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“What do you mean that there's a man that sneaks into your house while you sleep at night and leaves gifts? That sounds scary!!!”
Klee shook her head in response to Whoppy. “NO! He’s not some guy and his name is Santa! He gives presents to good people and coal to bad people!” Klee huffed. She was getting irritated by Whoppy’s inquiries about the holiday Whoppy had never heard of. Her eyes peered at him in suspicion. “You’re not making fun of me, are you? You have to know about Christmas.”
Whoppy shook his head. “No, I have never heard of this holiday.”
Klee folded her arms. “I guess I believe you. You seem like you don’t know much. You’re lucky my Big Brother would help you because you’re kinda dumb, but it’s okay. We can all be kinda dumb.”
Whoppy stared at her with big eyes, the sprout on his head seemed wilted in the gloom. “I’m dumb?”
“Well… No, you can be kinda… kinda…” Klee looked up in thought, “My brother says naively I think… I don't know if that is the right word.”
“Naive? Hmmm… I see… So I should ask your brother about the man who breaks into homes and leaves gifts.”
“Maybe and his name is Santa, not the man who breaks into homes! You leave him cookies and milk and he gives you presents.”
Whoppy walked away in daze. This was the first year he had been alive and it had been a wild one. He had learned so much and yet he hadn’t discovered enough. Now when he had asked Klee why he had seen so many decorations in town she said it was for Christmas and when he asked for more details she told him of the strange occurrence that happened once a year. He decided to find his Uncle Albedo.
With each step he made across the snow he heard soft crunches and he shivered. He knew the top of the leaves on his head had a little frost on them and he should be careful being in the cold. Being in this body had made him more delicate. Dorian was quite worried about it, but he didn’t know why. They were just leaves that had sprouted from the top of his head. They were blues and pinks but it made him look different from his creator, Dorian, and uncle, Albedo. They may all appear to be triplets but his leaves stood out from between the three. He felt odd to be around people when he had such brightly colored lush leaves that were on top of his head. They typically showed his true feelings and health. He recalled earlier that year when he got ill and his leaves shriveled up. His uncle and creator worked hard to bring him back to health. It was embarrassing to have something that no one else had around him.
He held his coat closely around himself while heading to his uncle's home. Klee was left behind in front of the knight's headquarters with some of the guards.
He finally made it to Albedo’s home and knocked softly on the door only to have it open to opaque violet eyes and dark hair. “Oh, it’s you,” Scaramouche said coldly. Whoppy never liked him much but he knew this was his uncle's partner and he had to be nice.
“Ummm… I’m looking for Albedo.” Whoppy found his words shakey and fearful. The leaves on his head trembled.
“Come in, Whoppy. Albedo’s busy but he’ll find time for you.”
Whoppy walked into the warm home. The fireplace was burning and the home smelled heavy with pine. He could see the same decorations on the street and in town were also in the home. There was even a tree. He was baffled. “Why do you have a tree in your home? Is that a new house plant?”
Scaramouche scoffed and chuckled, “No, Whoppy… That’s a Christmas tree.”
Whoppy’s eyes became big and glassy again in amazement. Christmas was mentioned again. “Christmas?”
“Yes, Christmas. I guess Dorian wouldn’t tell you about it… Lazy fuck…” He mumbled under his breath.
Whoppy stared at Scaramouche seriously. “Do you know much about this holiday? Klee tells me it is about a man breaking into homes.”
Scaramouche rolled his eyes. “I doubt she said that it’s about a man breaking into homes. She probably was more concerned about the presents she gets on Christmas. She has such an expensive gift list… Let me tell you, buying all the…”
“Ahem, you mean Santa has been working very hard on making all of Klee’s gifts!” Albedo stepped into the room with haste giving a threatening glare at Scaramouche.
“How long have you been listening to us?”
“Not very long but long enough to help out. Whoppy,” Albedo turned to him contently, “you were asking my husband about Christmas? How about you ask me? He’s busy…”
“I’m not busy.” Scaramouche protested.
“You are busy,” Albedo replied with a threatening look. “I don’t need you to ruin Christmas for Whoppy…” He mouthed to Scaramouche and he seemed to understand the message as he moseyed out of the room.
“So Whoppy, what questions do you have?”
Whoppy fidgeted with his fingers and the leaves on his head fluttered causing his hair to sway. “I keep hearing about… umm… Santa. I know he comes into homes at night, but Klee got angry when I worded it like that.”
Albedo chortled. “Oh Whoppy, it is just like that. Klee may not have liked how you stated it but Santa comes once a year and drops off presents, but he only will do so if you are a good person.”
Whoppy nodded. “Klee said something about being good and bad.”
“Yes. I heard you were questioning the Christmas tree?” Whoppy nodded again. “Well, it has a long tradition as to why we put it up but I’ll put it in simple terms, that’s where Santa leaves gifts for you on Christmas.”
Whoppy’s jaw dropped. “Will Santa come to me?”
Albedo pressed his lips together in thought. “I believe so. How about you find Klee again and play something with her? Perhaps a snowball fight? I promise you one thing, if you decorate to the best of your capabilities and remind Dorian about Christmas, Santa should come. I will start on a list of things you can do to get ready for Christmas.” Albedo smiled softly, but Whoppy still appeared nervous. “Whoppy, your leaves are shaking. You do not have to have Santa come to your house if that idea scares you.” But Whoppy shook his head.
“No! You misunderstand me, Uncle! I want Santa to come. Klee said he would bring awesome presents and perhaps he will bring things I’ll like!!!”
Albedo chuckled. “Of course, go find Klee. I’ll make a list for you to get into the spirit for Christmas and I’ll find Dorian as he’s shopping in town.” Whoppy wandered out of the home to rejoin Klee.
Albedo did not think that Whoppy would be so interested in Christmas, but now that he was he knew he had to find Dorian. Even if Dorian was not much for holidays, Whoppy was too adorable not to let this happen. Albedo was already grabbing a few extra decorations and throwing them in a box for Whoppy. He did not have the heart to tell him that Santa was not real and Scara almost ruined that for him by complaining about Klee’s gifts being so expensive to purchase. Albedo frowned as he threw some garland in the box. The scratchy, shiny, string of glittery strands would definitely make Whoppy smile. Albedo nodded in approval at what he was shoving in the box. Then he grabbed a miniature Christmas tree on his counter that was not very tall but he knew that he had told Whoppy that Santa would leave presents by one so he must include that as well.
He finally felt satisfied with his small box of goods and then went to make a short list of what each decoration was and how to use them. As well as some activities Whoppy could do to prepare for Christmas. Most of the activities were fun little things such as baking cookies or making a list of all the things he wanted but keeping in mind that Santa may not give him everything. Albedo hoped Dorian would be fine with this, he had to be, he told himself. He finished up his puny note, grabbed his coat, and then left his home to find Dorian.
As he left he felt someone bump into his side and grab his hand. “Where do you think you’re going without me?”
Albedo gazed beside him to see Scara. “Ah, I am finding my brother.”
“Ugh, why? You know he annoys me…” Scara bemoaned.
Albedo shook his head. “Whoppy really wants to celebrate Christmas. You saw him. Even the leaves on top of his head were shaking in excitement. Please Scara, I must tell Dorian about this so he can leave gifts for Whoppy. We must make sure ‘Santa’ leaves gifts.”
Scara laughed. “I never knew how involved you would be with your brother and your nephew. Remember when you tried to kill them?”
Albedo furrowed his brow. “It was different last year. I did not understand them, but now we are family.”
Scara’s hand tightened around Albedo’s. “I know. It’s cute. I like to see you like this. I like when you’re not worrying about some convoluted topic I can’t understand, you’re doing something normal and silly.”
Albedo huffed. “This is not silly.”
“Fine, not silly but it’s cute.”
Albedo pouted over what Scara said as his nose turned red and they both walked through town looking for Dorian until they saw him.
They came upon him and Albedo put his hands on his hips. “Dorian, we must speak.” Albedo said with vigor. Dorian raised a brow. “Whoppy expects Santa to come this year.”
Dorian exhaled. “You told him Santa doesn’t exist righ…”
“SHHHH! NO!” Albedo harshly interrupted him. “No, no, no, Whoppy really wants to celebrate and you will not ruin this for him.”
“So what? I wait until Christmas day to tell him the truth when nothing appears in our home.” Dorian smirked.
Albedo tightened his grip around Scara’s hand and it was Scara’s turn to get in Dorian’s face. “Hey, Whoppy is like a little kid. Why are you being a shit about this?”
“I never celebrated Christmas. Why would I care about a plant celebrating it?” Dorian shrugged.
“Because it’s your fucking kid.” Scara hissed.
“Would you tell a houseplant that Santa was coming?”
“Dorian…” Albedo sighed.
“Dorian, you know this is completely different. Whoppy talks and has feelings. He expresses what he wants and he tells you what he needs even if it isn't much.” Scara’s nostrils flared out. “You know how I feel about this and I’m just as cold as you can be.” Albedo nodded in agreement.
“Dorian smirked. “You think I would spend the little mora I have on Christmas decorations and gifts? You have to be kidding me. Whoppy is a plant.”
“I know you care about Whoppy, Dorian.” Albedo protested. “When he was sick you cried!”
Dorian rolled his eyes. “I created him. He was a lot of work and it would be a waste if he perished from blight.”
“That was very serious!” Albedo stated angrily. “Whoppy almost died and he didn’t tell you until he passed out and you realized he had brown spots on his leaves.”
“Yeah, Albedo was gone for two weeks to save Whoppy’s life.” Scara scowled.
“Plus I can give you decorations for Christmas!” Albedo added. “All you must do is give Whoppy a gift from Santa, perhaps a second one from you as well. I am unsure if Whoppy feels like he is loved.”
Dorian’s ruby-red eyes bore into Albedo’s. “Why would a creator love their creation? He was something fun to tinker with.”
“Tinker with? You are disgusting.” Scara chuckled. “Just like someone who creates artificial humans and tosses them away.”
Dorian licked his lips. “Yes, I suppose that’s how I am.”
“You are taunting us. I think you do care about Whoppy and if you want to make him happy then please buy him a gift or make it by hand.”
“I dare you to get him something…” Scara mocked.
“I will give Whoppy a box of Christmas decorations and I hope you will come through for Whoppy’s sake. He really wishes to have a good Christmas.”
Dorian exhaled hot steamy breath and laughed. “We’ll see what happens. I’m sure by tomorrow Whoppy will forget and be back to work in the lab once we're home.”
_________
The day went by and finally Dorian and Whoppy made it to their home in Dragonspine. Whoppy held a box in hand with Christmas decorations. Dorian hadn’t seen Whoppy so eager. He hummed merrily and asked questions about Christmas which he had no answers to. He had never celebrated. Why would he know? He was lucky his brother left Whoppy a note in the box which Whoppy gleefully read and then requested time for himself.
It was so odd. Whoppy never asked for time off. Whoppy always worked. He never asked for anything, yet now he was setting down the box in his hands and almost skipping around the cave and decorating it in colorful lights and cinnamon-scented pinecones that gave him a nauseating headache. He let him have the time off since he had never requested it before. He sat in his chair watching the half-plant man jump around jittery with excitement and running back and forth from the box to different parts of the cave with distinct decorations. The leaves on his head were bouncing around with each movement he made. Dorian could recall when those same leaves were brown, dark, and withered. Whoppy had made soft little cries as he curled into himself and was ill with blight only a few months before. He wasn’t sure if he would make it. He could recollect when he was going to give up on Whoppy and put him down. He was mixing weed killer when Albedo appeared. He was lucky his brother wouldn’t let him take Whoppy out and they worked together to save Whoppy’s life.
Now here Whoppy was, cheerfully decorating the little cave and singing a nonsensical song about how happy he was. He would have to confess it was adorable. Even the sprout on his head seemed to be more vibrant in colors and he wondered if it was the fertilizer he was feeding Whoppy or the holiday cheer.
Within a few hours, the cave was a glow with colorful lights, garland, smells, and glitter. Dorian hated to confess that it did make the frigid chilly cave seem cheerful, but as he gazed down at his notes he realized glitter had fallen on them and he frowned. “Unprofessional…” He muttered to himself.
He watched Whoppy as he sat near the miniature Christmas tree and stared at it. “Do you think the presents will be tiny since the tree is?” Whoppy asked.
Dorian rolled his eyes. “I don’t know.”
“Uncle Albedo said that Santa leaves gifts under the trees but this one is so small. Do you think they'll fit?”
“Maybe Santa will put fertilizer sticks underneath it. That’ll fit.”
Whoppy’s leaves flattened on his head and he shrank with sagged shoulders. “Fertilizer sticks? I thought Santa left presents that were filled with merriment. Klee said they were gifts that were nice and lots and lots of fun. I get fertilizer sticks every three months in the flower pot I sleep in.” He sighed.
A shock went through Dorian. Even if he pretended to be Santa by leaving gifts by the pathetic tree, he didn’t know what Whoppy wanted. “If Santa brought you gifts what would you want?” Dorian asked quietly as he scribbled a few doodles tiredly on his notes.
“Hmmm… I guess a sketchbook and Ummm… a quill and a fairy tale book, like Klee’s Ummm… a ball so I can play catch with myself. I’ve seen children in Mondstadt play catch. Perhaps if I throw a ball at a wall maybe I can play catch by myself.”
Dorian exhaled. He knew Whoppy had been lonely but this was sad. Did Whoppy want a ball to play catch by himself? He thought he’d want plant things, not human children's toys. “Oh! I saw a pair of glider wings and I would think that would be fun to try and also useful…” He added as if this would make the gift more appealing, “but I understand if that is too dangerous and I know there is a test for a permit, so Santa may not be able to give me that.” Dorian nodded. He definitely wouldn’t let Whoppy have that. He’d crash into a tree and annihilate himself knowing Whoppy. He was too careless.
“Is that all?”
“Oh, no! There are many things I want. Like I wish to try the drink, Snow-Covered-Kiss. I hear the juice mixed with milk is very tasty… but would that be wrong for me to try since the juice is from a plant?”
Dorian shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Hmmm… Maybe I do not want such a thing… I also want a plushie, but maybe I am asking for too many things.”
“A plushie? You’re a plant. You sleep in a flower pot.”
Whoppy looked downward in shame. “I know…”
“Why does a plant want all these human things? I thought I gave you enough. I feed you plant food and offer you all a whopperflower could need.” Whoppy nodded. “Why do you need children's toys and glider wings?”
“I thought…” Whoppy hesitated, “I have seen people have them and they look delightful. I see Klee with her Dodoco plushie and it is so soft. She says it protects her from nightmares.”
“Nightmares?” Dorian scoffed. “What could be that traumatizing to cause nightmares?”
Whoppy looked down at his hands in his lap. “Sometimes I dream of Uncle Albedo slicing me apart like a blade of grass because I am a bad whopperflower. Other times I have dreamed of you growing sick of me and mixing weed killer with my fertilizer to get rid of me…”
Dorian narrowed his sights. “Whoppy, why would either of us do that to you now?”
“I don’t know. These are nightmares I have and Klee states that her plushie helps her sleep, perhaps…”
“Whoppy, she is a child and you are a creation. Don’t let silly tales that a baby has told you get to your head. That’s bullshit.”
Whoppy nodded slowly. The colorful leaves on his head slumped completely and all the peppiness of them became bleak.
“Hey, Whoppy, I’m sure Santa will bring one of those things to you,” Dorian mumbled. He despised seeing Whoppy wilted when he was disappointed. It wasn’t often but when he was it hurt Dorian. He couldn’t understand it himself. This was just a plant who talked, it really shouldn’t matter to him. He aided him in experiments, that’s all Whoppy was to him but seeing Whoppy disappointed like this bothered him. “Do you want some spring water? Your leaves are drooping.”
Whoppy sat up straight and shook his head. The leaves on his head went straight up. “No, I’m fine on water. I was watered well before bed last night. I don’t want to get root rot.” Dorian bit his lip. “I think my leaves are acting up.” Whoppy lied. “Sometimes they behave on their own. I didn’t mean for them to look so dreary.”
Dorian could only look down at his research paper where he had scratched in some of Whoppy’s wants for Christmas. He was dissatisfied he even was entertaining the idea of possibly celebrating the holiday, let alone getting Whoppy, the plant, something that was so human. “Out of all the things you want, which one do you desire the most?”
“Ummm…” Whoppy’s eyes darted around and he slummed again. “I suppose you’re right and I shouldn’t want childish things. Maybe Santa should get me a flower pot and fertilizer sticks.” Yet Dorian didn’t feel good about this. Whoppy didn’t seem to want this and the things he mentioned before made him far more animated.
“Who knows… Maybe Santa will get you something you actually want.” Dorian mused as he went back to work on his notes. He could hear Whoppy cheerfully humming and poking at different decorations as if they would come alive.
-One Week Later-
Whoppy double-checked Albedo’s note to make sure it was the correct night. December 24th… Christmas eve. He nodded to himself as he checked. He read on, he needed milk and cookies. He realized he didn't have those but he made mud cookies with some fertilizer in them and then had a glass of protein drink that Dorian typically drank. He hoped this would appease Santa. He set it next to the small tree and double-checked that all the decorations were perfect. Then he made sure that the gift he made for Dorian was next to the Christmas tree. He felt around his person and pulled out a note with poorly scribbled words on the list of things he wanted. He set it underneath the glass of protein drink. He smiled to himself. The cave was perfect and Santa would come that night. He knew it. He had done everything on the list, maybe the milk and cookies were wrong but Santa had to understand, Dorian didn’t have cookies and milk wasn’t easy to get in Dragonspine. Whoppy was content as he went further into the cave to the area they called the bedroom. He could see his creator was already asleep. He breathed softly as he dozed.
Whoppy slowly changed into his pajamas and then wandered to his flower pot next to a warming bottle. He grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around himself and stepped his bare feet in the soil of the flower pot. He wiggled his toes so they would get under the dirt and absorb the nutrients and water. “Goodnight creator… I hope you like the gift I’m giving you tomorrow…” He whispered softly as he shut his eyes and let sleep take him while standing in the flower pot with soil.
___________
Christmas morning took forever to come. Whoppy kept waking up in the middle of the night and running to the front of the cave to see if anything had changed but it seemed Santa didn’t come. Finally, he nodded off around two in the morning. Once it was morning he grinned. “Christmas morning…” He giggled to himself as he jogged out of his flower pot and stumbled into the room fully decorated with Christmas decorations. He looked down at the miniature tree to see nothing had changed. The mud cookies and drink lay untouched. There were no gifts and his note fluttered as if it was an ill omen that Santa forgot about him.
“Whoppy, what the hell?” Dorian grumbled as he came upon him.
“Santa… Santa… didn’t come…” Whoppy murmured.
Dorian looked at the tree and then at Whoppy. “Uh… Ummm… Shit, is Christmas today?” but Whoppy ignored him.
“Was it the mud cookies? Was I bad?”
“No, Whoppy…” Dorian said softly. He could see the leaves on Whoppy’s head sagging and becoming lifeless.
“Maybe Santa doesn’t give presents to monsters…”
“I’m sure that's not it,” Dorian said calmly. “Maybe Santa forgot. Maybe he’ll come tomorrow night.” but Whoppy shook his head making the leaves shudder to and fro.
“Santa only comes one night a year and it was last night!”
“Ah, Ummm…” Dorian didn’t know why this bothered him but seeing all the effort Whoppy had put into this occasion disturbed him. Plus Whoppy had been so attentive when he had assisted him while working most of that week. He was in a good mood as he helped. It was a nice change of pace. Having a happy whopperflower was a lot nicer than a quiet one.
“Oh,” Whoppy said suddenly, “Santa may have not come for us, but I did make you something.” He smiled shyly. He walked up to the small tree with a small round present. “It isn’t much and I’m not sure if you’ll like it, but I worked really hard on it.”
He handed Dorian the gift that was poorly wrapped and had some weight to it. He wanted to say a snide comment about the wrapping job but held his tongue as he unwrapped it to see he was holding a rock with a painted smiling face on it and googly eyes.
“Ummm…. it is a pet rock.” Whoppy nervously said. “I have seen them in shops in Mondstadt. They sit on your desk and they are a very easy pet to keep because they are a rock.” Dorian stared at the rock with the smiling face painted on it with googly eyes. “I made this one myself. You can see it has very pretty light azure ore that lines up and down around it. I thought it would make a nice trinket on your desk or if you want to keep it in your pocket since it is a pet.” Whoppy looked away. “I understand if this is a bad gift. I looked very hard for the prettiest stone I could find and then painted on it.”
“Whoppy…” Dorian uttered, “you didn’t have to make this…”
“I understand.” Whoppy swiped the rock from Dorian’s hand. “I shall dispose of it. I can see that it was a bad gift and Christmas is a pointless holiday for creatures like me.”
“No, I want it back,” Dorian stated. “I want my gift back.”
Whoppy’s leaves perked up. “You do? I thought a rock would… I saw you with it and you seemed unhappy with it.”
“Whoppy, give me my damn pet rock back.” Whoppy obediently listened and handed back the small stone. “We’re going into town to see my brother. Come on, Whoppy. Get your coat on.”
______ ___
Dorian was panicking on the inside. Not only did Whoppy seem gloomy but he had given him a gift. Sure, it was a really shitty gift, but he somehow liked it. His chest swelled to know Whoppy thought of him and gave him something even if it was a rock with a painted smiling face on it while the googly eyes wildly would move all over with a slight jostle of movement. He could feel the weight of it in his pocket. This only fueled him to see his brother and hope he could fix this. He hated to say it but Albedo always seemed to know what to do. So they went into town seeing the streets were empty and he swore he heard a soft jingling with quiet caroling in the distance. Whoppy’s leaves seemed to gain a coat of frost on them again and Dorian scowled at not getting a hat for him so the leaves wouldn't get frosty. He knew he was a whopperflower and the cold shouldn’t affect them the same as a usual plant, at the same time he didn’t want Whoppy to get frost damage. He had read most plants get this and he didn’t want to take any chances.
Once in front of Albedo’s door, he knocked loudly. He could hear voices inside. Mostly Klee yelling and screaming with energy, the opposite of Whoppy. Maybe this was a bad idea he thought to himself as he could see Whoppy’s leaves droop more and become less colorful. The door swung open and Albedo smiled. “Dorian, Whoppy, how was Christmas? Did Santa come?”
Whoppy looked at the ground and mumbled, “No, I don’t think Santa visits monsters.”
Albedo’s brows came together. “Dorian, we need to talk.”
They all walked into the home. Dry, hot air brushed into their faces with fiery heat. Whoppy took his place on a sofa, sitting alone but Albedo took Dorian aside. “What did Whoppy mean by ‘Santa does not visit monsters?!” He hissed.
“I uh, I forgot.” Dorian shrugged.
“Do not shrug at me! Whoppy really wanted this and now you come here to sour the mood?”
“No, I came here so you could fix it. Whoppy made me a gift…” He pulled out the small stone from his pocket which Albedo glanced at and had a deathly glare.
“I am so glad you finally see worth in Whoppy, now what is this nonsense about fixing something?”
“I forgot Christmas was today and Whoppy didn’t tell me until it was morning. He was devastated Santa didn’t come. It’s not my fault, he didn't remind me.”
Albedo exhaled. “I can not believe you. Did you buy him anything?” Dorian shook his head. “Of course, you did not. Why would you remember to buy him anything? Do you even know what he wants?”
“He wants really strange things, Albedo. He wants children's toys.” He muttered quietly.
“He is one year old, why would he want anything else?” Albedo asked sternly.
“I thought he’d want plant things,” Doran stated blandly.
Albedo’s jaw dropped. “He is around people whenever he comes to town and he is mostly with Klee. When he gets to play games it’s mostly with her. He is young, Dorian. He doesn’t know better. Do you ever do anything with him other than work?”
“No,”
“He needs a way to relieve tension and for him relaxing is playing games and with children's toys. What type of toys does he want?”
Dorian swallowed, “Uh, a ball to play catch by himself with.”
Albedo scowled. “Or better yet, you can play catch with him.”
“Fine, I'll play catch with him. He wanted a plushie. He said he liked Klee’s because it kept the nightmares away. He also said gliding wings but I don’t want him to have those and a sketchbook and quill. Oh, and a children's book of fairy tales.”
“I can not believe you, Dorian. These are such small requests. They are the minimum for entertainment and you could not even get that for Whoppy?”
Dorian sighed. “I tried…”
“How? How did you try? Whoppy is wilting because you forgot.”
“Maybe Whoppy wouldn’t be wilting if we told him the truth!” Dorian growled.
“He tried harder than you did and he gave you a rock. Let that sink in.”
Dorian exhaled. “Is anything open right now to buy him something?”
“No,” Albedo replied curtly, but I will figure out how to fix this. Give me a few hours in my bedroom and I will figure out how to create him the few things he wants from Santa.” He huffed as he walked out of the room.
________
The next few hours were long. Dorian felt uncomfortable under Scaramouche’s glare and Whoppy’s avoidance. Klee tried to show off what she got for Christmas and Whoppy tried to seem cheerful about it but he showed his true emotions through the spouts on top of his head. Klee shared her precious Dodoco to comfort Whoppy but it wasn’t the same and even as Whoppy held it closely he was not happy, which only made Dorian feel worse. Each moment ticked by and Whoppy held Dodoco tighter. His feet were on the couch as he hugged the small plush closely to himself. Dorian realized that Whoppy was fragile. That the small plushie comforted him during this time of emotional turmoil. He assumed at first that Whoppy was upset that he didn’t get any gifts but maybe there was more to this. Did he think he didn’t earn any gifts because he was bad? Did he think because he was a monster he wasn’t human enough to deserve gifts? Whoppy wasn’t mad at Klee for having gifts. He seemed genuinely ecstatic for her, but there was a deep sadness in him. He recalled what he had said before such as ‘maybe monsters don’t get presents’ and ‘only bad people don’t get gifts.’
Dorian could only watch as Whoppy sat there gently hugging Dodoco and eyeing Klee playing with a deck of cards with colorful pictures on them. She asked Scaramouche how to use them and what games they can play with them. Scaramouche held up the directions from the small box and he scratched his head in annoyance while he huffed. Maybe Dorian wanted something like this with Whoppy. He shook his head, no, Whoppy was an experiment, a creation. He wasn’t anything more. Yet as his ruby eyes shot to Whoppy again he could see the once lush leaves flat and drooping. His once widened glimmering teal orbs were dim and bleak as his lips pressed together, trying to smile but failing.
Dorian didn’t know what to say. He could sit next to him but then what? He had never hugged Whoppy. It would be weird. He never said encouraging words to him. What would he do other than make him feel worse? He could only hope Albedo could save the day.
“Whoppy!” Albedo yelled from down the hall.
Whoppy turned his head from the couch. His little leaves perked up. “Hmm?”
“Whoppy, I was looking around and I think Santa got lost and left your gifts in my closet!”
The leaves on Whoppy shook. “No, he couldn’t have done that. You all said Santa only leaves gifts under a Christmas tree. Why would he leave them in a closet?”
Albedo walked out of his bedroom with a handful of colorful gift-wrapped presents. “I do not know but Santa must have gotten lost. I was looking around my room and I saw them in my closet.”
Whoppy tilted his head to the side in bewilderment. “Those are all mine?” Albedo nodded as he attempted to balance them in his arms. He walked down the hall and then gently set them down on the couch next to Whoppy.
“How about you open them?”
Whoppy grinned brightly. The leaves were robust again in bright colored hues and they bobbed around with Whoppy contently grabbing the first gift. “I can’t believe Santa got lost!” Whoppy said, amazed.
“Me either!!!” Klee yelled as she dropped the cards in her hand on the ground and turned to watch Whoppy open his gifts. Scaramouche only frowned at the scattered mess Klee made by dropping the TCG cards.
The first gift he held up was round and he grinned. “I think I know what this is!” Whoppy said as he ripped into the gift wrap. The loud Rrrrrhhhhhggggg, of the colorful paper being ripped away gave to a dark brown ball made of hides and had stitching on the sides.
Albedo’s eyes narrowed in at Whoppy’s expression at the craftsmanship on the ball. Whoppy threw the gift-wrap paper to the side causing Scaramouche to huff at the trash in dismay. Whoppy happily tossed the ball in the air and caught it in his other hand. “Santa did a good job making this,” Whoppy stated.
“Santa’s elves made it!” Klee grinned proudly.
“The elves did a good job!” Whoppy replied as he beamed at the ball the size of his fist.
He set the ball to the side and opened the next gift and saw a sketchbook with a quill. “Ah! I wanted to draw like Uncle Albedo! Perhaps you can teach me?”
Albedo smugly smirked. “Of course, but Dorian can also teach you. He has a knack for some artistic ability.” Dorian looked away in discomfiture.
Whoppy set them to the side to grab the next wrapped present. “This is a strange shape…” Whoppy said to himself. The gift appeared to be a lump and the wrapping job was done in haste with tape all over it. Whoppy spent quite a lot of time trying to get the tape off until he went crazy ripping it apart to see a whopperflower plushie. “A Whopperflower Plushie!!! Whoah!!!” Whoppy said with glassy eyes. “He’s like me…” It was made with different fabrics but the stitching job seemed to be good enough. Scaramouche stared at the doll and his eyes widened as he recognized a few of the fabrics being from his clothes. Albedo had raided their drawers and cut their clothes to make a plushie. Scaramouche’s eyes wandered to Albedo in a glare and yet Albedo smiled back at him mouthing, “Get over it… It was for Whoppy... We can buy more clothes later…”
“Look at him, Klee!”
Klee got on her feet and jumped a few times, “What’s your plushie's name?”
Whoppy sat there stunned. “I don’t know… What should I name him?’
Klee’s brows furrowed. “This is very important, Whoppy. Once you name a plushie you can never change its name again. It’s illegal!”
All the adults in the room looked at Klee incredulously. “Klee, I do not believe that is true.” Albedo tried to relieve the pressure off of Whoppy’s naming decision.
“No, I think she’s right,” Whoppy stated. “Look at Dodoco,” He gazed down at his lap staring at both Dodoco and his whopperflower plushie, “She named him once and he protects her from nightmares. I have to take good care of mine or he won’t protect me.”
Albedo exhaled and Dorian looked away at the ridiculous children's talk. “Hmmm… I can’t name him the same as me. That would make it confusing at home if I’m speaking about him.” Whoppy gazed up in thought. “I could name him Dor-dor.”
“Dor-dor?” Dorian said boredly. “Isn’t that a silly name?”
Whoppy looked down at his plushie. “I thought I could name him after you but so there was less perplexity it could be Dor-dor.”
Dorian sighed. “Name him whatever you want. It’s your doll.”
Whoppy nodded, his leaves wiggling as he did. “I think Dor-dor is a good name for him. Then he can keep me safe.” Whoppy smiled to himself as he hugged it closely. The little plush had a small smile on its bud face with bright yellow eyes and branching leaves on the top. There were different patches of fabrics to make it different colors. It wasn’t one type of whopperflower since it had a rainbow of colors from the diverse clothes it was made with.
“I think that is a good name.” Albedo said fondly.
Dorian exhaled as he felt the rock in his pocket that Whoppy gave him earlier. Perhaps he should try to get closer to Whoppy. He acted more human than an experimental whopperflower that appeared human.
_________
The rest of the day was filled with cheer as the family hung out together. Once Dorian and Whoppy headed home to their cave the air became frigid again from being outside and Dorian found he was talking to Whoppy more personally than he typically would. He asked him if he enjoyed Christmas and if they should celebrate next year to which Whoppy only replied how much he loved Christmas.
Once in the cave they called home, Whoppy went straight to the desk Dorian typically worked at and Whoppy wrote furiously in his sketchbook. “Whoppy what the hel…” He leaned over to see Whoppy scribbling trees and rocks. He labeled each landmark and had a dotted line and then an X at the end of the line. “Is that a map?”
Whoppy looked up at him. “Yes! I wish to send this to Santa so he does not get lost again. I can see he does deliver gifts to good monsters but he got lost. Perhaps if I give him a map he won’t get lost next year.”
Dorian chuckled. “Oh, Whoppy…” He pulled out the pet rock from his pocket and set it on his desk. He smirked. “I don’t think Santa will get lost next year.”