4th Mistake; video

[moralperil]

[Good morning, transports! Mahdi is still in his matched pajamas in lavender flannel, printed with a design of bright blue and purple owls. A glimpse of silver jewelry can be seen beneath the pajamas' unruly folds. His long, dark hair is loose and bed-tangled, a rare glimpse of it not pulled back. He looks a bit nervous and confused, and points to an adorable mini snowman on his nightstand.]

Um, someone was in my room?

Maybe it was Santa? I'm a little bit fuzzy on the Santa thing. I'm not sure I've been good enough to warrant a visit from such a big celebrity.

Anyway, it's a really cute snowperson. I think I'll name hir Snowball.

So thanks, I guess.

[Mahdi sucks in a deep breath. He doesn't mean to be rude...] But please don't come in my room when I'm sleeping, okay?!

Comments

video;

[invocation]

[There's a couple of packages of snacks shown on the screen before it pans in to Kyouko nibbling on what appears to be the saddest bit of fruitcake known to man.

Oddly enough, she appears to be enjoying it. She talks between bites.]

Eh, there's no such thing as Santa. It's gotta be someone else. I don't need to sleep that much, so whoever did it works fast.

[moralperil]

What do you mean there's no such thing? He was always on TV in December, he even has all of those impersonators! Why would they make such a huge fuss over someone that doesn't exist?

[Earth is so, so, so confusing.]

[invocation]

It's made up for kids. [How old is flashlight guy, she wonders to herself.

She finishes her little piece of fruitcake in one unceremonious bite.] How could anyone give presents to every kid in the world in one night?

[moralperil]

He could be a reality-shaper, a greater mortal. That would also be why he might want humans to think he wasn't real. [Mahdi's never really thought about it before, it just seemed obvious to him the whole time.] Large-scale stuff would require a lot of concentration to pull off, but he only does it one night out of the whole year, so...

[invocation]

Huh? [She's totally lost, and looks it.] What're you talking about? What's a greater mortal?

[whatsupcroc]

Hey, Mahdi!

( As someone else who looks pretty sleep tousled, Collette has far more enthusiasm even with her hair in disarray and wearing an oversized shirt half-hanging off one shoulder than most newly awake people really should. Checking the network had been an impulse when waking. Seeing that miniature snowman... )

Did you start off with a stone?

[moralperil]

Yeah, I knocked it off the table at first. It was a pretty stone, and I already got a present from a friend outside my door today, but...

I don't want people in my room when I'm asleep, you know?

[whatsupcroc]

Well, sure, generally you like to know if someone's coming in, or have invited them, but we don't exactly live in a maximum security complex. But what I'm interested is the stones! Who's someone you can name who works with magic stones, off the top of your head?

[moralperil]

...Magic stones? I don't know who does that specifically.

So you really don't think it was Santa?

[whatsupcroc]

... You don't? Oh man! Come on, what about Kaycee?

( She's grinning as she makes the suggestion. )

Nawh, not unless Santa has a wicked sense of humor and's been living with us in the apartments for the last few months.

video;

[feisty]

Someone came into your room??

[moralperil]

Either that or they used magic inside of my room! [He points to the little snowman.]

Whatever happened, I was asleep the whole time. That's enough to make anyone nervous!

[feisty]

Was anything taken or ruined?

[moralperil]

No, just this thing placed by my bed. But what if it's the start of something?

[feisty]

Start of something...?

video

[ofthegrey]

[He's glad he saw this before having a talk with certain roommates. He looks put together, as though he has been up a while.]

Someone came into my room, as well. I thought perhaps it was someone living with me, but now that you say this I'm not so certain.

[moralperil]

Someone left me a present outside my door, too. [Mahdi touches the necklace at his neck, though the charm of it is sort of hidden by his pajamas.]

I guess it has to do with this Earth holiday of Christmas.

They give each other gifts and everything... but I don't want anyone in my room!

[ofthegrey]

[He frowns thoughtfully as he listens. It sounds innocuous enough, except for the trespass.]

You're unfamiliar with it as well? The first I've heard of it was a week ago or so.

Agreed. It seems a frivolous reason for such intrusion.

[moralperil]

It's a pretty big deal on Earth, so I heard about it when I was working there. It's on TV, there's decorations all over the place, stuff like that. But I guess no one ever really explained the finer points of it to me. It's one of those things people sort of expect you already know.

I love the idea of everyone getting together and putting up sparkly glowy decorations, and exchanging gifts. I think it's a great thing to do in the winter, but I really don't like people in my room!

voice

[stoning]

People sneaking in to other people's rooms?

Sounds serious, bro. But if it's Santa then you shouldn't worry.

[moralperil]

Doesn't Santa usually leave things under trees? If it was him, why did one of my presents end up outside my door and the other one in my room? And why did he bring me something? I'm not that good and I didn't leave him cookies...

And if he really watches me all the time, wouldn't he know I didn't want him in my room? Or did he only start watching me when I started living here? [Mahdi groans quietly in frustration.] It's too complicated.

If it wasn't Santa, well, I'd be even more worried about it.

video

[fintastic]

I don't think the Santa is actually real. I think? Anyway, are you sure it wasn't one of your roommates?

[moralperil]

The more I think about it, the more I believe Santa could be real. Anyway, why would someone make that stuff up?

[fintastic]

People make stuff up all the time! Because it's fun and funny to think about it.

oh god he just doesn't get this stuff at all

[moralperil]

--But that's lying!