#that still coming :catgrin:

[ianfm]

Happy 22nd Birthday, Leaf Wozniak 

Birthday present moodboard for Leaf Wozniak @urdamage 🎁🎄🎁 Mad’s 12 days of Moodboards 05/12 🎁🎄🎁  🎄🎁 🎄 Day Four 🎄 🎁🎄

Hand delivered to Leaf is the bracelets and book as well as a homemade card. Hand drawn by Ian’s partner (and Leaf’s fellow friend), Bo, is a birthday card with a rendition of Leaf’s beloved van in a fantastical scene. A luscious alien landscape rich with neon vegetation and unidentifiable plant life. The card was Bo’s largest contribution to the present they’d agreed on giving their friend as a couple. Two woven leaf bracelets they’d purchased at one of the holiday vendors at the lodge and a book on native fauna they’d been recommended at A New Chapter. Ian had been in charge of writing the message.

Happy 22nd Birthday, Leaf! Words can not describe how important you are to us and we are so happy to get to call you a friend. We owe ya at least 22 drinks and be sure you make good on that unlike my offer last year!

                                             Love, 

                                           Ian & Bo

Delivered through Cupid’s Ian arranged Leaf’s larger and (actual) gift along with a letter from Ian to the commune after festivities had died down. Bo knew about the blanket and also thought that this year Leaf deserved something extra special but it was Ian’s gift to give-- they both knew that. Not only had he been the one to have burnt a hole in his other that he already felt on the hook to replace since it happened, Ian just had extra appreciation to show his dear friend. As someone who Ian gave a birthday present to every year it was decided not long after the attack that he was going to have something of this caliber for Leaf when his birthday rolled by. It wasn’t long after Leaf had saved him from drowning that he went to Stitch by Stitch in search of someone who’d be able to (and willing) to take on an undertaking like a crocheted blanket. Someone did, a man named Michael whom he’d checked in on the last few months about the progress and whom Ian paid fairly for his work (which had been a pretty penny). Leaf had spent the last half of 21 as a rock for Ian through this time and no amount of words, or thoughtful gifts could ever encompass how though this was an attempt. 

Leaf,  I wanted to give you this in person but you’ve already seen me cry enough already that I wanted to spare you the tears on your birthday of all days. I don’t think I would’ve been able to say everything I want to in person anyways. I think you more than anyone knows it’s a lot easier to say things in a card than someone’s face and you more than anyone deserve a letter addressed to you too.  

Even writing though I’m finding it hard to get the words out that I want to say. Maybe there just aren’t enough words for how grateful I feel to have you in my life. You’ve been there for me in ways I didn’t know I even needed since Bo’s been attacked. You saved me really and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to repay you for that but please know that I’m going to try. 

You’re one of the kindest, most generous, and intelligent people I know and I hope this day and your next rotation around the sun reflects that. 

Happy Birthday, Leaf. 

I promise I won’t burn a hole in this one. 

-Ian