written; backdated to December 25th; action for crew mates not just okay but encouraged

[rosettawall]

I just wanted to say to everyone that I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, or a happy holiday to whatever you may wish to celebrate in this season. I understand that many of you from varying worlds may not understand what this is all about, including many upon our own ship. In the simplest terms, it can simply be seen as a time for celebrating with your friends and loved ones.

So for my new friends upon the Shepherd, I express that I don't know you all terribly well yet, so deciding upon what to get you is a little difficult. I hope this will change, and you'll at least accept these small tokens to put towards that.

For Mana-chan and Rikka-chan, you both have given me so much for so long. You two are a better gift than anything else I could ask for. I wish there was more I could offer, with our limited funds and resources here, but I do hope you will like what I found.

[On the morning of December 25th, the crew of the Shepherd would find wrapped gifts at their door steps. For the majority of the crew, it is a good mixture of various samples of coffee and tea - she can't entirely be sure which any would prefer, if either, but figures if she goes for both she'll be more likely to hit upon something. It is, after all, the thought that counts, regardless of whether or not they know what a "Christmas" is.

Mana, meanwhile, would find a stack of cook books and a variety of different sorts of spices.

Rikka gets a clock. Its outside is hand carved into the shape of a frog. It is, of course, the sort of clock you would find from around this general time period. Either way - frog clock.]

Comments

voice;

[abundantlove]

Ha ha, I'm sure he would...

... It's not Papa I'm worried about acknowledging me, though.

[the one in Mana's voice should make it clear who she's talking about on that front]

voice;

[rosettawall]

I'm certain that will only be a matter of time!

After all, you're you, and so long as you put your mind to it, it'll happen.

voice;

[abundantlove]

... True. And sometimes I think Grandpa only says what he does to get Papa motivated to try even harder...

voice;

[rosettawall]

[She laughs a bit]

I could see that. Your Grandfather does strike me as the type, to be honest.

[She pauses a bit]

But while it strikes me a bit impersonal to say so here, [and she's only going to say so much in a public post] I really... did want you both to know how much I appreciate you, even if there's only so much I can do here.

voice;

[abundantlove]

Of course!

... speaking of which, I need to get you and Rikka in one place for your gift!

voice;

[rosettawall]

O- ours?

[Throw her off her game there again, good job Mana. Mind you, that Mana would have something in mind wasn't ... well, terribly surprising, but putting it like that - and specifying the both of them - still manages to throw her for a moment, which shows in her voice.]

Ah, well, it is still early yet. I'll be ready whenever Rikka-chan is, then.

voice;

[abundantlove]

We just need to drag her out of hiding!

voice;

[rosettawall]

You say that, and yet...

[She gives a slight laugh]

Here we are talking about this on a magic journal when one of us could just walk down the hall.

voice;

[abundantlove]

...

Good point.

I'll be by your room so we can go get her right now!

voice;

[rosettawall]

Certainly!

I've been up for quite awhile, [obviously, since she went about littering the ship with presents] so I'll be ready whenever you are, Mana-chan!

[action?]

[diamondlight]

[Rikka knew a little bit about how things worked at this general technology level; she wasn't sure how precise it would be, but it was indeed a clock, and startlingly similar to the one she'd left behind. It wasn't colored - if it were, she'd have cried foul and assumed Alice had simply taken the one from her house somehow - but it was a precious gift.

And so, after discovering it and bringing it inside to carefully set it next to her bed, Rikka returns outside her room to locate her precious friend. Friends, she corrected herself; there was no way Alice and Mana hadn't already spoken this morning, and were already plotting some horrible enterprising scheme to get her out of her room...!]

[action!]

[rosettawall]

[Alice, meanwhile, had not yet made as much progress as that. She stood outside her room, idly rocking back and forth on her heels, thinking.

She was waiting for Mana, her mind sort if distracted trying to discern just what the pink haired girl had up her sleeve. Whatever could she have gotten in this world that she needed both of them there for it? Or perhaps it was the sentimentality of the gesture. That sounded like Mana too.

Regardless, she waited, both patient and somehow nervous at the same time]

[action]

[abundantlove]

[Mana went to get Alice first, giggling to herself as she practically dragged the girl to their mutual girlfriend's other room. Alice might notice that she was carrying a bag with her, and making a large effort to keep its contents concealed.

Once they reached Rikka's room, Mana giggled and knocked at the door]

Hohohoho, Rikka-samaaaa~! Your two favorite elves are here to spend Christmas with yoooou!

[diamondlight]

[Returning to her room after an unsuccessful trip to find her friends, Rikka turns to the sound of Mana's voice and... kind of hangs there for a moment at the ridiculous image: Mana with a bag slung in one hand and Alice being tugged behind in the other. She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out for a second; she shakes her head and tries again, not too far from the door.]

I don't know about "favorite". Probably closer to "only"... um. Do I want to know what's in the bag? [She briefly glances to Alice as if to ask her if she knows, before returning her gaze to the pink-haired girl.] Oh, and good morning... Merry Christmas.

[rosettawall]

[Having not expected to be dragged along as she was, Alice looks a little baffled by just that fact. She looks at Rikka as she disengages herself from Mana's grip, and clasps her hands together.

She smiles, but shakes her head in answer the silent question. She's just as clueless.]

Merry Christmas, Rikka-chan! Did you find my gift okay this morning?

[abundantlove]

Merry Christmaaaaas!

[Mana giggled as she moved to give Rikka a hug]

And you'll find out what's in the bag in a minute, trust me! I want to know what Alice got you first!

[diamondlight]

Yes, I found it, Alice. I love it, thank you! I didn't think I'd miss my alarm clock in this world, but... bells are a weird way to tell time, and I'm still getting used to it. I know the old saying about "it doesn't help to know it's 3 in the afternoon if nobody else does", but it gives me something to work with.

[Rikka does her best not to get bowled over; Mana can be strong when she's in a good mood. She laughs lightly, but she glances over to her friend all the same.] There, you know now, and I'm still curious.

[rosettawall]

I'm glad you like it, then. I wasn't sure how close I had gotten, but it seemed perfect for you when I saw it!

[She then eyes Mana, having been the one that was - again - literally dragged there to Rikka's room. Of course, she does it still smiling.]

I'm curious as well, though. Just what did you need the both of us for, Mana-chan?

[abundantlove]

Ohhh, it's a clock! It looks just like the one you had back home! The one that went 'kerokerokerokero'...!

[oh right. Alice had a point]

I suppose I've put it off long enough! Here you go!

[Mana reached into her bag, and pulled out a set of three bracelets; upon closer inspection, Alice and Rikka would find that one contained a club symbol and a diamond, another a heart and a diamond, and the third, a club and a heart. Each one also had three other symbols: a spade, a miniature crown, and a single red bead]

I made them for the three of us! They cost a bunch of what I had saved up... jewelry is a lot more expensive here...! I thought they'd symbolize how we're always together... and remind us of who we have waiting for us back home!

[diamondlight]

I haven't tried to figure out what sound it makes; I'm waiting for it to happen.

[As it happened, Rikka saw the pattern quickly when Mana removed her presents from the bag, and knew automatically which bracelet was hers, frowning in concentration. But...]

...I get the first three. But a crown and... a plain bead? [She's thinking Ace is the crown, but who's the bead? It didn't make sense for it to be Jonathan or Ai... which left one person, and Rikka suddenly realized she'd forgotten something - someone - very important when considering Mana's mental state.]

[rosettawall]

[Alice examined her bracelet for a couple moments, running a finger over the heart and diamond symbols, before smiling and closing her eyes. She understood the meaning of everything there, or at least she thought she did.]

The two people closest to my heart, and those dear friends we still need to fight to return to, and fight for.

[abundantlove]

The crown is for Regina, and the bead is for Cure Ace! I didn't know what else to put for Aguri, to be honest... the ace is all the card suits, so...

[she laughed nervously]

I thought... they could show your bond, you know? Both to each other, and to the people back home! Do... do you like them...?

[diamondlight]

Yes, that makes perfect sense. I love it, Mana. Thank you!

[A moment's fiddling puts the bracelet on her right wrist, and she takes a little time to look at how it glistens in the light.]

It's pretty...

[rosettawall]

[Alice does much the same, and smiles over at the both of them.]

As I've been saying, the both of you... have already now given me more than I could have ever asked for after the last week...

[She blushes a bit at noting that, and then looks down at the bracelet.]

But, thank you, Mana-chan. It's very beautiful.

[She laughs, looking back up.]

I will treasure it, and it's nice to have something as a reminder of where we're headed.

[abundantlove]

I'm glad you both like them!

[truthfully, Mana felt overjoyed, and moved to pull them both into a big hug]

Let's have every christmas be like this... or try our absolute very best to, anyway!

[and... that's when Rikka's clock struck the hour, and her eyes widened]

Oh no...! I have to get dinner started for everyone!