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Angel Investigations and the Beacon Hills Pack confront The Trickster on Christmas Eve, seeking to win back the holiday and put an end to the Plagues of Christmas.
December 24, 2016
Richland Mall, Beacon Hills
Richland Mall[]
The lights are on, illuminating the area.
Richland Mall is the largest shopping center in the Beacon Hills area, offering a wide variety of stores and kiosks for all one's shopping needs. The place is kept immaculate, all gleaming floors and sparkling glass, with air kept cool, clean, and crisp by air conditioning, smells ranging from the latest perfume to the fried delights of the food court all pervading the atmosphere. There is a map of the mall near each entrance, as well as an information booth by the front. Glass elevators and wide escalators lead up to the second floor and down to the food court, which is located in the center of the mall itself. Shops to either side form an outer ring of upscale designer clothing and shoe stores. Large fountains occupy the ends of all four wings of the mall.
Outside, it's snowing.
It began with a song.
We celebrate a day of peace,
A day of harmony,
A day of joy we all can share together joyously,
A day that takes us through the darkness,
A day that leads us into might,
A day that makes us want to celebrate the light,
A day that brings the promise that one day, we'll be free...
To live, to laugh, to dream, to grow, to trust, to love,
To be...
The song may not be profound, but as the group of champions, great and small, makes its procession from the Republic Theater to the Richland Mall, it picks up a number of new faces--many of them just random folks who were on the street, rushing about on Christmas Eve as the afternoon wore on. By the time they reach the mall, the whole crowd is singing in unison. The magic of the Plague of Song, it seems, could not resist such a temptation. Perhaps most surprisingly, the crowd seems to really feel the song, treating it with as much sincerity as any Christmas hymn. As they gather in the food court, it seems the entire building has stopped what they were doing to gather near and join in yet another refrain of the simple chorus...
Angel may have been singing along...as terribly as anyone in the universe has ever sung...but he's also been texting back and forth on the side to one of his associates. He had it set up such that Faith would scout the mall in advance and look for anyone who might be the Trickster they're looking for. Problematic as that is, since something called a Trickster could disguise itself in millions of different ways. But he wanted eyes on the area they were headed to in advance of them getting there all the same.
Faith...had split off from Angel earlier, and now she's making her way through the crowd back towards Angel. Or trying to, anyway. It's kind of hard to actually do so when she can't resist singing. Note? Faith can't sing. Not well, anyway. It's...unfortunate.
Dawn is, like most of the crowd, singing with true feeling. She's still alert, her eyes going here and there, but in the crowd like this how do they spot the Trickster? Still, she's smiling and continuing to sing, and walks near the others.
Derek seems to have really slipped into the sentiment of the song. It's so simple, but it really does mean so much. An arm has slipped around Stiles between them leaving the theater and arriving at the mall, and Derek has allowed himself a wider smile than usual. Or maybe it's Lance that did that. They're both having to work out that whole shared residency. By the time they reach the mall, he has learned the words and internalized them. He could keep the song going as long as he needs to.
That's not to say he's inattentive; with the combined senses of an alpha werewolf and a demon, he's quite ready to detect anything out of the ordinary. But he half hopes he won't have to. This feeling is...pleasant. It's a nice gesture they're doing in this performance.
Stiles has an arm around Derek, too, and the other is happily raising a lightsaber-themed glow-stick that someone just handed him. He's singing quite freely, now, having gone from nerdy enthusiasm to vague embarrassment to redoubled focus to--well, just really feeling it and going with it. The song that started out as almost a joke has become, like in Ghostbusters II, a symbol--something good, decent, and pure. Something they can all get behind and share!
Arm linked with Jackson, more hugging it at this point than walking arm in arm, Soo looks like he's definitely feeling the message. And if others can't quite carry a tune in a bucket, Soo makes up for it, his voice loud, strong and classically trained, grinning up at Jackson for a moment before he starts paying attention to where they're walking, once more, his cheeks rosey, clearly just from the cold.
Ethan can't help but blush when he hears just how good Dawn's voice sounds. If she's not afraid to sing aloud, why should he be? He's a werewolf, after all! And so he begins to belt out the lyrics as well, and though his voice cracks more than once, he makes up for it in sheer volume, as he leans against his brother's side. He remains bright red, of course, as his eyes dart around to the crowds near the group. Have they attracted the Trickster's attention?
Aiden's arm still rests lightly around Ethan's shoulders, the other casually tucked into his coat pocket. The singing comes easily to him, feeling the Christmas cheer as strongly as he does. While he's alert, he's also really, really into the moment, so he's certainly not at his most focused. Still, he's definitely doing his party carry the tune, and he doesn't sound too bad!
It's surprising to see and hear and even more to feel, but Jackson is really getting into the song. It's a nice song, with a good message, and it's such a strong sentiment of meaning. Actual meaning, not manufactured or artificial; it's something he finds himself getting into, despite having been highly skeptical about the whole endeavor from the beginning. What a weird thing -- a Christmas curse! He's smiling too, by the time they reach the mall. Maybe they can have a happy moment before the big showdown.
The song concludes with a crescendo and a vocal flourish that individual singers might not have thought themselves capable of. Somewhere, unseen around the edges of the food court, a couple of snow cannons go off, lightly dusting the air with glittering snowflake confetti that drifts down around the crowd, lending a bit of sparkle to the air. The music, which had risen unseen around them, also fades after a dramatic finish, and then--well, a lot of the crowd starts to break up, with people wandering off and looking a little confused, like they can't quite remember what they were doing or how they got there. One man turns to his wife, as they stroll away, saying, "Wasn't that the coolest flash mob ever? I mean, y'know--Star Wars!"
As the crowd does clear, though, it's evident that one person isn't leaving. And who can it be? Why, apparently Santa Claus himself has stopped to watch the show. Specifically, the mall's hired Santa is standing there, fake beard and all, and what's more? He's slow-clapping. When the noise has died down, he even speaks up, affecting a rather camp, deeply jolly "Santa voice."
"Ohhh, ho, ho, ho! What a delightful display! I'm just so... delighted! Yes, delighted, for sure." Stopping the clap, he rests one hand on his (obviously fake) paunch, the other drifting into his pocket to produce a candy cane. He pops it into his mouth, holding it not unlike one might a pipe, and nibbles cheerfully on the end as he observes the remaining singers.
Angel takes that in...well, that explains why the Fae Courts aren't on his case. Whatever magic he's using to create the effect in the first place is also making people accept all this stuff as 'perfectly normal.' He also didn't miss the fact that all the mundanes were being cleared out of the mall, apparently by their own will. "Glad you enjoyed it." Angel favors 'Santa' with a hard glance.
Faith Lehane gets...confetti'd. Approaching Angel, she tries to shake it out of her hair. "Great, never going to get rid of this stuff." And, yes, people are indeed accepting it as normal. Not her, though, and she's wearing a grimace along with the glitter.
Dawn glances around at those leaving. And then, she looks to Stiles and Derek, perhaps about to ask a question, when Santa approaches. She smiles, and says, "Yeah, it was pretty cool, wasn't it?" She glances, then, to the alpha and immortal, and around at some of the others.
Derek is not quite so convinced that this mall Santa is the genuine article. To be still standing there when everyone else has essentially evacuated...and with the sweets! It's plausible, since it's a Santa costume, but...it's not Santa. It's definitely not the spirit of Yuletide of any kind. He narrows his eyes slightly, squeezing that arm around Stiles.
"You're interrupting our enjoyment of the season," Derek directly begins. "What is it exactly you want from us? Are you some...enemy of the Winter Court or something?"
Stiles notes Angel's and Derek's reactions, and some part of him wants to reach into his coat and take out the bat. Instead, though, he just holds on to Derek and clutches the toy lightsaber like a talisman, staring down the mall Santa. "Seriously, what kind of a person wants to mess with Christmas? It's Christmas, dude." Suspicious by nature, seeing the vampire and the alpha both react poorly to "Santa" is more than enough to put him on high alert.
Once the snow confetti falls, Soo's just... distracted for several moments, his pupils contracting then dilating rapidly as he stares up at the falling bits of glitter, clearly entranced even as Santa is speaking. Hey. Old habits die hard. Once he's realized there might be danger, however, he lets go of Jackson's arm and takes a little half step in front of the werewolf, protective and apparently utterly sure in his ability to be so, but otherwise staying silent.
Ethan Carver tenses, slipping an arm around Aiden's waist and drawing himself closer to his brother's side. "That's him, isn't it?" he murmurs, a quick shudder running through him. "Of course it is. Because why wouldn't the bad guy dress up like Santa Claus at Christmastime?" He eyes the mall Santa warily, letting others do the actual addressing and assessing...for now.
Aiden regards the faux-Santa thoughtfully, keeping an arm around Ethan's shoulders, and says, "Dude, I dig the look--very seasonal--but looks like they've sniffed you out. What's your beef with the most wonderful time of the year, huh?" For all the protectiveness in his tone and stance, there's also genuine curiosity. As cheerful as he feels, he just wants to know why anyone would declare some kind of, y'know, war on Christmas!
Jackson starts to move, then Soo's moved in front of him. He's touched a little by the gesture, but...that's not him! So instead, he steps slightly in front of Soo, just as protectively. That's better. He doesn't say anything, though; the others appear to have that completely handled. He'll just listen to whatever exchange they subsequently have, to determine who's the bad guy. Or whatever.
"Santa" chuckles, jolly as can be, at the various reactions. He takes the candy cane from his mouth, then reaches up to tug away his beard with his other hand. Tossing the beard in a nearby waste bin, he says, "Ta-da! You found me out. I'm your friendly neighborhood holiday Trickster, since that's what Santa's little helpers decided to call me." He pauses to sample the end of the candy cane again, then looks over all the assembled group. "And just look at all of you! All assembled, all righteous and ready to--what? Throw down? Have a big, violent brawl in the middle of a crowded mall? This is your idea of the 'sacred' Christmas spirit?" He snorts, rolling his eyes, and says, "Please. If I wanted to destroy you, I'd have turned you all into gingerbread and fed you to starving children or something."
He points the candy cane at Derek, then, and says, "If I were an enemy of the Winter Court, don't you think Mab would have her royal knickers in a twist over this? No, I'm strictly neutral in all things political, boys and girls. As for what I want from you--easy! I just want to remind everyone of the true meaning of Christmas. As of tomorrow morning, I'll be on my way, and you all can go back to... whatever it is you usually do with your time."
Angel isn't quite so willing to let that explanation slide. "Couple problems with that. First, you take people's free will away in the process. We have a problem with that. Second, most of your 'spirit of Christmas' ideas are actually perversions of what the season is supposed to be. Anyone forced to do a thing tends to resent both that thing and the person forcing them." Angel's dark, broody glance does not look very Christmasy. It does look pretty Champion-y though.
"Exactly," Faith says, moving to stand next to Angel. She doesn't look like herself...but she MOVES like herself, and there's really no hiding the particular grace of a Slayer. "Nobody wants to be told they have to be happy."
"Not that we don't appreciate the fact that you don't seem to be into killing and maiming. We totally do. But free will, it's kind of majorly important to us humans," Dawn comments. "And for the record, I was really hoping we wouldn't have to fight. Just because we're ready to, doesn't mean we want to."
"And you're not neutral," Derek adds to what the others have noted. "You're interfering with one of the most important parts of this season. Mab has every reason to resent you, and she's not the only one." He sets his jaw, nostrils flaring as he breathes deeply in and then huffs it out through his nose. "You have utterly twisted the warm, loving sentiment of the holidays by making blessings into plagues. You've torn people apart and put them through torment beyond imagining by abuse of your power."
The demon-Alpha tilts his head slightly back, looking to the Trickster. "You may be able to dismiss us. But we won't be the only ones answering your misguided manipulation. Sooner or later, you're going to get burned. And if that provides the warmth to get us through to spring, I say I will bring the marshmallows." So that last bit was probably Lance. Probably.
Stiles shoots DerekLance, whom he's started thinking of as "Larek," a sharp look. "Nobody's going to be marshmallows!" he declares firmly. Then, his gaze straying back to Not-Santa, he gives a mild shrug and says, "Uh, y'know, please. Just--so what's the point? Do you really think all this drama and crap are making people enjoy Christmas more?"
"..." When Jackson steps in front of HIM, Soo looks perturbed, but... touched. But he stays behind Jackson, though to one side, so as to be able to get around him if need be. "I... kind of want marshmallows now..." Soo opines, looking around, "Or maybe gingerbread smores? Can we just solve this with a campfire singalong?"
Ethan has held it all in long enough! He screws up his courage, stepping away from Aiden and puffing up his chest (which looks so adorable!). Sucking in a deep breath, his voice suddenly bursts out, "Send me back to my own time, you big bully!" His face is still red, but now with pent up rage, rather than embarrassment. Hands balled into fists at his sides, he glares at Trickster Santa, eyes suddenly glowing yellow.
Aiden moves quickly to restrain the adolescent Ethan, grabbing him firmly by the shoulders, and leans down to say carefully in his ear, "Bro, don't! This guy's too strong. He could probably turn us into corgis or something if we piss him off. Follow Derek's lead. Trust your alpha." The words mean more than they may seem, coming from Aiden, who had until recently regarded himself an omega--a complete outcast of werewolf society. Having an alpha is kind of a big deal.
Jackson first folds his arms over his chest, but then it occurs to him that Derek usually is the one to do that. It's sort of a tendency of his, so Jackson lowers his arms and awkwardly lets them hang for a while at his sides. Then he puts his hands on his hips, frowning. There. That's good enough.
"Bzzzzzzt, wrong!" the Trickster announces, turning his candy cane to point at Angel. "That's all stuff that you people associate with the season, but that's not--wait for it--the reason for the season." He smirks, raising his eyebrows, and adds, "Oh, yeah, and spoiler alert? I'm not talking about baby Jesus." He pronounces the name in the Spanish way, hey-soose. He snorts, rolling his eyes, and says, "Angel, you big knucklehead! That's exactly my point. All the stuff that the Plagues are about, well, they're the stuff that people obsess over on the Holidays, but none of them are the real spirit of the holiday, the real purpose of it. So, I figured I'd do you guys a favor by showing you how all the stuff you obsess over is... not always all that great."
He turns to Faith, then, and says, "Oh, I believe you're the senior slayer present? I hate to break this up, but there's a vampire about to go way too far out in the alley behind the mall right now. Might want to look into that."
Angel nods at his bestie. "You do what you have to do, we'll deal with this guy."
And then back to the main problem. "So, you thought to show everyone the true spirit of the holidays by making a twisted perversion of what people think they want?" That is really...wacked. "See, humanity's smarter then you give people credit for. They don't need to be led around by the nose to find what's best for them. They'll find it themselves, most of the time. Yeah, some lose their way. And other people reach out to those who lose their way. And everyone moves forward. You don't need to twist things to be worse in the hopes they'll get better. They'll get better on their own."
Faith Lehane hesitates, narrows her eyes. Looks towards the alleyway. It feels legit...and she streaks off at full speed, ducking into the alleyway to, no doubt, surprise some horrified vampire who thought they were all busy with the Trickster.
"I'm pretty sure the reason for all of these holidays is to be together and appreciate each other's company so we have hope that spring's coming." Derek now steps slightly in front of Stiles -- not even having noticed Soo and Jackson's dance! -- and folds his arms right on his chest, exactly as expected. Even if this Trickster may be a god or something amazing and cosmic, it still looks like Derek's about to take him to task. He's not so impressed.
Speaking up after Angel finishes saying his piece, Derek waves a hand, then tucks it back in the crook of his other arm. "It's not just humanity you're fu--" Then he stops, clears his throat, and takes a breath before continuing. "It's not just humanity you're messing up here." Which is true: even Derek is currently demon-possessed, and absolutely Not A Pushover. "None of us exists in a vacuum. Yourself included. And I'm going to presume to speak for all of us in saying that none of us -- not one -- needs your help to determine what this season and its holidays mean to us. You're trying to push your own small-minded concept onto everyone and you're the one missing the point the most!" By the end of it, he's started gesturing rather grandly and dramatically...a sure sign that while Derek started the lecture, Lance probably is the one finishing it; he's a surprisingly festive fellow, especially considering his demonic nature, and this year has absolutely incensed him and almost ruined the holiday.
"I don't know," says Dawn when the Trickster says the stuff isn't that great, "The singing would be great, if it wasn't mandatory. And the whole memory thing, people always remember, even when it's bad, they don't need help." She does, however, nod in agreement with first Angel, and then DerekLance.
Stiles watches the others, particularly noting when Faith goes to deal with the vampires--he'll always be grateful for the first time he met her, when she saved him from some rather unfriendly ones--but then Larek steals his attention completely with a rant so epic that a previous generation might be drawing connections to a Dixie Carter character. Nodding along, he steps a bit to the side, so he's still behind Derek but not entirely obscured, and adds pointedly, "Yeah! Doesn't this 'reason for the season' crap apply to you, if you think you're the one speaking for it?"
"So you wanted to teach us a lesson?" Soo reaches down, lacing his fingers with Jackson's and giving a little squeeze, which gives him something to do with his hands besides pose like a superhero. "The real 'reason' for this season is to remember and be grateful for what we have, this year, and into the next, not linger on the past. That just hurts, especially when the same thing happened to us all LAST year."
Ethan remains tense, though he does unclench his fists, as he allows Aiden to hold him back. Not that he really has much choice in the matter. He does trust his twin though, and if Aiden trusts their Alpha (whom Ethan barely knows at this point), that's more than good enough for him. Taking several deep breaths, he forces himself to stand down, watching the Alpha and the...whatever Angel is (doesn't smell quite human, does he?) and all the others deal with the Trickster.
"Personally," Aiden says, "I kinda liked all this. I mean, I know bad stuff happened to people, too." He nods down at Ethan. "But, like, I haven't liked Christmas in forever, and being... I guess... forced to like it, I mean... I dunno. I kind of actually do like it now, I think." He stops, realizing he's not helping, and gives an apologetic shrug. "But, uh, yeah! Go team Free Will."
Jackson can be thankful, at least, that he hasn't had nearly as bad a year as last year. No almost marrying people, no weird gifts of sexy underwear -- Stiles seems to have been saddled with that one -- and nothing else directly targeting him. He lets Soo take his hand and smiles a little bit, giving a reassuring squeeze but not adding anything to the dialogue. At least, until Aiden speaks.
"Good things happening can make something better. Being with people you...like, or love...that can make it better too. But if you're forced to like something, you won't really know if it's really you liking it, or if it's really that thing that's actually what you like." Jackson pauses a moment, to think over what he will say next, but quickly continues. "I like being in good company. I like buying things for people I like. I like them coming over for my stupid little holiday parties, so what? What's wrong with that?"
Liam was just there sudden had he been with the group all along? Who knows things involving the Trickster are quite complicated. He puts a hand on Ethan's shoulder too to steady him, then speaks up himself adding his own two cents in with the others, "The true meaning of a holiday is a living breathing thing, Dozens of religions and cultures would take credit for it, but some version of it has existed for centuries. You can't just pick the version that fits your needs best and call that the true meaning. The true meaning is determined by the spirit(s) of that holiday and a combination of all the current beliefs and traditions. They evolve. And you have no right to fuck with it. If you're the spirit of any holiday it sure as heck ain't Christmas. Its like April fools or Ground Hog's day or something."
Sighing, the Trickster shakes his head. "Kids, kids. You're not looking at the big picture--and really, Demogorgon, I expect better from you! You're the only one here who belongs at the grown-ups table, after all." He makes a grand, sweeping gesture at all of them. "Here's what you're missing. I'm a huge fan. Really, I love your work! The whole 'safeguarding humanity' thing, honest--not enough people stand up, mortal and supernatural alike. I'm not here to screw with you just for the fun of it..."
He trails off, grins widely, and says, "Well, mostly not for the fun of it. But guys, you're trying to argue with the tides, here. I am what I am, and I do what I do because it's part of the way things work. Look around at this town--any town--and tell me people really get it. The season kicks off with everyone declaring how thankful they are for what they have, and that same night they're out trampling each other to death so they can save twenty percent on the latest toy or appliance. I'm not saying you shouldn't like this stuff, just that humanity has completely lost perspective. Free Will is always restored, but sometimes you've gotta take away freedom to make a point, kind of like putting junior in time out."
Liam's comments in particular seem to delight him, brining forth a bark of laughter. "Me? Kiddo, I'm not the spirit of any holiday. I'm just here doing my job, but Christmas was just begging for some attention. As for the spirit of the holiday, there's one or two things that every midwinter holiday should be about, no matter what your religion or culture is." He seems thoughtful for a moment, then snaps his fingers. "Okay, I've got it! Look, even if you could kick my butt from here to Groundhog's Day, you wouldn't stop the Plagues. They expire on Christmas morning, one way or the other--but if you can show me you understand the true meaning of this holiday, then I'll call it off early, and you call say you defeated the mean ol' nasty Trickster. If you can't do it, then I get to point and laugh while you spend the rest of the day marching around Beacon Hills, caroling 'til you drop. How's that sound, hm? Couldn't be more fair!"
"I especially wasn't a fan of the Memory plague. I'd like to remind you I personally ruined Christmas for people 145 times. And then about 6 more as a human." Didn't need to be reminded of that. Ever.
"I asked her, "Am I a thing worth saving, huh? (shakes her) Am I a righteous man? (shakes her) The world wants me gone!" And do you know what she said to that? "What about me? I love you so much... And I tried to make you go away... I killed you and it didn't help. And I hate it! I hate that it's so hard... and that you can hurt me so much. I know everything that you did, because you did it to me. Oh, God! I wish that I wished you dead. I don't. I can't." Angel pauses, in this memory, "Strong is fighting! It's hard, and it's painful, and it's every day. It's what we have to do. And we can do it together."
"That, Trickster, is where the spirit of the Holidays comes from. It comes from sincere feelings. Feelings like that can lead a man out of suicide. Can lead him to become something more. Can lead him even to become a Champion of the Powers that Be."
At that request, Dawn looks a bit startled. She looks around to the others, commenting more to herself than answering the question, "We're halfway out of the dark?" But Angel, his answer, his memory, she just stares at him a moment. This, obviously, was a moment of her sisters life she didn't know about. She just goes silent, then, thoughtful.
"It's not too late for me to get Abaddon in on this, you little shit." Derek's eyes go solid black in the blink of an eye. "Holidays mean different things to different people, even if only slightly sometimes. You can ruin any good thing by twisting it or going overboard with it. Sure, there are people who don't get the season, but there are so many more that do! I liked it. Me! Demogorgon!" More gesturing, to himself, to the surroundings. "You put me, not to mention people I love, through horrible things with your playing. If that doesn't miss the point of the whole season, I don't know what does. You have no right to ask us to do anything, and I for one am done playing your games."
Derek throws his hands in the air, or maybe it's Lance. At this point, it seems they're both working together fairly comfortably, though Lance is definitely the one responsible for the more effusive display. He turns, but then he stops and wheels back around, pointing directly at the Trickster. "One last thing: you have no right to wear that suit. None. That suit represents the spirit of giving, of kindness and love, and a stronger sentiment of sacrifice than you've ever known. You can posture all you want to, but anyone who believes in Santa Claus or Father Christmas or whatever blows your doors off when it comes to having the right to say what this is all about. You're just a shitty excuse for a misfit elf!"
Stiles puts a hand on Derek's arm, looking concerned when Lance just takes over like that. "He's got a point about one thing," Stiles says quietly. "Fighting probably isn't a good idea, especially not when there are still a lot of normal people pretty close by." Still, he's visibly touched by the words, gazing fondly--no, lovingly--at the alpha werewolf (and, by proxy, the demon currently time-sharing with him). At the point about the suit and the season and such, Stiles gives a firm nod and looks to the Trickster. "Seriously, dude. You've got no right to that uniform. I could put on a cape, but it wouldn't make me Superman, and you are definitely no Santa Claus." Snorting, he looks to Soo. "Dude, after all this, is he seriously just ripping off the plot of The Nightmare Before Christmas to get his jollies pretending to be Santa?"
"I'm already with the people I love. I'd be with my aunt and maybe my boyfriend right now, celebrating Christmas Eve, except she's a fucking toddler." Soo stresses, irritated beyond belief, not quite clenching Jackson's hand. Not that he's strong enough to HURT the man, but still. Control. "I love a good trick as much as the next cat, but this is beyond the pale. When a joke stops being funny, you stop. When it starts hurting feelings, you stop. When it starts ripping off Tim Burton classics, you stop." he nods to Stiles. "So what do we have to do? Like... dance off? Another big chorus number? 'Cause I've got like ten years of Drama Club just waiting to burst out."
True meaning of the holiday? Ethan's brows draw together, his lips curling in a frown. "Is this guy for real?" he whispers, leaning back against his brother, but aiming his lowered voice toward Liam. "Like, historically, all winter holidays and festivals have had, at their heart, the underlying purpose of drawing the community together, whether the community is defined as a family or a village or an entire nation. Drawing together to create light and heat in the dead of winter, usually as a celebration of life to defy the season of death. The particulars of the celebration vary from culture to culture, and from one time to another, but the purpose is pretty much the same." He cocks his head a bit, still looking puzzled at the Trickster. "Is that what he's getting at?" Then he glances around, blushes deeply, and ducks his head. "What? I read."
Aiden looks baffled by the Trickster's challenge, and then he stares at Ethan rattling off all that information. "Dude, bro," he says, looking several shades of impressed, "that was seriously awesome. Good job!" Looking back to the Trickster, he lifts his chin. "Yeah, you heard him. It's about light in the dark and building a strong community where people help each other. Nailed it."
"And it's about whatever the hell we decide it's about," Jackson adds, squeezing Soo's hand as the werecat spouts off, and bravely. "The meaning it has for me isn't the same as the meaning it has for you, but you don't see me trying to force parties and elite grooming sets from the Sharper Image onto you."
Liam still has a hand on Ethan's shoulder protective but also it now squeezes in approval, then he says softly, " You have a community, a pack of wolves, and their friends standing up to the darkness. Which is the role YOU play by the way. And if a pack of puppies, is looking at you and telling you to stop being immature and act your age. Then you have a problem. If a CAT is telling you top stop being mischievous because you've gone too far... And you know what? The stupid song we started all this with has it pretty dead on. "
He takes a breath and says it instead of singing it. "We celebrate a day of peace. A day of harmony. A day of joy we can all share together joyously. A day that takes us through the darkness. A day that leads us into might. A day that makes us want to celebrate the light. A day that brings the promise that one day, we'll be free to live, to laugh, to dream, to grow, to trust, to love, to be." The pup then looks at the Jack Skellington wannabe with his smuggest look. "If that doesn't sum up exactly what a midwinter holiday should be about what does? So why don't you pack up and go home. Oh and how about not coming back next year."
The Trickster regards Angel thoughtfully as he recounts the memory, and for once there's no smirk on his lips or sarcasm in his manner. "You're getting warm," he admits. "That's powerful stuff. Love, faith, belief. It's also one or two other things--the things I'm looking for--but they're not just sincere feelings. You get the spirit of the thing, mi Campeón, but someone's gotta spell this out--y'know. Gotta have the moral at the end of the story and all that."
Pointing to Dawn, he says, "That's another piece of the puzzle, kid. Halfway out of the dark is also the darkest hour, after all. That's why the holiday happens, for sure. Question is, what's the solution? That's what this time of year's actually supposed to be about--or, well, so I have it on pretty good authority." He smirks as if at some inside joke.
Derek and Stiles invite raised eyebrows, and the Trickster gives a mild shrug. "Okay, boys, that's a fair point." He shrugs out of the Santa Claus coat, then, and as he does so is left wearing a loudly Christmas-themed Hawaiian-style islander shirt with a pair of khakis and sensible shoes. The Santa suit just vanishes, though he retains the candy cane, once more nibbling on it. "I admit, sacrifice isn't my thing, but we've all got our roles to play."
He actually laughs in apparent delight at Soo's reaction, spreading his hands wide in a shrug, and says, "You still think I'm just doing this for fun? Babe, come on. You're all fun, but you're not that fun. I'm doing my job, no matter how dirty it is." Shrugging, he finishes off his candy cane, then wipes his hands as if on an unseen towel. "But it's a living, y'know? Still, respect." He looks to Jackson, too, and nods. "I'm not sure you two are really playing by the rules, but I like that. Fight the power! Don't give in."
Ethan gets a sharp glance, and the Trickster clucks his tongue in mock-protest. "Well, look at you, little mister smarty-pants! I guess you actually did your homework when you were this age. Very well-played." When Aiden chimes in, the Trickster rolls his eyes. "Oh, sure, right. Ethan did all the work on that one, smart guy." He raises a hand, "But you get points for solidarity with your brother, I'll give you that one. At least you're smart enough to know he's the smart one."
Looking to Liam, the Trickster seems about to retort, but he pauses in surprise when the young werewolf starts to sing again. "Hey," he says with a mild frown, "didn't we already play this track?" But the music swells, all the same, and from here and there a bunch of the previous mall-goers begin to gather nearby, forming up into a choir to sing backup for Liam. When the song ends, they look around dazedly and start to drift away again as if nothing had happened, and the Trickster folds his arms across his chest. "Oh, hell, no. You're not getting away with that. You can't just end on a musical number, like that proves anything! No, I'm just not convinced that you--"
And that's when a new voice cuts in.
"Oh, I'm afraid I don't agree," says the voice, warmly feminine and somehow motherly. It's a voice that manages, just with one syllable, to conjure memories of baking cookies, blazing fires, and cozy blankets. The voice is soon joined by a form, revealing a woman, not terribly tall, who looks just beyond middle age. She's dressed in a stunning white gown with a matching feathered cloak, and a subtle wreath of silver holly crowns her brow. She also just might bear a striking resemblance to someone or other, a popular fictional character from a set of classic fantasy films.
Approaching the Trickster, she arches an eyebrow, and coming from her, it's rather like the crack of a whip--exactly the sort of look a mother might give a small child who's been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "You had the right to test them, and they've passed. They clearly understand exactly what they're talking about, and I actually really liked the points they made about how the holiday means so many different things to different people." Turning a gentle smile on Liam, she adds, "But as for the song, I think we've all heard enough of that old chestnut for this year." She winks, then, as if at her own little joke, before turning to the group as a whole. "Now, tell these nice people that, by your own bargain, you'll be ending your spell, and you won't try this again next year."
It took Angel a second to recognize who that was...and going into Knight mode for a moment, "Milady, it's an honor." Before switching back to his normal 'I'm a Champion and I'm done with people screwing with people's feelings magically.' And so, with a stern, expectant glance, he turns on the Trickster. "So take your lump of coal and go." Everyone knows what this woman's husband gives to those who don't make the nice list.
Dawn's eyes widen a bit at the new arrival, even if she's not entirely sure who this particular Fae is. Proper courtly greetings, however, aren't really one of her strong suits. "Hi. Thank you." Then, she quiets again, turning to look back to the Trickster to see his reaction.
Surprised by this new arrival, the irritation with the Trickster forgotten in the moment, Derek smiles softly and steps back next to Stiles, sliding an arm around him again. He's...suddenly unconcerned with the Trickster, now that this enchanting woman has appeared. It's like nothing bad could possibly happen if she's there, and it may be a true assumption. "Happy holidays," Derek says to her in a small voice. More and more, it feels like Derek and Lance are acting in synchronized symbiosis. He doesn't really know why, but it just seemed the thing to say to her.
The lady's arrival makes Stiles look sharply toward her, and then he just boggles. Jaw dropping, he has to take a moment to get control of himself before he can even properly react beyond rude staring. He looks away as soon as he thinks to, trying to catch Soo's eye, and hisses to him, "She looks just like...!" But then Derek's arm is around him, and Stiles just snuggles up against his boyfriend(s). "Okay," he says with a sigh of contentment--a very rare level of contentment, for those who know him, "this officially just went from 'second worst Christmas ever' to 'possibly best Christmas ever.'" Looking to the lady, he adds, "In multiple ways, just want you to know, I am such a fan." Only then, as he says that, does the logical conclusion finally hit him. If she's real, then... they're both real.
Having spotted the lady almost as soon as she arrives, Soo turns his gaze from her to Stiles, eyes as big as saucers, pupils fully dilated. A moment later his gaze is back on her, and he bows, though he still doesn't let go of Jackson's hand. Because even if she isn't HER, she's still... stunning, and amazing, and Mrs. Frickin' Christmas... And his parents raised him with a few manners, at least. He's stunned to silence. Someone write it on the calendar. Soo can't speak.
Ethan lets out an audible gasp, wonder-filled eyes bugging wide and jaw dropping open at the sheer, beautiful presence of the divinity who has appeared among them. And like the Grinch, whose heart grew three times its size when confronted with the true meaning of Christmas, Ethan also transforms, right before everyone's eyes. But it's not just his heart that grows. No, all of Ethan swells larger, like a time-lapsed weed, sprouting up until he's almost the same height as Aiden again, shoulders broadening, chest expanding. And it seems there's a little extra magic involved, because Ethan doesn't Hulk out of his clothes, ripping and tearing through the hideous Christmas sweater Aiden so lovingly bought him. Oh no, his clothes grow with him, fitting him like a ... well, like a set of clothes should fit an 18-year-old. Blinking in surprise, Ethan manages to take his eyes off the Lady of Midwinter to examine his own hands, a grin slowly spreading over his lips. "I'm back," he whispers at first, then turns to wrap his arms around both Aiden and Liam. "I'm back!" With a sniffle and a little tremble in his voice, he continues to cling to his companions, as he looks again toward the vision in white and says, "Thank you."
Aiden looks confused at first, then stunned, then--well, then Ethan suddenly returns to normal, and there's hugging. Relieved as hell to have his twin back in proper form, Aiden hugs back hard, thumping Ethan on the back and all. Looking over toward the mysterious Mrs. Christmas, he gives her a big grin and mouths the words "Thank you!" For, while the artificial holiday cheer has evaporated, Aiden's feeling legitimate joy at the holiday for the first time in... about as long as he can remember.
Jackson throws an arm around Soo and squeezes his far shoulder, hugging up against him as he looks to this person that could only be Mrs. Claus or Mrs. Christmas, or whatever the correct term is. He stays silent for that time, as silent as Soo, perfectly happy to take in the joy of the day and of the occasion. Surely, that's what Christmas is all about.
Liam was down right shocked when its her, its the lady that sung the song and she's making a joke. At him he was about to ask where his lump of coal is, when suddenly Ethan is older than him. And while he'll miss the shy sweet version of Ethan maybe Christmas magic is strong enough he can be both now? His hand that had been on Ethan's shoulder was now around his waist and there was definite hugging now. He makes an awkward little bow to her while still hugging Ethan then looks around cause if Mother Christmas was here, Father Christmas must be nearby. And Liam hopes to god that Father Christmas doesn't look like someone else or Stiles might actually explode.
The lady in white raises both hands at all the various greetings and shows of respect, laughing in a delighted way, and says, "Well aren't you all just so sweet? And polite!" Then, with an air of a chore left unfinished, she plants her hands on her hips, then, and turns that raised eyebrow back on the Trickster.
The deity in question raises his own hands, then, and says, "Okay, okay! I know when I've lost." He gestures to Ethan and says, "Obviously, the spell is lifted." Then, shooting a grin at the various heroic sorts, he says, "What do you know, kids? You beat the bad guy." Raising both arms high, he declares, "Which leaves me only my exit line: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" And then, without further fanfare, he's gone.
And then comes another voice.
"Well, really," the voice says--and this one is just as warm as the first, but distinctly masculine, "everyone knows that's meant to be my line." As he appears, more than a foot taller than she is and decked out in deep reds with accents of white and green. Far from the usual "mall Santa" outfit, though, he looks more like a particularly festive woodsman or some such. There's certainly a formidable quality about him, and for all he's stout in build he also moves like most of his bulk is solid muscle. His beard is white, but there are still touches of ginger here and there if one looks very closely. He also carries a large, sturdy sack over one shoulder, which he sets down before crossing over to greet his lady with a firm hug. "I see you already have the matter well in hand, Jessica."
"Well, of course, Christopher," the lady says with a knowing smile. Turning conspiratorially toward the others, she adds, "Who do you think really keeps all those lists, hm? The truth is, he's the field agent. I'm the home office." Then, turning back to him, she pats the side of his face and adds, affectionately, "And it's a beautiful partnership, too."
Kringle's laugh is a deep and hearty, rather more booming then the usual depictions might suggest, and he leans down to kiss the top of her head, careful not to get himself tangled in the holly crown. "In fairness," he admits, "she's right!" Then, turning to the others as well, he says, "I'm afraid we must be off. We've got quite a bit of work to do before dark, and in some parts of the world, we've already got to make up for lot time!" He offers her his arm, which she takes, but before they go, he pauses to look back at them. "Oh! And by the way, be sure to check around your trees--or the tree of a friend, if you don't have one--since I'll be making it a point to leave each of you a little something special for your trouble." He taps his nose in a playful way, turning to depart.
And as they go, Jessica Kringle looks back at them and raises a hand. "You all be good, now," she calls as they've already begun to fade away. "I'll be watching!"
Out of character, this scene took place on December 28, 2016. It is lovingly dedicated to the memory of Carrie Fisher, who will always be royalty in our hearts.