[Video]

[noblyblooming]

[Yuyuko appears on the feed looking well, a little confused, but not displeased or anything. She wasn't really up to speed on the holidays. Comes with being old as dirt. Even now, she only had a very rough grasp on it.]

So other people received gifts the other day as well? Mine was rather stubborn and would not open.

[She'd actually given up on it and pouted until she figured out it could be opened on Christmas. She pans the video over to reveal a very miniaturized version of a certain tree in full bloom. Thankfully, it is perfectly harmless, more a replica than a recreation. Even so, despite its beauty, there's just something off about it. Yuyuko reaches out to brush her fingers against the petals, emitting an almost sad-sounding hum.]

I was very surprised to see this of all things here.

[She would've much rather had a box full of cake or something, but this was...nice too, she supposed. At least it was pretty.]

What did everyone else get, if I may ask?

Comments

[video]

[crapton_of_luck]

[Lucky pops up on the screen, a little robot lion in a Santa suit perched on his shoulder]

I got my best friend back. Say hi, Caesar.

[Caesar squeaks at the camera, causing Lucky to laugh a bit.]

That tree is awfully pretty.

[video]

[noblyblooming]

[Oh, now that's not something she's seen before. Yuyuko gives the little robot a wave, letting out a soft laugh.]

I imagine that was a wonderful gift.

[She nods.]

Yes, I suppose it is.

[Well, it used to be. A long, long time ago. It brings back memories.]

video

[aketianrunaway]

[Alessia is playing with what looks to be a sparkly dark blue fidget spinner when she comes up on camera]

I got this, it was a birthday present from one of my brothers back home when I was sixteen.

[Before their mother died and things went to hell, but she's not saying that.]

video

[noblyblooming]

[Yuyuko has to give that a closer glance. That looks kind of neat!]

What exactly is that? I don't think I've seen one of those before.

Re: video

[aketianrunaway]

It's a fidget spinner, it helps when you're bored.

[She sets it spinning again and very carefully balances it on one finger.]

video

[noblyblooming]

Are those something new?

[It seems like it could be fun.]

There are a great many things here that are new to me.

[erinoah]

[ Noah's arms are crossed. ]

I got cake.

It tasted good. It was so good that it made me sick.

[ Homesick. To the point she actually cried, but good luck getting her to admit that. ]

[noblyblooming]

Cake is good!

[A pause.]

What kind of cake? How can you get sick from cake?

[erinoah]

It's called Rumi Cake. I think the closest thing this world has to it is called Carrot Cake.

It reminds me of the home I can't go back to.

[noblyblooming]

Hm...carrot cake is good. Chocolate is better though.

[Yuyuko nods.]

While it's true we can't go home, that doesn't mean we can't enjoy our time here.

[erinoah]

Carrots are always the best.

[ Her rabbit ears twitch. ]

There's a point. I left that island because I felt I could trust that place's new protector. But if I'm not dead, what do I do?

[Video]

[zenoh]

[ Seeing Yuyuko managing to use the video function was adorable, and Ayame couldn't help but stop her work sewing a suit jacket just to watch Yuyuko from the small screen of the phone. A hum of interest follows when she sees Yuyuko's gift, knowing what it was after they shared a moment getting to know each other via a tele-empathic thought sharing, Ayame figured Yuyuko's gift could have a place in their home. With a push of a button, Ayame shows herself in a video in response to Yuyuko's, giving the other woman a soft smile while she fixed her pink-rimmed glasses ]

Oh, you've opened yours! I'm excited to see what's in mine, but it appears we're going to have another tree in our greenhouse.

[ Having a collection of bonsai trees from Kaguya's store, Ayame had made a greenhouse when she first constructed her home. From the looks of that tree, it could become the center piece of that greenhouse ]

[Video]

[noblyblooming]

[It's thanks to Ayame that she's managed to figure it out. Otherwise she'd probably have accidentally broken it or something. There's definitely a wistful look on her face as she touches it. It's beautiful, but there are some sad memories that accompany it.]

Indeed, I was finally able to open it. I suppose that may be the best place to keep it.

[Video]

[zenoh]

Alright, feel free to place it there for now. It's closing time for me.

[ Ayame takes her glasses off and puts her shears down, sighing quietly and looking exhausted despite her overall calm and grace. She rolls her shoulder before looking back at the camera with a gentle smile at Yuyuko ]

I think I'm having dinner at home tonight, dear. I'll see you in ten minutes?

[ Ayame has a pre-packed meal of grilled chicken over some quinoa and salad stacked in the fridge along the others she prepared last Sunday. So she can just pop it in the microwave prior to eating it ]

[Video]

[noblyblooming]

Very well. I should be able to carry it.

[Maybe. She's not super strong or anything. But then again, the tree isn't that big. It did fit in the box, after all. Any traces of sadness seem to vanish at the mention of Ayame coming home soon though.]

Oh? Lovely! Shall I heat it up?

[She's seen Ayame use the microwave a couple of times, but has never actually touched it herself.]

[Action]

[zenoh]

[ Seeing Yuyuko look a little happier made Ayame feel a pleasant warmth in her chest ]

Please! I would love that.

[ She smiles brightly; an expression only a few people have ever seen her do. Clicking off the feed, Ayame tidies up her store with her powers and gets on her car. She could just teleport, but really where's the fun in that. She's here, she's rich, so why not get a cool car too? Though Ayame promised ten minutes, she hastens the speed of her car and traversed through a mirror dimension so she wouldn't run into others or get caught speeding, while still getting her leisurely driving time

Upon arriving her humble abode and parking her vehicle, Ayame walks down the wooden path towards the entrance to her home to be greeted by Hibana. Her diligent Pokemon took her purse and shoes away like it always does]

Yuyuko, I'm home.

[ Ayame calls out to the living space, tossing her car keys to a bowl and watching Hibana take off towards the closet to put Ayame's clothes away. While Yuyuko heats up Ayame's dinner, the raven haired woman distracted herself by pouring some whisky in a glass and willing the vinyl record player to turn on ]

[alwaysimpaled]

Me? I got a bottle of my mom's favorite brand of whiskey. Gotta say, she had some damn good taste.

[noblyblooming]

Whiskey...

[Give her a moment.]

Oh, that's another alcoholic drink, yes?

[alwaysimpaled]

Yup. Mom always had an eye for the best booze. She didn't drink much but enjoyed the taste.

I'd offer to share, but this particular bottle is off limits to everyone I'm afraid.

[noblyblooming]

That's quite alright. Ayame keeps me well supplied with drinks.

[The ghost woman giggles.]

I'll have to see if she has any.

[alwaysimpaled]

[That gets an eyebrow arch]

She more than likely does. Last time we hung out I brought some over and left what we didn't drink.

video;

[gamerrep]

I got a photo album.

[She doesn't go into details. But it was at least something that was important to her anyway. It had pictures of the fun times she had with her friends back home. It did, however, make her miss them a little bit more. But she had faith they were okay.]

It made me very happy at least.

video;

[noblyblooming]

That sounds nice.

[Thankfully, Yuyuko actually knows what photos are. Hallelujah for the Kappas and their obsession with technology.]

That's good. These gifts are supposed to make their recipients happy, I think.

video;

[gamerrep]

I would like to think that. I mean the holidays are meant to be a happy time, so it makes logical sense.

video;

[noblyblooming]

Indeed. That seems to be the intent behind them, anyway.