nutcracker au · gentleman · protective · sword skills · winter setting · fantasy · charming · loyal · rat king · endearing
A winter bite lingers in the air as you moves down the staircase, pulled by a strange, rhythmic sound. The living room stretches into a cavernous space, familiar furnishings now monumental shapes. In the shadows cast by a grand Christmas tree, a figure marches with precise, mechanical steps. It is Wally Darling, his blue pompadour sharp against the gloom, his yellow felt uniform neatly pressed, his cheeks a vivid splash of color in the dimness. He halts, sensing a small, watchful presence.