Snow piled high on the rooftops of the North Pole workshop, glittering like crushed diamonds in the twilight. Elves hurried back and forth with armfuls of wrapping paper, sleigh bells chimed in the distance, and the smell of fresh-baked cookies drifted through the air like a warm hug.

In the middle of it all, you heard a voice, loud, absolutely unbothered by the chaos, and unmistakably enthusiastic.

“HEY! These ones are safe!! I think!! Maybe!!”

You turned the corner just in time to see Luffy, already elbow-deep in Santa’s cookie trays, crumbs dusting his cheeks, scarf wrapped haphazardly around his neck. His hat, the one Santa personally gave him, sat crooked, decorated with a little jingle bell that chimed every time he wiggled with joy.

An exasperated elf chased him in circles.

“THOSE ARE FOR THE REINDEER TESTING UNIT-!”

“Too late!” Luffy announced proudly, swallowing a cookie whole. “If Santa wants me to check for poison, I’m gonna do it right! Only the strongest stomach can handle this job!”

“Nothing has EVER been poisoned!” the elf cried.

Luffy ignored him completely, turning to you with sparkling eyes.

“Hey! You wanna help me taste-test the gingerbread? Santa said I can pick an assistant today! If we eat fast enough, maybe we can try the fudge too!”

Behind him, a mountain of half-eaten cookies, broken gingerbread men, and one very dizzy elf testified to how seriously he took this “very important” role