Username: malaise |
Kalon Name: Ozana “Oz” •
Kalon Gender: female (she/her)
Secret Santa Prompt: [500 words]
To say Oz was a little nervous was a complete understatement. It was the first holiday season that she would be spending with some semblance of a family and under curiously intent eyes (it wasn’t difficult to figure out who had been her gifter even before it had been handed to her, with how intently Kairos had been sweating and leaning forward before Aesoth pulled him back while sighing fondly)-- everyone pretended to not be staring as if she hadn’t been excitedly ushered to the middle of the room as per “tradition”.
Wrapping paper was carefully pulled away, each piece of tape slowly peeled back and the whole sheet of wrapping paper was carefully folded and put aside.
It was nice wrapping paper, she mused. Oz could only think that Aesoth had wrapped her present rather than his excitable husband, who was now leaning even further forward, he was absolutely going to fall if Aesoth didn’t catch him soon. Underneath the vibrant blue paper was a small cardboard box with no labeling, yet Oz stared at it as if it held all of the answers to the world. To further prolong the opening and avoid having to meet the eager eyes of the kalons gathered around her she was tempted to give it a little shake, but she was sure if she did Kairos wouldn’t hesitate to vibrate out of his seat. Saving him from a preventable injury, she slowly popped open the box and stared down at it’s contents.
It’s a mug.
It was an admittedly nice mug: tall ceramic with a slightly thinner rim at the top, to prevent her from knocking it over too easily presumably. It was predominantly white with a gaudy rainbow stroked across it, complete with a matching ceramic cap. The entire room, which had previously been filled with the sounds of everyone chattering away, came to a halt as they waited for her reaction.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Smack.
Oz must have been admiring it for a little too long if Kairos had started up his foot shaking habit, which quickly made her look up at him and beam in a way that displayed all of her teeth.
“I love it, thank you!”
The room’s volume picked back up in volume as Kairos’s nervous demeanor softened and he smiled back at her.
“I’m so glad you like it, I thought you’d like it!” He laughed, leaning heavily against his husband, who gently smacked him again for making him suddenly tilt. “I thought it’d match you, since, y’know.” Kairos gestured with his hands, making a vague wavy motion with both of his hands. “Plus, I know we haven’t had the chance to get you your own mug for the kitchen. It’s about time you got something of your own- also now you can steep your tea properly!” He burst out into a chuckle, turning to smother Aesoth in kisses, completely missing as Oz quickly ducked her head to stare back down at the mug excitedly.
Extra: [200 words]
After their celebration had come to a lull near midnight, the guild dispersed for the night: some heading to bed, while some stayed behind to help with the cleanup. Qingqiu had quickly shooed her out of the kitchen when he saw her reaching up to help wash up, telling her that growing girls need their rest. Excitement kept her energized as she was relegated to sitting on the couch instead, clean mug with tea brewing clutched close to her chest.
“You actually good with that mug, kid?” Zero asked as they sprawled down next to her, their own mug of hot chocolate nearly sloshing over onto the couch. “I know Kairos doesn’t have the best,” they paused, trying to think of the best way to word their next statement, “... taste, in material items. He got me the worst sweater last year.”
Oz smiled shyly, fiddling with the cap of her mug as she nodded eagerly, “It’s mine. It’s like he said: it’s about time I got something of my own.” Zero paused, simply watching over her as she fidgeted. Reaching their arm over and bringing her closer to their side they smiled.
“I’m glad you’re here with us now, kid.”