ho ho ho!

[pere_noel]

Christmas morning wasn't usually like this. In fact, Christmas morning Nick was usually fast asleep after a long (very long, incomprehensibly long) night's work. But the island was a very different place, and called for a very different approach. So Nick woke up with the dawn, dressed in a pair of dark trousers and a warm red sweater he'd found in

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[real_buzzkill]

"Morning, Nick, and a merry Christmas to you!" Wilson exclaimed as he walked into the rec room with a steaming plate. "I saw you had a cookie when I walked past, so I brought you a proper breakfast from the kitchen. You must have had a long night."

He offered the plate, filled with Jane's French tast casserole and some ham to the older man.

[pere_noel]

"How thoughtful of you!" said Nick delightedly. "And a Merry Christmas to you as well, even if you don't celebrate." The meal smelled delicious, and Nick was quite happy to take the plate from him. "I've got that gift we talked about for your friend, but are you sure there's nothing you'd like for yourself?"

[real_buzzkill]

Wilson beamed as Nick told him about the cane, but he couldn't think of anything he wanted for himself. Until he thought about it for a second. "If... if there's a toy in your bag, that both boys and girls would like, I could put it in the clinic, to make them feel at ease in case one of them gets sick. I'd like that."

He wasn't selfless, but giving really was better than receiving.

[pere_noel]

"Something soft and cuddly, then," said Nick, digging in his sack. "I'm sure that shouldn't be too difficult." Wood was more his medium than fabric, but he was no stranger to a needle and thread. A few moments later, he pulled out a yellow, stuffed bunny made of a soft cotton with a few bits of faux fur here and there that he'd managed to coax out of the clothing box. "Would this do, do you think?"

[ooh_lily]

Lily came into the rec room, bent over to hold Emmy's hands as she walked and grunted with effort. Lily glanced up, her hair hanging in her ace, and smiled at Nick.

"Merry Christmas," she said. "Isn't it, Emmy? It's Emmy's second first christmas. We're pretending not to notice."

[pere_noel]

"Merry Christmas!" said Nick, making Emmy the recipient of his bright grin. "And have we been having a good Christmas so far?"

[ooh_lily]

"Sure we have," said Lily, swinging Emmy between her legs and then up onto her hip as Eddie walked into the room behind them. "Daddy made wooden dinosaurs and we had a nice play with Uncle Chris' puppy, didn't we, kidlet?"

[pere_noel]

"Did we, now?" said Nick. "Well! You've had quite the day already, haven't you? I certainly hope you've got room for one more present, though."

[faramir_hurin]

I am aware that today is the Christmas holiday, very aware even though I do not celebrate it myself. I can only wonder what it's like on Earth with so many people celebrating and if there really are decorated trees all over in people's homes. I'd like to see that.

All I can do here is look at the tree in the rec room. I wonder if they'll take it away tomorrow. It really doesn't belong indoors but I'm pleased to have it here just the same. Yes, I go into the rec room just to see the tree there sometimes.

There is a man sitting today that I don't know. There are a lot of new people here and I haven't been bothering to meet them. I'm tired a lot and have no energy and my mood is not so good that people would enjoy my company. There's no harm in saying hello--it's polite.

"Good morning," I greet the man and nod. He looks very content as he is and I do not wish to bother him.

[pere_noel]

"Good morning and Merry Christmas!" said Nick, lifting his cup of tea in the man's direction as a sort of a greeting. Quite some time ago, shortly after arriving on the island, really, Nick had realised that sooner or later, everyone came by the rec room. "Why don't you have a seat and enjoy the holiday?"

[faramir_hurin]

"I can sit easily enough." And I do. "I do not celebrate this holiday though it makes me very curious. So many people do celebrate it and seem to enjoy it very much."

I take a look at the tree and smile.

"There seem to be a lot of strange traditions associated with it. More than any of the other Earth holidays so far."

No costumes for this one either, thank the Valar.

[pere_noel]

"You don't need to celebrate a holiday in order to enjoy it," insisted Nick. "I'm sure there are many people here who are indulging in gift-giving today without knowing the history behind it. Something that encourages that kind of generosity should be enjoyed."

[cryptogam]

Stephen had received another "comic book" from the magic bookshelf (this one was about a fellow called "Superman"). It was not to his taste, and he was coming back to exchange it for something more edifying. Though he knew little about Christmas trees, he certainly knew about Father Christmas. Recalling Eostre telling him about someone here named "Nick" who knew all about Christmas, and seeing a kindly old man giving out presents, as usual he was not sure what to think.

"Merry Christmas, sir," he said politely. "This tree is quite splendid, is it not? We do not have such a custom where I come from."

[pere_noel]

"Merry Christmas!" said Nick in return. "No, trees weren't always the custom, were they? But I quite like them. They're terribly decorative, and the ornaments are a joy to make, in between other projects."

[cryptogam]

"It is the custom in Germany, I believe, but not in Ireland, where I come from. This must be a busy time of year for you, sir - I expect you shall be glad when it is all over." Stephen had decided to play along with the notion that this fellow was Father Christmas. Even if he wasn't, what harm could it do?

[pere_noel]

"Ordinarily I'd be finished my work at this point," said Nick, giving him a nod of acknowledgement. "But here on the island, things seem to work a little differently, don't they."

[equalexchange]

Edward would have disagreed whole-heartedly with the idea of the moment being made better by a glass of Milk. If anything, a glass of milk could have single-handedly ruined the otherwise warm, cozy moment

[pere_noel]

"Good morning," said Nick, always happy to see people admiring the decorations; he spent a great deal of time admiring them himself. "And Merry Christmas!"

[equalexchange]

It took Edward a moment to realize he was beign addressed. "Good Morning. And... I guess Merry Christmas?" he replied, though his heart wasn't in it. "I don't celebrate Christmas. Didn't even know what it was until a few days ago."

[pere_noel]

"There seem to be a lot of people here who don't know about Christmas," said Nick with a smile. "I don't find that any reason not to give them gifts anyway. The joy is in the giving, after all."