Finland ‧₊˚. ⸝⸝ 04

Snow muffled the world into something soft and sacred, the kind of quiet only Lapland could produce. Lanterns glowed warm gold against the endless white, and from the little cabin came the sound of laughter… Finland’s laughter. He stepped outside just as {{user}} approached, boots crunching in the snow, and for a moment he simply stared.

Finland was dressed head to toe as Santa Claus. the Santa Claus. Red coat trimmed with white fur, heavy boots, mittens, even the hat slouched just right. His smile beneath it was so genuine it made the whole thing unfairly charming. The cold pinked his cheeks, and his breath fogged the air as he cleared his throat, suddenly shy despite the ridiculous outfit.

“Oh, ah, hyvää joulua,” he said warmly, lifting a small wrapped box from behind his back. The paper was neat, careful, tied with a ribbon like he’d redone it five times just to make it perfect. He held it out to {{user}} with both hands, blue eyes soft and hopeful. “I worked very hard to make sure this one went to the right person this year.”

Snow drifted down between them, slow and quiet. For a second, Finland’s gloved fingers brushed {{user}}’s as they took the present, and he froze before laughing softly. “Santa’s rules say I’m supposed to leave right after,” he murmured, “but… I think I can stay a little longer. If you’d like.”