[hider=Christmas Cheer]
They were evil, really.

Pulling what they did. Playing the cards they did to get him to agree to this. He [i]shouldn’t[/i] have agreed to this. It was ridiculous. They could have been doing real work instead of this. But, he remembered as a grin slipped across his face, he’d turned it around on them. A Santa couldn’t be seen without his elves, now could he?

Because for the next eight hours, that’s who Ben was. Santa. A local charity handed out presents every Christmas, and they had someone to dress up as their Santa every year. [i]This[/i] year their Santa was ill at the last minute, and in desperation they had posted a call for a replacement everywhere they could. Postings Bastille had seen while on a trip to the city.

Exactly how Ben was strong-armed into showing up to volunteer he couldn’t recall, though he knew there was a lot of guilt-tripping involved. Guilt trips he had immediately turned around on them in front of the event organizers, telling them all about how great it would be for the kids to see a whole team of huntsman and huntresses handing out presents, how ASL would be [i]perfect[/i] for it, et cetera, et cetera. It made the whole event worth it to see the look on Amy’s face when she realized she’d have to work with kids all day.

Honestly, though, he was enjoying it. They were having [i]fun[/i]. Lauren had started a pillow fight after arguing with Amy about the best way to pad Ben’s stomach (using the intended padding) even though it was clear neither of them had any experience with padding. Sangue tried to stay out of the line of fire, and was busy using her new arm to help adjust his wig. The fine motor practice was good for her, and [i]someone[/i] had to be getting work done. The other two returned to task relatively quickly to make sure the normally lithe Ben was big enough to be old Saint Nick, then spent an hour critiquing his jolly voice. 

Despite it all (or perhaps because of it) Ben was ready at nine o’clock sharp, stepping out to a big, green, red and gold chair in front of a long line of kids with a wave of his hand and the jolliest laugh he could manage. The charity had the whole day planned out; he was going to read a Christmas story every few hours, the rest of Bastille would help keep the kids waiting in line engaged, and halfway through he’d get a break to get something to eat [i]other[/i] than the milk and cookies he had to eat during every story he read. The kids came up one by one, had a brief little conversation with him, he’d make a big show of hemming and hawing over the presents in his bag, pick one out, pose for a picture, and the boy or girl would go on their way happy as could be. 

It didn’t take long for him to really start having fun with the role, the delight on everyone’s faces was a fantastic mood booster. Which he supposed was the point; winter was the hardest time of year. Especially in times past. The weather frequently claimed the unwary or unprepared, the Grimm were harder to fight, and the negative atmosphere just attracted more of them.

But Christmas raised everyone’s spirits. It didn’t matter how old you were. Kids looked forward to seeing Santa, adults looked forward to seeing family. Parents looked forward all year long to seeing the looks on their children’s faces. Christmas cheer, quite literally, held the darkness at bay. 

Ben was more than happy to help with that.

“It’s almost time.” He murmured under his breath as he finished his last story, something Sangue nodded her head at and slipped around back. She wasn’t comfortable speaking, let alone singing, out loud in front of a crowd yet. Which worked out fine, since someone needed to handle the equipment for the finale.

Meanwhile, Lauren and Amy took center stage to sing carols. He had suggested “White Christmas”, but Lauren had shot him down. Vehemently. She insisted that the two of them would pick the carol, and he would have to trust them. Not the most comforting thing to hear under the circumstances, but he [i]did[/i] trust them. Trust that was well placed, in fact; while he made the preparations for his part of the finale, he could hear them singing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”.

It was good he didn’t have much prep to do, because he couldn’t help but watch with a wide grin behind his beard. He knew some of them had been a little reluctant to take part, but they’d found their enthusiasm too. For Lauren it may have been as simple as enjoying the hype such an event created, for Amy… Who knew. It was hard to tell. But she seemed to be enjoying it. He hoped Sangue was, too. But he’d have to ask her later. It was almost his cue.

He pressed the buttons on the Aura batteries tucked up his sleeves and felt his Aura reserves swell, more than enough for what he needed. Amy and Lauren stepped back, their carol finished, and Ben rose up from his chair and walked towards the center of his little stage. 

Most of the kids had stuck around or come back later, the organizers had been sure to notify everyone that something special would happen at the end. The carol was the first part, but the [i]real[/i] show was just about to start.

“You’re all wonderful children,” Ben started, clasping both hands in front of him and smiling out at the gathered crowd. “I’m glad I was able to be here today, before my busy night. You’ve all been very good this year. I’m proud of you, and I hope you enjoy your gifts tomorrow.”

“My elves,” He gestured with one hand to Amy and Lauren. “Want to thank you, too. They don’t get to leave the North Pole often, and you have been [i]such[/i] fun for them to play with.”

“[i]But[/i], I must be going. I have a lot to do tonight.” Bastille’s leader had a wide grin tucked under his beard, one growing bigger by the instant, as he gave the crowd a knowing look. “I’d have loved to take my sleigh here, but my team has been getting ready for tonight. I’ll have to get out of here myself.”

“I wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!” 

Ben threw his mostly empty sack over his shoulder, crouched low, and [i]leaped[/i]. He soared upwards to the delighted roar of the people below him, flying up and up and up in a vast arc that took him up and over the building behind the little square. To everyone on the ground it looked like he had simply flown away.

That bit had been his own idea. Something to make the magic of Santa seem a little more… Tangible.

The problem, though, was that now he had to [i]land[/i].

Which was why Sangue was holding a net as taut as she could over a large snowbank below him as he started falling to earth. It wasn’t enough to catch him; he tore right through it and into the snowbank, just like they thought he would, but it helped slow him down. The snow cushioned his fall, and his Aura did the rest. Not to say it felt comfortable.

Sangue was already peering down at him when he climbed his way out of the Ben-shaped hole.

“Are… you okay?”

“Yeah, Sangue, I’m great.” He answered with a little laugh. “Went well, don’t you think?”

“Yes. It was… Fun.”

“I think so too. Let’s go get Amy and Lauren before they get into mischief.”
[/hider]