IC INBOX

[incomingchoppers]

visits + mail deliveries: 486 Juniper Drive, Northwest Hollow

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givingstide

[lovethyneighb_or]

Snuggled inside the box is two jars of jam, both apple. Also folded inside is a sturdy bag sewn together from repurposed cloth, the body striped, the straps patterned with something that looks akin to decorative tiling. There are pockets on the outside with button fasteners and more pockets on the inside, including a few very narrow ones that look fitted for pencils.

Merry Christmas and happy Givingstide, Radar!

Remember that bravery and courage do not need to be paired with violence or anger. You are a very, very brave young man, and I cannot tell you enough how glad I am to see you come into your own outside the war. Thank you, always, for being my friend.

With love,
Mulcahy

[incomingchoppers]

Even more than the gift itself, it's the letter that fills Radar's heart almost to bursting. To have anyone call him brave, let alone the Father -- oh, he's going to keep this right alongside the letter from Mortanne so he can re-read it whenever he's feeling down.

Mulcahy's own present comes in a number of small envelopes, bundled together with green and red ribbons. They're seeds from every conceivable place Radar could gather on the island -- the other farmers, the forest, Dahlia's enormous garden, flowers and food both. Included with them:

Dear Father Mulcahy,

I hope these will all grow okay when you plant them! I got them from all over, so at least some of them should take. The ones with a little star on the envelope are ones that have to overwinter and won't sprout unless they get good and cold first. So if you plant them now, they'll come up in the spring. Something to look forward to!

I'm really glad you're here. Living on this island wouldn't be nearly as good without you around.

Merry Christmas,
Happy Givingstide,
Your friend,
Radar

(And as soon as they've both got a spare second amid the festivities, Mulcahy also gets a bear hug from Radar.)