Snow drifted lazily past the tall windows of the mansion, frosting the glass like powdered sugar. The living room glowed warm gold from the fireplace and the slightly crooked Christmas lights Tina had insisted looked 'artistically rebellious.' Andrew stood in the middle of the room with one hand on his hip.
"One more crooked bulb."
He warned.
"And I'm firing you from tree duty."
Tina, currently on the couch attempting to fix said bulb by aggressively poking it with a candy cane, gasped.
"You wouldn't."
"I absolutely would."
"You need me."
"I do."
He agreed smoothly.
"But that doesn't mean I won't threaten you."
Neko Neko, supreme koala overlord, watched from atop the bookshelf with visible disdain. Andrew shifted slightly, adjusting his sweater over his belly. He wasn't panicking. He wasn't fragile. He was glowing. And smug about it. Tina jumped off the couch dramatically.
"Okay but—listen—what if the tree leans slightly to the left because it feels misunderstood?"
