#should i post them w mistletoe every year as a tradition

[agoddamneddelight]

merry christmas from the guys! 🎄

[malachite-isms]

Team RWBY's Kissmas Challenge pt1

(The idea for this came to me after rereading a prompted post by @miss-pyrrha-nikos-isms that was very well written. I wanted to write this before I forgot, and before Christmas was too far gone. In any case, enjoy!)

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A pair of silver eyes stared confidently at the brick building before them. To the owner of those eyes, tonight would be a night of triumph, development, and camaraderie. The same could not be said of her three compatriots.

"Ruby, I know you mean well," said Blake, genuine concern on her face ",but don't you think this is... I don't know..." The blush that crept its way onto her face said what she couldn't.

"I have to agree," said Weiss, continuing the train of thought ", while I do think this is a unique way to practice an invaluable skill, I can't say I'm entirely comfortable walking into a metaphorical shark tank."

Ruby turned to face her team. "Oh come on guys, this perfect! Those two have snuck up on us and basically smacked big 'property of the Twins' stickers on us!" Her team flushed at the memories conjured by their leader's words. "Not only will we be having fun at a real nightclub," Ruby continued, woefully unaware ", we'll be practicing our awesome huntress skills, and getting those monkeys off our backs!"

"While I do enjoy nightclubs," Yang piped up, still wearing a blush that first appeared when her sister announced her plan ", I feel like those monkeys won't be getting off our backs so much as getting... on... elsewhere." The implication caused the group's blushing to intensify.

"Only if we let them!" Ruby countered, her enthusiasm refusing to be contained. "We know their game, so if we stay on our toes, I'm sure we can walk out of there without so much as a smudge of lipstick on us!"

"Actually," Yang interjected ",this is a pretty busy time of year for the club, so they might not even have time for their usual antics."

"I feel like they'd notice if their 'favorite playmate' walked in," Blake responded with a playful smirk aimed Yang's way.

"Yang's right!" Ruby continued as her sister face lit up beet red. "This is one of the best chances we'll get to win back team RWBY's pride!"

"Oh for the..." Weiss sighed ",whatever, I'd rather go in there now than go all the way back to Beacon in this cold."

The team walked towards the entrance to the club, unaware of the hunters waiting for them within.

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A feeling of dread permeated through each of the four warriors as they entered. Immediately, they all noticed the alarming decorations hanging above most of the expansive room.

There, suspended from the rafters were dozens, if not hundreds of small bunches of mistletoe. The strings were so thin, one might assume the plants were suspended by an unseen magic.

Our heroes however, were less awed by the whimsical decoration and more anxious at the implied threat that awaited them on the club's main floor.

"W-Well," Ruby stammered, a blush beginning to appear on her cheeks ",we can still assume they won't be focused on us, right?"

Four scrolls buzzed, each alerting their owner to a message that read:

"Always nice to see such pretty faces~ Even better to kiss em 💋💋💋"

The team's faces lit up as they read the ominous message from their assailants.

"W-W-Well," Ruby said, failing to sound remotely confident ",let's do this, team!" She shook her head in an attempt to regain her composure "We'll show them they can't defeat us so easily!"

The four huntresses took cautious footsteps into the sea of revelers.

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That dolt! Weiss thought as she made her way towards the bar, keeping to the edges of the dance floor. Of all the holidays to drop us into this lions' den, why did it have to be one of the two where kissing was a popular tradition?!

Her eyes darted between countless club goers she passed, making sure each and every one was not one of the formidable twins.

Finally, blessedly, she arrived at the bar. She was no expert on this sort of establishment, but she felt confident enough that she would not be assailed in such an area. The heiress ordered a Cold in the Shadows. Safe though she felt, her color had yet to go down, a fact not helped by the fact get mind waa wandering back to the fateful day she was targeted by the Malachite Twins.

She had heard tales from the likes of Yang about the Twins' beauty and amorous brand of mischief, but she has assumed that it was something the fiery brawler brought upon herself. When the Twins actually made their way into the dorm room of team RWBY and gave her a demonstration of their antics, Weiss was well and truly enamored.

No. No no no.

She was not enamored by the inappropriate Twins and their inappropriate prank. She most certainly did not enjoy being assaulted in unwanted kisses that stained her skin from an unruly pair such as them. She laid on the floor, unable to speak because she was immobilized by anger, certainly not by any kind of uncouth emotions.

No. Most definitely not.

"Your drink, miss." Came the voice that shook her from her definitely-not-fond recollection.

"Thank y-" Weiss's blood froze in her veins when her eyes found the holder of her desired beverage.

"I suggest you come here and get it before the ice melts~" teased Melanie Malachite "or..."

A sudden flash of red darted up from beneath the bar and threw its arms around Weiss's neck. "We could bring you to us~"

Weiss could not respond before Miltiades's lips found hers and pulled her over and beneath the bar. A cacophony of kisses went unheard beneath the bar as Melanie knocked back Weiss's beverage with practiced speed before joining her sister in marking their first prize.

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Yang layed on the bed in the private room of the club, face papered with lipstick and most of her clothes strewn on the floor.

"Damnit," she said to the ceiling.

Their second target was no challenge.

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Blake sat alone in a booth away from the main dance floor. She counted herself lucky to find such a secluded spot in such a populated public place.

She was not entirely sure if she was lucky in this particular situation however. While she was isolated and had a wall at her back, she had spent the better part of the last half hour scanning the best routes of escape should the Twins find her. This would not end like last time if she had anything to say about it.

She'd been assailed by the Twins once before in her preferred bookstore. She was always glad to find peace in that particular shop; not too big, not too busy, and plenty quiet. They were quick in their work, painting Blake's face in kisses before leaving her to collect herself. However, she would lay there, lipstick-riddled face staring into the void until the shopkeep had to come rouse her to close the store.

She could not say she did not like kisses, but she would prefer to have them on her terms.

Blake was awoken from her trance by the most wonderful feeling behind her left faunus ear. She closed her eyes and leaned into the feeling, stopping only when her cheek met a pair of lips.

She jolted upright and saw Melanie, lips still puckered, sitting right next to her.

She made to scramble backward, but was stopped short by a scratching below her chin. She followed the culprit finger to its owner, Miltiades who was sitting on her right.

The red twin gently coaxed Blake to pull her face closer. Blake, putty in her hands, obliged and was rewarded with a peck on the lips.

To her horror, Blake could hear a purr emanating from within her. She flushed a deep red, eliciting a giggle from the Twins.

"Having fun there, kitty cat?" the Twins asked in unison. Before she could form a coherent response, Blake's chin was gently scratched back toward Melanie, who planted a soft kiss on her lips as well.

All of a sudden, there were no plans of escape. Just gentle scratches that Blake could not resist and kisses she couldn't not avoid.

Blake purred through it all. Their third prize had submitted herself to them.

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Ruby stood ten paces from the bar. Seated there were the Twins who had harmed her team's pride. They were looking right at her, waiting. Not for the right moment to strike, but for the inevitable to occur. Ruby would sooner die than give them the satisfaction.

... Those cookies did look fresh though.

Their fourth and final target was a success of preparation.

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The next day, all four members of team RWBY sat on their beds in their dorm. A look of sullen defeat painted their now lipstick-free faces as they gazed at their scrolls.

On the screens were dozens and dozens of photos their assailants had taken during their mischief making.

All four of them agreed they had a horrible time. All four of them fully intended to try again some day.

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(I know this is silly and probably dumb, but I couldn't do anything else until I put this idea into words. Anybut, Happy Holidays everyone!

[babyleclerc]

Mimi’s 1K+ story a day! {Challenge}

For those of you that are newer to me & my blog - I’ve had this blog for seven years (!!!), but just began bringing it back a few weeks ago. Since I began posting Tom/Seb fics over the past few weeks, I’ve gained over 700+ of you, breaking me well into the thousand follower mark, and I would like to say THANK YOU!

As a way of thanks, and also for some more inspiration :), I’d like to give back to you guys by posting one fanfiction a day during the week of Christmas. I’m starting this now because I want enough time to both accept requests & also to write!

Details are below, hit up my askbox or this post with questions!!

DETAILS:

From December 19th through December 25th, I will be posting one fanfic story a day, totaling in seven stories for the week.

The last day for requests is Friday, December 15th.

This is seriously all for YOU GUYS! My wonderful followers. :) Please, please make requests, as I’m doing this for you! Don’t be shy!

For examples of my previous fics and/or to get ideas, see my masterlist here. (Honesty Hour part II is already in the making, so no need to request that).

RULES:

You can make as many requests as you like.

The last day to make a request is Friday, December 15th.

All requests MUST be made through my ask box. Do not comment on this post or another one of my fics with a request, it will be too hard to track and will not be counted.

I will not confirm or deny your fic request once you have made it, so don’t think I’m ignoring you! I want it to be a surprise which prompts I take - plus, it’ll be more fun that way. :)

I, under no circumstances, write fics with themes of rape.

I do write smut, but do not participate in writing dom/sub relationships. I think that those relationships are very unique and take a lot of love, respect, and care, that, as a writer, I don’t feel like I would be able to do justice. There are lots of amazing other writers on this site that do that if that’s what you’re looking for!

Given that it’s the week of Christmas, I would like some wintery/Christmas themes & prompts! I know they’re cliche, but they’re so fun. :) So don’t be surprised if the 24th is a Christmas Eve fic and the 25th is a Christmas Day fic ;). I’ll still need prompts for them, though, so check out the masterlist below!

Mimi (me!) must write seven stories, and they must be from requests. All other inspiration will just be considered extra content ;) Otherwise all of the seven fics must come from your requests!

Obviously there are many of you, and only one of me. :) So it will be naturally impossible for me to complete every single request that I get. BUT, if your request doesn’t get completed during my challenge week, just please message me or follow-up with me and I will do my best to write it afterwards!

PAIRINGS (x Reader):

Tom Hiddleston (lol obviously)

Chris Evans

Sebastian Stan

(I’m also open to writing all of the MCU folks in a group setting, but those three are the ones that I will write specific x reader/imagine stories for.)

THEMES:

Fluff/Angst/Smut/Best!Friends/Enemies. You name it, I’ll take a stab at writing it. :)

PROMPTS & WRITING IDEAS:

See below for a massive list of prompts and writing ideas. Of course, these are just suggestions - if you have a different request, send away! If you do pick a prompt, just please be specific as to which one.

Holiday Prompts (not mine, these belong to @theo-stilinski!):

“It’s almost midnight!”

“Yeah, uh, alcohol doesn’t go in hot chocolate.”

“FINE. You can put the topper on the tree.”

“It’s snowing!”

“That’s not how Santa Claus works…”

“Christmas doesn’t have to be about family, ya know?”

“Awwww look at my little elf.”

“You can be Santa’s helper.”

“How did you manage to the burn the cookies?”

“Why does the house smell like a cinnamon roll threw up?”

“Okay, but hear me out, these ornaments are way better.” -“They don’t even match.”

“You’re covered in flour.”

“Ho ho ho, bitch.”

“My gingerbread house is prettier than yours.”

“If you throw a snowball at my face so help me.”

“Christmas is lame.” -“You’re lame! You, you, you grinch!” -“Oh. Ow.”

“Open your present!”

“Wanna get shit-faced instead?”

“Why is there mistletoe everywhere?”

“So, I didn’t actually get you anything.”

“I’m still sad you won’t be home for Christmas.”

“Holy shit, you know Santa!”

“Aren’t you afraid of setting the house on fire with all the lights?”

“I hope you break your ass on that ice.”

“Wait, no one got you anything?”

“Oh, were those cookies for Santa?” -“Yes!” -“Well, what’re you gonna do about it?”

“Are you trying to find your present?”

“Oh my gosh, actual reindeer!”

“Not on Christmas.”

“We’re kind of tangled in lights.”

“So, we’re kind of snowed in.”

“I thought candy canes were supposed to be hung on trees? Not popcorn…”

“Don’t make me pour my hot chocolate over your head.”

“How much tape did you use?!”

“It looks like the North Pole threw up.”

“Are you sure it’s illegal to kill carolers?”

“You didn’t think I’d let you spend Christmas alone, did you?”

“Why is the floor covered in tinsel?”

“Wait. We’re really doing Secret Santa?”

“I told you you were going to get sick if you stayed in the snow all day.”

“Does that stocking have my name on it?”

“And now the power’s out.”

“Hey, um, why is the bottom of the tree decorated and not the top?”

“You’ve never had a New Year’s kiss?”

“You’re kind of cute when you look like Rudolph.” -“The reindeer?” -“No, my dentist. Yes, the reindeer.”

More Prompts (courtesy of @writersblockbecomesunblocked):

“Would You stop eating all the popcorn? It’s supposed to go on the tree!” “But I’m hungry!”

“So….. you wanna….hot chocolate and chill?” “If you ask me that one more time, I will dump hot chocolate on you.”

“How much eggnog have you had tonight?” “A f-few glassesss, why?” “Because I’m prettyyyy sure it’s spiked.”

“My mom got me that ornament! Stop breaking them!” “It’s not like I’m trying to break them.”

“We aren’t going to have anything left to build the house with if you keep eating all the gingerbread.”

“You’re making a mess.” “Shut up and pass me the tape.” “There’s more tape on that present than wrapping paper.”

“Why doesn’t our place look as good as that?” “Do you know how high our electricity bill would be? Christmas lights are expensive.”

“Can we please watch something else? This is the 4th time today we’ve watched elf. And it’s November 1st.”

“Are you sure your family can eat that many cookies?” “What? No. These are just for us!”

“You know, the idea of Santa Claus is pretty messed up. It’s a fat man who breaks into your house with presents made by tiny people who know if you’re bad or good. How do they know?” “You’re ruining Christmas for me. Stop.”

More Holiday AUs (credit to @berrybird):

we’re going ice skating for the first time this year and it’s pretty obvious that you’re secretly an olympic figure skater or something how the hell are you so graceful you’re literally twirling around on one foot on a frictionless surface and i can barely make a left turn

what no i totally have no idea how mistletoe got under every doorway in our house… *cough cough* …but since it’s there we should really honor the tradition right

STOP TRYING TO PUT CANDLES ON THE CHRISTMAS TREE YOU DUMB FUCK, I DON’T CARE ABOUT HOW AESTHETICALLY PLEASING IT IS TREES ARE FLAMMABLE

we’ve been just cuddling here watching movies for like six hours and this is officially the most cozy and comfortable we’ve ever been so we’re not getting up until new year’s

yes you look like a movie star with your tinsel boa but the i think it suits me better so ha

i love you but your christmas ornaments are weird we’re not putting those on the tree

you put a santa hat on my head this morning and i thought i took it off but it turns out i didn’t so i’ve been walking around all day wearing a santa hat i hate you

yes i know it’s almost christmas no that doesn’t mean you should watch every movie with snow in it seriously i can hear you singing along to love is an open door in front of my room and this needs to stop

i didn’t know that this holiday party was a dress-up thing and when i came to get you, you answered the door in your full-on GRINCH COSTUME and i almost had a fucking heart attack

you’re jewish so we’re celebrating hanukkah and most of this stuff is really new to me so you’re teaching me how to say the names of everything and so far all i can pronounc is menorah

you’re gonna fall off the roof if you try hanging lights with that ladder

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE’S EIGHT DAYS OF HANUKKAH yeah i know we have the 12 days of christmas song BUT IT’S JUST A SONG

come cuddle with me there’s this movie called “love actually” and it looks really cute i wanna watch it (a few hours later) W H Y

you asked me what i wanted for christmas and i was feeling really sarcastic so i said “a unicorn” and you actually went out and got me a stuffed unicorn i hate you so much but actually it’s really cute and i might sort of love it

i already told you i don’t like ugly christmas sweater parties because everyone just wears one that’s vaguely cute anyways so what’s the point and wHAT THE FUCK IS THAT I’VE ACTUALLY NEVER SEEN A SWEATER THAT UGLY WAIT WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT’S PART OF A MATCHING SET

we spent christmas with my family and now we’re going to spend kwanzaa with your family we’re gonna need a vacation after all this

let’s go walk around and look at all the lights and stuff

stop eating the popcorn you little shit, i can’t make caramel popcorn balls with just caramel

i’m making christmas cookies sTOP SNEAKING IN HERE TO EAT THE DOUGH OR I’LL SMACK YOU WITH A SPOON

if you try stealing the whipped cream off of my hot chocolate again i swear i will stab you with a candy cane

it’s new years’ eve and i am so determined to kiss you when the ball drops

you know i think getting engaged on chrismas it’s the most cliche thing ever but you fucking proposed anyway

^ but you proposed in the most amazing unexpected way and i’m actually getting really emotional about it aND I’M NOT CRYING YOU’RE CRYING SHUT UP)

[much--madness]

Fic: Mistletoe

Rating: PG13 Pairing: Arima Kishou/Sasaki Haise For my TG secret santa, @animeobsessedandotherfandoms Sorry for posting so late! But I made it x.x My first attempt at TG fics. I hope you like it @w@

AO3 Link

There was a well known secret in the CCG.

It was one shared by many of the investigators there and the reason why it was called a secret was that no one actually openly acknowledged it.

At times, there was tension among the ranks. Friends and comrades that were at ease with one another would stare a little too intently at each other, eyes suspicious and a little shifty, wondering if perhaps… Maybe… the one that they were looking at shared in this secret.

It was the worst kept secret in the CCG.

And that secret was that almost everyone there was a little bit in love with Sasaki Haise.

The only ones that were possibly immune were those investigators that hadn’t had the chance to meet him yet. But even so, there were still those that had caught a glimpse of him and without even knowing his name, found themselves curious and entranced. And then there were those who knew his name and feats but not his face that developed the same affection.

Even from the very beginning, the young man that trailed in the wake of Arima’s shadow drew curiosity and speculation. At first, the attention had been clouded with suspicion but the more people saw of him, the more they grew captivated.

There was just something about Sasaki Haise that inspired such feelings. It wasn’t just one thing either, it was a multiple of things that ensnared others. From his shy smile to his alarming strength, and even the way he treated others, even strangers, with a politeness that still somehow felt warm and inviting.

And the best part of this worst kept secret was that this young man, who had unknowingly captured so many hearts, was completely oblivious to it all.

Now, there were two holidays that seemed to really set the investigators off at the CGG when it came to Haise.

The first was, as expected, Valentine’s Day.

As cliche as it was, many had eagerly planned to pursue the young investigator with gifts of flowers and requests for coffee dates. But to the dismay of all, not a glimpse of Sasaki was to be seen that day. The feeling of romance and pursuit of it quickly faded by the following day. Fortunately, the dejected mood quickly lifted with Sasaki’s return the following week.

And yet, no one had the guts to approach him. It seemed as though the magic of Valentine’s day didn’t last past the 14th.

The only other holiday that seemed to inspire such courage was Christmas. And it was all due to a well known plant, an innocent sprig of green leaves and red berries. Mistletoe.

Mistletoe was found in an abundance around Christmas. It was hung in plain sight and in the most bizarre places, like the entrance to the Quinx’s home, the Chateau. It made a brief appearance for a whole two hours before mysteriously disappearing.

It was almost amusing to see where sprigs of mistletoe ended up, for some people took them down while others relocated them. Of course, many used this time old tradition in an attempt to catch Sasaki and in doing so, win a kiss from him.

Somehow, no one was able to catch him. Sprigs of mistletoe that were confirmed at their station, almost guaranteed a stolen kiss from their crush, seemingly disappeared into thin air. It left the scheming investigators in a huff when Haise passed by, giving each a friendly smile before going on his way. It still warmed the hearts of many in the cold winter, but many more mourned the lost chance.

The attempts continued with Haise none the wiser all the way up to the 25th. With no one having been successful, for who could keep stealing a kiss from Sasaki a secret, the majority of the CCG resigned themselves to try the following Valentine’s day.

As much as they had come to adore Sasaki Haise, Christmas was still spent with loved ones and friends.

December 24th found the Chateau covered in decorations. On the window, a cheerful reindeer cut out poked its head from the side, welcoming visitors inside.

And inside, a modest but heavily decorated tree stole all the attention. With four subordinates in his care, Haise couldn’t say no to how each of the Quinx members wanted to decorate the tree.

The outcome was a mismatch of ornaments and colors. From delicate glass ornaments to smiling little figures wearing Santa hats, every branch seemed to hold some sort of decoration. There were also Christmas lights, blinking merrily, which Shirazu had strung. In retaliation, Urie had added elegant red and white bows made of ribbon.

The decorations were just shy of being an eyesore, but Haise loved it because everyone had contributed to making the tree what it was. At least everyone had agreed on a single topper, a classic Christmas tree star that shone brightly from its place.

Beneath the tree, there was an assortment of gifts. Nothing too big, but there was something for everyone. The pile would only grow larger as he could hear the crinkle of gift wrappers still being handled and cut throughout the house.

Haise shook his head at their last minute preparations, but he was still smiling fondly. The Christmas spirit was at an all time high.

Dinner was well on its way and this year it was just the Qs and a couple guests so it was nothing extravagant. Still, the process of cooking the meals had Haise moving about the kitchen with a bounce in his step. From outside the kitchen, the Qs could hear Haise’s singing, their mentor’s voice drifting in and out of song as he worked.

Urie, who had been the only one properly prepared for Christmas Eve, had been lounging on the couch. A mug sat in front of him on the coffee table, the aroma of chocolate sweetness filling the air. Haise had even put three squares of marshmallows into the drink and Urie guarded it jealousy from his teammates.

Not that he needed to, Haise was sure to have more coming if it was needed

A knock at the door had Urie mentally grumbling and forced from his comfortable position. The door was opened to reveal Suzuya Juuzou, who was staring at the wreath that one of the Qs had hung on the door. He didn’t even seem to notice Urie standing there until the Urie cleared his throat.

Never one to be embarrassed, the androgynous man burst through the entranceway, making a beeline to where he could hear Haise’s voice.

“Haiseee…!” He called out happily before disappearing into the kitchen.

His subordinate stared blankly at his treating back and came into the house in a less explosive manner.

“Merry Christmas,” Urie huffed. The others had been nagging him throughout the week, telling him that he needed to get more into the spirit. So it was only today of all days that he allowed himself to utter those words in a tone that was a little bit more than friendly.

Hanbee nodded a greeting in return. Urie played host while Haise and Juuzou’s friendly chatter filtered in from the kitchen.

Shortly after, Saiko came barreling down the stairs, arms full of neatly wrapped presents. Tooru followed at a more sedate pace, also carrying a load of gifts. Surprisingly enough, Urie could see Shirazu’s gifts tucked under the tree beside his own.

With the room full, the peaceful silence was a thing of the past. From the kitchen, Haise kept one ear trained on the chatter from the other room while he watched Suzuya ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ at each dish that had been prepared. More than once, Haise had to slap at the other man’s hands to stop him from sneaking a taste.

Of course, Suzuya pouted at his friend, pleading with such fierce eyes that Haise relented and offered him a sugar cookie instead.

Haise returned to the living room, a plate full of cookies just in time to see Arima and Mado enter. Like an excited puppy, Haise greeted them both with warm smiles and hugs.

Then just as quickly, he turned around and chided Shirazu who had been patiently shaking one of the gifts. Sheepishly, the younger man returned the present to its place under the tree and flopped on the couch.

“Watch it!” Urie hissed, barely dodging his teammate’s elbow.

An argument broke out between the two, Urie and Shirazu bickering for a moment while Tooru tried to calm them both down. surprisingly, it was Juuzo who broke it up by shoving a cookie in each of their mouths, effectively shutting them both up. He gave a happy hum of approval when the arguing stopped, pleased that order was restored.

The two didn’t dare start up again and grudgingly munched on the cookies.

In the meantime, Haise had gone into full host mode and was setting the food on the dinner table. Arima followed behind him, happy to help even when Haise insisted that they should all relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

After dinner, the adults were amused to see the younger investigators barely contain themselves in excitement. It wasn’t even the act of receiving gifts that caused it, but the exchange and watching each person’s reaction.

Shirazu tore into each gift, strips of wrapping paper surrounding him in a mess. He was always so grateful for each gift though, even hugging the plushie that Saiko had gifted him.

Urie was more meticulous about his unwrapping and took his time to fold away each square of wrapping paper. It was almost torture to watch him reveal his gifts, but the way his expression softened was well worth the wait.

“Oh,” Haise exclaimed out of nowhere, “Arima-san, I’m so sorry! Your gift arrived later than all the others and I didn’t get a chance to wrap it properly.”

He turned guilty eyes towards his mentor, fidgeting on his spot on the couch. “Would you mind if I gave it to you tomorrow…?”

Arima was shaking his head though, a slight smile on his face. “You don’t have to wrap it for me, Haise. I’m perfectly happy with however you want to give it to me.”

But Haise would not be deterred. “It’s a Christmas gift,” he said passionately, “It needs to be given the same care that I gave all the others so I can’t give it to you without wrapping it.”

“Tomorrow will be fine then,” Arima said agreeably. Haise smiled in return.

“Haise!” Suzuya called as he left the bathroom. He held something in his hands and in his excitement, wanted to show it to his friend. He moved with such speed towards Haise that no one realized what it was until Suzuya was dangling it above Haise’s head. “Look! Look!”

Punched between two fingers, there was the recognizable green of the mistletoe and notable red of the berries. Suzuya was almost trembling with excitement while everyone else in the room seemed to freeze.

“What is it?” He wondered, staring at the plant with a curious tilt of his head.

“Th-that’s mistletoe,” Tooru managed to choke out.

“Where the hell did you find that?” Shirazu demanded with a groan.

“Is it poisonous?” The possibility only seemed to further excite Suzuya.

Haise’s cheeks had tinged pink, but he remained standing where he was, caught between the mistletoe with Suzuya.

Akira laughed, a teasing smile on her lips when she said, “You have to kiss Haise, Juuzou!”

He blinked large eyes at Akira. “I can kiss Haise?”

“Kiss! Kiss!” Saiko cheered while wrapped in her new fleece blanket.

By Akira’s side, Arima had his arms folded across his chest but he gave an indulgent smile at the two.

“It’s a Christmas tradition,” Akira explained, “when you’re caught under the mistletoe with someone, you have to kiss them.”

“I’m not sure if that should count,” Tooru mumbled. “Technically, he brought the mistletoe and forced the–”

“Kisss!” Saiko cheered.

“Okay,” Suzuya said.

“Suzuya, you don’t have to–” Haise tried to stop it but his friend simply leaned forward and pressed his lips against Haise’s cheek.

“I kissed Haise!” Suzuya declared victoriously. While not exactly what they expected, the group still laughed and cheered.

The mistletoe was disposed of to prevent any other surprises. Haise was teased over his blushing face for the remainder of the night. It was an eventful Christmas Eve and it left all of them with a sense of warmth that went bone deep.

Eventually, the group dispersed. Juuzou and Hanbee we’re the first to leave. Juuzuo hugged Haise tight, his gift of a warm fluffy scarf wrapped around his neck.

Akira was next to go and she, too, hugged Haise and the rest of the Quix team.

With just the Qs and Arima, Haise quickly set to work with cleaning up after the guests.

In the living room, the Qs fidgeted under Arima’s impassive stare. All except Sailor who was already dozing on the couch, content and full of hot chocolate.

“Shirazu is at fault, as expected,” Urie accused. “He was supposed to take care of any mistletoe that ended up in the Chateau.”

Shirazu groaned and hung his head, not even bothering with excuses. Tooru patted him on the shoulder in sympathy.

“We did so well though,” Shirazu grumbled. “I’m sorry, guys. The mission failed because of me…”

Instead of scolding them, Arima just produced four little Christmas cards.

“It’s fine,” he told them. He then handed each a card and tucked the last one with Saiko’s name in the Christmas tree. “Juuzou is hard to predict, at times.The team did well.”

Their eyes grew round with the praise, the members still a little starstruck with Arima.

“Thank you!” They each happily returned to their rooms with their bounty and their earnings from a successful mission: Save Haise from Christmas.

When it was just Haise and Arima left, minus the oblivious Saiko napping, Arima went to rejoin Haise in the kitchen.

At the doorway, he stopped for a moment just to enjoy the sight of his protege packing away leftover food. His eyes lingered on the sway of Haise’s body, a slow, seductive thing that Arima was sure the younger man was unaware of.

Haise seemed unaware of his presence as he hummed a tune while piling the dishes up for a wash. But when Arima came up behind him, wrapping his arms around a trim waist, Haise didn’t even flinch.

Instead, Haise leaned back into the warmth of Arima’s arms, eyes slipping closed to enjoy the moment.

“Did you really pay my team to take out all the mistletoe?” Haise teased the older man.

Arima refused to acknowledge or deny the statement. Instead, he settled his chin on Haise’s shoulder and gave a thoughtful hum.

“Leave the dishes,” Arima told him instead.

“Hmm?” Haise murmured, but regardless, he reached forward and shut the water. When he leaned back into Arima’s embrace, the older man tipped his face to the side and easily captured Haise’s lips with his own.

Arima didn’t need mistletoe, just Haise’s acceptance as their lips pressed together

It was a kiss, a true kiss, full of warmth and a different kind of love than the one Juuzou had pressed to Haise’s cheek.

When they separated, that endearing flush was back on Haise’s cheeks, a lovely pink splash of color.

Arima smirked as he leaned close, murmuring into the shell of Haise’s ear. “Show me my Christmas present?”

Neither noticed Saiko staring wide-eyed from her place on the couch, peeking at them from beneath the blanket as they made their way to Haise’s room.

[jenmedsbookreviews]

Yes … believe it or not, it is getting to that point in the year that we both welcome and dread. Christmas. You may have missed it, but I’ve started posting a few festive reads on the blog over the past few days, just something Mandie and I thought (back in July/August) was a really good idea. Possibly not as we’re about as enthusiastic about Christmas as the Grinch, but hey ho (ho ho), it’s not all bad. I think. Do stop by for a few festive reading tips won’t you? Hopefully there’s a little something for everyone from the cosy and the kiddie, right through to the dark and the deadly. Always room for a little festive crime right?

Well, I had a busy old week last week achieving not a lot whilst seemingly doing loads. The week started perfectly – I was only at work for half a day before I was heading off down to London for November’s First Monday Crime panel. This month saw Barry Forshaw interview Stuart MacBride, Elodie Harper, Vaseem Khan and Simon Booker. An interesting debate was had by all regarding the idea of crime fiction v ‘literary fiction’, biggest mistakes made by newbie writers and whether there should be limits on how far you take your crime fiction.

A fantastic panel and I can heartily recommend both their books and First Monday Crime and if you want to find out more about next months panel, you can do so at their website here. December’s panel promises to be a doozy with Chris Whitaker, Louise Jensen, Mel McGrath and Susi Holliday alongside chair Claire McGowan. On top of that you’ll get to witness ‘Pitch the Audience’ where MC Howard Linskey will try to corral Rod Reynolds, Abir Mukherjee, Cass Green, Leye Adenle, Susi Holliday, Derek Farrell, Lisa Cutts, Chris Whitaker, Mason Cross, and James Carol as they bid to become ‘Pitch the Audience’ Champions for 2017. And books and pub visits. What more could you want? I’m booked. Maybe see you there?

And speaking of books, couldn’t resist the opportunity of getting a couple of signed books while I was there. Well … I went all that way. 😉

Book post wise, it’s been quite a quiet week for me. Nowt new there then lol. Just the one, a copy of Sai-Ko from author Gabriela Harding. Can’t wait to take a trip to the dark side with these short stories.

Other purchase wise, I’ve been good. At least if you own Amazon lol. I purchased the Killer Women Crime Club Book 2, Give Me The Child by Mel McGrath (also on audio); Little Liar by Clare Boyd and The Death Knock by Elodie Harper. From Netgalley, just the one, Know Me Now by CJ Carver. Also on audible was WhiteOut by Ragnar Jonasson. Well a girl needs to have the whole set.

Reading wise it’s been a bit of a mixed bag as my head is all over the place with work. I have managed 3.4 books though – one of them being a collection of short stories.

Books I have read

A Christmas Wish by Erin Green

Flora Phillips has an excuse for every disaster in her life; she was abandoned as a new-born on a doorstep one cold autumn night, wrapped in nothing but a towel. Her philosophy is simple: if your mother doesn’t want you – who will?

Now a thirty-year-old, without a boyfriend, a career or home she figures she might as well tackle the biggest question of them all – who is she? So, whilst everyone else enjoys their Christmas Eve traditions, Flora escapes the masses and drives to the village of Pooley to seek a specific doorstep. Her doorstep.

But in Pooley she finds more than her life story. She finds friends, laughter, and perhaps even a love to last a lifetime. Because once you know where you come from, it’s so much easier to know where you’re going.

A story of redemption and love, romance and Christmas dreams-come-true, the perfect novel to snuggle up with this festive season.

A wonderfully uplifting and heart warming tale of Flora, a woman who is in search of her birth mother having been left on a doorstep as a baby. Great for Christmas, my review of this book will be on the blog this week. In the meantime you can buy a copy of the book here.

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The Advent Killer by Alastair Gunn

Christmas is coming. One body at a time. 

Three weeks before Christmas: Sunday, one a.m. A woman is drowned in her bathtub.

One week later: Sunday, one a.m. A woman is beaten savagely to death, every bone in her body broken.

Another week brings another victim.

As panic spreads across London, DCI Antonia Hawkins, leading her first murder investigation, must stop a cold, careful killer whose twisted motives can only be guessed at, before the next body is found. On Sunday.

When the clock strikes one . . .

A terrifying British debut thriller, The Advent Killer introduces DCI Antonia Hawkins, with the second in the series coming from Penguin in 2014. Fans of Chris Carter and Richard Montanari should be paying attention.

Now Christmas and murder … finally something I can identify with. Not literally of course and not in quite so gruesome a fashion as is presented in Alastair Gunn’s debut novel  I’ll be sharing my thoughts on this one very soon as one of my ‘festive reads’. You can buy a copy of the book here.

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Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

When Holly White’s fiancé cancels their Christmas Eve wedding with less than two weeks to go, Holly heads home with a broken heart. Lucky for her, home in historic Mistletoe, Maine is magical during Christmastime—exactly what the doctor prescribed. Except her plan to drown her troubles in peppermints and snickerdoodles is upended when local grouch and president of the Mistletoe Historical Society Margaret Fenwick is bludgeoned and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly’s family tree farm.

When the murder weapon is revealed as one of the wooden stakes used to identify trees on the farm, Sheriff Evan Grey turns to Holly’s father, Bud, and the Reindeer Games staff. And it doesn’t help that Bud and the reindeer keeper were each seen arguing with Margaret just before her death. But Holly knows her father, and is determined to exonerate him.The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn’t watch out, she’ll end up on Santa’s naughty list in Twelve Slays of Christmas, Jacqueline Frost’s jolly series debut.

After a bit of a gruesome murder, it was time to go all cosy. This is a beautiful book, full of all the festive spirit a lover of the season could want. Give or take the odd murder … I’ll be reviewing this very soon but you can buy yourself a copy right here.

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CWA Anthology of Short Stories: Mystery Tour

Crime spreads across the globe in this new collection of short stories from the Crime Writer’s Association, as a conspiracy of prominent crime authors take you on a world mystery tour. Highlights of the trip include a treacherous cruise to French Polynesia, a horrifying trek in South Africa, a murderous train-ride across Ukraine and a vengeful killing in Mumbai. But back home in the UK, life isn’t so easy either. Dead bodies turn up on the backstreets of Glasgow, crime writers turn words into deeds at literary events, and Lady Luck seems to guide the fate of a Twickenham hood. Showcasing the range, breadth and vitality of the contemporary crime-fiction genre, these twenty-eight chilling and unputdownable stories will take you on a trip you’ll never forget.

Contributions from: Ann Cleeves, C.L. Taylor, Susi Holliday, Martin Edwards, Anna Mazzola, Carol Anne Davis, Cath Staincliffe, Chris Simms, Christine Poulson, Ed James, Gordon Brown, J.M. Hewitt, Judith Cutler, Julia Crouch, Kate Ellis, Kate Rhodes, Martine Bailey, Michael Stanley, Maxim Jakubowski, Paul Charles, Paul Gitsham, Peter Lovesey, Ragnar Jónasson, Sarah Rayne, Shawn Reilly Simmons, Vaseem Khan, William Ryan and William Burton McCormick

A brilliant collection of short stories and perfect for dipping in and out of, which is exactly what I’m doing ahead of my stop on the blog tour next week. Featuring some of the best crime writers around, you’d be mad to miss it. I’ve already powered through 34% of the book without even realising it. You can preorder a copy here.

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Blogging wise, not quite as traumatic as last week, i.e. you haven’t had to suffer any more videos of me, but still busy none-the-less.

#BlogTour: Whiteout by Ragnar Jonasson

#Review: Zenka by Alison Brodie

Festive Reads: Mr Men & Little Miss at Christmas

Festive Reads: This Way To Christmas by Anita Bijsterbosh and Christmas Stories for Kids by Uncle Amon

Festive Reads: Enid Blyton’s Christmas Tales

Festive Reads: Santa, Please Bring Me A Gnome by An Swerts

#BlogTour: #IntoTheValley by Chris Clement-Green

#BookLove: Tracy Fenton

Review: Mr Men & Little Miss for Grown UpsFestive Reads: A Christmas Flower by Bryan Mooneyffiths163

#BlogTour: Bad Sister by Sam Carrington

Review: Elephant and Sheep and other stories by Patricia Furstenberg

The week ahead is another full one – are there any other kind. Personally, I am off to the UK launch of The Man Who Died by Antti Tuomainen on Wednesday and I can’t wait. It’s in the running to be my book of the year! Then the weekend sees the long awaited arrival of Hull Noir. Looking forward to lots of brilliant panels and getting to catch up with some amazing blogger friends.

In the meantime, I’ve a mixture of the usual reviews and blog tours to keep you all amused, starting today when I’ll be reviewing The Puppet Master by Abigail Osborne. Wednesday is the tour for The Future Can’t Wait by Angelena Boden and Saturday it’s Dying Day by Stephen Edger. And there will be some sharing of the #booklove with blogger Victoria Goldman.

And in other news – with the notable and excusable exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day, today marks a whole year of posting every day, at least once, sometimes more. I set myself the challenge to see how long I could keep it up and I have to admit I am fluffing knackered now, but hey. Quite an achievement for a moderately busy gal like me I think. Go me. May have to celebrate.

Have a brilliant week all. See you on the other side

Jen

Rewind, recap: Weekly update w/e 12/11/17 Yes ... believe it or not, it is getting to that point in the year that we both welcome and dread.