Christmassy Drabble Tree 2016 Edition!

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

So janamelie reminded me that we'd done this back in 2014, and I thought it might be fun to do another. The way it works, for anyone new to it, is one person posts a drabble (about 100 words; it doesn't have to be exact) and the next person takes a line from that and uses it in their own drabble. I can't be fussed to stick to 100 word drabbles, but maybe at least let's stick to under 200. ;-) Can't wait to see what everyone writes, and happy Christmas to everyone. :-)

“So let me get this straight.” Cat leaned in towards Lister, his candy cane striped suit glimmering as his brow furrowed in concentration. “Some lady had a baby in a donkey house, and then three wild men came…”

“WISE men,” Lister interrupted as he pinched the bridge of his nose in irritation. “And it wasn’t a donkey house, it was a stable.”

“Stable, donkey house, what’s the difference? So the three wild men came, and gave the baby gold, Frankenstein, and fur, and that’s why we put up a tree and give presents on Christmas?”

“Not Frankenstein, FRANKINCENSE. And they gave the baby myrrh, not fur.”

“Well they should have given the baby fur! It was probably cold in that donkey house at Christmas time! At least a fur coat would have been useful!” Cat turned and admired his reflection in a Christmas bauble.

“I honestly don’t know why you keep trying to explain it to him,” Rimmer tutted as he straightened the star on the top of the tree. “It’s the same every year.”

Comments

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Will post a drabble in response soon, but just want to say again how much I love this one. I could imagine Doug writing that. :D

If people need additional inspiration, there is also this one from 2012: http://reddwarfslash.livejournal.com/464270.html

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Haha! I'd completely forgot I wrote that!

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Your contributions were excellent. :)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Oh YOU *blush*

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Actually, how would you feel about possibly uploading those mini-fics to AO3 and crediting them to multiple authors? I've already asked the authors from the 2014 one and am just waiting to hear back from Lauren as to whether she would be OK with hers being uploaded. Obviously with full credit given. :)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Of course! As long as there's credit, I'm happy.

[rosecathy1.livejournal.com]

"It's the same every year," Rimmer complained, plopping himself down on the bed. "Can't we watch something else for once?"

Lister frowned at him like he'd lost his marbles. "Why would we do that?"

To his own surprise, Rimmer made it almost all the way through the film; he fell asleep to the sound of Lister humming along with the opening of "Auld Lang Syne", the vibrations soothing against his already-warm chest.

"You were doing so well," Lister scolded gently as he shook him awake.

"I hardly missed anything," he yawned. "Maybe next year, something a bit less - "

"No chance."

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

"Come on, Listy. It's almost 8pm!" He rubbed his hands together with glee. "Next on the agenda is Risk!"

"Rimmer - " Lister groaned. "Do we have to follow a timetable on Christmas of all days? How about, y'know, enjoying it? Going with the flow?"

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to ensure all activities are covered, mi'laddo." Rimmer snorted. "Besides, you don't hear me complaining about your obsessive decorating of the place. It looks like a nursery school craft table exploded in here."

"You've complained all week!"

"Only because you used my health & safety draft presentation papers to make your bunting."

"Okay, okay," Lister soothed. He shrugged gently. "Maybe next year, something a bit less - "

" - gaudy."
" - structured."

At their entwined reactions, the pair shared a look of mild affront before dissolving into brandy-warmed chuckles.

Rimmer nodded his relent. "Alright, Listy. Space Scout's honour: next Christmas there'll be no timetable."

Lister granted him an apologetic peck on the lips. "And I'll keep the decorations totally tasteful, I promise." He didn't mention his plan to get out his knitting set again. A line of woollen red pom-poms would look wonderful, adorning their shared bunk...

Little did they know - thanks to a certain interdimensional, fated destiny - this would be their last Christmas together.

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

Their last Christmas together? :-o Is this foreshadowing for a fic-in-progress?

Risk on Christmas! Rimmer sure knows how to ruin the festive mood, doesn't he? ;-)

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Nope, I'd imagined it set in series VI - so before he left to become Ace.

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

I'm with Rimmer on this one, which is unusual for me. :-D

I love the visual of them cuddling. <3

[cbarriefans.livejournal.com]

Their last Christmas together. It had been centuries but still Rimmer couldn't forget their last Christmas together.
His father had shouted, his mother had given him the silent treatment and his brothers - well they had bullied him as they had always done. The day after boxing day he had requested the divorce. Not that it had worked the pain remained the same.
His family had made him hate Christmas.

A kiss on his cheek, warm arms wrapped around him. Excited eyes gazing into his. "What ya thinking of Arnie? Why aren't ya in the recreation room? We've got cranberries, mince pies and hot chocolate and ..." The man in front of him produced a filled stocking from his back pocket. "... I think Santa has been for ya, babe!! Ah, there's the smile I love!"
Lister had made him love Christmas.

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Set during Series III

"Ta-dah!" Lister gestured to the festively laid table with a flourish.

Rimmer's nostrils flared dangerously. "Are you joking?"

Lister misread the reaction completely. "Nah, man. Kryten and I have spent the last two weeks raiding the supplies on G-Deck." Turmeric-stained fingers gestured excitedly to each temptingly presented offering with glee. "We've got cranberries, mince pies and hot chocolate and..."

"You know I can't touch anything, you brain-dead gimboid," the hologram seethed. "Why on Io would you think I'd want to see everything I'm missing out on?!"

As Rimmer wheeled round on his heels to leave, Lister quickly darted in front of him to slow his path, being careful not to touch - and therefore offend the illusion of - the generated image.

"Because," he drawled, hamster-like grin long since escaped, "it's not for me. It's for you."

"Lister. What are you driv-"

"Kryten's waiting for us both in the Science Room to perform the swap. You've got two hours. I'm on Second Sitting."

At Rimmer's stunned silence, he grinned wider. "Merry Christmas, Rimmsy."

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Awww, lovely. :D

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Ahh fankoo!

[laurenthemself]

it's raining in my eyes

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

<3

[laurenthemself]

The man in front of him produced a filled stocking. It was red fishnet, left absolutely nothing to the imagination, and what it was filled with would have given Santa Claus an utter conniption.

Rimmer’s hard swallow wasn’t the only hard thing about him. “Listy... what if the others walk in?”

Lister gave Rimmer a coy smile, and the stocking—stockings, rather, barely held up with a garter belt—disappeared into Lister’s standard combat trousers. “They won’t know... unless you decide to unwrap me early.”

Rimmer had never been so eager for Christmas Day before in his life or death.

[missflibble.livejournal.com]

Mwa ha ha - so deliciously wicked....

[lordvalerymimes.livejournal.com]

Oh my, yes! :-D

[rosecathy1.livejournal.com]

<3 <3 <3

[janamelie.livejournal.com]

Wow, I feel as though this could be expanded on. Shame we're all so busy right now. ;)

Anyway, it's excellent as it is. :D

[cbarriefans.livejournal.com]

Rimmer had never been so eager for Christmas Day before in his life or death. This year he'd do it, no backing out now. He'd waited so long.
It was stupid, he knew; he could do it at any time he wanted 365 days of the year but ... he always chickened out. Now he had an excuse if things went wrong and he had misread the signals. It was perfect.
Gently he slid from his bunk and tiptoed to the recreation room to add a small addition to the decorations. This year Arnold J Rimmer had grown his own mistletoe.