December 12th-25th, 2025.
「 The snow outside GardenView fell in soft, glittering flakes, dusting rooftops and cobblestone paths in a delicate layer of white. Inside the warm glow of the community hall, the smell of sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla hung thick in the air. Ginger moved carefully among the Toons, a tray of freshly baked cookies balanced in her hands. Her white frosting hair glimmered under the twinkling lights, the reddish-pink sprinkles catching reflections like tiny stars. 」
「 Each cookie was a small work of art—some frosted with stripes, others with swirls or tiny candy dots. Ginger’s right side, missing a chunk of her face, didn’t slow her down; she offered the cookies with a shy smile, her blush deepening as Toons thanked her. She had been looking forward to this all evening, binging Vee’s holiday episodes while baking earlier, and now she finally got to spread a little joy. 」
「 GINGER 」: “Here you go, Looey! And don’t eat too many!” she called with a giggle, setting a cookie into his hands.
「 Nearby, Yatta bounced across the hall like a human firework, her streamer-tails bouncing with every step. 」
「 YATTA 」: “COOKIES! I LOVE COOKIES!” she shouted, plucking one from Ginger’s tray before Ginger could even offer it. Yatta grinned around a mouthful of frosting, scattering sprinkles across the floor like confetti.
「 GINGER 」: “Yatta! Save some for everyone!” Ginger called, blushing as she brushed stray sprinkles from her frosting hair.
「 Teagan, carrying a small stack of napkins, laughed softly from across the room. 」
「 TEAGAN 」: “At this rate, Yatta’s going to eat the whole tray before Sprout even gets near it,” she teased, adjusting her scarf. Poppy darted past Ginger with an excited squeal, her pink cheeks glowing.
「 POPPY 」: “Don’t forget me! I want a heart-shaped cookie!” she demanded, bouncing on her toes as she held out her small hands.
「 Ginger’s tray wobbled dangerously under the chaos, and she laughed, steadying it with both hands. 」
「 GINGER 」: “Okay, okay, everyone—calm down!”
「 She moved on, glancing down the hall where the mistletoe hung from the ceiling, the silver leaves shimmering in the candlelight. Ginger had almost forgotten about it until—She stumbled. Not in a clumsy way, but in that surreal, heart-stopping way that happens when the universe seems to slow down. 」
「 Sprout. Standing there, holding a plate of his own cookies—mint leaves and strawberry glaze, of course—looking completely unaware of the chaos Ginger’s heart had just launched. His green leaves were slightly ruffled from the cold, and his red blush deepened as he caught her gaze. Ginger’s cookie tray tilted slightly, and she caught it just in time, letting out a soft squeak. 」
「 GINGER 」: “Oh—uh—Sprout! I… I was going to give you one!” she said, holding out a sugar-dusted cookie.
「 Sprout tilted his head, clearly aware now of the proximity and… the mistletoe above their heads. His usual blunt expression faltered, just slightly, as he scratched the back of his neck with one red limb. 」
「 SPROUT 」: “Uh… thanks,” he murmured, taking the cookie carefully, his mint-green leaves brushing hers. He tried to act casual, but the heat in his cheeks betrayed him.
「 Ginger felt her stomach do a flip. She had practiced this in her head hundreds of times while watching Vee’s gameshow hosts stumble through awkward confessions—but this… this was real. Her frosting hair felt warmer, her heart raced, and the soft jingling of Christmas decorations seemed to echo the thumping in her chest. 」
「 The room seemed to shrink, the lights twinkling a little brighter, the scent of cookies and cinnamon filling every corner. They both froze, eyes locked. Ginger’s blush deepened, her pink frosting cheeks almost glowing. She swallowed, heart hammering in her chest. 」