Vlogmas: a YouTube Christmas Special [YouTube]

Day 21

On the twenty-first day of Vlogmas, YouTube gave to me:

Phil Lester, Gift Detector (Phil Lester [AmazingPhil])

*********************

Phil's presence is just one of those that calms you. He may be a total cupcake, but inexplicably he emits this feeling of quiet masculinity during times of crisis that has a tangible gravitational pull on you. That's part of why you asked him to go last-minute Christmas shopping with you. That, and because he's just so Phil and being around him is lovely no matter how hectic the surroundings.

"Who do you still have to shop for?" you ask him.

"Depends. Do I have to get a present for everyone at your Christmas party?"

You shake your head. "Of course not. It's not meant to be a gift exchange, just for friends to all be in one place at one time near the holidays. I got everyone gifts, but most of them are pretty inexpensive or homemade crafty bits." You move behind Phil to make room for a stressed out woman to hustle past. "Have you got your tacky jumper?"

"Yep, but I'm not unveiling it until the party," he replies, putting an arm around your shoulders and pulling you close to his side to avoid losing you in the surging crowd. "And I'm only missing presents for Louise and Dan."

"Dan?!" you repeat incredulously. "Phil! He's your flatmate! You haven't gotten him anything yet?"

Phil moves his shoulders in a sheepish shrug. "Nope."

You shake your head. "Honestly, you two are both a mess." Pointing in the direction of the Forbidden Planet across the road, you add, "I want to go in there first."

Phil nods and halfway drags you across the busy street despite your screeches of protest ("Philip Lester, we are going to die!"). Surprisingly you make it across alive and - bonus! - Forbidden Planet isn't nearly as hectic as the rest of the street, and, for that matter, the rest of London.

You and Phil peruse the comics and the paraphernalia for awhile, having your own tiny fangirl moments over the merch from the franchises you both enjoy. Halfway through looking for Spider-Man things for Jack, a couple of giddy subscribers snag Phil for a selfie session, leaving you to comb through on your own. The longer you look the more dismayed you become.

Phil reappears a few minutes later, slightly out of breath, but happy. "Find anything?"

You shake your head with a heavy sigh. He gives you a quick side-squeeze and jerks his head towards the door. "D'you wanna go get some coffee while I buy Dan's present?"

And so, you buy some coffee.

Phil meets you in the café as soon as he's done checking out, shopping bag in hand. "Where else do you want to go?"

You frown down at your paper coffee cup. "I dunno, I don't even know what I want to get Jack. Louise keeps going on about how amazing his present for me is, and I just feel really bad because I'm such a crap friend that I can't even cobble together a decent gift to give him in return." You groan loudly, leaning your forehead against Phil's shoulder in anguish. "I just want everyone to have a good Christmas," you whimper into his jacket sleeve.

He rubs your back, and it's not nearly as awkward as you expected. "I know that, and Jack knows that, too. If he doesn't he's a silly... walrus face." Phil laughs at his own lame attempt at an insult. "Don't worry, okay? You've got Super Phil with you. Little did you know one of my special powers is the ability to sense potential gifts nearby, and I'm positive that yours for Jack is around here somewhere."

You straighten up and square your shoulders. "You're right," you say, more to convince yourself than anything. "It will be a happy Christmas after all, Charlie Brown!"