RYSLIG; ic inbox

[isawallflower]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, CHEERYCHERRY. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.46.820.17 *** CHEERYCHERRY has joined 019.46.820.17 <CHEERYCHERRY> It's Riley! <CHEERYCHERRY> Please leave a message! <CHEERYCHERRY> Please be someone with their priorities sorted out properly!

main: CheeryCherry
anonymous: panthera, aed
retired: gflynn (anon)

Comments

[digiorno]

[The truth of the matter is that Giorno would have lost his mind over gingersnaps. He would have been excited, ecstatic even, because people don't make him things. The closest he had before Ryslig was when Mista volunteered to make him a sandwich in the days after the Coliseum but was so tired he put a slice of bread between two pieces of meat. Since then, he's experienced the force of nature that is Erina hosting tea, but . . .]

[This is different. And there's more to it than the gingersnaps, his mind doing calculations of mass and size as he looks in the bag and sees a small wrapped item, not nearly big enough to be the weight that's resting on his knees.]

[Cautiously, he pulls it out of the bag and unwraps the tissue paper with the care of someone defusing a bomb. His expression brightens when he sees color, brightens further when he sees shine, and once he's unwrapped it entirely—]

Riley!

[A breathless, delighted exclamation as he holds the dragonfly in both hands, staring down at it to capture every tiny detail. He rub his thumbs along the wings, fascinated by their texture.]

This is beautiful! Where did you — this is perfect. You remembered that?

[The conversation, that is. But of course she does. He does, too, because he made her laugh, even if it was by accident.]

[isawallflower]

[ Oh.

Oh, he looks...so happy. So bright that she almost can't look at him.

Her own little smile freezes on her face, but in a rare moment, she hasn't forced it there. Riley feels a burst of relief spread through her, all that horrible tension that's been working her muscles into knots washing away. ]

It's- really not that much, I just- I didn't have it specifically in mind, it was just, well, yes, of course I remembered it, it...stuck out, and the stall I visited, they were closing and I didn't really know what other animals you might like, and... You really like it?

[ Cairo's always cool, in control. Rarely wearing her heart on her sleeve like this. It means the gift exchanges they've had, usually Riley's the cheery, excited one, and Cairo's down-to-earth. Making her friend smile, it's always been an accomplishment, but... Sometimes, sometimes Riley's wondered if she ever appreciates any of her gifts. Sometimes... She feels more than a little desperate for validation.

It makes this moment stand out. It makes her acutely aware of how nice this feels, and— and how overwhelming it is.

She stands quickly. To stretch. Sitting feels like she has too much energy in her. Feels like she's going to burst. ]

[digiorno]

Of course I like it. I love it.

[His voice, quiet but practically vibrating with enthusiasm, is different from anything she’s heard from him yet. Similar to the excited chattering from earlier, but still not quite the same. He’s delighted, but more than that, he’s — awed. Riley tries to downplay it, to make it seem as though this isn’t anything special, but no matter what she does, he’s never going to see it that way.]

[There’s an incomprehensible difference between zero and one. That the brooch in his hand even exists is what’s shocking, not the details.]

[He runs his thumb over the jeweled back, back and forth, again and again. Smiling.]

. . . I learned that I like that part of giving gifts. Looking until something catches your eye and it feels right. That’s how — the ribbons were purposeful, but the knife caught me in the same way. It seemed like something you should have.

[Glancing up at the sudden motion of her standing, he looks faintly quizzical, but too pleased still to be distracted.]

Thank you. It’s perfect, I mean that.

[isawallflower]

You're, um. You're welcome~!

[ He even sounds happy...! This is a different feeling, from giving a gift to Cairo. Riley has to sit with it, to try and understand it. She can't right now. And...and hearing he found something...thinking specifically of her...

It fills her up with all that warmth. Too much warmth. Such...

Riley unzips the coat. She lowers her arms, and surprisingly? It slips off rather easily.

There, emerging from her right shoulder blade, is a petite wing, reaching the length of her back. It's completely feathered, orange and reds, some black on the back. She's wearing but a simple shoulderless shirt, to give it room to breathe. It shows off all the orange feathers on her shoulders, on her elbows, everything she's been trying so incredibly hard to conceal.

Her wing stretches out. It's nowhere near big enough for her to fly with, even if she did have a second one. But it's there. A little piece of her. A new one. On display. ]

...You're...very, very welcome, Giorno. Merry Christmas.

[ With just this little action... This is probably the best Christmas she's ever had. ]