[Peace groaned and rolled herself out of bed. Both Javert and Handsome Jack had given their staff the day off, and since she was so sensitive to the daylight anyway, Peace had decided to languish in bed until she couldn't see the sun through her window. (A noble, if incredibly slothful, sacrifice, in her opinion.)
Still, she could hear the tapping on her door, so she struggled out of her nest of bedcovers and padded her way to her door, pulling a soft robe around her as best she could despite her opals. Her red hair was fluffed around her head, and her red cat's tail was equally as bed-tousled as the rest of her, wrapped around her leg.]
Hi, Souma, you're up early.
[Read: earlier than she expected anyone to come looking for her, that is.]
[Souma quickly bows low and rises, keeping his eyes lowered lest he violate a lady's privacy which is, in his opinion, sacrosanct. After all, Peace probably didn't have a whole ton of privacy with so many housemates she had extended her hospitality to. He holds out the bouquet of flowers, and then the present, not sure what to say. The gift says "NATTENSFEST WISHES" in someone else's fancy script on the outside of the card.
If she opens it, Peace will read what a store clerk wrote for Souma:
Dear Lady Peace,
In my home this flower is called a bondflower. It has a meaning of respect, kindness, and a long lasting relationship. I wanted to give it to you. Thank you for your help. I appreciate you.
I wish you joy, success, and the warmest of winter holidays. May the best of this past year be unable to hold a candle to what is in store for you in the new year to come. I pray for your happiness in the coming year, this eve.
With sentiments of the truest esteem & consideration I remain, your humble & obedient servant, Itou Souma]
Oh hey, thanks. You didn't need to get me anything.
[Peace took the flowers and the card, and grinned at him. They were still in Ryslig, so his hopes were pretty... lofty considering what probably awaited them in the future. But she appreciated them, anyway.]
Uh... I ran out of hands. Hang on.
[Peace trotted into her room to put her flowers on her vanity, and trotted back to him to take the gift.]
I really don't know what to do with things like this.. do you want me to open it now?
[Souma nods down at her, his expression earnest. He's kind of nervous if she will like it and that shows in the way he stands absolutely still, unmoving, hands curled into the oversized sleeves of his knitted black sweater. It is the sort of stance one uses when trying to creep silently in the forest.
Inside the box is a pair of handmade rose-colored suede gloves lined with soft white rabbit fur for warmth. They are resting atop a white fur capelet and a set of hair combs, each decorated with a little cascade of golden stars hanging from each one. At the bottom there is a sachet of something that smells like coffee, cloves, and oranges, and bottle of liqueur which is pink in color and has flowers inside it.
Souma bites his lower lip and looks up from the gifts to Peace's face. They seem embarrassingly inadequate right now and he's pretty sure this was a shitty idea. Fuck.]
[Peace ran a hand over the capelet, and picked up a hair comb, making the stars clink together with the gentle movement.]
This is all so nice, I don't know if it's right of me to accept it, actually... Are you really sure, Souma? Because, like, you really didn't have to go through all the trouble.
Well, I appreciate it, homemade and not. I'm sorry, I don't usually celebrate things, like I said. I don't really have anything for you in return. Can I take a rain check?
[She passed her hand over the little white capelet.]
[Souma feels like squirming. This is so uncomfortable for him. In years he has built up the defenses and abilities so that he never has to say those three little words.]
I... need. Hh.
H....
Help.
[He lowers his gaze and his gray-skinned face is visibly ruddy now, ears reddening as his forelock falls over his left eye. He wants to scowl at himself in disgust. What kind of independent, free man has to ask someone for assistance?]
[Weird reaction, but OK, he was kind of a strange guy, sometimes. And guys - by and far, with her limited experience - didn't like asking for help. Or directions.]
Come in, sit down on the little settee at the foot of my bed, and I'll close the door. The rooms are soundproof, anyway. No one's going to hear us talking.
[Why were the rooms soundproof? Well, Peace didn't know and didn't care to question why that was. A mystery for the mysterious Naomi Gregory.]
If... you might. Consider it as your gift to me, my lady. I...
[He nods two times, thinking what he wants to say over carefully. His eyes are focused on his hands.]
Would... humbly req... quest assistance with reading this. I am...
Nn-n. My tribe calls it dull-witted. Or... rubbish-brained. No matter h-h-how much I studied, or how many times I.... was dosi.. disciplined. I cannot learn. The c-characters.
Especially... when it is.. a lot.
[He gestures, trying to make a page with lots of writing in the air.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Still, she could hear the tapping on her door, so she struggled out of her nest of bedcovers and padded her way to her door, pulling a soft robe around her as best she could despite her opals. Her red hair was fluffed around her head, and her red cat's tail was equally as bed-tousled as the rest of her, wrapped around her leg.]
Hi, Souma, you're up early.
[Read: earlier than she expected anyone to come looking for her, that is.]
no subject
If she opens it, Peace will read what a store clerk wrote for Souma:
Dear Lady Peace,
In my home this flower is called a bondflower. It has a meaning of respect, kindness, and a long lasting relationship. I wanted to give it to you. Thank you for your help. I appreciate you.
I wish you joy, success, and the warmest of winter holidays. May the best of this past year be unable to hold a candle to what is in store for you in the new year to come. I pray for your happiness in the coming year, this eve.
With sentiments of the truest esteem & consideration I remain, your humble & obedient servant,
Itou Souma]
no subject
[Peace took the flowers and the card, and grinned at him. They were still in Ryslig, so his hopes were pretty... lofty considering what probably awaited them in the future. But she appreciated them, anyway.]
Uh... I ran out of hands. Hang on.
[Peace trotted into her room to put her flowers on her vanity, and trotted back to him to take the gift.]
I really don't know what to do with things like this.. do you want me to open it now?
no subject
Inside the box is a pair of handmade rose-colored suede gloves lined with soft white rabbit fur for warmth. They are resting atop a white fur capelet and a set of hair combs, each decorated with a little cascade of golden stars hanging from each one. At the bottom there is a sachet of something that smells like coffee, cloves, and oranges, and bottle of liqueur which is pink in color and has flowers inside it.
Souma bites his lower lip and looks up from the gifts to Peace's face. They seem embarrassingly inadequate right now and he's pretty sure this was a shitty idea. Fuck.]
no subject
[Peace ran a hand over the capelet, and picked up a hair comb, making the stars clink together with the gentle movement.]
This is all so nice, I don't know if it's right of me to accept it, actually... Are you really sure, Souma? Because, like, you really didn't have to go through all the trouble.
no subject
I...
[A much too long pause, while he slowly works out what he wants to say, and then he murmurs:]
Like m.... making things.
[Now he startles, worried he has lied, and his ears go down under his hood. He points to the combs.]
But I-I didn't make those. Bought. They were... pretty.
no subject
[She passed her hand over the little white capelet.]
Like an "I owe you a gift"?
no subject
Actually...
[Souma feels like squirming. This is so uncomfortable for him. In years he has built up the defenses and abilities so that he never has to say those three little words.]
I... need. Hh.
H....
Help.
[He lowers his gaze and his gray-skinned face is visibly ruddy now, ears reddening as his forelock falls over his left eye. He wants to scowl at himself in disgust. What kind of independent, free man has to ask someone for assistance?]
With something.
no subject
[Weird reaction, but OK, he was kind of a strange guy, sometimes. And guys - by and far, with her limited experience - didn't like asking for help. Or directions.]
Come in, sit down on the little settee at the foot of my bed, and I'll close the door. The rooms are soundproof, anyway. No one's going to hear us talking.
[Why were the rooms soundproof? Well, Peace didn't know and didn't care to question why that was. A mystery for the mysterious Naomi Gregory.]
no subject
If... you might. Consider it as your gift to me, my lady. I...
[He nods two times, thinking what he wants to say over carefully. His eyes are focused on his hands.]
Would... humbly req... quest assistance with reading this. I am...
Nn-n. My tribe calls it dull-witted. Or... rubbish-brained. No matter h-h-how much I studied, or how many times I.... was dosi.. disciplined. I cannot learn. The c-characters.
Especially... when it is.. a lot.
[He gestures, trying to make a page with lots of writing in the air.]
They... do not make sense to me.