Christmas may be over and we're already into 2020, but this doesn't mean we can't completely forget about the yuletide season yet! Heck, if supermarkets are already stocking Easter items when we're barely into the new year, think of this as adopting the capitalistic festive spirit and pretend we're already celebrating Christmas 2020!
But in all seriousness, I would like to offer my deepest gratitude and thanks for the entries we do have for this event. It's undoubtedly been a challenge, particularly when you're working with a theme and during a holiday period as busy as that of Christmas and New Year.
Obviously try not to vote for your own entries, but since I know who the authors are, I trust none of them will disobey me. Right?
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---#1 - 'A Blitzball Carol' (aka if the party went to Luca during Yevonmas instead of the Blitzball League)
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---#2 - 'Yuletide Hot Dogs'
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---#3 - 'FFF Christmas Carol'
It was a cold winter morning, so cold that the winter breeze crept into your bones and made you feel cold and dead on the inside. Yet everyone tried to keep warm the best they could by either wearing extra clothes or keeping their fireplaces going, however there was one man that would not have Ebennezer McGee, the most cold hearted man in town. He would scowl at you walking down the street, sneer and growl at you for saying good morning and hated the holidays, especially Christmas. None felt this impact more than anyone else then a specific Bob Espurr, Espurr was a humble soul you see he worked to feed his family which consisted of his wife, daughter, and two sons of which poor Tiny Cabroot was quite sick, sick enough that he might not make it next years end. Espurr sat shivering in the cold rubbing his arms on his jacket however the cold made it feel like he was rubbing sandpaper on himself. Looking over to his boss with ice crystals dripping from his eyes he stuttered as he spoke, “Ssssiirr, d d do you t t think we cou llddd us use the fireplace”, with an almost immediate reply and scorn in voice that could make even the most pious of the church feel contempt for him McGee shouted, “No, what do you think this is, a charity? Burning wood costs money since we would need to buy the wood to replace it, we are in the business of making money not spending it Espurr.”
Espurr did his best to deal with the cold and managed to ask McGee “Sir it’s Christmas tomorrow, do you think I could have the day off with pay to spend time with my family?” The anger that filled the room and tone that McGee replied in felt like it warmed the room itself and that it was a hot summer afternoon instead of this cold bone chilling winter day. “Pay! Tomorrow, Christmas, BAH-HUMBUG why should I?” Espurr taken aback by the sudden shift in tone managed to squeak something out, “Sir everyone else but the butcher is closed and off with pay tomorrow though, why not us?” Mcgee let out a disgruntled tick “Humbug Christmas, I’ll let you off early tomorrow instead I still want you here bright and early tomorrow, you’ll get no pay from me for any work not being done.” Espurr let out a small sigh and continued working for the rest of his day, and like that the day started to end and as both McGee and Espurr were getting ready to head their respective ways home and McGee was locking up the office a charity worker walked up to them. This worker must have been new in town or otherwise not involved in the normal social circles for then she might have known who she was speaking with and how he would act. With the best effort possible and most cheery voice that could be offered in the cold drap she spoke, “Excuse me sirs, do you think you could spare some money for the displaced and homeless orphan funds?” McGee let out such a haughty laugh that people walking down the street would have started in horror at the sight of the cranky old man showing some form of joy, but this wasn’t the typical sense of tone one would associate with joy, it was more sinister and cold. “Donate! Money! Why should I, best let them rot and suffer from hunger, so that they don’t eat up valuable money or other people's time by having them waste it with you asking for donations.”
With that McGee walked away leaving a speechless Espurr and the charity worker stunned and silenced. McGee walked to his home with everyone in the street avoiding him in the street as he did so, there were even some quite hushed whispers being spoken by people standing on the side or corners. You couldn’t hear what they were saying but by their bowed heads and how closely some stood together, not to mention they turned their heads as McGee walked past them you could only guess at who they were talking about as he passed by. As he is about to reach his home he is stopped by his nephew Ribbit. Ribbit was hurrying up rubbing his gloved hands together to try and keep warm and a small smile escaped his lips as he saw his uncle and he almost beamed with cheerfulness that was practically contagious, but this was McGee and such merriment escaped him. “Uncle it’s good to see you, I know this may be of short notice but I was hoping you would join me and some friends tomorrow for a Christmas party, I would also like you to meet the woman I'm engaged to.” McGee took a small huff “Inconvenience indeed, what use do I have to frolic with people in any merry making when that time could be best spent otherwise. No I do not think I will be attending at all, you best rethink your future and spend your time wisely instead of wasting it on frivolous parties.” With that McGee slammed the door shut on Rabbit's slightly crestfallen face, Ribbit taken aback by his uncles rude behavior. McGee was now soundly asleep the old grandfather clock in him room ticking away the time for the next day yet as the clock struck 11 at night something quite strange happened. Chains could be heard rattling slowly in the distance echoing in the halls making them seem numerous, each rattle brought a shiver of dread and fear up McGee’s spine as he sat wide-eyed in fear, dreading what was to come. The chains stopped and McGee let out a breath of relief not noticing the wisps of his breath could be seen, getting ready to close his eyes and lay back down did suddenly a ghostly figure wrapped in chains appear before McGee and one he knew all too well in fact. Surprised at the figure he saw he could only say, “Jacob Belazor my old partner, you’re supposed to be dead!”
Jacob Belazor spoke coldly with such daunting tone McGee felt already as if the chains were wrapping around him. “McGee you have been most unkind and you’re greed is great. For you show no care to anyone but yourself and money, having this sort of greed will lead you to be bound to chains like these.” Belazor began to shake hs chains to emphasize his point, and McGee shot up in his bed in surprise, “Though McGee due to your selfish behavior and lack of kind heart along with your obsession with money your greed will cause you to bear much heavier chains upon your death.” McGee let out a painful cry “What do you mean?” Belazor ignored this comment and continued. “However three spirits will visit you tonight once your clock strikes 12O, listen to them well.” McGee could only choke out the word “three” to which Belazor rattled his chains with more vigor “Three and at midnight.” With that Belazor let out an evil laugh and flew threw the walls and into the night sky. McGee on the other hand sat terrified in bed sheets clutched in hand and now nervously watching the clock, his eyes darting around the room on a constant fevor as if expecting to jump out at him. McGee could not rest the fear in his heart keeping him awake, his eyes darting around nervously even more as he saw the clock strike 12:00. At first nothing seemed to happen and McGee thought it was all but a dream but then a glow started coming from his window and he felt the fear once again, A ball of light passed through his window and from it appeared a woman robbed in white, and she introduced herself with a warm and inviting tone. “Greeting McGee I am Linnaete of Christmas past and I am the first to see you tonight, now come take my hand and we will be off.” Linnaete just held out her hand waiting for McGee to grab it. McGee lightly grabbed Linnaete’s hand as she spirited the two through his wall and they started flying off into the night sky. McGee could only let out a yell as he started flying through the wall and saw the ground beneath him expecting to fall, he started to grip Linnaete’s arm and tightly for worry that if he loosened but a bit he would surely meet his end. Linnaete flew them off into the clouds and McGee once again closed his eyes in freight it wasn’t until his feet felt solid ground he dared to open his eyes.
The sight that greeted him was a shock to him he couldn’t quite understand it, before him was the old boarding home he used to attend and what prelexed him more was a boy sitting at a table he could see through a window, this boy was none other them a younger version of himself. McGee turned to the spirit and shouted “Spirit explain yourself how is it that we are here, and at this place?” Linnaete smiled warmly and spoke softly “We are seeing your past and the boy you used to be, one that was still joyful and filled with wonder and not the man you are now.” Soon the scenery in the window changed McGee was a bit little bit older and a woman was standing next to him, it was his sister Six who was asking him to come home. “Please McGee won’t you come home, even father wishes to see you for the holidays?” McGee only replied with, “No dear there is too much bad blood between us, besides if he wished to see me how come he could not come and say so himself?” The rest of the conversation turned into a blur as the scenery changed this time to a more business setting, many people were seen in dresses or shirts and ties, a notable older McGee appearing to be a man in his 20’s was merrily seeing laughing. McGee even has a woman who has her arms wrapped around his one arm laughing away at the events as well. An older jolly man walked up to the two of them with him wrapping his arm around McGee’s head as he laughed. The McGee watching could only stare and reply, “I remember this, I had just started working for Mr.FizzySly and I recently got engaged to Shelby, she was the love of my life.” Linnaete let a small frown show on her face as she grew a little sad and replied, “But not more than money it seems.” With that, she waved her hand again and the view in the window faded away to be replaced anew by McGee and Shelby talking on a bench with snow falling, Shelby seemed to be sad as she spoke and could be heard, “McGee it seems there’s no room in your heart now for all but money, not even for me, I can’t be with you anymore.” Shelby turned away head bowed down and crying as she walked away leaving McGee in silence. Linnaete spoke calmly and asked McGee “Why did you do nothing to stop her?” McGee could only reply “I couldn’t, I had nothing to say. I realized at that time what she said was true and couldn’t bring myself to stop her.”
Linnaete waved her hand again and a new scene unfolded, this time it went to an older Shelby who seemed happy, she was surrounded by what appeared to be her family enjoying a nice Christmas dinner. Confused McGee asked Linnaete why he brought him here and she just waved a hand. As McGee listened in he could here they were talking about him, and as it turned out in an unfavorable way, one of the men asked Shelby what she thought of McGee and as she went on about how he was a changed man now only crude, rude, and uncaring and only cared about money and no on else pain crossed over McGee’s face and he turned back to the spirit and shouted, “Enough, I had enough of this take me back to my room, I don’t want to see more of this.” Linnaete just bowed her head and with a wave of her hand the scene before them disappeared and McGee found himself back in his room with Linnaete nowhere to be found. McGee still in disbelief at what happened walked to his bed and tried to lay down, but couldn’t the events that passed kept him up that he didn’t notice time passing until the clock struck 1:00. That’s when he noticed a glow coming from under the door in his room and going in he found himself in front of a feast. It had almost any food imaginable from turkey at the center to various types of potatoes, pies, and puddings, and anything else you might think would be served at a Christmas dinner.
The man let out a jolly laugh as he saw McGee and introduced himself as Dionysos of Christmas Present. McGee could only stare at the feast before him before asking what he would be showing him. Dionysos laughed as he stood up revealing he was dressed with an elaborate giant red robe and green shirt and pants beneath it. With one hand on his belly and the other opening his robe he wrapped McGee in it only for them to vanish into gold dust. When next they came to McGee realized almost immediately where they were and he almost yelled “That’s my nephew Ribbit he invited me to a party this year.” “Indeed he did and you turned him down quite coldly.” replied Dionysos, more jovial behavior continued and McGee spoke again “He should be focusing on his future not wasting time goofing off as such.” Dionysos just snorted but not of annoyance more of shock and pity and replied again “Ahh but wasn’t there a time even you enjoyed such a time as this?” McGee grew silent the reply going to waste on his tongue as he watched everyone present laughing and having a good time, soon even McGee soon started to smile. “Yes I suppose once I did, but I found that working and keeping myself busy were more important.” Dionysos just looked down in sadness before saying it was a shame then opened his cloak once more and beckoned while telling McGee they had one more place to visit. They disappeared into gold dust again emerging upon the seen of Espurr and his family. It was a humble scene and McGee noticed how, that though the family barely had nothing they still seemed happy, but oddly enough what stuck his heart more was the sight of Tiny Cabroot. Small and frail he seemed and had trouble getting around and when McGee questioned this Dionysos gave him a bewildered look and even questiongly asked why McGee seemed to care for this one child, he also told him that Tiny Cabroot would not make it till next year if events don’t change. McGee could only be silent in return and at the end Dionysos returned him to his room and told him “You have one more spirit to visit you, he will be Soulcorruptor of Christmas yet to come and he will be the last spirit that you see tonight.” With that Dionysos himself vanished.
The clock struck 2:00 and McGee sat in anticipation for the final spirit,Soulcorruptor of Christmas Yet to Come. He watched and watched and nothing seemed to come when suddenly a robed figure just seemed to appear walking through his door. McGee feeling tired of what he was being shown asked the spirit if he was the one he was wasting for only to be greeted by silence. Feeling annoyed he kept pestering the spirit with questions only to be answered by the cloaked figure to raise an arm and point and silence. What McGee first saw was some people he remembered like his Charwoman and the undertaker as they looked to be stealing some persons possessions. Soulcorruptor continued to point as McGee asked for question and was lead to Espurr’s house where it showed that Tiny Cabroot had passed away. McGee dropped to his knees and began sobbing in despair and asked to see some happiness from this other personas death. Soulcorruptor took him to an elderly couple who were rejoicing that they had more time to get their affairs in order and pay off their debt with the passing of this person. Soon it began to weigh on McGee who exactly died and why there was so little remorse, when he asked Soulcorruptor to show him exactly who died they were transported to a graveyard. Confused McGee asked again who died only once again to be greeted by silence and Soulcorruptor just pointing to a grave. McGee slowly made his way practically crawling to see the tombstone, and when he saw it the color drained from his face his skin going a ghostly white as his eyes widened in shock and fear, for he saw his own name on the tombstone. McGee then began wailing asking if this was events to come, or what may be. He asked if there was a way to change the events he had seen and vowed he was a changed man, that he would embrace the Christmas spirit and share it with all those around. He screamed as the ground swallowed him up and darkness surrounded him and he continued to scream as he felt no end to his fall.
Suddenly McGee woke up the familiar sight of his room filling his eyes as mourning light filled it. He was surprised to find it morning and that the spirits did all this in one night, he was then interrupted by something hitting his window. When he went to it he opened it as a snowball hit his face, the culprit a boy about to run away but stopped when he heard McGee laugh. The boy looked confused and even more so when McGee asked what day it was. When the boy told him it was Christmas he asked if the turkey the big one as almost round as the boy was still in the butcher the boy said yes. What surprised him most was when McGee threw a money pouch down at him asking him to buy the turkey and have it delivered to Espurr’s house and the boy could keep the change. McGee was laughing to himself now still saying how surprised of the past night's events and how he would show all especially Espurr he was a changed man. Making his way to work he was there early, of course and when he saw Espurr come in he yelled at the man asking what he was doing here. Espurr of course replied he was here because McGee told him to be but was surprised at what came next. Not only did McGee tell him to leave since it was Christmas but he was also getting a raise. Espurr stood in silence as McGee left the establishment patting him on the shoulder and asking him to lock up. McGee soon found the charity worker who visited him the day before, she was shocked to see him smiling and laughing as he was walking towards her, even more as he wished her a merry Christmas and if she was still collecting donations. She was left speechless as he reached for his coin purse and gave her it’s entire contents, when she realised how much was in it she cried tears of joy and yelled out a merry Christmas to McGee as he walked down the street. McGee then went to pay his nephew a visit and all were surprised to see how he was acting, some even doubting if this was the same man they have all heard about. McGee however was not done for now that it was night he paid a visit to Espurr’s house and apologized for never introducing himself before to the man’s family. Another surprise was in store for Espurr when McGee mentioned they would be equal business partners from now on, instead of Espurr being just an employee. Even further surprised was whenhow he acted towards Tiny Cabroot, yes true to his word toward the spirits McGe was indeed a changed man. He became a second father to McGee and word spread quickly around town that no one could find a better friend, a better man than Ebennezer McGee.
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