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hey, c’mon now, you gotta give me more credit than that
ol’ Orlando gives as good as he gets
ol’ Orlando gives as good as he gets
dunno, you trust me in your house?
[he shouldn’t]
[he shouldn’t]
[There are some stains that even fire won’t cleanse.]
[But, regardless, the first thing Randy does when Ash opens the door is ruffle the blond’s hair. There’s a bittersweet smile on his face.]
How ya doin’, kid?
[But, regardless, the first thing Randy does when Ash opens the door is ruffle the blond’s hair. There’s a bittersweet smile on his face.]
How ya doin’, kid?
[The hug catches him by surprise.]
[There’s a worry in the back of his mind, tiny and minuscule, that having him around will only hurt Ash. That with the amount of blood on his hands, he’s not really any different from Dickson.]
[But then he sees the kid shoot a genuine smile, and he grins back. Ash made it out okay, despite everything.]
Yeah, I’d say so. There’s a few states I can’t go back to and I’m not allowed to ever step in a Buc—ee’s again, but I’m doin’ pretty alright.
It’s kinda nice to be back.
[There’s a worry in the back of his mind, tiny and minuscule, that having him around will only hurt Ash. That with the amount of blood on his hands, he’s not really any different from Dickson.]
[But then he sees the kid shoot a genuine smile, and he grins back. Ash made it out okay, despite everything.]
Yeah, I’d say so. There’s a few states I can’t go back to and I’m not allowed to ever step in a Buc—ee’s again, but I’m doin’ pretty alright.
It’s kinda nice to be back.
[Randy shrugs as he takes a seat on the couch.]
Dunno. Something about how "it doesn't matter how big our store is, you can't use it as a go-kart track."
Dunno. Something about how "it doesn't matter how big our store is, you can't use it as a go-kart track."
[A package arrives in the mail for Ash from Harumasa! As well as a beautiful bouquet full of seasonal flowers resting on top. Each flower has been lovingly picked out to symbolize his feelings of love and gratitude for Luke's presence in his life. When he opens up the package, there'll be three perfectly wrapped gifts inside. All of them are the same shape and weight, so it's probably the same gift in three parts.
Unwrapping the first will reveal a scrapbook with a cover that's decorated in dadcore themed stickers and dog stickers. The cover is also embossed with gold ink in calligraphic numbers: 2017-2019. When he opens the front cover, there will be a note in Harumasa's handwriting on the front page. As the pages are flipped through, they're all photos mostly taken by him. It starts off very amateur and it's clear that when Harumasa's the subject, he's not quite comfortable in front of the camera. His smiles are awkward and don't really reach his eyes, looking more nervous or skittish than how he is now. Some are also very amateur landscapes and photos of the sky. However, as it progresses through his life, Ash can see how Harumasa becomes more comfortable being photographed, how much more easily his smiles come to him and reach his eyes, and how his skill evolves. Every photo is dated and has a location underneath it, and every page is decorated to complement the photos on them.
The other two gifts are the same, but the numbers increase as they go through the years. 2020-2022, and finally 2023-2025. The final two pages of the 2025 book are dedicated to only two photos, one on each page. The one on the left is a Christmas photo of Harumasa with the siblings, their significant others, and Ragna. The one on the right is of the New Eridu crew. It's a candid photo that somehow captures all of them at the height of their joy during the Christmas party. Handwritten neatly at the top are the words: "Seasons change, but my pride in your growth will always be the same."
As for the note at the beginning of the book, it says:]
Merry Christmas, Ashes!
I'm still really sad that I missed your high school graduation, but pass along my thanks to your dads for sending me photos! My baby brother, all grown up and embracing his own dad life... brings a tear to my eyes!
Okay, but, for real. I'm glad we get to spend our first Christmas as a family together and that you've got your life pretty much figured out. I never would've dreamed of that possibility before, but now that it's your reality, I couldn't be happier.
Let's make the next year even more memorable!
With all my love,
Hazel
Unwrapping the first will reveal a scrapbook with a cover that's decorated in dadcore themed stickers and dog stickers. The cover is also embossed with gold ink in calligraphic numbers: 2017-2019. When he opens the front cover, there will be a note in Harumasa's handwriting on the front page. As the pages are flipped through, they're all photos mostly taken by him. It starts off very amateur and it's clear that when Harumasa's the subject, he's not quite comfortable in front of the camera. His smiles are awkward and don't really reach his eyes, looking more nervous or skittish than how he is now. Some are also very amateur landscapes and photos of the sky. However, as it progresses through his life, Ash can see how Harumasa becomes more comfortable being photographed, how much more easily his smiles come to him and reach his eyes, and how his skill evolves. Every photo is dated and has a location underneath it, and every page is decorated to complement the photos on them.
The other two gifts are the same, but the numbers increase as they go through the years. 2020-2022, and finally 2023-2025. The final two pages of the 2025 book are dedicated to only two photos, one on each page. The one on the left is a Christmas photo of Harumasa with the siblings, their significant others, and Ragna. The one on the right is of the New Eridu crew. It's a candid photo that somehow captures all of them at the height of their joy during the Christmas party. Handwritten neatly at the top are the words: "Seasons change, but my pride in your growth will always be the same."
As for the note at the beginning of the book, it says:]
Merry Christmas, Ashes!
I'm still really sad that I missed your high school graduation, but pass along my thanks to your dads for sending me photos! My baby brother, all grown up and embracing his own dad life... brings a tear to my eyes!
Okay, but, for real. I'm glad we get to spend our first Christmas as a family together and that you've got your life pretty much figured out. I never would've dreamed of that possibility before, but now that it's your reality, I couldn't be happier.
Let's make the next year even more memorable!
With all my love,
Hazel
[There is a special delivery before Christmas Day: a heavy cardboard box wrapped in copper foil and gold ribbon... Hmm. Wonder who that could be from. It shows up on Ash's doorstep mysteriously, with the label simply saying "To: Ash; From: Your Secret Santa."
Inside the box is a hand-forged carbon steel wok stamped with the Chinese characters for "tenacity" on the bottom, and a special edition of Water Margin (one of the four Chinese classic novels) with color illustrations inside.
Merry Christmas, grandson.]
Inside the box is a hand-forged carbon steel wok stamped with the Chinese characters for "tenacity" on the bottom, and a special edition of Water Margin (one of the four Chinese classic novels) with color illustrations inside.
Merry Christmas, grandson.]
Edited 2025-12-12 22:25 (UTC)
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