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WHO: Abigail Hobbs and D33
WHERE: D33's home
WHEN:Backdated - Close to Christmas
WHAT: Holiday gifts
WARNINGS: Possible mentions of violence in their pasts.

Abigail was determined to give D33 gifts with meaning. He always put more thought into their conversations and interactions than most others. A standard fruitcake simply wouldn't suffice in her mind. She had taken the time to make gifts with care, as her family would have done for each other before her dad became the shrike.

She traveled to D33's home, hoping she wouldn't disturb him. Maybe she should have called first. Hannibal would have told her it was the polite thing to do. She pushed that thought away. No thinking of him around D33 if she could help it. She reached up and knocked on the door and waited for a response.

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[D33 would have, perhaps, thought the same - calling ahead would have been the most logical thing to do, anyway, if not polite. But when he answers the door, though surprised, he isn't upset to see Abigail.]

Abigail. [A very D33-like greeting.] I didn't realize that you would be coming over.

Are you alright?

[Abigail smiles and nods.]

I'm fine. I was hoping to surprise you. I brought gifts.

[She says as if it isn't obvious from the fact that she's carrying them in her arms.]

I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time. How have you been?

[Apparently not obvious enough - D33's only notices the packages once she mentions having brought gifts.]

Ah. [He gives a short nod, still hovering awkwardly in the door way. He's been receiving a lot of gifts lately which is something he's still not entirely comfortable with, but. It's quite the enticing experience all the same...]

I see. I don't suppose you've yet received the gift that I left for you, Abigail? [Also a weird and new experience - giving gifts.]

The time is fine. [He takes a step inside, holding the door open for her to join him.] Come in, then.

I did and I already opened it. Thank you so much. I love the sweater; the purple's such a pretty colour.

[She means it. The sweater makes a nice contrast from the camouflage hunting gear that she grew up wearing or the clothes that Hannibal bought her while she was in hiding. She steps inside, holding out the gifts for him to take.]

These are all for you.

[The music, the sketches and knife are all wrapped. The food's in simple freezer safe containers.]

[If the fact that Abigail had gotten him a gift at all wasn't surprising enough, the amount of gifts she seems to have brought certainly is. He takes turns glancing between them and Abigail, cheeks heating a bit as he does so. He's really not used to this.]

All of this?

Are you sure?

Of course, I am. It's Christmas and..

[She trails off for a moment. And what? He's the only person she's felt safe to open up to about her past. One of a very few she considers to be a real friend. That feels pathetic.]

And you're important to me.

[That's just as honest and it's happy too.]

I wanted to do something special for you.

[D33's body tenses a bit at the revelation. Obviously, Abigail is important to him as well - they're important to each other. There should be no mystery there. Still, having it said out loud has his chest tightening a bit. He nods.]

Yes, I...see. [Should he say something too? He should probably say something too.] I...care for you as well, of course.

[He tries to make it sound casual, fleeting. He clears his throat as if to cut the sentiment off there, then turns back to the gifts on the table.]

I suppose you'd like to be here while I open them.

[Abigail looks at him a moment longer. She wants to do show him a bit of affection. A hug, a kiss on the cheek, some gesture of friendship. It's strangely easy when she's upset or panicked to hug him, and hard to do when she allows herself to think about it. She settles for a simple nod of acknowledgment. She knows he cares for her. ]

[She unbuttons her coat, to show that she's wearing the sweater he gave her - perhaps wearing it is a gesture. Her gaze follows his to the gifts.]

I would. I'm hoping you'll like them.

Edited 2018-01-04 22:36 (UTC)

[The sweater doesn't go unnoticed. It's almost strange to see her wearing it - perhaps even a little embarrassing, for whatever reason. D33 isn't particularly used to feeling any sense of shyness, but that's about all the emotion he's feeling now can be acquainted to.

[He doesn't mention it, instead turning toward his gifts, trying to peel them delicately open without drawing too much attention to himself. But he realizes that she's watching.

[It's the recording that he opens first.]

Some sort of music, I presume. [He says this softly, thoughtfully, running a hand over the gift and then turning to Abigail, eyebrows raised in wait of further explanation.]

[Abigail nods.]

It's me, playing the harpsichord. Not using my powers to make anyone feel anything, just regular playing.

[Or as regular as it gets for her, each note is perfect even when she's not deliberately using those powers.]

It's classical music, stuff I thought you'd like. There's a lot of Mozart. Most of it was meant for piano, but I think it sounds even more special on the harpsichord. There's a list there of what's on it.

[She moves closer and points it out. She does her best to conceal her excitement for his reaction; the approval that she craves. She does think she made good choices in the song selection and there is a bit of bounce to her steps. ]

[Abigail's excitement isn't lost on D33, at least, and where he can't exactly muster up a smile (truthfully, his still feeling a bit awkward about all this), he does give her a short nod of approval.]

You've put a lot of thought into this.

I thank you, Abigail. I suppose I must have told you in the past how partial I felt to Mozart.

His was the first music I'd heard in this world.

[Or in general, really.]

[Abigail does smile widely.]

You did mention it once, yes. I think you'll especially like this sonata.

[She points to the list.]

It's very easy to get lost in it. At least I think so.

[And they both have their reasons to want to escape.]

And Fantasia is a good choice to share with someone special.

[She points it out on the list as well, then gestures to another gift, the sketches she made of him and Kaneki.]

Go ahead, open another present.

[The sketches are not overtly romantic or intimate, nothing to make him uncomfortable. They show D33 and Kaneki's daily life such as working together at the cafe. She is curious about them though, especially given his reaction when Kaneki was gone.]

[Right. There are still two packages on the table. D33 goes about opening the one that she's pointed out - the sketches. He takes a moment to flip through them, not quite realizing at first that he himself is the subject of the drawings - he and Kaneki, in fact.

[He turns to Abigail, brow wrinkled, confusion clear on his face.]

You drew these? Why?

[He doesn't sound offended, mind you. Just perplexed. He's not exactly experienced with art and he hadn't the slightest clue that Abigail was apparently so well-versed in it. But why he and Kaneki? His face goes even hotter as he thumbs through them again.]

These are...quite good...

Because I thought you'd like them.

It's the simplest part of the explanation. She was curious about how he'd react to them. And he wanted him to have something to cling to, in case Kaneki was ever permanently gone.]

Thank you. I had a lot of time to practice drawing before I came here.

[She leaves out another detail, of who taught her to draw. Cooking, harpsichord, art - the nonviolent pastimes that Hannibal enjoyed had become her hobbies while she had been in hidden in his basement. He was going to make her 'hunt' the way he did too, had he not killed her.]

I can help you find places to put them up. I've developed a knack for displaying art from working at the shop.

[Abigail is right not to mention Hannibal's involvement in her gift. Such a thing would have soured them right away. As it is, though, he spends a good amount of time looking through them, nodding absently at her suggestion to hang them up.]

Perhaps, yes...

I'll...have to show Kaneki as well.

[He turns to her then, still looking and feeling quite out of place, but also a bit stunned now at the gesture. He's really quite impressed.]

Thank you, Abigail.

[Abigail nods.]

Oh, of course. Maybe he'll even want up to put a sketch in the cafe.

[Or perhaps not. She hates the tabloids in general from her own past, and doesn't want to give them any extra material.

Only if he's comfortable with it, you know. I get wanting privacy too.

[Her smile grows.]

You're welcome, D33.

Ah, well...they do seem to be rather, ah...[He clears his throat about them. Intimate would probably be the appropriate word - not lewd or inappropriate by any means but, though D33 and Kaneki do not hide their relationship anymore, they are still relatively private people when it comes down to it.] I think I would prefer to keep them private, should doing so not offend you, Abigail.

It doesn't offend me at all.

[She has things she keeps private from most people as well.]

In fact, I'm going to take it as a compliment on how well I was able to personalize your gifts.

[And use it as motivation to keep drawing, to find confidence in her work, without needing Hannibal's approval.]

[Lo and behold, D33's lips quirk into just the smallest of (somewhat shy? even?) smiles. He clears his throat, then, awkwardly, and turns back to the table, eyes falling on the last, still-wrapped gift.]

You've done too much, Abigail. [He doesn't sound upset, though. Maybe a bit anxious - excited?] Shall I...? [Gesturing to the knife.]

[Her face lights up at his smile. Even the smallest smile feels like a grand gesture, because it's from him.

I was happy to do it.

[She nods enthusiastically.]

Yes, yes, please do.

[There's an extra excitement, a chance to take the knife carving skill learned from her father and turn it into a positive association.]

Edited 2018-01-14 19:41 (UTC)

[Need nods obligingly, lifting the last package into his hands and carefully unwrapping it. His eyes widen upon seeing the gift inside - a knife, beautifully craved from-- Is that some sort of bone? He can't quite tell. He turns it over in his hands a few time, inspecting the blade with the eye of a professional and an enthusiast.]

Abigail, this is...[He doesn't turn to look at her, still entirely enthralled by the gift he's holding.]...this is quite something. Quite something, where...

Where did you find this? [He must know what dealer she managed to get such a unique and, as far as he can tell, quality blade.]

[Abigail feels pride growing in herself. Her work is good enough to pass as professionally made by D33! She considers him an expert with knives, having seen what he could do without having been given a knife power.]

I made it, it's carved from the bone of a deer I hunted.

[She remembers the work that went into it. The effort was a way of honouring their deep friendship.]

It's not as sharp as a metal knife. But it's more real, more special.

[Lo and behold, as D33 continues turning the knife about in his hand, his lips part in a soft, bewildered sort of smile, a short exhale of breath escaping them in what could almost be a laugh one wanted to see it that way.]

Quite something...[He repeats it again, turning back to Abigail and lifting the knife up a bit, weak smile still in place.] You've made this? I don't suppose that's one of your Porter-given abilities?

[She'd never mentioned anything about crafting knives before.]

It's a skill I learned from my dad.

[Abigail speaks the words so quietly that it's practically a whisper. She worries mentioning him might chase away D33's smile. And it's such a rare sight; she's tempted to take out her phone and snap a picture.]

The porter might have helped too. Pretty much anything I do with knives was made better when I got here.

[That made it better. It wasn't all about her father.]

Plus, I made it for you. It's a lot easier to craft something for a friend, than from fear.

[D33's smile does fade a bit, but it isn't the mention of her father that chases it away- more so, it's his own awkwardness at being referred to as a "friend". That's still a term that D33 has been trying to get used to, but all the same, the traces of a smile still endure on his face as he nods at Abigail's explanation, eyes going back to the beautifully crafted piece in front of him.

[It makes his heart swell a little (though he'll never admit it) to think that it had been made for him personally.]

I thank you, Abigail. [His voice is soft, but strong, earnest.] Truly.

This is...quite something. Quite...special, I think.

You're quite special.

[She says it sincerely. He is one of the reasons the craziness here and in her past, hasn't driven she crazy. She leans up on her toes and gives him a chaste kiss on the cheek. She also wants him to know that he is loved. Friendship love may be the best kind in her mind, all other loves turn dangerous.]

Thank you too. Not just for the sweater, but for everything you do for me.

[She feels the corners of her eyes growing wet and hopes the tears won't spill down her face. How many times has she cried in front of him? Especially after the nightmares? It can't happen when she's happy too.]

So, did you get anything special for Kaneki?

[She asks, changing the conversation. That might work.]

Edited 2018-01-22 23:19 (UTC)

[D33 isn't expecting the kiss - why in the world would he be? It leaves his face burning hot and glowing pink, blinking dumbly as she drops back down flat on her feet. He would protest if it weren't entirely too late to do so - argue that he isn't special, that he has no desire to be special, that there is no need for her to thank him, etc., etc.

[Seeing her eyes welling up with tears only serves to keep him frozen there, entirely unsure of what's just happened or what's about to. But she changes the topic quickly and he's thankful enough for that, answering softly, still a bit stunned:]

Yes, of course, I...ah.

[Well, wait. That topic is a bit embarrassing too, isn't it.] I purchased him what I was told was a...traditional gift for a relationship of our variety.

[Is D33 actually speechless for a moment, Abigail wonders as she watches his reaction to the kiss. It seems like an accomplishment. It takes her a moment to realize what he means when he speaks.]

Oh, a romantic gift.

[Her mind does not go to more physically intimate ideas. Even though her father revealed his murders to her, he kept her childlike in many ways, preventing her from dating or more. She is still naive in many ways.]

Are you two doing anything special, um, non-romantic special? The stockings, the tree?

[She glances around to see if any decorations are up.]

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