this much i know.

am i a good person? deep down, do i even really want to be a good person, or do i only want to seem like a good person so that people (including myself) will approve of me? is there a difference? how do i ever actually know whether i’m bullshitting myself, morally speaking?

[freddie-mcdermott]

I-I’m sorry, but I-I can’t take y-you seriously while y-you look like th-that.

[phoenixgates]

It's cold, alright!? I did what I had to do.

[liviabaker]

[ Livia’s teeth violently chattered as she pulled her jacket tighter ] I-I think I was wr-wrong about wa-wanting co-cold weather. 

[phoenixgates]

You most definitely were. Did you want to take mine>

[rin-kimura-blog]

Oh my gosh, this is the best sweater ever. My mom has awesome taste.

[phoenixgates]

It does look ridiculously comfy.

What was the occasion?

[jacquelinepratt-blog]

None of the teachers understand what the point of a holiday is and it’s ruining my life. 

[phoenixgates]

Come on Jac, holiday homework is good! it keeps your brain alive and working whilst your on a break.

Did you need help?

[annabethmontgomery-deactivated2]

You’re boring.

[phoenixgates]

So I've heard.

[autumn-carlyle]

…Yes, you’d like to think that, but you’d be sadly mistaken. You can do that stuff on New Year’s Day, just not New Year’s Eve.

[phoenixgates]

And what do you propose I do for New Years eve instead?

[harlow-archer]

No, you didn’t.

[phoenixgates]

I'll be more careful.

[autumn-carlyle]

C’mooooon, Phoenix! Don’t you want to end this year and start the new one with a bang?

[phoenixgates]

I'd like to think relaxing and reading a good book counts as a bang!

[phoenixgates]

I guess we've moved on to the yelling portion of the evening.

[harlow-archer]

You seriously chose to stand there? In the middle of a walkway?

[phoenixgates]

How rude of me. I'm so sorry... [Phe stepped aside, smiling.] I didn't pick the best place to wander off into a daydream, did I?

[autumn-carlyle]

You shouldn’t have said that, because now I’m gonna have to drag you out with us!

[phoenixgates]

Spare me, please! 

[liviabaker]

I-I think staying in so-sounds wonderful. 

[phoenixgates]

I think you'd be the only one. The majority of my friends are pretty much shunning me as we speak.

[phoenixgates]

Call me boring, but I sort of feel like just staying home for New Years.

[pitythegirl]

Phoenix, 

I don’t know you very well, but I do know that you’re a nice person to people which is really important, especially with how mean some people can be. I know it’s hard sometimes to have to be the light in everyone else’s day, so firstly I got you a candle to take the stress off you just for a little while. It smells nice too, and candles make people happy, so you can take a break and all.

Then I bought you a new book for the break, I have no idea if it’s good or not honestly so maybe you can tell me when you finish reading it? Books are supposed to make you lose reality for a few, which is necessary every once in a while.

And then I just had to add the hot chocolate power because the whole gift wasn’t cozy enough without it and the bottle looked so darn pretty I just had to. I don’t know what your holidays are like, but I hope they’re a little greater now. Alls I know is, with the right ingredients any place can feel like home.

I hope you enjoyed these selfies of me with your gifts, and I hope you have a good break!

Your Secret Santa.

[phoenixgates]

Flor, thank you so much! I love it so much. Merry Christmas!

[annabethmontgomery-deactivated2]

Phoenix (phoenixgates),

Remember when I told you that I’m getting you something completely useless for Christmas? Goal accomplished. Here is a preserved rose in gold-dipped trimming. I don’t know what you can do with this but… there you have it.

Annabeth

[phoenixgates]

[theodorepratt]

Asked what? I wasn’t implying anything whatsoever, nope.

[phoenixgates]

Sure you weren't. So I'll have the left overs brought to you by Christmas Eve, okay?

[bazeashby]

W-w-well, thanks.

Yeah, we’re spending the days before with the family. You know, me with h-her family and her with mine. And then we’ll probably do the whole gift exchange thing. It’ll be… nice.

[phoenixgates]

Sounds like it. Meeting parents is always lovely.