#local immortal swordswoman accidentally embraces the useless lesbian meme. More at 11.

[wayfaringlegends]

What was she even supposed to get Maria at this point? What were they anymore? It was Pascale's fault for avoiding the question (although her work dragging her off to other regions didn't help).

She didn't dare risk alcohol again.

She got home late Christmas evening. Exhausted, and not wanting to wake Maria, she simply left her gifts on the kitchen table: toffee, and a new set of silk pajamas (nothing too suggestive, of course) with little Arons in the pattern.

Maria was in the habit of waking up with the sun, which meant even though she woke up at half past 8, it was late for her.

She wandered out of the bedroom Pascale was lending her (which she still felt awkward about having) and wandered into the room, looking for coffee.

Of all the creations since her time, coffee had to be the one Maria could no longer live without. She didn't even notice the presents until she nearly tripped over the box of toffees.

It took Maria a few moments to connect the dots and realise this was one of the newer modern traditions, what was a winter solstice festival in her time had become a gift-giving celebration in modern times. (A huge oversimplification, but it's how Maria understood it).

"Oh, I-I see..." She mumbled to herself, feeling more than a little guilty she didn't have anything prepared herself. Then again, Maria was not exactly flash with money, nor did she have a reliable, consistent method of making money, seeing how her sole talent of swordsmanship was outdated in modern times (and modern military organisations would ask too many questions). Nontheless, Maria felt a ping of guilt as she felt the silk clothing between her fingers -a luxury she could only dream of back home- and...

"... ... What the...?" She mumbled as she pinched a toffee in her hand. Seeing how they didn't exist 200 years ago, Maria was very confused.