the_brightest_sun | Appointment Post

[The floor is an excellent spot to read. Ginia sits down next to him and watches and listens as they begin to go through the book. On any words he has trouble with, she breaks down each syllable, then writes a word that has a similar sound, helping him piece everything together in her own silent way.]

[Reading with Ginia is so much fun! Goku loves it, even if she can't talk she can still teach him how to read and understand words. Once they are done wit the prelude the kid stops, looking at the title of the next part of the book, now focusing on a specific holiday before he looks at Ginia.]

Which holiday do you celebrate the most? I will read that first!

I usually celebrate Christmas. Not in a religious sense, but I enjoy giving gifts to people.

[The pauses to look through the books, pulling out an illustrated version of "The Night Before Christmas" and handing it over for him to read.]

This is one of my favorites. My dad would read this poem to us every year.

You give gifts to people on Christmas? Why?

[Actually before that...]

What's a gift?

[He takes the new book and examines the cover, frowning at it a bit.]

Why is this guy coming out from the fireplace with a sack of toys?

[While not knowing who Santa is is entirely understandable, Ginia's a little surprised he doesn't know what a gift is.]

A gift, or a present, is something you willingly give someone without any expectation of getting something in return. Like these cookies. They're a gift to you because I want you to enjoy them.

As for the man with the toys, he's called Santa Claus, or just Santa. He has a few other names depending on where you're from, but he brings toys to all the good boys and girls around the world. He's a symbol of Christmas.

[Goku blinks in surprised awe and looks at the cookies as if it's the first time he sees them. So that's what a gift is? It sounds... Really special and big, yet at the same time it's something pretty small. Goku frowns a bit, apparently upset suddenly before he looks at Ginia.]

Then if I want to give you something too or share them with you, it ruins the gift? Because you're getting something in return and I'm not the only one enjoying them?

Why is he a symbol of Christmas?

No, it doesn't at all. In a lot of different cultures, there are gift exchanges. During Christmas, people get each other gifts.

As for why Santa is a symbol of Christmas, I guess because he's very easily recognizable. A jolly old man in a red suit bringing toys to all the boys and girls. I'll have to see if I can find more books about Santa. But from what I know, he lives at the North Pole with his wife, Mrs. Claus, and magical elves that help him make all the toys. And once all the toys are ready to be delivered, he loads them up on a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer and flies around to all the houses.

Ah! Okay! Then I didn't ruin it because I wanted to share them, great!

[Goku smiles brightly again. He reads the next part with attention, not having any idea about what the North Pole is but there are more important things there. Ginia can probably see little cogwheels working in his brain even as his eyes light up at the part regarding reindeer and flying.]

That's awesome! Does he only bring toys?

Sharing is always okay. Like if you were given a toy, it'd be okay to play with others.

Mostly toys, but I'm sure if someone wanted clothes or something else, he'd try to bring them. See, you can write a letter to Santa telling him what you want for Christmas, and when he receives the letter, he'll read over it and keep that in mind when he checks his list. See, he has two lists; one of all the good kids, and one of all the naughty kids. The good kids get presents, but the naughty kids get a lump of coal or nothing at all.

[There's a small pause before she gives Goku a warm smile.]

Don't worry, you're a very good boy.

Playing with others is more fun too! Playing alone is, well, lonely. And boring. And it hurts, here. [He pats his chest over his heart.] But when I'm with someone and doing things with them it doesn't hurt at all! I'm glad that gifts don't make me be lonely to not ruin them.

[Yeah, the cogwheels are turning at full speed here. He blinks and smiles at the last part.]

Then I can write Santa Claus a letter telling him what I want? And he will bring it here?

And no one ever wants to be lonely, nor should anyone be lonely.

[Such a dear boy. Ginia smiles fondly and gives him a light hug.]

I think that can be arranged. I think even here, Santa can find a way to work his magic and bring a present for you. If you want to be really nice to him, you can leave out milk and cookies as a treat. All that traveling makes him hungry.

[Huuuugs, Goku answers the hug happily like always. You know, he loves Konzen and the others a lot, but the kid is starting to get biased, girls are better, they hug much more and hit less. Then again Ryoga is a boy and he hugs too, maybe it's something just Konzen has problems with.]

Santa can do magic? That's really cool! Terra-neesan can do magic too, she can go from one place to another in the blink of an eye. And Elicia can heal scratches and little wounds with her magic too. Magic is really cool.

Uhm, ah! I know! I'll prepare a lot of okonomiyaki and wrap them for take out so he can bring them back to the North Pole and eat them with his wife and his elves and the reindeer! I bet they all get really hungry with all that work doing toys and everything.

Magic is really cool. It can do a lot, but you have to be careful too. But yes, Santa is very magical.

[His enthusiasm is appreciated. Of course, there's now the matter of finding someone to be Santa and bring presents over in the middle of the night - she has little faith in what the Malnosso might do - but that can be worked out. Hmm... perhaps Giles can play Santa for a night.]

I think they'd all like that a lot. It's very kind of you.

Huh? Why do you have to be careful with magic?

[The kid isn't really expecting to see Santa Claus, besides he must be a really busy man having to give toys to all the kids in the universe and all the worlds. If he gets to see him he's going to be beyond delighted and excited.]

It's the least I can do! They work really hard to make all the toys and all, right? But even if Santa Claus is the one bringing the toys here it's not fair to just give him something. This way they all can eat together and celebrate and Mrs. Claus won't have to cook for everyone!

[Yeah, the kid is assuming the wife does the cooking mostly, but, hey it makes sense. If the elves make toys and Santa prepares the lists and then travels all around the worlds bringing them to the kids, the only one left to do the dinner is the wife.]

Say you could cast fireballs. If you weren't careful, you could catch something on fire and that'd be bad. It's like with any ability or skill; you have to be responsible.

[Oh, but the sneaky magic of Santa Claus is his ability to get in and out of places without being seen! Hmm, maybe one of the ninjas can help out...]

It's very good thinking. I think they'll all appreciate that.

Oh... Throwing around fireballs would be cool but I wouldn't want that magic.

[Thoughtful sound.]

While I'm on it maybe I should make some more too and give them to all my friends to eat? Hmm, maybe that won't be a good idea.

It's not a bad idea. It'd be a lot of cooking, but I'm sure people would like it too. I could help you deliver everything?

That would be great!

[Smiles! But wait, problems are appearing in his mind, he frowns a bit.]

But how am I going to make sure the food stays warm? If the okonomiyaki gets cold it won't be as delicious.

Maybe we can invite people over to the restaurant and have a party there?

But what about Santa Claus?

[His okonomiyaki will get cold too.]

We could have a party earlier in the day, then cook another okonomiyaki at night and leave it out for him.

But won't it get cold too when he picks it up and brings it back home?

[Ginia offers a reassuring smile.]

Don't worry, Santa knows magic. He can keep the food warm so it's still nice and hot when he reaches home.

There's a magic capable of that? That's really cool! Then I won't have to worry about his food getting cold.

[Smiling brightly back! Thank God that Santa is a magical being who knows tons of magic.]

[Thank goodness for a magic as a catch-all for everything.]

Santa can do a lot. Is there anything else you want to know about him?

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