driftfleet | Belated Christmas presents are better than no presents, right?

Who: Wanda Maximoff, friends, shipmates, and YOU!
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Yes; Starstruck
When: Early this morning (last night) through the rest of today

A) Closed to Wanda's Christmas List

[The past two months have been kind of crazy for everyone, and that certainly included Wanda. Spending the month of December with no memories of her previous time in the Fleet, regaining them (well, almost all of them) so suddenly and somewhat painfully, followed by all the chaos that came with the surprise attack on the Fleet, and then, of course, there was the necessary repair process after that, it's all been a whirlwind of distractions and activity for Wanda. Finally now, things were starting to settle back down, and that meant Wanda could turn her attention back to a project she's been discreetly working on since her memories returned.]

[She'd felt guilty that her "condition" had kept her from celebrating the Christmas holidays with her friends and shipmates. Now, it was over a full month passed, but she still really wanted to try and do something special. She'd been gathering some presents over the past year during the Fleet's travels, but she had not quiet finished her list. Thankfully, with time now available to her, she's seen to finishing her list -- which she may have added some people to post-December. But, in her eyes, they still deserved presents.]

[Anyways, last night, Wanda set about delivering her gifts to everyone. Each person will find the gift waiting outside their doors or in an easily spotted place in a communal area. The gifts have tags specifying who each present is for, and some may also have "special instructions," but none have any note as to WHO the gifts are from. Perhaps Wanda's feeling a little too embarrassed and guilty about only just now finally delivering her Christmas gifts to attach her name to them. However, each present will feature wrapping or packaging that belies a certain affinity for the color red. Naturally, some (or all) gift recipients might be able to put two and two together. If they'd then like, they may contact Wanda via communicator or in person. Just expect a very pink-face, blushing Wanda to greet you.]

B) Fleetwide Broadcast

[When Wanda turns on the broadcast, she looks noticeably... well, tired. It seems she did not get a lot of sleep last night for some reason. Hmmm. Odd. She tries to smile, friendly and cheerfully, though her eyes flutter a few times while she speaks. Girl's likely gonna take a long nap after this.]

I was, um, baking... a lot recently... and I, um... I made extra! So, if anyone would like some cookies or brownies, they are... They are on the Starstruck! ... in the kitchen... room... area...

[She covers her mouth with her hand, attempting (poorly) to cover a soft yawn.]

Help yourselves! I... um, everyone is welcome! First come, first serve though... sorry... I can make some more... later...

[The video feed cuts there, as Wanda falls back onto her bed for some much needed rest. Anybody who received a mysterious, belated Christmas gift this morning just got a big clue as to who it was that delivered them.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Al is proudly modeling his new bowtie when he responds.]

Thanks for the present. I look pretty sharp, don't you think?

[Wanda smiles as she receives Al's message. At this point, it was clear that her mystery, belated Christmas gifts hadn't been so mysterious at all. Still, it was a little embarrassing to her how obvious she had made herself.]

I'm glad you like it. I guess you recognize the material then?

Mmhmm- and with the red packaging, I made an educated guess.

[A nervous chuckle from Wanda.]

In retrospect, that was not so subtle of me...

[A sigh.]

Well, so much for that little secret.

It's fine- I feel like it was nice of you to try, anyway. And to think of everybody.

Well, I... I missed Christmas...

[Her brow furrows a little. That's still a sore note for her.]

But I still wanted to give gifts and thank everyone who's been a friend to me this past year.

Well, we don't even have Christmas back in my world, so better late than never, right?

[She gives Al a small, appreciative smile. Repeating his last few words back to him.]

Better late than never.

[She then looks up at him with a more sympathetic look on her face.]

Do you not celebrate the December holidays at all where you are from?

We do celebrate stuff like birthdays and important anniversaries, but my world never had much in the way of organized religion. Brother and I especially were much more focused on science.

[Hmmmm, she supposes that would make sense wouldn't it? Considering the origins of the Christmas holiday back where she's from, it would make sense that a world lacking any form of major, organized religion would not have a similarly styled holiday.]

So no December holidays at all... What sort of anniversaries then do you celebrate back home?

Weddings, birthdays... Brother always marked the anniversary of the day he joined the military, too, though not in any big way.

[Wanda can feel herself bristle slightly at the idea of celebrating an anniversary of "joining the military," but she does not say anything about it. It's not her place. And just because things are one way where she is from, does not make them so for others.]

Birthdays, so you celebrate those at least. It would be disappointing to hear that you've missed out on the other major gift-giving holiday.

[Al grinned.]

We sometimes give gifts just because, too... or at least Brother and I would make little presents for Mom when we were learning alchemy.

[That certainly sounded familiar to Wanda. Children wanting to give their parents something special just to see their smile. It brings a fond, yet somewhat sad smile to Wanda's face.]

Well, I do not know much about "alchemy." Only what you've told me of it. But wanting to surprise your parents with little gifts... that I know something about. I wouldn't exactly call those occasions "holidays," but that doesn't make them any less special.

Mmhmm. And Mom definitely appreciated it, even if it was something simple like a paper crane. It was nice to feel like our efforts were cherished.

[Wanda thinks back to some early childhood memories of doing crafts with her mother, learning how to weave and bead together bracelets. Afterwards, Wanda had tried her hardest to make one for each of her family members, all on her own.]

I think parents just like seeing their children succeed at something on their own, seeing them happy. The gift itself probably does not matter as much as the feelings behind it.

[Alphonse nods.]

And Brother and I were prodegies at alchemy. You know, not to sound like a braggart at anything. And in turn, her praise made us want to study more and get better at it. We loved to make her smile.

[Wanda snorts softly at Al's little prodigy slip followed by his "braggart" line.]

I am sure she was proud to watch your progress, to watch her sons become such experts in something they enjoyed doing.

Belated Christmas presents are better than no presents, right?

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video

Video