hold me closer, necromancer

Today had been designated as Christmas decoration day.

Sam hadn't really been enthused for tossing up decorations but between Haley and Frank and Ramon, he'd been talked into it. Brooke had arrived when Sam had been tangled up in Christmas lights and had promptly laughed herself silly. Haley had taken a picture and sent it to their mother and James had merely sniffed and walked out of the room.

The tree went up, the lights finally went from Sam's body to the tree and now they were busy tossing garland on the tree and putting up wreaths on various doors. Ramon was making the front yard a gaudy display of plastic reindeer, sleighs and candy canes. It was going to be an amazing display of tackiness and Sam loved it. He found he really loved it.

The gnomes seemed amazed by the decorations since he figured Douglas had never decorated and the statues even let themselves get draped in lights, thinking them the new fashion. At the end of it, Sam was sitting on the top of his half pipe, watching Haley dance around to Christmas carols while Frank and Ramon tried to talk the Minotaur into putting on a Santa hat.

Things were pretty okay right now.

[NFB but open]

Haley had been trying to organize a 'Welcome to Spring!' party for a few weeks now. When Sam had told her she just wanted a convenient reason to throw a party, she hadn't denied it but she'd still said she was going to use his house. And Sam, being the oh so dutiful brother, had let her. The party was tonight and Haley had commandeered James, Ramon, the gnomes, the minotaur and Frank into helping her decorate. Sam had begged off, not wanting to get in the way and had retreated out to the half pipe in the yard.

He'd climbed to the top to dangled his legs over the edge when he noticed that even the half pipe was decorated with cheery flowers and little sunshine stickers. Sam shook his head and let the stickers be. It made the half pipe a little brighter at least.

Down below on the lawn, the statues were getting decorated in flowery sashes and seemed to be loving. Sam had to admit that even if he wasn't a huge party person, it did seem a little brighter and warmer here now. Haley did good work. Taco appeared in the spot next to Sam before making himself at home in Sam's lap. Sam scritched him underneath his chin and smiled down at the chupacabra.

So far, not a bad way to start a party.

[NFB but open for calls/texts/emails/visits]

Ramon came back a few days later. Things had settled down a bit by that time. Sam was lazing about on the front porch steps, drinking his coffee, petting Taco, and watching the gnomes train Frank in some of their fighting techniques. It was pretty hilarious. He'd bypassed going to the doctor, deciding just to rest his ribs and other injuries. He didn't need to explain this to anyone.

( Ramon and Sam have a manly heart to heart! )

[NFB but open for phone calls/texts. Taken from Necromancing the Stone. No warnings for this part. One more post to go in a day or so and then done-zo!]

Bridin Blackthorn had spent most of her life surrounded by Alpha males. She was used to the swaggering. The posturing. The jockeying for position. But that didn’t mean she always had patience for it. So when Eric grabbed her shoulder and turned her away from the dome, away from her view of Sam—who had just now been blown back against the edge of the circle—she didn’t even think. She reacted, smacking his hand and pushing him back.

( And Brid is a badass and Sam manages to do some stuff! )

[NFB but open for calls/texts! Follows this. Post 2 of 2. Taken from Necromancing the Stone and just about at the end! Warning for: post length, violence.]

As the group all sat in Sam's kitchen, Sam was pretty sure they were all thinking about the same two things. One, that Sexy Gary, at least whilst under the glamour, was indeed worthy of his moniker. He was all thick-corded muscle, auburn hair, and dimples. Sam could easily imagine him in a hot firemen calendar or a sexy lumberjack photo shoot. Not that he spent a lot of time imagining those things.

( Stupid Sexy Gary! )

[NFB but open for phone calls since there's finally time for him to get a phone call or text, if wanted. Taken from Necromancing the Stone. Warning for: talk of corpses and insults directed towards Keanu Reeves. ]

Over iced coffee, Sam had talked with Haley about Brannoc's murder and the Brid's pack being a mess. It was nice to just talk about it, get it off his chest with someone not as closely connected to the whole thing. It was good to get a a fresh viewpoint.

( What Haley suggested... )

[NFB, NFI. Lifted and cut from Necromancing the Stone. Warning for: post length.]

At some point after the funeral, Sam had passed out in the car. The world had started spinning brutally and he had closed his eyes just to stop from puking again. Sleep had overtaken him.

( And canon continues... )

[NFB. TBC since this chapter is super long. Lifted lovingly from Necromancing the Stone Warning for: not much. Nothing objectionable here. Open if you wanna talk to Sam (or, in this case, his sister, mother or James).]

Sam had gotten roped into taking Haley out shopping today. His mom had asked him and Sam really couldn't say no to his mom when she put her mind to it. Besides, he hadn't spent a lot of time with Haley and she did need some new things for school.

Right now, Sam was sitting on a bench in the shoe section of some store while Haley modeled different pairs of sneakers for him.

"The first time it rains and you step in a mud puddle, those are ruined," Sam said of a the pair of white sneakers she had on today.

"I'd just avoid mud puddles," Haley told him smartly.

Sam shook his head. "No, you wouldn't. Or maybe you'd try to avoid it but no one avoids every mud puddle. No one's that good."

"I am," Haley said and stuck a hand on her hip. Sam chuckled and crossed his arms.

"Then, they look fine," he said, nodding. "Very good for not stepping in mud puddles."

"They'll go in the maybe pile," Haley said before skipping away down another aisle. Sam laughed and closed his eyes before sitting up immediately.

"Wait, you have piles? Haley, we can't stay here forever!"

Haley didn't answer. Just laughed. Sam sighed and got more comfortable. He was gonna be there awhile.

[NFB but open for phone calls/texts]