- Dance with the devil -

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring  {Sentence Starters}

“Of course...” His voice falters for a moment, gaze flickering to Laxus in silent surprise at the topic before he continues, “It was the day I first joined the guild.”

Despite the years that had passed since that day Freed can remember it clearly, from the warm smile quirking the Master’s lips when the boy had requested to join the guild, to the brawl that had erupted through the halls minutes later. At the time the actions had startled the rune mage, but even that astonishing fight didn’t stand out in his memories as much as the grumpy blonde boy sitting alone at a table.

Dodging the flying tables and shouts. the master led him to the boy that appeared to be only a few years older than Freed himself, neither seeming fazed in the slightest by the chaos occurring around them. 

His first impression of the lightning mage had been lackluster, Freed’s polite greeting virtually brushed off by the dragon slayer, yet it was still him that Makarov had requested to watch over his grandson that day. At the time the request had seemed impossible, with Laxus’ apparent lack of initiative to make friends,  yet now here they sat, at their usual table in the bustling guild that they had once attempted to overtake only to now vow to protect with their lives. 

He’d always believed the mistletoe tradition to be a silly one. 

There was nothing particularly romantic or enticing about the plant itself - in fact, he found it rather ordinary in appearance, despite the intimate insinuation that came with it’s name. He’d watched numerous of his guildmates fall victim to a well placed mistletoe throughout the few weeks leading up to Christmas and, by Christmas eve, he had to admit that, if nothing else, he did find the rule the plant brought to be humorous.

The kisses themselves were harmless, a swift kiss placed on a blushing cheek, or, for the more daring, the lips, before the mages would scuttle off to opposite sides of the guild, evidence of their actions only found in the resounding echo of their guildmate’s amused chuckles.

There were a few individuals that made sticking people under the mistletoe into a game, particularly Happy and Bixlow, so Freed couldn’t say he was all that surprised when he discovered the innocent looking plant hanging directly above them, it’s back and forth movement evidence enough that it had purposely been placed there only moments before. 

“It appears as though we’ve fallen into their trap.” He muses with a small smile, his eye flickering to the offending decoration in silent explanation before moving back to regard his friend in amusement, “I suppose that leaves us with no choice but to comply.”

The smile only broadens as the rune mage places his hand on Laxus’ shoulder and lifts himself onto his toes, the slight pressure on the other’s shoulders a silent request to stoop down a bit lower before a chaste kiss is placed on Laxus’ cheek.

“Merry Christmas, Laxus.”

Beauty and the beast starters

Freed’s not entirely certain why he was expecting any other response than the one he was given, the girl’s stubbornness evidently as strong as ever. It had been fruitless from the beginning to try and persuade Laki from following him on this quest, he had known that from the moment the first no had flown from his lips, however that still did not mean he favored the idea. 

The mission set out for him was dangerous, but it called for a rune mage and, with those mages in short supply throughout Fiore, he had been specifically requested to take it on. For that reason he hadn’t been privy to allowing anyone else to come along, not even his own teammates. 

So, he had opted to depart for the mission in the early hours of the morning, dropping by the guild far earlier than most mages ever did, only to find Laki waiting for him, face determined and bag packed. 

Honestly, he wasn’t certain whether to be touched or exasperated by the dedication and insistence.