This fic has no meaning or point or anything like that, it was just fun to ramble on about a glimpse into this fantasy version of Full House @curiousartemis and I have talked about. It stars Halsin, Astarion, Gale, and our OCs, Serilda, Aurella, and Imryn ( @curiousartemis‘s ). There isn’t even a plot or anything xD but it was fun to write! It has not been edited, it has not been re-read. I don’t even know if it’s legible.
Ships mentioned: Halsin x F!OC, Astarion x F!OC, Gale x M!OC || SFW || 2340 words
Serilda and her found family attempt to celebrate the holidays.
"Have you read this one yet?" Gale asked Imryn, pushing a well-worn book into the drow's hands. "It discusses how much of Midnight may yet still reside within Mystra."
Imryn accepted the book, his dark cheeks turning the faintest shade of pink the moment Gale placed his hand on Imryn's arm.
Gale added, "It's a fascinating read."
Serilda smiled, the amusement of watching the pair of intelligent yet oblivious men never waned.
She glanced at Astarion and Aurella, the pair whispering conspiratorially, which typically meant trouble for the rest of the household, and the few times it didn't were simply misdeeds none but those two could find. And with the number of drinks Aurella had downed, it was sure to be a doozy. Serilda sighed, shaking her head at whatever her twin and the vampire planned.
The front door swinging open echoed into the room, shortly followed by Halsin's boots clicking on stone flooring. He soon poked his head into the great room, as wide a smile as any plastered across his face. It always made her heart swell. On his shoulder rested a large pine tree, much larger than was necessary, but that was typical of Halsin: above and beyond for any holiday, whether it was druidic or Baldurian or originating in their new home of Waterdeep. Thankfully, now that they were settled in a house much larger than when they lived in Baldur's Gate, Halsin no longer needed to consider size constraints when planning for the holidays (not that he had before, which led to a number of nubbed off trees).
"I found the perfect tree!" he announced, walking across the room. He rested the tree on its side and undid the burlap that held the soil in place; he always returned the trees to their original home the day after the celebration.
"You say that every year," Serilda remarked, stepping next to him and placing a hand on his back. Even fresh out of the cold, he radiated warmth.
"And every year, nature provides the perfect one," he replied. He placed the tree in the pot and wound an arm around Serilda's shoulders. "Now to decorate it!"
"Excellent," Gale remarked. He moved next to Halsin and eyed every branch. "This is the perfect opportunity to sharpen your dexterity, Imi." Gale glanced back at his pupil who returned his gaze with one of slight confusion. "It'll become quite clear in just a moment!" The wizard dashed out of the room, leaving Imryn little to do but look to Serilda in question.
She shrugged. "I've given up trying to guess where his mind leads," she said, smiling.
Aurella moved to stand behind the tree. "I think there's a bald spot here," she said, jabbing her finger toward the tree.
"There is not," Halsin insisted. "I was very thorough in my examination of the trees. And, even if there was, it would matter little since it's still a beautiful gift provided to us by Silvanus, and I am grateful."
Aurella rolled her eyes and muttered something about keeping the tree-hugging shit to himself before finishing off her drink. As soon as Astarion approached, she held her empty glass to him and stared up at him through her lashes. "Can you get me another one?" she asked, giving her best attempt at puppy eyes, though she looked more like a devious kitten.
"Are you suddenly incapable of walking to the kitchen?" Astarion said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, come on," she whined. "You make it better than I do. And it looks like you need a drink yourself." She took her free hand and batted at his empty ones before tangling her fingers in his. When he merely replied with a raise of his eyebrow, she pulled him and leaned forward, her lips right at his ear.
Serilda couldn't hear what was said, but the growing smirk on Astarion's face told her more than she needed to know. She happened to peak at Imryn who appeared to be making a great effort in not watching the exchange.
Gale returned, much to Imryn's obvious relief as he hurried toward him and grabbed the top box from the pile Gale was balancing in his hands. When Gale placed his boxes on the ground, Imryn did the same and tilted his head as Gale pulled off the top and revealed a myriad of colored baubles.
"Tree decorations?" Imryn asked, lifting one and admiring it. "Glass? Is this… wise?" His eyes drifted to where Astarion and Aurella had been previously standing but were now gone.
"Yup!" Gale stood and placed his hands on his hips. "They're enchanted, so unless someone tosses them across the room, they should be fine."
Serilda shared in Imryn's concern, but Gale knew Astarion and Aurella long enough to know whether they could be trusted with such things--well, mostly Aurella.
"I know what you're thinking," Gale said, glancing from Imryn to Serilda. "But I don't think we'll have a repeat of last year's… incident."
Halsin's eyes dragged from the bottom of the tree to the top, which stood several feet higher than even the druid, a slight fear in his eyes. "I hope not."
"I can make it," Aurella slurred. "I just… need… come on. Give me a hand, Astarion!"
"Oh, no, my dear," he replied with a wave of his hand. "I'm far more interested in discovering how high up you manage on your own."
"What in the hells are you doing!" Serilda came rushing at the sound on glass bursting on the floor. "Why are you in the tree!"
More ornaments fell with each movement Aurella made, but she didn't seem to notice or care. Serilda assumed it was most likely the latter. She moved to grab Aurella, but Astarion held his arm out to stop her.
"I am begging you to let her finish," he laughed. "I will even sweep up the mess she's made."
"What is going on?" Gale called just as he ran into the room with Imryn close at his heels.
"Why… why is she in the tree?" Imryn gawked. "Is she stuck?"
"No," Serilda spat. She shoved Astarion's arm away but didn't reach out for her sister. "She's just--I don't even know what she's doing other than giving me a headache."
"There's a drink for that," Aurella said, looking down at everyone.
Halsin was next to witness the strange but somehow not surprising site. Confusing, certainly, but not surprising.
"What is she doing to the tree?" He dropped his bag of what Serilda assumed was more decorations.
"Astarion, would you be so kind as to enlighten us?" she asked. "You're usually involved when she pulls these stunts."
"That's hardly fair," he whined. "I didn't tell her to go climbing up the tree like some monkey."
"Do you at least know why?" Serilda asked, her jaw clenching.
"Oh, please, allow her to explain," he replied with a wide smile that never meant anything good, his hand gesturing toward Aurella. "Why, my love, are you climbing the tree?"
"Because," she began, cutting herself off with a short hiccup. "Because we need a star at the top, and I'm gonna be the star."
As she spoke those last words, the hefty tree finally gave up trying to hold her weight and toppled over, bringing with it numerous bulbs that shattered on the floor. The tree landed on top of Aurella, leaving only her limp hand sticking out.
Astarion’s laugh echoed in the otherwise silent room, doubling over and clutching his stomach.
“Why would you do that?” Gale admonished. His face fell as he lifted a particularly large piece of an ornament and examined it.
“Are you okay?” Imryn asked, rushing by Gale and kicking aside the broken glass.
Her hand remained still.
Halsin sighed and lifted the now-ruined tree, returning it to its pot and revealing a slightly bloodied Aurella.
Other than the shallow cuts on her cheeks and forehead, she appeared fine. Her eyes didn’t move however; they appeared fixated on the ceiling.
Serilda took a deep breath and walked past Astarion to the nearby closet. She returned with a broom in hand and bopped the vampire’s still-bent forward head with it; as soon as he straightened, she shoved it into his chest, and he took it from her without argument.
“Aurella?” Imryn knelt beside her.
As he began examining her, looking for signs of concussion, Aurella turned and looked at him, her eyes shining as she frowned. “I didn’t get to be the star.”
“I have hope that Aurella won’t try the same mischief twice,” Gale said. “Not if it failed the first time.”
“You’ve known her for how long, Gale?” Serilda asked, voice laden with doubt. “But I firmly requested that Astarion keep her from breaking anything this year.”
Gale scoffed. “And you think he’d actually do that? I think he enjoys watching her resulting chaos just as much as she enjoys creating it.” He smiled and added, “You’ve known Astarion for how long, Serilda?”
“It’s the holidays,” Halsin said. “I think we’re all granted a bit of false hope.” He placed his arm around Serilda and squeezed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Now, before we begin decorating the tree, we’re all to change into our ugly sweaters.” He grinned at Gale and Imryn, a silent plea to indulge in his holiday spirit.
“As is tradition,” Gale replied.
“I, uh, don’t have any ugly sweaters,” Imryn muttered. He glanced at Gale.
“I have plenty!” Halsin boomed just as Gale opened his mouth.
Before anyone could object, the startingly fast elf hurried out of the room and toward his and Serilda’s bedroom.
With an apologetic smile directed at Imryn, Serilda mouthed, “Sorry.”
Imryn returned her smile, offering one last glance at Gale, disappointment evident in his eyes. The druid appeared soon after, lugging two sweaters in his arms, only one of which looked like it would fit Imryn, but any hope he may have had of not looking absolutely ridiculous was quickly crushed when Halsin handed the smallest sweater to Serilda.
“Here!” Halsin said, holding out a red sweater adorned with sewn-in tinsel and embroidered snowflakes. He already donned his own; a green one with a bear crocheted in the center, and actual mittens sewn over the paws, surrounded by tinsel similar to Imryn’s and dangling miniature bulbs.
Imryn accepted it with a smile that wavered on a grimace.. He pulled it over his head--well, there was actually no pulling needed given the sweater was made for someone more than twice Imryn’s size. The fabric swallowed him.
Serilda covered her mouth to stifle a laugh, but Halsin saw nothing wrong and simply beamed.
The young drow held his arms out to the side, inspecting the draped sleeves and sighing. “Thank you,” he said, avoiding putting a dent into Halsin’s holiday spirit.
Gale patted Imryn on the shoulder, allowing his hand to linger just long enough to cause Imryn’s cheeks to burn pink. “I’ll be right back,” Gale announced before turning toward his own room.
“I’ll go get Astarion and Aurella,” Halsin offered.
“I wouldn’t open the door to any rooms you think they’re in,” Serilda warned. “Just knock, shout, and hurry away.”
He laughed heartily and nodded before heading toward the kitchen.
“It’s not the worst sweater ever,” Serilda said to Imryn once Halsin was out of ear-shot. She pulled on her own; a blue one with silver bulbs and snowflakes and an argyle design behind.
Imryn lifted his arms again. “No, it’s just a little… big.” He smiled sheepishly.
“It’s a shame Gale wasn’t a little quicker with his words,” she remarked. “I’m sure he had a spare, and it certainly would’ve fit better.” She tilted her head, a knowing grin on her lips.
He looked away and at the tree, it’s pines seemingly far more interesting than whatever Serilda said.
She chuckled softly just as Gale returned, already wearing his sweater with a large cat in the center of a pine tree.
“That would’ve been perfect for last year,” Serilda remarked, Aurella’s star-stunt coming to mind.
Gale smiled at her and stood beside Imryn. “Why don’t we begin decorating?” he asked his pupil.
“Shouldn’t we wait for Halsin?” Imryn asked, turning toward Gale.
Serilda shook her head. “Go ahead. I’m sure he’s busy fighting with Astarion and Aurella to get them to wear their sweaters.”
“Would you care to join in?” Gale asked. He motioned to the boxes beside the tree. “There are plenty to hang.”
“I think you two are fine without me,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me.”
She left the two wizards alone in the great room, smiling to herself. She heard Gale walking Imryn through the steps of a telekinetic spell, one they were forced to use every year since Halsin’s trees were always several heads higher than any of them. Serilda settled at the table, picking at the fruit tray Halsin had left out earlier.
His voice soon traveled through to where she sat, as did Aurella’s and Astarion’s.
“We do this every year,” Halsin said, the exasperation evident in his voice.
“And every year, I deny such ridiculous requests,” Astarion huffed. “This is my compromise.”
Halsin sighed.
“I didn’t argue this year,” Aurella bragged.
“No, but I much would’ve preferred that over… this,” Halsin said.
The three of them entered the kitchen, and Serilda simply shook her head. Astarion wore an all-black sweater, and Aurella…
“Why?” Serilda asked.
“It’s ugly, right?” Aurella smiled and spun in a circle, showing off the sweater. It was similar to Imryn’s, only Aurella had made some adjustments, cutting out two circles over her breasts, leaving her near-see-through bra exposed.
“Why?” she asked again.
Aurella shrugged. “If you want me to participate, you’ll let me do so on my terms. At least mine fits the theme.” She looked pointedly at Astarion.
He rolled his eyes. “Mine is a sweater. And it’s ugly.”
