InsaneJournal

Halloween was the last event on the Calendar that was a real competitor for Christmas, and it was after that that work really ramped up for Tinsel. Thanksgiving hardly rated when she had so much to do to make sure Christmas happened. Some of the people in the office had little fake pumpkins and skeletons decorating their workstations, bringing the Spooky Season into this bastion of Yule festivities.

Trick or Treating in Manhattan was difficult for people in apartments. A lot of people had little bowls of candy out on their desks. Tinsel encouraged people to wear costumes if they wanted to, and on the 31st there were a good number of spooky characters. Tinsel didn’t dress up. She had so much to do already to deal with leaving her office and joining everyone else in their Halloween staff lunch.

Amber, her assistant, knocked on her office door and poked her head in. She had a plate of food and a witch’s hat, which she held up with a smile. “Brought you a costume,” she said, coming in and placing down the plate. “I saw you working through lunch again so I brought you some food. You need to eat something. It’s good, the cupcakes are frosted with little spider webs. Cute, huh?”

Tinsel thanked her with a smile and a sigh. Her phone buzzed as Amber went back to the rest of the party, and she glanced at the screen, and then turned it over. Julia. She was checking in on their plans for the night. Tinsel was already starting to tell her she was busy with her ever-increasing workload a little more often than she should. And she was busy, it was just- she could make time if she really wanted to, and she knew it.

The problem, which she had not discussed with anyone else, was that Julia wanted more from Tinsel than Tinsel was able or willing to give. Julia had said those three little words, and Tinsel could not find it in herself to say them back; she knew that meant things weren’t working, but Julia was so- so… so invested. And so sweet and caring, and Tinsel didn’t want to hurt her. So she pulled back each time Julia tried to move closer, unconsciously or not trying to bridge the gap.

Absolutely swamped, I’m so sorry hon xxxx Have fun without me tho!!

Tinsel picked up a bottle of wine on her way home. It was actually one of the good bottles for tonight, she’d thought to treat herself as she sat inside in her Stitch onesie and watched Downton Abbey instead of going out with her girlfriend, like she should want to be doing.

She rubbed her temple tiredly as she headed into the lift. She’d been up before dawn to get a workout in before going to the office, focused on keeping her body fit to keep up with the long hours. And now it was dark, and she felt like she’d hardly seen the day. With an exhausted sigh, she closed her eyes.

A scent filled her nostrils and she gasped softly, sucking it in. It was like a sunbeam between storm clouds, a warm springtime morning after a freezing winter. The smell was fresh and floral and sweetly feminine, making her breath it in deeply and open her eyes again, suddenly refreshed.

It was her downstairs neighbour. The slim woman had her red hair in delicious curls tumbling down her back, over a short gauzy white dress made to look weathered and torn. Jasmine was adjusting her cape, and caught Tinsel’s wondering gaze, giving her a perfectly kissable smile.

Tinsel knew she was a Muse, and Luna’s friend. But she’d spent more than one night since they met fantasizing about a moment just like this one, and that fact didn’t seem important to remember. Nor was the fact that she was meant to be in a committed relationship. She would feel somewhat guilty about that later.

“Hello. Happy Halloween,” Jasmine said, fluffing out her skirt. “I like your hat.”

Tinsel had forgotten she was still wearing the witch hat she’d been given, and she raised a hand to touch it. “Th- thanks. Uh. I like your costume.”

“Oh- sexy ghost, you know, in the great Halloween tradition.” Jasmine laughed a silvery laugh, and gestured to the back on Tinsel’s arm. “Where are you going with that wine? Somewhere special?”

Tinsel bit her lip, and shook her head. “Nah. Just me and a box of shortbread and a TV binge watch. Long day at work.”

Jasmine smiled sympathetically, and reached out, brushing her fingers against the back of Tinsel’s arm, making all the hairs stand on end. “Well, Tinsel Gloria, I have this new herbal tea that would help to energise you, if you want to come try it? My party is over, I have nothing left to do but get into my pajamas too, and you know-” She leaned in close, conspiratorial. “I am not quite ready to stop enjoying my costume. Do you think that would be something you might like?”

Tinsel felt stupid with the enchanting scent and the closeness. She was just going to have tea with her neighbour. There was no harm in that. None at all. Maybe she could share her wine, too. And Jasmine had remembered to call her Gloria, which- Well, why must she always be the responsible one? It was just tea.



Reader, it was not just tea.



“Tinsel? Are you- did you sleep here?”

Amber was in her office, looking at her in concern, and Tinsel looked up from her coffee, sagging on her elbow on the desk. It was sweet that Amber cared. The whole office cared, but so long as Tinsel just focused on her work, she could put her energy into making Christmas bright for those in need, and not hitting her girlfriend with a metaphorical sack of coal. She could convince herself she could forget it and move on. And maybe that meant she didn’t go home and face her apartment and shame.

“Do you need to call someone?”

“Hm?” Amber was still talking to her, and Tinsel rallied to give her a smile, sitting up straighter. “No, no I’m fine, we have joy and goodwill to spread and only forty-four days to do it in. Back to work!”

Amber hesitated, but eventually she left the office, although she did come back with an orange juice and a croissant. Amber also, at the end of the day and fearing another late night from her boss, took the opportunity of having access to Tinsel’s phone to send a message to her brother, asking him to come by at his earliest convenience. Sometimes workaholics were their own worst enemies, and Amber could at least provide a friend to chisel Tinsel out of her office.