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"STOPTH EATING MY BEARD THOU LUMPS OF FOUL DEFORMITIES!" Rouxls shouted, grabbing Susie and Lancer with his steady hands and holding them up like a cat with his kittens. His hair was tied back with a shiny green ribbon and a plastic beard adorned his face, the material itching at his skin. Now, part of it was damp, covered in a thin layer of saliva.
He looked at Kris, who only sniggered at his dilemma, adjusting their Santa hat with a mischievous smile.
They wore their usual outfit with the addition of a hat and their scarf, now with red and green stripes. It hugged their neck, flowing down to cover part of their arms and chest, a very cozy addition indeed.
"Kris! Don't encourage them," Ralsei scolded, adjusting the delicate ornaments that hung from his belt. He wore what he usually did, though somebody (Lancer) had snuck a reindeer headband on him when he wasn't looking. Gently, he affirmed, "You need to be a good influence so that-"
"It's okay!" Noelle interrupted with a strained smile. She lacked the fun outfit but instead was in charge of the camera, waiting to get a good picture of the group. She said, "S-Susie can take care of herself! Right, sweetheart? "
Eyes wide, Susie nodded, slowly adjusting the striped bands on her arms. She was clothed in a suit with suspenders, the blazer that matched with her pants long gone. A long red tie loosely hung around her neck, swaying with each of her movements.
Kris looked at her with a raised eyebrow, barely holding back the urge to burst into laughter.
Noelle glared back, menacingly holding up the camera, silently threatening to take a picture of her friend in their holiday garb and send it to their mother or- even more horrifying- Berdly.
"Do it," they mumbled, a smile evident on their face, "I dare you!"
As to challenge her, they flicked their wrist then stuck their tongue out.
"I'll get you!" she shouted, aiming to throw the camera at the giggling teen. She pulled her arm back and squinted, hoping to get a clean hit on their head, or at least startle them enough to-
"Chaos, chaos! Christmas, Christmas!" Jevil sang, suddenly emerging into the room, donning a red shawl with white fluff. On his head was a Santa hat, nearly a perfect copy of the word Kris wore,
Behind him was Spamton, who awkwardly held onto his hand, a lovestruck look on his face. He wore a nutcracker outfit, the fabric a dark rouge that mimicked the color of his cheeks.
"ANYTHING YOU SAY [Dearie]," he replied, squeezing his hand with a smile. The two walked, hand in hand, to the others, whispering sweet nothings to each other all the while.
Susie crossed her arms. "Ew," she whispered to Kris, her voice in no way quiet, "Gay people."
Noelle rolled her eyes, saying, "You are literally a lesbian, my love."
"Oh yeah," she snorted, "Kinda forgot about that."
Spamton gasped, "STOP BEING [Homophobic] ANOTHER WORD AND I WILL CANCEL YOU ON [The App]!"
At that, both Susie and Noelle groaned, the latter looking at her girlfriend with a sigh. She began, "We're literally dating!"
Kris chuckled, remembering all the times both had gone to them seeking advice on how to woo the other.
"Kris!" Noelle shouted, her voice clear as day, "If, by chance, I were to get Susie something for Valentine's day, what do you think she'd want?"
The teen shrugged, "Literally anything, edible or not. She'll probably eat it anyway."
Noelle nodded, briefly touching her antlers, which had now grown far above her height. With a soft smile, she whispered, "I just… Want to get her something she'd really like, you know?"
Her fur was tinged with a deep blush, her cheeks burning at the touch of Susie accepting her gift and feelings. She could see it clear as day, her- hugging Noelle as she confessed, never judging as she stumbled over her words, lips on her own, the first of millions of kiss,-
just her.
Kris snorted as if they could read her thoughts, their bangs up, revealing their crimson eyes, which were bright with joy.
"You," they began, pointing an accusatory finger, "are down bad!"
They slung an arm around her, shaking with laughter.
"You!" she screamed at them, lifting their arm up, "won't be laughing when I tell you this secret."
They gasped, "I have a secret, too!"
Noelle's paws flew to her chest, gently grasping the fabric of her checkered sweater. With a light smile, she urged, "You go first!"
"Susie just asked me the same question," they confessed, covering their mouth with their hand, "And she was super nervous too."
"Really?" she incredulously asked, her skin covered in goosebumps at the revelation. Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "It makes my secret pretty boring now."
They shook their head, long bangs now covering their eyes.
"You're still going to tell me, right?" they asked, heart beating like a rabbit's, eager to hear this news.
If Susie had confessed without telling them, their job as the unofficial wingman would have been useless!
She didn't respond.
They shook her, repeating, "Right?!"
After a long pause, Noelle cackled, the sound clear and without malice. Finally, she said, "Guess who Berdly is getting a gift for."
Kris' eyes widened under their bangs. Letting go, they asked, "It's me, isn't it?"
She only nodded, beginning to skip away, giddy at the prospect of an eventual double date.
Once she was gone, Kris spoke under their breath, "Poggers."
Jevil nodded, "Boo hoo hoo! That sounds like a problem for you!"
Lancer bounced around, landing in his father's open arms, then began to chew on his beard again. Once he was thrown for the second time, he said, "He's got a point, you know!"
Spamton laughed, the sound grating on all but Jevil's ears.
"Anyways!" Noelle shouted, "Should take the photo now!"
Rouxls shook his head, "We needth to get into place! Spamtonian, geth to the front, because thou art short!"
Spamton's mechanical heart dropped and he looked at Jevil with tears in his eyes.
Although it was clearly an act, Jevil jumped at the opportunity to defend his honor, challenging, "You have hurt my boyfriend, now prepare to meet your end, end!"
Rouxls sauntered to him and spat out, "Thou art an imp and thy mother a wench!"
Jevil drew a deep breath and Spamton soothingly stroked his head.
"What's a wench?" Lancer asked, either oblivious to the situation at hand or more likely just pointedly ignoring it.
"I think it's a tool you use to fix things," Susie answered, proud to help out.
"That's a-" Ralsei sighed, slamming a fluffy palm to his forehead, "Nevermind."
He looked at Kris with a tired grin. They only laughed, the sound eliciting a small giggle from him as well.
Susie picked up Lancer and slung an arm around Kris, imploring, "Noelle- babe, can you just take the picture and we can be done with it?"
"Depends," Noelle retorted, her voice light with laughter, "Can we invite Kris and Berdly on our date? Because he'd love to have a double date. Don't you agree, Kris?"
Kris' cheeks turned a dark purple and their posture slackened. They opened their mouth to respond, only to be interrupted by Susie, who grumbled, "Fine!"
They pursed their lips and glared at Noelle, who only beamed at them.
"Everybody!" She called out, holding up the camera, "Pose!"
They all got into position.
Susie grinned at the camera, menacingly tilting her head upwards and keeping hold of her friends.
Lancer did a peace sign and giggled, glad to be held up by his best friend.
Kris continued to stare down Noelle, their expression paradoxically blank and full of unbridled rage.
Ralsei innocently smiled at the camera, his cheeks rosy with excitement.
Behind him was Rouxls, who looked to the camera in horror at the prospect of this moment being captured forever.
To the front, Spamton and Jevil scrambled to do something noteworthy.
Jevil ran behind his lover and in front of Susie, his head popping off in excitement, suspended by a dark spring. Without thinking, he brought a talon to grasp Spamton's head, the claws messing up his gelled hair.
"YOU LITTLE [%/%%]," Spamton hollered, his entire body shaking in rage, "I WANT A DIVORCE!"
Noelle pressed a button on her camera, hoping to get a sweet photo, only to end up photographing a chaotic but surprisingly endearing moment between a group of friends, one that she was lucky enough to be in.
It's sweet , she thought, To see them all so free. They're happy now, even after all that's happened to them.
She looked at the image.
Nearly everyone was smiling, joy evident on their faces. She rapidly blinked, tears beginning to make their way into her eyes.
Life had planted the seeds of happiness, which sprouted into the most beautiful of roses, their petals silken and bursting with vibrant color.
"So what about that date that we're dragging Kris and Berdly on?" Susie asked her, shuffling closer with an uncharacteristically shy smile adorning her lips.
They were beautiful roses indeed.