#esp since the grafted versions tend to split after a few years bc their host plant outgrows them

[lunarscaled]

Tesla carefully places wrapped gifts beneath the tree he and Lyric set up in Ulquiorra's palace, while he hopes they're asleep. One is from him, a moon cactus, and the other is from Nnoitra, a grow light to place on a desk.

A card from the living world is attached,

We're glad you're here to celebrate! Thank you for giving us new Christmas memories! ¡Feliz Navidad! - Lord Nnoitra and Tesla

MERRY CHRISTMAS .ᐟ 🎄

-> The tender resolve that often comes with the moment of awakening is offset only just-so by Lyric's child-like excitement for something they have not done in many years since being handed over to Wing Bind: open Christmas presents. No matter how much they long to burst at the seams and rush to rip open anything that could be sitting under the tree for them, they know such noisy, frivolous behavior would not be allowed in the palace walls. So they must collect themselves with a deep breath. ( hoo... haa... ) First things first: Ulquiorra had left gifts for them in their sleep. He likely had gone back to bed by now and would awaken later at an hour suited to his species, and though something in Lyric is bruised and squishy at awakening alone, they let it go. He brought them many wonderful gifts, and their head feels cool in one spot, as though someone kissed their crown gently.

-> To their delight, there is something under the tree. Two things, even .ᐟ Which is twice as many as they were hoping to unwrap! ( Ulquiorra did not wrap his gifts. they were simply left at their bedside like offerings on an altar. he means well, they know. ) Careful not to do a running slide into the decorated fake Christmas tree, Lyric pads across the cold floor swiftly to the colorfully wrapped boxes; they read the card first, as is good behavior——Tesla's handwriting makes their chest feel warm and fond in a way they have missed, like traces of when they were close to their real family. He says the gift is from both him and Nnoitra, but Lyric has their suspicions Nnoitra engaged in selecting something for them willingly. The way a parent chooses a present and addresses it on Santa's behalf, they suspect Tesla chose something and included Nnoitra in the card out of good will. ( that's fine. it makes them happy anyways. )

-> They recognize the round, bulbous shape of the cactus right away: Gymnocalycium mihanovichii. Its cultivar were typical bred without chlorophyll to reveal their vibrant colors, and then grafted onto other species to provide them with the means to survive, and the resulting plant was called a "moon cactus". The real thing was not quiet so colorful, but that was just fine with Lyric——it was a hardy little plant that could blossom with care. The lamp from Nnoitra is a perfect pair ( and all the more reason to suspect Tesla picked a gift on his behalf ) and Lyric sets up both atop their dresser after lightly watering the cactus just until the top soil is damp. They would have to do more research about its care, but this was enough for now. Even the one, tiny plant in their room brings them such indescribable relief; they wonder if Ulquiorra would let them grow a whole room of plants like a greenhouse if they gave him a nice, padded chair to sit in it. The pad of one finger gently brushes along the protruding spines of the cactus and Lyric sighs, wistful.

It's a good gift. They hope Tesla likes his, too.