An Endless Birthday
[ Inside the Threshold ]
"Happy birthday, love."
"Already? That wasn't very much time." Desire's mouth twitched up into a slight smirk where hesheit lounged, the Endless glancing over at Regulus. "Now. There was something about birthdays-- Oh, yes. Presents." Standing, Desire pulled a small box out of the air and tossed it gamely over to Regulus.
The wizard caught it, almost dropping it. "Oh, honestly. You've got it completely backward -- You're supposed to get the presents, not the other way around."
"Really." Desire's expression was carefully neutral, no doubt hiding the sharp grin behind it. "I'll have to remember that, next year. ...Are you going to open it, or should I take it back?"
"Well, if you want it back..."
"No, I want you to open it."
Regulus couldn't completely hide his relief that Desire didn't seem terribly interested in getting presents -- He hadn't been entirely certain of what to give (after all, what do you find for the one that wants everything, but might already have it?), and this turn of events took the pressure off. Wordlessly, he untied the ribbon from the small box and removed the lid.
There was a ring inside, a gleam of silver metal (though it certainly isn't that) surrounding a blue-green stone. Desire stood behind, watching over Regulus' shoulder -- after all, he wanted to see this -- and smiled faintly, speaking quietly into Regulus' ear. "That's an alexandrite ruby. They're like chameleons-- dark red under artificial light, and blue-green under natural. I'm certain Del would get a kick out of it, being both red and green."
Regulus found himself staring into the box, not quite taking it out: Desire shifted slightly, continuing an explanation. "It is also a kind of portkey here and back to Milliways, so you can come and go as you like. ... Do you like it?"
Regulus got to his feet, turned, and threw his arms about Desire's neck, kissing the Endless.
Perhaps there was something to this giving presents on one's birthday after all.
"Happy birthday, love."
"Already? That wasn't very much time." Desire's mouth twitched up into a slight smirk where hesheit lounged, the Endless glancing over at Regulus. "Now. There was something about birthdays-- Oh, yes. Presents." Standing, Desire pulled a small box out of the air and tossed it gamely over to Regulus.
The wizard caught it, almost dropping it. "Oh, honestly. You've got it completely backward -- You're supposed to get the presents, not the other way around."
"Really." Desire's expression was carefully neutral, no doubt hiding the sharp grin behind it. "I'll have to remember that, next year. ...Are you going to open it, or should I take it back?"
"Well, if you want it back..."
"No, I want you to open it."
Regulus couldn't completely hide his relief that Desire didn't seem terribly interested in getting presents -- He hadn't been entirely certain of what to give (after all, what do you find for the one that wants everything, but might already have it?), and this turn of events took the pressure off. Wordlessly, he untied the ribbon from the small box and removed the lid.
There was a ring inside, a gleam of silver metal (though it certainly isn't that) surrounding a blue-green stone. Desire stood behind, watching over Regulus' shoulder -- after all, he wanted to see this -- and smiled faintly, speaking quietly into Regulus' ear. "That's an alexandrite ruby. They're like chameleons-- dark red under artificial light, and blue-green under natural. I'm certain Del would get a kick out of it, being both red and green."
Regulus found himself staring into the box, not quite taking it out: Desire shifted slightly, continuing an explanation. "It is also a kind of portkey here and back to Milliways, so you can come and go as you like. ... Do you like it?"
Regulus got to his feet, turned, and threw his arms about Desire's neck, kissing the Endless.
Perhaps there was something to this giving presents on one's birthday after all.