Hello everyone, I hope you're doing well! I've been having a bit of writer's block, so I'm writing a story based on a prompt for you this week! The prompt I pulled is: "Your character hates the holidays, and jets out of town every year — but a historic snow storm means that this time, they can’t make their escape." from Reedsy prompts. This one struck me as very Castiel, since he didn't really have a great past. So I'll use this one to get a fun holiday story going.
Some context, the Gemlords don't celebrate Christmas, they have a New Year's holiday called Sapphire's Day, in which gifts are given to friends and family to celebrate the abundance given by the Goddess Sapphire. It also celebrates the New Year as the day Sapphire was born. Along with that, the story will be set after Fox and Castiel have started dating, and when Fox's family is free from the City of Shards- just to shake things up. Don't forget to reread the lore guide if anything seems confusing to you.
This is the first year that I've been trapped by a snowstorm during Sapphire's Day. I hate the unnecessarily cheery atmosphere, it's just a way for the Diamonds to make us spend hard earned money. That and when I lived with my foster parents, I always spent the night alone while they went out to parties and came home so intoxicated they could barely speak. I don't know how either of them lived.
And I mean I'm stuck- I tried to take my car and get the hell out of the city. I drive a race car, but somehow it can barely handle a little snow. I have an insane amount of power, but the wheels wouldn't even get traction once I hit snowy roads. Fox's brother Cole has his car snowed in right now, because the snow didn't stop coming. Inch after inch piled on top of each other until there were 16 inches on the roads over two days. Cole gave me his spot in the garage so I didn't get any damage, not that I couldn't fix it if I did. But no, he insisted it was the "holiday spirit" to give up his spot for me.
So I'm trapped on Sapphire's Day with the Kuro family, clinging desperately to Fox because I don't want to deal with the holiday "cheer."
"How did you deal with this as a kid?" I whisper to Fox as he washes his hands, "I would've lost it, everyone being so happy even when they're clearly miserable."
"It's a way to keep ourselves sane during the worst of times," he shrugs, drying off his hands, "You wanna help make the jello?"
I tilt my head in confusion, "The what?"
"You know how I'm obsessed with jello?"
I nod my head.
"So back in Shards, we got jello rations for Sapphire's day. The town would join their rations together to make a big jello cake to share. So everyone in the family brought a box so we can combine it into one. It's a big honor to make the jello for dessert."
"Guess I'll help," I shrug. I was aware of the jello tradition in Shards, since I grew up there too, but I never really got to participate.
Fox smiles at me, "Wash your hands then."
I head to the sink and wash my hands, watching Fox get out a large mold shaped like a nondescript sports car. He looks at me with a big grin as I dry my hands.
"You think she'll like it?"
"Your mother? Of course she will- it's absolutely wild."
I can tell Fox is excited, it's the first Sapphire's Day he gets to celebrate with his family after ten years.
"It's over the top, but for their first year free, I think the deserve it."
"I agree."
"Now that your hands are washed, let's get to work."
It wasn't long before the mold was in the fridge and we had to help Zelina with dinner. And by help, I mean be sure she doesn't burn our apartment down. Fox warned me she was a bit crazy, but she's not used to the updated technology we have to cook with. After almost activating the smoke alarms, setting the pasta on fire for a second, and overcooking the veggies, dinner was on the table.
Alfred, Fox's father, has us hold hands at the table. I grip Fox's hand tightly in my left, and keep a lose grip on his brother Nat's in my right. I guess the point is to have a close moment with the family, but I'm not a fan of close family moments.
"Let us thank Sapphire for the meal in front of us," Alfred starts, "along with Fox and Castiel for keeping an eye on my wife in the kitchen."
Giggles rise from the table, while Zelina elbows Alfred in the arm. It's rare to see Alfred smile, but I smile every time he does.
"It is a gift to have Castiel and Griffin with us today, as new members of the Kuro family. I thank you boys for treating my sons with care."
I see Griffin give a nod, and when Alfred looks at me, I nod too. He's acting like the family had never been locked in Shards to begin with. Is this what Fox meant by keeping sane in the worst of times?
"Let us eat."
I watch as the family unclasps their hands from one another and reach for the food on the table. Fox keeps my hand in his and grabs my plate.
"What do you want? I'll grab it before Nat and my mother eat it all."
"I can get my own plate, you don't have to duke it out with my family."
And as I tell Fox what I want, I realize what he means. He ends up warding off his younger sister Reese's fork to grab a couple pieces of broccoli covered in garlic and cheese. I laugh when Fox presents the full plate to me, and goes to duel Alfred for a scoop of pasta.
I take a bite of Zelina's cooking, and besides it's chaotic creation, it tastes pretty good.
"Gotta make rations tastes good for picky eaters," she says after she notices my face.
Cole and Reese protest, and Zelina smirks knowing what she did, "Never had your parents cook you good ration food?"
"Pft, parents," I roll my eyes, "Never had them. My father was a Jasper and my mother ditched me before I was one. When I got shipped out by the CSRP my fosters didn't care about me."
"So that's why you're so standoffish when we talk about family."
I look to Nat, "You got it."
Fox wraps an arm around me, "You better get used to it, because your boyfriend has adopted you into his family."
"And you're welcome here, even if you don't drive Warrior," Zelina jokes.
"Glad I'm approved," I laugh.
"And it seems like you're enjoying the atmosphere," Cole adds.
I pause for a moment, maybe longer than I realize, because Fox pulls my head to rest on his shoulder. I mean, it's always nice to see Alfred smile, and being told I'm allowed to be part of the family...
"I am. Maybe I could learn to like being in a family."
That's the best I've got with my writing block! I'm going to take next week off from posting so I can enjoy the holiday week, meaning I'll see you all again in the New Year!
Happy holidays,
-Rosetta 💖
Image By Nadia Valko