TSOCID – Chapter Fourteen

Bernard and Myrna recieve a letter. A Naughty and Nice elf notices something.

Chapter Fourteen: Elfmas Future

The cuckoo clock mounted over the fireplace mantel went off around 1:15pm, finally pulling Bernard out of his job search plans. Looking up through the crick in his neck, he watched as the doorway tucked under the face of the clock opened and the expected cuckoo shot out on a spring, holding a tiny “Mail’s here!” sign in its mouth.

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TSOCID – Chapter Thirteen

Hazel tries to comfort Bernard and Curtis is late.

Chapter Thirteen: Elfmas Past

Hazel hadn’t quite assembled her whole ensemble when she walked out of her living room into the tavern. Her gloves were still tucked under her arm and her scarf hung lopsidedly from her neck as she fiddled with the buttons of her coat. She’d left her cane resting against her armchair, but that was only because she planned to spirit it to her with magic once she reached the front entrance.

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TSOCID – Prologue

Prologue: A Creation Story of Sorts

At the beginning of existence, there was just chaos. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it was… well, chaotic. Physics and time were there if you wished to dabble in them, but it was hardly the requirement it is today. And while it certainly gave everyone the freedom to do whatever they wanted, it also made it extremely difficult to get anything done. So some of the more prominent forces floating about decided it would be a good idea to put some sort of rules in place, even if they left loopholes for them to be broken.

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TSOCID – Chapter Eleven

Jack is about to watch a play. Myrna deposits some flowers.

Chapter Eleven: Missed Messages

“So I’m just really excited to see how everyone does. I mean, this is one of my favorite stories ever, and the movie this is based on is one of my favorite versions of it and now I get to see one that my sister helped with!” The elf squirmed happily in her seat, ignoring the baffled silence from Jack. Her unbounded energy had been apparent when she immediately leapt up to yank his arm around in greeting the second he entered the box. Korina, as the elf had introduced herself, was quite the spectacle. She had on an eye-wateringly white fur coat and matching kubanka adorned with a small holly applique, both of which contrasted sharply against her dark skin tone. Between the distracting visual display, the speed at which she spoke, and his ignorance of whatever it was she was talking about, he had a hard time following the conversational thread.

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TSOCID – Chapter Five

Chapter Five: Traditions, Ties, and Tension

Ever since Hazel had, quite literally, picked up shop and moved her establishment to the North Pole, she’d had the quietest Christmas mornings since she could remember them being a thing. The tavern looked festive enough, strung with garland, cranberries, and paper chains, and the tree twinkled in the corner with the light of just enough candles sprinkled through its leaves. It was cozy enough to invite even the most cranky of forced early Christmas risers. But the only ones who were awake (and had decided to meander down for breakfast) were her, a handful of the inn’s tenants, and her huldra waitstaff. Although, in the end, it didn’t matter if anyone saw them now. They weren’t up for the elves anyway.

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TSOCID – Chapter Four

Chapter Four: Jack of All Trades

After throwing their new guest’s boxes out the back of the truck, and leaving him with only her keys and the apartment number, Juniper sped away in a vain attempt to make up for the lost rehearsal time she was late for. She was pretty sure she was breaking the speed limit, but this early on Christmas morning, most elves were asleep, so the roads were empty. Even if she did hit something, it was more likely to be an inanimate object.

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TSOCID – Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Much Ado About Nothing

The only sound more annoying than an alarm clock going off at the proper time is a phone ringing a few hours earlier. When this happens, most people feel justified in answering said phone with an unpleasant demeanor. While this may be true of most people, it was a law of the universe for Myrna. And she was not afraid to deliver swift and (to her) just punishment to those who interrupted her slumber.

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