Bored Games: The Gift

The constant patter of raindrops against the window pane was beginning to drive Chatter absolutely batty. The plip, plip, plip was normally a soothing sound to her, yet at the moment it was only serving to make her ears twitch. It was only a reminder that her usual plan of window shopping after her deliveries was not in the books. So here she was in the living room, resting her chin on the windowsill and staring out at the infernal weather. 

Chatter felt a familiar poke on her side, interrupting her moping session. She looked over to see Eg holding two glasses of some glimmering liquid in each of her hands, having poked Chatter with her tail. One glass was handed over as Eg took a sip from the other and sat down next to her. The spiky bun sighed as Chatter drank from her own cup.

“What’s got you so mopey? S’not like you to be down over some water falling outta the sky.” Eg asked with a joking grin.

“Oh, it’s not just that. It’s more… we had a lot of things we wanted to do this month, and we’ve barely been able to do any of it. It’s too dreary out there!” Chatter huffed. She turned herself to face Eg with an exaggerated pout.

“We’ve got plenty of time, Chat. We’re not in a crunch for anything, and the rain will stop eventually.”

“I knoooow… but I wanna have a picnic with the imps while it’s still spring! I wanna go on walks and go swimming and biking! Just anything besides sitting around after work…” Chatter hunched over slightly and took a bigger gulp of her drink. “Bluh, what did you put in this? It’s so… much.”

“Pfft,” Eg laughed a bit, “It’s a blueberry pie-tini. It’s like half vanilla vodka, but we’re out of vanilla beans. So I used that stuff you keep in the cabinet-”

“HEY! My vanilla extract is for baking, not drinks.” Chatter lightly punched Eg’s arm and stuck her tongue out.

“We can get more, don’t worry your head off about it.” Eg stuck out her own forked tongue at her in kind. “Besides, I think we’ve got something bigger to focus on right now.”

“Hmm?” Chatter tilted her head questioningly.

“Gotta fix that melancholy of yours, Chatter! I’m gonna find us something to do that’ll perk you right up.” 

Eg set her glass on the windowsill and stood, walking to the closet under the stairs. Chatter watched curiously as Eg rummaged through its contents, wondering what she would emerge with. It was mostly a junk closet that held anything that wasn’t for decoration or apt to be used too much.

To the blue bun’s surprise, Eg returned with a smallish cardboard box labeled “No Touching!” and held it out to her.

“I was gonna give this to you for a special occasion, but I think you need it more than you need the mystery and waiting.” Eg looked away as she spoke, seeming rather sheepish.

“Aw, thanks Eg. Let me get this open, then…” Chatter smiled as she peeled the tape from the cardboard, peering at the gift within.

Chatter’s eyes practically glittered with joy as she took out a box set for a tabletop game she’d eyed for ages; she’d always put it off in favor of other things and told herself ‘maybe next time.’ But now she had it! Huh, maybe it was better off that she waited. It would have been rather awkward if she brought it home only for Eg to reveal an identical copy.

“Thank you so much! I’ve been wanting this one for forever now.” Chatter grinned and gave Eg a big hug. “You know this means we gotta play it now.”

“Oh- uh. Sure. I don’t know how to play it, though…” Eg rubbed at the back of her head.

“Neither do I, yet. We’ll learn it together.”

“You sure? It won’t bother you to have to explain all that to me?” Eg sat herself back down next to Chatter.

“Not at all! Don’t you know I love talking at length about things? Especially to you~” Chatter reminded with a waggle of her eyebrows.

Eg let herself relax as Chatter opened up the game and started going through the pieces and booklets. It was so nice to see her enjoying herself, no longer worried about the rain rolling down through the street. A few times, Eg had to ask for a repeat as she found herself staring at that pretty face of hers instead of listening. But that was alright, as long as she got to share that joy with her.

In the end, they only managed to play a little bit before they realized it was late. They’d have to continue another time. That was alright too, really. It just meant they’d have something to do together, still.