Almost Weekly Santa Alter: I

Snow and ice blanketed the ground as far as the eye could see, only intermittent with the presence of the occasional tree which broke up the horizon of nothing, yet to the north there lay a wall of green, towering in the distance were the barren trunks of frosted wood, resting at the summit were sharp leaves pointed like spears.

A touch of wind blew through, carrying a thin mist along the surface of the ground.

A beat of silence as the world fell silent for all to hear, if there had been any at all.

Then the silence shattered, a flash of light as a pillar ripped up through the ground with a screech, from the light a figure tumbled forwards and directly into the snow, dropping onto their hands and knees as they did so, laboured breathing echoing out just above the wind accompanied by a short series of coughs.

Maroon red fabric coated a sheet of chainmail, embroidered patterns ran down the front from the collar to the waist, curved steel moulded to the body with grooves running across its face was strapped to the left shoulder, to the right was a smaller series of shield shaped plates that ran down the course of the arm, approaching the elbow.

On the end of either hands were thick steel gauntlets strapped over old brown leather gloves, the owner pulled them from the snow and rested them on their lap for a moment, the helmet that covered the head turned left and right, a sharp row of spikes shaped into a crown sat atop the helm before the hands moved up, clasping the side and pulling upwards.

Matty blonde hair and piercing green eyes swept over the landscape. The helm's body crumbled, turning to dust and flowing back into the man, as though it became one with their body. The only sound to be made next was when their body rose up, the creak of leather and the clang of moving steel followed by the crunch of snow as they adjusted their footing.

From behind them billowed a black cape, pulled from another set and draped across their shoulders. Even if they had changed the armour from the last instance, this remained with them. It was something that was demanded last time and he knew not why he allowed it to remain. Only that it did.

They looked left and right, rolling their shoulders and then moving their hand towards their pocket, pulling forth a disk of shiny metal and pressing a glowing button on its skin.

Light burst upwards, crackling for a moment before forming a paper thin sheet of blue which swiftly took the form of a face.

"I've arrived within the land without incident." Ash spoke, keeping his words short as he surveyed his location. "By all accounts, there has been little to concern my coming here beyond a faint strain on my person but little else. What of your end?"

Silence.

"Romani?"

"Hm?" The doctor blinked as he was quizzed again, jumping in his chair before letting out a small noise, bringing his hand up to rub his head. "Sorry, just still getting over it. I mean…we need to use Rayshifting and even then we need a Singularity and you can just appear in this location just by focusing really hard and cracking one of those summoning stones? It feels a bit strange…"

Ash remained silent, not sure of what he could say.

"But your readings look a little on edge but that's not surprising. The moment you arrived we picked it up on the sensors as a micro singularity. It's stable for the moment…" Romani trailed off, showing another flare of discomfort before shaking his head. "Still getting around this is all. Sorry."

"I don't consider it something to apologise over."

"Hmmm." The hum from the man didn't sound as though he was convinced and Ash dismissed it as a difference of opinion, putting it to the side.

Then again, this was a Singularity he had gone out of his way to create just through his arrival. As expected, it had worked out and it had been formed. All they needed to do now was start bringing the other Servants down and then work could begin in earnest.

"Well, we should be able to make use of the Lordvessel summoning and send Servants down in the same way that we sent down Leonidas to the Scandinavian Singularity." A beat before the doctor frowned. "Those without Independent Action are gonna be hit rough by it. Probably the same sort of cost to it without a proper Master, human strength or thereabouts which is pretty debilitating for a Servant but we're not aiming for a fight."

Not if he could help it, no.

"I can give you some time to put out some distance from your current location. Then if all else goes according to plan, the others should be alerted and then Saber can take them out on the plan you've all prepared for them." Another bout of silence, the doctor's frown deepened a touch and concern seeped into his eyes. "Though I have to say-"

He shook his head from side to side, silencing the doctor before he could get another word out. Already knowing what they were likely to say and it was by no means the fault of Romani what would happen next. "With or without your permission, this would have occurred. This way there is some semblance of control over what will occur and you can be alerted to unexpected variables. Besides…travelling to the acclaimed home of Santa during the time of Christmas will likely mean more than a festival in the simulator."

And it would allow his nature to actually benefit those he was sworn to, even if he didn't understand, he knew that this would play out in a way that would make Ritsuka and Olga happy in the end. For whatever discomfort he felt in participating, he was put at ease by that thought alone.

Romani remained silent, then shrugged his shoulders and brought his hands up. "If you say so. Once Fujimaru-kun and the Director are down, then we can start getting to work on getting the others down discreetly. Pharros said she has a way of keeping Leo out of the loop long enough for me to get all the Servants down for help. It'll be up to the rest of you from there if you really want this to be a surprise."

He nodded his head, then paused for a moment to furrow his brows. "You are certain that Leonardo would be unable to attend as well?"

A wry chuckle was his response. "Not without tipping her off that there was something going on. Besides, Leo knows pretty well that I'm a little against the idea of sending her down on Rayshifts with Fujimaru-kun." bringing his hand up, he scratched the side of his neck and offered an apologetic look. "It's come back to bite us now because if I suddenly change my mind-"

Ash understood. Leonardo was no fool and she would almost certainly come to the conclusion that something had spurred Romani's decision and that would ultimately lead to the problem of Berserker's efforts being uncovered. Much to the Servant's sadness when that was revealed to him but he opted to provide a gift to 'Vinci' when they returned to commemorate the occasion.

"In that case, I shall begin my trek of this land and discover the extent of the Singularities' influence. If any creatures have started to slip through the gaps into this small location, I can do my best to thin the herd before they approach Ritsuka and the others." He declared, giving a single look to his surroundings and then turning his eyes back to Romani. "Until we speak again, pass along my words to Berserker and the others."

Romani nodded. "Will do, and Ash?"

"Hm?"

A flicker of hesitation, then a gentle smile. "Thank you for helping to do this for them. Even if it might get us to catch hell…I think it's a really good thing you're doing."

He stared, then thinned his lips and grunted once as he turned the communicator off, returning it to its place in his pocket. Even if Romani were to provide him with those words, they meant next to nothing within his heart. He did not feel as though he was doing a good thing but he knew that he should have been. Closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath and then let out a long sigh before opening his eyes once more.

Whether he felt it or not, this would be a good thing for Ritsuka and Olga. It had to be.

With those thoughts in his mind, he started his trek forwards and wading through the snow, he would need to find a good location for Berserker and the others to start setting up when they arrived. Establishing a summoning point for them with the stones and then allowing for transport to and from the Singularity to the best of their abilities. He was already using his bottomless box to carry the supplies they had pre-prepared.

All that remained was to assemble everything and hope they had enough time for it.

He supposed the biggest danger was stray Servants, they normally appeared in micro singularities the longer they went on. Unless he could convince them to avoid causing trouble.

Ash shook his head.

A problem for another time.

For now, he needed to focus on finding the perfect location to set up camp.


"Gugh?" That was the eloquent response that escaped his lips as a sudden knock rang through his head, the metallic drumming forcibly dragging him from his sleep, his eyes snapping open and his hands already moving towards his face, his palms rubbed over his eyes as his lips parted and a yawn escaped him.

He could remember a time when he might have been more excited about today, where he would have instantly rushed out of bed before anyone got to him or where he would have stayed awake all night before just in case he accidentally missed Santa. Something he always ended up doing but still, it was something that he would do.

Now though?

He'd almost forgotten until Mash reminded him it was Christmas eve yesterday.

Another knock at the door, he let out a low groan as he started to pull himself upwards. The door hissed from across the room and he thought for a moment whoever had been knocking instead just opened the door, he dragged his eyes down his face and turned towards the doorway only to find himself blinking in surprise as he found himself staring at someone's back rather than their front, looming through the doorway and speaking a moment later.

"If this is not of the highest importance, then I shall be displeased. He requires his rest, that which he has been lacking lately. " His hands rubbed his eyes again to try and make sense of what he was seeing and sure enough, he couldn't understand it the second time around. "If there is a message, relay it to me and I shall pass it along when he has awoken. Not before."

He wasn't sure whether the silence was because he was shocked or the person on the other side of the door was shocked, either way the silence now purveyed through the room and he was most certainly awake now, shooting up in his bed and glueing his eyes to the back of the silver main of hair that stood in the doorway.

Gradually, his eyes peeled away and towards the shape he saw next to his bed and understanding started to blossom in his mind. Directly next to his bed close to his head was a simple wooden chair, positioned in such a way that the one sitting down would be able to look directly at his face, his eyes shifted back to the individuals in question and he found himself unable to speak. Not sure of what he was supposed to even begin saying.

"U-uhm-Gwyndolin-san?" The bewildered voice of Mash came from directly in front of the person in question, the God being in the doorway and blocking all sight in or out of the room by being positioned in there. "I-eh? Why are you-? This is Senpai's room though-?"

"I am aware of the room." Gwyndolin didn't miss a single beat and spoke with utter confidence. "And the occupant. Whom you have likely disturbed from a welcome rest after his long hours of work. A reason for which I have yet to be provided with, speak quickly else I shall merely deposit you elsewhere in the facility for another time."

He sounded serious as well.

"It's…eh?"

Mash didn't sound as though she knew how to respond to that, pulling him from his awe at the situation and quickly shaking his head from side to side before speaking up.

"I'm awake now." He called out, dragging the attention of the duo towards him, Gwyndolin turned to the side and Mash pulled her eyes from the God and towards him, offering a smile of greeting as she did so. "Something the matter, Mash?"

She looked between Gwyndolin and himself several times before clearing her throat. "The Director sent me to get you, she said there was something concerning being seen in Chaldeas which might be evidence of a minute singularity. She wanted us to get ready to investigate it." There was a brief pause, then her expression turned apologetic as her next words were delivered with a note of hesitation. "Merry Christmas, by the way, Senpai."

A snort escaped him, his hands rubbed at his forehead once more, a smile formed on his lips and he nodded back to the girl. "Merry Christmas to you too, Mash…you as well Gwyndolin."

"...I shall assume this is some manner of human holiday." Was the reply from the God in question, though he was a little caught off guard by the words which soon followed. "Thus, I shall participate. Merry Christmas to you as well, Ritsuka."

His hands came down, he stared at Gwyndolin for a moment in surprise, with the lack of the sun like helm the expression of the God was on full display, a ghost of a smile on their lips and a faint hint of warmth in their eyes as they stared back at him. Something almost unearthly about their expression which nearly had him blush at them, though he managed to control himself at the last moment, clearing his throat as he did so.

"I'll head up to the command room in a second Mash, just need to get changed." He swept his legs over the side of the bed as he did so and onto the floor. A beat, the girl nodded but her eyes remained on Gwyndolin who didn't seem as though they were actually going to move. Ritsuka cleared his throat once again. "I'm getting changed."

Gwyndolin hummed. "I heard you the first time."

His expression strained. "...Which is something I normally do alone."

"Are you ashamed of your body?"

"No, but-"

"Then there is nothing to worry yourself with." As if on cue, the snake feet rose up and turned to him as one as Gwyndolin flourished an arm towards them. "Nothing you show me can ever be as physically deformed as this. Thus you have no reason to hide yourself from me." The smile they offered was almost beautiful, were it not for the mildly troubling problems associated with it. "I am fine with you changing."

"...I'd still rather be alone."

Gwyndolin was silent for a moment, their expression looked dangerously close to falling for a moment yet it was held back, a sharp intake of breath and a sigh later, they nodded their head and closed their eyes. "Very well. Then I shall ensure you are greeted with privacy in this matter."

They started to move towards the wardrobe a moment later, the confusion Ritsuka felt lasted until they gripped the handles and swung them aside, revealing the contents to the world and for Ritsuka, it felt like he was going through some sort of roller coaster ride of emotion as he found himself staring at the unashamed face of Kiyohime within the wardrobe, in between his shirts and trousers.

Ritsuka opened his mouth, then promptly closed it again as he opted against speaking.

Gwyndolin made a noise as they snapped their fingers, Kiyohime was bound in bright golden chains a moment later, making a small noise as she toppled forwards and was only spared by Gwyndolin grabbing the back of the chains as he stepped aside, keeping her dangling in the air as he did so, showing an utter lack of chair as he stared to move once more, dragging Kiyohime behind him as he did so, ignoring her struggling.

"Wait, this is a chance." The Berserker all but begged as she was pulled along. "Besides, I was only there because you snuck into his room in the middle of the night! I was making sure you weren't making moves on a sleeping Anchin-sama! You got to stare at his peaceful face all night! This isn't fair!"

Her arguments died away as the pair moved past Mash and disappeared down the hallway, their volume fading away into the distance as they moved further and further away. Mash was rapidly glancing between the two locations with wide eyes, opening and closing her mouth several times as she did so. "Wha…?"

"I'm just not gonna question it anymore." He declared to her with a shrug, for whatever reason, he wasn't all that bothered by this sort of thing anymore. It probably said a lot more about his newfound tolerance than anything else. "See you in a moment Mash."

She looked like she wanted to say a little more but somehow managed to hold herself back, perhaps because she was still shocked at the turn of events which came from rather out of left field, in his own opinion at least. Nodding to him, she stepped back and let the door close once more.

"Happy Holidays, huh?" He grumbled to himself as he pushed his way out of bed.


"Merry Christmas, Director." He greeted the woman the moment he stepped into the command room, she looked over her shoulder towards him and blinked twice before making a small noise and nodding her head back to him.

"A-ah, yes. Merry Christmas." Clearing her throat, she stepped back from the monitor she had been leaning over and turned to face himself and Mash, folding her arms over her chest as she did so. A little bit of surprise on her face faded away, replaced by her usual business-like expression. "Though the merriment of Holidays will have to wait for the time being. Romani detected a minute Singularity in the early hours of the morning, one that he assumed would have disappeared within the span of an hour…and has shown signs of stabling."

He placed his hands on his hips. "So that means that something is keeping it active?"

"Correct." A frown formed on her lips. "The location is coincidental enough that it warrants further investigation. Regardless of all of that, we will need to determine its impact and how it has formed into a Singularity in the first place. Especially given that it occupies a location far enough away from any human settlement of the time and extends over a range of ten miles squared."

Considering he wasn't all that good when it came to geography, he couldn't really tell if that was large or small. Ten miles sounded pretty big but she made it sound so small. Then again, he could make out the gist of what she was saying. "So it's somehow stable despite not really looking like it's a threat to human history? I thought that those ones were supposed to fizzle out or something."

"They normally would, Senpai." Mash said, he looked at her as she continued on. "This sort of situation means that there is something inside of the Singularity that is keeping it active. Like a Holy Grail."

"All of the Holy Grails are accounted for and are now under heaviest guard." The Director spoke before he could ask the obvious question. "If the cause is the presence of a Holy Grail, then it is not one that we possess and there has been little evidence of any Servants somehow being able to depart Chaldea since that last incident."

That was reassuring, at least.

Clearing his throat, he raised his right hand slightly "So where is the Singularity anyway? You said something that the location was weird?"

A tiny wince from the Director, she turned and looked down at the monitor and towards the doctor who was still sitting down there. He saw the look the man shot back towards her, coupled with the shrug of the shoulders before silently turning around, giving him a wave as he did so.

With a sigh, the woman brought her hand up and placed it on her forehead, rubbing her fingers along it. "The location of the Singularity is within Finland during the eighth century, more specifically…it's located in the territory which will become known as Lapland."

Lapland.

He blinked twice, then an additional time as the name bounced around in his head. His lips rolled inwards as he suppressed the wheeze that was building up in the back of his throat, raising a single finger and then speaking, his voice wavering with amusement. "La-Lapland."

The Director nodded her head. "Yes, Lapland."

"There's a Singularity…in Lapland…on Christmas day."

"...Yes."

"And it's far enough away from people that we can't figure out what the problem is?"

"I have explained as much."

There was only one logical conclusion that he could come up with as to why this was going to be a thing. Lowering the hand, he folded his arms over his chest and gave a single confident nod of the head. "Mash. I know what the problem is."

He felt her turn to him with surprise, a quick glance showed her eyes were wide with surprise. "You do Senpai?"

"Yes." He declared, his voice cracking once again as he tried to fight back the laughter. "We-we're - snrk - we're going to save Santa."

He closed his eyes the moment he finished speaking, wheezing to himself and slapping hand over his face. His body folded over as he staggered away, still laughing as he did so. Maybe it wasn't all that funny but it was something that lightened his mood at any rate, the joke was there and he had to make it.

The bout of laughter went on for a little while before he was able to calm himself down, though the moment he did he almost sent himself back into a string of giggles, namely because he brought his head back up and saw the face that the Director was giving him. It wasn't anger, just flat disappointment. It was rather funny with her half-lidded eyes and thinned lips, as though he went for the low hanging fruit she expected him to.

Her foot tapping on the floor finally cut it out with a final cough, his fist was placed in front of his mouth, coughing into and clearing his throat, regaining his composure as he did so and letting out a faint breath. Smacking his lips twice, he waved a hand to the room and tapped himself on the chest.

"Okay…yeah, I got that out of my system."

The Director maintained her look before she grunted. "At least you are able to maintain your high spirits. Though I would encourage you to practise your professionalism in keeping the jokes to the right time and place. Though it goes without saying that you shall obviously not be heading down in a Singularity to…save Santa."

The fact she cringed at her own words nearly did him in again, though he stopped it with another cough and a nod of the head. The Director was probably right, but it was something to make him feel better. "Joking aside, do we actually have any information or something on what's going down there?"

Romani swirled around in his chair with a troubled look. "To be honest? I'm inclined to say the entire area. From the looks of things, there isn't a single point of the Singularity that you can say is the problem location. It's more like the entire Singularity is the origin itself."

"Ah, so it's going to be one of those types of missions then." He replied to the man, looking to Mash and seeing her similarly troubled by the news or lack thereof. "Well, heading to Lapland on Christmas day has to count for something at least. Might even be considered prophetic."

Bringing up a thumb, he placed it against his chest "I'm just hoping I run into Santa claus. When else am I gonna get a chance like that?"

The Director sent him a look as though to silently question whether he was serious. He certainly was now, if he had doubted Santa before then he didn't anymore. If Halloween was actually about magical monsters crossing over from some underworld then he was now one-hundred percent inclined to believe that there was such a thing as a magic man delivering presents to everyone on Christmas day over the span of a single night.

"...I'm certain you are aware of the futility of that goal." Was the Director's reply, placing her hands on her hips, raising a single eyebrow at him as she did so. "There is little evidence to substantiate the claim that there is an entity that behaves as Santa does. More than likely they are an amalgamation of different cultural icons formed around the image of the Christian Saint Nicholas."

"...You could just say you don't believe in Santa." He pointed out, to which she sent him another look. "Though I'm a little surprised at that, Director. I would have thought people who did actual magic would be a little more accepting of Santa."

She gaped at that. "Wha-that-that has-that is completely and utterly…" she trailed off, closing her eyes and bringing a hand up to nurse her forehead once more. "...There is a marked difference between magecraft and the feats Santa would be capable. Within the Age of Gods? I would be almost certain he could have existed but certainly not within the modern day."

He wet his lips. "So what you're saying is…there's a chance Santa was real a long time ago?"

"Really?" Now Mash sounded rather excited, her eyes lit up as her lips parted. "That's right! The Age of Gods would have been the best time for Santa Claus to exist! Mysteries were stronger back then, so teleporting around the planet and ensuring there were enough presents for all the children would be something they could achieve! In fact, it is heavily implied that Santa Claus was initially inspired by Odin!"

Waving a hand towards Mash, he sent a challenging look to the Director, the hidden message of 'your move' passing along between the two of them. He could see Romani fighting back smiles behind her, slowly turning his chair around as his shoulders trembled up and down.

The Director's face went a rather interesting shade of red after that, her eyes narrowed and she opened her mouth to speak, raising a single finger before she lowered it down and clenched her jaw. "There. Is. No. Santa."

"What amusing words."

A presence flooded the room behind him, he caught the moment the previously frustrated Olga's expression turned as white as her hair, but that meant nothing when he recalled the voice and whirled around to face whoever had spoken. Light faded away as their body solidified, whatever he had to say died the moment he saw them.

"Would you make them again after seeing me, I wonder?" The altered Artoria asked with a tinge of challenge to them, a trace of a smirk on her lips as she leaned on one side, pale yellow eyes flickering up and down the Director behind him. "Or are you the type of fool who would deny evidence even when it stands before you?"

A scoff from Artoria. "No Santa, you say?"

She stepped backwards, bringing her hands up and gesturing to herself as she did so "What then, would you call me, Mage?"

He'd have called her Santa Claus without a second thought.

It was indeed King Arthur that he had fought in the past, twice now, but there was something about this that was jarring. He couldn't even begin to wrap his mind around what was standing before him, no matter how much he wanted to.

A simple black dress covering her body with a red and green bow tie around her collar, a black cape with fur lining and a velvet inside hung around her shoulders, thigh high boots with red heels and the same white fur around the top of them and topping it all off was the big furry santa hat in the same black colour scheme as the red of her attire. She reached down - black gloves with red palms and large rounded cuffs on either hand - and took hold of what she had placed on the floor as she left astral form.

It was a large white bag with the imprints of shapes poking through it, lifting the heavy looking bag up without even showing a hint of strain and slinging it over her shoulders. Artoria's pale eyes moved from the Director and then to him, with a piercing stare, she spoke in a tone of voice that demanded an answer.

"I ask of you, do you believe in Santa?"

"Yep."

The answer clearly pleased her if the touch of a smile was any indication, but it lasted so short a span of time that he wasn't even sure if he imagined it or not. Her cool features swept over the room as she took a single step and started to pace back and forth.

"I could sense the grief that troubled the homeland of Santa." Her voice echoed through the room, not a single person made a sound. "Obviously when such a time occurs, it is natural that Santa would be summoned to render aid unto it. I have stepped in to fulfil this role and naturally, you shall help me…after all, it is common knowledge that Santa is granted aid with helpers."

There was a blur of movement and then something hit him in the face and blacked out his vision, his hands scrambled up to take hold of whatever it was and then pull it away, with a noise of surprise he dragged it in front of himself, his brows crinkled as he stared at the brown colour and then started to turn it, the feeling of soft cotton was noted as he turned it until it felt as though it was the rightside up, then it dropped down to the ground, held up only by the shoulders he gripped it by.

It was a reindeer onesie.

He almost laughed then and there, lowering it down and opening his mouth to speak, then he cut himself off as he saw the look in the eyes of Santa Artoria - Santoria - and saw only a single universal truth. She was being absolutely serious. She fully expected him to put on this onesie and wear it. This time, the smirk she wore wasn't imagined in the least.

His eyes dragged themselves between the onesie and her several times before he asked the important question. "Will it keep me warm?"

"Are you stupid?" Santoria shot back at him with a blank look. "Do you think Santa would take such little care of his reindeer?"

That was probably going to be a yes for his question. It was good enough for him, folding the reindeer outfit over his arm and looking back to her, only to blink as she held something out towards him, a small red orb which was just large enough to cover his nose.

"Be honoured, Master. I am promoting you to Rudolf."

"Does it glow?"

"Yes."

"Alright then, thank you very much." He didn't even try to fight back the smile as he took the red nose from the hand of Santoria and stared at it, a bubble of laughter in the back of his throat was cut off by someone clearing their throat behind him. Turning around, he looked into the eyes of the Director as she was silently screaming at him through her eyes, likely asking what he was playing at.

"What?" He shrugged his shoulders once. "I'm going to Lapland with Santa. I've got a mystic code reindeer onesie with a nose that is said to light up. I'm not going to let this chance slip through my fingers."

Olga's eyes just bulged at him, opening and closing her mouth several times before she finally looked past him towards the direction of Santoria and pointed a single finger towards her. "This is too coincidental! She is definitely involved with it in some way! How did you do i-"

"You should cease your drivel, elf. I have no part in the creation of the Singularity." The brutal interruption from Santoria was without emotion, at the same time it meant Ritsuka nearly missed what she had just called the Director.

The woman in question clearly didn't as she looked as though she had been slapped, making a hacking noise before speaking again. "W-what did you just call me?"

"Did I stutter?" With another swipe of movement, something shot across the room and directly into the face of the Director, he leaned back to avoid it and then promptly felt his breath get caught in his throat as he recognised the shape. His eyes widened and he snapped his jaw shut with an audible click, watching as the Director fumbled through the attire on herself before pulling it away with a gasp.

She held the outfit in front of her, button up green coat, red and white striped tights and pointy green shoes. Not to mention the upwards pointing hat which matched the coat as well. It was, without a doubt, the most in your face elf outfit he had ever seen in his life and the demand was rather obvious.

Olga's face went bright red and the fact he couldn't see steam flying out of her ears was a true testament to her patience and ability. If he was being honest, she looked at the outfit as though she was going to try and immolate it with her eyes, then she whirled on Santoria with the exact same expression on her face as she opened her mouth.

"I-if you think you can just make me wear something as utterly stupid as this, then you're out of your damn mind! I will not be seen walking the facility looking like some manner of clown!"

Santoria just stared at her in silence.

Then her eyes narrowed. "Is that so?"

"Absolutely! In fact, I demand to know what you're even doing in that outfit in the first place? This is clearly some sort of mad scheme like that fiasco Nero came up with! Is she behind this one as well?"

"...Put on the uniform, elf."

"I'm doing no such thing and stop calling me elf!"

"Is that your final say on the matter?"

"It's my first and final say on the matter!"


The ceiling looked rather interesting all things considered, he'd never seen it look quite so cleaned in his life. He wondered how that had happened, did they have someone come around with a cloth and a bucket and just wipe down the ceiling or something. Then again, he imagined they wouldn't have to put up with cobwebs at least. They were probably really on top of that thing here in Chaldea.

Was he missing cobwebs all of a sudden? That would be strange.

"This uniform is strangely comfortable, Senpai!" Mash exclaimed with clear enthusiasm that he almost looked down, but he managed to save himself at the last second. He could still feel the burning glare in the side of his head, the clear warning that if he stopped staring at the ceiling, there would be consequences. "I'm not sure how to explain it, but I'm feeling absolutely overwhelmed with energy right now!"

"That's great, Mash." He replied to her, he meant it to. He was glad she was having fun like that and his private thoughts as to how Santoria managed to get outfits which fit him and Mash perfectly were put to the side. He assumed she would have gone to Da Vinci or something, especially if they were mystic codes of a sort. "I feel pretty good as well. Like I'm all tingly inside."

"Hmph. It is clear that you have started to feel the effects of the Christmas spirit." Santoria declared with absolute confidence. "It shall serve you well once we arrive, only those who are brimming with the spirit of Christmas shall demonstrate the greatest of abilities once we arrive. I shall not suffer naysayers…and stop staring at the ceiling. What use is a reindeer if their eyes are not on the front?"

As much as he would have liked to, mainly because his neck was starting to hurt a little, he got the strongest impression that if he did end up looking down, then he would really regret doing that. Mainly because of the other person that was currently in the room with them. Naturally, the moment Santoria spoke those words, the burning glare directed at him intensified.

"Just admiring the architecture."

"You may do that at your leisure when you return."

"Yeah…uhm…I…"

"If you cannot look down, then I will be forced to strap a harness to your head."

He could not have looked down fast enough, what greeted him was a smiling Mash, a stone faced Santoria and the bright red face of the Director who was now clad in the elf attire she had been vehemently denying the possibility of wearing until five minutes ago. He didn't know what Santoria said but it was clearly enough to get the Director to change her mind, sort of.

She glared at him and he now looked down towards his feet, he didn't have the heart to tell her that she looked quite nice in the outfit. He had a feeling that saying something like that would actually make the situation much worse, he spared her another glance and was met by the same embarrassed glare that she had been giving him since she got back.

Mash was wearing the same outfit though, he'd complimented her on it when she got back from changing.

Olga gave a sharp intake of breath, her eyes snapped shut and she placed her hands on her hips. The red started to depart from her features as she breathed in and out several times, eventually she lowered her hands to her side and let out a final long breath which seemed to drag out the last of her immediate anger. When she spoke, it was completely without emotion. "Word of this never leaves this single day. This is something that never happened. There was never a Singularity here. It was a training drill and that was it. Do we all understand?"

"Y-yes." He coughed out, wetting his lips as he did so and bringing his gaze towards Mash, who was similarly nodding her head up and down.

Santoria merely scoffed. "That depends upon your performance as an elf."

The Director twitched for a single moment, visibly fighting back the urge of saying something before her eyes opened up once more and she turned to Santoria. "Lets just get this over with."

"We await one final elf."

"Wha-"

"Wassup, everyone." The room turned to the direction of the entrance to the Rayshift chamber, it was a greeting that lacked the energy it used to but it was still rather light. Marie Antionette walked into the room with her hand raised, wearing an identical elf outfit to the ones that Mash and the Director were wearing.

Sapphire blue eyes swept over the room before they halted, Marie stopped walking the second her eyes fell onto everyone else in the room. Rather swiftly, her eyes widened and her hand dropped down to her side, life rushed back into her movements like a tsunami as she practically bounded towards them and let out a squeal as she did so. Being the closest to her, he was the first one she rushed towards as she stopped dead in front of him and brought her hands up to cover her mouth.

"It's so cuuuuuute!" It was a squeal in his face that with joy that was virtually infectious, his own smile built up at the same time he felt a rush of warmth through his cheeks as he turned away from her, not that it stopped the Rider from dancing either side of him and bouncing with excitement. "You've even got a little red nose and antlers! The little nose glows!"

She punctuated the statement by poking the nose with her finger, "Boop!" and then pulling it back and giggling to herself as she turned her eyes downwards and to what was around his neck, the amusement glowed brighter as she reached out and took the scarf into her hand and raised it up, the rainbow like pattern and ran her fingers over it. "This is very well made, I heard that there was someone in the staff who knitted. You're wearing it down?"

The scarf Maxwell knitted him was tied around his neck and draped over his shoulders, it seemed strange to go down to a cold location without it. A shrug and then a smile was his reply to her. "I think it's good to put it through its paces. Besides, it was a present and I want to at least show that I'm using it to the best of its abilities. Da Vinci even made it so I could wear it down to Singularities without worrying about wear and tear."

"That's so sweet…do you think he could make me something if I asked?"

"I'm sure he'd be happy with it, we'd need some more wool but we can have a look when we go down to resupply at a later date or something."

With another smile, this one reaching her eyes brightly, she turned from him and towards someone else, likely onto Mash given she rushed past him towards her and then stopped dead in front of the Shielder. "We match! It looks amazing! I thought I would be the only one who was wearing this but everyone else is as well…" she sniffled a little "It's amazing…"

Then she turned to the final person. "Olga." She nodded once to the woman, then slowly approached her before bringing her hands up and swinging them down onto the shoulders of the woman, dragging her close to the point they were nearly nose to nose. "...You rock that outfit."

He coughed into his hand, turning away and failing to hide the laughter, the fact Marie continued was incredible.

"That's the modern word for it, right? It feels right. You look really cute right now and we're matching outfits…I wasn't sure I'd be alright in this sort of thing but with everyone else ready to give it their all, I can do it as well, right?"

She locked an arm around the Director and drew her into a side hug, then did the same to Mash all while grinning from ear to ear, he might have even seen a couple of tears prickling in her eyes as she did so. "We're going to be the best Christmas elves to ever exist. I can already feel it."

Rituska fought back the grin that threatened to emerge on his face, only just though, but he managed to catch the moment where Mash's eyes burned with excitement, then moved his gaze onto the Director. Her expression remained frozen in a look of surprise, eyes focused on Marie now right next to her head before she made a small noise like clearing her throat, her eyes closed and she let out a sigh that sounded more like a groan of exasperation.

Peeling herself away from the group hug, she adjusted the coat she was wearing and tiredly waved her hand.

"Fine." She spoke with an exceedingly tired tone of voice. "At the very least it does not appear as though this Singularity is indeed something of a threat but the fact remains that it exists and therefore we are compelled to investigate…if these are the stipulations required for entry then I can justify this for a report."

He hadn't heard anything about the outfits being a compulsory requirement though.

"In any event, now that we are all assembled we would be best to depart." She carried on, either oblivious to or ignoring the bemused looks she was receiving in light of her explanation, even Marie looked a little puzzled by what she had said. "The cause of this Singularity must be investigated if we are to prevent it from occurring in the future. Now then. When shall we depart?"

Santoria chuckled wryly under her breath. "I am pleased to see that you have finally accepted your role as an elf. Perhaps if you could be honest with yourself-"

"I'm not an elf." Olga replied swiftly and narrowing her eyes at Santoria with a mild scowl on her face, her right hand came up as she pointed a finger at the Servant. "This is nothing more than a basic requirement for us to enter the Singularity. nothing else. Much like a Geas. That is what this is. We are under the influence of a Geas that requires us to enter while wearing such ridiculous outfits…where did these come from anyway?"

A moment to think and then she scowled. "It was Da Vinci, wasn't it?"

Santoria regarded her for barely a moment, then turned away. "It is not the place of an elf to question Santa. You merely assist."

"I'm not even an elf! I'm a human! I'm a human woman!"

Marie giggled, she approached from behind and then took hold of Olga's head before the woman could react, a moment later she was moving and placing something on the side of her head with speed that left the woman unable to react, when she pulled away he felt a strangled noise escape him and quickly slapped his hand over his mouth.

"You certainly share the appearance of an elf." Santoria declared with a smirk. "If it were not so, then I would not be Santa. Do you still claim that I am not who I say?"

The Director - now with pointy rubber tips on the ends of her ears - looked as though she was actually going to argue with her, but then snapped her jaw closed and turned to Marie, the Rider smiling innocently as she finished placing another set on the ears of Mash before finally moving to herself. After a beat, Olga made a tired noise. "Where did you get these?"

Marie just sent her an innocent smile without saying a word.

Olga only groaned in response.

"I'm sure you'll be fine, Director." He spoke with a reassuring voice. "It's the holidays anyway. I'm sure Romani would be wearing a santa hat or something if he was able-"

"There can be only one Santa." Santoria stated, brooking no room for argument.

"...Okay." He moved a hand towards his head before he paused, biting his lower lip. Should he call Ash? It was the holiday time but he still had no idea whether he was supposed to be able to do anything. Dragging him out would be just as bad if it ended up just not being something he enjoyed. No, when they got back from the Singularity he would try and take Ash to a little Christmas party or something. Casual just so he could get out and about.

"Let's get going then! We've got a Christmas to save!"