Mystery Sign Theater 3000, Wednesday Afternoon

[spin_kick_snap]

It was December now, which meant that it was officially time to get into the Christmas spirit! And Kathy could think of no better way to do that than by introducing people to some of the Christmas classics--on the big screen no less! Today, the theater was showing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Santa hat firmly on her head, Kathy was prepared to

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[not_every_mage]

Anders pushed his hat out of his face, scrunching his nose impatiently as he did. He didn't mind the hat so much, but he wished it would stay out of his eyes.

"Good, because I didn't understand it at all last year," he said, with a little laugh. "I got that somebody brings gift because somebody else was born in a manger. Which doesn't make any sense, by the way."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Which part? The getting presents bit or the being born in a manger?" Kathy asked, signaling for more butter. Even if they were only going to be here for an hour, there was no point in not trying for a snack-induced heart attack. "Because the second one was an accident, pretty much. Everywhere else was full."

[not_every_mage]

Anders watched the attendant add the butter, and tapped the case to ask for some M&Ms as well. Popcorn was just better with chocolate.

"No, I understand that," he said. "But I don't understand why one person being born means other people give gifts. We don't give presents on Andraste's birthday."

[spin_kick_snap]

Anders had an excellent point. At least about chocolate and popcorn.

"But think of how much better her birthday would be if you did," Kathy suggested cheerfully. Though Anders had asked a real question and deserved a real answer for it. "My guess though is it's a mix of reasons. The story of Jesus's birth involve three wise men traveling from afar to find him and giving him gifts once they got there. Also, when Christianity was spreading, they coopted a lot of pagan celebrations to make it people want to convert. Odds are good that at least some of the midwinter holidays it incorporated involved gift-giving, so early Christians were just, 'Oh, you give presents? Cool, cool, we do that too, but to celebrate Christ not the pagan goddess Wulfa.'" She dimpled at him. "Christians. We're just like you."

[not_every_mage]

"Convert everybody by stealing their best traditions," Anders said, half-serious. "I like it. I'll have to borrow that when I start my religion. And the presents part,of course."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Don't let Cassandra hear you say that," Kathy teased, snacks in hand and heading towards the screening area. The movie was scheduled to start in less than five minutes and heaven forbid Anders miss a single frame. "I mean, not unless your plan is to make your getaway while the heart attack hits."

[not_every_mage]

Anders snickered. "She doesn't need to worry. I'm too lazy to start a religion anyhow. Though pretending I want to could be funny."

He snuck some popcorn from the bucket as they slid into a pair of seats toward the middle-front of the theater.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I think you should," Kathy said, putting her feet on the back of the chair in front of her. Like a rebel. "But make sure I'm there to trip her up as you make your getaway."

[not_every_mage]

"You've always been my hero," Anders sighed easily, slouching lower in his seat. He opened the M&Ms to shake them into the popcorn. "So what exactly are we going to see, anyhow?"

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy reached over to snag a handful as soon as Anders was done adding the candy. "A movie about a reindeer!" she said with far more enthusiasm than might have been appropriate for that description. "And an elf that wants to be a dentist! And a miner and the abominable snowman!"

Beat.

"It makes more sense when you watch it."

[not_every_mage]

"I'll take your word for it" Anders decided. "Why can't the elf be a dentist if he wants to be? They have teeth."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Because all the elves have to work in Santa's toy workshops," Kathy explained. "Making toys for all the good boys and girls throughout the year."

[not_every_mage]

Anders looked at her as if she'd sprouted a second head. "So the elves are slaves? And this is a story for children?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"No, they're not--" Kathy hadn't thought of it like that, but she couldn't pull up any evidence to the contrary. "Hmm."

Well. This was interesting.

[not_every_mage]

"Well, if they have to make toys all the time and they don't get a choice, it certainly sounds like slavery to me," Anders noted, and grabbed a handful of candied popcorn. "Are you going to worry about the elves now?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Honestly, Anders," Kathy sniffed. "They're imaginary, it would be ridiculous to get all worried about them."

There was a long pause.

"...Okay, yeah. Yeah I am."

He'd called it.