Turn 0 Interlude (Twelve Nights 2024/5)
Getting To Know One Another (Part 1)
"Jacob, what do you think of this whole business?"
Jacob Marley, your business partner in life and the one who helped you escape a most wretched fate in death, was busy having a full and proper English breakfast. Ironic, since in life he ate as little as possible, just to not have to spend more money. "The whole business? Ebenezer, this whole business has been yours since the 1830s!"
You can hear the jesting in his voice, and you can't help but smile. "Come now, your name is still on the shop! Wesley refers to you as Sir, just like me. And you've got the spirits downstairs working pretty well!"
"Ah, but you're Santa now. We can't both be Santa! Therefore, this is your business!" Well, he does have you there. "But I don't envy you. Even with everything we've done, I'm not sure it prepares us for saving Christmas."
"I believe we've saved quite a few Christmases in our time." you say, taking your own breakfast. "Though the scale is larger now."
And indeed you had. When one is steeped in the Unseen World as the two of you are, there was always someone from either side of the Divide who needed help. Damned spirits who wanted a Lazarus to tell their brothers to change their ways. Sorcerers and Occultists who needed to be stopped from enslaving other beings to do their will. Ghosts who would actively work to corrupt their family line, and had to be banished. And of course, all the chaos that happened during the World Wars.
And by your side was your friend Jacob Marley. And he truly was your friend, even if a good portion of it had been tied originally to business. He no longer needed his chains, freed thanks to you and the Ghost, though he still made them part of his outfit. Instead of binding and heavy, they were now orderly and light to him, useful as both fashion and weapon.
But the man's biggest change, like you, is how much happier and more jovial he is. And for that, you are thankful.
After a moment, you continue. "Fortunately, we are not alone. I will be meeting with a few of our allies today. I want to get a feel for where they are at. Especially mentally." You knew many of them had not taken the Takeover well, not that you expected them too. But you were concerned with their welfare, as any good person should be. "I know that you are rather busy today. But can you attend some of them with me?"
Jacob has to actually think about that for a second. "I can at least meet with Wesley." He responds. "And probably Blitzen, though admittedly you know him better than I do. I may be busy for the rest. Surprisingly enough, Christmas Spirit is a challenge to work with. How did the elves work so efficiently with it?"
"Hopefully, we can find out soon enough." You say, as you take a bite from your breakfast. Your mind continues to analyze what you know about your partners in saving Christmas. You'll need to be different things for each of them.
--
WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!
For Krampus, this meant having an honest and frank discussion
"You are not him." The demon says, as he takes pauses from beating the punching bag with his Rod. He does not seem pleased, though his ire seems more aimed at the bag then you.
"I'm afraid I'm not." You reply. Which is true. You are not Nicholas. And you cannot pretend to be so, especially to be one of the people who would know him best. "Will that be a problem?"
Krampus pauses for a moment, considering his words. "Not for me. Nicholas would not have chosen an unworthy successor. And I have heard good things about you from the Ghosts. And of course, from Dickens." This gets a chuckle out of you. People who know of the Unseen World are still generally surprised when they find out that you were actually a real person, visited by the actual Ghosts of Christmas. "But not everyone is as understanding. They will see an opportunity. Or a time to address grievances. The Naughty love it when they think no one is watching."
You nod, understanding what he means. "And there's no one to see who's been naughty or nice?" You can't help a bit of levity and singing in your voice. The song is one of the most well known, after all.
"Because Santa Claus is not coming to town for a while." Krampus says, before he looks down at you again.
–
You look up at Saint Nicholas. He barely seems winded, even after a five on one assault against him. An assault that has ended with everyone either already banished back to the city of Dis, or running away as fast as they can.
"...mercy." You are barely able to get out, trying to crawl away from the large man. No, not a man. A Saint of the Enemy Above. "Please, have mercy." But mercy for demons was a laughable concept.
You dared to look up at the Saint. The winds howl around the Germanic landscape, as the large man grasps his blood-stained axe. One second became two, then three and four.
Then with a flash, he reaches down. For a moment, you think he's going to ignore the weapon in his hand, and just choke the life out of you. But no. He grabs you by the scruff of your neck, and lifts you back onto your feet.
"And my mercy you shall have."
You are utterly struck. He… he's letting you live? Why? Would the positions be reversed, you would have had no mercy for the old man. And for a moment, you consider attacking him. Paying his stupidity with death.
But you can't. You can't even make a move. You don't even understand why you didn't. All you could tell was something was different about this man. You don't even know why you asked. "...why?"
The old man laughs. Not mocking, but mirthful. "Why not? This is a time of peace and goodwill. And I choose to give my peace and goodwill toward you!"
"Peace? Goodwill? No demon could understand such things!" You say. And it was true. Or so you thought at the time.
Nicholas put his arm around you. For a moment, you thought you'd burn in a holy flame by being so near a good man. But no. You feel something else. Something you couldn't identify then. "Then come with me, and you'll be the first!"
…he was right. By the end of the night, you'd be the first demon to understand what those things meant
–
"...Krampus, are you alright?" You ask, as the demon had stopped talking. And for a moment, it looked like he was somewhere else entirely.
"Sorry. I was thinking of my first meeting with my friend. I… I miss him." He says. "I am hoping that his soul survived Weihnachtswunder. Though I fear he is gone for good..."
"If you need time to mourn…" You start, concerned for the demon's wellbeing.
But he shakes his head, seemingly uninterested in the idea. "Thank you, but no need. I would rather honor him by continuing the work. And the first way to do that…" And suddenly, his Birch Rod is in your hands. "...is to get you into fighting shape. Now give that bag a good whack!"
You hadn't expected the impromptu training in smacking something with a stick. And after a few attempts it shows..
"As I said, you are not him." Krampus looks over where you hit the bag. Surprisingly, there are a couple of marks, though you wager that's from the strength of the weapon than your own skill. "And I've been weakened by the Takeover. So we need to get you up to where you can defend yourself from five Demons!!"
You look over at the punching bag. You had just bought it yesterday, and it already looks like it's gone twelve rounds. It has gashes from where it's been hit by Krampus, and stuffing is littering the floor below it. "You still seem capable enough, good Krampus." Though he's not wrong. If someone decides to attack you during the Christmas ride, it would probably help to know how to defend yourself.
"You should have seen me in my prime! Though you could use something to bridge the gap. Hmm… maybe if Cecilla could craft you a weapon… no, probably not right now. Hey, can I ask a favor? You're going to take to Cecilla today?" When you nod in assertion, he continues. "Can you tell her it's not her fault? And that I'm not mad at her. She seems to shy away from my presence, and I'm afraid I'm a reminder of what happened."
You agree to it, which pleases the Krampus. You don't think these are the only issues he has, but you're not going to press the matter. He seems the most well-adjusted, which is good enough for now.
Krampus plans to make sure you can fight. At least well enough. Options Unlocked: Train With Krampus.
