[There's no such thing as "Christmas" where Aang comes from, but he finds he rather likes the concept of getting gifts for his friends as a token of appreciation. Unfortunately, there's a shortage of ready gifts in Oska proper - the librarians chide him quite soundly when he tries to sneak out of the library with a few extra books underhand - and so he's forced to use his noodle, brainstorming until he comes up with the perfect gift.
Of course, all handmade gifts take time, and so it's several days after the ball that Peridot finally receives her gift, taped lopsided to her door. There's no signature on it, but the figures depicted should make it abundantly clear who the gift is from.
Congrats, you are now the proud owner of one (1) slightly stale noodle portrait of yourself and Aang. Happy holidays!!!!!!]
DELIVERED ON DEC 24th. (now in the right place, sweats!!!)
( Peridot will find a neat little box just outside her door, and inside is a handcarved checkers set. it does come with a set of instructions, though they might be hard to read. it also comes with a note, though the handwriting is just as messy:
I thought you might enjoy this. it's a game from my world called checkers. it's a game of vast planning and skill, so I have no doubt you'll be quite good at it.
if you'd like someone to challenge, I'd be happy to play a round or two with you.
his name is scrawled underneath, just in case Peridot can't guess who the gift is from. )
Since you were there, though. Do you... think we did the right thing? He was attacking you, right? So he was dangerous?
[ She really wants to feel good about this outcome. It was easy to write off Perdition's Rest, but the unhappy ending here in Woodhurst is leaving her a little... dissatisfied. ]
He ran away. If we'd let him escape... he would have reported his findings back to his people, and they would have known about us. They could have weaponized the virus and used it against us again.
I don't know about "right" or not, but... it was the only thing we could do.
[luckily Mettaton has helped her push the worst of her feelings aside, but some still linger.] I've never had so many... organic friends before. The only human I even knew that well before I came here is still half-gem. It's still hard for me to get my head around how easy they can get hurt and not wave it off.
[that's better than her Percy issues, anyway. that one can't be solved by Mettaton's infallible logic.]
Oh. 38( Yes that will happen! But us organic people are more durable than we look, too! Even regular humans can be pretty determined to live when they set their minds to it.
I've noticed that. It's just going to take some getting used to.
Especially when they all worry about me, and I can survive almost anything without even needing to reform! It's a nice feeling, knowing people worry, though. It's never really happened to me before... Well, not like this.
[not multiple people. not just Steven, who frets over snakes and gem mutants, and is an outlier and shouldn't be counted, regardless of how much having his attention and devotion has shaped who she is now.]
[MUDBALLS. stupid magitek and its mental autocorrect.]
I MEAN... I am glad I have feelings. Actual real genuine feelings, but they can be inconvenient. And I'm not used to feeling them. I'm still learning what they all are, honestly.
Page 1 of 4