#twilightadvent23

[gisellelx]

Twilight Advent Calendar, Day 10

Masterpost/Prompts

Dec. 10 - Pick one of the witnesses in Breaking Dawn. What was it like for them to stay at the Cullens' home for those two weeks? Who did they spend time with?

"Revolutionaries"

(~1300 words)

There was no question about it.

Carlisle’s family was weird.

He’d met them before, but in passing. Now, surrounded, Garrett understood that the meetings had been in the woods, on street corners, at night, not because that was normal for Carlisle’s coven, but for his benefit. He had heard Carlisle say the words “home” and call the rangy redhead his son, but it just hadn’t registered. He thought it was just language, that his old friend was making himself feel better about the state of affairs he lived in. But it wasn’t.

They had a goddamn Christmas tree. When it had been suggested that he go to the Cullen home, Garrett had assumed he’d find a coven playacting. Staying out of the way of the Volturi. Hiding from humankind. And surely, surely there couldn’t be seven of them as perfect in their records as Carlisle.

But, no, here they were. Half a dozen bedrooms, closets with clothes that weren’t purloined from victims. Carlisle, nerd that he was, had a whole fucking library on the second floor, with books he’d been toting for two centuries. Five bathrooms—for what? And a kitchen. Well, that was, oddly, going to use.

Garrett could hear her, humming to herself as she buzzed around, again making some sort of something for the werewolves who were sleeping on the doorstep, and realized he recognized the tune. Penny Lane.

Yep, he needed air.

There was a figure already on the porch when he exited, and even if the scent hadn’t registered before his eyes did, he’d have recognized the silhouette anywhere. The shoulders were slumped in a way that reminded Garrett of two hundred twenty years ago. The body of a man trying to convince himself he was happy, when he wasn’t.

“This is some endeavor, English,” he said, and the head whipped around. Garrett laughed. “Did I startle you?” Absurd.

A long sigh. “Oh, perhaps I was somewhat aware.” The face broke into a tired smile. “I’m just out here cogitating.”

Garrett cocked his head. “You do you know you sound like the most horrible snob when you use words like that.”

This, thankfully, elicited a smile. “Noted. What brings you outdoors?”

“Your woman was singing the Beatles; I had to escape.”

A questioning frown.

“I didn’t care for the first British invasion. I like the second even less.”

His friend’s bark of a laugh was familiar. Garrett grinned in return, and then joined Carlisle at his side, leaning against the thick railing.

“I will say, however, that her taste in music aside, Esme is quite the—”

“Garrett.”

“—lovely woman is what I was going to say,” he finished sweetly, flashing Carlisle a wide smile. His friend shook his head, rolling his eyes, but then they met gazes and Carlisle smirked. Both of them began laughing.

“I am a lucky man; I won’t deny it.”

“Hell yes you are, you bastard.” He punched Carlisle in the shoulder, and Carlisle looked down shyly, a wry smile playing on his face. “And here I thought you were going to go all eternity without ever doing the deed.”

Another laugh. “Truthfully? So did I.”

The moonlight glinted off Carlisle’s hair as they both fell into companionable silence again. They looked enough alike to pass as brothers; it had been something Garrett had liked all those centuries ago. Even though Carlisle was his elder by a century and then some, he had always struck Garrett as naïve. His hope, his steadfast confidence that if he just did things his way, it would all turn out right and well. It was as admirable as it was ridiculous.

And yet it was working.

Garrett didn’t have to work hard to make out the individual conversations going on in the expansive living room as he and Carlisle stared together out into the forest. The sisters—also gorgeous, talking with the Spanish woman. Her mate, locked in a quiet talk with Carlisle’s son. The weird kid, with her even weirder name, reading to her mother while Carlisle’s blonde daughter interjected every now and again. The lawn behind the house twinkled in color from the tree and the lights that went up the banister in the big room; the shadows cast by the roaring fire danced playfully across the porch.

“You succeeded,” he said finally.

“Mmm?”

He gestured widely at the house behind them. “You succeeded. At this. I thought you were bereft of your senses, with that diet and the doctor thing and everything but…you did it.” He turned, leaning against the rail. “Family life suits you. I don’t know why I am surprised.”

Carlisle made a noise somewhere between a snort and a laugh. “It’s not easy. At times, I envy your freedom.” He turned back to Garrett. “I wasn’t out here merely cogi—thinking. I was worrying, while Edward isn’t paying attention. I’m worried about Alice and Jasper, and I’m worried about Renesmee, and I’m worried what that will do to Bella, and what any of this will do to Edward. And then all of you…”

Garrett clapped a hand on Carlisle’s shoulder. “We chose to come. You can’t take that on.”

The brow furrowed again. “I feel responsible.”

“That’s your problem, not anyone else’s. No one is going to hold you responsible for”—he gestured widely in the direction of the field where the clairvoyant had indicated they would need to be—“whatever goes on out there. You’re responsible for this. This gathering. These friends. This…family. This is what you worry about. This is what you can control.”

They both glanced back in the doors. Someone had turned on Christmas music. The Spanish woman was slow dancing with her mate. One of the sisters—the prettier one—had accepted the offer of a a Santa hat. Muffled laughter. The sound of crackling, and the earthen scent of a fresh log beginning to burn.

“And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit,” Carlisle muttered.

“Huh?”

This elicited another chuckle. “The twelfth chapter of Luke, you heathen.” He grinned. “But it’s a welcome reminder. Thank you.”

The Bible. Of course. That hadn’t changed, either. Garrett stared. Carlisle’s expression seemed to have softened; the strange, amber eyes glowed differently. The two of them stared out into the blackness of the night, the moon glinting off the river so close to the house. They listened to this; the way the water pounded against what must have been much larger rocks further north, where the elevation was even higher, before coming whooshing through the woods behind the stately home.

It was a long while before Garrett got the eerie feeling of being watched. He turned back toward the hulking French doors. Esme standing there, her head cocked, her arms crossed over her chest.

“There’s a beautiful woman looking for you, English,” Garrett said, nudging Carlisle in the ribs.

Carlisle turned. “So there is.” He beckoned, and the door opened a crack as Esme leaned out.

“Your granddaughter wants to say goodnight,” she called. “They’re going back over to the cottage in a few minutes.”

Your granddaughter, Garrett mouthed. The words still felt strange on his lips.

Carlisle didn’t miss this. “It is amazing, isn’t it?”

Garrett stared back at the door. “Like I said. It suits you.” He nodded in the direction of Carlisle’s wife. “Go. Stop worrying. At least for the night.”

In the same instant that Carlisle nodded, he was at his wife’s side. He put his arm around her waist, and she tipped her chin up so that their lips met. It looked…familiar. Garrett watched the way their gazes followed each other’s, the way a hand around the waist slipped slowly over hips to become a hand in another hand. The way she smiled up at him. The blur of knee-high blue that was the little girl streaking across the living room for his knees. The way he lifted her into the air and how she giggled and squeaked as he tossed her before settling her, one-armed, onto his hip. That even amidst the worry, his face lit up as he pressed his nose to hers and she put her palm to his cheek.

He had thought Carlisle boring. Naïve. Even deluded. I envy your freedom, he heard his friend’s voice echo in his head.

But as he listened to the laughter on the other side of the door, and watched the way the colored lights played off the planes of his friend’s face, Garrett wondered if freedom was really all Carlisle imagined it was cracked up to be.

~~~~

Note: A more modern translation of Luke 12:25 reads “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” (NRSV). But I feel confident that if Carlisle is going to quote the Bible, it’s the 1611 KJV that he has in mind.

[needahugfromesme]

Dec. 11 - Besides painting, what art forms does Esme enjoy? How do you imagine her art room/setup looks? - Photography and here's cottagecore art studio

[jessicanjpa]

Here is your Twilight Advent Calendar for 2023!

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Instead of candy, here are some bite-sized headcanon prompts for each day throughout December 1–25. Each one is simple enough to answer with a quick headcanon post, but your ficlets, fan art, and moodboards will add some extra sparkle!

You can answer each prompt on its day or schedule your posts ahead of time. The tag is #twilightadvent23.

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Dec. 1 - Who is Rosalie's favorite vampire friend outside of the Cullens? What does she like to do with them?

Dec. 2 - What is Emmett's favorite board game or card game? How has he modified it to be more challenging?

Dec. 3 - Pick one deceased Twilight character to draw or tell us more about. How would the Twilight universe be different if they were still alive?

Dec. 4 - What does Sam like about being the alpha? What's difficult about it? And how does he feel post-BD1 about Jacob's new role?

Dec. 5 - What is each Cullen's favorite college major so far? What new major should they try someday?

Dec. 6 - What was it like for Eleazar to see the Volturi/his fellow guards again in Breaking Dawn?

Dec. 7 - Choose one Twilight couple (or an AU ship) and tell us about an argument they've had. How did they resolve it in the end?

Dec. 8 - What was it like for Jasper to train and fight in the Eclipse battle after so many years of peace?

Dec. 9 - What is it like for Carlisle to work as a doctor now versus back when he was alone?

Dec. 10 - Pick one of the witnesses in Breaking Dawn. What was it like for them to stay at the Cullens' home for those two weeks? Who did they spend time with?

Dec. 11 - Besides painting, what art forms does Esme enjoy? How do you imagine her art room/setup looks? (Fan artists, want to show us?)

Dec. 12 - What changes did the rest of the family see in Edward as he began to fall in love with Bella?

Dec 13 - What were Maria's thoughts when she heard about the gathering in Breaking Dawn?

Dec 14 - Tell us about an OC you like, either your own or someone else's. Include a drawing, moodboard, or playlist if you'd like to!

Dec 15 - Tell us about a point in the canon timeline where things could have easily gone in a different direction. How differently would things turn out in this AU?

Dec. 16 - How close do you think Charlie and Renée will come to knowing the whole story eventually?

Dec. 17 - What do your favorite Volturi guards do for fun/hobbies?

Dec. 18 - What are some things the Cullens do every time they move? Does anyone have any rituals re: leaving a location or starting at a new one?

Dec. 19 - Tell us some headcanons about a Twilight character you don't usually post about. Write a ficlet or include a sketch, moodboard, etc. if you like!

Dec. 20 - Headcanons for the summer between Twilight and New Moon (Bella/Edward or other characters)?

Dec. 21 - Pick any five characters. What's something they always carry with them?

Dec. 22 - What did Alice do to pass the time pre-1948?

Dec. 23 - What's one of your favorite scenes in Twilight (books or films) and why?

Dec. 24 - What Christmas/holiday gifts are your favorite characters exchanging this year?

Dec. 25 - For one of the Twilight vampires, tell us about a Christmas or winter memory from their human days.

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Bonus for new year's eve - What resolutions are your favorite Twilight characters making for the new year?

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[miss-morgans-lover]

Twilight Advent Day 18: Cullen Moving Ritual

Jasper: Sorts out all the financial/ legal stuff, contacting Jenks and getting new IDs, sorting out bank accounts, new school/work stuff maybe contacting the Volturi and Denali Coven about their address change.

Carlisle: Oversees everything, aids in packing and makes sure their house is sorted.

Esme: Helps packing, makes sure house is up to scratch design wise.

Alice: Main packer, organises everything, everyone has their place

Rosalie: Deals with the Garage and any storage areas since a fair bit of it is hers and her car parts.

Emmett: Carries a lot of it (especially if humans are around), is in charge of his gaming systems

Edward: Deals with all the music stuff across the house and all the art around the house as well, except for the Volturi portrait.

[denalilily]

✨☃️ Twilight Advent Calendar - Day 5 ☃️✨

What is each Cullen's favorite college major so far? What new major should they should try someday?

Carlisle - all his favorite college fields have something to do with medicine and healthcare. His favorite fields so far have been general surgery and trauma medicine. He knows he has a gift of staying calm and collected in the middle of panicky chaos, and uses it to its full advantage to help people.

Esme - her favorite field is architecture, which she has incorporated some of her other skills into (like art). She has used her skills and money to design a beautiful house as a shelter for women in abusive relationships where they can get the support and help they need. She prefers to not directly interact with humans, but has thought about becoming a therapist some day.

Edward - he enjoys molecular biology and philosophy most of all the fields he's studied. He studied at the theatre one year in an attempt to become an opera singer. No one lets him forget it.

Rosalie - her favorite field is astrophysics, which she has multiple degrees in, loving the look on people's faces when they realize she's a blonde supermodel who's an actual rocket scientist. She's also worked as an OBGYN in a hospital with Carlisle, which she loved but eventually, it got too painful for her to be around babies and pregnant women every day.

Emmett - he's mostly studied fields related to fitness and his favorite is kinesiology, and he usually uses that degree to go on to become a personal trainer. He's also a professional chef and has worked in high end restaurants.

Alice - she's an expert on business and economics and has multiple degrees in it, but her favorite will always be fashion design. She's also worked as a party planner and a professional dancer/gymnast.

Jasper - world history and American history, but usually chooses to study in a military academy and his favorite job is air force pilot. He sometimes works summers at amusement parks or water parks to bask in the happy emotions of humans.

Bella - English literature and environmental biology, especially botany

[lookitsaworm]

Dec. 1 - Who is Rosalie's favourite vampire friend outside of the Cullens? What does she like to do with them?

In terms of canonical relationships, Rosalie is closest to Kate. They align a lot in personality: they both find it hard to trust, but, when they do, they are fiercely loyal, willing to kill or be killed for that person/ people; they have both suffered great loneliness in their lives (Kate first when she became a vampire as, whilst she now had Sasha and Tanya, they were strangers, and her tribe was slaughtered and then again when Sasha died. And Rosalie when she became a vampire.) and in turn can emphasise with and relate to each other over it.

Also, the fact that they are both bad-ass take no shit women.

[stardustandtwilight]

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Dec. 8 - What was it like for Jasper to train and fight in the Eclipse battle after so many years of peace?

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His body remembered training and fighting well. It was like riding a bicycle, as humans say. But it was harder to get his mind back into it. Training Maria's army was easy - the newborns meant nothing to him. This time it was Alice, his whole world (he could not think of her in danger). Boisterous Emmett with his good humor and a tendency to not look before leaping (he came to training with the same enthusiastic energy as when they would wrestle and Jasper snapped at him multiple times to take it seriously). Prickly Rosalie who understood him (he missed having a twin and she was the closest to having his sister back). Warm Esme who was always willing to let him help with her projects (she introduced him to creating something instead of always destroying). Steadfast Carlisle, whose generally calm emotional demeanor was a comfort after years of turbulence (what would he do without that?).

It was harder to find what he liked about Edward in this moment. Selfish Edward who first refused to kill Bella and get it over with, then refused to change her (she desperately wanted to be one of them and frankly Jasper didn't understand what the problem was). Edward, who has put everyone in danger multiple times over her.

Jasper didn't know when he would ever forgive him.

[goldeneyedgirl]

Twilight Advent Calendar Day 5

Dec. 5 - What is each Cullen's favorite college major so far? What new major should they try someday?

Carlisle's favorite: Neurology. I think that Carlisle is someone who connects his faith and his medical practice together, and learning about the brain from a medical standpoint would have fascinated him. I see him studying this in Europe in the late 1700s/early 1800s, and then again in the very early 1980s.

Try someday: I'm going to say Pediatric Oncology. He's never specialized in children's medicine before, and the oncology specialty is particularly difficult because of the amount of loss associated with the department. But if he can use his abilities and lifetime of skills to get one child diagnosis or treatment a little bit sooner, then it's worth it. But the emotional toll would affect his family, so he hasn't tried yet.

Oh, or something revolving around English History, with a specific focuses on religion's role. He'd like to examine that part of his past from an analytical and academic perspective.

-

Esme's favorite: Interior Architecture. It's one thing to decorate a room, which Esme enjoys, but it's a totally different thing to build the room from scratch to capture a specific kind of light, and be a specific shape, accentuate the sound of Edward's piano, and work with the movements and behaviours of her family. She just loves how she gets to create this sanctuary from nothing. And getting to explore that across residential and commercial spaces was magical to her. It's also one of those degrees she gets to use regularly.

Try someday: Languages. Like the rest of the family, she can speak quite a few, but she'd love to go back and get a formal qualification so that she could do translation work professionally. Esme always seeks out her favourite books in foreign editions to compare the translations, and would love to work on book translations.

-

Edward's favorite: Music. It's his passion, and he loves to be able to study it so in depth, and get feedback from an academic and practical perspective from someone with a similar interest and passion. Carlisle insists he can only study music once every two decades to encourage diverse interests and prevent a connection being made between identities, so he really savors it when he gets to study it again.

Try someday: Family Law. As as a way to honour his biological father, but Edward has no use for more money or fighting for the prestige in law school, so he likes Family Law the best. It would also come in handy for the Cullens' cover story, and with his gift he believes he could make sure children are protected. Realistically, though, he would only get away with practicing for a year or two, so he keeps putting it off. With the rise in video conferencing and online consultations, though, there's potential for the future.

-

Rosalie's favorite: Nothing will ever take away the joy and pride Rosalie felt graduating from her very first Engineering degree. It's the one degree she prizes over the others because she was one of the first girls allowed in the program, and she graduated with honours (second place in the class because the school didn't want controversy, but Rose knows they fudged the grades.)

Try someday: Either Social Work or Early Childhood. Rosalie would love to advocate for women, especially those struggling, but she also recognises her bad temper would probably make a mess of the situation. Maybe one day. Early Childhood is more likely; it sounds wonderful but it's still hard - a little easier after Renesmee, but something she's working towards in the future.

-

Emmett's favorite: Video game design - he loved every aspect of that because it was such a great mix of hardcore coding and computer work combined with more creative aspects. He also loved the diverse applications of it, and explaining how it was valuable for medicine and engineering. His final project was technically a failure because it ran too fast and the controllers were buggy according to his professors, but it was also the first vampire-speed video game to be made and he still adds levels to it every so often.

Try someday: Emmett puts a bunch of degrees that sound mildly interesting or really weird in a hat and draws one out each time. He claims that this creates diverse interests and keeps him on his toes. He just loves the looks at his family's faces when he announces that he'll be tackling a degree in Turfgrass Science or Amusement Park Engineering. Gunsmithing and Surf Science have both caught his eye, though.

-

Alice's favorite: The very first fashion design degree she ever took. She went from being a girl that stole most of her clothing and wore them until they were destroyed, to learning how to choose fabric, how to draw patterns, cut and sew her own clothes. She learnt about designers, about how fashion shaped society, and it allowed Alice to build herself up from nothing - clothing is such a comfort to her, and being able to make it from scratch is just another level of security.

Try someday: Finance Law. It would be useful for her own wheelings and dealings, since most of her education in finance is from the 50s and 60s night school, playing the stock market, and what she gets from her visions. Having a formal degree in that area would also streamline a lot of stuff for the family. It's just so dry, Alice keeps putting it off. And yes, there would be major Elle Woods vibes if she gets around to it.

-

Jasper's favorite: Philosophy. The boy does love a little bit of navel gazing and contemplation about humanity as a concept. It's helped him deal with a lot of things that happened in his past, and the choices that he made, as well as how to move forward. He loves getting out the old books and sinking into them for days; it's the only study area where he's actually worked as an online professor.

Try someday: Forensic Psychology. Jasper would love to understand what makes people tick, especially abnormal ones. He would love to understand how he became such a monster, and if it was inevitable or if there was a trigger. And he would really enjoy figuring out the motivations behind crimes. Everything about Forensic Psychology appeals to the strategic side of him.

-

Bella's favorite: English literature. Bella loves it. She loves classic novels, and getting to study them is a dream. She loves discussing them in depth with other people who are just as passionate about them, and examining the difference in language and media portrayals, as well as the reflections from the author's real lives. She gets to shut herself up with a stack of her favourites, write about them, and get graded on her thoughts. It's perfect.

Try someday: Education or publishing. I think Bella would enjoy teaching literature to high school students, especially at a selective school where the kids were high achievers and invested in their education. She'd be a deadly serious English teacher, maybe even aim for a year or two teaching at a college-level. Or I could see her going into media to get into publishing and editing, allowing her to commit extensive time into reading, but also helping shape future books.

[edwardsvirtue]

🌲Twilight Advent Calendar 2023 🌲

Dec. 20 - Headcanons for the summer between Twilight and New Moon (Bella/Edward or other characters)?

hey, that's the premise for my current WIP! check it out if you want to read about edward getting caught in an endless anxiety spiral, alice acting like an obnoxious meddling little sister, and bella being so oblivious that it hurts </3

[palmofafreezinghand]

twilight advent calendar day twelve: What changes did the rest of the family see in Edward as he began to fall in love with Bella? (prompts here)

Early March 2005. 

Gesso. Ochre. Cadmium red. The routine had stayed the same for over forty years. 

A professor had once written about the warmth of her — well a male pseudonym’s — art, about the expert knowledge of color theory and keen observation skills, and how she — the male pseudonym — was arguably one of the most technically skilled artists of the century. Her husband had been thrilled by the recognition of what he had claimed to know for decades. She always suspected he was thrilled by the fact his vast collection of unreleased sketches and warmup paintings skyrocketed in value overnight. It was an amusing memory, a silly little compliment that had cemented her routine in fear of never reaching such recognition again. 

“Dr. Callaghan may have been wrong about the technique, but he was not wrong about your skill. You are one of the greats,” Edward’s voice came from the doorway. 

“How long have you been spying?” Esme asked. 

“Have you ever accepted a compliment?” 

“How can I help you, Edward?” 

“I do not need anything,” Edward responded, taking a seat in the armchair tucked in the corner of the studio, placed specifically for the two members of her family who insisted on keeping her company as she worked. “I only wished to watch you paint.” 

‘This will be good,’ Esme thought to herself, failing to bite back her sigh. At one point in their lives, Edward would have sincerely spent an afternoon sitting comfortably watching her paint. It had been at least ten years since he had last done this. 

“It has not been that long,” Edward said quietly. 

She flipped through her memory like a rolodex. Dozens of times she would drift into the living room while he played the piano only for him to excuse himself a few minutes later. Hundreds of invitations to accompany her on a hunt, or errand, or in a game of chess, all politely declined. The past month or so he had scarcely been home at all. 

“I have been a lousy son.” 

“I did not say that, dear.” It had been seventeen years since he referred to himself as her son in front of her, it had only been a year since he referred to himself as such in front of others. Edward winced at this thought and she mentally apologized. 

“You did not have to say it, it is true.” 

“I was simply surprised you are here, sweetheart, that is all.” 

“I wanted to watch you paint.” 

Esme smiled, getting up to fetch a new bottle of linseed oil. 

“And,” Edward continued after a moment. 

“Here we go,” Esme laughed. 

Edward rolled his eyes with a fond smile. It was a playfulness that was once hallmark to their relationship. She had not realized how much she had mourned it. 

“You were the one painting me, I presumed you would like a live reference.” 

“I have your face memorized, you know that.” 

“It appears I have been the subject of the week,” Edward said, standing and walking over to her desk that was littered with dozens of sketches and paintings of him. His unspoken question of why hung in the air. 

She did not say the answer aloud but instead thought of the element she had been trying to capture. She walked back to her desk and saw his finger lingering on one of the drawings’ dimples. 

‘It had been a while since I had seen that smile,’ she mentally explained. If she was truthful she had not seen him smile so brightly before, before he met… her. 

“I apologize I have been so morose lately.” 

“Lately as in the past twenty years?” Esme laughed, poking his arm. He shockingly laughed along. ‘I’m happy to see you so happy.” 

“Even if it means I am never home?” 

“Of course,” she smiled. “I was probably a rotten friend when Carlisle and I first started courting.” 

“You were an awful friend,” Edward chuckled. “You kept thinking of my father without his clothes on, it was traumatizing.” 

Esme smiled, attempting to keep her mind from wandering. 

“Esme,” Edward chided, crinkling his nose in disgust.  

“You brought it up,” she smiled, taking a seat at her desk once more. He walked back over to the arm chair, slinging his legs over one arm. 

They sat in peaceful quiet as she worked on the portrait, occassionally glancing over at him as she painted the face she knew too well. 

“Will you just ask already?” Edward eventually sighed. 

“I do not wish to pry,” Esme lied. She wished to pry very much and to know every detail about the girl who brought her son’s happiness back but she knew better. 

“Her name is Bella.” 

“I know that,” Esme grinned, spinning on her stool to face him. “Tell me everything else.” 

“She’s perfect. She loves Jane Austen,” Edward said, looking at the ceiling as if he did not know where to begin. “Her middle name is Marie…” 

Esme reached for her sketchbook and pencil as he spoke, not taking her eyes off his face. She barely glanced down at the paper as began to sketch her son absolutely beaming. 

He stopped after a minute, recgonizing the faces begining to form on her page. 

“Is that what I look like?” 

‘Only when you talk about her… and Liberace.’ 

“I should not be this happy. She is a human, this is not going to end well,” Edward started, the familiar frown returning between his brows. 

“Edward,” Esme sighed. “Can you allow yourself to be happy for once?” 

“How are you not worried?” 

“I know you will worry enough for the both of us,” Esme laughed, begining to refine her linework. 

“Your eternal optimism can be cloying at times.” 

“Do you wish to tell me you do not feel hopeful when you think of her?” 

“Not solely hopeful.” 

“But there is hope?” 

“Yes,” Edward admitted reluctantly yet immediately, a soft smile on his face. 

Esme grinned. “Will you please tell me more?” 

“She was born on September 13, 1987. Her favorite color is brown…” 

He was grinning as he spoke, allowing himself a rare moment to gush without worrying about the future and all the possibilities. Esme had to flip to another page of her sketchbook, it was difficult to capture his unadulterated joy accurately but she was quite grateful she finally had the opportunity to try.

[gisellelx]

Twilight Advent, Dec 1

Dec. 1 - Who is Rosalie's favorite vampire friend outside of the Cullens? What does she like to do with them?

I feel it quite certain that Rosalie's closest connections are to the Denali sisters, and that the connection she has with them are stronger than she does with the women in her own family. In the sisters, she would've found the acceptance of beauty and sexuality that she could only dance around in the Cullen family, and she would have found a lot of her own solace in their actions.

I suspect they spend a lot of time talking about men, and that over the years, they have heard a lot more about Emmett than Emmett wishes they have. Edward presumes that whenever Tanya and Rose get going, they're crabbing about him; he would be astonished to know he's almost never in either of their thoughts when they're together.

In the Denalis, Rosalie came to accept a different way of being a woman, and was allowed to let up on some of the mourning for her human life and learn to revel in the affordances of her new one. And deep down she knows this and is so grateful for their company and what it has meant for her relationships with the Cullens and her acceptance of who she is.

She'd never admit it, though.

Masterpost/prompts

[jessicanjpa]

Twilight Advent Calendar 2023 Event

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Dec. 18 - What are some things the Cullens do every time they move? Does anyone have any rituals re: leaving a location or starting at a new one?

It's kind of a bittersweet time, even when the move has been scheduled and has nothing to do with someone having an accident. It's always a bit jarring to bring their cover stories to a sudden stop after 4-6 years of pretending to be completely human, growing up, etc. Those personas are essentially "dying," and dying young.

They gradually retreat from human society beforehand; they really are busy but they also do their best to fade from public view like that instead of just disappearing overnight. Sometimes they talk about the move (to a fake destination), sometimes they don't. Some random thoughts:

-Carlisle and Esme take some quiet time alone together. They find a favorite lookout point or other special spot (sometimes even a public place like a cafe). And they just talk about everything that's happened, new things they're hoping for, their worries and ideas about the kiddos, etc. And then they just sit quietly and silently say goodbye in their own ways. It's sort of a spiritual moment they share, just one without words.

-The moves are the hardest on Rosalie, especially if they're just starting over right away without any break or vacation. It's a bit easier for her if there's something to look forward to, so between Emmett and Esme (and Rosalie herself) this is often the case.

-I wrote Rosalie and Emmett burying a time capsule full of keepsakes when they left the Olympic Peninsula in 1940, and I'm toying with the idea that they do this every time—not sure yet.

-Like Carlisle and Esme, everyone tries to visit their favorite local spots one more time. For Edward it's usually his meadow or cave or whatever was his Brooding Place. For Rosalie/Emmett it's usually a human venue like a dance club.

-Like @miss-morgans-lover said, Jasper is very busy in the weeks before a move. He actually sort of likes the nitty-gritty of managing everyone's identities, erasing paper and electronic trails, deleting pictures from databases, being the liaison to Jenks, etc. He likes to contribute in a concrete way that helps keep everyone safe, and for the most part he's enjoying the challenge here in the digital age. He takes his responsibility for putting the fear of God into liabilities like Jenks very seriously. Bella, why on earth would you take this away from him??? Back off.

-Carlisle still has a lot to do, even though Jasper has taken on a good share of the load he used to bear re: identity management. He generally keeps a handful of identities active at once so he can store valuables, keep in touch with old colleagues (he loves "aging" himself in those letters/emails), and keep his investments going with as little fuss as possible. He also has to pay his dues: preparing his CV, going on interviews, being the new guy at work again, etc. It's always hard for him to be the new guy; he likes the challenge of starting younger every time, but he always has to hold back and re-earn the respect he's become accustomed to.

-Emmett always introduces/tweaks a new vampire-level sport for everyone to try at the new location. It's his way of cheering everyone up and giving a bit of meaning to whatever the new place is. Whenever possible, he finds a way to match the sport to the location.

You can find all of the #twilightadvent23 prompts here!

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[lookitsaworm]

Dec. 3 - Pick one deceased Twilight character to draw or tell us more about. How would the Twilight universe be different if they were still alive?

Didyme- I think that a lot would have changed about the basic dynamic of the Volturo if Aro hadn't killed her.

Marcus would still have a mate.

Marcus would not live a life of mourning, where he does and feels basically nothing (due to Chelsea's powers). This would likely lead to him having a much more active role in the Volturi (if Aro just convinced Marcus and Didyme to stay instead of killing Didyme, so Marcus stayed). He, being more reasonable and less power hungry than Caius and Aro, would likely have created a more tolerant and reasonable Volturi, which, in turn, is still respected and obeyed, but due to admiration and respect instead of fear. This would likely mean that the Newborn Armies were dealt with differently- the "innocent members"(think Bree Tanner) would be spared whereas the leaders would likely still be killed or imprisoned (Aro's power determines this- if the reason they started the army happened when they were a vampire, they can be rehabilitated as it isn't "stuck" in the same way a human motif is stuck for a vampire, but, if the reason originates from when they are human, they will be killed as leaving them alive would likely create more violence. This would mean Bree Tanner would still be alive and, due to the Volturi being more reasonable, the "showdown" in Breaking Dawn would have actually happened with the Volturi intending to talk instead of intending to "talk" and actually wishing to fight. This, in turn, would mean that the Cullens wouldn't be so scared and wouldn't have needed so many witnesses (likely only the Denalis), meaning Benjamin likely doesn't stand up to Amun until a lot later (think hundreds of years) and Garrett and Kate never meet and become mates (or at least not for many years).

[jessicanjpa]

Twilight Advent Calendar 2023 Event

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Dec. 21 - Pick any five characters. What's something they always carry with them?

Jasper: Zippo lighter

You never know when you might need to dismember and incinerate an enemy. Or, you know, burn out an entire classroom because you accidentally killed the teacher and you have no choice but to murder the whole class to cover your tracks. Safety first.

Carlisle: doctor bag including a fantasy-level knockout syringe

I don't even know what's in that syringe. Propofol? Ketamine? Methohexital? Even if he were to inject a bolus directly into the jugular vein after making an educated guess about his victim's body weight, I don't think anything can work that fast. Cardiac arrest is more likely, but he's the doctor.

Anyway, that syringe canonically sees more action than Jasper's lighter and I think that's hilarious.

Esme: tin pencil box, 1921

Carlisle had an exasperating habit of purchasing any and every item that newborn Esme mentioned even the smallest interest in. When the words "I used to draw when I was a girl" crossed her lips, he practically ran out the door to shop for art supplies. This tin pencil box came home in his pocket. Esme still carries it in her purse to this day, stocked with whichever medium is her favorite at the time. A small, battered sketch pad is ready and waiting, too—you never know when you might stumble across something beautiful.

Rosalie: decorative makeup compact and emergency toolkit

It's important to Rosalie that everyone—humans and vampires alike—see her as both beautiful and competent. I don't think the books ever mentioned whether Rosalie and/or Alice wear makeup to school, but if they do, it has to be reapplied often because of the nature of vampire skin. And while she's perfectly capable of using people's glasses as a mirror (canon), I think she'd rather do it in style.

And she feels most comfortable when she's prepared for mortifying scenarios like her car breaking down in a school parking lot someday. She also likes being the one to say "Well actually you just need a 3/16 hex wrench—here" when someone is scratching their head over a broken chair/desk/bicycle/anything.

Charlotte: digital camera -> smartphone

Nomads have to be very particular about what they keep with them; no self-respecting vampire wants to dash around the globe wearing a backpack. But Charlotte had to, back when she had no choice but to carry around a bulky camera, extra rolls of film, and prints. She very happily made the switch to digital once the resolution became good enough. And now she's made the switch to smartphone photography (a little more grudgingly). Peter got her an iPhone-compatible macro lens last year and that finally won her over.

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You can find all of the #twilightadvent23 prompts here!

[gisellelx]

Twilight Advent Calendar, Day 18

Masterpost/prompts

Dec. 18 - What are some things the Cullens do every time they move? Does anyone have any rituals re: leaving a location or starting at a new one?

It takes three semis to fully move the Cullens. One is mostly Carlisle's art collection, which is way larger than we see in canon and mostly stored in a meticulously ordered climate controlled warehouse. Esme's job is to coordinate the art.

Depending on their reason for moving, they either need to forge new identities, or keep their current ones. If they are forging new identities, it's a shared task between Jasper and Carlisle; sometimes outsourced to people like Jenks. If they keep their current ones, they keep them—their forged identities pass muster and they can walk into a DMV and re-register their cars and get new drivers' licenses. The person who does this fastest is Edward; Emmett is the procrastinating lagger.

No one touches Edward's music but Edward because nobody knows what the heck "personal preference within that year" actually amounts to.

Rosalie handles the cars; depending on what identities they are using, they are either driven one by one so as to not be conspicuous, or they order a car carrier in order to be conspicuous and show that they are rich. If the move has to be fast, the cars often end up in an intermediate location; sometimes they are simply sold. Carvana has made this a breeze.

When she has time, Esme prefers to walk through and design the rooms for each member of the family and to knock out a renovation before they arrive. When she can't, she's always a little pouty.

Bella is still getting used to Cullen moves. Didn't help that the very first one they made after Forks was a spit-up international move.

I dunno about specific rituals; I think they are on the whole too practical for that. Like, I can't see anyone doing a home blessing or some such. But after all these years, a Cullen move happens with the tactical precision of a military operation. Every person has their thing they do; either because they want their items just so or because it's just known that "that's X person's job." This is how they can be gone in 24 hours; it's a crucial part of their lives.

[gisellelx]

Twilight Advent Calendar, Day 12

Masterpost/Prompts

Dec. 12 - What changes did the rest of the family see in Edward as he began to fall in love with Bella?

Okay so. This is going to seem kind of crack fic/shitpost-y but I very rarely mean anything except in the nerdiest, most sincere sense; it's just happens to be an awkward topic. But y'all, because the series was written by a Mormon housewife who buried such things under chivalry and decorum, and intended to be read by 12 year olds who were just barely experiencing this themselves, we have collectively under-discussed this as a fandom:

Edward was hor-ny. For the first time. He is, I headcanon, now having a much broader scale of ways to interpret sexuality and attraction than I did even ten years ago, demisexual. And he was a shiteater about it. He condescended to Rose and Emmett, he was less condescending but still side-eyed to Alice and Jasper, and he even occasionally made some tsk tsks in Carlisle and Esme's direction. This boy thought himself entirely above the baseness of it all and then suddenly he is having an identity crisis because suddenly it's him having all these feelings: he springs wood at inopportune times and is locking himself in his bedroom to masturbate.

It was hilarious chaos.

Carlisle and Esme were gently worried; Carlisle offered him use of their shower and its unlimited hot water supply. This was of course mortifying and Edward turned it down.

Rosalie and Emmett thought it was hilarious, and while Rose did pull Emmett back a few times from saying something incredibly rude, (She doesn't want to actually hurt him, ever--she just likes to see him twist in the wind when she can), they did let him know that they considered the tables officially turned and that snide comments about his libido were on the table.

Jasper and Alice, thanks to their gifts, were either the most gracious or the most obnoxious about it. Edward would come home, and Jasper would just raise his eyebrows, Edward would clap his hands over his ears and yell, "No, stop!" and run off to his room. At first, Carlisle and Esme would ask, concernedly, where he was going and Jasper would smirk and reply with "Celebrating Palm Sunday" or "Talking the self-guided tour" or some such and it took them all a little while to catch on but boy did all the Cullens learn a lot of euphemisms in 2005.