Holiday Special 2 of 4 - Dirty Fang's Gift Exchange

Author's Note ~ Just a reminder that these special holiday chapters are going to be released throughout this month. This one takes place after "The East Side" storyline but before Chapter 44. Hope you enjoy!

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On The East Side of Starlight City, many people celebrate the holidays differently. Whether that's by decorating a tree, buying close friends gifts, or some other tradition. Almost everyone has something they can look forward to for this season.

For Vanessa Deli, she finds herself in a penthouse surrounded by fellow Dirty Fang members. They're inside a cozy penthouse with a fireplace lit, and Christmas decorations lining up all around the walls. Eight people are sitting on the very long white leather couch in the center of the room.

At the end of one side is Vanessa Deli, who's cold from how much community service she was forced to do after her stunt at the MSA Winter Gala.

Next to her is fellow Seastar High student, Blanko Deck, who's wearing a red-and-white striped hoodie and Santa hat. Despite how eager he is to be there, he doesn't seem to notice he has the crumbs of Christmas cookies on his face as he devours yet another one.

Next to Blanko is Graham Dirt, who has taken his durag off and has his wavy hair showing.

Beside Graham is the second in command of Dirty Fang, Andy Nibble, who is wearing a red & white striped bucket hat that covers his eyes.

A bit further away from Any Nibble is Purple, the third in command of Dirty Fang who is wearing a white jacket.

Past Purple are three Dirty Fang members Vanessa hasn't met before, an old man who's asleep, a skinny short guy, and a very tall muscular woman.

"It's a shame most of our members couldn't appear for today," the head of Dirty Fang remarks as he makes his way over to the couch while holding a huge duffel bag, "But let's just enjoy our lil' white elephant gift exchange."

Vanessa looks to see the head, Mason Makinsley, flop onto the couch in between Andy & Purple. Their leader is wearing an unbuttoned red Santa jacket with no undershirt, black cargo pants, black round sunglasses, and a Santa hat.

"Who wants their gifts first?" Makinsley smirks.

With the gang of Dirty Fang, every year they have a white elephant gift exchange event at Makinsley's penthouse apartment. You need to have already signed up saying you'll attend to participate so everyone can go gift shopping for you. The gimmick of the white elephant gift exchange being one simple rule; the gifts should be funny. 

Vanessa wasn't too keen on going to this, but after getting pressured by Blanko to participate, she ended up here.

"Well if nobody is going to go first I'll just open mine," Makinsley sighs as he reaches into the duffel bag and takes out his gifts.

He's gotten eight gifts in total; several cheap white t-shirts from Andy Nibble, skincare products from Purple, a nice silver watch from the old man, black winter gloves from Graham, a Viking helmet from the muscular woman, a baby crib from the short guy, breath mints from Blanko, & a swiss army knife from Vanessa.

"Thanks, guys," Makinsley remarks before turning his attention to Andy, Blanko, the short guy, the muscular woman, & Purple, "Though what's the meaning of your five's gifts?"

"I asked Andy and he said to get that," Blanko remarks.

"Your breath sucks, and you could really benefit from wearing a shirt for once," Andy jokes.

"What's wrong with good hygiene?" Purple questions.

"You can never know what life is gonna throw at you," the short guy, Nail sighs.

"The fuck you implying?" Makinsley asks.

"Just keep your horizons broad and you'll be prepared for anything," Nail remarks as he gives a thumbs up.

"I just thought a Viking helmet would be funny," the tall muscular woman, Hammer adds.

"Okay then, well let's see what you got Nibble," Makinsley jokes as he tosses the gifts at his second in command.

Andy opens up the gifts to see what he got; Makinsley gave him a 10-foot-tall bucket hat, Purple gifted him a toy of 'Woody' from 'Toy Story', a nice silver watch from the old man, snack food from Graham, boxing gloves from Hammer, a cheap bucket hat from Nail, a propellor cap from Blanko, & some cheap lollipops from Vanessa.

"Thanks for the food I'll make sure to nibble on them," Andy Nibble sighs before looking at Makinsley and Hammer, "Though why did you gift me these things?"

"I thought it was obvious, I wanna spar when we get the chance," Hammer states.

"I just figured since I haven't seen you without a bucket hat, and that you tend to cover your eyes, why not go all the way and cover the rest of your ugly mug," Makinsley jokes.

"If I did that my girlfriend would get sad," Nibble retorts.

"Wait, you have a girlfriend?-" Makinsley asks befuddles.

Moving onto the next person, Purple; he received a cheap dollar store camera from Makinsley, a purple crayon from Andy Nibble, a nice silver watch from the old man, fake tattoo stickers from Graham, boxing gloves from Hammer, some earrings from Nail, a taser from Blanko, and a keychain from Vanessa.

"You sure you want to try and fight me?" Purple questions Hammer.

"You bet!" Hammer responds.

"Hey I feel like I'm sensing a pattern with that dude," Blanko mentions as he points to the sleeping old man.

"Oh yeah, I didn't even know he was going to be here. Did anybody get him a gift?" Makinsley questions.

The silence answers his question so they move on to Graham Dirt. Outside of the nice silver watch from the old man, Blanko gifting him a new leather jacket, and Vanessa gifting him a vinyl, the rest of them gifted him a bag of dirt.

"Do you get it?" Nail asks.

Graham just sighs before trunking to Blanko & Vanessa, "Thanks for the gifts."

"Don't mention it!" Blanko shouts as he gives a thumbs up.

Up next are both Hammer and Nail since the couple both received a hammer and some nails from everyone, even the old man. Hammer finds the joke hysterical while Nail isn't as amused.

"Really guys?" Nail questions.

"Aye, what did you just give Graham Dirt again?" Makinsley reminds Nail of.

Nail falls silent, accepting the joke gift.

The next person to open their gifts is Blanko Deck. He opens them up to find; 'kickboxing for dummies' that Makinsley bought for him, Andy gifted him a comb. Purple gifted him a box of Cheerios, The old man gave him a nice silver watch, Graham gifted him 15 copies of last year's soccer video game, Hammer gifted him some boxing gloves, Nail gifted him a deck of cards, and Vanessa gifted him a snowglobe she found at The East Side Express.

Blanko is speechless for a bit.

"Why do you want to throw hands with him? He's still a kid," Graham questions Hammer.

"He's a kickboxer, right? He's gonna need boxing gloves," Hammer responds.

"I'll make sure to use all of these, thanks so much!" Blanko responds with a genuine smile.

"You weren't supposed to like the joke gift," Nail groans.

"Are you kidding me, I'm sure I can find some use for it!" Blanko remarks.

"Well I'm glad you liked 'em, kid," Mason Makinsley smirks before looking at Vanessa, "Now I believe it's your turn to open your gifts."

Vanessa is a bit hesitant at first as she opens her first gift, which turns out to be a bunch of toy vans.

"Those should help take you around town, Vanessa," Makinsley jokes.

Vanessa Deli opens up her next gift; a gift card for a local deli.

"Vanny, do you get it?" Andy Nibble asks.

"Yes I got it," Vanessa sighs.

The third gift she opens is a uniform for the same local deli.

"Did you guys coordinate this?" Vanessa asks as she looks at Purple & Andy Nibble.

Purple begins to say, "No-"

"Yes," Andy remarks.

Not wanting to see who's telling the truth, Vanessa moves on to the next gift which is a nice silver watch.

"I wonder who got that one," Nail jokes as he looks at the still-sleeping old man.

"Is he dead or something?" Andy asks.

"Lemme check," Purple remarks as he pokes the old man, "Nope Harvey's alive."

"That's a relief," Makinsley sighs before joking, "Mister Benjamin would be very hard to deal with if dead."

Vanessa opens her fourth gift which is a drawing of a butterfly.

"I heard your name means butterfly so I got my barber to draw that for me," Graham remarks.

"Your barber is an artist?" Blanko questions.

"Would explain his last haircut," Andy Nibble jokes.

Vanessa's sixth gift is a joint gift from Hammer and Nail and it's a snow globe with a model deli shop inside.

"Well, our gift would have been funnier if everyone didn't also do the same joke," Nail groans.

"I thought it makes our joke even more funny," Hammer remarks.

And the final gift Vanessa receives is from Blanko, and it's a simple stainless steel reusable water bottle.

"You can also use it for other stuff besides water like hot chocolate," Blanko explains.

"I figured as much but thanks," Vanessa remarks.

With the gift exchange all settled, Mason Makinsley steps up to go turn on the TV and turn on a movie for everyone to watch. As Vanessa sits there chatting with everyone, she can't help but feel something she hasn't felt in a while during the winter season. A feeling of enjoying the holidays.

As the party continues, she decides that she'll attend next year's gift exchange for certain.

Happy Holidays & See You Next Special!~