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[driftsintobuffetline]

[ The following content is blocked from A CERTAIN NERD ]


So. It's winter, which means it's the holiday season where you circulate those online shopping "buy me these things" lists, spend too long in retail shopping lines--and realize you honestly don't know what to buy people who you know REALLY well.

I don't say this often, and you probably won't hear it again, but HALP PLS.

Shopping for: Male. Mid-Thirties. NERD. Likes space and math and robots. Dresses like an academic dork (stuffy librarian). Significant enough other that a spending limit does not exist by default. Nor is a gift objectionable due to being "too personal" or "too significant." Does not need a new watch, nor a new winter jacket. Rarely wears ties. Does not wear jewelry.


Alright, and just because: What's the BEST gift you've received?

Comments

[akito]

What about a nice pen and notebook? I heard that the ink flow rate of space pens are amazing. Is that something he might like?

For the best gift... Would a party for my birthday count?
Because somehow I don't think you would count 'friendship' as one

[driftsintobuffetline]

Huh. He does like writing. Now I have to search "space pen" though--I thought I had this nerd covered on all space-related paraphernalia he might find actual use for.
...He might like these.

Friendship is kind of an intangible thing for a gift. But, uh. Seriously, was the birthday party the best gift? D=
What kinds of things do you like, kiddo? Got to get you a proper gift.

[akito]

The ink is pressurized so you can even write with it underwater, over grease, and upside down. It's super cool! ♥

Just because it's intangible doesn't mean it still isn't the best kind of gift! I got presents at the party, but the party was the best. All of my friends in one place and having fun!

I like science and language and flying.

[monge]

mAKE A GOOD DINNER!!!!
EVERYONE WILL BE HAPPY!!!
yoU GET TO EAT AND SPEND TIME TOGETHER!!!1

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Newt considers the idea. Though he did dinner for their anniversary. STILL who can resist Komasan?]

BUT WHAT SHOULD I SERVE???

[monge]

[Wow, what's with all the yelling? Weird.]

him.
you want to serve it to him.

[4thdimensional]

A book, perhaps? I lean toward obscure fiction, something with an ability to capture the imagination. There are a few fanciful authors in this world that I've started to follow.

The best gift I ever received was a cooking pot, strangely enough...but that was largely the sentiment behind it, as it was practical after I'd burned through my first one, in addition to being the first gift I'd received in many years.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Oh, hey. Send me a list of the authors, please? This nerd doesn't read nearly enough fiction, but if it's got enough science in the fiction, he might be persuaded, or I'll just read it myself.

Ok. Ok, what were you doing that you burned THROUGH the cooking pot?

[4thdimensional]

Absolutely. There is current fiction focused on the implications of imPorts in society, which isn't surprising. Space exploration is a common theme, and multiple universes are a given. I have a list here, ranging from the humorous to the tragic. Works by Wald, Rorbach, Emanuel, and more.

I was attempting to prepare a pasta dinner when I reached a breakthrough in the development of the time machine. I raced to the garage and worked for hours---Marty tried to warn me once or twice, but when I'm wrapped up in my work I sometimes lose all track of time, despite wearing five watches...

The fire department wasn't pleased to see us.

[At the end is a small attachment of various books.]

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[attainment]

[Guess who also happens to be a nerd? Against Barnaby's better judgement, he decides to help.]

Does he generally expect a present from you during the holidays? Not everyone likes to collect a lot of material items.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Uh.
I don't know that he EXPECTS it.
But.
Wouldn't you kind of be remiss to NOT buy your S.O. a gift for the holidays?
Isn't that what you do?

[heckblazer]

Got any space for a reading chair?


[ It may or may not have come from image boards John has taken to trolling online. Just because he's a walking dumpster fire who mostly reads ancient scrolls on demons doesn't mean he can't have #goals. ]

I'm pals with a plant elemental who grew some cannabis on the spot for my 40th. That was a hell of a thing.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Holy shit. I want friends like yours. Only not. Not, because yeah, no. I'd be a disaster and I can admit that.

And WTF is that?? He'd kill me if I brought that monstrosity into the house. Can I get it reupholstered into something really awful, like one of those novelty cat patterns, the kind old ladies like? At least then my death would be not in vain.

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[ofgoldenfoil]

What about gemstones?

[driftsintobuffetline]

well, he's not big on jewelry, and he's going to get a ring from me shortly, but...what do you have in mind? Just get him a big rock and be like "here, have this chunk of compressed carbon. I saw it and thought of you"?

[cantwalkwithoutit]

If he favors robotics, perhaps a toolkit for working with smaller, finer components.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Yeeeeah. Problem is, my nerd is kind of self reliant and bought himself that kind of thing a while ago.

[caduceusvalkyrie]

Maybe you could have a star named after him?

[driftsintobuffetline]

Oh god. That's kind of cute. I mean, it's not official, but it's cute.

[action]

[mathemagier]

[All Newton's smiling and laughing gets to be suspicious after awhile. He's checked the network, but there doesn't seem to be an apparent source there]

Are you quite alright over there?

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Newt flails and turns off the screen on his phone before tossing it aside. He sits up on the couch and regards Hermann across the room.]

Fine! Fine, what're you up to?

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[fistofthejoestar]

Have you considered giving an experience rather than an item? It might make settling on something a sight easier - and I've always found things like that to be quite memorable.

[driftsintobuffetline]

But what experience? I mean, we've been a lot of places already.

[text]

[gearshifting]

Personalized model robot kit if you're going for something sentimental. Gift cards to the closest Radio Shack for something more general.

[driftsintobuffetline]

But if I let him build model robots, his robots will beat up my Godzilla models. D=