02 - Free Gifts! Free GIIIIIIFTS!

[selfgodded]

Who: Anant, Kaito awww_yeeeeeaaaah, AND EVERYONE
Where: Pisces Apartment Complex - 6th & 7th Floors specifically
Summary: Anant goes to visit the 'new friend' they made, and ends up just bugging Kaito instead. People can bump into them before they reach the apartment though.
Warnings: You know the drill with Anant at this point. Prepare for sudden philosophical talks and other weirdness!

Anant was in a somewhat chipper mood as they prowled the hallways with a heavy plastic bag in their hands. They seemed to be moving in a rather erratic path, zigzagging along the hallway and spontaneously leaping into a little hop, or a skip, or a jump - it was, needless to say, very bizarre.

Anyone want to confront the obvious weirdo?



----

Anant jostled the bag slightly to one side as they lifted up their hand, tapping the door before them with one thin finger. Yes, this was the correct door. One floor below, one room behind. Their new friend lay behind here!

Of course, observations here told them that making friends usually required gifts of sort! That was what was told to them. 'This time of year gifts are given to friends'! It was rather perplexing why a certain time demanded gift giving, but far be it from them to question human customs! It was nice though. A show of appreciation to new friends! Anant would give Viridi a present as well but...

Well. They weren't sure if Viridi existed as something beyond a voice.

Nodding to themselves, Anant curled their fingers into fists and abruptly began pounding the door loudly and obnoxiously.

Comments

At the apartment

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Kaito was sleeping off this stupid cold so peacefully before this. Really, he was. He had a nice bowl of soup and some tea and fell asleep on the couch watching dumb movies on his laptop. Saiduq even decided to give him some space for the day! It was going so well!

And then the angry loud knocking happened, jolting him awake.

It's going to take awhile for him to get to the door, but when he opens it, Anant is presented with a young human male who doesn't look so good!

He might be scowling too, but eh.

[selfgodded]

Anant was not put off by the scowling in the slightest.

"Hello! It is a pleasure to meet you! I believe it is good manners to present a gift when visiting one's home? Well, here one is! But also another as it is 'that time of the year', where gifts are also presented for...um, the reasoning is unclear, but...well, you probably understand!"

Anant rummaged about in the bag, drawing out what appeared to be...two bags of peaches. "The gifts, as given. Now, pardon my intrusion, but, perhaps, are you the person I spoke to on the COMP Network? Or rather, the person behind the person's handle? They were masking themselves using a person, rather than the physical-

"Apologies," Ananto abruptly hung their head sheepishly. "I am rambling."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

...Okay uh.

Give him a little bit, he just woke up and right now, this person sounds like one of the adults from Charlie Brown. Nothing but "WAH WAH WAH WAAAH WAH WAAAH WAH WAH."

"Uh....Saiduq isn't here?" This was one of the people he talked to, right?

And now he's just standing there with a stupid cold and staring at two bags of peaches, what is his life.

[selfgodded]

"Is that their name? Saiduq. Saiduq. What a pleasant name," Anant chirped, lifting their head up and nodding in an exaggerated manner.

Then they realised that the person before them seemed more than a little dazed, and they leaned in, invading Kaito's personal space shamelessly. Practically nose to nose with the other, yellow eyes scrutinised Kaito closely.

"...what is your name?"

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Whoa um that's pretty close and he kind of stumbled backward in surprise.

"...Kaito." Maybe it was just this whole situation, but he was starting to get a headache...

[selfgodded]

"Kaito. Saiduq and Kaito."

Anant mercifully backed off, straightening up and cupping the bottom of their mask in a thinking pose. "You are both friends, yes? Oh, then that means, friends of friends equal a direct friend. So you deserve a present as well, as it is probably rude to share a present. So one for visiting, one for Saiduq, and one for yourself, let us see, let us see..."

Anant rummaged about in the plastic bag again, and finally came up with a four pack of tinned beans. "There we are! Another present!"

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Okay that's really not how friendships work at all, but Kaito wasn't in the mood for a discussion about the finer points of friendmaking. Also why was he being handed beans???

"Okay, um." He took a few deep breaths. "I'm sorry he's not here. I'm sick, so he left for awhile so I could get some sleep."

Implying that Anant, um, woke him up.

[selfgodded]

That implication flew a million miles over Anant's head.

"You are sick? That is very unfortunate," Anant said, sounding genuinely sympathetic. Illness required a lot of healthy food to combat! Unless it was something like blood poisoning, or organ failure, one of the most common causes of deaths in illnesses. Anant rummaged about in their bag again, digging deeper until they took out what looked like a bottle of squeezy honey.

"This said that it can fight against many illnesses. It is called 'Ho-nee'. I am not sure if you heard of it. They were selling this miraculous thing in the stores! There must be very little deaths here. You may have it as a 'get well soon' present."

Four presents altogether.

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

STOP HANDING HIM FOOD-okay actually honey's pretty helpful in this case.

"That's, uh...that's right." With that, he awkwardly takes the honey and steps aside so they can come in. "You can wait for him here, if you want."

Because he wasn't about to kick out a friend that Saiduq finally made.

[selfgodded]

Anant stepped inside and immediately looked about. It was so different from their apartment! Anant's was full of scrapbooks and loose photographs and interesting things (read: junk and rocks), as well as the blue plant growing on their windowsill. They made sure to look after it very well.

"You have a lovely home," Anant said after a pause, remembering the proper ETIQUETTE required for this complicated step. Socialising had so many subtle nuances and layers it was - quite difficult to keep in mind at all times. How did humans manage it? "Very warm, yes! Lived in, like muted pastel colours - autumn of red and oranges..."

They turned to Kaito, head tilted in a bird like manner. "The weather is...warm now," they said after an awkward pause.

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

Look, Anant, it's okay. Kaito's used to Saiduq for god's sake, they don't have to socialize like a human.

"Hah, yeah, that's why I'm sick, you know?" Screwy weather. Ah well, with that he wandered back to the couch, rubbing his eyes tiredly and picking up his laptop, staring at it for a little bit before closing it.

"Sssssooo, what's your name? You're um..." What was it again?

"Anant?"

[selfgodded]

"Oh! You know of me? Yes! Well, if you wish to call me that...I..."

Anant fidgeted agitatedly, leaning from side to side briefly. "Could you, perhaps, call me Calypso? Far, far too many seem to deem me as this gender, or neither, and I wish to have one where the other can be used. Humans usually treat those of other genders with subtle differences, and I rarely get to observe the differences of males and females regarding females."

A pause. "Although, perhaps it would not work if you are aware of- ah, nevermind. Yes, you may call me Anant."

[awww_yeeeeeaaaah]

...He...had no idea what they just said but uh.

"Oh I kinda...saw your guys' conversation because it was on my account? If you like Calypso better, that's fine..." Nevermind that Kaito totally didn't get the rest of what they just said, but still.

[bondsofsuffering]

It's getting to be a very easy matter to spot Anant. Just look for the strangely exuberant (and really, just sort of odd in general) masked fellow.

"It's like every time I see you, you're in a cheerful mood. What's up?"

[selfgodded]

"Oh, good day, Hizumi!"

Anant abruptly stopped, holding up their plastic bag with flourish. "I have been told that this is "the time of year" where gifts are given to friends, or friendly acquaintances! I am visiting a new friend to give a gift; however you also fit this criteria, so you will get a present as well."

Rummage about in the bag aaaand...Hizumi is presented with a four pack of tinned beans. "Here!"

[bondsofsuffering]

The very best gift. He gives it a look of mild confusion before quickly arranging his expression into a polite smile.

"Handing out Christmas presents already? Thanks for this, but... Unfortunately, I don't have anything to give in return."

[selfgodded]

"Oh, am I early...?" 'Already' implied earliness, but, ah no matter. Anant would make sure to figure out the proper date and hand out presents then, as well. Humans enjoyed extra presents, they were certain. "But it is fine! I am not overly concerned about reciprocation, as I have no need for gifts. I merely wish to observe and participate in this holiday, to further understand this act of selfless altruism. Even if I understand that it is spurred by selfish desire, to influence others to give them presents in return."

[bondsofsuffering]

"Try aiming a little closer to the 25th of December." He can't help but find it funny, the efforts Anant puts into understanding people and the conclusions s/he comes to.

"That's a cynical view of it you've got. But... I can't exactly say it's completely wrong, either."

[selfgodded]

So it was the 25th of December... well Anant will do this again on that day as well!

"So I am correct?" Anant asked eagerly. "Altruism bred by selfish desires? It is normally how that trait is fostered in others - even if there are a few who are genuinely altruistic without the ulterior motives..."

They fixed their gaze onto Hizumi suddenly. "Which one are you? Selfless or selfish?"

[bondsofsuffering]

"I don't just give out gifts because I want them in return, if that's what you're asking." Mostly because he doesn't give out gifts at all. There's nobody really worth giving them to.

[selfgodded]

"So you are selfless," Anant said thoughtfully. "How intriguing. I need to find someone who gives out presents for selfish reasons though, for compare and comparison! Does it decide on their personality, or age, or gender, or other environmental factors...?"

[bondsofsuffering]

Sure, let's go with that. "You're quite the anthropologist, aren't you? Let's see..." He puts a hand to his chin in thought. "I don't know of any major differences off of the top of my head, but it miiiight be difficult to find people who are willing to admit they're one way or the other. And even then, it's hard to determine if what they're saying is true or not."

[selfgodded]

"Are you saying they would lie?" Anant seemed a bit nonplussed at that, tilting their head to the side. "But, if selfishness is the common cause of it, why would they lie? It is nothing to be shameful over - unless there is shame in selfishness in Hinoto-Ri society..."

[bondsofsuffering]

"They might. Or they might say what they think is true, even if it isn't. It's hard to measure selfishness against selflessness, especially when it comes to your own self. Very few people want to be accused of wanting too much, after all."

[selfgodded]

"I see!" Anant crowed, suddenly sounding jubilant. "Willing ignorance of one's self - or perhaps just plain ignorance! Even humans are confused and blind over their own natures!"