#mpevent

With two holidays coming up and excited students, Athena was quite busy. She had visited the Lunar NY festival but unfortunately hadn’t had the time to see Xiwangmu. So a beautiful golden box was delivered to the Golden Palace in her name.

Inside, Xiwangmu will find a beautiful Greek-inspired orange dress with embroideries of gold threads.

‘My sweet friend,

As the warmer months will soon be upon us, a little something for you to enjoy those future moments.

I wish your daughter and yourself a beautiful new year, full of hope and happiness.

With love,

Athena’

Itotia really liked Vitas. He wasn’t sure how the young man felt about him though. But they had a common friend and the Mayan and it was an even better reason for him to want the Norse demigod in his social circle.

That’ll be why Vitas will find a neatly wrapped in gold paper and red ribbons box at his door on Saturday morning. Inside, he will find high-tech headphones in a beautiful burgundy color with gold dragon decorations.

There’ll be a small card with the gift.

‘Vitas,

Here’s a little something as a token of my friendship and admiration for you ! I hope you’ll have the best New Year possible !

Your Mayan friend,

Itotia’

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        Ever efficient and punctual, he had intended to leave his apartment to arrive early at the festival to meet Xianjun--but his initial plan was placed on hold when he opened his door to find a gift waiting for him.  What...what was...

        Vitas just stood and stared at the package on the floor, just staring at it for at least two full minutes.  He wasn’t EXPECTING to receive anything from anyone.  Finally, he stepped back into his apartment, grabbed his umbrella, and closed the door a bit, poking the umbrella through the crack to tap its tip against the package, half expecting it to explode.  When nothing happened, he finally brought it inside, utilizing a stethoscope to listen to the contents for any telling whirs of hidden mechanisms in the package.  If an explosion of fire and shrapnel wasn’t on the menu today, then a glitter bomb with fart spray wasn’t completely out of the realm of possibilities.  (Not everyone he met on the island had become his friend, after all.)  He was pleased to be met with silence from the box, though.

       Upon opening it and reading the card, he was filled with even more confusion than before.  He, Itotia, and Xianjun had shared cocktails together with what was somewhat of a Lunar New Year mini-celebration, but he hadn’t been aware that the dancer actually celebrated the holiday.  Wait...was Vitas supposed to get him something, too?  Was it too late?  Ugh, this friends thing was very confusing.  Thankfully, he could meet up with Xianjun--the friendship mentor--who could hopefully give him some good advice on the situation.

        As for the gift itself, upon discovering what it was, Vitas studied the headphones for a moment, turning them in his hands.  He had his own IEM ear buds that he preferred to use, but he was curious to hear to hear the quality in this device.  However, upon just trying them on, he hummed lowly with discontent as he felt how they squeezed his head and the cushions sat over his ears.  Again, he gave a displeased churr as a subtle furrow came to his brow.  Uncomfortable.  He didn’t like them.  A second later, Vitas took them off and returned them to the box.

Once pleased with their location, she moved to face him. “Felix.” She finally spoke up, an excited buzz in her tone. She cheerfully grabbed both of his hands, squeezing them for a moment. “Thank you so much for going to this with me. I know it has been crazy busy, but I am super happy you came with me.” Feeling as if the perfect moment, she let go of his hands to pull out a small box that housed his present. The demigoddess pulled out a shiny necklace that prepared for him. She showed him the item for a moment before reaching up to place the necklace with the gold chain with the swarovski pixiu, and she quickly fastened it around his neck. The cute little necklace seemed to fit him well. And if he didn’t like it? Well, she was sure he would like the rare millennium falcon lego set that waited for him at his house. 

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        “Hey yeah!  Thanks for inviting me!  This has been a blast!”  Honestly, he couldn’t have imagined in his life ever being invited to a feast at the home of the Queen Mother of the West--let alone becoming such close friends with her daughter before even knowing Davina was her daughter!  Goodness, the luck of this guy!  He gave her hands a squeeze in return.  To think that she considered him a close enough friend, too, to have invited him to this, and to have a seat at the family table no less!  He felt really blessed!

         But the dimpled grin of his face turned into an expression of shock upon seeing the gift within the box.  “Uh...Dav...”  A necklace?  But before he could say anything, she was already fastening it around his neck.  He was...stunned, really.  That was...a necklace was...a really intimate gift to give someone on New Year, he knew that.  

        Did that mean she...

        Was...was that why she invited him as her ‘plus one’...?  Did she think of him as more than just a really, really good friend?  Was...was this the appropriate time to discuss that?  Because wasn’t she...didn’t she really, really like that Haoyu guy?  Oh no, Felix was so confused.  No, no no, this wasn’t the place to talk about it, now wasn’t really a good time for Felix to have to face his own feelings about anything--so instead, he just smiled and looked down to the little crystal pixiu attached to the gold chain, very carefully touching it with his fingertips.  “Thank you.  It’s really pretty.”

        Once returning to the party, it was easy to put those thoughts to the back of his mind and forget; however, upon returning home that evening, he found the second half of Davina’s gift and was faced with those feelings all over again.  And while he did love the Lego set and immediately had inspiration to do a few crafting live streams of him just putting it together while conversing with chat--he also was faced with the reminder of her first gift once he had changed out of his feast clothes and into his pajamas, carefully removing the necklace.  He had to...sit on the edge of his bed and stare at it for a while.

        Why was he crying?  Because he was confused, maybe?  Scared maybe?   Scared that another Dylan-like situation had surfaced.  Was he...was his luck magic fucking things up again?  Because he knew she really, really liked someone else.  But...she had given him a necklace, a gift traditionally reserved for romantic partners and immediate family, not...platonic friends.  

In-Soo will arrive at the Golden Palace with his arms full of gifts for his newfound family and friends.

Xiwangmu will receive a beautiful red envelope, decorated with a golden dragon. Inside, she will find a day pass for two persons at Halo Salon & Spa (lunch and refreshments included). A gorgeous box of sweets will accompany the gift for Xiwangmu and Davina ( @mpxdavina​ ) to share. There will be a note coming with it.

‘Dear Aunt Xiwangmu,

There’s nothing that we could tell or offer to ever thank you for everything you did for us. So, please, enjoy a relaxing day with your dear daughter Davina. You deserve it after the beautiful festival and feast you prepared.

With love,

In-Soo & Juyeon’

A couple of days after Xiwangmu’s feast dress was delivered to the Golden Palace, a new, smaller box will arrive for the goddess from For the Fairest.

Upon opening it, the Jade Empress will find a silk bag containing a lovely red clutch ornate with golden birds. An homage to her love for the winged animals.

‘Dear Lady Xiwangmu,

Here is a little accessory for your dress. I hope that you will like it as much as your outfit.

I wish you a lovely year, full of joy and beautiful moments.

Happy New Year !

Ondine’

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haoyu was nothing if not stubborn, and he’d had a hard time deciding whether or not to gift the queen goddess something for lunar new year. eventually, he made up his mind and decided that yes, he should, because the goddess had been nice to him despite his attitude and she’d also gifted him something for christmas - which had come as a huge surprise and shock to the demigod. so, on february 10th, haoyu came knocking on the golden palace doors and handed the gift to one of the palace maids with clear instructions to hand over the gift box to the goddess immediately. he stated that his name was haoyu, and that it was a new year’s gift before the demigod disappeared. there was no note with the gift from snackberry’s, which was and arrangement of dried fruits and nuts in a small box. but the attendant would relay the message to her mistress that the person who had gifted her the box wished her a happy year ahead.

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Inside, Xiwangmu will find a gorgeous brooch representing a stylized dragon of white gold with brown and white diamonds. It was made by the most talented Elven jewelers. A small card will be joined to the box.

‘My dear Xiwangmu,

What to offer to someone as amazing as you, as royal as you ?

This brooch was made especially for you in the forges of Álfheimr. I hope that it will bring you joy and luck for the next year.

Happy Lunar New Year !

With all my friendship, Skadi’

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wang yanluo was exceptionally thankful to xiwangmu, whom he was now used to calling by the nickname mumu. she had been there at his lowest and was pleasant company in happier times. she cared for him in ways that yanluo hadn’t yet been cared for, and thus when the god thought of a gift for the goddess, he found himself struggling. the two of them, with how long they’d been alive, had received many a gift in their lives. but it was the thought that counted, and yanluo had to keep that in mind. if he could, he would give xiwangmu the world. because she deserved it. however, yanluo had to think smaller and less dramatically. he knew that she enjoyed his hobby as well, and that her favourite tea was dragon well tea. thus, yanluo had decided to pair up with the best tea artisan he knew and created a special blend of longjing tea that no one could buy. just for xiwangmu. additionally, he had prepared a ceramic tea set to go with the tea but it was quite unusual. it was a tea set in the form and colour of persimmons, a fruit not as often gifted as oranges or tangerines but which was a fruit associated with the new year as well. and it symbolises good luck and longevity. this tea set was once again one of a kind, as yanluo had imbued some of energies into the bottom of the tea pot, where they would be stuck for at least a 1000 years. these energies would keep the tea inside the pot magically warm, so the goddess would be able to take the set everywhere without needing a heat source. the bottom of the tea pot would remain cold to the touch. both gifts were humble but they showed yanluo’s true intent which was love and care for his counterpart. a note written with a calligraphy brush wished xiwangmu a happy new year of the dragon, and expressed yanluo’s gratitude for her care and friendship.

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