Crya runs to P7 and uses Ice Stalagmites on N5 before retreating to P8.

Before this, Chibi Nia runs to O8.

Kat moves to O8
and unloads another Elemental Splitshot into the Protemitor

Echoss nods in response to Chloe.
"It brings back some good memories. I haven't been on a proper adventure since..."
His expression darkens.
"...in a long time."

At the house, a door and fire escape are fitted onto the opening at the second floor, so that if there's an emergency of some kind people can get out safely. This uses refined wood and iron ingots.

In the Everground, Pionobot collects the Cyclone regalia, and readies himself to fight off the incoming "thing", using the cyclone regalia if needed to blast it off the wall. Only if it makes aggressive movements though.


NPC items:
Echoss takes a moment to quickly use a Chloe slot for a T4 "synthetic skin" item. He quickly types the requested item into the pad, retrieves it from the portal, and then squirrels it away, presumably for a christmas gift.


Battle:
Echoss uses his weapon action to fire a darkstrike Antiflare into the center tile of the protemitor.
that's it. that's his move.

Nidra casts Status Clone from Venia to Nettle.

---

Sometime in the future, Nidra floats through the house. For once, she's awake, and actually focusing fairly intensely on... well, just kinda looking around, really. Instead of seeing the house as it is now, however, she's seeing it as it was, before the Spherebreakers turned it into a makeshift fortress, and even before the Iti overran it. She's seeing the house as it was when it was lived in.

After she's done her house tour, Nidra floats over to somewhere Omo can't see, and immediately falls asleep again. However, her koala springs into action from her shoulder and starts grabbing things from the inventory. First, a few glass sheets and a single gold ingot are formed into a simple snow globe, with the gold making up the base. The koala then grabs a piece of wood and a bit of whatever other materials the house is made of, and with a wave of its paw, turns them into an exact replica of the mental model of the house as it was inside of the snow globe.

The koala then grabs a Frigid Crystal, applying it to the snow globe so that it starts, well, snowing. It then taps the side of the snow globe, and the snow turns into a veritable blizzard, completely hiding the house. The storm will fade back to its previous state, revealing the house, once Omo touches the snow globe.

A card then appears next to the snow globe, already filled in with perfect handwriting.

Consider this both a gift and an apology for what we had to do to the house. It's not just a pretty decoration though. Once the Thyme Field is gone (it won't work before then), just think at it and it'll restore the house to as it once was. It'll even store the house at the time inside itself, if you need it in the future.

The globe and card then appear under the Christmas tree.

---

Nidra also opens her gift.

Finale Time:

Auth floats up into the air, higher than he was before, and points at the Protemitor. Spotlights twirl to focus on the Protemitor.

AUTH: I hope you weren't expecting the power of the World to save you from us, because we're going to lay waste to you. It's time for execution.

Auth clenches his hand shut into a fist. He then raises his hand into the air, where light is focused around him. This light corrupts to a dark purple almost immediately, though, as Auth points again at the mecha.

AUTH: Good night.

Nine pillars of similar "light" shoot up through and around the bot, detonating on hit. Clearly, there's a need for people to style on this boss. Auth barely clutched into the finale, so he's not going to do anything too impressive. Leave it to people who can definitely devastate enemies.

Auth, after casting Clerical Error Curaga on Protemitor, politely floats down to M11.

----

Auth smiles and nods to Nana, as he pulls out the gloves from the box. Auth rolls up the sleeves on his coat to try them on, and chuckles quietly...

AUTH: They're very good, Nana. You did a really good job. Merry Christmas is the right term, yep. I got something for you too.

Auth nods towards the box he left under the tree for Nana. The thing he left for her, actually.

AUTH: I thought I would get something that might be useful for you, considering what your normal job is. I love the gloves, Nana. Don't worry.

Auth proceeds to hug Nana afterwards, smiling harder.

AUTH: And I love you too. Thank you for the effort and stuff you put into this for me. It means a lot.

Arthur removes the Darkstrike Antiflare from his Maw. With a flourish, he winds up, and tosses it straight at N5.

Pope Bill basic-attacks the Protemitor!

Having been made aware of the existence of a gift for her, Laranei decides it's time to open it! With a grin, she takes her gift, making a mental note to go thank Mari once she's seen what she's gotten, and begins to open the gift with extreme care, trying to preserve as much of the fireproof material it's wrapped in, as it could be useful.

Ziah moves to O8 so he can steal some of Lukas' protoaura to deal slightly more damage. He shoots the protemitor with the dark ball thing and then stabs it because he's cool like that. Then he retreats to N8. I'm sure I have plenty of time for flavour but I don't really see a point.

The Awards Hangar

Firstly and foremostly, Chara moves to O7. Glory to Infinite MOV. They might build a shrine to its concept once this battle is done.

Next, they raise the Minute, tightly gripping it with both hands while preparing to probably slash the Protemitor in two, and...

CHARA: *EXECUTE

...remain completely still as their revolver automatically fires from their waist at the accursed thing, the bullet leaving a trail of emerald flame behind it. The results of the impact look more like that of a cannonball hitting a wooden deck than that of metal hitting metal.

CHARA: This has dragged on for too long. Begone.

And the blade comes slashing down. The carnage that follows is not easily describable. And not because I'm too lazy to come up with a longwinded narration. Swear on me mum.

...oh, right, I'm the new autotranscriber. I don't have a mum.

F in the chat for your poor AT, gentlepeople of the game?

Protemitor fight:

Kalis will move before Venia. They will move to M10 to benefit from Protoaura, then activate Chaos Control and shoot a Chaos Bolt at the Protemitor. It's not a spectacular finish exactly, but they already had a great shot with Aerobeam, and they've got enough buffs that it certainly won't be useless. It's been a good fight.

Back in the realm of canon:

Kalis remarks how odd it feels to be doing out-of-combat stuff at the same time as they're fighting a boss and on how permissive the travel system in this game as they travel back to the house. There, they notice the christmas tree which they'd previously only used as an abstract boost to crafting efficiency. And a present under it... for them? Huh, they didn't realize they'd been here long enough to get someone to give them a gift. They unstick it from the ceiling and unwrap it extremely carefully.

<ROUND TWO HUNDRED AND THREE>

---

Calibri does some more crafting! First, he takes a Plasteel Ingot, 2 Gold Ingots, 2 Ashen Crystals, 2 Incendiary Scraps, and a Sapphire. These are then artfully crafted together into a... present! It's gently placed beneath the tree wrapped in a gift box with the words "faintly glowing blue sphere" upon it. This too, is labelled for Chloe.

CHLOE: E-Eh? Another one for me?
CHLOE: You're much too kind, y'know?
CHLOE: I wish I had time to gift everyone since I kinda feel like I'm being ungrateful, not being able to return the favor...

CHLOE: Maybe I'm being a bit glum, though.
CHLOE: Here- why don't I take a look at what you've gotten me?

She sits down, and scooches herself over to the base of the tree. She retrieves both of the presents addressed towards her, placing them down next to her. The spherical present is then gently placed upon her lap, and then carefully opened. She finds the True Heroine's Charm within, which... she can't actually equip at the moment, oops. T6 restrictions. Despite this, her eyes sparkle a little as she beholds its beauty.

CHLOE: Ah, wow!
CHLOE: This is beautiful! Thank you so much!
CHLOE: It's even practical, too~

She cosmetically equips it for the time being, because again, restrictions. She then tends to the second package, opening up in the same careful manner. Chloe then pulls out the Warm Sapphire Amulet! A light blush covers her face as the warmth of the amulet radiates into her palms.

CHLOE: Ooh, pretty...
CHLOE: I love it!
CHLOE: Although, I'm not sure if I'm really the type for jewelry...
CHLOE: Y'know, if you wanted, you could give me your weapon for a sec, and I could touch it up for you!
CHLOE: It's the least I can do for you~
CHLOE: Anyway, how about-

She moves to put it on... then promptly realizes that she already has a necklace of sorts equipped, from Echoss! Her blush intensifies.

CHLOE: U-Um...
CHLOE: I-I mean, I love it, I-I really do, but...
CHLOE: What do I do?
CHLOE: I have something from Echoss, so...
CHLOE: I-It'd be rude to take one off, and replace it with another...

...Seems like you may want to advise her. Or maybe you could re-purpose something so that it doesn't clash slots? Elsewhere, Verdana throws together a gift with a Rage Catalyst, 2 Rubies, 2 Electrum Ingots, and 2 Sanctified Bricks! It's slid beneath the tree, addressed to Venia. Will she open it? Who knows?

Also, EN hucks a Sanctified Alloy, 10 Sanctified Bricks, and 5 Gold at Rosie. This (probably) helps with Rosie's state! EN then provides the tank with the Codex Monstrum.

ROSIE: ANALYSIS COMPLETE.
ROSIE: CONCLUSION: NOTHING WILL SURVIVE A REUNION, TRY AS WE MIGHT.
ROSIE: THIS IS SIMPLY FACT.

...I mean, it's probably on her side.

---

After slotting some earrings onto Nia's ears, Venia questions the leaves. Or "mistletoe", as we know it. Nia deflates a little.

NIA: H-Huh?
NIA: You d-don't know!?
NIA: And I thought I was being incredibly smooth...

She takes a deep breath, before conjuring a small rod of ice, and tapping it against the wall as if she were illustrating a concept on a chalkboard.

NIA: So that "leaf" thing is called mistletoe!
NIA: It's like, associated with Christmas, and couples are meant to kiss underneath it.
NIA: I think it's actually a parasite or something, but it still somehow got a romantic meaning attached to it!
NIA: Life's weird, huh?

The cyanette awkwardly giggles. She then gently paws at her new earrings, before gently shaking her head around. Seems she just enjoys having them dangle.

NIA: Oh, oh! How do I look?
NIA: And before you ask, yes: you're even more stunning than before!

Whilst the two continue to flirt (much to the distaste of the Ghost of the Anti-Flirt Satellite), Mr. Krabs continues ruining my hard work. As he rips up some of the doors in the hallway (for like 20 Rosetainted Metal), they feel a gentle rumbling underneath the ground. Seems like something's finally getting upset about the aesthetic. Should he keep going, though? It probably won't be too much resistance. Anyway, the Plasteel Cart is then yeeted into the inventory, crumpling into 10 Plasteel.

Venia then decides to make a meal for Gibbet! She throws a Mental Cluster over a cow carcass, and a bit of Sanctified Alloy with some grinded up meat. The meat is then fed to Gibbet, who tweets happily as they rip flesh and meaty chunks into... meaty chunks. Venia then suddenly feels the floor leave her. She kicks her legs for a moment before realizing she's floating! Gibbet chirps happily, a purple aura surrounding it. The aura soon fades, and Venia is dropped back onto her feet. Seems like Gibbet's developed a new ability!

Then, with a long laundry list of items... Venia makes a Transcendent Chamber! This consumes a Cryotube, 5 Tsunami Regalia, 69,420 Liar's Flesh, 20 Silverwood Logs, 10 Hybridized Matter, 20 Joltwire, 2 Amphi Extract, 10 Ember Cores, 50 blobs of Thyme Matter, 10 Fluxblood, an Order Singularity, a Blade Strain, a Chairleg Trident, and an Adaptive Shielding Unit. It ominously hums in the basement, awaiting input...

Also, Venia uses a variety of materials, creating a gift for Taeda. A few short moments after she puts it there, she finds that the Chairian priestess is already opening it!

TAEDA: Oh, hi!
TAEDA: I saw that you put something under here, so I figured that... I'd open it!
TAEDA: That's how this holiday works, right?

TAEDA: ...Um, this box is really ominous.
TAEDA: It's not like the others. I wonder what's in here?

Taeda pulls out a submachine gunf! Or, as it's called, the Zardoz-HX! Despite being a priestess, Taeda's eyes light up.

TAEDA: Ah, a gun!
TAEDA: I-I'm... a bit concerned as to what you think of me, giving m-me such a dangerous weapon, but...
TAEDA: I'll gladly use it! Thank you!

...Before she does anything, she gently places the weapon on the ground. She kneels down in front of it, and begins to quietly utter a prayer to herself.

TAEDA: O, almighty Lord Helix, please bless this armament with your holy radiance.
TAEDA: May you allow it to hold back the darkness of the Dome, and provide us with the means to see this world to a better future.
TAEDA: up left start down right a a b left up down...
TAEDA: ...Amen.

A small ripple of light echoes through the staff. Taeda then picks it up, and levies it towards... nobody in the room, as she's a responsible light arms wielder.

TAEDA: This should function as a proper casting medium now.
TAEDA: Us priestesses need to consecrate an item to call upon Lord Helix's blessings, so it should work now!
TAEDA: Sure, it's an awkward shape, but it's actually lighter than my old kinda-heavy staff...
TAEDA: Thank you again, miss Praefortis!

Taeda takes a moment to lug the weapons locker down to her room. It's... clearly a bit heavy for her. Still, she probably appreciates the firepower.

---

Lukas opens a box! A jet of water rips open the wooden exterior of the package, revealing a white-stained light helmet, with a communications array built into it. Upon further inspection, it seems more like the helmet has been painted with some Ordo-infused paint! Rosefinder Headset obtained! There's also a card with it...

"Dear sir Lukas. I would like to thank you for your effort in fighting off the terrors of the Chaos Butterfly. To help you achieve this goal, I have decided to provide you an upgrade to your current piece of headgear. Please enjoy. -O"

---

Echoss continues his routine. In the Catacombs, he continues lounging with Chloe. She raises an eyebrow as she notices his expression darken. Still, she doesn't question it. She opts to change course.

CHLOE: What do you think you'll do after this?
CHLOE: Like, once we're done with the Sphere and everything.

CHLOE: I'll need to deal with university stuff n' junk, but I'm excited!
CHLOE: Although, I'm not really sure on what I want to do with my life yet, y'know?
CHLOE: Maybe I shouldn't be dwelling on that at the moment, though...
CHLOE: So, how about you?

At the House meanwhile, a fire escape is properly installed. This actually only takes like 3 Refined Wood. Then, down in the Everground, Pionobot stuffs the Cyclone Regalia into his inventory. He then turns to face the approaching "thing" as it rapidly scurries towards him. It then leaps off the wall towards him, prompting a counter! The Cyclone Regalia is used to fire a pulsar of wind at it, redirecting it into the island above him! It bounces off for (15) damage! It seems that he's being aggressed by an Exhibition of sorts. However, most Exhibitions... aren't made of Iti carcasses. Anyway, it's now flying within fighting distance, so take it down?

Then, to wrap things up, Echoss goes and grabs 20 Synthetic Skin from his portal-thing. Chloe doesn't seem to notice that its fake.

CHLOE: I-Is that skin!?
CHLOE: That's... kinda creepy.
CHLOE: Don't tell me the Echo Collective sells human leather hats...

...He may want to clarify on that. Or don't. That'd be funny, too. Also, as a real wrap up, a few more gifts are thrown together, and slipped beneath the tree. One for Nezira, Ette, and Marron! Like, a separate one for each of them. This uses up a vague amount of materials.

---

Nidra's koalas do some crafting! They grab 2 Glass Sheets, 1 Gold Ingot, 1 Refined Wood, and 1 Frigid Crystal. These are then built into a snowglobe, which is promptly packaged and addressed to Omo.

After finishing wrapping her package, Nidra decides to tend to her present. Paper is torn asunder, yet the gentle melody never ceases emitting from the gift. Within, she finds a solid wooden box- it seems to be a really large music box! She opens that up, and finds the Clockwork Nightgown! Seems like the gown itself has small mechanical components on it, which whir gently. These components, similar to what you might find in a music box, play a calming melody.

Seemingly drawn out by the lullaby, Omo appears from downstairs, yawning.

OMORIKA: Ah, miss Nidra. It seems you've found my gift.
OMORIKA: I do envy you to a degree, you know. Being able to sleep on command is a far cry from my insomnia...

OMORIKA: Of course though, I appreciate how much you've done for us.
OMORIKA: I personally believe you don't receive enough credit for all the work you've put in.
OMORIKA: While I am not familiar with how this holiday is supposed to work, I hope that this gift brings you Christmas.
OMORIKA: ...Or, "christmas joy".
OMORIKA: Yes. That is the term.

She paces around the tree, before noticing the gift addressed to herself.

OMORIKA: Oh, for me?
OMORIKA: Hm. Fascinating.
OMORIKA: I didn't except to receive much for this holiday, and yet here we are.
OMORIKA: I shall happily accept your gift.

Omo heads to the couch, and dainty sits down. She lobs a block of wood near the present, which promptly morphs into a small little wooden Seeker. This Seeker grabs the box, hoists it above its head, and hauls it to her. Once the gift has been placed soundly on her lap, the wooden Seeker is dismissed, transforming again into a wooden block. She then opens up the gift, finding a snowglobe that's been consumed by a blizzard. She gives it a few curious tilts.

OMORIKA: Ah, what's this?
OMORIKA: It's certainly quite-

Tap. Once she touches the glass of the snowglobe, the blizzard that once roared within the orb vanishes, revealing the house. Her eyes widen, and a faint smile crosses her lips. She reads the card that's been provided.

OMORIKA: Curious.
OMORIKA: That'll certainly come in handy once the Sphere is dealt with.
OMORIKA: Thank you, miss Nidra.
OMORIKA: I believe I know a good place to display, this, too...

Ever so carefully, Omo marches downstairs, placing the snowglobe within the lab. And there it shall stay.

---

Auth equips the Symbiotic Sleeves. Upon receiving some praise from Auth, she perks up, happily smiling.

NANA: Y-You like them! Yay!
NANA: I'm so glad...
NANA: I was worried t-that I'd mess them up somehow, but I g-guess there was nothing to worry a-about!

Auth then points out the gift he got for her. Nana's face lights up a bright green.

NANA: O-Oh, right!
NANA: I-It'd make sense t-that you got something for me, too!

She sits down, and pulls the box to her. She unsheathes her arm, and with a careful cut, uses a bladed tendril to peel the paper off. She then sheathes her arm once more as she pops open the box its held in. She finds a set of Apothecary Tools! Auch then receives a hug.

NANA: I-It's perfect!
NANA: I didn't have a second set of these, s-so it was awkward, splitting it up with my siblings...
NANA: I'll be sure to put these to good use!

The two of them continue to hug, for an unknown amount of time because this post is coming to an end oh no.

---

Laranei loots a gift! She makes a special note to preserve the fireproof substances the box is coated in, which seems to be some sort of weird gel. 10 Thermal Gel obtained! She opens up the barely-decorated cardboard box to find the Napalm Nozzle, which seems to be a cute little pocket-sized pistol capable of committing full-sized war crimes! There's also a card with it.

"INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE:
1. Point towards enemy.
2. Pull the trigger.
3. Laugh.

Please enjoy "responsibly", and use the provided canister to extinguish unwanted fires. Thank you!
-Mari"

...It's not so much a card as it is a card repurposed into an instruction manual, but it's the thought that counts, right? Speaking of a canister, there's a canister of that Thermal Gel in there, adding 20 more units to the inventory. (Not that she'd ever use it.)

---

Kalis yanks a gift off the ceiling! Once the paper's off, he opens it up to find a shiny trinket- a... croissant? What? There's a card with the box though, so they take a look.

"hi i think you're cool, so i got you a thing

it's a magical staff, but it may or may not be a random food item at the moment. it kinda does what it wants, mostly because of the way i made it. i swear i'm not a rose cultist anymore, but these things just kinda happen.

if it's currently a food item, you may need to wait for a bit

-bass"

...Wait, there's a staff in the box. It seems to be made of Silverwood or something, but veins of red flow through it. Occasionally, the staff twitches and jitters. It's probably safe for use. Wild Magic get!

Irongutta notes that the red ones go fast. Magnolia seems interested in this fact.

MAGNOLIA: Ooh, if red is fast, and blue is lucky, what do the other colors mean?
MAGNOLIA: I wanna be the best color. Even though red is already really good.
MAGNOLIA: Or maybe I should be all the colors, so I can be fast and lucky, and other things!
MAGNOLIA: Rainbow me! Yeah!

...Don't tell her that yellow things explode. Or maybe do. That might be smart.

---

...Meanwhile, around the tree, Marron and Ette exchange gifts. Marron receives the Moonvelvet Ribbon, which Ette happily ties into her sister's hair, letting it sit upon the left side of her head.

MARRON: Ooh, thanks!
MARRON: How do I look? Huh?
ETTE: It looks good!
ETTE: I bet Toast will like it a lot!
MARRON: I hope she does!

MARRON: Now, c'mon! Open yours!
MARRON: I worked hard on it!
ETTE: Okay!

Ette pops open her present, obtaining the Radiant Gauntlets! Ette slips them on- they fit comfortably over the soft black gloves she's already wearing. She wiggles her fingers around- somehow, the design of them lets her still move them with ease! She could probably do stitching with them on...

ETTE: These are really cool! I love them!
ETTE: Thanks, sis!
MARRON: Aw, you're welcome!

The two of them hug for a bit- or at least, until an idea pops into Marron's head.

MARRON: Ooh!
MARRON: We should make Christmas cookies!
ETTE: Yeah! I'll help!

The two of them then run off to the kitchen to go and make some cookies. Maybe they'll finish next round?

---

<THE AWARDS HANGAR, ROUND SIX>
...Protemtior has been totally and utterly obliterated! With its death comes the end of the Anniversary Battle! You've been given a wide variety items for the battle: take a look? Surely there's something that appeals to you! Anyway, I hope that you enjoyed the battle! Hopefully, we'll find a way to top it!

In addition, next update will feature a patch that'll apply the HHHHHH patch! Consider saving your respecs until then, and maybe spend some time opening or preparing gifts for your allies, or exploring more parts of the Catacombs that AREN'T the boss room? Then, after that patch has been applied, Project Thymium will go on a short hiatus. It'll just be a week or so. Don't worry too much about it!

RP!

Irongutta perked up at the mention of the color red.

"Say, that's roight! You an' the rest of them Rose Cultists always wore red. Well fer Orks, red is the fastest color! Everyone knows the red ones go fasta!" He said with a grin.

Magnolia's mention of a change in style gave him some ideas, especially considering the season! "A change in wardrobe, eh?" Strange, he could've sworn it was Chrimbus only a few days ago.

Battle: The Awards Hangar - Finale!

Irongutta, unable to act even though he wished for it, eventually kept thinking because brain death is for grots.

Crya decides to go and unwrap her present.

Meanwhile, Crya picks up Redirect Stream, adds 1 point into INT, 1 point into SKI, and 2 points into MMP.

((Small OOC request to Ire, have Chloe properly inquire as to what Echoss's job in the response to this, I think this would be a good place to bring some stuff to light)
Echoss hums in response to Chloe's question.
"I suppose... I suppose I'll go back to doing what I was before. My job in the Echo Collective.
It's not like there's much else for me to be doing after this."

And then the fiasco at the portal
"Oh, no! Not at all Miss Elem, this is synthetic. Made out of advanced polymers and plastics, for things like cybernetic attachments and for androids who wish or need to look more human."


In the house, some amount of uniform logs is expended to set down chests in the top floor for all the bunk beds, so that people have a place to put their stuff when going to bed.


In the Everground, Pionobot takes a simple approach to dealing wtih the flying foe. He grows a rocket launcher out of his wrists and blows off the exhibition's wings.

D31 Roll
7 - He / Him

---

As Chara takes the mug of cocoa into his hands, he goes noticeably wide-eyed, taking a concerning amount of time to inspect it.

CHARA: Would you believe me if I told you that, for the entirety of my existence, I've never thought about adding rainbow sprinkles to anything?
CHARA: That might be an odd thing to mention, but I'm actually reevaluating my whole life as we speak.

Cautiously, he raises the drink to his lips. And thanks whatever forces out there are preventing some C.F. newbie from playing epic orchestral music over it, as if we all collectively traveled back into the age of Youtube Poop.

CHARA: ...This is genuinely great.
CHARA: If I had a medal on hand, I'd give you it.

CHARA: I, erm...
CHARA: I've had some to time to think about that embarrassing thing that happened... a whole seven minutes ago, right.
CHARA: I've also had Francia scream some more at me, but this time it was at least constructive. It turns out that several parties are quite dissatisfied with my behavior... well, alright, with me in general.
CHARA: But what's important is that I've come to realize that... I've never actually learned how to genuinely communicate with people.
CHARA: The Ar Ciel mission required minimal human contact, the ones over in Paradox Space focused exclusively on me even when I was part of a group, and London's only taught me how to put on a mask for every situation.
CHARA: So, I can be said to have only made three true friends in my life.
CHARA: Two of which sort of fused into one, but let's not open that can of worms yet.

CHARA: So...
CHARA: I'm not going to ask you to be my friend. You're not in kindergarten anymore, and I was never even in one.
CHARA: But I'd appreciate some... basic lessons in socializing, I guess?
CHARA: Ack, this is awkward and...

CHARA: How long have you been standing there.

Of course, Chara does not actually care for how long the corner of the room he was looking at has been occupied by a silver haired, equally "young" man. He cares for the fact that this person is even here. The boy just snorts, digging his hands into one of the many concealed pockets on his layered robe.

JOSEPH: Hey, it's rude to interrupt intimate moments, ne?
CHARA: I swear, if you only came here to ridicu-
JOSEPH: Fran is coming.

Chara snarls, then changes her pronouns for ease of narration, then snarls again, this time far more angrily.

CHARA: What does Francia want here? She knows that direct intervention is impossible.

He breaks into an obnoxious grin impossible to forget.

JOSEPH: Wrong Fran.

---

A small, rather unimpressive portals opens up in the air near Marron. A white haired young lady, wearing a simple crimson dress and cream shortcoat over it, flies out of it as if launched from a cannon and wraps her arms around the other girl as she tackles her to the ground from the impact.

In short?

I enter.

(Get fucked.)

"Sisteeeeeeeeeeeeer!~"

Nidra equips Omo's gift and puts 6 points into MOV.

Kalis looks at their gift in fascination.

KALIS: ...

They pick it up, walk outside, and fire a Chaos Bolt at an empty patch of ground. It keens as it skips across the ground, bouncing twice before petering out.

KALIS: It's perfect.

They practice with the staff for a short time, getting a feel for how it operates, before suddenly remembering something and running back inside. There, they address the other people gathered around the tree.

KALIS: Uh...
KALIS: I'm just realizing I never got anyone a present and now I'm feeling bad.
KALIS: Like, I don't really know you yet, so I didn't know what to get or who to get it for.
KALIS: But apparently Bass decided to get me a present.
KALIS: And I still barely even know who they are, but I should probably try to get to know them better and get them something in return.
KALIS: So, uh, any idea what they might like?

-----

Kalis will equip Wild Magic in place of Tilde Ath. They hold off on further respecs or skill point investments due to the impending patch.

Arthur opens his present from Mari.

Nezira then wanders by and opens her present from Echoss.

Everything else is held off on due to the patch.

Pope Bill goes over to the tree and searches for his present. Once he finds it, he opens it!