#tree giving

Oliver’s biggest and best-kept secret was the fact that he could crochet. His grandmother had taught him when he was a little kid, and it was a hobby that he never really seemed to get bored of. He was good at it too, he used to only be able to make simple scarves of a color, but he eventually learned how to make designs with his crocheting, along with also learning how to make more than just scarves. He’d done scarves, hats, small blankets, he even once made a doll for his little sister for Christmas, it wasn’t exactly done very well but she loved it all the same. Long story short, Oliver knew how to crochet.

Back home he knew he would be crucified if his friends found out about his secret hobby, so he never did it outside of his home. Now that he’s been living in Wonderland, he’s noticed other people, men and women, enjoy the hobby, so it’s not something he’s exactly embarrassed about anymore with most people, but he never did tell Pierce about it and doesn’t feel like telling him now, so he mostly sticks to just crocheting in the solitude of his room at the Inn, finding that it’s a good way for him to relax at the end of the night.

Ever since he had been released from the Palace and was actually able to experience Wonderland and its traditions, he soon realized that the Tree Giving was one of his favorites, perhaps because it so closely resembled Christmas, his favorite holiday back home. Every year he’s participated in it he’s put something he crocheted under the tree, and this year was no different. He wanted to do something intricate, but he had been rather busy running the Inn lately so he didn’t have much spare time to focus on his crocheting, so this year he just placed a simple box with a matching red scarf and hat inside under the tree. It was a simple gift and there were probably many more scarves and hats under this tree, but Oliver found a bit of satisfaction in the fact that he knew there weren’t any that were exactly like his. He always liked being one of a kind.

Thea was always bad about Christmas. Or getting gifts for people in general, really. She would never know what to get anybody unless they explicitly gave her a list. She avoided white elephant parties like the plague because the thought of trying to find something general enough that almost anyone could enjoy was a nightmare for her, which was why she didn’t always participate in the Giving every year. The Giving was even harder than Christmas, there were no gift cards in Wonderland, but for some reason this year she felt compelled to at least put in an effort to try and find something to put under the tree. She wasn’t exactly sure if she wanted to participate so she would be able to put something under the tree, or more so because she would be able to take something from under the tree, but she figured her motive didn’t matter just as long as she actually did it.

She took almost a whole day walking around the village, in and out of shops and past carts selling numerous types of trinkets and doodads, and almost gave up on the whole thing altogether, but then she had a brilliant idea. She immediately bought a basic pair of white socks and put them in a small brown box and tied it with a piece of string. She always loved the joke that getting socks was the worst thing to happen to you on Christmas back in her world, and while it probably wouldn’t be much of a joke to whoever picked it up unless they were also a Wanderer, it made Thea laugh. She wrote a small “I picked it out special” on the box and couldn’t help but continue laughing as she could almost hear those exact words in the voice of her great aunt who never got her anything more than socks every year for Christmas. Even if they didn’t get the joke, at least whoever picked up her present would get something for practical use. They should’ve been stretchy enough to fit just about any adult, but if a child did end up with her present... sock puppets are always fun?

This was one of Bluebelle’s favorite times of the year. Of course, she enjoyed giving all year round, but for as long as Belle could remember, no matter what was happening beforehand, everyone’s mood would brighten up by this time of year. One would think once the temperature dropped the community’s spirit would drop with it, but Bluebelle always noticed it was quite the opposite. People became warmer, friendlier, kinder during this time of year. And even this year, with all of the concerning things that had been going on in the past few months with the mysterious mer, the announcement of the annual tree giving seemed to lift the spirits of everyone in Wonderland. 

Belle was always excited about the Tree Giving. Ever since she was old enough to actually be able to participate in it on her own, she always planned what she would be putting under the tree days or even weeks in advance, this year was no different. While it was nothing compared to the Freeze a few years back, this year did seem to be quite a bit chillier than years past, so her gift was all about staying warm. Within the small, neatly wrapped box Belle included her gift, or rather gifts, along with a note. The piece of paper read as such:

“Seeing that the colder months are already upon us, my gifts to you, dear stranger, were created in hopes to help you keep warm. Inside this box you will see a small pair of gloves - I know they appear almost too small for anybody larger than a child at the moment, but I assure you they are made of the type of fabric mostly used by shapeshifters, so they will stretch to fit your hands easily, whether you be 5 years of age or 500. Alongside the gloves is a jar containing a mixture for the most delicious hot cocoa I have ever tasted, ingredients include cocoa powder, peppermint, cinnamon, and just a little bit of vanilla bean. Just add a spoonful or two of the mixture to a cup of warm milk, and you have yourself a tasty drink to warm your stomach and your spirit! I hope you enjoy these gifts and I hope they help you keep warm this cold winter season. Stay warm, stay happy, stay kind. ♥”

The gift was ready a week before the event had even started, so she wasn’t surprised that she was one of the first ones to place a gift under the tree. She would probably never know who this gift was going to, and they would probably never know who the gift was from, but that didn’t matter to Bluebelle, even if whoever took her gift never put it to use, all she could hope for was that it brought a smile to someone’s face, even for just a moment.

@son-ofthe-sea

Alyse had dropped off her gift at the Tree Giving- and selected her own. She waited to open until she was home where she contently plopped down with her gift in her lap planning to open it. Of course, she didn’t open it right away. Alyse tried to pick out what it could be. It was a smaller gift- so it couldn’t be anything over the top. But it could be plenty of things still. It was small and fairly light. She couldn’t help trying to figure it out, despite the fact that the giver would have absolutely no idea who she was so they couldn’t pick something out. So why should she assume it would be something she would even like? Then again, she wasn’t a difficult person to please, the fact that someone had taken the time to leave a gift made it special.

So, finally she slid a delicate finger under the corner of the wrapping and plucked it away from it’s companion corner. From there she didn’t take the time to keep it all together, however she didn’t just tear through it. She picked up the bracelett in awe. It was so pretty- and the pearls were gorgeous. She suddently felt bad for leaving just a journal behind- but quickly pushed it out of her mind as she admired the bracelet. It was beautiful and she quite pleased with it.