[ One morning in December after Claude's slipped out of bed to leave its slumbering occupant(s) behind, some packages will appear at the foot of Sylvain's bed. They've been carefully placed enough to not be in the usual path the other might stumble upon while half awake, but not so far out of the way for their bright wrapping paper in teals and a particular fire red to go completely unnoticed.
A long flat box roughly the side of a desk mat will reveal a familiar sort of box for holding teas with designs carved into the top and sides. When Sylvain lifts the lid, it won't be tea he finds inside. Rather, it's bundles of seeds in each individual space, all carefully labeled with their names on the front of each tag with their names: flowers meant to be dried for teas, leafy herbs that can be used fresh or saved for later for cooking, and a handful of others good for all around purposes. The back of each tag has a short description of their uses around the Free Cities and Abraxas on each, too.
The larger package next to it contains a scale with wood to match the box, carved marble elements, and gold metal accents. A drawer on the side contains a variety of weights, including enchanted ones to assist with and make it much easier to weigh very light ingredients that might not otherwise register on the scale.
Finally, the small basket beside it all contains bottles of weapon oils, hand oils meant to ward off some of the desert dryness, and maybe a bottle of massage oil or two for whoever and whenever Sylvain might like to use them. Wrapped up also are two pairs of gloves, one that's thicker leather best for whatever might be lurking out in the desert and the other a finer leather lined with werewolf fur he'd picked up in Nocwich, and ones meant to stave off the cold. Or what their new owner might consider cold - same difference. Atop it all is an envelope with Sylvain's name on it, and inside is a letter:
Sylvain—
We've passed another year of this holiday here, and I'd like to think I was a little better prepared for it this time around. What's here is only a sliver of what you deserve, even if you immediately come to find me to tell me this is too much. It's not, and it's the least of what I can do for all that you've done. I'll repeat that as many times as it takes for you to really hear it.
My hope is that you may be able to use some of this to continue with what you've started, and to put them to good use doing things you enjoy. They aren't the only ways I plan to support you in that, but perhaps for the times when I can't be standing there at your side they'll be a reminder that I'm there all the same. That you're never here alone, and that there's someone here who believes in you for who you are - all of it, no matter what.
—Claude.
In addition to that, when Sylvain heads out to the greenhouse he'll find his tools all neatly arranged just where he likes them, the watering cans filled and ready to go, and a vase with a vibrantly blooming desert flower waiting upon his usual workbench. Just because. ]
— very backdated december gift delivery
A long flat box roughly the side of a desk mat will reveal a familiar sort of box for holding teas with designs carved into the top and sides. When Sylvain lifts the lid, it won't be tea he finds inside. Rather, it's bundles of seeds in each individual space, all carefully labeled with their names on the front of each tag with their names: flowers meant to be dried for teas, leafy herbs that can be used fresh or saved for later for cooking, and a handful of others good for all around purposes. The back of each tag has a short description of their uses around the Free Cities and Abraxas on each, too.
The larger package next to it contains a scale with wood to match the box, carved marble elements, and gold metal accents. A drawer on the side contains a variety of weights, including enchanted ones to assist with and make it much easier to weigh very light ingredients that might not otherwise register on the scale.
Finally, the small basket beside it all contains bottles of weapon oils, hand oils meant to ward off some of the desert dryness, and maybe a bottle of massage oil or two for whoever and whenever Sylvain might like to use them. Wrapped up also are two pairs of gloves, one that's thicker leather best for whatever might be lurking out in the desert and the other a finer leather lined with werewolf fur he'd picked up in Nocwich, and ones meant to stave off the cold. Or what their new owner might consider cold - same difference. Atop it all is an envelope with Sylvain's name on it, and inside is a letter: In addition to that, when Sylvain heads out to the greenhouse he'll find his tools all neatly arranged just where he likes them, the watering cans filled and ready to go, and a vase with a vibrantly blooming desert flower waiting upon his usual workbench. Just because. ]