[ Deposited on Nikos’ doorknob on Satinalia using its drawstrings is a tiny burlap bag containing a ring that’s pretty tasteful, dark metal with a thin visible strip of lyrium giving it away as enchanted in some way, and a note that says: ]
The man I won it from said it steadied his hands.
[ No he didn’t, and no it didn’t. It’s actually a ring that will shatter and heal its wearer back out of danger, though not completely, one time only, if they attempt to shuffle all the way off the mortal coil. But Kostos threw it at the stone walls a few times to make it look used, and steadier hands are subjective and psychosomatic enough that the lie might pass? Maybe?
Anyway, it’s one (1) free ticket for a dramatic death scene, minus death, someday. ]
[In due time, Nikos finds the bag. Opens it. Reads the note. Feels, weirdly, something like-- well, there is no word for it, really. The cousin of surprise, with a crust of bizarre anticipation. It's confusing; so he spends the next few moments looking, blankly, at the ring. It's confusing, so blankness tints toward a faint irritation. So, what. They do Satinalia now?
He does not write or respond to Kostos. He certainly does not get him a gift in return. His sole interest in Satinalia is the drinking parts. And even if he did celebrate, it's not like Kostos has given him gifts in the past to mark the occasion. It's not like he and Kostos exchanged gifts, ever, not properly, even when they were small. Once and once only, at six, or so the family legend goes, a tale trotted out at parties: that time their mother put a package in Nikos' hand and said, Give this to your brother, and without hesitation, Nikos opened the package himself--but it was only fair, because Kostos was doing the same thing with the package he was meant to give to Nikos.
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timeasmymeasure
delivery.
Date: 2018-11-05 08:38 pm (UTC)The man I won it from said it steadied his hands.
[ No he didn’t, and no it didn’t. It’s actually a ring that will shatter and heal its wearer back out of danger, though not completely, one time only, if they attempt to shuffle all the way off the mortal coil. But Kostos threw it at the stone walls a few times to make it look used, and steadier hands are subjective and psychosomatic enough that the lie might pass? Maybe?
Anyway, it’s one (1) free ticket for a dramatic death scene, minus death, someday. ]
no subject
Date: 2018-11-07 07:55 pm (UTC)He does not write or respond to Kostos. He certainly does not get him a gift in return. His sole interest in Satinalia is the drinking parts. And even if he did celebrate, it's not like Kostos has given him gifts in the past to mark the occasion. It's not like he and Kostos exchanged gifts, ever, not properly, even when they were small. Once and once only, at six, or so the family legend goes, a tale trotted out at parties: that time their mother put a package in Nikos' hand and said, Give this to your brother, and without hesitation, Nikos opened the package himself--but it was only fair, because Kostos was doing the same thing with the package he was meant to give to Nikos.
So why fucking start a useless tradition now.
He does start wearing the ring.
Don't say anything about it.]