reve looks at the array of toppings in front of him; in his excitement to spent christmas with artemis he’d picked up quite a few options. he selects the festive sprinkles, which reminds him almost of a delibird with their colors, and puts a few on top of the sweet whipped cream in the cocoa.

he’s happy, he thinks. artemis is curled under blankets in the living room nearby, picking a movie for the both of them. reve can’t wait to cuddle up with him as they watch whatever horrible movie artemis will inevitably pick. he’s already trying to think of terrible, festive jokes he might be able to make.

the cocoa’s done, he decides after adding a few finishing touches. he picks up the two cups, trying to ignore biscuit pawing at his legs as he walks in her attempts to get to the cocoa. he’s lucky she’s such a tiny pokémon, and thus unable to steal the cocoa.

“biscuit,” he warns lightheartedly. he thinks of the treats sitting under the tree, wrapped in multiple layers of cloth and fabric to prevent the dogs from smelling them, labeled with each of the dogs’s names. they sit next to the packages he wrapped up for artemis’s creatures. he’s tempted to tell biscuit she’ll get her treats in a minute, but he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise. not that biscuit has any concept of a surprise like that, or christmas in general. still, though.

he makes his way to artemis, gently setting the cocoa down in front of him as he moves to sit beside the man. “you look cozy.”

he glances to the tree for a moment, where the gift he had for artemis lays wrapped in thin paper. he’s excited to give it to him, even if he is nervous.

attention back on artemis, he softly smiles at the man.

---

+ @artemis