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[retroductions]

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[ INMATE REGISTRY ]

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[retroductions]

[Grounding, steady. He keeps her close; she's warm, as always.]

And someone on your team took notice of this.

[Thing is, Sholmes would... agree. She does need to take better care of herself-- No, that is not quite it. She needs to feel like it is not a hassle, or a burden, to ask for aid if needed.]

[velluminous]

I take care of myself as I like. I do not enjoy pain. I do not seek to prolong it.

[ softer, ] Arthur healed me. You have nothing to worry about.

[retroductions]

[Good. He’ll have to thank the man for it later.]

I do not think you seek pain. Of course not. And I am glad you are properly healed now.

[His hand rubs circles softly against her back.]

But you were still touting your wounds even amid the game? Surely you can see why your teammates would think… your priorities are not as they should be.

[velluminous]

It was tombstones, Herlock. Hurled at me. I rested. I kept to my room. I do not have clerics at my beck and call at home!

[retroductions]

No, but you have others who care for you. You have me.

I would have brought you another card, and gladly.

[velluminous]

I know, Herlock.

[retroductions]

…next time, will you? Call on me.

[velluminous]

There will be no next time.

[retroductions]

I do love your confidence, my dear, but how can you know? Danger is no rarity in this prison.

[velluminous]

[ sometimes. you have to pick your battles. ]

I will call on you.

[retroductions]

Good.

[He will trust her on that.]

Well, in the meanwhile… if you are not keen on returning to Basilisk, would you like to spend some time at Phoenix? We could pick out matching sweaters for fun — and not for points!

[velluminous]

[ certainly there is no way this trust will be betrayed. certainly.

still a touch morose, she glances towards the phoenix door and sighs. the spirit of the game... she never fully understood that, nor the decorations, nor the core concept, really, and now she's just being sulky. but. it would feel cruel to shoot down what she recognizes as a wholehearted attempt to cheer her. ]

Mn. Alright.

I have another gift for you, as well.

[retroductions]

[How about don’t do that!

And come now, even if the holidays aren’t understood, at least it is distraction. And Phoenix certainly can be distracting.]

Another one? You spoil me. Shall I wait for you to fetch it first?

[velluminous]

[ this is not a game-sanctioned present. and doesn't it feel a tad irreverent to be considering gifting it now? maybe so. ]

I will be quick.

[ gently extricating herself from his arms, though reluctantly. ]

[retroductions]

[He’s reluctant to let her go, too, but it’s easier knowing that she’ll return.]

I’ll wait at the entrance of Phoenix. Take your time, my dear.

[And so he will, once she departs.]

[velluminous]

[ she will not take her time, because she's like a shark: if she stops moving, she'll die. or something.

gone only long enough to slip the cat tarot deck into a drawer alongside... the first cat tarot deck... and to fetch the perfectly-wrapped other gift, which she Wristpockets away for the sake of discretion.

in just a few minutes, Basilisk's door opens again, and she emerges into the lobby looking, at least, less miserable. ]

Shall we?

[retroductions]

[He’s waiting, about to light his pipe, but she arrives just before he can and he pockets the items instead.]

Let’s.

[Into Phoenix they go! Sholmes toddles over to the common room sofa, where there are spare ugly Christmas sweaters folded along the back. Why? It’s Phoenix, why not.

He tosses one at her.]

Catch!

[It has a big Christmas tree on it, with red chevrons in the background.]

[velluminous]

[ her reflexes are surprisingly good. she catches it with only a small fumble, and holds it up without any recognition or understanding. ]

What is purpose behind this tree?

[retroductions]

To decorate and put the gifts under! It is emblematic of the holiday itself.

[He’s finding another exact same sweater and slipping it on. His hair’s a mess once his head pops out of the sweater’s top.]

Go on, put it on.

[velluminous]

[ so, so skeptical. still, for Herlock and his infinite enthusiasm. bunching the fabric up to the collar, she tries to get it over her horns without catching in the knit... and pulls it down and clumsily on. ]

They are very unattractive. Do they know they are unattractive?

[retroductions]

I think that is the overall point. To look silly.

[Sholmes does not mind it at all; he rather likes this new tradition.]

To not take one seriously while in the company of those you care about. It’s just for a bit of fun. You look striking, by the way.

[velluminous]

[ do i look like i do "fun" to you? ]

Honey-dripper.

[retroductions]

[He's sure that potential exists in there, somewhere.]

I only speak the truth, my dear. As a consulting detective should.

[This contradicts what he's told people in the past, but that's fine.]

[velluminous]

[ SKEPTICALLY, ] Hmmm.

[ she drags her hair up into a haphazard ponytail, unravelling the necktie from her blouse beneath the sweater to hold it in place. it's messy, frizzy from the wool being pulled over her head, but it stays up. ]

Can you tell me more about this holiday?

[retroductions]

[Well, her hair's in a better state than his floof, even so.]

It is a religious one, primarily. Though that is not solely the reason for its celebration these days.

[These days = Victorian era. Still pertains.]

It is a time of giving and gathering; with friends, family, and other loved ones. Individuals often exchange gifts, which you can no doubt gather from the nature of this game. And they feast, too, on Christmas day.