InsaneJournal

Giving gifts during the Christmas season was more than a simple tradition to Aureliana. It was a way to show you appreciated all the hard work a person did over the past year. Aureliana had not been actively part of the team for that long, and certainly hoped that shortly within the new year that Shona or her mother would find a full replacement, but she had become grateful for the medic's presence.

So while she had gotten gifts for members of the administrative team in the past, they had always been small tokens. She was just a member of the owner's consortium them and realistically they did not mean much. Now, however, Aureliana found herself in the position of giving a gift to a coworker and that's when she found herself slightly flummoxed. She wanted to give something that was obviously meaningful without being too expensive. The only issue with that line of thought was that she did not know the team medic all that well. That left her poring over catalogues, comparing items, going back and forth, making pro and con lists until she finally settled on something she thought Florrie would enjoy.

Knocking on the door to the other woman's office, Aureliana poked her head in. "Florrie, I was wondering if I could borrow a few moments of your time?" In her hands she had a meticulously wrapped gift and she had to constantly remind herself to not grip too hard or the wrapping paper might rip.

Florrie was working her way through some parchments that needed dealing with for the League and Mungo's--beater concussions were going to be an issue in the off-season, Florrie could see that--but she looked up when Aureliana stuck her head in and set them aside at her question. "Of course," she said, rising to greet her colleague. Because she was paying attention to Aureliana's expression, Florrie didn't notice what Aureliana was carrying.

"Oh please, you don't have to stand." Aureliana knew what it was like to be interrupted in the middle of work and she really did not want to put Florrie out. Stepping inside the office, she quickly crossed it's length, gift in hand. "I just wanted to give you a little something. For the holidays."

Florrie had small gifts for everyone on staff set aside and wrapped up, except of course for Shona and Merc. They'd get theirs on Christmas with the rest of the family. Still, the idea that she, too, would get Christmas gifts from her colleagues was something of a surprise. She smiled, and said, "Oh that's lovely, Aureliana, thank you so much for thinking of me. I have something small for you, as well; I didn't know what the custom was here at Montrose, whether we mean to do a small party or just give them out one by one."

"Then we are both at a loss about what is customary." Aureliana gave a little laugh and put the gift down on Florrie's desk. She had always sent the gifts along by post in past years, rarely spending much time in Montrose offices. The Christmas season was always to busy and this year was no different, but with added responsibilities. Like a charity match that she and Gwen Miracle were meant to put together with five weeks' notice. Thankfully that was coming along. "I just wanted to give you a small token of appreciation for the hard work you've done so far."

"I vote we establish our own customs," Florrie said firmly. "We don't have to do things the way they were done before. And a seasonal gift is a lovely custom, so thank you very much." There was a stack of neatly wrapped gifts in one of her file drawers and she opened it, pulling out a small package that looked like it might be a book in it. "I hope you find this useful, even if it's not as fun as one might hope," she added, mildly apologetically as she offered it to Aureliana.

"I also vote that we establish a custom of opening them now instead of waiting."

Aureliana, as much as she preferred the frivolity of some gifts, was a practical soul at heart. So while whatever Florrie might have gifted her with might not have appeared to be fun, the idea that Montrose's medic had sought out something useful was something she could approve of. "Thank you," Aureliana smiled as she accepted the gift.

Carefully she ripped the wrapping paper off along the edge, revealing the cover of a book, Confessions of an Advertising Man as well as a small phial of essential oils that was peppermint and chocolate according to the label. She could understand the essential oils, peppermint was supposed to promote relaxation, but not so much the book, which looked to be muggle in origin based on the unmoving photograph gracing the front cover.

"Gregor helped me find it; he's got a friend who works in a bookshop," Florrie explained hastily at the hint of confusion on Aureliana's face. "Apparently it's a Muggle classic in public relations, written by a very successful person in the field. From the snippet I read, it seemed like something geared and useful to the newcomer. And there's also a section on what clients should be doing, to help you get the team all on the same page about their behaviour and how to help you get the best results with the press. I hope it makes you job a little easier in the new year."

Privately, Aureliana hoped that she would not have to spend much of the next year in her current position, but Florrie did not know that and it was certainly the thought and spirit of the gift that particularly mattered. "Thank you," she said again, tucking the book under her shoulder. She would at least give the book a chance and perhaps Florrie would be right and she would find something useful within its pages. "I am afraid my present is likely not nearly as useful, but I do hope it can be enjoyed."

Like Florrie, Aureliana believed in the idea of self-care, at least when it came to other people. She had put together a small collection of bath items in a scent she thought both Florrie would like and that would promote rest and relaxation.

Florrie's smile grew as she opened the box and could smell the soaps. "Oh no, it's lovely and I'm sure I'll get a lot of use out of it this winter. Thank you so much, Aureliana." Had it been anyone but Aureliana, Florrie would have hugged her, but she was not convinced that Aureliana's dignity would suffer such a slight easily. So she refrained, instead letting her demeanour express her pleasure in the gift.

“I am glad you like the gift.” Aureliana, admittedly, had been a bit worried about if she had chosen wisely. After all, she did not know Florrie well, but she had wanted to give something that indicated a certain level of thought and appreciation. “To a good new year.”

"To a good new year, for us all," Florrie agreed.