Three Sweet Gifts
Title: Coffee Chocolate
Fandom: Death Note
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Summary: The present Matsuda gives Ide is typical Matsuda.
“What is it?” Ide asked.
“It’s chocolate,” Matsuda said, speaking as though Ide was very, very stupid. “See? It says so, right there.”
“Yes, Matsuda,” Ide said, with somewhat exaggerated patience. “I can see that it’s chocolate. Why have you given it to me?”
“For your birthday,” Matsuda said, speaking super slowly now.
“I don’t like chocolate,” Ide said, speaking super slowly himself.
“Rubbish,” Matsuda said. “Everyone likes chocolate! Besides, it’s coffee flavoured. I know you like coffee.”
Ide gave up.
Besides, when he had some that evening just so he could tell Matsuda he had, it didn’t taste half-bad.
Title: Arthur's Birthday
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,196
Summary: Arthur's birthday is always a difficult time in Camelot.
Arthur’s birthday was a confused time in Camelot.
On one hand, it was the prince’s birthday. That demanded gifts, a feast, a joyful party. City wide celebration. On the other hand, it was the anniversary of Queen Ygraine’s death and no one could forget it. Certainly no one who had been around at the time. As the day approached, the king grew more and more melancholy, usually locking himself away on the actual day. It was difficult to feel comfortable at a party knowing that the king was hiding alone with his grief.
In the end, Camelot compromised. Lavish gifts were given to the prince. At least some effort was made in the kitchens to give him a good meal. But on the whole, there were fewer celebrations than one might expect. Arthur never questioned it. No one did.
Except, of course, Merlin.
“It’s going to be your birthday?” he beamed at Arthur in an incredibly annoying way when Arthur mentioned it. “Oh brilliant, I love birthdays! Do you have a party? Do I get to go? Will there be dancing? And jesters? I’ve always wanted to see jesters …”
“You are such a girl,” Arthur said coldly. “No, we do not have a party. I’m a grown man, Merlin. I don’t throw parties. There will not be dancing. And if you really want to see a jester, why don’t you take a look in the mirror?”
Merlin’s face drooped. Arthur pretended not to notice. Merlin was always getting his feelings hurt by something. That was how he was and Arthur was beginning to get used to it. It wasn’t proper of course but very little that Merlin ever did was.
Merlin didn’t say anything else about Arthur’s birthday. Arthur was glad about it. He didn’t like to think about how other people celebrated their birthdays. He knew that this year would be the same as all the others. Gifts sent from neighbouring kingdoms, mostly ceremonial and meaningless. Something would come from his father but Arthur had long doubted that he organised it himself - perhaps one of his father’s trusted servants or the knights or even Gaius. A few of the knights he was closest to gave him small gifts - those were the things that meant the most to him. Morgana would gift him something, perhaps some of the nobles. It would all be low-key. In a few days, they would have a separate ceremony to officially make him Crown Prince of Camelot. He was looking forward to that but it didn’t change the fact that his birthday would be the depressing event that it always was.
And it ought to be depressing. He knew that. His mother had died. His birth had killed her. It was hardly a recipe for good cheer.
He just wished that his father would talk about her. That someone would. Was it selfish to want to know who she had been, if he was like her in any way? If he was worthy of being her child? The closest he’d got was that once, whilst his father had been more than a little drunk, he’d reached out and stroked Arthur’s cheek tenderly and murmured “You look just like her sometimes.”
Arthur treasured that moment. It was all he had.
He woke up on his birthday to find that Merlin had brought his breakfast as usual. What was not as usual was that there was also a little vase with a little flower in it.
Arthur stared at the flower. There had never been flowers before.
“What’s that?” he asked, pointing.
“It’s a mauve carnation,” Merlin said cheerfully.
“Yes, Merlin,” Arthur said. “I can see that it’s a carnation although the difference between mauve and purple rather escapes me. What is it doing on my breakfast tray?”
“Someone told me to put it there,” Merlin said. “Because it’s your birthday.”
Arthur eyed him suspiciously. It would be just like Merlin to give him flowers for a birthday present. Much more likely him than anyone else. Typical Merlin.
He ate his breakfast and left the flower on the table to show that it was an appreciated gesture and went straight out to the training grounds. It was easier, to spend his birthday out here. There wasn’t much people could do that was different. Everything made sense when you were trying to chop someone’s head off with a sword.
His knights greeted him with polite nods. A few even offered congratulations but most left him alone. They understood the way Camelot worked by now. Merlin lingered nearby and Arthur thought he looked rather sulky but he didn’t say anything. Arthur suspected that Gaius had probably had a talk with him and told him how things had to be.
The rest of the day went basically as he had expected. No surprises. Morgana had got him a beautiful robe which Arthur thanked her for. It was exceptionally well made and would look excellent on him, he knew. Morgana had exquisite taste.
He didn’t see his father the whole day.
He was a little surprised that Merlin hadn’t got him a gift. Merlin didn’t have to, of course but it was the kind of thing he would have expected Merlin to do. Still, Merlin probably didn’t care about him that much. Besides, what could he possibly give Arthur that Arthur would want?
The flower had been moved onto the table by his bedside when he went to bed. Arthur decided not to comment. He let Merlin undress him and then crawled into bed, glad the day was over. Merlin moved around the room, extinguishing candles quietly, doing the one by Arthur’s bed last.
“Happy birthday, Sire,” he said softly.
Before Arthur could offer any sort of response, he felt Merlin lean over him. He thought for a confused moment that Merlin was planning to kiss him but instead, Merlin just lingered there for a moment, then blew a breath of air very softly onto Arthur’s cheek before walking quietly out of the room. Arthur meant to sit up and ask just what Merlin thought he was doing but instead, he found himself flopping onto the pillows, his head suddenly unbearably heavy. Sleep overtook him within moments, almost as though he was enchanted.
He dreamed he was in a garden somewhere, the sun shining down and turning everything into gold. He knew Merlin was around somewhere because he could feel him but that wasn’t important. His father was sitting, waiting for him and Arthur walked over and sat next to him, feeling happier than he could ever remember. His father stroked his hair and began to talk to him. In the way of dreams, very little of what he said made sense but Arthur didn’t care. He was with his father and that was all that mattered.
He was a little sad when he woke but the happiness of the dream stayed with him. He hummed as Merlin moved around the room, tidying up. Merlin grinned at him.
“Sounds like you had sweet dreams,” he said.
“I did,” Arthur agreed cheerfully. “Come along, Merlin! Lots of things to do today.”
Merlin followed him. He was grinning.
Title: Madness
Fandom: Firefly
Rating: PG
Word Count: 357
Summary: River had a birthday present for Jayne.
Simon really wasn’t sure about Jayne’s birthday celebrations. There was nothing wrong with them, obviously but … well. It was Jayne. Simon very rarely enjoyed anything to do with Jayne.
Everyone else seemed to be having fun though. And there was a lot of cheap, rather horrible tasting drink going around. A lot. Simon had tried a few sips but in the end decided that the taste was unbearable and had given up. The others had no such inhibitions.
“Pass me another mug!” Kaylee called gleefully. “C’mon someone here must remember that song about the navigator and the government official?”
“I only ever remembered the verse about the bit where the pants come off!” Wash cackled, wrapping a playful arm around Zoe’s waist. Zoe swatted him but not very hard.
“Aw now, it won’t be a birthday celebration without a good song!” Jayne said. “Someone’s gotta sing something!”
Simon wasn’t sure any of his suggestions would necessarily go down well and so kept his mouth shut and instead looked around to see if River was all right. He was slightly alarmed to notice that she had slipped out but before he could get too worked up, she walked back in again and headed over to Jayne.
“I made you a birthday present,” she said.
Jayne looked decidedly suspicious. River produced what looked like a rather ropey scarf from behind her back. Simon stared at it sadly, recognising it as the remains of one of his jumpers.
“It’s for Vera,” River said. “So she doesn’t get cold.”
Jayne welled up.
“You know,” he said, taking the scarf and holding it lovingly. “Ain’t that just the sweetest thing a crazy girl could do?”
“I’m very glad your favourite gun has a scarf,” Wash said, raising his eyebrows to show what he thought of it.
Jayne stood up and enveloped River in a huge hug. Simon had to resist the urge to rush over and rescue her. River didn’t look worried though, that was something.
“I’m gonna go put it on her right now!” Jayne said and rushed off.
“Crazy,” Zoe said. “Both of ‘em.”
Simon was inclined to agree.
Fandom: Death Note
Rating: G
Word Count: 100
Summary: The present Matsuda gives Ide is typical Matsuda.
“What is it?” Ide asked.
“It’s chocolate,” Matsuda said, speaking as though Ide was very, very stupid. “See? It says so, right there.”
“Yes, Matsuda,” Ide said, with somewhat exaggerated patience. “I can see that it’s chocolate. Why have you given it to me?”
“For your birthday,” Matsuda said, speaking super slowly now.
“I don’t like chocolate,” Ide said, speaking super slowly himself.
“Rubbish,” Matsuda said. “Everyone likes chocolate! Besides, it’s coffee flavoured. I know you like coffee.”
Ide gave up.
Besides, when he had some that evening just so he could tell Matsuda he had, it didn’t taste half-bad.
Title: Arthur's Birthday
Fandom: Merlin
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,196
Summary: Arthur's birthday is always a difficult time in Camelot.
Arthur’s birthday was a confused time in Camelot.
On one hand, it was the prince’s birthday. That demanded gifts, a feast, a joyful party. City wide celebration. On the other hand, it was the anniversary of Queen Ygraine’s death and no one could forget it. Certainly no one who had been around at the time. As the day approached, the king grew more and more melancholy, usually locking himself away on the actual day. It was difficult to feel comfortable at a party knowing that the king was hiding alone with his grief.
In the end, Camelot compromised. Lavish gifts were given to the prince. At least some effort was made in the kitchens to give him a good meal. But on the whole, there were fewer celebrations than one might expect. Arthur never questioned it. No one did.
Except, of course, Merlin.
“It’s going to be your birthday?” he beamed at Arthur in an incredibly annoying way when Arthur mentioned it. “Oh brilliant, I love birthdays! Do you have a party? Do I get to go? Will there be dancing? And jesters? I’ve always wanted to see jesters …”
“You are such a girl,” Arthur said coldly. “No, we do not have a party. I’m a grown man, Merlin. I don’t throw parties. There will not be dancing. And if you really want to see a jester, why don’t you take a look in the mirror?”
Merlin’s face drooped. Arthur pretended not to notice. Merlin was always getting his feelings hurt by something. That was how he was and Arthur was beginning to get used to it. It wasn’t proper of course but very little that Merlin ever did was.
Merlin didn’t say anything else about Arthur’s birthday. Arthur was glad about it. He didn’t like to think about how other people celebrated their birthdays. He knew that this year would be the same as all the others. Gifts sent from neighbouring kingdoms, mostly ceremonial and meaningless. Something would come from his father but Arthur had long doubted that he organised it himself - perhaps one of his father’s trusted servants or the knights or even Gaius. A few of the knights he was closest to gave him small gifts - those were the things that meant the most to him. Morgana would gift him something, perhaps some of the nobles. It would all be low-key. In a few days, they would have a separate ceremony to officially make him Crown Prince of Camelot. He was looking forward to that but it didn’t change the fact that his birthday would be the depressing event that it always was.
And it ought to be depressing. He knew that. His mother had died. His birth had killed her. It was hardly a recipe for good cheer.
He just wished that his father would talk about her. That someone would. Was it selfish to want to know who she had been, if he was like her in any way? If he was worthy of being her child? The closest he’d got was that once, whilst his father had been more than a little drunk, he’d reached out and stroked Arthur’s cheek tenderly and murmured “You look just like her sometimes.”
Arthur treasured that moment. It was all he had.
He woke up on his birthday to find that Merlin had brought his breakfast as usual. What was not as usual was that there was also a little vase with a little flower in it.
Arthur stared at the flower. There had never been flowers before.
“What’s that?” he asked, pointing.
“It’s a mauve carnation,” Merlin said cheerfully.
“Yes, Merlin,” Arthur said. “I can see that it’s a carnation although the difference between mauve and purple rather escapes me. What is it doing on my breakfast tray?”
“Someone told me to put it there,” Merlin said. “Because it’s your birthday.”
Arthur eyed him suspiciously. It would be just like Merlin to give him flowers for a birthday present. Much more likely him than anyone else. Typical Merlin.
He ate his breakfast and left the flower on the table to show that it was an appreciated gesture and went straight out to the training grounds. It was easier, to spend his birthday out here. There wasn’t much people could do that was different. Everything made sense when you were trying to chop someone’s head off with a sword.
His knights greeted him with polite nods. A few even offered congratulations but most left him alone. They understood the way Camelot worked by now. Merlin lingered nearby and Arthur thought he looked rather sulky but he didn’t say anything. Arthur suspected that Gaius had probably had a talk with him and told him how things had to be.
The rest of the day went basically as he had expected. No surprises. Morgana had got him a beautiful robe which Arthur thanked her for. It was exceptionally well made and would look excellent on him, he knew. Morgana had exquisite taste.
He didn’t see his father the whole day.
He was a little surprised that Merlin hadn’t got him a gift. Merlin didn’t have to, of course but it was the kind of thing he would have expected Merlin to do. Still, Merlin probably didn’t care about him that much. Besides, what could he possibly give Arthur that Arthur would want?
The flower had been moved onto the table by his bedside when he went to bed. Arthur decided not to comment. He let Merlin undress him and then crawled into bed, glad the day was over. Merlin moved around the room, extinguishing candles quietly, doing the one by Arthur’s bed last.
“Happy birthday, Sire,” he said softly.
Before Arthur could offer any sort of response, he felt Merlin lean over him. He thought for a confused moment that Merlin was planning to kiss him but instead, Merlin just lingered there for a moment, then blew a breath of air very softly onto Arthur’s cheek before walking quietly out of the room. Arthur meant to sit up and ask just what Merlin thought he was doing but instead, he found himself flopping onto the pillows, his head suddenly unbearably heavy. Sleep overtook him within moments, almost as though he was enchanted.
He dreamed he was in a garden somewhere, the sun shining down and turning everything into gold. He knew Merlin was around somewhere because he could feel him but that wasn’t important. His father was sitting, waiting for him and Arthur walked over and sat next to him, feeling happier than he could ever remember. His father stroked his hair and began to talk to him. In the way of dreams, very little of what he said made sense but Arthur didn’t care. He was with his father and that was all that mattered.
He was a little sad when he woke but the happiness of the dream stayed with him. He hummed as Merlin moved around the room, tidying up. Merlin grinned at him.
“Sounds like you had sweet dreams,” he said.
“I did,” Arthur agreed cheerfully. “Come along, Merlin! Lots of things to do today.”
Merlin followed him. He was grinning.
Title: Madness
Fandom: Firefly
Rating: PG
Word Count: 357
Summary: River had a birthday present for Jayne.
Simon really wasn’t sure about Jayne’s birthday celebrations. There was nothing wrong with them, obviously but … well. It was Jayne. Simon very rarely enjoyed anything to do with Jayne.
Everyone else seemed to be having fun though. And there was a lot of cheap, rather horrible tasting drink going around. A lot. Simon had tried a few sips but in the end decided that the taste was unbearable and had given up. The others had no such inhibitions.
“Pass me another mug!” Kaylee called gleefully. “C’mon someone here must remember that song about the navigator and the government official?”
“I only ever remembered the verse about the bit where the pants come off!” Wash cackled, wrapping a playful arm around Zoe’s waist. Zoe swatted him but not very hard.
“Aw now, it won’t be a birthday celebration without a good song!” Jayne said. “Someone’s gotta sing something!”
Simon wasn’t sure any of his suggestions would necessarily go down well and so kept his mouth shut and instead looked around to see if River was all right. He was slightly alarmed to notice that she had slipped out but before he could get too worked up, she walked back in again and headed over to Jayne.
“I made you a birthday present,” she said.
Jayne looked decidedly suspicious. River produced what looked like a rather ropey scarf from behind her back. Simon stared at it sadly, recognising it as the remains of one of his jumpers.
“It’s for Vera,” River said. “So she doesn’t get cold.”
Jayne welled up.
“You know,” he said, taking the scarf and holding it lovingly. “Ain’t that just the sweetest thing a crazy girl could do?”
“I’m very glad your favourite gun has a scarf,” Wash said, raising his eyebrows to show what he thought of it.
Jayne stood up and enveloped River in a huge hug. Simon had to resist the urge to rush over and rescue her. River didn’t look worried though, that was something.
“I’m gonna go put it on her right now!” Jayne said and rushed off.
“Crazy,” Zoe said. “Both of ‘em.”
Simon was inclined to agree.