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Some Reindeers Don't Click (Julian & Eleanora) [COMPLETED]

Of all the festive seasons, Thanksgiving and Christmas would make up high on his list. Simply because it was supposed to be a season where families gather together and meet up to share their stories, bonding over it with laughter and elation. Well, at least it used to be that way for him. Julian didn't have a big family, it was only his parents, him and his elder sister and his younger sister. The five of them were able to make up the absence for plenty though, which was the reason why the Nephilim never felt like anything was lesser when they gather together. Unfortunately, this year wouldn't make it possible for him. He couldn't go back to England because he had a whole shift two days ago and the flights bound there were all sold out, leaving him no choice but to spend his Christmas in Evermore. He had no problem with the city, but who wouldn't want to go home for Christmas? He misses his parents and Christmas was one of the times he could actually get to see his elder sister who is otherwise, staying in Australia.

And ever since the tragedy that took place a few years ago, it's the only time they were able to check in the Nephilim to see if he's doing fine as he says he is. He's guessing that he'll have to settle and FaceTime his family for this year, and hope that his schedule can be cleared out next year. While he was busy cleaning the cabinet where he stored his bow and arrows alongside other weapons in case anything happens, he realized that he's been tapping his feet against the carpeted floor for over half an hour. He wasn't usually this jittery when he's alone, so he stopped whatever he was doing and tried to figure out the reason for it. Until he realized that the living room was pretty much cold to the core, which was unusual because he was sure he had turned on the heater before. With a rag still in his left hand, Julian went over to where the heater was located and crouched down to its level to check if it's working.

The lights weren't on and he thought he must've turned it off accidentally. Another unfortunate case for the poor Nephilim who had to endure a cold night while being alone for Christmas, it wasn't turned off, rather, it was broken. A heaved sigh escaped the male as he got up and realized that he will have to rush to the stores to get a heater unless he wanted to spend his nights cold. He knew there was no way the stores would be open on Christmas Eve, and even if they were, the chances were likely high to know that it's been sold out. Yet that didn't prevent Julian from wrapping his coat around him and rushed out. At least, his car was slightly warm. And that's probably the alternative for his place to sleep tonight or for a few nights if there was no more heaters.

That was the case for Julian who was still diligently searching for a heater for about an hour already. Sighing to himself, he exited the last shop which told him sorry because they were sold out. Just his luck. "Goddammit, Julian… you're full of bad luck at this time of the year, aren't you?" he grumbled to himself and found himself slumping against the bench while listening to Deck The Halls With Boughs of Holly blaring from god knows which shop.

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DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on November 11, 2020 at 21:26

He was braver than she was, that much was evident already because of the fact he was the one who had been trying to get closer to her, trying to break down the walls that she always built so high. And it was working. They had been working together for a while and in that time she had come to trust him, to trust his ideas and his professionalism but also that he was who he said he was. He was kind and warm, a little goofy and not afraid to show her that side of him. She hid her more sensitive traits away from the world but it seemed like with her, everything about him was fair game “So it’s time to be brave” she spoke softly as she looked back at him. The idea of that was scary to her but perhaps just a little less scary with him.

She couldn’t help but laugh as she pictured what he must have been like with that fast “Well I thought I was the only one” she responded in a playfully surprised tone, she’d always loved fish and just watching them swim in their own little world “I swear when I was little my favorite place in the whole world was the aquarium...I could have stayed there for hours without getting bored” at one point in time she had even wanted to be a marine biologist but plans and people changed with time. She smiled guiltily when he surprised the punchline to her story about Santa and nodded slowly as though to confess that was what she did “I swear I must have ruined so many kid’s Christmas that year” she sighed slightly, her parents were the type who didn’t play along with things like that so she had known for sure she was right and insisted on it when some girl told her she was wrong.

“Mostly I bribe him...he whines a lot but as soon as you have food in your hands he becomes much more compliant” she raised her brows and then grinned slightly besides, he was way too cute to be mad at, even if he scratched her when trying to launch himself out of the bath. It was honestly nice, having someone she could talk to about any random thing without worrying they would judge her or use it against her somehow. She had never really tried to get closer to him but it had happened naturally, when they were working together. She liked him enough to invite her here and then she’d let him sleep in her bed which said a lot. Nora didn’t really do cuddling or any of that romantic stuff because she never let herself feel anything more than desire for people. But with him it was different. There was something more.

So yes, she did finally allow herself to surrender. To allow herself to give in for a while and entertain all those what-ifs that were spinning around in her head. She had to know how it would feel to have his lips against hers, to feel how soft but stable he felt as he held her there. She hadn’t expected to feel such a rush of emotion to go through her but it was there. She distracted herself from it momentarily by pulling him closer and giving herself in to everything she was feeling. She was sure the kiss spoke more words to him than she’d ever said and when she pulled away, she was staring up at him with a look that could only be described as wonder “It’s not a mistake” she spoke softly as her hand came up to rest gently against his cheek “It’s...something I’ve been trying to deny myself because it would be...better for you if you didn’t have feelings for me” but how could she deny it now “My life is messy and complicated and I wanted to spare you it” she murmured softly as she leaned in to press her forehead against his.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on November 16, 2020 at 3:07

He didn't know if this confidence will end up eating him at the end, but he had to try. Someone had to knock on her doors and that's him right now. He wanted to be that person who convinces her to let him in. Professionally, when they work, they know each other pretty well. Their chemistry works. But personally? Here? He wanted to be more and she was allowing him to do so. "Mhmm" he hummed in affirmation when he heard her say that, in this setting, this scenario he had already painted for them, he held his hand out for her already. What's left was for Nora to accept it. "I used to like to go to the aquarium just to watch the fishes… you know those places where they store all those big and small fishes alike? Yeah, penguins were cool too. The enclosure was pretty well made.

"I was a big fan of sharks too" he chuckled, the other kids were a bigger fan of dinosaurs but not Julian, he was more interested in the actual beast underwater. "I go to the beach and then wonder how deep I have to be just to see one face to face… which was pretty stupid for a kid, I know." It didn't surprise him to know she was the kid who didn't believe in Santa Clause. "Don't worry about it… If it makes you feel any better, I didn't particularly believe he existed either. I left cookies and warm milk by my bedside with a booby trap one time to see if he was real and if I could be one of his elves. Turns out it was just my father. And he was not even wearing the costume." As a child, he was pretty disappointed by it. "Ah… so he takes the bribes. What a bad puppy" he teased, "Easier for you then. Just offer him a bribe and he'll take it huh." Cloud did seem like a spoiled boy. He was glad she was able to talk to him freely like this, about the things she probably didn't have someone to talk to.

He can be that person. No, he wanted to be that person. He wondered if she would end up allowing him to make his move even closer. He didn't need to wonder for too long though, before long, the dance between them only drew the two closer and a kiss was shared afterwards. He enjoyed it immensely, he could feel the fireworks bursting and the butterflies running wildly inside him, all of those you would describe of someone when talking about love. Julian was positive what he felt for her went deeper than just mutual attraction. Perhaps it wasn't love yet but it wasn't a simple crush no more either. It was more. She didn't let him go and he didn't either. There was mutual consent there and if it was up to him, he wanted to drag it out a while longer.

When he pulled away to ask if she thought it was a mistake while also pleading and hoping it wasn't, the Nephilim was pleasantly surprised to get an answer so soon after that. Her touch against his cheek felt warm, it felt right. "Oh Len… messy lives are nothing new to me. I live for it. I get attracted to it" he chuckled and brushed a strand behind her ear as he pulled back to take in her features, she was so beautiful. "I like you… a lot. And you already know that. But let me tell you again how much I feel for you, I never stopped liking you no matter how complicated you got. You steered me away and it might've worked on anyone else but not me. I want to stay. If you would allow me" the space between them was minimal. Barely a few centimeters away and if any of them wanted, they could easily close the gap once again. Julian was planning to do that, until the soft ding coming from the oven interrupted him. "Well… that's a buzzkill."

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on November 20, 2020 at 21:44

She practically lit up when he talked about enjoying the aquarium too, the way he talked about it made her smile so wide that her cheeks were hurting a little, especially as he explained how he liked sharks and thought they were more interesting than dinosaurs “I swear everyone thought I was so weird for always reading books about sharks, I watched Jaws and instead of getting scared like a normal kid, I wanted to research everything about them…” she laughed a little embarrassed “I did a whole presentation to disprove that sharks were really dangerous to humans unless they were threatened and had no other choice” she grinned sheepishly, it had gotten her pretty good grades too. “We should go to one” she suggested, nodding her head slightly “I’d love to go with someone who...likes it as much as I do” she was trying not to blush from her own excitement.

She laughed as he told his story about leaving out cookies for santa only to catch his dad eating them in the middle of the night “It seems like we both were that kid then” she commented with a laugh, the one who couldn’t help but question the sanity of a magical man who was able to fly around the world in one night and bring presents for all the children. “He does take bribes, he’ll even do tricks for them if you ask right” she laughed softly, she had taught Cloud a lot of tricks like how to offer his paw and even put his paws on her shoulder in a hug pose which had been really useful for taking photos “But it does mean anyone with food can distract him from me for a while” she shrugged slightly “He’s still cute though, I can’t tell him off” she sighed, it was quite the struggle for her.

There was something about being close to him, letting him in, it made her feel vulnerable but also excited because it felt like she could finally breathe again. She hadn’t even realized but it seemed like she had been holding her breath underwater trying to stay alive for a while now. He had dragged her back to the surface and she couldn’t help but be grateful for it. When she let him stay last night, that had been a crack in her armor, perhaps you could even call it a mistake but this...this was was leaping into the unknown for her. She had her doubts, there were parts of her screaming to be careful because she could get hurt if she let someone in. But the part of her that was curious about him was fighting off. It had well and truly stumbled over itself for a goofy, family-oriented, painfully honestly dorky man who refused to give up on her.

She was looking back into his eyes with a vulnerability which was reserved only for him. She never let anyone see this side of her for fear they could hurt her or she could hurt them but there seemed to be a mutual trust spoken between them that she was holding on to. “You’re an idiot for choosing me, I hope you know that” she cautioned him as she shook her head playfully, leaning into his touch because it was everything she craved right now. She swore her heart wanted to burst out of chest when he spoke those words so easily, about liking her and feeling things for her and how he wanted to stay. She took a shaky breath and laughed nervously “This is a lot of me” she confessed in a soft voice, lifting her gaze to stare at him with an expression which showed her longing for wanting someone to care for her “Stay” she whispered in the smallest voice. She was halfway there with him, about to let herself give in to this craving she had for his touch when the oven interrupted them.

She blushed slightly before hopping down from the side and heading over to it. She glanced at him over her shoulder “So does this make us?” she bit her lip not knowing how to phrase “Should we go on a date or something?” she was pulling the turkey out of the oven, it looked delicious crispy. Before long she was carving it and serving it between the plates.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on November 30, 2020 at 13:36

Seeing her smile makes him happy, it truly did. It wasn't him trying to make it as if Nora has never smiled in front of others, no. The female smiled a few times effortlessly but Julian could also detect it was purely professionalism covering her. And it was understandable, of course. She is, after all, the COO of Everectronics. He couldn't expect any less coming from her. "I watched plenty of shark movies ranging from Jaws to Deep Blue Sea… every single one of them. They were really fascinating creatures… I still wonder until today if Megalodon still exists" it wasn't him to debunk such theories but anything is possible right? He's half angel half human, so yes everything truly is impossible. Just as he expected, Nora proved herself to be quite the smart person in the circle when she said she did a whole presentation on sharks' preservation habits, "I'm impressed" he wondered how old she was then. Nevertheless, it did pique his interest and had he been a classmate, he would've paid great attention to her presentation.

The more they conversed, the more Julian realized they do have a few interests that are similar to one another. "We should do that" he nodded enthusiastically, the idea of being able to go out with her next time, somewhat like a date, made his heart flutter. Is this really happening? It was clear that both him and her were far from the ordinary kids around their age, they had other interests that their peers wouldn't even pay attention to. It's refreshing to know she's actually not that different compared to him, it made him feel more at ease now. He has never been afraid of her, of course. Intimidated? A bit. But this surprised him. "Of course he would" he chuckled, the thought of Cloud performing silly tricks for a few snacks, he could already picture it in his head. "So you're not the dog parent who disciplines their baby, got it" any other day, he would probably find that hard to believe.

Nora is nice but it was clear to him from the way she did things, she's strict. But judging from the way she treated her precious furbaby, maybe that wasn't all to it. He still has yet to pull the cracks off the surface but that's fine, it's a work in progress. He was really happy when he found out she was actually letting him get close to her, this was such a huge leap and he wasn't about to leave the opportunity to lie around without taking it. Perhaps, he was actually making a bigger progress than he thought he was. It's why they were able to dance together and stare into each other's eyes with such fondness, right? He could recall the soft look she gave him earlier. Every single moment was embedded in his head, he didn't want to forget tonight. To make it better, they finally kissed and Julian felt like he could fly over to the moon. Literally. "I've been called an idiot plenty of times, if I had a dollar for every time people call me that, I would be a rich guy by now" he teased wryly and grinned softly, no matter what, he did choose her.

"But don't worry… I know, and I still choose you" he meant every word. He wouldn't be here chasing after her despite her throwing him off for a while now. He loves deeply, after all. It wasn't surprising to see Julian sticking to only one person. He would proudly admit he's a loyal lad. When she asked him to stay, he swore his heart made a flip, or more than one. "Are you sure? I won't impose by extending my stay?" He didn't want to go just yet. He took a seat nearby and placed both his arms on the table, eyes gazing towards her with what could possibly be described as endearment, "What do you want us to be? I mean I would want you to be my girlfriend but who knows if that's a bit too forward. I like you. Normally I would ask you to go on a date with me… to give me a chance, and I guess that's exactly what I'm doing. So miss, would you like to go out with me?"

DhampirPermalink Reply by ✓ Eleanora Riley Nordstroem on December 2, 2020 at 21:57

She always thought she was one of those weird kids back in school, she tended to keep her interests to herself after primary school because the others would get spooked by intense she could get when it came to her interests “Of course it exists, we live in a world of crazy, I find it smarter to believe every legend is true rather than doubt it” she found it all quite fascinating honestly, though sharks got this bad rap because of scary movies, really they were quite a serene and interesting species. She could feel the blush rise in her cheeks when he said he was impressed by her commitment to the subject “I’m one of those people who find it hard to let something go once I hold onto it” she spoke softly, perhaps why she avoided holding on to too much in the first place.

It was nice to feel like she actually related to someone, he liked animals and seemed to be a natural with them, he liked stupid cheesy movies and aquariums. He valued cartoons and watching TV, but he was also a hard worker who got his head in the game when it came to work. Perhaps she had wanted to turn a blind eye to it before but they really shared a lot “I’d like that” she spoke softly when he said they should visit one together “Maybe we could do one of those tours where you get to meet the penguins...since you like them so much” she remembered him specifically pointing those out before. She laughed when he asked if she was the kind of person who disciplined their dog “I like to think our communication is better than that, he knows when he does good things, he gets rewarded” and then he learned how to behave.

She felt really vulnerable when he looked at her like that, he had this soft look of wonder in his eyes that she had never seen in someone’s eyes before when they gazed back at her. She knew how to read lust in someone’s gaze, she’d experienced smug expressions and even those of pity. But this one? This one was new to her. It felt so intense to her that her heart was skipping a little. Is this how he looked at every girl he kissed because honestly? She selfishly wanted to be one of the only ones. “Better set yourself up a swear jar huh?” she beamed softly, her voice might be a little snarky but there was a fondness to it, he had grown on her a lot over the past day or so. Hell over the months she had known him.

She pressed her lips together, giving him an amused but endeared look when he said he would still choose her. It was honestly unfair to her that he could be so cheesy and dorky and get away with it like this and all she could do in response was smile and roll her eyes. The way he responded so softly when she asked him to stay made her smile gently “The thought of you all alone in that cold place...I hate it” she spoke softly. Plus it had been kinda nice to wake up to someone laying beside her, feeling their warmth. And he had stayed all day after, his intentions were clear to her. She widened her eyes a moment when he turned her question around on her “A date...I can do a date” she blushed softly “We have to make sure we don’t annoy one another to death right?” she laughed and nudged against his shoulder as she finished serving the food and handed a plate out towards him. This Christmas has been one of the best she has had in a long time.

NephilimPermalink Reply by ✓ Julian Nathaniel Lockhart on December 4, 2020 at 18:18

She had a point. It was better to believe anything is possible than to shut the window of opportunities elsewhere. "If I had told anyone else that this or that was real as a kid, they probably would've called me crazy. But I was a kid so it's a miracle they'd even take me seriously." Being belittled at a young age hasn't been a foreign thing to Julian. Though of course it never happened to his own family because the logic still applies. Somewhere. Of course he noticed the way she blushes, he was pretty sure he noticed every single change in her facial expression the entire time. He kept an eye out because hey, he wanted to know how she felt around him still. Somehow her words sounded like it could be applied to more than just one situation and normally, he wouldn't take them out of the context but this time, he just might. "You should keep doing that, who knows? Maybe they'll come back bringing more benefits than trouble. Besides… we can take a little trouble, can't we?" There was some thrill to it.

Their interests corroborated with each other and Julian only found himself grinning secretly because he managed to get her talking more than usual and it was fun. Nora is indeed a hardworking and diligent individual, she seemed to have everything planned yet there were instances where spontaneous moments come popping up and made her even more endearing. Or perhaps that was just him talking weirdly because he was crushing hard on the dhampir. When she mentioned about visiting the penguins, his eyes lit up almost instantly because oh wow, penguins. They were interesting creatures. "Penguins are cool" he mumbled shyly and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. Internally though? He was jumping ecstatically because he quite literally just scored a date with the female standing before him. Finally. He could feel a small weight of uneasiness leaving his chest now.

Date secured, now he just needed to continue giving her a good impression of himself and he couldn't remember the last time he had been so nervous about dating since Maleah. Even the way she treated her dog made him giddy. Maybe he's just helplessly in love with this girl more than he would admit. If only she knew just just how happy this makes him, she would've probably be weirded out. Keep calm, he reminded himself. "Sure, why not" he chuckled upon hearing her response talking about setting up a swear jar, "maybe in the near future." He would like to think the progress between them the past day made them even closer. "Well… I usually don't mind staying at a cold place but the past 24 hours have been one of the best days I ever had this year" he murmured softly, hand caressing hers while staring down at her with what could probably be described as the softest look ever. "How will I ever" he cooed teasingly when she said they only needed to not annoy each other to death. When she handed the plate out, he took it, brushing his fingers against hers and though it was probably a small gesture, it was enough to ignite the warmth in him. Yeah, he's in luck.