FAKE Ficlet: Christmas Spirit
Title: Christmas Spirit
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Vol. 7.
Word Count: 748
Summary: Christmas is still weeks away, but already the stores are full of festive finery.
Written Using: The dw100 prompt ‘Array’.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
Glancing glooming at the bright array of Christmas decorations that now filled store windows, Dee muttered something under his breath.
“What was that?” Ryo asked, taking his eyes off the car in front for a moment to look at his partner; they were currently stopped at a red light on their way back to the Precinct from a crime scene.
“We’re barely past Halloween, Thanksgiving’s still a couple of weeks away, and already everywhere ya look it’s all Christmas stuff! I mean, I love Christmas as much as the next guy, but these days, by the time December twenty-fifth rolls around, I’m already all Christmassed-out. There’s nothin’ special about it anymore, not when we’re bombarded with Carols, lights, baubles, and tinsel for two months ahead of time.”
“Stores have to put their Christmas stock out well in advance, so everyone has plenty of time to buy what they need and spread out the cost, instead of having to do all their shopping at the last minute,” Ryo said.
“You don’t honestly believe that, do ya? They do it to tempt people into buyin’ way more than they need, and the city’s decorations go up early to get everyone in a holiday mood, so they’ll spend more.”
“You’re such a cynic,” Ryo teased.
“If I’m cynical, you’re gullible.”
“That’s not true. I know it’s all commercialisation these days. Everyone wants to make a profit, and nobody wants their family and friends to think they’re cheap. People are going to be piling up debt over the next few weeks, buying gifts, and decorations, and too much food, but…” The lights changed and Ryo put the car in gear, pulling smoothly away. For a few minutes, he concentrated on driving, threading his way through the late-afternoon traffic.
“But what?” Dee asked eventually when his partner didn’t seem inclined to continue with what he’d been saying.
Ryo sighed. “Christmas lost its shine for me the year my parents were murdered. I didn’t feel like celebrating it for a long time after that, for me it was just another day, one that brought back a lot of bad memories, stuff I’d just as soon not have to think about. I’d put on a happy face when I was with my aunt and uncle, or out with friends, but I’d always have a hollow, empty feeling inside. It never really went away, but Christmastime was the worst.”
“I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget,” Dee said quietly.
“It’s fine, it’s not something you should have to think about. You never even met them. Still, since taking Bikky in, I’ve been trying to regain my Christmas spirit, make the season happy again, and remember the good times.”
“And now I’m bringin’ your good mood down with all my complainin’.”
“Just a bit. Look, I don’t like the way it’s become all about how many shopping days are left, but the decorations are pretty, and with all the ugliness we see every day, isn’t it better to focus on the good parts of Christmas and overlook the bad?”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Sometimes, Dee reflected, like now, his lover made him feel small and unworthy for dwelling on the things that didn’t matter and ignoring what was important. Had commercialisation gone too far? Sure, no doubt about it, but at its heart, Christmas was still about love, and family, being together, and finding hope in the darkest days of winter. Instead of grumbling about everything, he should be grateful for all that was good in his life and doing his best to spread joy to others; that kind of sentiment shouldn’t be restricted to Thanksgiving and the festive season.
Besides, as dusk settled over New York and the store windows came alight, all the sparkling decorations really were a pretty sight. Maybe it was time he dusted off his Christmas spirit and stopped being such a grinch, because in a few weeks the world would be drab and grey again, the bright lights nothing but a memory.
“Wanna go Christmas shoppin’ on our day off? I was thinkin’, maybe I should get a few more decorations for this year, some for the orphanage too. Might as well get ‘em early, before the best stuff’s sold out. Lots of gifts to buy too.”
Ryo smiled. “Why not? That sounds like fun.”
“It’s a date then.” Dee slid down in the passenger seat, smiling. Christmas only came once a year; why shouldn’t they make it last as long as they could?
The End
Fandom: FAKE
Author: badly_knitted
Characters: Dee, Ryo.
Rating: PG
Setting: After Vol. 7.
Word Count: 748
Summary: Christmas is still weeks away, but already the stores are full of festive finery.
Written Using: The dw100 prompt ‘Array’.
Disclaimer: I don’t own FAKE, or the characters. They belong to the wonderful Sanami Matoh.
Glancing glooming at the bright array of Christmas decorations that now filled store windows, Dee muttered something under his breath.
“What was that?” Ryo asked, taking his eyes off the car in front for a moment to look at his partner; they were currently stopped at a red light on their way back to the Precinct from a crime scene.
“We’re barely past Halloween, Thanksgiving’s still a couple of weeks away, and already everywhere ya look it’s all Christmas stuff! I mean, I love Christmas as much as the next guy, but these days, by the time December twenty-fifth rolls around, I’m already all Christmassed-out. There’s nothin’ special about it anymore, not when we’re bombarded with Carols, lights, baubles, and tinsel for two months ahead of time.”
“Stores have to put their Christmas stock out well in advance, so everyone has plenty of time to buy what they need and spread out the cost, instead of having to do all their shopping at the last minute,” Ryo said.
“You don’t honestly believe that, do ya? They do it to tempt people into buyin’ way more than they need, and the city’s decorations go up early to get everyone in a holiday mood, so they’ll spend more.”
“You’re such a cynic,” Ryo teased.
“If I’m cynical, you’re gullible.”
“That’s not true. I know it’s all commercialisation these days. Everyone wants to make a profit, and nobody wants their family and friends to think they’re cheap. People are going to be piling up debt over the next few weeks, buying gifts, and decorations, and too much food, but…” The lights changed and Ryo put the car in gear, pulling smoothly away. For a few minutes, he concentrated on driving, threading his way through the late-afternoon traffic.
“But what?” Dee asked eventually when his partner didn’t seem inclined to continue with what he’d been saying.
Ryo sighed. “Christmas lost its shine for me the year my parents were murdered. I didn’t feel like celebrating it for a long time after that, for me it was just another day, one that brought back a lot of bad memories, stuff I’d just as soon not have to think about. I’d put on a happy face when I was with my aunt and uncle, or out with friends, but I’d always have a hollow, empty feeling inside. It never really went away, but Christmastime was the worst.”
“I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget,” Dee said quietly.
“It’s fine, it’s not something you should have to think about. You never even met them. Still, since taking Bikky in, I’ve been trying to regain my Christmas spirit, make the season happy again, and remember the good times.”
“And now I’m bringin’ your good mood down with all my complainin’.”
“Just a bit. Look, I don’t like the way it’s become all about how many shopping days are left, but the decorations are pretty, and with all the ugliness we see every day, isn’t it better to focus on the good parts of Christmas and overlook the bad?”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Sometimes, Dee reflected, like now, his lover made him feel small and unworthy for dwelling on the things that didn’t matter and ignoring what was important. Had commercialisation gone too far? Sure, no doubt about it, but at its heart, Christmas was still about love, and family, being together, and finding hope in the darkest days of winter. Instead of grumbling about everything, he should be grateful for all that was good in his life and doing his best to spread joy to others; that kind of sentiment shouldn’t be restricted to Thanksgiving and the festive season.
Besides, as dusk settled over New York and the store windows came alight, all the sparkling decorations really were a pretty sight. Maybe it was time he dusted off his Christmas spirit and stopped being such a grinch, because in a few weeks the world would be drab and grey again, the bright lights nothing but a memory.
“Wanna go Christmas shoppin’ on our day off? I was thinkin’, maybe I should get a few more decorations for this year, some for the orphanage too. Might as well get ‘em early, before the best stuff’s sold out. Lots of gifts to buy too.”
Ryo smiled. “Why not? That sounds like fun.”
“It’s a date then.” Dee slid down in the passenger seat, smiling. Christmas only came once a year; why shouldn’t they make it last as long as they could?
The End