‘ i greatly enjoyed the book you gifted me about the chicken-falcon. ’ ren’s smile exuded a rare jubilance, digging into their satchel for a brown paper wrapped parcel, tied together with string, ornamented with a speckled orange tiger lily. ‘ i’d like you to have this in return. it’s a compendium of mistrali fairy tales and legends from a region called the lunar kingdom, where i’m from. my favourite one as a child was about the moon princess, and her guardian dragon. ’
‘ YOU LIKED IT? ’ LOVE’S ENTHUSIASM was easily kindled by another’s. ren’s jubilant greeting sparked his own smile. their exchanges were never unpleasant, so that he held a note of anticipation for when the next might come. his method for picking out that book of animal stories had been thoughtfully haphazard for lack of knowing their tastes in reading. to have it go over well was satisfying.
‘ i only remembered after i gifted it how i scribbled in the margins, years ago, and for the life of me i can’t remember if i wrote in common or not. but i do know what kind of student i was as a child. the crude comments you must have suffered through along the way! ’ the chagrin must not be very dire, eclipsed by an amusement that peaked and settled in golden eyes, lingering with a glowing vibrancy. and a return gift! if only love could be so humble as to offer modest you shouldn’t have’s. no, his gratitude tumbled freely into eagerness as he reached for it with wiggled fingers, a modicum of good manners saving him from opening up the parcel on the spot. he did work the lily free while listening to their explanation, gaze lifting from the bloom to ren upon hearing: fairy tales! one of his favorite genres. ‘ the lunar kingdom? i’ve never heard of it. so much of mistral and anima is a mystery to me! but it’s funny, where i’m from the pretty ones are always moon-faced because of their beauty or purity and faith. so why not a princess and a dragon? maybe we all just love the moon, as broken as it is. ’
he paused long enough to collect the book and flower into one hand, the other reaching out to touch ren’s arm. ‘ if we ever have the time, i like hearing stories from the mouths of people who grew up with them. talking to you is nice besides. ’
