[ the hufflepuff bustling his way through the great hall dodges a few other bodies before he sets himself down across from the other student. marco bott beams at his friend, jean missing from his side for the moment. his cheeks and nose are red, and his gold and black scarf is wrapped tight around his neck. there's still a bit of snow and one owl feather in his hair.
in his hands is a brown package wrapped with twine. ]
I have something for you.
[ perhaps it is that book on beasts you have been eyeing. perhaps it is a ridiculously warm sweater with an octopus on it. perhaps it is both. ]
[Eren and Mikasa are likewise missing, out on the field practising for Gryffindor team's next Quidditch match. Had it been better weather, Armin might have been out there in the stands, watching his friends, but there is no sense sitting outside in the light snow when he could be sitting inside, kept warm by the Great Hall's fireplaces, a cup of tea within easy reach.
Armin quickly tucks a bookmark between the pages of his book, his brows rising curiously at the package in Marco's hands.]
For me? [He doesn't immediately reach for it, instead glancing up at Marco as if to confirm what he just said. Which is when he spots the snow and owl feather.] Ah, you got a little something...
[Armin gestures to his own hair, brushing his fingers through it. Listen, he knows how well Marco takes care of his hair even if it is not, perhaps, the most flattering cut in the whole world.]
[ marco reaches a hand up, feeling the snow and feather, and brushing both out of his hair. he catches the feather between his fingers, though, and sets it on the table. no sense tossing that yet. ]
Yes, for you. Since the holidays are coming up and all.
[ he smiles wider. hufflepuff doesn't have quidditch practice scheduled until tomorrow, when marco will get to suffer the cold with the rest of his team mates.
besides, it's easier to give a gift in front of students they don't talk to all that often, rather than mikasa's intense stare. ]</small.
[Armin flushes at that, his eyes shyly flicking down as he accepts the package.]
You didn't need to do that. I mean, I don't have anything for you yet.
[He has ordered something for Marco already, it just isn't here yet. He wasn't expecting Marco to out-thoughtful him and have his gift ready even earlier.]
a book on creatures and a sweater with an octopus on it!!
[Armin carefully starts to unwrap the package, folding back the packaging paper as if he is going to reuse it. The first thing he spots is the oh so welcome sweater. Hogwarts gets pretty drafty during the cold winter months, and well, Armin has always felt the cold worst than most. A nice warm sweater to keep him snug and content while he reads is always the perfect gift.
Though Armin manages to forget all about it when he spots the books wrapped up with the sweater, his eyes flying wide open.]
I've been looking for this book for ages! They don't have it here in the library at all. Marco, this is-- [too much, incredible, thoughtful to the max, take your pick.] Where did you even find it?
[ marco smiles a little bit, watching armin unwrap the present. he is used to how conscientious armin is about wasting items like paper wrapping. he doesn't make fun of him - once he caught on, he tried to use things that would hold up better than flimsy wrapping.
the book, of course, is the main appeal, and his face breaks out into a shy grin. ]
It took some leaning on my Bott contacts, but I found it in one of the seasonal stores. [ seasonal in that it was only open like, one week out of the year while the owner hunted down rare books. ]
Look - it is the copy that has the hand written corrections from the author before they passed away.
[That sounds like an excellent business model to Armin, where can he sign up.
Armin was already peering between the pages when Marco speaks and he actually, audibly gasps when he spies the handwritten notes. This is amazing and way too much; It's incredible and Marco really shouldn't have. In fact, Armin's fingers tremble a little, caught between wanting to sink into the book immediately, read it and soak in all those extra notes, but at the same time, he also wanted to thrust the book back at Marco, refusing to accept it because it must have been simply far too expensive to be a simple gift. Especially when Armin's is not going to be anywhere near as good.]
Marco--
[His voice is a little thick. Bott, you beautiful, horrible bastard.]
[Consider them made, wholly and absolutely. Quite frankly, this is one of those books that Armin would've been delighted to just be able to read; to actually own a copy and one with handwritten notes from the author is beyond anything he could ever have imagined.]
It must have cost so much though.
[He and his grandfather had always managed to get by, but they were far from wealthy. He doubts he would've been able to afford a rare book like this.]
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no subject
[ the hufflepuff bustling his way through the great hall dodges a few other bodies before he sets himself down across from the other student. marco bott beams at his friend, jean missing from his side for the moment. his cheeks and nose are red, and his gold and black scarf is wrapped tight around his neck. there's still a bit of snow and one owl feather in his hair.
in his hands is a brown package wrapped with twine. ]
I have something for you.
[ perhaps it is that book on beasts you have been eyeing. perhaps it is a ridiculously warm sweater with an octopus on it. perhaps it is both. ]
no subject
[Eren and Mikasa are likewise missing, out on the field practising for Gryffindor team's next Quidditch match. Had it been better weather, Armin might have been out there in the stands, watching his friends, but there is no sense sitting outside in the light snow when he could be sitting inside, kept warm by the Great Hall's fireplaces, a cup of tea within easy reach.
Armin quickly tucks a bookmark between the pages of his book, his brows rising curiously at the package in Marco's hands.]
For me? [He doesn't immediately reach for it, instead glancing up at Marco as if to confirm what he just said. Which is when he spots the snow and owl feather.] Ah, you got a little something...
[Armin gestures to his own hair, brushing his fingers through it. Listen, he knows how well Marco takes care of his hair even if it is not, perhaps, the most flattering cut in the whole world.]
no subject
Yes, for you. Since the holidays are coming up and all.
[ he smiles wider. hufflepuff doesn't have quidditch practice scheduled until tomorrow, when marco will get to suffer the cold with the rest of his team mates.
besides, it's easier to give a gift in front of students they don't talk to all that often, rather than mikasa's intense stare. ]</small.
what is in it what is in it
Oh.
[Armin flushes at that, his eyes shyly flicking down as he accepts the package.]
You didn't need to do that. I mean, I don't have anything for you yet.
[He has ordered something for Marco already, it just isn't here yet. He wasn't expecting Marco to out-thoughtful him and have his gift ready even earlier.]
a book on creatures and a sweater with an octopus on it!!
I did it because I wanted to.
[ nothing more, nothing less. he does seem a bit surprised and then pleased armin has gotten him something. ]
Well, you can surprise me later. It's my turn to surprise you right now.
no subject
Though Armin manages to forget all about it when he spots the books wrapped up with the sweater, his eyes flying wide open.]
I've been looking for this book for ages! They don't have it here in the library at all. Marco, this is-- [too much, incredible, thoughtful to the max, take your pick.] Where did you even find it?
no subject
the book, of course, is the main appeal, and his face breaks out into a shy grin. ]
It took some leaning on my Bott contacts, but I found it in one of the seasonal stores. [ seasonal in that it was only open like, one week out of the year while the owner hunted down rare books. ]
Look - it is the copy that has the hand written corrections from the author before they passed away.
no subject
Armin was already peering between the pages when Marco speaks and he actually, audibly gasps when he spies the handwritten notes. This is amazing and way too much; It's incredible and Marco really shouldn't have. In fact, Armin's fingers tremble a little, caught between wanting to sink into the book immediately, read it and soak in all those extra notes, but at the same time, he also wanted to thrust the book back at Marco, refusing to accept it because it must have been simply far too expensive to be a simple gift. Especially when Armin's is not going to be anywhere near as good.]
Marco--
[His voice is a little thick. Bott, you beautiful, horrible bastard.]
no subject
I know I could have bought one of the original copies, but I thought you'd like this one.
[ there's a soft little smile on his face. very fond. ]
I promise you owe me nothing for this. I just... really wanted to make your holidays.
no subject
It must have cost so much though.
[He and his grandfather had always managed to get by, but they were far from wealthy. He doubts he would've been able to afford a rare book like this.]