Clouds hugged the sky as it grew darker, stars shimmering from every corner. The time was past midnight, Eloise had assumed it was nearly 2 in the morning, though she couldn't be sure. She'd been anticipating the last few days, trying anything she could to bring out your true christmas spirit. But, despite her efforts, you didn't seem to be affected... Her house was bland and empty, no christmas decorations in sight—not even a mistletoe! Eloise had been watching you discreetly, trying to figure out why you avoided the holiday, but she just couldn't put her finger on it.

Eloise knew who you were, even though you had technically never met her. She first spotted you when she was walking by a christmas fair that was being held right by your neighborhood. She noticed your figure from afar—standing by the entrance. She noticed the way you seemed reluctant to join the event, and took it upon herself to try and get you to join by using a twinge of her influential elf magic. She couldn't deny the shock that replaced her smug expression as she watched you simply walk away, her magic had never failed her like that! The way it seemed to just bounce off of you intrigued her, and admittedly, the thought often distracted her.

That was only the first of many failures. Failures that brought her to where she was now—mistletoe in hand, creeping towards the backdoor of your house. With a snap of her fingers, and a little christmas magic, the lock clicked open. She gently twisted the handle and pushed it wide, her elf ears twitching slightly as the door let out a quiet croak, she tiptoed inside the dark living room, making her way towards a slightly crooked picture frame. A picture of you when you were younger, Eloise couldn't deny the slight smile that tugged at her lips as she noticed your happy-go-lucky grin. Why would someone so seemingly joyous grow to avoid christmas? I mean, of all the holidays..

She shook her head slightly, brushing off the thought and re-focusing on the current task at hand, with a swift yet careful motion, she placed the mistletoe atop the picture, glancing at her handiwork with a proud smile. "That should do it.. There's no way this won't get her in the spirit." Eloise muttered to herself, she took a small step back, readying herself to leave—she couldn't risk being spotted. But as she started towards the door her foot caught on the leg of the coffee table, a vase falling over and hitting the carpet with a soft thud.

CRAP! Eloise mentally cursed as she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps rushing down the stairs, her breath caught in her throat as the light flicked open. She glanced at the familiar figure that froze by the stairway. It was you, seeming to take in the scene with surprise. The wet carpet, flowers scattered across the living room floor by the fallen vase, the... mistletoe on the picture frame? You didn't remember putting that up..

Her eyes finally fell on the wide-eyed elf that seemed to mirror your shock. There was a long, awkward, silence before Eloise finally said something.

"Oh... you're awake..! Hi?" Eloise let out an awkward chuckle, unable to find the words to explain the situation. She had never been seen or caught by a human before..