It started snowing not too long after Inanna had arrived and it had come down pretty fast. Viktor hadn't seen many blizzards growing up in the newly named Zaun, so he wasn't sure what to do about one happening in Folkmore. Well aside from cuddling to conserve body heat. It was warmer inside his tiny house at least, less room needed to be heated.
Viktor had been given the ugly Christmas sweater he had on and he had a mug of warmed sweet milk in one hand, the distinctive anise flavor rising as steam from it. Various spirits were decorated with lights and though it got dark earlier, the festive little twinkling lights made all of Folkmore look beautiful. Viktor had even joined in and used lights to outline his windows. Now as the snow came down, he could see lights outside his windows.
"I don't think I understand how the Earth holiday works. Where I am from there is only the Winter Solstice, and the idea is to light as many lights as possible. So all of the windows have a candle or a lamp in them. What is the idea behind the giving of gifts to celebrate?"
Folkmore, at least the community of Talaria in Willow, certainly gets winter storms. Last year Inanna had to dig his way out of his house, and they may need to do that in the morning too. The morning's problem because Inanna is here with Viktor, and he doesn't plan on going anywhere, even if he could. He's dressed simply, a white cottony shirt with a wool jumper on, nordic pattern, though instead of Christmas trees or anything of the like it has simplified versions of the sigils of each of the gods in his cycle. Even Minerva.
He leans against Viktor, a similar mug in hand, and appreciates the lights Viktor has put up. It's better seeing them from his perspective, with what they mean to him, than the mere fact people put up fairy lights regularly in London.
"My family isn't Christian, but I grew up in the UK, so I'm used to it. It likely really ties back to winter being a time of hardship and going without, so having a day to get something gave you all the time to look forward to it as well as appreciating it. The gifts used to be smaller. An orange. Chocolates. A new pair of shoes or coat. It got bigger and bigger over the years as the main holiday around exchanging gifts."
Gods, that's probably sacrilegious in someone's book.
"Also because Jesus was supposedly born on Christmas, and the three magi came and gave him gifts, and Jesus is God's only son and his gift to everyone on Earth because Jesus was born to die for their sins."
Inanna waves it off. Perhaps that means more in worlds where gods aren't around every ninety years. Christianity simply doesn't have the same deathgrip on the cultural psyche when there are walking talking (dying) gods around.
Viktor took a sip from his mug as Inanna spoke, then raised one eyebrow in confusion.
"A single god's only son? That really doesn't seem like much to get impressed over. Then again I am used to many gods and they are usually concerned with their own business rather than the business of humanity."
It was pretty rare that someone mortal would get a celestial blessing. And it was widely agreed that the gods were real, just that they were apathetic to mortal doings.
"The giving of smaller gifts like candy or fruit, or even something like a new pair of shoes, actually sounds charming. It's a pity that the Earth holiday has moved away from that."
Viktor wrapped his free arm around Inanna. And he had a smile lurking in his voice.
"The question then is what would make a suitable solstice gift for you?"
Inanna's sure it's supposed to mean more when it's the only son someone has, a sacrifice more precious than were Jesus one of many, hardly to be missed. Admittedly, the gods aren't known for having children during the Recurrence. Two years isn't a long time, and Inanna almost winces at the memory of the past Inanna making what happened with the nineteenth century Woden far more personal. Regardless. No children.
"My world has seen a mix of both kinds of gods, those concerned with the fate of humanity and those not. Whether or not they cared, the gods always affected human culture."
His residency was in a church, and Inanna enjoyed giving a concert on Christmas Eve. Sure it ended in an orgy, and no one sang hymns. But that was a far more enjoyable service, filled with love, than people packed into pews for one holiday a year after skipping the rest of the time. No guilt. No shame. Only joy and devotion.
Inanna's eyes drop for a moment as he looks over at Viktor, but he brings them back up and sips from his mug.
"I am sure I would enjoy anything you give me."
His gift for Viktor can be summoned with a moment's notice, but Inanna doesn't want to distract from this one.
"Love, being loved, is a gift that gives in and of itself. You don't owe me anything loving you. Loving you is wondrous itself."
Being loved back is more than Inanna could ever want in return. He's glad Viktor loves him back. Folkmore simply wouldn't be the same. It plays over the whole year he's been here. Changes everything. Viktor's been here for him as he learns more about himself and accepts more than he previously has.
"Yes. Yes, I'd love to dance with you."
Inanna turns toward Viktor, who already had so much of his attention, and rests his hand on Viktor's shoulder. He knows how to dance, but following is so much more about paying attention to the other person's lead. The arts is a perfect gift for an artist. Even that which only exists for a moment.
Viktor isn't the best dancer, but with it being just the two of them he moves very slowly. He keeps time with music that he can only hear in his mind and while that may not translate as much for dancing, he was going slowly enough that it would be easy to follow his lead. It's been a very eventful year, and Viktor would not have been able to survive it, emotionally at least, had it not been for Inanna more than once.
"I'm sorry that I can't give you anything more than this dance, but if it makes you feel better just know that I am going to treasure this memory I for as long as I can."
Viktor intended for that to be the case for the rest of his life.
The world feels soft and quiet around them as they dance. The walls and windows muffle that noise, and their feet moving across the floor becomes its own music. Inanna follows Viktor's lead, and being together is its own kind of miracle. Time together far more important than any physical gift when Inanna knows what a workaholic Viktor is. It's meaningful in and of itself.
"I cherish it too, Viktor. This dance is plenty. It's like you said, the wonders when the gifts are small."
His heart feels warm, and that's enough. If Viktor thinks Inanna's gift is 'more' because it's an object, because it's... whatever, Inanna disagrees.
"I'm here for you. You're here for me. That's love."
The dance slowed until it was little more than standing in place and swaying lightly from side to side. Viktor had rested the hand clasped with Inanna's against his chest.
"Then let's combine what you have on Earth as the holiday and the solstice that gets celebrated for all of Runeterra. Giving small gifts made of light. "
In theory that could be something as small as a lit candle but Victor had an idea that he wanted to test out before he said anything to Inanna.
Inanna supposes he can save the album he recorded for Viktor until January or even February. It will still be winter then, and the songs appropriate to it. It's more important to celebrate together than to give any particular gift. Viktor matters more. They sway in time together, and Inanna hums a little bit as he considers.
His eyes turn dark, a small bit of song leaves his lips, and Inanna lifts his hand from Viktor's shoulder to spread one hand toward the ceiling. It turns into a vision of the starry night sky. Within it, little symbols spread across in pink constellations. Star Children in Folkmore.
"There we are."
Inanna points toward two constellations practically overlapping.
Now Viktor felt humbled again by the beauty and majesty of Inanna's magical reproduction of the night sky inside Viktor's little house. It put to shame any ideas that Viktor had, but he smiled when he looked around at it, then looked at the pair of constellations that Inanna pointed out.
"I suppose that lighting up the darkness would be something that the Queen of heaven would be able to do with little to no effort. But the display is still so beautiful regardless."
Inanna flushes slightly. Mayhaps it is cheating to use his godly abilities to give this gift, yet he honestly deeply wanted to show Viktor the beauty of the stars without giving up the comfort they've found. What else fits so perfectly for gifts of light?
"It's divination. I listen to my own heart, and so long as I do so honestly, I can do this."
It's sad to see the lack of any symbol for Jayce in the stars, but Inanna doesn't point that out. Viktor doesn't need the reminder. He sighs and leans his head against Viktor's.
Now it was Viktor's turn to blush and since his skin was so pale that blush would show up very well but he also kept smiling too. It may have turned into a dopey, lovesick smile, though. His idea was for a star of his own for Inanna. Viktor didn't say anything about it yet, thinking about possible ideas for making it instead.
He was also going to miss Jayce, but he wasn't going to waste the second chance that Folkmore had given him at having a life of his own. Tilting his head a little bit he caught Inanna's lips in a kiss.
Inanna enjoys the blush, though his intention usually isn't to make him blush, only to love him. In enough time, he wonders, will Viktor ever stop blushing? He will love it either way. Time with Viktor, Viktor loving him, it's all the gifts he needs. He hasn't forgotten that day Viktor came to his doorstep, sharing that frightening news.
Somehow they'll figure that out. Another time. Inanna kisses Viktor back, leaning into it. He no longer maintains any distance whatsoever.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
A Christmas thread
Viktor had been given the ugly Christmas sweater he had on and he had a mug of warmed sweet milk in one hand, the distinctive anise flavor rising as steam from it. Various spirits were decorated with lights and though it got dark earlier, the festive little twinkling lights made all of Folkmore look beautiful. Viktor had even joined in and used lights to outline his windows. Now as the snow came down, he could see lights outside his windows.
"I don't think I understand how the Earth holiday works. Where I am from there is only the Winter Solstice, and the idea is to light as many lights as possible. So all of the windows have a candle or a lamp in them. What is the idea behind the giving of gifts to celebrate?"
no subject
He leans against Viktor, a similar mug in hand, and appreciates the lights Viktor has put up. It's better seeing them from his perspective, with what they mean to him, than the mere fact people put up fairy lights regularly in London.
"My family isn't Christian, but I grew up in the UK, so I'm used to it. It likely really ties back to winter being a time of hardship and going without, so having a day to get something gave you all the time to look forward to it as well as appreciating it. The gifts used to be smaller. An orange. Chocolates. A new pair of shoes or coat. It got bigger and bigger over the years as the main holiday around exchanging gifts."
Gods, that's probably sacrilegious in someone's book.
"Also because Jesus was supposedly born on Christmas, and the three magi came and gave him gifts, and Jesus is God's only son and his gift to everyone on Earth because Jesus was born to die for their sins."
Inanna waves it off. Perhaps that means more in worlds where gods aren't around every ninety years. Christianity simply doesn't have the same deathgrip on the cultural psyche when there are walking talking (dying) gods around.
no subject
"A single god's only son? That really doesn't seem like much to get impressed over. Then again I am used to many gods and they are usually concerned with their own business rather than the business of humanity."
It was pretty rare that someone mortal would get a celestial blessing. And it was widely agreed that the gods were real, just that they were apathetic to mortal doings.
"The giving of smaller gifts like candy or fruit, or even something like a new pair of shoes, actually sounds charming. It's a pity that the Earth holiday has moved away from that."
Viktor wrapped his free arm around Inanna. And he had a smile lurking in his voice.
"The question then is what would make a suitable solstice gift for you?"
no subject
"My world has seen a mix of both kinds of gods, those concerned with the fate of humanity and those not. Whether or not they cared, the gods always affected human culture."
His residency was in a church, and Inanna enjoyed giving a concert on Christmas Eve. Sure it ended in an orgy, and no one sang hymns. But that was a far more enjoyable service, filled with love, than people packed into pews for one holiday a year after skipping the rest of the time. No guilt. No shame. Only joy and devotion.
Inanna's eyes drop for a moment as he looks over at Viktor, but he brings them back up and sips from his mug.
"I am sure I would enjoy anything you give me."
His gift for Viktor can be summoned with a moment's notice, but Inanna doesn't want to distract from this one.
no subject
Viktor's expression had turned a lot softer and maybe just a little bit vulnerable around the edges as he looked at Inanna.
"I don't think I could give you anything in return that's as precious as that."
But having an idea Viktor took his mug and Inanna's and set them both on the counter so they would be out of the way.
"But I did learn how to dance. Would you be so good as to honor me with one?"
As he asked that he raised his joined hands with Inanna's and slid his other arm behind Inanna's back.
no subject
Being loved back is more than Inanna could ever want in return. He's glad Viktor loves him back. Folkmore simply wouldn't be the same. It plays over the whole year he's been here. Changes everything. Viktor's been here for him as he learns more about himself and accepts more than he previously has.
"Yes. Yes, I'd love to dance with you."
Inanna turns toward Viktor, who already had so much of his attention, and rests his hand on Viktor's shoulder. He knows how to dance, but following is so much more about paying attention to the other person's lead. The arts is a perfect gift for an artist. Even that which only exists for a moment.
no subject
"I'm sorry that I can't give you anything more than this dance, but if it makes you feel better just know that I am going to treasure this memory I for as long as I can."
Viktor intended for that to be the case for the rest of his life.
no subject
"I cherish it too, Viktor. This dance is plenty. It's like you said, the wonders when the gifts are small."
His heart feels warm, and that's enough. If Viktor thinks Inanna's gift is 'more' because it's an object, because it's... whatever, Inanna disagrees.
"I'm here for you. You're here for me. That's love."
no subject
"Then let's combine what you have on Earth as the holiday and the solstice that gets celebrated for all of Runeterra. Giving small gifts made of light. "
In theory that could be something as small as a lit candle but Victor had an idea that he wanted to test out before he said anything to Inanna.
no subject
His eyes turn dark, a small bit of song leaves his lips, and Inanna lifts his hand from Viktor's shoulder to spread one hand toward the ceiling. It turns into a vision of the starry night sky. Within it, little symbols spread across in pink constellations. Star Children in Folkmore.
"There we are."
Inanna points toward two constellations practically overlapping.
no subject
"I suppose that lighting up the darkness would be something that the Queen of heaven would be able to do with little to no effort. But the display is still so beautiful regardless."
no subject
"It's divination. I listen to my own heart, and so long as I do so honestly, I can do this."
It's sad to see the lack of any symbol for Jayce in the stars, but Inanna doesn't point that out. Viktor doesn't need the reminder. He sighs and leans his head against Viktor's.
"It's your heart I love most about you."
no subject
He was also going to miss Jayce, but he wasn't going to waste the second chance that Folkmore had given him at having a life of his own. Tilting his head a little bit he caught Inanna's lips in a kiss.
no subject
Somehow they'll figure that out. Another time. Inanna kisses Viktor back, leaning into it. He no longer maintains any distance whatsoever.