despite everything, it's still you.

" i ought to sew it to 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 jacket just for that.ᐟ " she nudged him, playful and fiery as ever. she won't. for the record. a very empty threat.

" god, ace is going to think i'm copying her now, " she chuckled. a clear tease. she hadn't properly talked to her in ... a few years now, at least. but either way she's moving to look at each and every patch.

it's a miracle she didn't burst right into happy tears. ever the emotional one as she can be. perky, peppy, all of that — but of course, she managed to retain her composure. yanking him in for a half hug as she faced him. " oh ... this is wonderful, genuinely, wonderful.ᐟ "

oh—.ᐟ she doesn't mind at all if he's late, and his present is waiting at his desk if he peeks. look at her smile ... the flowers? perfect. and she's slowly unwrapping her present.

oh, and she can tell. but she's nice enough not to comment. not yet anyway, no reason for it. " absolutely.ᐟ 𝒃𝒖𝒕, let's make sure we don't get trapped or something, yeah? "

“good to know my baby brother is bein' taken of when i can't be there.” there was a teasing tone to his voice as he shifted how he sat now that one leg was starting to fall asleep.

“yeah, guess the regeneration is also a big clue. at least she's goin' along with it.” a hand comes up to scratch at the stubble along his jaw. gotta love random itches.

“so she knows? at least about the whole time lord thing.” couldn't imagine mel would be all too thrilled to know the master had a kid, kids, running around having been with the doctor and all that. so did the thousand yard shot but present wrapping his harder.

“so she's in the field too then?” huh. he could learn a thing or two from his brother's present wrapping skills. he can take down a moving target at a thousand yards but neatly wrapping a present? not a chance.

“mel? . . mel- isn't that one of the doctor's old companions?” he'd heard the name in passing from one of the doctor's, probably the one with that multi-colored coat. tearing the tape with his teeth he handed the piece off. “welcome.”

“with unit? they do that? i mean, guess i ain't too surprised about that.” he pulls some tape away from the roll, ready to cut the piece for the wrapping.

val gives a hum, trying to think of different presents he could get for their parental. “who are those for?”

“oh. . guess i better go shopping then. is it missy? 'cause it all depends on which version she knows.”

he promises not to peek again, but he should probably stop moving them. val's eyes can't help but dart to movement in order identify what's moving. “alwen knows where she is?”