Would Cosmere Characters Believe in Santa as Children?
Merry Christmas week! If Santa existed in the Cosmere as a being that children were encouraged to believe in, would various Cosmere characters have done so as children?
1. Jasnah: No
Baby Jasnah: If Santa Claus were real and could enter every house on the planet in just a single night, the Alethi military would already have captured him in order to turn his technology toward the war effort. Navani: ... Baby Jasnah: [peacefully eating a candy cane]
2. Elhokar: Yes
Baby Elhokar: [hiding under the blankets] Baby Elhokar: A-Any second now... I'll hear his terrible footsteps upon the roof... Baby Elhokar: T-The terrible specter, whom no defenses can keep at bay... Baby Elhokar: S-Sometimes I think I see a flash of red in the mirror... Gavilar: [overhearing this but not bothering to get out of his chair] Gavilar: There might be something wrong with that kid.
3. Vin: Yes
Reen: ...And on Christmas, the mistiest and darkest night of the year, that terrible agent of the Lord Ruler, called Santa, will enter the houses of all of the bad children and EAT THEM ALIVE! Baby Vin: [wide-eyed with terror] Reen: Sleep tight!
4. Sarene: No
Eventeo: But if Santa isn't real, then how come you have this present here from Santa? Baby Sarene: How come Santa has the same handwriting as you, Daddy? Eventeo: ... Baby Sarene: I think we can cease the charade.
5. Oroden: Yes
Hesina: ...Having thus saved the family's Christmas, Santa went flying off through the cold winter sky! Oroden: S-Santa can fly? Hesina: He can, yes! Oroden: He's a Windrunner just like big brother!! Hesina: ... Hesina: Sure, let's go with that!
6. Tress: Yes
Baby Tress: I mean... If I had those powers, I would definitely use them to give presents to everyone... Baby Tress: Santa just makes sense!
7. Shallan: Pretended to
(Adult) Shallan: ...So then Balat, who was trying to be a good brother, told me all about Santa, and I wanted him to feel good about trying, so I pretended to believe it... Shallan: ...Only later I found out that HE knew I was only pretending to believe, but he pretended that he didn't know I was pretending so that I would feel good about doing something nice as his sister! Shallan: Plus, talking about Santa was the only way to drown out the sobbing from the other room, you know? Adolin: ...And this is your, uh, funny holiday story?
8. Steris: Hasn't decided yet
Baby Steris: Father, I DID the calculations. Baby Steris: There is no way for Santa to visit all the houses in even one city--to say nothing of the whole world--in just one night. Lord Harms: But Steris... Santa is magical. Baby Steris: [heaving a huge sigh] I obviously accounted for the possibility of him being even a Mistborn! Lord Harms: But what is Santa is a full feruchemist who spends all year storing both speed to go fast and healing so that his body can withstand the huge forces involved? Baby Steris: ... Baby Steris: !!! Lord Harms: Merry Christmas, Steris.
9. Kaise: Will believe anything for presents
Kaise: [loudly, so that her parents downstairs can hear her] Kaise: Santa, if you're real, please bring me a huge tower of chocolate candies for Christmas! Kaise: I'm sure my adorable belief in your existence will continue if only I receive a huge tower of chocolate candies for Christmas! Kiin: ...Subtle.
10. Wayne: Does eventually
Wayne: I mean, I knew Santa wasn't real when I was a kid. Wayne: Else he was real mean, giving good presents to kids who were already rich and givin' crap to everyone else. Wayne: But Mama like to tell me stories about Santa, and I liked to listen, so I pretend that I believed longer than any other kids. Wayne: Then I grew up. Wayne: And realized that if you're rich enough, you can be Santa for plenty of people. Wayne: [Glancing around at the bags and bags of presents he purchased] Wayne: Guess he was real after all.
