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"An Almost Christmas Story" New Disney Television Animation Animated Holiday Stop-Motion Short Directed By David Lowery And Produced By Academy Award-Winner Alfonso CuarĂłn, Coming To Disney+ This November.
Disney Branded Television announced a new Disney Television Animation animated stop-motion short film âAn Almost Christmas Storyâ slated for a November release date on Disney+.
The musical short produced by Disney Branded Television, Disney Television Animation and CuarĂłnâs Esperanto Filmoj, in association with Titmouse and Maere Studios, and with animation services by 88 Pictures. "An Almost Christmas Story" is the first original short from Disney Television Animation since "Hamburger High" (2016). It joins Disney TVA's roster of stop-motion projects ("Mickey Mouse and the Magical Snowy Holiday", "Mickey Saves Christmas", "Mickey And Friends: Trick or Treats", Mickey's Christmas Tales" and "Rhona Who Lives By The River")
The celebrated creative team includes David Lowery (director, screenplay and producer), CuarĂłn (producer and story), Gabriela RodrĂguez (producer), Jack Thorne (story and screenplay), Nicholas Ashe Bateman (creative designer) and Daniel Hart (composer).
 "An Almost Christmas Story" follows Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost young girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents. âAn Almost Christmas Storyâ is inspired by the true events of a tiny owl, Rocky - short for Rockefeller, found and rescued from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020.
An Almost Christmas Story features the voice talents of Cary Christopher (FX "American Horror Story") as Moon, newcomer Estella Madrigal as âLuna,â Jim Gaffigan (Pixar Animation Studios "Luca") as âPapa Owl, Mamoudou Athie (Pixar Animation Studios "Elemental") as Pelly, Alex Ross Perry (Walt Disney Studios "Christopher Robin") as Dave The Dog, Gianna Joseph ("Star Trek Into Darkness") as Peaky, Phil Rosenthal ("Everybody Loves Raymond") as Punt, Natasha Lyonne (Cartoon Network Studios "Steven Universe" franchise) as Pat and John C. Reilly (Walt Disney Animation Studios "Wreck It Ralph" franchise) as The Folk Singer.
An Almost Christmas Story features a live orchestra score by Daniel Hart (Walt Disney Studios "Peter Pan & Wendy"), the short features 2 brand new original songs by John C. Reilly.
An original album featuring the songs and score of the short by Walt Disney Records will release on November 2024.
#An Almost Christmas Story#David Lowery#Jack Thorne#Gabriela RodrĂguez#Ashe Bateman#Alfonso CuarĂłn#Titmouse Inc#Esperanto Filmoj#Maere Studios#88 Pictures#Disney Television Animation Shorts#Disney TVA Shorts#Disney+#Disney Plus#Disney+ Originals#Disney Plus Originals#Disney+ Original Shorts#Disney Plus Original Shorts#Disney+ Original Animated Shorts#Disney Plus Original Animated Shorts
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This looks adorable and unique stylistically coming from Disney
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An Almost Christmas Story Trailer
A young owl named Moon is stuck in a tree when his wing is injured. The tree is cut down and taken to Rockefeller Plaza, along with little Moon. In the city, Moon befriends a lost girl named Luna. "Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents." (Disney+)
An Almost Christmas Story stars the voice talents of John C. Reilly, Gianna Joseph, Jim Gaffigan, Phil Rosenthal, Cary Christopher, Mamoudou Athie, Estelle Madrigal, Natasha Lyonne, and Alex Ross Perry. The short film is written by Jack Thorne, Alfonso CuarĂłn, and David Lowery and directed by Lowery.
An Almost Christmas Story releases to Disney+ on November 15, 2024.
#an almost christmas story#almost christmas story#john c reilly#gianna joseph#jim gaffigan#phil rosenthal#cary christopher#mamoudouathie#estelle madrigal#natasha lyonne#alex ross perry#jack thorne#alfonso cuaron#david lowery#disney+#TGCLiz#Youtube
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#one piece#sanji#black leg sanji#everysanji#thriller bark#ch489#obligatory hitting him with hammers#but also i was thinking about how i originally got into one piece for some reason#which was in 2015 mind you almost 10 years ago#so when i was a freshman in high school we took a field trip before christmas#it involved going ice skating and then the mall and i think we went somewhere else that isnt entirely important#but anyway i was talking with someone while we were at the mall and looking at manga and i said i was interested in trying manga#so my. well idk friend might be too strong. classmate lets say suggested one piece#and so i got the first two volumes (which i still own they're on my bookshelf i take whenever i move)#and he told me that they went through each of the four blue seas before going on the grand line for some reason????#i think what he meant was that every volume has what arc it is on the top but he somehow#confused that with they go through north/south/west blue too#well anyway i havent talked to that guy since like 2017. wonder where he's at#if he's following this blog and recognizes this story i'm deleting social media forever
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He looks so polite-
Bermuda stop drawing Vos in different outfits challenge (impossible and failed)
#a friend told me my nutcracker was vos coded#this was almost my Christmas post#mcsm#minecraft story mode#mcsm vos#bermuda brainrot hours#scriptscratches#sea temple saturday
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A productive Christmas for 3
Yuto's goal: Get to the top of his career, earn lots of money and then join Savannah in Brindleton Bay. Sav's goal: Survive the move to Brindleton Bay
previous // beginning // next
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12/09/2022
Looks like the Holy Family's on another road trip. Â I'm sure this one went just as smoothly as that time they had to outrun a bloodthirsty tyrant!
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm trying out new designs for Mary and Joseph in this new storyline. Â I am Adjustment, Amendment, and Alteration. Â The transcendent force of pure Change. Â I say unto my creations, "Tremble and be Remade," and they are created anew.
#jesus#baby jesus#unborn jesus#hes still a jesus#mary#virgin mary#blessed virgin mary#joseph#st joseph#nazareth#bethlehem#donkey#road trip#not another long tomics story#christmas#advent#pregnant#perganenant#nativity#cant believe i almost forgot nativity
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Top ten ghost sighting photos taken moments before disaster.
Merry Christmas! I don't celebrate, but, @a-not-so-sure-artist's characters were begging to be drawn, they're just so dang charming!
#other's oc#a christmas carol#a christmas story#ebenezer scrooge#ghost of christmas past#after almost a week of barely being capable of squeezing anything half-decent out of myself i suddenly made This. crazy#i can only hope i did them justice PLEASE go look at artist's blog she's an amazing character designer
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A Second Chance, Ch. 14
@praetorqueenreyna @thrumbolt @achaotichuman @taymartiart @northern-polaris @zivotzaruzi (Please let me know if youâd like to be tagged or untagged.)
Pairing: Tamlin x Lucien
Wordcount: 7.9k
Summary: Tamlin breaks some hearts (and no, I will not spoil it by saying whose), and Lucien and his brother learn more about their family's company audit
Read on AO3, or read here below the cut:
Click.
Tamlin lowered the camera with a sniff and tried to wiggle his numb nose. Heâd been out in the cold for nearly an hour now, and he hadnât seen anyone matching Vassaâs description, aside from the round, red-capped finches he was pretending to be so fascinated by.
He glanced over at the busy coffee cart on the other side of the park, with its jolly holly-green umbrella and bright red coffee cups. He sighed wistfully, and his breath was visible in the chilled air. Some hot coffee would be just the thing on a cold day like this. The sky promised more snow later, as if they didnât already have enough.
As he trudged through the ankle-deep snow, he readjusted the strap of the camera bag bouncing uncomfortably against his frozen hip, and grumbled at himself for coming up with such a brilliant plan.
At least he had Lucienâs scarf to keep him from becoming a walking, talking snowman.
As he fell in line behind two young women, he lifted the scarf to his nose and gratefully breathed in the faint, orange-scented cologne. Now that his mouth and nose were beginning to thaw, he could start thinking clearly again.
He was doing this for Vassa, he reminded himself. Vassa was Lucienâs friend, and Jurianâs girlfriend, besides. No matter how much Jurian might try to deny it.
If the Scythian mafia was after her, no matter what their reasons were, it was reason enough to keep her out of their clutches. But was it worth the risk if it meant putting another redhead in harmâs way?
âHi! Two peppermint lattes, please,â the young woman in front of him cheerily told the coffee cart attendant.
Tamlin glanced over the black chalkboard menu, at the options written in a curly white script. He usually got a black coffee, but would it be gay if he tried a peppermint latte for once?
He shook his head and scolded himself. So what if it was? Hadnât he just hadâas Lucien put itâhot gay sex, the night before?
Even the memory of it made him blush.
âWhat can I get you?â the attendant asked him.
Tamlin startled, then stepped forward. âOh, yeah. Hi. Um⌠Two black coffees, please,â he said automatically, and was suddenly disappointed in himself. Why would anyone care about his order, anyway? He was the one drinking it, not them. When the attendant reached for two red coffee cups, Tamlin stopped him. âActually, could you make them peppermint lattes, instead?â he asked shyly.
âOoh, nice choice,â someone remarked.
He turned his head to see the same two young women standing nearby, sipping at their own peppermint drinks. They were dressed in blue and green puffy jackets and white leggings, complete with woolen legwarmers and stocking hats with fuzzy pom-poms on top. They made standing out in the cold look a lot more fun than it actually was.
âWe donât really see guys go for the so-called girly drinks,â her friend continued, and shrugged shyly. âItâs cute.â
âWell, you two inspired me,â he said, smiling. âIt never hurts to try something new, right?â
âRight,â she said, while her friend nudged her. They both looked like they were trying very hard not to giggle. Had he said something funny?
âYouâll have to tell us what you think,â her friend said brightly, then gestured to the other and continued, âCat usually goes for pumpkin spice, but it is almost Christmas, soâŚâ
ââTis the season,â Tamlin agreed conversationally, as if they werenât complete strangers. Still, it didnât hurt to be friendly.
âIndeed,â she said with a smile.
As he returned her smile, he noticed that she had bright, teal blue eyes, and coppery red bangs peeking out beneath her stocking hat. If it werenât for her freckles and pale skin, she could almost pass for VassaâŚ
âThatâll be ten,â the clerk said, bringing him back to the present.
âOh, that much, huh?â Tamlin said with a shy laugh, and pulled out his wallet.
As he pulled out the correct number of bills, the redhead remarked, âThey have some of the best coffee in town. Itâs worth it, I promise.â
âIâm sure it is,â he said affably, then took the steaming cups in hand with a nod of thanks.
As he stepped aside to make way for the next customer, he tried to think of a tactful way to ask for her picture, but the talkative redhead didnât give him the chance.
âSo, what do you think?â she asked him.
âAbout what?â
She and her friend exchanged another one of their barely contained smiles. âOf the coffee?â
âOh,â he said, and carefully managed a sip. As the warm brew slid down his throat, he licked his lips. âItâs uh⌠peppermint-y,â he remarked, unsure of how else to describe it. âBut itâs not bad.â
âNot bad at all,â her companionâCatâsaid, and took a sip herself.
The redhead glanced between them, looking thoughtful. âDo you have a girlfriend?â
Catâwith dark hair and equally bright blue eyesânearly spat out her coffee. âGwyn!â she chided, and smacked her arm.
The redheadâGwynâgave her an innocent shrug. âWhat? You were taking forever to ask him out, soâŚâ She nodded at Tamlin, as if to say: I did you a favor; you can thank me later.
Tamlinâs lips twitched into a shy smile, and he found himself blushing. âLook, itâs not that Iâm flattered, butâŚâ
âYou see?â Cat said quickly. âHe has a girlfriend. I knew it. Can we go now, please?â Her cheeks were as pink as Tamlinâs felt, and not just from the cold.
âThe thing is, I donât have a girlfriend,â he tried to explain.
âOh, you donât?â Cat said, sounding somewhat hopeful.
Tamlin winced and sucked in a cold, sharp breath between his teeth. âI actually have a boyfriend. Sorry.â
Both girls groaned and exchanged sad, disappointed smiles.
âHow come all the cute ones are gay?â Cat complained with a pouting lip, which only made Tamlin blush harder.
âAz isnât gay,â Gwyn told her, sounding somewhat annoyed.
âYeah, but heâs taken. By you.â
Gwyn turned to Tamlin with wide, hopeful eyes. âDo you have any brothers?â
Tamlin chuckled as Cat squawked in protest, and brushed a stray hair from his warm cheek with his wrist. âTheyâre married,â he said ruefully, but even if they werenât, he wouldnât wish them on anyone, straight or otherwise.
âFigures,â Cat muttered, then gave Tamlin a polite smile. âThanks, anyway.â
âAnytime,â he said automatically, which made no sense, given the circumstances.
âTam? Hey, Tam!â a familiar voice called out, and he turned in shock to see Lucien, of all people, trotting up to greet him.
âLu?â Tamlin said with a surprised laugh. âWhat are you doing here?â
Lucien grinned, and his cheeks were flushed from jogging in the cold. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder and said, âI was just across the street and thought Iâd get some coffee, and⌠well, here you are, getting coffee!â
âYeah⌠WowâŚâ Tamlin shook his head in amazement, then noticed the two girls watching them. âOh, yeah. Lu. Let me introduce you to⌠umâŚâ His mind went blank.
âIâm Gwyn, and this is my sister, Cat,â Gwyn offered kindly, and Cat silently saluted them with her coffee cup.
âNice to meet you,â Lucien said, and introduced himself.
âHi,â Cat said politely, but it was clear she had no interest in chatting. Tamlin didnât blame her.
Gwyn wasnât quite ready to leave, though, since she turned to Tamlin and said, âI donât think I caught your name, actually.â
âOh, itâs Tam. Tamlin.â
âTamlin,â she repeated with a smile. âThatâs a nice name. I think I heard it in a song once.â
Before Tamlin could say thatâs where his mom had gotten it from, Lucien interrupted and gestured to the three of them.
âIâm confused⌠how exactly do you all know each other?â
âWe just met, actually,â Tamlin said, shrugging shyly with the coffee cups. It wasnât much of an explanation, but what else could he say that wouldnât embarrass anyone?
Luckily Gwyn was there to fill what could have been an awkward silence. âWe got the same coffee order,â she said simply, then turned the question around on him. âWhat about you? How long have you two known each other?â
âOh, Tam and I go way back,â Lucien said, giving him a small, secret wink.
That wink made Tamlin feel brave. âActually, we just started dating,â he told the girls, smiling shyly. âAnd, actually, heâs my boyfriend.â
Lucienâs eyebrows rose at this public admission, but before he could say anything, Cat nudged Gwyn with her elbow.
âI told you,â she muttered. âCute. Gay.â
Lucien chuckled at this. âUh, thanks. I think.â
Gwyn suddenly pointed at him. âYou said your name was Lucien, right?â When he affirmed that he had, and that he was, she grinned and said, âYouâre Erisâs brother, arenât you.â
Lucienâs head jerked back in surprise. âYeah! Howâd you know?â
âHe comes by the theater all the time,â Gwyn said brightly. As an aside to Cat, she explained, âHeâs the one dating Nesta.â
âOh.â Cat rolled her eyes. âYeah. See? That just proves my point. If heâs cute, heâs either gay, or taken.â
Tamlin and Lucien let out awkward chuckles.
âYeah, itâs usually the opposite for me,â Lucien said quietly, then turned his attention to Gwyn. âSo, uh, how did you know Eris was dating Nesta?â
âWeâre part of the same dance company,â Gwyn said brightly. âThe Valkyries?â
âOh,â Lucien said with an impressed nod. âSure, Iâve heard of them.â
Tamlin hadnât, so he let them talk and took another sip of his peppermint latte. Even though he wasnât sure he would ever order it again, he was glad heâd tried it. Best of all, he didnât feel any more or less gay for having done so. It was just a drink, after all.
âWeâre performing Swan Lake this season,â Gwyn went on. âYou two should come by and see us. Itâs not as popular as The Nutcracker this time of year, butâŚâ
âSounds great,â Lucien said quickly, before Tamlin could say anything about the show theyâd missed.
âGreat!â Gwyn agreed. âWell, if you ever want to swing by, just tell the Ticket Office that Gwynâand CatâBerdara sent you,â she said, gesturing to her sister. ââand theyâll give you the Friends and Family discount.â
âOh my god, please kill me now,â Cat muttered, covering her face with her free hand.
Lucien ignored her, or at least he pretended to. âBerdara,â he repeated, and Gwyn nodded, beaming. âIâll remember that. Thanks.â
âAnytime.â
Cat tugged on Gwynâs elbow before she could say more. âCome along, now, Gwyneth,â she said brightly, though her next sentence was said through gritted teeth. âBefore I murder you.â
âWhat did I do?â Gwyn whined as her sister led her away, and Tamlin and Lucien chuckled.
âWell, that was an interesting conversation,â Lucien remarked, giving Tamlin an amused smile. âLet me guess, one of them tried to ask you out?â
Tamlin blushed. âHowâd you know?â
âLucky guess.â Lucien brushed a stray hair from his face. âBut honestly, Iâm not surprised. What woman wouldnât want to take a bite out of a studmuffin like you?â He winked.
Tamlin blushed harder and breathed a laugh, then his smile faded. You must be beating off the girls with a stick, the dean once told him. He sighed, and it clouded the air. Would the nightmare of Amarantha ever stop haunting him?
âHey,â Lucien said, tilting his head to catch his eye. âYou okay?â
âYeah,â Tamlin said, shaking off the wisps of memory like fallen snow on his hair. âJust tired. I didnât get that much sleep last night, as you well know.â
A slow smile grew on Lucienâs face, and his warm brown eyes sparkled. âIâd apologize, but Iâm not that sorry,â he teased, then nodded at the cups in Tamlinâs hands. âBesides, thatâs what coffeeâs for.â
âOh, right.â Heâd almost forgotten about his order.
As Tamlin took a sip, Lucien asked, âSo, what did you get?â
Tamlin swallowed. âPeppermint lattes,â he said with a shy smile, then held out the other cup. âYou want one?â
âOh⌠Sure,â Lucien said, accepting it with some surprise. âWho was it for?â
âJurian, but Iâm not sure heâd like it. He takes his coffee blacker than black, soâŚâ
âSo does Alex,â Lucien agreed, then lifted the bright red cup for a sip. âMmm. Itâs good. I prefer pumpkin spice myself, but⌠Itâs good.â He licked the foam from his lips and smiled. âThanks.â
The sight warmed Tamlin more than the coffee had, and he smiled back. âYouâre welcome.â
Lucien gestured to the coffee line. âDo you mind keeping me company while I get something for Alex? Or do you need to get back to work?â
âOh, no. Itâs fine,â Tamlin said, waving dismissively with his now free hand. âWork can wait.â
âWhat kind of errand were you running anyway?â Lucien asked as they joined the back of the line. âIf you donât mind my asking.â
âErrand?â
âYeah. Jurian said you were running an errand for him, soâŚâ
âOh.â Tamlin blinked, and thought quickly. âUh⌠Coffee run,â he lied, smiling nervously all the while.
âHuh, okay,â Lucien said with an understanding smile, then slipped his gloved hand in Tamlinâs. âIs this okay?â
Tamlin glanced down at their joined hands, then gently squeezed. âItâs more than okay.â
Lucien smiled, and squeezed back. âOkay. Good.â
As the line moved forward, Tamlin thought back on his conversation with Jurian. He still felt like he was Bi instead of Gay, but it didnât really matter anymore. Even though those two girls were clearly interested, he hadnât tried to pretend he had a girlfriend instead. It hadn't occurred to him to try. Lucien was his boyfriend, and thatâs all there was to it. So what if he had missed out on his chance to take Gwynâs picture? He and Jurian would have to come up with something else to distract Koschei, which made him wonderâŚ
âWhen did you see Jurian, anyway?â Tamlin asked.
âOh, about ten minutes ago,â Lucien said, lifting his cup for another sip. âAlex is talking with him now. I wanted to give them some privacy.â
âBecause of his wife?â
Lucien winced. âYeah.â
Tamlin sighed. âWas I wrong to suggest that? For him to see Jurian, I mean.â
âOf course not,â Lucien assured him. âItâs better that he finds out sooner rather than later, especially before they start having kids.â
âYikes.â
âYouâre telling me.â
They moved forward another place in line.
âSo, whatâs with the camera bag?â Lucien asked, nudging him gently.
âBirdwatching,â Tamlin said automatically.
Lucien gave him a bemused smile. âBirdwatching,â he repeated. âI didnât know you were into that⌠Did you see any good ones?â
âNot really,â Tamlin said dismissively. âItâs mostly just sparrows, and finches this time of yearâŚâ He gestured with his cup. âHence, the coffee.â
âHuh,â Lucien said, then he shrugged. âMaybe you can take me birdwatching in the spring,â he offered. âThen you can show me all the good ones.â
âIf you like,â Tamlin remarked, surprised. âItâs really not that interesting.â
Lucienâs head jerked back. âThen why do it?â
Realizing he had been caught in a lie, Tamlinâs face flushed. âI do it for Jurianâs sake,â he said quickly. âHeâs the one with the checklist, and Iâm the one with the camera, soâŚâ
âOh.â Lucien nodded thoughtfully, then he smiled. âWeâll find something to do that we both like, then.â
âSure,â Tamlin agreed, relieved.
After Lucien had ordered two black coffeesâfor Alex and Jurian, he saidâthey turned back for the office. With their hands full, they couldnât hold onto each other anymore, but they did match each otherâs leisurely stride as they strolled through the park.
âIâm really glad I got to see you,â Lucien said, smiling warmly. âYou were in such a hurry this morning, I didnât get the chance to give you a proper goodbye.â
Tamlin couldnât help his blush. âYeah,â he said softly. âSorry about that.â
âDonât be. It worked out better this way. Alex and Jurian get their time to talk, and now so do we.â
âYeah,â Tamlin murmured, then took a deep breath. âSo, where are you going after this? Back to work?â
âNah,â Lucien said dismissively. âIâm taking the day off. Alex and I are going to lunch, though. Iâm taking him to Annieâs, actually. You want to come along?â
âOh.â Tamlin blinked in surprise. âI, uh, sure. I have to clear it with Jurian first, butâŚâ
âThere you are,â an annoyed voice said.
Tamlin and Lucien looked up to see Alex standing with Jurian in the parking lot.
Alex pushed himself away from the expensive-looking car heâd been leaning against. âI thought you got abducted, or something,â he told Lucien chidingly.
Lucien only rolled his eyes. âWill you relax,â he drawled, then held out the extra coffee cup. âI got you a black, two sugars.â
âOh⌠Thanks,â Alex muttered, and begrudgingly accepted the peace offering.
Tamlin broke the awkward silence by offering Jurian the extra coffee heâd been carrying. âDark roast,â he said. âNo sugar.â
âThanks, Tam,â Jurian said, accepting it gratefully. Heâd been standing with Alex in his shirt sleeves; he probably hadnât anticipated having to wait outside this long.
Not wanting to make the situation more awkward by apologizing, Tamlin took another sip. As did they all.
âSo,â Jurian announced loudly, when theyâd all drunk. âTam. We have a new client. Who Iâm sure youâve already met.â
âYeah,â Tam said, nodding at Alex. âHi, again.â
âHey,â Alex murmured, then sighed. âLook. Iâm sorryâŚâ
Tamlin waved him off. âNo, itâs, uh⌠Itâs okay⌠I didnât realize you were out here waiting, soâŚâ
âThat was my fault, anyway,â Lucien interjected. âI ran into Tam across the street, and we got to talkingâŚâ
âYeah,â Alex said quietly, then sighed again. âWell, Lucien and I should probably get going, soâŚâ He stuck out his hand to Jurian, who shook it. âThanks, again.â
âSure,â Jurian said kindly. âIâll be in touch.â
Alex nodded, then stuffed his hand into his pocket. âKeys.â
âOh, right,â Lucien said quickly, and shoved his hand inside his own coat pocket.
While he dug, Alex turned his attention to Tamlin next. âIn case I donât see you for a while, good luck⌠with everything. I hope you get the help you need.â
Tamlinâs head jerked back in surprise. âHelp?â he repeated. âWhy would I need help?â
âAh-ha-ha,â Lucien said quickly, and shoved the found keys at his brother. âHere you go,â he said in a sing-song voice that sounded a lot like Shut up now.
Alex fumbled with the keys and his coffee. âHeyâWhat? What are you doing?â
âLunch. Car. Now,â Lucien said quickly, trying to herd him toward the driverâs side door.
Alex stepped back and looked at him askance, however. âYou didnât tell him, did you.â
âTell me what?â Tamlin asked, looking between them.
Even though Lucien tried to shush him, Alex said, âAbout Eris? Taking on your case?â
Tamlinâs bemused smile faded. âWhat case?â he asked, looking to Lucien.
His boyfriend grimaced and pinched the bridge of his nose. âFucking fuck,â he muttered, then took a deep breath. âI wasnât going to say anything until I was sureâŚâ
âSure?â Tamlin echoed. âAbout what? What is he talking about?â His heart started to sink without quite knowing why.
Lucien took a moment to swallow. âEris is a lawyer, you know? One of the best. Anyway, I⌠I sort of asked him to look into what happened to you⌠You know, seven years ago.â
Tamlin fell back a step, stunned. âYou told him?â
Lucien spread his hands wide, at least, the hand that wasnât holding his coffee. âI just wanted to know if there was a way for you to get your life back⌠To win a-a settlement, or somethingââ
âA settlement?â Tamlin echoed. His voice sounded hollow and far away. âYou mean going to court? Against that witch? Are you fucking serious?â
Lucien flinched and turned pale. âTam, I just wanted to helpââ
âNo. No,â Tamlin said, backing away. The awful memories came back in a rush. âI am not going through that again. You canât make me.â
âTamââ
Jurian stepped in. âI think you need to leave,â he told Lucien coolly. When he got like this, it was easy to imagine him in an official uniform and wielding a baton.
Lucien faltered, and tried to skirt around him to catch Tamlinâs eye. âBut⌠But Iââ
âNow.â
âCome on, Lu,â Alex said quietly. âWe should go.â
Tamlin couldnât look at them. Any of them. The pancakes he had made that morning threatened to make a reappearance, and he pressed a hand to his mouth.
Lucien sounded broken. âTam, Iâm⌠Iâm so sorryâŚâ
Jurian remained unmoved, however. âIf he wants to talk, heâll call you,â he said firmly, then over his shoulder, he told Tamlin quietly, âIâll meet you inside.â
Tamlin managed a nod, then opened the door to the building without looking back. He made it just inside the lobby before he started shaking.
Not a minute later, Jurian followed, sans coffee cup, and pulled Tamlin into his arms and let him break down and cry like the frightened child he was.
* * *
âLook, I said I was sorry.â
Lucien glared out the passenger window as hot tears continued to roll down his cheeks. âThat doesnât bring back my boyfriend now, does it?â he said tightly.
Alex sighed as he made a turn down a residential lane. âI didnât know you hadnât told him,â he said sorrowfully. âI didnât know heâd take it so hard. Besides, you were just trying to helpââ
Lucien scoffed. âObviously it didnât work,â he muttered, and sniffed as he swiped at his wet cheeks. âAnd now Iâm never going to see him again.â
âYou donât know that,â Alex chided. âGive it time, Iâm sure heâll come aroundââ
âYeah, in seven more years,â Lucien said mournfully, watching a line of festively decorated houses roll by. âWe were going to spend Christmas together.â His chin began to quiver. âAnd New Yearâs.â
âCome on, Lu,â Alex whined. âDonât do this. Youâre supposed to be the one comforting me, remember? I might be getting a divorce. Youâre not even married.â
Lucien buried his face in his hands.
âYet,â Alex added hastily. âYouâre not married yet. You never know. This might be a funny story you tell at your wedding someday.â
âFat chance of that,â Lucien muttered, but he lowered his hands and managed a sniff. âWhere are we going, anyway?â
âMomâs house, remember?â
Lucien groaned.
âOh, no. Donât give me that,â Alex warned, turning onto a familiar street. âYouâre the one who kept suggesting I come here,â he said, then pulled into the driveway of an old-fashioned, two-story house. âNow, weâre here.â
âYou could have warned me,â Lucien complained. âI thought we were going to lunch or something first.â
Alex sighed and turned off the car. âI didnât think youâd be hungry.â
As his brother dug his duffel bag out of the trunk, Lucien stood back and left the shopping bags where they were. Violin strings and rosin. For Tamlin.
Fresh tears filled his eyes, and he forced himself to look away. Would he ever be able to give them to him? Would Tamlin even accept them? Or would he have to live with the fact that heâd broken Tamlinâs trust in him forever?
âAlex?â Their motherâs voice drifted toward them from the covered porch. âWhat a surprise! What are you doing here?â
Alex smiled at her and closed the trunk. âHey, Ma,â he called back. âI thought it was about time we came to visit.â
She gasped audibly at the sight of both of them. âOh, Lucien, my baby!â she called out happily, then trotted down the steps to meet them.
The former Mrs. Vanserra was a pleasantly plump woman with long auburn hair she wore in a chignon. When she wrapped her arms around her two boys, she smelled like cinnamon, chestnuts, and warm apple pie.
âMm, itâs so good to see you,â she gushed, giving them both a squeeze. As she pulled away, she looked between the two of them. âWhereâs, um, Ianthe?â she asked politely.
Their mother didnât like Alexâs wife any more than the rest of them, but she at least tried to make an effort.
âItâs a long story,â Alex said with a grim smile.
âOh,â she said, then noticed the bag in his hand. âOh, I see,â she said with a wince, then turned to Lucien. âHow about you, sweetheart? Are youâŚ?â She trailed off when she noticed Lucienâs red eyes, and tear-stained cheeks. âOh, dear.â
Lucien didnât have the heart to tell her that heâd found a boyfriend and lost him all in the same week, but his mother probably already knew that. She knew a lot of things.
âWell, come inside, both of you,â she said brightly, giving her sweatered arms a brisk rub. âI just made some gingerbread cookies.â
As she turned her back to lead them into the house, Lucien gave Alex a knowing look. âTold you,â he mouthed.
Alex gave him a resigned shrug, then followed after their mother, and Lucien shoved his hands inside his coat pockets and trailed along behind.
His childhood home looked and smelled much the way it had when he was growing up, like warm bread and furniture polish. It wasnât exactly the same, of course, since it had been sold the same year his grandfather died, when Lucien was about eight years old. The Autumn Corporation had been willed and given to the former ownerâs three daughters, but his only son-in-law was named the new owner and CEO: Beron Vanserra.
The Vanserra family had led a comfortable life before, but suddenly the modest, red-brick home was too small for such a wealthy business executive, so Beron sold the house and moved them all into the heart of the city.
Lucien had really liked it at first. He finally had his own room, they went to plays and the ballet, and he could get whatever he wanted for Christmas and birthdays⌠But his mother no longer sang as much, and she bakedâand ateâa lot more than she used to. Looking back on it, Lucien knew that his father blamed her weight gain as the reason he started sleeping around, but that wasnât really true. Beron liked being important. He liked the attention.
Just not the sort of attention having a gay son gave him.
And Lucien despised him for it.
It wasnât until years later, when all the boys were grown, that Beronâs ego was finally taken down a peg. Once Eris had his law degree, he helped their mother get a legal separation from her husband, and a proper settlement besides. He helped her buy back the house that she had so dearly loved. He had helped her get her name back. She was no longer the nameless wife of the CEO, Mrs. Beron Vanserra; she was once again Laura Autumn, baker extraordinaire, and mother of seven, in that order. She was finally herself again.
Lucien would always be grateful to Eris for taking that kind of risk. Beron nearly fired him when he found out, but he reconsidered once he realized that Eris could end up working for his competition. So he kept Eris close. He kept all of his boys close, even Lucien. Not in a familial way, of course, but at least the job paid well. And it came with a nice expense account⌠When he was allowed to use it, anyway.
While Alex took his bag into the living room, their mother bustled around the kitchen. The radio was playing a soft version of Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire. The still-hot oven filled the tiled kitchen with warmth and the smell of cinnamon. Rows of gingerbread cookies were moved from cooling racks and onto decorative platters for icing later.
Watching her, Lucien felt like a little kid again. After a long day of school, heâd come home out of the cold and kick off his shoes and drop off his backpack by the door, then clamber up onto the stool and let his socked feet dangle while his mom puttered around the kitchen. She would listen to him complain about math or how the mean kids had made fun of his lisp again, then sheâd let him lick the stirring spoon, or give him a fresh cookie with a glass of milk to help him feel all better. It always helped.
Unfortunately, this wasnât the sort of problem that even homemade cookies could solve.
He let out a sigh and shrugged out of his coat, then draped it over the back of the barstool before sitting down at the counter. Just like he used to do when he was little, he hunched over and rested his chin on his fists. âHey, Mom?â
âYes, hon?â
Lucien sighed again. âHave you ever made a huge mistake?â
She smiled to herself as she wiped her hands on her apron. âOh, lots of times.â
He quirked his mouth to one side. âDid you ever make one so big it ruined your whole life?â
Her warm brown eyes twinkled with amusement as she met his gaze. âNothing that dramatic, I assure you.â
âWhat did you do?â
Her smile faded and grew thoughtful. âWell, I married a man far too old for me, but⌠I was eighteen, I was in love, and I thought I knew better.â She sighed as she untied her apron strings and went on, âNow, I do know better, but the knowledge came with more wrinkles and more stretch marks than Iâd care to admit.â She pointed at Lucien as she went to hang up her apron on its wooden peg. âBut I want you to know that I donât regret having a single one of you boys⌠I love you all to bits, even if you do turn my hair gray sometimes.â
Lucien huffed a laugh, even though it hurt a little. âI couldnât tell.â
âGood. Letâs keep it that way,â she said, giving him the same smirk that he and his brothers shared. She gestured to his own auburn strands. âYouâll get your own gray hairs soon enough. I can promise you that.â
Lucien wrinkled his nose and sniffed. âProbably a lot sooner than you think.â
âWhat do you mean?â
Alex walked into the kitchen, dusting off his hands. âHey, Ma,â he said. âDid you get rid of the old couch?â
âYes, I decided a loveseat was a better fit for the space.â
Alex looked truly taken aback. âWhen was this?â
âOh, about three months ago,â she mused, moving some dirty dishes to the sink. âIf you came to visit more often, Iâm sure you would have noticed.â
Lucien and Alex exchanged a guilty wince. It had been a while.
At their silence, their mother quirked her mouth to one side and placed a hand on her hip. Tapping her elegant fingernails against the countertop, she said, âAll right. Whoâs first.â
They startled.
âFirst for what?â
âWhat do you mean?â
She arched an eyebrow. âIâm lucky if I see one of you boys once a month, and now two of you are here on the same day?â She gestured between them. âThere is something going on, and you are going to tell me. Now. Whoâs first?â
Lucien took a deep breath, but Alex spoke first.
âIâll go.â
âNo, Iâll go,â Lucien insisted. âIt wonât really make sense unless I start from the beginning.â
âHow far back are we talking?â
Lucien swallowed. âAbout seven years.â
* * *
Tamlin glanced up from his seat at the desk as Jurian walked through the office door, bearing a takeout bag with Annieâs logo on it.
âHey,â Jurian said kindly, setting it on the one clean spot on the desk. âIâve got Corned Beef on Rye, and Annieâs famous apple pie,â he offered, shrugging off his coat. âOh, and Alis said to tell you Hello.â
Tamlin swallowed, but he still had no appetite. âThanks,â he said quietly, then returned his attention to the piles of papers heâd been sorting. Heâd needed to file them for a while now, and now was the perfect time to take his mind off of⌠well, everything else.
Jurian sighed, then closed the door to hang up his coat. âSo, any calls?â
âNo.â
âAny calls from him?â
Tamlin shook his head this time. âNo.â
Jurian considered this, then gently lowered himself into the empty seat across the desk. âYou want to talk about it?â he asked gently.
âNot really.â
âOkay,â Jurian said, sitting back in his chair. He took a deep breath and twiddled his thumbs. âWhat about that assignment I gave you before. Any luck?â
Tamlin sighed, and ran his thumb over the papersâ stapled edge. âI couldnât do it,â he said quietly. âThere was someone there, in the park, who looked like Vassa, and I couldnât do it.â
Jurian lowered the chair to the floor. âThereâs no shame in that,â he said gently. He seemed to be considering his words carefully. âMaybe⌠maybe we shouldnât be doing this, anymore.â
That got Tamlinâs attention. âWhat do you mean?â
Jurian took a deep breath. âI made some calls today,â he said slowly. âThereâs a Scythian embassy in the northeast part of the country. Itâs going to take some time, but⌠the guy I spoke to on the phone, heâs interested in working with us⌠He wants to know more about Mr. Koschei.â
Tamlinâs brows rose in shock. âWhat about Vassa?â
Jurian shrugged. âAny information we can give him, heâll take, but I donât think we have to give Koschei anything else.â
Tamlin let out a sudden breath. It was the best news heâd heard all day. âSo weâre free? Just like that?â
Jurian chuckled. âI wouldnât go that far,â he said wryly, âbut essentially, yeah.â
âNo photos?â
âNo headshots. No nothing,â Jurian finished, smiling tightly. He shrugged again. âI thought you could use some good news, after today.â
Tamlinâs smile faded. âYeah,â he murmured, and dropped his gaze. âThanks.â
âOf course, this means we wonât be getting a new couch,â Jurian remarked. âSo, if youâre okay with thatâŚâ
Tamlinâs heart twinged, as did his neck. âYeah, itâs okay.â
Jurian sighed and shook his head. âYou donât have to lie, you know. You can say it fucking sucks, because it does. It really does.â
Tamlin breathed a laugh, but it was a sad laugh. âYeah. I know.â
* * *
The kitchen was almost peaceful as Lucien sat at the table with his mother and his brother, drinking hot tea and nibbling on fresh gingerbread as they looked out at the snowy backyard. Twittering birds flitted from birdfeeder to birdfeeder, fattening themselves up on nuts and seeds before perching on the same snow-covered swingset that he and his six brothers had played on all those years ago. It would have made the perfect Christmas card⌠if Lucien had not just finished telling his mother the story of what had happened to Tamlin all those years ago.
Crack.
Lucien winced as yet another walnut shell shattered under his motherâs forceful nutcracking.
Shells littered the table like shrapnel, but she didnât seem to notice as she dropped the kernel into a separate bowl and reached for yet another walnut.
âIf that devil woman ever dared to lay a finger on one of my babiesââ She put the nut between the jaws of her metal pliers. Crack. ââSheâd be marking the days on her jail cell wall with chalk held between her toes.â
âMa,â Alex said cautiously from the other end of the table. âDonât get so worked up. Youâll give yourself a heart attack, orâor arthritis, or something.â
She glared and reached for another nut. âDonât worry. Iâm perfectly fine.â Crack.
Alex sighed and shook his head, and Lucien sighed, too.
As he crumbled gingerbread crumbs between his fingers, he asked her, âSo you donât think I was wrong to ask Eris for help?â
Crack.
Their mother huffed. âNo,â she said quietly, reaching for yet another nut. âBut, really, you shouldnât have kept it a secret from your boyfriend. If you had told him what you wanted to do from the beginning, he might have been upset, but I think he would have come around. Eventually.â Crack.
Lucien leaned forward. âSee, thatâs what I wanted to do, but if Eris didnât think he had a case, I didnât want to risk upsetting him.â He glared at his brother. âThen Alex had to go and open his big fat mouth.â
âHey!â Alex squawked. âDonât pin this on me,â he said, pointing. âYouâre the one who stuck his nose where it didnât belong.â
âMe? Youâre the one who kept pestering me with so many questions.â
âThatâs because you never tell me anything.â
âFor good reason!â
âBoys,â their mother warned.
The two of them sat back andcrossed their arms and mumbled an apology.
âSorry, Ma.â
âSorry.â
Their mother drew a deep breath, then set the nutcracker aside. As she wiped off her hands with a clean dishtowel, she declared, âIt was an unfortunate accident. Whatâs done is done. The only thing you can do now is⌠well, wait for him to come around.â
Lucien sighed again, and shoved his plate aside to slump forward and rest his folded arms on the table. âWhat if he doesnât? What if I never see him again?â
She gave him a sympathetic smile and rubbed his shoulder. âIâm sorry, baby. But thatâs up to him.â
âIt could be worse,â Alex offered. âHe could be cheating on you and giving you the silent treatment at the same time.â
âIs that what happened to you, sweetheart?â their mother asked gently.
âYeah,â Alex mumbled, glumly swirling his mug of tea. âWell, maybe. I know Ianthe is pissed atâsorry, MaâI mean, mad about me staying late at the office, but thatâs not my fault. Dadâs been hounding me over the numbers for this stupid audit.â
âOh, has that started already?â
âNot yet, butââ Alex sat up. âWait. How do you know about the audit?â
âBecause I called and asked someone to look into it.â
Alex gawked at her. âYou mean you called the press?â
âThey werenât my first call,â she remarked, reaching for her tea, âbut, yes, I did.â
âYou, whaâWere you going to tell us this?â
She smiled sweetly. âIf I did that, then that would ruin all the fun, now, wouldnât it.â
âFun?â Alex echoed.
âMm-hmm,â she said, still smiling, and took a sip of tea.
Lucien sat up, stunned. âWhy an audit? Why now?â he asked her.
She rested her elbows on the table as she cradled her mug, looking thoughtful. âThatâs a good question,â she mused. âI suppose I decided to do it this way when your fatherâs picture appeared in the paper last month. You know, at the cityâs annual charity dinner?â
âSure,â Alex said, but he looked as confused as Lucien felt.
âI didnât go,â Lucien said with a shrug.
âNeither did I, but do you know how much your father paid for a plate at this particular dinner?â
âNo.â
âBut I can guess,â Alex offered.
She didnât give him the chance. âIt was more than he gives me in a month.â
Lucienâs mouth fell open. âWhat?!â
âNo way,â Alex declared, leaning forward. âIâve seen the books. You should have gotten a lot more than thatâŚâ
She smiled a tight smile. âI know.â
Lucien and Alex exchanged worried glances.
When neither of them spoke, she assured them, âDonât worry. I have plenty of savings. Iâm perfectly all right.â She shifted in her seat, then went on, âBut, per the terms of our separation agreement, Beron agreed to pay me a generous monthly stipend. He would never agree to divorce me, because my father wrote that into his will. If Beron left me, for any reason, he would get nothing. Unfortunately, the same was true for me.â
She smiled sadly and ran a thumb over the handle of her mug. âMy father wanted me and my sisters to have some security,â she said softly. âAfter my mother died, he was never the same. He knew I was making a mistake by choosing Beron, but⌠he wanted me to be happy. And at the time, I was.â
She sighed and shook her head, then continued, âI first noticed my stipend decreasing this past summer. Beron said sales were down, and I chose to believe him. Every company has its ups and downs. I know that. Besides, Eris made sure I was comfortable.â She paused to take another sip. âBut then, last month, my stipend was almost half of what it was. The holidays are the busy season. They always have been,â she said firmly, then smiled a cool, calculating smile. âSo, if sales are truly down, then an audit is the least of Beronâs worries, wouldnât you say?â
Lucien huffed an amazed laugh. âDamn,â he said appreciatively, then winced. âOoh, sorry Mom.â
She chuckled as she lifted her mug. âThatâs all right, baby. Iâll take it as a compliment.â
Alex rested his chin in his hand. He suddenly looked very tired. âI wish you had told me,â he complained. âThen maybe Ianthe wouldnât be giving me such a hard time right now.â
Their mother gave him a sad smile. âIâm sorry, sweetheart. But you can always call her. Provided that she doesnât tell Beron about the audit. And Iâm afraid Iâm going to have to ask you both to keep this a secret from your father, too.â
âI thought secrets were a bad thing,â Lucien pointed out, even though he had no intention of telling his father anything.
She gave him a wincing smile. âI know. But I just donât want to give Beron the chance to retaliate. He would burn the Autumn Corporation to the ground before giving up control, especially to one of you boys.â
âCan we tell Eris, at least?â
âIâll tell him myself,â she promised. âBut only after the audit starts. Then Beron will have no reason to suspect he was involved.â
Lucien sat up with a start. âHey, Mom, did you ever do any research, or hire a private investigator before you got started, orâŚ?â
She looked surprised, but shook her head. âNo. This was all my idea. Thatâs why I donât want your father to know.â
âSo, Tamlin wasnât involved at all?â
âDid you think he was?â
Lucien felt a relieved smile grow on his face. âEris thought he might be, because he works for a private eye, butâŚâ He breathed a laugh. âHeâs not, is he?â
She shook her head. âNot as far as Iâm concerned.â
Lucien grinned, then pushed himself away from the table. âI need to go see him. Can I tell Tam about the audit? I promise he wonât tellââ
âLucien.â
He paused at his motherâs firm tone.
She took a deep breath. âDoes your boyfriend know that you suspected him of being involved?â
His hopeful smile faded. âNo.â
She gave him a sad smile in turn. âThen you shouldnât tell him. He needs time to be alone. Just give him that. Can you do that, for me?â
Lucien sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. âYeah, I can do that.â
âI know this is hard,â she said gently, âbut itâs for the best.â
She pushed herself away from the table to take the bowl of nuts over to the counter. As she began cleaning up, she offered, âWhy donât you stay for dinner? I have some pasta in the fridge, or thereâsthat charming little pizzeria we used to go to when you were little. How does that sound? Iâm sure they still deliver.â
He managed a smile. âSure. Thanks, Mom,â he said quietly.
The pizza was as good as he remembered, but he still didnât have much of an appetite. When dinner was over, he asked Alex to take him back to his apartment. He agreed without arguing, for once.
âAre you sure youâll be all right by yourself?â his mother asked as he and Alex put on their coats. âYouâre welcome to spend the night, you know.â
âIâll be fine,â Lucien assured her, buttoning up his coat. âIâd rather sleep in my own bed, anyway. Itâs been a long day.â
She sighed. âI understand,â she said kindly, and rubbed his arm. âCall me when you hear something, all right?â When he said he would, she pressed a bag of cookies into his hand. âAnd hereâs something for when you get home.â
He chuckled, and accepted the cookies, and his motherâs hug. âThanks, Mom,â he said, bending his head to kiss her cheek.
Snow was just starting to fall when Alexâs car pulled up under the awning of Lucienâs apartment. Alex kept the car running while Lucien retrieved his bags from the trunk. Before he could go inside, though, Alex rolled down the passenger side window and called him over.
âHey, Lu?â
Lucien trudged over and leaned in. âYeah?â
Alex gave him a tight smile. âYou take care of yourself, okay?â
Lucien nodded, even though his heart wasnât in it. âYeah, okay. Be safe out there.â
âI will.â Alex tapped his thumb against the steering wheel. âListen. Iâm sorry again, about your boyfriendâŚâ
Lucien shook his head. âDonât worry about it. Momâs right. I just need to wait it out.â
Alex sighed. âYeah. Well, if you ever need to talkâŚâ
âIâll let you know,â Lucien agreed, nodding. âSee you at work tomorrow?â
Alex sucked in a sharp breath and winced. âProbably not. I think I need to avoid Dad for a little while. You know how shit I am at keeping secrets.â
Lucien snorted. âYeah. I noticed.â
Alex smirked. âHey, at least I wasnât the one who told you Santa Claus wasnât real.â
âWow. Anything else you want to say to ruin my day?â
Alex chuckled and made to put the car into gear. âSee ya, Lulu.â
âOh, fuck off.â
Alex was still laughing when he rolled up his window and drove off into the snowy twilight.
Lucien shook his head and smiled, but it had faded by the time he made it up to his floor. It was a lonely walk back to his apartment, and it was going to be even lonelier when he went inside. As he unlocked the door, he thought about having a glass of wine, and maybe watching a movie to unwind.
As he remembered the movie he and Tamlin had âwatchedâ the night before, he decided to havetwo glasses of wine. Heâd have one hell of a hangover the next day, but at least it would give him an excuse to call off work. Then he wouldnât have to face Eris, or their father⌠or the memories.
He sighed as he dropped his keys onto the little table by the door, then set his bags underneath. As he straightened to unbutton his coat, he paused. He hadnât had any wine yet, so why was he seeing double? There were two sets of keys on the table, and the fireplace was lit, which could only meanâŚ
âHey, Lu.â
He gasped, and his heart leapt to his throat as Tamlin pushed himself out of one the easy chairs in front of the fire.
Tamlin managed a tight smile as he slowly wrung his hands. âCan we talk?â
#an unofficial part 2 to the previous chapter#get ready for some serious angst#and some fluff#because it is almost christmas#in the story i mean#my writing#my fanfic#acotar fanfic#tamlin x lucien#tamcien#modern au
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apologies for being quiet here recently!! working retail at christmas time is a fucking nightmare <3
if you also work retail or any kind of customer facing job right now... i'm sending you so much love and patience and compassion. it's rough out here huh
#y'all it's almost over#we're so close#but so far#I'll hopefully get some christmas stories written before the day arrives#i think i have a bucky xmas fic and a bob floyd xmas fic in mind
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âDisney+ Unwraps Trailer & First-Look Images for Disney Television Animation Short Film âAn Almost Christmas Storyâ
When youâre lost, friends will always help guide you home. đ§Ł
The Disney Television Animation, Esperanto Filmoj, Titmouse Inc, Maere Studios and 88 Pictures short film "An Almost Christmas Story" produced by Academy Award winning director Alfonso CuarĂłn begins streaming November 15 on Disney+.
youtube
âAn Almost Christmas Storyâ is inspired by the true events of a tiny owl rescued from the New York Cityâs Rockefeller Center Christmas tree in 2020. The shortâs trailer reveals Moon, a curious young owl who unexpectedly finds himself stuck in a Christmas tree destined for Rockefeller Plaza. In his attempts to escape the bustling city, Moon befriends a lost little girl named Luna. Together, they embark on a heartwarming adventure, discovering the magic of the holiday season and forming an unlikely bond as they journey back home to their parents.
The talented voice cast includes Cary Christopher (FX âAmerican Horror Storyâ) as Moon, newcomer Estella Madrigal as âLuna,â Jim Gaffigan (Pixar Animation Studios âLucaâ) as âPapa Owl, Mamoudou Athie (Pixar Animation Studios âElementalâ) as Pelly, Alex Ross Perry (Walt Disney Studios âChristopher Robinâ) as Dave The Dog, Gianna Joseph (âStar Trek Into Darknessâ) as Peaky, Phil Rosenthal (âEverybody Loves Raymondâ) as Punt, Natasha Lyonne (Cartoon Network Studios âSteven Universeâ franchise) as Pat and John C. Reilly (Walt Disney Animation Studios âWreck It Ralphâ franchise) as The Folk Singer.
An Almost Christmas Story features a live orchestra score by Daniel Hart (Walt Disney Studios âPeter Pan & Wendyâ), the short features 2 brand new original songs by John C. Reilly.
An original album featuring the songs and score of the short by Walt Disney Records will release on November 2024.
#An Almost Christmas Story#David Lowery#Gabriela RodrĂguez#Jack Thorne#Nicholas Ashe Bateman#Alfonso CuarĂłn#Disney Television Animation Shorts#Disney TVA Shorts#Titmouse Inc#Maere Studios#88 Pictures#Esperanto Filmoj#Disney+#Disney Plus#Disney+ Originals#Disney Plus Originals#Disney+ Original Shorts#Disney Plus Original Shorts#Disney+ Original Animated Shorts#Disney Plus Original Animated Shorts#Youtube
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My mother, aged 5, explaining to her mother why she should be allowed to open her presents at midnight exactly on December 25th:
#true story#She got what she wanted btw#But who tf let a 5 year old stay up until midnight#Ig it was technically Christmas#ace attorney#almost christmas#Almost Christmas meme#almost christmas means it wasn't christmas#tw mother mention
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One last round of field notes đ
#ted lasso#ted x rebecca#rebecca welton#teddy boy#otp: you liven up the place#m*ne#mine: lasso#honestly i am trying to manage my expectations#i respect their story whatever it is#but when i put my big girl objective hat on i'm almost more convinced???#like these aren't tin hat things this is the foundation they laid!!!#the cuts!!! THE CUTS!!#people will return to the christmas episode year after year so it has to hold up within the larger narrative and tHEY DID THAT???#deborah asks the naked man in rebecca's kitchen 'will there be biscuits with that'!!!!! when one person notably keeps rebecca in biscuits!!!#that one puts me over the edge#like why else?!?!? WHY ELSE?!?!?!?!#i mean as a writer as an i daresay media-literate person.... narratively..... why. else.#been a long time since a proper tag rant we're back baby
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Rebelcaptain Trees for @luciechat: Winter/Holiday AU (bonus oblivious pining and friends teasing them)
âMerry Christmas,â Jyn said, almost aggressively as she shoved the clumsily wrapped gift into his hands.
âOh,â Cassian blinked clearly, a little taken aback by her defensive posture and wary gaze.
She just... she didnât do gifts, okay? For so long, she had no one to celebrate things like birthdays or Christmases with, and now that she had a family she might call her own, everything was new and big and scary.
Did she overdo it? Was it too much? Too little? Was she supposed to leave it under the tree or give it to him directly? Maybe she should have just gotten a mug or something, or maybe she should have bought three more large packages to shove into his hands like in the movies. Never mind that she probably couldnât afford that.
Or maybe he wasnât the gifting type at all, and he was just going to stand there awkwardly because he hadnât gotten her anything, and then heâd feel bad, which was the last thing she wanted. It was all so confusing; families should really come with a rulebook.
But deep down, she knew there was a bit more to this than inexperience. After all, she hadnât felt so unsure when she gave Bodhi his gift. His eyes had lit up, a bright smile on his face, and heâd even politely asked her if he could hug her before pulling her into his arms. Then heâd produced his own package that was meant for her and excitedly watched as she tore the wrapping paper to reveal a brown leather jacket that incidentally ended up matching his gift for Cassian.
(Jyn gave him a look when she saw later, and he just shrugged innocently.
âYou know Cassian loves jackets, and I thought itâd look good on you too,â he said and she glowered. If this was what it was like to have a family, it was damn annoying.
She loved it.)
Chirrut gave her a dream journal, Baze gifted her new fingerless gloves (her old one was starting to wear away), and Kay bought her a book. Cooking for Dummies. Even his present was rude, but she loved it all the more for that because it was so essentially Kay.
Only Cassian was left.
She knew the nerves in her stomach were present now because it was Cassian. And the way she felt about him had always been a little... different.
Jyn watched with growing apprehension as he unwrapped his gift, far more carefully than she would have. She tried to ignore the stares of the others on the back of her head, wishing the peanut gallery would turn around and stop treating them like a free show. That was probably a bit harsh as sheâd also watched them exchange their gifts, but she knew what they thought about the relationship between her and Cassian, had listened to their playful teasing remarks for hours on end, and she really didnât need the audience or the smug smiles now when she was already on edge.
Cassian pulled out the red and white sweater sheâd knitted him, letting it unfold as he lifted it for inspection. Jyn held her breath, resisting the urge to fidget with her hands. His face was indecipherable, or perhaps she was just too anxious to be able to properly read him now. Either way, the moments ticking by in silence felt like torture.
âI made it,â she explained when he still said nothing, a slight waver in her voice betraying her nerves, âlike the others.â
Bodhi got gloves, Chirrut got a scarf, Baze got a hat, and Kay got socks.
Cassian got a sweater.
He finally took his gaze off the sweater to look at her, his eyes shining with an emotion she couldnât name.
âYou really made this?â he asked, something akin to awe in his voice.
âWell, I know how much you like jackets,â she fumbled to explain, âthought you might like a sweater.â
They were both outwear, were they not? It made sense to her in theory.
But maybe sheâd miscalculated. Maybe it really was too much. A scarf would have been safer...
Before she could spiral too far, Cassianâs lips lifted into a rare and beautiful smile, and Jyn exhaled a sigh of relief. He was playing on her heartstrings, being as aloof and hard to read as he was. It was really unfair sometimes.
âItâs amazing. Thank you so much.â
âItâs not perfect but...â She hadnât been knitting that long, and it was her first time trying for a sweater. It probably showed too, the patterns a little uneven and wonky, one sleeve a bit longer than the other, but it was the thought that counted, right?
âNo, no, I love it. Seriously. Itâs wonderful. I canât wait to wear it.â He sounded earnest, so Jyn allowed a shy smile to grace her lips. She didnât want to think about him wearing it, because the image might be a little too much for her poor heart. âI only feel bad now because my gift isnât nearly as good,â he continued, somewhat sheepish.
âIâll be the judge of that,â she said, grateful to change the subject from her hand-knitted sweater. It felt too much like a confession, and she wasnât prepared for that kind of vulnerability yet, especially not in front of everyone.
Cassian reached for a package, much smaller than her own, though that didnât mean much. He didnât quite meet her eyes as he handed it over, muttering a quiet âhereâ under his breath.
Clearly, she wasnât the only one plagued by nerves. The thought made her a bit calmer.
Unwrapping her gift, Jyn came face to face with a small wooden box. She chanced another look at Cassian who nodded at her to continue, so she opened the lid and her eyes went wide.
Inside on a red velvet cushion lay a gorgeous wavy-edged dagger. Its hilt was golden, molded into the shape of tangling leaves, and held together by an exquisite green stone in the center. Jyn reached for it tentatively, almost reverently, like she was somehow afraid to taint it with her hands. As she lifted it up for closer inspection, the light reflected off the edges of the blade, razor-sharp. She hardly dared lift a single finger to press against it, hissing when it immediately drew blood.
âCareful,â Cassian frowned. Heâd been watching her closely the whole time, his gaze burning on her skin. âThe purpose of this gift is not to hurt someone with it.â
His words carried a hint of humor, though it was true. Her dagger collection was one of the only indulgences sheâd ever allowed herself. It started out as a reward system when she thought she deserved it or a birthday present from herself when no one else was around to give her anything. But the collection grew over the years, and now she proudly displayed it in a glass case on the wall, one of the few precious belongings she had that was worth anything.
But this though... This was...
âThis couldnât have been cheap,â Jyn finally said when she found her voice.
Cassian shrugged, though it wasnât as nonchalant as he wanted her to think. âI saw it in a window of a shop and couldnât resist. I was looking for a gift for you anyway. Golden opportunity.â
âWell, I...â Jyn looked down at the dagger she was still clutching, at a loss for words. Which wasnât unusual for her anyway, but now she really had no idea how to tell him how much this meant to her.
Carefully placing the dagger back in its box, she closed the lid and finally raised her gaze back to Cassian. For a moment, she just looked at him. This complicated, messy, unrelenting, passionate, wonderful man whoâd come into her life so suddenly and shaken her to her marrow.
She wondered if he even knew. The impact he had on her.
âThank you,â she said at last. It didnât seem enough, but it was the only thing she had, and she hoped her tone, her expression, her smile conveyed what her words could not.
It means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me.
Cassian returned her smile, his voice as soft as sheâd ever heard it. âYouâre welcome.â
I feel the same.
(âHe was lying, you know,â Kay said to her later when they found themselves alone for a second.
Jyn frowned at him, unsure what he was talking about. âWho?â
âHe did not see it in a window.â Kay rolled his eyes like the mere thought was ridiculous. âHe specifically went out of his way to look for it.â
âThatâs â I ââ Jyn spluttered like sheâd been stabbed, unable to comprehend.
Kay went on, unbothered, delivering the killing blow. âHe said the stone reminded him of your eyes.â
Cassian was going to kill Kay, that was for sure. But not before she killed him for lying to her.
Just after she kissed him senseless, of course.)
#rebelcaptain#rebelcaptaintrees#dailyrebelcaptain#luciechat#therebelcaptainnetwork#rogue one#my fics#*graphics#*rebelcaptain#managed to write this today god bless for slow work day#technically a modern au but if you take away christmas it could be canon#i hope you like it!! <3#the moodboard has almost nothing to do with the story it's just ~vibes~
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Hello hello! It's 19 days before Christmas! And you know what that means! Yup! Another chapter of EndKing!Steve and this time...I will give you guys a lil surprise ship in the end :D and I'm still accepting asks before this so hope you enjoy this FLUFF chapter!
Let's get going shall we?
ENDKING!STEVE
CHAPTER 10
Is this...love?
Narrator pov:
!!!CRASH!!!
the noise was heard coming from Chris laboratory.
Arnetta:did you hear that?...
Chris: yeah...
They both slowly approached the trapped door down to the lab only to see it wide open...they went inside the lab to witness broken glass shards red slimy liquid dripping down from the ceiling and purple stains painted on the walls. They both looked at it in horror seeing words painted by the purple stains on the wall. Chris was in shock 'what happened? Who could have done this? I couldn't be Austin, then who?' He asks himself leaving himself to think of a while...as for Arnetta, she was trying to calm down Chris who was staring at the stained wall of quite a while...after that Chris said that they should shrug off the feeling as of it was all a prank, which happens in a daily basis.
Chris and Arnetta were cleaning the laboratory picking up the empty bottles and the glass shards, Chris was in relief that none of his potions were taken...or so he thought...Chris went to his potion collection (which I hink he has...) and started checking if none of it was stolen. All were still there, he then checked the rest of the closets filled with potions (the safe ones) then went to the more dangerous ones luckily none were taken so far...once Chris got to the last closet (which where he puts like cures or some very important potions inside) he opens the closet and...there was nothing inside. He got a little furious and a little worried, Arnetta was heading back up to the entrance of the laboratory followed by Chris.
When they got back up they head inside to see Austin and g.u.i.d.o sitting down at the couch watching TV. Chris just went upstairs to continue the talk with Arnetta and there problems.
Arnetta: so...
Chris:...(sigh) let's just forget that happened...
Arnetta:...
Arnetta raised an eyebrow towards Chris
Chris: what?
Arnetta: we can't just ignore that that happened Chris! We need to inform Shaw about this immediately!
Chris: and what are we going to tell him!? 'Oh hey Shaw! Chis lab is being haunted by a ghost?!'....
Chris frowned at the action he made
Arnetta: Chris...look I know you're upset and uhh I know that you've lost some of your important stuff in your closet so just calm down-
Chris: all of it...
Chris cuts Arnetta off
Chris: I've lost...all OF THOSE IMPORTANT THINGS IN MY CLOSET ARNETTA, HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN?!
Chris shouts still not being heard by Austin and g.u.i.d.o who are watching TV downstairs
Arnetta:ok that might be bad...
Chris: it's really bad Arnetta...all of the things i need for tomorrow were in that closet...
Arnetta: wait where are you you going Tomorrow?
Arnetta asks
After that lil conversation
After that little talk they were still talking about stuff and on how to get Chris important stuff back...not taking notice of someone watching them from behind...Arnetta asks Chris if she could stay in there place for a while and as any good friend would do Chris agreed as long as she doesn't touch anything important <3
Night had fallen and everyone was asleep well...accept for Chris...he was still feeling guilty about the end portal incident...he could never forgive himself for what he did back there...he never wanted to go back there, he still loved Steve even if he was evil he would still love him...no matter what. His eyes felt heavy but before his eyes completely shut he sees a figure standing beside him he sees soft brown hair, red clothing and some blue shirt on top of some baby blue colored sleeves. He felt a soft kiss placed on his forehead, hearing a soft voice coming from the humanoid figure saying...
???: good night...Chris...
then he slowly drifted away from reality...letting his body rest form all of his problems form the day
Steve pov:
'I kissed Chris...oh God what was i thinking?!' I thought to myself as I watched him sleep peacefully on his bed my face was painted pink (dayum, simp) I was flustered (bottom bÂĄtch) I didn't even know what I was doing! 'Oh God...what am I even doing?! He's my enemy! I can't fall for him!' I screamed in my mind as I flew away using my elytra and headed back to the end portal...as I was on my way there...I began to feel that I have butterflies in my stomach as i ask myself the same question 'am I realy in love with Chris? Is this how it feels to be in love?'....
End of chapter 10
First chapter/previous/next
WHOOOOOOOO I hope you enjoy this Enemies to Lovers thing Im not good at writing romance stuff but I do hope you guys loves this GAY chapter I've written and I hope you guys have a wonderful day! Night? Noon? Whatever your time is >:] and i did rush this soo...was it worth it? Yes, Yes it was. Maby? Maby not? Idk what do you guys think? And your welcome Steve x Chris shippers
#my shit#my brain go brrrrrrrrr#checkpoint:stm#endking!steve au#my au#steve checkpoint#steve the adventurer#fluff#steve x chris#whooooo!#ITS ALMOST CHRISTMAS BABY WHOOOOO#here yall sons of bÂĄtches go have a steve x chris story:)#gay#ships#gay ships#might as well do Katie x lily and Arnetta x The Cosmic princess >:D#chain asks
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oh yeah i'm fine im writing a fanfic about two boys falling in love instead of, idk seeing a doctor for a mysterious medical problem, but yeah. no im okie dokie! definitely nothing wrong going on here
#listen tylorpe is the only thing i got going for me rn okay#im having weird things going on rn and all i wanna do is write#crossing my fingers im not about to keel over and die or something#that would be a shame cause my story would be unfinished (oh yeah and ig i'd also be dead thats a bummer too-)#ive been uhm âânot okayââ for a week. im really hoping i will return to being okay naturally w/o a doctor#cause it is the HOLIDAYS and who tf wants to go to the doctor during fucking christmas#but yeah idk i have something wrong going on and its almost christmas ill probably (probably) be okay idk ig we'll see#never understood those unhinged authors until rn#ofc i'd be one of those people casually maybe dying or smthin and still posting fic chapters good god im#tylorpe#tavier#tyler x xavier#xavier x tyler#tyler galpin#xavier thorpe#jessiejames writes#my fanfic#my writing#writing#ao3
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