancholy mood.

“So, what’s brought about this change?” she asked, hastily stowing the book back under the desk and coming around to speak to him properly. “If you’re looking to try something new, then we have plenty of other books with festive craft ideas.”

Mr Gold shook his head. “No, thank you, Miss French. I don’t think that will be necessary today. You see, Neal’s not coming home for the holidays this year; he’s spending Christmas with his girlfriend and her parents.”

Suddenly, everything fell into place. Christmas had always been a family time for the Golds. Although Belle had not moved to town until after Neal’s mother had left the picture, she knew from gossip that Mrs Gold had left during the holidays, and that was one of the reasons why Mr Gold tended to go overboard when it came to decorations and celebrating, wanting to make up for his mother’s absence.

Now, Neal would not be here for all of their usual traditions.

“No, I was just coming in for the reference section, like usual, Miss French,” Mr Gold said. He shook away the moment of sadness, standing a little straighter and trying to hide his dismay. “I’ve recently come into an exquisite grandfather clock and I really need to find out a little more about the manufacturer.”

Belle just nodded and let him move away into the depths of the library, standing alone in the foyer for a moment before returning to the issue desk and looking at the book she had hidden away for him. She hated to see Mr Gold sad at any time, but especially during the holidays, and she wondered what she could do to help.

X

Sitting in the back room of the pawn shop, Gold sighed as he looked around at the shelves and tables. Despite the room being stuffed to the rafters with things in need of appraising and restoring – some junk, some actually worth hundreds of dollars to the discerning buyer – the place looked spartan in his eyes.

Ever since Neal had been very small, but big enough to understand the concept of Christmas, decorating the house and the shop for the festive season had been one of the highlights of Gold’s year. It was always interesting to see the town’s reactions when they walked into the pawn shop to find it so brightly decorated in honour of the season. His reputation among the residents had always been that of a miserly scrooge, and newcomers were always very confused when, having heard about Mr Gold the Grinch, they saw that he was incredibly enthusiastic about celebrating Christmas.

It wasn’t so much that Gold himself was incredibly enthusiastic about celebrating Christmas. It was more that he enjoyed celebrating with Neal, and he had always gone out of his way to make sure that Neal had the best Christmases that his father could provide. It came back to Neal’s second Christmas, when Milah had walked out. Even though he was still far too young to fully understand what was going on, Neal knew that his mother was no longer there, and Gold had been frantically determined that no matter what, Neal would never grow up associating Christmas, a time for joy and family and togetherness, with the break-up of their family.

Without Neal being there to take part in the traditions, there didn’t seem to be any point to keeping them alive.

Shaking himself out of his melancholy, Gold went over to the corner where the grandfather clock was sitting. His research at the library had told him that it would fetch a good price once he had got its innards cleaned out and working again, and so he sat down to get to work, taking apart the mechanism and polishing up the pendulum in the vain hope that the work would stop him moping about and missing Neal.

He’d always been very close to his son; after all, it had been just the two of them for the majority of Neal’s life, so a deep bond was bound to form. Gold knew that he was going to be lonely when Neal went off to college, but for the first couple of years, at least he’d always known that no matter what else might happen, Neal would be home for Christmas. During his freshman year, Gold had spent hours making the house and shop look extra bright and special, and even Neal, who was used to Gold getting somewhat out of hand when it came to Christmas, had been impressed.

Now though, it was Neal’s last year at college and it was clear that he was moving on with his life. He and Emma had been going steady for over a year now and it made sense that he wanted to spend more time with her. Gold knew that he couldn’t expect Neal to keep coming home for Christmas forever; this was a separation that would come sooner or later, but that didn’t stop him feeling any less bereft at the implications. Their family traditions would soon dwindle away. Whilst it warmed his heart to think that Neal would hopefully soon being making new traditions with a family of his own, Christmas had always been a holiday whereby people felt rather martyred when their own traditions changed, and Gold was no exception.

Still, he supposed that he had better get used to the idea of spending Christmas alone. It wasn’t as if this was going to be a one-off event, more the start of a trend. There was always the hope that once Neal and Emma were established as a couple and had their own family, they might come to him to share Christmas, or he might be invited to spend it with them. He knew that he couldn’t keep Neal to himself forever, and now was as good a time to come to terms with it as any.

Morosely, Gold thought of the unopened bottle of whisky that was waiting for him at home. He’d been saving it for Christmas, but since Christmas wasn’t really going to be happening this year, he might as well break it out now. It would give him something to do whilst he wasn’t decorating the house and the shop. He knew that he shouldn’t be wallowing in self-pity and he knew that Neal would be mad at him if he had known that this was what he intended to do until Twelfth Night, but Neal wasn’t here and wouldn’t be here to judge, so Gold felt justified.

He dragged himself out of his melancholy train of thought when he heard the bell over the shop door jangle. It was late in the afternoon, coming up for closing time. No – he checked the clock – it was already past closing time and he’d been sitting brooding in the back for so long that he had lost track of the hour.

“Mr Gold?”

He was startled back into sharp reality when he heard Miss French’s voice ringing clearly through from the front of the shop, and he stood up so quickly that the chair legs scraped across the floor with an unearthly scream. He had got halfway around the workbench when she peered around the curtain that kept the two rooms separate.

“Oh, hello, Mr Gold. I was locking up the library for the night and I saw that the lights were still on in the shop. You’re not usually here this late and I wanted to make sure that you were all right.”

Gold nodded. “Yes. Yes. I’m all right. Just lost track of the time, that’s all.”

“Oh. Well. That’s all right then.”

There was an awkward silence for a minute, and Miss French shuffled her feet. “I, erm, I guess I had better be going then.”

Gold didn’t reply, because he hadn’t got the first clue what to say. He liked Miss French and very much enjoyed the little conversations they had whenever he went into the library, and he would have been perfectly happy for her to stay in the shop for as long as she liked, but since she had only come on a good Samaritan’s errand, it made no sense to detain her when she had her own life to be attending to.

“I’m sure I’ll see you soon, Miss French,” he said.

She nodded, her manner entirely abstracted, and Gold chanced to look out of the window. A soft dusting of snow was beginning to fall outside. The holiday season had truly begun. With a regretful smile, he remembered just how excited Neal had always been whenever the first snow of the winter had started to come down. Even now that he was grown, Neal still loved the snow. He wondered if it was snowing in Boston.

“The weather’s turning,” he commented as he followed Miss French through to the main shop, intending to leave after her and lock up.

“Yes. Christmas is definitely coming now.” She glanced at him and gave a guilty smile. “Sorry.”

“It’s quite all right. Just because Neal isn’t coming home for Christmas, it doesn’t mean that everyone else has to postpone their own excitement.”

They left the shop, and Gold paused by his car. “Would you allow me to give you a lift home, Miss French?”

“Oh no, that’s really not necessary.”

“Please, I insist. This really isn’t the weather to be walking.”

“It’s all right, Mr Gold. I don’t have to go far.” She indicated the darkened library across the street. “I live in the apartment above the library.”

Of course he knew that. She rented it from him. He’d got so caught up in the spur of the moment that it hadn’t registered. His embarrassment must have shown on his face, for Miss French gave a little giggle and hastily turned away with a cough before she could look at him again.

“Actually, Mr Gold, there is another reason why I came by your shop this evening.” She took a step closer to him, lifting her chin boldly as if she was presenting him with some kind of a challenge, although Gold did not know for the life of him what it could be. “I was wondering, since Neal’s not coming for Christmas this year, would you like to spend the day with me instead?”

“I… Pardon?”

“It’s never nice to spend Christmas on your own,” she continued. “And since you’re not doing anything else, I’d be very happy for you to come and spend Christmas with me.”

Gold wasn’t quite sure why he was panicking. It wasn’t unheard of for people to spend Christmas with each other after all, but for Miss French to be asking him to spend it with her was something unprecedented, and he was beginning to think that he’d actually fallen asleep at the workbench and any minute now, he’d wake up with a crick in his neck to find that this was all a very pleasant dream.

“It’s very kind of you to offer, Miss French, but I would hate to impose. Don’t you have your own plans for the season?”

Belle shook her head with a shrug. “Not really. I usually go over to Granny’s for Christmas dinner with her and Ruby, but they won’t mind if I make other plans. That’s more something that I do because I’ve always done it. I think it’s time for me to make some new Christmas traditions.”

Well, Gold was certainly going to have to start making some new Christmas traditions of his own now that Neal was moving on. In his head, he was mulling over all the possible things that could go wrong with accepting the invitation, all of them boiling down to the fact that Miss French was a very attractive young woman whom he had been very fond of for a long time now, and with Christmas spirits in plentiful flow, he might not be trusted to keep those facts to himself.

All the same, she was looking at him with such earnest expectation, and perhaps a little nervousness and excitement. There was something in her expression that was more than just pity for the lonely old man who had no-one to spend Christmas with because his son had flown the nest and no-one else in the town liked him enough to invite him anywhere.

“Would you truly like me to come?” he asked. He could hardly go when she was just extending the invitation out of sympathy, it would be the cruellest of blows.

Belle nodded emphatically. “Yes. I would love for you to come.”

“In that case, Miss French, I would love to come.”

“Belle.” She smiled, and in that moment it looked she could have illuminated a thousand Christmas trees. “I think that if we’re spending Christmas Day together, we can go onto first name terms.”

“Belle.” He knew her name, of course, but he’d never yet called her by it. Names were powerful, they were indicators of intimacy, and they had to be earned.

Well, Belle had certainly earned his.

“Lennox,” he said softly. “My name is Lennox.”

He didn’t think that it was possible for Belle’s smile to have become any more radiant, but it did.

“Thank you, Lennox.”

There was a pause then, not screamingly awkward but not exactly comfortable either. Their little acquaintance had turned a corner into a proper friendship now, and it was clear that neither of them knew what they ought to say now to mark the occasion.

Eventually Gold gave a little cough.

“Good night, Belle. I’ll see you around.”

“And I’ll certainly see you for Christmas, Lennox. Good night.”

She went up on tiptoe to press a chaste little peck to his cheek before crossing the road to the library again, and for a long time after she had disappeared inside, Gold stayed standing by his car in the gently falling snow, still not quite able to believe what had just happened.

X

It was only once Christmas morning had dawned that Belle began to realise that perhaps inviting Mr Gold – Lennox, his name was Lennox and she couldn’t stop thinking about that name – over for the day was perhaps not quite such a good idea as she had first thought.

It was the first time that Belle had ever hosted Christmas. Granny always made cooking Christmas dinner look so effortless, but that was probably because Belle and Ruby were always a bit worse for wear with mulled wine by the time Granny was cooking, and so they were never paying as much attention as they perhaps should have done and still subconsciously worked on the principle that the food was conjured up by magic somehow.

How Belle wished that she had paid more attention now. She was not the world’s greatest cook at the best of times, but her mother had always assured her that Christmas dinner was one of the easiest meals to prepare. All you had to do was put things in the oven, she had said. There weren’t a lot of complicated recipes and ingredients involved.

Although she had always idolised her mother, Belle was beginning to think that she had lied about Christmas dinner being an easy meal to prepare. She had a turkey in the oven and now she was peeling potatoes, but she had no idea how long she was supposed to cook them for, and the idea of serving Lennox something inedible didn’t really go with what she had said about really wanting him to come over and spend the day with her. People didn’t usually poison guests whom they felt strongly about.

She really did feel strongly about Lennox. In a good way. Saying that she had ulterior motives in inviting him over was probably stretching it a bit, but she did enjoy his company, and she didn’t want to see him sad. It had taken a lot of denial for her to finally admit that her feelings stretched further than simple neighbourly concern and that whilst she really didn’t want him to be lonely, she was also inviting him over because she had a bit of a crush on him.

Looking down at the potatoes, she wondered if life would have been slightly easier if she didn’t have those kinds of feelings towards him. If she wasn’t looking to try and impress him, then things would be different. It wouldn’t matter if the potatoes were underdone or the turkey was overdone, or indeed the other way round, as it was looking like at the moment. She peered into the oven and looked at the turkey critically. If anything, it appeared to be looking even more raw than when it went in, to the point where she checked that she had actually switched the oven on.

Belle threw her hands up in despair, looking at the oven and the mound of still-unpeeled potatoes and then at the door. Lennox was going to be arriving any minute, and he was going to be coming into an unmitigated disaster.

On cue, there was a knock at the door and Belle gave a little groan, resting her head against the fridge. The moment of reckoning was upon her. She checked her reflection in the hall mirror as she went to let in her guest and grimaced on seeing her hair mussed and flyaway where she had been running her hands through it in despair. Her cheeks were also flushed from the heat of the kitchen, and the slightly less than pure thoughts about Lennox that had been running through her mind all morning. She could have looked better, but she definitely could have looked worse as well.

She finger-combed through her hair and gave the apartment a final onceover before opening the door. She hoped she hadn’t gone overboard on the mistletoe. It seemed like the obvious thing to do, and there was a large sprig of it hanging from the light fitting in the middle of the room. Putting some in the doorway would have been a little bit too on the nose, she thought, but you definitely couldn’t miss that large bough. Still, it gave him plenty of space around it to avoid it if he wanted. Belle had to keep reminding herself that there was nothing to be gained from assuming that her feelings were reciprocated. He had seemed very happy to be invited over, but that might just be because he was grateful for any company that he could get in Neal’s absence, not necessarily because she was the specific person who was going to be keeping him company.

“Merry Christmas, Lennox.”

She opened the door wide to let him in and he stamped the snow off his shoes before he came inside, holding out bottle bag and a small, delicately wrapped gift.

“I thought that if I was getting a free meal then the least that I could do would be to provide the wine,” he said. “And this is for you. Merry Christmas, Belle.”

She felt her face redden even further as she took the parcel. “Thank you, but I didn’t get you anything.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

And it didn’t matter; she could tell that from his voice. He just wanted to give her the gift. Belle smiled to herself as she set the bottle on the dining table and began to unfasten the ribbon around the box. The town might say that Lennox Gold was heartless, but Belle thought that she knew better.

Inside the box was a fine gold bracelet chain with a charm in the shape of a rose.

“Oh my… this is truly beautiful, Lennox. You shouldn’t have.”

“It was just something that I found in the shop.” He sounded sheepish, like a bashful schoolboy almost. “I saw it and I thought of you.”

He came over, taking the chain out of the box and unfastening the clasp. “May I?”

Belle nodded mutely, holding out her hand so that he could fasten the bracelet around her wrist. He held her hand up to the light so that she could admire it, and stayed holding on for perhaps a split second too long for natural propriety. They were both looking at each other rather than the jewellery, and Belle wondered if saying something right now would break the spell. Something was hanging in the air between them, and although Belle liked to think that she knew what it was and where it would lead, she didn’t want to presume.

Lennox let go of her hand suddenly, as if sensing the passage of time, and Belle wished that he had kept holding on.

The beeping of the kitchen timer pulled them out of that tense, quiet moment, and she tore herself away from him, rushing into the kitchen to silence the annoying alarm. Unfortunately, now that she was in here, she couldn’t remember what the alarm was supposed to signify. Was it time to baste the turkey, or time to put the potatoes in the oven? She could hardly do that whilst they weren’t peeled, and she gave an exclamation of frustration, wishing that she’d set out a better plan for herself.

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

Lennox had peered around the kitchen doorway and Belle spun on her heel to face him, plastering a bright and false smile on her face. Just a minute ago, she had been incredibly happy, buoyed up on good will and the unexpected gift; now her plans were in danger of falling down around her ears.

“No, no, it’s all right, everything’s under control. You’re a guest, just make yourself at home, nothing I can’t handle.”

He didn’t move, obviously not believing a word of what she was saying, and Belle sighed. Lennox came into the kitchen fully.

“What do you need?” he asked simply.

Belle gave a huff of bitter laughter. “Someone to tell me how to make a proper Christmas dinner,” she muttered, before looking up at him again. “I’m sorry. I invited you over intending for us to have a nice day, and a nice meal, but I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew. Granny always made cooking Christmas dinner look so easy.”

Lennox left the room without another word, and Belle felt her shoulders sag. Admitting that she couldn’t cook probably wasn’t the best of ideas.

A moment later though, he was back, having discarded his jacket somewhere, rolling up his sleeves.

“I’m happy to help,” he said, before repeating: “What do you need?”

Belle gestured at the potatoes. “Potatoes. The turkey’s already in. Oh no, I forgot the chipolatas!” She rushed to the fridge and got out the sausages, and then a light touch on her arm stopped her in her tracks.

“It’ll be all right.” Lennox was smiling, and if he had been anyone else and they had been in any other situation, Belle might have thought that he was making fun of her, but she knew that he wasn’t. He was offering to help her, and she knew that she needed to accept that help.

She nodded. “What do we do next?”

“Heat some oil in a roasting tin for the potatoes.” He went over to the cutting board and picked up the knife, paring the skins off the potatoes with the ease of a master chef who’d been peeling potatoes all his life. “Whilst you’re putting the potato tin in the oven to preheat, baste the turkey to stop it drying out.”

Belle nodded and obeyed his instructions, then set about helping him to prepare the rest of the vegetables.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “When I invited you to come over, I bet you didn’t think that you’d be cooking your own Christmas dinner. It was supposed to be a nice break from tradition for you.”

“It’s still a new tradition,” Lennox said. “I don’t normally cook Christmas dinner above the library. Besides, I like cooking, especially at Christmas time. It’s hardly a chore.” He paused. “Perhaps next year…”

He didn’t finish the sentence, looking away with an embarrassed cough and focussing an inordinate amount of attention onto the potatoes. Belle supplied the rest of the thought in her mind.

Perhaps next year you could cook for me in your salmon pink house…

She gave a secret little smile at the thought, but she kept it to herself, and they continued to work next to each other in companionable silence for the next few minutes until everything was prepared. Even though what they had been doing was comparatively simple cookery, it was still much less nerve-wracking not having to do everything by herself. Lennox poured them both some wine whilst they were waiting for the meal to finish cooking, and she held up her glass.

“A festive toast,” she said. “What shall we toast to?”

Lennox smiled, chinking his glass to hers. “To having company for the holidays.”

“Hear hear.”

This time, when the timer bleeped, Belle knew what it was for, and she looked at Lennox with a giddy grin. The fact that they’d cooked it together made it seem more special somehow. She had been worried that the day would be awkward, that perhaps they did not know each other well enough for her to have made this overture. Now, she knew that she had done the right thing, and without any conscious effort on either of their parts, they were truly comfortable around each other.

Even if nothing else came of the day, she knew that she could be assured of friendship, and she hoped that Lennox was feeling the same way.

X

The food had been excellent; the fact that he had helped to prepare it did not diminish the fact that it was a meal that he had been invited to, that someone had wanted to share with him. It was infinitely better than whatever he would have cooked for himself at home would have been. In fact, helping with the cooking had been good, giving him something to occupy his mind and hands with that was not just thinking about Belle and her possible reasons for inviting him today.

He had not anticipated having a Christmas dinner at all until Belle had extended her offer; it was far too much hassle just for one person. Truth be told, ever since Neal had left for college, Gold had not been the best at cooking for himself. He had not lied to Belle when he said that he enjoyed cooking; but it was more that he enjoyed cooking for other people. There never seemed to be much point in just cooking for himself.

“Thank you for a wonderful dinner,” he said, once they had cleared the dessert plates and were sitting on Belle’s overstuffed sofa, finishing the bottle of wine.

“Thank you for cooking it.” Belle giggled and chinked her glass against his.

“And, erm, thank you for inviting me today. I thought I was alone this Christmas.”

Belle shook her head. “You’ll never have to be alone at Christmas if you don’t want to be. You never have to be alone at any time of year, really.”

The tension that had been there before, when he had given her the bracelet earlier, had returned. It had been nicely absent whilst they had been cooking and eating, as there had been something else to focus on, but now there was only each other. The rest of the world seemed to fall away in that moment, reducing everything to just the two of them sitting on the sofa.

Gold glanced up, looking at the mistletoe hanging above him. He had noticed it when he had first entered the apartment, and he had been thinking about it ever since, wondering at its significance and hoping that he might have the chance to catch Belle under it and steal a peck on her cheek. They were sitting right under it, and Belle must have known that when she’d put it up there in the first place.

He looked over at her to see her pink tongue dart out and run over her lips. She was watching him carefully, her eyes never leaving his, and he chanced to lean in a little closer.

“It is tradition, after all,” he murmured. Belle nodded vigorously, and before Gold could do anything to protest, their mouths had met in a passionate kiss, hands carding into hair and eyes closing. Not that he would have wanted to protest even if he could. It was all happening very quickly, but he would have been lying if he had said he had not been entertaining thoughts of kissing Belle under the mistletoe for a long time.

After what seemed like a lifetime but could only have been a minute, he broke away, and Belle looked up at him through her lashes, bottom lip worrying between her teeth.

“Well, this is one new tradition that I certainly wouldn’t mind having a little more of,” she whispered. Gold nodded his agreement.

“Neither would I.”

Their second kiss was not as frantic as their first. The first time had been sudden, both of them biting the bullet and going for it, not entirely sure that either of their feelings were reciprocated but saying screw it, it’s Christmas, and taking that chance on the festive season. This time, both assured that they were on the same page, they could take their time and truly enjoy the moment. Belle scrambled closer on the sofa, linking her arms around Gold’s neck, and he wrapped his own around her middle, pulling her in against his chest. He had never been gladder to have taken a chance on an invitation.

Before he could kiss her again, however, the moment was interrupted with absolutely impeccable timing by Skype’s annoying ringtone blasting out of his phone, making both of them jump and Gold scrabble around in his pocket to find the offending item.

It was Neal calling.

“Do you mind?” he asked Belle. She shook her head.

“No, you should take it.”

He answered the call and Neal and Emma’s faces filled the screen, squashed in together and waving.

“Hi Dad!”

“Hi Mr G!”

“Hello you two. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you too, Dad.” Neal paused, his brow furrowing. “Where are you? It doesn’t look like you’re at home.”

“Ah, no. I’m actually in Belle’s – Miss French’s – apartment.” He turned the phone so that Neal could see Belle on the sofa beside him, and she waved cheerfully before hiding her face in her hands in embarrassment as he turned the camera away from her. “She invited me over for Christmas dinner.”

He decided not to mention the mistletoe and kissing just yet. Neal was obviously incredibly surprised to find that his father was in company on Christmas day and it wouldn’t do to give the poor boy a heart attack.

“Ok. Well, good for you. We were just calling to see how you were, you know.”

Gold felt a little pang of guilt for not informing Neal of his plans; he had rung expecting to find his father alone, but as it was, he was out on the town having a very good time. He wondered if Neal was put out to find him so seemingly unaffected by his absence.

“Well, we also wanted to get away from my parents trying to rope us into playing Christmas Trivial Pursuit,” Emma added. “I mean, I love them, don’t get me wrong, but they do tend to go a bit overboard at Christmas. It’s their favourite holiday.”

Gold laughed; he had never met Emma’s parents personally but he had heard enough about them to know that she wasn’t exaggerating.

“I guess we should leave you in peace, Dad,” Neal said.

“It’s all right. I should have told you that I had made plans; I hate to think that you were worried about me.”

“Well, I was a little. It’s our first Christmas apart, after all, and I know how much you love your traditions. But I’m very happy that you’ve found someone new to spend Christmas with, just like I have. Who knows? Maybe this time next year all four of us will be at home in Storybrooke.”

“Neal!” Gold exclaimed. Neal gave him a knowing look; if he hadn’t already figured out that his father was embarking on something more than friendship with Belle, then Gold knew that his reaction would have been a dead giveaway.

He glanced over at Belle. Whilst he had been enjoying their kisses so far, they had only been romantically involved to ten minutes, and planning future Christmases was getting very ahead of time.

Belle just shrugged, and the smile she gave him was almost smouldering.

“I wouldn’t be averse to that,” she admitted.

Gold felt his stomach tie itself in knots. He wouldn’t be averse to it either, but it was still far too soon to be admitting such things.

On the other end of the phone in Boston, Neal was just killing himself laughing, and Gold scowled.

“Don’t think that I can’t be mad at you just because you’re in a different state,” he muttered.

“Oh, come on, Dad, I was just teasing. By the time that I get back there, you’ll have forgotten all about this conversation.” He paused. “Honestly though, I’m really happy for you. I think it’s time that we all started with some new traditions.”

Gold nodded. “Yes. Perhaps it is time to move on and ring in the new.”

They continued to talk for another minute, just exchanging pleasantries, and then they said their goodbyes. Gold hastily stuffed his phone back in his pocket.

“I do apologise for that interruption.”

Belle just shuffled closer to him on the sofa, burrowing herself in against his side and draping his arm around her. “That’s all right. I think it’s nice that he was thinking about you even though he wasn’t here, and that he wanted to make sure that you were all right. It shows that your traditions mean a lot to him too, even though you are both going through a process of change. You’re both right, though. Bringing in new traditions isn’t a bad thing.”

Gold leaned in to press a kiss to her glossy brown curls, piled up on top her head to keep them out of the way whilst she had been cooking.

“I think that this tradition is one that we can continue next year,” he said.

Belle smiled. “I’m very glad to hear it.” 

[djsaxby16]

Kalex prompt challenge

This is for a prompt challenge I’ve made with @of-suns-and-guns. They have to make an angsty one shot based on a happy sounding prompt, and I have to make a happy one shot based off an angsty sounding prompt. So here we go. (And yes, this is romantic Kalex, if you don’t like it, the door is over there)

Prompt: “her name on a gravestone”

“And then, she saw on the gravestone, her own name” said Kara in a low creepy voice “Elizabeth Scrooge” she said raising her voice slightly to spook the two children sitting on the bed with her. Alex only watched from the doorframe as her wife told the story to their children. She continued on until she reached the ending. “And so, as Tiny Tim said, God bless us all, every one.”

“Tell it again Mommy!” her daughter Laura begged.

“Yea come on!” her son Jeremy shouted in agreeance.

“Well I guess I could, but if you don’t get to bed, Santa might miss our house. You don’t want that, do you?” The twins shared a look and Jeremy blasted off to his room while Laura quickly got under the covers. Kara laughed to herself, “That’s what I thought.” She leaned over and placed a kiss on her daughter’s forehead. “Goodnight sweetheart.”

“Goodnight Mommy.” She replied sleepily. Kara made her way across the hall to her son’s room and also placed a kiss on his forehead. Though he was already asleep, until she closed the door that was.

“Put away the comic and go to sleep.” Kara said through the door, not even bothering to use her x-ray vision.

“Fine” Jeremy replied sullenly. Kara turned to look at Alex who had just kissed their daughter goodnight as well.

“He’s about as hardheaded as you are.” Kara said to her wife.

“Well at least he’s got my good looks.” Alex replied. Kara snickered.

“Oh yes indeed.” Kara pulled Alex in slightly by her waist and pecked her lips. “Has Santa arrived yet?”

“He has, he also appreciates the story. It distracted them long enough to let him put the presents under the tree.”

“Did he enjoy the milk and cookies too?” Kara asked suspiciously.

“Oh don’t worry, he left those for Mrs. Claus to take care of.” Kara grinned.

“Much appreciated.” Alex didn’t even get a chance to respond before Kara wooshed downstairs. After kissing her son goodnight, and also telling him to put his comic away, she made her way to the living room where Kara was finishing off the glass of milk.

“Wow, you actually left crumbs this time.” Alex said looking at the plate.

“Ha ha.” Kara replied sarcastically.

“You do know that you’re gonna have to tell them that Scrooge is a man and not a woman at some point, right?”

“Hey I wanted to tell a Christmas story with a female lead. Do you know of any?”

“The Nutcraker.” Alex replied nonchalantly. Kara tired to find an argument, but failed and sighed in defeat.

“I’ll tell them next year.” Kara wrapped her arms around her wife’s waist and pulled her in to where their faces were about an inch away from each other. “So, did Santa bring us any gifts this year?”

“Well, there is a very expensive bottle of champagne currently waiting for us in our bedroom.” Alex replied in seductive tone.

“Oh is that all?” Kara replied meekly. That’s when Alex whispered in her ear.

“And maybe the red lace nightgown you’ve been dying to see me in.” Kara gasped in mock shock.

“Mrs. Danvers, are you trying to seduce me?”

“Is it working?” Alex didn’t even bother to hide her sly smile. Kara could only grin.

“You know, I can’t help but notice you have failed to see where we are standing.” Kara replied, Alex coked her eyebrow in confusion as Kara looked up. Alex followed suit and noticed the mistletoe hanging above them.

“That wasn’t there earlier.” She looked at Kara who was just biting her lip. “Did you put that up there when I was upstairs?”

“Maybe.” Kara replied with pouting lips. Alex could only chuckle.

“Dork.” Kara grinned.

“You love me.” She replied with confidence. Alex smiled and pulled at her collar. She then pressed her lips to hers.

“Yes I do.” She said after breaking the kiss momentarily. She then went right back to kissing her. It was Kara who broke this time to stare at her wife lovingly.

“Merry Christmas Alex.”

“Merry Christmas Kara.”

[lets-talk-cartoons]

Rugrats -- The Santa Experience

On the first day of Christmas, lets-talk-cartoons gave to me, the first recap with a Rugrats party! 

Ho ho ho dearest followers! It’s December 1st, and you all know what that means -- time to get our Christmas on! I freaking love Christmas. I’m one of those assholes that gets out the decorations as soon as the Thanksgiving food is put away. Christmas is awesome! And one of the best things about Christmas, as Angelica pointed out during the Chanukkah episode, is the Christmas specials! Yes, across all channels and all cartoons, most have some kind of special dedicated to Christmas and winter holidays. Yes, yes, yes. YES! CHRISTMAS! Ahem. This month, I’m going to give you recaps, lists, pictures.. everything our animation loving hearts desire. 

So, for our first Christmas recap, I give you... Rugrats: The Santa Experience. 

We start off with a kick-ass new remixed Christmas theme, which is awesome and puts you right in the mood. The Rugrats and their parents are at the mall visiting Santa Claus. Chuckie is scared of Santa because he watches you all the time, and I gotta say, I’m with ya, kid. I was kind of scared of Santa too. Also that Elf on the Shelf. Who thought that was a good idea and totally not traumatizing? However, Chuckie is supposed to be a year older than all of them, so shouldn’t he have been through this rodeo before and realized that Santa brings you presents? 

Of course Angelica is the first to sit on Santa’s lap, and for Christmas she wants:  -A luxurious hair Cynthia doll  -A Teenage Fusion Nuclear Squad video game -A Mr. X Exploding Smash-Up Doll  -A Beverly Hills Cynthia lunch box  -A pony  -A 911 Emergency surgical kit with working stethoscope  -Deluxe Cynthia Beach house with real working hot tub, satellite dish, entertainment center, and an attached garage.  Santa says that’s a lot to ask for, but like, is it? Angelica only asked for seven things, and five of them are pretty attainable. I feel like a lot of kids would probably cry if they only got seven things for Christmas -- you always see the new generation of kids get like five billion things, so I think Angelica’s actually being pretty reasonable here (except for the pony part). 

Angelica wonders why Santa doesn’t know all this already, and yanks off his beard, running through the mall screaming that he’s a fake. That’s why at my mall they only hire Santas with real white beards so kids can’t pull that trick anymore. Take that, kids! 

The manager of the department store apparently wanted to apologize for “traumatizing” Angelica and gave her a full box of free toys. Oh Lord, I feel bad for that manager. Angelica doesn’t give a rat’s ass that the mall Santa was fake, but Drew is concerned she’s traumatized forever. 

Back at the house the parents are discussing how to not traumatize their kids on Christmas. Chaz mentions that his Christmases were disappointing because he only got a rubber glove and a tongue depressor, and hopes it won’t be the same for Chuckie. That makes no sense Chaz, you are the one in control of Chuckie’s Christmas, so obviously it won’t be bad. Also, your parents were ret-conned in the later seasons to be super nice so I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. 

Betty gets the idea of renting a cabin in the mountains so they can all have Christmas together and do it right. That actually sounds quite nice to me. Look how excited Chaz and Drew are. 

Phil doesn’t know what to get Lil for Christmas, and Angelica discovers capitalism (as well as a Gift of the Magi reference) as she just so happens to have crayons for Lil’s favorite coloring book, which Phil trades his favorite Reptar toy for, because he loves his sister. Aw.  Didi can’t seem to book a cabin in the area she wants (probably because it’s a few days before Christmas, dummy -- that’s like the people coming into my work ON THANKSGIVING asking if we had any turkeys. Plan ahead, people!) Both Drew and Chaz are still whining about how their kids’ Christmas is ruined even though neither kid actually cares that much, but Chaz gets the idea of dressing as Santa and surprising the kids by coming down the chimney. 

I feel like this is an episode of Good Idea, Bad Idea from Animaniacs. Dressing as Santa? Good idea. Coming down the chimney? Bad idea. This is how people suffocate and die, Chaz. Just use the damn door. Drew puts the kibosh on that idea anyway because he doesn’t see Chaz as a Santa and wants to hire a professional. Dude. Your kid is not that traumatized, just let Chaz do it! Also, apparently Chaz, Drew and Stu all went to school together, because Chaz reminds Drew of their fourth grade play, where he was the ‘lead’ in the Wind and the Willows. (He was the Willow). 

Back to the Gift of the Magi reference, Lil is trying to figure out what to get Phil for Christmas, and trades her coloring book for the Reptar space helmet Angelica has. I think Lil got the better deal though, because she can still use the crayons to color on paper, but without his Reptar doll, Phil can’t really do anything with the Reptar space helmet. Also the way Angelica delivers her line, “I’m BAD, Cynthia! REAL BAD!” is hysterical. 

Grandpa Lou gathers them all round to tell them about Santa, and tells them that he knows if kids are bad and won’t give them their presents if he knows they did bad things. That freaks out Angelica, but honestly, she should know this already, being three she should have had three Christmases by now. It’s still on her mind when she goes to sleep, and has a nightmare about just getting coal because of the trick she pulled on Phil and Lil. She has a little Scrooge moment when she asks her dad if it’s Christmas yet, and decides she has to reverse the wrong she did if she wants presents. 

They all ride up to the cabin, and -- holy shit, THAT is the cabin they rented? That thing is gorgeous! How much did that cost them?! Just a few days before Christmas too??? That is not a cabin, that’s like... a ski lodge or something. 

Angelica pulls Phil and Lil aside to talk to them, but before she can, they’re whisked away to cut down their first Christmas tree. Meanwhile, Tommy and Chuckie hatch a plan to catch Santa to see if he’s nice or bad. I love how when they check the chimney they’re like, ‘Eh, nobody in their right mind would try to come down here.’ 

Didi and Betty take Angelica and the twins to get the tree, and it turns out Didi is extremely picky about trees. Wait a minute, Didi, aren’t you Jewish? I mean I suppose since she’s with Stu and he celebrates Chanukkah with her she can celebrate Christmas with him. She has a little freakout because she finds the perfect tree but then doesn’t want Betty to chop it down. ....Um... aaaalright there Didi. Why don’t you go drink some spiked eggnog and calm down a bit there. 

Angelica takes the chance to talk to the twins about presents and apparently is a little confused about the lore, confusing it with Thanksgiving and saying they give presents because the first pilgrims did. She also has a hilarious line about Santa slapping the Easter bunny with a lawsuit. 

Since Didi picked a weird hill to die on with that tree, the parents get a fake tree instead. Why didn’t you do that in the first place? They all get together to decorate it, and I’m happy to see they have a popcorn wreath on it which in my opinion is the best of the tree decorations ever. 

They have a nice dinner which looks freakin’ awesome, but they notice the babies are getting tired and decide to put them all to bed, upsetting Angelica because she still won’t have a chance to talk to Phil and Lil and fix her “trick.” Also it sure was lucky they just happened to get a cabin with two cribs in it. 

Tommy and Chuckie immediately fail at waiting up to see Santa. That’s pretty much what happens to me when I try to stay up all night too. Meanwhile, Chaz sneaks away from the parents caroling and dons his Santa costume. At the same time, Drew calls a place called “The Santa Experience” to ensure the professional Santa is still coming. Why did they wait til the kids were asleep for this? I’m sure The Santa Experience could have sent someone before dinner. 

Chaz climbs down the chimney and Tommy locks him in the fireplace, and his struggles freak out the kids. Stu lets him out and he reveals to Chuckie it was just his dad the whole time. Angelica thinks there’s no Santa and therefore is saved, but at that moment the professional Santa decides to show up. AT THE DOOR. See, Chaz, you don’t have to come down the damn chimney, the professional Santas know what they’re doing. 

He has presents for all the kids, and Angelica gets the Cynthia house she wanted, not a lump of coal. Phil and Lil get the presents they got for each other, and are touched they gave away special things to get the presents in the first place. Luckily Angelica is feeling the holiday spirit and gives them the Reptar doll and coloring book back. 

Drew gets a call from The Santa Experience to say he can’t make it, and they have the classic thing of, “If that wasn’t the Santa I hired... then... who was that?!”  It’s sweet on TV, but if it happened in real life I’d be calling the cops. 

Angelica plays with her new house, and opens the garage to see if there’s a car inside. There’s not, but there is something. Just the teeniest, tiniest lump of coal. 

And that was the legit Santa Experience. 

THOUGHTS: This episode is great from beginning to end. The animation looks really great throughout, and you can tell the animators put their best foot forward and really worked hard on this one. The remixed holiday music works great, and really puts you in the mood for the holidays. All of the dialogue is great, especially Angelica’s. The way she screams, “can it? CAN IT?!” to Cynthia while worrying about getting coal is hysterical, as well as yelling “run for your lives!” when she finds out Santa isn’t real, and Chaz screaming about how he was the Willow in Wind of the Willows got a laugh, among tons of other lines. Angelica’s Gift of the Magi-esque plot was really sweet, even though she was just doing it so she would get toys and not coal. I didn’t quite like the B plot of Tommy and Chuckie’s Santa traps as much, but it was still engaging and really fun to watch. Great episode, and great way to kick off the season. 

[cbilluminati]

IDW has a ton of great stuff on sale this week and we have your early look at it all. Here’s the IDW Publishing Previews for 01-04-2017.

Back To The Future: Citizen Brown

Writers: Bob Gale, Erik Burnham Artist: Alan Robinson Cover Artist: Alan Robinson

Time-traveling into comics directly out of Telltale’s 2010 smash-hit episodic videogame BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE GAME! When an empty time-traveling DeLorean suddenly shows up in 1986, Marty McFly quickly learns that his friend Doctor Emmett “Doc” Brown is stranded in 1931 and possibly in mortal danger. Now it’s up to Marty to return to the past once again to save Doc and the time-space continuum!

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 120 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-793-2

Bullet points:

“Perfectly at ease in the existing Back to the Future world and true to the voices of the original characters.” – Newsarama

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Box Office Poison Color Comics #1

Writer: Alex Robinson Artist: Alex Robinson Cover Artist: Alex Robinson

The story of Sherman, Dorothy, Ed, Stephen, Jane, and Mr. Flavor as you’ve never seen it before: IN FULL COLOR! Alex Robinson’s masterpiece of dreary jobs, comic books, love, sex, messy apartments, girlfriends (and the lack thereof), undisclosed pasts, and crusty old professionals remains one of the most delightful and whimsical comic stories—and with colorist Pat N. Lewis’ fantastic color work, BOP is ready to return to comic stands!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Winner of the Eisner Award for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, the International Comics Festival Award for Best Debut Graphic Novel (Angouleme, France), and voted by Wizard Magazine as the best indy graphic novel of all time.

“A salute to comics, an exploration of the human condition, and a solid, absorbing, and riotously snide tale about at least half of the things that make life important.” — Tasha Robinson, The AV Club

Each issue will be presented in color for the very first time!

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Chris Samnee’s Daredevil: Artist’s Edition HC

Writer: Mark Waid Artist: Chris Samnee Cover Artist: Chris Samnee

IDW Publishing launched the very first Artist’s Edition in 2010. It was a bold concept that to date has garnered five consecutive Eisner Awards in the category of Best Archival Project. With the release of Chris Samnee’s Daredevil Artist’s Edition we continue to stay ahead of the pack by featuring not one, not two, but THREE versions of Samnee’s gorgeous original art—we like to think of it as an Artist’s Edition triple play! This amazing collection will be presented in TWO books. The first, a hardcover featuring Daredevil Issues 23 – 27. Since these books were lettered digitally, you will see more of the Samnee’s original art than ever before! Additionally, all of Chris’ beautiful layouts will be printed here, again, scanned from the original art. The second book will be a horizontal softcover, printing all Mark Waid’s scripts—but that’s not all—Samnee’s artistic technique involves drawing thumbnail breakdowns ON the script pages themselves. Which means there are THREE versions of art presented, plus the actual script enabling you to read along with the story! Additionally, these two books will come in a handsome slipcase. You’ve heard the term “Artist’s Artist?” This will be an “Artist’s Artist’s Edition!”

HC/TPB w/slipcase • BW • $95.00 net cost item • 160 page HC + 60 page SC • 12” x 17”  HC + 17” x 12” SC• ISBN: 978-1-63140-723-9

Bullet points:

The immensely popular, critically acclaimed, and Eisner Award-winning duo of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are showcased in their first Artist’s Edition!

TWO books, slipcased!

Disney Mysterious Melodies OGN

Writer: Bernard Cosey Artist: Bernard Cosey Cover Artist: Bernard Cosey

What was life like for Mickey before 1928… before Hollywood stardom struck? In this riveting, phantasmagorical “what-if” tale, we follow the Mouse from his humble origins—as Oswald Rabbit’s screenwriter!—through a tangled web of trains, rocket ships, and stolen Shakespeare scripts! Will a haunting tune bring Mickey and Minnie together for the first time? Will Goofy find success as a… ferryboat driver? Or will big boss Mr. Casey and relentless Pegleg Pete strike again? Award-winning Swiss cartoonist Bernard Cosey (Lost in the Alps) brings us an amazing Mouse adventure with a thoughtful, emotive twist.

HC • FC • $14.99 • 64 pages • 9.25” x 12” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-777-2

Bullet points:

Celebrated French writer/artist Bernard Cosey presents a riveting, fascinating Mickey adventure in the Floyd Gottfredson tradition!

Jump on for the second in IDW’s new series of European Mickey graphic novels—featuring cinematic storytelling and modern Disney art like you’ve never seen!

#gallery-0-54 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-54 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-54 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-54 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Donald and Mickey: The Magic Kingdom Collection

Writers: Carl Barks, Giorgio Cavazzano, Victor “Vicar” Arriagada Rios Artists: Carl Barks, Giorgio Cavazzano, Victor “Vicar” Arriagada Rios Cover Artist: Massimo Fecchi

Sixty years of Disney Parks—who knew? Now IDW is celebrating with decades of Disney’s classic Park-themed adventure comics! Carl Barks‘ Scrooge McDuck and Donald travel from the Mark Twain Riverboat to the top of the Matterhorn… then Mickey investigates the strange disappearance of the Country Bear Jamboree. And is that the real Pegleg Pete standing in for the Cast Member who plays him? “Oh, for gosh sakes!”

TPB • FC • $12.99 • 124 pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-796-3

Bullet points:

There’s a Carl Barks story, so it’s worth it just for that.” – Multiversity Comics

#gallery-0-55 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-55 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-55 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-55 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Dragonlance: The Legend of Huma

Writer: Richard A Knaak, Brian Augustyn, Sean J. Jordan, Trampas Whitman Artist: Mike S. Miller, Rael Lyra, Mike Crowell, Joe Prado, Rod Reis, Ricardo Riamonde, Abdul Rashid, Carlos Paul, Andrea Di Vito, Laura Villari, Steve Kurth, Carsten Bradley Cover Artist: Nghia Lam

The world of Krynn is under siege by the dark goddess Takhisis. Led by the renegade wizard Galan Dracos, Takhisis’ forces of evil threaten to conquer all. The only resistance to the Dark Queen are the Knights of Solamnia and their few allies. One Knight rises from their ranks–a Knight destined to become the greatest hero of Krynn. This is his story… the Legend of Huma. Adapts the the novel by best selling author Richard A. Knaak.

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 144 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-797-0

Bullet points:

More vintage Dragonlance re-collected for today’s audience!

#gallery-0-56 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-56 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-56 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-56 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #235: Snake In The Grass, Part 6

Writer: Larry Hama Artist: S L Gallant Cover Artist: S L Gallant

COBRA prepares for its next strike against G.I. JOE, and this time, the Real American Heroes won’t see it coming!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

#gallery-0-57 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-57 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-57 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-57 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Jem and the Holograms #22

Writer: Kelly Thompson Artist: Meredith McClaren Cover Artist: Meredith McClaren

THE STINGERS part 4! Jem and The Holograms new drummer is incredible and everyone knows it—too bad she’s a spy working for The Misfits! What secrets will she discover when let into the inner sanctum of JEM?! As both The Stingers and Holograms gear up for their Masquerade Ball performances, some stars that are not so happy to be put in the corner threaten to tear it all down. Meanwhile, Shana’s new best friend in Milan may be turning into her best ENEMY?!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Get to know THE FOX!

Variant cover by Gisele Lagace!

#gallery-0-58 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-58 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-58 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-58 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Writer: L. Frank Baum Artist: Eric Shanower Cover Artist: Eric Shanower

Both of L. Frank Baum’s classic Santa Claus tales are collected here: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus and A Kidnapped Santa Claus, with with beautiful spot illustrations and cover art by Eisner Award-winning comics creator Eric Shanower.

HC • PC • $16.99 • 144 pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-704-8

Bullet points:

The decorated master story-teller of Oz finds new Baum tales to illustrate for today’s new audiences!

#gallery-0-59 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-59 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-59 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-59 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Mickey Mouse #16

Writers: Andrea “Casty” Castellan, Jonathan Gray Artists: Lorenzo Pastrovicchio, Jack Bradbury Cover Artists: Lorenzo Pastrovicchio

“Darkenblot,” Part 1 of 3! The futuristic city of Avantgarde has an awesome robot police force—but it’s just become the Phantom Blot’s private army! Can Mickey brave high-tech horrors to stop his old foe?

FC • 40 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Beloved modern Mickey master Andrea “Casty” Castellan is back—with a pulse-pounding new tale of the Phantom Blot!

Continues this beloved series’ legacy numbering at #325!

Check out the Marco Mazzarello winter fun variant cover!

#gallery-0-60 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-60 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-60 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-60 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Vol. 11

Writers: Thom Zahler, Ted Anderson Artists: Tony Fleecs, Agnes Garbowska Cover Artist: Tony Fleecs

The Ponies go on an adventure to a newly erupted geyser. After some fun playing in the water, the ponies begin to act a bit strange, perhaps even… sinister, in “Ponies of Dark Water.” Plus, it’s election season in Ponyville and Mayor Mare looks to have the race in the bag. But when Filthy Rich throws his hat in the ring, all bets are off! Collects issues #43–47.

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 120 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-815-1

Bullet points:

What happens when good ponies turn bad?

  Optimus Prime #2

Writer: John Barber Artist: Kei Zama Cover Artist: Kei Zama

NEW CYBERTRON! A massive corkscrew-shaped space ship has drilled into Earth, bringing with it a surprising disruption to OPTIMUS PRIME’s plans. Meanwhile—ARCEE fields a dangerous offer that may be too good to resist!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Guest starring G.I. JOE!

The new world order continues as OPTIMUS PRIME struggles to bring Earth into the cosmic community!

Plus—how ORION PAX first met BUMBLEBEE!

Variant cover by Zoner!

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Powerpuff Girls: Homecoming

Writers: Haley Mancini, Jack Goldman Artist: Derek Charm Cover Artist: Derek Charm

Following the debut of their NEW hit Cartoon Network show, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS make a triumphant return to the world of comics! These stories, written by show-writers Jake Goldman and Haley Mancini, reintroduce us to the world of TOWNSVILLE, beautifully illustrated by Derek Charm. Collects issues #1–3 of the new series.

HC • FC • $12.99 • 80 pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-829-8

Bullet points:

Smaller size and lower price for readers of all-ages!

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Ragnarök #11

Writer: Walter Simonson Artist: Walter Simonson Cover Artist: Walter Simonson

Thor Odinson and the Black Elf assassin, Regn, face off against the Lord of the Dead and his draugar in the Dark Tower, the citadel of his power that stands on the edge of Hel.

FC • 40 pages • $4.99

Bullet points:

Continuing Walter Simonson’s masterpiece!

Featuring a variant cover from Geof Darrow!

#gallery-0-63 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-63 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-63 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-63 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Star Trek: Boldly Go #4

Writer: Mike Johnson Artist: Tony Shasteen Cover Artist: George Caltsoudas

Spock is gone, taken by an enemy unlike any Captain Kirk and his crew have faced before. War with the Romulan Empire is imminent. In the face of the ultimate no-win scenario, will the Federation survive? Don’t miss the all-new ongoing series set after the events of STAR TREK BEYOND!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Following the events of Star Trek Beyond!

The first arc ends HERE!

Variant cover by Marc Laming!

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Strawberry Shortcake #8

Writer: Georgia Ball Artist: Tina Franscisco Cover Artist: Valentina Pinto

The rivalry between Strawberry Shortcake and the Purple Pie Man has escalated into a hold-nothing-back race to the finish! Strawberry will need her friends, her food savvy and a little luck to stay ahead  of her ruthless competitor all the way to Big Apple City.

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

CLASSIC variant cover by Nico Peña!

#gallery-0-65 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-65 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 20%; } #gallery-0-65 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-65 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Uncle Scrooge #22

Writers: Romano Scarpa, Gorm Transgaard, Thad Komorowski, Joe Torcivia Artists: Romano Scarpa, Victor “Vicar” Arriagada Rios Cover Artist: Silvia Ziche

“The Golden Birds!” When rare, deadly giant hawks with 24-karat feathers are discovered at the South Pole, brassy business-gal Brigitta MacBridge wants to help Scrooge save them for science—so why is he fleeing in terror?

FC • 40 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Beloved Disney comics master Romano Scarpa returns with Scrooge’s most infamous love interest, Brigitta MacBridge!

Continues this beloved series’ legacy numbering at #426!

Check out the Massimo Fecchi winter fun variant cover!

#gallery-0-66 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-66 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-66 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-66 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday #2 (of 4)

Writers: Beau Smith & Tim Rozon Artist: Chris Evenhuis Cover Artist: Chris Evenhuis

Wynonna Earp and Doc Holliday have picked up an unusual ally: a former Pinkerton by the name of Charles Siringo. But they’re gonna need Charlie’s help if Wynonna and Doc are gonna stand a chance against an enemy from Doc’s past. Beau Smith and Tim “Doc Holliday himself” Rozon put Doc through the ringer in this thrilling conclusion!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

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Yakuza Demon Killers #3

Writer: Amit Chauhan Artist: Eli Powell Cover Artist: Eli Powell

Will Ochita’s induction lead to corruption? A contentious decision within the Yakuza hierarchy leads to Ochita being inducted as their first female member. As the Yakuza quarrel, the opportunistic demon leader Gaikotsu will set his horrific endgame into motion!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Featuring story and art from the winners of the 2015 TOP COW Talent Hunt!

#gallery-0-68 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-68 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-68 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-68 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

via IDW Publishing

IDW Publishing Previews for 01-04-2017

IDW has a ton of great stuff on sale this week and we have your early look at it all.

IDW Publishing Previews for 01-04-2017 IDW has a ton of great stuff on sale this week and we have your early look at it all.

[outright-geekery]

IDW has a ton of great stuff on sale this week and we have your early look at it all. Here’s the IDW Publishing Previews for 01-04-2017.

Back To The Future: Citizen Brown

Writers: Bob Gale, Erik Burnham Artist: Alan Robinson Cover Artist: Alan Robinson

Time-traveling into comics directly out of Telltale’s 2010 smash-hit episodic videogame BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE GAME! When an empty time-traveling DeLorean suddenly shows up in 1986, Marty McFly quickly learns that his friend Doctor Emmett “Doc” Brown is stranded in 1931 and possibly in mortal danger. Now it’s up to Marty to return to the past once again to save Doc and the time-space continuum!

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 120 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-793-2

Bullet points:

“Perfectly at ease in the existing Back to the Future world and true to the voices of the original characters.” – Newsarama

#gallery-0-52 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-52 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-52 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-52 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Box Office Poison Color Comics #1

Writer: Alex Robinson Artist: Alex Robinson Cover Artist: Alex Robinson

The story of Sherman, Dorothy, Ed, Stephen, Jane, and Mr. Flavor as you’ve never seen it before: IN FULL COLOR! Alex Robinson’s masterpiece of dreary jobs, comic books, love, sex, messy apartments, girlfriends (and the lack thereof), undisclosed pasts, and crusty old professionals remains one of the most delightful and whimsical comic stories—and with colorist Pat N. Lewis’ fantastic color work, BOP is ready to return to comic stands!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Winner of the Eisner Award for Talent Deserving Wider Recognition, the International Comics Festival Award for Best Debut Graphic Novel (Angouleme, France), and voted by Wizard Magazine as the best indy graphic novel of all time.

“A salute to comics, an exploration of the human condition, and a solid, absorbing, and riotously snide tale about at least half of the things that make life important.” — Tasha Robinson, The AV Club

Each issue will be presented in color for the very first time!

#gallery-0-53 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-53 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-53 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-53 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Chris Samnee’s Daredevil: Artist’s Edition HC

Writer: Mark Waid Artist: Chris Samnee Cover Artist: Chris Samnee

IDW Publishing launched the very first Artist’s Edition in 2010. It was a bold concept that to date has garnered five consecutive Eisner Awards in the category of Best Archival Project. With the release of Chris Samnee’s Daredevil Artist’s Edition we continue to stay ahead of the pack by featuring not one, not two, but THREE versions of Samnee’s gorgeous original art—we like to think of it as an Artist’s Edition triple play! This amazing collection will be presented in TWO books. The first, a hardcover featuring Daredevil Issues 23 – 27. Since these books were lettered digitally, you will see more of the Samnee’s original art than ever before! Additionally, all of Chris’ beautiful layouts will be printed here, again, scanned from the original art. The second book will be a horizontal softcover, printing all Mark Waid’s scripts—but that’s not all—Samnee’s artistic technique involves drawing thumbnail breakdowns ON the script pages themselves. Which means there are THREE versions of art presented, plus the actual script enabling you to read along with the story! Additionally, these two books will come in a handsome slipcase. You’ve heard the term “Artist’s Artist?” This will be an “Artist’s Artist’s Edition!”

HC/TPB w/slipcase • BW • $95.00 net cost item • 160 page HC + 60 page SC • 12” x 17”  HC + 17” x 12” SC• ISBN: 978-1-63140-723-9

Bullet points:

The immensely popular, critically acclaimed, and Eisner Award-winning duo of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are showcased in their first Artist’s Edition!

TWO books, slipcased!

Disney Mysterious Melodies OGN

Writer: Bernard Cosey Artist: Bernard Cosey Cover Artist: Bernard Cosey

What was life like for Mickey before 1928… before Hollywood stardom struck? In this riveting, phantasmagorical “what-if” tale, we follow the Mouse from his humble origins—as Oswald Rabbit’s screenwriter!—through a tangled web of trains, rocket ships, and stolen Shakespeare scripts! Will a haunting tune bring Mickey and Minnie together for the first time? Will Goofy find success as a… ferryboat driver? Or will big boss Mr. Casey and relentless Pegleg Pete strike again? Award-winning Swiss cartoonist Bernard Cosey (Lost in the Alps) brings us an amazing Mouse adventure with a thoughtful, emotive twist.

HC • FC • $14.99 • 64 pages • 9.25” x 12” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-777-2

Bullet points:

Celebrated French writer/artist Bernard Cosey presents a riveting, fascinating Mickey adventure in the Floyd Gottfredson tradition!

Jump on for the second in IDW’s new series of European Mickey graphic novels—featuring cinematic storytelling and modern Disney art like you’ve never seen!

#gallery-0-54 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-54 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-54 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-54 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Donald and Mickey: The Magic Kingdom Collection

Writers: Carl Barks, Giorgio Cavazzano, Victor “Vicar” Arriagada Rios Artists: Carl Barks, Giorgio Cavazzano, Victor “Vicar” Arriagada Rios Cover Artist: Massimo Fecchi

Sixty years of Disney Parks—who knew? Now IDW is celebrating with decades of Disney’s classic Park-themed adventure comics! Carl Barks‘ Scrooge McDuck and Donald travel from the Mark Twain Riverboat to the top of the Matterhorn… then Mickey investigates the strange disappearance of the Country Bear Jamboree. And is that the real Pegleg Pete standing in for the Cast Member who plays him? “Oh, for gosh sakes!”

TPB • FC • $12.99 • 124 pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-796-3

Bullet points:

There’s a Carl Barks story, so it’s worth it just for that.” – Multiversity Comics

#gallery-0-55 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-55 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-55 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-55 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Dragonlance: The Legend of Huma

Writer: Richard A Knaak, Brian Augustyn, Sean J. Jordan, Trampas Whitman Artist: Mike S. Miller, Rael Lyra, Mike Crowell, Joe Prado, Rod Reis, Ricardo Riamonde, Abdul Rashid, Carlos Paul, Andrea Di Vito, Laura Villari, Steve Kurth, Carsten Bradley Cover Artist: Nghia Lam

The world of Krynn is under siege by the dark goddess Takhisis. Led by the renegade wizard Galan Dracos, Takhisis’ forces of evil threaten to conquer all. The only resistance to the Dark Queen are the Knights of Solamnia and their few allies. One Knight rises from their ranks–a Knight destined to become the greatest hero of Krynn. This is his story… the Legend of Huma. Adapts the the novel by best selling author Richard A. Knaak.

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 144 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-797-0

Bullet points:

More vintage Dragonlance re-collected for today’s audience!

#gallery-0-56 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-56 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-56 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-56 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #235: Snake In The Grass, Part 6

Writer: Larry Hama Artist: S L Gallant Cover Artist: S L Gallant

COBRA prepares for its next strike against G.I. JOE, and this time, the Real American Heroes won’t see it coming!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

#gallery-0-57 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-57 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 25%; } #gallery-0-57 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-57 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Jem and the Holograms #22

Writer: Kelly Thompson Artist: Meredith McClaren Cover Artist: Meredith McClaren

THE STINGERS part 4! Jem and The Holograms new drummer is incredible and everyone knows it—too bad she’s a spy working for The Misfits! What secrets will she discover when let into the inner sanctum of JEM?! As both The Stingers and Holograms gear up for their Masquerade Ball performances, some stars that are not so happy to be put in the corner threaten to tear it all down. Meanwhile, Shana’s new best friend in Milan may be turning into her best ENEMY?!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Get to know THE FOX!

Variant cover by Gisele Lagace!

#gallery-0-58 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-58 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-58 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-58 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Writer: L. Frank Baum Artist: Eric Shanower Cover Artist: Eric Shanower

Both of L. Frank Baum’s classic Santa Claus tales are collected here: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus and A Kidnapped Santa Claus, with with beautiful spot illustrations and cover art by Eisner Award-winning comics creator Eric Shanower.

HC • PC • $16.99 • 144 pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-704-8

Bullet points:

The decorated master story-teller of Oz finds new Baum tales to illustrate for today’s new audiences!

#gallery-0-59 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-59 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 14%; } #gallery-0-59 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-59 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Mickey Mouse #16

Writers: Andrea “Casty” Castellan, Jonathan Gray Artists: Lorenzo Pastrovicchio, Jack Bradbury Cover Artists: Lorenzo Pastrovicchio

“Darkenblot,” Part 1 of 3! The futuristic city of Avantgarde has an awesome robot police force—but it’s just become the Phantom Blot’s private army! Can Mickey brave high-tech horrors to stop his old foe?

FC • 40 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Beloved modern Mickey master Andrea “Casty” Castellan is back—with a pulse-pounding new tale of the Phantom Blot!

Continues this beloved series’ legacy numbering at #325!

Check out the Marco Mazzarello winter fun variant cover!

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My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Vol. 11

Writers: Thom Zahler, Ted Anderson Artists: Tony Fleecs, Agnes Garbowska Cover Artist: Tony Fleecs

The Ponies go on an adventure to a newly erupted geyser. After some fun playing in the water, the ponies begin to act a bit strange, perhaps even… sinister, in “Ponies of Dark Water.” Plus, it’s election season in Ponyville and Mayor Mare looks to have the race in the bag. But when Filthy Rich throws his hat in the ring, all bets are off! Collects issues #43–47.

TPB • FC • $19.99 • 120 pages • ISBN: 978-1-63140-815-1

Bullet points:

What happens when good ponies turn bad?

  Optimus Prime #2

Writer: John Barber Artist: Kei Zama Cover Artist: Kei Zama

NEW CYBERTRON! A massive corkscrew-shaped space ship has drilled into Earth, bringing with it a surprising disruption to OPTIMUS PRIME’s plans. Meanwhile—ARCEE fields a dangerous offer that may be too good to resist!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Guest starring G.I. JOE!

The new world order continues as OPTIMUS PRIME struggles to bring Earth into the cosmic community!

Plus—how ORION PAX first met BUMBLEBEE!

Variant cover by Zoner!

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Powerpuff Girls: Homecoming

Writers: Haley Mancini, Jack Goldman Artist: Derek Charm Cover Artist: Derek Charm

Following the debut of their NEW hit Cartoon Network show, THE POWERPUFF GIRLS make a triumphant return to the world of comics! These stories, written by show-writers Jake Goldman and Haley Mancini, reintroduce us to the world of TOWNSVILLE, beautifully illustrated by Derek Charm. Collects issues #1–3 of the new series.

HC • FC • $12.99 • 80 pages • 6” x 9” • ISBN: 978-1-63140-829-8

Bullet points:

Smaller size and lower price for readers of all-ages!

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Ragnarök #11

Writer: Walter Simonson Artist: Walter Simonson Cover Artist: Walter Simonson

Thor Odinson and the Black Elf assassin, Regn, face off against the Lord of the Dead and his draugar in the Dark Tower, the citadel of his power that stands on the edge of Hel.

FC • 40 pages • $4.99

Bullet points:

Continuing Walter Simonson’s masterpiece!

Featuring a variant cover from Geof Darrow!

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Star Trek: Boldly Go #4

Writer: Mike Johnson Artist: Tony Shasteen Cover Artist: George Caltsoudas

Spock is gone, taken by an enemy unlike any Captain Kirk and his crew have faced before. War with the Romulan Empire is imminent. In the face of the ultimate no-win scenario, will the Federation survive? Don’t miss the all-new ongoing series set after the events of STAR TREK BEYOND!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Following the events of Star Trek Beyond!

The first arc ends HERE!

Variant cover by Marc Laming!

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Strawberry Shortcake #8

Writer: Georgia Ball Artist: Tina Franscisco Cover Artist: Valentina Pinto

The rivalry between Strawberry Shortcake and the Purple Pie Man has escalated into a hold-nothing-back race to the finish! Strawberry will need her friends, her food savvy and a little luck to stay ahead  of her ruthless competitor all the way to Big Apple City.

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

CLASSIC variant cover by Nico Peña!

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Uncle Scrooge #22

Writers: Romano Scarpa, Gorm Transgaard, Thad Komorowski, Joe Torcivia Artists: Romano Scarpa, Victor “Vicar” Arriagada Rios Cover Artist: Silvia Ziche

“The Golden Birds!” When rare, deadly giant hawks with 24-karat feathers are discovered at the South Pole, brassy business-gal Brigitta MacBridge wants to help Scrooge save them for science—so why is he fleeing in terror?

FC • 40 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Beloved Disney comics master Romano Scarpa returns with Scrooge’s most infamous love interest, Brigitta MacBridge!

Continues this beloved series’ legacy numbering at #426!

Check out the Massimo Fecchi winter fun variant cover!

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Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday #2 (of 4)

Writers: Beau Smith & Tim Rozon Artist: Chris Evenhuis Cover Artist: Chris Evenhuis

Wynonna Earp and Doc Holliday have picked up an unusual ally: a former Pinkerton by the name of Charles Siringo. But they’re gonna need Charlie’s help if Wynonna and Doc are gonna stand a chance against an enemy from Doc’s past. Beau Smith and Tim “Doc Holliday himself” Rozon put Doc through the ringer in this thrilling conclusion!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

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Yakuza Demon Killers #3

Writer: Amit Chauhan Artist: Eli Powell Cover Artist: Eli Powell

Will Ochita’s induction lead to corruption? A contentious decision within the Yakuza hierarchy leads to Ochita being inducted as their first female member. As the Yakuza quarrel, the opportunistic demon leader Gaikotsu will set his horrific endgame into motion!

FC • 32 pages • $3.99

Bullet points:

Featuring story and art from the winners of the 2015 TOP COW Talent Hunt!

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via IDW Publishing

IDW Publishing Previews for 01-04-2017 IDW has a ton of great stuff on sale this week and we have your early look at it all.