Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, this is a belated Christmas fic. Please enjoy despite the late posting!

Will's living room was packed; with eight people and three Oresoren, its comfortable range of capacity was in danger of being exceeded. Norma's hogging of one of the couches, combined with the fact that nobody would stand within five feet of Moses, who appeared to have not bathed in an excruciatingly long time, did nothing to help the matter. All was silent as relaxation was attempted, though periodically interrupted by a particularly loud scratch from Norma, who was writing on a piece of paper. The Scallop Brothers had arranged themselves around Jay, who was placidly sitting in a corner. It was the last day before the holiday rush went into full swing, and they were resting accordingly for preparation.

"All right!" Norma yelled suddenly, leaping from the couch, "I'm all set!"

"All set for what?" Senel asked.

"My Christmas costumes!" Norma chirped.

"No!" Jay yelled loudly, standing up and startling the Oresoren, who took a good three steps away from the source of the sudden noise; his outburst was mirrored by Moses and a few of the others.

"Yes," Norma grinned. "I know, you're so excited to see what I've got for you now, huh, JJ?"

"Quite the opposite," Jay spat, "I'm not dressing up in whatever you have for me."

"Oh, you will," Norma smirked craftily. She walked over to a corner of Will's house, where a stack of all-too-familiar bags were waiting.

"Oooh, that looks like fun!" Grune commented, following Norma.

"I have the sudden urge to incinerate those bags," Jay muttered darkly, sitting down again. The Oresoren returned to their positions around him.

"Oh, guys?" floated Norma's voice from her corner, "I need you to leave the house, kay?"

"And why is that?" Jay asked skeptically.

"So I can surprise you!" Norma grinned.

Jay crossed his arms. "Certainly not," he snapped.

"Aw, c'mon JJ, you're so mean!" Norma whimpered.

"You've humiliated me twice. Is that not enough for you?" Jay demanded.

"JJ, you're so mean!" Norma said again, then added in a low voice, "Twice? I'm just getting started!"

"Jay, just adhere to her demands, as…insane as they may be," Will sighed. "There's no way we can talk her out of it, nor is there no good reason to deny her request."

"Says you, you didn't wear a dress," Jay grumbled.

Moses sauntered over to Jay, having been given the order to get him up by Will. He came within earshot of Jay's grumbling in time to hear Jay's comment about the dress. Breaking into a large grin, he walked through the Oresoren, who parted for him, and knelt down next to Jay, his mouth next to the shorter boy's ear.

"So you're saying you want to stay here and oversee your new gown, Princess Jay?" he whispered.

Jay's eyes took a form that was unusual to them. His expressions were generally calm and rational, with relaxed yet sharp eyes, or narrowed with annoyance or some similar emotion. Now, they were round with surprise, reacting to a comment they hadn't expected. The surprise was quickly forgotten, and the purple disks reverted to their annoyed form.

"Of course not, stupid bandit," he snarled in the bandit's face, "and don't call me a princess!"

"Whatever you say, Princess," Moses taunted.

Jay sighed in exasperation. Again the Oresoren scattered as he stood up, this time following him as he made for the front door. "As much as I would rather not let Norma make another humiliating outfit to force me into, right now he," he gestured to Moses, "is driving me insane."

"Thank you, JJ!" Norma smiled sweetly as Jay stormed out of the house, tailed by the Oresoren.

"We should get going, too," Will advised. To this, everyone except for Norma and Grune rose, following Jay's scallop-adorned procession out of the house.

"Hehehe…" Norma cackled, "G-girl, let's get to work!"

Outside the house, Jay and the Oresoren were patiently waiting. Jay's face still had a sour look to it, having been coerced—by Moses, of all people—to leave Norma alone, where she could freely manipulate his dignity.

"What should we do now?" Senel questioned, seeing that there would be no point to merely standing around.

"We could help out some of the townspeople with decorating," Will suggested.

"I was thinkin' we could play a game," Moses grinned. "Y'know, like tag, or hide-and-seek."

"What kind of an idea is that?" Jay snorted.

"The kind I'm gonna force ya' into," Moses snapped, adding in a low voice that only Jay could hear, "Unless, of course, you'd like to be Princess Jay for the rest of the day?"

Jay said nothing, leaving it to his glare that was as sharp as several daggers to convey his message of "I hate you so much right now".

"Moses, I think you're the only one who favors playing games," Chloe commented, "Norma and Grune would probably be on your side, but they're working on more costumes." The last two words came out with a hint of exasperation.

"Actually, I think it might be fun," Shirley smiled.

Again, Jay said nothing, relying on looks to convey "Please don't encourage him. I'm begging you, don't do it".

"Thanks, Shirley, that's sweet of ya' to take my side," Moses grinned, ignoring Jay's obvious displeasure.

"Well, if Shirley wants to," Senel said, "I guess I'll agree, too."

"Me, too," Chloe said.

"Do we have a majority?" Moses asked excitedly.

"No, it's four against five," Pippo counted, "Though I kinda wanna play…"

"Yeah…" Poppo agreed.

"It does sound a little fun," Quppo admitted.

All three looked apologetically at Jay, who shrugged his shoulders. "I can't stop you," he sighed. Seeing the Oresoren look down in guilt, he added quickly, "I won't be mad, don't worry."

"Thanks, Jay!" all three chirped happily.

"Will, Jay, are you gonna play?" Moses questioned.

"Well, I don't know if I'm up to it," Will started.

"Come on, Raynard, it'll be fun!" Chloe pressed.

"Oh, alright, I'll play," Will conceded.

"Jay, it's all about you, now," Moses grinned, "I need a clear answer: will you play or won't you?"

"I'd rather not," Jay said.

"I'd rather you did," Moses pushed.

"I'd still rather not."

Moses strode over to Jay, smirking as he began his favorite method of provocation. "Afraid your gown will get dirty, Princess Jay?"

"Oh, would you stop with that?"

"Why should I, Princess Jay?"

"Moses, stop calling me that. It's irritating, especially coming from you."

"Princess Jay, Princess Jay, Princess Jay," Moses taunted.

"If I agree to play your pointless games, will you stop that?" Jay asked.

"Sure," Moses nodded, "I promise."

Jay sighed in resignation. "I can't believe I'm doing this," he grumbled.

"Awrite! All of us are playin' now!" Moses whooped. "What first, tag or hide-and-seek?"

"You're the one that decided we were doing this," Jay sighed. "Choose the one that's less humiliating."

"Tag it is, then!" Moses smiled. He softly punched Jay on the shoulder. "Tag, you're it!"

Instantly the rest of the group scattered, running as fast as they could in different directions.

"You've got to be kidding me," Jay groaned. Feeling a sudden urge to tag Moses right back, he sprinted off after the bandit. His speed was such in proportion to Moses' that the chase was rather pathetic; it was as though a cheetah was chasing a snail.

"You're it, stupid bandit," Jay smirked, poking the bandit on his bare back before sprinting off.

"Why you--!" Moses exclaimed in surprise. "Someone's enjoying this," he said to himself before locating Chloe and heading towards her.