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The apartment was nice and cozy, holiday classics played softly in the background, snacks and sweets were set out on the living room table, and you were fixing your hair in the mirror. To celebrate your new apartment, you and Robert had decided to throw a little Christmas housewarming party. He was a bit wary at first, of course. Having the Z-Team and a few others from SDN would definitely make things a little cramped, but if he could do it once at his old place, he could do it a second time in this one, with you by his side.
In your living room stood a modest artificial Christmas tree, with Beef napping on skirt around the base. You hadn’t been too thrilled with the idea of a fake tree, but in the end, the idea of hauling a real tree up that many steps, vacuuming up needles every day, remembering to water it, and hauling it back down the steps after the holidays made you cave. You had decided to turn on the white lights for the party, but your tree was still missing ornaments. Oh well, that would be next year’s quest, it wasn’t that big of a deal.
As you finished getting ready, there was a knock on your door, and Robert moved from his spot on the couch to go and answer it.
First to arrive were Royd and Galen, entering the apartment with a fist bump greeting. You came out of the bedroom with a smile, hurrying over to offer a one armed hug to both men. You noticed they were each carrying something, and you tilted your head.
“Hey now,” you said, hands on your hips, “you didn’t have to bring anything.”
“You never show up to a party empty handed,” Royd said, handing over a small box to you. You took it gently, and you were surprised to find that it had some weight to it. You opened it up to see an ornament, a beautiful glass one shaped like a key. On one end was a dangling piece that read ‘Our First Home’, and you admired it with soft eyes.
“Royd, it’s beautiful,” you said softly. “Thank you so much.”
“Nah, don’ mention it. Heard the tree was lookin’ a little bare,” he replied, glancing over your shoulder to the tree in question.
You and Robert shared an almost sheepish look, but smiled nonetheless. Before you could go to hang it on the tree, Galen also held out a box, which Robert took.
“I’m sensing a theme here,” he said, chuckling as he opened it up and pulled out another ornament.
“It was too good not to pass up,” Galen said, and he was right. Galen had picked out a Godzilla ornament for your tree, one of the monster attacking a building. Your eyes lit up when you saw it, and Robert chuckled a bit.
“This is great, Galen. Thank you,” he said, then you both stepped aside to let them further into your apartment. Before you could close the door, however, another guest arrived.
“Mandy, hey! So glad you could make it!” you said, inviting her in and giving her a friendly hug.
“Of course! Did you really think I’d pass on this?” Mandy asked, returning your hug with a on armed one, then smiling at you after pulling back. You noticed, in her other hand, was a box, and like Robert, you could feel a pattern starting to form.
“Is that what I think it is?” Robert asked, slinging an arm around your shoulders.
“Probably. Thank you so much, Mandy,” you said, accepting the box from her. Together, you and Robert opened it, and inside were a pair of ornaments that looked linzer tart cookies, and the holes in the centers were shaped like hearts.
“Oh, these are so cute!” you exclaimed, admiring them in the box. You gave Mandy another hug, then stepped aside so she could make her way into your living room.
Over the hour, your other guests began to arrive, each bringing along a box with an ornament inside. Prism had gotten you a glass snowflake that, when the light hit it, refracted into rainbow light. Sonar and Malevola had brought a collection of bauble ornaments, the traditionally round ones that looked perfect on any tree. Flambae’s ornament was of a frog on a lilypad, and despite his attitude towards it, you were still grateful for the gift. Coupé’s was a raven sitting on a stack of books, clearly supposed to be a collection of Edgar Allen Poe works, and Colm gave you a stained glass holly leaf ornament, including the berries. When Visi arrived, she gifted you with a set of ornaments, and they all looked like sugar coated Swedish fish, which you found to be absolutely adorable. Phenomaman’s ornament was honestly a classic one: a pickle. As he explained it, you felt Robert nudge you when he talked about the tradition of hiding the pickle, and you fought back a laugh. Waterboy’s ornament was an adorable rain cloud and rainbow, though the box was a little damp when you took it from him. And Chase, his ornament was absolutely inspired by Beef. It was a handmade felt ornament that looked like a pretty good copy of the overweight chihuahua, and it made you laugh.
“Oh my god, it’s perfect,” you said, giving him a hug in thanks.
The party was in full swing by then, with everyone enjoying the spread and just talking like old friends would. It was honestly a nice sight to see, everyone acting so normally around each other. Your apartment felt lively with your first ever Christmas party, and you couldn’t help but feel proud of yourself for putting it together. Even if it was just for a single night, the Z-Team and Co. were friends, giving your home that Christmas feel.
As the night began to wind down, you were sitting on the couch, Robert’s arm around your shoulders and the music still going strong in the background. You glanced over to the collection of brand new ornaments in their boxes, and an idea popped into your head. You carefully untangled yourself from Robert, got to your feet, and walked over to the table.
“If it’s not too much trouble,” you began, lifting one of the boxes, “I’d like for everyone to help decorate the tree. I think it would be a fun way to end tonight.”
There was a quiet murmur of agreement among your guests, and one by one, they all came and accepted the ornaments from you. Soon, your tree was adorned with all of the gifted ornaments, and it looked like a real festive tree. The white lights glimmered, and Prism’s snowflake caught some of the light, sending some rainbow lights over your wall. You admired the tree with a warm smile, your head tilting a bit.
“Wait, wait, we missed one,” Robert called from your bedroom, and you turned to look at him.
“Huh? Which one did we miss?” you asked, raising a brow as he walked over to you with another box.
“Open it and find out,” he replied, handing it over. You accepted it gently, and when you opened it, your eyes widened. It was an adorable little picture frame ornament, and the photo inside was of you, Robert, and Beef, from the very first Christmas you celebrated together.
“Figured it could go front and center,” he suggested, and with a warm smile, you nodded. You walked up to the tree, and with careful fingers, you hung it on a branch close to the front. You stepped back to admire the now completed tree, and you felt him wrap his arms around you from behind.
“I think that about does it,” he said, and you nodded.
“I couldn’t agree more,” you replied.
Your first Christmas party was a success, and you had the best tree in the world to show for it.