There are also another series of boxes under the tree, having been placed there sometime in the night--each box a simple puzzle, and bearing the name of its intended recipient.
For Morty, a toy sword and shield, for all his daydreams as a knight in shining armor. For Lyn, his steadfast companion, a toy bow and a quiver of padded arrows. For Clara, a sweet-scented pillow meant to help ensure sweet and peaceful dreams. Ingress will find dance slippers in her package, which play soft ballet music when she wears them. Alured will find himself the proud owner of a set of detailed blocks, the makings of his own little goblin town. Amaris receives an ornate goblin rattle, with lots of shiny bits, dangly bits, and pretty little baubles. The twins receive a pair of (distinct) mobiles, dazzling orrerries to amuse and delight. Even Sasha is not forgotten, receiving an intricate puzzle-box that seems to have been crafted with all the diabolical ingenuity absent from the children's packages. One might almost think it wasn't meant to be opened.
There is also a small pile of such boxes bearing Ali's name, containing a gown, jewelery, an ornate little bottle of perfume, truffles and candied rose petals, and a globe of crystal rather like the last one Jareth gave her. Instead of her dreams, however, this one shows her children--whichever one is foremost in her mind at the moment, wherever they happen to be.
And in his castle, Jareth lounges in his throne and gloats, certain his gifts will be well-received.
This will teach Ali to inspect things more carefully, next time the pets are upset. She'd dutifully looked around the night before when they all started complaining of funny smells, but hadn't seen anything that looked out of place. Another half-dozen presents under the tree wasn't unusual; nor was twice as many. She and Sasha both spoiled the children tremendously, and neither always kept very careful count of how many presents there would be. And if things were a little glittery, well, isn't this the time of year for such?
By morning, she'd forgotten, all caught up in the joys and triumphs of the day; in trying to take pictures as fast as the goslings could unwrap things, in making sure to admire everything diligently, and in keeping Davyn from trying to eat anything that wasn't food (and a few things that, technically, were). It wasn't until the children were busily playing with their new treasures that she sat down beside her wife and even thought about opening her own presents.
"I think we did well this year," she murmurs, wrapping an arm around Sasha's shoulders to pull the smaller woman against her side. "Where did you find those slippers for Ingress? It's a positively inspired gift."
"The slippers?" Ali receives one of Sasha's rare looks of surprise, sitting up a little from where she'd started to snuggle in to Ali's hold. "I was about to congratulate you on keeping them from me..." Unspoken are the rapid conclusions to which she leaps. Doubtless, Ali is reaching the same even now. "Are they safe, do you think?"
Ali gives Sasha an equally surprised look, then turns her attention to where Ingress is dancing. The girl certainly looks well, and happy enough. Dismissing any immediate danger, Ali slides out from beneath her wife to tear through her own presents, looking for a tell-tale clue.
Like the crystal, which is held in a death grip once she finds it.
"I," she whispers through her teeth, "am going to kill him."
"Mayhap it could wait," Sasha offers, slipping an arm around Ali's waist again and cuddling close, "until after lunch? The children are so enjoying this morning, and would worry to see you leave in a temper so early." Her tone is a soothing croon, her hands striving to stroke a note of calm into her beloved.
"Besides," she adds, in her honeyed whisper, "it would be far too gentle to simply kill him..."
Ali calms under her wife's masterful attentions, leaning against her with a sigh. And then, oh, that smile that comes out...
"Yes, you're right. They know I'm going out this afternoon to deliver presents, and will be far too engrossed in their new toys to notice much that I'm gone."
"Just so, my love," Sasha purrs, seeing that smile. She cuddles close, taking an anticipatory thrill in the ideas of what are likely to soon be Jareth's fate.
"Thank you for reminding me," she murmurs against Sasha's lips before claiming a soft kiss. A kiss that gets the older goslings snickering into their sleeves.
"Well, if there are snickering children about," she comments with a tone pitched to be heard by everyone in the room, "it must be time to eat. I shall go see to that."
For Morty, a toy sword and shield, for all his daydreams as a knight in shining armor. For Lyn, his steadfast companion, a toy bow and a quiver of padded arrows. For Clara, a sweet-scented pillow meant to help ensure sweet and peaceful dreams. Ingress will find dance slippers in her package, which play soft ballet music when she wears them. Alured will find himself the proud owner of a set of detailed blocks, the makings of his own little goblin town. Amaris receives an ornate goblin rattle, with lots of shiny bits, dangly bits, and pretty little baubles. The twins receive a pair of (distinct) mobiles, dazzling orrerries to amuse and delight. Even Sasha is not forgotten, receiving an intricate puzzle-box that seems to have been crafted with all the diabolical ingenuity absent from the children's packages. One might almost think it wasn't meant to be opened.
There is also a small pile of such boxes bearing Ali's name, containing a gown, jewelery, an ornate little bottle of perfume, truffles and candied rose petals, and a globe of crystal rather like the last one Jareth gave her. Instead of her dreams, however, this one shows her children--whichever one is foremost in her mind at the moment, wherever they happen to be.
And in his castle, Jareth lounges in his throne and gloats, certain his gifts will be well-received.
Reply
By morning, she'd forgotten, all caught up in the joys and triumphs of the day; in trying to take pictures as fast as the goslings could unwrap things, in making sure to admire everything diligently, and in keeping Davyn from trying to eat anything that wasn't food (and a few things that, technically, were). It wasn't until the children were busily playing with their new treasures that she sat down beside her wife and even thought about opening her own presents.
"I think we did well this year," she murmurs, wrapping an arm around Sasha's shoulders to pull the smaller woman against her side. "Where did you find those slippers for Ingress? It's a positively inspired gift."
Reply
Reply
Like the crystal, which is held in a death grip once she finds it.
"I," she whispers through her teeth, "am going to kill him."
Reply
"Besides," she adds, in her honeyed whisper, "it would be far too gentle to simply kill him..."
Reply
"Yes, you're right. They know I'm going out this afternoon to deliver presents, and will be far too engrossed in their new toys to notice much that I'm gone."
Reply
Reply
"Well, if there are snickering children about," she comments with a tone pitched to be heard by everyone in the room, "it must be time to eat. I shall go see to that."
Reply
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