Sae fell asleep downstairs on the couch and Nox didn't have the heart to move her. He couldn't sleep so he went for a walk. He picked up some gifts for his family. It was almost Christmas, and he had money to spend for once in his fucking life.
By the time dawn hit, Nox had already wrapped the gifts and was on his way to Kallisti. He dropped off gift cards to the spa for all the girls and guys with only three exceptions. He left a bottle of Carmen's favorite drink on her desk with a big bright red bow and a note written in his neat hand. "Thanks for everything. Hope this brightens more than your spirits. ~Nox".
Oriena got a bottle too -- her favorite. Or at least what she drank most when they went out. The bottle was wrapped in black paper with a gold ribbon and the note read simply. "To our respective monsters. May they feed together again soon. ~Nox"
The third exception was Raffe's. He didn't wrap it. Not that he couldn't but just that he didn't. He didn't know how long it would be left unopened and well, plants -- they needed light. Nox had replanted his trimmings and cleaned up the etchings he'd carved into the stone, and patched holes he'd made from too much work. It was nice, looked old even though it was new. The four plants were the same he'd helped Nox figure out. They'd helped him get through some stuff. He wrapped a red ribbon around the rectangular pot and left a note. It was a little more detailed than the others.
With the note he jotted down the address and skipped out the side door before anyone really notice he was there. He was a bundle of knots and nerves and the horde felt locked up and raring to go -- he could feel their sick call and he wanted them gone.
But outside a familiar head of blonde curls waited next to the door. He touched Nox's arm and smiled at him. In a singsong voice he spoke. "Come with me love. I'm gonna take you places you never dreamed. But turn off your wallet first."
Nox followed flipping the wallet off for the first time since he could remember, whatever thoughts before drifted outside the smile and the words spoken. He was captivated by the intoxicating voices.
By the time dawn hit, Nox had already wrapped the gifts and was on his way to Kallisti. He dropped off gift cards to the spa for all the girls and guys with only three exceptions. He left a bottle of Carmen's favorite drink on her desk with a big bright red bow and a note written in his neat hand. "Thanks for everything. Hope this brightens more than your spirits. ~Nox".
Oriena got a bottle too -- her favorite. Or at least what she drank most when they went out. The bottle was wrapped in black paper with a gold ribbon and the note read simply. "To our respective monsters. May they feed together again soon. ~Nox"
The third exception was Raffe's. He didn't wrap it. Not that he couldn't but just that he didn't. He didn't know how long it would be left unopened and well, plants -- they needed light. Nox had replanted his trimmings and cleaned up the etchings he'd carved into the stone, and patched holes he'd made from too much work. It was nice, looked old even though it was new. The four plants were the same he'd helped Nox figure out. They'd helped him get through some stuff. He wrapped a red ribbon around the rectangular pot and left a note. It was a little more detailed than the others.
Quote:Merry Christmas. Thanks for the help identifying these gems. Very helpful. I owe you a home cooked meal. Got a place nearby, stop by whenever. ~Nox
With the note he jotted down the address and skipped out the side door before anyone really notice he was there. He was a bundle of knots and nerves and the horde felt locked up and raring to go -- he could feel their sick call and he wanted them gone.
But outside a familiar head of blonde curls waited next to the door. He touched Nox's arm and smiled at him. In a singsong voice he spoke. "Come with me love. I'm gonna take you places you never dreamed. But turn off your wallet first."
Nox followed flipping the wallet off for the first time since he could remember, whatever thoughts before drifted outside the smile and the words spoken. He was captivated by the intoxicating voices.
![[Image: nox_sig.gif]](http://thefirstage.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/nox_sig.gif)