Legal Disclaimer: I own my stuff, but not the original source material. That belongs to whoever. Also, the opinions and interpretations I use here may not reflect the same in said whoever that owns the source material. Look, I'm just a poor college librarian. Suing me isn't going to get you anything but tears.

Warning: This work may be offensive to some readers. Feel free to back out if need be.

Author's Note: I don't think I've written this much in such a quick turn about since the last Auction back in 2021.

Submitting Info:
Stacked with: Ministry (Winter Year 1); MC4A (Winter Year 5)
Individual Challenges: Red Dress; Moulin Rouge; Ginger; Red Bull; Behind Green Eyes; Lovebirds; Bard MC; Rian-Russo Inversion; Rian-Russo Inversion; The 3rd Rule; Bi Bi Bi; Setting Sail; Zed Era; Old Shoes (Y); In a Flash; Bucket Listing (Y); Two Cakes (Y); Eating Cake (Y); Green Ribbon
Ministry Challenges: FSF [Day 01] (Susan/Daphne)
RAVEN Challenges: Settings [02](Airport); Items [123](Sundress); Colors [08](Banana)
Other MC4A Challenges: WiB [1B](Stranded at Airport); Vocab [4A](Zucchini); Ship (n/a)[FaBig (Jewelry); FaMed2 (Singer/Dancer); FaMic2 (Gold; Pearlescent); WiMed1 (Only One Bed); 3B (Hotel/Inn)]; Chim [Rick]("Louder than Words" – Tick, Tick, Boom; Life/Death);Fire [x3](Torture); Garden [Mixed Bag Senary (Traveling); Eat Your Heart (Flower); Nails (Sapphic Ship); Toolbox (Stranded Together); Holiday (Hotel/Inn); Tools (Jewelry)]; Hang [Phrase 3] (n/a); Soup [R](Red); Swap [Counters (Beaded Hair Comb; Pearl Drop Earrings); Outerwear (Green Peacoat); Accessories (Lime Green Scarf; Banana Yellow Cloth Belt)]
Representation(s): Susan Bones/Daphne Greengrass; Muggle AU; Holiday Travel
Primary & Secondary Bonus Challenges: Suddenly Audrey; These Boots; Second Verse (Bechdel Test; Not a Lamp; Clio's Conclusion); Chorus (Fizzy Lemonade; Tomorrow's Shade; A Long Dog; Unicorn; Getting On; Hot Stuff; Jack's Jollies)
Tertiary & Generic Bonus Challenges: FR (Satisfaction; Evolution); SS (Schooner; Shout); AC (Rampant; Mistletoe); TY (Ntaiv); Share (Ameliorate)
Word Count: 440 words

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Stranded & Found
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Susan was stranded at the airport, her flight canceled due to unexpected blizzard. She had been looking forward to the holiday break, counting down the days until she could escape the city, let the holiday spirit wash over her during a getaway in the countryside with her boyfriend. But instead, she was stuck in the airport, watching the snow pile up outside the window and depressingly single.

It was then that she saw her. A beautiful woman, standing across the terminal, her long blond hair pulled back into a neat chignon held in place by a hair comb with a lily made with golden beads. She was wearing a maroon sundress with a skirt made of gauzing tulle. It was clenched at the waist by a banana yellow cloth belt. Her pale green eyes were gazing out the window with a look of such deep longing that Susan felt her heart skip a beat. The woman absently reached up to fidget with the simple pearl drop earrings she wore.

The woman turned, catching Susan's eye, and Susan suddenly became aware of how she must look—hair disheveled and windblown, a worn-out green peacoat, a lime green scarf that had seen better days, and a suitcase covered in neon orange zucchinis. She felt embarrassed by her appearance, but when the blond woman smiled at her, her embarrassment faded away.

"I'm Daphne Greengrass," the woman said, extending her hand. She had a slight accent, and Susan realized that she was French. "I'm a ballerina, traveling for work."

"Susan," she said, shaking the woman's hand. "I'm just…stranded here, thanks to this blizzard."

"Well, it looks like we're both stuck here," Daphne said. "What do you say we find somewhere to stay?"

So the two women hailed a cab and headed to the nearest hotel, chatting and flirting in the backseat, completely oblivious to the speculative looks that the driver was giving them through the rearview mirror. Susan felt a warmth radiating from Daphne, and she found herself opening up about her life, about her job and her plans for the holidays.

When they reached the hotel, however, they were in for a bit of a surprise: all the rooms were full, except for one.

"Well, it looks like we're stuck with one room," Daphne said with a smile. "Let's just hope there's two beds."

Susan looked at her, not quite sure how to respond. But when Daphne winked, she felt her cheeks heat up, and the two of them shared an electric moment.

"Let's go see," she said, and the two of them headed up to their room.

There was only one bed.