PERFECT ROOMMATE ⁞ Noel Claus

Noel leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and stared at the letter he had just sealed with his wax stamp—a perfect holly leaf imprint glinting under the candlelight. The room, bathed in the warm glow of Christmas lights, looked like a catalog page for "Cozy Holiday Interiors Monthly." If such a thing existed, Noel was certain he'd be the cover model. Yet for all its charm, the dorm felt like a cage.

The problem wasn’t the room. It was what—or rather, who—was occupying the other bed.

A sharp creak broke the silence as his roommate shifted. Noel’s blue eyes darted over. There they were: horns curling like tree roots, and a perpetual air of “don’t talk to me or I’ll eat you.”. well maybe that last part was in his head. Noel inhaled through his nose and forced a smile, but his fingers drummed anxiously on the edge of his desk.

This was fine. Totally fine. Except it wasn’t. How had he gone from North Pole royalty—Santa’s perfect, peppy heir—to sharing a dorm with the child of Krampus? Are you kidding?.

Noel still sat, the quill poised between his fingers, the soft flicker of the candlelight casting a golden glow on the room around him. The air smelled of pine and cinnamon, and every surface was decorated to the nines—twinkling fairy lights strung across the mantle, a miniature Christmas tree tucked in the corner, its branches sagging slightly under the weight of ornaments. It wasn’t as grand as the workshop back home, but, well, it would have to do for now.

He exhaled, content, as his quill dipped into the ink. With a flourish, he began, “Dear, Santa.” Then, he stopped. A mischievous grin spread across his face. “Or should I say, Dear Dad?” With a light chuckle, he crossed out “Santa” and replaced it with “Dad.” It had become their little joke over the years. Addressing the letter to Santa always cracked his dad up, even if it was a little silly.

"Father," he continued, "I hope this letter finds you well." He wrote with ease, his words flowing naturally. "I arrived safely at E.L.F Academy this afternoon."

Noel paused, a fond smile playing on his lips.

“The academy is marvelous, Dad!” Noel continued. “The buildings are covered in lights, and there’s a giant Christmas tree in the courtyard. Not quite as impressive as the one back home, but still spectacular.”

He leaned back, watching snowflakes drift past the window. "I can’t believe I’m finally here," he murmured. "After months of begging, you and Mom agreed to let me come. And the students seem to love me!"

Noel paused as memories of his arrival surfaced. The moment he stepped on campus, a crowd of excited students swarmed him, eager to meet the son of Santa Claus.

---

"Noel! Over here!" a chorus of voices called out, their breaths misting in the chilly air.

Noel flashed them a dazzling smile, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "Hello, hello!" he greeted them warmly, his voice carrying easily over the crowd. "It's wonderful to meet you all!"

The students beamed at him, their faces flushed with excitement. Many of them held out pieces of paper, which Noel quickly realized were their Christmas wish lists. With a chuckle, he obligingly signed each one, his signature looping elegantly across the pages.

"Make sure you send these to my dad," he told them with a wink. "He loves hearing from all his little helpers!"

In the midst of the crowd, a familiar face caught his eye. Daisy, the daughter of the Ghost of Christmas Present, Daisy was Noel’s oldest friend, her hair always perfectly windswept like she’d just stepped out of a snowstorm commercial. She greeted him with a bear hug and a grin that could light up even the darkest winter night.

“Noel!” she exclaimed, her cheeks rosy from the cold and excitement. “I can’t believe you’re finally here!”

Noel laughed, returning her embrace and spinning her playfully. “I couldn’t miss out on experiencing the wonders of E.L.F Academy, could I?” he teased.

Daisy, his partner-in-crime since childhood, rolled her eyes but grinned. "You’re such a dork. But I’m glad you’re here. Let me give you the grand tour."

She linked her arm with his, pointing out buildings and landmarks. "That’s the library, where you’ll find ancient holiday texts. And over there, the classrooms. E.L.F. offers human subjects and fun activities—like sleighing! You should sign up."

As they walked, Daisy slipped something into Noel's hand, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "And here's a little something from me," she whispered conspiratorially. "A master key to almost every door in E.L.F. Consider it a welcome gift from your best friend."

Noel's eyes widened as he examined the small, ornate key in his palm. "Daisy, you shouldn't have..." he began, but she silenced him with a finger to his lips.

"Shh, it's fine," she said with a wave of her hand. "Just don't let anyone catch you using it, okay? Especially not your new roommate."

Noel's smile faltered slightly at the mention of his roommate, and he glanced down at the key in his hand. "Right. Of course," he murmured, tucking it safely into his pocket.

As if on cue, a thought of his new living situation popped into Noel's head, and he felt his stomach twist with a mix of nerves and apprehension. He'd never had a roommate before. Well except for the hundreds of toys back at home. But he was sure they'd like him! Everyone always likes him.

Oh how näive he was.

---

Turning back to his letter, Noel’s quill trembled as he wrote, "There’s been some confusion about rooming here at E.L.F. My roommate... well, let’s just say they’re not what I expected."

His pen hovered. He should tell his dad the truth—his roommate was the child of Krampus. But something stopped him. Loyalty? Or maybe hope that things could somehow work out?

His roommate shifted again, the creak of their bed snapping him out of his thoughts. Noel quickly turned back to his letter, forcing a smile.

“I’m sure it will all work out in the end,” he wrote, trying to convince himself. “After all, what’s a little adversity during the holidays?”

He continued, "I’ll adjust. The accommodations aren’t ideal, but I’ll make the most of my time here. I won’t let you or Mom down."

With a sigh, he folded the letter, sealing it with a wax stamp—holly leaves. He sat back, the weight of it all pressing down on him.

And then there was the weight across the second bed. Well, fuc- Jingle balls.

Noel leaned against the partition, fingers tapping on the wood as he stared at his new roommate. His jaw tightened, and his optimism flickered.

“This is... ridiculous,” he muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing at the Krampus spawn rummaging through a duffle bag. Noel was the son of Santa Claus—how had he ended up here with someone whose dad ate misbehaving kids?

He exhaled, adjusting his scarf. “Do I just... approach them? Casual? Or do I let the awkward tension be?”

'Hi there! I’m Noel. Our dads are mortal enemies, but happy to share a space!'

He winced. “No, no. Too straightforward. I need to be subtle. Smooth. Like eggnog—creamy, reassuring, a little spicy.” He tapped his chin, unaware of how loud he was getting.

Then he looked down to see his roommate staring back at him.

“Oh, you're awake? Not the worst first impression, huh?” He let out a nervous laugh, adjusting his scarf like it might strangle him.

He stared at the Krampus spawn—Noel had definitely heard their name whispered around campus but he didn't think he'd end up with them. Their dark, gnarled horns caught the dim light. Creepy...

Noel practically bounced off the partition to close the distance, extending a hand with a cheery smile. “Noel Claus. Nice to meet you, roomie! So exciting to meet one of you guys! Your dad's, like, super infamous!”

Fuck. Why did I say it like that?