[Kaz is wunnin, Estelle is wunnin after him, and they're going to run down the hall and burst into a room that's stacked high with opened gift boxes, toys, clothing, books, gizmos and gadgets. All the things a materialistic person could want are in this room...
...of course, there's also Helena taking her place at the disassembly line with Rita next to her, both of them in new, homemade outfits. The pair of them don't seem to notice Estelle or Kaz as they work on breaking apart each item, sending them down a metal conveyor belt toward the opposite side of this large open room. Though the end of the belt is hard to see from their current position, every now and then they'll hear a loud, satisfying crunch of a gift gone flat.]
"Hurry it up! We haven't much time before Christmas is here!"
[The Gronch's voice echoes across the room, and Helena and Rita pick up the pace of their work. If Kaz and Estelle glance around the room, they may also see the gifts from earlier with the tags for those from the lodge and for themselves, just waiting in line for the chance to be destroyed.]
[There are two kinds of people in this world and they're both in this thread. As Kaz laments the potential loss of a capitalist Christmas, Estelle will find that she's able to approach Rita. Never stopping from her job of dismantling objects to place on the conveyer belt, Rita meets Estelle's eyes but doesn't quite seem to see her.]
"The Gronch wants to stomp out all Christmas Cheer."
[It's then that Helena turns to face Kaz, an equally blank look on her face as she continues her work and speaks next.]
"These gifts are pointless, and we're happy here."
[And so they continue to throw items on the belt even as the belt itself picks up speed. The pile of presents is growing smaller and the two girls are working a little faster. A box is opened then and out comes a doll that looks like Bedivere. Don't mind Helena as she behinds it and drops it on the belt, letting it go right past Kaz. Rita also seems to be smashing apart a wooden puzzle in the likeness of Kray Foresight, breaking it into splinters.
Oh god, it's even worse than I thought—they're speaking in rhymes! What if they burst into song next? Their reputations would never recover. Worst of all, they don't even look like they're enjoying it!
[christmas is five seconds away from being cancelled. kaz recoils from the bedivere doll as it goes by, knocking it off the belt with a hand—gross! defect goods!—before looking around the room, frowning, and cupping his hands over his mouth to yell:]
[Without someone to counter the verbal attack, there's a sudden loud grinding halt of the machinery from the back. The same slap, slap, slap noise is heard as the Gronch approaches in his homemade red Santa suit, the front of his hat hanging in his eyes as he folds his arms over his chest. Long, green fingers tap over one arm and he snarls at the two of them.]
"Well, what do you want? You're interrupting my production here!"
[The Gronch does not seem threatened by this "asskicking", nor sympathetic to Estelle's sudden emotions.]
kaz is momentarily lost for words, so he leans over to estelle instead, lowering his voice to a bare whisper.]
Ugh. It looks like a cat ate a bunch of leaves and then vomited them into a pile, and the pile put on some Christmas livery and started talking. Classic demonic shit.
I'll try kicking him in the ballsack. You can't reason with communists—they don't see the value of value.
"I can still hear you!" [This is to Kaz whom the Gronch sends a glare as if debating the fastest way to send through the toy grinder. To Estelle, however he shakes his head.]
"No, no, impossible! There are no friends here. Just Santy Claws and two two hard-working elves. So why don't you just run along?"
Fuck that! I didn't save Helena from life-long imprisonment for terrorist acts just for her to end up as a mindless slave to someone else's ideals of dismantling the flagship holiday for the materialistically-minded populace!
[he points at the gronch, shaking his finger.]
We're not going anywhere until you release them!
[also. where's his present? if he can find it, he's gonna try and grab it.]
"Go ahead and ask them! They aren't in any rush. They agreed to be here, no arguing, no fuss!"
[The Gronch stands his ground, hardly scared of the two. But then again he thinks maybe they just need a clue.]
"Get out of my workshop, you're making a mess! Santy Claws works best without extra pests." [He approaches Kaz then, ignoring the elves. But as for the gifts, they're still on the shelves. The Gronch puffs out his chest, strong and able, but since they keep arguing he throws them on the table.
Rita and Helena wrap the pair up in bows, wrapping the ribbon high and other ribbon low. Now bound to the belt the two must put up a fight, because the Gronch gives a smile that may fill them with fright.]
"But if you refuse to leave when asked, then quickly I'll go to finish the task!"
[The Gronch turns back and retreats out of sight, and he soon pulls a lever that's there on his right. The belt begins to move, carrying the two away...
...and if they don't find a way out? They'll be flatter than clay.]
[The Gronch is having a great time controlling the conveyer belt, and as they roll along down the line they'll see a large crushing block dangling overhead a few yards away.
Helena and Rita, for the most part, seem to have gone back to their jobs. Though after a moment, Rita responds as she gives Estelle another blank look.]
"The Gronch dislikes Christmas and went out on a limb, but this death is better than being slayed by Him."
[Helena nonchalantly runs over a Barbie doll that looks like Seraphine with a toy jeep.]
"His holidays were ruined, and so you must die. It must be done so you may say goodbye."
[They're bound pretty well, but there's still enough wiggle room. If they try to move, they should be able to loosen the ribbons little by little slowly.]
This is hot bullshit! The Helena I know would never hesitate to tell you how awful Christmas is, for a series of reason I neither agree with or care about, but she wouldn't ruin it for anyone else—or kill me!
[kaz wriggles like an angry raccoon, trying his damndest to slip out of the festive bonds. at one point, he reaches for the bow with his mouth, trying to bite the ribbon and untie it.]
[the ribbons feel a little looser, but will it be enough to get out in time? she’s not sure she can lean far enough forward to reach her own ribbon...
but kaz’s restraints sit at a more accessible angle. with no time to hesitate, she tries to lean over, hoping it’s enough to chomp one of the ends of his bow with her teeth, then pull it back.
if he gets freed first, he’ll return the favor... won’t he?
if it was anyone else, she wouldn’t feel so uncertain.]
[The elves cheerfully (?) wave as they continue their task and Estelle and Kaz travel down the belt. The ribbons are done up nicely and it's a little hard without hands, but wriggling and a bit of teamwork seems to be doing the trick.
Granted, the Gronch hates teamwork and so the belt picks up speed a little more, the ominous jingle of bell-like laughter ringing through the workshop. They'll have to work fast and pray that Kaz doesn't just ditch Estelle, especially as the crusher draws closer and closer.]
"You should have stayed out and left things alone!" [The Gronch almost sounds a little giddy as he sits back in his operating tower, leaning on the lever to control the belt and the crusher itself. Toys, games and items galore continue to get smashed to bits and dumped down a hole at the end of the line. It seems the pair of them are headed right that way. The ribbon is tight, but the elves didn't anticipate anyone biting them either so it's marginally successful. Nice.]
[as soon as kaz can get at least one hand free, he's already reaching over to estelle's. surprise! materialism has somehow not evaporated every last trace of human kindness! in fact, he focuses on estelle's until she's totally untied and free, instead of continuing on his own.]
Ahhhh, fuck!
[the stress is really weighing on him, though, and he fumbles with his ribbon, trying to wrench himself free, and roll off the belt.]
[as soon as she’s free (to her utter shock), Estelle grabs at Kaz’s restraints, tearing at them desperately as they draw closer to the crusher...
It’s near the very last moment that she jumps off the conveyor belt, grabbing a handful of kaz’s clothes and hoping to help him roll off of there with her.
when she lands, she’s just kind of dazed for a few moments.
did kaz kaan actually do the right thing?? is this a christmas miracle???]
[Well. They narrowly miss the crusher and land flat on the ground in a pile of limbs, ribbon, and absolute shock. They'll likely be bruised a bit when this is over, but at least they're alive! The machine continues to work above them, and the Gronch doesn't seem to realize they've rolled onto the ground. He sits back, adjusting his Santa hat and pulling a few other knobs to add another set of crushers to crunch from the side of the belt.
But they have a few options here. The Gronch is still set out to destroy Christmas, and the elves are hard at work destroying joy. The hole in the ground where the damaged goods go looms behind them, and the belt's still going. Their presents will be traveling past soon, but maybe there's a bigger priority?
[for a long moment, kaz just lies flat on his back, blinking.]
Ugh. This is exactly why I despise gift-giving. Stick to receiving, as I always say.
[rolling over, he props himself up, staying down far enough to avoid the gronch's sight, but close enough to talk to estelle eye to eye.]
So, clearly, it's up to us to save Christmas. I'm not really sure how, to be completely honest with you—but I'm totally feeling it right now. Maybe this is what the commercials mean when they talk about "Christmas cheer"?
But we can't let what just happened to us happen again. Maybe if we stop the machine first?
[Then the Gronch won't be able to crush them, and the "elves" won't have any work to focus on.
From what Estelle can see, the Gronch is currently at the controls... but is there a power source, or anything else that looks like it can be interfered with?]
[There is a large electrical plug not too far from where they're standing, just out of sight of the Gronch. It's big enough that it may take both of them to pull on it, but maybe that's worth giving a try.]
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...of course, there's also Helena taking her place at the disassembly line with Rita next to her, both of them in new, homemade outfits. The pair of them don't seem to notice Estelle or Kaz as they work on breaking apart each item, sending them down a metal conveyor belt toward the opposite side of this large open room. Though the end of the belt is hard to see from their current position, every now and then they'll hear a loud, satisfying crunch of a gift gone flat.]
"Hurry it up! We haven't much time before Christmas is here!"
[The Gronch's voice echoes across the room, and Helena and Rita pick up the pace of their work. If Kaz and Estelle glance around the room, they may also see the gifts from earlier with the tags for those from the lodge and for themselves, just waiting in line for the chance to be destroyed.]
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[kaz's distress is immeasurable, and his day is ruined. he grabs estelle by the shoulders, full of woe.]
We have to stop them! Our gifts are coming up! If we lose touch with our precious material things, Christmas really will be ruined!
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[???]
Oh, Rita!
[Breaking away from Kaz, Estelle runs over to her friend's side, putting a hand on her shoulder.]
Rita, we came to rescue you!
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"The Gronch wants to stomp out all Christmas Cheer."
[It's then that Helena turns to face Kaz, an equally blank look on her face as she continues her work and speaks next.]
"These gifts are pointless, and we're happy here."
[And so they continue to throw items on the belt even as the belt itself picks up speed. The pile of presents is growing smaller and the two girls are working a little faster. A box is opened then and out comes a doll that looks like Bedivere. Don't mind Helena as she behinds it and drops it on the belt, letting it go right past Kaz. Rita also seems to be smashing apart a wooden puzzle in the likeness of Kray Foresight, breaking it into splinters.
Dedicated little elves, aren't they?]
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[christmas is five seconds away from being cancelled. kaz recoils from the bedivere doll as it goes by, knocking it off the belt with a hand—gross! defect goods!—before looking around the room, frowning, and cupping his hands over his mouth to yell:]
Hey, Gronch! Get out here so I can kick your ass!
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and. oh.
the bedivere doll.
just give her a moment, estelle has some feelings to try to repress.]
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"Well, what do you want? You're interrupting my production here!"
[The Gronch does not seem threatened by this "asskicking", nor sympathetic to Estelle's sudden emotions.]
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what the fuck is that.
kaz is momentarily lost for words, so he leans over to estelle instead, lowering his voice to a bare whisper.]
Ugh. It looks like a cat ate a bunch of leaves and then vomited them into a pile, and the pile put on some Christmas livery and started talking. Classic demonic shit.
I'll try kicking him in the ballsack. You can't reason with communists—they don't see the value of value.
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......
even with kaz. being kaz. she has to keep it together. for rita!]
... Please excuse our intrusion, Mister Gronch. We came here to find our friends.
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"No, no, impossible! There are no friends here. Just Santy Claws and two two hard-working elves. So why don't you just run along?"
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[he points at the gronch, shaking his finger.]
We're not going anywhere until you release them!
[also. where's his present? if he can find it, he's gonna try and grab it.]
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And... and besides, using them in this way is a really inefficient way to try to ruin Christmas. You don't need brainwashing to do that!
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[The Gronch stands his ground, hardly scared of the two. But then again he thinks maybe they just need a clue.]
"Get out of my workshop, you're making a mess! Santy Claws works best without extra pests." [He approaches Kaz then, ignoring the elves. But as for the gifts, they're still on the shelves. The Gronch puffs out his chest, strong and able, but since they keep arguing he throws them on the table.
Rita and Helena wrap the pair up in bows, wrapping the ribbon high and other ribbon low. Now bound to the belt the two must put up a fight, because the Gronch gives a smile that may fill them with fright.]
"But if you refuse to leave when asked, then quickly I'll go to finish the task!"
[The Gronch turns back and retreats out of sight, and he soon pulls a lever that's there on his right. The belt begins to move, carrying the two away...
...and if they don't find a way out? They'll be flatter than clay.]
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[this is about all he has time for before they're tied with a bow to the crusher belt. with a gasp, he turns to estelle, panicked.]
We have to get out of here before he discovers our only weakness—death!
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[It happens so quickly, there’s hardly a moment to protest.]
Rita! Please, let us out!
[She’ll try begging her friend for mercy, but at the same time, she’ll try to wriggle as much as possible. How much can she move?]
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Helena and Rita, for the most part, seem to have gone back to their jobs. Though after a moment, Rita responds as she gives Estelle another blank look.]
"The Gronch dislikes Christmas and went out on a limb, but this death is better than being slayed by Him."
[Helena nonchalantly runs over a Barbie doll that looks like Seraphine with a toy jeep.]
"His holidays were ruined, and so you must die. It must be done so you may say goodbye."
[They're bound pretty well, but there's still enough wiggle room. If they try to move, they should be able to loosen the ribbons little by little slowly.]
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[kaz wriggles like an angry raccoon, trying his damndest to slip out of the festive bonds. at one point, he reaches for the bow with his mouth, trying to bite the ribbon and untie it.]
Come on Estelle! Put your teeth into it!
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[the ribbons feel a little looser, but will it be enough to get out in time? she’s not sure she can lean far enough forward to reach her own ribbon...
but kaz’s restraints sit at a more accessible angle. with no time to hesitate, she tries to lean over, hoping it’s enough to chomp one of the ends of his bow with her teeth, then pull it back.
if he gets freed first, he’ll return the favor... won’t he?
if it was anyone else, she wouldn’t feel so uncertain.]
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Granted, the Gronch hates teamwork and so the belt picks up speed a little more, the ominous jingle of bell-like laughter ringing through the workshop. They'll have to work fast and pray that Kaz doesn't just ditch Estelle, especially as the crusher draws closer and closer.]
"You should have stayed out and left things alone!" [The Gronch almost sounds a little giddy as he sits back in his operating tower, leaning on the lever to control the belt and the crusher itself. Toys, games and items galore continue to get smashed to bits and dumped down a hole at the end of the line. It seems the pair of them are headed right that way. The ribbon is tight, but the elves didn't anticipate anyone biting them either so it's marginally successful. Nice.]
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Ahhhh, fuck!
[the stress is really weighing on him, though, and he fumbles with his ribbon, trying to wrench himself free, and roll off the belt.]
Damn you, Karl Marx!
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It’s near the very last moment that she jumps off the conveyor belt, grabbing a handful of kaz’s clothes and hoping to help him roll off of there with her.
when she lands, she’s just kind of dazed for a few moments.
did kaz kaan actually do the right thing?? is this a christmas miracle???]
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But they have a few options here. The Gronch is still set out to destroy Christmas, and the elves are hard at work destroying joy. The hole in the ground where the damaged goods go looms behind them, and the belt's still going. Their presents will be traveling past soon, but maybe there's a bigger priority?
What will you do?]
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Ugh. This is exactly why I despise gift-giving. Stick to receiving, as I always say.
[rolling over, he props himself up, staying down far enough to avoid the gronch's sight, but close enough to talk to estelle eye to eye.]
So, clearly, it's up to us to save Christmas. I'm not really sure how, to be completely honest with you—but I'm totally feeling it right now. Maybe this is what the commercials mean when they talk about "Christmas cheer"?
[christmas is absolutely fucked.]
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But we can't let what just happened to us happen again. Maybe if we stop the machine first?
[Then the Gronch won't be able to crush them, and the "elves" won't have any work to focus on.
From what Estelle can see, the Gronch is currently at the controls... but is there a power source, or anything else that looks like it can be interfered with?]
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