Here comes santa claus!

[callmeemily]

The holiday this year is so incredibly different than the last.

Last year? Raleigh was holed up in the boarding house, no one in 300 miles but her shitty boss knew her name, and she was so poor that she was eating rice, beans, and leftovers from the Seaside bakery.

This year, everything's changed. Orchard House is chugging along astoundingly well; Raleigh puts in long hours, but it's paying off. She's been able to hire somebody else to work the register, she's getting custom orders - the whole thing. She has friends. Honest to god friends, and she's got enough money that she's actually got presents for people. For a lot of people - it's a mix of cookies and things, but there's a little something for everybody piled on the table in the back corner, and one mass-text later she's humming through the bakery, music playing from the speakers, warm cider in a carafe, and everything's warm and cozy.

She looks at it, at this business that she's made with the help of this whole town, and she can't help but smile. Tonight? Spending tonight with friends and found-family? That's what this whole thing's about.

Gathering post! Raleigh will tag everyone who tags in, but feel free to tag one another, too. :) It's up to you if they have gotten a text, or just heard the music and seen the crowd. Everyone'll get something!

Comments

[tarnishedbadge]

Maybe it was because he came to the Orchard House so regularly that it felt so comfortable or maybe how it was almost picturesquely decorated for Christmas, but as soon as he stepped in and saw Raleigh he felt completely relaxed. This must be what it felt like to be in a Christmas post card.

"I'm doing great, thank you," he said, hugging her back. "How about you? Still crazy busy for the holiday season?"

[callmeemily]

"Actually, I delivered the last of the orders today," she said with a wide smile, looking around the store. "I've got a couple for late holiday parties on Monday and Tuesday, and one big one for New Years Eve, but that's pretty much it, thank god." She disentangles herself from him, since she'd pretty much thrown herself into the hug.

"So I am free as a bird. You on duty?" She holds up a finger for him to hold that thought, and goes to get him a mug of cocoa, because he just came in from outside and it's 20 degrees if it's anything.

[tarnishedbadge]

"I'm on duty but there isn't anything too pressing going on right now. Thankfully it's been relatively quiet," he said. Mostly this time of year it was catching up on year end paperwork or the ugly backlog that always crept up. There were no crisis though or major cases that needed his attention so he was relatively free.

"Why, what did you have in mind?"

[callmeemily]

Raleigh shrugs when he asks what she has in mind. "Nothing in particular, but maaaaaybe I was thinking that while I'm free and you're free, we could do something. Like... hangy-outy-friendy sorts of things, because both of us not being super busy is sort of a miracle," she said with a laugh.

"Oh! And I have a present for you. Here, I mean. Just don't let me forget, okay?"

[tarnishedbadge]

Levi wasn't entirely sure what hangy-out-friendy sorts of things were. He hadn't really had those sorts of friends. In college it was mostly going out to the bar or studying in a group that he did with acquaintances. The casual, comfortable sort of friendship that he had with Raleigh really wasn't something he was used to.

"I'd like to do something. And I have a gift for you too, but you're not allowed to open it until Christmas."

[callmeemily]

"Okay! Then we will. Maybe we can do a movie? I really sort of want to see Into the Woods, except Johnny Depp is..." She makes a face. "Or we could do whatever. Cook?" She shrugged, rolling her shoulders. "Anyway, we'll figure it out," she said cheerfully.

He said he had a gift for her, and her brows rose, but she smiled wider. "Okay, deal. But... I kind of want you to open yours now? If that's not weird. It's a little silly, but it could be useful tonight, even."

[tarnishedbadge]

"Cooking sounds great," he said. With all the crowds this time of year Levi would much rather spend some time with just Raleigh doing something with just each other. It had been a long time since he'd had friends he could spend time alone with and he missed it. Having just one mind around seemed quiet.

"Alright, alright, if you insist then I'll open it now."