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It was the last day that Starr Park was going to be open for the rest of the year, and Meeple was helping Rico close up the Arcade.
“Thanks for the help Meeple, you’ve been a big help all year.”
“Well, I’m kinda your only employee,” Meeple said as they put the broom away, “it’s not like I have much of a choice.”
“I guess so,” Rico said, “but that doesn’t undermine your work.”
Meeple rolled their eyes. “Whatever you say.”
They both left the Arcade, and Rico locked up for that last time this year. “Do you have any plans for the holidays?”
Meeple froze. “I… uh… W-what about you? What plans do you have?”
“I was going to take Darryl and the kids to visit my parents, but our trip got canceled because of the weather.”
“Damn… that must suck.”
“It does, but at least I still get to spend Christmas with my family here.” Rico then looked back at Meeple. “What about you?”
“I don’t know… I might just stay home or something.”
“Really? You’re not going to visit your family?”
“No I… don’t really have the best relationship with my family…”
Meeple’s parents were Rouletta and Casey Billard, owners of the Billard Casino in Starr City. The casino was the city’s biggest tourist attraction, and the family was very rich because of it. Meeple was supposed to work for their business after they graduated high school, but then they got into a massive argument on their graduation day, and Meeple was thrown out of the house the next day. They hadn’t been in contact since, and Meeple wants it to stay that way.
Rico gave them a sympathetic look. “Well I hope you have a merry Christmas anyway.”
“I’ll try.”
Rico patted their shoulder before walking off, and Meeple made their way towards the entrance.
“Chance, listen to your father when he’s speaking to you.”
“I was.” Meeple replied to their mother with a hint of anger laced in their tone.
“Then what did he say?”
“Something about the business, I don’t know.” They brushed off.
Rouletta sighed and Casey shook his head, clearly unsatisfied with Meeple’s response. “Chance-”
“Don’t call me that.”
“We are not calling you… ‘Meeple’,” they could hear the disgust in their father’s tone over having to mutter their preferred name, “we gave our daughter the name ‘Chance’ and you just want to change everything?”
“Yes, and why do you care?!”
“Chance, do NOT raise your voice at your father.”
“NO, I AM NOT BEING QUIET! AND WHY DO YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH MY LIFE?!”
Casey hit the table, hard, and Meeple froze from fear. Usually whenever he did that, they were getting punished in one way or another.
“Go to your room, now, and you are leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”
Meeple forced the hood of their hoodie over their head as the memory of that fateful day replayed in their mind. They moved away from their parents and Starr City years ago (not like they had much of a choice), so why were those memories still haunting them? They were so focused on it that they didn’t realize that they ran into someone, causing them to drop whatever they were holding.
They screamed as their items fell, and Meeple quickly realized that it was Lawryn. “Sorry Lawryn,” they said as they bent down to help her pick up the dropped presents, “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“No it’s fine! It’s hard to see with all these gifts.” Lawryn took the gifts that Meeple had picked up for her. “Oh, that reminds me! I was supposed to ask: are you doing anything on Christmas?”
“...I don’t think so. Why?”
“We’re hosting a little party at our place on Christmas! And I’m sure Larry would appreciate it if you came.”
Meeple perked up at the mention of their boyfriend’s name, which was probably what Lawryn was trying to do. They weren’t thinking about doing anything… but maybe going to this party wouldn’t hurt.
Especially since they wouldn’t be visiting their family…
“Yeah, tell Larry that I’ll be there.”
“I will!”
“Wait Lawryn!” Lawryn stopped, and she turned to face Meeple again. “Uh… my boss was supposed to go visit his parents for the holidays, but the trip was canceled because of the weather. Do you think I could invite him and his family too? It’s the least I could do considering all he’s done for me…”
“Well I’ll have to check with the others, but I don’t see a problem with it!”
Meeple smiled for the first time since their conversation started. “Alright then, I’ll see you on Christmas.”
Lawryn waved as they went their separate ways. “See you there!”
Meeple knocked on the door, and they waited outside for someone - preferably and most likely Larry - to answer. Lawrie opened the door, and he seemed shocked that they were there.
“You actually came? I thought Lawryn was lying when she said you were.” Lawrie said as he let Meeple in.
“I could say the same thing.” Meeple said when they entered the home. “I’m surprised you were the one that answered the door.”
“Well you know how R-T is, and Larry and Lawryn are busy getting everything ready.”
Meeple looked at the couch; R-T was already there watching a movie. “I guess I’ll have a seat then.” They went over to the couch, and they took a seat next to R-T. He glanced over at them when they sat down, but he quickly focused back on what he was watching.
“What are you watching?” Meeple asked to try and start a conversation.
“Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas.” R-T said without looking away from the TV.
“Huh, don’t think I’ve watched that one before.”
“It’s a good movie. Larry really loves it.”
Meeple figured that it wouldn’t hurt to watch, not that they had much of a choice, but as they kept watching they couldn’t help but feel… jealous.
Their parents never cared about Christmas. Yes, Meeple got everything they wanted during the holidays, and although that was enough as a child, when they got older e realized all the gifts didn’t matter if there was no care behind them.
So watching this movie about being with your loved ones during the holidays and the true meaning of Christmas really hit them in the heart, and they hadn’t realized that they had started crying.
But R-T did.
He wasn’t really sure what to do. He didn’t even think Meeple was capable of crying, let alone over a Mickey Mouse Christmas movie. “Hey… is everything alright?”
Meeple flinched, and they quickly wiped away their tears while straightening themself up. “Y-yes… I’m fine…”
R-T wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t know what else to say, so he simply focused back on the movie. Then both his and Meeple’s attention was taken away when there was another knock on the door.
“I’ll get it!” Lawryn went to the door, and she opened it to let Lou and Surge in. She gave each of them a hug before guiding them to the kitchen to further help with the preparations. Now Meeple started feeling guilty over the fact that they weren’t doing anything to help…
Lawryn went back into the living room, and she flopped onto the couch next to Meeple. “Phew… This has been a lot of work…”
“Do you want me to help or…?”
“No it’s fine! Everything’s almost done! We’re just waiting for a couple more guests.” Lawryn focused her attention onto the TV, and she saw that the movie was almost done. “Oh oh! Can we watch the Muppet one?!”
“What? Oh wait! I know what you’re talking about.” R-T grabbed the remote, and he changed the movie to The Muppet Christmas Carol.
Lawrie came in and he sat next to Lawryn, who immediately cuddled up to him when he did so; Lawrie noticeably hesitated before returning the embrace.
There was a third knock on the door, and Lawryn perked up at the sound. “PEARL!” She threw herself off of the couch, and bolted towards the door to greet her girlfriend. The other three looked stunned, questioning how she could tell that it was Pearl at the door.
Lawryn opened the door with almost enough force to tear it off its hinges, and she tackled Pearl into a hug when she saw her. “AH LAWRYN- I’m happy to see you too…!” Pearl said as she returned the hug. Lawryn then brought her to the couch, and she sat herself between Pearl and Lawrie.
R-T groaned as he saw everything going on. “Is it time to eat yet?”
Meeple wiped away more tears that had started forming again “I don’t know… but I gotta use the bathroom.” They got up, and they headed towards the bathroom. It was the only place where they could be alone, and right now they needed that.
They looked at themself in the mirror, and they saw some oil streaks still on their face. They grabbed one of the towels, and they wet it before using it to clean off their face.
‘Everyone else is so happy… and look at me, I’m fucking miserable. On Christmas no less.’
“Hey Meeple, are you ok?” Meeple took the towel away from their face, and they saw Pearl looking at them with worry.
“Yeah… I’m alright…” They glanced down at the now oil stained towel. “You’re not spending the holidays with your family either?”
“I am! But sometimes it can be nice to spend it with my other family too.”
Meeple raised a brow. “But we aren’t family…?”
Pearl laughed. “I know, but it feels like you all are.”
Meeple looked into the sink to avoid eye contact. Now they thought about it, their friends acted more like their family then well… their actual family. Their parents never showed them the love and support that they’ve gotten from their friends that they’ve known for only a year or so.
“Thanks Pearl… I really needed that.” Pearl gave them a reassuring look before leaving, and Meeple dried off their face before joining shortly after.
Surge and Lou had joined R-T, Lawrie, and Lawryn on the couch, still watching The Muppet Christmas Carol. “Larry’s still busy?” Pearl asked.
“Yeah dude, he’s making sure everything is perfect.”
“Why don’t you go check on him Meeple?” Lou suggested, and Meeple figured that it wouldn’t hurt. Besides, they hadn’t seen him at all since they arrived.
Meeple went into the kitchen, and aside from all the food on the counters, they saw Larry carefully icing the sugar cookies that he likely just took out of the oven. The apron tightly hugged his waist as he was bent over the kitchen counter, and Meeple got closer to him before gently poking at his ass.
The action caused Larry to yelp, but when he turned around and he saw that it was Meeple, he smiled as he put down the icing. “Meeple! You actually came!” He said as he embraced them.
“Of course I did, you dork.” Larry’s attention was now focused on giving his partners as many forehead kisses as he could. Meeple tried pushing him away as gently as they could. “I believe you have some cookies to finish up.”
“Why don’t you help me? All these cookies aren’t going to decorate themselves!” Larry handed Meeple an icing bag, and they proceeded to decorate the rest of the cookies while occasionally messing around with each other.
The cookies were nice and decorated, and the couple put their icing bags down to admire their work.
“I don’t know about you, but I think our cookies turned out great. Not that I had anything to do with it.”
“Aww don’t say that Meeple, you did a great job too!”
Meeple couldn’t help but snicker over Larry not getting their sarcasm, but they still loved him either way. “I’ll let everyone know the food’s ready. Unless you need help?”
“No, I’ll be fine! You go tell everyone to get ready.”
Meeple left the kitchen, and they went back into the living room. “The food’s done everyone!”
“Finally!” R-T said as he paused the movie, “I’m starving!”
Everyone got up to head to the dining room, and then there was a fourth knock.
“Don’t worry, I got it.” Meeple went up to the door, and they were greeted by their boss and his husband when they opened the door.
“See Darryl? I told you this was the right house!”
Darryl rolled his eye. “I’m surprised ya could find it with how bad at directions ye are.”
Otis squeezed between his dads - his pet starfish Cil following behind - and he looked up at Darryl. “Dad, you’ve been here before. You of all people should know the address.”
“Otis?!”
Otis looked over at R-T, and he waved his hose at him. “Hi R-T! Surprise!”
R-T went to hug his friend as Nani and Peep entered the home. “I love the decor, it’s so nice!” Nani said, and Peep made several beeps in response.
“Thanks for inviting us Meeple,” Rico said as he walked up to his employee, “it means a lot after our trip got canceled and everything.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s the least I could do after all you’ve done for me.”
“Come on everyone!” Larry shouted into the crowd, “this Christmas dinner isn’t going to finish itself!”
Everyone went to sit at the table, but Meeple stayed behind as they watched everyone take their seats.
Pearl was right, this was their family.