Audience - Jacopo

[holyspirits]

Comments

[obdure]

I'm familiar with Christmas, if this is supposed to be it.

[ He only recognizes the greens used like holly, etc. ]

Not so familiar with Santa Claus.

[holyspirits]

The Christmas you're used to may be closer to a traditional winter solstice. If I had to guess.

In other worlds the holiday is associated with a character from folklore named Santa Clause. He lives at the north pole and delivers gifts to children by morning. Among other details. These days his iconography is primarily used for marketing purposes.

[ :)! ]

[obdure]

So... This Christmas has nothing to do with the faith.

[ He is definitely confused about it, but folklore is understandable. If anything, he likes it more. ]

Normally, gifts are only exchanged between those with legal relationships, like landlord and tenant. It's celebrated as a festival, otherwise.

[holyspirits]

Christmas has a complicated history with faith where I'm from. It began under one faith before largely being culturally dominated as a holiday from another, and there are also many cultures who celebrate it despite not belonging to either faith. So the marketed image is easier to explain.

[ that's interesting though. ]

Where I'm from people exchange gifts with their family, friends, and partners.

[obdure]

I see. That's smart on an entrepreneur's part. Creating an inclusive holiday would stretch sales.

[ i personally think down with capitalism ]

Do you have a box under this tree, too?

[holyspirits]

Most holidays are like that, these days.

[ yay. ]

Yes. It's a feature of this place, so it happens for everyone.

[obdure]

[ Hm... Does he like that. Unsure. ]

Then would you like to open them together?

[ Might as well. ]

[holyspirits]

I would love to.

I don't get presents very often, so this will be a very exciting week.

[ not that this place goes away after a week. but the presents do every day. so. they're just weird? ]

[obdure]

Seeing as the last excursion area didn't disappear, the presents are likely to also stay. You can open one every day, if you wanted.

[ It's time to blind box.

He will open his and today it is a little pot of ointment (replica). ]

[holyspirits]

I probably will. It's fun. Oh, is this what gambling is like?

[ ... anyway, they open their gift too! it's a little music box. which pleases them, but they are more interested in leaning over to peek at his present. ]

What did you get?

[obdure]

A very safe sort of gambling, I guess.

[ And not drowning in debt. He looks over at theirs, curious about what it is, but... ]

It's the ointment I used to buy for someone. It's not that exciting, even though ointment was costly.

[holyspirits]

[ hum! ]

That's interesting. So the gift for you was a gift for someone else. What do you think that says?

[obdure]

[ Thinks on it, too. ]

It represents memories is the only thing that I can come up with.

[holyspirits]

Who was it for? Someone you love?

[obdure]

[ His fingers clench around the balm when they ask and his person shifts into a silhouette that's like a shattered broken mirror, reflecting only darkness.

But he returns to normal. ]

Once upon a time, I did care for them, yes.

[holyspirits]

[ ah... well that is such an obvious sign to stop talking about this that unfortunately they ignore because they have no tact at all. ]

And you stopped?

[obdure]

It's for the best.

[ NO TACT AT ALL. ]

You received a music box?

[holyspirits]

[ despite the zero tact they do think that's a reasonable and understandable answer so they nod. ]

I like music. And I suppose there could be a metaphor in there too.

[obdure]

[ Snorts. ]

Who doesn't like music? Only a madman. [ IMAGINE. ] You should play it. Let's hear the tune.

[holyspirits]

[ they laugh. ]

I agree. [ they wind it up to find out! it plays clair de lune. wow...! ]

[obdure]

[ he would not have been born by then ]

I've never heard this song.

[holyspirits]

Really? It's considered a classic, where I'm from. And it's royalty-free. [ ok ]

[obdure]

[ he is trying so hard... to understand what royalty-free can mean.

none of it makes sense. ]

What does that mean?

[holyspirits]

Oh, sorry. It means that you don't have to pay to use it.

[ that won't help. ]

[obdure]

... You have to pay to play the song?

[ THAT IS BULLSHIT ]