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A Vorry Merry Christmas Party

Prologue

"Ha, perfect," James said triumphantly. He swirled the contents of a rounded flask, watching as the concoction inside faded from intense amber to nearly colorless. Setting aside the eyedropper he'd been using, he removed his respirator mask and took a sniff. The mixture in the flask gave off a pleasant aroma of freshly-baked gingerbread.

The white raccoon looked quite proud of himself. Reaching into his lab coat for a sharpie, he scribbled the flask's contents onto a label, then slapped it onto the bottle and firmly corked it shut. He set the bottle labeled "Gingerbread Man" aside, resting in on a rack where a number of similar flasks had already been placed, each bearing various identifiers.

"This is going to be a hell of a gift," the raccoon chuckled. He ran a finger down a list of items that he'd been requested to make for the Christmas party, then checked off the concoction he'd just finished. A smirk played over his muzzle when he read the next item.

"Peppermint Reductrex. That should be easy enough."

Donning his respirator once more, the white raccoon hummed a Christmas tune as he began to gather the materials needed for the next special brew...

* * * * * * * * * *

"No, no, you're doing it wrong," Frosty groaned. The white cheetah's tail flicked with mild agitation as he stepped over to Andrei, an enormous hyena-zebra hybrid. The striped male looked genuinely hurt by the cheetah's criticism.

"Sorry," Andrei muttered, ears flattened as he slumped forward.

Frosty sighed. Despite having demonstrated to him more than three times now, the "hyebra" was still proving to be more of a hindrance than anything when it came to wrapping gifts for the upcoming party. The box looked like it had been prepared by a child, messily taped wrapping paper bundled around the small package. While the size of Andrei's hands made the delicate task difficult for the oversized male, mental capacity proved to be the biggest hurdle.

Feeling a little guilty that he'd chastised the deceptively-sensitive hulk, Frosty reached up and gently rubbed Andrei's shoulder. "Don't worry, Andrei, you'll get it down with a little practice. Why don't you work on putting up the Christmas tree? We need a strong back to bring it inside."

Andrei brightened up, looking eager to take on the task. "Okay, kitty." The huge striped male rose from his spot on the floor, bits of stray tape clinging to his fur while excess scraps of paper fell to the floor. Andrei didn't seem to notice the tape as he strolled to the front door and stepped outside, briefly introducing the room's occupants to a cold, wintery gust.

Turning to Surge, Frosty was surprised to see that the white fox was making impressive time with his gift-wrapping. A collection of identically-colored packages lay in a neat pile beside the electric fox, looking as if they'd been perfectly wrapped by a machine. Gold ribbon adorned each red box, a festive bow topping it off.

"You're sure everyone is gonna show up for this?" Surge asked.

"I certainly hope so," Frosty replied, a hint of doubt in his voice as he returned to his own wrapping duties. "I did get a hold of everyone that RSVP'd, though."

Sliding over to his mate, the cheetah leaned in and kissed Surge on the cheek. The white fox smiled and rubbed a glowing blue nose against Frosty's neck in return, then wrapped his arms around the feline and pulled him into his lap. Frosty giggled, but squirmed and batted the fox's paws away when they wandered into his lap and squeezed.

"Hey! Save it for the party," the cheetah giggled, attempting to extract himself from his mate's lap.

A paw snuck beneath the cheetah's soft pajamas and groped him directly, making Frosty blush. He whined in protest as Surge persisted, lightly rolling the cheetah's balls while giving him a soft jolt of electricity. Whimpering and wiggling in his mate's lap, Frosty could only give in to the attention. The fox's other arm was snugly wrapped around his waist to prevent him from escaping.

A short pink fennec, who had been meticulously working on calligraphy Christmas cards at the dining room table, simply rolled his eyes at their antics and returned to his task. "Take it to the bedroom, you two," he muttered. He furrowed his brow as he scrawled something on the inside of the card.

Frosty grinned as he retrieved an empty box and placed it in his lap over Surge's paw. "Hey Ichi, I've got a present for you."

His large ears perked as the pink fox glanced Frosty's direction. Despite his best attempt, he couldn't avoid snickering at the cheetah's crude humor. "Cute, Frosty. But you know that Andrei is all the man I'll ever need."

Surge snorted softly in amusement and nibbled one of Frosty's ears. He then slid his paw out of the cheetah's pajamas and gave him a little push. "Okay, enough fooling around. Let's get back to work. There's still plenty that needs to be done before the party..."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Such a sexy kitty," Surge growled. He took a moment to admire the costume the white cheetah was wearing. Per the fox's request, Frosty was dressed up as Mrs. Claus for the party, though the cheetah had chosen to take the "Sexy Mrs. Claus" route.

Frosty was trussed up in a red one-piece dress, consisting of a skirt that barely covered his rump and a snug-fitting top, fastened at the waist by a thick black belt. A pair of red arm-warmers accented the cheetah's forearms, while thigh-length white stockings adorned the cheetah's legs. A red Santa cap finished off the ensemble, hanging to the side and covering one of the cheetah's ears.

Surge had donned a fitting costume, though he was dressed as a much more conservative Santa Claus than his mate. The white fox bore the traditional red pants, robe, and black belt. Much like Frosty, he chose to forego the heavy black boots in favor of bare feet, especially considering that the party was being hosted in their home.

"Try to keep yourself contained until later," Frosty giggled. He snuggled up to his mate and gave him a kiss, purring softly at the familiar tingle of electricity that graced his lips.

Surge reached a paw down and gave the cheetah's rump a firm squeeze, grinning to him. "I'll try, don't worry."

Frosty wiggled his hips, then turned to watch Ichi and Andrei, who had just finished building a cozy fire. It crackled and popped noisily as Andrei closed the screen, casting a warm orange glow over the living room when Ichi dimmed the lights. The small pink fennec returned to Andrei's side, cuddling up to him when a pair of huge arms embraced his waist.

"So, where's James? He was invited to the party, wasn't he?" Frosty asked.

Surge shrugged. "He was invited, yes. He might not be done with the gifts."

The cheetah's ears perked when there was a loud knock at the door. Everyone else similarly perked up, eyes focused on the disturbance. It was a bit earlier than anticipated for guests to begin showing up. Ichi was the first to the door, his bushy pink tail wagging as he turned the handle. A cold breeze rushed into the room as soon as the door opened.

"Sorry, I'm a little early. I got here quicker than anticipated," came a familiar voice.

Ichi smiled warmly and stepped to one side, gesturing inside. "Well, we're not going to leave you out in the cold for showing up before the party. Make yourself at home."

Frosty grinned as a diminutive spotted hyena stepped inside. He was almost the same height as Ichi, excluding the fennec's generously proportioned ears. A thick jacket was wrapped around his middle to protect him from the cold. A familiar orange scarf hung loosely around the hyena's neck, fluttering lightly when a breeze whistled through the open door. Ichi closed the door behind Retna, then offered to take the hyena's jacket. Retna removed it and passed it to the pink fennec, then gazed around the room.

Not to his surprise, he was the only party guest thus far. He offered Frosty a wave when he laid eyes on him and grinned, making his way over to the white cheetah and his mate. "Thanks for inviting me, guys. Hope you don't mind that I got here so early."

Frosty shook his head, then stepped forward and hugged the pudgy hyena tightly. "Not at all. Feel free to help yourself to some snacks. Go easy on the punch, though."

The hyena's grin widened as he leaned up and lightly mouthed over the cheetah's snout. "Snacks? Don't mind if I do."

Frosty blushed and squirmed against Retna, but immediately tugged his muzzle free of the smaller hyena's lips. "H-hey. No eating the hosts. I'm not a snack."

A black tongue flicked over Retna's lips as he smirked, wiping away a subtle hint of vanilla that lingered as a result of his brief sampling. "Aww, I disagree, but if you insist. Are the guests off-limits, as well?"

Surge, who had previously been quiet to allow the friends to converse, chimed in. "That's debatable. We'd prefer you waited until later, though, so everyone can get a change to mingle."

Retna nodded understandingly. "I suppose I can behave for a little bit." With a mischievous twinkle, Retna slid away from the pair and migrated toward the refreshments table, where a number of snacks and appetizers were laid out.

Slipping an arm around his mate, Surge lightly pressed himself against the cheetah's hip. Frosty could feel a subtle bulge in the fox's lap. "How come you don't invite him over more often?"

"You'd never see me around if I did," Frosty giggled.

"I could deal with that," Surge responded quietly. He entertained the thought of the small hyena snacking on his lover, the subtle bulge growing much more prominent in his red pants. His happy thought was interrupted as the doorbell rang, however.

Still close to the door, Ichi answered it almost immediately. He blinked in surprise when he was greeted by a shirtless brown otter, a blue feather fluttering lightly in his hair as the breeze pulled at it. A bit speechless, Ichi invited the lutrine in with a gesture and stepped to the side.

"Aren't you cold?" he eventually asked as the male stepped inside.

Brushing a bit of snow off his shoulders, the otter shook his head. "Not at all! This fur isn't just for waterproofing, you know."

Lightly shaking himself off, Eidolon waved enthusiastically when he spotted Frosty and Surge. The otter bounded toward the pair and practically pounced them, nearly knocking the cheetah over. The white fox planted his feet to keep them upright, grunting as the cheetah's hips bounced somewhat uncomfortably against his perked up groin.

"Hey, Frosty! Thanks for having me over," Eid said happily as he squeezed the cheetah and his mate. "You too, Surge."

The fox nodded lightly in response, a paw drifting down to gently rub his crotch which was somewhat tender from the impact with his mate's hips.

"Anytime, Eid" Frosty replied. "Help yourself to some snacks. Retna's already here if you want to pounce him."

The lutrine perked up at this and nodded quickly. He was off in a flash, scurrying toward the unsuspecting hyena who had turned his back after the otter's initial disturbance. A startled shriek echoed through the room as Eid knocked him over enthusiastically.

Frosty rolled his eyes, turning his head to kiss Surge's cheek. "Otters," he muttered under his breath. He hadn't expected Eidolon to take his suggestion to pounce Retna so literally.

The fox chuckled at Frosty's quip, returning the kiss. "At least they're getting along well," he observed, watching the pair chatter excitedly. They occasionally stole glances in Frosty and Surge's direction, only to continue talking and giggle from time to time. Neither Surge nor Frosty could clearly make out what they were saying over the Christmas music that was playing in the background, but they were suspicious that the pair might be plotting something.

Another knock at the door announced the next arrival. Ichi was greeted by a small grey and white feline, a bushy tail flicking behind him anxiously. Stepping inside, the cat shook himself off, dusting the entryway with light snow. He pulled back a purple hood and shook his head lightly, ears flicking as he gazed around.

When he met eyes with the cheetah, he offered him a friendly wave. He made his way over to Frosty and offered a paw. "Hey, I'm Snack. Nice to meet you."

The cheetah chuckled softly, giving the feline a quick look over. "I'm Frosty. Is Snack your name, or your status on the food chain?"

The cat blushed noticeably at the open question and offered a soft, nervous laugh. "Uh...whatever makes you happy."

"I think I like the latter option better," the white fox chuckled. The observation made the feline fidget nervously, trying to hide his embarrassment while mewling quietly. Surge winked and gave Frosty a hug, then lightly kissed the cheetah's cheek. "I'm gonna disappear to the kitchen for a few. Let me know if you need anything, sweetie."

Frosty nodded softly and returned the kiss, then focused back on the small cat as his mate departed. "So, welcome to the party, Snack. Help yourself to some...uh...snacks until the other guests show up."

The cat nodded, glancing over his shoulder when the doorbell rang. "Thanks, Frosty." The grey and white cat moved cautiously toward the refreshments, trying not to draw too much attention to himself when he neared Eid and Retna. The pair was still chattering excitedly, though interrupted their conversation to greet the newcomer.

Ichi gave a cheery greeting as a pair of faces introduced themselves. A slightly-darker-than-normal leopard and a crimson wolf stood at the doorstep, dusted heavily in white snow. They looked anxious to get inside, and for good reason. It was beginning to snow generously outside, a white layer collecting on the sidewalk. They lightly kicked their feet off before they stepped inside. Zander brushed snow off his shoulders, having only worn a pair of black cargo pants.

Frosty waved to the leopard and wolf, smiling brightly. "Hey, welcome to the party, guys. Help yourself to some food and warm up by the fire if needed."

Zander took Frosty up on his latter offer. The leopard's spotted tail flicked slowly, dropping bits of snow here and there as he crouched in front of the fireplace to warm his hands. The crimson wolf, however, chose to approach Frosty. He threw his arms around the cheetah and pulled him into a tight hug, causing Frosty to emit a strained squeak as he was lifted off the floor.

"Nice to see you too, Keba," he grunted, squirming in the firm embrace.

The wolf relented, but leaned in to lick Frosty's cheek as he let him down. His bushy tail wagged excitedly as he glanced briefly to the guests, then back to the cheetah. "Thanks for having me, Frosty."

"Anytime, hun. Make yourself at home. The party hasn't officially started yet, but about half the guests are here already."

The wolf nodded and gave Frosty another hug, then migrated toward the other end of the room to introduce himself to the other party guests. Frosty followed close behind and helped himself to a glass of punch. He lifted the glass and sniffed the crimson liquid briefly, then chuckled. The aroma of alcohol was distinct over the cranberry juice. He sipped at it as he returned to the middle of the room.

A muffled crunch caught Frosty's attention, distracting him from the front door. He gazed toward the Christmas tree, spotting a grey and while feline crouched down and lightly batting at the ornaments. The cat's tail flicked excitedly back and forth as he pawed at the shining metallic balls. Another one fell from the tree, but fortunately didn't break.

A bit perplexed at Snack's unusually feral behavior, he decided to investigate further. "Snack, what are you doing?" he asked as he stepped up behind the small feline.

A startled "meow!" erupted from the cat as he leapt to his feet, almost knocking Frosty over in the process. His tail bushed up, the fur standing on end as he whipped around to face Frosty. "Uh...n-nothing. Was just playing."

Frosty sighed, eyeing the shards of broken ornament on the floor. He bent down and picked up the still-intact silver ball, placing it back on the branch. The branch's movement caused nearby ornaments to jiggle, grabbing Snack's attention once more. The grey cat crouched down, eyeing the ornaments as if they were prey.

Frosty lightly nudged the cat with an arm. "Please don't break all our Christmas ornaments. Try to contain yourself a little. Mingle with the guests or something."

Returning his attention to the cheetah, Snack nodded softly and did his best to distract himself from the Christmas tree. As he watched the guests talking, something else caught his attention. He crouched down next to the Christmas tree and simply watched for now, the tip of his tail flicking slowly back and forth.

"Don't get into any trouble," Frosty warned, as the closing front door distracted his attention from the small cat.

A red fox stood at the entryway, typing on a wrist-mounted computer. He eventually peeled his attention away from his computer and waved to Frosty, then slowly stepped up to the white cheetah. "Hey, Frosty. Good to see you."

"You too, Landon. Glad you made it okay. Seems like everyone is showing up with more and more snow on them."

The fox chuckled. "Yeah, it started to snow not long ago. Adds a nice touch to a holiday party like this."

Frosty nodded. "Certainly opens up opportunities. At any rate, settle in and get comfortable. We've got a stack of board games set up for anyone that wants them, as well as plenty of snacks. Don't go overboard with the punch, though. It was spiked a bit on the heavy side."

Landon snorted softly. "Well, I'd prefer something non-spiked."

"Plenty of eggnog in the fridge. Feel free to help yourself."

The fox nodded and adjusted a backpack that he was carrying, then slipped over to a card table in the corner that was stacked with various board and tabletop games. He glanced to the other guests and pondered inviting them over, but decided to wait until later when more guests had showed up.

"Hey, spottybutt." A familiar voice pulled the cheetah's attention away from the guests, whom he had been observing for ensure they were getting along well.

"What's up, Ichi?"

"I'm gonna slip out for a bit and get a few things from the grocery store. Do you need anything?"

Frosty shook his head. "Not that I can think of right away. Keep it quick, the rest of the guests will probably be showing up soon. And be careful! It's snowing out there."

The fox nodded and hurried out of the living room just as there was a knock at the front door. Frosty wandered over and pulled the door open, but paused and blinked at the sight before him. A white feline with a half-black face greeted him with a warm smile. A pair of impressive white wings adorned the cats back, tucked close to his body to protect them from the falling snow. A golden halo hovered over the cat's head, glowing gently.

"I am the ghost of Christmas present," the cat started.

"Very funny, Mizu," Frosty chuckled. He reached up and lightly flicked the cat's fake halo, causing it to bounce. "Come inside, you're letting the snow in."

Adjusting the halo, the cat kicked the snow off his feet and stepped inside. He slipped out of his jacket and hung it on the coat rack, allowing himself to stretch his wings. "Looks like I got here just in time. The snow is really starting to come down out there."

"Well, here's hoping we don't get snowed in," Frosty chuckled as he watched the snow through the open door. "We're not prepared for a mass sleepover."

The white cat smiled and excused himself to say hello to the other guests. Just as Frosty was about to close the door, he spotted another figure coming up the walkway. The increasing amounts of snowfall made it difficult to make him out, though. As he approached, the cheetah's grin widened. He recognized the thick tail as it swayed back and forth with each footfall. The dark otter paused at the front step and shook himself off, his thick tail flicking away the clinging snow.

Frosty looked the otter over, pausing at his kilt. "Isn't it a little cold to be wearing that?"

The otter snorted softly. "It's never too cold for a kilt." He then gestured to Frosty's own attire. "I could say the same for you, anyway."

Frosty blushed, lightly tugging down the white-tipped skirt. "Okay, you win that one. Come on in, Garn."

The lutrine grinned and stepped around Frosty, sneaking a grope at the cheetah's backside as he passed. The cat's blush darkened as he followed Garn inside, his face hot. He closed the door and sipped at his drink, sighing pleasantly at the warming sensation from the alcoholic punch. The cat's tail flicked as he glanced across the room. Eid had finally peeled himself away from Retna and migrated over to Landon. Mizuhiro was excitedly chatting with Zander by the punch bowl, while the other guests were lounging next to the fireplace.

Frosty peered at the clock, then through the living room window. Snow was still falling outside and didn't seem to show any indication of letting up. There were still a handful of guests that hadn't arrived yet. Watching the snow, he hoped they would make it without incident.

A sigh of relief escaped Frosty's lips when the doorbell rang. Finishing the last of his cocktail, he set the glass aside and opened the front door. A grey and brown coyote offered a rather timid wave and introduced himself as Tannis. Frosty tipped his head to the side at the coyote's choice of clothing; a simple brown vest and shorts.

"You're, like, the third person that's shown up in summer clothing during a snowstorm."

The coyote chuckled softly as he stepped inside. "I like to wear what's comfortable. Fur makes a great insulator."

Frosty shrugged softly. "Well, if you change your mind, there's still a little room by the fireplace. It looks like space is going fast, though."

The coyote nodded and made his way toward the fireplace, but didn't sit immediately next to the rest of the crowd. He maintained a bit of space for the time being and listened to the conversations in progress. Mizuhiro seemed to be doing the majority of the talking, carrying on the conversation while others simply listened, for the most part.

Having been focused on the party guests, Frosty nearly jumped at a loud knock. When the door opened, the cheetah was greeted by a rather large green Raichu in a black hoodie. His lower body appeared to be bare, hips strategically covered by the hoodie. His long tail flicked quickly back and forth to prevent the buildup of snow.

"Hey, Freaky. Glad you made it."

"Thanks, Frosty," the Raichu replied in his characteristic accent. It was a unique blend of English and Scottish, something that the cheetah never quite got used to. It was something that James frequently enjoyed teasing him over, having a Scottish background of his own.

"I'm surprised you're not bundled up. Wouldn't the snow short you out?" the cheetah inquired as he invited the green creature inside.

The Raichu's eyes rolled lightly. "That's not how it works, lad."

"Oh. Well, learn a new thing every day, I suppose. Help yourself to a drink or some snacks. Most of the guests are gathered around the fireplace, but there are places to sit as well."

"Plenty of snacks," the green pokemon chuckled. His gaze wasn't directed at the table, however. He was sizing up the guests when he said this. The Raichu's belly growled softly as he made his way toward the fireplace to get properly acquainted with the other party guests.

"Heads up!"

Frosty turned in the direction of the voice just in time to get pelted in the chest by a snowball. Chunks of loosely-packed snow exploded in front of him, a white splatter remaining on his red top. Frosty reached up and brushed away the snowy as he scanned for his "attacker." Moments later a figure materialized in front of the cheetah, having been strategically camouflaged in the snow. Frosty didn't have time to react as he was knocked over by a pouncing feline.

A bushy spotted tail flicked playfully as a snow leopard perched over Frosty, grinning down at him. "Caught you!"

Frosty lightly pushed the cat off and sat up, brushing himself off once more. "Nice to see you too, Snowy. Glad you could make it safely in this weather."

The snow leopard giggled. "Are you kidding? This is great! I love snow." He dove into the snow on the front lawn, kicking up a white cloud in the process.

"Well, come inside, kitty," Frosty chuckled. "There will be plenty of time to play in the snow later."

The snow leopard nodded and stood up, snow clinging to his clothes. He shook himself off before he followed Frosty inside. "Wow, lots of people here already." The cat stepped away from Frosty and made his way over to the edge of the crowd. He didn't introduce himself right away, listening to the conversations already in progress for now.

Frosty's attention returned to the door after a firm knock. When he opened the door, a tall black shire frowned at him and folded his arms.

"Why aren't you at work?" he asked, tapping a hoofed foot on the porch.

Frosty blinked, looking quite alarmed. "I was cleared for time off. I even invited you to the party."

"I didn't hear any of this," the stud continued.

"I...but..." Frosty stuttered, suddenly visibly nervous.

Flare couldn't contain himself. His stern frown broke into a teasing smirk. "I'm just messing with you, kitty. I hope I'm not late. Had a few things to finish up at work before I could head this way."

Frosty breathed a heavy sigh. "Ass."

"Shire," Flare corrected with a chuckle.

Rolling his eyes, the cheetah invited Flare in and closed the door, relieved that all of the guests had arrived safely. "I only have one rule, Flare. No experiments."

Flare chuckled and gave the cheetah a firm hug. "Don't worry, Frosty. I leave my job at work. I'm just here to have fun."

The white feline nodded and gave Flare a push, encouraging him to join the other guests. The shire lightly groped the cheetah's backside before he strolled over to the cozy fire. Frosty's attention was drawn to Surge a moment later as he emerged from the kitchen. Surge grinned and slipped an arm around the cheetah, then held a paw over his head with a familiar leafy decoration.

"Mistletoe."

Frosty giggled softly and leaned up, pressing his lips against Surge's for a loving kiss. A paw slipped down as he did so, giving his mate's crotch a soft squeeze. The white fox growled softly and groped the cat's rump in return before the pair broke the tender embrace.

"Everyone is here now, sweetie. I guess that means we should get the party rolling, hmm?"

Frosty shook his head gently. "Not until Andrei and Ichi get back. I'd feel bad starting without them."

Right on cue, the front door swung open. The hulking figure of the striped hybrid loomed in the doorway as he stooped forward to let Ichi off his shoulder. The pink fennec hopped down and shook the snow off his ears. Andrei followed him through the front door, pushing it closed with a huge foot. Glass bottles rattled in brown paper bags as the pair made their way into the kitchen.

"Well, I guess that settles that," the cheetah chuckled. "Let's get this party started, foxy..."