Solo or RP Format Counts as 5 RP growth Points Solo word minimum is 750, RP post minimum is 7
It's that time of the year again! Time to give presents to loved ones in the typical ceremonies of the people of Tendaji. But the question is - what is the perfect gift?
[ We're looking for two things in this world event. 1) Who is your character getting a gift for and why? 2) What exactly would be the perfect gift? You can spend the whole prompt reflecting on these decisions, asking a friend for advice on the gift to give, or going out and purchasing the gift. ]
The colder months had a different feel to them now that Maritza’s older children had moved out. They visited frequently enough and would be around for seasonal festivities, but it was always strange to think about them decorating their own spaces. She still wasn’t sure if Isaia would be off for the holiday and Zadia had already stated that she would be working through it so that just left Lioe…and it was always a toss up as to whether he would voluntarily leave the apartment or not.
Still, she still had her youngest to care for and for the day they were out doing a bit of shopping. It wasn’t exactly Maritza forte, but it was the one day they’d been able to get out without her husband to spy on them. “What do you think we should get Papa?”
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:27 am
[Scar via Discord]
It was really weird, being the youngest of so many old siblings. She had neices and nephews older than her, and it was a fact that her brother Isaia had been only too giddy to tell her! It was so weird. Marcella loved her papa, of course she did, but she was getting to that age where kids her age noticed... they noticed she was different, even if hybrids weren't really news in Belrea anymore, but they also noticed her papa was old, just like her siblings were old, and that was... something that people talked about, a little. Not where her mama could hear, because she'd smack them with a wrench, but... sometimes it came up.
She wished she had siblings her age. She'd even take a duruf, if they weren't so weird looking (and if her mom didn't balk at the suggestion). Her papa said, back where he grew up, he had familiars - but they hadn't fit on the ship and her older sister Padma was taking care of them these days.
The little girl jolted out of her thoughts when her mama spoke, turning to peer up at her with wide, innocent eyes. "A spyglass?" She asked, smartly. Her mom and brother used that for the tinkering they did, and it helped them see things - well, her papa couldn't see some things anymore, so maybe it would help?
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:38 am
[Maritza 2]
“Perhaps.” A spyglass was a practical gift, one that Uquin could very well put to use, but it just…wasn’t it for Maritza. She looked about the shops around her, her violet eyes taking in the sights with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. Most of the items being flaunted about were as useless as the people buying them and nothing really said Uquin.
“I was thinking of a new tea set. He seems to have issues with tea; so let’s look for both.” She knew where a few shops were that sold spyglasses, but a tea set that looked Talean enough would be hard.
“How have your classes been coming along?” She hadn’t had the chance to enroll any of her older children in early Belrean education since they’d grown up over seas, but with Marcella the woman was determined.
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 9:44 am
[Scar via Discord]
A tea set? Marcella screwed up her face at the suggestion. Not that papa wouldn't like it, he probably would, but because he already had one and she didn't understand why he'd need another!
She tugged on her mother's arm as they walked, swinging their joined hands between them.
"It's so BOR-ing. What do I need to know numbers for anyway? My books are better." Besides she didn't much care for her class mates, if she was honest.
"Zadia didn't have to take classes. Why do I have to?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 9:52 am
[Maritza 3]
“Zadia would have if she’d grown up in Belrea, same with your brothers.” Maritza didn’t much care for all the groaning and fussing, especially since the little one was going to go to her classes anyway. Of course she would have been happier if she actually enjoyed it, but that was only because she might have griped about it less. “It only seems boring because you haven’t been able to apply what you’re learning to anything yet. When you’re older you’ll be grateful for the lessons.”
She’d been so focused on her daughter that Maritza didn’t look at the shops around her until she was nearly upon them and something in the window caught her eye….It was a tome, an old one by the looks of it, with runes carved into the leather binding. At times the runes would be as bright as spring grass before a stray beam of light would turn them as blue as the sky.
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 10:01 am
[Scar Via Discord]
Ugh. Sometimes she wished she'd grown up in Tale. She'd never been but her brother said it was like a story from her fairy tales book, with big trees and strange crystal grasses! And no school!
Marcella rolled her eyes at her mother's usually 'you'll thank me when you're older' argument, and was ready to keep walking when, rather suddenly, Maritza stopped in her tracks.
The girl exaggerated how suddenly she was stopped by jerking and stumbling backwards, turning to look at what had stolen her mom's attention.
The book looked normal enough at first. But then it almost seemed to shift, and even her petulant attention was caught. "Issat a magic book?" She asked, blinking as she pressed up to the window, uncaring that she was smearing her nose against it.
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 10:05 am
[Maritza 4]
“I think so.” Maritza craned her head, trying to see the runes as best she could. Maybe if they went inside and asked to see it she would be able to recognize the scrip-
All of a sudden the latch of the tome loosened and the book flew open. The pages cycled through with a frantic pace until finally landing on images of trees. At first Maritza didn’t understand why until she dared to lean in again, her grip a little tighter on Marcella’s hand, and looked at the page once again…
“That’s Tale…It’s Yera…No wait…that’s our house.”
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 11:54 am
[Scar via Discord]
It opened! Marcella yelled out, skittering behind her mother as the book flipped almost frantically through its yellowed pages, hugging her moms arm tightly. Finally though it stopped and both of them peeked closer at the book.
Yera?? Their... home? Uhhhh...
"W-why does a magic book have a painting of your house in it?!" She accused somewhat shrilly, tugging at her mother's arm again. "Is it haunted? Mom!!"
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:05 pm
[Maritza 5]
“I-I don’t know, but it’s not haunted…” Maritza was trying to be firm and calm, but there was a shake to her tone. Admittedly, she did step a little closer to her daughter and used her body to half shield the girl from it. Spirits were a concept that didn’t exist in her world and yet she’d also never seen a book conduct magic on it’s own….
“Oh, I see Eon’s taking a liking to you.” Maritza turned to the doorway sharply and locked eyes with a seemingly kind old…Matorian? “He’s usually so shy. Now he’s just showing off in front of pretty girls.” She clucked her tongue.
“The book’s…name…is Eon?”
“Oh yes. A brave wizard was once so afraid he would forget all the wonders he’d seen that he created this tome to remind him. After it was made he…disappeared and everyone whose had it since has taken to calling it by his name.”
Maritza’s brow furrowed. “So you’re saying that a cursed book showed me what my old house looked like?”
“In essence, yes.” She responded happily.
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:10 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Her mom was smart and strong and brave, so if she said it wasn't haunted then Marcella believed her. But even her mom jolted when a new person appeared, taking them both by surprise. Marcella squeaked and slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle it, staring up at the strange looking woman with huge round eyes.
Maybe a more skeptical kid would be worried about this strange thing, but once the woman confirmed what they were seeing Marcella looked to the book again, wondering how such a thing worked.
"Could it show us other things? Like people?" She asked hopefully.
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 12:15 pm
[Maritza 6]
The older woman carefully stepped down off the stoop to her shop, mindful of a knee she was clearly favoring, and made her way closer to them. Maritza took a half step back; staying close enough so that she could grab Marcella if the odd woman did anything, but also far enough away so that she wouldn’t have to touch her when she got closer to the window.
“Of course! Whatever or whomever you’ve seen before can be seen so long as you’re kind to Eon.” Even through the glass it was clear that the image was fluttering, Maritza’s old home fading in a swirl of color that seemed to hover just above the page.
“Does it have to be a recent memory?” As skeptical as she was, Maritza had to admit her curiosity was peaked.
“Oh no, it might not be even one you remember. So long as you’ve lived it, though, Eon will know.”
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:00 pm
[Scar via Discord]
Woah! Magic could do that? Marcella gazed reverently at the book, wondering just what her parents could show her with that book. She tugged on her mother's hand and peered up at her. "Papa has a bad habit of scribbling on pages..." she pointed out worriedly. "But he likes books! Do you think he'd be good to Eon? What if the book eats him too because he spilled ink on it?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:04 pm
[Maritza 7]
Maritza’s eyes dipped down to her daughter, and despite the oddness of it all she found herself giving in to a smile. “I think we can keep him safe. He has rules for you, right? So you can make a rule for him; no scribbling in the cursed book or he’ll be gobbled up.” When she looked up at the Matorian, the woman’s features were already split into a grin. She had Maritza in a trap; there was no way she was leaving without the book, but the question now was how much it was financially going to hurt.
And as it turned out it was a lot. Eon was ‘rare’ after all, and Maritza was just lucky she still received a hefty stipend. Once the transaction was complete the woman came outside holding Eon, all wrapped and bundled in a nice, pretty box. She walked over to Marcella and crouched, holding it out to her. “Come back and see me the next time you’re looking for that perfect present, alright dear?”
Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2021 5:13 pm
[Scar via Discord / Fin]
Really? Marcella was still concerned, but had to admit the book was neat. And maybe her papa could show her some more pictures of her sisters (the older ones she didn't see a lot), and what places on the continent looked like, and--
And mama bought it. Marcella's face was pulled into a huge grin as it was wrapped, only for her to gasp and very carefully accept it when it was handed to her. She peeked up at her mother to make sure it was alright, then nodded eagerly. The book really was perfect - she could just imagine how excited papa would be to get to see his homeland again!
