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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | For her first Winter Veil in Stormwind, Aszera makes a significant effort on gifts for friends and family. |
| Rating: | M for Mature 17+ |
For the Winter Veil of Year 29, Aszera Sunstrike sends a number of gifts to friends and acquaintances, each accompanied by a short and proper note wishing them a happy Winter Veil. In the below, I describe the gift and an extract from the note that provides some context.
Alaisa Lysander
A smooth white chess piece, a queen. This one appears to be specially commissioned, as the queen appears to be dancing, and a veil covers her face. On her shoulder is perched a small bird, which on very close examination appears to be portrayed as mechanical.
For Ally, who can move in all directions. I wanted to get you a special chess set, because you said you like the game. But, well, maybe a queen’s the best place to start. Let me know if this one turned out how I asked, and if you’re interested in the rest of the set. There’s more years of Winter Veil ahead. If not, I hope you still like this one anyway.
House Aspenwood
A delicately crystal wine decanter with a metal handle in the shape of a grapevine, complete with little metal leaves that curl over the base of the container.
As for the decanter, I realize you don’t need it, but I hope its presence pleases you just the same.
Ben Hazan
A wrapped box labeled to ‘Ben the All-Around Best’. Inside is a fancy pen with a little tower emblem on the clip, together with a leatherbound notebook.
I thought maybe you could use something for writing, in case you’re working on another book, and also for lord stuff, which seems to involve a lot more writing in Stormwind. I realize I’m not always the best sort of friend to have. I really am trying though, and I’ll keep trying. Best regards to your wife.
Mordecai and Colson Aspenwood
The box is a little larger - it contains a stack of parchment paper and a little set of four ceramic dessert bowls. There’s a pattern in the glaze that is reminiscent of the green grass and floating rocks of Nagrand.
Thank you both for always accepting me, even when I’m sometimes a little hard to accept. Mordecai, thanks for being there for me this summer, after things got harder. I asked at a bakery in Oldtown, and they said a baker can never have enough parchment paper. As for the bowls, they’re part of an ‘Outland’ series – I thought, maybe good memories.
Elle Ebek
A bottle of single-malt whiskey, and a pair of wool-lined leather gloves.
I’m not sure if you like whiskey, but I figured at the very least it’d probably be welcome for your company. I heard they do some kind of rice liquor over there? This is liquor for the homesick, to help feelings melt away. Anyway, also some gloves, because winter is surprisingly cold.
Emerine Nightvine
A single red, thorny rose, still alive with roots in a soil bag.
If you’d like more gifts, I have some good ideas back at my place.
House Fallon
Two gifts arrive. One is a metal tray affixed to a small motor, accompanied by a small bag of coastal sand. Another gift is a recent, hand-drawn map of the underground land of Vashj’ir, from Stormwind cartographer J. Lissman, complete with an illustration marking the location of Nespirah and decorative krakens on each corner.
It’s a toy for the children to play with wave harmonic resonances, when they’re old enough. It’s really very interesting mathematically, and also pretty. As for the map, it’s commemorative of our victories in Vashj’ir, and in confidence for more Alliance victories to come.
Isla Lenaire
A thin wooden bookmark with a picture burned into it horizontally, the upper body of a long-haired woman standing in what seems to be a dark, rippling lake.
When I heard about your prize, I had somebody read me your story in a cafe. Everyone nearby was captivated, like you wouldn’t believe. Doomed love makes absolutely the best stories, doesn’t it? This is a little gift in congratulations, and in hope for future stories.
Lena Shine
A nice metal protractor and compass set in a leather case.
I wasn’t sure if you had a set of these of your own, so either now you do, or you have one more. I figured you needed them for drawing all the demonic sigils and shit. Also, I thought you and your husband might be into angles and circles. Geometry seems to be a turn-on for people I know these days.
Natalyah Kensington-Whit and Mayellen Hazan
A fancy coffee machine of gnomish make for the detective office. It has a startling number of drink options, all at the press of a button, if you put whole coffee beans in the top.
It makes coffee drinks that I never knew existed. I bet it’ll keep us awake and investigating stuff long past when we should all be asleep. It’ll be great!
Ozzy Gravehowl
Light blue leather flats with soft, flexible soles.
Don’t slip in them, but these will help if you want to practice spins. Shoes with traction will hurt your knees. I guessed on the size from when we were dancing. If it’s wrong, just let me know and I’ll change them out. I hope your new guy likes amar’uel.
Ralaea Westwind
A fluffy, cozy-looking blue scarf. There’s a long patch on the underside where the fabric seems noticeably denser.
If you don’t need this you can just throw it away, I’m sure you’re traveling light. Winter is really cold, though. I also don’t really know how the whole sha thing works, but this is specially supposed to protect you from stuff in the air if you fold it over your mouth. If sha have spores like mushrooms or some shit like that, it should keep you safe. Stay warm.
Roper Sunstrike
Three different bags of coffee beans, from three different stores around Stormwind environs – Northshire Roast, Mirror Lake Coffee, Westbrook Pour.
I was going to get you a shiny new rack to play with, but the Stormwind Torture Store was fresh out. Instead, I asked around about the best coffee shops, went to the three most frequently mentioned, and bought whatever the shopkeeper said their top one was. Or, to be specific, I asked which one ‘could wake the dead’. I didn’t explain I meant it literally. So yeah, I did a whole investigation just for you, for free. If you’re able to notice that one is better than the others, tell me for the future.
Sil Silentstep
A deck of playing cards. But then, on closer examination, the cards are sharp-edged and are made of something denser and heavier than usual playing cards.
I thought maybe you’d like something to throw that isn’t a knife? They work as actual cards too, so you can play with them if you’re careful. You probably want to keep them away from Nate, they seem pretty sharp.
Syarra Sunstrike
A silver chased armband decorated with gryphon feathers.
I bought you this at the Fallon gala, the night our former countrymen decided to fuck up everything again. Anyway, I know you might not get a lot of chances to dress up nice in your nomadic killer lifestyle, but maybe someday you’ll have friends who do parties. Or more realistically, I can trick some hapless person into joining me for a dance party with you and Roper. It’ll be fun. Love you, sis. Stay sane.
House Tyrrell
A collection of children’s board games arrives, including Feathers and Portals, Warships, and Mystery Mansion.
I don’t know how the orphans are going to handle being inside with the winter coming, so I figured more things to keep them occupied might come in handy. They’re for learning stuff, too. Counting and logic and stuff like that.