HAPPY NEW YEAR! Technically I'm on time! It's not midnight for me just yet ;)

Cupid served everyone enthusiastically. The cherubs unloaded half of the cart onto the table: cups, saucers, cream, sugar, macarons, tarts, the seashell-looking cookies, and a fluffy strawberry shortcake. Cupid poured the tea, switching her train of thought to the food as she handed everyone a cup and saucer.

"I'm sorry, I should have brought out sandwiches, this isn't a proper setup. But I am so glad I have people to share these with! I've gotten these strawberries fresh from the mountains…"

Jack didn't like hot drinks. At all. Even something that was comfortably warm for someone else felt like magma that twisted up his insides. They would burn his lips and tongue before anything even got down his throat. Luckily, rather than have him sit there and frost his cup before he could drink from it, Cupid gave Jack a delicate glass of iced tea. He saw her mouth twist slightly at his hands; they were always cold and a bit rough-feeling.

"...And I've gotten leagues better at baking! I've even had Hallow help me!"

Jack stopped with his glass halfway to his lips and gazed at the pastries with newfound curiosity. Tenshi's eyes went wide. Julius raised both eyebrows. Clover stared intently at the spread, and Bunny, Tooth, and Sandy looked on with varying levels of concern.

North, ever brave, gave Cupid a beaming smile.

"I am eager to try, then!"

Cupid grinned, nearly dancing.

"H...Hallow is the spirit of Halloween, right? I'm sure he knows his way around sweets." Tooth looked more interested in the strawberries than the cake and whipped cream. She had barely touched her tea.

"He does! A lot of the time, he likes experimenting with things, but he knows enough of the basics to help out someone like me." Cupid set her own cup down and reached to the bottom of the cart. "We worked on these together!"

She pulled up a covered plate with odd-shaped lumps. Her coy smile only put Jack slightly at ease. Cupid pulled off the cover.

"Oh, of course."

Eclairs, decorated on top to look like cats. A brown cat. A calico cat. A white cat. Alternating poses, some stretching chocolate limbs, others gripping candy fish or yarn balls.

"That's adorable-!" Clover zipped in front of it with her phone.

"Clover-" Tenshi started to get up, but hesitated.

"It's not gonna explode or nothin', right?" Julius asked, keeping his distance.

"Wha- why would it explode?" Bunny perked up in alarm.

"Hallow can be...eccentric." Tenshi eased himself back down, looking worriedly at Clover. "He likes to experiment, like Cupid said. He's smart, but he's just…"

"Please don't worry, everyone!" Cupid said. "I'm certain they're safe. We tried them out before we made this batch!"

"...Well, if you're sure." Jack said after a moment. He inched toward the table and took an eclair himself.

All eyes were on him now. Jack felt his skin prickle. He brought the pastry up and studied it; a black cat made out of modeling chocolate looked back at him with oblivious yellow eyes. He took a bite from the tail end. Sugary chocolate, soft pastry, and custard cream filled his mouth.

"Hm. It's good."

"Hm. Anticlimactic." Clover pouted. Then she brightened, an excited clip in her voice. "Ooh, we should visit Hallow after this! I bet he's got some new weird stuff to show off."

"Oh yeah, he's a good pick for up next."

"I feel like we're getting off topic," Tenshi piped up. "We're here to talk with Cupid and swap introductions, right?" he gently swished his half-drained teacup.

"I mean, Cupid wanted to share what she made with us." Jack snapped back. A warning look from North made him soften his tone. "But yeah, we can talk about that stuff later. Sorry, Cupid."

"It's alright! I'm so glad you like them~" if the pastries didn't give him a cavity, then Cupid's smile really would. Tenshi almost cracked a smile back at her. Jack stored that view away for later.

"Well then!" North laughed and picked up a pastry. He took a bite without hesitation and grew a broad grin. "That is good, angelochek moy!" This only made Cupid beam wider, positively infecting the space with happiness.

"So, I know several bits about all of your holidays and customs. I suppose one thing I always wanted to ask was...wait no, that's a bit to personal. Never mind it, I'm sorry!" Cupid giggled. "What is it you'd like to know about me?"

"I suppose you can start with what it is you do and how you came to do it? That seems to be something we're all learning." Tooth said. Cupid nodded and refilled her teacup.

"Okay. So...as Cupid, which is a title and role that I took over-?"

"Sorry. So 'Cupid' is just a role and not your name?" Bunny asked.

"That's right. My, um, my first name is Celine." Cupid said. "I've just gotten used to being called Cupid. It's been a big part of me for a good while now. That's how the spirit before me was called, too. It feels bad to say, but I sometimes can't remember his first name…"

With no response from the others, Cupid gasped and shook her head.

"But never mind! As Cupid, my duty is to fulfill the cycles of love and desire." she looked down into her drink. "Humans exist on a plane of pairs, sets, and patterns. The cherubs and I help to ease humans into ideal relationships. Ending up with their soulmate is always ideal, but not every soulmate is romantic, so we try to get them as close as possible to the best choice."

"Even when humans get into those crazy relationships where they're not good for one another?" Julius asked.

"The human heart is so malleable and flexible. They get themselves into things, too. I can also direct them to where they ought to be."

"That sounds like powerful stuff." Bunny huffed.

"Well, yes. But the training is designed to weed away those who would use this power for chaos and harm."

"Training, huh…" Jack chomped into a pear pastry. He stole a glance at Tenshi. It seemed like a good amount of spirits outside of Mother Nature's reign got to prepare for what they were thrust into.

He gobbled down the rest of the sticky, sweet food and drank some more tea. Like always, he found it in him not to dwell on those matters with company around.

I wish everyone the very best in 2019! I can't wait to write up more chapters here.

The word Jack is looking for the seashell cookies is "Madelines."

The pear pastry is a "Pear Galette."

I forgot the accent over éclair.

Have a happy new year, everybody! Much love!