December Prompted Fiction: Afterlife Collection: Richard and Samael at Christmas: 505 words

[k_a_webb]

Written for ysabetwordsmith's prompt: What is Christmas like in the Afterlife? Do the spirits or angels observe it, or does it only affect people like Death who still traffic closely with the mortal world?

Richard looked at Samael. It wasn't unusual for the angel to do things Richard didn't quite expect him to do, but this one was... Well, the tree would have filled his original living room entirely, so the room had grown. A fireplace was one of the several new additions, with stockings for him, Samael and Caitlyn attached to the mantelpiece. For a few seconds all Richard could do was stare at Samael, who was singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer as loud as he could and wrapping another piece of tinsel around the already smothered tree.

 

“What are you doing?” Richard asked, shaking his head.

“It's Christmas, Richard.” Samael turned and smiled. “This is one of my favourite times of year.”

“Sam...” Sighing, Richard ran a hand through his hair. “Why are you taking over my house with a tree?”

“I was thinking that we could all spend Christmas together. It's been a difficult year for both you and Caitlyn, so I thought it would be nice for the two of you to spend at least some of the day doing something nice.”

Richard looked between Samael, the tree and the clock on the wall that told Richard the time and date in England. “It's been a long time since I celebrated Christmas in any way.” His eyes met Samael's. “What is Christmas to you?”

Samael turned back to the tree. “It's a winter holiday, Richard. Nothing more, nothing less.” He reached down and took a glittery bauble out of a box on the floor. “We could get into a conversation about whether it really is the day of the birth of Christ, but really I'm not that interested in religion.”

“You're an angel.”

“Being an angel doesn't mean I have to be religious.”

“But...” Richard trailed off, unable to quite believe what he was hearing. “Never mind.” He looked at the tree again. “If you put anything else on that tree it will fall over.”

“Maybe.” Samael stepped backwards. “It's been a long time since I celebrated Christmas too, so I guess I'm a bit overexcited.”

“Don't the angels celebrate Christmas?”

“We do sometimes, but it's so easy to miss Christmas when we're busy. Thanks to your wonderful clocks I actually know what date it is on Earth at this very moment and that's really useful.”

“How do you get anything done, Sam?”

“Mirrors much like the one you use and the ability to see whatever time we wish to.” Samael turned again, still holding the bauble. “It does make life a little confusing sometimes.”

“I can imagine.” Richard stared at the bauble, wondering where Samael had got it from and why he had picked the one covered in glittter. “So your plan is to spend the whole day here?”

Samael nodded. “I have officially booked it as a day off.”

“You have to book days off?”

“Technically no, but it's nice to let the others know that I won't be around. That way if they need any help they know where I am.”

© K A Jones 2011


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[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

This is so sweet! I love it. I wasn't expecting Samael to go nuts with the tree; it was a fun surprise.

>>who was singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer as loud as he could<<

That should say "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" above.
http://www.the-north-pole.com/carols/rudolph.html

>>“I was thinking that we could all spend Christmas together. It's been a difficult year for both you and Caitlyn, so I thought it would be nice for the two of you to spend at least some of the day doing something nice.”<<

That is a wonderful idea, and really, what family is all about. <3

>>“Being an angel doesn't mean I have to be religious.”<<

This made me laugh.

Oops...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>> covered in glittter.<<

That should say "glitter" above. Sorry I missed it earlier.