12-22-2023, 01:14 PM
COMMUNICATION 9 (19 Dice, 1 Sweet, 3 Aces, 1 King)
SANTA: Reindeer down! I repeat, reindeer down!
ATC: Acknowledged. What’s going on?
SANTA: It’s Cupid. He’s been severely wounded. I have him on the sleigh, and we are in flight. We need assistance immediately!
ATC: I’m dispatching a SEAL team to your location now. Stay where you are if possible. We must not abort the night if possible.
SANTA: I hear you, Peppermint. But the situation is bad. Cupid might not have time.
ATC: Our SEALs are top-notch. You need to trust them. What happened?
SANTA: It was a trap. Dracula had filled a chimney with giant bats to distract me. I couldn’t fit down, so I had to coax them out. Luckly, I’ve been taking that class on insect sounds and was able to convincingly imitate the call of the southeastern mosquito. The bats took the bait and flew out to investigate. Having already taken too long at this location, I was preparing to descend when I heard the cry of an injured reindeer coming from the sleigh.
ATC: The sleigh wasn’t on the roof with you?
SANTA: No, the roof was full of gables and pitchy. No place for the sleigh so I had to land in the yard. I scrambled down to find Cupid on the ground, bleeding. One of Dracula’s werewolves was gnawing on his hind parts.
ATC: Couldn’t the other reindeer have fought back?
SANTA: They were too frozen with fear.
ATC: Oh, no! What did you do?
SANTA: I whacked the werewolf over the head with my sack several times to drive it away, then quickly pulled Cupid on the sleigh and took off.
ATC: The SEALs are in the air. How’s Cupid?
SANTA: Alive. In pain. Tell them to hurry. Oh, Peppermint, what’s become of this night? I remember when things were fun and easy. Like my first Christmas journey. There were no obstacles and the children were eager and excited. I remember tip-toeing into a few bedrooms whenever I heard the little girls and boys fidgeting around. I would sit on the side of their bed, tell them a bedtime story, and say their prayers with them while they fell back asleep. Nowadays, the children are afraid of strangers and I’m being chased by Dracula. Any hopes of me talking some sense into the Lord of Darkness are gone now.
ATC: Talk sense? What are you talking about? He is evil! He won’t change!
SANTA: Ah, you say that. But I’ve done it before. You know La Catrina?
ATC: The Elegant Skeletal Lady who is celebrated during the Mexican Día de los Muertos? The one who watches over the families’ dead ancestors?
![[Image: ABLVV85qHsyi7NkzzgM8fF8FWy_MnfragYbtBnQt...dwL0=w2400]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pw/ABLVV85qHsyi7NkzzgM8fF8FWy_MnfragYbtBnQtsrtN2ABExY45QAgIFWaCGuT1Q-CILWsUEYC7xkkj8ZscrD-toiDw3p-P8Ak-9HE-Mq_X_81N2ALdwL0=w2400)
SANTA: Yes. You may not know this, but she wasn’t always revered. She used to lure unsuspecting victims instead, taking them down into the underworld, adding to the dead instead of watching over them. I received so many letters from the Mexican children asking me to bring home their parents for the holidays that I had to try something. So, Mrs. Claus and I invited La Catrina over for dinner and sugar cookie. While we ate, Mrs. Clause and I shared with La Catrina about the rewards of bringing joy to people instead of fear. Apparently, it worked, as she was touched and returned many people she had tricked back to their homes. Those that she couldn’t, she vowed to protect and sent word to their living families that they were okay and doing well in the afterlife.* We still get together every spring to have coff . . .
(A menacing laugh fills the air.)
SANTA: It’s Dracula! He must be near. This can’t be the end. I have to get out of . . . Gingerbread! He just came out of nowhere. Half of him is in human form. The other half is bat. The wings are adding extra speed! Dasher! Dancer! Faster! Wait! Cupid! What are you doing? You’re too weak to move . . . No! Don’t! Peppermint! Cupid just jumped! He flew into Dracula, sending both of them plummeting to the earth. Cupid gave us a chance to get away, but I’m afraid he might be lost!
ATC: Keep going, Santa! I’ll advise the SEAL team so they are prepared. If anyone can save Cupid, they can.
<* Author’s note: This history of Día de los Muertos is totally made up for the story prompt. Please don’t leave comments bashing my mythological knowledge. 😉>
===============
Roll: 6
Jack Diamonds: You come across a chimney filled with giant bats.
Draw from the tower. (Eliminated 4; 15 Remain)
Seven Spades: How does Dracula’s laugh affect you?
Draw from the tower (Eliminated 1; 14 Remain)
King Clubs: A werewolf attacks one of your reindeer.
Draw from the tower. Keep this card. If this is the final King, you lose. (Eliminated 5; 9 Remain)
Four Hearts: What is a memory from your first Christmas?
King Spades: Dracula suddenly appears out of the moonlight has a giant bat.
Draw from the tower. Keep this card. If this is the final King, you lose. (Eliminated 1; 8 Remain)
Six Hearts: How did you make a difference in someone’s life?
SANTA: Reindeer down! I repeat, reindeer down!
ATC: Acknowledged. What’s going on?
SANTA: It’s Cupid. He’s been severely wounded. I have him on the sleigh, and we are in flight. We need assistance immediately!
ATC: I’m dispatching a SEAL team to your location now. Stay where you are if possible. We must not abort the night if possible.
SANTA: I hear you, Peppermint. But the situation is bad. Cupid might not have time.
ATC: Our SEALs are top-notch. You need to trust them. What happened?
SANTA: It was a trap. Dracula had filled a chimney with giant bats to distract me. I couldn’t fit down, so I had to coax them out. Luckly, I’ve been taking that class on insect sounds and was able to convincingly imitate the call of the southeastern mosquito. The bats took the bait and flew out to investigate. Having already taken too long at this location, I was preparing to descend when I heard the cry of an injured reindeer coming from the sleigh.
ATC: The sleigh wasn’t on the roof with you?
SANTA: No, the roof was full of gables and pitchy. No place for the sleigh so I had to land in the yard. I scrambled down to find Cupid on the ground, bleeding. One of Dracula’s werewolves was gnawing on his hind parts.
ATC: Couldn’t the other reindeer have fought back?
SANTA: They were too frozen with fear.
ATC: Oh, no! What did you do?
SANTA: I whacked the werewolf over the head with my sack several times to drive it away, then quickly pulled Cupid on the sleigh and took off.
ATC: The SEALs are in the air. How’s Cupid?
SANTA: Alive. In pain. Tell them to hurry. Oh, Peppermint, what’s become of this night? I remember when things were fun and easy. Like my first Christmas journey. There were no obstacles and the children were eager and excited. I remember tip-toeing into a few bedrooms whenever I heard the little girls and boys fidgeting around. I would sit on the side of their bed, tell them a bedtime story, and say their prayers with them while they fell back asleep. Nowadays, the children are afraid of strangers and I’m being chased by Dracula. Any hopes of me talking some sense into the Lord of Darkness are gone now.
ATC: Talk sense? What are you talking about? He is evil! He won’t change!
SANTA: Ah, you say that. But I’ve done it before. You know La Catrina?
ATC: The Elegant Skeletal Lady who is celebrated during the Mexican Día de los Muertos? The one who watches over the families’ dead ancestors?
SANTA: Yes. You may not know this, but she wasn’t always revered. She used to lure unsuspecting victims instead, taking them down into the underworld, adding to the dead instead of watching over them. I received so many letters from the Mexican children asking me to bring home their parents for the holidays that I had to try something. So, Mrs. Claus and I invited La Catrina over for dinner and sugar cookie. While we ate, Mrs. Clause and I shared with La Catrina about the rewards of bringing joy to people instead of fear. Apparently, it worked, as she was touched and returned many people she had tricked back to their homes. Those that she couldn’t, she vowed to protect and sent word to their living families that they were okay and doing well in the afterlife.* We still get together every spring to have coff . . .
(A menacing laugh fills the air.)
SANTA: It’s Dracula! He must be near. This can’t be the end. I have to get out of . . . Gingerbread! He just came out of nowhere. Half of him is in human form. The other half is bat. The wings are adding extra speed! Dasher! Dancer! Faster! Wait! Cupid! What are you doing? You’re too weak to move . . . No! Don’t! Peppermint! Cupid just jumped! He flew into Dracula, sending both of them plummeting to the earth. Cupid gave us a chance to get away, but I’m afraid he might be lost!
ATC: Keep going, Santa! I’ll advise the SEAL team so they are prepared. If anyone can save Cupid, they can.
<* Author’s note: This history of Día de los Muertos is totally made up for the story prompt. Please don’t leave comments bashing my mythological knowledge. 😉>
===============
Roll: 6
Jack Diamonds: You come across a chimney filled with giant bats.
Draw from the tower. (Eliminated 4; 15 Remain)
Seven Spades: How does Dracula’s laugh affect you?
Draw from the tower (Eliminated 1; 14 Remain)
King Clubs: A werewolf attacks one of your reindeer.
Draw from the tower. Keep this card. If this is the final King, you lose. (Eliminated 5; 9 Remain)
Four Hearts: What is a memory from your first Christmas?
King Spades: Dracula suddenly appears out of the moonlight has a giant bat.
Draw from the tower. Keep this card. If this is the final King, you lose. (Eliminated 1; 8 Remain)
Six Hearts: How did you make a difference in someone’s life?