[Crossworld] O'Christmas Tree
Dec. 14th, 2014 03:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
n_wilkinsona/n: Part of my fun, extended universe where I take characters from my fantasy series and drop them in the real world to interact, here are a few Christmas themed shorts. Hope you enjoy!
Title: O'Christmas Tree
Universe: Crossworld
Characters: Azriel, Kieran, Gale, Ione, Frost, Sleet, Sander, Jasper, Ethan, Jaiden, Janus, Alcaeus
Rating: T
Warnings: fluff
Description: The selection process is all a matter of opinion
Kieran grins and inhales, loving the scent of pine that hangs in the crisp air. A biting chill nips at his nose but it's all part of the experience. Above him, Christmas lights crisscross as if to say “Welcome to Christmas!”
Welcome indeed.
Kieran's grin widens and he resists the urge to dance in place. Excitement bounces around in his belly.
“You're cute,” Azriel says.
Kieran sticks out his tongue.
Azriel flips his hood over his head. “Your cheeks are red.”
He tugs the hood into better position since it was blocking his eyes. “It's cold.” Kieran tilts his head back, looking up at the sky. “I think it's going to snow.”
Azriel bumps their shoulders. “Then I guess we'd better hurry.”
“You don't have to tell me twice.” Kieran's boots crunch over frost-bitten snow as he passes through the arch and into the wide open expanse of the local Christmas Tree farm.
Every year they come here, and every year, he stares wide-eyed at the rows and rows of trees sprouting from the snow-capped ground. And this early it's not crowded at all. He won't have to fight through people.
Wow.
He doesn't know where to start.
Kieran heads for the closest row with Azriel following at a more sedate pace, content to let Kieran lead the way for now. He likes to pretend that he's not invested in this, but he so is.
Kieran tilts his head. These, he thinks, are too short.
“Six feet?” Kieran hazards, glancing at Azriel for confirmation.
“You don't want a tree barely taller than you are, do you?”
“Good point.”
Kieran hums in his throat and heads deeper into the farm, nearer to the back where the older growths are. Yes. These are much better. Taller, too. He'd have to strain to reach the top. Might even have to break out the stepstool to put on the star.
“What about this one?”
Azriel looks it over. “It's uneven.”
Kieran laughs. “That's the point.”
“Hmm.” He moves to the next tree. “Perhaps this one instead.”
Kieran squints at Azriel's choice. “The top is too short,” he notices. “It won't hold the star.” He skims a few more. “But the one next to it...”
“--has a gap.”
“My but aren't you picky,” Kieran teases and snakes a hand through Azriel's elbow, pulling him further down the row.
“You're one to talk.”
Kieran sneaks a glance at his husband, whose indulgent expression doesn't show how much fun he's having. He grabs Azriel's hand, giving it a squeeze.
“You know I'll be happy with whichever one we bring home,” Kieran murmurs.
“Really.” Azriel uses his free hand to point to one with drooping branches, like a sad Charlie Brown tree. “I like that one.”
“But it sags.”
Azriel laughs.
“You have to think about the poor ornaments, lover,” Kieran reminds him. Because there will be a lot. The shinier, the better.
“I'm more concerned with my freezing toes.”
“We haven't been out here that long,” Kieran argues and then, he sees it.
His eyes light up and he drops Azriel's hand to dart toward the gem of choice.
“This one!” he declares, throwing his arms into the air. “It's perfect!”
The Frasier fir is full and green and balanced. It has sturdy limbs and strong branches and a rounded top. He can see it in the corner of their living room, glittering with tinsel and surrounded by presents.
Azriel catches up to him with a slow nod. “I approve.” He digs their claim ribbon out of his pocket and ties it to a sturdy branch, solidifying their claim.
Kieran bounces in place before throwing his arms around Azriel's neck and kissing him. Azriel staggers, but gains his balance, returning the embrace.
“Thank you,” Kieran says against lips that are chilled and taste of Burt's Bees. Not that he at all minds.
“You're welcome.” Azriel gives him a light squeeze. “Now let's cut it down so we can take it home.”
And then the real fun can begin.
Sleet bounces on the balls of his feet.
“Just pick out the one you want,” Frost says as he pulls out his wallet, flipping through the slots. “I don't care which one.” He selects the Amex and holds it out.
Sleet smirks and reaches for it, only for Frost to hold it back.
“One tree, Sleet,” Frost warns before setting it on his palm. His eyes narrow in further warning and then he tucks his wallet away, returning his attention to his conference call.
Sleet grins and tucks the credit card into his pocket. One tree? Pfft. Who does Frost think he's fooling?
Janus walks to the first tree he sees and says, “I want this one.”
Alcaeus wishes he could be so surprised. But he's not. His lips twitch. “Whatever you say, sir.”
There'll be no living with him otherwise.
Meanwhile...
“Is it fire-resistant?”
Over the PA system, Burt Ives tells them to have a Holly Jolly Christmas. He can barely hear the words over the crowd's chatter.
Jasper squints at the box, trying to find English amid the other languages printed on the cardboard. “Keep away from fire,” he reads aloud.
“Hmm.” Sander thumbs his chin. “That sounds flammable.”
“Don't stick it in the fireplace then.”
“Brat.”
Jasper shrugs and stares at the artificial tree with a wrinkled nose. “We could get a real one,” he suggests.
Sander arches a brow at him. “So that we have to vacuum and water it every day?”
Jasper chews on his bottom lip and whirls. “This one comes pre-lit!”
“But is it fire-resistant?”
Gale blinks. “It's potted.”
“So we don't have to cut it down.”
Gale squints. “But it's potted.” He pauses. “And small.”
Ione plants her hands on her hips. “And where would be put a large one?”
“Where are going to plant it when Christmas is over?”
Ione's lips twitch. “We kind of have a backyard.”
“We have a balcony covered in houseplants.”
Ione winces. “I can ask Uncle Kieran.”
Gale knows when he's beat. “I can't say no to you,” he says.
Ione's grin could light the tree on its own. “I know. It runs in the family.”
Meanwhile...
“You always wait until the last minute!”
“Well, I didn't see you rushing out to buy one either.”
That they'd both been too busy lies unspoken. Ethan had tried to convince Jaiden to go alone, but he'd refused.
Ethan rolls his eyes. “Do you want to buy one or not?”
“I do,” Jaiden says and shoves his hands in his pockets. “There are plenty still at Lowes.”
“Plenty of scraggly ones,” Ethan mutters but he digs out his keys. “Fine. Let's go.”
Jaiden's hand falls on his arm. “Does it matter what it looks like?” he asks, brown eyes searching for Ethan's. “As long as we do it together?”
Ethan tries to press his lips together, but damn it. He sighs. “You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Nothing.” He offers a smile and tilts his head toward the car. “Come on. Let's go.”
a/n: Next up in our holiday shorts will be decorations! Christmas isn't complete without hanging lights, stockings, and decorating the tree. Every family has their own traditions. :)
Title: O'Christmas Tree
Universe: Crossworld
Characters: Azriel, Kieran, Gale, Ione, Frost, Sleet, Sander, Jasper, Ethan, Jaiden, Janus, Alcaeus
Rating: T
Warnings: fluff
Description: The selection process is all a matter of opinion
Kieran grins and inhales, loving the scent of pine that hangs in the crisp air. A biting chill nips at his nose but it's all part of the experience. Above him, Christmas lights crisscross as if to say “Welcome to Christmas!”
Welcome indeed.
Kieran's grin widens and he resists the urge to dance in place. Excitement bounces around in his belly.
“You're cute,” Azriel says.
Kieran sticks out his tongue.
Azriel flips his hood over his head. “Your cheeks are red.”
He tugs the hood into better position since it was blocking his eyes. “It's cold.” Kieran tilts his head back, looking up at the sky. “I think it's going to snow.”
Azriel bumps their shoulders. “Then I guess we'd better hurry.”
“You don't have to tell me twice.” Kieran's boots crunch over frost-bitten snow as he passes through the arch and into the wide open expanse of the local Christmas Tree farm.
Every year they come here, and every year, he stares wide-eyed at the rows and rows of trees sprouting from the snow-capped ground. And this early it's not crowded at all. He won't have to fight through people.
Wow.
He doesn't know where to start.
Kieran heads for the closest row with Azriel following at a more sedate pace, content to let Kieran lead the way for now. He likes to pretend that he's not invested in this, but he so is.
Kieran tilts his head. These, he thinks, are too short.
“Six feet?” Kieran hazards, glancing at Azriel for confirmation.
“You don't want a tree barely taller than you are, do you?”
“Good point.”
Kieran hums in his throat and heads deeper into the farm, nearer to the back where the older growths are. Yes. These are much better. Taller, too. He'd have to strain to reach the top. Might even have to break out the stepstool to put on the star.
“What about this one?”
Azriel looks it over. “It's uneven.”
Kieran laughs. “That's the point.”
“Hmm.” He moves to the next tree. “Perhaps this one instead.”
Kieran squints at Azriel's choice. “The top is too short,” he notices. “It won't hold the star.” He skims a few more. “But the one next to it...”
“--has a gap.”
“My but aren't you picky,” Kieran teases and snakes a hand through Azriel's elbow, pulling him further down the row.
“You're one to talk.”
Kieran sneaks a glance at his husband, whose indulgent expression doesn't show how much fun he's having. He grabs Azriel's hand, giving it a squeeze.
“You know I'll be happy with whichever one we bring home,” Kieran murmurs.
“Really.” Azriel uses his free hand to point to one with drooping branches, like a sad Charlie Brown tree. “I like that one.”
“But it sags.”
Azriel laughs.
“You have to think about the poor ornaments, lover,” Kieran reminds him. Because there will be a lot. The shinier, the better.
“I'm more concerned with my freezing toes.”
“We haven't been out here that long,” Kieran argues and then, he sees it.
His eyes light up and he drops Azriel's hand to dart toward the gem of choice.
“This one!” he declares, throwing his arms into the air. “It's perfect!”
The Frasier fir is full and green and balanced. It has sturdy limbs and strong branches and a rounded top. He can see it in the corner of their living room, glittering with tinsel and surrounded by presents.
Azriel catches up to him with a slow nod. “I approve.” He digs their claim ribbon out of his pocket and ties it to a sturdy branch, solidifying their claim.
Kieran bounces in place before throwing his arms around Azriel's neck and kissing him. Azriel staggers, but gains his balance, returning the embrace.
“Thank you,” Kieran says against lips that are chilled and taste of Burt's Bees. Not that he at all minds.
“You're welcome.” Azriel gives him a light squeeze. “Now let's cut it down so we can take it home.”
And then the real fun can begin.
Meanwhile...
Sleet bounces on the balls of his feet.
“Just pick out the one you want,” Frost says as he pulls out his wallet, flipping through the slots. “I don't care which one.” He selects the Amex and holds it out.
Sleet smirks and reaches for it, only for Frost to hold it back.
“One tree, Sleet,” Frost warns before setting it on his palm. His eyes narrow in further warning and then he tucks his wallet away, returning his attention to his conference call.
Sleet grins and tucks the credit card into his pocket. One tree? Pfft. Who does Frost think he's fooling?
Meanwhile...
Janus walks to the first tree he sees and says, “I want this one.”
Alcaeus wishes he could be so surprised. But he's not. His lips twitch. “Whatever you say, sir.”
There'll be no living with him otherwise.
Meanwhile...
“Is it fire-resistant?”
Over the PA system, Burt Ives tells them to have a Holly Jolly Christmas. He can barely hear the words over the crowd's chatter.
Jasper squints at the box, trying to find English amid the other languages printed on the cardboard. “Keep away from fire,” he reads aloud.
“Hmm.” Sander thumbs his chin. “That sounds flammable.”
“Don't stick it in the fireplace then.”
“Brat.”
Jasper shrugs and stares at the artificial tree with a wrinkled nose. “We could get a real one,” he suggests.
Sander arches a brow at him. “So that we have to vacuum and water it every day?”
Jasper chews on his bottom lip and whirls. “This one comes pre-lit!”
“But is it fire-resistant?”
Meanwhile...
Gale blinks. “It's potted.”
“So we don't have to cut it down.”
Gale squints. “But it's potted.” He pauses. “And small.”
Ione plants her hands on her hips. “And where would be put a large one?”
“Where are going to plant it when Christmas is over?”
Ione's lips twitch. “We kind of have a backyard.”
“We have a balcony covered in houseplants.”
Ione winces. “I can ask Uncle Kieran.”
Gale knows when he's beat. “I can't say no to you,” he says.
Ione's grin could light the tree on its own. “I know. It runs in the family.”
Meanwhile...
“You always wait until the last minute!”
“Well, I didn't see you rushing out to buy one either.”
That they'd both been too busy lies unspoken. Ethan had tried to convince Jaiden to go alone, but he'd refused.
Ethan rolls his eyes. “Do you want to buy one or not?”
“I do,” Jaiden says and shoves his hands in his pockets. “There are plenty still at Lowes.”
“Plenty of scraggly ones,” Ethan mutters but he digs out his keys. “Fine. Let's go.”
Jaiden's hand falls on his arm. “Does it matter what it looks like?” he asks, brown eyes searching for Ethan's. “As long as we do it together?”
Ethan tries to press his lips together, but damn it. He sighs. “You always do that.”
“Do what?”
“Nothing.” He offers a smile and tilts his head toward the car. “Come on. Let's go.”
***
a/n: Next up in our holiday shorts will be decorations! Christmas isn't complete without hanging lights, stockings, and decorating the tree. Every family has their own traditions. :)
