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“Wow,” said Fig, “our first Christmas!”
“We have already had those,” said Fabian. “We spent it together last year, and the year before.”
“Not like this,” said Fig. “This time we’re, y’know. We’re like a family.”
“We already had families,” said Fabian.
“No, it’s-” Fig huffed a breath. “You know what I mean. Because our parents are-”
“I know what you mean,” said Fabian quickly.
Just because his mama had inexplicably agreed to be married to Gilear, that did not mean he had to welcome reminders. He had enough of a reminder in the form of The Child.
“I just think that perhaps you’re making- I just don’t want you to be disappointed,” said Fabian. “Though when one is a relation of Gilear, perhaps one is used to such a thing.”
“Actually, Gilear kind of crushes it with gifts,” said Fig. “Apparently they put him in charge of it back when he used to do legal stuff for the high elves, and I guess that’s kind of the gift buying equivalent of becoming a marine.”
Fabian blinked. “I… Are you sure we’re speaking about the same Gilear?”
Fig shoved at Fabian’s shoulder. “You know I’m taking about our Gilear.”
“I do not take ownership of that man,” said Fabian.
“He’s your step dad,” said Fig.
“That’s- You- What a horrible thing to say to me,” said Fabian. “My father is Captain William Seacaster-”
“And your step father is Gilear Faeth,” said Fig. “He’s gonna get you something awesome, just you wait.”
Fabian rolled his eyes but, in deference to his fondness for Fig and the holiday spirit, he did not push the argument further. It was an absurd thought, of course. Someone as prone to disaster as Gilear would surely not be adept at buying gifts no matter how proficient he had once been at doing so for high elves.
“Well, I don’t know if this confirms what Fig told you or not, but he did sort of crush it with his gifts for me and Aelwyn last year,” said Adaine.
She wasn’t looking at him, her attention focussed on the elaborate house of cards she was attempting to make in the front lounge of Mordred Manor. Fabian had brought over every card pack he could find at home, and was watching the slow build of architecture from the comfort of the couch.
“He got you gifts?” said Fabian.
“Yeah,” said Adaine. “He got me this book on the history of prophecy that was actually really helpful in like, actually understanding the relationship high elves have to it.”
“What did he get Aelwyn?” asked Fabian.
“A year pass to one of those places where you can go and smash stuff,” said Adaine. “I think she went almost every day so whatever he paid for it, she definitely got his money’s worth.”
“Huh,” said Fabian. “I suppose that does sound like a suitable gift for someone with as passionate a nature as your sister.”
Riz, who had stepped into the room, took a step backwards. “Uh. Hi. Should I go?”
“We’re talking about Gilear’s Christmas gifts last year,” said Adaine. “You’re safe.”
“Oh, okay,” said Riz. “I found some more cards in the attic.”
“Great,” said Adaine. “Could you finish the turrets over there? I’ve almost got this tower finished.”
Riz nodded, carefully stepping around the high walls of cards towards the back of the structure.
“Perhaps his skill is limited to high elves,” said Fabian.
“Who?” said Riz.
“Gilear,” said Adaine.
“I dunno,” said Riz. “Last year he did this whole scavenger hunt for me and my mom, it kind of ruled.”
“A… scavenger hunt,” said Fabian.
“Yeah,” said Riz, unboxing the cards and arranging them in a pile next to him. “We went all over town, deciphering clues and everything. It must have taken him forever.”
“Wait,” said Fabian. “You both got gifts from Gilear?”
“Yeah?” said Riz. “Wait, you didn’t?”
“Why would I want a gift from Gilear?” said Fabian.
“Maybe it’s that attitude that stopped him from getting you anything,” said Adaine.
“Or maybe he thought the best gift would be not to get you a gift?” said Riz thoughtfully.
“The best gift he could have given me was to stop dating my mother,” said Fabian.
“Well, he did that,” said Riz.
“He married her,” said Fabian.
“Well, now they’re not dating,” said Riz.
“That’s worse,” said Fabian.
“Not for your mom,” said Riz. “I mean, for her that’s probably a good gift.” He paused. “But I guess since she asked him, that was more like her gift to him-”
“The Ball if you value our friendship you must stop,” said Fabian.
“I thought you’d gotten over Gilear being your step dad?” said Adaine.
“That was before I knew that he’d bought everyone in this town a Chistmas gift apart from myself,” said Fabian. He frowned. “Wait, did Gorgug and Kristen get one?”
“Oh yeah,” said Gorgug when Fabian found him to ask. “That dude’s like, weirdly good at gifts.”
“Not you too,” groaned Fabian. He hesitated for a moment, trying to hold himself back before his curiosity won out. “What did he get you?”
Gorgug sat back from the engine he was working on. “It was like this… I guess it was like an enchanted wrench?”
“A what?”
“An enchanted wrench,” said Gorgug.
“Enchanted with what?” said Fabian.
“Nothing like, wild, but it’s actually been super useful,” said Gorgug. “I can’t lose it, it doesn’t rust, and if you drop it, it hovers in the air like an inch above whatever it was going to fall on. My parents use it all the time, too.”
“Great,” said Fabian, “wonderful.”
“I think he got Kristen, like, socks?” said Gorgug.
“Socks?” said Fabian.
“Yeah,” said Gorgug.
Fabian laughed. Socks. Of course. What a horrible gift.
Fabian hadn’t meant to bring it up. It was just, after he spoke to Gorgug he just happened to drive back to Mordred Manor where Kristen was, and the subject just happened to come up. They were discussing the holiday season, or course. It came up perfectly naturally, in a very casual way. Fabian barely wanted to know, really, he was just casually curious. Barely curious at all, really.
“It was great actually,” said Kristen.
“It was great?” said Fabian. “He got you socks.”
“I mean, he got me a bunch of basic stuff,” said Kristen. “I had to leave basically everything at my parents place, and my brother said they burned it all in this big pyre so I couldn’t exactly sneak back and get it. So, yeah, it was kind of great to just have a bunch of like, socks and pajamas and whatever.”
“Oh. Right,” said Fabian. He paused. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine,” said Kristen. “Why, what did he get you?”
“Nothing,” said Fabian.
“Really?” said Kristen. “Weird. Although… I mean I guess you are always basically telling him to leave you alone. And you do kind of already have everything.”
“I do not have everything. And I’m perfectly polite to him,” said Fabian.
Kristen raised her eyebrows.
“I am!” said Fabian.
“Only because your mom threatened to duel you if you weren’t,” said Kristen. “And it was bumming Fig out.”
“Fig understands my pain,” said Fabian.
“Fig doesn’t need to be duelled into being nice to Gilear,” said Kristen.
“Fig is entirely too kind hearted,” said Fabian. “After all, Gilear didn’t get me anything.”
Kristen raised her eyebrows. “He didn’t?”
“No,” said Fabian, “not that I would have wanted anything from him of course.”
“I guess,” said Kristen. “It’s kind of weird though.”
Fabian paused. “Yes. Yes, it is, isn’t it?”
He turned the idea of it over in his mind as he drove back to Seacaster Manor. It was weird of Gilear to skip him. Shouldn’t that have been part of his ridiculous attempts to ingratiate himself with Hallariel? And why out of all of Fig’s friends should he be missed? Was Gilear trying to do some kind of absurd power play?
Such a slight against him would not stand, Fabian decided. He would confront Gilear and force him to admit his acts.
Gilear played at being clueless when Fabian confronted him, a frown creasing his features. “I… did give you a gift last year.”
“No you didn’t,” said Fabian. “Or do you have some tale of ridiculous woe about how the gift got destroyed?”
“Fabian,” said Fig.
“No, it’s perfectly all right Figueroth,” said Gilear. “I had thought… That is, Cathilda assured me that she had passed my gift on to you.”
“You cannot blame Cathilda for this,” said Fabian.
“Blame me for what, Master Fabian?” asked Cathilda.
“Gilear is trying to weasel his way out of any guilt he might have over not giving me a Christmas gift last year by blaming you for misplacing it,” said Fabian. “I am, of course, defending your honour.”
“Well that’s very kind of you I’m sure,” said Cathilda. “Only he did give you a gift, and I did pass it onto you, so I’m not sure that guilt is what he ought to be feeling.”
“He- What?” said Fabian. He paused, blinking at Cathilda - her expression looked entirely sincere, and certainly she would never lie to him. “What did he…?”
Cathilda hesitated for a moment. “He bought you the shoes you wore for your dance classes, Master Fabian. The ones with those nice red laces.”
“But I like those,” said Fabian.
“I know you do,” said Cathilda. “He’s awfully good at buying gifts.”
“Thank you Cathilda,” said Gilear solemnly.
“But- But I thought those were from you,” said Fabian.
“Now Master Fabian, you know that’s not true,” said Cathilda. “I did tell you that they were from your mother and Mister Gilear, but that’s only because that’s how Mister Gilear asked me to put it to you.”
“Yes, but normally when you say something’s from mother, it means that you-” Fabian pressed his lips together to quiet himself.
“Yes,” said Cathilda after a moment. “Yes, I suppose it does at that. But not this time.”
“Cathilda, I…” Fabian shifted his feet. “I apologise.”
“That’s very kind of you Master Fabian,” said Cathilda. “But I don’t know that it’s me you need to be apologising to.”
“Hey, yeah,” said Fig.
“I do not need any apology,” said Gilear. “I am only glad that you did receive the gift I gave to you, and that you enjoyed it.”
“Well, I- It was… I suppose it was a decent gift,” said Fabian. He paused, the words curling at the back of his throat before he added, “I… liked them.”
Gilear’s expression changed to something very much like a smile. “Thank you. I have been told it is one of my only true skills.”
“Maybe it is,” said Fabian.
Fig shot him a look.
“Thank you Fabian,” said Gilear. “That is very kind of you to say. I consider your enjoyment of the gift to be a very valuable gift in return.”
“Well you’re welcome,” said Fabian. He paused. “Then perhaps I am a great gift giver myself.”