whatisright | El Nysa IC Inbox

( Whoever came up with the idea of a secret gift exchange did not do so with either of Anders' or Justice's situations in mind. Anders, for one thing, has never been good at deception. And that probably wouldn't be such a big deal if he were given the name of someone he'd never met. He could just drop his present off in the mail, leave it for his recipient to pick up. They would never have to see each other or him trying (and failing) to be stoic.

But instead he got Justice. The spirit who Anders not only shares a body with, but who would be also able to read his mind if the topic ever came up. He'd see straight through all of his bullshit.

So he waits until the end of his shift to call Justice over, saying that he has something to show him back in his room. He punctuates the request with a wink, which probably goes over the spirit's head because it's innuendo and they don't have that in the Fade, but Anders revels in it anyway. )

It's something I know you've been wanting to get your hands on for a while.

( Someone please stop him. )

[Justice's eyes narrow at Anders suspiciously, but it's the same kind of narrowing that he always has whenever he knows that he's missing something but whatever he's missing is probably harmless.] You are implying something. I know not what.

[Justice has yet to figure out that whenever mortals make implications and wink like that, they are always, without fail, making a sex joke. One day he'll connect the dots, but today is not that day.

But regardless, he puts down the herbs he was grinding down and follows Anders, interest piqued.]

( It certainly doesn't look like Anders is going to try to be the first one to explain it to him, either. Not when he's looking so thoroughly amused at Justice's confusion, his eyes crinkling at the edges and his mouth parting with a soft but breathy chuckle. )

It'll come to you eventually. You just need to spend more time around us mortals.

( Preferably ones that had the same sense of humor as Anders. He doesn't have to suggest that Justice needs to spend more time around him, as he's already been doing plenty enough of that already. It gets a little overbearing at times, but Anders does what he can to focus the spirit's attention away to other tasks, like grinding herbs or collecting ingredients for potions. He waits for Justice to fall in step beside him before leading him on toward the barracks, the smile in his eyes still lingering on for quite a while. )

It seems I have little choice but to do so.

[Not that Justice minds, most of the time. He likes mortal company. Though he can't say that he's sorry that there's at least one other spirit that wanders amongst the mortals here.

But Anders is smiling, and that bodes well. Probably. Justice doesn't try to hide his curiosity as he follows.] What is it?

I can't tell you, that would ruin the surprise.

( Justice doesn't need to worry about the smile. This one, unlike the last, is actually fairly genuine. It's filled with affection, just the same as his touches have been, and an exuberance that only seems to grow the further in the move toward Anders' room. By the time they reach the door, Anders is all but radiating with it. )

Don't look until I tell you to. ( He says, looking over his shoulder for just a brief moment before walking over toward his bed. He doesn't actually check to see if Justice is following his instructions, though, before pulling his gift out from under the mattress. )

I hope it's as good as the one you had back home.

( Once Anders takes his place in front of him, he allows Justice his chance to look. In his hands and in a sheath, is a long, beautifully crafted sword similar to the one that Justice carried with him in the Wardens. The blade on this one is new, though, and forged by an Olympian blacksmith in town. Anders holds it out to him, his expression a little more subdued but hopeful. )

[Anders is incredibly excited about this. It rubs off a little, and there's no small amount of fondness in his eyes as Justice looks at the ceiling when Anders tells him not to look. It's a strange thing to ask, but if Justice never indulged the weird things mortals do, he'd never last in this world.

When he looks down again, his customary frown deepens in surprise. He glances at Anders' face before carefully taking the sword in hand, drawing his fingers along the sheath and handle.] A gift? Why?

[Anders has already given him so much. Why would he give me more?

He unsheaths the sword, holding it in his right hand and turning away from Anders to give it a couple of experimental swings. The weight is right in his hand--heavy enough to do damage, but light enough to wield with only one hand.

He sheaths the sword. The corners of his mouth and eyes soften into something that almost vaguely resembles a smile as he looks at Anders again.] It is perfect.

( Anders has given him a lot, but that doesn't mean he isn't allowed to give him any more. It's worth it to see the way that Justice nearly smiles at him, to see him with a sword in his hand again. Anders' chest clenches tightly at the sight, and he answers, softly, )

Because it's the holidays, and this is what we humans do to celebrate. We gives gifts to the people we like so that we can make them happy and show them that we care.

( He knows that Justice already is aware of how much he cares about him. He's known it ever since Anders told him about what he did, about how he took Justice into his body. It still feels good to admit it aloud to him, though. )

You needed a new sword, anyway, from the way it sounds. ( His eyes crinkle with amusement, thinking back to when he ran into Justice at the merchant's stall. )

[Justice knows that Anders cares. He knows that Anders cares enough to offer his body so that Justice wouldn't be trapped in a corpse, and Justice doesn't think anyone else has ever cared for him that much. It's still nice to hear, though. It makes him feel warm inside.

Justice looks back down at the sword, that almost-smile still on his face. If Anders' goal was to make him feel happy and cared for, he succeeded.] I did need a new sword. Thank you, Anders.

[Justice undoes the belt at his waist to attach the sheathed sword. The weight is comfortable at his side, and it makes him feel a little more like himself.] It was my intention to give you a gift as well after we were finished here. Do you have time to accompany me to the place I am staying?

( It looks good on him. Anders couldn't help but stare as he watches the spirit tie the sword to the side of his belt, his eyes still creasing slightly. He wasn't expecting to get anything in return from Justice. That's why he looks so surprised when the spirit tells him that he has something waiting for him back at his home. )

You got something for me?

( He doesn't even know what it is, but he feels like he's completely unworthy of it. He nods in agreement, though, and brushes his hands against the sides of his coat as if to prepare himself to leave. )

I didn't think you knew about that tradition.

I did not until I was informed that I was to deliver a present to a human I have never met before.

[That was a pretty big tip off. That, and his misadventures with ‘Alan’ when he tried to go shopping for it.

Justice leads Anders outside, allowing him to close the clinic before walking at a clipped pace towards Stannis’ home. Justice isn’t sure he can really call it his own home, since he barely spends time there, but it is the place where he rests and keeps his things.]

Afterwards, I happened to come across something that made me think of you. [And he thinks Anders will be happy when he meets said ‘something.’]

( A look of recognition passes across his features when Justice mentions the message that he received. Anders got the same one, of course, with Justice's name on it. But he had already planned on giving the spirit a gift long before that, so Anders just took it more as a helpful reminder. )

Justice, you know you don't have to spend any money on me.

( He assumes it may have been something Justice saw in one of the shops. His head tilts down toward his feet, making him look a bit sheepish as they make their way out of the noble district. )

Perhaps you will be pleased to know that I did not.

[Justice, for someone so blunt and honest, thinks he's doing pretty well at keeping the surprise a surprise for the length of time it takes to get from the clinic to Stannis' home. 'Alan' had advised him that these things are meant to be surprises, and he'd like to do this the proper mortal way.] Though I am under the impression that mortals give each other gifts not because they feel an obligation, but because they feel a desire to do so.

Oh. ( Anders does look incredibly pleased by that, and by the fact that Justice went out of his way to get him something because he wanted to. It makes him feel all gooey on the inside, and it shows in the way that he looks over at Justice. )

That's good. And you're right, it usually isn't something we usually do out of obligation. ( He's a little at a loss for words, so he waits until they are almost all the way up to the door to to tell Justice, his hand rubbing against the back of his neck. )

Thank you for thinking of me.

[There it is again. That... rush of affection radiating from Anders. It's foreign and strange, but Justice would be lying to himself if he said he didn't like it. The corners of Justice's eyes and mouth soften in almost a smile.] Do not thank me yet. Now avert your eyes.

[When Justice opens the front door, it's clear that both he and Stannis have pretty sparse decorating sensibilities. Justice's side of the apartment looks barely touched, but in his room with its untouched bed, there is a little creature rolled up on his pillow.]

I came across her litter in the snow. Her siblings were content for me to simply find them a warm place, but this one deeply wishes for a human companion. [Justice scoops the tiny kitten into his hands. She yawns, blinking sleepily at Anders as Justice presents her.] I believed I knew of a human who might enjoy her companionship.

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