The game

- Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the… FUCK! – a shout echoes through the hallway. - NIFTY! WHERE THE FUCK IS MY SANTA'S HAT?! – Angel bursts out of his room. The hotel stays quiet for a second.

- IT'S 6 AM IN THE MORNING! SHUT UP! – Husker answers almost immediately.

- What's wrong Angel? – Charlie yawns as she exits her room.

- I can't find my Santa's hat! It's finally December and it's a must to wear that hat! – Angel says. A gentle voice can be heard coming upstairs.

- Silent night, holy night… - Niffty sings as she cleans the stairway.

- Ah! Here you are! – Angel steps to her and grabs her wrist - Niffty where is my Santa's hat? – he asks calmly, but his eyes are on fire. Niffty jumps in surprise.

- Oh I found it in the corner of your room, next to a red thong. – she answers - So I thought I should clean them. – Angel's face darkens - And also a red dress. – says Niffty proudly.

- You did what? – Angel shouts at her - They are not used! – he is in despair - I want to charm Husky while decorating the tree. You know in my sexy and way too short dress – he gently touches his waist - so he could see…

- Okay, okay, okay I think nobody wants to know that Angel. – Charlie interrupts Angel. He looks at Charlie impishly and slowly moves closer to her.

- Maybe not. – Angel leans closer - But you definitely want to see.

- ANGEL! – Charlie takes a step back, her cheeks are red as an apple. The noise awakens the others.

- What is happening here guys? – Mira rubs her eyes as she steps out into the hallway in a robe.

- Ah never mind, Niffty fucked up everything! – Angel turns to Mira - This Christmas is ruined! – he collapses onto the handrail.

- Don't be such a drama queen. – Vaggie joins the gang - It'll dry in a few hours.

Angel comes to his senses and sharply looks at Vaggie.

- Look lovebird – he approaches her - I'm happy that you are not single anymore – he gestures Charlie's way - but I have to work really hard to get my man. – he lowers his voice. He clenches his fist, ready to act. Time freezes and the tension is high. Everyone stands still with bated breath.

- Good morning sweetheart! – Alastor steps out of Mira's room loudly - Did you sleep well? – with a wide smile he looks at her insinuatingly. Mira takes a step closer to him, right into his arms.

- Like you don't know it too well, you animal. – she kisses him gently.

- Yuck! Disgustingly horny and happy couples. Yuck! – Angel kecks.

- Now that everyone's up – says Charlie. - I'M NOT! – Husker shouts - why don't we have breakfast together? I have an amazing idea for this Christmas! – Charlie smiles happily and even laughs a bit.

- Oh dear Lucifer save us! – Angel gets on his knees for a pray.

- Come on! – Charlie takes a scolding look at him - You'll love it!

- Very well, then let's go downstairs. – Mira follows Charlie.

- So what is your brilliant idea Princess? – Alastor asks as they all take a seat in the kitchen.

- Well I suggest – Sounds terrible already – Angel interrupts her - we do Secret Santa! – silence fills the room for a second as everyone is confused.

- Amazing… - Husker says as he comes downstairs.

- Yay! Secret Santa! – Niffty jumps around screaming her lungs out.

- I know right? – Charlie smiles at her - Actually I've already written down our names on tiny pieces of paper. – she pulls out a hat out of nowhere and holds it forward - So let's draw

Angel steps closer.

- Please I wanna be first – he asks excitedly - so I have more chance to draw my beloved Husky! – he looks toward Husker and sends a kiss to him.

Husker smirks with disgust.

- All right Angel, go ahead! – Charlie holds the hat as Angel rummages in it.

- Please be Husky, please be Husky please… – Angel prays quietly.

He pulls out a paper and shyly opens it. It says „Niffty"

- Fuck! – he thinks - So lame. Can I drag another one? – he asks.

- What?! No! Of course not! – Charlie snatches the hat - This is the whole point of the game!

- Please Charlieeee pleeeeeeeease! – he begs with big puppy eyes.

- You heard the Princess. Let's move on! - Vaggie interrupts the scene.

- Who's next? – Charlie turns towards the others.

- Me me me! – Niffty raises her hand high. She sticks her tiny hand in the hat and slowly draws out a name. It says Charlie. Niffty hugs the piece of paper tightly to her chest and gives a warm and meaningful smile to Charlie. Then she walks away giggling.

- Okay me next. – says Vaggie. It says „Husker" – Fuck! – she thinks.

Mira takes a step closer to the hat. The paper says Angel. – Whatever…

Husker is up next. He slowly approaches Charlie with the hat. He is sweating and his hand is shaking. – Please don't be Angel, please don't be Angel! – he begs. The paper says „Alastor". – Ah, another creep… - he thinks.

- Such a nice top hat! – Alastor says as he draws a paper out. It says „Vaggie". – How wonderful! – Alastor smiles.

- One more left! – Charlie says. It's „Mira" – Okay we are done. Nobody drew their names, right? – the others shake their heads – Cool! – she smiles. - We are done. Let's buy meaningful and personal gifts this year, okay? Also when we give the gifts to each other, we could also play a little game. – she says playfully - Everyone has to say something about the one they drew and the others have to guess who it is.

- What is the prize? – Angel asks rasping his nails.

- Is a prize needed? – Charlie looks at him disappointedly - The prize is the joy of giving! – her face brightens up.

- Pfff LAME! – says Angel - Of course there has to be a prize!

- Okay what about two tickets for a movie? – Vaggie suggests.

- Really? Are we in high school? – Angel rolls his eyes.

- Then what is your idea Angel? – asks Charlie.

- Hmmm. – he walks up and down in the room - A kiss under the mistletoe – he says - with anyone the winner chooses. – he winks at Husker.

- And we are not in high school, huh? – Mira rolls her eyes now.

- Shut it Foxy! – says Angel – I would do anything for that prize! – he points at Husker.

- How about the winner chooses the prize? – Charlie says after a second of thinking.

- Well that solves the problem for sure. – says Vaggie.

- Then it is settled! – Charlie states - That way we won't be fighting over it.

- Pff whatever… - Angel pouts.

- Great! Let's go and buy a tree! – Charlie jumps up from her seat.

- May I suggest we go out to the closest forest and cut out the perfect tree ourself? – Alastor holds an axe in his hand with a creepy smile on his face.

- You are such an old soul Alastor. – says Angel - I won't get dirty for a fricking tree! Let's go to the market and buy one. – he suggests.

- Oh, Angel. What a boomer! – Niffty takes a step forward - We can order a tree online!

- Really? – asks Charlie excitedly.

- Of course! – Niffty holds her smartphone - Gather around people!

- I want it to be tall! – says Mira excitedly.

- I want it to be big… - says Angel.

- ANGEL! – Charlie scolds him.