|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 10:38 am
Menelie Vendimia went to the cupboard to pull out plates, cups, and utensils for everyone coming over. There'd be Rho and Alba, of course, both of whom were bringing their new significant others. She'd met them both, of course, Tirzah and Sven, but she hoped to get to know them better over Yuletide dinner and gift-giving. And of course Menahem would be here as well. Officially he was handling the cooking, but at this point the dear boy was part of the family. As she set the table she almost chuckled to herself. When Rho and Alba had moved into their own places, she'd thought it impractical that she and Faelon had stayed in this large apartment just the two of them. But it was proving useful now as they were expecting five for dinner. Daisicle Faelon was actually outside of the alcove as Vendimia went about the little bits of decoration, having been sent by her to grab the last of what they'd need. A little bit of spices they'd run out of for the heated apple cider, some last-minute requests from Menahem, and a bit more of the decorative sort. They were having their Hearth's Warming celebrations a bit early this year so as to not coincide with either the kid's tidings (now that they were both coupled up - how surprising!) or his greater extended family's.
His mother did always look forward to spending time with them on Hearth's Warming Eve.
Wings folded as best as he could behind him, he let himself back into the shared alcove with arms full of the requested items. "How's the setup coming along?" Menelie Vendimia had finished setting the table and had put the apple cider on the stove in anticipation of Faelon's return with the mulling spices. "Almost finished," she responded. "I could use those spices in here if you've got them," she added.Menahem had borrowed a rolling cart from the kitchens for the occasion and had done most of the preparation in his own alcove so as not to get in Faelon and Vendimia's way while they were setting up. So now he made his way to their place, cart laden with food, leaving a trail of delicious smells wafting behind as he went. He knocked on their door politely, hoping he wasn't the first "child" to show. Daisicle Faelon nodded, his usual smile on his face. "Good, good. I've got them right here." He wandered over to set the items on a countertop. "Now that we have some of the liqueur from outside the tree, I bet it's even better this year than the last."
He'd only had a moment to stretch his arms before he heard the first one arriving - given the actual knock, must have been Menahem. His boy could learn a thing or two from the lad. "I got this," he commented to Vendi before walking over to open the door. "Come on in, come on in! You're the first to arrive."
"Now doesn't that all smell great"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 11:29 am
Menelie Of course he was. Menahem smiled cheerfully as he pushed the cart past Faelon into the doorway. "Happy holidays," he greeted Rho's parents. He still didn't quite understand the Hearth's Warming thing, but was happy to be included in the gathering. "Thanks," he responded to Faelon's compliment. "Hope it tastes as good as it smells," he added. And he knew it would. Sven might quibble with a few choices he'd made but Menahem wasn't here to impress Sven. "Where d'you want all this, Ms. Vendimia?" he askedVendimia nearly corrected Menahem to "just Vendimia" but after like the hundredth time....she didn't think the boy was going to change his ways. At least he was respectful. "Just on the table, dear," she responded, adding the mulling spices to the cider on the stove. "We'll do all this family-style and everyone can serve themselves. Thank you again for making all this! It looks wonderful."Tirzah tried not to feel nervous--after all, this wasn't the first time she'd met Rho's parents--but it did feel weightier, somehow. Being invited to a treasured family gathering? Even if she didn't understand it. Maybe it was how the Tree fauns celebrated the solstice? Either way, Tirzah knew being invited to a family holiday was a big deal. She waited for Rho to come and pick her up, a pair of tapered candles wrapped in fabric and tied with twine in her hand. They were for his mother, whose name Tirzah had drawn for the gift exchange. Candles were a real traditional gift for Saturnalia, which she'd celebrated with her family, so it was the first thing she'd thought of. Daisicle Faelon gave the lad two solid pats on the shoulder before returning to put away the rest of the stuff. He might not have been theirs, but he might as well have been at this point. Why, he could still remember the first time Menahem had spent the holiday meal with them. Still teens at the time, Rho had been quite insistent that his friend come experience a family gathering with them. How could they have said no to that?
It was a pleasant surprise to have gotten the lad in the gift exchange - a first for the family, now that it was growing (and, Laisidhiel willing, might include little hooves next year). Rhoea offered his date a smile and a bit of a prying eye as he tried to surmise if her gift was for him as he picked her up... ultimately failing as she put him in place with "the look." Fortunately (?) he'd drawn the other first-timer to the festivities - his sister's new little boo-thang whom Rho knew literally nothing about (and honestly didn't really care to learn more about). So what did he do? Asked his best bro of course. Sure, it might have ruined a bit of the surprise, but meh. That said, getting "food and your sister" as a response to asking about Sven's interest was definitely kind of gross. He did NOT want to think about someone being... like THAT with his sister.
Ugh..... Gross gross gross. Too gross. Absolutely icky.
Naturally he'd gone and gotten some wine from a somewhat suspicious seller claiming they came from Koehaira. Or was it Kurt's Something-or-Other? Kekomura? Something with a K. There were a lot of villages that began with K's apparently. He even went and put a cute little ribbon on it.Meanwhile, Sven was picking up Alba, a nicely wrapped package in hand. He may have drawn the riskiest pick of the lot - Tirzah, the other +1 coming and the only other female that wasn't the mother. From there it was a careful balancing act of not knowing what she'd like while also having to make sure it was a gift acceptable of one's first Hearth's Warming (although, admittedly, it was his first such celebration as well) but not nicer than the gift he'd give Alba closer to the actual holidays. So he'd settled on a couple of nice, decorative soaps. Supposedly they were both pretty and moisturizing - how nice!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 12:51 pm
Menelie While Menahem put the food on the table, Vendimia took her gift from where she'd wrapped it and placed it on the hearth next to the others. She'd drawn Alba, who was the easiest Faun in the Tree to gift. She'd gotten a stack of brightly colored and patterned fabric squares from a outside trader and then wrapped them in a larger square of fabric, then tied it with a soft ribbon. "Menahem, can I put your gift on the hearth as well?" she asked."Sure," said Menahem, nodding toward the cart. "It's just there on the lower shelf. Careful, it's heavy." He himself had lucked out and drawn Rho. It had been hard not to get him anything too sentimental, and he'd eventually settled on a pair of weights Rho could use in his apartment. They were basically lumps of iron with thick leather straps for lifting. He set the food on the table and hoped someone else would get here soon so he wouldn't have to make small talk with Rho's parents anymore."So, tell me what this is about again?" said Tirzah. "It's like a solstice thing, right?" Surely it had to be a solstice thing. She tucked her arm into Rho's elbow as they walked. Alba opened her door and greeted Sven with their customary cheek kiss. She'd styled her hair even curlier than normal, which had taken quite some doing, and she smelled of sweet soap as usual. She grabbed her gift which was sitting by the door--a set of fishing lures for her father--and tucked her arm into Sven's. "You ready?" Daisicle Faelon toon Vendi's lead and moved to pick up a small, wrapped package and set it in the pile. Inside was a sheathed knife. While he was certain Menahem had plenty of those to spare, this one would hopefully be different enough to serve as a suitable gift. Rather than a kitchen knife, it was of the hunting variety with a combination of serrated and smooth edges and a solid heft to the material that made the blade. The handle was a smooth wood that Faelon had decorated with engravings and then glossed down - Vendi had certainly seen him working on it the past couple of weeks.
Before she could go get Mena's gift, he raised a hand. "Don't worry about it, I'll move it." She was strong, but he had a feeling it must have quite a bit of weight for the lad to bring that up. And sure enough, his muscles tensed as he struggled just a bit to move them over. "You don't think he'll need some help taking this home?" These had to be for Rho with this amount of heft."Maybe? I'm not too sure what solstice is myself... but I think I've heard a few faun talk about it. Hearths Warming is a fauny tradition from back before my mother and grandmother came to the Tree. I might be wrong, but I think it's supposed to celebrate the founding of their homeland? You'd have better luck asking my mother directly though..." He hadn't really bothered himself with the details growing up.Sven was certainly appreciative of Alba's extra cute hair and the subtle, almost milky sweetness that wafted her way. "You looks extra cute today - excited?" He stated this in a matter-of-fact manner as she took him by the arm. "I am as ready as ever ... I just hope the gift is good. My family... well... they don't ask for the most intuitive of items..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 2:06 pm
Menelie "If he needs help getting them home I should take them back," quipped Menahem with a cheeky grin, then immediately blushed. Curse his quick tongue!Vendimia laughed and shook her head. "You're probably right," she agreed and patted Menahem on the shoulder. "Here, can I put your cart somewhere out of the way for you?"Tirzah nodded along. Hearth-warming definitely sounded like a solstice thing. "Oh, uh, solstice is the longest night of the year. In my family we celebrate midwinter by gathering, giving gifts, telling jokes, and playing role-reversal games." It was always great fun when, say, Grandfather pretended to be a child, or Uncle Enki pretended to be an Auntie. "I'll ask your mother about it later, though." "Oh, well thank you," said Alba with a smile and a cute nose-wrinkle. "I'm sure you were very thoughtful, as always," she said of the gift. Daisicle Faelon returned Mena's grin with a small smirk of his own as his assumption proved correct. "Don't worry, we won't tell him.""Role-reversal?" It was obvious he was a bit confused about that bit, but didn't push further. "But yeah, that sounds hella similar." Thumbs-up given. When they reached his parents' place, he let himself in without a knock, and, upon seeing Mena, offered a bit of a sassy sort of smirk, "Bruh, what'cha doin' here so early?"Sven sighed. "I really do hope so... It was difficult to pick out, to say the least..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:10 pm
Menelie Oh, thank the Tree Rho was here. He offered their customary fist-bump and then gestured somewhat overdramatically to the food. "Really bro?"Tirzah giggled, then smiled at Menahem. "It smells amazing," she offered sincerely. Alba patted Sven's arm as they too arrived at her parents' alcove. "Looks like Rho and Tirzah just got here too," she commented as they stepped into the still-open door.Vendimia, already in a good mood, practically lit up when her children arrived. She hugged Rho, then Tirzah, and when she'd finished that, Alba and Sven had arrived. She hugged Alba as well, and offered a handshake to the shyer Sven. Daisicle Rho may have let his fist pump linger a bit as he looked over the food. "Oh right, dinner. Damn that looks heeeeeella lit." His smirk softened somewhat, his ears flicking down and in mild embarrassment with a hushed, "Mooooooom," in protest as she hugged him and continued down the line. "Welcome home all of you," Faelon offered as Vendi to the initiative for greetings. "Feel free to come set your gifts over here with the rest - we'll distribute them after the meal." He gestured to the mentioned place. "Vendi, would you say the cider is ready?" Sven appreciated the pat as they walked in, his ears quickly flattening (but just for a moment) by the sheer energy already going on and the strong aroma that tickled the senses. This wasn't his first time 'meeting the parents' so to speak - his mother worked the fields with much of their family - but it was the first time in such a setting. At their home. With everyone present. Honestly, it was quite nearly over-stimulating, but he was going to try his best.
He held his breath as the hugs started going around, his muscles tensing somewhat, before relaxing slightly at the offered (and accepted) handshake instead. "Thank you for having me."
Wait, why in the Roots was Menahem here?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 3:56 pm
Menelie "Of course," responded Vendimia with a warm smile. "How's your mother, by the way? Haven't seen her for a bit since after the last harvest."Menahem looked suitably pleased with the compliments, but that quickly dampened once Alborada and Sven arrived and he was suddenly painfully aware that he was the odd man out. He fussed a little longer with the serving dishes, making sure each had a utensil and such, while Vendimia welcomed Rho and Alba and their mates.Tirzah took her and Rho's gifts and set them with the rest while Rho continued to chat, then smiled and offered an open-handed greeting to Alborada. "Good to see you again," she said. Alba returned her smile, though probably not as warmly, and nodded. "You too. Happy Hearth's Warming." She was warming up a little to what seemed like Rho's more permanent girl, but she always found it a little hard to hold her breath about his relationships. Or rather, "relationships". Daisicle "She's well... The usual I suppose. I think Yipes had been home more recently?" He offered while doing a poor job to hide that he didnt really want to talk about his weird family. "Oh, I should go set this down." He forced an awkward smile before taking his and Alba's gifts to set down in the pile - the last of them - and then moved over to Mena while the girls spoke amongst themselves. "What are you doing here anyways - I thought when you said you needed the evening off it was for... I'm not sure, but not this."Rho thanked Tirzah for taking the gifts before redirecting his attention back to the bros. Cutting in before Mena could say anything, he returned in a probably-smugger-than-intended manner while clapping Mena on the shoulder, "What do you mean, my bro Mena's been comin' to our family's Hearts Warming for years." "Faelon took that as the cider was good enough and began to ladle some into earthenware mugs. "You guys come grab some cider"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 23, 2021 1:24 pm
Menelie Vendimia, taking Sven's very clear hint, nodded and concluded with, "That's good, I should invite her for tea sometime." before moving toward the table. It was suppertime and the food would only stay hot for so long. "Oh, thank you, darling," she said to Faelon, taking a couple mugs of cider and passing them to Alba and Tirzah."'A private event'," quoted Menahem to answer Sven's question, offering a half-apologetic shrug. He supposed it had been mean not to warn Sven that he'd be there, since he for sure knew that Sven would be coming, but one little surprise wasn't gonna kill the guy. Although, if he were being honest, he was a little surprised himself that he'd been invited this year--now that Rho had a real girlfriend."Happy, er, Hearth's Warming," responded Tirzah. The greeting felt awkward in her mouth, so she followed up with, "Happy solstice." She wondered what Mother and Grandfather and Granddad were doing for Saturnalia this year. "Ah--thank you," she said as Vendimia pressed a mug into her hands. It smelled of apples and spice. "Ooh," she noted with delight. "Thanks," said Alba as she too was passed a mug. She took a sip and raised her eyebrows as she noticed an alcoholic note that wasn't usually there. "What did Dad put in this?" she asked, glancing Faelon's direction. Daisicle Sven grimaced as he realized he should have been able to put two-and-two together, but it was too late for that now. He momentarily opened his mouth to bring up the elephant in the room (that being Mena), but in a moment of unusual social awareness, closed it and sighed instead. It wasn't his business what this family did - guess all of them had their quirks, huh?
Still was kind of weird though. Really ******** weird.Rho smugly nodded along at Mena's follow-up, his hand lingering on his shoulder, before noticing everyone starting to settle in for dinner with some drinks. He offered the other men a nod before walking over to take one from his dad with a hearty, "Thanks!" He then called over to Vendi, "Hey mom, did you want us sittin' in any certain places or anything?" Given his dad's difficulty reading, he doubted she would have labeled any seating or anything Faelon continued to pass out warm mugs as the lads came over, content to see everyone getting along, before looking over at his daughter with just a bit of a mischievous glint in his eye. "No comment." Menelie "Oh, no, just anywhere is fine!" said Vendimia cheerfully, waving her hand in a dismissive motion. She herself took a seat nearest the kitchen area, in case something needed fetching. "Come, everyone, sit!"Menahem bristled a little at Sven's expressions, but tried to shrug it off. He put on a smile and sat next to Vendimia (also near the kitchen in case something needed fetching) and Rho, who was already by his side. His lingering touch was of some comfort, but he tried to ignore that too. Don't make it weird.Tirzah sat next to Rho, with a still-empty seat on the other side. She sipped from her mug and waited for either some instructions or for someone else to go first and make clear how this was going to work. The food smelled amazing and she couldn't wait to tuck in, but the last thing she wanted was to screw up someone's traditions. This apple drink was delightful, though. Alba sat next to her father, who had naturally sat next to her mother, leaving Sven the open seat between her and Tirzah. She wasn't usually the sentimental sort, but it was really lovely to have them all together. Even Menahem, she supposed. Daisicle Rho nodded and naturally followed suit to sit down between Mena and Tirzah ... which would have been a little weird if he thought about it. So he didn't. Looking around at the food, he waited for everyone to settle in before looking over at the food impatiently. Were they good to get going? Sven was a bit delayed to realize that everyone was setting into the table, but once he did, he scurried on over to sit in the remaining seat. Faelon, likewise, sat down between his mate and daughter. "Well, thank you all for coming tonight, and happy Hearths Warming. Anything you'd like to add on?" He glanced over at Vendi.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2021 9:47 am
Menelie Vendimia, mid-sip of cider, nodded with a little affirmative "mm", then swallowed and set her mug down. "Happy Hearth's Warming," she agreed as a beginning. "And I'd especially like to welcome Tirzah and Sven. We're happy you're here." A warm smile before continuing. "I won't say anything much more, as this delightful-looking food is just waiting for us! Menahem, would you tell us more about it?"Menahem straightened slightly and nodded. "Um, yes, of course. Main dish is stuffed acorn squash, it's got quinoa, cranberries, and pumpkin seeds, and the ones with the green onion garnish also have little bits of bacon. Then there's roasted carrots with chickpeas, brussels sprouts with sort of a tangy cream sauce, a green salad with nuts and sliced apples, a roasted cauliflower soup, bread, and for dessert a sweet potato pie." A brief pause, and then. "Everything is vegetarian except for the acorn squashes with bacon." He lifted a dish and passed it to Rho, to start people serving themselves.Tirzah was impressed, and it showed on her face. "Menahem, you must have worked all day on this!" Alba wasn't sure what the optics were on complimenting someone else's cooking when you were also dating a chef, who was present, so she settled for a smile and a nod. She took Sven's hand under the table and gave it a little squeeze. Daisicle Sven glanced over to Alba as he felt her hand on his, appreciative of the gesture. As for the food, it was a bit more... rustic, for a lack of better words... than he would have chosen to include for a more formal family get-together, but he wasn't here to be a chef. He'd make sure he just told Mena his opinions after-the-fact. 100% that was a conversation that would happen in the next week.Rho pouted a bit at the severe lack of meat available on the table. Yes, he was aware that 4 of the faun here were vegetarian - but 3 weren't. That's just about a 50/50 split. Oh well. "Guess I'll start us off then..." he reached forward to take one of the meaty squashes and add it to his plate, then worked to add a little bit of everything except the salad and dessert as made sense from everyone else also filling theirs. He waited until at least Tirzah had finished her first fill-up before beginning to eat. Faelon sat back and sipped on his cider as he waited for the "children" to get their helpings first, after which he got a little of everything vegetarian with a larger portioning of salad. They ate a lot of apples in this household.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2021 7:02 pm
Menelie "Thank you for cooking, Menahem," said Vendimia as he finished his explanation. She, too, served herself as the dishes came around. "You've outdone yourself, truly." She made a quick count of the vegetarian vs. meat squashes and took one of the meat ones for herself. Vendimia typically ate a vegetarian diet, as Faelon did and it was just easier that way, but she did eat meat on occasion. And she'd rather leave the meatless ones for those who truly didn't eat meat.Menahem blushed and made a dismissive hand gesture. "Ah, it's just a simple meal," he said. He was clearly pleased by the compliments, however, and he deliberately didn't make eye contact with Sven. Sven was so fancy and fussy that he'd doubtlessly have nits to pick, and Mena didn't much care at this moment. He took a squash with bacon when they came around to him.Tirzah took a few more carrots and brussels sprouts than was perhaps her share, but she couldn't resist roasted vegetables. Alba, who appreciated such hearty vegetarian fare, couldn't help but be especially excited about the soup, which she also dipped her bread into. Daisicle And thus the meal continued on without a hitch. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the used dishes were either covered to provide leftovers or set soaking in water for cleaning, Faelon made sure everyone had refilled drinks and gathered them over to hang near where the gifts were sitting.
"Thank you again for the wonderful meal Menahem!" He started, letting the statement hang as he took a sip of his cider. "I'm so glad to see some new additions to the family this year, hopefully just the first of many Hearths Warmings to come. But without further delay, let's begin the gift exchange. I hope each of you had fun with it." He reached over and pulled out a small pot with bits wood in it - each bit having a different name.
"I'll let mom here pull the first gift giver, and from there whomever is drawn can draw the next. Sound good to everyone?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2022 1:13 pm
Menelie Everyone echoed the sentiment about the meal, with varying degrees of genuineness. Menahem blushed again and made a dismissive hand gesture. "My pleasure, really."
Vendimia took a sip of her cider and then nodded and drew a name. "Ah! Rho, you get to go first!" Daisicle Rho was happily sipping on his cider, settling into his spot next to Tirzah, when his name was the first pulled. Well okay then, guess he's start this off. He handed his drink off to Tirzah before walking over to Vendi with a, "Thanks Mom." He then reached into the pile to pick up the bottle of suspiciously-sourced, but pretty-looking, wine.
"Well then, I'll keep it short and simple. This year I pulled one of the newcomers - I'm talking about Sven over here. I don't know much about you, but, here's to learning more (I guess...)." He showed off the bottle as he spoke before handing it over to Sven.
Once in the others' hand, he drew a name and held it out with a flourish, "Looks like you're up next sis!" He then returned to his spot and took back the cider with a hushed, "Thanks babe." Sven's expression was largely neutral during the exchange, including when he graciously accepted his gift from Alba's ******** of a brother. He wasn't sure what he was expecting, but wine really wasn't it. Especially wine that he didn't recognize - was this a bootleg?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 10:45 am
Menelie Alba brightened and moved toward the hearth and picked up her gift, wrapped in bright fabric and tied with twine. She gave it to Faelon. "Happy Hearth's Warming," she said with a warm smile, then returned to her place next to Sven. The gift was a set of fishing lures, a hobby she knew her father either did or was thinking of taking up. There were several types of lures for different types of fish. Not that Alba knew anything about any of this; she'd just bought them from a merchant. She drew another name and held it in her hand while her father opened his gift. Once he was finished, she'd look at it and then chuckle. "Oop, looks like you're next, da." She showed Faelon his own name on the wood. Daisicle Faelon's smile warmed a bit as he accepted the gift with a "Thanks Alba," pausing for a moment to look over the lovely wrapping before he went about opening it. Small crinkles formed at the edge of his eyes as he looked at the lure set - it was something he was just recently thinking of taking up as a hobby now that the kids were settled into their adult lives and he had a bit more spare time, but he didn't think he'd said anything of the sort to the kids.
It was a chuckle that continued on the chain, "So it seems." He set his new lures on a nearby counter before reaching down and grabbing a small, unassuming package. "Well Mena, m'boy, seems I've drawn you this year." He offered it to the odd one out at the festivities and gave him a wry smile, "You might not have our blood, but remember that you'll always be welcome at our Hearth's Gathering." When Mena opened the package, he'd see the hand-engraved and finished handle of a sheathed knife, one meant for hunting and survival (although ultimately intended to be decorative) rather than the cooking variety the chef typically had.
Faelon waited for Menahem to finish receiving his gift before he'd draw the next giver.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:40 am
Menelie Menahem gave a cheerful smile in return and took the gift gratefully. "Thank you," he said, and then pulled the strings to open it. "Oh wow," he said, tracing the carved handle with one finger. "This is lovely, thank you so much, Faelon." He couldn't help but blush--it was such a thoughtful gift. Daisicle Faelon nodded back at Menahem before reaching out to pull the next lot. "Looks like Sven is next." Sven nodded and moved over to pick up a small bag that'd been immaculately tied with a ribbon bow. He was noticeably stiffer now that he was the center of attention, and he kept his eyes lowered as he held out the gift. "I drew Tirzah." That was the end of his speaking as he drew the next lot and retreated to Alba's far more comfortable side. Inside of the bag, Tirzah would find a lovely assortment of soaps, lotions, and even a small decorative bottle of... something (bath salts for relaxing after work) - some seemed more practical, some more decorative. She'd have to play with them at a later time to find out which was which.
Once she seemed finished, he looked at the wood, then held it out for everyfaun to see. "Tirzah again." /color] Menelie Tirzah brightened and accepted the gift with thanks. Carefully she undid the ribbon and peered inside. "Oh goodness, how thoughtful!" She pulled one of the soaps out. "It's a whole pile of lovely bath things!" She gave a smile to Sven, who she noted seemed profoundly uncomfortable with this whole thing. Perhaps they didn't do gifts in his family?
"Ah, my turn then." She chuckled a little, then pulled her gift out and gave it to Vendimia. "For you," she said as she presented it.Vendimia smiled. "Thank you, dear," she said, and unwrapped it, setting the cloth aside. "Candles!" she exclaimed. "How sweet, thank you again." Bad luck for Tirzah, thought Vendimia, drawing her when she barely knew her.Tirzah smiled and nodded. "Candles are a traditional solstice gift in my family," she explained.Vendimia smiled earnestly and put a hand over her heart. "How very thoughtful, Tirzah."Tirzah put her hand in the cup to draw a name--not many left now--and pulled out Menahem. "Your turn," she said to him, showing him the bit of wood.Menahem set the knife aside, which he'd been holding in his lap, and pulled his gift out. "Happy Hearth's Warming," he said, carefully giving it to Rho, and making sure he had a decent grip on it before letting go. "Careful, uh, it's heavy." Daisicle Rho offered Mena a bit of a smirk as he got a grip on the gift - it really wasn't too hard to figure out what it could be. When Mena let go, he gave it a solid curl before setting it on a table to actually unwrap. "Hekken yeah, these look hella nice bro. Thanks. You got no idea the sort of gainz I'mma be able to get now." Oh yeah he was going to look SO swole with these - his best bro did always know him best.
He looked back over to his mom and added on, "You're the only one that hasn't gone yet, right mom?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 11:57 am
Menelie Mena smiled broadly and nodded. He felt very lucky he'd pulled Rho and not like Sven or something. "Hope you enjoy," he offered.Vendimia nodded and pulled out her gift, neatly wrapped in a large fabric square. "For my Alba," she said, giving it to her daughter. "Happy Hearth's Warming, darling."Alba brightened and took the gift with a thanks. She opened it and delighted in the stack of fabric squares. "Ooh, more quilting fabric!" She loved getting fabric she hadn't had to make. "Thanks, mama." She would have to grill her later where she'd gotten this, she didn't recognize it as being made in the Tree. Daisicle Once everyone had settled with their gifts, Faelon cleared his throat to get their attention and placed a hand on Vendi's shoulder. "Once again, it seems our Hearts Gathering has grown this year, and I couldn't be more delighted about it. We tried something new this year with the surprise gift exchange," He looked around and nodded, "Which I would say went well. From the bottom of our hearts, may the coming year prove fruitful for you all."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
