Letters (some for Christmas)

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

[[Even if the muns are out, it's simply IC for Setsuna to send stuff off. Feel free to respond whenever you're able to.]]


Cayce,

Hey there! Just a real quick gift. Nothing much, but I thought I should at least send you something.

Happy Holidays and all that.

-Setsuna

Attached is a small bag of alcoholic chocolates.



John,

I know it's a time to spend with loved ones, so it's gotta really suck right now for you. Hopefully, we'll get out of here soon. Happy Holidays.

- Setsuna

Again, more alcoholic chocolates.



Rukia,

I don't know if they teach you shinigami about Christmas, but it's a time of year to give out gifts. I don't know if you celebrate anything like that, but I felt like getting you something.

Happy Holidays.

- Setsuna

This time, a fluffy, soft, white bunny plushie.



Uriel,

You probably celebrate Christmas, but I didn't know what I could possibly get you. Sorry....

That aside, I'm writing to you because I wanted to know how much you know of Kira. Or, more appropiately, Nanatsusaya. I don't know how it works a sword could have a soul to move from one body to another. I'm...highly concerned about what's going to happen to him.

I'm asking you, and I'll try to compensate anyway I can, but if there's anything you can tell me, do so.

Merry Christmas.

- Setsuna


He had wanted to get something for Susan (as she helped out in the Nana situation) and Aziraphale, but didn't know what to get either. Books seemed appropriate for Aziraphale, but Setsuna didn't have any on him.

[EDIT]: After Cayce explained it didn't really mattered what was given, it was more the thought, Setsuna decided to send out a few more gifts.


Dear Susan,

Thanks for helping out with Nana the other day. I didn't know what to get you for Christmas, so I thought chocolates would be okay.

- Setsuna

Attached is whatever white chocolate he could find in the fridge, a bar of milk chocolate, and some dark chocolate truffles.



Mr. Fell,

So...I had no idea what to send you for Christmas. I don't have any books on me, except a Rurouni Kenshin manga...and I don't think you'd be interested in that. I hope chocolate's fine.

- Setsuna

He sent this one with an entire take out box of brownies.



Hey, James,

Haven't seen you since the first dig, and then not for very long either. Still, thought I'd send you some chocolates for Christmas. And if you ever change your mind about teaching magic (ANTYHING, it doesn't even have to be that spell, just ANYTHING), let me know. Trying to learn from Senpai...doesn't go so well.

- Setsuna

Attached is random chocolates he grabbed, since he couldn't remember what type James liked.


[EDIT the second]:

Later, Setsuna can't help himself. He set up another offering to Eros, like he had before, and one to Psyche, then (once he was sure God would strike him down) sent off a few more letters....


Butterfly,

I doubt you celebrate Christmas or anything, but I thought I'd make another offering to you and your husband as a gift. Sounds really weird, but last time it was the only thing you asked for.

And the flowers are a gift too. I don't know what they are, but I thought they were pretty.

- Setsuna

Attached are some random wild flowers he saw attracting butterflies, which, of course, made him think of Psyche.



Macavity,

Merry Fucking Christmas.

- Setsuna

Attached is a dead fish.



Calvin,

Hey, kid! Not like you need anything to keep you going, but I thought I'd wish you a Merry Christmas and send you a gift anyway.

- Setsuna

Attached are more random chocolate candies.


[[I swear, that's all. I'll STOP now. So sorry. Just one more and that's it, I promise.]]


Rae,

Hey, I don't know if you celebrate Christmas or not, but you made this strawberry thing and gave it to Psyche, and she gave it to me as a present. I wanted to thank-you. It was really good, too.

You're opening a restaurant she tells me?

Anyhow, I'd thought I send you a gift in return, even though it's a bit late. Happy Holidays.

- Setsuna

Attached is another set of chocolates, a variety so she can pick what she wants.

Comments

[kuchiki.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

No, shinigami don't celebrate Christmas...or Hogswatch, as I saw it called elsewhere. This is all excessively confusing for me, I must confess.

That said, I've gotten so many bunnies! It's very pleasing! Thank you so much! Should I give you a gift in return? I apologize for not having one sooner. I am new to this. Please forgive me.

Thank you, Setsuna.

Yours sincerely,
Rukia

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Rukia,

I figured as much. You don't have to give anything back, as I'm just giving you something because I want to. No return necessary, unless you want to as well. I wouldn't know what you could get me, though.

And don't apologize. It's unrealistic to expect you'd have anything if you don't even know about it. Don't worry about it -- just enjoy yourself.

- Setsuna

[kuchiki.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

I see. I'm afraid I wouldn't know, either. I do wish I could get something for you, though.

If you don't find me rude for asking -- what is Christmas for? Is it merely a yearly exchange of gift-giving? What are the lights and candy for?

- Rukia

[caycep]

Setsuna,

Aw, thank you! Happy holidays to you too.

-Cayce

Attached is a box of miscellaneous brightly-colored candy, including a half-dozen candy canes.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Candy canes.... Setsuna grinned at those, because they weren't just yummy, but useful.

Cayce,

Thank-you too! Thank-you tons! Are you giving me toys with the candy canes, or is my mind making a twisted use of a totally innocent gift?

Also...would you know what to get a stern teacher-like person? I wanted to get Susan something since she helped me with Nana, but umm...I'm clueless about what to get women 75% of the time, and teachers 95% of the time, so the odds are stacked against me on that one.

- Setsuna

[caycep]

Setsuna,

Dude, whatever you and Kira decide to do with candy canes is totally your business. I offer no advice on the matter whatsoever.

Unless a woman's allergic to it, you can't go wrong with chocolate, frankly. And Susan's definitely not allergic.

-Cayce

[snitchnicker.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

Not everyone can learn magic. You have to have the blood in you. Are you able to preform magic at all? If you are, I suppose I could teach you.

-James

P.S. Thank you for the chocolate.


James would probably give them to Remus though. Though James didn't really dislike chocolate, after being stuck in the park for so long, he was growing awfully sick of it.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

James,

What do you mean by blood? I've been able to do some simply transfiguration stuff. But umm...it takes a lot of tries, and the colors go wrong. (And despite that, he was still better than Kira.)

But I don't know about this blood thing, and don't worry much about it.

Either way, Happy Holidays.

- Setsuna

[snitchnicker.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

If you can perform any magic, that means that you've got the touch. You just need more practice and probably a proper teacher.

-James

[sensiblesusan.livejournal.com]

Dear Setsuna,

Thank you for the gift -- that was lovely. I hope your friend Nana is well; please give her my best wishes.

Happy Hogswat Christmas,
-Susan

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Dear Susan,

You're welcome. And of course I will.

Happy what? Oh! I know...do you celebrate something else? I'm sorry, I don't ask these questions FIRST, it just didn't occur to me.

- Setsuna

[sensiblesusan.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

It's quite all right -- back on the Disc, our winter holiday is Hogswatch. An old solar festival that began with -- well, there's no delicate way to put it -- slaughtering pigs for food to sustain people through the winter. And which over the millennia has become a chance to decorate the house, eat lots of food, get in rows with the family, etc. Odd how these things seem to converge across the universe, isn't it?

There's more, of course, but I won't bore you unless you're really curious.

-Susan

[stylishtartan.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

Thank you very much for the gift, you certainly didn't need to get me anything. Chocolate is lovely, I must confess I have a terrible sweet-tooth. I do hope you and yours are having a lovely holiday, and that you enjoy this book. I found it after a bit of searching, and as you're so interested in the subject, you may consider it a gift.

Merry Christmas!

Aziraphale

Attached is a book about legends and mythology about swords. It's a rather basic affair, something one might find in the more extensive sort of commonplace bookshop, but there's one chapter in the middle Aziraphale has added with some information one of the much rarer books in his shop would have. He isn't sure if it will help Setsuna, as he doesn't know why Setsuna needs to know anything, but it's much better than the boy could do on his own here.

((Up to you what it says or how much it helps.))

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale,

Heh, I have an awful sweet tooth myself. I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to. I figured if I sent enough, you could share with Alice. I already sent her a gift...but, more can't hurt.

Thank-you for the book. Very, very much. I'm sorry I don't have something in like to send, but, thank-you, thank-you.

- Setsuna

[[I'll take some time to consider what's realistically possible to be available, and what's not. >D Thanks.]]

[hidden-paw.livejournal.com]

A very Merry Christmas to you also, Setsuna.
-Macavity

Attached is the decaying head, tail and skeleton of the fish.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Slightly amused, Setsuna tosses the remains away.

Macavity,

Hope that means you enjoyed it.

- Setsuna

[late-born-myth.livejournal.com]

A letter, and a white pastry box beneath it, appear at Setsuna and Kira's door shortly after Psyche receives her gift.

Dear Setsuna,

The flowers are absolutely lovely. I've found a vase (in the same shop where we got the star) and have plunked them in water and am admiring them as I write this. Thank you very much!

I know the offering must be a bit odd for you, and I'm touched you performed it nevertheless. To be honest, it's hard for me to find things to ask for. Of course we're all in the same situation here with the same resources, but the point of gifts is something like the point of prayer - it mainly matters that you put in the thought. (And I do tend to encourage people to make offerings to Eros, because being worshipped, while gratifying of course, has always tended to make me a bit uncomfortable. Quite aside from it being rather awkward and unreasonable to expect or receive such attentions from someone you see every day.)

In that spirit, I got something for you...which I thought I'd better not trust to the mail system here, preternaturally efficient or not. The young lady at the Blue Bayou who baked it for me assures me that the strawberries, while presumably out of season, are of acceptable quality.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May the next one be somewhat less confusing, or at least very full of joy. And love.

Yours truly,

Psyche

Inside the box is a sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2299.html), and, on top, a small green-and-blue glass globe, lit from inside like the star given before.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Setsuna stared at the globe in shock, for a long, long time. He turned it around in different ways to stare at the light in admiration. The food was gently placed aside, and Setsuna felt a twinge of guilt. He hadn't thought of Rae at all, because, well...it's not like they had gotten along, or anything.

But now....

Butterfly,

Yeah, the offering thing is a bit awkward for me, but it's all I could think of. And the flowers. I'm glad you liked them.

Err...the girl you got the strawberry sponge cake thing from, that wouldn't be Rae, would it? And thank-you, very, very much for my gifts. The sponge cake thing is delicious, and the globe is pretty.

I hope your new year is better as well. Maybe we'll get out of here.

Your friend,

- Setsuna

[late-born-myth.livejournal.com]

Dear Setsuna,

I do. I have them here in my tent beside the poppies I had when I first arrived. Sort of a collection-of-flowers-given-by-friends. I smile when I look at them.

You're very welcome. And yes, it was Rae Seddon. I met her the other day and asked her about special orders. She seemed glad of the company - it seems James Norrington's name should be added to the list of those who have gone missing, and he seems to have vanished shortly after meeting her. She's a bit alarmed by this, I think. But cooking seems to improve her mood, and she started talking about opening up the restaurant.

We'll have to see what we can try. I'm starting to get more than a little curious about how or where people are disappearing to, and I don't think anyone's really investigated the Monorail. I'm sure there must be a way, somehow.

Yours truly,

Psyche

[irrepressible-c.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

Susan says you're supposed to write people thank you notes when they give you something, and Mom always made me write them too, so here you go. Thank you very much for the nice chocolates. They were good. Hobbes says thanks too, which he ought to say because he kept sneaking them after shouting "Look! A duck!" Not that I care about ducks, but of course I looked to see where he was pointing. The first four times, anyway. But the ones that didn't fall to his cruel predatory cunning were all very chocolate-y, so thank you.

Is this long enough? I never know how long these things are supposed to be. At least you gave me something good and not socks or something like that. I hate writing thank you notes for some things when what I really want to send is a formal protest.

Anyway, Merry Christmas! And thanks.

Calvin (and *paw print* Hobbes)

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Calvin,

No worries. It's plenty long enough. But Susan's probably right. Writing people thank-you notes lets them know if their gift was a good idea or not, and if it was a good idea, they'll send you more of it. If not, they know to look for something else.

Granted, you didn't get a chance to get to say what you wanted. Must be a nice switch, eh?

Anyway, Merry Christmas! Hope you and Hobbes enjoyed it. Or will enjoy it. I still haven't figured out which day is supposed to be Christmas, since the decorations are still up.

- Setsuna

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

Setsuna,

Yeah, I celebrate winter solstice. Not that I'm really religious, but any opportunity to exchange gifts and eat until you fall over, I'm on board. I wouldn't object to receiving chocolate in any case, so...thanks. You didn't need to or anything, but I'll definitely enjoy them, and it was nice of you.

And yeah, I've been meaning to open up the Blue Bayou...pretty much since the day I got here. I don't like having nothing to do. It makes me think about how scary things are here. So I'll try to start feeding people...and you know, you and your buddies can pretty much always come around and ask me to make you something if you feel like eating something decent.

Thanks again, and Happy Holidays (whichever holidays) to you too. See you around.

- Rae

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Rae,

I know I didn't have to, but I wanted to.

...Scary? And hey, there's always looking for a way out, but I'm not gonna turn down good food. You should put up a public sign on the board once you're ready to open.

No problem. Happy Holidays, and I might see you sooner than you think, since I got a friend that really needs to eat more.

- Setsuna

[always-confuzed.livejournal.com]

John picks up the package, reads the note and smiles. Despite being alone, having friends no matter what reality you were trapped in had to count for something, right?

And because he wanted to do something with his hands, he spent the next hour making screwing around in the pizza place nearby. When he'd come up with a recipe for what he was sure had to be the best pizza known to man or alien, he delivered one to Setsuna's door on a silver pan with a note:

Setsuna,

Thanks. I sure as hell needed that around now. Hope you like this and it hasn't cooled off too much by the time you get your hands on it. I figured it would be better to make something rather than hand over anything you could get anywhere in the park.

Happy Holidays, kid. Hope you're having fun.

~John

Just in case Setsuna is around, John knocks on the door to announce the delivery, and walks back to his place quickly, before he can get caught.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Setsuna was surprised to find a pizza waiting for him, but that brought a quick smile to his face -- pizza was always welcome.

John,

That was a kick-ass pizza. Thanks. I'm sorry all I managed to find for you where those chocolates, but I'm a terrible cook. Trust me, you don't even want me trying.... It's just not my thing.

Glad to see that's not the case for you, though. And thank-you. I'll be sure to share some with Kira. Happy Holidays.

- Setsuna