010 | Goldenrod City | Text;

[nostabbing]

CHRISTMAS
Gingerbread Icing Peppermints Gumdrops Candy Canes Tree Star Tree Holder Thing Tinsel Lights More Lights More Lights	Santa Hats Elf Hats Reindeer Antlers Cookies Stockings A Chimney Reindeer Food Uplink to NORAD Snow Flurries More Lights Sweaters Presents

Hey, so...do you think Santa will be able to find us all here on Christmas Eve? Maybe we should build a signal for him or something. You know, like up on the rooftops. There could be a landing strip for the reindeer, or maybe like a big Santa-hat spotlight. Or both. Or we could get flares. Do they have flares around here? Maybe we should get flares.

Only eighteen more days until Christmas Eve! YOU BETTER WATCH OUT.

Comments

[neededlassie]

[Shaun has to think about this. But it's over text, so whoever's on the other side can't see the tears that form in his eyes.]

Does it count as being bad if it was something that happened because of you? Even if you didn't do it yourself?

[nostabbing]

[... :|a ]

Maybe. I mean, if you let something bad happen when you could've stopped it, that probably makes you bad too. Or if you caused something bad but just let other people do the legwork. That's like vicarious bad.

[neededlassie]

Oh.

I guess that's why.

[You just convinced a child that he must be responsible for his dad's death because his mom was too grief-stricken to play Santa.]

[nostabbing]

Why? What did you do? Maybe if you were good this year Santa will have forgiven you.

[neededlassie]

[This answer is a long time in coming. But the near-anonymity is what finally convinces him to say it.]

My dad got killed because he was trying to save me.

[nostabbing]

[............welp. Shit.]

That's not bad. I mean, it's really sad and bad but it's not your bad.

[neededlassie]

But you just said

[oops hit send too early]

[nostabbing]

What?

[neededlassie]

that if you cause something bad to happen but don't do it yourself it's still your fault.

[nostabbing]

Yeah, but like — that's like if you tell somebody to go break a guy's kneecaps for you so he'll pay you protection money. You didn't break the guy's kneecaps but you're still bad for causing it.

That's not what happened to you.

[neededlassie]

[there's such a long pause that it may almost seem like he hung up.]

I hope you're right and Santa comes this year.

Do you think he knows I'm here now and not at home?

[nostabbing]

Yeah. Santa knows everything.

[neededlassie]

How come Santa doesn't come to this department store like he does the one at home?

[nostabbing]

Because department store Santa isn't real Santa. That's one of Santa's helpers filling in for him while Real Santa works at the North Pole.

[neededlassie]

Oh.

[His little life is a lie.]

If I was going to write him a letter where would I send it? I don't think this place has a North Pole.

[nostabbing]

[ ... :|a ]

If he can see you when you're sleeping, maybe you could just leave it beside you on your pillow.

[neededlassie]

That's a good idea. Thanks!

What did you say your name was?

[nostabbing]

I didn't.

[...

......

.........WAIT OH RIGHT]

It's Alice. Hi.

[neededlassie]

Hi Alice. I'm Shaun. It's nice to meet you.