A Deep Christmas

Holidays

"Alright, everyone ready?" Marina asked, as she held the stocking in her hand. "You all know how this goes, whatever name you pick out of this stocking is the person you're shopping for." Marina explained. "Got it!" Everyone smiled. Marina gave a small smile as she began passing out the tiny folded papers, each idol getting their person. "Everyone got someone?" Marina asked. Everyone looked at their paper, and nodded. "Make sure it's not YOUR name." Marina smirked as she looked towards Pearl. "Hey! I was 20 back then Rina!" Pearl snapped. "AY (HEY)!" Big man gasped. "No offense, big guy." Pearl winked. "Alright then, go team go!" Marina smiled as they all split up. "H-Hey, Marie!" Frye called, gaining the attention of the Inkling Idol. "What is it, Frye? You're supposed to be shopping." Marie grumbled. "I-I was just wondering is there anything...like you've...like you've always wanted?" Frye asked. "Why?" Marie asked. "J-just asking." Frye stuttered. "Not really. Getting presents isn't really...something I like..." Marie sighed. "WHY NOT!? Getting presents is like! THE BEST THING EVER!" Frye shouted. "Yeah, well. Presents I feel are just...a waste of money. Have the things you get for Christmas are probably all being unused." Marie explained. Now that Frye thought about it. Marie was right. Sure she was happy the first few hours she had it...but then she kinda just...faded away from the gift. "Hmmm...." Frye pondered. "And when YOU get people gifts. Do you ever see them with it after Christmas?" Marie asked. "W-well...I got Shiv a shark plushy one year...s-she still has it." Frye stuttered. "I mean, like all the time. That's just one." Marie explained. Frye paused, her ears getting droopy. Was it true no one cared about what she got them?

"Yo Shiv, what are ya looking at?" Pearl asked. "Why is that any of your business?" Shiver snarled. "It's not." Pearl giggled. "Hey, I got your little delinquent girlfriend. What does she like?" Pearl asked. "One, don't ever call my gf that. And two, I'm not telling you." Shiver smirked. "Broo! Why not!?" Pearl asked. "Because Frye isn't the one I'm shopping for, so it's YOUR job to shop for her instead." Shiver explained. "But WHHHYYY!!" Pearl yelled, causing Shiver to cover her ears. "Chill with the yelling, Pearlie." Shiver winced. "HEY! Don't call me that! I told you Only Marina can call me that." Pearl snarled. "Fine, then shorty it is." Shiver giggled. "EXCUSE ME!?" Pearl shrieked. "Fine then emo freak, if you want to play games. Let's. Play. Games." Pearl snarled. 

"Big man, it's okay." Callie said, patting the sobbing manta's back. "AY ay ay (NO IT ISN'T!)" Big man sobbed. "It was just a mistake, I'm sure your person won't mind." Marina winced as she looked at the shattered vase on the ground. "ay ay (MY VASEY)!" Big man wailed. "Vasey?" Marina asked. "Don't worry, he makes up weird names all the time." Callie smiled. Big man sniffled, as he dried his eyes, and picked the shards on the floor. "Ay ay (This was the perfect one for them...a-a-and now...)" Big man began. "Hey, hey, buddy. It's okay. We can probably find another vase." Callie smiled. "Ay (None of them will be like this one...)" Big man sniffled. "I know...that one was perfect. But there are other's." Callie smiled. "Y-yeah...you're right. Like that one over there! It's SCREAMING Shiver!" Marina smiled, pointing to a simple blue vase. "AY ay ay (But it's soo...) Big man began. "Basic? Yeah, I think Shiver would love it." Callie smiled. Big man smiled as he walked towards the vase, but before he could pick it up. A inkling with buz cut tentecals, a small beard, pale, skin, and green eyes showed up, and snatched it. "Wow...this is a...nice looking vase." The man teased. "Uhm...excuse me. My friend was about to pick that one." Callie explained. "Well tell your friend that life ain't fair." The man laughed as he walked away with the vase. "UGH! City people." Marina grumbled. "Don't worry, we'll find-" Callie began, but was pushed aside by a solemn Big man. "Aya (Actually I'm not...feeling too well guys. Catch up with you tomorrow?)" Big man asked. "But you haven't found anything for Shiver yet." Marina explained. "Ay ay ay (You do it for me...I'm...done.)" Big man sighed as he left. "Rina, you...stay here I'm gonna go get BM." Callie sighed. Marina nodded as she watch Callie run After Big man. However, she was going to have a little talk with Mr. Purple beard.

"Sold!" A woman smiled as she handed the final megaphone to a Inkling girl. Marie stood there in shock as she watched the woman run away with her prize. "Y-you sure you don't have anymore!?" Marie asked frantically. "Just sold the last one ma'am." The woman explained. "B-but...isn't there at least 1 left! P-please I need it!" Marie panicked. "Last time ma'am, we don't have anymore. We're sure of it." The woman said. "Come on Marie, let's go." Frye whispered, to the older Inkling. "N-no...I-I-" Marie began. "Mar, come on!" Frye yelled, pulling the Inkling with her. She pulled Marie into a bathroom, where the two could have some privacy. "T-that Can't be the last one, Frye!" Marie said in panic. "Marie, you heard what she said. There aren't anymore." Frye explained. "Well goody! I fucked it up. Now Pearl can't get shit because I'm too stupid to-" Marie began, before falling to the ground in defeat. "I'm too stupid...to do anything right. It's been 4 years we've done this ritual together. And I can never get the gift on time." Marie sniffled. Frye didn't know what to do. Should she just...stand there. Well...no, this was her boss...her friend. And she was going to help her. She sat down next to Marie, and tried to think of something to say. That was until a sob broke her from her thoughts. No way Marie was crying. Marie never cried...well until now. Now Frye was even more uncomfortable, she wanted to help but...she had no idea what to do at this point. So, she reached a gentle hand out to Marie, unsure of where to go from there. So she just wrapped the Inkling in a hug. The most Frye could do right now, was just be there for Marie...just...be there. JUST BE THERE! Frye had finally found it! The perfect gift for not just her, but for everyone. "Mar-Mar! I-it's okay. You don't have to get Pearl a present." Frye said. "Huh?" Marie asked, looking up at Frye. "Wipe those tears off your pretty face, and follow me!" Frye smiled, as she ran out the bathroom. 

"Ah...shit..." Pearl winced in pain, as she looked at the scar on her arm. Her and Shiver had gotten into a fight over calling each other names. It was all fun in games at first, but it got to the point where Pearl said something so offensive that Shiver attacked her. "Why did I say that to her?" Pearl grumbled to herself, as she watched the blood from her arm dripping onto the tile beneath her. "PEARL!" Frye called in excitement. Pearl looked up to see the Indian Inkling running towards her like a bullet. "I found the perfect gift!" Frye cheered. "Well keep your enthusiasm away from me. I haven't found anything for the person I have, and I made Shiver hate the shit outta me. So fuck off." Pearl snarled, the thought the crack in her voice was clear. "Pearl come on, don't you cry too. Just follow me, this gift...it's for everyone." Frye smiled. Pearl looked at the Inkling before accepting.

It was hard, but Frye eventually gathered everyone around and old diner. "So...I know by the looks of your faces, that NONE of you have found anything?" Frye smirked. Everyone nodded in shame. "Well, no need to be ashamed, because I know the perfect gift. And it's with us everyday." Frye smiled. "What is it, life?" Marie asked. Earning a snicker from Marina. "No...it's us. Just us...simply...being together. That gift....it's one we find stupid. But it's one where if it was taken away from us. We'd break. Sometimes, the gifts you really want, is something you already have, you just overlook it too much. You take advantage of it and want something new, without realizing your filling up a hole you've been digging yourself. Just being with you guys...makes me happy. I may want new stuff every year. But I never want what I already have taken from me. I know the holidays are stressful. And we're always saying we need the perfect gift. But if the person your shopping for TRULY cares about you. They won't care what you get em. They just care...that it came from you." Frye smiled. "You are all each other's gift guys, you just don't see it yet." Frye winked. "You always know what to say, don't you." Shiver smiled as she gave her girlfriend a kiss. "Well of course I do, Shiv!" Frye smiled. "So I guess...that means...we're cool?" Pearl asked Shiver. "Eh, what you said was pretty fucked up. But I'm not gonna bash you over it." Shiver smirked. "I'll take it!" Pearl smirked. "Sooo...we eating here or nah?" Frye asked, earning a knowing look from her friends. "What!? I'm hungry!" Frye giggled.