[ Happy holidays, Hilda! On Christmas morning, Hilda will find a wooden box waiting on the doorstep to her treehouse. The box is made of pine and is tied neatly with a linen ribbon and sprig of holly. When Hilda opens the box, she will find a letter placed on top of a gift.
Written in Zelda's picturesque cursive handwriting, the letter reads as follows: ]
Written in Zelda's picturesque cursive handwriting, the letter reads as follows: ]
Dearest Hilda,[ Inside the box is a pair of black, white, and gold hair ornaments in the shape of flowers. They were actually crafted by Oriphi earlier in the month while she was helping make gifts in the marketplace. Hilda might have even seen them before. ]
Warm tidings to you during this holy season.
It is customary in my kingdom to present gifts to one's friends and family in honor of our patron goddess. As She blessed us with gifts of light and love, even in the darkest days, so too do we share our blessings with our loved ones.
As we celebrate this season away from our families and homelands, that is all the more reason to treasure the friendships we forge in Songerein. I hope you will accept this gift.
May the Goddess smile upon you,
Zelda
[ A day or two after the festive dreamscape subsides and things return more or less to normal in Reverein, Hilda might find a small basket outside her door one morning. Inside this basket is a small pouch filled with vanilla cookies, another small pouch of chamomile tea, and a jar of homemade apple jelly. Last but certainly not least is a garland of felted flowers that Hilda can totally use to decorate her treehouse if she so wishes.
There is also a note nestled in the items which says, carefully handwritten: ]
Dearest Hilda,
I so appreciate your friendship and wonderful company in the time that we have known each other. I hope you enjoy these small treats. I also could not help but make one more trinket, just for you.
Take care and stay warm!
Oriphi
There is also a note nestled in the items which says, carefully handwritten: ]
Dearest Hilda,
I so appreciate your friendship and wonderful company in the time that we have known each other. I hope you enjoy these small treats. I also could not help but make one more trinket, just for you.
Take care and stay warm!
Oriphi
Edited 2021-12-26 01:38 (UTC)
Tied to Hilda's door handle with ribbon is a small box and a handwritten note:
Hilda,
I saw this ring when I was out in the markets and thought of you, so I hope it makes a good gift. If it doesn't, you can either tell me and embarrass us both and I'll get you something else, or we can forget about this entirely. :)
- Ferran
Inside is a rose-gold ring with impressions of petals and leaves, just like the delicate flower Hilda pretends to be.
Hilda,
I saw this ring when I was out in the markets and thought of you, so I hope it makes a good gift. If it doesn't, you can either tell me and embarrass us both and I'll get you something else, or we can forget about this entirely. :)
- Ferran
Inside is a rose-gold ring with impressions of petals and leaves, just like the delicate flower Hilda pretends to be.
[ As soon as Ori learns of Hilda's birthday and her wish to meet for tea, she scrambles to prepare something appropriately celebratory for her friend's special day. She asks Hilda to come to her treehouse in the afternoon and then spends the rest of the morning and early afternoon baking sweets and preparing. It seems that many of the folks she's come to care about in Reverein have their birthdays around this time of the year (and by many, she means two) and somewhere in her journal, Ori starts to keep track of these dates.
She wants to make sure that Hilda will have a good time this afternoon - after all, it hasn't escaped Ori's notice that they haven't spoken much in the last few weeks, and that Hilda's chosen to spend time with her instead of her friend from home on this day.
When the appointed time comes, Ori will be standing near her door, looking out the window for Hilda's arrival, and no sooner does she arrive at the tiefling's doorstep does Ori open the door with a bright greeting, ]
Happy birthday, Hilda!
[ as she steps aside to permit Hilda into her home immediately. The interior of Ori's treehouse is unquestionably cozy and characteristic of her, with plants and dried flowers and herbs everywhere. Then, beside the fireplace is a quilt laid out with pillows on top of it and a rustic teatime spread of pastries, fruits, and flowers. Although it continues to be frigid outside, Ori hopes that it will still feel like a nice garden picnic in her home, surrounded by plants and warmth as they are to be. ]
Please, come in. It's been so long since I last saw you.
She wants to make sure that Hilda will have a good time this afternoon - after all, it hasn't escaped Ori's notice that they haven't spoken much in the last few weeks, and that Hilda's chosen to spend time with her instead of her friend from home on this day.
When the appointed time comes, Ori will be standing near her door, looking out the window for Hilda's arrival, and no sooner does she arrive at the tiefling's doorstep does Ori open the door with a bright greeting, ]
Happy birthday, Hilda!
[ as she steps aside to permit Hilda into her home immediately. The interior of Ori's treehouse is unquestionably cozy and characteristic of her, with plants and dried flowers and herbs everywhere. Then, beside the fireplace is a quilt laid out with pillows on top of it and a rustic teatime spread of pastries, fruits, and flowers. Although it continues to be frigid outside, Ori hopes that it will still feel like a nice garden picnic in her home, surrounded by plants and warmth as they are to be. ]
Please, come in. It's been so long since I last saw you.
Edited (i wanted to share that one pic ok) 2022-02-04 03:50 (UTC)
[ Ori returns the hug warmly before she lets go of Hilda and steps aside to close the door behind them. Then, with a chuckle, she waves a hand dismissively at Hilda's apology. ]
There's no need to apologize! It can be hard to keep track of the days, here, especially when we've all been pulled in from other places and times.
[ She smiles warmly. Ori remembers when she turned 19 - it feels like a lifetime ago, and so much has happened since then, but she hopes that Hilda can at least enjoy this day and hopefully this last year of her teenaged days. ]
We can think of this as your half-birthday. Now, please, make yourself at home! Let me take your coat, and then you can sit down over there! There's plenty of sweets and tea.
There's no need to apologize! It can be hard to keep track of the days, here, especially when we've all been pulled in from other places and times.
[ She smiles warmly. Ori remembers when she turned 19 - it feels like a lifetime ago, and so much has happened since then, but she hopes that Hilda can at least enjoy this day and hopefully this last year of her teenaged days. ]
We can think of this as your half-birthday. Now, please, make yourself at home! Let me take your coat, and then you can sit down over there! There's plenty of sweets and tea.
[ Hilda's coat is deposited onto a chair at Ori's table before the tiefling duly joins the birthday girl on the "picnic" blanket. She takes the liberty of serving tea, pouring it carefully into their respective cups.
When Hilda asks her question, the flowers in Ori's hair seem to brighten up just a bit, a bit of pink creeping into her cheeks— ]
Oh, I've been okay...! It has been a while, hasn't it?
[ — but only briefly, as what she says following that seem to temper her emotions. ]
The last few weeks have been... umm. A lot? It feels like so much happened. How are you holding up?
When Hilda asks her question, the flowers in Ori's hair seem to brighten up just a bit, a bit of pink creeping into her cheeks— ]
Oh, I've been okay...! It has been a while, hasn't it?
[ — but only briefly, as what she says following that seem to temper her emotions. ]
The last few weeks have been... umm. A lot? It feels like so much happened. How are you holding up?
[ There are a great many things that easily fluster Oriphi, who remains unused to people sincerely wanting to get to know her - and one of them is getting put on the spot. Even with her own adventuring party, anecdotes about her life often had to be dragged out of her, for her own fear of wasting others' time or burdening them with useless information.
So Hilda's very direct line of questioning has her brows creasing and her hands wringing the ends of her long hair immediately as she mutters, ]
Oh, um, well...
[ But at the end of the day, she's promised herself and those who are important to her that she would believe in herself a little more. Still, she hums thoughtfully as though to stall for some time, if nothing else because the answer to Hilda's questions, Ori has not yet had cause to explain to anyone. Hilda, at least, knows more than others about matters concerning Ori's heart. ]
Remember when I told you that I had to kiss two of my friends? Back when those gumdrop fae were around...? I'm... um... we...
[ Her voice fades into something barely above a whisper when she continues, ]
We're... together? All three of us?
So Hilda's very direct line of questioning has her brows creasing and her hands wringing the ends of her long hair immediately as she mutters, ]
Oh, um, well...
[ But at the end of the day, she's promised herself and those who are important to her that she would believe in herself a little more. Still, she hums thoughtfully as though to stall for some time, if nothing else because the answer to Hilda's questions, Ori has not yet had cause to explain to anyone. Hilda, at least, knows more than others about matters concerning Ori's heart. ]
Remember when I told you that I had to kiss two of my friends? Back when those gumdrop fae were around...? I'm... um... we...
[ Her voice fades into something barely above a whisper when she continues, ]
We're... together? All three of us?
[ It sounds so... casual, the way Hilda says "bag," and while it's true in a manner of speaking... it doesn't feel as though it does justice to how heartwarming and refreshing her feelings for the two men are. It also implies that Ori had any hand in how things played out, when really it was Thoma's charisma and sincerity that drove the conversation. Not that she would have had things go any other way - after all, if it were entirely up to her, she would have stepped into the sidelines and cast her own feelings away in favor of letting the others pursue a relationship for themselves. She is, after all, still from an entirely different realm than they are, and just because she's been convinced to disregard that fact in favor of being with them doesn't mean she's stopped worrying or thinking about it. ]
Oh! I never did tell you, did I? I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to keep their names a secret.
[ Okay, maybe a little bit, especially when she was confiding her worries about the gumdrop fae to Hilda the month before the last. Ori gives a shy little chuckle as she reaches up to tuck hair behind one of her ears. ]
Their names are Thoma and Diluc...
Oh! I never did tell you, did I? I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to keep their names a secret.
[ Okay, maybe a little bit, especially when she was confiding her worries about the gumdrop fae to Hilda the month before the last. Ori gives a shy little chuckle as she reaches up to tuck hair behind one of her ears. ]
Their names are Thoma and Diluc...
[ Look, a lot has happened since then, and Hilda can rest happily knowing that Ori will not be quite so secretive this time around. She may need a little coaxing, still, but there's no longer a sense of avoidance around the subject.
Case in point: as soon as Hilda starts to talk about her boys, the flowers in Ori's hair and the houseplants all around them start to perk up as her cheeks go a bit pink. ]
Yes, that's right. I think they're both really sweet and handsome, actually...
[ Gods, why does it feel so embarrassing to admit these things out loud? ]
They, um... they both got pulled into the worst of my nightmares last month, and helped me come out of them. [ She closes her eyes and rests a hand on her chest as she looks back on those nights. So much has happened since then... ] I had this feeling, like... Like I had so many feelings for the both of them, and like my heart was going to burst... Then we were celebrating Thoma's birthday and it turns out that the both of them have feelings for each other, too, so now... we're all together.
[ Okay, maybe she doesn't need to be coaxed for details after all. ]
Case in point: as soon as Hilda starts to talk about her boys, the flowers in Ori's hair and the houseplants all around them start to perk up as her cheeks go a bit pink. ]
Yes, that's right. I think they're both really sweet and handsome, actually...
[ Gods, why does it feel so embarrassing to admit these things out loud? ]
They, um... they both got pulled into the worst of my nightmares last month, and helped me come out of them. [ She closes her eyes and rests a hand on her chest as she looks back on those nights. So much has happened since then... ] I had this feeling, like... Like I had so many feelings for the both of them, and like my heart was going to burst... Then we were celebrating Thoma's birthday and it turns out that the both of them have feelings for each other, too, so now... we're all together.
[ Okay, maybe she doesn't need to be coaxed for details after all. ]
Honestly, I still can't believe that they would want to be with me after seeing everything they did, but...
[ Ori feels bad enough about the way she's talking about herself when it's her dear friend's birthday, so she's more than happy to shift the conversation more towards Hilda's direction, especially when she notes the way that Hilda shudders. She's sure that there will be plenty of other opportunities to talk about her partners, but today is Hilda's day and... first and foremost, Ori truly wants to check in on her. The surge of nightmares sweeping through last month was an ordeal for most everyone, indeed.
She places a hand over Hilda's with a gentle touch and leans in to catch Hilda's gaze, her own grounding as much as it is full of worry. ]
Being pulled into others' nightmares couldn't have been easy. How are you holding up...?
[ Ori feels bad enough about the way she's talking about herself when it's her dear friend's birthday, so she's more than happy to shift the conversation more towards Hilda's direction, especially when she notes the way that Hilda shudders. She's sure that there will be plenty of other opportunities to talk about her partners, but today is Hilda's day and... first and foremost, Ori truly wants to check in on her. The surge of nightmares sweeping through last month was an ordeal for most everyone, indeed.
She places a hand over Hilda's with a gentle touch and leans in to catch Hilda's gaze, her own grounding as much as it is full of worry. ]
Being pulled into others' nightmares couldn't have been easy. How are you holding up...?
[ Well... Ori has most certainly partaken in more than a few murders, but at least she hasn't— gods, what a comparison. Her brow furrows as soon as Hilda mentions it, lips pulling into a deep frown. But she's not here to ask about that, specifically, she's here to make sure Hilda is alright after all of the nightmares.
She squeezes Hilda's hand before she pulls away, so that she can take up the teapot in her hands and pour a cup for Hilda. After she sets the cup by her friend, Ori busies herself with piling pastries and sweets onto a plate for Hilda while she listens closely. ]
It was... difficult, especially whenever it was somebody that I didn't even now or aren't that close with... I can't help but feel like I should try to find them to apologize for being made to see everything.
[ She sighs. ]
The worst of the nightmares, though... only Thoma and Diluc saw. I wonder if they got pulled in because, maybe, my subconscious was reaching out to them or something—
[ Which... makes her feel worse, actually, but it's her precious blessing that both of them truly saved her from herself, those nights.
In any case, "could be a lot worse off," is an assessment that Ori has heard countless times from her own friends, usually said in attempts to veil a lot more hurt than they're willing to really say. She's guilty of it, herself. ]
It must have been a lot, to see others' dreams too, though. Especially having that responsibility of making sure that they wake up from the nightmare... I really think that it's a horrifying experience for everyone... I'm so sorry that you were caught up in all of it too, Hilda.
She squeezes Hilda's hand before she pulls away, so that she can take up the teapot in her hands and pour a cup for Hilda. After she sets the cup by her friend, Ori busies herself with piling pastries and sweets onto a plate for Hilda while she listens closely. ]
It was... difficult, especially whenever it was somebody that I didn't even now or aren't that close with... I can't help but feel like I should try to find them to apologize for being made to see everything.
[ She sighs. ]
The worst of the nightmares, though... only Thoma and Diluc saw. I wonder if they got pulled in because, maybe, my subconscious was reaching out to them or something—
[ Which... makes her feel worse, actually, but it's her precious blessing that both of them truly saved her from herself, those nights.
In any case, "could be a lot worse off," is an assessment that Ori has heard countless times from her own friends, usually said in attempts to veil a lot more hurt than they're willing to really say. She's guilty of it, herself. ]
It must have been a lot, to see others' dreams too, though. Especially having that responsibility of making sure that they wake up from the nightmare... I really think that it's a horrifying experience for everyone... I'm so sorry that you were caught up in all of it too, Hilda.
[ This is far from the first time that Oriphi has ever heard the "stop apologizing for everything" rigmarole, and regrettably it likely will not be the last. She understands that it's a habit of hers, borne out of the lack of self-esteem she's cultivated her entire life, but thankfully they don't dwell on this for too long.
Her head tips to the side a little as she senses Hilda's hesitation, and already her worry deepens. She's well-acquainted with that sort of hesitation. She knows that inside, Hilda is probably thinking about whether or not to say "I'm fine." The difference being that Hilda might actually be good at saying such even when she's not, whereas Ori couldn't hide a feeling to save a life. Ultimately, though, she's glad to see her friend relent and let her into what's been bothering her. Ori is a little sorry to bring up something unpleasant on her birthday, but perhaps the sooner she can get this off her chest, the sooner they can earnestly enjoy her birthday tea party.
So she listens dutifully - but her frown pulls further and deeper the more she hears. ]
Oh, Hilda... that's— terrible. Even if they apologized for it, that doesn't change the fact that you had to see something as horrifying as that. I'm glad you were able to leave that nightmare and wake up - both for you and the person whose dream it was.
Maybe... maybe we should think of a way for you to distract yourself whenever you mind starts to drift back to what you saw?
Her head tips to the side a little as she senses Hilda's hesitation, and already her worry deepens. She's well-acquainted with that sort of hesitation. She knows that inside, Hilda is probably thinking about whether or not to say "I'm fine." The difference being that Hilda might actually be good at saying such even when she's not, whereas Ori couldn't hide a feeling to save a life. Ultimately, though, she's glad to see her friend relent and let her into what's been bothering her. Ori is a little sorry to bring up something unpleasant on her birthday, but perhaps the sooner she can get this off her chest, the sooner they can earnestly enjoy her birthday tea party.
So she listens dutifully - but her frown pulls further and deeper the more she hears. ]
Oh, Hilda... that's— terrible. Even if they apologized for it, that doesn't change the fact that you had to see something as horrifying as that. I'm glad you were able to leave that nightmare and wake up - both for you and the person whose dream it was.
Maybe... maybe we should think of a way for you to distract yourself whenever you mind starts to drift back to what you saw?
[He hadn't been able to approach her in the dreamscape itself when everything had come to a head, but he'd seen a whole lot of what had gone down— including her dramatic death scene, which she'd oddly seemed to be... enjoying, in her own way?
Even so, seems like a good idea to check in, especially because of what happened the last time something left her real shaken.
Not that they're talking about that, of course.
He frowns to himself as he pauses outside her treehouse door for a moment before knocking.]
Hey, Hilda? You home?
Even so, seems like a good idea to check in, especially because of what happened the last time something left her real shaken.
Not that they're talking about that, of course.
He frowns to himself as he pauses outside her treehouse door for a moment before knocking.]
Hey, Hilda? You home?
[ Ori appreciates that honesty more than she can really say, at the moment. She understands and has seen that hesitation in the face of vulnerability. The way that the tiefling tries to ask after Hilda's true feelings is something she has done with her old friends, too, but she's more often than not met with resistance. With that curt "I'm fine," as Ori is left wondering why they feel they have to lie to her.
So she appreciates that honesty so, so much, and she returns Hilda's small smile with a more earnest, warm smile of her own. ]
Well, for starters... you can write your tiefling friend if you're feeling down and she'll bring tea and sweets. And maybe a hug?
[ She opens her arms a bit. ]
So she appreciates that honesty so, so much, and she returns Hilda's small smile with a more earnest, warm smile of her own. ]
Well, for starters... you can write your tiefling friend if you're feeling down and she'll bring tea and sweets. And maybe a hug?
[ She opens her arms a bit. ]
[Right. He definitely hasn't been avoiding her, either.
Except for the part where he absolutely has. For half a moment, he thinks about retreating before she can answer, but the door opens before he has the chance to second-guess himself, and he exhales slowly.]
H-hey.
[Not his smoothest greeting. Is his face a little red? Can't be, just a trick of the light.]
I just wanted to— check in with you. See how you were doing. The end of that dreamscape was...
[It hadn't been real, but it still hadn't been easy to watch. He hadn't stuck around for the whole thing, but he'd seen enough.]
... it was pretty rough for everyone involved, yeah?
Except for the part where he absolutely has. For half a moment, he thinks about retreating before she can answer, but the door opens before he has the chance to second-guess himself, and he exhales slowly.]
H-hey.
[Not his smoothest greeting. Is his face a little red? Can't be, just a trick of the light.]
I just wanted to— check in with you. See how you were doing. The end of that dreamscape was...
[It hadn't been real, but it still hadn't been easy to watch. He hadn't stuck around for the whole thing, but he'd seen enough.]
... it was pretty rough for everyone involved, yeah?
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