There's winks and smiles (and BTW that's the first time you've indicated there was even the slightest jest in it, we only know what you tell us here) but that's still an ultimatum, a rose by any other color as they say. A wink and a smile might turn it into a friendly or funny ultimatum, but it's still a "do this or else".
You're right, I didn't say it was in fun... With Santa, I guess it just didn't occur to me that I had to clarify that. I have no overwrought childhood trauma associated with Santa Claus and the "truth".