genuine question: what do normal people do on tumblr? like my friend isn't in ANY fandom spaces whatsoever, she's really "basic". and she has tumblr? i can't even fathom what she does on here lmao 😭
hello!!!!!! here is the christmas fic i mentioned. there is like little to no whump in this one but i still think it's cute and i hope you all agree! introducing a character i've been thinking about for a while but i figured i'd just bite the bullet and debut her because i want to do more stuff with her!! i hope you enjoy! merry christmas!!!
cw: very brief mentions of homophobia and family problems related to that
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The sight of her cousin’s sleeping friend was not one Vivian expected after her errand, but nonetheless was the one before her.
He was wound tightly in a ball on Simon’s squashy couch, snoring softly with his head pillowed in his hands as the TV played Home Alone quietly. Falling asleep was normal, sure, but Vivian was having a hard time wrapping her head around this particular scenario considering the way Archie was practically bouncing off the walls before she left to buy more milk and flour. She felt the need to ask the obvious.
“He knocked out?”
“Looks like,” Simon deadpanned.
“In the fifteen minutes it took me to run to the store?”
“Yup.” He placed a hand on his hip and sighed.
“Huh. Okay, well, I guess I’ll start baking the cookies anyway?”
“Good idea. He’ll probably be out for a while.” Simon huffed, picking up a throw from the armrest of the couch and draping it over Archie’s curled body. He simply sniffled and buried his face into the blanket before going right back to snoring.
Simon slipped into the small kitchen and washed his hands. “Okay. Where do you need me?”
“You can start melting the butter and whisking the wet ingredients. I’ll mix the dry ones.”
“Got it.”
The two shuffled around in quiet efficiency. Simon collected items from the fridge and Vivian began meticulously measuring things and pouring them into the large metal mixing bowl. She already felt herself begin to relax. It was the effect baking always seemed to have to her, and by God did she need it this Christmas.
She hadn't spent time with Simon like this in years. The two grew up very close. Their mothers were first cousins, and they would hang out together at nearly every family function when their other cousins got too rowdy. She adored her older cousin and despite not seeing him as often as she used to, she still considered him one of her best friends.
Which is why when her parents found out through one of her ex-friends that she was a lesbian and kicked her out of their home entirely, Simon didn’t hesitate to take her in.
That was nearly four months ago now, and quite possibly the hardest months of her life. She was grateful every day that she went to university so close to where Simon lived, and that she was on a full ride so she didn’t have to worry about housing costs until she graduated.
It didn’t make the emotional toll any easier, though, so when Simon invited her to spend Christmas with him and his “friend from work”, she was silently grateful she’d have something to do other than stuff her face with ice cream and binge-watch cartoons for the entire day.
It had been great so far. Being with Simon was just like when they were kids. It was better somehow, and she also found Archie hilarious. She was honestly kind of shocked someone as quiet and serious as Simon was friends with him, but somehow it worked. He was incredible, but simultaneously an enigma.
Archie elicited a curiosity from Vivian she didn’t know she possessed. She knew hardly anything about him and it drove her a little bit insane. She got the distinct feeling he was hiding something, but she couldn't quite place what it could be. She decided to probe.
“I guess he’s really tired, huh?” She asked, scooping and measuring some baking soda.
“Yeah, he worked pretty late today.”
“What did you say he did again?”
Simon’s brow crinkled. “I don’t think I ever told you what he did.”
“Oh, well I’m asking now. What does he do?”
“He’s…” Simon’s lips pursed and his eyes narrowed. “He’s a security guard.”
“A security guard?” Vivian lifted an eyebrow.
“Yeah. Night shift.”
“Who does he work for?”
“He’s sort of freelance, I guess,” Simon muttered, placing a bowl with a stick of butter into the microwave. “Goes where work takes him.”
“Hm. Does he like it?”
“Well enough. He likes to keep people safe.”
“How many days a week does he work—”
“What is this, twenty questions? Ask him yourself when he wakes up, Viv,” Simon laughed, a little incredulously.
Vivian huffed a small laugh and began whisking her ingredients. “Fine.”
Some more comfortable silence passed before Vivian couldn’t help herself.
“So are you two, like… y’know?”
“What?”
“You know! Are you two, like, a thing?”
Simon choked on air and turned away to cough.
“You totally are!” Vivian whisper-shouted, poking Simon in the rib.
“We’re not,” He shot back, batting her hands away. “He’s… just a friend. Seriously. What even gave you that impression?”
Vivian gave a small pout, but her expression shifted into something softer.
“I dunno. You’re different when you’re with him. You’re more you. You seem happy, but not the fake shit you put on when you're at work or around the family. You seem actually happy. Like when we were kids. It’s really nice to see.
Simon didn’t answer. He didn’t even look up from pouring the melted butter into the mixing bowl, and from the way his shoulders stiffened, Vivian knew she hit the nail on the head. When he quietly asked how many eggs to crack and whisk, she took the plea for a change in conversation topic for what it was.
“Two. Make sure to add the sugar into the melted butter first, though.”
“Okay.”
Vivian smirked out of eyeshot and began whisking the dry ingredients.
They worked in a comfortable silence, and once the dough was scooped and placed in the oven, Vivian left to shower while Simon pulled out his laptop and got some idle studying done in the meantime. Archie fast asleep.
By the time the oven dinged, Vivian was in her pajamas, wearing one of Simon’s old oversized sweaters, and feeling more relaxed than she’d felt in years. It was a strange feeling to be so safe, but not one she was complaining about. The Christmas spirit must have been getting to her because her chest grew tight with emotion.
She was lucky to have someone like Simon in her life. Archie too.
She whispered toward him. “You wake up Archie, I'll get the cookies out and plate them.”
Simon nodded and Vivian started toward the oven. She listened to her cousin’s conversation with his friend idly.
“Archie. Archie, wake up buddy. Cookies are ready.” He shook his shoulder lightly.
There was rustling. A muffled sniffle. A soft groan.
“Whuh? D’I fall asleep?” He slurred, scrubbing viciously at his eyes.
“Mmmhm.”
“M’sorry. Didn’t mean to. Got really sleepy. Patrol was—”
“Shhh,” Simon murmured. Vivian could have sworn he threw a glance over to her, as if reminding Archie of her presence.
Archie’s eyes widened a bit and he looked her way. “Vivian. Oh God, I’m so sorry. Said I’d help with the cookies… gosh, I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it, mkay? Just enjoy the cookies!” She reassured, smiling at him.
Archie smiled warmly back and lifted his arms above his head to stretch before getting up and shuffling to the kitchen.
“It smells amazing in here,” He said dreamily, looking at the cookies like a predator zoning in on prey. "Thank you so much for making them."
“No, thank you guys for having me. It really means a lot,” Vivian mused, scooping equal amounts of cookies onto three plates and setting three glasses for milk.
Archie smiled and pulled Vivian into a quick hug before sitting at the table with Simon. “I’m still really sorry for falling asleep Vivian. If you bake anything again and need a helper, I’ll be there. Promise.”
“It’s really okay. Besides, Home Alone always puts me to sleep too.”
Simon scowled. “Home Alone is my favorite.”
“Oh, believe me, I am well aware. You used to put it on a loop at Abuela's house on Christmas Eve. I have the damn thing memorized now.”
“It’s the best Christmas movie. Like, hands down. Never gets old.”
“Says you.”
“Says everyone. There is no way you're arguing this with me— holy shit, Archie.”
Vivian glanced over to Archie only to find his plate completely empty. Her jaw dropped. She swears those cookies were there quite literally a second ago.
Archie blinked owlishly at them, crumbs covering his chin, and cheeks stuffed. He swallowed and cleared his throat, picking at his fingernail sheepishly.
“I was hungry… and they were just sitting there.”
There was a brief pause, and suddenly both Simon and Vivian burst into barking laughter.
Archie eventually joined in the infectious laughter and the three settled into quiet, comfortable, and cozy conversation with one another.
They relocated to the couch at some point and after about an hour or two, Vivian's eyes grew impossibly heavy and she succumbed to sleep.
The last thing she remembered before fully falling asleep for the night was Simon carrying her to the air mattress in his office and tucking a thick blanket around her.
“Merry Christmas, Viv.”
She might have seen Simon wrap his arm around Archie’s shoulders as they returned to his room, might have even seen him press a kiss to the top of his head, but she couldn’t be sure through the sleep haze. It made her smile anyways.
She dreamed of warmth and lights and everything she’d been missing for this last period of her life.
Here's the jttw gang:D i remembered this one headcanon that tripitaka has a villanous/unhigded laugh that sort of freaks the rest of the gang out at first so i drew the aftermath of that. Also i just like to draw diferent levels of "what the fuck" faces
