[Archer steps onto the roof and looks around. Caster is easy to spot, so he approaches carefully and asks after a moment of hesitation.]
Do you have a moment, Caster?
[He's gave both himself and his god some time to calm down after the disaster. Maybe even longer than it should take, but Archer had to think it through. He forces himself to stay calm.]
Hey Cú, just wanted to check on you. One of your shinki seems worried, so I wanted to check if everything was alright? Just..please shoot a message when you can.
Cú, I'm sorry to call so late. Kaden hasn't come home and..I might just be paranoid, but I'm worried. I still feel him, so it..doesn't seem to be like what happened with Tem..but what if something happened? I'm sorry to bother you with this again, but if you're free tomorrow, could we try that spell from last time?
[It's been about a week now since the forest incident. Zelda has not returned to Caster's temple since running away from the group at the sigil battle, but she's heard tell that since returning to the heaven, the god has fallen into a deep slumber. A few days of rest would not be surprising after the ordeal Caster went through, but with each setting of the sun that she does not hear of a change in his condition, she grows more anxious, until she finally can't take it anymore.
She's gotten better at this since that first time she accidentally crept into the sleeping minds of the residents of the Far Shore. Her entrance is quieter, more subtle; like raindrops falling into a pond, she might make a ripple in that first moment, but she blends in quickly enough.
The real question is: what will she see once she's there? That, she can't be certain of.]
Ginia-san was kind enough to reach out to me and my god, and it seems like she's helped both of us out already. I'm extending the courtesy to you. If you need help, I'll do what I can to help you out, Old man Caster-san. This is thanks to Ginia-san, okay? ɿ (•᷄દ•᷅) Don't get the wrong idea. (*`Λ´*)」
[ Caster will find a paper bag on his bed. There is a small envelope with his name written on it, and the card itself will say: ]
I thought they’d suit you. I hope you like them. Merry Christmas, Cú. -Alex
P.S Something for the dogs too.
[ It is up to him whether he opens it now or on Christmas itself. Inside the bag, he’ll find a small box with a pair of this and that. There was also this, along with some dog toys. ]
[There's another package on his bed, with card written in careful hand that he surely knows.]
Thank you for everything. It's not a holiday you are familiar with, though, so consider it a celebration of the season. Merry Christmas, Cú Chulainn.
[Of course Archer wouldn't be himself if he didn't include a joke gift in Lancer's blue that hides the rest of the package well. Beneath it are several bottles of traditional celtic ale, a box of liquor chocolate barrells, and, at the very bottom, a small, flat box containing this necklace, crafted in silver with painstaking attention. The back is engraved with a name written in celtic.]
[On the 24th, a large box wrapped in metallic blue wrapping paper and tied off with a silver bow appears in Caster's room. There's a card taped to the top of the box.]
I know you don't celebrate the holiday, but I still wanted to get you something to show my appreciation and thanks. Thank you for everything, Cú. -Ginia
On the 25th, the four dogs can be seen running around the temple in Hawaiian shirts matching Caster's. There's also some of his favorite beer hooked up to a new dispensing system in the kitchen, chilled and ready for him to enjoy.]
[ Late on the evening of the 24th, a large package is left outside Caster's temple from Yona.
Inside he'll find a handcrafted leather journal with the design of Celtic hounds embossed on its cover. Also wrapped up is a large antique tackle box for Caster's fondness of fishing. ]
It seemed like there have been some people using the tunnels, so I locked all the rooms that showed up in the move. You seem comfortable with showing up a lot, so...
Also if you want, I'm inviting people over for food tomorrow. Come and bring people if you want.
Shizuo
[ The note is with a small box- one of the ones that is meant to look gift ready already (though people tend to wrap them anyway,) in which a large key with a Celtic knot is inside- Something that'll unlock one of the suites that are accessible in the cliff tunnels. ]
[Since he's out of the country, it'll be awhile before he sees it, but left on Caster's bed is a small square box wrapped with metallic blue wrapping paper and tied off with a white silk ribbon. Inside the box are four chocolate truffles infused with whiskey.
Attached to the long tails of the ribbon are a set of silver hair rings matching the ones he received for Christmas.]
[Because breaking and entering is super easy when you're a god with access to teleportation powers, whenever Caster returns to his temple, he will find a small potted bush of red roses sitting on the bench in his garden. Tucked between the leaves is a small and simple card:]
While I am certain this is another holiday neither of us are terribly familiar with, Minako assures me it would be remiss to simply let it pass without comment. I thought you might find tending to this more enjoyable than keeping the clipped flowers that are apparently traditional, and I certainly was not about to force you to stomach any confectioneries I might have made.
[Also the bush will remain even after she's gone so long as it's taken care of, but she doesn't put that thought to paper.]
[On Caster's desk, there are three letters, signed to Archer, Caster, and Ginia. When Caster opens his letter, with a blue stamp on it, it will have the following inside:]
Dear Mister Caster;
Thank you for everything you have done. You have been one of the kindest men I have had the fortune of meeting here. You are wise, charming, and sweet. I do think that I had to have incredible luck to have met you in any time, now or before. There is something incredible about you that is hard to describe in words, whether written or spoken. So I suppose I should share my feelings about you in this letter in hopes to describe it better to you.
You have made me feel as if I was the most important person at any time. At no one time did you make me feel as if I was only your servant, a man to serve your purposes. You have given me happiness that I don’t remember feeling since before today. A smile comes across my face any time we talk, and you have given me many adventures in my lifetime that I won’t soon forget. You are the kindest man I have met here, and for that, I thank you.
There is one other feeling I wish to express to you, but I do not feel it is appropriate to tell you in a letter. Nor am I ready to say the words outloud to you. But you must know the feeling I am describing here. An inexplicable attraction that is hard to ignore.
But I will save it for the next time we see one another. You have my heart, my spear and my sword. And I promise you nothing more than all of my best. You are a man I am willing to serve until the day I pass from this world and enter the next, and no matter what may pass, that will never change. That is my dearest promise to you.
I hope that you will continue being the man I desire to serve. And that you will always be strong, noble, and proud, as I know that you are.
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