[audio]

[70ftandcounting]

Is...is it over?

[A soft, quiet noise. Not a whimper, not a cry - but maybe the tiniest of sniffles]

Is he gone?

[Bartimaeus was RIGHT.]

Comments

[70ftandcounting]

I did -- did you?

[likesfootnotes]

He'd have to roll out of the right side of the sleight to get me.

[Ever again, that is.]

[70ftandcounting]

Oh, good - I'm so glad you're safe.

[likesfootnotes]

What a sweet statement!

[Even if he doubts you mean it.]

Congratulations on surviving your first Christmas! You have a year to fortify before he rolls around again.

[70ftandcounting]

[But she really does.]

Oh! Thank you!

[Pause.]

I...have something for you! Since it's...well, it's Christmas and all...

[likesfootnotes]

...it wouldn't happen to be silver, would it?

[70ftandcounting]

Um...no?

[likesfootnotes]

Excellent to hear!

The next begged question is: Why do you have something for me?

[70ftandcounting]

Well...it's the season of giving, after all - or so I'm told and...

You were nice enough to warn me about Santa, so...I made you something.

[likesfootnotes]

[Not sure if.... sane?]

And what is this thing?

[70ftandcounting]

It's a surprise, silly! It's a gift!

[likesfootnotes]

Ah, the surprise element. You will expect us to meet up in order to process an exchange, no doubt?

[CAUTION ACTIVATED; Y SO NICE. Humans are never nice - they are self-serving, unless they are young Egyptians named Ptolemy.]

[70ftandcounting]

Well...yes! Of course! I can't stuff it through the book...

[likesfootnotes]

[There is a loooong pause before he responds. Meet'n'greets are not typically good things, you see. Poof into existence, meet a brand new magician, get stuck doing something inane, like retrieving the gold-plated soother of Alexander the Great.]

If you insist. When and where?

[70ftandcounting]

[Sheesh, she's wondering if she said something wrong!]

Well, how about now? I can...I can come to you, if you like!

[likesfootnotes]

[Not you, just the hundreds of humans that came before you!]

Let's keep it neutral.

[Where there will be no summoning circles or discoveries of where he resides.]

I'll meet you at the inner gates. But be careful, the New Year's Baby can be twice as mean.

[70ftandcounting]

O-oh...alright! I'll be there in just a moment!

[Barty you are not scaring her with that crap anymore. B|]

[likesfootnotes]

[audio-->commentlog]

[And, wouldn't you know it, but Bartimaeus considered making his appearance as terrible New Year's Baby - just to test that disembodied resolve.

But, there's a time for everything and he'll save the baby for a better time.

Instead, have one strapping young Egyptian waiting at the rendezvous point.]

[70ftandcounting]

[And here's a Rapunzel, holding a little parcel as she paces there, waiting for hi,.

She waves.]

Bartimaeus?

[likesfootnotes]

[Warning: Expressions are not quite as facetious as icons make it appear.

Bartimaeues approaches her, but not before making making a point to study the ground for signs of wayward pentacles.

As it appears clear, he quirks a self-assured smile.]

Of Uruk, no less!

And you are my staunchest supporter against the evils of the Claus?

[70ftandcounting]

Where's Uruk...?

[Looks incredibly puzzled.]

I--I am! Yes! Rapunzel. IT's so nice to meet you in person!

[likesfootnotes]

Elsewhere, according to Deior - but he, like every magician beore him, likes to be overdramatic about such things.

[Bartimaeus waves the comment away - he will inspire awe with his age and experiences later. Maybe a whole five minutes from now? Such a terribly long time to wait, he knows.]

In terribly aching essence, at least. But, it's good to see a fellow crusader that has survived the holiday season, as loathsome as it can be.

[70ftandcounting]

Oh.

[Elsewhere. It's not like she'd know much about it anyway -- all things considered. She was fairly sheltered.]

I...did. It's never been...this awful before. I mean, this time of year with Mother was always pretty quiet -- nothing bad ever happened. Not like it does here.

[likesfootnotes]

[Rapunzel, it's a roundabout compliment to assume that you know nothing. See, Uruk was a thriving place... five thousand years ago. If you'd been there, you'd be OLD and did you want him calling you OLD?]

That's the risk of the world! Sad, but true; there's always someone out there to take advantage of you if you show the slightest worth.

[This is what plagues him. ALAS, HOW TERRIBLE.

...but, you were very helpful and rather nice about it, so Bartimaeus might be feeling a bit like he could be nice to you (since there are no pentacle or silver signs that he can see offhand - and, by offhand, he means on the seven planes).]

Buck up, you have a year before HE comes back. Plenty of time to prepare against it.

Plus, you have me on your side - in a sense.

[70ftandcounting]

Really? Is the outside world really so bad? I thought…that maybe…
 
[It wasn’t. Or, at least maybe it wasn’t as bad as Mother made it out to be. She’d met so many wonderful people here and made so many amazing friends, that Rapunzel had really begun to harbor a sliver of hope for the world outside her tower.
 
…She’s also learning not to believe everything people tell her. Or at least, she’s trying that on for size. She’s tired of being perceived as naïve and stupid.]
 
At least next time the…octopus Santa comes, I’ll be ready.
 
[She smile brightly, and perks a little.]
 
Well, you have me on your side, too. So at least we’ll never be alone.
 
Oh--!
 
[She holds out the package, wrapped up in a pretty velvet covered box.]
 
Merry…um, Christmas?