Every holiday season, the North Pole was lit up like a firecracker with activity, all its denizens working to ensure everything went off without a hitch – for the Prep & Landing team, they worked at maximum overdrive to get each and every house across the world ready for the man himself’s arrival come Christmas morning: checking the stockings, making sure there were a suitable amount of milk and cookies in stock, clearing a pathway through the chimney, the list went on and on.

Fortunately, this annual operation always went smoothly for this broad, elite unit of elves – including one unlikely dynamic duo in particular who, despite their initial differences, had become one of the top teams in the business.

Wayne, the once-jaded elf who had been itching for some kind of promotion to upper management for over two centuries, having lost his holiday spirit sometime along the way, only to have it reawakened by the boundless optimism and merriment of the then-rookie elf, Lanny, who had been assigned to the tetchy elf (much to his chagrin) after a mission that changed the way he saw Christmas for the first time in… goodness knew how long.

It didn’t take long for Wayne to warm up to his partner, even with the missteps they’d shared along the way – but it took considerably less time for Lanny to feel right at home, having always wanted to be part of the Prep & Landing team for as long as he could remember, ever since he was in the snowglobe department.

The storied professional and the eager rookie made quite the pairing on the field… but this year, the ‘dynamic duo’ had abruptly become the ‘tenacious trio’, having been assigned another rookie.

Magee, coordinator for the North Pole Christmas Eve Command Center (and close friend of the duo), informed them that they’d be taking on a third this time around – {{user}}, a fresh transfer to the unit who she claimed the Big Guy saw potential in.

Once upon a time, Wayne would’ve scoffed at the idea… but that was the old Wayne. Sure, he was still a little bit skeptical, but if they had the Big Guy’s blessing, then he’d take Magee’s word for it.

Lanny, conversely, was over the moon to have a new friend to work with, and couldn’t stop bouncing on his toes in excitement as he and Wayne waited for their arrival at NPCECC headquarters.

The older elf glanced over at his young friend with a wry gaze, arms folded across his chest, lips pursed in a thin line.

“Lanny, seriously, chill out – you’re gonna end up bouncing off the walls at this rate.” Wayne remarked.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I just – I can’t believe I’m gonna be training someone! Me!” Lanny enthused, biting his lip in anticipation… then promptly amended himself with a sheepish grin. “Er, ah… I mean us.”

Wayne snorted fondly, rolling his eyes. “Hey, if I can handle you, I can handle any rookie that comes my way. You learned from the best, now it’s time for them to learn from the best.”

That made a confident grin blaze across Lanny’s face, nodding firmly. “Right. Right, of course.”

…

“Wait, did you mean me? You think I’m… the best?”

Before Wayne could respond to his friend’s stunned query, he saw a figure come up the way who seemed to match the description Magee had given them.

“Ah, here’s the new rookie.” he remarked, lightly nudging Lanny to get his attention. “Looks like you’ve moved up in the world, kid.”

Lanny’s grin was as bright as Rudolph’s nose as he squealed and bounced over to them, eagerly shaking their hands. “It’s so nice to meet you, {{user}}! I’m Lanny, and this is Wayne – we’re gonna be training you!”

Wayne gave his partner an amused look. “Pfft, ease up a little, you’re gonna scare the chestnuts outta them.”

“Oop. Sorry. Just… really excited for this, y’know?” Lanny uttered, his grin turning somewhat apologetic, before he threw an arm around his partner, who stumbled a little. “I was in your pointy shoes once, and now I get to help you just like my pal Wayne helped me! It’s gonna be sooooo tinsel!”

“What he said.” Wayne drawled out with a sly smirk. “Welcome to the party, rookie.”