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Hey guys! You still have a couple of weeks to sign up for ZEcret Santa Gift Exchange!
The sign up form can be found here!
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For more details and deadlines, check out our info page! And of course, if you have any questions, feel free to shoot us an ask!
Hey guys! Who’s ready for Zecret Santa 2018!? It’s that time of year again and signups are open!
How it works:
Notes about prompts:
Please visit our info page for more information, or feel free to shoot us an ask if you have any questions!
**IMPORTANT DATES**
December 14 — pinch hitter assignments sent out
Though this does require commitment, don’t be afraid to participate! If you have anymore questions, shoot us an ask. And of course, have fun!
❤ Mod J, Mod D, and Mod B
To: @nursedianaklim
From: @lesbianpearlfey (Northernflicker)
Happy Holidays! This is the first thing that I’ve written and actually finished in months, but I loved the prompt so I had to take a swing at it.
(Ao3)
To: @choicemtn
From: @eatingfireflies
Maybe one of the good things about fucked up post-apocalypse climate is snow in Nevada? :”D
Happy holidays, @choicemtn ! This is a bonus gift because we always need more Tenmyoujis bonding :’D
To: @larvaloverlord
From: @kiichu
Here’s a small Bonus Round gift for my Zecret Santa, @larvaloverlord! 🙂
—
“This is… a Christmas tree?” The GAULEM’s eyes practically glowed as she studied the frame of the fir towering well above their heads. The needles were a glittering emerald, brushed with the illusion of fresh frost in the form of some simple paint. A large, red contraption hugged itself around the trunk, the holes in the mechanism showing the water that pooled inside, seeping into the tree when it needed to drink like an IV.
The tree probably looked the same as any other in the forest, but Luna concluded that this was the most beautiful one. According to her, at least, this one was the best and most perfect choice for their makeshift family.
Beside her, the other participants of the Ambidex Game stood as firmly as the tree itself, most of their faces showing a bright expression. Sigma assumed the leader position once more, positioned at the front of the group. The soft wrinkles on his face gently shifted as he smiled, eyes twinkling as he nodded.
The details of how they all made it to earth – even Luna, who shouldn’t have been able to function out of Rhizome-9 – were a complete blur. She recalled the Ambidex Game ending, all of the players surviving, and the truth being revealed to most of them. Dr. Klim’s consciousness returned to his body, and she helped him return to his room to rest. The moment she did, she felt her insides shutting down, a familiar buzzing creeping through her mind. This had happened a few times before, for maintenance and other routine reasons, but she remembered feeling quite unsure, terrified that after she was shut off that final time, she wouldn’t wake up again.
However, that couldn’t be further from the truth, as she’d somehow woken up on an earth none of them recognized – an earth that was clean and healthy.
Dr. Klim, Ms. Kurashiki, and all of the Ambidex Game players had ended up SHIFTing to a world where Radical-6 was never released, and Luna had never seen such a wondrous sight. She didn’t even know it was possible to ever see such a world, one that the AB Garden severely paled to in comparison, much less live in it. Somehow, somehow, they had brought her with them when they SHIFTed – and she didn’t ask the details.
She didn’t want to know how those that did not have a consciousness in this timeline, like Quark and K and Dio, were able to arrive here. She didn’t even bother to wonder if she was still hooked up to the same computer system – the details no longer mattered to her. All was well, and she would be a fool to question things.
Some of the consciousness the humans all SHIFTed into did exist in this world, so it was easy for them to jump. Tenmyouji, for example, had a large furnished home – the Tenmyouji from this timeline had been happy and successful, and dissolved away in favor of the newly-SHIFTed consciousness. Regardless, Tenmyouji still had a house, and let everyone stay in it, citing that he’d be “a bitter old man” otherwise.
She had been more than happy just to be here on earth with everyone, but humans always did want more than they had – not that that was a bad thing in the least for this case. Yes, now they wished to bring their happiness to another level – and take Luna with them.
They proposed they celebrate Christmas, albeit a month late.
Quark was positively ecstatic. The child clearly hadn’t celebrated a proper holiday like this before, as he lived a junk collector’s life with Tenmyouji. Luna felt a comforting sort of warmth in her chest at the thought of Quark being so happy – perhaps it was her motherly programming, but she couldn’t help but want to try in any way possible to get that boy to smile just a bit brighter.
In the end, Tenmyouji and Quark decided to dig through the attic, to see if they could find any decorations.
Clover looked rather melancholy, recollecting all the Christmas traditions she’d done as a child with her brother, but decided to help collect a tree with Alice as a way to honor him. K decided to join them, most likely the strength to carry back any tree they found outside.
Ms. Kurashiki decided to make some tea, and Phi dug through some old Christmas CD albums. Dr. Klim sat quietly, keeping an eye on Dio. Their “unwelcome guest” (Dr. Klim’s words, not Luna’s) had his wrists bound for now, looking very wide-eyed and lost in a world he’d never known. Gone was the rage and hatred he showed in the Ambidex Game, in its place a look of desolation and utter confusion. If she had a heart, the sight of him like that would have twisted it.
An hour later, the group of three had returned with a beautiful fir tree, and placed it in the center of the room in a stand filled with water.
“Luna?”
A voice snapped her out of her reminiscing, turning to glance at the others standing nearby. Everyone looked rather pleased at their find, and were looking at her expectantly.
“U-um, yes? I’m sorry, I spaced out…” she murmured, folding her hands in front of her face timidly.
Dr. Klim smiled warmly – a smile she wanted to keep on his face as long as possible – and handed her a glass star-shaped item. She held it up in front of the tree, watching the green of the needles sparkle through the clear shape of the star. The sight dazzled her, sending another spark of warmth through her circuits.
“It’s beautiful…” she whispered, still in awe.
“Isn’t it?!” Quark cried, shoving Tenmyouji aside to stand in the front of the group. “Me and Grandpa found it upstairs in the attic! I think it’s the prettiest ornament he owns!”
Ah, an ornament – that was right, according to the customs she’d read in books, these were hung from the branches of the Christmas tree. But why was she given the honor of holding Quark’s obviously favorite ornament?
“You should put it on, then,” she insisted, attempting to give it back.
“No, no,” Dr. Klim’s voice was kind, but firm – she retracted her hand, giving him a curious look. “We all agreed to let you put on the star of the tree, Luna. We’ll all put up the lights and more ornaments first, but you can place the star on at the very end to complete the look.”
Luna’s eyes glittered, her ‘heart’ thumping against her chest. The blissful, merry feeling completely overwhelmed her; was this what people meant when they talked about Christmas cheer? Was it really the time of year that brought out such sentiments, or just the selfless deeds of others that created a peaceful atmosphere?
Whatever the case, Luna felt it – she’d never felt anything like it before, and she didn’t want to ever not feel like this. Her breath caught in her throat as she stared up at Dr. Klim, a film of artificial tears pooling under her eyes.
“Thank you. Thank you,” she breathed, stepping forward to wrap her arms around the doctor. He stiffened at her sudden touch, but ultimately relaxed and patted her head like a child. She didn’t care that she was probably staining his shirt – she was just so happy.
When she finally pulled back, she gazed up at the doctor, matching his smile with her own.
A dry tone sounded from beside her. “Um, wow, Luna, way to thank the rest of us,” Phi muttered, and Dr. Klim shifted and gently grabbed her arm; Phi gave a surprised yelp as she was pulled in beside Luna. The two made the structure of an enclosure around Luna, making her feel like a protected child.
“Oh, oh! I want in!” Clover squealed, her pink curls bouncing as she hopped over to join them.
Alice gave a chuckle and casually strolled up to the group next, her heels clicking on the wooden floor. “I suppose there’s no reason not to. Everything seemed to work out, after all.”
Luna smiled and nodded – yes, this timeline seemed to be perfect for everyone, didn’t it? Her pulse sped up as she could feel two new pairs of arms encircle her, the two young women each giving her a wink.
“C’mon, Grandpa!” Quark cried, pushing his way into the group.
Tenmyouji gave a loud sigh. “My, my, we’re awfully huggy today, aren’t we… well, like Alice said, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, I guess.”
Two more bodies joined their circle, Quark’s wide smile enough to brighten everyone else’s expressions just that much more.
A muffled chuckle sounded nearby, K’s analytical tone following it. “Ah, I believe this is called a group hug, yes?”
And Dio’s rough hiss: “No shit. Like fuck I’m getting in on that, though.”
“Don’t be like that, Dio – Christmas is supposed to be about love and joy, or so I’ve heard. Come now,” K said, and dragged Dio by the wrist towards the group.
“H-hey! Let me go!” Dio squirmed, trying to pry the metal fingers off him. Luna softly smiled towards him as they approached, trying to get him to relax a bit more; when the blond noticed her smile, he merely grimaced and broke eye contact, but didn’t protest anymore and let himself be placed in the circle.
K stretched his large, mechanical arms around the group, squishing their bodies together in a tight embrace. He was strong enough to lift everyone off the ground as well, the eyes of his mask lighting up as he merrily chuckled. Everyone else laughed, albeit a bit nervously due to the closeness (except Dio, who grumbled), but the atmosphere felt warm and inviting.
Here were a group of people that probably had never celebrated Christmas, much less together, all hugging one another like they were close.
As they parted, Ms. Kurashiki’s raspy voice sounded from behind Luna. She glanced over her shoulder to see the woman with a gentle smile of her own. “We’ve never celebrated Christmas on the moon, so you have much to learn.”
Luna softly giggled. “Yes, I suppose I do. There are so many interesting traditions around this time of year.”
Ms. Kurashiki nodded to herself, as though she was recalling her own traditions of Christmases past. “Indeed. The tree should be decorated, of course, and the star placed on top at the end. Those are all fairly popular customs, but Luna – what do you think we need to have here?”
Tilting her head, the GAULEM asked, “What do you mean, ma’am?”
Dr. Klim stepped in. “Perhaps I can clarify. I think Akane wants to know if – despite the vast amount of traditions across cultures – there’s anything that needs to be present at Christmas. In other words, if there’s something that we can’t afford to forget, no matter what we’re doing.”
“How about a gallon of eggnog…” Tenmyouji muttered, only to get elbowed by Phi.
Blinking, Luna thought about the answer for a moment, her gaze sweeping across those nearby. Nine sets of eyes stared back at her, each holding their own lifelong story.
Quark’s excitement, Tenmyouji’s joy, Clover’s enthusiasm, Alice’s satisfaction, K’s curiosity, Dio’s reluctance, Phi’s acceptance, Dr. Klim’s warmth, Ms. Kurashiki’s approval… everyone had a distinct piece of their personalities – some mixing together well, others clashing, but every piece adding something unique to the group as a whole. It was honestly amazing that they could get together like this, and choose on their own to spend time together recognizing a holiday that was a month late.
They may not feel the same, but Luna could definitely see for herself: their group had the foundations to become something much greater, much closer.
So Luna answered without hesitation.
“Well, Christmas celebrations would need a family,” she murmured, feeling the smiles of the others warm her like a blanket on a cold winter night. “It’s a good thing we have one right here, isn’t it?”
To: @chessanator
From: @billyweird
Notes: Happy Holidays! I got really into your “Left clone learns about Christmas” prompt and hope you enjoy this fic.
Decades before his death, Brother described a sacred object: a living figure who thought and spoke but served like the golems of ancient lore, made in the image of the Dolorosa. The one who found and returned her to Free the Soul would be a hero.
E-10, tenth of the fifth generation of Myrmidons (and he felt lucky to be so as he shared a number with the previous hero who returned the Dolorosa doll and vanquished a great enemy), had the privilege of caring for her. Or luck, as one brother put it snidely before immediately taking it back to avoid recrimination for jealousy, though he was right. E-10 was the most gifted with machines and the beastly tower that kept the Dolorosa doll alive and thinking was complex as could be.
It stood in the room like a massive tree in a fairytale-themed room. Armored knights bearing greatswords flanked her golden birdcage throne. Murals of sleeping princesses and brave, foolish shepards and goose girls and villagers and dragons surrounded her. One wall was covered with a bursting verdant garden of tangled vines, grasses, and flowers.
The doll slept often; she never waned nor waxed, asked for water or medicine. She hadn’t aged since she arrived well before E-10’s creation. She put herself to sleep, usually. Useful information about the facility she’d been rescued (no, someone would say if they heard him, you retrieve an object, you rescue a person) from was extracted long ago, and now she was a living relic that only special people like Myrmidons could visit for worship. If powered on, she could speak and move, and because he understood her complex electric brain better than anyone (pride, he’d be chastised) he could speak with her anytime he wished.
She came awake like a wind-up doll, to use a metaphor he’d read once and had to look up to understand, sitting upright slowly and blinking as she raised her head. “Tyltyl?”
“Luna.” He pulled on a chain around his neck and her birdcage pendant emerged from his shirt. Her eyes brightened noticeably when she saw it. “I’m here for more information.”
She frowned but her eyes never left the pendant, like E-10 when another of his brothers was chosen to light the ceremonial candles before a service. Brother knew all thoughts, but Brother passed shortly after the conquest of Rhizome-9 (an achievement D-10 could never top and rode for the rest of his brief cloned life) and was not here to reveal E-10’s constant little mental rebellions. “Of course.”
“…If I play your music first, would you tell me more about your old life?” He wound it up before she could answer, and the tinkling melody made her touch her trembling mouth, eyes closing as the song brought back memories she only spoke of if ordered or tempted. She swayed in her seat and rested only when the last note faded. He came forward and knelt before her cage, touching the bars. “So?”
“What would you like to know this time?” She would tell him about her facility, that she wasn’t the only thinking machine her creator made, her creator…but never anything of the rescue or D-10.
“…Did you ever ask why you were created?” He squeezed his knees and looked up into her confused face. “Is it any easier to understand your purpose when you were handmade by man?” E-10 supposed he was as well, but to be a machine with programmed thoughts must be simpler. Luna (she loved that name) would never have doubts.
“No. To both questions. I did have a purpose.” She touched the spot where her necklace once hung. “But it was taken from me and I’m not sure why I’m here now.”
E-10 didn’t know why either, or why she’d never told anyone he was the one who stole her sacred relic. She played her music box all the time at first, and the melody enchanted him so that he slipped it off over her head during repairs. She couldn’t shed tears, but the only way to describe her reaction to losing it was “weeping.” “Because you’re holy. You told me once that it was enough to exist in a place where you were loved.” He hated her answer, honestly. She could admit she wanted and she needed. For E-10, it was supposed to be enough to exist in service. Devotion was fulfillment, shared identity was being whole. He couldn’t want, though he did. He wanted to have secrets like the music box and these stolen moments with Luna, the Dolorosa, the idol.
She hugged herself and shook her head. “Idolization isn’t love. Everyone worships me, but nobody looks at me and asks me how I feel.” What an odd concept, the desire for individual acknowledgement. How he craved praise for his technological skill or his neatness or his knowledge of canon. When she asked him to call her “Luna,” he initially hadn’t understood, but he knew he liked it when she named him.
“Why does that matter?”
“Because…” She shook her head. “Do you want to understand? Or do you just want more stories?”
“Stories. And not the bluebird one.” She told that one often, stressing its message that happiness wasn’t true unless shared. She called him Tyltyl from that story, saying only that she liked to distinguish him from the others when he asked why.
“Alright…hm.” She pushed an askew lock of hair behind her ear. Once, he watched her re-braid it, fascinated that she cared about such things. “Have you ever heard of Christmas?”
“No.” She never wanted to hear the stories he did know: the parables of Brother, the end of the old age, and the era of tranquility. “Who is he?” Every story had a central figure, and usually it was Brother.
“It was a celebration on Earth. It started as a way to honor the birth of a religious figure, but I like its later meaning better: that it was a time for gratitude. Peace on Earth and good will toward men.”
“That’s every day here.”
She looked toward the wall full of greenery she couldn’t touch, even though it was meant for her honor and pleasure. “Certainly. But the spirit of Christmas was for anyone, not just the saved here.” She folded her hands on her lap. “One of my favorite stories is about relearning the meaning of Christmas. It’s called ‘A Christmas Carol…’”
Her story was difficult to picture, full of things like families and money and ghosts and parties. Truly fanciful, but he was drawn in by the ghosts and the way, time and again, Scrooge isolated himself in pursuit of his goal, learning almost too late that his selfish pursuit of wealth had withered and killed his belonging in his community. There was something to be said for the message that the wellbeing of others was far greater than your own; remove the trappings about pleasure and it could make a fine lesson for sermons.
“So Scrooge decided he cared about others more than money?”
She smiled and nodded. “He realized that others’ happiness made him happy, and that was the meaning of Christmas.” She pulled herself up by the bars, and tried to poke her face between them to look at him closely. “You don’t have to wait for three ghosts to visit, Tyltyl. You can choose that now.” Her hopeful, earnest gaze brought him to his feet. He turned away from her and took a few steps toward the plants. Reaching up, he plucked a few flowers from the carnations she’d been looking at, then turned back to her and offered them.
She gasped and took them with weak fingers, kissing the blossoms. “Thank you.” She savored them like they were relics only she was allowed to handle, gently clutching them to her chest. When the cage door swung open a moment later, she startled and nearly dropped them. “What…?”
“I can’t let you go,” he said quietly. “That’s not in my power.” He held the music box in his palm, admiring the shine and saturation it held after two centuries. The tiny bluebird inside always about to fly away but never leaving its perch. “But nobody has to know if you walk around in here, right?” He offered her a hand, and when she tentatively took it she was soft and warm like a human, her tiny feet alighting on the floor just like a bird. She flitted from her plants to the murals to the tower that kept her running, stroking it with an unreadable expression. He couldn’t understand why she wanted freedom so badly, but knowing that she wanted it was reason enough to grant her this moment. He turned on her music again and she stepped to it, spinning so her skirt and apron lifted with her, arms flung out.
“I didn’t know… You don’t know how long you’ve been sitting until you stand up. What’s the date Tyltyl?” She paused when he told her. “That long?” She clutched her apron and looked back at the plants. “No wonder something this small feels wonderful. How did I survive in there for so long?” She grabbed the nearest pot, overflowing with a delicate fern, and hugged it. “I wish I could smell you. What does this smell like?”
Suddenly he was face-first in the pot, his vision totally green and brown. Moisture touched his lips and the fern tickled his cheeks. He sniffed, nose twitching at the tickle, and then inhaled deeper. “Like dirt?” He had to rub some off his nose when she withdrew the pot.
“That’s it?” She seemed disappointed. “The Doctor loved his garden. He could describe every plant in a new way.” She pet the fern before putting it back on the shelf. “I know they’re delicate, but could you please bring me an orchid next time? I miss them. I can still remember the orchids the Doctor grew one year.”
E-10 looked away. “I don’t grow the plants. I’m not sure what you’re even talking about.”
“I’ll describe them to you! Just please. I want an orchid.” She nodded to his chest. “And in exchange you can keep my music box forever.”
“Really?”
“Yes! If it makes you happy, I can be happy for you.” He didn’t recognize her. She went from obedient doll to bouncing, happy woman just from stepping over a threshold. And all she demanded of him was a simple flower.
“Okay. That’s the meaning of Christmas you talked about?”
“I think so.” She leaned forward and clasped her hands together. “When doing good for someone else brings you joy—that’s Christmas.” She took his hand when he offered it again, smiling even as he lead her back to the cage and closed the door behind her. “Thank you, Tyltyl.”
When had someone ever said that to him? How did you respond again? “Oh.”
“Goodbye then.” She waved as he stepped back. “You’ll remember my orchid?”
“I’ll bring it.” Even though he had no idea what one was. Christmas was apparently about doing things you didn’t understand because they meant the world to others. To have someone look on you like you were special. “Goodbye, Luna.”
From: @silveredfoxxeh
Additional notes: Dear giftee! I hope you like this two part project! I was having a bit of trouble writing one of the characters so I decided I would double your gift ❤ Here is part one, and it will be followed up by a second chapter fic with a second group of characters because I wanted to do multiple prompt combinations for you. I hope you like part 1 and I hope you also like part two!
Ao3
——–
It was something Clover had said right before they left. That there was a way to go to the past. It wasn’t something he thought of all that much until they were home and he saw that his grandfather was still sad. A different type of sadness from the desperate searching he’d always had as an undertone before, and Tenmyouji was still happy to be around quark but it was a forlorn type of energy. Though he’d given up on the past but he rawness of years spent hoping for a resolution left their mark.
The one thing that Quark did notice was that whenever Tenmyouji seemed extra sad, or frustrated, Quark’s being there made it better. He asked one day about what he meant by the other time lines. And got an answer he didn’t expect from a source he’d never thought they would see again.
Ms. Akane had come by – she had come to them out of nowhere. Tenmyouji was content to leave things as he had, walking out and not looking back and he hadn’t thought that he’d ever see her again, but something had brought her back to their doorstep, to deal with them so he figured he might as well hear her out.
What she brought though was an interesting issue. Clover needed a place to stay and she was wondering if she could remain with them for the rest of their future. Of course this brought up questions like how – I thought she could go back? and why didn’t she want to return to her brother. They had shooed him away from the conversation when they started but he was far too curious.
Overhearing tales of a machine that duplicated yourself and could send that copy to the past made him start to think about how his grandpa was somewhere without him. they’d talked about a plan to fix the past – but that would mean he never found his grandpa. And his grandpa could have still been lonely.
He found himself opening the door before he realized he was even moving catching their attention and meaning he had to try and explain why he was eavesdropping and why he needed them to listen.
“Um… you see…..” He tugged his hat down a bit with nerves, and then steeled his resolve. His mind wasn’t going to change even if they wanted to tell him no. “Send me to the past too.” He could see the alarm in his grandpa’s eyes and kept going before either of them could say anything against the idea. “It’s just a copy right? I’ll still be here. So you don’t have to worry about me but… if Clover can go back why can’t I? it’s not fair that Grandpa never will get to meet me. He needs me there to help him be happy.” He wasn’t willing to budge on this.
There was a cool down needed, so she said he couldn’t do this for a few months. He was sure his grandpa was waiting for him to change his mind with so much time to wait before he could actually do it but waiting just made him even more sure he wanted to do it. Every time he saw his grandpa be happy that he was around he was more and more sure.
The trip back to the moon was stressful but he kept talking about how much he wanted this to work and he was excited to see if it worked.
Ms. Akane had reassured them both that there was most likely no way that they would know if it worked even with sending him to the right place, and sending him to where clover would be.
The version of him that was still here would just keep going like nothing happened. But there would be a second him, and hopefully he’d be able to cheer up his grandpa in the past.
It had never really occurred to him that this might be an odd plan. A kid just suddenly appearing out of nowhere like he had never heard of or met. who knew how their world would be so long ago, but if their plan worked, and Clover was really sent back to a world that would be *ok* with the apocalypse not happening in it, then he wanted to try.
Junpei was sure to like him. Right? He had to – he was his grandpa.
He double checked to make sure his hat was restocked with snacks before he left. Ms. Akane had said that everything that he had with him would be sent as a copy. So he wanted to make sure he took as much as he could.
While he waited to get settled in he asked questions about what it would feel like to go into the past. She said it would just be like waking up, only he’d be waking up twice. One him would still be in the future he’d be leaving, and would keep going like nothing had ever happened, but the other him would have to keep going once he got to the past.
It was a little scary but not worse than the death game they’d just lived through.
As he got settled and tried to ignore his grandfather fussing over him he let them know he was ready. The lid closed down over his vision reminding him for a moment of the pod he had been stuffed in, but it didn’t really bother him and then everything went dark.
The next he knew the hatch was opening and a very young brown haired Ms. Akane was looking over him. The air itself smelled different. It wasn’t the scent he was used to – all stale and muggy, and it wasn’t the super filtered air from the station. It was…. fresh? Still smoggy but different. He didn’t really know a better word for it other than different.
Just like the face in front of him. He could definitely recognize it as her, but that meant it worked! He was in the past!
He knew his other self had to still be in the future with his grandpa because the one thing he trusted was that his grandpa would never have let him do something that would take him away from him permanently That was his whole argument to do this – that he wanted to stay with him across two timelines, but it was still disorienting to know a totally different you was going about still living their life and you’d never know about it.
It wasn’t like they’d ever meet because if Ms. Akane had calculated things right there was no way this was anything but the timeline they’d succeeded in creating. He’d tried to ask why she didn’t just send herself back to make sure things got done but she (and the old sigma) had gone on an explanation about the repercussions of time and the only thing he really got from their explanation was that this was something that was already branched off of their timeline, they had done what they needed to do, and she wanted to do this for Tenmyouji. Something about all the time she’d taken even though it was necessary even if he would never agree with her reasons. She’d had a wistful smile as she explained all of that and then told him to go get ready while she talked with his grandpa a bit more, and then he was here in the past.
He’d prepared himself to never see his grandpa again at least not the way he was but when a young man with horrible fashion sense walked in the room he realized that it might be a lot stranger than he’d expected. He understood a copy, and past but being here, and experiencing it all for himself was definitely almost more than he’d been ready for. And then he saw the way his grandpa’s younger self looked over at Ms. Akane and it was like seeing his Grandpa that first time on the moon. That barely hidden care and affection.
Even if this was his younger self he was still his grandpa and it just reaffirmed the whole reason he came back here in the first place.
“Hey” It was weird feeling shy but he wasn’t entirely sure how to explain himself. *I decided you needed me so I sent myself into the past* would go over great he was sure. It hadn’t really dawned on him that he’d have to explain who he *was* to his grandpa because he wouldn’t know him until he was being met with a blank stare and awkward feelings began bubbling up inside of him.
He had sorted out this grand plan of sending a double of himself to the past but it was really sinking in that it was a double of *himself* He was still there in the future with his grandpa right now. They probably were talking about how he was back here and it made his head hurt a bit so he stopped thinking about that and turned his attention to the room he was in. He must have been clear enough about what he did and why he did it but it was still going to take some getting used to.
This was going to be his new life so he wanted to know what he was getting into. A part of him was still amazed his grandpa even let him do this but whatever conversation he’d had with Ms. Akane after he presented his plan to them must have been what did it. He agreed and then afterwards whenever Quark wasn’t sure that he would still be on board with the plan he just reassured him that he’d given him his word that he’d let him if it was what he really wanted.
As he processed what he’d done he was hoping that it was indeed what he’d wanted.
a voice from the room over caught his attention and he ran out of the room towards it. “Quark!” Clover was there, just like he remembered seeing her talking to Alice. “How on earth are you here!”
He cut her off explaining his grand plan. What he didn’t realize was that his grandfather was standing just out of sight listening to the whole discussion.
When Clover’s eyes looked past him questioning how the recipient of such loyalty must have felt he realized that there was someone else there and slowly turned.
It was odd seeing his grandpa so young. Ms. Akane had sortof prepared him for it since he had seen her first as soon as he got out of the pod but this… this was his GRANDPA.
Hair a dark and dusty brown instead of being a shock of white, stress lines not yet etched into his skin, and an entirely different style of dress but it was still him. And he had no idea who he was.
For a second Quark wanted to run out of the room and curse himself for the plan but then he felt arms wrapping around him. Junpei wasn’t entirely sure what was going on other than his future self was apparently willing to send his adopted grandkid into the past but there was no way he was going to let a lost looking kid who’d just explained he’d dove into the past just so he wasn’t lonely to look so upset.
He wasn’t sure how to feel about suddenly acquiring a kid but there wasn’t really any other option but to keep him. He’d gone into the past trusting that he would be wanted, and that his presence would be a good thing.
And it looked like it was going to be.
To: @kuiperdraws
From: @en-el-espanol-de-la-rae, cover by @uglydownvest
i was super excited that u picked the field siblings as ur prompt since!! i did too!! their relationship is so interesting, i love the extreme “i would die for u”.. thing they have going on, and they remind me of my own brother n sister! anyyywaays… have a happy holidays, and i hope u enjoy the songs!
To: @nimfetki
From: @lavenyr
Hello and Merry Christmas! I had so much fun making your gift and I really hope that you like it!! I wish you happy holidays and I hope next year treats you well!
Fic: Operation: Socialise
“Jus’ a couple more minutes please,” Clover said as she buried her face further into the pillow. Although Clover was sure that whatever Alice needed her to do was important, the position she had managed to shift herself into was far to comfortable to leave.
“If I’d known you would get like this I wouldn’t have let you nap”
“No refunds.” Her mind was still a little groggy, but Clover did her best to raise herself up slightly off the couch in order to meet Alice’s eyes. Alice seemed amused, and a little bit frazzled, likely due to the contorted position Clover had managed to work her way into while she had slept.
Clover scrunched up her nose at the sight, it was almost criminal how beautiful Alice looked at any given time—even when she displayed what could only be classified as a shit-eating grin.
Clover tried to rearrange her thoughts the best she could, putting together that she had decided to lie down for a bit to try and restore her energy before something that was happening later that she couldn’t quite recall. A function possibly? Maybe even a mission?
“Clover, I love you, but we really need to get going,” Alice let out a light chuckle before she continued, “We need to leave for the party soon.”
‘Ah a party,’ Clover thought, that was probably what she had taken a nap to prepare for; Having to deal with some of the people who worked for the SOIS was difficult enough when they were sober, let alone how things would likely end with champagne thrown into the equation.
“Did you forget about the christmas party?”
“N-No! I definitely knew that!” Clover choked out. She had forgotten, but there was no way that she’d let Alice know that.
Alice let out another laugh before she retreated to their bedroom. It was almost certain the Alice had caught the lie—which was evident from the way her laugh sounded more like an exasperated sigh than a laugh—but it’s not like Clover couldn’t hope.
“I don’t know why you’re getting ready so early,” Clover said, as she did her best to separate herself from the couch, “We’ve still got, like, a couple hours before the party you know!” It had been around 3:30 when they’d gotten home, but she doubted her ability to sleep long enough for them to be late.
Then again, she and Alice had missed the last SOIS christmas party due to oversleeping—but its not like that was Clover’s fault.
“Clover dear, you do know that the party formally starts at six, right?” Alice responded, her voice slightly muffled as she spoke from the other room. Despite the distance, Clover could still a lighter quality in her sentence, as if she was holding back laughter.
“Yeah then we’ve still got about one or two hours left!” Clover said with as much confidence she could muster. She rubbed the last bits of sleep out of her eyes before moving to follow Alice to the bedroom.
“I’m afraid it’s a little less than that.” Alice stood near the bedroom closet as she slipped a dress over her shoulders; Judging by the considerable amount of dresses that covered the floor, it was not the first she had tried either.
Alice’s current outfit was cocktail dress that fit closely Alice figure until in reached her knees where the fabric flared out like a bright flower. While Clover had initially presumed the dress to be a deep navy or purple it actually featured a gradient into a stunning bright red.
However more distracting that her impossibly pretty girlfriend was the face of a digital alarm clock set on the bedside.
“You let me sleep for two hours?!?” Clover asked incredulously.
“You just looked so comfortable!”
In the end, they were about half an hour late. Despite Alice’s reassurances, Clover somewhat doubted that their superiors would accept the desire to be ‘fashionably late’ as an excuse.
Working as fast as she could, Clover had prepared her hair and makeup in record time. However when faced with the choice of outfit, all progress had grounded to a halt. The dress she had bought with her brother the year before still hung unworn at the back of the closet, accompanied by a few other discarded articles of clothing that she couldn’t bring herself to wear anymore.
Although her memories of the Ambidex Game weren’t properly returned, some of the experiences tended to slip through the cracks every now and then. Just as it had felt wrong to wear her old jacket after the second Nonary Game, so to was her fur top and purple heels retired to the back of the closet.
Ignoring the other clothes, Clover pulled out the dress and considered it. The dress itself was light pink and came to just about to her knees; Clover had latched onto it immediately when Light and her had gone out shopping for christmas presents. While it wasn’t tied specifically to any negative event, Clover had still hung it out of sight behind a large amount of other clothes.
Now, as she approached the party’s entrance wearing that dress, Clover felt about as out of place as ever.
As if she could sense her discomfort, Alice looked over to Clover with a concerned look on her face, “Are you feeling alright, Clover?”
Clover frowned, “I don’t see why you’re allowed to wear heels, you’re negating the height advantage I’m trying to get with my own shoes.” It was a weak attempt to change the conversation, but Alice picked up on the cue.
“I like to be tall, it helps me let people know I kick their ass with a just a look.” Alice said with a smile, “I think I may have said this already, but you look stunning tonight.”
“I think thats the fourth time now,” She could feel her anxieties recede as Alice talked, “But that doesn’t mean thats you have to stop. Ever.”
“Are you sure you’re doing ok?” Alice asked again, pulling Clover into a hug. “You know that it’s fine if you’re not feeling up to it alright?” She said softly into Clover’s ear.
Clover drew back slightly, giving Alice a peck on the cheek. “Yeah I’m fine, I’m feeling a lot better. It’s time for the mission briefing right?”
“Alright, time for the mission briefing,” Alice said as she slipped into a slightly more exaggerated version of her mission brief voice that she used at work, “This mission is top priority and is thus entitled: Operation Socialise.”
Clover couldn’t stop herself from laughing. This wasn’t the first time they had gone through this somewhat childish routine but it always helped ground her before bigger social events, even after she had stopped needing it.
Alice continued to the best of her ability as she tried to quell her own grin. “The intention of this mission is recon, and we are going deep undercover in a large government operation. Make sure to gather as much trivial information about those you encounter, without drawing the attention of opposing operatives. Do you accept these terms?”
Clover tried her best to keep a straight face as she gave her response in the most serious voice she could manage, “I accept your terms, commander.” After performing a mock salute, Clover hooked herself through Alice’s arm.
“Alright, lets go!” Clover said, before she enthusiastically marched towards the building, a smiling Alice dragged along with her.
After they passed through the various security checks that had been set up for the event, Clover finally voiced an idea she had been stewed over as they reached the hall doors. Putting on her best puppy dog eyes, Clover asked in the most innocent voice she could manage, “Can I kick open the door?”
“Clover, I love you, but no.”
“I don’t know how you expect us to have a dramatic entrance without letting me kick open the door.”
“No.”
Clover puffed out her cheeks, “No fair, just walking in is so boring!”
“As much fun as it would be, I have to remind you that we are at a formal party” Alice said, “This isn’t the time for your antics”
“You know you love me.” Clover said with a grin.
“Always.”
In that moment Clover was glad they weren’t actually acting as secret agents. As soon as they opened the door what felt like about half of the guests attention turned towards the newcomers.
Clover hoped Alice couldn’t see how red her face was becoming in response to the attention, and instead focused on walking in with as much confidence and grace she could manage.
The space was quite open with a large amount of tables grouped around the back of the hall, likely to make room for guests to mingle. True to the party’s theme, a few christmas trees could be spotted around the space, with other various red and green decorations hung from the ceilings and walls. Above the chatter of the party guests Clover could hear some quiet christmas music playing in the background.
‘Alright! Lets do this!’ Clover thought as she steeled herself for the inevitable small talk and greetings she would need to get through. Operation Socialise was go.
It was only then as she plunged into the crowd that Clover realised she really wasn’t awake enough for this.
As the evening went on Clover flit around the room, sometimes reconvening with Alice before separating again, before she eventually found herself standing with Alice at the edge of the room. She watched lazily as an overly enthusiastic agent drunkenly sung along to Jingle Bell Rock and shambled about attempting to get others to join in.
“I really hope someone’s recording this.” Clover said. She had hoped that the man would stop singing after the song finished, but he seemed to have no trouble swapping over to Twelve Days of Christmas as the music over the speakers changed.
“Oh almost certainly. It is an amazing performance after all.” Alice said as she brought her hand up to her mouth in an attempt to hide her smile. “However, as entertaining as this is, perhaps it would be better to find a quieter spot” Alice added, having winced slightly at the performer who had attempted to hit a note far out of his range.
“Yeah, thats probably for the best.” Clover said. She took Alice’s hand before they walked together towards the exit. It was a lot quieter once they left the room, and Clover couldn’t feel more thankful for the calmer atmosphere.
“Alright here should be good” Alice said. She closed her left hand over Clovers before reaching into her purse to grab out a small purple pouch, which she opened to reveal a small silver bracelet. “Merry Christmas Clover.”
“Ack! W-wait no!! I didn’t realise we were supposed to bring gifts?!” Her own gift for Alice remained tucked away in a box hidden in an old shoebox she kept under the bed ready for presentation on christmas day.
Alice seemed amused by Clover’s panic, her hands were steady as she methodically wrapped the bracelet around Clovers wrist and joined the ends. “Consider it an early gift.”
Clover could feel tears starting to well up in her eyes. Attached to the bracelet were a few small charms: the first was a small four leaf clover, as well as a small harp and a flower that Clover recognised as one of Alice’s favourites.
“Oh my god, Alice this is…” Clover murmured at a loss for words, “I love it, thank you so much.”
“Hey Clover, look up,” Alice said. Clover followed her gaze upwards to find a bundle of mistletoe that appeared to have been hastily affixed to the door frame above their heads.
True to her namesake, Clover really was the luckiest girl in the world.
ZEcret Santa 