(2023-01-17) The True Meaning of Winter Veil

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Author:	Saaron
Summary:	Sandy meets with Elrissadel at the Cobalt Company headquarters. He got her two gifts for the Mysterious Greatfather Winter gift exchange, just to play it safe, and she offers him some wisdom.
Rating:	T for Teen

Elrissadel moves around HQ picking things up and putting them down while she waits
Gausanders walks down the stairs of the CC HQ, carrying a big box, wrapped in a colorful gift wrap paper, as well as a small, matching packet on top of it.
Elrissadel waves at you.
Elrissadel: Hi Sandy *she peers at the packages* I got your note?
Gausanders tries to wave back and almost drops the gifts. Once he realizes who's waving, he just let out a disappointed: "Oh no, you're already here!"
Elrissadel looks slightly confused "yes? you did say to meet you here. right?"
Gausanders: Yes, but I thought I'd be here first so I could hide the gifts and— It doesn't matter! Hi! *He grins.* I'm your Mysterious Greatfather Winter!
Elrissadel grins at Sandy "Oh! oh that's so fun!"
Elrissadel: I confess I was very confused to receive your letter. I was worried you had another curse or something!
Gausanders chuckles. "Not this time, no! But I do like to keep some mystery when I want to give someone their gifts like that, that's why I didn't say anything in that letter!"
Elrissadel: it's a wonderful surprise
You smile at Elrissadel.
Gausanders walks closer, trying to keep the packet up on the box. "Soooo… since we only met once at Bruuk's, I didn't really know what to get you! So… I got you two things! A more thoughtful one that you might not like, and another one that anybody would like!"
Gausanders: Which one would you like to see first?
Elrissadel tilts her head at the two precariously balanced packages
Elrissadel: how about the one on top? *she chuckles* before it falls!
Gausanders: Okay, that's the more thoughtful one you might not like! *He walks closer again so Rissa can pick up the packet. It's pretty light.*
Elrissadel reaches out and takes the packet before moving over to sit on one of the chairs nearby
Elrissadel: I'm sure I'll like it Sandy. I love this tradition you all have at Cobalt with these winter gifts
Elrissadel she starts to carefully unwrap the package now sitting in her lap
Gausanders places the box on another chair. "It is pretty fun, yeah!"
Elrissadel: I had to get something for Dane, that was fun
Elrissadel she finishes unwrapping the package
The packet contains seeds. "Briarthorn seeds," Sandy explains. "They're my favorite plants! And I thought, since you're a druid, maybe you liked plants!"
Elrissadel claps her hands in delight
Gausanders removes one of his gloves. "I picked these myself, look!" his hand is full of small bandages. He clearly didn't wear these gloves when he picked the seeds. Obviously. This is Sandy we're talking about!
Elrissadel: I love plants! my apartment in the park district is full of them. but I don't have any Briarthorn.
Elrissadel reaches out to his hand "oh dear"
Elrissadel she quickly casts rejuvenation on Sandy closing up all the small cuts
Elrissadel: There all better
Gausanders goes "Ooooh!" at the druidic magic. He removes one of the bandages to check. The cut is all gone! He grins at Rissa. "Thanks! And really, you like it?"
Elrissadel smiles up at him "I really like it." she glances down and plays with a few of the seeds "why are they your favorite?"
Gausanders beams. "Phew, I'm glad!" He pauses at the question, looking up at the ceiling. " Well, I don't know, I just think they're pretty! They grow to have a nice shape! All twisty, and everything!"
Gausanders: What about you, what's your favorit— *He almost sits on the other box, trying to sit on a chair. He chooses another one.* What's your favorite plant?
Elrissadel: hmmm, Sil brought me a Sanguine Hibiscus a little while ago. It's quite pretty. But I don't know that I have a dramatic favorite, I just love them all!
Elrissadel: I like how it feels to be near healthy plants, calm and soothing
Gausanders smiles. "Well, that's good I didn't try to grow the seeds myself, then! The only plant I've managed to keep alive is felweed!.. To no one's surprise." He chuckles awkwardly.
Elrissadel cocks her ears up and down "felweed?" A lightbulb goes off "Oh right! because you're a warlock!"
Gausanders scratches the back of his neck. "Yeah…"
Gausanders shakes his head, then grins.* "Okay, so, I know you liked the first gift, but I still have the other one that everyone would have liked!" He picks up the box and hands it to her. It's a big box, but the content doesn't appear particularly heavy.
Elrissadel accepts the box and attempts to balance it on her lap while opening it
Elrissadel: how fun. two presents!
Elrissadel she manages to get the paper off without dropping it off of her lap
Inside the box is a dark-blue, fuzzy blanket, perfectly suited for the winter weather.
Elrissadel: Oh!
Elrissadel reaches in and pulls out the blanket. She brings it up to her face and rubs it against her cheek "it's so soft!"
Gausanders: Yes! I got it in Aerie Peak and it felt so soft, I knew anybody would like it! *He beams again.*
Elrissadel beams back at him with the blanket still tucked under her chin "It's wonderful"
Elrissadel chuckles and looks down at the blanket "and it's basically CC colors!"
Gausanders gasps. "You're right, it is! I didn't even think of that! And I'm giving it to you in the headquarters!"
Elrissadel: I love both gifts Sandy. They are very thoughtful. *she makes solid eye contact and smiles* Thank you.
Gausanders: Phew… I'm so glad! *He smiles back.*
Gausanders: How did your Greatfather Winter gift go? Did Dane like what you got him?
Gausanders frowns in thought. "I don't even know what I would get Dane! A sword, maybe?"
Gausanders sits back down.
Elrissadel: I think he did! I made him a belt.
Elrissadel: it's not, like, super protective? But I made it the right kind of pretty for him. I think? I hope.
Gausanders: Oh that's a good gift! I'm pretty sure he wears belts, yeah! I'm sure he did like it!
Elrissadel smiles at you.
Elrissadel: How have you been? I haven't seen you since the cursed letter at Bruuks
Gausanders: Good, good! I uh, met my mom who cursed that letter and it didn't go well, but, um… we haven't talked even through letters since then so it's okay! What about you?
Elrissadel looks concerned but lets the comment pass, she can tell he'd rather not linger
Elrissadel: I've been good! We finally made it to Outland!
Elrissadel: I came here from Teleredor, that place is amazing!
Gausanders: It really is! So high up and build on a mushroom! That really is the best place in Outland!
Gausanders: Plus the world isn't crumbling around Telredor and you don't risk falling into the Twisting Nether, so that's a plus! *He grins.*
Elrissadel: So high! Which is fun because I can turn into a Bird now! So it's easy to practice
Elrissadel: oh yeah. no twisting nether is very good.
Gausanders: Really?! I heard druids could do that, that's awesome! You'll have to show me, one day!
Elrissadel grins at him "I'd love to show you. It is very very fun, I love all the animal forms, but it's always exciting to try something new"
Elrissadel: are you still in Outland regularly?
Gausanders: Yeah, metamorphoses are always fun! *He clears his throat at her question.* Not really, since I'm not in a squad anymore, I mostly stay here, in Azeroth.
Gausanders: It's not as exciting anymore, since everyone's fighting dangerous threats in another world, but uh… what about you? Is Outland still as dangerous and dangerous as it was last time I went?
Elrissadel nods emphatically "Oh yes. Very very dangerous still."
Elrissadel: Lots of work for us to do with the Cenarion Enclave. I think it will keep us busy for a while
Elrissadel: But I think here can also be that dangerous
Gausanders: Oh yeah, for sure! I remembered we helped the Cenarion Expedition a bit, but there was so much to do still! *He chuckles.* Yeah, I guess here can be dangerous too, but all my friends are doing dangerous things elsewhere, not here.
Gausanders: It's just not as fun to do these things alone!
Gausanders: Plus, I'm not really using my Fel-magic much right now, so…
Elrissadel frowns at him in confusion
Elrissadel: You have no one here? and no more *she looks momentarily uncomfortable* Fel magic?
Elrissadel: is everything ok?
Gausanders scratches the back of his head. "Well… I'm sure I could find someone to go on adventures with in Azeroth! And… yeah, I'm fine! I just realized that maybe corruption isn't really worth it."
Elrissadel looks like she's feeling waaaaay out of her depth but is game to have this conversation with Sandy anyways
Elrissadel: I could see that it has few benefits
Gausanders raises an eyebrow. "What?"
Elrissadel: Corruption?
Elrissadel: I could understand that its costs would start to outweigh its benefits
Elrissadel: or am I misunderstanding? I don't know that much about Warlocks sorry!
Gausanders: I wasn't really expecting… a druid to say that!
Elrissadel: You thought a druid would like corruption? *looks very confused*
Gausanders blinks. "Didn't you sa— OH! I think I misheard what you said! You said 'few benefits', not 'a few benefits'… right?"
Elrissadel 's face clears "oh OH. yeah, few benefits as in not many."
Elrissadel: although I guess there must be some? since there are quite a few Warlocks around?
Gausanders chuckles awkwardly. "Phew, okay, that makes more sense!" He shrugs. "I guess? I think it's an easy way to get stronger, maybe that's why?"
Gausanders: But yeah… the consequences aren't… great.
Elrissadel nods emphatically but then looks puzzled
Elrissadel: so what are you going to do?
Gausanders shrugs again. "I don't know! I'd like to help the squads again, because that's what I love to do, but being a warlock isn't the right way to do it, it seems… at least not for me!"
Elrissadel smiles at him. "That could maybe be exciting though? Getting to start over, but with all the knowledge that you gained"
Elrissadel: you'll have a very unique perspective whatever it is you decide to do. that's for sure!
Gausanders opens his mouth to answer, but then really thinks about it, mouth wide open. "I… I guess you're right. That's a nice way to look at it! I could start over with what I've already learned…"
Elrissadel nods at him smiling "exactly!"
Elrissadel: We live so long, Kaldorei, a lot of folks start over a few times. but what came before is always still important
Gausanders nods, thinking. "That makes sense, yeah." He beams at Rissa, as he gets up from his chair. "Thank you so much! I have a lot to think about!"
Elrissadel stands as well "I'm so glad!"
Elrissadel: and thank you for my gifts Sandy. I love them both!
Gausanders: See! I was the one who was supposed to give you a gift, but you also gifted me something! Wisdom! And that's the true meaning of Winter Veil! Gifts and wisdom!
Elrissadel laughs.
Elrissadel: Gifts and Wisdom! I like that.
Elrissadel she pockets the seeds and wraps the blanket up in her arms quickly rubbing her cheek against it one more time.
Elrissadel: I hope you figure things out! I'm always around if you want to send a letter again.
Gausanders: I'm really glad you liked your gifts! And thanks, what you said really helped! *He smiles softly at her.*
Elrissadel smiles back and quickly darts forward to give him a brief hug, before stepping back again "I'm really glad"
Gausanders is a little surprised for a split-second but hugs her back. "I've got to go, but getting to talk to you more and give you a gift this year was awesome!"
Elrissadel: it was! I need to start trekking back to Outland so I should go too. Thanks again Sandy.
Gausanders waves goodbye. "No, I'm the one who should be thanking you, really! I hope I'll see you soon, Rissa!" He begins walking towards the stairs, and as soon as he reaches them, waves goodbye to her once again.
Elrissadel waves to him as he leaves "till next time!"
Gausanders nods and runs up the stairs, leaving the headquarters, with a big smile on his face.*