Chapter Text
Holidays were less of a special time of year and more of an odd time. Since Joll, Conk, Kibble, Buzz, and Golem were constantly on the move—traveling from dungeon to dungeon— they couldn't exactly show up to a gathering of friends and family as they wouldn't even know where to find them.
"Open up! It's time to receive your daily tokens!" This was the case every year until Joll woke up to the villager of this week's dungeon knocking on his door.
"What? I don't remember this dungeon having a token system!" The frog opened the door of his one-bedroom wooden-and-cobble hut, confused.
"Heh—yeah, you're right, I'm just here to deliver some letters." The villager laughed, handing him two letters, a Silver coated one addressed to Color civilization, and the other looking as if it were cut straight from a geode addressed to the Blockfruit Seas.
"What?! You got letters from Candy and Jackswano??" Conk asked in utter shock when Joll showed him the letters, "who were they again?"
Joll didn't even shake his head at that, way too used to Conk's stupidity to the point where he's subconsciously tuned it out.
"Jackswano was from Color civ remember? we helped him with the revolution?"
"Oh, why didn't we make a movie from that?"
"Uh, maybe because we were in prison for most of it?"
"Oh yeah."
Joll began to read the letter aloud as Golem, Kibble, and Buzz also gathered around him.
"My dearest, Joll.
This year, as thanks for assisting me and the other colored civilizations in our quest for freedom—and as friends in general— I would like to invite you to my family's Christmas party. If you and your group decide to show up, I look forward to seeing you in the Totem kingdom.
Yours truly, Jackswano of Color Civilization."
Golem sauntered over, peering down at the letter, written in unnaturally neat handwriting, as if the author had gone through multiple drafts just for a letter as short as this.
"God he's just like his father…" Joll thought he heard the golem mutter under his metallic breath.
"What?" the frog turned to his friend, not quite sure of what he said.
"Nothing…He put a comma after dearest, good for you." Golem dodged the question, heading elsewhere pretend to be busy.
Joll shrugged this behavior off as something the plot will reveal to him later and opened the next letter, this one from Candy.
"Geez, I hope she's not too mad about the whole 'abandoning her 5 minutes into our relationship' thing." he sighed, starting to read the loopy handwriting.
Dear Joll,
As you know, ever since you left the blockfruit seas, I have been traveling on my own. Even with the loss of my short-lived power, I was still able to form a small band of adventurers and sail from island to island. On one of my adventures I actually made it back to Amethyst Island and caught up with some old friends and family. During that time, I've uncovered something about my past—no—about our past that you may or may not know of. These details will have to wait, however, as the reason for my writing of this letter is to invite you to my family's Xmas party which will be taking place in Totem kingdom!
I hope to introduce you to my mother, uncle, and cousin.
(the last of which refuses to believe I have a boyfriend, so do show up if not to prove him wrong.)
With love, Candy
"You and Candy are dating?" was the first thing Conk asked, having somehow sat through the letter without interrupting.
"Yeah—I mean no—I mean… I don't really know anymore.." Joll stammered, while it's true he held some affection towards the girl, he's not sure if it's truly romantic anymore—or ever was. "I think…I used to like her? We were close? but… I don't think I like her like that." The frog scratched his head, conflicted. On one hand, he didn't want to lead her on, especially if she thought they were dating the entire time, but On the other, Christmas was right around the corner and he didn't know how long it took for letters to travel between dungeons.
"Maybe you should break up with her at the party!" Conk blurted, earning looks from everyone in their group, even Golem looked up from his zoning out guarding.
"Uh, no Conk, that's rude as hell." Joll explained to his friend. "Uh, well, Jackswano also invited me to his Christmas party, I can just tell her I already made plans to go to his!" he then continued, taking out the silver card.
"Woof! Woof!" Kibble barked.
"Kibble says both thier parties are at the same place!" the rock translated, making Joll do a double take. "Wait, why do you look like—OOOOOHHHHHH!"
A few days later…
"Oh damn, now that it's actually Christmas Eve, I'm kinda nervous." Jackswano fidgeted, having nothing else to do with his remaining time as the guests arrived. The palace the party was taking place in was incredibly grand, taller than any structure the boy has ever seen
"Why? Think things'll go wrong?" asked a boy in nothing but old blue overalls and a pancake hat on top of his obnoxiously orange hair, arriving with a present so messily wrapped, it could have been mistaken for sparkly trash had it not had a barely legible tag with:
TO: JAXUANO
FROM: RUSTY
written on it.
"Well, you know someone…Important is coming…and—" he blushed slightly before changing the subject "and also you spelled my name wrong." the brunette pointed at the tag.
"What??" Rusty looked down utterly shocked. "But Candy said—"
"Said what?" Just then, a young woman with short blue hair wearing an impossibly sparkly dress appeared behind them, leaning in the doorway whilst sucking on a candy cane.
"Candy, did you teach Rusty the wrong spelling of my name?" Jackswano asked his cousin, exasperated.
Candy leaned down to read the tag on the gift, as if inspecting an artifact, ignoring the way Rusty stiffened and lightly blushed the way he always did when a sentient female got within 5 feet on him, "I don't see what's wrong." she deadpanned, playing dumb.
"That's not how you spell my name!" the brunette exclaimed.
"Humph, who knows? maybe you're just too dumb to know how to spell it." his cousin snarked, "You did trade creative mode for eggs, after all."
Before Jackswano could retaliate, a knock sounded from the gate. As Totem answered it, a frog stepped through, looking dazzled at the grandeur of the castle. Seeing this, both the prince of Iron and princess of Amethyst rushed towards the door
"Welcomed! Esteemed…uh, who are you?" the totem asked
Jackswano called out: "He's the guy I've been talking about!"
at the same time Candy excitedly announced: "He's my boyfriend!"
"…"
"WHAT?!"