It was becoming a custom between them– maybe more like a habit– they didn’t do custom, it was too ceremonial for them. But either cases, they gave each other gifts, but were rarely around when they did so– especially if it was meaningful to who they were.
So with a full moon on Christmas day, Baelfire knew the guard would work, so he had the box delivered to Leo’s office at the Chateau. The wolf had gone back to see the one who had madethe glass ball last year, but this year would be completely different– he had no secret to place in a fragile ball.
Instead, inside the box was a rook, made out of glass, with deep red highlights. It wasn’t big– no more than four inches long and high. But it was unique, made at Baelfire’s request.
Of course, Baelfire had left a note with his shitty writing– something that Leo knew it was harder than it seemed to do.
This ain’t about Christmas, but it gave me something to blame for this gift. I know it won’t ever be something we’ll talk about– but I need this to be our reminder that even without Chess, no matter where we are or who we are, this symbols still means something. It’s more than just a fucking noun.
This, no one but us owns it, that’s ours.
But still, Merry Christmas Black Rook,
Baelfire
Leo had read the note in the small hours, with the sounds of distressed wolves howling up through the stone corridors. The gift was beautiful, fitting into his aesthetic easily like everything Baelfire ever got him. Looking at the glass rook, red so solid it was black. He read the note again.
Those two words struck something inside of him that resonated longer than they should have. There was a weight to them that meant something more than just the first few layers. Something important that his slave was trying to tell him. There was a shift in the air around him, no more than a sigh. But Leopold Kennedy felt it. He folded the note carefully and put it into an inner pocket on his person. Closing up the little figurine he placed it out of the way until he could take it back to his house. Perhaps not in the study this time... perhaps on one of the other display shelves. Somewhere more visible. Until then there was work to do.