“Happy Macromera!” Tenuk shouted as he burst in, carrying boxes of treats and goodies. “And happy Day of Needlessness!”
Death though didn’t move. She was busy writing something down. Tenuk put the pile of boxes down on the first convenient space, then slowly sneaked over. Maybe she didn’t hear him.
Just as Tenuk reached whispering distance, Death suddenly turned to look at him.
“You don’t sneak up on me.”
“Oh, sorry…” Tenuk shuddered, her chill, unmoving voice having made him jump. “I just… I brought food. And presents. And things!”
Death looked at the Kronoreth blankly. “Why?”
“Uh… Because today is the last day of Macromera, and the 30th is the Kronospast traditional Day of Needlessness?”
Death still looked confused. “What are they?”
Tenuk blinked. “Do you celebrate any holidays here? Any special events? A birthday even?”
More confusion. “Why would I?”
Tenuk sighed, then sat down next to Death. “You can be a real pain sometimes. All you do is, well, work, I guess.” Having sat down, he could see what Death was writing about. She’d been tallying up the number of Deitics she’d had killed in an unknown space of time. Not wanting to ask further, Tenuk decided to just bring up the gifts he had brought.
“I bring tidings of gifts!” Tenuk abruptly announced.
“Why?” Death repeated.
“Because I can,” Tenuk sighed as he got up and fetched his pile of presents. He dragged them over to where Death was sitting and intentionally placed them on top of Death’s work. Death tutted and relented. She could finish her stuff later.
“So what are these holidays?” Death asked. “I know Macromera is a Rethan one, but what is this Day of Needlessness?”
“Macromera celebrates the end of the year and the days getting longer. The Day of Needlessness…” Tenuk explained, “it’s just… a silly day us Kronospasts have. We give each other needless gifts and stuff. It’s silly. Still, I brought you pressies, you want to see?”
Death nodded. There seemed to be a little more excitement in her eyes. Tenuk noticed this and picked out a first gift.
“This one is from Retvik and Gath. It’s a meat pie they baked. Four different types of meat, plus sausages, onion and forest fungi.”
Death peered into the box. The pie was covered in a plastic wrap, presumably to stop it from breaking.
“Is it cream or gravy inside?”
“Cream. Macromera tradition is cream sauce in a pie, unlike the rest of the year.”
Death grinned. “I love cream. What’s the next one?”
Tenuk handed her a rather long and flat box, hinting that she should take it, before thrusting it into Death’s hands.
“Open it.”
Death did as she was told and tore at the wrapping paper, revealing a box with a lid. She removed the lid carefully and smiled, pulling out a small hand axe. The wooden handle was delicately carved in various spiralling shapes, and an image of Death herself was moulded into the axe head.
“Wow…” Death blinked.
“That’s from Arkay. He designed it then got it made at the DBS weaponsmith.”
Death continued to smile. “I shall use this next time I need to torture someone!”
Tenuk’s smile faded slightly. “I’m… sure Arkay will be thrilled to hear that… Anyway, next present!”
This present was much, much larger, and not as delicately wrapped. Death took her time unwrapping it, but the more she revealed, the less she understood what it was.
“What is it?” Death asked as Tenuk helped her unwrap cables and a TV controller.
“It’s a TV satellite system with a lifetime’s subscription to the Dessaron Arena,” Tenuk awkwardly explained. “Elksia and Vel got it for you, but I don’t think they thought it through.”
Death though seemed very amused. “So I can sit on my glorious backside and watch things the way mortals do? That’s awesome!”
“How will you set it up?” Tenuk asked.
“I’ll get my Veth to work it out. What’s that last one?” Death pointed at a much smaller present. It was clearly from Tenuk.
Tenuk smiled awkwardly. “That one… That is from me. But don’t open it now. Wait until you’re alone and… you’re feeling lonely…”
Death nodded in understanding. “I shall. Did you get any presents for your Macromera of Needlessness?”
“Seeing you smile is enough of a present for me,” Tenuk beamed. “Now, I must go. Retvik asked that I be back before lunch.”
Death waved as Tenuk turned to leave. “Happy holidays!”