Chapter Text
Styx sat looking rather bored with the contents of the meeting this year, everything was running smoothly and it nearly felt that it was a waste of time to even be here. Mother Nature droned on about one thing or another checking in with Santa on the status of toy production before she looked to Styx,
“How are things progressing in your factory Krampus?” she smiled gently before continuing “ I also hope you are adjusting to your new position alright.” Styx let out a sigh sounding little more than bored,
“Things are well on their way to being completed ahead of Krampuslauf. It's amazing how much you can get done with a little bit of fear. As for adjusting I’m doing great,” he smirked, his eyes flicking to Silver for a moment who was preoccupied with the supply charter Kringle had handed him and re-sorting the papers that Mother Nature had made disorganized moments before. “ I have no complaints aside from the occasional person or being finding their way into the workshop where they don’t belong.I do of course make sure they are… removed.”
A silence filled the room and even Silver stopped what he was doing looking over his glasses to Styx as if to try and stop him from making himself look scarier than he was but the dragon paid no mind as he was staring down Mother Nature.
“You seem surprised?” Mother Nature’s expression was a mix of horror and confusion before she shook herself free of the initial shock, she had just had hers and everyone’s fears met with an insinuation that she had hoped wasn’t the case.
“Styx you didn’t….” she trailed off professional demeanor fading away,
“No, no nothing gruesome. I only dirty my hands in extreme cases and otherwise focus on my job. Though it should be noted that we have elves that left the workshop and do not take kindly to me being around. We have found them usually trying to sneak into the factory with ill will in mind so I’ve taken to sending them on the purgatory fast track.” Styx’s eyes left Mother Nature and shifted to Kringle looking for a little bit of backup. The old man nodded running a hand through his beard looking a little defeated,
“It gets hard to keep track of elves that don’t wish to work for either at times. While some usually end up leaving to go elsewhere there are still a few families that keep to the old ways. We’ve been able to keep things quiet and calm thanks to Styx however and Silver here has been keeping an eye out.” Silver glared at Kringle fully knowing what he was referring to as ‘keeping an eye out’. The older elf cleared his throat slightly,
“Yes well tis safe to say that while we have had issues it is well handled for now. I know after this meeting Krampus and I have a few matters to discuss regarding employment rosters so we might better track down who has shifted into which department.”
“I see…” Mother Nature did not seem convinced given Styx’s previous proclivities when his father had been in charge. “I will hold you that for now though remember next year you’ll be due for a walk with the rest of the board to ensure you are adjusting to your position well. Has there been any luck in you taking on an assistant?” The dragon felt a sense of dread take over him for a moment. Did he have to take on an assistant? Things had been going so smoothly that it wasn’t something he had thought of.
“ To be honest I’ve been so busy since taking over that I have not yet been able to look into candidates, though I have several factory supervisors in place to keep imps in line whereas my father did not. It’s managed to streamline the work and we’re ahead of schedule for this year. There’ll be plenty of coal for Christmas and enough baskets made before long for the usual runs done in the villages.” Styx leaned back in his chair having said his piece and Mother nature looked as though she was confused as how he could be so close to completion,
“But how are you al-” Styx raised a hand cutting her off,
“Humans are smart and having spent a great deal of time in the human world the second the transition began I started making adjustments and arrangements for new equipment to come in. While some things are better done the old fashioned way there's no need for us to live in the past. Between adding built in management channels and bringing on human built equipment, adding more of my own little magical flare of course, I’ve cut down not only the need to have an overcrowded factory but also made the line of work that much safer, faster, and profitable.” Mother Nature quirked a brow at the dragon “Profitable?”
“Of course!” Styx continued, “Why should we settle for less simply because we’re stuck here. That would be like denying you those sweets you like so much or expecting those who work under ____ not to enjoy scaring people for halloween… speaking of, Where is ___?” Mother nature looked a tad confused before she realized that The Hessian should have been present by all rights,
“Oh! Ah well, we sent word ahead but he’s just not here.” Styx sat up and lent forward on the table looking down on Mother Nature before there was the sound of a throat clearing.
“Eh hem… I will remind you that I may be here on the behalf of our darling Cupid, that this is still a meeting and I would very much like to return home to my cat.” Valentine scrunched up her nose looking more than annoyed that her best friend chose today of all days to pick a fight with Mother Nature, “and besides we all have work to do. The changing of seasons is bound to start and a cherub's work is NEVER done so I do really need to be going.” Silence had fallen over the meeting room as Kringle and Silver’s eyes darted from Valentine to Mother Nature then to Styx who had already slightly lifted his form from the chairs he had been sitting in.
It wasn’t long before Styx chose to stand breaking the silence, “ I agree with Val… I have duties to attend to, sinners to punish, and a roster to go over.” Styx made his way to the door and promptly exited the room and started mingling with the others outside paying no more attention to Mother Nature.
“I didn’t call the meeting w-” Valentine cut her off “Just let him go, he’s been unusually stressed… Silver, why don’t you go check on him? The three of us have some business to attend to here anyways.” Silver nodded and without another word chased after Styx to have a conversation with him and do his best to check in on him. Valentine waited for Silver to leave the room before looking back up to Mother Nature,
“I know you’re keen on telling Styx that I am in fact Cupid now but I would rather do it on my own terms… Especially telling him that I- well you know…”
Mother Nature let out a gentle sigh looking over Valentine knowing all to well what they were talking about,
“You’ve not told him you plan to transition yet have you?” Valentine bit their lip and took a deep breath,
“No… I haven’t and he’s been dealing with so much I want to make sure he’s alright before I talk to him about it. I’m not afraid to tell him I just don’t want to add to his plate right now.”
“Cupid, you need to take care of yourself as well… Krampus may be your best friend but you need to take your own emotions and feelings into account…” Mother Nature set a hand on Valentine’s shoulder and the red head only shook their head,
“Like I said.. I just worry about him… I know he’ll take it fine but I’m busy and he’s busy. I do have one question however….”
“And what might that be?”
“Has being Cupid always hurt this much?”
Mother Nature sat for a moment in thought as she looked over Valentine, it would be a moment of silence before she nodded lightly,
“I suppose so, though you will get used to it… Though I will admit not all of that pain you are feeling is simply broken hearts. It likely has to do with the dysphoria we spoke of previously before the others arrived.” Kringle nodded slightly taking things in before looking to the rest of the board that remained and smiling he stood,
“Valentine, Cupid’s job was never really easy but I want you to take some time to adjust. If you think it would help you are more than welcome to come by and visit me and the wife to relax until you are comfortable with telling Styx.”
—-Meanwhile, outside of the meeting hall.---
As Silver exited the meeting room at Valentine’s behest and scanned the area before his eyes fell on the Dragon he sought after, “Ah there you are! I’ve been meaning to steal your time Styx, I hope you are feeling well. I know these past few months likely haven’t been easy.” Silver knew all too well the struggles of loss considering he himself had experienced it time and time again. The memories of stone columns housing debauchery one moment and then the silence of setting a loved one in a tomb far away from the stone amphitheaters where plays would be housed accompanied with masks, actors dawned in robes of varying colors. As fast as those ancient memories flitted across his mind’s eye they were gone in an instant before Styx spoke,
“No but I’m trying. Again… I want to uh thank you for breakfast a while back I– Well it’s nice to have someone to talk to ya know?” Styx was standing there looking slightly out of place amongst the brightly colored holiday helpers of Cupid, Mother nature, and Santa. Styx always came alone, it was concerning to Silver but he knew Styx had always been a bit of a loner but Silver felt this burning in his core, that desire, to change that.
“Oh I know, believe me I do.” How he wished he could tell Styx his own experiences and help him with coping with his loss in any way, “ Never be afraid to come by, I’ll admit it was nice having someone to share my home with for a moment. I could think of no other company I would enjoy nearly as much as yours.”
The admission had caught Styx off guard; he was pleased to hear that Silver enjoyed his company. He, in truth, wanted to see more of Silver but hadn’t had a chance to talk to him about visits though given that he, just days prior, broke into Silver’s office to steal some documents to give him an excuse to spend time with the man despite Valentine’s advice to simply be himself.
“Oh! Well that’s good to hear, maybe I should stop by more often then huh? Speaking of, I forgot to bring them to the meeting but I believe I have some papers that may be of interest to you. They look to be more up your and Kringle’s ally”
Silver clicked his tongue looking the dragon over, “Is that so? Well I am more than happy to take a look at them though funnily enough when I came in to work a few days my office door was unlocked, I wonder why that is?”
Styx found himself panicing slightly as Silver watched him, reading him. The older man could see the way his younger counterpart was stumbling as he had undoubtedly been caught.., “Ah Hm VERY odd yes, Maybe you should talk to Kringle about that.” Silver held back a chuckle and continued to eye Styx as he fumbled over his words ‘It’s adorable’ he though to himself taking in the words he said before deciding to playfully push back in his own way,
“Perhaps I should. Though I do believe I could carry punishment out myself. As the right hand of Santa it is my job after all.”
Styx could have swore the air had been knocked out of his lungs, he almost didn’t know how to respond to that. Was it flirting? Was he being serious? If Styx had been handed a glass it would be in a million pieces on the floor in front of the both of them as he would have went to grab it only to miss it entirely from how nervous he was in this very moment.
: “Uh yes WELL- I am sure we’ll figure out who did it after we go over the papers together, I’ll see you back at my office.” The words came tumbling out of his mouth as he started to attempt to shuffle away afraid to only make more of a fool of himself.
“I shall be there post haste.” Silver smirked watching Styx try to flee though part of him wondered if he had pushed too far. “ I’ll see you soon!” Styx’s voice rang back through the room before he very quickly made his way out the door.
As Styx hurriedly tried to make his way through Santa’s Workshop his brain was going a mile a minute. Was Val right? What was going on with her anyways? Something was definitely wrong with his friend but that would have to be a conversation for later seeing as her initial hunch was correct in his eyes. Silver was chasing him back, wasn’t he?
It wasn’t long before Styx stepped out into the frigid air to make his way back home which helped him gather his thoughts a little bit better than simply flipping through them like a frantic and scared child that needed to know what came next.
“I just want him to like me ... .for me…” he finally said aloud, not quite thinking about where he was, not that he needed to as he was walking through the snow down the very same path he took the day he ran to Silver. ‘ How long has it been since then?’ He wondered, he never really thought much about that day or why his first instinct was to go to Silver’s house rather than straight home. Something just told him that he should. Was it because he had looked up to Silver back then? Or maybe it was because he knew it was safer than going back to the factory. Surly the elves would have gone straight to his father first back then and it would have only made matters worse.
As Styx walked into the factory he let out a heavy sigh shaking off the snow his heavy boots clicking on the floor on account of the lucky horse shoes he had nailed to them many moons ago. He ducked his head down to pass through his door looking around before the sudden realization hit him.
If silver was coming he would need to clean up his office.