After a Thousand Years
Workaholic
The air crackled with various sensations. The smell of gingerbread wafted from the bakery part of Santa's workshop while the snow fluttered through the air in the outer parts of the workshop, lacking the freezing cold feeling of the snow that fell outside the dome at the North Pole. For those gifted at sensing magic, there was a static that lingered here and there, yet sometimes, even the most gifted remained oblivious to what they felt.
Nose stuck in a book, one such elf didn't pay much heed to where he was going, only to teleport a few feet away as another Christmas elf sped through, testing one of the toy cars made at the workshop. Not once did Bernard miss a step, knowing the workshop inside and out for over a thousand years, yet his free hand went absentmindedly to the cloth bag he kept at his side with various items he used as Santa's head elf. The snow crunched under his feet as he headed up the stairs towards the office, his mind calculating the data he read from the book in front of him.
"Do you ever take a break, Bernard?"
Bernard stopped walking, his head shooting up to look at the person who called out to him. "Do I ever take a break?" He snapped the book shut, straightening up slightly to look up at the person who'd called out from the outdoor landing just outside the main workshop. "Never. Didn't Santa tell you, Mrs. Clause?"
Carol, the newest Mrs. Clause, looked down at him, leaning on the railing as she said, "Hasn't Santa ever told you that isn't healthy?"
Bernard pressed his lips together, the corners of his mouth twisting up slightly. "Yes."
"Bernard, this isn't amusing, you know."
He stiffened, his eyes blinking and his mouth opening. A few snickers from nearby made him realize a few of the younger Christmas elves had stopped working and were staring, watching the current Mrs. Clause lecture their head elf about not taking a break. He swallowed, watching them warily. "Uh, yes. This isn't amusing."
"Walk with me?"
Bernard sighed, quickening his step to take him up the curved stairway to the outdoor landing where Carol waited. He tucked his hands behind his back, his lips pushing together, knowing he was in for a lecture about taking care of himself, yet the other elves likely suspected the same thing, which in turn would make him the latest bit of gossip going around the workshop.
She turned, heading inside, meaning the conversation wouldn't occur where the other elves would overhear, although he wasn't sure whether that was a good thing as speculative gossip could be just as bad as the truth. She said nothing at first, but when they arrived at Santa's office, they stepped in, "Do you understand it's not healthy? Why it's not healthy?"
Bernard watched as Scott Calvin, the current Santa, looked up from his desk, an eyebrow shooting up. "Wait. What's going on now?"
Bernard glanced at the floor, hands still stuck behind his back. "I didn't mean," and then he sighed. "Yes. I know it's a problem."
"Well, that's a start," Carol said. "So, what are we going to do about it? For the sake of your health?"
Bernard looked up as his lips pressed together as he looked at Carol. "Nothing?"
A sigh escaped from Scott. "What are we talking about?"
"About Bernard not taking a break from work like the other elves do."
A laugh escaped from Scott, big and jolly as expected of Santa.
"Scott. Really. This isn't funny."
Scott cleared his throat. "No. You're right. This isn't funny. Bernard can be, though," he continued, "stubborn."
"Really?" Carol said before turning to look at the head elf. "Bernard?"
If his lips could press together tighter, they would have. Instead, his free hand rubbed the back of his neck, and he slumped slightly, shrugging his shoulders. "I don't know. I just don't take breaks, Mrs. Clause."
"Bernard. Really?" There came a sigh from her, resulting in her shaking her head in dismay. "Why not?"
"I have never gotten an answer," Scott said, working away at his papers. "But if you're able to get an answer from him—much appreciated, Carol."
"Hey!" Bernard said, looking at Scott wide-eyed. "Did you really? I mean, really?"
"Yes. I really did give Mrs. Clause permission to intervene," Scott said.
Bernard sighed, wishing for some kind of escape from the room. "Great."
"So," Carol said, folding her arms across her chest.
Bernard took a step back upon hearing the tone in her voice.
"You don't want to take a break?"
His head tilted, caught off guard by her changing to a different question, whereas Scott had persisted in asking the same question. "I've really not thought about it."
His head tilted, caught off guard by her changing to a different question, whereas Scott had persisted in asking the same question. "I've really not thought about it."
Scoot's head darted up. "Wait? You haven't? I thought you had?"
"Well," Bernard said, rocking on his feet as he let out a deep sigh, his eyes focusing on the floor rather than either Scott or Carol.
"If it's not something you've thought about, then you're taking a break," Scott said. "No ifs and or buts about it."
"But," Bernard started saying, his voice straining.
"I said no buts, Bernard."
"Yes, but…."
"Bernard," Scott said firmly.
"Scott, really. Listen to him."
Scott sighed, looking up from his work and folding his hands. "Alright. What is your but?"
"It's not really," Bernard started saying. "You act like taking a break is an easy thing to do."
Scott stared while Carol cleared her voice. "Says the elf whose response to the question of whether he ever takes a break is never. That was your answer to me just a few minutes ago, right?"
"Well, yes," Bernard said, looking to the side. "Wanting to take a break." He took a deep breath, turned his head, looking at the ground in front of him. "No. I can confidently say I don't want to take a break. Ever."
There was silence and a strange feeling he'd somehow messed up in his answer. He cleared his throat, looking at the ground while his fingers fidgetted slightly. And then there was more silence as if the Clauses were thinking about what he had just said.
"Why not?" Carol asked.
"Do I really have to answer this question?" Bernard asked. "This isn't exactly…."
"Not a comfortable subject," Scott suggested when Bernard didn't finish what he was saying.
"No. It's not," Bernard said.
"A break is important to your health," Carol said. "Is there anyone you want to spend time with?"
Bernard flinched, his entire body stiffening as a slight gurgle left his throat. He looked up at Carol, and then a little heat hit the tips of his ears. "As in—do you mean dating someone?"
He watched Scott attempt to hold back a laugh by looking away. Carol looked at him, her eyes widening as her mouth opened. "I didn't mean," and then, "Are you interested in dating Bernard?"
"Uh," Bernard said. And then, after a few minutes, "Not really. It," he said, sucking in his breath. "Not really something to think about here at the North Pole when there are more than a few hundred years of an age difference between you and the other elves."
"Wait. How old are you?" Carol asked.
"Sixteen-hundred almost," Bernard said. "It doesn't matter. If it's meant to be, what is waiting one more day after having waited a thousand years."
"But," Carol sighed. "You're not exactly actively doing anything about it?"
"That," Bernard said, his teeth grinding. He took a deep breath, knowing the current Clauses would find out. "Truth is, I'm not good with forming relationships. Not friendships, not family?"
"What about Quintin?" Santa asked. "I remember you hanging out with him after everything finished while waiting for me to return."
"Quintin went back to the academy," Bernard said. "But yes, he's a friend. And we're still in contact. It could be years until he comes back, if ever. I also wasn't the one who struck up the friendship. It's just not my strong suit. Christmas is." He took a deep breath. "Can I go now?"
"Sure," Scott said. "And Bernard?"
"Yes?"
"You still need to take a break from work, but Mrs. Clause and I will try to think of something that won't be too outside of your comfort zone."
Mrs. Clause sighed. "Just take a day off every so often to read a book. He doesn't have to step outside of his comfort zone."
"Ah, yes," Scott said. "Sorry. I was just," and then. "Well, never mind. You do you, Bernard."