(no subject)
At some point during the afternoon, Sariel Rager slips in from the Enterprise with an armful of presents. It's likely a good thing a few of the boxes are small, or the bar might've been playing host to a toppled-over pilot before long. In short order, a number of gifts are under the Milliways Christmas tree* that weren't there earlier in the day. Each one has a nametag attached.
The package with Will's name on it is wrapped in red and gold. That suits, once the box is opened; inside is a warm winter coat--cloaks only go so far, you know--colored predominately an equally brilliant red but embroidered with gold thread at the bottom hem, neck and sleeves.
Captain Kirk's tiny silver package contains something rather surprising; a highly intricate intrepid class starship model made of spun glass and very dark wood. The whole thing is small enough to fit in a person's palm, and anyone familiar with the design of certain vessels will immediately see that it's accurate down to the smallest detail.
Lucy Diamond's package is more oval than square and wrapped in green paper. Inside is the reason for the odd shape; it's a tin that, when sniffed, proves to be full of cocoa that might just have a little peppermint mixed in.
Dale Harding gets a silver package containing a book of stars and planets that goes far, far beyond the Terran system, including information about each one - culture, climate, technology. There are notations in a handful of the margins where specific points need clarifying and yes, some of said notations look handwritten. There's an inscription on the book's inside front cover in the same handwriting as appears on a few of the pages.
I thought you would appreciate this as an intellectual. Beyond that, this is proof that Earth improves between your time and mine; we've made contact with a large majority of these worlds. Tolerance has come a long way. Happy Christmas, Harding.
Sariel
And when next Harding glances at the tab board, he'll notice that owing anything is, for the moment, no longer an issue; someone's paid his off, and left a modest positive sum in it's place. He should be good to go where his next handful of meals are concerned, if nothing else. Maybe that note should've read happy debt-free christmas?
Inside the blue-wrapped box Gene Roe gets is a holocube that, when activated, shows the image of a system that's fairly obviously not Earth's--one planet is all pale blue land masses and silver ice, another's pair of continents are more amber than green in pale grey seas, a third is a study in craggy cliffs and sand and circled by a trio of thriving, lush green moons. the images shift every few seconds, zooming in and out on specific points, including the pale orange star the planets circle. There's a note tucked in beside the cube as well, and only part of it is in English.
This is proof that things really do get better on Earth. We've been to this star system and dozens of others. Happy christmas, Gene.
Sariel
Inside Valerie's red-wrapped package is a book of poems by half a dozen authors, only four of whom are human (one is Vulcan, the other is Bolian). According to it's first page, the anthology was compiled in 2340. there's an inscription on the inside of the front cover.
This came from my universe. It seemed like the sort of thing you would enjoy - hopefully I was right. Happy Christmas, Valerie.
Sariel
River's present is wrapped in metallic gold paper, and once the gift is opened it becomes evident very quickly just how much of a contrast that is. Inside is a cotton shawl, and though it's base color is white, that detail is barely visible through the hundreds of tiny lavender flowers patterning it from edge to edge. There's a note tucked in with the fabric as well, written in English except for the first line.
Corymbus aliqua est.
I'm sorry, but my Latin was never very good, and as far as I've been able to tell, there is no exact translation for 'lavender'. the meaning is clear enough without a precise word; the minute I saw this I thought of you, given how we were introduced. Happy Christmas, River.
Sariel
When Yrael opens the small green-wrapped box tagged with his name, he'll find a tin of mint tea waiting for him. Mmm, tea. Not that the one minty scent masks the other very well; there's also a catnip mouse in that box, kept carefully separate from the rest of the present. Evil, yes?
It's rather fitting that Seymour's gift is wrapped in green. His present is a book of flowers that was clearly published in Sariel's home universe; the plants listed are from a dozen worlds, only one of which is Earth. There are vivid pictures as well as information, and according to the first page, everything is current - it's copyright 2368. there's a handwritten inscription on the inside of the front cover.
I thought you would appreciate this. Now I won't confuse you by mentioning flowers from my universe! Happy Christmas, Seymour.
Sariel
The red-wrapped box that Ben Winchester gets contains a holocube. When activated, it shows a turning planet that's clearly not Earth--the fact that there are three vibrantly blue-shaded continents and large expanses of purple ocean probably gives that away. Each of the continets is zoomed in on as the image rotates, as are the oceans and their scattering of islands and the positively huge green coral reef encircling the northernmost land mass's eastern peninsula.
There's something for the fox, as well - the sparkly gold wrapping's loose compared with the others Sariel's brought, the better to be easily opened by paws. The gift itself? A rainbow-colored glass ball, hard enough to withstand being batted about the bar floor and it's million obstacles. That ball contains a bell, if the colors themselves weren't enough.
Gifts delivered, Sariel heads back out the door. It's almost certain she'll be in as the day progresses; it's December 24 on the ship, too, and spending Christmas in two places via time stoppage is infinitely better than just one, even if neither place is home.
*If there's no Milliways Christmas tree, the gifts are with Bar.
The package with Will's name on it is wrapped in red and gold. That suits, once the box is opened; inside is a warm winter coat--cloaks only go so far, you know--colored predominately an equally brilliant red but embroidered with gold thread at the bottom hem, neck and sleeves.
Captain Kirk's tiny silver package contains something rather surprising; a highly intricate intrepid class starship model made of spun glass and very dark wood. The whole thing is small enough to fit in a person's palm, and anyone familiar with the design of certain vessels will immediately see that it's accurate down to the smallest detail.
Lucy Diamond's package is more oval than square and wrapped in green paper. Inside is the reason for the odd shape; it's a tin that, when sniffed, proves to be full of cocoa that might just have a little peppermint mixed in.
Dale Harding gets a silver package containing a book of stars and planets that goes far, far beyond the Terran system, including information about each one - culture, climate, technology. There are notations in a handful of the margins where specific points need clarifying and yes, some of said notations look handwritten. There's an inscription on the book's inside front cover in the same handwriting as appears on a few of the pages.
I thought you would appreciate this as an intellectual. Beyond that, this is proof that Earth improves between your time and mine; we've made contact with a large majority of these worlds. Tolerance has come a long way. Happy Christmas, Harding.
Sariel
And when next Harding glances at the tab board, he'll notice that owing anything is, for the moment, no longer an issue; someone's paid his off, and left a modest positive sum in it's place. He should be good to go where his next handful of meals are concerned, if nothing else. Maybe that note should've read happy debt-free christmas?
Inside the blue-wrapped box Gene Roe gets is a holocube that, when activated, shows the image of a system that's fairly obviously not Earth's--one planet is all pale blue land masses and silver ice, another's pair of continents are more amber than green in pale grey seas, a third is a study in craggy cliffs and sand and circled by a trio of thriving, lush green moons. the images shift every few seconds, zooming in and out on specific points, including the pale orange star the planets circle. There's a note tucked in beside the cube as well, and only part of it is in English.
This is proof that things really do get better on Earth. We've been to this star system and dozens of others. Happy christmas, Gene.
Sariel
Inside Valerie's red-wrapped package is a book of poems by half a dozen authors, only four of whom are human (one is Vulcan, the other is Bolian). According to it's first page, the anthology was compiled in 2340. there's an inscription on the inside of the front cover.
This came from my universe. It seemed like the sort of thing you would enjoy - hopefully I was right. Happy Christmas, Valerie.
Sariel
River's present is wrapped in metallic gold paper, and once the gift is opened it becomes evident very quickly just how much of a contrast that is. Inside is a cotton shawl, and though it's base color is white, that detail is barely visible through the hundreds of tiny lavender flowers patterning it from edge to edge. There's a note tucked in with the fabric as well, written in English except for the first line.
Corymbus aliqua est.
I'm sorry, but my Latin was never very good, and as far as I've been able to tell, there is no exact translation for 'lavender'. the meaning is clear enough without a precise word; the minute I saw this I thought of you, given how we were introduced. Happy Christmas, River.
Sariel
When Yrael opens the small green-wrapped box tagged with his name, he'll find a tin of mint tea waiting for him. Mmm, tea. Not that the one minty scent masks the other very well; there's also a catnip mouse in that box, kept carefully separate from the rest of the present. Evil, yes?
It's rather fitting that Seymour's gift is wrapped in green. His present is a book of flowers that was clearly published in Sariel's home universe; the plants listed are from a dozen worlds, only one of which is Earth. There are vivid pictures as well as information, and according to the first page, everything is current - it's copyright 2368. there's a handwritten inscription on the inside of the front cover.
I thought you would appreciate this. Now I won't confuse you by mentioning flowers from my universe! Happy Christmas, Seymour.
Sariel
The red-wrapped box that Ben Winchester gets contains a holocube. When activated, it shows a turning planet that's clearly not Earth--the fact that there are three vibrantly blue-shaded continents and large expanses of purple ocean probably gives that away. Each of the continets is zoomed in on as the image rotates, as are the oceans and their scattering of islands and the positively huge green coral reef encircling the northernmost land mass's eastern peninsula.
There's something for the fox, as well - the sparkly gold wrapping's loose compared with the others Sariel's brought, the better to be easily opened by paws. The gift itself? A rainbow-colored glass ball, hard enough to withstand being batted about the bar floor and it's million obstacles. That ball contains a bell, if the colors themselves weren't enough.
Gifts delivered, Sariel heads back out the door. It's almost certain she'll be in as the day progresses; it's December 24 on the ship, too, and spending Christmas in two places via time stoppage is infinitely better than just one, even if neither place is home.
*If there's no Milliways Christmas tree, the gifts are with Bar.