Theatre of lights

[Skye]

Not getting involved in the proper talks of the fates, better to play on the terms and let the philosophical one handle those talks.
”The Coca Cola one is still widely older than me, but yeah even the amalgamation ones spawning from centuries of different ones. I believe there is an old Nordic one who was amongst the earlier official Santa´s and was vastly different, then the shoe hiding one, the churchy related saint and so on, a lot of time adaptation and amalgamated figures.” Pausing a moment to collect herself. ”Then widespread through various tales and customs, passed down and slightly changing by each generation for centuries, until modern media gave its imprint and created a more global centralization. Even if the stockings part as I get it is one of the less globally acknowledged aspects, still to me it is all very odd and foreign.” Knowing the tales was one thing but the experience no that was just not happening. ”Can´t say I can identify with any of it at all.”

Tilting her head with a teasing grin and bottled chuckle toward the woman of fates.
”I am afraid I will have to inform my boss to put you on the nice list then, as” softly chuckling to herself ”I cannot motivate you for the naughty list.” Flicking her hair and getting back to a more normal tone. ”Do take my charms as a sign that you can do far better than a bastard who are to easily led astray to care for someone willing to put in effort for them though.” If she takes that with her so will my actions not have been in vain.

Taking a light step to the side to get a better look upon Mason, quite curious about this Duke herself, she knew the gists of the tradition but details or stronger source references no they were new.

[Helen Kingsley]

Helen raises her eyebrows as the other two continue to have their particular conversation and sides with Mason. Looking at her track record, she's not really the one to turn to for useful advice there...

"Some people are scared by leaving things to chance and having to admit there are things they can't controlo no matter how hard they try." She shrugs. "Still doesn't make trying to keep at least an illusion of control and... agency completely senseless. Feeling like they can do whatever they want and still success or failure depending on good old dumb luck ? That can do a nasty number on folks. Where does 'just enough control end and where does the illusion begin ?"

"Eh, you know what they say about things that come easy, yeah ?" she asks Mason. She's fair sure he does. "But then, how many people are here for a broader context of the stuff they saw ? Or don't think they need any additional, really."

"She's here with some church group." Helen refers to one of theoffered descriptions of Lena. "But then, so am I, so what does that make me... Bit of both really, not that it's her fault." It's her own damn fault, but she's not going to openly admit that just like that. "Wasn't that the guy who was murdered and later sainted ? There's also an old slavic one, I think. Father Frost of something."

[Chambers]

The little bits of lore coming handy for this conversation was a good pivot in his mind. "You might know him better as good king Wenceslas. There's a carol about him on the feast of Stephen." It was fairly well known, what was less so was Helens additions and its pleasantly surprising. "Sainted and given the kingship post humorously yes that very one. I can't say I know f this father frost though? Any relationship to Jack frost?" He initially doubted this given Jack had his own expansive mythos of deeds with Jill, the devil and as a headless horseman to also be a Santa figure but who knows details had a habit of getting lost so he is ready to listen. A smile to Skye as well as she has chimed in with another Santa figure. Foreign to sure but you've picked up the point quickly. "You've got the idea of it there, what about this shoe Santa?" She had made mention of not being to sure on philosophy and not being certain if that spread to wider academia acknowledging the contribution seemed like a good idea.

Helen hats a nod and wry grin about easy come easy go, he knows it indeed. On another point he is curious enough to poke at it however. "I think people are more scared of being responsible then leavening it to chance. The idea of preordained fate or that someone else is taking the wheel offers a degree of comfort I do not doubt." It also let people off the hook for a multitude of bad choices. "Having to admit that something went wrong because you screwed up or did something stupid or risky is hard for many." Pride, ego, hubris things he is all to familiar with.

[Fedup]

Zina’s face lit up as she chimed in, leaning slightly forward with interest. " Oh, I’ve got one for you! Have you heard of La Befana? She’s this old Italian hag who brings toys to kids on Epiphany Eve - unless you’ve been a little shit, then it’s coal for you. Apparently, she’s been at it way before Santa started hogging the spotlight. It’s like every culture has their own version of the generous stranger with a gift bag." On top of cautionary tales about strangers and gifts but that doesn't fit the festive spirit and her mood at the time, so she doesn't add this.

She paused, her grin widening. "But isn’t it cool how these stories evolve? Like, someone tells a tale or does a memorable deed, then the next person adds a bit, and so on. Suddenly, you’ve got Santa Claus instead of some grumpy witch or whatever started it all. Fact becomes legend, and legend becomes myth, right? I think that was in the Lord of the Rights. It’s like history’s game of broken telephone!" She adds with a giggle.

Taking a sip of her cocoa, she glanced at the group, feeling in much better mood than when she found out she wouldn't be getting some tonight as Lyz-with-a-y took Brad away. The interaction here was in some ways better than dealing with the usual carnival drunks or screaming kids. Even the sceptic, Mason, doesn't sound too bad - he is a sceptic, not an asshole. He doesn't try to demean her, he seems to simply disagree.
Turning back to the matter of how stories evolve, she continues. "I think it’s kinda magical, honestly. Each generation makes the story their own, even if the Coca-Cola version is, let’s face it, a bit commercialized. It all starts with that tiny kernel of something true and successive tellings make it more and more interesting, and add a local flair." Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "And look where we are now."