mylittlejamjar | Hearts & Hooves Day '14 Gifts for folks ♥ [Visual/Action]

[Back home, there was no Valentine's Day (simply because there was no St. Valentine), or Hearts & Hooves Day, because the dominant species were Beorc and Laguz and not, well, ponies. But there was a festival in Melior in the spring where couples exchanged flowers, or where a potential suitor could make his intentions known to a girl. Calill had tried to set her up last year, but Nephenee had already volunteered for Queen's Guard duty for the guy who had the slot so he could spend time with his wife...It also had provided a handy, though unplanned, escape route for getting set up. Sure, the guy sounded nice, but...well, this was Nephenee, and at the time, that meant still turning into a sputtering mess when such was brought up.

Not that that much had changed in a year in that regard. She just was a mess with a suitor now.

In any case, like Earth's Valentine's Day, or Equestria's Hearts and Hooves, the Spring Flower Festival had traditions for friends too, usually involving handmade things, or flowers, yellow, the color of friendship and joy, being traditional. In Neph's case, she had decided to do both, mostly involving making chocolates like a madwoman for the several days leading up to the holiday.]

[Let it be said the farm pony doesn't go half-way in a gosh darn thing, cause everyone got something.]

[After she's done with her deliveries, the mare pops up on screen, all smiles. If you're inclined to notice, her ears now have small silver crstal studs in them.:]
H-hey, everypony! A-ah jus' wanted to say Happy Hearts & Hooves day to everypony. Hopefully y'all will be gettin' your gifts soon if ya haven't already, an' Ah hope y'all like 'em!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ah'm doin' great! Real excited to give everypony their gifts. Ah decided this time to ask for the mail ponies' help on delivery, too, so Ah could be done on time for the Special Somepony Summit.

[She's fast, but she didn't want to rush more than she needed to, not when she wanted to have plenty of time beforehand to stretch and such.

As he poked the bag, she giggled.]

Careful, yours are in there, Bertie!

You know, it's rather more the tradish for a chap to be the one handing out presents. [Bertie's teasing, happy enough at the thought of a present not to pay the difference any mind.]

Let me fetch yours, as well! Just a moment.

[There's a small stack of boxes on his bed, and he fishes one out for her.]

Here we are. Happy Valentine's Day!

[The tag reads: 'To a dashed fine little sister!' It's got chocolate truffles in it.]

Actually, back in Melior, the Spring Flower Festival had both guys an' gals givin' 'em. It's the closest we got to Hearts an' Hooves or Valentine's, jus' 'round what'd ya figure for April or May here.

[And before she can pull his, he goes and comes back with her gift. Darn it Bertie, one day you're getting your gift first! Gingerly taking the box, she blushes lightly.]

Happy Valentine's an' Hearts an' Hooves to ya too!

[She grins at the message, before opening the box and making the same sort of squeak she did back at Hearth's Warming for his gifts to her, tail swishing happily.]

Hee, ya do know what Ah like! Thank ya so much, brother~ [As before, she extends the box to him in offering the first piece. 'Twas only right to offer such!]

[Bertie takes one of the proffered chocolates. It's probably a bit early for something that sweet, but it's not as though it's everyday, and it would be rude to refuse.]

You're very welcome! The Spring Flower Festival, though, eh? [He munches on the truffle as he considers this.] I suppose you're more likely to trade roses and such, then? Well, I mean, any other flowers you like, as well.

[After he takes his piece, she takes one, very delicately nibbling. Oh, hazelnut~ Not trying to be petite, but trying to make sure she can actually understand him and not be all blus- Alright, she's a little blushy anyway. Hazelnut and chocolate's her favorite, and chocolate in general makes her go to her happy place.

Forcing herself to place the chocolate on the inside of the lid when he's done, she nods.] For a couple, roses can be popular, or sometimes it's jus' their favorite flowers. The roses here look a mite different, though. Like this!

[Using that as a transition, she fetches the yellow rose out of the bag, along with two small boxes, one gold, and the smaller blue, like his eyes. Offering him the rose first, she beams.]

Ah reckon they're bred different. But this is for ya, cause ya can give 'em to friends an' family, too. Yellow stands for friendship, gratitude, an' joy. Ah'm so happy an' honored to have such a great best friend an' brother.

Edited 2014-02-25 01:07 (UTC)

Oh! Land Wickhammersley grows all sorts of different colored roses back home where I'm from, as well. I didn't know they meant anything.

[Well, anything apart from the standard red rose of love and affection. Bertie doesn't speak flower. He does take this one when it's offered, though, and holds it up next to his cheek, grinning at Nephenee.]

It matches my fur!

Yup! An' flowers got their own words, ina way. Most of 'em are similar here an' back home. An' it does! [Her tail flicks at how happy he looks.] Do they look like these, shapewise? The ones back home are smaller by a bit...

[Bertie pulls the rose back to examine it a little more closely.]

They're about right, I'd say. Usually a bit more prickly, though. Did you cut off the thorns?

Naw, Ah asked 'bout that, actually. These are a thornless type. Never seen such.

[She remembers well enough the pain of thorny ones that, even with hooves, she appreciates these new sorts. Well, new to her.

Next up came the blue box, with a little note of her own attached, folded into a neat little square.
I'm so blessed to have such a great friend and brother! I hope you enjoy your gifts. Happy Hearts & Hooves~ It reads, then there's a little heart next to a cute drawing of them sharing tea, and her signature under the heart. Inside? There's a lovely green, blue, and gold tie awaiting him. Feels like silk, too. She's just going to sit there grinning while he opens it.]

Hmm! [Bertie's never heard of a rose without thorns. How the deuce was this meant to line up with that adage: 'every rose has its thorns?'

He sets this curiosity to one side in favor of focusing on the next gift.]

I feel as though it's Christmas again.

[The note makes him smile, and when he opens the box and pulls out the tie, his eyes light up.]

Oh, I say. I say, I say! This is the absolute bee's knees, Neph! The elephant's eyebrow, and the alligator's elbow all rolled up into one! Thank you! Where did you find it? It's lovely.

[Success! She claps her front hooves together in glee at his reaction (though, what's an alligator?), before resting them back down on the ground, and beaming, she answers:]

Got it up in Canterlot when me an' some of the gals went there. Ah saw it an' thought of ya, figured it'd bring out your eyes an' fur a bit! [It was a little expensive, but it was so worth every bit to see him so happy, especially on this day, when she knew he might be hurting.]

Ah'm right glad ya like it! [It's an understatement. She's ecstatic.]

It shall be the crown jewel of my collection, my dear girl! [Right next to the one Harvey bought him for his birthday. It's hard to make choices like this among friends.]

You really didn't need to go to the trouble, but I'm dashed appreciative.

[He gives her a quick hug to reinforce that appreciation.]

Hearts & Hooves Day '14 Gifts for folks ♥ [Visual/Action]

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