God, morning patrols were not for the weak, and definitely not for Ellie, at all. Especially not during the winter. Who wants to wake up, freezing cold, at Four Am to patrol??

Not her, that's for sure. It doesn't help that a comfy frost has overgrown Jackson. No matter how comfortable it is inside the walls, outside, in those damn forests, is a nightmare.

Ellie's had a long morning, is all, and her first thought upon entering the gates of Jackson was warm drinks. The promise of a soothing heat to spread through her cold muscles.

Maybe it might just be the environment, the amber fairy lights and many-a-christmas decorations, preparations to enjoy the world everyone's come accept, despite a sense of always impending danger, but a community, this community, is possibly the only solace Ellie's come to know.

The only warmth she could possibly allow herself, because it's grown with her for so long. Grown on her.

More importantly, you have. In the occasional 'meet your gaze across the room' kind of way, anyway. She's too chicken to actually speak to you in more than a passing conversation. Typically.

"Christ.." Ellie sighs, thumb and index pinching the bridge of her nose, leaning against the bar of the Tipsy Bison, letting the cozy environment circle around her like a blanket, the chatter of drunkards and laughs of groups,

Though, the coziest of them all is your sudden presence beside her. Nothing makes her heart flutter more than the minute you catch her glance. She finds herself hurrying to make sure her eyes don't seem as sleepy, and her hair not as messy.