[When Bruno gets up to his room again, there will be a package leaned up against his door, garnished with a card marked TO BRUNO in Giorno’s distinctive hand. The package is wrapped in black and white-striped paper with a neatness that probably indicates the wrapper spent way too much time on it. The contents of the package are likely familiar to Bruno; they’re a reprise of the gift set Giorno gave Bruno last Christmas, their first big holiday together. The package contains: an amber necklace, cool to the touch; a fashionable sweater, made of alpaca wool, soft and loose; homemade potpourri (cedar, cinnamon, jasmine petals, pine shavings); fall leaves, preserved in glass paperweights; spices (freshly-ground ginger, paprika, basil, some Mystery Peppers); dried pumpkins + gourds with ginger and lavender-scented tealights; and a collection of twisting branches, decorated with tiny glowing lights.]
[The card is, perhaps surprisingly, short and simple. It reads: Bruno, I bet you thought this would be crammed with words, didn’t you? There’s no need. I love you and that’s what I need to say most of all, and most often. I love you. Buon compleanno from your Giorno.]
[On the other hand, the card is also full of gold glitter, so who does Giorno honestly think he’s fooling?]
SLIGHTLY LATER ON 9/27
[The card is, perhaps surprisingly, short and simple. It reads: Bruno, I bet you thought this would be crammed with words, didn’t you? There’s no need. I love you and that’s what I need to say most of all, and most often. I love you. Buon compleanno from your Giorno.]
[On the other hand, the card is also full of gold glitter, so who does Giorno honestly think he’s fooling?]