The Arcana x Reader

🎄 Valdemar x Nonbinary!Reader

(sorry I'm so late! Got sick, Christmas madness, writer's block... Here I am!)

The snow has melted into my leather gloves, the cold biting into my fingertips and leaving them numb, much like my nose.

"Your face is very red," Valdemar comments, standing and watching me build with the knee-deep packing snow. Their crimson eyes are fixed on me.

"Because it's cold," I continue to roll the snow up in a ball.

"Your physiological processes are telling you to find a means to warm up, yet you continue to play instead. How silly of humans."

"Yeah, yeah, Mx. High-and-Mighty Demon Thing."

"You don't have much self-preservation." They press their fingers together, their sharp teeth visible in their grin.

I fall silent, picking up the considerable ball of snow and placing it on the base. Only the head left!

"The things humans do for joy," Valdemar muses.

"The things demons do for amusement," I bite back playfully. "I'm surprised you haven't gotten bored from watching me yet."

"You are very much an interesting case."

"Uh huh," I pause for a moment. "You're waiting for me to freeze to death so you can dissect me, aren't you?"

"Now what would be the point of that? If I were to pick you apart, I'd want you alive, so I could study how you work. I'm much more likely to wait for my human to pass out-- much more reasonable."

"That definitely sounds like you, Valdemar." I set the head on top of the snowman, pulling out the sticks and rocks I've collected.

"And this particular human custom is...?"

"A snowman. Or snowwoman. Maybe a snowenby, like me."

"How... Quaint."

"Uh huh."

I place the last rock for the mouth, and a turnip for the nose, and step back to admire my work.

"Ta-da! My snow creation!"

Valdemar steps around to get a good look. "Talent comes in many forms, I suppose."

"Is that a compliment?" I snort with a laugh.

"It very well may be."

"Jerk enby demon."

"Silly enby human."