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[sommer_tobi]

The date hadn't escaped Tobi's attention. He'd known the day before, too and the week before that. It wasn't exactly something someone his age could forget even in a place like this, a place that wasn't home and seemed to have a calender all its own

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[pere_noel]

"Now that's no way to look on a day like today," said Nick, coming across the forlorn looking young man in the lounge of the chalet known as the compound. It did hurt him in a way to see children look so sad. "Perhaps this will help to cheer you up," he said, handing him a bit of ribbon candy from his pocket.

[sommer_tobi]

It took a moment for Tobi to realize someone was speaking to him, so far wrapped up in his thoughts and memories to really pay much attention to anything else going on around him.

When he looked up, there was a man smiling down at him and Tobi's brow creased as his arms loosened from where they were tightly wrapped around his knees. There was something about him that made Tobi pause, the white hair and bright smile, something that made him feel instantly just a little bit better.

"What...?" he asked, but he was already reaching for what the man was offering him.

[pere_noel]

"Candy," said Nick as Tobi took the homemade treat from his hand. Then a moment later he repeated it in Hungarian, German and Dutch, for a start. "You look like you've been a good boy."

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi knew it was candy, even before he heard the word repeated in German and... was that Dutch? Close, anyway.

One corner of his mouth twitched into a smile as he held the small piece of candy in his hand. "How do you know?" he asked, staring up at the man with slightly wide eyes. Suddenly, he felt like he was eight and he couldn't say why.

[pere_noel]

"Just a feeling I've got," said Nick with a wink. "Do you mind if I join you here by the fire? These old bones like a bit of warmth from time to time."

[sommer_tobi]

Nodding, Tobi shifted over a little, still staring at the man in something close to wonder.

"Sure," he said, voice quiet and he looked down at the candy in his hand again before bringing it up to his face to smell it and then popping it into his mouth.

[pere_noel]

"There's more where that came from," Nick promised him as he made himself comfortable close to the flames. "Why don't you tell me all about the good things you've done this year?"

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi didn't answer for a moment, his mouth preoccupied with the candy as he watched the man speak. There wasn't any way he could actually be St. Nicolas, could it?

"I don't know if there are many," he confessed with a very slight smile. "I did well in school. Well enough that I could go to rowing camp."

[pere_noel]

"That's certainly an important one," Nick assured him. "And did you mind your parents and your teachers."

[sommer_tobi]

He was slower to answer that one, giving a quick laugh and shrugging as he sucked on the candy. Tucking it into the pocket of his cheek, he answered, "Sometimes."

[pere_noel]

"Sometimes, is it?" said Nick, trying to be solemn about it but unable to resist another smile. He had some more candy in his pocket ready for the giving. "And did you do anything to make up for that?"

[sommer_tobi]

Tobi's parents had never really complained too much about his behavior. He wasn't a bad kid, he knew that, he didn't get into too much trouble, but just enough to still be considered a kid.

And they didn't know about... other things. Likely never would now. Myabe the was for the best.

His smile faded again then and he shook his head. "No time," he explained and gave a vague nod around them. "I would if they were here."

[pere_noel]

"Of course you would," said Nick, and fished out a peppermint stick for him. "I told you I thought you were a good boy. I can tell these things, you know."

[sommer_tobi]

Watching him curiously, Tobi's eyes narrowed in curiosity. "Are you... are you him?" he asked, not wanting to say it all outloud for fear of being wrong. In this place, anything was possible, but he still didn't want to be laughed at for believing in a children's story.

[pere_noel]

"Forgive me, I seem to have neglected to introduce myself," he said, immediately offering Tobi his hand. "They call me Nick. And you?"

[sommer_tobi]

Nick. St. Nicholast. It was him.

Tobi's eyes widened just a bit and he reached up tentatively, shaking the man's hand. "Tobi," he replied sounding not a little bit awed. "Tobi Bauer."