#Will not get prompt 10 done today probably bc it's uh. Getting a little longer than expected.

[michaelmilligan]

Day 9 of B&B's (@drgarth and @starrynightdeancas) Holiday Advent Calendar Event!

Writing a Letter to Santa // Milk and Cookies // “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”

“Sam? Sam!” Jack rushed into the library, eyes wide, almost knocking into a table in their hurry.

“Woah, hey! What's wrong, Jack?” Sam sprang out of his chair, already reaching for his gun. Was there a monster in the bunker? Was someone hurt? Was-

“Do you know about the Santa Claus?”

Sam blinked at them, needing a moment to process that. Then he needed some more moments. “What?”

“Santa Claus. He's supposed to...” Jack frowned, then gestured with their hands. “Uncle Adam said that you're supposed to write a letter to Santa Claus for Christmas. But he also said that Santa Claus is a magic being who breaks into your house – or bunker – and steals all the milk and cookies. And then later Uncle Adam said that Santa Claus isn't real and that he's sorry for scaring me, but Uncle Michael said that he might be real if enough people believe in him, that it could be a Tulpa and-”

“Okay, okay. Calm down!” Sam stepped forward to put his hand on Jack's shoulders.

“We need to barricade the bunker. Put up more warding. Is there warding against Tulpas? Maybe I should do some research. I-”

“Jack. It's okay.” Sam breathed deeply, motioning for Jack to do the same. They followed his example, and soon looked a little calmer, but still concerned. “Look... Santa isn't real. Many people wish he were, but. Well. We've never encountered him and it wouldn't even make sense, because not everyone in the world just magically gets presents on Christmas. That's not a thing.”

“No, you have to buy the presents and give them to each other. Cas told me.”

Sam nodded. “Exactly! So while Santa is something you might call an Urban Legend... He's not real, and he's not coming to the bunker. He can't harm anyone. Not that he would do that if he were real, but that's besides the point.”

“Okay. Okay.” Jack took another deep breath, then nodded. “I understand. Santa isn't real and there's nothing to worry about.”

“Yeah. Now come on, it's almost noon, we should get something to eat.” They walked to the kitchen together, Sam talking about the book he'd been reading to fill the silence.

As soon as they turned the last corner and heard the music coming from the kitchen, Jack stopped.

He's making a list,

He's checking it twice,

He's gonna find out who's naughty or nice,

Santa Claus is coming to town

Jack's eyes widened as they turned to Sam, and then they ran towards the kitchen. “No!” they called. “Don't let him in!”

“Jack-” Sam groaned and followed them into the kitchen, making a mental note to give Michael and Adam a stern talking to about scaring his child.