Work Text:
Jean-Luc started up the holodeck program, and the town and castle and fjords began materializing around him. It was winter, only just getting light in the middle of the morning, and a natural snow was falling gently all around. He breathed in deeply and made his way to the bridge leading from the town to the castle.
As he entered the castle gates, he saw that the courtyard was still empty and quiet. Perhaps the celebration he hoped to see would be happening later in the day. He quietly looked around, not paying attention until a voice from the castle startled him.
“Hello! I’m Olaf!”
“Oh!” Jean-Luc exclaimed. “Hello, Olaf. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“You’ve heard of me?” Olaf asked excitedly.
“Of course! You’re quite well-known where I come from!” Jean-Luc smiled.
“And…” Olaf paused. “Where would that be?”
Jean-Luc thought for a moment. “France,” he replied. France existed in this world, so there would be minimal explanations needed.
“Perfect!” Olaf exclaimed. “I’ve started asking the foreign visitors about their traditions. What do you do in France?”
“Some people had different traditions, but as children we would leave out shoes for St. Nicholas to fill with treats. I used to want to hang stockings after reading an American poem, but my mother wouldn’t do that.”
“I’ve seen people here hang stockings!” Olaf exclaimed. “I wonder if you can get more presents if you hang stockings and leave out shoes…”
Just then, Jean-Luc noticed who he had come here to meet. Olaf did, too.
“Elsa! Have you met the new person? He’s from France!”
“Good morning, Jean-Luc,” she smiled. “I wasn’t expecting you this early.”
“Hello,” he replied. “I’m excited to see the Yule Bell festival, and I didn’t want to miss a thing.”