2018 CHRISTMAS

[whatsacactus]

Voltron Holiday 2018 Meme



Pick a prompt and go nuts! Open to any and all, gen or shipping. Hell, doesn't even have to be with Keith, tag anyone!

1. Decorating the space. Whether it's a Garrison dorm, someone's home living room, or inside a Lion, decorating for the holidays is important to get into the spirit! Put up the lights, pin up the wreath, hang the stockings, and toss the tinsel. Someone may need a hand making sure the tree is straight or getting the holiday squidelbyu on the top of the tree. Maybe it takes two to get those lights up. Either way, there's plenty to be done.
2. Baking the goodies. Is it really the holidays without cookies and cakes? Every chef needs an assistant, and whoever's in the kitchen will need a hand. Pass the whisk, help beat the eggs, or get the sauce ready for the holiday ham. The kitchen is filled with the smells of Christmas.
3. Wrapping presents. Listen, someone has to do the task of wrapping gifts and not everyone is good at it. Come comment on the questionable wrapping job, help handle larger gifts bigger than Kosmo, or just pass along pieces of tape. Just don't peek at your own!
4. Down time for quiet. Maybe it's the quiet warmth of the fireplace and a blanket. Perhaps it's walking down the snow-covered street. Sometimes the holidays is just spending a quiet evening with the people you love, whether it's friends or family or a special someone. There's always a quiet nook to cuddle in, to settle in for the night. Settle down in front of the fireplace, spend a little time under the mistletoe at the Christmas party, or watch the Christmas lights outside in the neighborhood.
5. Christmas morning Hey wake up! Hey! Hey wake up, it's Christmas! Gather round and open the gifts! Share the love, watch the old timey stop motion holiday movies (or those cheesy Hallmark romance whatever works). Sit down for the big holiday dinner with everyone at the table and pass the gravy. Whatever happens on Christmas day, at least it's being done together.

Comments

wow look at all this tl;dr

[truthfinding]

[ Romelle couldn't help but be taken in by the vibrancy of Earth holidays. This is her first real Christmas ever and she loves everything about it. The way everyone seems to be filled with hope and goodwill. It brought people together in a way that made her feel warm but also sparked a pang of loneliness in her that she chooses not to think about too much.

She knows Keith isn't really into large celebrations in general, but she can't help it this time. When he returns, he'll find their shared space absolutely decked out. Soft white lights are hung on the walls here and there and a moderately-sized tree stands in the living area, covered in lights and garlands. There are a few little handmade ornaments that may or may not have been gifts from Lance's nieces and nephews. The other ornaments are store-bought but mismatched, probably also gifts.

Romelle is, at the moment, in the kitchen trying to make traditional Christmas cookies taste a little more to her liking. She may or may not be singing Feliz Navidad.

(Her Spanish isn't too bad, considering.) ]

[whatsacactus]

[Her Spanish isn't too bad, but Keith's face sort of does a "file not found" expression when he sees all the decorations. Yeah, Romelle definitely did all this. He wouldn't have done this; big family holidays are not his thing at all. He sets his bag down and sort of leans into the doorway.] You uh. You've been busy.

[truthfinding]

[ Romelle pops around the corner and into the entryway, beaming. Yes, she's even rocking an ugly sweater. ]

Once I started, I couldn't help but keep going. I wonder why people don't decorate like this all of the time! Though I guess it would lose its magic then...

[ She slows down her babbling to take in Keith's expression. Romelle wrinkles her nose. ]

This is excessive, isn't it?

[ As clever as she is, she still has difficulty judging scale when it comes to celebrations. ]

[whatsacactus]

No, it's. It's fine. [Damn it, Romelle is new to this and she's excited, he doesn't wanna ruin that with his own experience. He steps in closer to see what she's making.] Just haven't done all this in a long time. And yeah it's... more of a once a year kind of thing. [Wait hold on, are those cookies.] What are these?

[truthfinding]

[ It might be fine, but she can tell that she might have gone a bit overboard. Surprisingly (or not) there isn't a single Santa or elf in any of the decorations, at least.

She hums thoughtfully. ]

You've been away from Earth for a long time.

[ Romelle has a feeling that there's more to it than that, but she's distracted before she can really think about it. ]

Cookies! Hunk and his parents gave me a lot of recipes. Coleen gave me a few more and Shiro told me a little about a traditional Japanese cake but Hunk and I may team up to make that for the party later.

Do you want to try some? I stayed rather close to the original recipes.

[whatsacactus]

Sure. [Hey, if she's having fun and enjoying this, who is Keith to squash that. He takes one and munches it. It's not bad. Obviuosly one of Hunk's recipes and her first time trying it.] ...It's good.

[truthfinding]

[ She beams. ]

Have as many as you like. I've made... [ She winces, but she's still smiling ] ...enough to feed the entire Garrison, I think.

[whatsacactus]

[He shrugs and finishes the one he started.] Cookie recipes are weird like that. And if this was a Hunk recipe, it was probably meant to feed an entire Garrison. [He glances around again, there are decorations even in the kitchen here.] You're really enjoying this holiday, huh?

[truthfinding]

At least no one will be without festive cookies this year.

[ So the entire Garrison is getting fresh, alien-made cookies. Congrats, everyone.

Her smile softens. ] I am. It's so bright and colorful. But I like the atmosphere most of all. Everyone seems so much more open and cheerful. I mean, "merry."

It's also the first really big celebration I have been part of in a long time.

[ Being a pariah: 0/10 would not recommend. ]

[whatsacactus]

[Well now he smiles, a rare sight.]

I know. I'm glad you're able to be here for it.

[Keith leans back against the counter watching her.] I know everyone else is glad you're here for this too.

[truthfinding]

I am too. I'm grateful to spend time with my family. [ With a warm smile: ] And you.

[whatsacactus]

[Oh. Now his ears are a little pink.] Me? Why- Why me? [Why would anyone want to spend time with him outside of Voltron duties?]

[truthfinding]

Oh! Um.

[ Suddenly, she's blushing all the way to the tips of her ears.

She knew that he didn't know. But every time she worked up enough courage to say something, she managed to talk herself out of it. He's the Head of Voltron, an important member of the Blades of Marmora. She doesn't want to distract him. That's what she tells herself, at least.

The truth is, she's afraid to be rejected.

Romelle glances at him and sees that he's blushing too. She takes a deep breath and steels herself. She's on an alien planet, celebrating an alien tradition with someone who is half-Galra. Romelle thinks she can be a little brave right now. ]

I like you. [ She winces inwardly. Romelle plucks a cookie off of a plate and starts anxiously breaking off little pieces. ] I-I mean I. Being around you makes me happy.

[ Oh Ancients, can the ground just swallow her now? Is that a thing that happens on Earth? ]

[whatsacactus]

[Oh. Oh. He had.. never expected that. Keith knows since he found her at the colony that they'd spent a lot of time together, but...] Romelle-- [He doesn't know how to feel about that. He likes her well enough, like he likes Hunk and Lance and Pidge and everyone. But someone actually... liking him is ... kind of new. He's not exactly new to physical parts of relationships but emotionally...] I didn't know.

[truthfinding]

[ Here it comes. She feels her stomach drop to her feet. Romelle focuses on the cookie in her hand, still breaking off little pieces and letting the crumbs fall to the floor. Her feet feel rooted to the floor, otherwise she would hide under her covers for a few thousand years. ]

I-- I know. You couldn't know unless I told you. It's okay, I don't... you don't need to...

It's fine.

[whatsacactus]

[Oh no, he knows that look. It's the same look he always had when he thought about Shiro and Adam back in his Garrison days. He reaches for her with one hand.] Hey-- [There. One hand on her arm.] I didn't ... Say it's a bad thing, or no or anything. I just. Need a minute?

[truthfinding]

[ She's tense but she doesn't try to pull away. In fact, she looks over at him. Timid, nervous, clearly expecting a rejection anyway.

He says it's not a rejection, but Keith is a nice person. He's probably just trying to let her down easy. ]

Oh. Do you-- should I leave?

[whatsacactus]

Did I say that? [He's half joking; Romelle's been around him long enough to know he doesn't stick around people he doesn't like or doesn't want to spend time with. He smiles a little, hand relaxing on her arm.] I'm not... Used to talking about this kind of thing? And definitely not used to... anyone liking me. Kinda used to everyone hating me except Shiro. And Matt. And then the Paladins. So it's just... It's surprising, is all.

[truthfinding]

[ She frowns slightly. ]

Why would anyone hate you?

[ Romelle idly picks at the cookie again. ]

Perhaps more people like you than you realize.

[whatsacactus]

You didn't know me when I was younger. [Romelle, he was a smartass little shit. But now he's rubbing at the back of his head with his free hand.] It's. Different. Being liked at all.

[truthfinding]

No, but you're kind, Keith. You must have always been.

[ She sounds completely certain. Romelle thinks none of the other Paladins would argue the point either.

Romelle looks away again, embarrassed. ]

I don't really know-- [ She makes a helpless sort of gesture. ] -- what to do.

[ The cookie crumbles in her hands. ]

I have never really. Liked anyone before.