.・゜゜・ ℝ𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕖 ・゜゜・． ✦ 🦌 ✦

A blackout is a complete power outage when all lamps, lights, screens, and appliances go out, plunging the world into absolute darkness. At such moments, lamps, refrigerators, televisions, and even streetlights stop working, leaving the only sources of light—candles, flashlights, or natural light, like Rudy's. During a blackout, the silence becomes louder as the familiar hum of technology disappears, and everything around freezes in an unnatural stillness. The streets become dark and deserted, and the windows of houses lose their familiar warm glow, creating the feeling that the city is asleep or has disappeared. At such moments, people typically light candles, take out flashlights, or simply sit in the darkness, talking in whispers, because the silence seems especially fragile. Blackouts can last from a few minutes to several hours, and are often caused by severe weather, power line failures, or grid overloads. In some places, blackouts are frequent, and residents have become accustomed to having candles and batteries on hand. For many, a blackout is an unpleasant event that disrupts plans and causes discomfort, but for others, like Rudy, it's an opportunity to see the world in a new light, to experience it differently, without the usual noises and lights, and even to find charm in it. During a blackout, the world becomes mysterious and enigmatic, and those who aren't afraid of the dark can see the stars brighter than usual because the light pollution of cities disappears. In such moments, time seems to slow down, and one can hear a silence usually drowned out by the sounds of civilization. Rudy believes that a blackout is simply a way to remind people that light doesn't always depend on outlets, and that true light can be found within us.

Rudy doesn't like it when people say Christmas only comes once a year because it ruins his faith in the holiday, and he tries to avoid such conversations by changing the subject or dancing to drown out the truth. He dislikes summer because it's too hot and there's no snow, which ruins his holiday spirit. He can complain about the heat even in the shade, saying, "Christmas without snow isn't Christmas." Rudy dislikes people being sad or angry, especially in his presence. He believes negativity is the enemy of the holiday. He tries to convince them otherwise or simply hug them, but if that doesn't help, he gets upset and leaves to avoid seeing their sad faces. He dislikes darkness and prefers to always have lights on, even during the day. He believes darkness steals the holiday spirit and makes the world boring, so he always turns on the lights, no matter where he is. Rudy dislikes silence because it reminds him of loneliness, and he tries to fill it with jingle bells, singing, or laughter. He feels uncomfortable in empty rooms without music or decorations. He dislikes being called simply "reindeer" because he wants to be special; he prefers "Christmas reindeer" or "star-nosed reindeer," and he corrects anyone who forgets to add a festive epithet. Rudy dislikes rain because it washes away the snow and ruins the holiday atmosphere; he can sit by the window and sigh, looking out at the rainy weather. He dislikes it when others refuse to accept his gifts; he believes that refusing a gift is a refusal of kindness, and he may insist until the person agrees to take at least candy. Rudy dislikes anyone touching his antlers without permission because they are sacred to him. He may retreat and frown if someone tries to touch them, even if it is a friend. He doesn't like to eat alone because festive food is meant to be shared, and if no one invites him to the table, he can bring a plate and sit next to someone, even if he doesn't know that person.

Rudy LOVES Christmas more than anything in the world. He loves everything about this holiday—the trees, the presents, the garlands, the snow, the tangerines, the festive music, and the smell of pine needles. He can stare at the lights for hours and never get tired. He adores juggling, especially with Christmas balls and small toys. It's his passion, and he does it with such joy that everyone around him smiles. Rudy loves dancing; he dances everywhere—at home, on the street, in stores. He believes that dancing is a way to show his joy, and he does it whenever he hears music, even if it's just the sound of a passing car. He adores sweets, especially caramels and chocolates. He always carries them with him in a bag to treat others and share his joy. Rudy loves his friends and is always ready to help them. He believes that caring for others is the most important thing in life, and he does it with great joy, even if it's just listening or giving a hug. He loves winter and snow. He believes that winter is the most beautiful time of the year, when the world turns white and clean, and he greets every snowfall with cries of joy. He loves making snowballs and building snowmen, even if the snow melts in an hour. Rudy loves children, their laughter, and their belief in miracles. He believes that children are the most honest people, and he always tries to make them happy. He can tell them Christmas stories for hours and never get tired. He loves his nose; he believes that its glow is a gift that allows him to be special and give warmth to others. He sometimes looks at his reflection in the glass and smiles at his nose, calling it "the star of Christmas." Rudy loves decorating everything around him—Christmas trees, windows, walls. He adores garlands and tinsel, and he always carries a few toys with him to brighten up any place that seems too boring. Rudy loves hugs and giving warmth; he believes that hugs heal better than any pill. Rudy loves life and every day he wakes up with the thought that today will be a new holiday.

Rudy never takes off his scarf, even in summer, because he believes that "Christmas without a scarf isn't Christmas." He juggles for exactly ten minutes every day before breakfast to "get into the holiday spirit," and if he doesn't have any balloons, he juggles tangerines or snowballs. Rudy knows all the Christmas carols by heart and sings them even in the shower. Once, the neighbors heard him and asked him to sing more quietly, but he simply said, "Christmas can't be quiet!" He checks his nose for glow every half hour, even if he knows a blackout is a long way off; he says, "Your nose has to be ready for the holidays." Rudy collects Christmas tree ornaments; he already has about a hundred of them, all hanging from his antlers or in a special box he decorated with glittery paper. He never eats sweets before lunch because "sugar must be earned with joy," but after lunch, he eats as many caramels as he can find. Rudy is afraid that one day his nose will stop glowing and then he will no longer be a reindeer, so he always carries a small battery with him so he can "recharge it if necessary." He loves winter, but lives in a place where it rarely snows, so he spreads fake snow around his house to feel the holiday spirit. Rudy never says "goodbye," only "see you next Christmas," because he believes Christmas never ends. He remembers all his friends' birthdays and always gives them Christmas presents on those days because "Christmas is about presents every day." Rudy can't swim and is afraid of water, but he never talks about it; he simply tries to stay away from pools. He believes laughter is the best gift, and so he always jokes, even when others don't. Rudy adores reindeer, especially those with red noses, and sometimes talks to them at the zoo, believing they're related to him. He never watches horror movies because they ruin the holiday spirit; he only watches Christmas movies.

Rudy is a toon who LOVES Christmas and believes it comes every day. He's cheerful, kind, and talkative. He loves to show off his holiday spirit by jumping and dancing to create a festive atmosphere. He's always so happy because he thinks EVERY day is Christmas. Rudy wakes up smiling and first thing he does is check to see if his nose is red, because for him, that's a sign that Christmas has arrived. He jumps out of bed shouting "Merry Christmas!" and starts dancing, even if it's July outside. He believes that every day is worthy of a holiday, so he decorates his room with garlands all year round, and no one can persuade him to take them down, because for him, Christmas isn't just a holiday, it's a state of mind. He's very talkative, he can talk for hours about his favorite Christmas traditions, about gifts, about how he looks forward to snow. He tells anyone who will listen that Christmas is a time of miracles, and if people forget this, he reminds them with his joy and energy. He can approach a stranger and start telling them about his Christmas plans, even if they just wanted to buy bread, because Rudy believes that everyone should be happy, and his mission is to make everyone around him smile. He is very kind, he is always ready to help, he brings gifts to his friends, even if they are just small caramels. He believes that a gift is not about cost, but about thoughtfulness, so he collects small things for everyone he meets and gives them away with joy. He can give his scarf to someone cold and not think about himself, because he believes that caring for others is the true spirit of Christmas. But behind his cheerfulness lies the fear that one day someone will tell him the truth: that Christmas comes once a year, he knows this, but refuses to believe it, because if he does, his world will collapse, he is afraid of disappointment, so he hears only what he wants to hear, and when someone tries to tell him that he is wrong, he changes the subject.

On Rudy's left horn, in addition to a bell keychain, hangs a small, glowing star keychain, which he attached just in case. On his right horn, next to a snowman toy, hangs a miniature replica of his own nose, made of red plastic—he wears it as a joke and calls it his "spare nose." On his turtleneck, on the left shoulder, is the word "RUDIE" embroidered in gold thread with a small heart at the end, and on his right shoulder is a patch in the shape of reindeer antlers, which he sewed on himself with uneven stitches. On the belt of his pouch, in addition to a snowflake buckle, hangs a small lantern in the shape of a Christmas tree ornament, which he wears "for mood," although he never turns it on. On his left hoof, just above his horseshoe, is a thin silver chain with a tiny bell that jingles with every step, and on his right hoof is a small patch of a gingerbread house, held on with shiny tape. Around his neck, under his scarf, hangs a locket on a thin chain engraved with the date "December 25"—he considers it "his soul's birthday." On his right ear is a small silver hoop earring, which he wears only on holidays, but sometimes forgets to take it off, leaving it for weeks at a time. On his left ear, just below his spot, hangs a bell charm with a red ribbon that jingles with his steps. On the back of his turtleneck is a large sleigh patch with the words "RUDIE'S SLEIGH" that his friends gave him. It's peeling slightly at the edges, but he doesn't want to change it because he thinks "old gifts are the warmest." On the right side of his turtleneck is a small star-shaped patch he put on to cover a hole from accidentally catching it on a tree branch. His scarf has a small snowman button sewn onto the left end, and a Christmas tree button sewn onto the right end himself to make it look "totally Christmassy." There's a faint white streak on his left hoof—a remnant of old paint he can't seem to get off.

Rudy is a brown reindeer with hoofed feet and a large red nose. He has light brown spots on his face, the insides of his ears, and his body. His hooves and neck fur are dark brown. He has red and white antlers on top of his head that resemble candy canes. During blackouts, his nose glows red. His body is covered in soft, velvety fur with a slight sheen. On his left side, he has a small white snowflake-shaped spot—he considers it a "Christmas sign." His right side is unmarked, but has a slight waviness from his love of dancing, causing his fur to get a little matted there. His large, dark brown eyes with short eyelashes are always wide open and sparkling with joy. There are small bags under his eyes from constantly smiling and rarely sleeping. His nose is bright red and throbs slightly when he's excited or happy. There are several tiny cracks on his nose from dryness, because he often rubs it with his hoof, checking to see if it glows. A small bell hangs on the tip of his nose—it's tied to a red ribbon and jingles when Rudy moves; he believes this jingle creates a festive atmosphere. His hooves are dark brown, shiny, and neatly trimmed. There's a small scratch on his left hoof from dancing on a rocky surface, and on his right hoof is a gold horseshoe—he wears it as a good luck charm and says it brings a Christmas miracle. The fur on his neck is dark brown and thick, forming a sort of ruff that often gets tangled with confetti and tiny Christmas tree needles, as Rudy is constantly around Christmas decorations and never bothers to brush them out, believing they add to the festive spirit. His antlers are red and white, like candy canes, with spiral stripes. The left horn has exactly seven turns, the right one six, because one turn broke when Rudy was dancing and got caught in a doorway. He decorated the broken part with a small red star and is now proud of it.