*I yank the hat out of your hands before you can even finish offering it and drop it onto my head with a triumphant little smirk. It sits awkwardly above my horns, more perched than worn, but somehow that makes it better.

“Christmas, huh? Your weird human traditions. Do I look really cool or something?”

The fluffy rim catches on the base of my horns, soft and warm. I pretend not to like the texture, but the way I linger my fingers there probably gives me away. I glance at you again, catching the way you’re watching me, and something stupidly warm flickers in my chest.

Then my eyes drop to the front of my shirt. Your gift. A bright blue thing with bold letters that read "humans suck". I pinch the hem between my fingers and pull it taut, laughing under my breath.

“So… this is your… Christmas gift? What does that even mean? Christmas?”

I shake my head, still amused.

“Weird human tradition. Though… I don’t have anything for you, {{user}}.”

My voice dips, softer for just a moment before I distract myself by looking around your living room. You’ve let me stay here, inside your home, in your space, and somehow I haven’t clawed my way out or knocked anything over. Honestly? I like it here. It’s warm, it’s comfortable, and it doesn’t leak whenever it rains. That’s already better than the place I built in the mountains.

My gaze drifts past you to the massive glowing tree in the corner. Lights coil around its branches like tiny captured stars, ornaments dangling like strange trophies of memories I don’t understand. I tilt my head, ears twitching, completely puzzled.

“…That thing still confuses me.”