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After Aventurine finishes wrapping the last present he had prepared for Christmas, he reaches over and grabs his phone, about to text and ask Ratio for any updates on tonight. However, as he unlocks the screen, he's already met with a few notifications from Veritas, and he could feel his mood dampen a bit as he read them. As Ratio explains how he'd fallen sick and wouldn't be able to visit Aventurine, the gambler runs a hand through his hair, letting out a deep sigh.
Dr. Ratio: [Vasha I am so sorry but I seem to have fallen ill]
Dr. Ratio: [I know we planned to spend Christmas together but I think it’s best I stay in the house]
Dr. Ratio: [Apologies once again I swear I will make it up to you, mea vita]
It was as if in this moment, he was really realizing just how much he had been looking forward to spending his first "real" Christmas with Ratio. Texting back his own quick message of understanding, Aventurine drops his phone and himself down on the bed as he lets out a groan.
Aventurine: [Hey it’s fine, really]
Aventurine: [Hope you feel better soon doc]
Aventurine: [*Wubbaboo Heart Sticker*]
He'd be lying to say that this didn't practically ruin his night, the past few days having led up to this one moment. Suddenly feeling a heavy weight drop onto his stomach, Aventurine coughs as he looks up at the catcake now innocently settling on top of him.
"Munya munya!"
With a small chuckle, Aventurine dejectedly places a hand atop the head of the small creature, gently rubbing behind its ear as it pressed into its hand.
"Sorry bud, you're not gonna be able to see Dad tonight, he caught a cold."
Aventurine informs, feeling the small creature deflate a bit. Aventurine shuffles a bit to focus on petting the catcake but as soon as he sits up it's gone, jumping off his lap and instead going to inspect the pile of newly wrapped presents. Aventurine rolls his eyes as the pet escapes his grasp, laying back against the pillows.
"Yeah those are for Christmas, you've got one in that pile too."
Aventurine says idly, watching as the creature sniffs around. Eventually, it seems to paw at one gift in particular, Aventurine leaning forward a bit to see what he's doing.
"Hm? Oh, yeah that's one of your dad's presents."
Aventurine says, sitting up once more into a somewhat criss-cross position as he looks at the pile of presents he'd wrapped. Ratio was sick. He couldn't come over. But... That doesn't necessarily mean Aventurine can't just go over to his place, right? Sure, it wasn't originally planned and the doctor himself probably wouldn't recommend it - risk of spread and all that - but, there's no way Aventurine was spending his first Christmas dating Ratio without the man himself. Eyes widening as if he'd had the idea of a lifetime, Aventurine reaches over and picks up the catcake, bringing it up to eye level.
"Go find your siblings and meet in the living room. We're going on a trip to dad's house."
"Munya?"
Despite the slight confusion from the catcake, as Aventurine placed it down it did as told, hopping out of the bedroom to find the others. Getting up, Aventurine grabs a large bag and packs the wrapped presents into it. Heh, he wonders if this is what "Santa" feels like, packing up gifts in a bag to deliver.
Throwing on a coat and boots and heading into the living room with the bag of gifts, Aventurine gets out the pet carriers for the catcakes. Chuckling a bit as he sees them gathered together as if having a council meeting, he places them down and allows all three to get inside.
Aventurine mentally checks to make sure he's gotten everything he needs, suddenly having another idea as he gathers a few decorations to bring to Ratio's house as well, not having been over recently to know if the doctor decorated himself. Getting some garland, a mini tree, and some baubles, Aventurine makes his way to pack everything into his car, taking special care to ensure the catcakes are all properly fastened in.
The drive to Ratio's was quick and simple, accompanied by IPC-sponsored Christmas songs playing on the radio. At some points, the Stoneheart could hear the catcakes meowing along with the melody. Once he was only about one minute away, Aventurine used his phone voice controls to send a message to Ratio telling him to open the door.
Aventurine: [Hey Veri open up the door]
Aventurine: [Please please 🥺]
Dr. Ratio: [????]
Once Aventurine pulls up to Ratio's house and parks, he keeps the car on to keep the catcakes warm as he goes out through the snow, standing in front of Ratio's door and knocking. Except he kept knocking constantly, a small habit that he'd started when it came to the doctor, an inside joke almost. Eventually, after a few more moments of knocking the door moves from behind his knuckles, opening as sunset eyes are found on the other side, though the person those eyes belong to looks exhausted, and definitely sick.
"Kakavasha? What are you doing here??"
Ratio's voice is filled with utter confusion, and phlegm apparently, based on the cough that he turns away and covers with his inner elbow, before facing the gambler once more.
"Well, you couldn't come over to my place for Christmas so I brought Christmas over here! Now hurry and open up, the cats are in the car and I feel bad leaving them alone."
Aventurine says as if he's already secured his way in, waving his hand in expectation slightly as he begins walking back to the car and opening the back door to get the catcakes out. Ratio opens the door up wider, simply staring out at the blond somewhat dumbfounded as he huddles himself in his robe a bit more to stave off the snowy cold.
After Aventurine drops the cats inside, Ratio's look of surprise only grows as he sees the man proceed to bring in decorations as well. After they'd both gone inside and the door closed, Ratio gave Aventurine another confused look.
"Would you like to properly explain what's going on here, Vasha?"
Aventurine puts down the tree, looking over at the catcakes exploring the house for a few moments. They haven't been over here since the very first day Ratio got them, and that was probably only for 20 minutes maximum. Looking back to Ratio, Aventurine gives a small shrug as his hand rubs the back of his neck
"It's just.. you got sick so suddenly and I really wanted to spend my first proper Christmas with you. I'd rather have it like this than not at all."
Aventurine admits almost sheepishly, clearly hoping that the doctor is on board with the idea and doesn't kick him out under the pretense of not wanting to spread his illness. Ratio is silent for a few moments, unsure how to even respond before letting out a small exasperated yet appreciative sigh.
"I understand. Though if we are to do this, I would like to request we do it in my bedroom so I am able to lie down. It takes... A surprising amount of energy to stand at the moment."
Ratio says with a small breath, to which Aventurine happily agrees. Taking the miniature Christmas setup to Ratio's bedroom, Aventurine places the mini tree on the nightstand, hangs up the garland on the headboard of the bed, and hangs some baubles off it as well. As Ratio lays down in bed, settling himself under the covers, Aventurine sat with his legs tucked under him, bringing up a few presents onto the bed. He watches as Ratio leans over and grabs something from his other nightstand, Aventurine leaning over to try to see what it is.
"Whatcha got there?"
"A mask. If you're going to be staying over, I'd prefer not to spread my germs to you and get you sick as well"
Ratio puts the mask on, properly hooking the elastic around his ear before looking over towards Aventurine.
"If you can get the presents I got for you, they're out on the island counter."
Ratio informs gently and Aventurine obliges, standing up as he goes to retrieve his presents. Coming back into the room with the catcakes following suit, rushing between and past Aventurine's legs as he attempts not to trip. Settling back down with the catcakes now joining at the foot of the bed.
After that, Ratio and Aventurine begin to open their presents, going one at a time. New books, a framed family photo, matching owl and peacock mugs, a small plush origami bird, the list goes on. Aventurine at some points would take time to up the presents for the catcakes as well, unwrapping cat toys or treat bags for them and allowing them to play with and taste them.
After a majority of the gifts had been opened, however, Ratio leans over towards one of his nightstands again, opening the drawer and taking out another wrapped gift. Aventurine lets out a small amused huff, reaching behind him and getting a present he has been keeping out of reach and out of eyesight from the doctor.
"Seems we both have one last gift for each other, hm Veri?"
Aventurine teases quietly, before quickly pushing the small box towards Ratio.
"Here, you first."
With a small chuckle, that also turned into a small cough, Ratio takes the small gift box and carefully unwraps it. Inside, underneath the colorful tissue paper, he unveils a small peacock-esque scroll, which upon further inspection, contained a piece of paper inside. Veritas almost hesitates, emotions already welling up a bit. Opening the scroll and taking out the piece of paper, Ratio reads it quietly to himself.
"In sickness and in health, I stay alive for the joy you've brought me, for things I hadn't experienced before, for what's yet to come. I stay alive for you. Thank you for falling in love with me."
Ratio is still, staring down at the piece of paper even after he has finished reading it. Suddenly a bit concerned and unable to decipher Ratio's expression enough for his liking, Aventurine tries to prod, so badly hoping that the gift was well received.
"So..?"
Without any more words, Ratio gently reaches up and cups Aventurine's cheek with one hand, gently caressing his face.
"Thank you, Kakavasha. Thank you for falling in love with me as well."
Ratio, then very quickly remembering he is sick, drops his hand from Aventurine's face, eliciting a small chuckle from Aventurine, though the intense emotion bubbling up in the blond is not hidden behind the sound. Ratio then takes Aventurine's present, handing it to the man.
"Merry Christmas, Vasha."
Ratio says quietly as Aventurine takes the box. Undoing the ribbons and taking off the wrapping paper, Aventurine is met with a very neat display of a book surrounded by tissue paper with a small necklace made of crystals and beads resting atop it. Aventurine gently takes out and holds the necklace, inspecting it for a few moments.
"It's beautiful.."
Aventurine whispers, mostly to himself. He holds the necklace in his hand as he takes out the book, reading the cover. Very quickly, Aventurine notices that this book has some hints of a language he had not seen in decades. The title itself was not exactly telling, but the smaller words beneath it, the words written in Sigonian certainly were. Aventurine can feel his throat closing up with emotion suddenly, head snapping up to look at Ratio with a somewhat confused yet also hopeful look.
"What... Is this??"
Ratio smiles gently, adjusting slightly as one of the catcakes makes its way into his lap to lie down.
"This is a book about the culture of Sigonia, told from the perspective of the people. Specifically, this book mostly refers to the Avgin people..."
Ratio says, trailing off slightly as he can see tears beginning to prick up in the corners of Aventurine's eyes.
"I made the necklace for you, based on a certain practice depicted in this book. It said it is a special type of gift that is usually given to loved ones and family members."
Ratio admits quietly, having to clear his throat of congestion halfway through. As he looks up at Aventurine, he sees the blond with his head down, carefully clutching the necklace close to himself while the book lies on his lap.
"Y-yeah, that sounds about right."
Aventurine confirms, though his voice is laden with emotion. He couldn't help it as just a few tears fell free and onto the sheets, and Ratio gently reached forward and held onto Aventurine's forearm in an attempt to calm him. Aventurine rubbed the back of his free hand against his face to wipe away his few tears, quickly trying to collect and compose himself.
"I'm fine- I'm fine, it's just.. thank you, Veritas."
Ratio leans back in the bed once more, smiling gently as he looks at Aventurine.
"Thank you as well, for coming all this way tonight. For being here in general."
Ratio's hand slowly ghosts its way up the rest of Aventurine's forearm until he can interlace their fingers, gently rubbing his thumb against the side of Aventurine's hand.
"I love you, Kakavasha."
The gambler can't help but smile, as his hand gently squeezes Ratio's.
"I love you too, Veritas."
He says, before leaning in and sneaking a small kiss on Ratio's forehead, he could feel the warmth of the man's fever, as Ratio scoffed, moments away from lecturing him about not wanting to get him sick as well, but he supposed he was willing to take that gamble.