TB: Christmas break

 #I will visit my sister and her family. We see each other in a week after the holiday season. Happy Holidays!#

Dotty's message read the exact same every single year. Sara noticed that very little was changed when she wrote to her. Every year was the same, Dotty would be breathing on her neck all year round and would disappear around Christmas and the New Year. She claimed that it was the only holiday season she could share with her family and the only opportunity Sara could have to spend some days alone. It used to amuse Sara because Dotty who did her best to avoid her family throughout the year was now very concerned with spending time with them, something Sara couldn't understand. Perhaps the old woman loved these people or wanted the illusion of a familial bond? Who was Sara to judge? It amused her, at the beginning. Sara never had a healthy relationship with her parents to begin with, so they turned Christmas into "Reward Day." Where she would be given a gift of her choice for her yearly performances. It was also the only opportunity her mother took to cook Sara's favorite meal. Then, at the orphanage, it was more of a cruel day where the managers and workers humiliated the gifted kids. After all, weren't they all freaks? Sara remembered how much she hated the place and refused to participate in this humiliation, choosing to be punished with dry bread and a glass of water as the only meal since she refused to play along.  So she wasn't impressed with Christmas and didn't mind when Dotty left for a week. 

It started to bother her when she realized that the excuse she gave for leaving was that she wanted to share the holiday with her family. If these people were family, then what was the relationship Sara had with Dotty? It stung more than she dared to admit to herself, to realize that this jolly woman who was somewhat of a mother figure didn't consider her part of her family. Yet, she was behaving like a mother figure, watching after her like a hawk, trying to help her out of abusive relationships, looking after her career...She had helped Sara learn a great deal about herself, about being a woman and navigating the crab bucket the entertainment industry was. Dotty genuinely cared for her but apparently, not enough to consider her family. not enough to invite her over so she could experience a normal Christmas and unboxing day. Sara wasn't enough.  It hit her like a truck and she threw her phone away from her. It landed on the floor, unscathed despite the brutal impact. Why did she care that much anyway? Why did she care? Her ex Tara only wanted to be lavished with gifts and conceded to order fine dining with Sara's favorite food as a reward for her good actions. Her ex Brett only wanted to be seen with Unnamed Girl in some lavish settings. He never wanted to be home, never wanted to put up a tree or even think about a gift. Something meaningful to her.  Oh no... He took her on trips where he would be sure to show off his good physique and skills for the camera while she was pretending to be fine with being under camera flashes almost non-stop. 

"Fuck it...I hate you Dotty!" -That was a lie, she was upset beyond reason but she didn't hate the woman- "You're always leaving me alone during the holidays... what am I to do with myself?" - She lamented before she ran her hand through her black hair-

Homelander... Maybe he would like to be invited to her place. Maybe he would like to spend the holidays with her... Maybe she could even ask for him to bring his son over? She wasn't sure he would be on board with the idea. After all, they have been dating very recently and she wasn't sure he would appreciate her suggesting to do something this emotionally intimate with him, let alone, bring his son into it. She wasn't sure but her heart wanted it. He seemed to genuinely want her and care for her. He seemed to have no issue whatsoever with her true self. He didn't care for the superstar she was, for the glitter and the fake smiles -well, that was also part of his job, so truly, he could care less about her fake personality-. he didn't care for her freckles her curves, or even the way she panicked. He seemed to have accepted her quirks and that was reassuring. Perhaps this time she got it right! Perhaps this time she truly met someone who cared for her and who would treat her decently. Someone who would enjoy the simplicity of a Christmas meal she would cook for them. perhaps, someone who would even think about bringing her a gift, a small symbolic gift. He didn't know her well and neither did she but she wanted to try, she needed to try.  She rubbed her arms with her warm hands and took a deep sigh. She would ask him to come over for Christmas and would do so now. So she stood up and started to look for her phone and upon finally finding it, she grabbed it and started to text Homelander. 

#Would you want to celebrate Christmas with me at my place? I will put up a tree, and cook a good meal. you can absolutely bring Ryan with you. I'll have a few gifts for both of you, nothing too big but things I hope you'll enjoy. If yes, please let me know early enough for me to prepare everything? okay? Thanks. Love.#

And she sent it, her heart almost breaking out of her ribcage, but she sent it anyways.

COPG Christmas

Elpis x Pride: Christmas

// Welp, fuck me ! I am missing these two. Turns out Elpis is finally feeling a little chatty these days. I guess this is the season.

XXXX

Christmas..... In the history of Mankind, Christmas was nothing, a fluke at most. It was no older than 2000 years, therefore, Elpis had never witnessed its creation. She was already cursed by Ishtar. It should have meant nothing for her, except maybe a certain curiosity she felt towards this holiday, but it sort of did. She couldn't suppress the growing desire to see snow, to have a Christmas tree put up in the living room and to exchange presents with her sin. Did humans rubbed off on her ? She furrowed her brows and walked in circles in her chambers. Gods influenced humans, it couldn't be the other way around. Did her host, Asma, influence her ?

Since she was set free, the elder goddess constantly remembered the time her human host spent with the sin. Asma Jensen was such a lost soul when she met the Sin. She had to be born and grow in a world devoided of Hope. She prevented herself from even trying things because she believed that Fate ruled everything. Fate ruled nothing, only fools and bigoted spirits believed that they couldn't be more than what they were. Only scared little souls would live unimportant lives because they lacked the sparks Elpis created in their hearts. Despite the odds, the human proved to be worthy of hosting the goddess. She didn't put an end to her life like many wanted her to. She survived, she fought hard and she helped set her free. Her desire to live was influenced by the goddess hidden inside of her and she became something else, something better... fully human.

And perhaps that was the reason why the goddess was thinking about Christmas today, in memory of this extraordinary soul that saved her. Pride went above and beyond for Asma on Christmas. He made sure, for the 3 years, they spent together, that the human had a tree in the safe house they stayed at. He made sure to bring a few gifts for the artist so she would have presents to open on Christmas. Elpis wondered if he did it so Asma would stop crying or if he did it on his own volution, only because he enjoyed seeing her happy. He did offer Elpis, Earth fauna and Flora that other day, so she would have the sensation to walk the Earth but it was short-lived, the Hades wasn't meant to host pure life. Plants decayed and the birds turned into Hellish monsters that stayed loyal to the goddess. But Life was gone and with it, her strength depleted.

Christmas was upon them and the urge to celebrate the holiday like mortals do overwhelm the goddess who went to the balcony of her chambers and stared at the immense realm before her. The purple sky had something comforting about it that made her stare for hours in complete silence. It reminded her of Pride and it made her smile. Her sin became a King all the while reinventing himself. She knew that he didn't really choose what happened to him but this new version of Pride was indeed better. While Hades thought that he destroyed what once was and created once again a perfect slave to do his bidding, he created, in fact, A free soul. He created something that had a strong will to live and become their own person.

He created something that overcame his control and rejected the old-self. That Pride was better, while he still thought of himself and wanted to achieve his goal, he still cared for his most loyal subjects. He cared for Lust, he cared for Asma, and he cared for the goddess. He cared....he didn't lie... he was leading them to a new era and she wanted to follow him.. not because she was blinded by her emotions, but because she wanted it. She saw who Pride really was and it comforted her in the choice she made to follow him and be with him. But Christmas...The goddess felt the familiar energy signature enter her room and rubbed her arms before she leaned into the balcony. Pride came to visit her and walked to her.

« I still have the memories of my host about Christmas. » She announced, while she tilted her head to look at the sin. He curbed a brow but didn't really seem surprised at all.

« You've always been curious about human traditions. I remember the old you, who enjoyed visiting Earth during human celebrations. It never left you. »

« It never changed. What was different this time, is that you went above and beyond to help my host celebrate that holiday. »

«The simple reward for her loyalty and resilience. » Pride said, a smile on his lips as he leaned his arms on the balcony as well. « You know I've always worked that way. »

« I'm not surprised. I do know that there ought to be more than just the urge to reward her. You wanted her to be happy. I...think I'm starting to understand what Christmas is about. You spend it with people you hold dear in your heart. With family. Today, I have no one left but you Pride. Christmas is a time to be together with those we love and I want to be with you. » She said, her handheld onto his as she fully turned around to face him. Pride grabbed her by the waist and gently pulled her against her frame.

« I am here now. Because of the war, I can't promise you I will be there on Christmas but I am here now. »

« Then let's make the best out of it. » She said, as she cupped his cheeks and pulled him into a kiss. The elder goddess wrapped her arms around his shoulders and closed her eyes as she felt comfortable. It was all she needed, for now, all she ever wanted. The comforting warmth of his body against hers. « I wouldn't want it any other way, Meus Rex. » She whispered in his ear.

He smiled again and pressed his lips to hers in a rush of adrenaline. He would spend the rest of the day with her, in her room. He would offer her «  Christmas » like she wanted. The softer features on the goddess made the sin grin because he knew it was because of him. He was the reason of her smile and warmth, he was the reason she was happy and the very emotion stirred by the human, some time ago, was felt once again. There was the reason to be merry after all, it was Christmas. They were together.

-TBC-

COPG Christmas banter

She insisted on celebrating Christmas. He didn't care much about the human holiday but he didn't want her to keep being snappy and upset. She was at her worst when she was upset. If it wasn't her constant need to fill the silence with her endless stream of questions and remarks, it was her sobbing in the confines of her bedroom or being irritatingly silent for days. The human didn't know how to balance herself but could he really blame her?

Her life turned for the worst the moment the entrapped deity within her broke her seal. Suddenly everyone became a threat to her life and if they weren't careful, she could die. Besides, she, a simple human being, was dealing with concepts and entities that went far beyond her comprehension and Pride was no exception. Celebrating Christmas now, was her last attempt at normalcy and her last attempt at trying to find peace in all this chaos. He refused at first but the more she insisted, the less he went against her wishes.

When Pride did something, he committed to it until it was the best version that could possibly be. Call it a flaw of character or a quirk, but the entity went overboard. He decorated the house, made it look as if it was home and witnessed the change in the painter's face. It lit up, much to his relief. She ran to the kitchen, started to cook something that he didn't care about because he didn't need to eat to sustain himself. He watched her walk back and forth from her bedroom to the kitchen and decided to wait and drink bourbon. She was energized beyond his understanding and most of her efforts were made in order to impress him. She foolishly wanted him to "feel" Christmas and understand how important it was for her but he couldn't. He simply couldn't because he wasn't human, to begin with.

Surely, once she was done with the meals, she went upstairs one last time to change into a sexy red dress that made her look almost divine. Sure, she couldn't come close to his Elpis in regards of her beauty since the other was a goddess, but she was as close as a mortal could be and he appreciated it. She, on the other hand, felt it was a dream came true. A princess Christmas as she finally was able to celebrate it with someone instead of at home with her dog. She was able to be on her A game with the only fancy dress she could grab when they packed the first time. She wanted to throw pixie dust in his eyes and seduce the Sin.

Was he influencing her? probably, he was Pride after all. Did she feel any regret for trying to seduce a creature that wasn't even hers, to begin with? she did, but her remorse was blown away by his sight. She was puny and mortal and their adventures might end up with her death so why would she shy away from what her heart desired? The meal started well, it was polite and decent until Asma tried to "open his eyes and heart". Being human, a scared one at that, made Asma unable to take her distance with the situation. She wanted to force her human beliefs and views and feelings on a creature that couldn't think or feel like a human. Concepts such as love and compassion and selflessness were lost on him but it was frustrating the painter who really wanted to force her mind on him.

Was it him influencing her or her true nature? Maybe both. Frustrated and upset, Asma immediately went Diva on him. Yes, she was in love with him, yes she was scared of him and of what future held in store for them. Yes she wanted him to see her, love her the way she did and yes she didn't understand what he truly was. And they began to argue and the dinner was ruined just like that, with a snap of fingers. He tried to reason her. Yes, Pride tried to reason the human of the foolishness of her feelings for him. He tried to warn her that the more she would give, the more he would take. but Asma didn't listen. She was stubborn, maybe more than Pride himself was.

"I'll give everything to you then. I won't need you to give back to me. I just want to give you my love." She selfishly said to him. Because it was a feeling she couldn't contain within herself anymore. it was grandiose, like a typhoon. It was brutal and impossible to control. her love was devastating her and devastating him in the process.

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into." He tried to warn her.

Because she would give and give and give and he would take until there was nothing left of her. She knew, deep inside, that it would end badly for her but she decided to write the narrative at her convenience. It wouldn't be him taking from her, it would be her giving everything to him. It would be her choice, it would be her way to go. She already knew he would leave her once Elpis would be free. She already knew it was a battle she lost even before it began. She already knew that her frail form couldn't handle his true form because he was glorious and lethal at the same time; She knew all of that, but she fell in love with the sweet and kind sides he showed towards her. She fell in love with the Hope he induced in her heart and the thrills of the life they were living together. She fell in love with him because, in the midst of fire and death that surrounded her, she felt alive for the first time.

"I don't care." She replied with hand on his cheek as she pressed her lips against his. Come what may, she would sail this ship.