Streets of Hope

When you first came to the surface, how did the different holidays feel in comparison to the ones on Dalarath's calendar? How do you feel about them now that you're free?

"It won't be much of a surprise if I say Dalarath's idea of a holiday usually involves death, depravity and a human sacrifice or two. I grew up thinking you had to please the Others on these sacred days, for fear of reprisal. Naturally, my first observing Christmas in Greece was done in the same spirit, as if the Greek Saint Nicholas could've come down to smite me!"

He chuckles.

It took a few years for me to drop the false cheer and understand that holidays are a genuine time for joy, for most surface-dwellers - and even longer to realize that for some people, there's no real joy involved. For some unfortunates, Christmas and New Year's are times of genuine suffering without any Eldritch being coming into the equation - and realizing this participated in my decision to become a sort of triple agent for the forces of Good. I'd serve the Others as a New Age guru, but only through the most aggressive displays of earnestness and kindness I could muster!

His smile falters slightly.

Things didn't quite turn out like this, either. I've suffered, I've done less than I'd hoped in some ways and more than I could've hoped for in others, and, well, I'm more than ready for my Santa Claus costume. I've already got the beard - or the tentacles - and belly for it, after all..."