❆ 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]

Huh? What job?

[saltysanta]

Bringing children presents and fighting monsters, mostly. Have you ever tried to get onto a house through the chimney quietly enough to not wake the entire household up? It's really hard without a flying reindeer, and practically impossible if you've got to do it for hundreds or thousands of houses.

Without Rudolph there to engage monsters in close quarters, it's much harder for me to fire spells off and keep kids out of the line of fire at the same time, too.

[powertotearer]

You're...fighting monsters. While delivering presents? With reindeer?

[saltysanta]

Yes?

[As though that's the most natural thing in the world, and the questions are just for clarification.]

.....Well, usually the present delivering and fighting monsters aren't generally on the same day? It happens, but usually fighting monsters is something to worry about for the rest of the year, not Christmas Eve.

[powertotearer]

So are you...Santa?

[saltysanta]

That's right. [smirk] One of them, anyway.

[powertotearer]

Wait, one? There's more than one?

[saltysanta]

There used to just be one. Now there are nine of us at a time, as long as everyone is accounted for.

[powertotearer]

Why is that?

[saltysanta]

Lord Klaus knew from experience how hard it is to try and take care of the entire world's population of children by yourself. He split the job so everyone could have their own area to take care of, and their own reindeer partner to help.

[powertotearer]

Well, okay. I guess that makes sense.

But where do the monsters fit in?

[saltysanta]

They're apparently why this whole Santa Claus business started to begin with. Monsters especially target kids, and they can't defend themselves, so someone has to protect them. That someone is us.

[powertotearer]

So you deliver presents on top of it, to cheer them up? That's actually really nice.

[saltysanta]

It's not just nice. Miserable children are monster magnets--that's their absolute favorite meal. We can't take care of everyone all the time, but making kids happy and giving them something hopeful to look forward to..... it helps cut down on a lot of fighting and death.

[Yup, Christmas spirit actually helps save lives. Who knew?]

[powertotearer]

Wow, that's even better! I think I like that a lot more than just regular monster fighting. If keeping people happy could protect everyone, that would be great.

[saltysanta]

It would, wouldn't it? Too bad the world doesn't work that say.

[Sorry, you get Cynic Claus, the Santa who's a grouchy pessimist and doesn't really believe in the holiday cheer he's supposed to be spreading.]

[powertotearer]

I know. But even if you can only go as far as your hand will reach, it'll make a difference.

[saltysanta]

I suppose so.