The Holiday Spirit

The purple haired bun sighed.

Her mood was getting worse and worse despite the frigid yet bright day.

Rays of light bounced of the snow that covered the ground, and Juniper began to think to herself. 

This would be the first holiday she'd spent by herself in years. . . 

After her recent breakup with her boyfriend things had become uncertain, she wasn't sure what to do with herself or what her life really meant anymore. . . .

Sighing once again, she pulled up the collar of her turtleneck and tried to stave off the cold.

Pulling the turtleneck up past her nose, she hid her blushing cheeks, tears bubbling in her eyes. . . -No!!

No!! She was not doing this again!!! She'd already spent several months moping around after the breakup, she was not giving that cheating asshole another second of her time thinking about him!!!!

She looked down at the crumpled up piece of paper she pulled out of her pocket of her long coat, and read over the last unchecked supplies she still needed for the holiday. 

Cherubims huh? It was an interesting idea, celebrating something from the Meadows the Cherubuns came from, but. . . . Well it also felt a little odd. . . . Wasn't the whole point of coming to Burrowgatory to get away from the Meadow? From what it did to them?. . . 

‘Heck what do I know?’ She thought after a moment, and got back to looking through her list. 

First she needed some kind of Pudding, and to buy someone a gift!

But who would she buy a gift for?

She sighed put a breath, as she turned a corner, suddenly coming into contact with a tall slender bun, they both stumbled back. And before she could even lift her head to say an insincere sorry, the other bun was sputtering out apologies left and right. 

And it made her feel bad. . .

His voice was high pitched with worry, and soft with a light hint of awkwardness. And it made her chuckle a little.

This taller bun was apologising for bumping into her, when she was the one that wasn't looking. 

And her light chuckle turned abundant laughter, seemed to shock the other bun into silence.

He awkwardly chuckled along with her, clearly unsure of what they were laughing about, and as she wiped her watering eyes of the joyful tears, she finally spoke.

“Thanks, I really needed that!”

“You needed to be ran into?” The other bun asked, completely confused.

“No not that!” She chuckled more, “I just needed a good laugh, it's been a while since I've had a decent distraction!” She explained.

“Oooooooh” he spoke, realisation hitting him. 

“I'm Juniper by the way” she introduced herself to the taller bun, her hand outstretched for a handshake.

“Oh, umm. . . Asra!” He fumbled around until his hand fitted into hers. 

“Well Asra, it was a pleasure meeting you!” She spoke jovially, before she went to step around him and continue on her way.

“Wait!!” He shouted after her, his light hoovesteps, clicking on the ground after her. 

Turning around she appraised the taller bun with a confused look.

“You, ummm. . . You wouldn't happen to know where they sell Holy Holly would you?” He asked, fiddling with his thumbs. 

She looked down at the ground, and then at the two spirits that always followed her around before turning to him with a small smile. 

“Yeah! Follow me!”

—-----------------------------------------

The two arrived at the front of the small store outside of the Heavenly Embassy. 

“Buns are selling it all over the place at the moment, but here's where you'll get the best quality for your carats!” Juniper explained as they crossed the street to the small stall.

Behind the small booth sat a small Cherubun, and a taller Succubun.

“Hey Jackal! Dove! How are ya?” Juniper waved to get their attention, and the smaller Cherubun came running to the front of the store, they had a bright smile on their face, and immediately welcomed the two.

“Juni! Oh, and this must be a new friend of yours! I don't believe we've met, I'm Dove!” They spoke softly, with a slight chirp to their voice, sweet and soothing to the soul.

Juniper turned to her new friend, who seemed a little shaken by the death glare he was getting from the overprotective Jackal who still stood in the back.

Juniper playfully glared back, to which he smirked and looked away, and Introduced Asra for them.

“This is Asra! He's looking for some Holy Holly! I was sure you two could help!!” Juniper spoke, her voice matching the chirpiness of Dove's voice. 

They immediately nodded their head, and ducked under the small clothed table, and popped back up with some bright golden Holy Holly.

Asra seemed to be at a loss for words, and Juniper took it from Dove’s hands paying them for him as he stared jaw agape at the bright golden berries.

“Thanks Dove, your a sweetheart!” Juniper thanked them, and Asra quickly snapped out of his trance, and turned to look at them “Y-Yeah! Thank you so very much!!” He piped up putting his hands together as a gesture of thanks. 

Dove did the same, and soon the two buns were off, turning back and waving goodbye to the two buns in the stall as they left.

Handing over the Holy Holly to the taller bun, he smiled at her with an awkward yet thankful smile.

“Thanks. . .” He uttered awkwardly.

“So what do you need the Holy Holly for anyway?” Juniper asked, genuinely curious.

“Oh! I'm making a wreath!!” He explained, and she slapped a hand to her forehead.

“Ouch! Are you-”

“I knew I forgot something!!” She grumbled out as she slowly let her hand fall down her face to her side. 

“Oh. . . .” 

The air was filled with nothing but silence for the next few seconds. 

“What-What if you came to mine and we made one together?” he asked starting out awkward before ending on a more excited note.

She turned to him, a confused look on her face. 

“We only just met, why would you invite a stranger to your place?” She asked. 

“Well, yeah, but that didn't stop you from helping me, right? Besides, the whole point of this holiday is to celebrate being together and kindness. . . So. . . ? Do you want to help?” he explained.

Looking at the ground, she then looked up and smiled, “Yeah, I would love to!” 

———————————————

A few hours later, the two sat on the floor, weaving Holy Holly, with other thin branched plants and twigs, small green leaves sticking out left and right, and the Holy Holly sitting right at the bottom of the wreath, two large leaves sticking out from either side, the glow of Junipers Horns reflecting off the golden berries, and Juniper, decided to finally pop the question. 

“Are yo-”

“Do you have any Cherubmas plans??” Asra quickly blurted out.

And Juniper could help her laugh, which only got worse at the blush of embarrassment that shaded Asra’s dark and light face. 

He looked down, an apparent look of shame setting in and Juniper quickly haunted her laugh. 

“Hey I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make fun of you or anything, it’s just-” Juniper began to speak.

“You already have plans. . . .” Asra cut her off.

“No” she stated plainly.

“Wha-? But why-” he began to ask.

“I was laughing because I was about to say the same thing!” Juniper chuckled. 

“Ohhhh. . . .” He drawled out, thinking. “Wait! Then?-“

“Of course I’d be happy to spend Cherubmas with you!!” Juniper exclaimed.

The smile that overtook the taller buns face was brighter and toothier than any she’d seen before, and she could help mimic it.

Perhaps her holidays wouldn’t be so bad after all?