Word spreads fast in Abyss, unsurprising given the whole... thing about Abyss. When there are hardly any Ashen Wolves students, of course one of their birthdays would be pretty big news. Besides, they'd almost died together and Andrei understood why she was down there, so they were friends now! Or something like that. The point is, she should probably get him a birthday gift.
And okay, well, maybe she does feel a little bad about using her bonus to sabotage him. Just a little bit. It's not like it was really her fault that her team was struggling and Team Rats had the most points for most of the month. She was just following orders!
Anyway, back to the birthday gift. Thinking about other people has never really been her strong suit nor does she have any particular desire to change that. A thoughtful gift would be more praiseworthy than an insincere gift, for sure, but it's the getting from step A to step B that gives Marni pause here.
What does Andrei like? Does he like anything??? He doesn't like Lapis, that much Marni knows. He hadn't turned her down on the champagne before, although outside of the strictly(?) monitored ball, Marni had encountered some age-related problems when it came to trying to actually purchase a bottle. Alas, she must pivot to something more obtainable for a teenager.
Many trials and tribulations later, Marni eventually comes up with something and she announces this success by bursting into the Ashen Wolves dorm, gift in hand.
"Andrei!" If anyone was trying to sleep in, they certainly aren't sleeping any longer. "I heard it's your birthday!"
The bag itself is a gaudy thing, obviously chosen to Marni's own tastes. The excessive number of ribbons make it more ribbon than bag... Regardless, nestled within is an Elyosian style barding, complete with a big poofy feather on the head. This, thankfully, is not a gaudy shade of pink, but a muted shade of green with golden accents.
"You have a horse, right? Mau- Um, Someone I used to know also had a horse. Anyway, the horse armor from my homeland looks way cooler than the boring stuff they use here! It's not even a little bit cute or stylish! It was really hard to find someone in Abyss who would import it, so don't hold back if you wanna tell me about how great I am!"
The monastery's official he had spoken to when he first entered the Abyss had asked his birthday, almost as an afterthought, and Andrei had answered honestly, assuming it mere, meaningless routine, something he is no stranger to as a member of nobility.
Not so in this case, it seems. For some reason, the monastery sees fit to publicize the birthdate of each and every member within its territory, even down to the denizens of the dark whose very existence is meant to be hidden away. It's paradoxical, but what those at the monastery know eventually spreads back to the Abyss, and that, more than in direct, casual conversation, is how much of this type of news had been spread.
Still, Andrei is briefly surprised when Marni barges into the room early in the morning, bag in hand. He takes a few seconds unwrapping it through the sea of ribbons, wondering whether he'd have to carefully tool his expression for the reveal — before the piece of armor tumbles onto his lap, and he freezes, eyes widening.
"Marni, this is... it's..." he swallows, then decides on the word that had come to his mind the moment he'd seen the present, open and honest. "It's amazing."
Lips turn gradually into an awed smile as he turns the barding, watching as the candlelight glints against the metal plating. "My steed would like this," he says, half to himself as he imagines Buttermilk with the knightly adornment. The stallion would doubtlessly find it in line with his own, 'majestic' name.
Andrei finally takes his eyes off the gift, looking back up at Marni. "I will cherish it—" He says, and then pauses, remembering her words within the illusory arena, and hears the involuntary plea behind her brash demeanor, one that he couldn't help but understand, before continuing.
"—Not... not just for its usefulness in battle, but as a present prepared with care from a thoughtful classmate whose friendship is important to me." The words tumble out, a little quick, a little embarrassed, but quietly sincere. "Thank you, Marni."
