Almost Weekly Santa Alter: II

This location was sufficient enough, his eyes moved along the full width of it and he found it content. A clearing in the midst of the woods and with a decent enough space that they could set up a Christmas field without being spotted from a distance. He had to account for Mash's senses as well, then again, this area felt almost as though it was too perfect…he wasn't going to look this gift in the mouth, however.

Ritsuka and the others would be arriving soon, if they hadn't already departed from Chaldea, so he needed to work quickly and he just didn't have the time to go out and look for a new location. This one would have to suffice and it could have been worse.

A chime from his waist.

He brought out the communication disk, the face of Romani emerged a moment later. "They just left now. I've sent them to a location a few miles from where you arrived and from the looks of things, it'll be a good couple hours before they find you. That being if they were even looking for you in the first place. Good news, Fujimaru-kun is in high spirits."

There was a pause, his expression turned a touch bemused as a frown emerged onto his features. "Not quite sure how the Director was convinced to wear the outfit but I'm not going to focus on that. Have you found a location for them to start setting up?"

He elected to ignore the odd comment about Olga for the time being, instead he nodded his head to the man as he replied. "I have discovered a suitable clearing in the woods which will provide ample cover against spying. Wide enough that they can establish a decently sized location for them. I shall begin the summoning process and then bring down the other Servants."

A nod from the doctor, he seemed more relaxed than earlier. "Good. Not sure how Pharros kept Leo occupied but it's working. I'll leave you to it and inform you of any changes. Good luck, Ash."

It would be best if he responded. "To you as well…" he knew what he should say, he knew what was right to say. "Merry Christmas, Romani."

The words were delivered flatly, even he could tell how poorly they were spoken without an ounce of meaning to them. Nothing more than a courtesy of the holiday and little else.

If Romani noticed, he did not say, rather he blinked in surprise, perhaps not expecting the comment from him, it was a surprise to him as well. Their features softened a moment later, a smile on their lips as they repeated the words back to him and then shut off the communicator. He clipped it back to his belt the moment the conversation ended, reaching into his bottomless box and pulling forth the summoning stone. Or the modified versions they had made during the course of the time Leonardo spent studying them.

He wasn't sure how they worked now but it wasn't his business.

The stone hummed and glowed, pulling his hand along as he scrawled the glowing words into the snow. He couldn't understand what the scribbles meant, but he didn't need to as long as they worked. Upon finishing the final letter, he pulled back and stepped away, the pattern glowed for a brief moment and then shone bright enough that he nearly turned from it.

As the light faded, the dirtied golden armour of Berserker stood in the snow where the writing had been, the blonde looked around for a few seconds before their mismatched eyes landed on him, tilting their head and speaking. "I assume that they have already arrived then? Is this to be the location?"

He gave a single nod. "Private enough that you can begin work without having to worry about interruptions. Yes." he extended the summoning stone to Berserker, they took it silently from him and held it in the palm of their hand. "The others don't have Independent Action, they will be weakened as a result of the summoning. Bear that in mind."

Berserker frowned, staring at the crystal then humming. "I shall. You have my thanks for allowing us to find this location in the first place. I will ensure your efforts are well rewarded for this." he lowered the crystal to his side, then smiled at him. "I'll start calling forth the others, I was told you were going to depart from us after this?"

He was.

"Singularities attract other creatures beyond those present within. Even without that, I will need to call forth others from Chaldea to delay the advance of Ritsuka and the others. I have another stone on hand for such an effort." He moved his hands to his bottomless box, unclipping it from his waist and then extending it towards Berserker as he did so. Not before drawing out Galvatyne and slipping it onto his back with his other hand. "More for the case of the former as I make my way through the Singularity, I shall patrol the outskirts and keep away dangers to you, or send any stray Servants summoned to find and help you if they are able. Boudica will know how to use this to call out your supplies."

A troubled look from Berserker. "Is this not yours? What if you require it?"

"It is little more than a physical gate. I can bring forth what I need without it." Just that it would take a little more time if he was to do so, it was still much faster with the box. Though he doubted it would be necessary, he was much more capable now and he knew how to fight at least. "I doubt you shall steal away with it."

They looked at him with hesitation, then gave another nod as they took the box from him with surprising gentleness. "I shall ensure no harm comes to it while it is in my possession. You have my word."

"I have done all I can on this end." He paused for a moment, then unclipped the second communicator he had brought with himself and handed it to the Berserker. "Use that to commune with Romani and myself, I will alert you to any news that is pertinent…Are you aware of how to use them?"

"The L.D.C.D's? I have experience." Berserker replied as he set the disk atop the box. "In this case, I shall leave you to your work. I await the time when you can return and benefit from the efforts of this goal…Merry Kristmas, I believe the saying is?"

"Christmas." He corrected on instinct, catching the wince before it materialised on his face, making a half turn and pausing for a moment. "To you as well."

With those parting words, he started his trek away from the Berserker and back into the woods which he had arrived from. There was still something odd about that Servant, he did not recognise them in the least. From either the collection of memories from Solomon or from the minds of the souls within him, nothing about that Servant struck him as being even remotely familiar. A quite literal stranger. Pleasant, he supposed.

That aside, he would need to start bringing some of the other volunteers down soon.

It was a different summoning than they were used to, the pull of the world and the sudden appearance was like swimming rather than the tug of a regular summon. All the same, the arrival was a touch colder than they were expecting, feeling the faint chill in the air as soon as they opened their eyes, then seeking out the shape in front of them as the form of the newly christened Avenger - they never heard of that class before - backed up a touch.

They looked a little better than he remembered them being last time, which was good. Because last time they had been trying to kill one another.

"Hey, Ash." A wave of the hand and an enthusiastic voice directly into their face, they twitched for a moment but remained unmoved as they turned their eyes to the side, he followed their line of sight and found his attention gripped by the summoning from the outside. The words written on the ground burned as though they were on fire, a moment later there was a flash of light as a figure looked like they were climbing out of it and rising to their full height. "Oooooo! Pretty."

The transparent figure solidified, colour arriving in their features and rolling their shoulders. Chevalier d'Eon stood there for a moment and then exhaled, bringing their hand up and opening and closing it several times. "I see…I was warned of the weakness but I had not expected it to feel this way."

Weakness? Had he been told about that?

…Maybe someone had mentioned it?

He couldn't remember.

"Hmmm. This is an experience, to be sure." Another voice! That wasn't his voice, it didn't sound like d'Eon and Ash hadn't even opened his mouth. Whipping around, he pointed a finger at the one stood behind them, with a tepid smile on their face and a loose posture, one Sasaki Kojiro stood there with a rather carefree look. "I see, so we are the first ones to be called down?"

"We are?" He whipped back around to Ash, the Avenger stood there stock still. "Are we?"

He blinked at them once "You are the first I have called forth." he reached for some silvery looking thing on his waist and pulled it off, clicking it once and then bringing out a small blue man. "Romani? How far are Ritsuka and the others?"

"A good couple of miles-wait a second…they're really close now? How did-? Did you teleport across there or something?"

"They are close then. Good." Ash clicked the device off and slipped it back onto his waist, turning back to face him a moment later. "Ritsuka and the others will be arriving shortly. I expect d'Eon and Kojiro have recalled enough of the plan. I shall depart from you and leave you to it."

That was all well and good. Actually, there was a lot he wanted to ask, but the first thing he noticed was something that he considered to be extremely important at the time. "Hey, you didn't answer his question." he complained, the attention of Ash fell on him a moment later, a bemused frown on his face. "Did you teleport?"

Silence for a good few seconds. "...Yes."

"Nice. Bet that must be really easy, huh?" His hands fell on his hips, he rocked back and forth and rolled his lips inwards. "Must be great for saving time on long walks though, huh? But then what if you want to go for a long walk on the beach? Does it just become a short teleport across the beach?"

More silence.

Ash looked away from him and to the others. "You all remember the plan, yes?"

He pouted at being ignored.

D'Eon replied before he could get a word out. "I recall the plan, yes. Rest assured, I shall do my utmost to act for the benefit of Master."

Ash made to turn, but someone would have to get up pretty early in the morning to get one over old Astolfo. He swung his arms up, opening his mouth and shouting out as loud as he could. "Wait a single moment here!"

The attention fell back to him.

"Wait, what about me?" He brought his arms back, pointing to himself and dropping his face. "Didn't you explain the plan to me?"

"Yes, but I assumed you would have forgotten it, Astolfo." Ash replied to him without even missing a beat, he had to blink at them and then nod his head up and down. That made a lot of sense to him, he probably had forgotten it already. Their eyes lingered on all of them for a few moments before he took several steps backwards. "Keep them delayed for as long as you might be capable. Recall you cannot fight. Once you have completed your effort and they have moved on, then return to Chaldea and pass a message along to Romani. He will pass the message along to Berserker and then you can return."

So they could come back? That was good. He didn't want to miss out on all the excitement. But then again, he talked about delaying them but what were they supposed to do in the first place? Maybe he could think of something to try and keep them with them for a few minutes or something. Maybe he would be able to come up with some Christmas related idea.

He jolted at the pillar of light in front of him, Ash vanished a moment later and he pouted. "I didn't even get to say goodbye or wish them merry Christmas! Speaking of which, I have a plan to keep them delayed. Do we have any mistletoe?"

Kojiro just maintained his same patient smile, he didn't deny the plan which meant that he was obviously in full support of it. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for d'Eon who gave him the same sort of look that his King used to give him right before he explained to them that they couldn't do something that was obviously an amazing idea and was going to be really fun as well.

His shoulders slumped before they even got a word out, lips quivering as he stared at them with the desperate hope that his enchantingly cute face would somehow manage to sway their heart. He was pretty cute and this sort of worked most of the time on everyone else. They called it puppy dog eyes, and it would surely work now!

"We are not engaging in foolishness that will ultimately lead to emotional embarrassment." d'Eon's words were delivered as swiftly and sharply as the rapier on their waist, lips thin and eyes flat. Turning towards Kojiro, they continued onwards. "We shall likely have mere moments before Master and the others are set to arrive. What suggestions have you for the time being?"

A hum from the Assassin and Astolfo felt a little sad that they hadn't asked him if he had a plan B. Which he didn't because he was certain that Plan A was going to work but it would have been nice if they at least asked if he had a plan B.

When Kojiro spoke, it was with the ghost of a smile. "I might have some manner of plan. Though I cannot make any claims for how long it might delay them for. At the very least, it will earn their attention just long enough to buy a good few minutes." the eyes of the Assassin drifted onto him and the smile widened. "A plan that I believe you shall be in full support of."

There was something about the smile that made Astolfo feel very happy all of a sudden, and any sort of plan that he could throw his support behind was obviously going to be an amazing plan.

This is probably one of the better experiences of his life if he was asked in that moment how he felt, even if not a lot had happened since they arrived, he couldn't quite get over the idea of just walking around Lapland while dressed as a reindeer while following someone dressed as Santa and accompanied by a couple of Christmas elves.

Still, the lack of encountering anything thus far might have been a problem to some, but he was perfectly fine with it. There was something peaceful about all of it, slowing his pace to a halt and turning his eyes to the sky, a smile on his face and hands on his hips. Without a cloud in the sky, the stars shone brightly down upon them coupled with the other staple that most would know of.

The northern lights.

Patterns of light danced across the sky, a dazzling display which captured every moment of his attention.

"Aurora Borealis." A crunch of snow and the comment informed him that Mash had come to a stop next to him, he glanced at her for a brief second and noted the wide eyes and slightly parted lips, an expression of clear awe. "I've read about them before but I didn't think that…"

"Amazing, isn't it?" He looked back to the sky. "I've never actually seen them before either. Not in person anyway. Hear about them all the time or watch videos of them online, always make a promise to one day see them in person but you don't really think it's going to happen and then…" trailing off, he reached up and wiped at his eyes. Mentally cursing his overly emotional nature, he was very nearly crying at lights in the sky.

"Yes, Senpai. I never…" A sniffle from Mash, he didn't look but it sounded as though she might be feeling much the same as him. "I'm glad I got the chance to see something like this. I…I never would have thought…it's always so stormy outside Chaldea so I don't get to see the night sky all that much. I think there was once a brief moment where the storm parted for a moment. Wodime-san and Daybit-san went outside to look at them but it would have been gone by the time I arrived. I'm…I'm glad I got to see the same thing as them."

He barely recalled hearing the names before but he couldn't quite place them, he assumed them to be some of the staff members. Still, those were some wacky sounding names all the same. Still, anyone who would run outside just to look at the Northern Lights if they had the chance didn't seem like that bad a person. Turning his head just over his shoulder towards the Director and Marie, he saw the two of them similarly looking to the sky.

The expression on Marie's face almost made him laugh, much the same as Mash but with her hands cupped over her mouth. "It's beautiful…" He just caught her whisper under her breath.

Olga stood silent for a moment, then adjusted herself with a faint clearing of her throat and spoke up. "Yes, I suppose it is an eye-catching spectacle and certainly fitting for this…sightseeing venture." good thing she didn't catch him staring, otherwise he would have pointed out she was currently recording it with her communicator. "Though I would point out that we must continue onwards…though I shall allow another minute for us to rest and recover before we continue onwards."

He didn't laugh, but he turned towards Mash and sent her a wry smile at the same time she looked towards him, the two of them shared a quiet moment where probably both looked as amused as one another and then diverted their attention back to the sky. "Thank you, Director."

"This is just me looking out for your Master's health. Do not look into this situation so deeply."

"Of course, Director."

Another crunch of snow, he heard Santoria come to a stop at his side and turned to face her with a raised eyebrow. She maintained a dispassionate gaze before a ghost of a smirk arrived on her lips. "It would seem as though this is the moment in which you rest before making your journey onwards…I suppose I shall be generous enough to allow such a thing. You are, after all, a first time reindeer and these are newly recruited elves. I shall temper my expectations of your capabilities to be easily distracted."

A beat, then she reached into the white bag slung over her shoulder and pulled something out, sticking it directly into his face, going cross eyed at the point that was almost touching his nose. He blinked at it, then looked at the stone faced Santoria, he knew better than to ask if she was being serious. So he silently took the carrot from her grip and into his hand, giving it a once over before he shrugged and took a bite out of it. The sudden crunch had him immediately feel the attention of everyone upon him.

Turning around, he saw that the other three were now giving him looks that varied between puzzlement and amusement in the case of Marie, the Rider looked as though she would burst out laughing the second she saw what he was actually doing. He locked eyes with the Director, staring her dead in the eyes as he made to take another bite.

"Eh…What's up, Director?" He took another bite of the carrot and very nearly laughed at the way her expression flicked between annoyance and exasperation.

She closed her eyes, let out a sigh, then opened them again and gave him a dry look. "Refrain from making that manner of reference again, especially considering it would have been better served if you were dressed as a rabbit. Another matter, we have Romani in Chaldea who is an actual doctor, at the very least you could have salvaged something of the original reference in a manner that made sense."

He stared, then sniffed. "So what you're saying is I should somehow find a rabbit onesie and then make the reference, got it."

"That's not what I-" Her jaw snapped shut, her hands flew to her face and another long and tired noise fluttered out of her before she dragged her fingers down her face, revealing a look that was genuinely exhausted. "Whatever. As long as you're maintaining your health, I have no complaints…merely that you accepted the raw carrot and the treatment as though you are an actual reindeer. It's degrading."

Was it degrading? He thought it was a little funny. Santoria wasn't making him pull a sleigh or anything so that was good enough. With a shrug back to her, he turned back around and took another bite of the carrot. Certain that she had somehow raided this from the kitchen, he hoped that he wouldn't catch flack from Archer over it. Boudica and Siegward would be more understanding.

"Well, all of that aside. I've heard carrots are good for your eyesight." Turning to the person who would probably know about this, he gave Mash a slightly curious look. "That's right, isn't it?"

"Yes, Senpai." As expected, she was immediately on top of the explanation with a studious expression. "Carrots contain a good deal of beta carotene which is used to create vitamin A in the body which the eyes use to adjust to low lighting areas. So eating a raw carrot can only make you healthier so long as it has gone through the proper cleaning procedures after being harvested."

Eyes turned to Santoria, she inclined an eyebrow and levelled a slightly annoyed look at him. "What manner of Rider would so poorly treat their mount? Should you fail it would only hinder me. Therefore, ensuring you are well fed is one of my priorities. Santa requires his reindeer to be at their best." her eyes flickered down to the carrot and then back to him. "Now eat."

Well, that was that.

Another crunch as he continued to eat the carrot, not all that bothered by the connotations. Really, it was just a bit of harmless fun at the moment. Beyond that, it might have been paying off if his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. He paused mid chew and squinted at something just over the shoulder of Santoria and in the distance near a thin patch of trees.

She noticed his gaze and turned, releasing a small noise of interest a moment later as she did so. "Hoh. The first of Santa's targets have emerged."

He resumed chewing much slower, staring at the back of the Servants's head as he realised what she had just said. Which sounded more than a little menacing now that he thought about it. Bringing his arm up, he pressed on the wrist communicator and flashed up the face of Romani, the man blinked twice and then performed a double take as he noticed the carrot in his hand.

"Hey, Roman. Is there anything else downhere with us?"

A wry chuckle from the doctor.

"Some of the Servants found out you were down in Lapland and used the makeshift summoning from the Lordvessel and the stones to come down for some fun." The words were accompanied by a scratch of the head and a shrug. "I didn't think you'd run into any and it was something that just came to my attention. I would have told you earlier but I didn't want to spoil the mood."

He was more surprised than off put. "They can come down by themselves?"

"The Director can attest to the quality of the summoning without a Master. At the moment, for Servants without Independent Action, it's seriously cutting down on their capabilities. Probably no stronger than a regular human at this point and none of their personal skills." He brought up his hands a moment later. "Leo said it was still a prototype though, so this is something that's getting worked on rather slowly. I'm sure it will get better as things go on. It's stable at the moment, so the Servant's coming down are fine."

That was more what he was worried about, with a nod of the head, he turned off the communicator and looked towards Santoria as she remained still for a few moments. Then she turned around and gave him a piercing look. "For what reason do you remain still? There are those who expect the arrival of Santa. You would doom them with disappointment?"

He didn't say anything like that, nor did he really think of anything like that. With a look over his shoulder to the others, he jerked his head forwards while smiling from ear to ear. "Come on guys. Santa said that we're gonna spread the Christmas cheer to everyone else!"

Both Marie and Mash's reactions were as excitable as he was expecting, the two of them clapped their hands together in a small applause, the reaction of the Director was a little more lukewarm as she just folded her arms and gave him a flat look before rolling her eyes, not commenting on it but making her thoughts fairly apparent. He was sure she would get into the Christmas spirit eventually.

This was turning out even better than he could have hoped, seeing everyone working towards the same goal was already a reward enough in his mind. He couldn't explain it, he wasn't all that good with putting his thoughts into words, but it just made him feel warm inside at seeing all these humans working towards the same goal with smiles on their faces.

"How are things coming, sister?" He called to Boudica, the woman paused for a moment the moment he finished speaking. A strange look upon her face and a shake of her head. She did that whenever he spoke to her and only when he called her sister. There might have been a problem but he wasn't sure what it was. They were brother and sister now that he had the soul of a human within himself, so it was just how they were.

She turned to him and smiled, extending out the table she had withdrawn from the magic little box and wiping it off before pulling up the white cloth and throwing it over the top. "It's certainly getting along rather well, Berserker. Though I do feel a little bad that we had to briefly borrow Ash's box and then fill it with all of this stuff so that it could be moved down to the Singularity…not to mention that he's the reason it all exists in the first place and he can't even have a break…"

"Brother Ash is doing what he feels is right. We do our best and make the party work and that shall reward his hard efforts." A thump on his chest as he spoke, smiling to her as best he could. Those were his honest thoughts and he hoped to convey them to her. "Where is the animal Godling?"

Boudica jerked a thumb over her shoulder, he traced her movements to the little silver box she placed on one of the other tables. A moment later, the skin of the silver box turned red as she placed a metal pot on it. He briefly recalled that it was what humans used to burn their food, though how they did this without fire was a bit of a mystery to him.

"She's volunteered to take up the cooking. Rather adamant about it as well but she's staked her reputation on it and Arkon at least corroborated that she could actually cook which…" she waved her hand. "Don't ask me how she could do that with her paws."

"The Silver Knight." Unpleasant thoughts were quelled deep within him, this was a time for celebrations, not for him to lose his emotions. He glanced at the movement, Boudica ceased her actions and was sending him a look. There was clear concern in her eyes, the type that need not be spoken aloud. A wave of his hand. "It is fine. If she can burn the food with skill, then she can help."

A snort from Boudica, a twitch of her lips. "It's called cooking but I can't exactly say you're wrong either." a shake of her head and she mumbled the words again under her breath while speaking something about telling the Siegward human about it. He didn't think he had said anything amusing but perhaps it was his manner of speech that was odd.

Regardless, he turned his eyes towards the latest arrival and felt as though he was going to freeze up on the spot.

The human from the tree peoples.

"Ah, Torin!" Boudica let out a happy call, bringing up her hand and waving to them. "Happy to see you arrive. How are things going back at Chaldea?"

"Well met, Boudica." Torin greeted her back, bereft of his helm and with a hand brought up to greet her. Moving towards them and smiling cordially. "I bring good news from Chaldea, it seems as though Master and the others are in high spirits. Though my own Master is a touch cold to the endeavour, it would seem as though she did agree to the outfit. Making merry with her subordinates in this jolly time." he paused for a moment, nodding his head from side to side. "I am certain that the Child of Light will have some words of encouragement for her should he discover it."

Another chuckle from Boudica. "Is that what we're calling teasing now?" she paused for a moment, then gestured to him. "Ah, I don't know if you've met Berserker yet."

Torin turned to him and his expression stiffened the moment the human did so, their brows furrowed a touch and a hum rippled from their throat. "Berserker…ah, yes. The other contracted to our Master. I do not believe we have met but I suppose there is no better time for a meeting than a ritual of joining such as this. Even if it is not one my people would have practised."

He mutely nodded his head up and down.

"We are well met as well then, though I suppose our introduction is a long time coming." They stepped forwards and extended their hand to him in a clear gesture, he remained silent as he gazed down at the limb, then reached out and slowly took it into his own and shook the limb up and down before retreating. If Torin noticed anything amiss, then he didn't notice all that much as he similarly pulled his arm back. "I understand that my aid is required with this particular endeavour. Something related to trees?"

"C-Christmas tree." He cursed himself for his short stutter, he calmed his nerves and spoke once more. "They take a tree and decorate it for the festival. We have some decorations for one that were packed up but we need a good tree…I wanted the very best for the celebration."

A hum from Torin, he reached up and rubbed at his grey beard with a thoughtful look in his eyes. "I can see why you would come to me for help then. I know a good deal about the trees and could likely aid you. Though I ask that I select the tree in question, even if this remains a Singularity, proper respect should be shown to them. It is about finding the tree I agree with, not the one you feel looks the best."

"...I understand."

Silence from the man, their eyes roamed over him for a few seconds and then he gave a single pleased hum, a touch of a smile on his face. "Good. It might not be a festival of my people, but I can offer my aid in a ritual of joining if that is what this is. Come then, let us see what manner of tree we might find for the honour of this celebration."

He paused, realising what they were asking. "You mean me?"

Torin blinked. "Yes. You are likely to be the stronger of the two of us on account of retaining your abilities from the unique summon. Even the strength of the God in me grants me only a modicum of my strength. I am not quite as useful in physical matters as I otherwise would be. You will need to carry the tree."

Yes, yes he would.

Another nod from him. "Of course. Let us be quick then."

They were both moving before his brain could catch up with what he was actually doing and who he was with. Following after the human as they walked across the length of the camp and past some of his other brothers and sisters as they worked on the other small tables and the sort they had been in charge of setting up.

"I did not think they could fit so much in a small box." He spoke without warning, surprising himself at speaking aloud as he did so.

"The bottomless boxes are certainly living up to their reputation, that much I know of." Torin replied with a faint noise of mirth. "I doubt this was their intended use but that is of no consequence now…so this endeavour was inspired by your own efforts, as I understand it?"

How did they know about that?

The question was buried, it had been news for three or so days now since their initial meeting and had been spread across all of Chaldea. It was a stupid thing to consider but still, he didn't think that people would have known it more or less came from his initial plan and even then, he couldn't take credit for it.

Thinning his lips. "I wished to do something to make everyone in Chaldea feel better. Christmas was just suggested to me as a way to do that. Boudica and the others deserve just as much credit." His eyes dropped to the side, his lips pulled down into a frown. "I…I didn't achieve all that much on my own in the first place without their help."

A beat, then a hum from ahead of him. "I would not so quickly dismiss your efforts. The best hunters are those who work in packs. The pack with the strongest bonds is the back that lives the longest. Your efforts, indeed, this goal of yours, is a worthy one worth having. I do not doubt that without it, we would not be here."

They stopped walking, then turned to face him and offered a smile. "Do not be so quick to doubt yourself. Perhaps another might have thought of it, but you acted first." raising a hand, they pointed it squarely at his chest. "Keep that in mind, Berserker. There is no greater rot than needless doubt in one's abilities."

"...I would not call it needless."

A moment, they looked into his eyes and they softened. "I see. You know the loss of others well, don't you? I shall speak no more of it then. Understand that I know that pain deeply, it has grown strong in my own heart. But do not let your fears hold you back, if not for your own sake, than for those who care for you." his lips pulled into a strained expression. "I have seen the foolish nature of them for myself…but enough of this misery. We have a tree to find."

He turned and started to walk, Kalameet paused for a moment before he followed after them. "Can I ask you something?"

"You might." Torin didn't even hesitate.

"What…what were your people like? I…I heard they worshipped trees."

They stopped walking, then let out a faint chuckle and turned back to face him, a hand came up and rubbed at their chin while slowly nodding up and down. "Yes, I imagine that is how it would look to the outside world. Worshipping trees instead of Gods. Well, I can tell you of the happy times of my people then…Those are worth more to be now anyway." he jerked his head and resumed walking.

Kalameet listened with rapt attention, Torin sounded happy speaking of his people. That was good.

This wasn't what he had expected, sure he had seen them from a distance, but as he got closer it got much harder to contain his laughter to the point where he had been chuckling to himself for the last minute or so as he got closer and closer.

He wasn't sure what he was supposed to expect but d'Eon and Sasaki making a snowman of all things wasn't one of those things he had been expecting if he was being honest. Well, it certainly was within the holiday spirit of things but neither of the two of them ever gave him that sort of impression. Well, he was happy to be wrong.

If there had ever been a chance for the element of surprise it had long since been lost as his laughter echoed out loud enough for the pair of them to turn and stare at him. The basic shape of the snowman had already been made in three segments, rather traditional in look and with d'Eon sporting a pair of sticks that they doubtless were planning to use as arms.

In the hands of Sasaki were a small collection of stones, being in the middle of adding some features to the icy creation.

The two of them regarded him with mixed expression, d'Eon looked more surprised of the two of them with clear confusion on their face, Sasaki didn't even look as though he was phased in the least by the attire that they were all wearing. But that was just the sort of thing Sasaki was like, he wasn't sure he ever so them get affected by anything that happened.

"D'Eon!" Marie called out with clear amusement in her voice. "I didn't know you were the type to make snowmen! It looks so fun! Do they have a name?"

D'Eon was silent for a moment, turning to the snowman and then back to Marie before they opened their mouth to speak and slowly closed it again. Their expression flickered for a few seconds with doubt before they eventually spoke up. "We're still failing to come up with a name, your majesty. Though, if you wish to be the one to name them then you are free to do so. I'm certain it would be better than my own attempts."

A wince from them as they turned and thrust the first of the sticks in the side. "I confess that this is my first time ever attempting something such as this and I'm unsure as to how well it is currently looking. Most of my knowledge is coming from the Throne and images related to Christmas itself…that and Kojiro was kind enough to walk me through the initial stages of it."

"I wouldn't want to try and steal this from you, d'Eon." Marie replied quickly, stepping forwards and waving to the snowman with a bright smile. "You were the one who made them so you should give them a name. Besides, I think they look very charming for a first time effort of a snowman. Don't you, Olga?"

Ritsuka leaned to the side to look at the expression of the Director, her features pinched before they relaxed and she waved a hand. "It looks very…expected of a snowman. Though I am not one to ask about such things. It never held much relevance before and I have little need to change such a thing now." a scoff as she turned her head from them. "You would all be better informed than myself."

"Is that truly the case?" Sasaki commented as he placed the stones in his eyes. "I would have thought that modern humans celebrated Christmas a great deal more than those in the past. Especially considering that it did not even exist for me, not in the way you would have expected." he turned to them with a raised eyebrow. "Were you not one of the humans who frolicked about in the snowy fields, throwing balls of ice at one another and making angels in the snow?"

Olga let out a noise and regarded him with a mildly annoyed look. "Are you mocking me? Do I seem to be the sort to waste my time with such frivolous things? I was much too busy with important efforts."

"Really? You seem to be rather festive to me." Sasaki pointedly looked her up and down, the smirk widened just a touch. "Especially given your current attire. I would say you are more in touch with the holidays than myself at this point."

"S-shut up! This has nothing to do with the holidays!"

"You imply that you would wear such outfits any other day of the year?" A look of faux surprise from the man with a tone to match, nodding his head to the side. "Perhaps I misjudged you quite a bit. Though you do have some confidence about you, maybe I am more the fool for thinking you would not be willing to partake." a moment of silence. "When the holiday of easter rolls around, shall I expect a bunny outfit?"

An image popped into his head.

…It didn't leave quite as swiftly as it had arrived and he was a little guilty about that. Mainly because even with a bunny onesie, he suspected that it would have been just as good. He rolled his lips and looked to the side, both to hide his smile and hopefully any indication as to what he was thinking.

He was treated to the sounds of the Director making a series of noises that barely even sounded human, his lips pursed and he bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself from laughing at the sounds. It worked, allowing him to chance a glance to see her face was apple red, cheeks puffed out and eyes wide. The image of her head just blowing up played on repeat inside his head because of how it looked to him.

Though that wasn't nearly as much of a surprise as Marie just behind the Director with a distant look in her eyes as she was seemingly debating something. Something flickered through her eyes for a moment as she looked down at herself and released a small hum for a moment before bringing her head up and speaking rather suddenly. "Do you think that's the sort of thing we should do? I think I would look rather cute as a bunny rabbit. What do you think, d'Eon? Maybe we should do some animal themed costumes for later in the year!"

He coughed out a snort at the same time d'Eon froze up at the sudden question, their eyes flickered around for a moment before they replied. "I…I'm sure that you would look most eye-catching in the costume of an animal, your majesty. Though I am a touch worried about your appearance if you were to walk around with a costume of sorts…but if that is what you feel like doing-"

"You mean you wouldn't join me?" Ah, she used the puppy dog eyes on d'Eon. Something they were clearly weak too if the visible flinch was any indication. The fact that Marie even took off her hat and held it below her chin with both hands and a quivering lip showed she was clearly something of a master when it came to it.

Naturally, d'Eon folded instantly.

He was just glad she hadn't asked him.

She wouldn't have even needed to do the puppy dog eyes.

With a smile, she placed the hat back atop her head.

"Do not expect the same of me." Santoria scoffed from her spot. "This is an exception and nothing more. The notion of adorning myself with the ears of a mere rabbit. Laughable."

He shrugged "Never say never and all that."

"What was that, Rudolf?"

"Nothing, Santa."

"Hmph."

Mash chose that moment to speak up. "I don't think we have enough materials to even make all those sorts of costumes to begin with, your majesty." sounding apologetic, she let out a sigh. "Maybe if we traded but we need to think about our own supplies first and foremost…maybe if we have some left over we might be able to?"

"I draw the line at dressing up as cuddly animals." The Director barged in at the tail end of the conversation with a hard tone of voice, pointing down as she did so and with narrowed eyes. "This is the very limit of what I can entertain. You shall not catch me dressed as a fox or a bear or a raccoon or a hamster or any other sort of animal. This is only because of the situation and certainly not because I like it!" she whirled on Sasaki. "And don't look at me with that smirk as though you know better! I'm not going to dress up like some sort of pantomime actor for a holiday!"

Sasaki kept on smiling. "I never inferred you would perform for the theatre. That aside, Master." he blinked as the Assassin turned on him. "I believe that the honour of placing the final piece should fall to you. As you are here…though I am saddened by our lack of carrots, I believe that a stone shall suffice."

Carrots?

He turned to Santoria-

"Every carrot you trade is one you shall not eat." They responded without even missing a beat. "They are for your consumption, not to serve as decorations. Food is to be eaten, not worn."

Stones it was then, he turned back to Sasaki and approached the man as he held out a small rounded stone towards him, the only spot left on the snowman's face was where the nose would go, a curved dotted row of pebbles serving as a smiling mouth and two slightly larger stones as his eyes.

It was oddly cute in a way, taking the stone from Sasaki, he nodded his head to the man in thanks and stood directly before the snowman. With a gentle hum, he approached it and placed it where it best served its purpose.

"Excellent." Sasaki commented from behind him. "I believe this is enough time. You may begin, Astolfo."

Astolfo was here? But how come he didn't see-

The head of the snowman abruptly separated from the rest of the body, a pair of arms burst from the side and grabbed it and pulled upwards, his eyes widened as a rush of pink burst out from the body and shot upwards, time slowed as he stumbled backwards, mouth parting in shock as the Paladin in question emerged from within the snowman itself, maniac grin on their face as they held the rounded ball of snow above their head with only one intention.

"Oh-!"

With a predatory glow in Astolfo's eyes, he swung the snow downwards before he could even move, his world turned dark and cold in the next moment as his vision was blocked out, quickly coming to the realisation that the head of the snowman had just been dropped on him, his surprise left him unable to do anything as something placed itself behind his legs and he was shoved backwards, slipping up and falling down with a muffled crunch all around him.

Even still, he heard the yell of Astolfo loud and clear.

"Snowball fight!"

It had happened in an instant, one second she had been suffering from yet another case of insanity induced by whatever this was supposed to be - something she was suffering from with disturbing frequency - and then in the next moment the snowman blew up to reveal the Paladin Astolfo who then slammed a ball of snow onto his Masters head and threw them into the ground all while cackling like they were insane.

No, not like they were insane.

They were insane, that was the only answer she could conclude.

"Snowball fight!" Astolfo bellowed at the top of his lungs, she froze on the spot when his eyes snapped to her with clear intent behind them, shooting down and scooping up a handful of snow and then swinging it towards her, she dropped down as it sailed overhead.

"Wha-"

Something cold slammed into her face and she fell backwards, coughing from the shock of it as she did so. It wasn't that it hurt, more the surprise of actually being struck in the face, she brought her arm up and wiped her face clean and looked to the direction the attack came from. Chevalier d'Eon was already going for yet another one when they suddenly rolled to the side to avoid a counter attack from Marie, the Rider stepped over her defensively.

"That was a sneaky ploy of yours, d'Eon!" Marie accused but for whatever reason, she didn't sound as though she was angry at all. Instead it was as though she was about to start laughing. "Was this your goal from the start?"

A wry smile from the Servant and a shrug of the shoulders. "I believe you would encourage me to get into the spirit of the holidays, your majesty. Though it pains me to do anything that might harm you, I suspect you would enjoy this much more." their features narrowed as they dropped and rolled again, scooping up more snow and throwing it, Marie dodged with ease while she laughed joyously.

"Of course! Come at me d'Eon! I'll beat you!"

She was still sitting on the ground, flummoxed as a cry of effort and a noise snapped her head just in time to see Mash nail Astolfo in the face with a snowball and stagger them backwards. All while she paused after that and looked around. "Did I do that right?"

King Arthur merely grunted. "A suitable counter attack. Yet your opponent still stands. Carry on, Elf. Fight until they can stand against us no more. Those who challenge Santa must be shown the error of their ways."

The fact she said something like that with a straight face was utterly bewildering, she opened her mouth to call out what an utterly stupid act this all was before being struck in the face once again, the snow splattering against her left and earning a squeak from her, with a deft roll she avoided the next one and crawled along the ground until she was crouched down.

Sasaki Kojiro merely smiled at her as though nothing was wrong, his hands came out of his sleeves with another sphere of snow in his hands.

That was when Fujimaru burst from the snow and threw it off his face, sweeping around with a look on his face just as insane as Astolfo. His eyes darted around until they landed on the Paladin, the two of them stared down the other until they both dropped and grabbed the snow. Instantly leaping away from the other and throwing their ammo at their opponent, laughing all the while.

"Good aim Master!" Astolfo called out, sliding to a halt before they finished. "That is, if you were aiming to send the snow back home!"

"Just keep talking, Astolfo!" Fujimaru called back as he squared his posture. "I'm carrying the pride of Rudolf right now. No way am I losing in a snowball fight!"

"Hahahahaha! You'll never beat me! As long as the moon shines, my power is blessed like that of a Paladin!"

Another snowball hit her face.

She snarled and didn't even hesitate, turning on Sasaki and scooping her hands down into the snow and rising up. Yelling as she returned attack on the Assassin. "Stop throwing snow at me!"

He sidestepped her with ease, the raised eyebrow he sent her all but confirmed he was mocking her.

She felt her veins bulge and only a single look ran through her mind. She was going to wipe that look off his face.

"Mash!" She called out to the Shielder and dropped down, grabbing more snow as she did so. "You're going to help me, now!" not even waiting for a response, she hurled the next batch of snow towards the man who danced around her attacks as though they were nothing.

She caught King Arthur watching the proceedings with a dispassionate look. "Why aren't you doing anything?"

A scoff.

"For what reason would I do so? This is the role of Santa's helpers."

"I'm not an El-"

A snowball to the face cut her off, she let out a scream of fury as she ignored them and went back to throwing back at the Assassin.