Conversations With Santa
Title : Conversations With Santa
Author: dalehead
Pairing : Orlijah
Rating : PG
Summary : Orlando asks for his Christmas present.
Disclaimer: This is entirely made up.
Author’s Note: A little Christmas story written with Jess and Jenny in mind
.
The first time it happened, Orlando was very young. A very little boy.
It was Christmas Eve...
“Go to bed and stay there.” His mother yelled as he got up for the third time, demanding water, to use the toilet, to ask for a cuddle. However, as the Bloom children knew, when mummy used that tone, there was no point arguing. Orlando hurried to bed, hid under the covers and was determined not to go to sleep.
When he woke up it was dark. For some reason he couldn’t fathom, Orlando felt the urge to get up, go downstairs. He tiptoed silently as it’s possible for a small boy to move until he was able to slip into the living room where the Christmas tree lights were left on.
“Ohhhh...” He gasped. There was someone in the room, someone big, someone he couldn’t quite see … Him.
“Tsk tsk...” The voice sounded kindly. “You’ve no slippers no dressing gown on.”
Orlando looked down. “I forgot.”
“Are you cold?” Still kindly.
“A bit...” Orlando admitted.
“Then come sit in my lap for a few moments, we’ll have a chat whilst I finish the mince pie your dear mama left me.”
“Can I ask you something?
“You can, the question is, whether you may.” The voice sounded tenderly amused.
“May I ask for something? For Christmas?”
“Of course you may, Orlando.”
“May I please learn to read? I can’t manage very well. The words are all jumbled and I can’t see them properly.”
“I can’t make you able to read, but I can help you in another way, so that you’re diagnosed and get the help you need.”
Orlando yawned. “Good night...” The voice was soft, gentle, reminded him of his mummy. The next thing he knew he was tucked up up in bed and it was so dark, far too early to be awake. He turned over and went back to sleep.
~~
Who’d moved the fucking lock? Orlando struggled and struggled till finally the door opened.
“Oh for …”
“Sorry mum … You moved the lock.”
“No dear, you’re drunk.”
“I’m drunk but you’re …”
“Don’t even think about saying it, young man.”
“The best mum in the whole world and I love you.” Orlando threw his arms around her, hugged her, lifting her up off the ground.
“Mind your back.” She shrieked.
“Kay … kay...” Gently Orlando set his mother on her feet. He’d been out with his pals for their traditional Christmas Eve drink up, returning much the worse for wear but merry all the same.
Once in the house, he dropped his keys on the hall table and ended up on the sofa, curled up under a blanket as his exasperated mother didn’t fancy carrying upstairs to bed.
When he awoke it was cold and dark. He shivered.
“You’re a bit old to sit in my lap for a warm.” A kindly voice, one that Orlando dimly recalled from the past.
“Excuse me?” He was half excited, half frightened. He felt like he was six years old all over agian.
“Not too old?” The next thing, Orlando found himself snuggled against something soft, warm, something that smelt of being safe, being happy.
“May I ask you something?” Orlando murmured.
“Yes Orlando, you may.”
“Could you fix it for me to … “
“To what?”
“To get a break? I traipse to auditions, I see people and they tell me how striking I look and how amazing my eyes are and then they give the job to some squinty eyed bastard...”
“Language.”
“Sorry sir...”
“No need to call me sir, my dear.”
“Do you think you can help me? Please? “ Orlando wanted success so badly he could taste it.
“Yes I can help you, I can give you an opportunity to shine, the rest, of course, is up to you.”
“To me?”
“Of course, the only person in charge of your own destiny, your future, is yourself.”
“Mmm...” Orlando yawned and turned over. His bed was toasty and warm and he was very comfortable and sleepy...
~~~
Their time in New Zealand was the most wonderful, amazing, humbling and exhilarating experience of Orlando's life. Nothing would ever live up to this he thought. Nothing ever did and although his career took off, he realised the days of anonymity were over.
Christmases came and went and Orlando found himself in LA, staying with Elijah.
“Hey buddy...” Orlando hugged him tight.
“Hey...”
And the moment they got in the car it was like the intervening years had never happened.
“So what do you do on Christmas Eve?” Elijah asked.
“Get pissed and then wish and wish that Viggo would love me as much as I love him.”
“But he’s … Orlando? He’s not gay.”
“So? Maybe one day he’ll realise, you fall in love with the person, not the label.”
“You said that about Sean too.” Elijah reminded him, trying not to laugh.
“Yeah well, I didn’t think he was so relentlessly heterosexual.”
“You’re kidding me?” Elijah replied dryly.
“Anyway, we’re seeing Vig on Boxing Day right?”
“The day after Christmas, yeah. He’s coming to lunch...”
*
Christmas Eve was as big a drink up as Orlando could’ve have wished for. They got home in the wee small hours, with Orlando holding Lijah up.
“I love you Orlando, I really, really love you.” Elijah hiccupped.
“Yeah? Love you too, little man.”
“You only see a shorty butt don’t you?” The tone in Elijah’s voice, the sadness of it, seemed to pierce Orlando. He looked at his friend, everything was slightly fuzzy around the edges.
“Short arse.”
“That’s what I said...”
A moment later, Elijah was sprawled on the couch, snoring; Orlando gently covered him with a blanket. He shivered.
“You’re up late, young man.”
“Oh …” Orlando smiled. “Hello.”
“Not cold tonight, LA is never really cold is it...” The tone did not suggest an answer. “You’ve done well since we last talked.”
“Yeah...” Orlando smiled. “Thank you.”
“Nothing to do with me, you are the one who made it happen.”
“I did but …”
“But?”
“Could I ask you for something?”
“It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t.”
“I’m in love with Viggo. Can’t you help to make him love me.”
“My dear Orlando, love is the greatest mystery of all. I most certainly couldn’t. Goodness me...”
“Oh...” So there was no hope. It was like He heard Orlando’s unspoken thought..
“There is always hope, it’s just you have to look in the right place for it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You are seeking love, am I correct?”
“Well yes, yes I would like to fall in love.”
“Yet you ignore the one person who’s been in love with you for years.”
“No one is in love with me.” Orlando frowned. “Who is in love with me?”
“The person right under your nose.”
There was a very long pause.
“You mean …” Orlando was almost speechless.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Oh.”
Orlando yawned. He was about to argue the point but bed was so warm and cosy, he turned over instead and begun to snore...
The next morning, he and Elijah got up later than they meant. Orlando was quiet.
“Orli?” Elijah hadn’t called him by his old nickname for the longest time.
Orlando glanced up and smiled. He looked at Elijah in a way he hadn’t looked at him before. He wondered...
“Who were you talking to last night?”
“Talking to?”
“Yeah, I remember you throwing the blanket over me and then I heard voices, coming from a long way off, where you outside? By the pool?”
“You were imagining it, there was no one there.” Orlando frowned. “Lij?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think I’m really in love with Vig after all.” He watched his friend closely. Was it his imagination? Had he really been so blind? Was that hope he could see in Elijah’s eyes?
“Oh …” Elijah made no answer but his expression said it all.
~~~
“No, I don’t want to go out.” Orlando shook his head.
“You don’t? But we always go out on Christmas Eve.” Elijah frowned. “We’ve done all the prep for tomorrow, even if we get plastered.” He sounded as English as Orlando now. Three years living in London does that to a person. “We’ll still be okay, I’ve followed Nigella’s instructions to the letter, most of the dinner is cooked.”
“Bugger the dinner, I want to spend Christmas Eve here at home, with you.” And Orlando grinned as he dropped down on one knee.
“Lij?” He begun...
*
Later that night Orlando heard a familiar step on the stair but he was far too comfy and Elijah was far too warm to leave. He smiled in the direction of the door and mouthed thank you before he turned over, snuggling closer to his brand new fiance.
He felt the light brush of lips over his hair before he fell deeper into sleep.
Fin
Author: dalehead
Pairing : Orlijah
Rating : PG
Summary : Orlando asks for his Christmas present.
Disclaimer: This is entirely made up.
Author’s Note: A little Christmas story written with Jess and Jenny in mind
.
The first time it happened, Orlando was very young. A very little boy.
It was Christmas Eve...
“Go to bed and stay there.” His mother yelled as he got up for the third time, demanding water, to use the toilet, to ask for a cuddle. However, as the Bloom children knew, when mummy used that tone, there was no point arguing. Orlando hurried to bed, hid under the covers and was determined not to go to sleep.
When he woke up it was dark. For some reason he couldn’t fathom, Orlando felt the urge to get up, go downstairs. He tiptoed silently as it’s possible for a small boy to move until he was able to slip into the living room where the Christmas tree lights were left on.
“Ohhhh...” He gasped. There was someone in the room, someone big, someone he couldn’t quite see … Him.
“Tsk tsk...” The voice sounded kindly. “You’ve no slippers no dressing gown on.”
Orlando looked down. “I forgot.”
“Are you cold?” Still kindly.
“A bit...” Orlando admitted.
“Then come sit in my lap for a few moments, we’ll have a chat whilst I finish the mince pie your dear mama left me.”
“Can I ask you something?
“You can, the question is, whether you may.” The voice sounded tenderly amused.
“May I ask for something? For Christmas?”
“Of course you may, Orlando.”
“May I please learn to read? I can’t manage very well. The words are all jumbled and I can’t see them properly.”
“I can’t make you able to read, but I can help you in another way, so that you’re diagnosed and get the help you need.”
Orlando yawned. “Good night...” The voice was soft, gentle, reminded him of his mummy. The next thing he knew he was tucked up up in bed and it was so dark, far too early to be awake. He turned over and went back to sleep.
~~
Who’d moved the fucking lock? Orlando struggled and struggled till finally the door opened.
“Oh for …”
“Sorry mum … You moved the lock.”
“No dear, you’re drunk.”
“I’m drunk but you’re …”
“Don’t even think about saying it, young man.”
“The best mum in the whole world and I love you.” Orlando threw his arms around her, hugged her, lifting her up off the ground.
“Mind your back.” She shrieked.
“Kay … kay...” Gently Orlando set his mother on her feet. He’d been out with his pals for their traditional Christmas Eve drink up, returning much the worse for wear but merry all the same.
Once in the house, he dropped his keys on the hall table and ended up on the sofa, curled up under a blanket as his exasperated mother didn’t fancy carrying upstairs to bed.
When he awoke it was cold and dark. He shivered.
“You’re a bit old to sit in my lap for a warm.” A kindly voice, one that Orlando dimly recalled from the past.
“Excuse me?” He was half excited, half frightened. He felt like he was six years old all over agian.
“Not too old?” The next thing, Orlando found himself snuggled against something soft, warm, something that smelt of being safe, being happy.
“May I ask you something?” Orlando murmured.
“Yes Orlando, you may.”
“Could you fix it for me to … “
“To what?”
“To get a break? I traipse to auditions, I see people and they tell me how striking I look and how amazing my eyes are and then they give the job to some squinty eyed bastard...”
“Language.”
“Sorry sir...”
“No need to call me sir, my dear.”
“Do you think you can help me? Please? “ Orlando wanted success so badly he could taste it.
“Yes I can help you, I can give you an opportunity to shine, the rest, of course, is up to you.”
“To me?”
“Of course, the only person in charge of your own destiny, your future, is yourself.”
“Mmm...” Orlando yawned and turned over. His bed was toasty and warm and he was very comfortable and sleepy...
~~~
Their time in New Zealand was the most wonderful, amazing, humbling and exhilarating experience of Orlando's life. Nothing would ever live up to this he thought. Nothing ever did and although his career took off, he realised the days of anonymity were over.
Christmases came and went and Orlando found himself in LA, staying with Elijah.
“Hey buddy...” Orlando hugged him tight.
“Hey...”
And the moment they got in the car it was like the intervening years had never happened.
“So what do you do on Christmas Eve?” Elijah asked.
“Get pissed and then wish and wish that Viggo would love me as much as I love him.”
“But he’s … Orlando? He’s not gay.”
“So? Maybe one day he’ll realise, you fall in love with the person, not the label.”
“You said that about Sean too.” Elijah reminded him, trying not to laugh.
“Yeah well, I didn’t think he was so relentlessly heterosexual.”
“You’re kidding me?” Elijah replied dryly.
“Anyway, we’re seeing Vig on Boxing Day right?”
“The day after Christmas, yeah. He’s coming to lunch...”
*
Christmas Eve was as big a drink up as Orlando could’ve have wished for. They got home in the wee small hours, with Orlando holding Lijah up.
“I love you Orlando, I really, really love you.” Elijah hiccupped.
“Yeah? Love you too, little man.”
“You only see a shorty butt don’t you?” The tone in Elijah’s voice, the sadness of it, seemed to pierce Orlando. He looked at his friend, everything was slightly fuzzy around the edges.
“Short arse.”
“That’s what I said...”
A moment later, Elijah was sprawled on the couch, snoring; Orlando gently covered him with a blanket. He shivered.
“You’re up late, young man.”
“Oh …” Orlando smiled. “Hello.”
“Not cold tonight, LA is never really cold is it...” The tone did not suggest an answer. “You’ve done well since we last talked.”
“Yeah...” Orlando smiled. “Thank you.”
“Nothing to do with me, you are the one who made it happen.”
“I did but …”
“But?”
“Could I ask you for something?”
“It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t.”
“I’m in love with Viggo. Can’t you help to make him love me.”
“My dear Orlando, love is the greatest mystery of all. I most certainly couldn’t. Goodness me...”
“Oh...” So there was no hope. It was like He heard Orlando’s unspoken thought..
“There is always hope, it’s just you have to look in the right place for it.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You are seeking love, am I correct?”
“Well yes, yes I would like to fall in love.”
“Yet you ignore the one person who’s been in love with you for years.”
“No one is in love with me.” Orlando frowned. “Who is in love with me?”
“The person right under your nose.”
There was a very long pause.
“You mean …” Orlando was almost speechless.
“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.”
“Oh.”
Orlando yawned. He was about to argue the point but bed was so warm and cosy, he turned over instead and begun to snore...
The next morning, he and Elijah got up later than they meant. Orlando was quiet.
“Orli?” Elijah hadn’t called him by his old nickname for the longest time.
Orlando glanced up and smiled. He looked at Elijah in a way he hadn’t looked at him before. He wondered...
“Who were you talking to last night?”
“Talking to?”
“Yeah, I remember you throwing the blanket over me and then I heard voices, coming from a long way off, where you outside? By the pool?”
“You were imagining it, there was no one there.” Orlando frowned. “Lij?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t think I’m really in love with Vig after all.” He watched his friend closely. Was it his imagination? Had he really been so blind? Was that hope he could see in Elijah’s eyes?
“Oh …” Elijah made no answer but his expression said it all.
~~~
“No, I don’t want to go out.” Orlando shook his head.
“You don’t? But we always go out on Christmas Eve.” Elijah frowned. “We’ve done all the prep for tomorrow, even if we get plastered.” He sounded as English as Orlando now. Three years living in London does that to a person. “We’ll still be okay, I’ve followed Nigella’s instructions to the letter, most of the dinner is cooked.”
“Bugger the dinner, I want to spend Christmas Eve here at home, with you.” And Orlando grinned as he dropped down on one knee.
“Lij?” He begun...
*
Later that night Orlando heard a familiar step on the stair but he was far too comfy and Elijah was far too warm to leave. He smiled in the direction of the door and mouthed thank you before he turned over, snuggling closer to his brand new fiance.
He felt the light brush of lips over his hair before he fell deeper into sleep.
Fin