This was my village.

Snow perfectly fallen onto the roofs, the chimneys putting out the perfect amount of warmth that spiraled gently into the crisp winter air.

The smell of burning pinewood mixed with the faint aroma of freshly baked bread drifting from the bakery on the corner.

The houses stood huddled together, their wooden beams dark and sturdy against the snow's pristine white.

Lanterns, strung from post to post, cast a golden glow over the cobblestone streets, making everything feel like a scene from a fairy tale, but of course it-

"Hey, Finnegan off the table!" Grian gently pushed the kitten off the table, waving the cat hair away from his gingerbread house.

Scar chuckled.

"You're taking this way too seriously, Gri. You know we're gonna be eating these, right?" Scar asked, continuing to snack on some of the M&M's they had placed in a bowl.

"Yeah but I still want mine to look good." Grian muttered, gently piping some icing on top of the roof.

"Your little person fell again." Scar motioned to the cookie that was face planted into the powdered sugar.

"Problem for them..." Grian narrowed his eyes as he very carefully placed gumdrops as decoration.

"You are savage." Scar chuckled, eating more of the candy.

"Stop that-!" Grian giggled, taking the licorice from Scar's hands. "I need this you know."

Scar shrugged and leaned back in his chair, glancing around to try and find inspiration.

"Are you seriously done with yours?"

"No...it's missing something." Scar sighed, trying to figure out how to recreate cute smoke coming out from the chimney.

"You know, Scott told me Lizzie used candles on hers when they tried to build gingerbread houses last year." Grian said, taking a couple peppermints and putting them into a cup before crushing them.

"Wouldn't that just heat up all the candy?" Scar raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah she almost burnt his home." Grian chuckled and Scar grinned, rolling his eyes.

"Of course..."

He glanced back over at his boyfriend and smiled as he saw his creativity.

"You know, you're really good at building and architecture."

"Scar, I'm simply decorating the home that was already built."

"Still, it's impressive."

"You think everything I do is impressive." Grian smirks and Scar smiles, reseting his chin on his hand.

"Well," Scar said with a shrug, "it's because everything you do is impressive. Even if it's just bullying a poor gingerbread person who can't stay upright."

"Hey, that gingerbread person is a victim of poor design, not my fault." Grian laughed, brushing away the powdered sugar from the table.

"And stop trying to distract me with compliments. You're just jealous mine's better than yours."

Scar gasped dramatically. "Jealous? Of that basic little gumdrop roof? Grian, my masterpiece over here is redefining gingerbread house aesthetics with-"

"It's half-eaten." Grian interrupted, smirking as he pointed to the patch of missing icing on the corner where Scar had taken a bite earlier.

"Some modern aesthetic that is." He muttered.

Scar grinned sheepishly, popping another M&M into his mouth.

"You know what they say, great art deserves to be savored." Scar shrugged.

Grian shook his head, laughing softly. "You're impossible."

"Impossibly charming." Scar winked and Grian rolled his eyes.

Scar took a bite of the gingerbread house he had put together and he grumbled.

"This stuff really doesn't taste that good." He muttered. "I'm gonna go make my own gingerbread cookies."

"Yes please. I'm dying for some actual sweets, this stuff tastes like it was left on the floor of a Party City for half the year."

Scar laughed and he put on his apron.

"It's not that bad, but it's not that great either."

"They are just made to decorate, not necessarily eat." Grian motioned to what was left of Scar's home.

"Hey, one man's trash is another man's treasure."

"Remind me to not kiss you later."

"Hey-!"

Merry early Christmas everyone! I know I'm still posting tomorrow but I wanted to put out a little cutesy something for Christmas Eve. Here's to the merriest of winters and happiest of holidays and may you all have a wonderful rest of 2024!!