The rest of the tour was uneventful. The elf showed him the workshop where all the toys were made, the reindeer stables, the recreational rooms where the elves relaxed on their time off, and the grounds, which contained all the small cottages the elves lived in. By the time he’d seen everything, Nick was feeling exhausted and a little pissed off.
Being Santa was going to be boring. The only reason the elves needed him was so that he could channel the magic into the castle. Everything else they took care of themselves.
Sure, Nick was supposed to be the boss, but what was the point of having a boss when the operation was this smooth? They didn’t even need him to deliver the fuckingpresents.
“Thank you… what was your name again?” Nick unlocked the door to his quarters, and looked over his shoulder.
“Pat, sir. You’re welcome. If you need anything, please just ring for me.”
“I will,” Nick said. He walked into his new home and shut the door firmly behind him.
Looking around the empty space, magic so thick he was almost choking on it hanging in the air, Nick grinned. Doing a quick walkthrough, boots echoing loudly on the hardwood floors, Nick started planning how to make the rooms his own.
This was going to be fun.
The workshop was loud and boisterous, filled with life and happy magic, and Billy decided that even when he went back to the experimentation room he would make sure to drop bymore often.
He liked the workshop.
Making toys the old fashioned way might be time consuming, but it was also fun. Billy sometimes wondered just how pleased the other elves would be if he ever perfected his machine. They might just congratulate him on his achievement—and then keep on doing exactly what they’d been doing for the past three hundred years while his machine gathered dust in the basement.
“Hey, Billy! Dinner!”
It was Tulip calling to him from the other side of the room. He put down his magic shaping rods and made his way over to her station, waiting as she packed up her things and got ready to go.
“You could have just called me when you were ready,” he said, knowing better than to help her out. Tulip turned into a beast when someone touched her things.
“But then I would have had to wait for you,” Tulip said, dismissing his complaint. “But who cares about that? Tell me, what did you think? Did youdrool?”
Billy was confused.
“What?”
Tulip’s face fell. “You didn’t see him? He was right here getting a tour!”
Shaking his head, Billy smiled. Tulip must be talking about the new Santa again. No, Billy hadn’t seen him. He’d been all wrapped up in making seven speed bikes with purple princess handles. He hadn’t paid any attention to what was going on around him.
“No. I guess I wasn’t paying attention. Tell me why you’re so obsessed with me seeing him?”
Tulip glowered. “No. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.” She grabbed her bag and threw it over her shoulder, standing up. “Come on, let’s go. I’m starving.”
Billy grinned and followed her out of the workshop. As they neared the dining hall, the delicious scent of porridge wafted into his nose. He didn’t care if he never got paid another day of his life, as long as they kept serving that delicious porridge for dinner.
“Ugh, stop it. Your porridge boner is showing,” Tulip complained. Billy looked down before he could think better of it, and Tulipcackled.
“You checked!” she yelled, making the group in front of them turn around to see what all the fuss was about.
“I hate you.” Billy hissed, grinning right along with her. They walked into the dining hall and found a pair of empty seats on the end of the fourth table. It was just far enough away from the reindeer handlers that they’d be able to eat in peace.
“Billy!”
Billy turned his head at the sound of the familiar voice. It was Pat, Santa’s assistant.
“I knew it!” Tulip said, looking like they’d just announced that Christmas would come twice this year. Billy ignored her.
“Hey, Pat. What can I do for you?” Billy asked as the elf approached. Pat sat down next to him, looking a little frazzled, grabbing a roll of bread and tearing off a piece with his teeth.
“It’s the new Santa. He wants to see you in his office afterdinner,” Pat said as he chewed.
