Mable: This is a set of short stories, about 500 words, based on prompts I found online. I still have something planned for Christmas, but I wanted to do these too because I didn't do them last year. Most are Modern!Punks, which is my standing of: The Stitchpunks like in an all Stitchpunk world that's closer to our time period than the 193os. The original pattern of couples was chosen by random placement, so I didn't choose which couple would get which prompt. Anyway, I don't own 9, Enjoy!
Short Days of Christmas
9xChild: Decorations
Child trudged down the steps from the attic hefting yet another heavy box of Christmas decorations. By time he got to the bottom step, almost having tumbled over on the way down, he was no longer feeling the Christmas spirit and was about prepared to simply give in and retreat, letting Nine finish the rest of the decorating. "Creator…" He muttered as he stared down at the tangle of Christmas lights in the cardboard box. "This is the gateway to insanity." As he headed down the next flight of stairs to the first floor he was frowning pointedly.
"Nine-." He began as he turned into the living room, stopping as he saw the state Nine was in. He was putting a few knick-knacks on the mantle with a candy cane clamped in his mouth. What was most confusing was the long strip of red garland around his neck like a boa and the bow that he had stuck to the top of his own head. He looked over to Child before perking, pulling the candy cane out, "You found the lights! Good, I thought we'd have to buy more." He wandered over and started poking through the box as Child just stared at him.
Finally Nine's optics raised, "Something wrong?" The albino stared before offering, "Not exactly… But I see you got into the decorations." He gave a small, playful smile that Nine soon replicated. "I'm just practicing my modeling career." He struck a model-like pose, "What do you think? Am I ready for the runway?" Child gave a scrutinizing hum and set down the box. He rested his hand on his mouth and chin, considering the thought and looking over Nine. Finally he raised a finger in pause, "One moment."
He started to dig through the box of lights, managing to get some of them free. Nine waited patiently as Child untangelled, swore under his breath in Luxembourgish, and got a strand of lights free. He then began to wrap a coil around his waist a few times, letting a few strands hang further onto his hips. He then secured the plug by wrapping it into the green cords and pulling back. "Alright, now how do I look?" Nine offered teasingly, resting a hand on his hip and doing another overly dramatic pose. Child pursed his lips and hummed.
"Definitely brings out the hips…But not yet." He insisted and looked around. Now his optics landed on a small box of Christmas bulbs. "Here we are, the final touch." Child insisted as he plucked two bulbs out of the box and showed them to his zippered mate. "Green or Red?" The younger paused and looked between them. "I don't know… The green. The red would match better, but I'm afraid that would be too much red." Child replaced the red one into the box, "Now, Poppet, you can't have too much red, I assure you." He came closer and hooked the tiny hook onto Nine's zipper pull.
"There. Now you are the epiphany of Christmas. Model away." Child offered and Nine gave a soft chuckle, a pale blush on his cheeks. "Maybe… But first I need a good partner. Come on, let's get you ready, the décor can wait." He crouched down and began to search through the boxes for Child's soon to be outfit. He looked almost like an excited Pup at Christmas, so Child couldn't even make an attempt to argue.
7xCat: Christmas Cards
"You can sign this one." Seven pointed out as she checked to make sure the lace ribbon that had been hot glued to the card stuck right. It was secure and she passed it over, opening it to the interior which was all white except for the brief 'Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays'. Seven didn't know how she got into scrapbooking cards, but it had become a yearly tradition. Cat looked over the card before playfully riling her with, "That's a lot of lace." Seven playfully responded by offering him a strand of ribbon.
"Cut this for me?" Completely ignoring his comment in the process. Cat divided the ribbon in two with a quick drag of his claws and grabbed the pen to write his name. "Do I write a message or just my name?" It was apparent that this was all sort of new to him and Seven casually, and somewhat vaguely, answered with, "Put down whatever you feel like, Cat." She smiled encouragingly and he chewed at his lip with his small, metal fangs, thinking over it. Finally Cat started to write, sounding it out as he went along in an attempt to stave off his dyslexic troubles.
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night, Cat." Seven raised a brow before Cat gave her a cheeky smile. "Hey, there's a reason it's such a popular phrase. I wouldn't be the first one plagerizing it." He then handed the card over. "Spell check?" Seven took it with a nod and handed over another card with a sheet of stickers. "Can you put the gingerbread one on? There's a scuff." She pointed out and Cat looked closer, "It's not very noticeable… But yeah, alright." He started to peel off the gingerbread before there was a tear. "Oh."
"Hmm?" Seven asked and Cat quickly finished, "Nothing… Just, uh, this was a cookie who had his arm bit." He set it on the envelope and Seven smiled, "You did very good. There's… There's one mistake, but the phrase was written without any at all!" She leaned closer and gave him an encouraging kiss on the cheek. "All of that practice has been helping. I'm very proud of you." Cat hesitated though, "…So I got the phrase right but I didn't have any errors?" Before Seven could make any excuses Cat gently plucked it from her fingers and read it quickly.
"I spelled my name wrong?!" He sputtered out and Seven got an amused smile, "You didn't spell it wrong, you just got the 'c' backwards." Yet he still seemed thoroughly embarssed, though partially amused, "And it was the only word I was supposed to spell right!" he tossed the card on the table and cupped his head with his hands, laughing lightly. "That's just too wrong to even fathom." The female rolled her eyes at his dramatic display and rubbed his back until she started to feel a light purring.
She then pulled the card open and signed the card as well with a quick '7'. "I think it looks perfect." She reassured and Cat got a small, remarkably sincere smile as he watched her. That was, until she added in with, "Now we only have about twenty more to go. Cut this ribbon for me, would you, Kit-cat?"
6x8: Warm Drinks
Six had been working on this for a good while now. It shouldn't have taken this long and it wouldn't have for a normal Stitchpunk, but Six wanted to make something especially precise. He filled the first cup with a dark, thicker mixture that smelled a bit bitter. Six wasn't very fond of dark chocolate but knew that Eight liked it a bit more than normal chocolate. He noticed when the larger male would pluck certain chocolates out of the display jar, when he would seek out the dark chocolates, and as such Six went the extra bit.
For himself he poured a warm mug of white hot chocolate. It was more of a test than a preference; he had gotten a packet of white chocolate mix in a giftset and wanted to see what it tasted like. Unlike the dark hot chocolate, which took a lot of work and came out oddly thicker, the white chocolate was easy to make and waiting for the last touches. He smiled at his work and grabbed for the whip cream, spraying a swirl upon each mug, adding some chocolate surface drizzle to the top, and managing to force some marshmallows on as well.
Once Six was certain that both looked adequate he lifted both and carefully headed out to the living room. Eight was already on the couch, fiddling with the fire which was trying to go out. "I brought the hot chocolate." Six quipped with a smile, setting Eight's down on the coffee table. He sat down on the couch before pulling his legs upwards and crossing them close to him, holding the warm mug in his hands. Eight straightened and crossed over with a groan in his chest, "Something's wrong with this wood. It's not burning right."
"Is it wet?" Six offered and Eight plopped down on the couch. For a second the Artist nearly spilled his drink onto himself, but managed to keep from doing so. "I thought that, but it's pretty dry." He lifted his own mug and took a bit before humming in delight. Six smiled wide at the male in an eager fashion, "Like it?" Eight nodded as an answer before he removed the mug. "It's the best I've tasted. What did you do to it?" Six gave a proud smile and explained, "It's dark chocolate instead of normal. I noticed you liked it a little better."
He then took a sip of his own hot chocolate with his own delight. Eight smiled at his mate, "It's damn good. Way more chocolatey than that powdered stuff." Six looked upwards and smiled, Eight cocked a brow in amusement at the whip cream lingering on his lips. He started to lick it off when Eight stopped him, "Wait." Though by now most of the cream was missing. "Hmm?" Six offered and suggested, "Take another sip." The striped male had a feeling he knew what was coming and took another sip, this time knowingly leaving the whip on.
Eight leaned forward and cupped Six's cheek, pressing their lips together. Six didn't realize until that moment that white chocolate and dark chocolate tasted best combined.
5xVelvet: Gift Shopping
"I still haven't figured out what to get Nine." Five announced worriedly as he steered the shopping cart around the shopping center, checking the shelves. It didn't help that most of everything was sold out already. Velvet hummed and pursed her lips before perking, "Found it!" Five stopped abruptly and turned to watch as she plucked a box of Christmas lights off of the shelf and dropped it in the cart. "Trust me, this is the best gift we'll be able to find." She playfully added with an amused smile or smirk on her lips.
Five couldn't help but slip out a slight snicker. "I keep telling him to wind them before putting them away, but he never listens." He stared at the box before sighing a bit, "Well… You're right, that would save him a lot of time…" He began to continue along, looking around at the shelves again. "Maybe a bunch of small gifts will replace one big one." Velvet shrugged before nodding nochalantly. She had already gotten her gifts previously; A scarf and mittens for Six, a glass chess set for Two, and for Five…
A wash of dread spread over her as she remembered what she had been putting off. Velvet had yet to get Five anything and now the stores were all sold out. She began to scan the shelves as desperately as Five was. They passed the jewelry counter and Velvet's optics darted about before they stopped on one thing in particular; A golden, antique pocket watch sitting in the glass case between an empty case and a diamond ring. Velvet looked at it and then looked at Five; Five looked at it as well.
"What do you think of that watch?" Velvet asked, trying to sound casual. "It's beautiful, but it looks like it could be expensive." Five murmured in an attempt to be frugal. Velvet could see it in his optic though, he liked it. "That's true. Too rich for our blood." She paused a few moments before perking, "Oh! I know! What about a tiny TV? Nine mentioned that he wanted a TV in his bedroom." Five considered before questioning, "But Child didn't like the TV idea." Velvet vocally covered herself convincingly.
"He'll warm to the idea once he cuddles in bed and watches a movie. Why don't you go check? I… I need to check for something for Seven." Five surprisingly bought this comment and hurried off to get a TV while Velvet nearly threw herself on the counter and purchased the pocket watch on the spot. "Expensive or not it's perfect! Useful and visually pleasing; he's love it!" She got it giftwrapped and hid it in her bag, then went after Five. Unortunately Five was standing in a nearly empty row picked clean of the best TVs.
"Maybe this one would work, but… Hmm…" Five rubbed his chin before turning to her with a confident smile, "You know… I think I might get that pocket watch for Nine after all." Velvet tensed and stared at him; if he went back and saw it missing he would know she got it. "Maybe, ah, well why don't we head over to the mall to look before we decide?" She tried and he passed her, briefly resting his hand on her shoulder, "I'll be right back." He took five or ten minutes and she worriedly paced about.
Finally he returned, fiddling with his button a bit as though he had closed himself. "Did you find it?" Velvet squeaked out, "I know there were other Stitchpunks looking at it…" He smiled, "Oh… Yeah, it, uh, it was still there, but I just opted out. Come to think of it, Nine already has a pocket watch…" He excused and took to the buggy, an oddly more calm and satisfied demeanor around him, "Let's keep looking." Velvet couldn't even imagine what Five did while he was gone to make him fib about seeing the watch, but she was just relieved he didn't notice.
3xMoss: Christmas Tree
Three looked out through the glass windows and stared into the snowy woods passing buy. Moss was currently driving the truck towards a plot of land that he owned back in these woods, where he had been raising Christmas trees. Usually Moss brought them into Luxembourg to sell, but for their own personal tree he was insistent that she go see them and choose whichever she wanted. It felt almost like an honor and as they started to enter into an area of smaller, greener trees she knew that they were there.
Moss finally stopped the truck and swung the door open before climbing out. His feet sunk into the snow and he made sure to adjust his gloves and coat. He circled around the trunk and opened the passenger side door for Three who smiled and hopped down. Moss smiled back at her and shut the door before taking her hand and guiding him into the treeline. The Christmas trees stood tall and healthy around them, proudly brandishing their green branches and filling Three's mind with ideas of bulbs and lights.
She signed to the cultivator that they were all very lovely and healthy. He smiled in delight at her compliment and thanked her, signing that she could take whatever she wanted. That all of these were for her. Searching through the greenery she finally found one that fit her needs; tall, symmetrical, deep green, and perfectly healthy. She pointed it out to him and he smiled with a nod before heading to the truck to get the axe. Yet as he lifted it out of the back of the truck Three started to feel a little badly.
Regardless of what Moss said, he didn't like killing the things he had grown, though was perfectly willing to so that they could bring home a tree. Of course he had to harvest some of them to sell already, but something here felt too intimate about the situation. Strangely enough Three was feeling guilty about something she had done every year. She couldn't do it; she couldn't let him cut the tree down for her because she felt bad about it. As he approached with the axe she came forward and raised her hands, shaking her head.
He was confused and she signed quickly to ask if he had any trees that hadn't been bought. Moss nodded and soon they were back in the truck heading towards home. Halfway back he got a small smile on his face as though he figured it out and signed to her that it was okay if she wanted to harvest one of the uncut ones. That they were grown with her in mind. Three nodded before leaning closer to kiss his cheek, signing afterwards and assured him that any tree he grew would be perfect.
The last tree that hadn't been sold looked a little worn, but had already been cut and hadn't been claimed. That was more than enough for Three, and Moss admired her for it.
1x2: Decorating the Tree
"Hmm…" Two hummed to himself as he looked at the situation in hand. Here he was, angel in hand, more than ready to place it onto the tree. The only trouble was that the tree was quite tall and Two's reach was much lower. "One! Could you come help me with this?" One had helped almost reluctantly with putting the tree in the living room before hiding away in the study to read. Yet Two now needed his height, and silence wasn't going to dissuade him like the other surely believed that it would.
"One?" There was still no response and he sighed before looking around. His optics landed on a stool on the other side of the room. It wasn't very tall but it seemed like his only option since he wasn't willing to lug a chair from the dining room. He dropped it in front of the tree and stepped onto it, reaching upwards again. Unfortunately the stool was enough to boost him to the top of the tree. He struggled to place the silver dressed angel on the top, but unlike on the floor his balance was somewhat compromised as he leaned forwards.
He was so determined that he didn't notice his balance shifting until he suddenly fell right into the tree. Thankfully Two had a habit of putting the angel on first so that he could work downwards, so he didn't knock anything off of the tree as he fell into it, crying out in surprise, and landed in a heap on the fabric skirt underneath the tree. He started to push himself upwards with a small groan when he heard a flurry of footsteps. "Two?!" One blurted out in dread as he appeared in the doorway, slanted optics widened.
"I see you've regained your hearing." Two playfully quipped back, though it also held a tinge of annoyance, and waved it off, "I'm fine, I'm fine! Don't get in a tussel!" One reached under and started to grab at him when Two stopped him, "Wait, let me just…" He looked around before finding the angel, "Alright, found it." The Leader now helped him to his feet and brushed the pine needles off of his body. "You're going to break something." He pointed out and the shorter offered, "I think the angel will survive what I can dish out."
The taller rolled his optics and quipped back, "I meant your head." He took the angel and leaned closer, pressing his lips to the top of the shorter's head in almost an apologetic way. Two had a feeling it was because One had purposely been hiding away. The taller leaned upwards and stretched to the top. "There's the stool if you want," Two offered and One scoffed, "Are you mad? That stool's leg is short, I'll tip over and…" He paused and then slowly looked to the shorter, "And end up on the floor like you did, hmm?"
A light blush of green covered his cheeks. One finally placed the angel into its spot before pulling back. "There we are. Perfect." He stared at his work with a surprising amount of interest and Two noticed it. He quickly leaned over and grabbed a box full of colorful Christmas bulbs. "Well, since you're in here already, would you help me decorate?" The Leader looked to him for a minute and considered it; sitting in his warm armchair in the study and read a pleasant book or stay out here and hand decorations on a tree with Two.
The decision wasn't difficult, "Since I'm out here, of course. Just in case you cannot reach something else."
Mable: I have more prompt shorts that should be posted soon! I hope everyone enjoyed!