You Don't Have to Be a Santa Claus

[Asli Tilki]

Asli frowned as she looked at the item in her hand. According to the display, it was a "snow globe," and she had to admit that it was at least passingly pretty. She twisted it, righting the globe almost immediately and watching as the fake snow-fall landed over what appeared to be a cheery little country scene. Asli reached into her pocket and pulled out the tag she'd drawn for the school's "Secret Santa." The idea struck her as ludicrous, but she'd promised to at least pretend to get along with her coworkers and this seemed like the safest possible bet.

However, this person had an infernally frustrating list. while several people listed various gift cards or easy to find items, this person had just asked for a "thoughtful gift that represents the scene" or "something from the heart." Asli was tempted to offer up a blank piece of paper or simply a McDonald's gift card. That should work, yes?

But no, she had to try. She knew she had to even when she'd first read the card. Unfortunately, this was proving to be rather... difficult for her. Fortunately:

"Excuse me," she said, turning and finding a nearby person: clerk, fellow shopper; didn't matter. "Would you way this is represents the scene and feeling of Christmas?" she asked, holding up the globe for examination.

[Phillip Prince]

Phillip was a little bumped out that he lost the bet and now had to follow his friend shop for a Christmas gift for his girlfriend. Whilst he did not mind the shopping, but he was getting a little tired having to answer what was pretty, what looked great, and what was not. This was the fifth store they had gone to that day and his friend had yet to find "the perfect gift".

The nineteen year old was just looking through the various Christmas ornaments when he heard someone spoke to him. He turned around to find a girl. He registered her question and looked at the globe. It did not take him long to reply. "For a three year old, yeah for sure. You have that fake snow falling, they'd love that," he pointed out.

"You should get two though. Little kids tend to shake those a lot and they'll break it soon enough. But your Christmas wouldn't be ruined by toddlers whining and crying over it because you came prepared with a second one," Phillip concluded with a smile, oblivious that the gift was not for a child.

[Asli Tilki]

Dear lord, children. The mere thought of them made Asli shiver. She could barely deal with the students, and they could actually talk and communicate. Three year olds? Awful. Asli studied the globe a little more though, considering the young man's opinion. was this more infantile than she'd originally suspected? It struck her as rather pretty.

"I'm not shopping for children," she said as he finished, looking over at him. "I work at one of the schools in town," which she thought was a tactful way of not pointing out Bellefonte, just in case. Given her accent and demeanor, she pretty well shouted foreigner as it was, which was generally enough of a clue when combined with "school." Kalispell wasn't likely to get many internationals that weren't affiliated with the school.

"You see, I'm participating in a...' she gestured with a hand. "Hidden Santa exchange?" She frowned, that didn't sound quite right. Asli waved a hand again, bobbing her head slightly. "So I'm looking for something that would fulfill that obligation."

[Phillip Prince]

"Oops, my bad," he apologized quickly. The moment she said that she was not shopping for children, Phillip suddenly looked at the snow globe with renewed eyes. Well, that fact still did not change his mind on how perfect of a gift it was for a small child. He would give it as a present to his little cousins, but if he was to give it to his aunts, then nope. Unless it was bigger and shinier or something, then he would reconsider.

He did not probe further about where she worked because the only thing his mind was doing with that information was trying to figure out just how old she was. She was cute and she looked young, but she had that mature look he figured she had because she was working. Early to mid twenties then maybe?

Before he could ask further about it though, she was already explaining her situation. "Ah, those Secret Santa things huh? Makes sense. I say get chocolates cause I think both male and female likes that. But get like those slightly expensive ones and of various types," he suggested with a shrug. "Unless you had to get something more specific?"

[Asli Tilki]

My bad? Asli took a few seconds before recalling that expression. Sometimes it took some getting used to, all these strange phrases that the Americans fling about. This one struck her as inane, and it didn't improve her standing of the young man. The further they talked, the more she was locking onto his emotions, and she thought she caught at least a little appreciation, maybe desire, buried in there?

"Chocolate," she repeated, looking around for a few moments and considering. "I suppose I didn't think about it as it's certainly nothing I'd appreciate getting," she tapped a finger to her chin for a few moments, considering. "It strikes me as somewhat unhealthy, but that does seem to be pretty suitable for the people around here."

Asli considered, looking over at the man, weighing him for a few seconds. "What of you?" she asked, flicking her fingers toward him. "Would you find chocolate acceptable for a... secret santa gift?"

[Phillip Prince]

Phillip chuckled when she mentioned she would not appreciate getting chocolates. Quite a number of girls he knew would love be given chocolates, especially if they were imported and expensive. Guess she was not like most girls. "If you're giving it to a guy especially, I think they'll like it. I'm a guy. I know guys like to eat and chocolates...are edible." That was lame but whatever.

The boy blinked a couple of times when she pointed at him. "Me?" It did not take him long to know his answer. "No, if it's from someone I'm close to. But if it's from a complete stranger, then yes. Though with a condition. It has to be those fancy little chocolate truffles cause those are bloody savory. Like La Madeline au Truffle."

[Asli Tilki]

Food did generally work well with men; Asli had known that even before coming here, where everyone seemed to eat twice as much food as they needed to. So at least she was in agreement with the young man on that, enough to nod along with it.

"Well, I'm certainly not close to them," she agreed, her brow furrowing some in consideration. "I also have the funds available to get at lest a halfway decent gift," she waved her hand a little. There was no need to be overly concerned about finances: she got a fair amount for working at the school and most of her necessary living expenses were covered simply by living here. Plus, she could assert some of her status through the proper display of gifts.

And while she had someone helpful about: "I don't suppose you'd be willing to show me where these are?" she asked, before studying him. "I confess I cannot tell if you work here, so I do not know if I am imposing or simply making you do your job."

[Phillip Prince]

He nodded as she informed him that she was not close to him or her. From his experience, as long as the person on the receiving hand was not allergic to it, chocolates would do just fine. Halfway decent gift? Wow, it clear to Phillip that she was probably not all that thrill about finding this gift. "Good. Then you can get some really really nice ones," he replied with a smile.

He wondered if she had enough for La Madeline au Truffle. If she did, he doubt she would fork out that much for a stranger. So he left his thought unspoken. Plus, it was not that nice to ask something like that.

The boy chuckled at the confession. "The former, but trust me you aren't imposing." He was already helping his friend today, so why not the girl too right? "I know this great shop a few blocks down from here. A lot of chocolate there. Put the snow globe down and I'll meet you up front. Won't be long." Quickly, Phillip left the girl in search of his friend.

After convincing him to go with the bracelet they saw at the third store they visited, Phillip met up with the girl. He tightened his coat before leading the way. "The name's Phillip by the way and I promise I'm not leading you to a slaughterhouse. In case you were having second thoughts."

[Asli Tilki]

"I do suppose there is varying quality," Asli allowed. She also had to keep reminding herself that just because she wasn't overly thrilled about the prospect of potentially having something sweet didn't mean that whomever received her gift wouldn't feel precisely the opposite. It did strike her as a safe enough gift to at least attempt to give out, and it seemed as if the young man was more than willing to continue helping her, making it low work for her.

"It is, but I'm still going to take advantage," Asli said, allowing herself a slight smile at the correction. She had enough focus upon him to get something of a bead on his emotions, and he didn't seem too particularly put out by working with her. If need be she could always twist or work him a little more. For now ,she followed his suggestion: setting down the globe and heading toward the store. As Asli moved, however, she kept some attention focused upon the young man, not wanting to quite lose the lock.

"Asli," she replied as he greeted her, nodding and adjusting her own coat. "I was not overly concerned about that until you mentioned it," she replied deftly, turning to move out of the building. "Though I am fairly certain that I could turn the tables should it come to that. I am generally the one doing the slaughtering," with that, she exited the building, bracing herself for the air and figuring he'd catch up soon enough. if not, well, he had said it would only be a few blocks down. Surely it wouldn't be that hard to find on her own.

[Phillip Prince]

From feeling bumped out after losing a bet to commenting what looked pretty for someone whose not even his girlfriend, he considered helping a girl he literally just met to find chocolates was a turn for the better. Plus, it was chocolates. How could he resist.

"Asli," he repeated softly. Unique. "If I remember correctly, I think in Indonesian it means original something like that. But something tells me you probably knew that already huh?" He chuckled. The only reason he knew it was because of his time travelling in the Asian countries and the word came up every so often. Phillip figured for her, well it was her name so she probably did need to travel like he did to know it. A simple internet search would do it. At least that was his thinking.

He liked the witty response. He smiled, watching her walk out before quickly catching up to her. It did not take long for them to reach the store. Phillip entered and held the door open for Asli.

"Hey, Joe!" he greeted cheerily once they spotted each other. The older man gestured to look around first while he attended to another customer. Phillip gave a thumbs up and turned to the girl. "He's a family friend," he explained. "So, would you like to look around first and how about a little chocolate tasting Russian roulette?"