010. Writer's Choice.
Christmas.
"What's this?" Kujo asks, curiously handling the small wooden box Victorique has placed in his hands. It is small enough that he could close his fist around it without being visible and is painted in red and green stripes.
Victorique blushes and she almost sounds like she's sulking when she speaks. "It's something for you to figure out. I'm bored solving your mysteries. I thought it would be interesting to watch you struggle to solve one of mine."
"Okay," Kujo's curiosity is peaked. "Do I need to open the box to find out what the mystery is?"
Victorique makes an exasperated noise. "Aren't you smart enough for that Kujo? Opening the box is the first part of the mystery."
Kujo considers this while he studies the box. It does have any discernable ways to open that he can see. "Thanks Victorique." He says distracted and begins fiddling with the box, trying to find some way to open it.
Victorique rolls her eyes and stalks away.
Kujo rolls the box over and over in his hands. There must be some sort of catch or hinge but he can't see anything that looks useful in getting the box open. He grumbles to himself as he plays with the box. "There's got to be some secret to this."
...
Kujo puzzles over the box for days. He sleeps with the box by his pillow and stares at it during meals. Victorique begins to doubt he will ever solve and is frustrated that he is spending all of his time with it instead of her. She wishes she hadn't given it to him in the first place; he is too stupid to figure it out anyways. She hates that she wants him to solve it so badly.
...
"I don't understand it Victorique." Kujo holds the small box out to her. "I'm sorry. You'll have to tell me how to solve it."
Victorique glares at Kujo. "You're good for nothing." She snatches the box from him and easily slides a piece of it away. Something drops into her palm. She closes her fist around it. She thrusts the box back at him. "It slides."
Kujo takes the box back and studies it curiously. Now that it is open he sees that the paint cleverly hid the seams that would have shown him which piece moved. "What was in it?"
Victorique doesn't speak, but after a moment of angry silence, opens her tightly clenched fist.
Kujo leans over to stare at what she's holding. "Is that a snowflake?"
She smacks his head lightly.
He looks at her baffled.
"The pieces of Chaos still haven't been reconstructed in your mind?" Victorique asks rather scornfully.
Kujo sighs. He puts his hands together in a begging pose. He dips his head like a bow. "Victorique, please use your Wellspring of Wisdom and reconstruct this in a way my mind can comprehend."
Victorique sniffs disdainfully. "I don't need to use my Wellspring of Wisdom. I already know, Kujo. Have you even tried to figure this out?"
He opens his mouth to protest but she speaks over him.
Her voice takes on a bored monotonous tone. "This was a reminder. The box was done up like the wrappings of a present, using Christmas colors. The snowflake, made of crystal was another reminder of the season. Both together were supposed to be enough that even clueless Kujo would not forget to give me a present. I gave him a very valuable ring the last time we were able to celebrate together, and I expect an equal compensation from the present he gives me this year."
Kujo almost begins to laugh at her haughtiness, but he knows despite how she'd delivered the statement that she is sincere. "Did you think I would forget Victorique?" He asks trying to keep his tone inoffensive.
Victorique scowls at him and refuses to answer.
Kujo smiles gently. "Don't worry Victorique, I didn't forget you for Christmas."
She glances at him suspiciously.
He doesn't let the smile slip. He pats Victorique's head. "I've got something very special for you."
This Writer's Choice prompt was giving me trouble, until I realized that it was almost Christmas and I could take an easy way out and write a Christmas piece. I hope you enjoy. Merry Christmas.