Sully Wilder

kitty knew feelings were complicated, she had always felt that way, but letting them out helped, at least sullivan was a good listener even if there wasn’t much he could do. she was still in love with bodhi, no matter that they had broken up. it was hard, she missed him, she missed who she was when she was around him. "it is complicated," she nodded, "when we’re alone, somehow it feels like we never broke up, but then reality comes in between," she sighed. she walked around the office after she had jumped on his desk and he made her get off it. "yeah, organization, but what about my dramatic self?" she chuckled, sticking her tongue out playfully at her brother. she loved her relationship with sully, he was sweet and they were practically opposites. "movies don’t have to be deep," she pointed out, "if i want something deep… i don’t know any deep titles, i like my romcoms," she shrugged. kitty nodded at his words, a smile on her lips. "i’m glad you’re doing fine and your weeks are planned and perfect," she added, knowing how much sully loved that kind of thing. as her brother told her about the cute customer, kitty smiled. "oh really?" she tried not to scream. "i love how detail-oriented you are," she added before continuing, "she was cute, the opposite of your ex… why didn’t you ask her for her number?" she asked, "wait, did you give her your number?" she pressed again.

Sully listened quietly, like he always did, his posture slightly stiff but attentive, his hands folded together as if that helped him organise not just himself but the conversation too. He didn’t interrupt Kitty, he rarely did. Instead, he let Kitty speak, nodding at the right moments, processing everything a bit slower but very carefully. He understood what she meant, even if he didn’t fully know how to fix it. Feelings were complicated sometimes. Messy. Not structured. That alone made them difficult for him to navigate. “It sounds confusing,” he said gently, his voice soft and a little hesitant. “Almost like your brain and your feelings aren’t following the same rules.” He paused, choosing his words with precision. “But I think it makes sense that it still feels the same when you’re alone. Patterns don’t just stop existing because something officially ended.” He glanced at her briefly before looking back down, a small, awkward shrug following. “You’re allowed to miss him. And who you were with him. That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.” His tone wasn’t overly emotional, but there was a quiet sincerity there, his way of caring. When she joked about being dramatic, Sully gave a faint smile, just barely there. “I accounted for that,” he replied, a hint of dry humor slipping through. “It’s just not in the main system.” At the topic shift, he adjusted slightly, clearly more comfortable with something concrete like movies. “Romcoms are fine,” he said. “They follow a structure. Beginning, misunderstanding, resolution. That’s reassuring.” He nodded once, as if confirming his own logic. But when she brought up the girl, the customer, he stiffened a little more noticeably. “Oh.” He blinked, caught off guard by her enthusiasm. His fingers tapped lightly against each other, a small, repetitive motion. “She was nice. And different, yes.” He hesitated, clearly replaying the interaction in his head. “I didn’t ask for her number,” he admitted after a moment, his voice quieter now. “I wasn’t sure if that would be appropriate in that context.” Another pause. “And I didn’t give her mine either. There wasn’t a clear transition point in the conversation where that would logically fit. She took my business card and we're going to work out a time when I can tie the tree she brought on top of her car." He exhaled softly, then added, more thoughtfully, “There wasn’t anything wrong with my ex, per say. He was good. Sweet. Consistent.” He nodded once, as if affirming that truth. “Bu, this girl was different. And I think it might be nice to try something new. I just don’t know how to initiate conversation with someone like that in a normal context." Then, after a small exhale, he finally said it, awkward, blunt, and completely sincere. “How do I talk to a hot girl?” He winced faintly right after, like even saying it felt incorrect. “I mean, appropriately,” he added quickly, trying to fix it. “In a way that is socially acceptable. And not, y'know, strange.”

as he told her how he sold more than just trees, she nodded, it made sense, not everyone had christmas trees up all year long, she probably would, just because she’d forget it was there, but she knew not everyone was like her. "i think i’m a plant assassin," she blurted out, "i once tried to grow lettuce on my windowsill… and i watered it too much and it died," she nodded. "i didn’t bury it because it was already half buried, but it had a nice goodbye before it went straight to the bin," she chuckled, shaking her head at herself. "i had even named it, so i got emotionally attached, but sir green the fourth died anyway," she added, standing next to sully. as she started rambling about her salon, she smiled. "yeah, i get that people don’t like chaos as much as i do," she nodded, "but sometimes even i like when everything goes quiet," she admitted. "i don’t think i ever stop moving, i’ve been told i even twitch in my sleep, i can’t control my energy," she sighed. "anyway," she trailed off, looking at the tree. when he told her he’d help her with it, she smiled. "amazing, i love that i don’t have to do it myself, i’d break my nails," she laughed, "and i don’t think i go to the gym enough to carry a tree that size," she added, humming to herself. she stared at the tree before noticing him looking at her. their eyes met for a second, the corner of her lips lifting into a small smile. "okay, i guess i can move my car closer so you don’t have to carry it too far, and then i can pay you for it," she nodded. before any other thought crossed her mind, she added, "i’ll go get it, don’t move, and don’t sell my tree to anyone else, i’m emotionally attached to it now."

Sully listened to her ramble without interrupting, his attention settling in the small details, the way her voice sped up when she got excited, the little pauses where she seemed to catch herself, the way she laughed at her own stories. The plant assassin comment caught him off guard just enough that a quiet smile pulled at his lips. He glanced down at the trees for a moment, like he was picturing a tiny lettuce with a name, then back at her. He let out a soft, almost amused breath through his nose. “Sir Green the Fourth didn’t stand a chance, did he,” he said gently, his tone light but not teasing too hard, more like he was meeting her where she was. His hands stayed tucked into his jacket pockets, shoulders slightly hunched in that natural, reserved way of his. "Good thing you now know a business man that knows his way around gardening." When she talked about never stopping, Sully gave a small nod, like he understood more than he let on. “You don’t seem like the quiet type,” he added, voice calm, observational rather than judgmental. “But, I like your energy, it's chaotic in a fun way.” His eyes flicked away briefly, then back, like holding eye contact too long wasn’t quite his thing. As she mentioned breaking her nails and not going to the gym, a faint smile returned, subtle but there. “I’ve got it,” he said simply, as if that part had never even been up for debate. When their eyes met, he held it for a second, j ust long enough to acknowledge it, before his gaze dropped back to the tree, grounding himself again. At her quick decision to move the car, Sully blinked once, a little surprised by her sudden burst of action, but he nodded. “Alright,” he said, shifting his weight slightly. Then, after a small pause, he added, quieter, “I won’t sell it, don't worry." There was the faintest hint of something warmer in his tone now, almost amused. As she turned to go, he glanced back at the tree she’d picked, studying it like it already had her name on it. He glanced over his shoulder toward his coworker, giving a small nod to get his attention. “Hey,” he called, voice steady but not loud, “can you grab me some rope?” He paused, then added, “Gonna need to tie one onto a car.” Once he got the acknowledgment, Sully bent slightly, sliding his hands around the trunk. With a smooth, practiced motion, he lifted the tree up and over his shoulder. It settled there with ease, like he’d done it a hundred times before, because he had. His posture barely shifted under the weight, just a slight adjustment of his grip to keep it balanced. He took a moment to get his bearings, then started walking toward the open car parking space nearby, boots crunching lightly against the ground. His pace was unhurried, controlled, weaving past the other trees without brushing them too much. Reaching the space, he adjusted the tree on his shoulder again, glancing toward the direction she’d gone, quietly keeping an eye out for her return while he waited for the rope.

as he told her how the shirt should look, kitty groaned dramatically. “clean font? i’m making a shirt and i already have you here telling me how to do it,” she complained, though the amusement in her voice gave her away. “fine, i’ll make two—one with a cool font for me and one with arial for you so everyone can actually read it,” she nodded. she loved her brother, and there was something especially funny about the way he sometimes tried to process jokes a little too seriously. “leave the technicalities out of it, you’re making my joke not funny,” she pouted playfully. when she confirmed she was going on the trip, she noticed the way he visibly relaxed, which made her smile. “i know how that head of yours works,” she said softly. when he offered advice about her feelings, she nodded, the smile fading just a little. “it’s definitely unresolved,” she admitted. “i’ve been talking to him again… last week i helped him pack up his grandma’s things.” she sighed quietly. “i had to keep reminding myself we’re not dating. i really miss him… but i didn’t tell him that.” she rubbed her hands together absentmindedly. “i don’t even want to date anyone if it’s not him. it feels physically impossible to feel something for someone else.” after a second she shook her head lightly. “okay, i’m done talking about my feelings. i just needed to get it out—i feel better now,” she assured him. the shift back to the snow made her grin again. “honestly, i don’t even think you’re strong enough,” she teased. “smart beats strength anyway.” she smirked before nodding. “live a little, within reason… yeah, that sounds very you.” when sully asked her to get off the desk she immediately lifted her hands in surrender. “sorry for disrupting your system,” she laughed, sliding off. “so where am i allowed to sit if i want to ask that in a cool way?” she teased. then she nodded approvingly. “that’s good, sully. i’m proud of you for that,” she said before tilting her head. “but when people ask for news they usually want to hear about your life, not your work. so other than planning the ski trip… have you done anything fun? hockey? movies? hanging out with your friends?”

Sully nodded carefully as she talked about her ex. He didn’t flinch at the details, didn’t try to soften anything. “Right,” he said slowly, voice calm. “So you miss him. And you’re not dating him. You’re helping him pack. That makes sense. I understand. It sounds complicated to say the least." He paused a moment, studying her face. “You said it feels impossible to feel something for someone else. That’s clear. You’re being honest with yourself. That’s good.” He leaned back slightly. “I don’t have advice for that. Feelings aren’t like ski trips or schedules. But I hear you. I understand that part. Feelings hurt less with time, I think." Then she climbed onto his desk, and when he asked her to get down, Sully’s response was calm, precise. “Thank you,” he said simply. “For not disrupting the system too much. It’s easier to think when things are organised.” Sully rubbed the back of his neck, thinking for a moment before answering. “Right,” he said slowly, voice even but warm. “Other than planning the ski tri in my own head. I did watch a movie last weekend. Action movie. Explosions. Not very deep, but entertaining.” He shrugged, almost apologetic for the simplicity of the answer. He paused, then nodded. “Hockey too. Went to the rink with a couple of teammates. I scored one goal. Probably not impressive to anyone else, but it was fun.” He smiled faintly, letting the pride slip through in a quiet way. "So, movies, hockey, That’s what I’ve done. Not exciting, maybe, but it’s enough to feel like normal." Sully moved slowly, brushing his hands together, and walked over to his shelf to adjust a stack of decorations. He moved methodically, making sure everything was aligned properly, straightening the ornaments. As he reached for a small crate on the top shelf, his gaze flicked toward the window for a second, and a small, unprompted smile appeared. “Actually,” he said, voice low but conversational, “there was a customer at the farm the other evening. Came by to pick a Christmas trees. She was really pretty.” He paused, adjusting a small string of lights before continuing, almost as if reporting an observation. “Short. Brunette with lovely blonde highlights. Kind of hyper. Made me notice things I usually don’t. It’s hard to explain. But I thought she was nice to look at."

focusing wasn’t exactly nevaeh’s strongest skill, so the fact that she was standing there quietly listening to him probably deserved some kind of medal—bronze at least. she was trying, though; she made an effort with people she liked… and in her mind the guy was cute, which might’ve been her very subtle form of flirting, even if she had no idea how long she could keep it up. “well, you’ve got christmas on your side,” she pointed out with a playful grin. “everyone’s happy around christmas, so it makes sense people leave here ready to decorate the tree the second they get home.” she leaned in slightly, lowering her voice like she was about to reveal a secret. “but i have to ask—do people buy christmas trees during the rest of the year? like… do you think there’s one of those chaotic people in town who has their house decorated 24/7?” the idea amused her so much she almost wanted to go find that house just to see if they had fake snow and everything. the random handshake she’d given him earlier hadn’t really been planned—most things she did weren’t—but she’d fully committed to the randomness by now. “you’re welcome,” she said brightly when he acknowledged it. when the conversation shifted to her salon, though, her energy spiked like someone had pulled the pin on a grenade. “oh yeah, it’s the best place,” she said quickly. “my team is amazing and we’ve got music videos playing on screens all day, neon lights everywhere… honestly some people would get super overstimulated.” she shrugged. “that’s why we do silent hours—so people can come in when it’s less… bright.” she tapped her temple lightly. “neuro-spicy myself, so i get it. even if i also kind of thrive in chaos.” when he pointed out a tree, she tilted her head, studying it before wandering closer. “if you think that’s the one…” she said thoughtfully, circling it. then her face lit up. “okay yeah—this is it. we have a winner.” she nodded, already picturing it. “it’s big, but i can totally see it by the salon window so people can see it from outside all shiny and decorated.” her eyebrows lifted as another idea crashed into her brain. “actually—if you want free ads you could give me a contact card and i’d decorate it and hang it on the tree so people notice it—like a tiny business ornament—wait, that might be the weirdest collaboration idea ever.” she stopped suddenly, realizing she’d been talking at full speed. “anyway—uh—would you help me carry it to a car when i come pick it up? i definitely didn’t expect to fall in love with a big tree.”

Sully nodded as she spoke, listening carefully despite the rapid flow of her thoughts. “Yeah,” he said calmly, voice even, “Christmas definitely helps. People are happier during the holidays. These kind of trees make a home feel more ready for the holiday season to be celebrated." He paused briefly at her next question, thinking it through. “Uh, some people might have trees all year,” he said slowly, honest and straightforward. “I don’t see it often, but it’s possible. We usually have garden products: soil, tools, gnomes, flowers, vegetable and fruit seeds and all that kind of things we can try and sell during our off seasons." As she went on about her salon, the music, the lights, and the chaos, Sully nodded, listening without interruption. “Right,” he said after a moment, keeping his tone steady. “I can see how that would be a lot at once. Makes sense to have quieter hours for people who need them. And I get it. Chaos can be fun if you like it.” When her gaze shifted to the tree, he followed her lead, adjusting his stance slightly. “Okay,” he said, voice practical. “That one’s a good size. Should fit nicely in front of your salon window. People will see it. It’ll work.” He tilted his head as she rambled about the business card ornament idea, giving her a small, quiet laugh. “Not weird,” he said plainly. “Creative. People notice things like that. Could work.” Finally, when she asked if he’d help carry it to the car when she wanted to pick up, Sully nodded. “Yeah,” he said honestly, steady and calm. “I’ll help. That’s my job. I move trees to cars all day long. Big or small, doesn’t matter. We’ll get it done safely.” Sully noticed the way her hair caught the sunlight through the lot, brunette with those blonde highlights, and how the strands framed her face perfectly. He didn’t say anything, didn’t need to, but he noticed. She looked pretty. "Moving a tree this size is kind of a one-man job. And, I’ll get it secured to the rooftop of your car too. Straps, knots, all that. You don’t have to worry about moving it. That’s my job.”

as he argued about the meaning behind his name, kitty smiled, crossing her arms over her chest and looking at him the way people look at toddlers when they’re very seriously trying to make a point. she chuckled. “sure, sully. teddy bears are dependable,” she nodded, attempting to sound serious before laughing at her own words. “sullivan wilder, the dependable teddy bear… i should get you a t-shirt with that on it,” she teased. as he kept going with the santa joke, she realized he hadn’t caught it the way she’d expected and shook her head. “sure, sully, it was a joke. don’t worry about it. we all know santa is just a bearded man who’s lazy and makes elves do all the work,” she said with a grin. when he seemed relieved about her coming on the ski trip, she smiled warmly. “don’t worry that head of yours. you can plan everything like you always do, because your annoying sister is definitely coming,” she promised. at his comment about being an ex for a reason, she sighed. “i still love him, sully. that doesn’t change that i want to go on the trip with you, but it’s… complicated, i guess,” she admitted with a small shake of her head. “don’t worry about it. i don’t even know how i feel, if i’m being completely honest.” when he reacted to her eating-snow comment, she laughed. “i’ll push you so hard you’ll feel like you’re in a hockey match,” she teased, eyes widening dramatically like it was a threat. when he said he wanted to live a little, she nodded. “i’m glad. you’re growing,” she said softly, smiling. “i’m really glad you are, teddy. you’ll do great—i know it, sully.” she walked over and sat on his desk, tilting her head. “so… any news?”

Sully blinked at her smile, immediately recognising the tone. People used that tone when they thought he was being unintentionally funny. Teddy bears are dependable. That was statistically supported by the fact that children keep them for years. He straightened slightly. “Dependable is a positive trait,” he said in a very even voice. “If you make a T-shirt, I would prefer if it used a clean font. Nothing cursive. That reduces readability.” When she clarified the Santa joke, he nodded once. “I understood it was a joke,” he replied, though he hadn’t fully processed it at first. “Also, Santa delegating labor to elves would technically make him a manager, not lazy.” He paused. “But I won’t worry about it. He''s the decision maker and those elves work for him." At her confirmation that she was coming on the ski trip, his shoulders visibly relaxed. “Good,” he said, very straightforward. “I didn't need to re-plan the whole trip in my head again. You know how my brain works." When she mentioned still loving her ex, he went quiet for a few seconds, processing. Emotions were complicated variables. “If it’s complicated, then it’s unresolved,” he said carefully. “Unresolved situations tend to reappear at inconvenient times. I just don’t want you hurt.” His tone wasn’t dramatic, just factual. “But you’re allowed to feel however you feel. That’s yours to feel. Why don't you talk to him again?" At her threat about pushing him into the snow, he frowned slightly. “You wouldn't hockey tackle me. I don't even think you're strong enough." When she said he was growing, he looked away briefly, uncomfortable with praise but clearly absorbing it. “Growth is the goal,” he said. “Stagnation leads to regression.” After a moment, more quietly, “I am trying to live a little. Within reason.” As she sat on his desk and asked for news, he hesitated. His eyes shifted to the side, then back to her. Without raising his voice, he picked up the stack of papers in his hands and lightly, but firmly, whacked her on the side with them. “Off the desk,” he said flatly. “My paperwork is in order on there.” He gave her a look that was not angry, just deeply serious. “You are disrupting a system.” He thought about his work for a second, thinking it over. “The Christmas tree selling business is going well,” he said, tone precise. “People keep telling their friends to come and check us out which is nice."

at his words, nevaeh chuckled. she’d never really thought trees could be interesting—if she was honest, the only thing she usually cared about was whether they were pretty or not. but the guy in front of her seemed genuinely fascinated by them, which was fair, considering it was his job. when he admitted he really liked trees, she nodded. as he explained how he saw their different characteristics almost like personalities, she didn’t fully get it, but she listened anyway, nodding along. she could understand it… to a point. at his little promise, she dramatically placed a hand over her chest. “thank you so much. you’ll be my savior,” she declared, clearly overdoing it. when he agreed to help her, she smiled warmly. as he talked about what the business meant to him, she nodded thoughtfully. “you kind of sell happiness, in a way,” she mused. “and you sell one of the most important parts of christmas. everyone and their mother probably comes here just to get a tree.” she tilted her head. “oh, i get it—one month you’re drowning in work, and then it just disappears,” she said. “you probably need a second job for the months you’re not selling charismatic trees,” she added, laughing at her own choice of words. when she stepped closer to shake his hand, she noticed his slight hesitation before he took it. “with that name, i would’ve expected a blue monster, but this is way better,” she blurted out, her mouth clearly moving faster than her brain. she winced slightly at herself. “yeah, not many people would choose this life,” she admitted with a small chuckle. as he talked about taking over the place from his grandfather, she grew quiet, watching him carefully. she wasn’t going to interrupt while he was practically pouring his heart out about it. “you help people. you bring happiness,” she said softly. “i’m sure he’d be proud.” she didn’t know his grandfather, obviously, but it felt like a safe bet. “my business isn’t nearly as magical,” she shrugged lightly. “i own a nail salon. didn’t inherit it from anyone—no legacy, no sentimental story. just… a hundred different types of polish,” she added with a small smile, biting her tongue before she could ramble about anything else.

Sully wasn’t used to people listening the way she was. Most nodded politely when he talked about trees. Most smiled, humored him, and moved on. But Nevaeh actually stayed with him in the conversation, even when she clearly didn’t fully get it. When she dramatically placed a hand over her chest and called him her savior, he let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew he'd probably gone overboard. “Easy,” he said, amused. “I just point you toward the ones that won’t shed all over your salon." At her comment about him selling happiness, though, his smile shifted, softer, less teasing.“I guess… yeah,” he admitted. “It’s not really about the tree. It’s about what people tie to it.” When she said everyone probably came just for that, he nodded. “They do. Or at least that’s what they think. Half of them come in stressed out of their minds and leave arguing about ornaments or the tree types." He huffed a small laugh. “And yeah,” he added when she figured out the seasonal chaos, “December’s insanity. The rest of the year? A lot quieter.” When she stepped closer to shake his hand and he hesitated, it wasn’t reluctance, just surprise. He wasn’t expecting the formality. But he took her hand, his grip warm and steady. At the blue monster comment, he blinked once. “Yeah, I get that a lot,” he admitted. “Disappointing lack of fur, I know. My sister Kitty says that all the time." As she listened to him talk about his grandfather, he noticed the way she didn’t interrupt. Didn’t joke. Just stayed quiet. When she said he helped people, that his grandfather would be proud, h is shoulders eased a little. “Thanks,” he said quietly. “That means more than you probably think.”He didn’t brush it off. Didn’t deflect. He let it sit there between them. Then she mentioned her nail salon. “A nail salon isn’t magical?” he repeated. “People walk in stressed, leave feeling put together. That’s not that different from what I do, really." A small smile tugged at his mouth. “Plus, a hundred types of polish sounds way more complicated than keeping trees alive.” He tilted his head. “You built it yourself. That’s something.” His tone wasn’t teasing now, just steady. Certain. “Don’t downplay that.” He reached up and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with one finger, a small, habitual movement before he spoke. He turned slightly and pointed toward a tree a few rows over. “See this tree?” he said, gesturing toward it with quiet certainty. “Perfect for a salon." He stepped closer to it, lightly brushing his hand along one of the branches. “Not much shedding,” he explained. “Which, I’m guessing, is important in a place where people are trying to keep tiny wet masterpieces intact.” He glanced back at her briefly before continuing. “Likes to be decorated. Branches are sturdy — won’t droop under ornaments or whatever glitter explosion you’d put on it.” His finger tapped one of the needles thoughtfully. “Christmas-tree green in color. None of that dull, washed-out look.” Then he looked back at her fully. “They come in big and small sizes too, which is helpful." His mouth curved faintly. “Tell me that wouldn’t fit right in.”

kitty laughed at his words. “sullivan is a strong name?” she asked, raising her eyebrows at him. “yeah, that doesn’t fit you—you’re practically a teddy bear, the kind that blushes when he gets nervous,” she teased, a smile on her lips. “my mom chose katherine because it sounded posh, but here we are, basically named after monsters inc,” she chuckled. “you’re the boss, sure… are you santa? no, you’re not, so you’re a helper. you can’t win this argument, sullivan,” she smiled. “these could be thrown at an armored car and turn it to dust,” she mused. “she could read the instructions, but she says she’s smarter than the box,” kitty chuckled. she smiled at his words. “you’ve only thrived on busy,” she nodded, walking around her brother’s office, stopping to look through the little windows before turning back to him. she listened as he rambled about how her not going would affect the whole logistics of the trip, and she smiled. she could tell how much he needed her answer—the one that would either force him to change everything or keep the plan exactly as it had been from the start. “no, i’m going. of course i’m going,” she nodded. “i was just making sure you were—stupid question, considering… the logistics of it all,” she teased, a warm smile on her lips. “but of course, i wouldn’t miss it,” she added softly. “it’s not like last year, when i felt bad for going and not being around bodhi,” she mused, taking a deep breath. he was always in her mind, and it made the breakup harder every time she thought about it. “oh, and i got a new board—it’s so cute. i can’t wait to try it out. you’re going to eat so much snow, sully bear,” she smirked.

Sully flushed immediately, ears going pink in a way that made him look caught. He adjusted his posture, shoulders squaring like that might help. He cleared his throat, clearly deciding to just say things instead of filing them away. “Okay—first of all,” he said, hands loosely clasped like he was organising himself, “Sullivan is not meant to be intimidating. My dad picked it because it sounded… dependable.” He paused, then added, quieter, “And teddy bears can be dependable.” When she called him a helper, he frowned thoughtfully. “Technically Santa is a symbolic leadership role,” he said, warming up despite himself. “The operation relies on helpers. Without them, the entire system collapses.” He stopped, realised he’d lost her, and sighed. When she finally said she was going, he went still for a beat. “Good,” he said, relief slipping through before he could stop it. “Because if you weren’t, I would’ve had to change all of my plans and I would've got a headache from all the stressing out I would'v been doing." At the mention of last year, his voice lowered. "Why would you feel bad? He's an ex for a reason, right? You go because you want to go there." Then she mentioned the board. He blinked. “You are not knocking me over on purpose,” he said, pointing lightly. “And I am not ‘eating snow.’ I’ve improved. Objectively.” A pause. “If I fall, it’ll be because conditions were bad. Or because you distracted me. Which you always do because you love to be better than me." Hudson smiled at that, small but genuine, the kind that lingered. He tapped his fingers against the edge of his desk in a steady rhythm, like he was counting beats instead of nerves. “Besides,” he said, glancing up at her, voice lighter than before, “I think I might actually try the slopes this time. Live a little.” He huffed a quiet laugh. “I’m used to keeping my feet planted—hockey kind of trains you that way, but maybe this time I let loose.” He shrugged, almost shy about it. “Worst case, I fall. Best case,” he added, smile widening just a touch, “I surprise myself.”

nevaeh looked at the guy, realizing her confusion wasn’t because she didn’t know anything about trees. “hearing that actually makes me feel way better,” she joked, pressing a hand to her chest like it eased her anxiety about not knowing tree facts. “personalities?” her eyebrows knit together, genuinely lost. “you’re speaking another language right now, i didn’t catch a single thing you said,” she laughed, loud and bubbly. “i can tell you really like trees though,” she added, nodding with a smirk. she watched him scan her screen, amused. “i’m confused—how did you get all that from one picture?” she laughed, turning the phone back to herself; she wasn’t detail-oriented at all, the world usually moved too fast and too slow at the same time for her, so the analysis surprised her. “honestly, that sounds like the tree i want, i feel like i’m on that wedding dress show,” she laughed. “i say yes to that tree.” her mind instantly filled with ideas—how a show like that would be fun to watch at christmas, then a christmas tree makeover popping into her head like a home renovation show—before she lightly shook her head at his question. “yes please, i don’t want to accidentally pick a… fig tree,” she laughed. “seasonal business sounds fun, and christmas is the best part of the year, so you’re basically bringing happiness to people.” she paused, then added, “i own a nail salon,” stopping herself and forcing calm before continuing, “slash, a period product boutique. i’m pretty new at it too, i launched the brand two years ago, but it kind of took over my life,” she nodded, a small smirk on her lips, clearly trying to keep her energy contained. “i mean, for now it’s just nice to see another business owner,” she corrected, then smiled. “i’m nevaeh.” she stepped closer, offering her hand. “nice to meet another business owner.”

Sully let out a small, relieved laugh when she admitted she was lost too, shoulders easing like a knot had finally loosened. He hadn’t realised how fast he’d gone until she said it out loud. “Yeah. sorry,” he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck, a little sheepish. “I, uh. I forget not everyone thinks about trees the way I do.” When she laughed, loud and bright, it caught him off guard in a good way. He smiled, soft, almost shy, but clearly pleased. “I do,” he admitted, straightforward. “A lot. Probably too much.” He gestured vaguely toward the rows around them. “They’re all different. Not just how they look, but how they hold ornaments, how they smell, how long they last. I guess I call that personality.” At her question about the picture, he leaned in again, pointing carefully at the phone without touching it. “The branch spacing, the needle length, the space you have to place a tree. You don't want one that drops pine needles." Her joke about accidentally picking a fig tree made him grin. “I promise I won’t let that happen,” he said, a little more confident now. “I’ll walk you through it." At her comment about the business, Sully blinked, genuinely impressed. “That’s actually really cool,” he said, meaning it. “Both of those. Hard. But important.” He nodded slowly, absorbing it. “Seasonal stuff can be overwhelming, but I like it. It feels purposeful. My products get to make other people's Christmas's more exciting." When she introduced herself and stepped closer, he hesitated for half a second before taking her hand, his grip gentle but sure. “Sully for short, Sullivan if you prefer," he said. “Nice to meet you too, Nevaeh.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “And yeah, it's nice meeting another business owner around this place. It feels like we a few and far between around here." Sully lifted his hand and gestured out across the rows of trees, the motion a little slow, almost careful, like he didn’t want to oversell it. The farm stretched out in front of them. “I took over this place from my grandfather,” he said, voice steady but softer than before. “Nobody else wanted it.” He let his hand fall back to his side, eyes lingering on the trees like they were old friends. “He was a good man,” Sully added plainly. “Put his whole life into this. Figured the least I could do was make sure his effort didn’t disappear.” After a beat, he glanced back at her, a small, genuine smile breaking through. “If I can keep it going and bring people a little happiness again, especially around Christmas, then it feels worth it. I do it for him."

as she heard his words, she smiled, clearly pleased with the nickname and already deciding she was going to keep using it. “not in my office, my place of business… whatever, sully, it’s not your fault your dad loved monsters inc, thank god he didn’t name you mike wazowski,” she smiled, giggling at her own joke. “you’re not little… your other massive hockey friends would be like, ‘is that what your mother said to me last night’ or whatever, but get over it, sully, you’re a little santa helper and i’m not changing the name just because you’re taller than me,” she added, sticking her tongue out at him childishly. at his reaction to the treats, she smiled again. “yeah, they’re hard as a fucking rock, your dad offered her some help but she said she could do it herself,” she mused, “same thing she said when she tried to make my grandma’s kimchi, and guess what, she managed to make a whole box of rotten vegetables,” she laughed. “don’t be polite, sully, we’ve known each other long enough to know these are the worst,” she smiled, “actually, she didn’t even send them to you, she gave them to me, but i’m a really nice sister so i figured i’d share,” she added, sitting on the office desk. “you can throw them out, i won’t look, i’ll even pay you to do it because i’d feel guilty otherwise,” she joked. “but anyway, how are you doing in this winter wonderland you’ve got going on? you’re taking that week off like we always do to go to the mountains, right?”

“For the record,” he said calmly, “my dad had never actually seen Monsters, Inc. He just thought Sullivan was a strong name. He does, however, regret the nickname situation now after seeing the movie.” A brief pause. At the Santa helper comment, he exhaled through his nose, something close to a laugh. “I am not a helper,” he replied, matter-of-fact. “I'm the boss, Kitty." He gestured vaguely to himself, as if this settled it. When she explained the treats, his expression shifted to recognition. “That tracks,” he said. “The density alone suggests overbaking combined with incorrect ingredient ratios." He picked one up, tested the weight, then set it back down carefully. “These could damage dental work. I don't know if I wanna risk it." At her permission to throw them out, he nodded. “Thank you. That removes the social obligation layer, which I appreciate.” Then, after a beat, “You don’t have to pay me. But I will still feel mildly guilty for about ten minutes. She worked hard on them and I'll feel a little bad." Her last question made him relax a little more, shoulders easing. “I’m doing… okay,” he said honestly. “It's busy but I thrive on busy.” He nodded again, firmer this time. “Yes, I’m taking the week off." He looked at her. “You are still coming, right?” he said, a bit too quickly, then paused and recalibrated. “I mean—statistically, you always do. But if you’re asking because you’re considering not coming, that changes the entire dynamic.” He frowned slightly, already running through outcomes. “The retreat is structured around us going together. The drive, the routine. If you bail, I will still go, obviously, but it will be… significantly worse. Socially and logistically.” He looked at her, earnest now, eyes still a touch too wide. He needed a concrete answer and pronto.

neveah smiled at his words; it would have been embarrassing if he didn’t actually work there, she would’ve laughed at herself because it had happened before. “amazing, christmas-trees-king, then i definitely need your help,” she smiled, warm and playful. at his next words, she was caught off guard, she’d always been one of those people who thought trees were just trees; she’d grown up with ugly plastic ones and, if she was honest, she saw them as decorations for a month and nothing more. “i think i’m one of those people, i’ve never had a real one,” she chuckled, “the one at my workplace is a pink plastic christmas tree wrapped in silver tinsel, so…” she laughed. when he started listing the trees he owned, she found herself completely lost. “okay, i have no idea what you’re talking about, those sound like made-up words to me,” she laughed. “i’m looking for one for my salon slash store and one for my place, they don’t need to be huge,” she mused, pulling out her phone and stepping a little closer. “this is my salon,” she added, showing him the space as she scrolled through her instagram until she found a promotional picture she’d posted not long ago. “i don’t know if you, wood-king, could recommend the best one to fit in here,” she smiled, conveniently not mentioning the ornament shaped like a tampon she’d already bought after seeing an unhinged tree online—he was cute, and that little voice in her head told her some details were better left unsaid.

Sullivan’s mouth curved into a small, unmistakably amused smile at the nickname, the kind that sat there like it had surprised him too. He adjusted his gloves out of habit, even though he didn’t need to. At her admission about never having a real tree, he nodded, not judgmental—more intrigued. “That explains the confusion,” he said, gently. “Plastic trees are good for low effort consistency. Real ones are ... individual. They have personalities,” he clarified quickly, “the leaves are different, the branches point out in certain ways to fill a space." When she admitted she was lost, he let out a quiet huff of a laugh. “They’re not made-up,” he assured her. “They’re just very specific. I forget sometimes that not everyone categorizes trees like I do.” As she stepped closer and showed him her phone, his focus sharpened immediately. He leaned in—not too close—studying the photo like it was a blueprint. “Okay,” he said, nodding slowly. “High ceilings, good natural light, narrow floor space. Customers moving through, not stationary. That rules out anything with aggressive branch spread.” He pointed gently at the screen. “For the salon, I’d recommend a Fraser fir. Symmetrical, strong branches for ornaments, but not overpowering. It smells like Christmas without being too invasive. Also, it photographs well, which seems relevant.” A brief pause. “ Then he straightened, clearly enjoying himself now. This was his thing. He glanced back at her, eyes warm with quiet humor. “I can walk you to the right section on the farm, if you'd like? Also, what kind of salon do you run?” he asked. “I took over this place not too long ago.” He gestured around the farm, matter-of-fact. “It’s seasonal, obviously, but it’s still a business, and there’s a lot more logistics involved than people expect.” He nodded once, a small but sincere acknowledgment. “It’s nice to meet another business owner from around this place."

nevaeh had one mission that morning: get two trees, one for her apartment and another for the nail salon-slash-store. she wanted the one for her place to be small; she lived alone, she didn’t need the biggest tree they had. she walked into the christmas tree farm and, if she was being honest, in past years she’d always gone with a fake tree, but this year she wanted something different, something more. she didn’t even know where to begin. she looked around until she spotted someone. “hey there,” she greeted the man. “i’m looking for two trees, so i think i’m in the right place,” she smiled. “do you work here? i could use a little help.” @sullivan-wilder

Sully blinked when she spoke to him, clearly needing a second to register that the greeting was meant for him. “Oh—hi,” he said, voice gentle and a bit careful, like he was choosing each word individually. He pushed his beanie up with two fingers. “Um. Yes. I work here. I own this place. Christmas trees are… kind of my thing." He followed her gaze across the lot, nodding slowly as she explained. “Two trees,” he repeated, more to organise his thoughts than to confirm. Sully nodded along, then stopped, realising he’d skipped an important step. His eyebrows knit together briefly as he recalibrated. “Sorry—before I start walking you places,” he said softly, “I should probably ask what kind of tree you want.” He cleared his throat, shifting his weight. “Because there are… a lot of kinds. Like, a lot a lot. People think a tree is just a tree, but that’s—uh—incorrect.” A small, apologetic smile flickered across his face. “Not in a bad way. Just… factually.” He gestured vaguely around them, warming up now. “We’ve got Fraser firs, Noble firs, Douglas firs, the list goes on and on, really." He rocked back on his heels, realising he was rambling. His ears tinted slightly pink. “What kind of Christmas trees were you thinking?”

kitty walked into the little space she had officially crowned as sully’s office at the christmas tree farm, a tray of biscuits from her mom balanced in her hands; they were homemade, though her mom wasn’t the best cook, so they looked a little wonky. “sulley-wulley,” she called out, having used the nickname ever since she realized he shared his name with the monster movie character. “how’s my little santa helper doing?” she smiled, laughing at her own words, especially considering he was noticeably taller than her. “i brought biscuits.” @sullivan-wilder

Sully was halfway through counting a stack of crumpled bills when Kitty walked into the cabin. He looked up just in time to hear the nickname and immediately winced. “Ew—don’t call me that,” he said, lowering his voice instinctively and flicking a glance toward the small service window, even though no one was there at the moment. “Not in my office. This is a place of business. It’s weird.” He straightened, folding the cash neatly like that somehow restored order to the world. “Also I am not a ‘little’ anything. I’m—” he gestured vaguely to his height, then dropped it. “Never mind. I'm good.” When she lifted the tray, his expression shifted. He leaned forward, eyes focusing on the biscuits like they were a surprise he hadn’t prepared for. “… You shouldn’t have,” he said, tone flat but sincere. Then, after a second, “I mean that. Not in the polite way. In the literal way. Those look inedible." Sully picked up a biscuit, holding it like it was fragile. He broke off a small piece, peered at it and popped it into his mouth. He chewed slowly, trying to be polite - then his eyes widened and he sputtered slightly, spitting a little of it back out into his hand. “Wow… um,” he said, scratching the back of his neck, “tell… tell your mom thanks, Kitty. Really. For, uh… making these. That’s… very nice of her.” He gave a small, awkward smile, as if trying to smooth over the yack factor with charm. “I’ll… try one more later. Maybe.”