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[nerine]

UN: Monts
text; voice; video; action

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text; un; nightroad

[expio]

Yooooo!! Miss Monts, my favorite former delinquent, how are you doing~? 🥰 Are you ready for anime night, because I'm going stir crazy being stuck inside doing nothing all day!!! Doesn't sitting under some nice, warm blankets and watching food anime sound nice??✨

OK, get back to me when you're ready, cause I'm ready!!✨

un: monts

[nerine]

[There's a five-minute delay and then...]

I'm going to sleep

[expio]

OK GRANDMA, goodness, are you 85?? It's time to wake up!!! A N I M E time!!✨

[nerine]

And it can't wait because...?

[Regardless, she's getting out of bed and rubbing her eyes, geez what time is it even]

This better not take more than 2 hours.

[expio]

Hasn't it waited long enough...? I need to learn how to bake BEFORE Christmas or it defeats the whole purpose my goodness!! Rise and shine, we have work to do!!

[nerine]

Well.

If we're going to do this, I'm sending you a list of snacks and drinks that you are going to buy.

[expio]

What am I, your errand boy? Are you extorting me? Is this blackmail?

[expio]

OK OK what's on the list

[nerine]

• Potato chips, regular, salt and vinegar, and BBQ
• Soda (for you I guess)
• Beer (doesn't matter what kind, cheap is fine)
• Pretzels (you can choose the type, sweet, savory doesn't matter)
• Whatever you think is tasty

So yes, buy all of that please.

[expio]

This food anime better be worth all this effort, I'm beginning to feel like I'm back at home again...

OK I will be there after I return from Fruits Basket, if you don't hear from me I've frozen to death and your snacks have gotten terribly cold!!

[nerine]

Good, I can go to sleep while you're in a cold sleep! I don't see a problem with this plan.

[expio]

"Cold sleep"

IT'S CALLED DEATH, MISS MONTS

delivery; 12/25

[laeradr]

[ Hello, Monts. There's a small package waiting for you on your doorstep! (Not from Santa though, unfortunately.) It's just a little box wrapped simply in red paper with a white ribbon, with a note attached; it's written in nice, but somewhat old-fashioned handwriting: ]

Monts, I hope this note finds you in good health and high spirits. In truth, Christmas isn't a holiday we celebrate in my homeland, but it seems most here are familiar with it, so I wished to contribute to the celebrations. So in keeping with the apparent tradition, I'm leaving you a simple gift. I'm afraid it won't be as good as an instrument in helping you make music, but perhaps it will help remind you of those pleasant sounds when you're feeling weary. Please take care and be well. -- Vangeance

[ Inside the box is a simple wooden wind chime. Nothing extravagant at all, but it does produces nice, clear sounds when jostled by a breeze. If nothing else, it should be relaxing to listen to in the morning after a long day. ]

action, later that day

[nerine]

[Monts is, in a word, touched by both Vangeance's gift and his note. The wind chime is simple, and while it could just be her, there was a profoundness to it, true thought and consideration that could only come from him.

Wind chimes make her think of hot summers and dry windy days. The sound it makes brings out images of sitting on the porch with her grandfather, with their own metal chimes singing gently in the evening breeze, enjoying iced drinks and snacks, and if they could get away with it from the sharp eyes of her grandmother, a shot of tequila on ice with lime and salt.

Of course, Vangeance wouldn't know those things about her and it's not like she'll carelessly ramble about the strong meaning she found behind his gift. But what Monts will do is deliver her own gift in person.

She decides to look down the row of cottages to see if she can spot him. Near Parron Cottage, she sees the familiar mask and waves to him. ]

Feliz Navidad! Caught you!

[In her arms, she's carrying a small wooden crate with a lid, protecting it from random snowflakes.]

[laeradr]

[ How many more gifts does he have to distribute? ... three, he thinks? Maybe he'll take a small break. This isn't exactly difficult or exhausting, but the cold is certainly getting to him, and -- ]

... good afternoon, Monts.

[ He'd looked over the moment he caught sight of that wave, and Vangeance is quick to give a nod and a warm smile of recognition. There's the quiet crunch of snow under his boots as he strides over, breath trailing in the air behind him in the cold. ]

I'm afraid I didn't quite hear what you first said.

[ 'Feliz' ... ?

That said, he holds his hands out while nodding towards the crate in her arms. ]

Would you like any help carrying that?

[nerine]

It's just another way to say, "Merry Christmas!" Don't worry about it.

[Monts beams at him when he offers to carry the box.]

Why, yes I would like help.

[She places it in his open hands and pats it on the lid.]

Kindly relieve my gift for you from me. That way you get to open it up and I can see what you think of the present I chose!

[laeradr]

[ Really now, the more he learns about Christmas, the more complicated it seems. Vangeance's smile gains the slightest hint of something both fond and exasperated, but he takes the crate without complaint -- until he realizes it's meant for him. ]

A gift? [ He holds it with care, glancing down at the lid for a moment before giving Monts a warm smile and a deeper nod. ] For Christmas, I presume. Thank you very much, then. I'll accept with gratitude.

[ He's modest, but not so much that he'd refuse a tradition-based gift. Vangeance tilts his head towards the entrance to Parron Cottage, just a few paces away. ]

Would you allow me to repay you with a cup of tea? I was about to make one for myself.

[nerine]

Choosing gifts for people I haven't known as long as a lot more fun than I expected. That's the magic of the holidays, I guess.

[The offer of tea seems to please her as she nods immediately.]

Since you're offering, allow me to indulge myself then! It's a good idea to be inside anyway. I don't think what's in the box likes being in the cold too long.

[laeradr]

Certainly. I'd be happy to have you.

[ A serene smile as he leads the way, unlocking the door and letting her enter first before he follows and closes the door behind them. Parron Cottage is a fairly simply-decorated place, quiet and sparse now that the rowdier two youths have returned to their homes (he hopes). ]

It was certainly an interesting way of spending time. I feel I've come to have a greater understanding of my acquaintances, so I appreciated the opportunity.

[ Vangeance gently places the crate on the kitchen table before striding over to put the kettle on. And then he takes the chance to remove his cloaks, hanging them on a hook in the hallway.

The mask stays on, of course. ]

[nerine]

Christmas is one of those things that seems universal at least 90% of the time. Or so I've been told.

[For someone who was so clearly capable and had what she was assuming very strong magic abilities, Vangeance was such a guarded person maybe even more than herself; that's what Monts thinks to herself anyway as she sits
down and watches him move across the kitchen, preparing the tea.]

It's been so engrained in my life, I honestly would feel like a piece was missing this time of year if I didn't celebrate it in some fashion.

[laeradr]

I suppose the world I come from is simply a strange one. Though I'm sure many feel that way about their own holidays, regardless of culture.

[ Despite his noble lineage, Vangeance has never had any qualms about doing things for himself, and he quietly prepares a teapot's strainer with some loose-leaf tea, setting out two cups afterward. Methodical and neat.

That done, he looks back to Monts. ]

But I'm very glad you're able to enjoy a day so important to you, even in a place like this. Have you done anything special to celebrate? Other than preparing gifts.

[nerine]

I sang some Christmas songs to myself. It's a whole genre unto itself, it's wild really. And the cottage I'm living in has decorations so that helps amplify the spirit of the day.

[She continues to watch him make the tea; the methodical movements reminds her a bit of Oren, although the golem would do things with absolute precision down to the very second when it comes to brewing anything.]

Usually on Christmas Eve, the evening before, I'd attend a religious service with my grandparents. I don't practice myself, but I go with them regardless because it's important and it's one of the few requests I honor.

[laeradr]

[ As the kettle bubbles away on the stovetop, he focuses only on her, listening quietly as she speaks. And he gives a small nod in understanding. ]

They must have been very glad to have your company. And even if you don't abide by the religion, I'm sure it was a meaningful time for you, sharing that time with your family.

[ In truth, matters of family bonding are completely unfamiliar to him. But he can at least imagine the warmth and comfort found in an unofficial tradition like that. Vangeance smiles gently. ]

It's unfortunate you were unable to maintain the tradition this year. So we'll have to do our best to ensure next year will be different

postcard

[paperpusher]

[On January 1, a postcard slips under Monts' door under its own power. It's clearly homemade, with a surprisingly nice inked outline of a mug of coffee with a spiral of steam coming off of it to circle the words:]

Happy New Year!

[On the back:]

Thank you for all of your help last year. Here's to hoping the next year will treat us kindly. My movie arrived in Fogtown, if you still wanted to support it. Wishing for good health and a quick exit.

Natori Shuuichi

[The signature is very clearly his autograph.]

◣ DELIVERY: AFTER 12/26

[ikizama]

( jujusantas have arrived... late! but with goods!! )

(click the letter for your present)

( she'll notice when she takes a bite out of the big soft cookie that the filling has been mixed with the choco coffee beans she got the jujuboys... among other things! they wanted to give back at least a fraction of what she's give them, and hope that it'll be a nice companion to her coffee time c: )