[ The nightmare of October fades into a dreamlike state instead: gentle November snow and quiet ease. But that relieve from the horror of those bloody weeks is disorienting in its own ways. Peter feels.... sick, strange, coming out of it. No doubt, everyone does in various ways.
For him, it's waking up from so many bizarre perpetual nights being swallowed up by Paimon, with the smell and taste of blood so heavy in him. Luna's care of the demon has helped a lot, but there's still much to recover from; Peter feels ill, untangling himself from bed sheets he'd been tucked so deeply into as though seeking protection. His mind, though heavy with exhaustion, is at least clear again; he knows who he is. There's Rex to greet him as he wakes, and... items at his bedside. And he knows why — he doesn't have to remember, this time. Last year he'd completely forgotten his birthday; it had slipped past.
This year, he's... been thinking about it approaching. It's been an odd thing pressing in on him, an uncomfortable pinprick against his side. But he hadn't been expecting to wake up to any presents; he hadn't outright advertised it or anything like that. He'd been expecting to just face it quietly on his own, and let it fade away.
Peter helps Rex up onto his bed (those short legs have a hard time jumping; maybe he should see if the pet shop has any of those little doggy stairs....) and moves to sit there too, slowly sorting through the items. The card first: it has him smiling, softly surprised. It's from Luna, made by hand. Little button musical notes. The sweets from her world are met with an almost boyish little excitement fluttering up in him — food. He'll share these with Henry (........and probably with Paimon, who will no doubt sneak his hands into them).
The watch.... stuns him. It's beautiful, gold and shine, and the magic of it, the second face, is amazing; he spends a long time just watching the little hands to see when they move — Luna's now safely 'at home'. Even without magic involved, Peter's never had anything like this before. It makes him think of his dad in a way, a lump wavering in his throat. He misses his dad, misses... everyone, and that's perhaps a deep part of his lurking melancholy. Turning eighteen is a strange feeling; any birthday would be, but this one in particular.... he's reached adulthood and he's aware that he's still changing, growing, in this place. But he doesn't know what it's like for him back home. He might be dead too, or... something worse.
But it means something deeply to him, that someone left these gifts to greet him with. It's... a reminder that there are things to look towards. That in this place, he has things to reach for, to look forward to. People who think of him, people to love. He hasn't lost everything. He spends a long time gently and carefully brushing his fingers against the watch's surface; this is a gift to take great pride in.
He's sure Luna needs time to rest, to slowly start her own healing process, so he'll call her later in the afternoon, to thank her for this. ]
cries @ this......
For him, it's waking up from so many bizarre perpetual nights being swallowed up by Paimon, with the smell and taste of blood so heavy in him. Luna's care of the demon has helped a lot, but there's still much to recover from; Peter feels ill, untangling himself from bed sheets he'd been tucked so deeply into as though seeking protection. His mind, though heavy with exhaustion, is at least clear again; he knows who he is. There's Rex to greet him as he wakes, and... items at his bedside. And he knows why — he doesn't have to remember, this time. Last year he'd completely forgotten his birthday; it had slipped past.
This year, he's... been thinking about it approaching. It's been an odd thing pressing in on him, an uncomfortable pinprick against his side. But he hadn't been expecting to wake up to any presents; he hadn't outright advertised it or anything like that. He'd been expecting to just face it quietly on his own, and let it fade away.
Peter helps Rex up onto his bed (those short legs have a hard time jumping; maybe he should see if the pet shop has any of those little doggy stairs....) and moves to sit there too, slowly sorting through the items. The card first: it has him smiling, softly surprised. It's from Luna, made by hand. Little button musical notes. The sweets from her world are met with an almost boyish little excitement fluttering up in him — food. He'll share these with Henry (........and probably with Paimon, who will no doubt sneak his hands into them).
The watch.... stuns him. It's beautiful, gold and shine, and the magic of it, the second face, is amazing; he spends a long time just watching the little hands to see when they move — Luna's now safely 'at home'. Even without magic involved, Peter's never had anything like this before. It makes him think of his dad in a way, a lump wavering in his throat. He misses his dad, misses... everyone, and that's perhaps a deep part of his lurking melancholy. Turning eighteen is a strange feeling; any birthday would be, but this one in particular.... he's reached adulthood and he's aware that he's still changing, growing, in this place. But he doesn't know what it's like for him back home. He might be dead too, or... something worse.
But it means something deeply to him, that someone left these gifts to greet him with. It's... a reminder that there are things to look towards. That in this place, he has things to reach for, to look forward to. People who think of him, people to love. He hasn't lost everything. He spends a long time gently and carefully brushing his fingers against the watch's surface; this is a gift to take great pride in.
He's sure Luna needs time to rest, to slowly start her own healing process, so he'll call her later in the afternoon, to thank her for this. ]