Beginning To Look Like Claudemas

[Seth Rivers]

When Feather grabbed the sheet and pulled it off for a second Seth stood there silently staring at the strange sculpture in front of him. Dust particles stirred making breathing a bit more difficult for him as the dust was irritating his sinus. Seth pulled his shirt over his nose as he studied the last he thought he found in the attic. If this place had always belonged to Claude it would have been normal but whoever owned it before must have been as strange as their vampire friend. It was possible that Claude and the old owner bonded over the love of the abnormal." Wow, that was the last thing I thought we did in the attic. A freaking alien dressed up as LeBron James." Seth laughed as he watched Feather grab the basketball shaped object in the alien's hand . Seth's eyes went a little wider as he noticed what she pulled out of the statue's hand was not a basketball at all but a super creepy looking armadillo that was turned into a ball like prop. Shaking his head at Feather as she waved the taxidermied beast in front of him and asked if he wanted to hold the ugly looking creature after calling it adorable.

They had two different ideas of what they would consider adorable.A puppy was adorable, a dead armadillo was far from it yet alone a live one. When she said that she wanted to ask Claude if she could have it Seth thought she was a little strange. He had been around Feather a few times before but he didn't share her interest in all things odd. "Knowing the guy he will let you take it, unless it's some mutated species he has spent years looking for." He could see that some of the dust was beginning to settle from where they had disturbed it and he let go of his shirt letting his face become visible again.

He watched Feather place the creature down and go back to searching boxes. Not wanting to be useless himself he began looking though more box's. As he did he found some strange objects which questioned the old owner's sanity. In one box he found stacks of old magazines with letters cut out of them like they were used to make ransom notes. He quickly shut the box and pushed it to the side. Noticing that Feather had found a box of decorations, and she was going to place them by the stairs l he flashed her his two thumbs up as she instructed him to keep looking for more. He was enjoying his time with Feather spending the time with her meant he didn't have to concern himself with baking which he didn't enjoy or asking Catch about what happened between him and Tash. He wasn't the only one who noticed how distant the two had seemed the whole ride over and in the cabin itself. At least with Feather he didn't have to worry about drama. She had a wonderful presence that made Seth want to get to know her more.

As she left back into the main part of the cabin with the armadillo Seth kept looking in another box he had found a tangled mess of Christmas lights. He pushed close to the entrance. Next he found a box that was marked tinsel and instead of even looking he just moved it close also. As he moved around the boxes he saw an old rust looking trunk in the corner trunk in the back corner that looked like it might contain something interesting. .Just as he was about to check He could hear that Feather had returned. " I found lights, and a box marked tinsel. I didn't check one but it's probably what it says it is. You're not going to try to eat it though? I hear tinsel is bad for cats" Seth laughed and moved over to the opening passing a box down to Feather. He would have switched places with her and carried the boxes down himself but she seemed happy with how she delegated the job. " Hey if they are not back with the tree soon we should check out to basement."

[Veronica Call]

”I certainly am. I can add yours to the list if you just pull your pant down.” Veronica lowered her lashes and smiled wickedly. Truth was she had not seen that many dicks but she always imagined how they looked. This made her want to have x-ray vision or read people minds like Edward does. Just so she knows what they look like. She preferred reading and imagine sex scenes instead of watching porn. To her everything was fake in porn and making an illusion that girls are actually enjoying it. When truth was, some of them don’t. Giving him side eyes, questions filling in her head about how he was looking at her. ”You’re about to get some smacking if you don’t stop looking at me like I’m sort of meat.” Veronica really wished she had ability to take a look what’s going on in Cloud’s head. Not only was he acting crazy, she was as well.

There was a void in her heart and life, she doesn’t know how to fill the void as everyone ends up leaving. When someone leaves her once, she expect it to happen again. Eventually she will stop getting close enough to people to let them become important to her, because then she doesn’t have to notice when they drop off of her world. Veronica does things to push everyone away and push her past away. But that never happens. Her past waits for her when she sleeps then it corners her. Leaving her awake, overthinking everything situation and hoping something will stop her. Between past and future, she was stuck in the present. No where to turn. Veronica zoned out, living the vivid dream where Axel came back to her life to find her and Rafael in the swimming pool. Axel phased and went after Rafael and she just stood here. Frozen, unable to move and watched Axel tear Rafael apart. Tears ran down her cheeks as Axel phased back only to say ’she’s mine. Only mine.’ She would wake up drenched in sweats and wheezing.

Veronica blinked her eyes few times, come back from the unknown Lala land. She caught bits and pieces of Cloud talking and rolled her eyes. ”Tell me when and where and I’ll be there. Maybe I will even watch girls throwing their thongs at you.” Veronica was not going to lie, she wanted to see Cloud perform in person. He’s already a great tattoo artist and watching him sing, might be interesting. She pictured girls screaming, saying ‘I love you’ crap, fainting, throwing their bras and panties because that’s apparently what Cloud wants. Then again, he might like it. His next victim of the night or week might be one of his groupie girl.

”Fine. Yes, I want to lose my v-card and no, he’s not going to be the one getting it. Maybe. I don’t know!” Veronica groaned and covered her face with her hands. It was frustrating that she opened her mouth, her body reacting to Rafael’s and wanting to be closed off to certain subjects…that did not happen. She had a feeling that her first time would be with Axel, her apparently soulmate, better half and now he was a ghost. She laughed in her hands before dropping them. She was over this sexual tension between Rafael and her. Mostly her body wanting it and her brain trying to be strong. More moments she spends alone with him, she will cave and will find herself attaching to him. The devil on her shoulder kept telling her to let it all go and enjoy the ride. While the angel on shoulder was telling her to be cautious and take her time. No need to hurry. While she wanted to listen to both, ache between her legs was getting best of her.

She poured herself cold water, chugged it while some of it fell on her clothes. Setting glass down, she grabbed pairing knives and washed them along with her glass. ”To answer your first question, yes I did learn something about you. Frankly, you’re not this tough person and I bet you love slow sex more than anything.” Veronica learned more about people from text than she did in person. Like how Natasha likes Catcher and possibly Evan. Veronica wished that her friend would figure out her feelings first and stop toying with peoples emotions. Then again, in some twisted ways, Veronica was doing the same. She wasn’t dragged Rafael but she was flirting with every walking dick. Yeah, it was bad. She wanted to figure out where she stands first before having feelings for someone else. She may have buried Axel and Veronica but some part of her, still wondered where he might be.

Veronica cleaned counter while Cloud was busy taking out and placing another tray in the oven. ”Just out of curiosity, when did you lose your v card?” If her guess was any right, he probably lost his v-card during his early or mid teenage years. All the guys in her life are good looking; dated one who seems to not care anymore, second one is running after her, Claude is like big brother / uncle to her, and Cloud…no words can describe how he fits into her life. In short, guys are good looking and girls were drop dead gorgeous. What really fascinated her was how different personalities didn’t clash with everyone. If this little getaway stays without drama, they may have to do it again. Keep it annually; a tradition. She knew Candela would love it; hell Veronica will love it. Something to look forward to.

Veronica opened fridge to get something to eat when her eyes zeroed on strawberries and can of whip cream. Placing them on the counter, she hopped on the counter, dangling her legs and shook whip cream container. Taking a bite into tangy sweet strawberry, she lightly moaned. She loved strawberries especially chocolate covered ones. She didn’t want to make any as they already had enough sweets going on. She sprayed some of whip cream on to strawberry and popped in her mouth. Veronica pulled Cloud closer, sprayed whipped cream on his face and licked it. She had no idea why she did that or why she couldn’t stop herself. ”I will call you whatever I please. Bash. Spaz. Bae. Beau. It will be on going thing, sweetheart.” Her eyes twinkled with mischievous.

[Claudius Galloway]

Time hadn't seemed to pass much since Catcher was gone, to most a couple of months seemed like a long time. For vampires a month was not much more than a week. Months or weeks Claude had missed his friend, out of every person he had met over his undead life he was the only one who ever reminded him of family. He wasn't going to stay in Washington; he was there to find Bigfoot, maybe some cow people someone had mentioned. After seeing the dark wolf as a human he knew things would be harder for him to leave. No one had ever reminded him more of his past than this random shape shifting friend, Claude felt like he needed to stay because somewhere in him made him feel like Catch was his brother. The vampire did believe in reincarnation,as long as some other odd theories. If he couldn't save Michael then maybe he could protect Ronaldo.

He smiled as he switched the hand he had been holding his cigarette in. The smell of smoke didn't bug him, he hardly even noticed it. It was some weird human cerdisy. He was glad to hear he was fine, he had heard from him a couple times over the past few months but their conversation was all done over text which was pretty much the lowest form of true communication you actually have. Shaking his head as Catcher mentioned he thought his costume was a Yedi, he was to be something white and fluffy but he wasn't even close. Seeing how open he was wearing the unicorn costume at his banana party, he was the only one who could pull off something so fun and glitter. "Guess again buddy." He didn't think his buddy was anything like the costume he had picked out for him but it was all in good fun. It would be great to see Catch in his costume but he didn't need to clean any of the mess up in the kitchen. From what Claude had observed it was only Raf 's love interest and the blonde rambling rapper that needed to fix whatever had happened in there.

"The kitten and then pup and clean it up themselves. They are still baking male genitals after all." He didn't know what got them all started thinking about dicks but at least it looked like fun was being had by all. Claude turned his head and looked back in the house, the only one who seemed to be a little out of place even though she was making drinks was Candi. He has to make her feel as welcome as the others. The sweet little human needed to have some fun and not worry about feeling as if she was going to be ganged up on by the we hate Candi club when they returned. He had spent some time learning about her too, for her to seem happy after how tragic his life had been so far he was to go all he could to make her time on the planet less of a struggle. If she hadn't had a place at Catcher's, he was going to set her up in her own apartment with all expenses paid.

Turning his attention back to his conversation with Catcher he nodded a bit. He hadn't found any signs of Bigfoot or any of the other things he enjoyed exploring with Blue before, now he had a group of people around him his Interest had turned more into finding out what he could about the little group he felt he had become some sort of weird eccentric uncle to. "I've been learning things changed by the subject of study but you don't have to worry. I haven't been sneaking to Virginia to watch you sleep, too many people would notice me." Claude chuckled for a room in the summer he had spent some time at the Reeves house watching him as he slept. It wasn't for any reason, he had seen him do something he hadn't seen the others like him do. He was just so curious about what might happen next. He just didn't expect that Sprinkles would have been hanging around so much too and that he would have to hide from Candi so often. At the time she didn't know he was a vampire or how he loved to research things. " I've checked up on the others though, Cloud rhymes when he talks in his sleep. Feather had caught me a few times watching him but left me alone."

Claude's eyes went wide as Catcher began talking about his school having mysteries, he wished the kid had told him sooner, if he knew the school had weirdness going on there he could have always dressed up in old clothing and pretend he was a ghost himself and maybe find something spiritual. He believed in ghosts just as much as he did aliens and the Mothman. The more he listened to the mysteries of his school the more Claude knew he wanted to visit and explore it himself. "I'm coming to visit but if you see the statue cry I want you to collect its tears." He had heard of crying sculptures before himself, some which were in graveyards and Claude had a hard time going to places which reminded him of death. There was one time in his vampire life he had been mistaken for a dead person and he had been taken to a morgue where he eventually escaped before then trying to determine his cause of death. Scared the hell out the mortician as he got up and just walked away.

The more Catcher mentioned the more excited he began to get if he had to tunnel under the school he was going to find a way into the academy. He was suspicious about the orbs and the skeleton horse thought, of a horse had a spirit wound it wanted to run free and not be stuck in a dingy old classroom. "I've heard of green orbs..Never blue ones. One more question: does the hangman ghost wear the rope around his neck like this?" Claude motioned his hand to make it look like it was holding a rope tightly in it and crossed his eyes. As he did so he could hear the snowmobile approaching in the distance. "Oh they must have found a good tree."

[Rafael Wolfe]

Raf stroked his beard as Natasha began to ask him if he had any hidden music talents. If anyone usually asked Raf he walked say no. He was actually quite talented when it came to performing; he used to be in a rock band for a few years before giving it all up and focusing on his dream of surfing instead. "Um I might know my way around a song or two, don't think it would be the type of music V would like but my hair fits the part." He missed the days jamming with his friends back in Hawaii but he loved where he was now in life so much better. He used to be pretty crazy when he was young but with age and his accident he mellowed out a bunch. Now he just wanted to find someone who he could happily share the best part of his life with and his heart told him that person as Veronica. He just hoped she could see how much he truly cared for her. He would stop unless it took a lifetime.

"Sexy leather pants, guess I'm lucky I brought a pair." Raf smirked he had only brought them because he thought if they went out to a club for new years they might actually match well with one of his fancy blazers. He laughed seeing Veronica staring at his ass in a pair that might actually be very amusing. Watching her seal glance his way would actually make him feel he was making progress with her. There were times she seemed so open as ready to spend some time with him and just as soon as she did he felt he did something to fuck it up because she was cold again. He just wishes that if she didn't want to be with him she would just let him down slowly. He didn't know how he moved on from her.He listened to her advice about asking the guys for help to plan a surprise for Veronica, he didn't want or look like a total desperate loser in front of guys who were years younger than him. He would think for Veronica he would do anything for her to notice how she had stolen his heart with just one look. She had the face of an angel with the heart of a lion, she kept him on his toes but he didn't mind every time she told him to back off. She just wanted to get close to him and if it made him look like an idiot he would." I might need the push to actually do it so they won't let me back out."


When Natasha had no difficulty picking up the large Christmas tree and putting on the sled Rafeal was almost in shock. Here he was a big muscular man worrying about how hard it would be for both of them to get the heavy tree onto the sled and she lifted it no problem. It made him heed Veronica warning even more if little miss blondie could lift a tree that big Veronica could probably do something similar to him. He was distracted thinking about the shifters at the house trying to figure out if the ones who are taller might be stronger. Even though Cloud and Catcher weren't as muscular looking as him he should never challenge them to an arm wrestling competition. He kept staring at Natasha, not thinking about her directly and it took her mentioning he was to snap his attention back to the moment. "Sure, I'm driving back, I almost forgot. It's not everyday you find out all the hours you spend at the gym are completely useless." He laughed knowing they actually weren't but everything he had just seen made him feel slightly less masculine.

As Tash hooked up the sled with the tree on it to the back, Rafeal started up their ride, he had watched how she had got it running before, feeling a tap on his arm, he took her oversized bug eyed sunglasses and placed them on his face. He knew he probably looked ridiculous but neither of them thought about looking for eyewear before they left. With a quick thank you he was off taking his time pulling the loaded sled down the mountain. He followed the trail she had pushed in earlier and in no time the cabin came back into view. Pulling the machine into the yard he parked it right where they had found it under a shelter overhang to keep it from being swallowed up by any snow that decided to fall upon the wintry landscape. He was about to ask Tash for her help with getting it inside when without a word she stood up and walked right past him. "I guess I'll keep your sunglasses for now." He knew she wasn't mad at him but he could tell something was bugging her before she had left with him and now they were back at the house she seemed withdrawn again.


Taking the chainsaw and the jerry can full of extra gasoline, Raf returned them to the shed along with the snowmobile keys so if someone had to go out later everything would be there for them easy to find. He unclipped the sled and dragged it over towards the door. Wanting to look like a strong mountain man for Veronica he grabbed the tree like Tash had out in the woods and picked it up. It was a lot harder than she made it look like out in the woods earlier. He was struggling moving but with some maneuvering he was able to gasp the tree. The one advantage he had was Tash had left the side door open, after she had disappeared into the house. All he had to do was drag the big beast of a tree in the door and place it in the tree stand. Slowly moving through the door her could hear Veronica's voice from nearby but he couldn't see her, he scrunched up his face a bit if she wasn't in the living area she wouldn't see him hauling in the tree he had picked out to impress her. He really didn't think there was much he could do that ever would but she had asked for a tree and he had delivered and she was nowhere to be seen.

He placed the tree down on its side lying across the floor in the living space. There would be no way he could get it up into a stand alone. Some have to leave there for a moment until he gets a hand. Hearing voices from the Kitchen, Raf peaked his head in slight to see what was going on in there. As he did he could see Cloud and Veronica in the kitchen looking like they had an accident while baking, making a mess all over the kitchen. She looked like she was enjoying herself and he didn't want to disturb her fun. He watched her fill her mouth full of whipped cream and smiled slightly until he had seen her playful spay some on Cloud's face a lick it off. Usually he jumps to conclusions but right now in this situation he walked off just shaking his head. Maybe the skinny twing should have been the one getting the tree and she might have been lickig the sugary white cream off him. There was no doubt now he'd have to show everyone how committed he was with wanting to be with Veronica.

Not wanting his mood to get the best of him. He walked out the door to a seating area seeing Claude and Catcher who seemed to be in some sort of conversation, he usually wouldn't interrupt but he couldn't just leave the tree laying on the floor blue might get up and pee on it or something, he have to ask Claude for a few things of his plan was going to work out."Claude, I need help with the tree. Oh I was also  wondering if  like some wizard you  have  some instruments stashed  away  here somewhere?"

[Cloud Crestfall]

Cloud tilted his chin up and looked down at Veronica with disbelief, a creeping smirk emerging sinisterly. He took a few steps back from her holding his hands out like she had presented him a challenge he was willing to win. A second after she had suggested his pants be removed, he immediately considered pulling them down and showing her up that she was severely misguided if she thought she could outdo him; out dare him. Keeping his boxers on, the trousers would have scrunched around his ankles, dropped in an accident prone way that from the side of the counter anyone would see him as if something misleading was going on; he almost wanted to trick her into bending over. It was even better now that Rafael just stomped in with his snowy boots and bits of tree flinging off his clothing after he left it somewhere by the entrance. There wasn’t a reason to start anything with the man but he began to notice Veronica seemed to get away with things without repercussions and wanted to breach the threshold.
”I’ll pull mine down if you take off your bra.” Making her strip was unscripted but he knew she would have no issues with skin except with her underwear; under the spotlight of fluorescent bulbs in the kitchen, he just wanted her to hand it to him at the exact moment Rafael would come over. In his mind he saw the capacity of human rage from the seemingly easy natured muscular man but also wanted to put him in a tough situation where his fury would cause Veronica to feel uncomfortable or even bad for her behaviour. ”I don’t trust your invisible list. I know Big man’s at the top right now so when he runs through you, you might not keep your end of the deal.” He continued to look at her as she demanded him not to, emphasizing with more bodily movement, his words almost carelessly rude. His head moved with her in a motion like there was no part of her body he could miss as he leered. It was making her insane, and like all pranking things he did, he was holding in a bout of laughter directed at her expression, all of the reaction she had, giving her away that she couldn’t defeat him.

”Hah! Maybe… you do know. I’d bet you some dough but you’re already getting sex at some point so it’d be too much of a good thing for you.” Fiddling with the dough, he meant cash money but the word inspired him to peel up a piece of penis cookie and stick it on her forehead. Studying it with pleasure, he anticipated her saying something snarky, feeling the wet tingle of her tongue when she licked his face and left a clear divide of sweet frosting. The whipped cream was still foam on his cheek and he swiped up a finger of it, rubbing her mouth with the lather so she would be smudged. It enticed her to suck it off if she were brave; pluck up the courage to be as sexual as her conversations claimed. It would surprise him if she did and he wondered why she didn’t just go for all the freedom in sex that she wanted. Nobody was holding her back; a flash of what Catcher did before he left the kitchen made him squint at her, considering that she did other things, just not the home run. ”There is no way you haven’t done this before.” Cloud wiped all the whipped cream across her plump lips so it was iced with sugar and carefully held out a piece of brownie instead, slicing it into a bite sized cube and feeding it to her mouth with exaggerated gentleness. Nobody forgot she was ‘princess’ and he played to her and Rafael’s little kink; her highness was getting served like a goddess being fed grapes on mount Olympus.

It would have been epic to share a spaghetti noodle with her, something more continuous that Rafael would kill him over even though he didn’t feel that way about her. There wouldn’t be enough reason at any point of their acquaintance to actually kiss her; that would be mind boggling. This was borderline breaking his personal bro code but Catcher no longer cared so now he just wanted to know what went down the morning after date night to cause such a star of love to die out. Cloud prayed it wasn’t because his friend swapped ‘princesses’ in a rebound because he was starting to enjoy having such a tight knit group; it would be a shame if one of them opened a rift like lifting flood gates for them to all leave. ”I don’t know about that. I have fetishes.” He rebuffed her with a tone of false indignation that swiftly fell away as his brows turned, eyes curled and a mocking smile broke. She was asking for all the worst information about him to be revealed but it was also some of the best stuff that made him who he was; things he never had to talk about with men. It was always the women who desired to know things they soon regretted asking. Hopefully he was filling her head with more perverse wonder and he ensured he would laugh at Raf’s scorn because the irony was this primed her for some good action.

”Fine call me whatever, I can’t keep track of all the names I get. I’m just Feather’s fluffy Cloud.” With pride in diction, he smugly dismissed all her names as well as every single one the rest of his friends gave him; he would give credit when someone came up with something that truly fit but he didn’t think that day would come anytime soon, almost believing it would have to be dictated by a future girlfriend he actually loved. ”Wow.” He sprayed the cookies with an oiling can, not looking at her as some areas fizzed with more of the powder soaked grease which would end up making them crunchier than soft baked. The aerosol splotched bubbles and drips of the ashy oil but it served its purpose to keep them from sticking. His virginity was a strange question to ask outside of an interview; a subject he had often heard drunken girls at clubs talk amongst themselves of but never expected to come his way. Recalling as much as he could, everything was a fog; he had forgotten all about the symbolic first time. ”Sometime as a teen, I wasn’t even sure why it just… happened. I wasn’t really thinking about it as some card. Took hours til I realised how significant it was supposed to be. You better ask everyone else too cause now I’m curious.”

If the timing was right and his bets would score; he would be asking her about how it was rather than when, very soon. This was some idle gossip he wanted to pester her with since she threw him a curveball. This trip was like an aphrodisiac for Rafael to demonstrate all his nature given male mating calls and spread some feathers without any competition. He took a stride back to the oven and slid the tray of dick biscuits in; returning to create the drippy icing that sex deprived Veronica would appreciate. Completing the mixture, it was simpler than making the baked goods and he spooned the white sugar he hadn’t added colouring to yet, pulling it up in a sticky, long clumpy leak back down into the bowl he was using. He played with it until the consistency changed, adding some more marijuana extract into it before flicking the flecks onto her face so Rafael would be able to visualize sperm that his inner love struck boy would be embarrassed by. It was so deliberate he didn't try to hide or evade her, turning his head to the large window to check if Rafael had noticed, tittering with giggles he would only allow to take over him once the lumberjack had given a satisfactory reaction. He didn't want to be left hanging and disappointed that the man was a buzzkill if he couldn't even flinch that someone else was finagling attraction from his woman.

[Feather Crestfall]

As Seth passed the box to her she took it carefully in both hands tucked it under her right arm to have a free hand to climb up and down the ladder. She was happy that they found a few more boxes with decorations so that they could make the tree look beautiful. It had been since she was a child that she had even decorated one. She didn't even really celebrate Christmas but seeing the tradition had pegan roots, she joined in with all the holiday festivities. The one thing she did was remember to take the piece mistletoe with her. It had many meanings but pegan tradition to kiss underneath it because it was coined a symbol of love by the goddess Frigg. Putting the box of lights on the floor she climbed back up grabbing the box of tinsel laughing at Seth's little joke about her being a cat and tinsel being dangerous. "If I feel compelled to eat any, I will tell you first." She would never actually eat any but she was enjoying this time she had spent with Seth. He had this fun childlike side that blended well with this mature side both which he knew just when to let each side shine. She didn't know him as well as the rest of the group but she could feel he went through a lot and to come out the other end and still be cheerful she admired that about him.

She climbed back up and grabbed the last and most fragile box with the reflective glass balls. She heard the door open and looked toward the direction on it while she came back down. Natasha had come walking in through the door and grabbed a bottle of dark brown liquid and headed towards the stairs. She looked like she was in a bit of a worse mood than she was when she left but, knowing the wolf girl after a few moments alone, and a few drinks she was fine. She would go check on her later but right now she and Seth had boxes to carry down and go through. Not placing the glass ball down she shouted up the hatch to Seth letting him know the tree was there before leaving him there in the attic and carrying the musty smelly box down the stairs.she set the box gently down on the sofa worrying if she placed it down on the floor all the precious delicate would be trampled by the not do graceful Rafael as he was pushing his way through the open door with the large green tree looking like he didn't need any help but was struggling slightly.

Men were strange like that; they rather try to look all masculine and strong for the women around them,especially if they were trying to impress someone. She didn't understand why he was trying to look so macho when Veronica wasn't even paying attention. She was too busy in the kitchen with Cloud. Her sensitive hearing allowed her to hear some of what they were talking about when she had headed up the stairs with Seth but she really didn't want to listen to Veronica and Cloud talk about sexual experience and dicks so she just zone what she could of all of that out. It was something she had been able to master for years , almost tuning out everything about her except whatever thing had her focus. It had been how she had been able to meditate or sleep though Cloud's jam sessions. Late night parties or lookups. She would often scare people when she appeared out of nowhere like a ghost in the night. He would tell his friends about her but only a select few she got along with would she actually come out and socialize with. She just hoped Cloud didn't get himself in trouble with Raf seeing all the antics going on in the kitchen walls.

She floated back up the stairs and snapped a small sprig of mistletoe of the larger branch that Calude had tied to the rope as Seth got out of the attic himself and she closed the hatch behind him. She tucked the branch into her pocket and smiled over at Seth. "I'm definitely going to make people kiss tonight, I think I'll help people loosen up a little." Standing under the piece she had left attached to the rope she leaned over and kissed Seth on the cheek. She smiled at him and looked back up at the mistletoe." Traditions,aren't they so much fun?" She walked away and started thinking about all the people she was going to kiss tonight,smirking feeling like she might just be as mischievous as Loki.

[Catcher Reeves]

”Snowman?” It was a little bit shy, the word a monotone, a guess as good as anyone’s. He couldn’t think of anything that was white, fuzzily represented by cloth and remained Christmassy. In many ways, that wouldn’t have been too far off of an accurate costume for him, all allusions to a temporary, poster child of a sad story indicative of him. ”There’s nothing shiny except an ornament, if it’s not snow… ” He trailed off, almost questioning Claude for a lead but resolving to be surprised by what was in the bag now; some curiosity he lacked before, building up.

”I’ve only ever heard him snore...” With a laugh, he cleared his throat of the tarry amusement; Cloud rhyming in his sleep was an image clear in his mind now. ”You didn’t study Feather? She’s probably the most interesting person.” His eyes mirrored Claude’s, widening in realization this was intriguing to both of them. In fact, the tattooed woman collected oddities the vampire would be fascinated by; her view of the world was something refreshing for an old soul. Catcher felt for Claude, being someone who had passed over the edge of life and now had no eternal rest but he was unable to communicate how spirituality in it all was a piece of that unrest the ageless man was missing. They had never talked about ghosts but now it wasn’t as surprising to. The paranormal was about as normal of a class as supernatural, mythical and even legendary to an adventure buff like Claude.

”Are you coming to visit, pretending to be a ghost or as a human…?” Under either pretense, Claude would have fun; he would have to be costumed if he were to play both on separate days. There would be a mass man hunt if they discovered he had no background, a death certificate or some sort of missing file. He eyed him with a twinkle of mischief; the idea of running around in the peaty old chapel at the crack of dawn playing before his eyes. ”I’ll collect the tears if I can, but I don’t think it cries enough to use a cup. Soaking it with something, you’re not going to get much…” Any other pair of ears would think this was nonsense. But this was their unabridged, raw interest of the weird; weirdness they embodied with no one and everyone to judge. He didn’t care to stop when warm air flooded the space, the shadow of a hulk stretching on the ground as the door opened once more.

”I’ve seen normal orbs…? Whatever that means. They said the blue orbs go into the classroom because they kept all his most personal belongings. It’s been displayed there for who knows how long... so it’s supposed to be his ghost... not the horse I think.” There was a puzzled look on Claude’s face, his silence telling him there was wonder about this macabre chapel. The historicity of the place made it a mausoleum; he now had to call the area home for several years. ”That’s…” He began and stopped, revelation spreading, mouth forming an oh. He had never thought about what a hangman ghost would be like; they could be floating around with a noose, permanent death mask of their last moments or stuck swinging where their last breath left them. ”I’ve never thought about it…” The cross eyed, tongue loose, neck wrought act gave him a chuckle. ”Maybe we’ll both see it… the story is supposed to be creepy like you walk into a place and see someone just hung themselves.” If they were stalking a ghost and they opened a closet to see this or looked up to find that shadow of a corpse hanging, he unabashedly could see himself jumping or yelling in fright. His masculinity changed with Claude’s presence, it felt desirable in gentleness, manly and girlish at the same time. Claude was a figure that led him in a strangely natural way, unlike any other creature that walked this earth; they traversed as if he had known him his whole life. Their introduction accelerated faster into a friendship than anyone else he had met; suited to the craziness of all things bizarre like a novel written by the father of Gonzo journalism.

His hearing had picked up the sounds of the snowmobile, but he didn’t react about the tree. He was not touching it because it was Rafael’s prize and the labour of decorating it was not something he felt like participating in tonight. The tree cutting wild man had walked in on their conversation flustered and antsy. The interruption sort of impressed him; it went in line with how they had established mutual dislike and he twisted a ring patiently amused. With Claude’s help the tree would have all hands on deck but it was the question about instruments that shocked him. All he could see Rafael playing was an ukulele or tambourine but maybe there was more to him; layers would be good.

”Fuck it-.” Cheeks hollowed, he sucked the last draw of the cigarette he had, standing up as two fingers held it, his gaze away from Rafael as he pondered how saying that always eased things as if restraints were untied. From deep within, his doubts, uncertainties paired with fears and anxieties could all be summed up in a legion of ambivalences to which Fuck it would be all he said and used to walk the peaceful road to happiness. ”I have an idea that might match what you’re going for…” Quite happily, he leaned back, straightening on his feet to face the tall man, dropping his hand to his side with a careless air. He exhaled a plume and grinned; the first of its kind to Rafael.

”It’s not V’s style but surprising her with your world usually works better than going along with hers. If it's not what you want... that's cool. When you get her though… ” His head tilted to an angle gracefully and back, centrifugal as he let memories and imagination collide, his advice reserved to stay sensitive to his current role. The rest was purely up to Rafael and what he discovered about Veronica. ”Cloud has his guitar, I have mine, we didn’t get them out but they’re locked in the back of the RV. Hopefully there’s a set of drums and another guitar… We have mini amps.” In a similar stance, he glanced at Claude to see if his wizardry had extended to instruments they needed to pull this off. A nail biting concern glimmered sincerity in his empty eyes. It was not going to work if they didn’t have the equipment and he would have to pat Rafael and tell him he was on his own. Despite the sincerity, he was not altogether secure on this trip, prime to provide assistance he felt would be good enough. He was off kilter about a certain girl he could see through the window.

”I don’t know what you listen to but you have your band if you need us.” It sounded like unusual generosity but it wasn’t. There was something about music that was a lifestyle; it was almost the drive for life enough to be a dream for him in a distant alternate universe. Pausing, he wanted to light another dark cigarette but resisted, understanding that the baking shebang was still occurring, expiring his notion to help clean the mess. He spoke for Cloud and Seth in the comfort of trust between his friends that they would not only support the cause but enjoy the activity in the fullest extent of now or never, all or nothing. Once he uttered the declaration, it was like a handshake Rafael needed only to accept. He smothered the butt of his smoke in the ashtray and dropped it in an open dustbin in the corner behind the hinges of the door.

About to find Seth to tell him discreetly about this, he almost forgot to ask Claude what he told Candela. He would leave informing Cloud last to whatever Rafael decided; completely confident he would be onboard. Catcher wanted to get a few words to Seth since they hadn’t communicated about much during the ride or before. Loyalties weren’t divided, he simply felt Seth’s discomfort about his convoluted relationship with Natasha and he avoided making his best friend uneasy, knowing that she was now closer to the boy and probably swore him to secrecy. His mind was bogged by the struggle of pushing that revolving tragedy of a romance out while his body put on a light performance of toughness only Claude could see through. The vampire’s eyes had a cold sharpness that pierced his own when he didn’t smile, penetrating stares as if he could be an abyss that had base. Halting, he turned the knob and leaned against the wood, pushing it open with his frame so he partially slipped into the house, looking back and forth between the inside and outside. ”The kitchen is fucked… so I was gonna tell Candi if you made plans for dinner…?” Both a statement and question, he was unbothered by the answer but expecting to be correct when he had told her Claude thought of everything. He would report to her with a little sense of gloating that while she only thought he was her remarkable boss, Claude was an unexplainable bond unique to him that he was proud of. Here was an immortal who knew he had really big thoughts to share, listened to what sounded to most as confusing rambles and he would hold onto it all for as long as he lived.

Smelling like chocolate, cigarettes and cake, he stole two chunks of brownie from the counter as Cloud and Veronica made cookies he could see had turned into miniature dicks. Popping them into his mouth, he could taste the overwhelming herb as he walked away before the sweet bitterness of decadent cocoa and weed pulled him back for more bites. Everyone was busy with something and he smiled at whoever even noticed, walking up the staircase to his room, each step a break as he watched Seth and Feather remove boxes from an attic he didn’t know existed. The tree was a massive lush green stuck in between the doorway, taller than everyone and he knew the only way it lay there was because Natasha went with Rafael.

Back in his room, he shut the door behind him and emptied the contents of his gift bag on the bed, multiple items unrolling out of the folded fabric. Something sparkly bouncing off the mattress and onto the floor, which he picked up to see; it was additional glitter as if the material wasn’t already sewn with some shimmer. It was beautiful even when he couldn’t make sense of what he was supposed to be yet, knowing it would all come together once on. It was so crisp, he was afraid he was soiling it, doubting he could stay that clean eating and drinking so he went to the bathroom, checking the aftermath of the chocolate powder bomb. There was barely any residue now and he took a noisy hairdryer from the cupboard, blowing dust particles off himself.

[Natasha Black]

As soon as they arrived at the cabin and the engine came tona hult, Natasha got off the snowmobile quickly. She had only volunteered to help Raf get the tree to change her mood and get her mind off relationships, talking to Raf about Veronica didn't help her at all. Grand gestures, moments alone and actually expressing feelings were all things the Hawaiian could actually pull off. She had no such confidence that it would work for her and Catcher. She had caused all the problems between them if she could have just told him how much actually cares about him, everything with Evan wouldn't even matter. She had to be honest with everyone soon even if it meant she broke someone's heart. It was the one thing she didn't want to do and now she had two good guys in her life who both seemed interested in her.Unlike Catcher, Evan didn't really know who she was, he just saw the girl she wanted him to see, the superficial facade she put on to look normal. She hated everything about the situation that instead of hanging out with everyone she was going to do her own thing.

Walking through the snow and right into the cabin she quickly kicked off her boots at the door leaving me open for Raf to bring in the tree. She quickly looked around the room seeing what others were doing, the smell of chocolate was filling the room, knowing Cloudhe had probably started the party off by making the special brownies. She moved around the sitting room and grabbed a bottle of rum off the bar. She walked right past Candi saying nothing but waving the bottle in her direction. She tugged her hat off her head and went upstairs to her and Feather’s room. Everyone must have already started on either alcohol or edibles by now, so she was going to catch up. It would put her in a better mood at least. She tossed the bottle down on the checkered red blanket letting it land soft down on her bed so she could take off her jacket and put it away for the night. Once he started drinking she didn't want to wander anywhere too far and the cold didn't bug her anyway she wouldn't need it to fit a part unlike at school. There she had to act as any of the other students did. Here she was free to be herself.

Sitting down on the bed she twisted the lid on the dark brown rum, the lid clicked and popped as she had broken the seal letting the strong aroma fill her nose. She lifted the bottle to her lips and took a drink. It tasted disgusting and felt like fire but after a few drinks, not if they would matter, she would get used to the flavor and enjoyed the warm tingly feeling it brought to her body. She was sure the others were already a few more drinks in so she took a few more swings and placed it down on the dresser before picking up her costume Claude had picked out. She had never seen herself wearing a costume at Christmas time but this year they were celebrating Claudemas a whole different time type of holiday knowing the vampire who had planned it all. He was.so eccentric she never really knew what to expect when it came to Claude; nothing was ever off the table.

She slowly started to take off her clothing stripping down to her underwear and replaced it with the frilly red white and green number. The trim of the skirt and bust line were made of artificial white fur and was a little itchy but it was nothing she could handle. It was the socks that were her favorite part about the outfit. They sat mid thigh and were striped like a red a white candy cane and had a little tiny red bow at the top. She was impressed even Claude thought about shoes and they were a three inch tall green velvet in exactly her size. After tonight if he thought he would get them back from her he would be kidding himself. She topped her head off with the machine dark green colored Santa to tie everything together, she thought the hat would look a little silly so she tossed it on back on her bed. She rubbed her hands across the fabric to smooth out all the wrinkles and tried to make it a little longer in the back. It had been a long time since she had worn a skirt so short and it was making her feel slightly insecure or having much fabric covering her but spinning around a bit to see i f her underwear were visible she lost her balance and fell down on Feather's bed landing on a round shape ball thing.

She jumped up quickly when she did the objects rolled off the bed and landed on the floor but her feet. Not sure what it was she picked the thing up in her hands turning it over to realize it was a dead armadillo. Freaking out a little because it look so creepy she dropped it back down on the bed and rubbed her hand off on Feather's blankets, totally grossed out by the little creature. She definitely need more to drink after that and she grabbed the bottle and walked towards the only bathroom she had found earlier to wash her hands. "Cloud if you put that disgusting armadillo in my room to freak me out you succeeded."Speaking loudly, others could hear she walk down the hallway and open the bathroom door. She didn't know where the creature had been and she was worried it might be covered with God knows what. She closed the door quickly behind herself and turned around to see Catcher, holding a blow dryer. "I will be out of your way in a minute. I just have to wash my hands. I fell on a dead armadillo.." She walked over to the other sink and set the bottle of rum down on the counter and turned on the knobs. She stuck her hands under the tap before pumping the soap dispenser way too many times to make a thick layer of soap to cover her hands. She looked back toward Catcher looking at him for a moment before speaking again. "You think my skirt is too short?"

[Candela Steele]

As she watched Blue sleep and move a little, she got up and went to her room. While she was waiting, she decided to unpack her bags. She took out her phone from her bag, downloaded some music that she could play when she was by herself. NSYNC’s That Girl started playing through her phone speaker, she danced around her room for a bit then started unpacking clothes. She placed gifts on the bed next to her Sugar Plum outfit. Once the tree was up and decorated, she will place everyone’s gift under it. Secretly, she hoped that everyone would like what she got them. It was tough to pick out something for people she barely knows. Candela took out Blue’s costume. When she saw Santa Clause suit with a hat for a dog, she had to get it for Blue.

Candela faintly heard Feather and Seth’s voice down the hall from her. They were having a good time in the attic. She hated attics; reminded her of spiders, spiderwebs and god knows what else. She avoided as much as she could. She would never watch horror movie. Nothing good comes out of it for her. She shuddered thinking about insidious thing coming down the ladder. She tried to think about happy things, sunshine, minions laughing, babies smiling and cooing but nothing was helping. She grabbed Blue’s costume and ran downstairs. She rounded the corner and nearly ran into Natasha. She gave her a quick nod and made her way to Blue.

She picked Blue up, placed him in her lap and dressed him up in the Santa costume. Candela placed hoodie over his head and smiled at him. ”Don’t you look handsome now.” Blue wasn’t friendly dog but he wasn’t that bad at times. She giggled when he licked her. She played with Blue while whole house became more lively with chatter. Looking over her shoulder she watched Veronica lick whip cream away from Cloud’s face and shook her head. She really wondered what was going on inside her friend’s head. Her eyes followed Feather as she placed box on the couch and went back upstairs. What surprised her was Rafael asking Claude and Catcher for help on wining Veronica. She laughed and watched the big guy trying to woo a tiny girl who could probably eat his eat for a snack.

Candela scratched her face and looked at Blue. ”Do you know something I don’t? I feel like you and I will become best bud.” Candela kissed Blue’s head and fixed his hood once more. She placed him back on his bed and got up. She changed music genre from Christmas songs to mix of boy band playlist from 90s and early 2000s. I Want It That Way starts playing through the speakers and she started singing. She knew it wasn’t holiday festive song but everyone needed a break. Candela danced her way to the kitchen, pulled a spatula from the drawer and started singing in it like it was mic. She held it to Veronica for brief moment then shook her head. She took a piece of brownie, took a bite and smiled. Herb, bitter sweet exploded in her mouth. She gave Cloud and Veronica thumbs up and shoved rest of the piece in her mouth. It’s been ages since she ate special brownies. Last time happened during freshman year when her mom baked some. Went to school high and it did not end well for her. She was passed out inside boys bathroom until her friend came to her rescue.

[Seth Rivers]

He didn't know Feather well enough to see if she actually found his joke about tinsel funny, he almost wished she would have shot a joke back at him about being a dog and warning him not to pee on the tree. Grabbing the boxes one by one he passed them down to Feather so she could carry them down the ladder. " You might not want to eat and tinsel but we should tease Cloud with some and see what happens." Seth passed Feather down the last box and waited for her to get all the way down before he looked around one more time.

He walked over to the weird old chest and the floor creaked under his corner and lifted the lid. He was expecting to find something strange but in it was a delicate Christmas star. It was made of yellow glass and had red and blue gems inlaid in an alternating pattern in the star shape. He left the paper wrapping behind,and held the star very carefully in his left hand making sure he didn't bump it into anything as it might shatter into many pieces. Pulling the light switch, he left the attic and joined up with Feather.He smiled at her as he placed the star down on top of a box of lights watching as she took a branch of mistletoe and closed the attic back up. He could clearly see Raf had returned  with the tree he heard Tash yelling towards Cloud down in the kitchen. Seth knew it wasn't Cloud who had put the armadillo in the bedroom but he had found it very amusing that Tash seemed a little disturbed by the whole thing.

The silver haired woman surprised Seth with her plan to make people kiss tonight. He was usually a trickster so he was surprised he hadn't thought of it himself. " I hope by people you mean everyone. I'd die if you made Raf and your brother kiss, I would never ever either forget it." Seth could already see the whole thing play out in his head, both men being super reluctant and Feather pouting and maybe saying if they didn't kiss bad energy would come their way. As he let the scene make a home in his head causing him to laugh out loud. Feather leaned in and kissed him on Seth smiled as she watched her eyes look up at the mistletoe. He had to agree strange traditions were fun. He hoped if Claudemas went well he and his friends would take parts of this adventure and make it a tradition of their own.

Seth picked up the two remaining boxes and carried them carefully down the stairs and placed them down near where Feather had set down the last box and made his way over to Candi who had seemed to have dressed up the little terror Claude called a dog. She had somehow coaxed the little devil into a Santa outfit and he actually looked sort of cute. "Better you be his friend then me. I still haven't gotten over him biting my toe." Seth left the living space and headed to the kitchen behind Candi, the smell of the baking was luring him in and flowing when he grabbed a piece of brownie. He wasn't sure how much of the liquid Thc had made into the brownie mixture but he could definitely taste it.

Seth let his eyes guide to the large lass doors as Veronica and Cloud continued to fool around with baking ingredients and he could see by the look on Raf's face he wasn't completely entertained by what was going on inside the house. "Dude it sort of looks like Raf wants to kill you, guy is probably to scared of Veronica to do anything" He placed his hand down on the counter and almost regretted it instantly, between flour, cocoa powder and what he hoped was sugar and egg his hand almost became glued to the marble countertop. He pulled his hand off the mess and walked over to the sink to wash it off. " Both of you minds are dirtier than this kitchen. I heard every word you two were saying from the attic. V when did you get so obsessed with dicks?" He turned off the tap and dried his hands on a gray towel hanging from the stove.

[Veronica Call]

Veronica stopped mid-way on popping another strawberry in her mouth when mentioning of her bra came. Licking side of her lip she nodded at Cloud. ”Sorry to burst your bubble. I’m not wearing bra.” Veronica took a bite of strawberry, hoping there were other fruits in the fridge. She had packed good bras for the trip and was left with one that made her uncomfortable. If the ride to the snowy mountain was going to be long, she rather go braless than wear uncomfortable bra. Plus, no one would have noticed it til she said something. ”We could play strip poker and whoever wants to play, they can. Drink and strip sounds like a perfect fun recipe.” Her eyes lit up, clapped her hands and did a little happy wiggle dance while sitting. She always wanted to play strip poker since high school days but never could get everyone to join.

As long as her friends were okay with it, it should be fun. It doesn’t have to strip poker; it could be a dare or drink game. She went out on a limb and bought a game Dare or Drink card. It looked fun and what better way to try it out than Claudemas. Hearing front door open, follow by some grunts and dragging sounds. She was about to turn her body and see what the noise was about but decided against it. ”My mouth knows a way around a dick. But vaginal? NEVER. When time comes. Not in a hurry to have pussy fucked.” She shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. But it was a big deal for her. First she thought Catcher might be the one. Then Axel. Now, she wasn’t sure if she should find someone or just go with the flow. If she went with go with the flow, she might be surprised where she might end up and be happy.

Picture played in her mind of sipping on margarita, with a book in her hand under a umbrella and enjoying the salty air. It was her perfect day in paradise. Hoping that one day she can go to a beach for some alone R&R. She had been back for few months which to he felt like ages; she was planning her next escape. Possibly in her head since it was easiest and fastest way to escape anything at the present. Warm sand between her toes, sun shining, sext lifeguards….and she was back to reality. In the kitchen with Cloud. She licked her lips and smirked formed right after. She took a bite of the brownie, licking his finger in the process and slitty made a face on the taste of brownie. It was her first time eating fun brownies and honestly it was not too bad. Little on the sweet bitter side, herby as she chewed and tried to enjoy the flavor.

Backstreet Boys blasted through the speakers, she started singing along with Candela. Candela could sing, hell she knows everyone in the group sing. She sang into spatula mic when Candela pointed it at her. She watched her singing, dancing around kitchen and living room. They could even make a group band wearing white shirts, black socks with sunglasses over their eyes and jamming out. It would be a Christmas miracle if everyone got along and did this. She wasn’t holding her breathe for it though. She wasn’t sure what was going on in her head, between Natasha, Candela and Catcher and everyone was waiting in the audience eating popcorn to see what will happen next. Maybe, eating these penis shaped cookies, brownies and drinking may get everyone on a good mood. Or bad. She mentally groaned at the thought and laughed out loud imagining everyone getting along.

”Mostly everyone aside from C, Tash and I lost their V-Card in their teen age years. I don’t know about your sister though.” Now she was intrigued to find out when Claude lost his virginity. A vampire has needs just like humans and since there aren’t any vampire around for him; she started thinking if Denali vampires will be in town and Claude will hit on one of the girls. She shrieked as wet, gooey consistency landed on her face. Veronica thought they were done with being a kid but boy she was wrong. She jumped off the counter, went where Cloud was standing and placed his head on the counter and wiped it with his face. ”Oops.” She let his head go, placed finger next to her lip and batted her eyelash. Playing innocent wasn’t going to get far for her. Way she has been acting lately, no one is going to believe that she’s naive, innocent girl. It would be a shame if they did.

Seth joined them in the kitchen, watching him wash his hands after accidentally touching dirt counter. She hugged him, getting him slightly dirty; no one joined them on the fun and everyone started being boring duds. She let go of Seth, turned on kitchen faucet then the sprayer and sprayed Seth and Cloud. Veronica laughed, jumped like a little kid for few seconds then turned it off. ”Ever since C and his magical fingers in high school. Those are truly magical, if you ask me. Plus, shouldn’t we be worried about Tash drinking and leaving her alone with C?” She was worried about Natasha but learned lesson not to interfere after that night at the beach. Veronica kept her safe distance when it came to Natasha; she loved her but this version of Natasha was confusing. Veronica cut a small piece of brownie, ate it and fed the other piece to Cloud. She licked her fingers then pulled him down to her level. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips.

Veronica was doing things without thinking. It felt like she was a ho for a second. She cleared her throat and stepped away from him. She couldn’t believe she did that. She turned around and saw Rafael standing by the back door. She muttered fuck, poured a shot and drowned it. She lost count on how many shots she had now. ”First off, why are your lips so soft? Second, my bad for that peck, kiss…whatever it was.” Veronica faced Cloud, picked up penis shaped cookie and took a bite of it the head. It tasted better than the brownie.

[Claudius Galloway]

Amused by another guess for Catcher,Claude shook his head. A snowman would be way to obvious not nearly unique for his closest friend. He knew more more about Catcher then most of his friends did. Catcher had seen so many sides to him and Claude held someone his deepest secrets. He really wasn't a snowflake, but in a way he was a snowflake because no two where the same and from what he knew about Catcher he was a rarity also. He raised his eye brow at the guess in a clue that he might be getting close to the right answer but he was still off from his idea. He couldn't wait to see him all in white and covered in glitter. He was so amused by his costume at his tree house party that he wanted to see him just a sparkly as he was the night. They would both glitter in the sun the near day, there would be no way he would get every little speckle of his skin.

Claude had spent to many hours spying on Cloud after he ingested some sort of intoxicating product so it was possible he was mistaken that he was rhyming in his sleep, maybe he was thinking in some dozing like sate in between being alert and out cold. Feather didn't seem to mind, she just taken to observe him herself maybe in some protective like way. He wasn't any threat to the twins he just found Cloud so interesting. He found Feather similar but he could tell she rather not be watch herself. She has this air about her that made her different from the others, more connected to the planet in herself that the drama the rest all worried about wasnt anything to frett about at all. " I won't spy on her, she a little too witchy for me. You know what time mean? She just knows things. She has cool things though,but I won't go in her room." He wiggles his fingers around like.he was practicing black magic. Not many things freaked Claude out he was immortal but people who had a bit of a sixth sense though him off.

Human or ghost would be be a hard decision for Claude to figure out how he wanted to spend his time in Vergina. If he would show up as a human visitor it would really depend on the weather, he couldn't walk around sparking in the rays of the sun like diamond encrusted human. Everything would have to be so meticulous planned out that he have to decide closer to the time he went to visit. " You wouldn't think your academy friends would be weirded out by some oddly pale handsome man coming to visit you?" Thy would probably be more upset.he hadn't invited a beautiful girl for them to drool over. So many young man living in some old haunted building for months at a time probably were filled with so many hormones be feel bad for any girl who went to visit. He could just picture some of the young men would have thier mom's visit and they would be quickly labeled as milfs as soon as they stept foot in the door. That was probably why the statue cried it could feel all the frustrations of all those guys not being able to touch a girl and felt bad for them. " If you can't get any tears try to see if you can make it cry by being either really sad near it or by calling it names. I bet it has a trigger."

Claude pulled his notebook and pen pit of his pocket and stared writing things down. If Catcher didn't try any of his suggestions he would have to do it himself. Everything he mentioned about the orbs made sense, human orbs and energies would easily be what the orbs were. Why he would ever think they ons beloned to the horse was beyond him, but meeting a horses ghost would actually be very interesting, he would know what to say because he even spoke less horse then he did cow. " Sometimes humans just think things are haunted because they are old, I have never talked to.a ghost yet but or if it's as active as.it say you think a ghost would tlak to a man who had stepped one foot in the grave just to be brought back for who knows what." Claude didn't understand why he was made a vampire never meeting his sire he did even know why he was chosen by whoever turned him in the first place. He had been living most of his undead life alone and even though he had a curiously about why him he had never had presused anything.

He was joking about the hangman ghost, and he was pleased to hear Catcher laugh. He was glad to get a chuckle out of his friend. Claude loved making people laugh because they ways seemed to have so many problems compared to a vampire. He didn't have to worry about college or school or where he wanted to go in life. As long as he fallowed the rules the would could live forever. "Seeing a man hanging, that dosnt seem to scary. If we don't see it I'll hang myself from the rafters and we can scare everyone." It really wasn't the funniest idea but it would definitely keep the legend of the hanging man to continue for a few more hundred years. He didn't know of he could keep a serious face watching men run away so scared they might even pass thier pants but the whole stunt would be a great memory for him to collect.

Thinking about the prank was short lived because Raf had returned and began asking about instruments.the question was a bit of a strange one but one fun thing he had enjoyed as a child during the holidays was sitting around the living room by the fire place signing Christmas carols with family in friends it had ways brought people together. He must have been a wizard because he did have something stashed away, finding out almost everyone played instrument he had made sure he was well stocked the basement had enough equipment down there for any band be put on a rememberal concert. Before he could even mentioned anything about the assortment he had set up down stairs Catcher had spoken up shockingly offering up his services to Raf on just his own but Cloud's and a drummer who he already knew as Seth that guy had so much energy he could easily get anyone going with a good solo.

Getting up from the chair, he looks over at the tree that Sprinkles helped pick out, it was nice but it would looked even better sanding straight up in its rightful place. "I'm not a wizard,but I am a crazy vampbire who thinks of everything, check out the basement all you need is there. Dinner will be here within the hour, I ordered  from some company near by." With the door open he could hear Veronica shouting about pussies and his eyes went a little wider and he looked over at Rafael for a moment before watching Catcher move inside and stood with Raf for a second. He didn't know how much he could hear over the music and conversion but he just hoped nothing was going to go down. "I'm going to set up the tree why don't you get V from the kitchen and we can show her it all set up." Claude walked into the house and stood the tree up on its end in the tree stand and quickly screwed into place by himself. Getting up quickly he could see Raf face turning redder by the second at the kitchen door." Raffy taffy are you good overthere?"

[Rafael Wolfe]

Rafael stood close enough to the window to see some of what was going on inside the toasty warm cabin. He wasn't expecting Claude to have instruments available, he hadn't even seen a piano which he would find customary for holiday get-togethers. There was always someone who knew how to play a simple holiday tune and with everything he knew about Claude he could have seen the guy mastering the ivory keys many times over. If anyone really knew the vampire he was pretty much the most insane being Raf had ever met but he was also down to earth and enjoyed the simpler things in life. He didn't even live in a real house half the time. Claude had recently been leaving Blue at his place worried the little guy would freeze out in cold weather. That's why he and the chihuahua had been getting along more.

Caught off guard by Catcher offer. While thinking of impressing Veronica with a little performance he didn't think her ex would just jump at offering up his hos blonde haired buddy's guitars without knowing what he was planning."Umm actually I didn't have a complete idea on how I was going to pull anything off myself. Tash gave me some ideas and I was going to see what could be put together." Veronica wasn't a prize to win or anything he just wanted to show her how much he cared about her even if it meant embarrassing himself. Most things didn't bug Raf but seeing how Veronica was acting around Cloud when had stopped in for a moment was bugging him. The tall shaggy blonde guy was actually pretty funny, but seeing her playing with the whipped cream and lickimg it off his face irritated him a lot.

He and Veronica were not officially an item but he had thought they had gotten a lot closer since their first date. Sure most of that was a disaster but he didn't let that ruin what he hoped for with Veronica. He even got to see her spicier side with her anger and even though she was mad he could help but to love that part of her too. He just wishes she could see in herself what he saw in her. She was so beautiful, and deserved to be spoiled like the princess she was.

He was very willing to accept his help but he didn't know how everything would actually come together. "Bud, I wasn't asking for your help but if you are willing to help me, I'll take it." Things were still a little strange between him and Catcher but Raf was willing to move past all of the drama if he was. Hair band music was what he was used to playing , he knew Catcher and Cloud had their own style but if they could all come together they could impress her shirtless in his tight leather pants. It seems that Claude did plan everything out, hearing about the basement made Raf wonder what else that guy was hiding around the cabin. He watched as Catcher entered the house and he could hear Veronica speaking but not clearly enough over the music, and sound out the wind blowing he heard a few broken words travelling outside.

Not wanting to stand out in the cold much longer, Raf enter the cabin beside Claude and slipped off his boots by the door, and removed his jacket, Blue was now up and about running around in a Santa costume and he seemed to be enjoying it more then he would have thought a dog would love clothes. Walking over to the fireplace, Raf walked past Feather who looked like she was occupied by sorting the ornaments in old dust boxes. She looked excited to be decorating the tree soon and he was glad someone appreciated his and Tash's hard work. Being close to the kitchen now he could clearly hear Veronica talking about magic fingers and leaving Tash and Catcher alone. He wasn't sure where their conversion was going or what was going on between Tash and Catcher but that didn't matter at the moment getting Veronica to come out and check out the tree like Claude said he should.

As soon as it looked like the vampire had the tree in place he poked his head into the kitchen to see Veronica lips touch Cloud's. His face turned red and he took a breath before he spoke. Her face was covered in white sticky looking liquid, her hair was a mess from other baking goods and a half empty bottle of tequila was sitting on the counter. Any other girl he sees in this state he would probably blow up on but not on Veronica she meant something more. " His lips are soft because he is a bitch who uses too many beauty products. His sister is practically more of a man than him. V you should go take a shower your a bit of a mess."

[Cloud Crestfall]

Well played. He should’ve just touched her boob right then, check if it was all natural as she said she wore no brassiere but he wasn’t drunk enough. She brought out that total lack of boundaries in him and he wondered if he had done the same to her. His view stalked her strawberry, asking himself why he hadn’t eaten one juicy fruit yet as he shook his head listening to her suggestion. Agreeing with her, he had forgotten all about the potential games they could play as a group, so used to just being around guys and shallow acquaintances. ”Yup you just wanna see everyone naked.” She wasn’t afraid that Paul Bunyan was going to turn into his own ox and charge with steam out of his ears, nostrils flaring and just demolish everything so why should anyone hold back. ”We’ve got strippers in the house, don’t think that’s a challenge. Play it with higher stakes maybe…” He nudged her with his elbow, narrowing his gaze cheekily.”I get it, you’d rather seven minutes in heaven or spin the bottle, probably both. Throw in some stripping too…”

What she said next had him on the brink of speechlessness. What she said after that had him actually stunned. ”I knew it!” None of these girls except his sister were as innocent as they claimed; he never fell for it but there was something so bold about hearing it, he liked Veronica more now. ”You just sound like you’re afraid of pussies. That could’ve been so hot but…” He looked at her as if she dismayed him, disappointed at her big exclamation about never eating tacos as if they were somehow unmatched by sausages. It wasn’t every guy’s dream but pretty girls made it so. Too bad girls never checked themselves to realize not everyone wanted to see heffa cows making out amongst other things; they just paraded around like people were supposed to love it, calling him gay if he didn’t. They had a lot of nerve to think they were in league enough they could reject him or friendzone him when he never even expressed interest. The things going on in his head made him sigh as he chuckled at her as she began singing. ”My sister... I don’t wanna know!” He wanted to know but was so disturbed, reliving that she had sort of liked people, watering it down so hard from any form of relationship, throwing his hands around his ears as if he was going to sandwich his brain. ”Hate to break it to ya, but C’s definitely had girls.” It was a desperate change from his bother to her bother as the corner of his eye willed to see her crestfallen face from the truth.

It took him a moment to put two and two together that everyone could sing, as Candela’s voice was remarkably strong and lower than he expected, melodic notes drifting to him. The boyband pop was a vibe he could jive to right now but it had never been his go to. It was fun to have a different commandant to the music out here and he played along, bopping his head to the beat and fidgeting in sync. Now he wanted to start a rave after dinner; all the banana pills raining like rainbow candy around them before his eyes.
Like a scratched tape, he suddenly stopped seeing the trance party and stared at Veronica as she ate and radiated a sense of winning. He traced her up and down, this time from skepticism and an awkwardness that she may have delivered him a final punch; a trump card of surprise. ”Damn that's a long time to want a dick. You two fucked yourselves over by not fucking!" He practically shouted, elevated from his own epiphany of a joke, unexpecting that what blabbering came out of his stoned mouth would actually make sense. "Truly magical... then why worry? She probably needs it.” ’It’ was the drinking, it was rebonding, it was whatever they needed to sort whatever they had out, and it was also probably fingers if not more. ”What, you scared they will do something they regret? Wherever all her fucking teasing comes from, it comes from somewhere… she’s probably more prepared than you. To be honest if all they have to do is shag for them to stay together, I’m all for it. You make it sound like he’s never been alone with her and something bad is gonna happen.” Anyone with a compliment like the one Veronica had made would be overjoyed and he snorted, grunting as he giggled that hopefully everyone else had heard that and Catch was the only one who hadn’t; it would make his obliviousness hilarious. The fact was, he wanted Rafael to hear it the most so that the cave man will stare at his own hands and start doing something unorthodox to make them soft.

When he had seen Catcher in the city, he was surrounded by beautiful girls even if he stood there like a sullen candle in the wind, inattentive, long hair messed like he didn’t belong in that club yet owned it. They had laughed about this when they realised how much they had grown since the coincidence. It was as if he had seen none of them, some strange beacon of a man who wasn’t particularly striking like the giant who was now walking to them. Unlike Rafael Catcher was more expressed through liquid cadences of his voice, his diction somewhat courtly and old fashioned despite his beautiful man boy face. There was some strange unerring and particular use of limbs that amplified his soul, enhanced a tenderness that was actually more effeminate than Cloud could ever be. She really evolved from that to burly, muscle maniac who looked best dripping oil and water and it made him think he could die from inner amusement; she was too ridiculous. There he was trying to be less rascal and he felt pleased Veronica didn’t seem to notice her worries about her aptly dubbed ‘C boys’ were misplaced.

During this, Veronica was pretending she was not rushing for that hammering but she was more than likely salivating at the very thought of having Rafael’s cock in her mouth. Cloud’s ideas started winding, dialing back everything as she kissed him gently. He didn’t see this coming and it was evident but he hadn’t the time to react more than just put out his hand at her as a precursor to stopping her apology. Then it reached his lips and he felt them with renewed interest that they were soft, happily beginning to smile. The roaring voice of Rafael cut through his reflection with perfect timing, his words exacting how secure Cloud knew of himself. This was a big block of contrast in red like he could be the table to that tablecloth, talking about his appearance.

Cloud’s face twisted into a slow motion of shock and awe. Then it was a jaw dropping, jaw breaking spastic laughing face. His eyes were slits, the blue barely showing with dilated pupils that made him appear like he could be crying from this. Tears were starting to wet them but nothing fell out. For the moment, the eyelashes dampened, and creases of crow’s feet appeared over the thin skin. His hands rose to his mouth, covering it in over dramatic flair before he started keeling over, rocking and bending forwards repeatedly; it looked more like he could choke or cough. The same hands moved like he was holding his microphone before starting to clap poorly in applause. They made little sound, but continued as he couldn’t even control where he was looking, which was nowhere near Rafael or Veronica. The louder noise was him exclaiming with mocking that he loved this, including the little greeting he had felt on his lips. ”OOoohhhhhhhh…” The child in him was living, acting like she had just gotten in trouble with her new ‘daddy’. It had always seemed like Rafael was too in love with her to ever display any fault in how he felt when jealous, envious or simply mad. This made him boisterous and it had become one of the best memories instantly.

He stomped his foot as he cry laughed, practically stabbing his thigh with a fist before he skipped and hopped around them; the kitchen like a play pen. This bitch had been kissed by the big man’s woman. It was obvious that he had pissed off the giant, but that wasn’t the best part; he had just witnessed some sort of calling out on Veronica, which he didn’t expect in a million years from the man. His sweater was dangling, oversized and swinging trailing threads pulled out on purpose for a shaggy appearance; everything about him was swaying from all the erratic movement. It wasn’t the first time he had been called something derogatory and despite trying to find some way to be a little appalled and offended, he didn’t feel a thing. Everything was too funny; he didn’t even need the baked goods to find this comforting but he picked up a brownie and shoved it into his own mouth, chewing and attempting to hold it all in where chocolate bits threatened to fall out in crumbles.

”Your girl likes soft lips, I should give you some beauty products… Chapstick or lip gloss? Unless you don’t think she might kiss me again.” Between the munching, he swallowed hard and spoke in a muffle of eating and not being calm. He tilted his head in a quick jolt and smirking extremely lopsidedly at Rafael when he was done with the cake. Finishing with a wink, he nodded once, looking at the man from the side as he went and pulled the roll of hefty paper towels without ripping them. It became a long train that wrapped around Veronica as he tugged it all the way from the sink back to where they had been making the counter glued. This was him cleaning, as he scrunched the handful and started scrubbing the icing off Veronica’s face to torment her and Rafael; it was brief, he just wanted to touch her in front of Rafael and solidify his memory of everything that turned his tan skin red like wine.

Cloud began rubbing the marble surface beside their baking tray of cookies in large circular motions, mucking everything from powder to egg-white together. Ultimately creating new colours, he had begun cleaning because Veronica was being stolen away like the princess she was, and would likely never return as the barbarian demanded she be cleaned up too. Now he was going to be the only one left there in the blitzkrieg of pastry ingredients. It was like a scene from some bad television show, angry man who still intends to sleep with seductive young woman throwing fits; the only plot twist in how Veronica was going to react. This was about to produce more ‘ohs’ since he was waiting for her to snap at the man, or at least shed some tears and screw up the whole macho pride so he could laugh at Rafael’s downfall once more.
”My sister is however she wants to be.” His mouth curled downward in a mixture of disconcert and smug unconcern; the insult was nonsense. In his eyes, Feather was beyond any norms to even compare with him; he was more basic even though whatever and however he seemed always threw everyone for a loop. Catcher had said something to him before about doing the same things often yet surprising everyone every time; they were both the same way but he was less confused than his friend regarding that. He had the benefit that people expected that from him so it was like he could do no wrong, experiencing the dangers of idolatry from fans.

”Here, have some makeup…” Thinking of doing no wrong, he grabbed a chunk of brownie and went directly to Rafael, shoving it against his mouth so that once contact was made, he had to eat it. It was like painting his lips with food. A rebellion against his comment, the brownie smashed and broke in bits as if the surface flaked it, as if Rafael had rough unkissable lips. ”She made it.” He shrugged a few times backing up to the tray and pointing down at the chocolate cake, indicating the Hawaiian Jesus should be shelve his holy wrath. He slapped the train of paper towel so it ripped at the connection and then stepped on a piece, swirling it under his foot as he offhandedly spoke, indirect venom seeping as he fussed about cleaning. "Now you can throw her over your shoulder and go wash her like your baby doll."

[Feather Crestfall]

Returning back to the living room Feather started digging though the decorations, pulling out the colored balls which were not broken and setting them down gently on a pile on the cream colored sofa. Candi had put on some pop music, breaking up the constant Christmas music that had been filling the walls of this cabin since the moment Veronica got a hold of the remote for the stereo system. The change was good breaking up the melodies before they started to repeat themselves and getting as annoying as a department store playing the holiday themed music earlier and earlier each year. Slowly she pulled out the broken bits and inspected all the pieces carefully trying to find a way she could repurpose the glass shards. She wanted to save every chunk of glass in a cup that was big enough to attach a piece of wire. She would make some beautiful mobile that hung from the ceiling that would catch the light just wonderfully letting the pieces of glass reflect the light like some sort of deconstructed disco ball. She would have to check the shed over the holiday looking to see if there were the tools inside she needed to make it. It would be nice if she could get it done by New years. It would be a beautiful decorative piece.

She watched Claude come in and get the tree all set up on his own. The bluish green branches really added a more holiday feel to the cabin and the bitter piney smell was helping clear the air of the odd combination of all the scents in the room as it overpowered most of them for her. She could let her attention stay on getting things ready for the tree but it was pulled away by Rafael's voice and Calude asking him if he was ok. She turned around to look at the big guy calling her brother a bitch for having soft lips and saying she was more of a man. Feather stood what she's doing and placed her hands on her hips and scrunched up her face. She wasn't one to get mad; she knew Cloud and Veronica were engaging in some weird baking session in the kitchen but she could understand how things go so out of hand to make Rafael turn as red as a hibiscus flower.

She was not one to butt into anyone's business unless she knew she could help calm down an overly tense situation. Hearing Cloud laughing she didn't think she needed to step in. Though if she had to get things to mellow between the two men she could pull out the mistletoe and threaten to make them kiss a make up. Seth would enjoy the show, and it might change the overcharged energy into something more light hearted. What she couldn't understand was why Veronica would have kissed Cloud. She had seen the friendly banter between the two, but Cloud was like that with most people teasing them enough to get some sort of reaction out of them. Feather just hoped Cloud jokes and goofing off wasn't taken too seriously because the last thing this holiday needs was an angry Hawaiian sending out just heated energy to mess up the natural balance they had been so inviting when they had first arrived. Sure there was some weirdness between Tash and Catcher but it wasn't enough to make it feel like a fairytale holiday like.

She heard her brother stand up for her and she half smiled. He was right she was who she wanted to be, they both were they didn't let society define who they were as people. It was one lesson that they had learned from their eccentric mother to never put themselves into a box. She was not always there for them when they needed her in their late teens wanting to go find herself but the independence helped them become the people they were now. She didn't know where she would be without Cloud and just as Cloud stood up for her she was always there when he needed her the most. Her eyes widened as Cloud took a piece of brownie and smashed it into Raf beard trimmed lips, at this point Cloud was on his own, in her mind he had gone too far this mess would be his and Veronica's to deal with now.