[Unicorn is less holiday-cheery as (what he assumes) are the other teams, but that's fine by him. However, it means he'll have to endure gift-giving from those feeling particularly generous -- he shouldn't be surprised Minato is one of them.
Anyway, he meets him at the entrance to the Unicorn dorm, offering a polite smile and a quirk of the brow.]
You didn't have to.
[That's what all present-receivers say, right? Well, not that he would know.]
[Swapping stories? One tale for another? It’s tempting — Minato is so frustratingly earnest, so stuck on the idea of bonds, that he is curious about where this predilection came from.]
…Sure. If you’re that interested. But I’ll warn you: it’s not a happy tale.
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Anyway, he meets him at the entrance to the Unicorn dorm, offering a polite smile and a quirk of the brow.]
You didn't have to.
[That's what all present-receivers say, right? Well, not that he would know.]
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Anyway, Minato just shrugs a little, offering a tiny smile and holding out the present. ]
I just wanted to, that's all. I hope things are going well for you guys.
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[He takes the present, eying it then looking up at Minato.]
Should I open it now?
[It's not like there's an actual Christmas to wait for, he assumes.]
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[ sometimes... sometimes presents are just all rng and there's no knowing or telling what you're gonna get.
anyway it's a tiara which is hysterical. ]
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Holding the box under one arm, he unearths the.... tiara, holding it gently with both hands.]
It's very.
[Well.]
Sparkling.
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Ah... I'll... um, I'll get you another one.
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[One gift is enough, Minato. Even if it’s a tiara that he has no idea what to do with.]
The sentiment is appreciated. Half of the amusement is in not knowing what it is until it’s opened, right?
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[ he rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, but relaxes a bit. ]
It does add a... hm, extra sense of surprise to the whole thing...?
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Like giving and receiving real gifts at Christmas. [Except both parties are in for a surprise.] It's to be expected.
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[ he would not know, he's never had a proper Christmas, but he's willing to take Henry's word for it. ]
Well... it's been a lot of fun so far, so I'm glad.
[ ... and a little mischievously: ]
I'm glad Shelley-san intervened for us.
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Hm?
[That mischievous tone, he can latch onto.]
The Warden’s losing her grip, isn’t she? I’d guess she had a much more unpleasant task for us in mind, initially.
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[ the reason for the mischief in his expression becomes very clear a moment later. ]
... Because the bonds Shelley-san is encouraging seem to really be working.
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MINATO!!]
…maybe so. A means to an end, in that case.
You’re very fond of the idea of bonds, aren’t you?
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[ he shrugs a little, tucking his hands into his pockets. ]
I guess you could say... they saved me. So--I'll always believe in them.
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Saved you? Are you speaking metaphorically?
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thoughtfully: ]
Both, I think. Metaphorically and literally.
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...Were you in a situation like this one, back in your world?
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[ "A situation like this" can cover a lot of things, but-- ]
Things were pretty difficult back home, that's true. But... my friends and I were able to make it through.
... If you wanna know more, maybe someday we can swap stories. I'm still really curious about yours, you know.
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…Sure. If you’re that interested. But I’ll warn you: it’s not a happy tale.
[He told Eleven the same thing.]
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For now... I'll let you get back to your hard work. Take care, Henry-san--and Merry Christmas.
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[No "Merry Christmases" from this guy, though maybe it's redundant, given the nature of this game.]