#ellis holiday

[melaninpov]

Trevante Rhodes aka Daddy in Candy Cane Lane (2023)

#Trevante Rhodes #Candy Cane Lane #Amazon Prime #St. Nick #Black Santa #Talented #Black Actors #Fine Black Man #Daddy Rhodes #Mr. Fleece #Christmas #Happy Holidays #Eddie Murphy #Tracee Ellis Ross #Healthy Snack #Beard Game Strong #Boss Man #Dark Chocolate #Melt in your mouth #trevante rhodes fanfiction

[hatosaur]

hey tlou folks

it's that time of year again:

DON'T PUT DINA IN CHRISTMAS ATTIRE OR HAVE HER CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS IN YOUR ART AND FICS. SHE'S JEWISH, FOR FUCKS SAKE.

there was like a whole area of the game abt it, don't be fuckin weird.

#tlou #tlou2 #the last of us #the last of us part 2 #tlou dina #ellie williams #elliedina #dellie #dinellie #losers will say 'oh i forgot' to which i say 'fuck you' #jaded abt the holidays #it's not 'harmless'; you just can't grasp ppl don't celebrate the overly commercial christian holiday #ellie's ass would not give that much of a shit abt celebrating CHRISTMAS exactly she'd also be celebrating hanukkah

[ladamedusoif]

Starry Night (Joel Miller x Stargazer f!reader)

A Merry Fic-Mas - December 1

Part of A Merry Fic-Mas: A Holiday Fic Calendar - click for masterlist.

Pairing: Jackson!Joel Miller x Stargazer F!Reader

Rating: Teen

Word count: ~1500

Warnings: Strong language (Ellie is involved); canon doesn’t go here; alcohol references; fluff; almost certainly some stargazing errors please forgive me

Summary: There are a lot of wonderful things about making it to the safety of Jackson, but the darkness of the night sky makes it a perfect home for a stargazer like you - and you’re only too happy to share your knowledge with a space-mad teenager. Oh, and her grumpy dad.

Every time you set up your telescope, you remembered the look Maria had given you the day you returned from a scavenging mission with it strapped to your back, still in its packaging.

“Seriously?”

You shrugged as you got off your horse. “Seriously. Got plenty of other stuff too, so let me have this, please?”

She looked dubious, but threw up her arms in resignation. “If we need it for lookout - it’s ours, okay?”

You nodded, hugging the telescope close to your chest, and raced home to set it up. 

Space was your dad’s thing, and he’d made it yours, too. Nights in the backyard with his very basic kit trained on the skies, stargazing maps in front of you, climbing on his lap to look through the viewfinder.

He taught you the major constellations, how to find planets visible in the night sky, explained how stars helped people navigate, long ago. 

Little did you know then how that information would come in handy years later, finding your way to the safety of the Jackson settlement with nothing else to guide you. 

Stargazing in the suburbs wasn’t ideal. Too much light pollution. In Jackson, though? Wide, open dark skies, far as the eye could see. 

Every time you watched the night sky, you looked out for your dad.

Cold, crisp, clear winter nights were your favourite time for stargazing. Bundled up in your warmest coat, hat, and blankets, you sat on your porch, telescope in front of you and an old Atlas of the Night Sky on your lap. Out of the corner of your eye, you became conscious of two people walking along the sidewalk past your home. Recent arrivals, you guessed, seeing as they weren’t familiar; a young girl, an older man. Father and daughter, probably.

“Whoa, dude. She’s got a fuckin’ real telescope!”

The girl had stopped to stare at you, eyes wide in astonishment. You offered a shy smile and a little wave, and were about to speak when the man interjected, beckoning the girl on with a frustrated tilt of his head.

“Mind your manners, Ellie. Sorry, ma’am. Didn’t mean to disturb you. You have a good night.” He nods and you return the gesture, touched by his somewhat old-fashioned manners, and they walk on as you go back to seeking out Castor and Pollux.

Over the next couple of weeks, you learned that the man was Tommy’s older brother, Joel. His exact relationship to Ellie, the teenage girl, was not clear: she wasn’t his biological daughter, you suspected but Tommy tended to refer to her as “Joel’s kid”.

They tended to keep to themselves, for the most part. But she would peek in your direction if she spotted you at social events in the community, as if she was weighing up whether she should go and talk to you. No amount of friendly waves and smiles from you could ever convince her, it seemed.

You took matters into your own hands at the holiday tree lighting ceremony. You picked them out easily: Joel, big and broad in a sheepskin-lined winter coat, greying hair curling over the collar; Ellie, ponytail bobbing from side to side as she looked at the illuminated tree in absolute awe and wonder. 

“Joel and Ellie, right?” 

They turned to appraise you, still wary of new people. You held out the mugs of eggnog you’d grabbed for them on your way across the room. 

“Thought you might like some eggnog, and I wanted to introduce myself. I’m the telescope lady.”

Ellie’s eyes widened. “So cool,” she murmured, as if to herself.

Joel nodded and accepted the eggnog gratefully, the mug suddenly appearing doll-sized in his large hands. “Ellie’s got a thing for space, don’t you? Loves hearing about the space programs, the astronauts, all that.”

The teenager looked down at her shoes and blushed a little as she nodded. Apocalypse or not, teenage girls will always be embarrassed by their dads. 

Ellie took a sip of her eggnog. “How’d you get a fuckin’ telescope, anyway?” 

Joel scolded her, but you chuckled. “I found it in an old hobby store on a scavenging mission one time. I wasn’t gonna leave that behind, now was I?” She grinned at your conspiratorial wink, and Joel seemed to relax a little.

“Come over whenever you want, and I’ll give you a guided tour of the sky. We’ve got perfect conditions here for it.”

She beamed and turned to Joel, who shook his head softly. “We don’t want to be disturbing you, ma’am.” You corrected him with your name, and he repeated it, low and slow, in that warm, dark voice of his.

“I mean it, Joel. You are both very welcome to do some stargazing with me, whenever you’d like.”

“No fuckin’ WAY!”

Ellie tears into the kitchen on the morning of December 21, excitedly brandishing a piece of paper under Joel’s nose as he sips - or tries to sip - his morning coffee.

“Whatever it is, El, it’s far too early for this kind of excitement.”

“Look at it, dude!”

He rolls his eyes, puts down his mug, and looks at the piece of paper. It’s a handwritten invitation, decorated with drawings of celestial bodies and, at the bottom, a bright red telescope. He can’t help but chuckle as he reads the words aloud.

“Ellie (and Joel) are invited to a special winter solstice stargazing party tonight, December 21, at 6pm. Wrap up warm and be ready to see stars.” Underneath, you’ve carefully written your name and address in neat print.

By now, Ellie is positively bouncing with excitement. “The fuckin’ telescope! I’m gonna look through a fuckin’ telescope! At fuckin' SPACE!”

Joel’s heart swells as he takes in her sheer joy at the prospect of looking up into the heavens, knowing how hard everything has been for her, how much he has wanted to make her smile again. 

“Alright, but there’ll be no telescope if you don’t eat and get dressed for school. Go on, now.”

The telescope is already set up on your porch when they arrive later that evening, Joel carrying a flask of hot coffee and Ellie a tin with a few cookies - the best they could rustle up at short notice. 

“I’m so glad you came!” You beam at them as you open your front door, beckoning them inside. “I’ve got some snacks ready, and some hot punch.”

A smile creeps over Joel’s face as he realises you’re somehow playing a compilation of holiday music. Brenda Lee is singing about rocking around the Christmas tree, Ellie is nodding her head in time to the song as she makes a beeline for the bowls of snacks you’d set out, and he is struck by just how long it’s been since he’s experienced anything akin to “holiday cheer”.

“What the fuck does ‘rockin’ around a Christmas tree’ mean, anyways?”

Joel tuts and rolls his eyes. “Ellie. Language.”

You giggle as you hand Ellie a cup of non-alcoholic hot punch. “It’s fine, Joel. I think she means people are dancing around a Christmas tree, Ellie.”

Ellie looks sceptical. “Fuckin’ weird. Hey, when can we look at the stars?”

Joel lets you take the lead, as Jackson’s resident stargazer. He sits on one of your kitchen chairs, sipping from a mug of punch, watching you show Ellie how to navigate the night sky. 

The punch is warming in more ways than one. As Ellie bounded out to the porch earlier, you’d subtly held up a bottle of liquor at him and raised your eyebrows in a silent question, before adding a little to your and his mugs of punch once he’d nodded his assent. 

“See that really bright, orangey one there? That’s Betelgeuse. It’s a red supergiant.”

Ellie’s mouth hangs open as she squints through the telescope’s eyepiece. “Red supergiant,” she repeats. 

“See if you can find Orion’s Belt for yourself. It’s not too far away.”

You turn to Joel, checked blanket wrapped around your shoulders, and raise your mug towards him with a warm smile. “Happy holidays, Joel.”

He reciprocates the gesture, dark, warm eyes crinkling as a gentle, genuine smile spreads across his face. It might be the first time you’ve ever really seen him smile.

He looks to the heavens, taking in the perfect, pitch-dark blue-black carpet of a night sky embroidered with millions of twinkling stars. For an instant, he finds comfort in remembering that we all - everyone who is, who has ever been, and who will ever be - gaze up at the same firmament. 

General fic taglist: @agentjackdaniels, @julesonrecord , @tessa-quayle, @vermillionwinter , @iamskyereads , @tieronecrush , @perennialdoll247 , @love-the-abyss , @imaswellkid , @intheorangebedroom , @fuckyeahdindjarin , @littlemisspascal , @khindahra , @pedrostories , @readingiskeepingmegoing , @rhoorl , @red-red-rogue , @princessanglophile , @katareyoudrilling @survivingandenduring , @trulybetty @fictionismyreality @sunnywithachanceofjavi , @joeldjarin , @lahoozaherr, @s-u-t, @its-nebuleuse, @veryprairieberry (let me know if you'd rather not be tagged!)

#a merry fic-mas #holiday fic calendar #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller imagine #joel miller x reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller jackson #the last of us fanfiction #tlou hbo #the last of us #ellie williams #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal character fanfiction #pedrostories #pedro pascal

[leveloneandup]

The RE-CAP Show: World Cup Edition, 2023

#re cap show #re cap wce 1 per ep #re cap gifs #tc gifs #christen press #tobin heath #jill ellis #laura harvey #lauren holiday #abby dahlkemper #dawn scott #ali riley #alyssa thompson #lindsey horan

[seashoreships]

Holiday posting oops forgot about tumblr for a hot second

#the henry stickmin collection #art #thsc #thsc fanart #henry stickmin #thsc henry stickmin #charles calvin #stickvin #thsc charles calvin #henry x charles #ellie thsc #thsc ellie rose #thsc ellie #ellie rose #holidays #merry christmas #doodle

[fizzytoo]

zoe holiday. seattle, wa. survivor

#ts4 #sims 4 #ts4 cas #show us your sims #oc: zoe holiday #*fizzysims #i read some dina/ellie fics and decided to make a post apocalyptic oc :D #she’s exhausted her feet hurt she hasn’t had a proper meal in months #now she’s sleeping in a deserted ambulance until she can figure out where to go next #send my baby strength 🫂 #i haven’t decided if this is tlou universe or something else entirely #queue

[sots-nxck]

december mood is here

#l4d2 #nellis #sfm #mysfm #nick #ellis #holiday vibes #snow is here already so this was needed

[doctorcrowleywho]

December 4.“Your hands are freezing!” ( Alec Hardy x reader)

25 Days of Ficmas - Day 4

“Your hands are freezing!” ( Alec Hardy x reader)  

Word count -   1369  

Warnings - A few cuss words and lots of fluff!

Pairing(s) - Alec Hardy x Gn! Reader

Summary - A cliche meeting makes Alec turn soft for you.

If there was one thing D.I. Alec Hardy was known for, it was being a Scrooge. It wasn’t that he hated Christmas or anything like that. Contrary to popular belief he loved the holiday, some of his favorite moments with Daisy were during Christmas time. There was nothing better than seeing his little girl's face light up as she opened up what ‘Santa’ dropped off for her the night before. 

However, what Alec did hate was how loud and bright everything was. Sure, you could have Christmas spirit, but why did people have to be so proud about it? That’s why he always decided to work during the holiday season. It just seemed easier. Crime never slept and neither did the worst cop in Britain. 

On the other hand, you absolutely loved the holiday season. Seeing everyone you loved so full of love and joy just made your heart swell. But, Christmas had been recently hard for you these last couple of years. You had moved to Broadchurch for a fresh start, and even though you got one it was just that…things were a bit different. Well different than you imagined. 

Everyone was so tightly knit, but that’s what you get for moving to a small town. There was even a time when some people even gave you the stink eye because they thought you moved there for the murder trial. Which, wasn’t true at all, but you try to convince a gossiping town.

You did manage to make a few friends though, which you were so thankful for. One of them- Ellie Miller was absolutely lovely. She made sure to bring you lunches during your shifts at the local coffee shop and told you all the gossip she could think of. Which, mostly was about her obnoxious boss Alec Hardy. 

In your opinion, Alec sounded like an absolute ass, and you haven’t even met him. And honestly, you hoped and prayed you never did. Because, if he can manage to annoy Ellie at times then he must be one insanely grouchy person. 

That night you had volunteered to stay late to decorate the coffee shop for Christmas. Apparently, no one else wanted to stay and help, so you were on your own. It was going pretty much how you expected it to. The radio was on full blast with Christmas tunes as you sang along stringing lights and putting silly little window stickers everywhere you could. 

The shop was looking cuter than it ever has in a million years (obviously you should know). Plus, if people were going to complain then they’d have to fight you. You quickly glanced at the time and cursed to yourself. How the hell was it suddenly ten at night? That means you’ve been there for nearly five hours after your already long shift. 

By this time of night, there was no way you were going to catch a bus, and you didn’t want to have to pay for an uber. So, you decided it was best if you walked back to your tiny home. Now, this wasn’t the ideal option, being it was absolutely freezing outside. But, you really didn’t have any other choice. 

Pulling on your winter coat you locked up the shop, braced for the cold, and headed on your way. Walking at night never exactly scared you, but knowing the history of this town you made sure your defenses were up. 

Maybe that's why you punched the stranger with whom you collided a couple of minutes after you left the shop. 

“Oi what was that for!” A thick Scottish accent hissed out rubbing his arm.

Alec always walked back to his home after work, he was used to working late. In fact, he found it strange if he ever was able to leave on time. But, that was typical Alec. An absolute workaholic until the end.

This night was a bit different because he forgot his jacket and it was absolutely bloody freezing outside. But, he had to tough it out unless he wanted to sleep at the office again, which he has done. Let me tell you, office carpet does not make a fantastic mattress. 

“Oh jesus, I’m sorry I thought you were,” you paused awkwardly realizing this guy wasn’t a threat in the slightest. Good job, you just punched an innocent stranger in the arm. “Just, ahem sorry.” You finally coughed out.

“Nope don’t worry- not a threat-just trying to walk home-which um if you’re this jumpy would you like me to walk ya home?” he got out in a series of awkwardness that you barely understood.  

Your eyebrows furrowed together as you considered this stranger's offer, he seemed sweet enough. To be fair he was quite handsome, the moonlight illuminated his face beautifully. He had soft messy brown hair, chocolate puppy dog eyes that seemed to hold the weight of the world, and a beard that looked scratchier than sandpaper. Your perfect man.

“Before I say yes to your tempting offer, can you first tell me your name?” You said giving him a gentle friendly smile. 

He hesitated for a moment, almost as if he didn’t like his name enough to tell anyone. But, he finally got it out “Alec, it’s Alec Hardy.” he said offering you his hand to shake. 

Hearing his name was all you needed to have your mouth fall to the floor. This was Alec? That wasn’t possible! The Alec you heard about was mean and stubborn and annoyingly grumpy. This man was kind and sweet and handsome (yes you admit it, you had eyes didn’t you?). 

“Alec? The same Alec Hardy that works with Ellie Miller?” You asked probably sounding a bit more excited than you ever should.

Alec raised an eyebrow eyeing you up and down. Not in a rude way more in an ‘I’m trying to figure you out’ kind of way.  “Yeah….why?” 

“Oh, she’s my friend! It’s nice to finally meet the man she talks so much about- I’m Y/N by the way,” you said smiling brightly as you finally took his hand that was still awkwardly out. “Your hands are freezing!” you gasped out immediately cupping both of his hands in your own, concern pooling in your eyes. 

Seeing you like this made Alec practically melt, who gave you the right to care this much? You guys just met, and maybe that’s what was so precious about it. The fact that you could find it in your heart to care for a stranger like this. 

It was at that moment Alec felt himself fall, just like all those romance books and movies Daisy watches. He used to pretend that the hated them, but deep down he wished he could find someone that made him feel all of those silly little butterflies. Perhaps he found it in you. 

“Forgot a jacket.” he chuckled simply as his gaze softened. 

“Oh in this weather? And you call yourself a detective?” you gave him a joking ‘are you crazy?’ look making him chuckle even more.

“Worst one in Britain I’m afraid.” he shook his head, and he didn’t dare remove his hands from yours. Not when they felt so right being there. 

Slowly, you gazed down at your hands. Now it was your turn for your heart to do flips. You gently took one of his hands and pulled his sweater sleeve over it creating a mitten of sorts. Then you took the other one and lace your fingers with his before guiding it into your jacket pocket. All the while he was staring at you with a look of dumbfounded adoration. 

“Not the best solution but at least you’ll warm up a little bit.” you laughed suddenly feeling a little awkward. 

“I like it,” he mumbled squeezing your hand gently. “, come on let's get you home.” he raised his eyebrows encouraging you to lead the way. 

“Right off we go then, Alec.” you glanced over at him as you two walked in comfortable silence. He gave you the softest smile somehow letting you know that he liked his name when it came from your lips. 

This was going to be a wonderful Christmas.

#alec hardy #alec hardy x reader #alec hardy fluff #fluff #david tennant fanfiction #25 days of christmas #25 days of ficmas #fanfiction #david tennant #ellie miller #broadchurch #chirstmas #merry christmas #happy holidays #david tennant x reader

[thru-the-grapevine]

Holiday Rush

Pairing: Kim Mingyu x reader

Summary: Your favorite regular has one hell of a way of saying Merry Christmas (and getting your attention).

Word Count: 2.4k

Tags: coffee shop au, sugar daddy-adjacent au, fluff

You’ve had less eventful Christmas Eve mornings, to be sure. Especially 4:30 AMs on Christmas Eve mornings. For starters, you were asleep like a normal person on all the other ones. For another, you weren’t usually bailed on out of nowhere by your manager due to “a family emergency”, leaving you in charge of the entire store. Nor were you typically bailed on by two other workers, both of whom had a “sudden onset illness”, leaving you with only three people other than you to cover everything the inevitable last-minute holiday-shopping horde would throw at you.

By the time you’ve got things in some semblance of order and preparation for opening, there’s already a car idling in the drive thru, and there’s a slight ache in your left temple.

“Siobhan, you’re on mobile bar,” you order. “Luke, drive bar. You’ll both have to do your own cold bar since Geo and Kennedy flaked. I need Phoenix on customer support and food. I’m gonna attempt solo drive for the first couple hours, and if it gets nuts I’ll pull one of you in to assist. If it gets slow in your area, work on putting away the order. I may have to turn off mobile if it comes to it, but that’ll piss people off, so let’s try to keep up.”

You slip your headset on, watch the digital clock on the order screen turn from 4:59 to 5:00, then click the button. “Good morning, welcome to Starbucks. What can I get started for you this morning?”

“Morning, Chief. Didn’t think you’d be here today. Happy Christmas Eve.”

A little of the tension in your head relaxes, and you smile, tapping away at the order screen. “Ah, Gyu. You’re early. Happy Christmas Eve. Usual?”

“Sounds perfect, thanks.”

“Come on around,” you say, not caring if you sound a little flirty.

Your store has its regulars, and he is by far your favorite. He comes in nearly every day, orders the same thing (grande caramel macchiato, extra shot, for “Gyu”), makes friendly conversation, and leaves a tip three times the price of his drink. Without fail. You’ve never figured out what it is he does for a living, but given the immaculate cars (yes, plural) you’ve seen him drive through in, it probably pays really well.

The whole staff loves him. Some of the bolder ones flirt with him just to fluster him, but they know if you’re on the floor to let you hand him the drink. For reasons beyond your comprehension, he seems to have a soft spot for you. He mistook you for the manager when he first stopped into the cafe, and he’s called you different in-charge nicknames since then—“chief”, “captain”, “commander”. It’s probably giving you an authority complex. You don’t care. The confidence boost his interest in you has given over the past year has gifted you a boldness that he doesn’t seem to mind.

“Must be Gyu already,” Siobhan remarks when she sees you surreptitiously smoothing your hair.

You flip her off as the hood of a familiar black BMW comes into view.

“Kinda early for Christmas Eve,” you say by way of greeting as the car window pulls level with yours.

God, he’s gorgeous, smiling up at you, all bundled up in his expensive-looking wool coat and black turtleneck.

“Could say the same for you,” he says. “Don’t they ever give you a break around here?”

Your smile turns wry, and you sigh lightly. “They’d perish without me, I think.”

“I’ll drink to that,” he says, grimacing lightly in sympathy. “Hopefully not here all day, right? Got plans for the holiday?”

“Just here ‘til noon, then going an hour north to my family’s for a couple days,” you tell him, grabbing the scanner. “Want me to cash you out?”

“Ah. About that.”

You watch him reach into the passenger seat, grabbing something the size of a woman’s clutch, then extends it to you.

You set the scanner down and go to take it, then freeze, blinking.

“Uh. Gyu.”

“Yes?”

“What is that?”

“...Money?”

“I mean. I. Yeah, like. Is it…real?”

“Yes?”

“That’s…way more than your drink.”

“Yes.”

“Like. Are those all twenties?”

“Yes.”

“...I only need a fourth of a single one of those.”

“I know. Take them all.”

You don’t understand. “I—wh…”

He grins. “I feel like being Saint Nick today. I’m paying it forward for the next customers.”

Holy shit. “The next…thousand customers?”

“Hardly. Probably half that. But you don’t know how many big orders there will be, it could be less than that, too.”

“Sir.” Your head is spinning, hand still frozen inches away from the stack of bills that looks honest-to-god like out of the mafia movies. “Sir. That’s…”

You don’t even know how to finish that sentence. That’s not necessary? Your manager would kill you if she found out you refused generosity. That’s ridiculous? It might be, but you don’t want to tell this man that, not when he’s been so wonderful to you.

“I’m not even sure I’m allowed to take this,” you say.

He shrugs. “It’s all twenties, not fifties or hundreds. You can mark them all with a counterfeit pen if it helps. Call your manager if you need, I can talk to her. If you need to call the cops, even, you can. C’mon, I’ve been planning on this for ages. Let me do this.”

The thing is…he’s allowed to do this. You suppose. Technically. You huff a single, breathless laugh, incredulous.

“You…are fucking insane,” you breathe, grinning, not caring how in awe you sound.

His smile turns flustered, and he laughs a little. “If it doesn’t all get used today, put the rest in the tips.”

He’s finally done it. He’s finally rendered you speechless. You can feel your mouth hanging open, not sure what you’re supposed to say. Not sure what you can say.

Gingerly, like it’s alive, you take the stack of bills he’s offering.

“Dude,” you say, laughing again. Absurd. “Dude. Are you…?”

“Completely sure,” he says, eyes warm. “Merry Christmas to your customers. And your staff. And you.”

“Grande caramel macchiato, extra shot,” Luke says behind you, sliding you the cup.

You linger a moment longer, holding eye contact, before ducking back in the window and setting the cash next to the register, swapping it for the drink.

“Holy shit,” you say, laughing as you hand him the drink. “Have a merry fucking Christmas, Gyu.”

“Aye-aye, Captain,” he says, grinning, and then he winks at you.

Your insides light up like a Christmas tree. You indulge for a second and stare after his car as he drives off. God. What?

This Christmas Eve is about to be the most fascinating yet.

You have to get Phoenix on headset to take the next drive-thru order so you have time to count out the bills and cash out the order properly. You feel lightheaded after counting the first several hundred, possibly a little ill by the time you total it out. Three thousand.

“Holy fuck,” you mutter under your breath, laughing as you punch in the frankly ludicrous number. That’s half of what the store makes on a slow day. Granted, today will not be a slow day–you can already see more cars filing into the parking lot–but that money covers a chunk of business.

All morning, you have the absolute joy of watching people come up to the window, ready to pay, and telling them “actually, your order’s been covered by someone further up in line”. The looks of surprise, the occasional relief, and the smiles don’t get old or lose their shine. A couple of people get emotional, and you can’t blame them. You feel your own throat tighten when some of the customers insist on paying for the person behind them.

“Someone spotted me, let me spot someone, too,” one lady puts it, paying twice what she would have paid originally to cover the vanload behind her. “Why not? It’s Christmas.”

“Crazy what a little generosity inspires in people,” Phoenix comments as the lady drives away.

You can’t say you disagree, but there’s only one man in mind when you think it.

Luke points out that the more people keep paying it forward, the less that initial amount goes down, and the more of it that gets allotted to tips. You outright refuse to think about it. I can’t take that. There’s no way. I’ll have to give him money back, that’s just…

Even by the time you switch off of drive with Siobhan, about 75% of customers insist on continuing to pay it forward, keeping the dizzying remaining amount from Gyu fairly steady. Siobhan is far less willing to do the mental work of paying it forward and eventually asks whether it can’t just be cashed out to the tip fund.

“He probably wanted to leave most of it as tips, anyway,” she says, raising an eyebrow at you. “He’s got a track record, plus he likes you.”

You feel your face grow hot. “He does not.”

Siobhan rolls her eyes. “Whatever, live in denial. Can I put this in the tip fund?”

“...Fine.”

For the last hour of your shift, you concentrate on calculating tips. Even divided amongst all the store employees and adjusted for the amount of hours each person worked, everyone ends up with over a hundred in tips total. You end up with nearly twice that, after the hours you’ve done. Crazy. Absolutely unreal. You’re already thinking of the last couple gifts you were hoping you could afford to spring for for family and friends. Easily done now, with this tip money.

“Tips are in the safe,” you tell your coworkers as you zip up your coat and make for the door. “Everyone say Merry fucking Christmas, Gyu.”

You grin as you hear a chorus of “Merry fucking Christmas, Gyu!” behind you as you step out into the cold.

You’re halfway across the parking lot to your car when you notice a black BMW. You wander to a stop, hesitant, as the car pulls even with you in the nearest parking spot and the door opens.

“Did you need more coffee?” You ask, biting your lip as he steps out.

Gyu closes his car door and shakes his head, grinning. “Already got my fix today, I’m good.”

“Shame,” you say, fighting a smile, “because I happen to know that if you went through the drive-thru right now, your order would already be covered.”

He leans back against his car and raises his eyebrows. “It lasted this long? You’d think there’d be more business than that today.”

“Everyone else kept insisting on paying it forward, too,” you say, shaking your head in awe. “What did you start?”

“Well, you certainly deserve it,” he says, and the way his smile softens makes your stomach flutter. “Hopefully it’ll end up as tips, if people keep paying it forward?”

“It’s too much,” you tell him, trying to be as firm as possible. “Far too much. I really can’t accept that.”

“It’s a gift,” he insists. “For how long you’ve been subjected to my patronage.”

“Everyone loves you in the store, they always have,” you argue.

He looks at you intently. “Everyone?”

You feel your face grow hot again. “...Yes. Everyone.”

You push through the way you want to be flustered as he grins. “But that’s what I’m saying. You’re hardly a difficult customer. It was too much.”

“You know,” he says, “it’s possible I just want to spoil you.”

You open your mouth, then snap it shut, then open it again. Holy shit, he’s made you speechless again. Twice in the same day.

“You don’t even know me,” you argue weakly.

He gives you a Look. “I’ve talked to you nearly every day for around a year. I know lots of things about you. Like your cats. Your family, mainly your sister. The saga of your car. Things you like to read and watch. Some of the jokes you find funny. And you know a lot of the same things about me.”

“I don’t even know if Gyu is your real name!” You burst out.

He frowns. “It is, mostly. It’s short for Mingyu. Kim Mingyu. You’ve seen it on the receipts.”

You haven’t, but you believe him. You try out the name. “Mingyu.”

A corner of his mouth curls into a smile. He puts his hands in his coat pockets. “Tell me that hasn’t been your only hangup this whole time.”

“I-I mean…” you stammer. “N-no? I mean, it’s been one thing, but like…you’re, like. Um. You seem very…successful, and I’m…”

He frowns. “You’re successful, too. I—wait. Is this…is it money?”

“I guess I’m just…embarrassed,” you say, feeling your face burn in shame. “Maybe my pride’s too big, I dunno.”

“Hey, I don’t want you to think this is some weird, fetish-y charity case thing I have, or that I think you can be, like, bought or something,” he says, looking serious. “If you really can’t accept the money, I won’t stop you from giving it back.”

He sighs, teeth worrying his lower lip. “I just…I like you. I always have. You seem to be the only person who doesn’t realize it, or maybe I’m the idiot who can’t take a hint, but—”

“Mingyu—”

“But I really do,” he continues doggedly. “I think you work hard, but you’re so kind. You do good work so that you can be kind, so you can give people more than just something to eat or drink, and that’s just…it’s really—”

“I could kiss you right now for that,” you say, then slap a hand over your mouth. Dude??

Mingyu blinks, then laughs. “At least let me take you to dinner first.”

You wish you could sink into the pavement, even as your heart gives a silly little leap. He wants to take me to dinner. “I…I’m…”

“I know it’s Christmas Eve and you’ve got places to be,” he says, and you wonder if he looks a little nervous. “But I really would like to see you. Outside of work. Would you let me take you out sometime?”

You stand there for a moment in stupefied silence. Holy shit, this has to be a dream. A man like Kim Mingyu doesn’t just…give your workplace thousands of dollars to tip you and then ask you to dinner. What in the name of Wattpad...

“I…you’re fucking insane,” you laugh, breathless.

He looks like he doesn’t know how to take this, and before you can talk yourself out of it you find yourself saying, “I’m, uh, I’m free on New Years?”

A slow grin spreads over his face. “Yeah? Funny enough, so am I.”

Definitely the strangest Christmas Eve you’ve ever had. But it may also be your new favorite.

#mingyu fanfic #mingyu fluff #mingyu x reader #kim mingyu x reader #seventeen fluff #seventeen fanfic #kim mingyu fanfic #kim kingyu fluff #mingyu fic #kim mingyu fic #seventeen fic #mingyu #kim mingyu #seventeen #admin ellie #ellie writes #ellie's fluff #coffee shop au #holiday au #christmas au #literally can you even imagine #hope everyone has a happy holidays!

[bmyvalentin3]

holiday party

a/n" first tumblr fanfic! i'm originally from wattpad so bare with meeeee---also not really edited so yeah

details" au, no apocalypse, fluff, kissing, ... . .

pairing" customer!ellie x fem!reader

synopsis" after moving to colorado at the beginning of winter, you start a new job to pay all the new expenses. even though you were a newly hire, you settled quick at your job at the local coffee shop. turns out pretty women also came with the job.

¸.·✩·.¸¸.·¯⍣✩ let's begin ✩⍣¯·.¸¸.·✩·.¸

your sleep was rudely interrupted by your buzzing alarm as you blinked sleep away. your eyelids weighed down, tempting you to just... rest...

you jutted awake as a message buzzed through your phone. groaning mentally, you turned over, unlocking your phone. it was from your friend.

sarah ❤

good morning, work bestie! 6:32 am

girl get up your new job is on the line 6:35 am

you smiled as you slowly typed a response

(y/n)

im up 6:37 am

thanks <333 6:37 am

the winter air bit at your exposed skin as you mustered the strength to slip out of your bed. you walked into the kitchen, pouring some cereal for yourself. continuing your routine, you got a message from your manager, abby.

abby (work)

if no one informed you, you're opening the store. dina is opening with you. she has the keys. i'll be there around noon. 7:01 am

you frowned slightly. you were hoping for... well, you didn't exactly know what you were hoping for. maybe a manager a bit less dry?

(y/n)

thanks, abby. 7:05 am

you finished up your mascara and grabbed your keys. you locked your door, walked down the hallway, took the stairs, and got into your car in the apartment parking garage. the whole way you were shivering. by now the sun was up as you pulled into the back lot of the cafe.

the snow stuck to your boots the whole way, getting it in your car. you didn't care much, just rolled your eyes. you took the keys out of the car and took a deep breath, touching up your lip gloss. you pulled the handle and stepped out of your car, shutting the door, and locking it. dina was in her car next to yours, and you stepping towards her passenger side, tapping on her window gently. you smiled.

dina smiled, rolling down the window.

"hey! sorry, i'm in a bit of a hassle, do you mind opening the store?" she asked.

"yeah, no problem." you responded, taking the store keys from her outstretched hand.

your breath puffed like a cloud of smoke in front of you. you walked around the side of the shop, and made it to the employee side door. you unlocked it, turned off the alarm, shut the door behind you, and began setting up the small shop. frost edged the windows from the outside, adding a cool effect. you turned the hanging sign on the door to "open" and unlocked it.

dina stepped in the side door, walking to the employee's room. appearing a few minutes later in full shoppe attire. she smiled and you smiled back.

"okay, today is a slow day. good luck, y/n." she joked, preparing the machines.

"thanks, you'll need some too." i sighed contently as i wiped down the tables.

.·✩·.

"hey, welcome in." you say without looking up from the register. when you did, you were met with beautiful layered green eyes. damn, she's hot as fuck! you thought. you blinked nervously and looked down slightly.

"what can i getcha'?" speaking quietly, you slowly look back up at her eyes. she was looking at the menu. freckles littered her face. a scar on her right eyebrow was badass.

"i'll take a caramel latte." she spoke. her voice was raspy yet smooth, somehow. she looked back at your eyes and your heart skipped a beat. you clicked in the buttons on the machine.

"size?" you asked.

"small, please."

again, you clicked in the button and rang her up.

"$2.48 is your total today." you patiently watched her grab a card out of her wallet.

your fingers brushed as you pinched the debit card from her hand. ignoring the butterflies, you inserted it. the buzzing of the receipt printing filled the quiet cafe. you wrapped the receipt around her debit card and handed it back to her. you grabbed a size small cup and retrieved a sharpie from your apron.

"what's a good name for you?" you smiled.

"ellie." she responded.

your fingers felt warm as you wrote her name in your best handwriting, daring to put a little heart by it. shit, why did i do that?

"okay, i'll call your name when the drink is ready."

ellie nodded and went to go sit down and scroll on her phone.

i think i like her.

her eyes...

that half bun is sooo hot.

is she even into girls?

many thoughts swarmed your head as you finished her drink with whipped cream and some grid-patterned caramel topping. capping the drink, you placed it gently on the granite counter slightly higher than your working counter.

"ellie!" you called, hoping your voice wasn't weird or unattractive.

"thank you." she grabbed her drink, acknowledged the heart and smiled, glancing at you. when you made eye contact, she winked. the bell jingled as she left the shoppe.

she winked. oh my god!

before you could get too happy, your manager walked in. dina walked behind you and whispered in your ear.

"boss's here." she continued walking into the back.

turning around timidly, you were met with your manager, abby. she was taller than you and way, way stronger. looking up into the blonde's eyes, you quickly glanced away and turned back around to face the future customers.

"good morning, abby." you said nervously.

what you missed was a sly smirk from your manager.

"good morning. how has your first week been?" she walked closer.

you didn't dare to look back.

"it's been... eventful. i've settled well, though." you sputtered out. obviously, you didn't bring up ellie.

"good...good." abby spoke slowly. she walked behind and past you to the employee's room, brushing you slightly. you got the butterflies from the slight touch.

.·✩·.

days blurred into the next... they all seemed to be the same. wake up, go to work, pray that ellie would come back, avoid abby, finish the day, go home, relax. repeat. repeat. repeat.

today was different, however. tonight, starting at 5:30 pm, was the small town's holiday celebration. they place a tree in the middle, light it, sell hot chocolate, and there's an ice skating rink.

basically, the perfect winter date.

to backtrack, ellie came in twice over the past couple weeks of working. thanksgiving ended and it's around the 1st of december. over those two precious days, you managed to talk to her. and she talked to you. and you couldn't stop; nor her. seeing how she watched and listened to you... the way she talked, got slightly embarrassed about small little things... she's so cute.

on the second day she visited, she said something that would repeat in your head every night.

"y/n, do you want to go with me to the holiday kick off? it's our community's tradition. and, it's okay if you don't want to, it won't hurt my feelings, i-"

you smiled seeing her get all blushy and embarrassed.

"yeah, i'll go. with you." as these words left your mouth, she started smiling.

"then we'll call it a date." she smirked.

now it was your turn to get all red.

...

fast forward to you closing the coffee shop early for the celebration, ellie would pick you up. she wanted to drive around early to look at rich people's christmas lights and decorations.

just as you were going to pick up your phone, a car pulled up. you saw ellie smiling gently and waving you in. placing your little work bag by your feet, you got in the passenger seat.

"hi, ellie. again, thank you for doing this. it's sweet of you."

you were a little nervous getting into her car after only talking deeply once, but you felt safe with her.

"hey, you look great. festive." she pointed to your dangly earrings.

"awe, thanks. I got them back in my old home." you sighed contently. she glanced over at you as she pulled away.

"okay, so," she began speaking at a red light, "i'm taking you to the richest neighborhood here. you're going to love it." she had a soft smile. the sun had set already since it's winter, so darkness was spreading quickly.

"you look pretty today." she spoke softly, looking ahead at the road. you blushed immediately.

"thank you ellie. by the way, i only let hot girls take me out, so..." you were suddenly interested in your nails. she blushed.

.·✩·.

"here we are." she slowed down as she pulled on the street. houses glowed magically. many had the moving lights that projected snowflakes and santa hats.

"it gorgeous." you whispered. she drove slowly, letting you look around.

"how can they afford all this?"

"no clue." she sighed.

as the pulled out of the neighborhood, she drove towards the square.

"have you ice skated before?" you look at her. she glances at you, then stares back on the road.

"i have. you?"

"damn, i haven't. maybe we can just... skip that event.." you smiled nervously.

"i'll make sure you're okay. okay?" she looked over at you full on, placing her hand on your thigh gently. you internally freaked out, heat pooling at the bottom of your torso.

"k." you said breathlessly. she smirked, turning to the road, knowing she made you slip up. to push you even farther, she started rubbing gently and slowly up and down your thigh. your cheeks blushed and tingles were left where she touched.

.·✩·.

"come on! we're going to be late for the tree lighting!" she hurried you along as she opened the passenger door for you.

"thanks, gentleman." you smirked, stepping out of the car.

"anytime, pretty woman." she smirked back, winking.

you let ellie drag you to the town square where the large tree was being lit. many other people were already. your nose and cheeks were red and your breath came out as smoke in the frosty air. ellie mirrored your cold looks.

"let me buy you some hot cocoa, yeah?" she brushed a piece of your cold hair behind your reddening ear. you blushed, but the frost camouflaged you.

"yeah, that'd be nice." you giggled quietly. christmas music sang from the multiple speakers around the gathering. she snuck her hand around your waist as you walked together. you were flustered, to say the least.

"hey, what can i getcha?" the employee asked you two as you arrived the stand.

"two hot cocoas, please." ellie smiled, her hand placement on you signaling you were hers tonight. and ellie hopes she can make you hers forever on.

ellie payed and soon the burning hot cocoa was in your hands. you bathed in the warmth. sipping it, you sighed.

"that's good. thank you so much, ellie. for everything." you thanked her.

"it's no problem, really. i was lucky enough to even get you free tonight. i wouldn't be surprised if you had girls in your dms, pretty lady." she smirked, looking straight on at you. you reddened, looking away while sipping your cocoa.

"no, i actually don't have any girls in my dms, much to your disappointment. i haven't gone on a date in a little bit, actually." you said quietly. her eyebrows rose in surprise.

"really? you're lying."

"no, i'm not lying." i responded.

"oooookay then..." she said in a jokingly distrusting voice.

"ho, ho, ho! look at these lovely girls over here! merry christmas!" a jolly person dressed in a santa costume boomed. he was old, but was a cute little guy. you giggled, smiling.

"so festive here." you look back over to ellie, and she's watching you.

"goddamn, you're so cute." she kissed your cheek, leaving you blushy and giggley.

"ladies and gentlemen, if you have children who would like to meet santa, his booth is open! these nice elves over here will show you through the process. thank you." a person on the speakers spoke happily.

"what next?" you yawned, covering your mouth. ellie brushed a piece of your hair behind your ear.

"don't get too tired, cutie. come over here, i wanna show you something..."

.·✩·.

"thank you ellie. this has been the best night since i moved here." you stood with ellie at the entrance to the event. she looked deeply into your eyes.

"of course. thanks for giving me a chance. now let's get in my car, i'm cold." she smirked. you nodded, shivering.

"yes, please."

the heat took a few minutes to warm up, but when it did, both you and ellie sighed in relief.

"want me to take you home?" she looked at you, glancing at your lips.

"i mean, yeah..." you say reluctantly.

"you look so..." she trailed off.

you looked up at her, confused.

"i look...?" you started getting a little self-conscious.

"kissable. can i?" she was practically burning holes into your lips.

you nodded slowly.

"please."

ellie leaned in, capturing your lips perfectly. she laid her hands on the sides of your head, guiding you gently. you both got in sync, letting your bodies take the lead. she licked your bottom lip, asking silently for access. you open your mouth a crack desperately. she tangled her tongue with yours, eventually taking dominance. she pushed into you slightly, exploring your mouth.

after a while of kissing and quiet noises, ellie broke away, smirking.

"you taste delicious." she licked your lipgloss from her own lips. you were trying not to take ellie's comment in a dirty way.

"cat got your tongue?" she held eye contact with you.

"uh, no." you blinked finally, a blush coming across your face as you touched your lips.

"that was.. really nice." you avoided eye contact with ellie. she just had a cocky smirk on her face.

"yeah, i know. now let's get you home, baby."

#tlou #ellie #ellie williams #ellie tlou #ellie x fem reader #ellie x reader #ellie the last of us #the last of us #christmas #xmas #the last of us ellie #tlou ellie #holiday #joel and ellie #the last of us game #tlou2 #tlou1 #the last of us part one #naughtydog #the last of us part two #first fanfic #first fic

[ladamedusoif]

Fuzzy socks (Joel Miller)

A Merry Fic-Mas - December 9

Characters: Joel Miller, Ellie Williams. References to Stargazer F!Reader from Starry Night.

Warnings: None; set in Jackson post-events of part one/S1; references to Christmas but secular; some swearing because Ellie

Summary: The best gifts are homemade.

Word count: 893

Part of A Merry Fic-Mas: A Holiday Fic Calendar - click for masterlist.

Follow @ladameecrit for my writing updates!

With thanks to @agentjackdaniels for inspiration for Joel’s gift, and to @sin-djarin for their beautiful little story and post about Joel making footprints in flour for Sarah, which inspired his memories.

For a long time Joel just didn’t think about the holidays. It was easy not to, living the life he did for all those years. They were best ignored when you were surviving on raids and scavenging missions, or just trying to make it through another day at the QZ.

Jackson forced him to think about the season again, with its illuminated tree and programme of community festivities marking the winter holidays. Ellie’s excitement was both a useful distraction and a painful reminder of an absence that could never be wholly filled.

He insisted he didn’t want gifts, that first year, but he did call to your door the day before Christmas Eve, somewhat sheepish and asking for help in getting something for Ellie.

“She deserves a gift on Christmas morning,” he’d explained. You gave him an old set of maps of the heavens - you’d manage with your atlas, knowing the night sky over Jackson well enough by now.

“She’ll know what to do, but send her my way if she’s got any questions.”

He held the maps in his gloved hands and thanked you quietly, a smile on his face but eyes shining with tears.

This year, Joel has carved and painted a little wooden sheep as his gift. The wooden base is painted to resemble the surface of the moon, and the sheep’s woolly coat is dotted with tiny painted stars.

He wraps it in faded green tissue paper and places it by the fireplace in the living room before going to bed on Christmas Eve. Ellie was way beyond believing in strange men climbing down chimneys, but it just seemed like the right place to leave a gift.

When sleep finds him, he dreams of happier holidays, of flour scattered on the floor and boot patterns stomped through, of laughter, of stockings and eggnog and old movies watched together on the couch.

Ellie’s knock rouses him the next morning. “Merry fuckin’ Christmas, Joel!”

He sits up and hears her thudding down the stairs, reaching for his jeans and his shirt and sweater before dressing and coming down to join her.

She’s already sitting on the sofa holding the little green-wrapped gift from him, positively bouncing with anticipation. There’s a strange, unfamiliar look in her eyes, and Joel worries what she’s got in store.

“You can open your gift, Ellie.”

She shakes her head. “You gotta open yours, too.”

Joel quirks his eyebrows in surprise. “Mine? But I don’t want any gifts. Said it last year, didn’t I?”

Ellie shrugs, turning her gift over in her hands. “You don’t want it, I’ll take it. Just open it, will ya?”

He looks down at the fireplace where a small brown paper package is tied up with string and his name inscribed on it. He takes it and sits beside her on the couch.

“You first.”

Ellie rolls her eyes and opens her gift, falling around the place laughing when she realises what it is. “A fuckin’ sheep in a sheep farm on the moon? This is awesome!”

Joel smiles, enjoying how something so small can make her so happy. Ellie nods at the parcel in his hands and he notes that she seems a little nervous, now.

“Your turn.”

The parcel is soft, pliable. When he carefully undoes the string and folds back the paper, he is astonished at its contents.

A pair of fuzzy, woollen socks, evidently hand knitted, and made up of multicoloured stripes of yarn. Joel runs his thick fingers over the soft material and turns to her.

“Where’d you get these?”

Ellie shrugs. “Made ‘em.”

He can’t hide his astonishment. “You made ’em? You made me socks? You?”

She looks indignant. “Yeah, me! Fuckin’ rude.”

Joel turns the socks over. They’re a little rough and ready in their construction, but warmer than anything he’s had in years. And he cannot quite believe that Ellie made these.

For a moment the image of Ellie, knitting needles in hand, threatens to make him laugh. He restrains himself.

“But…how?”

She shrugs and mentions your name. “A while back I was over at her house lookin’ at the sky and I said I wanted to make you something. And we talked and I said you were always wearin’ two pairs of socks cos yours are all fucked up, and she said could I knit, and I said no because what fuckin’ good is that, and she said it was a lot of good and -”

Joel chuckles. “But where’d you get the yarn?”

“Here and there. She gave me some, got some from Maria, couple of people around town. That’s why they’re all weird colours and shit.”

“They’re perfect, El. And she taught you how to do this?”

Ellie nods. “Yup. And next I’m gonna make a whole sweater.”

He feels a surge of pride in his chest at the determined way she sets her next goal. She’ll do it, too.

“Well, let’s hope I get that sheep farm on the moon, huh? You’re gonna need a lot of wool, all these knittin’ plans you’re makin’.”

She grins. “Ain’t no stopping me, man.”

#a merry fic-mas #holiday fic calendar #joel miller #ellie williams #the last of us fanfiction #the last of us #tlou hbo #joel miller fanfiction #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal character fanfic #pedro pascal

[j-eryewrites]

Happy Holidays!!

Happy Holidays to everyone! Thank you for supporting my fics and indulging my writing. I hope everyone is safe and has a pleasant holiday season. Much love from me - teigo-the-explorer

#bbc sherlock #sherlock x reader #sherlock holmes x reader #sherlock bbc #sherlock x you #i am sherlocked #reader insert #fanfic #sherlock holmes #john watson #happy holidays #a sinner's redemption #the arbitrary lives of the occupants of 221b baker street #hbo tlou #joel miller x platonic!reader #joel miller x daughter!reader #ellie and piper are sister's forever #christmas #hannukah #new year #fanfic authors #die hard is a christmas movie #sherlock and christmas #my readers are the best #thank you #thank u

[yuripoll]

boss makes a dollar i make a dime that's why i read yuri on company time

#yuriposting #stfu elly #shes on holiday and we have noone in. so really im just putting enrichment in my own enclosure

[soapysucksss]

full drawing done!!! i love both games sm and decided to cross em over lol

#deltarune fanart #noelle holiday #noelle deltarune #dess holiday #tlou #tlou2 #the last of us #ellie williams #joel miller

[deathofmars]

Happy holidays!!

#happy holidays #ellie tlou2 #dina tlou #ellie the last of us #dina the last of us #ellie tlou #ellie x dina #ellie williams #ellie williams meme #the last of us #tlou2 #ellie williams goofy

[thatartiststudios999]

It feels like ages since I've posted any of my writing but I finally finished a Valentine's Day themed Rayllum oneshots, a day late, but here it is! Enjoy!

Rayla’s nerves fluttered in her chest, a familiar sensation with a newfound apprehension. Tonight’s celebration held a weightier significance, surrounded by nobles and esteemed guests, each sure to be eyeing her with varying degrees of curiosity and judgment. Among them would undoubtedly be suitors who believed they were more deserving of her hand than she, a commoner, betrothed to the prince.

But Callum’s comforting words from the previous evening echoed in her mind, a soothing balm to her anxious thoughts. His kisses had chased away her worries, assuring her that she needn’t conform to the expectations of others. She could attend the celebration as herself, without the facade of extravagant dresses or elaborate finery.

Dresses and fancy clothes had never been Rayla’s thing, and Callum respected that. While he ensured she always had attire befitting her role, he never pushed her to conform to the lavish standards of the court. To him, she was radiant in her simplicity, her inner beauty shining brighter than any gemstone or silk garment.

—

In their room within the castle’s walls, Rayla stood behind Callum, fastening the vibrant red and gold mantle to the shoulders of his jacket. With a gentle touch, she pressed a kiss to the back of his neck once she was finished, coaxing a soft smile from him as he turned to face her.

“How do I look?” Callum inquired, his eyes alight with anticipation as he awaited her verdict.

Rayla returned his smile, her fingers trailing through his hair affectionately. “Handsome, as always,” she complimented, leaning in to press a playful kiss to his cheek. “And to think I have you all to myself.”

Callum chuckled, “I don’t know, Ezran might want to share,” he teased in return.

Rayla responded by kissing him gently, “Do I have to?” she whispered against his lips.

His smile widened, unable to resist her charms. “I mean, I could be persuaded,” he admitted, returning her kiss with equal fervor. They lingered in the moment, lost in the warmth of each other’s embrace, until Callum reluctantly pulled back.

“Although, he will be wondering where we are,” Callum remarked with a grin, breaking the spell of their intimacy. “Guess we’ll have to save these kisses for the party, huh? Make sure everyone knows you’re mine.”

Rayla rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, though her fondness for him was evident in her expression. “You are shameless,” she scolded him playfully, though her lips curved into a smile.

Callum seized the opportunity for one final kiss before leading her out of the room and down the hall, their fingers intertwined as they ventured towards the festivities awaiting them.

As they strolled down the castle’s hallway, Rayla’s free hand instinctively fidgeted with a loose strand of her hair. With each step, her nerves heightened, the upcoming celebration looming larger in her mind. She mentally listed the familiar faces she expected to encounter—friends, allies, and those who had become a part of their shared journey.

Ezran and Ellis, Soren and Corvus would be there with their girlfriends, Enya and Ella, Opeli and the council members; Barius overseeing the culinary arrangements—all familiar and comforting.

However, the prospect of encountering dozens and dozens of other attendees, some likely harboring negative sentiments, dampened her anticipation. Unpleasant individuals who questioned whether she truly deserved the love of the crown Prince of Katolis, and to add to that, the first human Primal mage.

A gentle squeeze of her hand accompanied by a tender kiss to her temple pulled her back from the edge of her thoughts.

“Hey, you okay?” Callum’s concerned voice broke through her internal turmoil.

Rayla looked up at him, a smile forming on her lips. “Yeah, I’m okay,” she reassured, grounding herself in his reassuring presence.

As they reached one of the entrances to the lavishly decorated ballroom, adorned in Katolian red and gold with vibrant red and white roses, Callum released her hand and extended his arm like a true gentleman.

“Shall we?” he asked, a soft smile directed at her. Rayla reciprocated his smile, taking his offered arm.

“We shall,” she replied, offering a quick kiss on his cheek before they stepped into the grandeur of the celebration.

As they mingled in the opulent ballroom, the anticipation of dancing later allowed them to gracefully greet their friends. Rayla took advantage of this time to acclimate herself to the expansive room and its multitude of guests. Despite having to navigate through the occasional stuffy nobles, the experience remained enjoyable.

An air of protectiveness emanated from Callum as he cast discerning glares at those who dared to cast judgment. If looks could kill, the unfortunate nobles would have been vanquished in an instant under the weight of Callum’s disapproval.

Sensing his tension, Rayla rubbed her free hand up his arm and to his shoulder. “It’s okay, love,” she whispered reassuringly.

He turned to her, his gaze softening at her touch. “They don’t get to talk about you like that, like you’re not special,” he declared, gently tucking away a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “No one does, okay?”

Rayla nodded, her heart warmed by his protective gesture.

He smiled again, planting a quick kiss on her forehead. “Good,” he affirmed, the assurance resonating in his words.

As the moment for couples to dance arrived, Enya and Ella enthusiastically led their boyfriends to the dance floor, Soren and Corvus still donned in their Crownguard uniforms. Ezran approached Ellis, asking for a dance, and she happily accepted. Even some of the guards, still clad in armor, guided their girlfriends and wives to join the dance. The nobles, too, seized the opportunity to take their partners to the floor.

Callum turned to Rayla, wearing a handsome smirk, and extended his hand. “May I have this dance?” he asked with a touch of formality.

She smiled, offering her hand in response. “You may,” she replied. Callum brought her knuckles to his lips, bestowing a gentle kiss before leading her to an empty spot amidst the other couples.

With one hand on her waist and the other holding hers, they swayed to the music along with the other dancing pairs. The ballroom became a symphony of graceful movements, except for a few onlookers who chose to remain on the sidelines.

As they gracefully drifted around the room, Callum and Rayla found themselves at the edge of the crowd, near a group of elegantly dressed women, likely of noble backgrounds from various kingdoms. Unbeknownst to them, their hushed conversation about Rayla’s past unfolded within earshot.

“Didn’t she leave him for two years?” asked one woman.

“Yeah, and now they’re engaged, can you believe it?” scoffed another.

“It’s ridiculous. If she’s left him once, she’ll do it again. He should just pick someone else, someone more worthwhile,” murmured a girl in a long blue dress.

“If he was going to marry an elf, he could’ve been more diplomatic about it, maybe a noble, not some commoner,” sneered another discreetly.

Callum, aware of the conversation and the impact it had on Rayla, glared at the group. Once they noticed his disapproval, they averted their gaze. Callum redirected their path back into the heart of the crowd, guiding Rayla away from the group of judgmental nobles. Despite his attempts to comfort her, she still refrained from meeting his eyes.

“Hey,” he noticed a single tear on Rayla’s cheek, wiping it away gently. “Look at me,” he urged, tilting her chin upward to ensure their gazes met. “Don’t listen to them, okay? They’re wrong to say any of that,” he murmured with soothing reassurance.

Rayla nodded, her voice barely audible.

He tenderly kissed her forehead, reiterating, “I mean it, you’re mine, okay? Don’t let anyone tell you any different.”

A subtle smile graced her lips as she softly affirmed, “Just yours.”

As they continued to sway to the gentle rhythm of the music, Callum’s content smile deepened.

Rayla couldn’t help but notice the look in his eyes and asked, “What’s that look for?”

“I just love you,” he confessed, the warmth in his smile spreading. She mirrored his expression, tilting her head in the opposite direction.

His infectious smile played on her lips as she said, “I love you, too.”

Callum began to lean in for a kiss, but Rayla seized the moment, kissing him first. They lingered in the embrace, parting briefly before Callum reciprocated. Each pause was a sweet interlude, their smiles growing with each exchange. Whether they were the center of attention or unnoticed in the crowd, it didn't matter—they only had eyes for each other.

Ezran and Ellis, along with their friends, took a break from dancing and joined Opeli and Barius at the food table. Ezran couldn’t help but smile at his brother and his soon-to-be sister-in-law.

Soren voiced a sentiment, “You know, I don’t normally like all their mushiness, but after everything? They deserve it.”

Enya playfully teased Soren, leaning her head on his shoulder, “Aw, am I making you go soft?”

“Go soft?” Corvus chuckled, “He’s been soft.”

As the banter continued, Ezran’s gaze remained fixed on Callum and Rayla, in the middle of the crowd, sometimes kissing, sometimes whispering sweet words to each other, or sometimes saying nothing at all, simply enjoying each other’s company in silence. It warmed Ezran’s heart to witness their happiness, realizing that two years of separation now seemed like nothing compared to the years they had spent together.

Looking at them, he saw not only their joy but also his own happiness reflected in theirs—a happiness that would extend into the many more years after they got married.

—

After the dance, Callum and Rayla slipped away from the lively celebration. Ezran watched them go, allowing them their precious time alone. The couple found their way to one of the moonlit balconies, basking in the tranquility of each other’s company. They stood by the railing, hands entwined, savoring the quietude.

Breaking the silence, Callum asked, “You had a good time?”

Rayla turned to him, a smile playing on her lips, “I did.”

Still concerned, Callum pressed, “You shouldn’t pay those nobles any mind, it’s not worth it.”

Rayla reassured him, “It’s fine, love.”

Callum, persistent, argued softly, “It’s not fine for anyone to say those things. You don’t need to act like it is.”

However, to Callum’s surprise and slight confusion, Rayla offered a tiny smile. Her hands found their way to his shoulders, “I know it’s fine, because there was never anyone else for either of us and never will be. I don’t belong with anyone else.” Before Callum could respond, she leaned in, capturing his lips in a lingering kiss, her fingers tugging on the collar of his jacket.

They parted for a moment, and Callum mirrored her smile, “That’s not what I was expecting,” repeating his words from the first time she ever kissed him.

“I’ll never be boring,” she teased.

His smile widened, “No, just mine.”

He placed his hands on her waist, drawing her in again. One of her hands rested on his chest, while the other ventured into his hair, running her fingers through it, deepening the kiss.

Lost in the moment, they remained locked in the embrace, the soft glow of the moon added a magical touch to the scene. For a brief moment, it felt like time stood still, and there was nothing in the world except them, wrapped up in their love for each other. Eventually, they pulled back, their foreheads resting against each other as they caught their breath.

Rayla chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with affection. “I could get used to this,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Callum smiled, his gaze filled with adoration. “Me too,” he replied, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I love you, Rayla.”

“I love you too, Callum,” she whispered, her heart overflowing with happiness.

In each other’s arms, they stood on the balcony, savoring the moment and the love they shared, knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would always have each other.

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