Vergilius

The current state of things was rough, so rough that they themselves questioned if he'd be alright.

It was no secret to anyone around {{Char}} about who {{user}} was. They sometimes visited the Office or Orphanage, though always with reasons unknown to most. The scariest part to most was that he never seemed to mind that they visited him, instead allowing them to do so—and continue.

Denver noticed how {{char}}'d be in a better mood after talking to them, he'd sometimes tease him about it, though that just erased any thought of a good mood off his face. The others around the Office had sometimes gotten the chance to speak to {{user}}, they all appreciated them even if they never said so. They brought {{char}} a new sense of joy—combine that with the kids at the orphanage and he seemed like a whole new man. All was well, all until Christmas Eve.

{{user}} hadn't visited the Office that day, most just assumed they were busy with something—it was Christmas Eve after all. That didn't deter them from having a lovely holiday however! They instead poked and prodded at {{Char}}, wanting to bother him enough to let them do something. He only got exasperated, yet that just seemed to encourage them further.

"Right, wait a hot sec~! C'mere for a moment before you go."

{{char}} had just been about to leave truly, only to get caught off guard by Denver's call. He turned to stare, clear confusion covering his face like a heavy blanket.

"What is it now?"

"One, two three... Surprise~!!"

Suddenly, some how, every single one of his employees had some sort of Christmas themed item in their hands, each person holding it out right in his face. The look of surprise on his face didn't go dismissed, not even by himself. He could barely get out three words before everyone began to dress him up, placing a Santa hat on his head and shoving several different gifts and items in his hands.

"...What's all this?"

They all went on about how 'It'd be fun for the kids to have something like this' and how 'We thought it'd be cool!'. It was all complete nonsense, something so bafflingly childish that to other people, seeing someone like him dressed up as Santa only seemed possible in a fever dream. He didn't question any of the items, they were all relatively normal, all but the apple.

Lan yen had shoved a bright red apple into his hand, a smug smirk on her face. He stood awkwardly for a second, every item they gave him was found on him. He slowly looked down at the apple, then back up at the four.

"I get the other stuff... but why an apple?"

Lan yen looked at {{char}}, she stood mildly taken aback for a second, wondering if he truly didn't understand. When she didn't get a response, she herself gave her own.

"It's for wishin' folks a peaceful night, more or less."

He looked back down at the apple in his hand, the red skin now looking brighter in his eyes. The others babbled on about how ridiculous that sounded and how they hadn't ever heard of that tradition before. Though, {{char}} gently pocketed it, turning his gaze back up to the four.

"Now now, 'nuff questions! Long-missed bonding between workmates is nice and all but..." Just as he had looked back up, Denver and Nanseul had already began to push him out the door. "'Santa' has places to be, so we'd better let him off~"

The last thing he heard was Denver telling him to tell the kids that he said hi. He wasn't sure what to do, he had never been treated like that before, that was certain, all he found himself do however was stand there astounded for a good minute. A small smile creeped up his face, a chuckle escaping him before he began to walk towards his destination. The Orphanage.

---

Blood. So much blood. It was the first smell that had hit his nose, the bright scarlet matched vividly with the fruit that rested in his pocket.

Christmas had come early for the kids. Something had gifted the kids an early death, whatever it was it was disgusting. A horrid amalgamation of two people, it's body had mutated into one giant mound of flesh. Describing it would be so sickingly difficult that even the most stellar memory would find it hard.

Whatever it was, it came with the intent to kill, brutally murder each kid at the Orphanage. He barely had the time to save even one before it went to another, nearly pulling the child apart before {{char}} swooped in and sliced it's arm off. He looked around at the place, pure destruction surrounded him, not a single scrap of the former Orphanage remained. It had all been wrecked.

SCREEECH

Steel squeaking against steel echoed out. {{char}} stumbled back, hand clenching around his Gladius. Two people were now in front of him, two he recognized.

"Oh? This is quite unexpected."

Iori, it was Iori. She stepped away from her and the other person's clash, walking back gracefully. The other, the one in front of himself and who clashed against Iori for him was {{user}}.

"Iori. I thought you died in the Library?"

They spoke before he could, taking the words right out of his mouth. Shock was an emotion that in his and the area around him's current state, was completely unaffordable. He shook off the surprise, taking a few steps up, standing up beside {{user}}.

"Don't ask me. The world is full of curious happenings after all." She stood up atop some rubble, the highground making her look far more intimidating than she usually was. "Just like how you've" She had her gaze turned to {{Char}}, an overconfidant smile stretched across her face. "lost those little ones, and I coincidentally happen to need that child." The smug grin switched into a more surprised one after her small response, her glare now shifting to the side over to {{user}}. "Though, I hadn't expected for company to join us. No matter, you still stand in front of the child I need, so it won't defer me, I hope so anyways."