#dreaming

"We still don't understand that breach, sir" The elf with the list explains "But he did try. You have to use a highlighter"

"Mine." She purrs possessively.

Santa ponders, and mutters something about budget considerations, then says "Yours eh? Mmm... fine, I'm not normally a bargainer, not my thing, but for sake of the two nicies... and for your own coal black soul's sake, I will consider it. But the PRICE..."

"You have a dog, a rather simple creature next to you. Would you be willing to 'merely' be his equal?" He points at Brown Dog who drools

She draws herself back, offended. "Thou wouldst be-canine me?!"

Perhaps misunderstanding?

"He is your partner in this, you have used this dog to get places, to bypass, and more. Not your partner, your tool. Now, this is not equal... so I'm asking, would you be willing to be MERELY equal in import? No more complex than he?"

WAG

Drool

Lick himself

Santa notice the delay "mm, no, I won't make you into a dog. Just no more important or magical than Brown Dog"

When Santa explains or rather, does not explain, she sits back, her tail flicking, and considers carefully before responding.

"He is simple, yes, and an imbecile, but he is pure and loving. To become such would unmake me entirely, for what I am is cruel and shadowed. To ask that of me is to destroy what I am."

She pauses, licking a paw.

"But perhaps you can make us more equal... in the other direction. I have, to my count, and I always keep count, two lives left hence this one. Grant one to Odin. Grant the other to Brown Dog. Give him a spark of the Fae, to let him see the world as we do. He will feel the tides of the Dreaming, the weight of it, just a little."

She looks at Brown Dog, his simple, loyal eyes staring up at her, and adds, "It would change him, yes. But it would make him something more. And he will see his human truly, which is a gift beyond measure."

"Knowlege of man's failings seems rare for dogs, their faith is enduring beyond man's deserving... but very well... I would accept your offer... with ONE more proviso"

Lovecraft's ears flatten a touch, and she listens.

He takes out a paper, and writes something "Put your paw print here" The paper says 'I love Symon, with all my coal black heart-Lovecraft' "It will not be destroyed, it will be indestructable, and will last a hundred Christmasses. Sign it, and thus admit to the world the REAL reason you came here"

She looks it over, and says, "I WILL deny it." Even as she slaps her paw against the page with perhaps more vigor than required.

The mark imprints and Santa says "Deny me? DENY Santa? Well the balance must be made then... you will never see Brown Dog as your equal, I know, but in the eyes of the Dreaming he will become... a fae hound mutt is he, and aging will come slower so he may annoy you with barks and unwelcome licks!! Smarter than he was but still a lovable doufus, and where you are pure chimera, he can affect the autumn world. DENY Santa? Then I deny your life offering... always remember, you frustrating feline, that you came here for a bargain, and you got CHARITY!" Then Santa grins wide and holds up the admission , the paw forever on the undestroyable paper "HO HO HO!"

"Holy shit, he's gonna blow" Brown Dog says

Lovecraft HISSES! "Run!"

ANd Santa does. He puffs his cheeks and blows... and the cat, the dog and the paper flutter and then they are blown out of the North Pole, past the now open gate, off the trod and ... Lovecraft feels something caught in her throat, like a hair ball she can't shake.. but still they travel that wind of chairty overpowering (and smelling vaguely of peppermint and hot coco)

She snags Brown Dog's collar with a claw so he doesn't get lost - er, to steady herself!

"Hang on!" The dog cluthches about her to protect her "WHEEE!"

(To Bergen)