41 - video/action for Goldenrod;

[islandshore]

[Well, while Riku waits for Ven to get his act together so they can go grab Sora, Sasuke, and the others, he'll pop open the PokéGear.

After all, it's December. The perfect time of month for what he has in store. And oh, the chance to prove his best friend wrong is too much to pass up.]

So, Johto, Kanto. It's December again, and that means Christmas is right around the corner. And if you're a kid, that usually means waiting for presents under the tree-- supposedly from Santa Claus.

So, here's a question. Do you believe in Santa?

I'm trying to get some statistical data here. And believe me, I've got my reasons.

[With that message outta the way, Riku can be found over by the Department store, buying gratuitous amounts of TMs, swinging by the Breeding Center just to see how things are going, and dropping by one of the cafes later on for a bite to eat.

And maybe he'll stop by Route 34 for good measure in order to spar with his team. Because, while watching his Pokémon fight each other is nice and all, nothing beats getting in on the action. He'll be accompanied by his big ol' Charizard regardless of where he is.]

[ooc: Just gonna make a note here since I realize his icons are misleading-- but Riku is actually 17 in Route-- almost 18 and about 6' tall now. Minor detail, but I'll probably pin that somewhere later. There was just some confusion during 4th wall about his age.

Also, Sora will possibly be threadjacking!]

Comments

video

[gochuugoku]

Well, I did not even know about Christmas until the Westerners came to China.

Christmas is more of a Western holiday, really. In Asia, we usually only have it because of the gifts since it puts a lot of money into the economy.

video

[islandshore]

Just more proof that he's just a commercial icon, if you ask me. Just a way to mislead kids, like the tooth fairy and the Easter bunny.

video

[heartdive]

You're not supposed to agree with him!

[viiru2alert]

Santa?

[Give him a moment to think about this.]

...Oh, right, that human myth.

No, obviously I don't. Only wigglers could possibly believe something as dumb as that.

[islandshore]

Thank you. That's two points for me and zero for Sora.

[He snickers.]

I mean, there's plenty I can believe. Other worlds with talking ponies, ducks, mice, and magic? Sure. This place proves that different worlds follow some pretty loose rules.

But Santa's just pushing it.

[Video] I swear I'll reply to other stuff soon BUUUT

[beforethedarkness]

Who's Santa Claus? [Because he can hear Sora arguing about it from the other room, really Sora come on.]

[Video] It's all good

[islandshore]

Some jolly, old fat guy who's supposedly able to give gifts to all the good children throughout the worlds in one night.

But, c'mon. There's no way anyone could pull that off, even with magic.

video

[shadowdive]

The fat man who breaks into your home to leave you gifts if you're good, shit if you're not?

No.

video

[islandshore]

Vanitas, I can't believe I'm gonna say this but...

You're awesome for that.

[Snort.]

Hope you've got plenty of popcorn because if I win this, Sora's gonna have to belt out some Christmas tunes in front of everyone.

[papshooshing]

I'll believe just about anything at this point.

[islandshore]

...Well, I guess that's one point in his favor.

[Darn it, Karkat.]

Voice

[for_realsies]

I used to believe in him, but then I didn't when I caught dad putting presents under the tree.

BUT! I also didn't think Pokemon were real, so... why not?

What, are you a grinch or something Foofyku?

Voice

[heartdive]

You're awesome. Just so you know.

video;

[timelymaid]

I'm not sure what Christmas or Santa Claus are! But I'm fairly certain that disbelieving in anything at this point would be a useless activity.

video;

[heartdive]

Thank you!

[video]; was waiting for this moment.

[brokenmemories]

I've seen numerous of people dressed as him but I haven't seen the man himself.

So no.

[video];

[heartdive]

You can't see the wind either, you know.

video;

[uuing]

[ .. Riku, why did you just ask it like that.. now there's a frowning girl on the camera, puffing up her cheeks and all. ]

Uu-! Why would anyone not believe in Santa?

video;

[islandshore]

Because he's a myth? Something parents tell their kids to instill some kind of 'magic' in the holiday.

[If he sounds a bit bitter, that's probably because he is.]

[video]

[quickattackjack]

What a silly question, of course he's real!

[video]

[heartdive]

[ sob friend sob. ]

I've been trying to tell Riku that he's from your world. He doesn't believe me.

[video]

[complexrestart]

It's been a long time since I believed in Santa, but I think it's fun watching everyone get excited about him.

[video]

[heartdive]

Why did you stop?

video

[lovechronicle]

Ah well, it's not like I've ever seen him in person, but that doesn't mean he can't be real.

And my world is not the most normal world out there, so [here's a pause, but wait, wait, she's getting somewhere with this.] yes I do believe in Santa. Maybe I'll see him one day.

video

[heartdive]

That's the spirit!

[Video]

[cobraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Santa? Ssssanta? Of course not! Only children believe in that nonsssense!

[Video]

[islandshore]

Wow, for once we actually agree on something.

video;

[eagletalons]

I don't-- though that's because I don't know who he is.

Important days are different in my world.

video;

[islandshore]

I'm counting that as a point in my favor before Sora gets any bright ideas.

Also, he's a jolly old fat man who supposedly brings toys to all the good kids out there in one night. With a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer.

Translation: a commercial icon used to manipulate kids.

[video]

[enjoymyatelier]

[Well, even though Kayneth is in a generally foul mood because of fourth wall shenanigans and doesn't feel like speaking to anyone until he can be sure it will go over well...

...he has to admit, he has just enough composure to go into smug myth nerd jerk mode

he is a professor and it has been too long, enjoy your tl;dr]

It all depends on what iteration of "Santa Claus" you're talking about really. The modern over-commercialized conception... well, there's no way that person could exist outside of some ridiculous parallel universe. Given some of the things I've seen here, that really wouldn't surprise me, but I highly doubt he currently exists in my world. It would take the sort of magic that hasn't been present in my world for centuries to accomplish everything that's commonly attributed to that person.

There are, however, figures from my world who effectively served as his inspiration. There are many myths and legends surrounding Christian saints, and one in particular-Saint Nicholas-has been traditionally held to give gifts to children around Christmas. Of course, it's difficult to say if he truly fulfilled the role that Santa Claus traditionally does-more myths are true than one would expect, but it's also likely that it's simply an instance where aspects of a pagan religion were applied to a Christian saint, as this depiction of Saint Nicholas shares many characteristics with the Norse god Odin.

...So, I suppose you could say that someone with the characteristics of Santa Claus may have existed at some point in the past, but he almost certainly doesn't now.

[in before a fate/ spinoff happens featuring a rider class servant whose true identity is santa claus]

[video]

[islandshore]

I'm not saying the legends don't exist or that someone like him never did. It's the whole eight or nine flying reindeer that can somehow circle the universe in a single night and the bit about keeping tabs on every kid out there that seems a little too good to be true.

But with everyone arguing otherwise, it's kind of hard to defend my stance here. I wonder if it's karma getting back at me.

[Video]

[seetheflower]

I do! I do I do I do! If magic exists, then Santa exists too! [ someone's over-eager to talk about this today. ]

[Video]

[islandshore]

...Man. It's like everyone's intentionally working against me.

[earthshattering]

Of course, who wouldn't believe in Santa?

[ Aqua could be anywhere at any moment, and so could Ven. HE REFUSES TO SAY OTHERWISE.]

[islandshore]

... You didn't lose a bet, right, Terra?

[reallybeloved]

That's for kids. I'm more interested in what adults do to celebrate. It's more fun.

But you're getting towards that age. [You probably wouldn't have your ears, in his world, unless you were like Seimei.] Do you really still believe in Santa?

[islandshore]

I don't, and I haven't for years. Sora's the one who's going on about how he met the guy.

[video]

[idlewanderlust]

My, of course I believe in him~ He inspires children across the world, after all... It would be awful not to have faith in such an inspiration.

[video]

[islandshore]

Inspiration is one thing. Thinking he actually exists...

[He places his hand over his face.]

[Video]

[justicereigns]

Yes. He brought presents to the brat every year.

[In here, skewing your data.]

[Video]

[islandshore]

You sure it wasn't his parents?

Video

[nasa_dreams]

[Grumbles at this post. Just...grumbles.]

Video

[islandshore]

Not a fan of Christmas, I take it.

Video

[red_roses]

O-Of course I do...[But she is at that age...]

Video

[islandshore]

[...Sigh. So many kids, what's he even supposed to do?]

Well, at least you're a kid. I'd be more worried if you were older and believed.