❆ 1st Present ❆ [public video post] [BACKDATED to September 2]

[saltysanta]

[Have a young man in a monocle and top hat, complete with a sprig of mistletoe decorating the band, (which seems to be nothing but a belt wrapped around it) squinting dubiously into the mirror.]

She said this is some kind of..... magical intelligent telegraph, right.....? You just talk to it?

[It's a little hard to use, even after Fumiko had showed him the basics, but he's working on it--and his uncertainty is quickly covered with an irritated, impatient look.]

Right, then. Anyone who can see this, listen up! I'm looking for a reindeer with a red nose or a tall guy with long silver hair! They--he answers to Rudolph. You can probably get the idiot's attention with candy or cakes, okay? He belongs with me, and he's going to be in big trouble if he's here but hasn't tried to find me yet. You hear me, Rudolph? You'd better have a good explanation, or I'm cutting you off from sweets for a whole week!

.....Now, how do I make it go.....?

[There's a long beat of silence between his message and his realization that he's not sure how to send it. Noël's scowl softens a little in confusion as he starts poking at the mirror with a gloved hand; a few seconds later, the message ends.]

Comments

[powertotearer]

...A reindeer? With a red nose? Like at Christmas?

[saltysanta]

Yes, like at Christmas.

[powertotearer]

I don't know if anything like that might have made it here. Though, it kind of looks like whatever we might have had with us did...

[saltysanta]

I wasn't exactly holding hands with him or anything, but it's not like he was walking that far behind me, either.....

[frustrated sigh] Just keep an eye out for him if you can, okay?

[powertotearer]

Okay. But, to be honest, just about anyone showing up might be obvious too.

[saltysanta]

Hopefully so. I can't very well do my job without him, after all--or at least, not nearly as well.

[video]

[heartguard]

You're looking for a reindeer with a red nose who is also a tall guy with long silver hair whose name is Rudolph.

[ Nevermind that her words are delivered slow, measured, and steeped in a very particular tone of disbelief or that this Rudolph character can be threatened with sweets and that this person is so cruel as to deprive someone who loves sweets of sweets for that long of a period over something so trivial. It's criminal and this Rudolph person deserves to be freed from his oppressor as far as she's concerned. Just who is this heartless person, anyway? He looks like some sort of festive costumer if only for that sprig of mistletoe and his weird holiday priorities. Maybe he's some sort of LARPer? He must be, talking like that. ]

After everything that's happened, you must be really committed to your character to keep it up like this. [ Maybe desperate? He doesn't seem hysterical yet, anyway. Kind of mad, though. Just how committed is he? ] Let me guess! You were on your way back to the North Pole when you lost him?

Re: [video]

[saltysanta]

We were already home before I found myself in the elevator, but something like that.

[He's just going to clarify with a profoundly dry, flat tone, arching an eyebrow right back at her obvious disbelief. What the hell is she talking about, commitment to a character? He's just trying to find his friend partner.]

permavideo

[heartguard]

Right. 'Home'.

[ Her tone is still measured, but it's tinged with some kind of excited knowing not unlike one would expect of a teen accompanying a young child to see the mall Santa. If this guy doesn't want to break character, far be it from her to make him. The elevator business is pretty pressing, but for now, this holiday LARPer business takes the figurative bag and runs with it. It's not like they can't come back to the elevator bit in a minute. Besides, she's genuinely curious and there's probably a good laugh somewhere down this line of conversation. ]

Who are you supposed to be again? Santa's reindeer return or something?

[saltysanta]

Excuse me? Do I look like an elf? I'm Noël Christenbell, official of the North Pole, Santa Claus number 29.

[heartguard]

[ And all of the excitement that had bubbled up withers and dies with her previous expression. Her tone is flat, a wasteland devoid of any sort of awe or splendor as she regards him. ]

Dinah Travers, Pawn of the Fellowship of the Hand. There's no way you're Santa Claus.

[saltysanta]

I don't care if you're the Peasant of the Brotherhood of the Earlobe, it's not your decision to make!

video;

[shadedacrimony]

[The boy in the video looks to be no older than teen, and for someone not used to controlling facial expressions, he's doing a damned good job of keeping his face completely serious and neutral.]

Shit, I heard three of the reindeer had to be served up crispy on a platter to keep the elves alive, but don't know if Rudolph was counted in that equation.

[Too bad the near gleeful snark in his tone is a dead giveaway. He's working on it.]

[saltysanta]

.....What?

[He looks kind of disgusted, but mostly just confused.]

The elves can find their own damn food, I'm not giving them my reindeer.

[shadedacrimony]

So you would rather let the poor elves die than feed them fresh meat? That's cold bro.

[saltysanta]

We've got a kitchen, and it's not like we were running out of food, the elves can feed themselves. And even if we were running out of food, they could just leave. I didn't make a contract with them, but I did with Rudolph, I'm not going to cook him.

[shadedacrimony]

Okay, that's cool and all, good to know the elves got a good strong union going for them.

But here's the real question. Is Rudolph DTY?

[saltysanta]

.....What?

[Utter incomprehension.]

[gottastaycalm]

Rudolph dal naso rosso?

[saltysanta]

That's right.

[He may as well be looking for La Befana, huh?]

[gottastaycalm]

Can I meet him?

[saltysanta]

If he turns up, sure. Just keep an eye out for him.

1/2

[gottastaycalm]

.....

[ A tired sigh. Does he have too? ]

2/2

[gottastaycalm]

How do you even know him?

Re: 2/2

[saltysanta]

He bel--

[No, that's not quite right. Rudolph doesn't belong to him, not the same way he might have to Lord Klaus. Noël shakes his head a little and tries again.]

He's my reindeer partner. I formed a contract with him years ago.