[audio]

[70ftandcounting]

Is...is it over?

[A soft, quiet noise. Not a whimper, not a cry - but maybe the tiniest of sniffles]

Is he gone?

[Bartimaeus was RIGHT.]

Comments

[70ftandcounting]

Um...no?

[70ftandcounting]

Y-yes! I can...bring it to you, if you like...?

[likesfootnotes]

Excellent to hear!

The next begged question is: Why do you have something for me?

[70ftandcounting]

[WOW COOL]

That's...that's so incredible!

[70ftandcounting]

Well...I'm in my room...

[70ftandcounting]

Well...it's the season of giving, after all - or so I'm told and...

You were nice enough to warn me about Santa, so...I made you something.

[70ftandcounting]

O-oh! Well, alright...if you insist...

[likesfootnotes]

[Not sure if.... sane?]

And what is this thing?

[needsnobottle]

Yeah, it's pretty neat. They were pretty popular for a while, where I'm from. Though i think they were banned from certain places because they'll learn stuff and then repeat it later. Depending on what they heard...might not be best for other people to hear it.

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

Alright, it'll take a bit but I'll get there.

[Father instincts overriding survival instincts.]

[icnfly.livejournal.com]

I didn't get anything for you...I have to admit, I got kind of distracted by trying to decorate and then I sort of forgot it was christmas with that whole...night thing. Or whatever it was.
But I can get you something later, I guess.

*Or more feathers or something.*

Sure! Or I can come to you if you want. Ah. Well, my room is 4038, I'm there now but if you're too far away I can meet you somewhere else.

[Audio]

[lightwithin]

You saw it too?

Heh, I didn't know Santa was an octopus.

[70ftandcounting]

I-I did.

[what. to think. she doesn't know.]

A what...?

[70ftandcounting]

Okay. I'll...I'll see you soon.

[70ftandcounting]

What...do you mean?

[70ftandcounting]

It's a surprise, silly! It's a gift!

[70ftandcounting]

Oh, don't worry! I wasn't expecting anything back.

I'll come to you!

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

[Not as soon as she thinks. It takes him about twenty minutes to sneak out of the infirmary and limp his way across to the barracks.

Once he reaches her door he just kicks it with his good leg instead of actually knocking.]</

[likesfootnotes]

Ah, the surprise element. You will expect us to meet up in order to process an exchange, no doubt?

[CAUTION ACTIVATED; Y SO NICE. Humans are never nice - they are self-serving, unless they are young Egyptians named Ptolemy.]

[icnfly.livejournal.com]

I'l figure something out.

*Christmas is weird if you don't give anything back.*

It just might take a few days or weeks.

*Or more if he gets distracted again.*

I'll leave the door open for you.

[70ftandcounting]

Well...yes! Of course! I can't stuff it through the book...

[70ftandcounting]

Okay!

[Give her a minute and she'll be showing up, tapping on the doorframe.]

Jacob?

[70ftandcounting]

[She flings it open the second she heard the noise, terrified that it took him so long.]

Oh -- Kevas, you should have stayed in bed!

[drinkuntilidie.livejournal.com]

I can always find anoddah.

[He grins. See? He's totally fine. No problems here at all.]

[70ftandcounting]

Kevas...

[She moves back and gestures him in.]

Please, please come in -- sit.