This is sort of late, but my one year anniversary of being on fanfiction was two days ago, so I had to post this :) I want to say thank you to everyone who has bothered to read or review any of my stories, and to my three closest friends on here: Tariana, Evangeline and Mademise. You guys are all two awesome and I'd give you a thousand Grilled Cheesuses if I could xD
I can't take full credit for the rocket joke; it was born at the back of a particularly boring Modern Studies period. (With a friend a bit like Anton :/)
The Erskine part of Spin the Bottle will probably confuse you if you haven't read another fic of mine, SkulBook, but Anton's pet sloth Freddie once molested Erskine's leg. Erskine is still terrified of him to this day ;)
''OH MY GOD IT'S CHRISTMAS!''
Valkyrie groaned as the blonde bullet that was Fletcher shot into her arms with a hug. ''Hey, Fletcher,'' she said as she patted his back. He shut Gordon's front door behind him and grinned as he took off his gloves. ''I smell something seriously awesome. Has Tanith been making her mince pies again?''
''I think it's the smell of Ghastly's new eau de cologne,'' she said, nose wrinkling as she led Fletcher down the hall into the living room. The room was packed with laughter and exploding crackers and Fletcher smiled as they pased Anton, admiring his reflection in the mirror with a bored-looking Erskine beside him. ''I'm looking amazing,'' the hotel owner sighed happily. ''That's not a Christmas miracle, but merely an everyday reality.''
A few others were grouped around the fire exchanging presents and Fletcher gave a whoop, diving under the tree when he saw the presents with his name. Valkyrie slid to the floor beside Tanith and smiled at her friend. ''You want some help in the kitchen? I remember Mum going crazy last year when nobody would help her make dinner. Well, Dad tried, but he ended up setting the microwave on fire.'' The swordwoman laughed. ''Thanks, Val. I think Ghastly is a bit preoccupied,'' she added in a whisper, gesturing to where Ghastly and Skulduggery were rolling around on the carpet trying to get their newest Black Ops disk off the other.
Tanith gave a slight smirk and Valkyrie winced. ''Please stop mentally shipping my boyfriend with yours.'' ''I'm not doing it as often, promise!''
The ceiling of the main living room was high, and Evangeline craned her head back to look at the decorations adorning it. She pushed her hair back, and as she did so her hand brushed the string of mistletoe hanging above her head. There was a low laugh behind her and she sighed, not having to turn around to know who it was. ''I'm charmed that you grace me with your company, Anton. While others would say it was stalking, I know your intentions are entirely pure.''
He walked around to face her, eyebrows raised. ''Again, you wound me with your biting sarcasm.'' Evangeline smiled innocently. ''I didn't know your ego was small enough to wound. I thought your body is comprised of ninety per cent of ego, with maybe a bit of brain somewhere near your left foot.'' Anton rolled his eyes. ''You insult me. I'm ninety-five per cent ego. Don't doubt my appreciation of myself, because it is wide and epic in its scope.'' She nodded her head, then turned to leave. ''While this verbal sparring never fails to amuse me, and also leaves me wondering at how highly someone can think of theirself, I have to go. Tanith wants me to help make pudding.''
''Wait a moment,'' the hotel owner said with a sly smile, brushing a lock of black hair off his forehead. ''We're under the mistletoe. You know what that means?'' She shrugged. ''That it's my cue to run?'' He leaned closer. ''We should probably kiss. Wouldn't want to break tradition.'' Evangeline's eyes flickered to the side. ''Ummm, no. Is that why you have Erskine stationed behind the curtain with a camera?''
Erskine's head popped out from behind the thick drape. ''He promised me I would get the complete boxset of Lost if I took a picture of the two of you kissing! I don't usually condone this sort of thing!''
''I said maybe!'' Anton shouted. ''Maybe I would get you the boxset of Lost.''
His best friend scowled. ''Don't make promises you can't keep!''
Anton flapped his hand at him and turned back to Evangeline. ''So...traditions?''
She gave him another innocent smile as the mistletoe above their heads caught on fire, flames licking it until it dropped, black and burnt, onto the floor between their feet. ''I think we have different traditions.''
With that, she turned around and walked through through the door connecting the living room to the corridor beyond. Erskine came up behind Anton with a low whistle. ''It's just a shame this isn't a video camera. I could have captured you getting rejected for the fifteenth time on film.'' Anton pushed him over.
The kitchen was hot and steamy from all the baking going on, and Tariana blew out as she entered, pulling her hair off her neck. ''Sorry,'' said Tanith apologetically as she chopped up carrots to her left. ''The heating in here is mad.'' ''You don't say,'' Reia murmured as she pulled an apron on over her dress.
Amara, Evangeline and Valkyrie had already started making their cakes, and the other two girls joined them. ''How many baked goods does Tanith want at Christmas Dinner?'' Amara asked, folding a pastry case. ''We'll turn into the Pillsburghy Dough Boy if this keeps this up.''
Evangeline chuckled, then checked the instruction book in front of her. ''One moment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there meant to be a turkey at dinner?'' The four other girls looked at her, then back to Tanith on the other side of the kitchen, stirring soup frantically. ''I think so,'' said Amara slowly. ''Remember, we sent out Ghastly and Erskine to get it last week?''
''They actually got a live turkey,'' said Tariana with a shrug. ''Erskine didn't want a dead one because apparently the guys had just seen a movie where all the monsters have dead turkeys over their heads and it freaked him out. So he got Ghastly to take him to a free-range farm and they got a live turkey.'' ''They did,'' Valkyrie confirmed. ''I know because they brought it back here. I don't think they could face killing it.''
Reia frowned. ''I thought Erskine was afraid of turkeys because Anton pushed one over his head one Christmas?'' Amara nodded. ''And I heard he had to eat his way out.''
''OK, let's not talk about Erskine eating his way out of a turkey,'' said Valkyrie, looking slightly sick. ''The turkey we have to focus on at the minute. After Ghastly gave it to me I put it behind that fenced-off bit of the garden, and he was there yesterday morning when I went to feed him. Does that mean he hasn't been killed yet?''
''Everything all right over there?'' Tanith called cheerfully. The girls smiled and nodded and when the blonde woman had turned around again they looked at each other. Reia put her head to the side. ''Let's send Fletcher out to kill it.''
''What?'' Amara said, wide eyed. ''We're talking about how to kill a turkey. This is bizarre.'' Tariana only looked confused. ''Why Fletcher? He's more likely to kill himself than the chicken.'' ''Because none of the other guys will do it right. Dexter will be smug for the rest of the evening if we asked him for help, Erskine would brag about it, Leo and Ghastly may make a big fuss about getting blood on their clothes - Skulduggery would in all likelihood kill us if his suit got stained - and Anton would probably make a hat out of the dead chicken and wear it through dinner.''
''She has a point,'' said Evangeline.
Valkyrie sighed. ''I'll go get Fletcher.''
In the living room, a war was brewing.
''Doctor Who.''
''Merlin.''
''Doctor Who.''
''Merlin.''
''Doctor Who.''
''Merlin.''
''DOCTOR WHO IS SUPERIOR IN EVERY WAY!''
''Take that back! Merlin for the win-''
Erskine broke off as Skulduggery pulled him off the couch. Leo sighed. ''Do we really have to argue about what TV programme we watch every Christmas?'' Dexter shrugged. ''It's tradition.''
''Screw traditions,'' grumbled Anton, nursing a bottle of wine. Dexter threw a duvet over him. ''Sleep tight, little Shudder,'' he said as Skulduggery and Erskine rolled past in a whirlwind of flailing limbs. ''Swords beat screwdrivers any day-''
''The Doctor can travel in time, Merlin is stuck in the Dark Ages-''
''The Dark Ages had the pox, I bet you'll get it for being such a heathen-''
''I'm a skeleton, I can't get pox-''
''WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT!''
''Should we break them up now?'' Leo whispered to Dexter. He smirked. ''Give it five more minutes.''
Fletcher swallowed. ''I'm not sure I can do this.''
''Of course you can, Fletcher,'' said Amara in a soothing voice. ''And if you do it we'll give you extra stuffing at dinner.'' ''I do like stuffing,'' Fletcher admitted.
''Look, just snap its head back. Quick and easy.''
He shivered. Gordon's back garden was cold, and though they stood in the warm doorway, the air was freezing. ''Why aren't any of you killing the turkey?''
Evangeline rolled her eyes, as if this should be obvious. ''We're helping Tanith make dinner. It would be unsanitary for us to do it.''
''OK. Fine. I can do this.'' He walked towards the fence that held the turkey, feet crunching on the thick snow. Reia rubbed her arms. ''We don't have to stay out here and wait, do we?'' ''God, no,'' said Valkyrie, and they hurried inside.
Amara checked her watch as the group walked down the corridor to the kitchen. ''It's just gone one. We'll have enough time to finish the cakes and-'' she was cut off by Fletcher, who slammed the back door behind him. ''It said my name,'' he said, sadly. ''I can't kill it now!''
Tariana raised her eyebrows. ''What in the Babe's name are you talking about?'' ''It loooked at me with its big eyes and went 'Blu-blu-blu-blu-blu-blu-FLETCHER!' It knows what I went to do. It has feelings!''
The girls exchanged glances as Fletcher put his head in his hands. ''It's fine,'' Valkyrie said finally. ''I'll go and do it.'' The Teleporter looked up, a smile spreading across his face. ''Thank you, Val.''
She sighed. ''No problem. But you better get some really strong detergent to destroy the bacteria on my hands.'' ''It's fine,'' said Reia. ''We can use some of Fletcher's hair gel. I'm pretty sure that kills everything it comes into contact with.''
After Valkyrie had come back from the garden with the dead turkey and a grim expression, making the rest of the meal had been easy. Evangeline twisted around to look at Tanith. ''Is it time to take the sausages out of the oven yet?
Tanith looked at the packet in her hands. ''I don't know.'' She looked up as Anton entered the kitchen, holding a bottle of brandy. ''Anton, what time is it?'' He smirked and fell to his knees, ripping his shirt off. ''A quarter past ATTRACTIVE!''
Valkyrie tried very hard not to laugh, but Reia and Evangeline were looking at the hotel owner in fascination. ''Damn,'' said Evangeline with an appraising gaze. ''I don't know if the Midnight Hotel has a gym or something, but you can't get a chest like that without putting a few hours of work in.''
The hotel owner shot them a drunk wink before getting to his feet and turning to Tanith. ''Anyway, I'd say it's about three.'' She nodded her thanks and surveyed the kitchen. ''I think we're done here for at least another half hour. Let's go see how the guys are doing.'' The other girls sighed in relief as they left the steaming kitchen and moved into the living room. ''Wow, nice nudity, Anton,'' called Dexter from the window seat. ''You know you love it,'' Anton shot back before pulling on a shirt.
From his position on the window seat with Dexter, Skulduggery waved to get the Crew's attention. ''My loyal followers. How about we go engage in a spot of pre-dinner friendly rivalry?''
''In English,'' called Erskine from the corner. Skulduggery sighed. ''I am constantly surrounded by Neanderthals. I propose we go out and have a snowball fight.''
''WOOOOOOOO!'' Anton was already out of the door. Fletcher streaked after him and Ghastly shrugged. ''Sounds like a plan.'' He winked at Tanith. ''Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough.'' She grinned and linked arms with him. ''I think you'll find that that's my line, Bespoke.''
Skulduggery locked eyes with Erskine across the room. ''Doctor Who is still better,'' he mouthed.
Erskine looked straight at him. ''Prepare to die again,'' he mouthed back.
Dexter walked past them. ''I'm going to leave the room before your eye fucking gets me pregnant.''
''We're not eye fucking!'' Skulduggery shouted after him, though Dexter was already out of the room. Erskine grinned at him and left with Tariana. Skulduggery narrowed his
''Two teams. Team One - Erskine, Tanith, Reia, Anton, Tariana and Valkyrie. Team Two - myself, Ghastly, Dexter, Evangeline, Leo and Amara. Eleven mages. A globetrotting Hollywood superstar. One prize - the Christmas Pudding.'' There was an intake of breath from the group standing in Gordon's snow-covered backyard.
''Where am I supposed to go?''
Everyone looked at Fletcher, in the middle of the two teams that were facing each other. ''I don't really want you in my team,'' said Skulduggery. ''I don't want him either!'' protested Erskine. ''This is just like fifth-year P.E,'' Fletcher mumbled.
''For goodness sake, we'll take him,'' said Valkyrie, pulling the Teleporter to stand on her side. ''Are you sure you want to do that?'' Anton whispered frantically into her ear. Valkyrie shrugged him off. ''So when are we going to start?''
Skulduggery glanced at his watch. ''...Now.''
There was a roar of ''For Camelot!'' as Erskine jumped on Skulduggery and began shoving snow at him. Tanith drew in a steady breath as Fletcher excitedly threw a ball of snow in her face. ''Fletcher, I'm in your team.'' ''Oh yeah.''
He shrugged and threw a snowball at Anton who turned around with a glare. ''I'm in your team too.'' Fletcher muttered an apology before tossing a ball at a blonde's back. ''Fletcher, that's me again!''
Tanith ran around Dexter, who was dropping snow onto Reia's laughing face, sliding to the ground as a volley of snowballs went sailing over her head. The air was thick with them and she sneaked up behind Ghastly, reaching out to drop the snow down his back before he turned around, pushing her down into the ground. She smiled as he wiped the snow out of her eyes. ''Aren't we on opposing sides?''
''I think we can take a five minute break.'' She raised her head and kissed him for all of five seconds before he was pushed off her. Skulduggery stood above them, gesturing wildly with his arms as he yelled. ''Fraternizing with the enemy, Ghastly! I am extremely disappointed in you-''
He was abruptly cut off as Erskine tackled him, bringing him face down into the snow. Ghastly got to his feet, giving Tanith his hand. ''Want to go find a tree to kiss in?'' ''Sure.''
Running past them, Amara waved at Evangeline. ''Hey, Gelly! Leo thinks that we can bury all the other team if we push all the snow off the trees. Come help us?''
The Elemental nodded, dusting the snow off her lap and as she stood up. There was a soft thwump behind her and she turned, managing a gasp before Anton knocked her over. He leaned on top of her and she glared. ''I think I can succesfully sue you for sexual harassment at this point.'' He rolled his eyes. ''None of the other lawsuits bothered me before.'' ''And again, I'm not surprised by that.''
Anton shifted slightly on top of her. ''Now, while I appreciate that you are almost as competitive as myself, I'm sure you must know that I can't let you 'bury my team in snow', as amusing as that would be.'' She smiled. ''I get it. And I'm happy you know just how competitive I am.'' Anton laughed. ''However competitive you are, I know that there's no way I'm getting off you.''
Evangeline raised her eyebrows. ''Really?'' And she reached up and kissed him.
He froze for a short second before wrapping his arms around her, and she drew back and grinned before pushing him over and climbing up from under him easily. Anton sunk to his back in the snow as she ran off, a slow grin spreading across his face.
''Awesome,'' he breathed.
The snowball fight lasted another ten furious minutes before most of the Crew collapsed, exhausted and saturated, onto the ground.
There was two people left standing.
Skulduggery faced Erskine across the yard, the latter's hair pasted across his face from the melted snow. Skulduggery's eyes glittered. ''This has to end some time, Erskine.''
The Grand Mage shrugged. ''I can stay here all night.'' Skulduggery smirked tightly. ''Is that so?''
He flung his arm out, snowball flying towards Erskine, who dropped to the ground in a roll, bringing his leg out in an arc as he spun to his feet, scooping up a ball of snow.
Erskine looked Skulduggery square in the eye. ''This is for Merlin, asshole,'' he said, and threw the snowball in the detective's face.
There was a cheer from the scattered members of Erskine's team and he punched the air. ''Christmas Pudding and eternal pride is mine!''
The others managed to pick themselves off the ground, and when they got back into the living room they peeled off their wet jackets and claimed the armchairs in front of the fire to dry off. Amara raised her head off the side of the couch, blinking sleepily. ''Shouldn't we go check on the dinner? Tanith would have done it, but I think she's still kissing Ghastly in a tree somewhere.''
''It was a bush, actually,'' said the tailor himself, pulling off his gloves as he entered the room. ''And Tanith's checking the dinner now.'' Fletcher yawned. ''Great. I'm starving.'' He shook his damp hair out, flecks of water hitting the girls sitting at the fireplace.
Meanwhile, Erskine, Anton, Tariana and Evangeline were sat at a side table. Tariana was doodling, and Anton seemed to snap out of his kiss-fueled haze as he glanced at the picture. ''What's that?''
Tariana blinked at him. ''It's a rocket, I guess. I was copying the design on Leo's T-shirt.'' Anton gave his signature paedo grin. ''It doesn't look like a rocket. It looks like a-''
''Dinner's ready!'' Tanith called, and Erskine breathed a sigh of relief. ''Come on, let's head through to the dining hall.'' When the girls had turned around he shot Anton a look that clearly said We'll have a talk about your perverting later. Anton shrugged. ''Haters gonna hate.''
Apart from the ballroom, the dining hall was the grandest room in the house. The high vaulted celings were still slightly dusty from the room's lack of use in Gordon's ownership, but the glittering Christmas lights and candelebras gave the room a cheerful glow.
Skulduggery pulled Valkyrie's seat at the dining table, only half taken up by the company using it at that moment, out for her and she slid into it with a smile. Reia and Amara had decorated the table, and at every few inches along the white tablecloth there would be springs of holly, baskets of fruit and tapered candle holders.
The last person to come in was Tanith, setting down another plate of food. She glanced down the table at the waiting faces and sighed. ''I should probably make a big speech about how lucky we are all to be together and all that. But I know you're dying to eat, so I'll just say Merry Christmas and be done with it.''
There was a whoop from Anton's end of the table, and soon the room was filled with the sounds of soft chatter and plates being filled up. Erskine smiled at Tariana (after proclaiming how he would savour the look on Skulduggery's face almost as much as he would savour the Christmas Pudding) as he poured her drink out for her. ''Merry Christmas,'' he said, and she grinned as he leaned forward and kissed her. Anton, directly across from them, choked on his stuffing. ''Well done, Erskariana,'' he beamed. ''I've finally taught you something.'' Tariana drew back. ''Sorry, I just can't kiss you with him looking at us like that.'' She rolled up her napkin and threw it at Anton. ''Naughty Shudder.''
Reia rolled her eyes as she patted the collars of her dress down. ''Maybe we'll get through one dinner where someone doesn't try to smack someonebody else.'' Fletcher grinned around his fork. ''That's what she said.'' Anton glanced at the Telporter with a pondering look crossing his face. ''Who is this dirty-minded and all-knowing 'she'?''
''Yeah, you would totally screw her.''
After dinner Tanith enlisted Ghastly, Tariana and Amara to help wash the numerous dishes. The other members of the Crew gathered again in the living room and Dexter choked on his Coke slightly as he looked at Tariana's drawing of the rocket. Anton had drawn an arrow pointing to it, with the caption 'Hurts the sky'.
The window seat was now comandeered by Leo and Evangeline. The actor was grinning at Evangeline's pleading gaze. ''Please give me Cillian Murphy's phone number? Please?''
He stood up, taking his mobile from his pocket, pretending to scroll through his adress book. ''Well, it would be amusing if he got another stalker fangirl...'' He broke off as he noticed the wide eyes of Anton, standing behind Evangeline and making cutting gestures at his neck while shaking his head violently. Leo frowned slightly before turning back to the girl in front of him. ''Uh-actually, I'm not too sure-''
She laughed and took Leo's phone. ''Come on, we both know the sort of hilarity that will happen if I get his number-'' She was cut off as Anton barged into her, grabbing the phone from her hand and throwing it on the floor before stamping on it. When the mobile was nothing more than scrap metal and platic he looked up to see Evangeline and Leo watching him, eyebrows raised. He shrugged. ''I tripped.''
They were interrupted by Erskine's voice announcing ''Come on! Christmas Spin the Bottle!'' Leo groaned. ''I hate these games. I always end up kissing the perverts.'' Ahead of him, Anton turned around and winked.
Tanith, Ghastly and the two girls came through from the kitchen and the thirteen of them settled in a circle above the mistletoe that replaced the sprig Evangeline had earlier burnt. Dexter placed his empty bottle of coke in the middle of the group. ''Leo, want to go first?''
The actor shook his head with a smile. ''I think I'll sit this one out. Big role coming up, I don't want want to get sick - not that I think any of you have mono.'' But he looked suspiciously at Anton.
''Fine, I'll go,'' Skulduggery sighed, spinning the bottle. ''Though I can't believe I'm actually taking part in this.'' The bottle slid to a halt, stopping at Valkyrie. She grinned ruefully and slid across the space to give her boyfriend a brief kiss. There wasn't anything unusual about Skulduggery's first spin landing on Valkyrie, but when it came to his turn after Ghastly kissed Tariana (Erskine glaring at him the whole time) the bottle landed on Valkyrie again. Fletcher frowned. ''This is odd.'' Skulduggery shrugged as he leaned over. ''I don't mind.''
When Skulduggery's spin of the bottle landed on Valkyrie for the fourth time, Reia laughed on his other side. ''I can't believe this. Skulduggery's actually manipulating the air so the bottle stops at Valkyrie!''
The detective hissed and the group burst out into snickers. Dexter patted him on the shoulder. ''Smooth, Skulduggery. Smooth.'' Valkyrie rolled her eyes. ''I'm flattered, but also creeped out.'' ''That means you're pulling a Caelan,'' Erskine stage-whispered at Skulduggery, who shoved him away with a ''I still haven't forgiven you for that cheap shot with the snowball.''
After Amara had kissed Anton (''Yet another hot blonde I've hooked up with!'') and Tanith had kissed Evangeline to the vast approval of the men, Erskine twirled the bottle around. It spun lazily, slowing to a stop at Dexter. There was a few whistles and Erskine closed his eyes as he sat up on his knees and leaned across the circle to Dexter. ''Just so you know, I won't enjoy this.''
Dexter gave a fiendish grin as he held up a mask to his face. ''Oh, but I will.'' Erskine's face tightened in confusion, and he opened his eyes to see Anton's pet sloth staring back at him. He screamed in a manly sort of way and jumped backwards, landing on a hysterically-laughing Ghastly. ''Oh my God, your face,'' gasped Valkyrie as she slumped onto Tanith's shaking shoulder.
The top of Erskine's cheekbones flushed and he glared at Dexter. ''How could you put a mask of that thing up to me? I nearly had a heart attack!'' Dexter shrugged. ''Very easily. It weighed nothing on my conscience.''
''Ah, if only Freddie were here right now,'' grinned Anton. ''He would be so happy.''
''Might I remind you all that he molested me?!'' Erskine shouted. ''I have nightmares about him raping my leg!'' ''Are you sure they aren't joyful daydreams?'' The rest of the group laughed at Erskine's look of horror.
''I think I'll be going now. Tara, can we go before any more of my dignity is lost?'' Tariana grinned as she clasped Erskine's hand and sat up. ''Oh no, I think it's completely gone.'' Dexter and Reia stood up from their place on the chaise lounge. ''We came with Erskine and Tariana here, so we'll be leaving too.'' Dexter winked at the other males. ''Don't worry; I'll make sloth jokes the whole way home.''
Anton bumped his fist and joined the group shrugging on their jackets and heading out of the door. ''I'll leave with them, if not for the ride, then for the sloth jokes.'' He turned as he left and winked at Evangeline. ''I'll see you on New Year's Eve.''
She turned to Amara beside her with a slightly anxious look. ''New Year's? He isn't going to climb into my bed, is he?''
The blonde girl laughed. ''He means the annual Sanctuary New Year's Ball. You'll have to come, everyone wears these gorgeous dresses.'' She leaned forward. ''Guild once wore a kilt. It was horrific.''
Leo smiled, rising up from his armchair. ''Well, I better get going too. Amara, Evangeline, want a lift?''
The girls smiled and stood up, and Tanith and Ghastly looked at each other. The tailor nodded slightly as if confirming an unasked question. ''You know, I've got a suit that needs finishing. Let's get home.''
Tanith leaned forward and gave Valkyrie a kiss on the cheek. ''Thanks for letting us hold Christmas Day here, Val. I'll see you in a couple days to go dress shopping.'' She laughed at Valkyrie's grimace. ''It won't kill you to show off these amazing legs once in a while. I'm sure Skulduggery will appreciate it.''
When the the the last sounds of the group calling ''Merry Christmas!'', car doors slamming and engines speeding off silenced, the three left sat in the empty living room. Skulduggery shifted slightly. ''I wonder what Tanith meant by me appreciating your legs?''
Fletcher stood up. ''Well, this got awkward, so I'm going to leave now.'' He waggled his eyebrows with a lewd grin before Teleporting and Skulduggery shook his head. ''I swear to all that is holy, one of these days I'll kill him.'' Valkyrie sighed. ''And I'm not entirely convinced I would stop you.''
Skulduggery pointed above their heads. ''Look. Mistletoe.'' Valkyrie looked up to it, then back down to him. She grinned. ''Wouldn't want to mess with tradition.''
