He was drifting on a warbling cloud, whistling white and red and green. A cloud with a stiff, unnatural bend digging right into his thyroid. Floating on damp, cold air. And next to him, the same air groaned of jutted oak, dampened with soft carpet. After a slow check-up of his joints from index to wrist, he started rubbing off the smoke and wind off his eyes one by one, when a voice interrupted him.

‟G'morning Kringle ."

‟Hi… Dess." - He responded before his brain even finished locating where on earth he was. He was barely operational, yet he picked out that slight, mellowed rasp.

But that didn't help with identifying the gray green above. Not that it was gray, it just seemed like that the first time his eyes mustered the initiative to stay ajar. Where he was and why he felt so soft and why his neck and back hurt were also still under investigation.

‟Sleep well?" - That same voice called out from a kitchen across a hallway.

‟… Not really. You?"

‟Horrible. Nightmares."

And his mind got assaulted with a brown furred girl crashing into a couch mere centimeters meter away from the one he was sitting. Wearing baggy green pajamas with one drawing of a fir repeated on them. In his dazed state, something from his dream and reality must have mixed, because he rolled upwards to sit cross-legged, and realized he was also standing for attention down below. He had to focus fully on sussing out why, where, and maybe even how he was.

The light from outside meant it was morning, and he just woke up, so that made sense. And that would explain why Dess was next to him on a couch with a box of Peppermint Flakes cereal in one hand and a TV remote in the other. That made sense enough. Except that he was there with her and not at home. Which meant yesterday (which he just remembered) must have had something to do with it. Wait, wasn't Dess gone to university? Why was she—

‟Want some?"

A box of cereal was pushed towards him as she stretched her body in a manner unbecoming of a lady.

‟… Shouldn't you eat those with milk?"

‟Do you see any cops around?"

He couldn't argue with sound logic, so he took a hand. Should be good to get his brain working… And they tasted funky, just like every other time he was made to try that exact brand.

‟So, did'cha like the movie?" - She murmured without finishing the food in her mouth.

‟… the movie?"

For an answer, the deer shrugged while pointing the remote at the open case on the coffee table. There was a movie, and it might very well have been the one he did watch, but he remembered not paying much attention to it. And that was because his thoughts were preoccupied entirely and whole-heartedly with another matter. The sky could have started falling and he would have paid just as much attention. She picked out that second-hand sweat

‟What, that bad?"

‟… No, I just don't really, remember much of it."

This elicited a chortle from the deer. And a response after a polite grab of cornflakes.

‟So, did it bore you to death, or was it so scary you blocked off all memories of it?"

‟I think I was just too sleepy. Noelle seemed to like it."

‟Oh, damn. Should've woken me up too, then. Did she jump behind the couch?"

‟… Well, basically."

She jumped into something. His heart tried jumping behind the couch, if that counts. The amount of conflicting wants and wonts and won'ts (and blood) flowing through him that night was coming back to him. Not strong enough for him to relive it, as his legs were still paralyzed from the awkward position. But his fervor from that night was slowly trickling up to him; it relit like a burnt match scraping against the asphalt. He might have been given a chance. Maybe. Or maybe he'd never lost it. Well enough that he felt restless on that soft velvet. He wanted to do something and use that chance, do what to whom, where and why wasn't planned, but Noelle was involved in one way or another.

‟Damn, signal's all messed up." - Dess finally reached the cartoons, and that beautiful flatscreen TV was all blurry and fizzled.

‟What, TV go bad?"

‟TV? There's darn snow blocking the signal."

After a confused and somewhat astonished look, she raised an eyebrow and pointed to one of the many windows to outside. Kris softly ambled over (blanket still on him, it was cold), and promptly stuck his face on the glass.

‟Ohmygod, snow!" - The usual bomb that were the decorations were turned off, presumably so people can sleep.

‟Yeah, clouds too, I know."

There was a, not thick, layer of snow in Hometown. It made the whole room seem like it was floating on nothing. All the branches of trees were decorated with fine white mist that piled up neatly and made the dead forest of twigs look just a tad beautiful.

‟… Hey, Kris?" - While he was looking at the window, he heard her absent-mindedly talking over the soft, fuzzy audio.
‟Did'cha tell Tori you were sleeping over?"

‟I…"

It had fell on him that it was CHRISTMAS. And not only was he not with his mom, as he had been every Christmas until then, he hadn't even let her know.

‟I think I… I maybe should go, like… right now, even."

He heard a dry chuckle melded with a cold sigh from across the room.

‟Was about to say that. Stay ten more minutes and mom and sis wake up, and I don't think you'd want to spend Christmas with us this year."

‟You're fighting that much?"

He heard a pointed silence, and when he turned to look he saw her eyes being shut together like she was fighting to keep something fierce from going out.

‟… We're visiting dad." - And she turned her sight back after mumbling bitterly.

Turns out snow didn't make the world softer.

‟I-I'm sorry, I—"

‟No, it's fine… I just forgot how much of an idiot you could be." - With some unclear movements over her face, Dess looked back at him with a pensive look. Almost the same as the one she had when she woke up, yet somehow more tired.

He at least appreciated there was someone who would tell him. Noelle and her mom were both militant enough to act completely unaffected and polite enough to never say it straight to the boy. But, stronger than that, he felt like packing himself up into a present of shame and returning to the north pole.

‟… Anyway, you should seriously book it, mom isn't tardy with her alarm."

‟… got it. …And I almost forgot.
Merry Christmas, Dess." - It came out a bit coarse and spotted.

‟You… too. Have fun with your folk."

He then slowly sneaked out to the foyer. He rearranged his tacky-but-still-tactful shirt over his chest, got into his shoes, and slipped on his ass only twice before reaching his house.


He closed the door behind him, resting his shoulders on its frame. Sweaters. A bushel of them, in his hands. Received for the ‟momentous occasion". All of them abstract, and probably hard to knit patterns, in all manner of colors. That was one benefit of becoming the only child in the home, you're #1 when it comes to presents. Not like he didn't dislike wearing his brother's hand-me-down's, but they obviously looked better on someone with pearly white fur than him. Maybe he could surprise people with some of these. Black, red, purple, some more green… heh, this one's blue with pink. Laboriously sorted them into his closet by color, and when he was sure his mother would have already remembered anything she forgot and wasn't gonna come up, he called out.

A whirling came through the room, from the waft of the rug to the strands in his hair, a small vortex pulled from out from his shadow and reflection.

‟What's up?" - An almost self-assured grin was on the reflection. Rolled his shoulders along the phrase too.

‟Since when have you been so casual?"

‟Just learning as I go, don't like it?"

‟I was just asking."

But instead of a reply, he got a confused face staring back at him. After a second, he recalled it was His own, no, his own. And a blink after that, he saw a door burst behind him with an excited figure breaking through it at dangerously fast speeds.

KRIIIIIIIISSS~~!"

Ghn—" - The handlock forced out all the air from his kidneys and locked both his arms down. He fiddled his core to escape.

‟I thought we already did the tackle-hug! W— What gives!?"

Oh… Whoopsie! I was just, really really happy to see you~!" - The human teen was given reprieve as Asriel found his footing.

‟Well… I'm happy to see you too."

Asriel smiled warmly in response.

‟But, don't you have places to be? Aren't you, giving out presents?"

‟Oh! Yeah, I'm actually giving them out right now!"

A quick staring competition then took place. Asriel's special dopey eyes are super effective against any inquisitive glance.

‟… So, why're you here then?"

‟I'm happy you asked! I'm heeeree to giiive…" - With a sharp inhale, his bigger brother went searching underneath his own bed.

‟My brother a present!" - He held up with both his hands a mint colored box, with the classic green bow on it and everything, almost perfectly square.

‟… You… could've put it under the tree?"

‟But, if I did that— I couldn't have seen your reaction~~!" - The box was pushed into his chest triumphantly.

Come on, open it!"

‟Alright, alright…"

It was small. Which was normally a good thing for presents. There was a chance it was something he could enjoy. There was also a non-zero chance it was socks. But he hoped his brother wouldn't set him up just to destroy him such. If he had, the young boy would have cried, like a lot, and loudly, hopefully after his brother left. He shook his head and drew out the bow, slowly uncovering the inside.

‟… You got me a watch?" - It was a real watch, business-man type. No rubber strap stuff. Metal, and black to boot.

‟Mhm!"

‟H-How'd you get the money for this?"

‟It wasn't thaaat expensive~!"

‟… Alright, but… I don't know if this'll fit me…" - He looked at it from all angles. It sure looked like it could tell time accurately.

‟Aaaa-aaah— Just put it on already!" - His big brother crossed the rug channel to help Kris get the buckle on.

‟There you go, fits great!"

‟I- I guess." - He felt weird lugging something like that on his wrist, but if Asriel said so, it must've been true. Luckily his sweater's sleeves didn't reach down enough to cover it… which they should have, now that he was thinking about it.

‟You look great, Kris!"

‟T-Thanks."

‟Now! Let's start already!
You gotta fill me in on Susie! How'd you become friends!? What'd you do!? Does she w-"
‟Wow-wow, woah there, Asriel. Calm down." - With an index finger planted on his forehead, Kris had frozen the raging goat. He shut his eyes for a split second.
I'm the one asking questions here."

‟O-oh, right. Alright, Kris, ask whatever you want!"

There was more than enough to ask. More than more than enough. So much it was hard to find the where to start. What were those clothes? What were those colored wristbands? What was up with the Piercing? Anything and everything involving December… Not to mention the alcohol in his breath. It was a stinging sensation to see his brother grow up. If that was the word for it.

‟So what's up with Dess?"

‟What'd you mean? We're dating!"

‟I know, how did that start though?"

‟I… well, we were at a party, and… it's… it's a bit embarrassing"

‟What, did you bump into each other?" - That's what they do in the movies.

The worried laugh he got as a response was as much a ‟no" as it was a ‟let's drop this subject please".

‟So did you really have a crush on her or not?" - The reason why As went into acting was still very much, up in the air. As up in the air as him.

‟I guess I did? It's hard to know…"

‟…You don't know?"

‟More like… I don't remembeeeer… It was so long ago—
It's hard to keep track
I think I did? Or maybe I'm just making myself think I did?
I don't know… and, tobehonestwithyou, I don't really care!
We love each other Now! That's what's important!"

‟That's… great, for you."

‟Thanks! Now you can tell me about yourself! And Susie! I wanna knooow~~!"

‟… Alright, I'll… try." - There were more than enough questions he had left, but they could wait. There was a tall deer girl who'd give him honester truths.

Talking about how he made friends with Susie without mentioning the Dark World required a lot of ambiguous metaphors. And confusingly out of context but very important details. Kris had a strong feeling his brother shouldn't meet that other goat, under most-any circumstance. And that was assuming Asriel would even trust him on the whole Dark World thing, and not just think he'd become too creative with all the new alone time.

‟Wow, you couldn't even tell she was your bully before! You really turned her around, Kris!" - He got a complimentary excited applause for his effort.

‟She… didn't need much turning." - Especially since he was the number one victim, once Susie stopped that she just became a normal delinquent. Who sometimes ate pine cones.

‟Doesn't matter! You made friends with her!"
‟You've really grown Kris. And not just in Height~~!"

‟…Thanks." - 'Grown' implied a lot of things, one of which was that he wasn't the Kris his brother had left 6 months ago, which made his chest run dry for a moment. He may not have been the Kris he remembered either. It was a weird sensation, he forgot who He was for a moment. If he wasn't Kris, and He wasn't Kris, who was he? Was this him, now, or would he have to run the telephone line back up to the source?

‟Hm? Something on your miiind~?"

‟… A lot, actually."

‟I'm here if you need to talk about it." - Kris thought he could read a room. But his brother was almost prescient in his demeanor. Everything about the silly goat would fly out the window the second he'd be intruding.

And he did talk about it. Not about the identity crisis he almost double dipped into, but about another worry of his, glowing in the back of his head for a few months now. There was this girl, from his class, and she was the sweetest and kindest thing he'd ever laid his eyes on. Her golden hair and emerald eyes and red nose made him flare up in ways he didn't think he could. And it had seem to only grow into a more intense longing. So much so that he couldn't keep his crush for her under wraps. He'd tried, he really gave it his all. But not even being flat out rejected cured it. He thought he'd stomped it out when he realized he was venting homesickness along with his pining… but even after that, it popped back up, like a sprout growing through the wound a branch was cut from. Maybe it was terminal. He was starting to think he wouldn't ever break the spell.

But, their relationship was somewhere between friends and complicated. Enough that, coupled with how dumb he was, was ample to give him hope against his own instincts. And yes, he did tell Asriel who that wonderful girl was. Maybe once he would have been afraid to, but there wasn't anything bad in his brother knowing. He didn't have to be (too) ashamed of it. It was the most natural thing in the world when you exclude the fact he was a human.

‟…" - Asriel was staring at the ceiling while laying his ears between his head and pillow, he hadn't let many emotions escape during Kris's slow, rambling series of concessions.

‟So, I'm kind of at a loss, right now."

This may have been the first time he'd talked like that to his brother. The only real discussion they've had on this level was homework or what they'll put into their videogames.

‟…I think you need to just calm down a bit."

‟C, calm down?" - This was him at his calmest. His brother had no idea what him at his least calm was like, not that he'd ever wish to show it.

‟Yeah, you're being too seriiiiooous , you should be be a bit more relaaaaxed~."

‟Relaxed about what?"

‟About, uh… about, just like, you two. Just enjoy being in each other's company. All that other stuff comes after.
A girl has to like you before you ask her to, like, do that stuff, right? You get me~~?" - The last sentences were weirdly high, even for Asriel, like even he had no idea.

‟How do you make a girl like you if you don't, like, hang out, ever?" - A part he left out was that Noelle had a crush on someone else who was also a girl.

‟That's why you ask them out afteeer you go on a few dates! You'll come off too strong otherwise!"

There was a famous scene in old cartoons where a piano falls on a character or other, without much warning or indication. Well, Kris at that moment felt like the piano breaking into a thousand pieces. Of course what Asriel said made sense. Why the Hell would he try to confess so out of the blue like that? Someone (the Soul) deserved his month in the time-out box.

‟I hadn't… thought of that."

‟Just like, have fun together, and see where it goooes~~!
Try to come off light, Kris! Liiight~~."

‟And if… she says no?"

Instead of answering, his brother pushed his shoulders up and asked him silently, ‟What do you think's gonna happen, Dorkus?". And, he could imagine the answer to that.

‟Alright, yeah, I get it. I get it…" - His hand already locked to his chin.

I'll be rooting for ya! And remember: 'Light as a feather, sting like a bee'!"

‟That's… that makes no sense."

Sure it does! You'll understand… later." - Even though the notion itself felt backwards, Asriel's pensive tone reminded him of a green goat he still knew.

And if the second part was talking about sex, then that is a horrible, terrible, and very grotesque metaphor.

‟And, Asriel… try to not tell Dess about this."

‟Uhm… I'll tryyy~~. But she's super sharp when it comes to this stuff…"

He had good reason to ask. The day Noelle's big sister heard about this might be his last day living in Hometown, for real. She was scary enough when it came to scares and pranks. But if he was about to actually try and date her little sister, Kris might get more than just a wiffle bat coming his way. Or in his eyes. Dear god she has a lighter now.

Before he could ask further, a mock question wafted in from downstairs.

‟Now, could anyone come and help me prepare this Christmas pie, I wonder?
Surely there are some kids with enough free time on their hands to assist me… or could I be wrong?"

‟Oh! Kris! Let's go and help mom out!" - With an almost athlete recovery, his brother jumped off the bed and grabbed him up.

‟Wait, I thought you were busy?! Don't you have somewhere to be tonight?"

Obviously I have somewhere to be!"

At home with you two, silly!"


How about those new characters, eh? I hope they're as fun to read they are to write. I didn't realize I'd have to introduce 3 (three!) people in one scene when I did, but I think it ended up adding to the chaos of that chapter.

Also, after only 15 some chapters of painful, slow, and maybe very angsty set-up, I think we may actually build up to a romance. I know, I know, you're allowed to take your hands off your mouth from shock.

Thanks for reading, and thank you to everyone posting reviews.