The Advent Calender Challenge

Thursday Picture

2023-04-13T17:00:31Z

We never seem to use this one as it's on the comm header, but it really is a great shot. Here's Ben as Pistol in Henry IV part II.

Day 25: Fic: Star Wars (Finn, Rey, Rose Tico, Poe Dameron, Leia Organa)

2017-12-26T03:49:15Z

Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Warning: contains spoilers for The Last Jedi
Title: And Then You Survive
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 1,309
Prompt: office party
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Still reeling from the events on Crait, the remains of the Resistance take a moment to enjoy being alive.

The mood in the Millennium Falcon is black. Despite General Organa's speech, her rousing promises that they have all they need to continue their cause, the few survivors who made it off Crait are reeling. They've all lost friends and family. They're all looking at hard road ahead, challenges even more seemingly insurmountable than they've ever faced before. They have hope, yes, but they're not invincible. They hurt, and it hangs over every one of them like a cloud.

Finn still hasn't left Rose's side. With Poe and Rey safe beside him, he's concentrating all his worry on her. She was injured saving him, and that weighs heavy on his mind. She'd said she loved him, too, before she succumbed, and he's still reeling from that as well. He doesn't know if he can return her feelings, but he knows he wants to talk to her, needs to. He can't let himself imagine what will happen if she never wakes up. Doctor Kalonia had stopped by as soon as she could to look Rose over, but there's not much she could do other make her comfortable before they hopefully end up somewhere with some actual medical resources.

As Finn perches on the edge of the bunk, Rey sits beside him on the floor with her back against it, shifting the broken halves of her lightsaber back and forth in her hand. Her face is creased in thought, and Finn can't even begin to imagine the burden she must feel as the last remaining Jedi. Next to her is Poe, his face equally lost in thought. He looks more tired than anything, and Finn wishes there were another, larger bunk to drag them all into, let them all his friends just cuddle up and rest for awhile.

Suddenly, there's a sound coming from down the hall in the direction of the cockpit, perhaps the last thing Finn would have expect to hear: music. Beside him, Rey perks up a little, tilting her head to hear better. “Life Day carols?” she asks aloud, sounding just as surprised.

Poe nods silently as he looks up as well, Resistance officers across the cabin where they've found places of refuge doing the same, bleary-eyed and broken. Then Leia is appearing in the doorway, a gentle smile on her face that somehow goes a long way toward putting Poe's heart at ease.

“Han always pretended he didn't keep this tape around,” she says, her head moving gently with the music. “Every time I brought it up, he would swear he was going to get rid of it, but he kept it around because it made us happy.” Her gaze dims just a little as she surveys her followers, going bittersweet. “Don't give up hope, my friends. We have this moment, and the next, and we'll keep going until we win or we can't anymore.”

Heads nod quietly, still solemn, and then Poe is standing, striding over to Leia and holding out a hand. “May I have this dance, General?” he asks, and his smile is only a little forced, a remarkable facsimile of his usual roguish charm.

“Of course, Commander,” she says, and lets him lead her to the center of the area. Finn watches as they settle into a dancing pose and start swaying to the music. The other soldiers and techs and officers around the cabin look at each other before seemingly deciding to follow their general's lead and pairing off to join in the impromptu levity.

Finn lets himself watch for another long moment, content to see everyone feeling even a little better, before he turns back to Rose. She's still out cold, dark bruises standing stark on unusually pale face, but she's breathing evenly and deeply, which has to be a good thing.

“Finn.”

It's Rey standing at his shoulder, favoring him with a soft smile. “She's all right?”

“I think so,” he says without looking up. “It's hard to say...”

Rey's hand lands on his back. “She's strong,” she tells him. “I can feel her through the Force. I think she's going to pull through okay.”

“Can you really tell that?” He looks up, trying to keep what feels dangerously like vain hope from his expression and failing.

Rey falters just a little. “Well, I'm not as attuned as Master Skywalker...was, but I think so. And after what you've told me about her, she's definitely not going to go down without a fight.” She smiles, and Finn finds himself echoing it, grateful for the reassurance.

“Yeah. That's certainly right.”

Rey's hand slips down his shoulder and takes his hand. “She's not going to wake up for awhile. I heard the doctor tell you that. Come over here with us, just for a bit.”

Finn bites his lip as he looks at Rose's face. She seems so vulnerable. “I shouldn't leave her.”

“Then don't,” Rey decides. “We'll stay right here.” She tugs on his arm, and, still a little confused, he allows her to pull him to her feet. She turns them so they're face to face but he can still easily see Rose. “Like that.” She smiles at him again, eyes twinkling brightly, as she puts her free hand on his arm and keeps the other clasped with his. “I've never actually done this before,” she admits as she starts to sway back and forth, not even moving her feet.

“Me, either,” Finn says. “I've never even seen holos or anything.” He looks at what the others are doing, looks at what Rey is doing, and tries to copy them. It probably can't quite be called a dance, but together they make it work. “Do you think it's wrong to be doing this now?” he wonders aloud. “Practically having a party after everything that's happened?”

Rey considers for a long moment before answering, “I think we're all happy to be alive. Of course we're hurting, but that's one of the things that lets us know we've survived. And if we don't celebrate being alive, celebrate that love we're fighting so hard for, what's the point?”

Finn doesn't answer aloud, just lets himself relax into the pseudo-dance, because he likes the sound of that. Just then, the music changes, a new, faster song replacing the last one, and Rey actually lets out a giggle as she moves to match the new tempo, swinging her hips to and fro in a way that looks honestly silly but absolutely joyful. Again, Finn copies her, and the two of them laugh together.

“Finn?”

“Rose!” In an instant, he's back at her side, Rey right there with him. “Hey. You're awake.”

She blinks up at them, focusing on one face, then the other. “Life Day songs?” she asks, clearly confused. She winces, staring at Finn. “If I didn't hurt so much, I'd ask if this was heaven.”

“I think it'll be best if you stay still,” Rey tells her. She reaches out, gently brushes a lock of hair back from Rose's face. “I can try and and help with some of the pain...” Her hand rests on Rose's hair as she closes her eyes in concentration.

Rose looks about to ask a question, then her eyes widen even as some of the hurt seems to leave her eyes. “This is Rey,” she gasps. “Oh my gosh.” The Jedi's lips quirk towards a smile.

“That's right.” Finn finds Rose's hand beneath the blanket and gently takes hold of it. “We made if off Crait on the Millennium Falcon. Leia's the one who put the carols on. We're...celebrating that we survived.”

“We survived...” Rose makes to rise and look around, but Rey clucks and gently eases her back down. Rose's eyes find Finn's again, filled with concern. “How many?”

“Not many,” he admits, but his voice firms as he adds, “but enough to keep going.”

T'was the night before Christmas...

2017-12-24T02:17:19Z

Hi everyone!

The end is in sight now, and I just wanted to take the chance to thank each and every one of you for taking part in this challenge and reminding me why I set this up in the first place. You're all awesome and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday period!!

Don't forget the challenge offically closes at midnight (GMT) on Boxing Day to give you all a little leeway with posting your last stories.

Did you get a bingo? Will you clear the board? Let me know, I'd love to hear it!

Days 22-24: Fic: Star Wars

2017-12-24T00:41:50Z

Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Characters: Rose & Paige Tico
Title: Eyes on the Stars
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 334
Prompt: star
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Young Paige and Rose enjoy a rare event together.

“Rose. Rose, wake up.”

Rose blinks blearily, finds her sister looking down at her, wide eyes shining in the dim light of the room.

“It's the middle of the night,” the girl complains. “What do you want?”

“The sky's clear,” Paige tells her excitedly. “Come with me.”

That gets Rose out of bed in an instant, following her sister out the door, both of them careful not to wake their parents, who would surely frown to find them out of bed at this hour regardless. Paige already has their coats laid out and helps Rose into hers.

“We can't stay out long,” Paige cautions. “If Mom and Dad wake up while we're gone...”

Neither of them bother to finish the sentence. They'll be in trouble, but this is too rare an opportunity to pass up.

A moment later, they're out the door, Paige easing it closed behind them as Rose looks up at the sky, the sparkling lights of stars filling the dark expanse, the soft glow of the moon reflecting on the snow and making the night air nearly as bright as day. This is such a rare sight: ever since the First Order came to Hays Minor and covered the planet with weapons factories and pollution, the smog clouding the atmosphere has been near-constant. Rose can count on one hand the times she's seen a blue sky or the stars with her own eyes.

Paige takes her hand and leads her along, up to the top of the hear near their house, a space that's just for them. They stand there huddled together, barely feeling the chill as they gaze upward.

“Someday,” Rose says, “I want to be somewhere I can see stars all the time.”

“We'll be up there in them when we're old enough,” Paige promises, squeezing her hand tightly. “We'll see them every day. We'll see every star in the galaxy.”

“Together?” Rose can't imagine doing those things without her sister.

“Of course. It's you and me, Rose, forever.”

Fandom: Star Wars Legends
Characters: Wedge Antilles/Tycho Celchu/Wes Janson/Derek "Hobbie" Klivian
Title: Live Laugh Bake
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 922
Prompt: cookies
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Wes supervises while Wedge, Hobbie, and Tycho attempt to bake a batch of cookies. It doesn’t go well.

“Extra chocolate chips,” Wes insists.

Wedge glances up at him from across the kitchen island where he's carefully measuring ingredients into a mixing bowl. “The recipe says one bag.”

“We bought three,” Wes reminds him.

“You bought three,” Hobbie counters. “If we put them all in, there'll be no more room for the actual cookie.”

“If you were actually helping over here,” Tycho adds mildly as he hands Wedge a bag, “you could have input on what goes in.”

Wes rolls his eyes from where he's sitting on a high stool, practically lording over the entire kitchen. “Someone needs to supervise.”

“He can cause less trouble over there, honestly,” Hobbie says, and Wes mock-glares at him.

Wedge dumps the chocolate chips into his bowl and takes a look as Hobbie holds out the recipe for his inspection again. “'Take care not to overmix,'” he reads. “What does that even mean?”

“Beats me,” Wes says.

“Some supervisor you are,” Tycho mutters. “Let me see that, Wedge.” He takes the bowl and the wooden spoon Wedge is holding doubtfully and starts to mix, a crease forming between his eyebrows as he concentrates.

Wes doesn't bother stifling his laugh. “I've never seen anyone look so serious about cookies before.”

“I'd think you of all people would be serious about cookies,” is Hobbie's comeback.

“I think that should do it,” Tycho says as he sets the bowl back on the counter. The three of them peer into it: smooth blonde mixture dotted with a reasonable amount of chocolate chips. It certainly looks like cookie dough.

Wedge picks up the bowl and turns toward where the pans wait atop the stove on the other side of the room. “Wait, did we remember to preheat the oven?” he asks suddenly, and the room fills with a chorus of groans.

“That's something our supervisor should have realized,” Tycho deadpans, and receives a glare from Wes.

“There are four of us here. Why is it my job to take care of everything?”

“You volunteered,” Wedge reminds him. He's carrying the full bowl of dough toward the oven as Hobbie peers at the recipe for the correct heat, scampering in the same direction. Without warning, the two of them collide, an oof! sounding from Wedge as he loses his grip on the bowl and it goes flying out of his hands. He grabs for it desperately, only managing to send it careening off even more crazily as he loses his balance and goes down, taking Hobbie with him.

“Hey!” Wes is on his feet in an instance, kneeling beside the tangled pile of limbs, completely ignoring the fate of the dough. “Are you guys all right?”

Tycho is there, too, helping Wedge sit up as he and Hobbie pull themselves apart. Wedge groans, rubbing at a bruise on his knee. “Fine,” he mutters, eyes traveling across the kitchen. “Oh no.”

The others follow his gaze, and there it is: the glob of sugar and flower and egg and chocolate smooshed across the floor, coating a large section of linoleum and seeping under the edge of the fridge.

“So much for that,” Hobbie says mournfully. “We don't have enough ingredients to make another batch.”

“Whatever,” Wes says, leaning toward him, hands moving over him worriedly. “You're okay, right? Wedge, you're sure?”

“Just bruised,” Wedge sighs as Tycho helps him to his feet. “No need to worry.”

“I don't need to kiss anything better?” Wes asks, turning back to Hobbie and wiggling his eyebrows.

“I'd never say no to any kind of kiss,” Hobbie answers, pulling him in.

Tycho and Wedge exchange an amused glance before sharing a peck of their own then turning to help their partners up.

“I think you may have failed in your supervisory duties,” Wedge teases Wes gently when they're standing next to each other, hands still clasped.

“I never said I'd actually be able to keep the three of you in line.”

Wedge rolls his eyes expansively. “You're ridiculous.”

“But you still love me.”

Wedge allows it, leaning into the offered kiss.

“Okay, are we all going to stand around kissing and bantering, or are we going to do something about this mess?” Tycho asks finally and gets a look from the rest of them.

“Which would you rather do?” Wes asks suggestively.

“Kiss later in an ant-free house?” he proposes.

“God, Tycho, you're no fun,” Wes whines as he pulls away from Wedge and gloms onto Hobbie. “Hobbie, dearest, come to the store with me to pick some prepackaged, danger-free cookies. I think that's about all our household can handle.”

Hobbie snickers as he lets himself be pulled toward the door. “Try not to have too much cleaning up without us?”

Then they're gone, and Tycho is turning back to Wedge, shaking his head fondly. “Tell me again why we put up with them?”

“Because we love them,” Wedge says as squats to try and pry the bowl up from where the dough has pasted it to the tile. “Now we're stuck with them.”

“What a burden,” Tycho chuckles. He wraps his arms around Wedge's, and together they lever up the bowl, further smearing the dough as it finally comes free. “We should have thought about that.”

Wedge laughs as he drops the bowl in the sink and turns around to face him. “Life just wouldn't be the same without all of us.”
“Of course.” Tycho wraps an arm around Wedge's waist and pulls him close. “Truly, I wouldn't give up any of you for anything.”

Fandom: Star Wars (post-Return of the Jedi)
Characters: Wedge Antilles/Luke Skywalker
Title: How We Cling
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 538
Prompt: Don't Let the Bells End
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Wedge looks forward to the holidays, when he’ll be reunited with Luke.

Wedge knew from the beginning that this wasn't going to be easy. Carrying on a love affair in the middle of a war can't be. There was always the chance that one of them would die, and even when they were constantly together, flying for Red and then Rogue Squadrons, there was always a little bit of a gap between them, even if Wedge was the only one who would acknowledge it. He was just a simple man who happened to be a good pilot. Luke was the last Jedi, the last remaining piece of a near-extinct power, trying to figure out his heritage and bring it back to the galaxy.

There were ways they could never meet, regardless of how hard they might try, and now it's even worse. The war is over, for the most part, and Luke is off on his own traveling here and there still determined to learn all he can. The Rebellion, the New Republic, don't need him as much as they used to. Yet Wedge is still here, flying whatever missions they assign him; that's something he can do. Something he still enjoys, honestly, even if he wishes he could see Luke more often.

Which is why he's so looking forward to the upcoming Life Day celebrations. Wedge has never been one for parties, never enjoyed holidays as much as others he knows, but this year Luke has promised to come back for the occasion, even if he can only manage a few days. There are few things in his life Wedge has ever looked forward to more, truth be told.

An alert tone signals someone at the door to his office, and Wedge calls, “Enter,” prepares himself to see one of his subordinates or maybe Mon or Leia come to discuss a possible new mission with him.

The last thing he expects to hear is Luke Skywalker's teasing voice saying, “You don't sound as excited as I thought you'd be.”

Wedge whirls, the hugest grin spreading onto his face as he takes in his lover's sudden appearance. He's wearing tall dark boots and a black shirt and pants, his lightsaber clipped to his belt – he looks exactly like he did the last time Wedge saw him months ago.

Before he knows it, Wedge is across the room throwing himself into his arms. “You're early!” he just manages to exclaim before their mouths crash together.

“I couldn't wait,” Luke murmurs. His hands come up to frame Wedge's face tenderly as he kisses him again, licks into his mouth warm and soft and familiar. “I wish I could stay even longer.”

“Don't talk about leaving when you just got here,” Wedge insists. “Just let me-” As much as it hurts, he disengages himself and goes back to his desk, pressing a few buttons, sending a message or two. “There.” He clicks off the computer and turns back to Luke, holding out his hand and beaming. “I'm all yours.”

Luke grins, taking his hand and pulling him close again. “Four straight days of you and me, love,” he promises. “No talking about leaving, no talking about travel or work. Just us.”

Wedge can't even articulate how much he likes the sound of that.

Bingo blackout - [Fic] (Torchwood)

2017-12-22T12:02:19Z

Bingo blackout using Torchwood as my fandom for all fics, listed below:

1. Keeping warm (Fireplace)

2. Fight for your right to party (Office Party)

3. Overdone (Deck The Halls)

4. Snowed In (Snow)

5. Home is where the heart is (Going home )

6. Lighting the way (Candle)

7. Baby it's cold (Cold Outside)

8. Under the tree (Christmas Tree)

9. All dressed up (Santa Baby)

10. Three wise men (Star)

11. Boxing Day blues (Don't Let The Bells End)

12. Don't open 'til Xmas (All Wrapped Up)

13. Home for Christmas (Author's choice - I'll Be Home For Christmas)

14. Cooking up a storm (Cookies)

15. For the man who has everything (The Right Gift)

16. Checking in (Naughty or Nice?)

17. Santa Claws (A New Tradition)

18. Retail therapy (Shopping)

19. Thicker than water (Family Drama)

20. Haunted (Ghosts)

21. Secret Scrooge (Scrooge)

22. All is calm (Silent Night)

23. Chocolate fixes everything (Hot Chocolate)

24. Sacrifices (Mistletoe)

25. A nose for snow (Smells Like Snow)

Day 21: Fic: Star Wars, Finn/Rey/Rose Tico

2017-12-21T01:25:35Z

Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Title: A Christmas Miracle
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 653
Prompt: author's choice (another one for "Christmas tree")
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Rey and Rose have a heck of a Christmas surprise for Finn.

Finn comes home from work to find his girlfriends sitting together on the couch in the light of the Christmas tree grinning at him in a way that makes him decidedly nervous.

“What going on?” he asks slowly as he hangs up his jacket. “Did I forget an anniversary or something?”

The women share a conspiratorial glance before looking back at him. “Nope,” Rey assures.

“Not this time,” Rose agrees.

Finn stands in front of the closet, watching them curiously. There's clearly something going on, and he'll be darned if he can figure out what. His eyes track Rey as she tucks a lock of dark hair behind Rose's ear, then kisses her temple. Rose's eyes drift closed as she leans into the touch. It's not an unusual tenderness between them.

“We wrapped presents before you got home,” Rey says as she looks at Finn again.

Rose's eyes open again. “There's something special for you in there.”

“Okay...?” Finn turns to look at the tree, the tumble of boxes underneath wrapped in pale blue paper studded with white snowflake designs. “But it's still a week until Christmas. I'm not supposed to open it yet, right?”

Rose looks at Rey, rolls her eyes dramatically. “It's like he doesn't even know how Christmas works.” Rey chuckles.

Finn huffs. “Seriously, ladies, what's this about?”

“Look closer,” Rey says.

Finn turns again. There isn't anything special he can tell about the gifts from the outside. The wrap is the one they'd chosen together that means they're meant for him. Once they join the pile, ones mean for Rey and Rose will have their own patterns.

“Higher,” Rose advises, and, still utterly puzzled, Finn raises his eyes.

The tree is fairly plain, a medium-sized artificial thing covered with multi-colored lights and red and gold bulbs; the three of them haven't yet spend enough Christmases together to have amassed a collection of personalized ornaments. And yet one there is new to him.

Finn steps closer, reaching out to touch the little stocking that hangs prominently just below eye level. It's red and fur-trimmed, about the size of his palm and with his name stitched across it in silver thread. And sticking out of it, two flat white sticks with blue caps. Crinkling his brow in confusion, Finn pulls them out and catches sight of the matching circular displays on each: a pair of plus signs.

It hits him all at once, and he whirls with a gasp to see Rose and Rey smiling at him, their arms intertwined as they each sit with one hand on their own belly and one hand on their girlfriend's.

Finn's heart races, his breath punched all out of him. “...both of you?” he manages.

They nod together.

“Oh my god.” Tears gather in his eyes as he stumbles forward, going to his knees between them as his hands join theirs, one tender, wondering touch on each of them. “I'm going to be a dad.”

“Twice over,” Rey says, twining her fingers with hers.

“Merry Christmas,” Rose murmurs, reaching out to touch his cheek.

“This is...” There's a huge smile on Finn's face, and he can't manage to find words. He's never been so – so shocked and terrified and excited and elated all at once. He feels about to burst. “This is amazing.”

“A Christmas miracle,” Rey agrees. “They'll be almost exactly the same age.”

“We can find out exactly when we go in for a doctor's appointment,” Rose adds. “But it'll be like having twins.”

“That'll be wild,” Finn says, but he can't even concentrate on any possible worries in that moment. The thrill is too fresh, the thought that the three of them will really have a family together a dream come true, something all three of them have always wanted. He leans forward, presses a kiss first to Rey's belly, then Rose's. “I couldn't have ever imagined a gift like this.”

Day 20: Fic: Star Wars (Finn/Poe Dameron, Rey/Rose Tico, Cardinal/Vi Moradi)

2017-12-21T00:06:02Z

Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy/Phasma novel
Title: Naughty or Nice
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 689
Prompt: naughty or nice?
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Stuck together and bored during a hyperspace journey, six Resistance fighters try to decide who's naughty and who's nice.
Warning: contains spoilers for The Last Jedi

There are six of them being sent on a mission together – Poe Dameron, Finn, Rey, Rose Tico, Cardinal, and Vi Moradi all crammed into the common area of a small transport on their way to an allied base to request assistance and supplies. It's a long hyperspace journey, all of them restless in the cramped cabin, all of them wishing instead they were back on base relaxing and looking forward to the upcoming Life Day festivities. Even if they're sure to be subdued and less than fancy, what with the Resistance's lack of people and supplies, it'll be good to celebrate something for once.

“It's my experience,” Poe says to break the silence, “that when it comes to couples, there's always a naughty one and a nice one.”

Rose raises an eyebrow, scandalized. “'Naughty' as in...?”

“As in when you think of the Life Day idea of the naughty and nice list,” Poe clarifies, and Finn thinks if Vi and Cardinal weren't here, he definitely would have taken that bait.

“Oh, I know this one,” Vi says, catching on. “Are we supposed to guess who's who among us?” Her grin widens as she glances among the other two couples. “I'm going to say...” She moves her finger back and forth between the other women in an eeny-meeny-miny-mo gesture and stops, pointing at Rey. “Our resident Jedi has to be the naughty one. I've heard some of the things you've done.”

Rey laughs. “Those things make me 'naughty'?”

Finn can't help but snort. “Rey would never do anything remotely naughty. She's light side all the way.”

“Now that is not true-” she protests, but he goes on.

“Rose, on the other hand. Rose is the one who practically destroyed an entire city and stole a group of very valuable animals.”

“You were there, too!” Rose objects.

“Which is why my buddy Finn is the naughty one between us,” Poe agrees, slinging an arm around him.

“Seriously? If these guys could only see the things you get up when no one else is around-”

“I thought we weren't going to go there, love,” Poe says extra sweetly.

Finn feels his cheeks warming a bit as he demands, “Second opinions?”

“My naughty vote goes to Poe,” Cardinal says after a moment of quiet deliberation. “Same reasoning as for Vi and myself: after the sort of discipline the First Order drilled into us, it's hard to describe what either of us might do as naughty.”

“You're both here,” Rey points out. “You deserted. Some might consider that 'naughty.'”

“The votes stand,” Poe says then, “as follows. The naughty ones: Vi, Rose, and myself. The sweet little angels: Rey, Finn, and Cardinal.”

Cardinal snorts. “Well, I wouldn't put it that way.”

“I would!” Vi agrees gleefully. She drags her boyfriend down for a quick but deep kiss, the others laughing heartily as the man's cheeks color and he pulls away, spluttering. “I take my naughty title and wear it with pride.”

“You would,” he mutters darkly, but there's a smile pulling at the corners of his lips as well.

“I think there's a little naughty and nice in each of us,” Rose puts in. She has her hand curled with Rey's now, the two of them pressed together hip to shoulder.

“It's about balance,” the Jedi agrees proudly as she drops a kiss to Rose's hair.

While the others are distracted, Finn tugs Poe close and murmurs in his ear, “We can see which of us is naughtier when we get back to base.”

Poe grins widely at that, nipping at his ear before he announces, “Coal for the naughty ones, gifts for the nice ones. And I'm not buying!”

There's a round of headshakes, groans, and eyerolls. “What was the point of this entire conversation?” Cardinal wants to know.

“Fun,” Poe says, emphasizing the word. “Perhaps you've heard of it?”

“I keep trying to explain,” Vi says mournfully, “but it just doesn't seem to sink in for him.”

Cardinal sighs loudly, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I really hate all of you.”

At least the discussion is making the flight pass faster.

hangs head in shame

2017-12-20T07:12:58Z

There I was, happily posting all my little drabbles to AO3 and in all of that, I forgot that I signed up here and wanted to post the links to this community. I'm such a dumbass.

Have a Camelot Christmas 2017

That's the series.

If it's okay to still post it. In this way.

I'll do different headers for each story when I come back from work tonight, okay?

Day 19: Fic: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, Finn/Rey

2017-12-20T00:34:47Z

Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Title: Keeping Christmas
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 225
Prompt: Christmas tree
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Finn reluctantly helps Rey clean up after the holidays.

Finn sighs as he pulls the last ornament, a tiny stuffed dog wearing a knitted scarf and hat, off the Christmas tree, wraps it in a paper towel, and tucks it into the tote along with the others. Standing next to him, Rey gently bumps his hip with hers. “What's wrong, babe?”

“I always hate taking down the tree,” he admits. “It's like it makes it official: Christmas is over. Time to get back to everyone being joyless and cynical.”

“That itself sounds cynical,” Rey points out, and he only huffs. “Well, we don't have to be like that. We can keep Christmas in our hearts all year long,” she says sweetly.

Finn smiles, rolling his eyes. “You know that sounds ridiculously corny.”

“And I also know you like it.” She grins at him and pulls him in for kiss. “If you like, we can leave it up for awhile longer. The lights are still on, and it's not like anyone's going to come over and judge us for it.”

“I kinda would like that.”

“It's done then.” Rey steps away to carry the tub back to the closet where it spends the other eleven months of the year. “Though, you should probably grab the wreath on the front door. It's mostly brown already, and the neighbors will start giving us funny looks.”

“Yes, dear.”

Day 18: Fic: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, Finn/Poe Dameron

2017-12-19T01:20:31Z

Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy (no spoilers)
Title: One Little Thing, a Ring
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 623
Prompt: Santa Baby
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Finn doesn't know what gift to ask for for his first Life Day. Poe has an idea.

Life Day didn't exist in the First Order Stormtrooper Corps. The concept is strange to Finn: a holiday honoring life and celebrating friends and family, things he never really had and never missed while there, with merrymaking and decorations and gifts. Gifts are new to him, too: the idea that you would just give someone something because you wanted to, not because it was something they required to stay alive or keep doing their duty.

Which is why he doesn't know what to say when Poe keeps asking him what he wants. Finn isn't used to wanting things for himself. The First Order always supplied the necessities – food and clothing and weapons – and that was all he needed. Now that he's with the Resistance, they have so little, it's not like he can ask Poe to give him anything. And it's not like he doesn't feel unimaginably blessed every time the man so much as smiles at him. Finn has Poe; what else could he want, and yet he keeps asking...

As if summoned by the thought, Poe drops down into a seat beside him, nudging his arm with a smile. “Have you come up with any ideas yet?”

“Not really,” Finn tells him honestly.

“That's all right, buddy.” Poe's hand lands on his knee, squeezes gently. “In fact...” He bites his lip, and one hand raises to worry at the collar of his shirt. “Actually, I kind of had a thought.”

“Yeah?” Finn tilts his head curiously. Poe actually seems nervous, and he has no idea what that could be about.

“Yeah.” Poe's fingers dip into his shirt and emerge a moment later to pull the chain Finn has seen him wear over his head. Suspended from it is a ring, more a simple silver washer than anything. “This was my mother's wedding ring,” Poe says softly. He takes a steadying breath and holds it out, “I'd like you to have it. If you would.” He chews his lip, fixes Finn with an intense expression.

Finn reaches out but hesitates before his fingers can touch the ring. He's trying to process the reality of Poe offering him something so clearly precious when it suddenly hits him- Finn's eyes dart up to meet Poe's, and he sees the want in those deep brown orbs and the hope. “Are you asking me-?”

“I am.” Poe nearly fumbles over the words as he catches Finn's hand and presses the ring and chain into it. “I love you, Finn. We haven't known each other all that long, but with the way things are going, you never know how much time you'll have. I want to spend mine with you.”

Finn blinks, and abruptly his eyes are filled with tears. “Yeah,” he manages, smiling through them. “Yeah, I like the sound of that.”

“Really?” Poe's voice fills with breathless excitement, and he actually lets out a little whoop of joy as he tugs Finn into a kiss. “Here, let me,” he's muttering as he draws back again, fingers shaking as he detaches the ring from the chain and holds it up.

Finn, heart racing, offers his finger and watches as Poe slides it onto him. “Wow,” he breathes, looking at the way the metal glints against his skin. “This is better than anything I could possibly have asked for.”

Poe laughs delightedly, a sound that makes Finn's heart sing in response, and kisses him again. “Well, I'm still going to get you something else. It's your first Life Day; I'm allowed to spoil you.”

Finn leans into him, laughing as well, wondering at how he can be so happy with the terrible things going on right outside their little bubble. Spoiling him, he thinks, is an understatement.

Days 14-17: Fic: Star Wars

2017-12-18T05:29:39Z

Fandom: Star Wars Legends
Characters: Wedge Antilles/Tycho Celchu
Title: Our Faces Aglow in the Softness of Candlelight
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 1,019
Prompt: candle
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Wedge, Tycho, a subpar candlelit dinner, and a confession.

The glowrod at his belt sends wild shadows chasing each other along the rough stone walls as Wedge walks the halls back to the room he's sharing with Tycho. That's the problem with newly-established bases on remote planetoids like this – sometimes things break down. In this case, it's the power generator, and though the techs are hard at work on it, who knows when they'll have reliable electric lights again.

He finds the right door and shuffles in where it's stuck in the emergency half-open position. Tycho is sitting at the small table in the corner of the room, a candle set on it casting flickering beams across his face.

“Cold ration packs,” Wedge says morosely as he sets two of them on the table. “All we've got for now. Where'd you find this?” He nods to the candle as he deactivates his glowrod and tucks it away.

“Ransacked my emergency supplies.”

“You'll have to replace those before we fly again.”

“Yes, boss.”

Wedge can hear the eyeroll in it, but doesn't comment. He's too busy being distracted by the way the candlelight plays across Tycho's face as he peels the rations open, casting shadows across his cheeks and making his blue eyes twinkle.

Wedge jerks his eyes away and goes for his own food, refusing to let his gaze linger. That doesn't do anyone any good. He frowns down at the dry protein cubes before him.

“Not exactly gourmet,” Tycho chuckles, catching his expression.

“Not exactly better than what we'd have gotten otherwise, either.” Wedge pops one into his mouth. There's no use complaining. Sustenance is sustenance, and they'll need it either way.

Tycho makes a huffing sound, and Wedge glances up at him, caught again by the way the low light softens his features. He's an attractive man; anyone would have to be blind not to see it.

“Wedge.”

“Hmm?” It takes longer than it should for him to snap back to attention. “What?” Tycho is looking at him, and Wedge can feel his cheeks warming, hopes like hell it isn't visible in the dim room.

Tycho is giving him a thoughtful look, the thoughtful look he gets when he's measuring his words carefully. “I've seen the way you look at me when you think I don't notice,” he says finally, evenly.

Everything in Wedge freezes, heart thundering painfully in his chest. Gods, he'd seen. He'd been caught. Part of him had known this day was coming, but who ever expects their life to change today? “I'm sorry,” he manages, voice small.

Tycho's brow creases. “What are you sorry for?”

Wedge stands up jerkily. “My attention has clearly made you uncomfortable, and it was unprofessional of me as your commanding officer. If you want a transfer or-”

“Wedge, slow down.” Tycho is standing too now, his hand shooting out to grip Wedge's arm, and Wedge stares at it, all too aware of the warmth that seeps through his sleeve into his skin. “Look at me.”

Cheeks blazing, gut roiling, Wedge does. This is where their friendship ends. This is where all that time spent looking and wondering and wishing ruins what he already had.

But Tycho's blue eyes are gentle. “Talk to me, Wedge.”

“W-what?” he stutters. He gaze flicks to Tycho's hand, still on his arm, back to his face.

Tycho doesn't move. “When a person looks at someone like that, it usually means something.”

“I...” Wedge's gaze trails away. But he has to speak. If there's any way he can fix this, he has to. “You're my best friend,” he says softly. “You mean so much to me in that way.”

He sees Tycho nod out of the corner of his eye. “Go on.”

“But I've wondered,” Wedge makes himself say, shaky. He hopes the dark hides some of the roiling emotion on his face. “Whenever you...touch me like this, or you hug me after a battle, or you listen when I need to talk...” He squeezes his eyes shut, knows he should look Tycho in the eyes when he says this, but he just can't. “I wonder if it could be more.”

“You want it to be more.” Wedge nods miserably, starts when Tycho's hand touches his cheek, guides him to look up into those blue orbs again. “I thought so.”

“Tycho-”

“Can I kiss you?”

“What?”

Tycho smiles, everything in his face soft and gentle. “I said, can I kiss you?”

Wedge can't quite comprehend what's happening. He nods dumbly, and then the unthinkable is happening: his friend is leaning in, framing his face in his hands as he brushes their lips together, soft, chaste, exploratory. “What-?” he manages when Tycho moves back just enough to look at him.

“You never imagined I'd want this too, did you, Wedge?” Tycho shakes his head fondly. One hand moves, fingers caressing Wedge's cheek. “You never considered I was looking at you while you were looking away, and that you just weren't the more observant one this time.” He laughs softly.

Wedge's mouth is hanging open, and he can't quite get it to close. “You-?”

“I care about you,” Tycho says, and it's firm in a way that's both shocking and grounding. “I don't know if you'd call it love, but we're two adults who know what we want. I'm ready to give this a try if you are.”

Wedge's head is spinning. He'd wanted, but he'd never imagined-

Tycho's hand returns to his arm, grips. “You still with me? You look like you're about to pass out or something, boss.”

The lightness of it, the familiarity, helps bring Wedge back to himself. He shakes his head to clear it, because this isn't a dream, this is really happening, and for once he can have what he wants. One good thing. He steps forward, threads his fingers into Tycho's hair and pulls him in for a kiss. “Yes,” he breathes against his lips, nerves and happiness still warring in his gut in a sensation pleasantly similar to breaking atmosphere. “Yes. I want you.”

Tycho pulls him closer and deepens the kiss. I want you, too.

Fandom: The Last Jedi
Characters: Poe Dameron, Finn, Rey, a bit of Rose Tico
Title: Still Possible
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 553
Prompt: ghost
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: After the events of The Last Jedi, Rey and Finn help Poe look to the future.
Warning: contains spoilers for The Last Jedi

Finn refuses to leave Rose's side, so Rey and Poe end up taking positions beside him, the three of them leaning against the bunk together as the Falcon flies through hyperspace. Around them, the bustling of the few remaining Resistance members dies down as the wounded are treated and others, exhausted from battle and grief, find spaces of floor to curl up and rest.

The three of them know that's what they should be doing, too, but they can't manage it. Adrenaline is still high, loss pulling at their hearts. Poe glances at his wrist chrono to check how long they have until they reach their destination, and lets out a soft sound of surprise.

“What is it?” Rey asks, concern in her voice.

“New Year,” Poe mutters, tilting the display to show her. He laughs, soft and incredulous and raw. “We were all so busy with...everything, we didn't even notice.” He squeezes his eyes closed for a long moment. The start of a new year – usually a time of excitement and celebration, and now look at them.

“It's kind of appropriate, isn't it?” she says gently. “After all this, the Resistance is getting a new start in a way.”

“It's not like we have a choice.” He opens his eyes, stares across the cabin, but all he can see is an endless sea of faces in his mind, faces he's never going to see again. “We start over and keep going or everything ends. And that's not a choice at all.”

“Of course not.” It's Finn's voice, followed by the warm pressure of him taking Poe's hand. “But we still have each other, and we still have hope, right? I mean, we have a Jedi, and the best pilot in the Resistance, not to mention all these other hard-working people ready to do what they have to.”

“Can one Jedi and one pilot really make a difference?”

Rey's voice is soft when she says, “Luke did, back in the day, with Palpatine and Vader. And pilots took down both Death Stars. You were there at Starkiller, Poe.”

“I wasn't alone. My squadrons-”

Finn squeezes his hand again. “We'll find them,” he promises, and Poe forces himself to breathe steadily. Jess and Snap and the rest of the survivors are out there in the galaxy somewhere, separated from the rest and out of contact since the evacuation, but he has to believe they're alive.

Poe makes himself nod, tries for just a moment to dismiss the lists he's been making in the back of his mind, possible squadron line-ups with the pilots he knows are still with them, those on this ship right now. Ones that assume the worst and don't include his missing friends.

Then Rey is taking his other hand, warmth on either side of him, and it buoys him more than he can say. “We have hope,” she repeats, fierce and wonderful. “So many people have sacrificed to get us here, and we're still fighting. We'll keep on fighting. Into this year, and beyond if we have to.”

Poe finally manages a small smile. He will keep on fighting. It's all he knows how to do. He squeezes back, touch linking the three of them together, Rose at their backs, and reminds himself that, despite everything, he's not alone.

Fandom: Rogue One
Characters: Cassian Andor/Bodhi Rook
Title: No Greater Happiness
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 199
Prompt: fireplace
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: The galaxy is at peace, and Cassian and Bodhi are together.

Cassian stares into the fireplace, remembering. Sometimes he can't help but let the memories take him: white sand beaches filled with fire, planet-sized death machines, a greenery-covered moon where the Rebellion nearly saw its end...

And then there's the sound of ceramic clinking together, and the images scatter like snowflakes as Cassian looks up to Bodhi entering the room holding two mugs, a sheepish grin on his face. “Sorry it took so long.”

Cassian smiles easily, his mind coming fully to the present. Those things were years ago. The galaxy has long been at peace, and this is his life now: a small house in a little town on Fest, a snowstorm blowing outside as his husband serves him a mug of mocoa filled to the brim with marshmallows, then cuddles up beside him beneath the thick quilt in a chair not built for two but which he's happy to share.

He closes his eyes, turning to press a kiss to Bodhi's cheek. “Thank you, dear heart.”

Bodhi murmurs acknowledgment and burrows in beside him, sipping his own drink. Cassian smiles and turns back to the fire, more content then he thought he'd ever have the chance to be.

Fandom: Star Wars Legends
Characters: Wes Janson/Derek "Hobbie" Klivian (implied), Luke Skywalker
Title: Chrismas Challenge
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 838
Prompt: a new tradition
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: [Part of my reincarnationverse] Wes and Hobbie invite Luke to spend Christmas day with them and introduce him to a playfully violent family tradition.

“I'm not sure this is a good idea,” Hobbie cautions.

“All of my ideas are good ones,” Wes shushes him, but truth be told, he's not above a tiny bit of concern himself. He's trying to help, but there's always a chance it'll go the other way and just make things worse.

It's Christmas morning, and they're standing just inside their bedroom door, peering out into the living room where Luke sleeps on the couch. Having lost both his aunt and uncle that year, he hadn't had anywhere to go for Christmas, so they'd taken pity and invited him to spend the day with them. He'd tried to hide his reaction when he accepted, but it had been clear how much the gesture meant.

Now, Wes reasserts his grip on the three objects in his hand, presses one to Hobbie and marches into the room. He flicks on the light and walks over to Luke. “Up and at 'em, sunshine!” he singsongs as he shoves at the sleeping man none-too-gently.

Luke groans and sits up, rubbing his eyes. “Wha-?”

“Merry Christmas!” Wes tells him cheerfully. “Prepare to fight.” He swings down with the weapon in his hand – an empty wrapping paper tub – and clubs Luke across the head.

“Wes! Ouch!” Luke glares up at him, rubbing the spot.

Wes only grins at him. “Growing up, wrapping paper tube fights were a tradition in my family,” he explains. “And considering you're here, you're part of it now, too. Winner gets to open the first present.”

He holds out the tube he's designed especially for Luke and holds his breath as his friend looks it over. At one end, about a quarter of the brown tube has been colored silver, while the rest is streaked with green. A parody of his lightsaber.

Luke looks up, his expression unreadable for a long moment, and an apology is on the tip of Wes's tongue when Luke suddenly grins and thwaps him bodily. “You left yourself unguarded,” he says with a devilish grin as he levers himself off the ouch. “If this were real, you'd be dead.”

“I wasn't ready!” Wes protests, but he's laughing now, swinging at Luke again, who brings his “lightsaber” up to block. Then Hobbie is joining them, too, his own tube swinging into the action, bopping first Wes, then Luke.

They go at each other for who can say how long, a frenzied whirl of swings and parries, slashes and stabs. At one point, an overly enthusiastic blow nicks the Christmas tree, and Hobbie yelps as he dives to save it from toppling over and only just manages to right it in time.

“Aha!” Wes yells as he's still prone, stabbing him in the middle of the back. “You're out!”

Hobbie sticks his tongue out at him before relenting, making an overly dramatic show of dying and laying there under on the tree skirt as Wes turns to face down Luke.

“Do your worst, Jedi,” he intones, holding his tube before him and stalking forward.

There's a spark in Luke's eyes as he meets him, his own “weapon” in a defensive position that's different from Wes's playful stance – it has to be a real thing, remembered from his past. Wes dives in with a slashing blow, and Luke parries easily, swiping the blade aside and tapping his “blade” to Wes's neck.

“You're finished,” he says all too calmly, but he's grinning.

“No fair, you have experience,” Wes mutters as he pushes Luke's blade away.

Luke only shrugs. “Not my fault you decided to pick a sword fight with a Jedi.”

“Former Jedi.”

A pause. “Yeah, you're right.”

“Hey, Luke-”

“It's fine.” Luke waves him off, sitting on the couch and dropping the wrapping paper tube at his feet. “It's just weird, you know?”

“You miss it,” Hobbie says, sitting up from his position under the tree.

“I do. It was so much a part of me back then, and now.” Luke spreads his hands, a frustrated look on his face. “It's like, not being able to feel the Force, nothing here is quite real. Does that make sense?”

“Nope!” Wes drops down next to him, throwing an arm around his friend's shoulders. “But I wouldn't expect it to, for us, since we never had it to begin with.”

Luke's expression twists a little like that maybe wasn't quite the right thing to say.

“You think you'll find someone else one day?” Hobbie asks soothingly as he joins them. “I mean, if we're here, your other Jedi have to be, too, right?”

“I don't know,” Luke sighs. He rubs at his temples. “So much of this still doesn't make sense.”

“Well, today isn't the day we're going to figure it out,” Wes decides for them. “It's Christmas.” He bobs the other two on the head lightly with the tube he still holds in his hand. “No more bummers, okay?”

Luke puts on a smile. “Whatever you say, Wes. And I believe you did say I get the first present?”

Day 13: Fic: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Luke Skywalker/Wedge Antilles

2017-12-14T04:36:49Z

Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Title: I'm Here for You
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 1,193
Prompt: shopping
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
TW: Discussion of social anxiety, anxiety attacks
Summary: People pass by between them, but Luke can see him plainly: a slender man bent over where he sits on a bench outside the store, face hidden in his hands as fingers clench in his dark brown hair. Beside him lies an overturned bag, spilling its contents across the floor nearby. The man doesn't appear to have noticed, and no one in the bustling crowd stops.

It's two weeks until Christmas, so the mall is packed. Luke honestly doesn't know how he manages to catch sight of the man sitting outside the store, but when he looks up from the cash register in a brief breath between customers, there he is.

People pass by between them, but Luke can see him plainly: a slender man bent over where he sits on a bench outside the store, face hidden in his hands as fingers clench in his dark brown hair. Beside him lies an overturned bag, spilling its contents across the floor nearby. The man doesn't appear to have noticed, and no one in the bustling crowd stops.

"Biggs?" Luke asks without looking away and hears his friend manning the other register turn to him.

"Luke, I swear if you're out of paper again-"

"No, look." Luke points at the man, who hasn't moved save for the agitated fidgeting of his fingers in his hair. "What do you think's wrong with him?"

"Could be anything," Biggs says thoughtfully. "Holiday season is hard on some people." He claps a hand on Luke's shoulder. "Come on, we have customers waiting."

Luke frowns, finally turning back to his work, but he's barely opened his mouth to call the next person forward when he makes a decision. "I'm going out there," he tells Biggs. "You can handle this for a few minutes, right?"

"Your heart's too big for your own good, Luke," his friend tells him mildly. "Go on. I can help the next person here."

Luke walks out of the store, and like he'd thought, the clearly distraught man is still there. The spot next to him is empty, and Luke sits down tentatively. "Excuse me?"

No response. Maybe he didn't hear him?

"Um, excuse me, sir?" Luke touches his shoulder gently.

At that, the man jerks upright, staring at Luke, and Luke catches his breath. The man looking at him can't be much older than himself, his thin cheeks red, hazel eyes wet and bloodshot. He looks miserable - and a little frightened.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the man sputters, looking away, hands waving as if he doesn't know what to do with them. Then he reaches for his bag - and stops, looking even more distressed when he sees what's happened to it. "I'm making a mess and I'm loitering and-"

"Hey, it's all right," Luke says, trying to sound calming. He gently lays a hand on the man's arm to stop him as he frantically reaches for his things. "Let me help." The man stills, and Luke slides off the bench, feeling his eyes on him as he starts putting things back in the bag - gift bags, tape, a toy airplane, batteries... "I saw you sitting out here from in the store over there. Are you all right?"

Luke stands, holding out the bag, and the man takes it hesitantly. His cheeks are still red, his hair messy from his fretting, but he's blinking his eyes clear as he stares at Luke. "I'm...I-"

"This is weird, isn't it?" Luke says, letting out a low chuckle as he scratches the back of his neck awkwardly. "You just looked like there was something wrong, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I'm Luke."

"Wedge," the man on the bench tells him, voice soft. He drops his eyes shyly. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Luke smiles at him and sits down again, leaving a little space between them. "You don't have to talk to me or anything. I know I'm just a stranger. You probably think I'm weird and want me to go away."

Wedge cracks a tiny smile at that, and even if he's right, Luke thinks that has to be a victory.

"I...sometimes have trouble being around people," Wedge admits quietly. "But I have this Christmas party tomorrow and..." He looks down at his bag, where his fingers are now worrying the handles and clearly exercises a lot of effort to make himself stop. "When I paid for the airplane at the toy store, I miscounted my cash and the guy had to ask for more." He flinches. "That was embarrassing. And then I practically ran out of that store and collided with someone, and everything just sort of cascaded and...well." He shrugs.

"I'm sorry to hear that," Luke says. A thought suddenly occurs to him, and he blanches. "Coming up to you like I did probably just made it worse, didn't it?"

"No!" Wedge's hand shoots out as if to keep him from leaving, then lowers slowly as he bites his lip. "No," he repeats softly, "it's actually kind of ice to be able to talk about it."

"Well, I'm glad I could help with that," Luke tells him.

Wedge smiles, hands fidgeting on his bag again, though he doesn't seem as intensely upset as before. After another few moments, he brushes a sleeve across his face to chase away the last of his tears and stands. "I should go home," he says in a bit of a rush. "My roommates will be wondering where I am."

"Would it be weird if I asked if you wanted me to walk you to your car or something?" Luke blurts. "I mean, to make sure you're okay with the people and everything."

Wedge blushes, and it strikes Luke how different it looks from the color that stained his cheeks earlier. "Thanks, but I came on the train."

"Oh. Well...can I give you my cell number, in case you need anything?" Luke's words echo back at him, and he suddenly realizes how they sound. "I mean - I'm not trying to - I just-"

Wedge smiles, a genuine expression that meets his pretty eyes, and Luke thinks maybe part of him should be trying to. "I'd like that," Wedge says softly and hands his phone over.

Luke types his number in and hands it back. "There you go. Just, like, let me know you got home okay or whatever? If that's not too weird?" he repeats. What has he gotten himself into?

"I will."

Luke glances back at his store and sees Biggs watching them, a flummoxed expression on his face as he gestures at the ever-expanding line of customers.

"I should get back, too," Luke says as he gets to his feet. "Um...see you?"

"Hey, Luke?" He turns back to see Wedge favor him with one last smile. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Luke smiles too as he returns to the store.

"You were just supposed to be checking on him, not asking him on a date," Biggs grouses, but he has the hugest grin on his face as he rings up a customer's purchases. "I'm supposed to be the smooth operator around here."

"It wasn't like that," Luke mutters, motioning another shopper forward, but he can feel heat in his cheeks.

An hour later, he gets a text from Wedge saying he's made it home, thanking him again for his time, and asking if maybe he wants to meet up sometime so Wedge can make it up to him. Luke doesn't stop smiling for the rest of the night.

Days 9-12: Fic: Star Wars

2017-12-13T03:18:27Z

Fandom: Star Wars Legends
Characters: Wedge Antilles/Tycho Celchu
Title: Will You?
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 964
Prompt: the right gift
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Wedge gives Tycho the most important Christmas present of their lives. Without realizing it, Tycho gives him something in return.

Tycho is going to say yes. Wedge knows he's going to say yes. He knows. They've talked about it before in the theoretical, but the knowledge that there's a ring in a brightly wrapped box under the tree is burning a hole in Wedge. He's never been so anxious about anything in his life – either of his lives, probably.

Christmas morning is even more unbearable than the lead-up. Wedge is up ridiculously early, having woken and not been able to get back to sleep with the way his heart was pounding knowing today is the day. He's making breakfast, flipping pancakes onto a plate, when Tycho stumbles into the room still in his pajamas, yawning and running a hand through his bedhead, and Wedge aches at how wonderful he is, how this could be his for the rest of his life.

“What're you doing awake already?” Tycho mutters as he sidles up behind Wedge and wraps his arms around his waist. He's warm all along Wedge's back as he traces his lips across his neck, and Wedge leans into the touch.

“What's it look like?” he answers with levity he hopes doesn't sound forced. He makes himself step out of Tycho's embrace, carrying the plate to the table. “Christmas breakfast.” He waves a hand at the display, place settings and glasses of orange juice and a bowl of fruit already laid out.

Tycho grins. “You spoil me.”

Wedge answers the smile as they sit down together, heart twisting almost painfully. Yeah. That's all I want to do. Forever.

It seems to take ages to get the food down, and of course Tycho notices his antsiness. “Eager to get to your presents?” he quips, and Wedge can feel his cheeks heating.

“I'm hoping you'll like what I got for you,” he replies, and he's pleased at how steady his voice is.

“I know I will,” Tycho says, and he takes his hand across the table.

Wedge squeezes back and makes himself take another bite of his pancake. He'll know soon.

The moment they're done eating, Wedge is pulling Tycho into the living room, leaving the dishes on the table. Tycho allows him, laughing jovially, and dropping onto the couch where Wedge pushes him.

Wedge turns to the tree, a small thing atop an old nightstand in a corner, wrapped in red and green lights and adorned with ornaments of various sentimental value. In a place of prominence is the glass ball commemorating their first Christmas together that Tycho's parents had gifted them the year before. Nestled below it atop the white tree skirt are a handful of packages. With shaking hands, Wedge reaches for the one he knows is most important. He should save it for last, but he just can't bear the thought of waiting another moment.

He puts a confident smile on his face and turns back to Tycho, presenting it with a flourish that's several levels more casual than he feels.

Tycho smiles back, a slight question behind the look. “Who said I get to go first?” he jokes.

“I did. Go on, open it.” Wedge sits down beside him on the couch, pushing his hands between his knees to hide his nerves. He knows his gaze must be intense, and surely he's making Tycho uncomfortable, and-

Tycho tears the paper, and Wedge's heart lightens, because how endearing is it that unlike so many adults who pull tape and fold seams, he still rips open his presents like a child? Then the paper is falling away, and Tycho is catching his breath as he looks at the blue velvet box, then his eyes are wide on Wedge. He knows what it is. He has to know.

Heart pounding fit to fly from his chest, Wedge slides to his knees, plucking the box from slack fingers. He opens it and turns it around, meets the gorgeous blue eyes of the man he loves. “Tycho Celchu?” His voice shakes so badly he can barely get the words out. “Will you marry me?”

Wedge can't describe the noise Tycho makes then, but he recognizes it as a combination of shock and joy that makes his heart jolt. Then Tycho is on his knees, too, yanking Wedge into his arms, pressing kisses to his lips, his nose, his forehead, everywhere he can reach. “Yes,” he's saying, “yes, Wedge, of course I'll marry you. God, it's not like you even had to ask.”

“Of course I did.” Wedge mutters the indignant words into Tycho's neck along with a giddy laugh. He's said yes. Oh, god, he'd said yes! “This is how things are done.”

Tycho pulls back, frames his face in his hands. He's shaking his head as if he feels so much he can't quite speak, and Wedge can more than sympathize. “I love you, you ridiculous man.”

“I love you.” Wedge kisses him again, deep and meaningful. When he pulls back, he realizes his vision has gone blurry. Is he crying?

“Hey, that's not necessary.” Tycho is smiling gently as he thumbs away the moisture on Wedge's face, but Wedge can see the emotion in his expression, too. “Let's see that ring, hmm?”

He holds out his hand, and Wedge scrambles to pull the ring from the box. The simple silver band, embedded with a tiny round diamond, glints in the light from the tree as he slides it onto Tycho's finger.

Tycho's eyes are soft as he looks down at it, turning his hand this way and that in admiration. “No one will ever be able to top this as a Christmas present,” he tells Wedge, drawing him in for another soft kiss. “It puts all the things I got you to shame.”

“That's not true,” Wedge tells him sincerely. “You gave me you.”

Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Characters: Luke Skywalker/Wedge Antilles
Title: Curled Up Together
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 169
Prompt: all wrapped up
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Luke needs a little convincing to get out of bed and go on patrol.

“We're going to have to get up soon,” Wedge murmurs and laughs when Luke shakes his head and burrows closer to his chest, muttering darkly. Wedge runs a hand through wild golden hair. “Our patrol starts in less than twenty minutes, and we still need to get dressed and get our tauntauns ready.”

“Wanna stay in bed with you,” his bedmate whines.

“That's something Luke would say,” Wedge tells him. “You need to be Commander Skywalker right now.”

Luke groans and sits up suddenly, throwing the covers off and making Wedge shiver at the sudden surge of cold. “You know how I feel about you calling me that in bed,” he accuses.

Wedge doesn't bother suppressing his grin. “Yep!”

Luke scrubs a hand over his face. “And now I have to get up, or we're definitely going to be late.”

Wedge laughs as he ducks in a for a kiss. “Just think about next time we'll be back in this bed together. That oughta keep you warm out there.”

Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Characters: Derek "Hobbie" Klivian, Luke Skywalker, Wedge Antilles, Tycho Celchu, Wes Janson
Title: Mocoa Madness
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 311
Prompt: hot chocolate
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Hobbie looks like he's just been handed the entire world on a platter, but the rest of them can't stop staring in horror at the thing that sits on the table in front of him.

Hobbie looks like he's just been handed the entire galaxy on a platter, but the rest of them can't stop staring in horror at the thing that sits on the table in front of him. Somewhere under there is a mug of mocoa, but it's so decked out, the base can barely be seen. A mountain of whipped cream sits atop it, crowned with marshmallows, sprinkles, and chocolate chips. The whole thing is drizzled with chocolate sauce, dusted with more mocoa powder, and a long, thin chocolate biscuit sticks out like a victory flag.

“I feel like I'm getting diabetes just looking at that thing,” Wedge says, sounding slightly ill.

“Makes my teeth hurt,” Luke agrees.

“Which quartermaster did you even bribe to get all that stuff and with what?” Tycho is a bit awed.

“That's for me to know and you to find out,” Hobbie answers with a grin as he picks up the monstrosity.

At that moment, the door to the kitchen swings open, and Wes joins them – plopping down next to Hobbie with a carbon copy of the ridiculously extravagant drink. They clink the monstrosities together and take matching deep swigs.

“Of course. I should've known you were involved in this,” Wedge deadpans.

Wes's grin could melt half the ice on Hoth. “Aw, Wedge, you don't have to be jealous,” he says sweetly. “If you're nice to me, I'll make you one, too.”

“I'll take a standard cup of mocoa without the entire kitchen on top, thanks.”

Wes rolls his eyes. “I couldn't deign to make something so simple.” He wiggles his fingers. “These hands only create art.”

“Come on, guys,” Luke mutters, even as he's laughing. “Let's leave these guys to their 'art' and get something that's actually drinkable.” Tycho and Wedge gladly follow him to the kitchen, Hobbie and Wes's snickers following them all the way.

Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Characters: None specified (basically the entire population of Echo Base xp)
Title: All is Calm
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 100
Prompt: Silent Night
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Tonight, everything in Echo Base is calm.

Tonight, everything in Echo Base is calm. There's no present crisis, no one running or yelling orders or planning a desperate mission. Throughout the icy halls, things are quiet. Tauntauns low softly in their pens. In outposts, sentries keep calm watch, no dangers presenting themselves. In barracks and private quarters from one end of the base to the other, Rebels sleep soundly. No dark dreams intrude. They all know it won't last. Can't last, with their galaxy the way it is, but that's all right. For now, there is this glowing moment of respite. For one night, there is peace.

Day 8: Fic: Star Wars (Finn, Rey, Rose Tico)

2017-12-09T00:24:17Z

Fandom: Star Wars Sequel Trilogy
Title: Let's Be Jolly
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 529
Prompt: deck the halls
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Someone made a mistake when planning Finn, Rey, and Rose's leave in Canto Bight.

“We're here!” Finn calls excitedly, his nose pressed to the viewport as their ship comes out of hyperspace near Cantonica. “I can't wait to eat all the delicious food and get a massage at Zord's and see the fathiers-”

Rose snorts. “Hopefully someplace other than rampaging through a casino this time.”

Rey grins, because she never tires of that story. “I'm looking forward to seeing the casinos. I've never been in one before.”

“Are you even allowed to gamble?” Rose wants to know. “Wouldn't you just win every time with your Force powers?”

“It's not like that. I can choose when to use them. But I suppose no one would want me in their casino if they knew I was a Jedi,” Rey muses.

“Hey, guys...?”

The women join him at the viewport. “What is it?” Rose asks.

He points, and they follow his gaze. The ship has nearly made it to the surface of the planet, and the city is coming into view. Though it's still day, dazzling lights cover every available surface in shades of green and red and gold. Strings of them circle the dome of the largest casino, making every edge glow against the backdrop of the fanciful city. As the shuttle starts to reverse thrust to lower into a docking bay, they can see streetlights and other objects wrapped in green garlands and hung with shiny multicolored baubles.

“Did it look like this last time we were here?” Finn wonders aloud.

“No,” mutters Rose, who has her datapad out and is punching buttons. After a pause, she groans. “We're here just in time for the Winter Light Festival. Did no one notice this when they were planning this little outing?”

“What's wrong with that?” Rey pipes up. “If there's a holiday going on, won't that be fun?”

“Not really,” Rose states. “Holidays mean more people and higher prices.”

“The General organized this leave for us, and the new government is paying,” Finn reminds them. “So it's not like that part matters.”

“And we never exactly expected Canto Bight to not be crowded,” Rey adds.

Rose huffs. “Personally, I was looking forward to relaxing a little. Huge holiday crowds don't exactly do that for me.”

“Then stay in the room.” Finn nudges Rose, looping an arm through hers. “Come on,” he wheedles. “We'll have fun, okay?”

“Maybe we can go for a walk after dark when it's less crowded and enjoy the lights,” Rey says, smiling at her. “And if the crowds do bother you, we will take you back to the room. No joke.”

Rose rolls her eyes, but her look is fond now, a grin tugging at her lips. “You guys are gonna refuse to not let me enjoy this no matter what, aren't you?”

“Yup!” Finn and Rey chorus cheerfully. The ship bumps into dock and the hatch hisses open. Rey catches Finn's eye, takes Rose's other arm, and together they tug her out into the spaceport, which they can already see is filled with the same festive colors and piping in jolly music.

“I knew I never should have gone along with this,” Rose mock-pouts as she lets them lead her.

Days 6 & 7: Fic: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Luke Skywalker & Wedge Antilles

2017-12-08T02:49:37Z

Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Characters: Luke Skywalker, Wedge Antilles
Title: Smells Like Snow
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 100
Prompt: smells like snow
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: “She usually gets like this when it's about to storm. I think they can sense it.”

“Easy, girl,” Luke murmurs as he settles his squawking tauntaun back into her pen. “Shh, it's okay.”

“She all right?” Wedge asks from nearby, where he's just finished removing the tack from his own.

“Yeah,” Luke tells him, scubbing a hand against the tauntaun's neck scales. “She usually gets like this when it's about to storm. I think they can sense it.”

“Patrol in the morning will be fun with a fresh coat of snow to swim through,” Wedge groans.

“Right...” Luke gives his mount a final scratch before turning away. “Soak in the warm while you can.”

“What warmth?”

Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy

Characters: Wedge Antilles
Title: It's a Trap!
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 100
Prompt: mistletoe
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Wedge's team has a holiday surprise for him.

The normal bustle of the hanger falls quiet when Wedge enters, and he doesn't know why – until he spots the sprig of green someone has tied to the nose of his fighter and remembers the upcoming holiday.

Amused, he looks around at the techs and pilots all watching him expectantly.

“You know,” he announces, “given my rank, it really wouldn't be appropriate for me to kiss any of you. Sorry to disappoint.”

There's a round of good-natured groans, and Wedge laughs to himself as he detaches the mistletoe and tucks it away. Who knows when it might come in handy.

Day 5: Fic: Star Wars Original Trilogy, Wedge Antilles & Luke Skywalker

2017-12-06T01:36:50Z

Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Title: Baby, It's Cold Outside
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 246
Prompt: cold outside
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Luke is in for a shock when he and Wedge first arrive on Hoth.

Everything on Hoth is so dazzlingly, blindingly white, Wedge is honestly surprised he and Luke manage to find the hanger entrance and get their X-wings inside without incident on the first try. His eyes are still adjusting to what seems like a vastly reduced amount of light inside the building as he pushes the release for his canopy and hears from across the room, “Sithspit, it's freezing in here!"

Wedge laughs as he jumps to the ground, though he's already entertaining fond memories of the climate-controlled bubble of his canopy himself. “We did know it was an ice planet,” he reminds his wingmate as Luke approaches.

The other man is shivering, his arms clamped tight around himself. “Yeah, but I didn't think it would be this cold!” Trundling along behind him, R2-D2 beeps lowly in agreement.

Wedge shakes his head fondly. “Poor desert boy. How will you ever survive here?”

Luke makes a pouty face that only gets him another chuckle.

“Hey, if we don't like it, at least we know the Empire isn't exactly clamoring for this real estate.” Wedge claps Luke on the shoulder as he leads the way deeper into the base. “Besides, maybe we'll get used to it?”

“I doubt it,” Luke grouses. “But at least they did promise to issue heavy cold-weather gear. We should get on that."

“Plus there's always sharing body heat,” Wedge adds with a twinkle in his eye, just to see the way Luke sputters in response.

Day 4: Fic: Star Wars, Captain Cardinal/Vi Moradi

2017-12-05T01:38:01Z

Fandom: Star Wars (Phasma novel)
Title: All You Knit is Love
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 1,045
Prompt: scrooge
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: Vi refuses to knit Cardinal a sweater, leading him to question where they stand with each other.

As is so often the case, Vi is bundled up in yarn when Cardinal stops by her quarters to visit, the stuff spread all across her bed as she works meticulously with her knitting needles at the bundle in her lap. He can't help but smile at the look of deep concentration on her face, the way she barely looks up when he enters.

“What are you working on?” he asks as he very carefully clears a spot and sits down next to her.

Vi gives a sharp look at him touching her things but seems to deem what he's moved harmless enough as she sits up and stretches. Who knows how long it's been since she took even a short break.

“Life Day present for Baako,” she says, setting down her needles and holding up the project. It appears to a half-completed sweater, in mostly-straight stripes of white and Resistance blue. Innocuous enough that her dignitary brother will be able to wear it in public without raising questions but still know its meaning.

“Looks warm,” Cardinal comments. “I'm sure he'll love it.” He reaches over to touch the soft material, chuckles when she bats his hand away, making a threatening motion as she picks up her needles again. “Say, when are you going to make me one of these?”

Vi chews her lip for a long moment before going back to her work. “Probably never,” she answers shortly.

Cardinal frowns, not having expected that answer, and surprised at the way it feels like a blow. He hadn't meant to assume, and he's still assimilating from his First Order upbringing into the ways normal people of the galaxy do things, but isn't it normal to give the people you care for gifts? Especially of the homemade variety? His stomach clenches with realization. Or perhaps that is what Vi does, just not for him. Perhaps he misjudged what he thought they were.

“I'll leave you to it,” he says curtly and stands.

“Hey, didn't you want something?”

“No.”

---

Cardinal hates how much the simple conversation effects him, keeps dragging at his attention. Luckily, though, he gets an assignment the next morning that keeps him busy for a few days as he provides intel to a group of Resistance fighters going on an undercover mission and answers their questions.

On the third day, his luck runs out. He's just retrieved a tray of what passes for food in the commissary and turned around to find a place to sit when Vi catches his eye from one of the near-empty tables and jerks her head to indicate a seat across from her. Cardinal groans internally, but he goes.

“You trying to tell me something, Emergency Brake?” she asks, jabbing her fork at him accusingly.

“Why would you think that?” Cardinal concentrates his gaze on his tasteless meal. He can see Vi frowning out of the corner of his eye.

“Um, maybe because you've been avoiding me for days and you usually come wandering back like a lost puppy at every possible opportunity?”

Cardinal does not flinch. Is he really that pathetic when it comes to her? He supposes he is. Kriff, he's a fully grown adult, even if he may not have been socialized properly. He should be able to deal with this. He makes himself meet her eyes, distracted for only half a second by the warm brown gaze, now clouded with confusion.

“Why won't you make me a sweater?”

Vi barks a laugh, and Cardinal can only stare. She thinks this is funny?

“Is that really what's got you so out of whack?” She reaches across the table to lay a hand on his, tightening her grip when he makes a move to pull away. “Really?”

“Really,” he grits out. “But I get that I'm not as important to you as your brother, so-”

“Babe, it's a superstition,” Vi says, her gaze softening. “As a knitter, you can't just make a sweater for someone you...someone you care about.”

Cardinal squints, ignoring the way his heart pounds at her phrasing. He doesn't understand. “What kind of superstition?”

Vi smiles warmly at him, and he curses how it instantly makes him feel better. “It's called the 'sweater curse.' It's this idea that if you knit a sweater for someone you're in a relationship with, it'll be cursed and that person will break up with you.”

“That doesn't make any sense. Why would you break up with some who gave you such a thoughtful gift?”

“There is kind of a basis to it, if you think about it. Some people get anxious because their SO spends more time knitting than with them, or it could be that the knitter gets upset because their lover doesn't appreciate it enough. Those kinds of things. But, like I said, mostly a superstition.”

“I wouldn't break up with you.” As soon as the words are out of his mouth, Cardinal feels a blush spring to his face that matches his name. Sappy. Stupid. Are they even enough of a thing that they could break up? But Vi had said she was concerned about it...

“Oh, you are adorable. Come here.” She leans over the table and pushes a hand into his hair, pulling him in for a kiss. “How about we start with something small, hmm? I can have you a cup cozy ready by the end of tomorrow. You can think of me when you're not burning your delicate hands on your constant stream of caf.”

“Hey!” he protests.

She grins. “And besides, it's not like you need a sweater here on D'Qar.”

“We won't be here forever. And I'll be going on missions elsewhere eventually.”

That seems to make her pause. “You'd wear something I made you on a mission?”

“Sure. Why wouldn't I want to think of you when I'm away?”

She kisses him again, longer this time. “You know,” she says when she pulls back, “for a born-and-raised soldier, you really are much sweeter than you let on.”

Cardinal can feel his cheeks heating once more as he mutters something that's not really a defense. But with Vi's deep, melodious laugh curling around him and her reassurance warm in his gut, he can't feel too bad about it.

Day 3: Fic: Star Wars Legends, Wedge Antilles/Tycho Celchu

2017-12-04T03:35:04Z

Fandom: Star Wars Legends
Title: All Roads Lead Home
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 1,470
Prompt: going home
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: It's the day after Thanksgiving, and Wedge and Tycho are putting up Christmas decorations in Wedge's apartment when Tycho looks over and asks innocently, “Would you be interesting in coming to my parents' place with me for Christmas?”

It's the day after Thanksgiving, a quiet holiday the two of them had spent just with each other, and Wedge and Tycho are putting up Christmas decorations in Wedge's apartment when Tycho looks over and asks innocently, “Would you be interesting in coming to my parents' place with me for Christmas?”

Wedge nearly drops the strand of garland he's holding. “What?”

Tycho frowns at him. “We have been together for nearly six months, and I practically live here. I've told them about you. They want to meet you, and they said you're invited.”

“Sorry,” Wedge mutters, reasserting his grip on the wreath before dropping it on the couch. “I guess I just didn't expect this.”

Tycho makes a face and makes his way over to him, taking his hands. “I know you're nervous, but don't need to worry. They know I love you, and I they will too. I've already met your mom and dad,” he points out.

Wedge smiles, remembering when that had happened. It had been only a few weeks after they'd met, and he and Tycho had been spending the afternoon had Wedge's apartment when his parents stopped in unannounced to say hello. Tycho had perhaps been as caught off guard as Wedge feels now, but he'd recovered gracefully and charmed Jagged and Zena Antilles without effort, as Wedge had had no doubt he would.

Tycho squeezes his hands and adds softly, “And it would mean a lot to me. I never got a chance to do this with you before. Introduce you to family, show you my home.”

That clinches it. Wedge pulls him in for a kiss, murmurs, “Of course I'll have Christmas with your family.”

Tycho grins hugely.

---

Of the things Wedge had thought to be nervous about in the weeks leading up to the trip, the actual flight to Tycho's home city wasn't one of them. But, once he's sitting on the plane, he gets the most unpleasant of surprises: it turns out that in this life, he seems to be afraid of flying.

Wedge curses under his breath as he clamps a death grip on the arms of his seat. It's ridiculous. A man who used to be one of the best fighter pilots around, now afraid of the thing once loved.

Tycho lays a hand over his, his smile frustratingly serene. “It's all right,” he murmurs. “You'll be fine. The odds of-”

“Don't talk to me about odds,” Wedge grits out.

Tycho has the audacity to chuckle. “My mistake. But you're safe. It's probably just the not being in control like you're used to.”

“Didn't ever bother me back then,” Wedge mutters.

Tycho prizes his hand from the armrest and laces their fingers together – though from the force of Wedge's grip he may come to regret it. “Maybe by the time we get up there and back down again you'll realize it's not so bad and get over it.”

Wedge evaluates his racing heart, the blood pounding in his ears and causing panicked static in his brain and groans, “Doubtful.”

Tycho squeezes his hand. “Just try and relax.”

Wedge turns to hide his face in his partner's shoulder and tries to relax.

---

As Wedge had predicted, Tycho's theory turns out not to be true. He's sore and exhausted from three hours of fearful tension by the time the plane rolls up to the gate at the other end of their journey, and he's more grateful than anything to be on the ground.

“Let's hope the return trip is better,” Tycho says as he leads the way up the aisle, and at Wedge's distressed sound adds, “But you don't have to worry about that for a few days.”

Despite the press of other holiday travelers, they manage to collect their suitcases and find a cab fairly quickly. It's colder outside than when they left home, and Wedge shivers under his coat as they load their things. Then Tycho is pulling him into the backseat, right up against him, murmuring, “It's a little ways, so you can rest on the way there. You look tired.”

Wedge nods gratefully and lolls against his shoulder, warm and happy as the heat of the car and Tycho curl in around him. It doesn't take long for him to drift off.

“Wedge.”

“Huh?” he mutters drowsily, straightening up and rubbing his eyes.

“We're nearly there, sleeping beauty,” Tycho tells him with a fond smile. He reaches out to run his fingers through Wedge's hair, straightening it back into place, and Wedge lets him as he looks outside the car. It's gotten dark and the cab is driving down a quiet residential street, the streetlights wrapped in festive garlands and glowing softly on the falling snow.

Tycho follows his gaze, dropping his hand to take Wedge's. “It snows more here than it does where we live now. I haven't seen it since everything came back to me, but...it reminds me a lot of Alderaan during the holidays.”

Not knowing what to say, Wedge just squeezes his fingers and lets the moment settle around them.

“This it?” the cab driver asks, and as Tycho confirms it and pulls out his wallet to pay, Wedge gets his first look at the Celchu family home. It's much bigger than the one he grew up in, and every inch of it is covered in lights and decorations, rows of plastic candles lining the way to the front door. It's like something off the front of a Christmas card.

“Yeah, we tend to really go all out,” Tycho confirms with a grin when he sees Wedge's expression. “Come on.”

The car door opens, admitting a flurry of snowflakes, and they retrieve their bags and make their way up to the door. Just before they reach it, it opens before them, and standing there is a tall, blue-eyed blonde woman wearing a bright red sweater who can only be Tycho's mother.

“Oh, you're finally here! Come in, come in,” she calls, clearly delighted to see them.

Wedge can't help but smile as he lets Tycho lead the way and steps into the entryway behind him. As soon as he has his wet coat off and hung up on a hook, Tycho is pulling her into a hug. “Hi, Mom.”

“Oh, it's so good to see you, Tycho,” she coos. “It's been so long.”

“It's been less than a year, Mom.”

“A year is a long time, mister!”

Wedge snickers despite himself, and Tycho's mother turns to him, her smile widening. “And this must be the Wedge Antilles we've heard so much about!”

“It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Celchu,” Wedge tells her.

“So formal,” she says with a light shake of her head, barreling over and wrapping her arms around him. Wedge lets out an oof – the woman is stronger than she looks.

Over her shoulder, he can see Tycho laughing. “I probably should have warned you about that.”

Probably, Wedge agrees, but he smiles as she pulls back from him. Behind her, four more people are filtering into the room, four more identical heads of blonde hair.

“May I present the rest of my family,” Tycho says grandly, then proceeds to introduce his father, brother, and two sisters. “Family, this is Wedge. Be nice to him for me, won't you?”

His younger siblings are looking Wedge up and down with distinct expressions of no promises, but his father has a kind smile on his face. “I'm glad to finally meet you, Mr. Antilles,” he says as he steps forward and shakes Wedge's hand. “Tycho has told us so much about you, but we're looking forward to getting to know you ourselves.”

“Let's let them get settled in before the interrogations begin, honey,” Mrs. Celchu says mildly. She winks at Wedge and says, “Can I take your coat, dear?”

“Oh.” Wedge had forgotten he was still wearing it. “No, I've got it.” He hurriedly shrugs it off and hangs it next to Tycho's.

“Easy,” his boyfriend says, laying a hand on his arm. “She's joking. My dad's not as scary as he looks.”

“Oh, he knows that, Tycho,” his mother says with a wave of her hand. “Didn't you, Wedge?” She loops an arm through his and pulls him further into the house. “Come on in, we've already got Tycho's old room set up for the two of you. Hon, won't you bring their bags?”

Wedge looks somewhat nervously back at Tycho as she practically drags him away, only to see a look that's half sympathy, half plain amusement on the other man's face. Sensing that he'll get no help there, Wedge gets his feet under him and goes along with Mrs. Celchu. At least the family seems to accept him, he thinks. Only time will tell if he can survive their affection.

Day 2: Fic: Star Wars Legends, Wedge Antilles/Tycho Celchu

2017-12-03T01:50:57Z

Fandom: Star Wars Legends
Title: Snow Kiss
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Words: 279
Prompt: Snow
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc.
Summary: The stillness is easy between Wedge and Tycho as they wonder through the unfamiliar streets, walking close together but not quite touching, their breaths fogging the air.

It's dark and cold, the city around them quiet, and Wedge and Tycho are walking. They've left the rest of the squadron behind in a little cantina celebrating a wonderfully successful mission and slipped out for moment of quiet.

The stillness is easy between then as they wonder through the unfamiliar streets, walking close together but not quite touching. Their breaths fog the air.

“This is nice,” Wedge says, even the soft words seeming to ring in the empty street. “Something of a change from the lasers and the engines-”

“And the carousing?” Tycho stops walking, smiling over at him. “You like it?”

“I'd have this all the time if I could,” Wedge admits.

“You'd get bored. And you'd miss us.”

Wedges turns a soft look on him. “I never said I'd be alone.”

Tycho makes to respond, then pauses and looks up. Wedge follows his gaze and sees what he does: white flakes drifting down from the sky, swirling in the light breeze and creating halos around the streetlamps. Wedge watches Tycho watch the snow for a moment, the way delicate flakes settle in his hair and on the arms of his jacket.

Driven by impulse, Wedge steps forward, gripping his lapels and pulling him into a kiss. He feels Tycho smile into it as his arms automatically loop around his waist.

“What was that?” Tycho asks when they part.

“Couldn't let the moment pass,” Wedge says, laying his head on Tycho's shoulder, nose just brushing his soft scarf. “I'm an old romantic.”

“So you are.” But Tycho's words are fond, and he brushes a kiss to Wedge's hair. “That's one of the things I love about you.”

Day 1: Fic: Star Wars, Lieutenant Wright & C'ai Threnalli

2017-12-02T04:58:49Z

Fandom: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Title: Home is Where Your Friends Are
Author: drabblewriter
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Star Wars isn't mine. Everything belongs to George Lucas/Lucasfilm/Disney/etc. These particular characters are from Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Summary: A Resistance pilot doesn't exactly get a warm welcome when she vists her former Imperial loyalist family for the holidays.
Note: Written for bingo square "family drama" here and fan_flashworks prompt "rude". (I haven't seen anything about posting formats for this, but if they're supposed to be every day, I wanted to get this in before the end of the first.)

We're not judging your choices, love, we just worry about you. You're a grown woman who should be taking care of herself. There's no need to run off on some foolish idealistic crusade that could easily get you killed. Why is it so hard for you to just follow the rules of the galaxy like we do?

Her mother's words have rung in Lieutenant Wright's ears all the way from Coruscant back to D'Qar, yet even now they have the power to boil her blood and grind her teeth as she waits impatiently for her X-wing to settle into its proper place in the hanger. The second it does, she's popping open the canopy and standing, ripping off her helmet and slamming into the seat in a way that bleeds off very, very little of her frustration.

“Wright?” She looks down at the familiar voice, sees C'ai Threnalli, her Abednedo wingmate, approaching, head tilted curiously. “I thought you were staying on Coruscant for all of Fete Week?”

“That was the plan,” she mumbles darkly, gripping the side of the X-wing perhaps a little harder than necessary as she levers herself down. “Wasn't exactly a warm welcome.”

C'ai winces. She's told a him about her parents in the past. “That bad? I thought they invited you.”

“They did.” Wright sighs, rubbing a hand over the back of her neck. “I didn't expect them to make nice, but I thought they'd at least be civil for the week. But, nope, Mom started in right away with the why can't I just sit back and do nothing about imminent danger to the galaxy like a good little girl.” Fitfully, she pulls her long blonde braid over her shoulder and fidgets with the hairs loosed during her journey.

C'ai gives her a sympathetic look. “But it's understandable, right?” he ventures. “I mean, not that you should do what they say, but that they think like that. As former Imperial loyalists, keeping quiet about their opinions is how they've had to live since the New Republic took over.”

Wright scowls. “As if the fact that they were ever Imperial loyalists gives them the right to any sort of understanding.”

“I didn't say it was right,” C'ai says mildly. “Anyway.” He lays a hand on her arm, lips folding into a smile. “You're home for real now, right? You can celebrate Fete Week just as easily here with your friends.”

Wright finds herself finally calming. She lets herself smile too. “That's right. Screw Mom and Dad. This is where I belong.”

“Darn straight.” C'ai links his arm through hers and tugs her out of the hanger, already starting to gush about all the exciting celebrations the rest of Blue Squadron has planned for the week.

Advent Challenge BINGO!

2017-11-29T22:41:49Z

Hi everyone!

I know anyone that has been paying attention to this group must be wondering what form this years' challenge will take given how late I am posting this, but here it is finally. This year's round will be a Bingo round!

See below for the bingo board and rules!

How to bingo:
There are two ways to 'win' this challange. First you can complete all 25 stories within the 25 days of Advent OR you can go for the easier option of finishing a complete row in any direction you like within the 25 days.

Whichever you choose there will be no offical sign ups for this round, although you will have a plethora of posting options for you (Links to be updated in this post tomorrow!) If you're posting in places that aren't here on LJ please use the tags #AdventChallenge and/or #AC2017

Any questions please just reply to this post with them and I'll get back to you!

2017 Xmas Round!

2017-11-17T20:17:16Z

Hi Guys!

It's been a long time since we had a challenge here but as alefaye announced earlier in the year we will be having an offical round this December!

Because it's been so long and because of some changes in my own RL circumstances, there are going to be a few changes to the way the challenge will be run, but the basic premise will remain the same. 25 Stories in 25 days, to be posted anywhere across a number of platforms. I'll be spending time updating everything this weekend so keep your eyes peeled and don't be afraid to ask me anything!

Details and a banner

2017-09-16T00:34:53Z

Advent Challenge will have an official round this year! We look forward to many good fic and art this round.

Not sure what it is? Check out this post for details. To sum up: we're a multi fandom challenge in December that has no minimum or maximum word count. All we look for is fanworks and for everyone to have fun!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Otherwise I'll be back soon with more information.

Unofficial mod post

2017-09-15T23:41:03Z

Hello everyone!

I'm unofficially posting this. There will be an official round for this coming December. Details will posted soon and sign ups thereafter, likely in November.

We hope to see a lot of participants this year!

Paging a Mod

2017-05-21T22:26:34Z

Hello!

...I am wondering if anyone has heard from or been in touch with ddraigcoch?

I sent them a message a few weeks back asking some things about the future of this community. Can anyone offer any help?