Christmas Gift Exchange TWST

Christmas Gift Exchange

Prompt: The students are paired for a gift exchange, some wholesome, most chaotic.

Idia receives a headset from Cater.
Idia pretends it’s whatever, but he can’t hide the small smile. He frequently uses it.
Cater gets a chibi phone charm of himself and the rarest, latest trending phone case.
Cater laughs when he sees the chibi version of himself. It’s perfect!
He immediately swaps his phone case and adds the charm to it.

Ortho gifts Kalim a music box from Ortho.
Kalim is the happiest person alive and jump-hugs Ortho for the bestest gift ever! Jamil, on the other hand, isn’t happy. Yay, more noise.
He proudly tells everyone every time that “Ortho made this himself!”
Ortho receives a traditional outfit of the Scalding Sands.
Ortho is the happiest robot alive and immediately puts on the robes.

Jack gets crocheted cactus covers to put on his pots.
Jack stares at them for a long moment. “You made these?”
When Epel confirms, Jack thanks him but pretends it’s nothing. However, he uses the pot covers to keep his plants warm and cozy every day.
Epel receives an Apple Grow Kit because Jack overheard Rook say Epel is homesick.
Epel nearly gets teary-eyed, but he’s too manly to cry in front of others.
Jack even included handwritten instructions so Epel can start growing a healthy tree.
Epel plants the seed the same day and promises to care for it so it can grow into a big, healthy tree.

Deuce gifts Silver a ‘don’t fall asleep in the hallway’ kit. He heard Silver saying he wants to stay awake but can’t.
The kit includes herbal tea packets, energy drinks, and a list of things Silver can do not to fall asleep.
Silver earnestly thanks Deuce and hopes it helps him stay awake. He tries to follow every step, even the overly detailed ones.
Silver gifts Deuce a scarf. To his shock, it’s handmade.
Silver tells him that Lilia taught him how to crochet.
Deuce uses it every winter and silently thanks Silver every time.

Riddle receives a tea set from Floyd and is mildly surprised to receive a thoughtful gift until…
He takes out one cup at a time, only to realize the entire tea set is mismatched in size and design. The lid also doesn’t fit the teapot, and the spoons are bent.
His eye twitches, and Floyd is delighted.
There has to be a rule against this, right? RIGHT?!
Floyd receives a Distance Enforcement Decree. A beautifully sealed document with Heartslabyul’s crest that states Floyd must: maintain a distance of exactly six feet at all times, announce his presence verbally before approaching, and refrain from using nicknames unless explicitly permitted.
“Wow, Goldfishie~ so thoughtful!”
Floyd leans in purposely to test the waters, and Riddle’s eye twitches again.

Ace gifts Vil a hastily wrapped self-help book titled “How to Relax and Let Go (Without Micromanaging Everyone).”
Inside the front cover, Ace added a note: “You’re already perfect, Vil senpai! This is just for inner peace.😊”
Vil does not react immediately but eventually gives a cold smile. “How thoughtful.”
Vil gifts Ace a full skincare starter kit with cleanser, toner, sunscreen, and lip balm. Every item is labeled with handwritten instructions.
Vil adds, “The instructions should be easy even for someone like you to follow.”
Ace glares at him, trying to figure out what he meant by that, while Vil smirks.

Jade gets a book titled “The Art of Influence Without Coercion.”
Trey added a small note: “Thought you’d appreciate something nuanced.”
The eel smiles, but the smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “How perceptive of you, Trey.”
Trey smiles back, unbothered.
Jade gifts Trey a mushroom cultivation kit with rare species and extremely detailed care instructions.
“Ah, I forgot to mention that some are edible, others…not as much,” Jade grins. “Discovery is part of the fun.”
He also includes a small booklet titled “Fungi That Look Alike (But Can Be Poisonous).”

Malleus receives a custom-designed rocking chair with Briar Valley motifs. He runs a hand along the armrest. “It is…sturdy.”
Leona smirks. “Figured you’d appreciate something…timeless.” (Translation: “You’re old.”)
Sebek fumes, Silver glares, and Lilia laughs.
Malleus’s eyebrow twitches, but he smirks and thanks the lion prince.
Leona gets a throne cushion. It’s luxurious and perfectly supportive.
Malleus watches for a bit before adding, “Oh, I seem to have forgotten that you’ve no throne to put the cushion on.”
Leona stares at the cushion with a clenched jaw.
The two princes glare at each other, sparks flying between their eyes.
Everyone in the room feels a sudden change in temperature.

Ruggie gets Sebek tablets, which confuses him.
The hyena grins and says, “Since you scream a lot and are always angry, I figured you had high blood pressure. These tablets will help with that.”
Sebek instantly loses his temper and yells, making Ruggie snicker. Lilia also finds the gift thoughtfully hilarious.
Sebek gives Ruggie a book titled “The Importance of Honesty.”
“THIS IS FOR YOUR MORAL IMPROVEMENT.”
“Cool. Does it have pictures?” Ruggie asks while flipping through the book.
The hyena uses it as a coaster later, much to Sebek’s anger.

Jamil receives a book from Azul titled “The Art of Delegation.”
Jamil doesn’t know what to think about it until he comes across a few marked pages titled “Letting Others Fail” and “Trusting Subordinates.”
Azul adds, “Burnout is bad for productivity.”
Jamil can’t figure out if Azul is trying to help or taunt him. Maybe both.
Azul also receives a book from Jamil: “Power Without Exploitation.”
Azul reads the title, adjusts his glasses, and smiles tightly.
Both of them lock eyes and coldly smile at each other, freaking out the students around them.

Rook gifts Lilia a framed portrait of Malleus. It looks relatively harmless until Lilia notices the title engraved on the frame: L’Ultime Proie (The Ultimate Prey).
Rook dreamily adds, “To admire is to pursue, non?”
Lilia studies it for a long moment, humming with amusement. “What a vivid imagination.”
Sebek is ready to commit crimes, but Silver holds him back.
Lilia hands Rook a decorative envelope with perfume sprayed on it.
“A love letter for moi?” Rook excitedly asks.
“Something like that.”
The letter only has one line: “Admiration becomes danger when you forget your place,” with Lilia’s signature and a smiley face.
Rook freezes for a moment but ends up laughing softly. “Ah…how thrilling.”