Secretest Santa Santa Secret

"Sorry I'm late," Robert said, as he threw open the door. "My alarm didn't go off."
"It's about time you got here," Metal Coat grumbled. "Now get to work already."
"Sorry. I would have called, but I couldn't figure out how to use the messenger program you installed. Although I admit I didn't try for too long, I was in a hurry to get here and I wanted to be able to see where I was going."
"It doesn't really matter. We haven't had any customers yet."
"Oh," Robert said, taking off his heavy coat. He didn't particularly need it for warmth thanks to his temperature regulators, but there was a lot of frozen water around out there that he didn't want to get on him.
"You don't sound very surprised. Are you implying something about my business?"
"Well, not really," Robert said, walking behind the counter. "It's just, all the other stores are advertising holiday sales and we don't seem to have one. That could possibly have something to do with it."
"Why would we have one? It's not a gnomish holiday."
"Well, it's not technically a religious observance for most of the races. I think it only actually is for a segment of the human population. But for some reason I can't remember, years and years ago, the government declared it an official holiday and everyone's sort of gone along with it ever since."
"Why would they do that?" Metal Coat asked, frowning. "It doesn't make any sense."
"Money, I think. If it's a holiday that means holiday sales and that means more customers. Or at least everyone else seems to think so, and we aren't exactly proving them wrong so far."
"Hmm." Metal Coat tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I'll have to look into this. You watch the shop while I investigate these other sales."
"All right," Robert said. "Enjoy yourself."

Metal Coat returned an hour later, carrying two large shopping bags and scowling.
"That wasn't very pleasant," he said. "But I think I understand these sales now. I'm putting up signs saying everything's twenty percent off today."
"Oh, is that what you've got in the bags?"
"Never mind!" Metal Coat yelled. "Were there any customers while I was out?"
"Well, there was one woman who wondered if we were having any sales today, I wasn't sure what the answer was so I asked her to come back later."
"You should've sold her something," Metal Coat grumbled.
"I don't know if she would have bought anything. She said she was on a tight budget, and couldn't afford to buy too many gifts even with her holiday bonus..."
Metal Coat's face went blank.
"Holiday... what?"
"Oh, a lot of places give their employees extra money for the holidays," Robert said. "At least, from what I understand. Do you need any help putting up those signs?"
"No." Metal Coat scowled. "I've already got my nanobots handling that. I'm going to be in my workshop for a bit, don't bother me unless it's important. Which it won't be."
"All right," Robert said as Metal Coat walked off towards the basement. "Have fun."

By the time Metal Coat emerged, Robert was already putting on his heavy coat and getting ready to leave.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Metal Coat growled.
"Sorry, are we staying open late? This is normally when my shift ends, but I suppose it doesn't have to."
"No, no, no. I've been thinking about this silly holiday nonsense. Did we even get any customers?"
"Eight," Robert said. "I can tell you what they bought if you'd like."
"I'll look at it myself later," Metal Coat grumbled. "Anyways, here."
He pulled a large box out from behind his back and presented it to Robert.
"Have a good holiday, and don't bother coming in tomorrow, I'll be closed."
Puzzled, Robert opened the box. Inside was a new alarm clock, and two posters.
"This is very nice," he said, putting the box into his inventory. Then he pulled out another box and handed it to Metal Coat.
"Wait, what's this?"
"I went shopping for you, too, because you're the only person I actually know well enough to buy a gift for."
Metal Coat stared at the box.
"Huh. Thanks, I guess."
"I wasn't actually all that sure what to get. I considered raw materials, but I don't know what you use or where to get it. And I didn't know what sort of books or movies or other things you liked, but I felt I ought to get you something, so..."
Metal Coat ignored him and tore the box open. There was a festive hat inside.
"So I got you a festive hat," Robert concluded. "I hope you like it."
Metal Coat put the hat on. It flopped around awkwardly.
"It's... okay, I guess," he said. "Thanks. Now get out of here, I've got to close down the shop."
"I'll see you in two days, then," Robert said. "Unless you don't mind if I drop by tomorrow, I really don't have--"
"Move it!"
"Right, sorry. Thank you for the gifts!"
"That guy's way too polite," Metal Coat grumbled as Robert sped out. "Drives me crazy."