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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.

[driftsintobuffetline]

Oh, god, that's uber geeky. T_T I'm sold on it, present for now or not.

Experiences do count, I guess. Hard to bottle a feeling, though, to give as a gift.

[It's really ridiculous, but Newt's now picturing getting Ak/gito an aviator jacket, hat, and goggles because that's what "flying" makes him think of and someone would look like...anime/videogame ridiculously overdressed/cute in it.]

[driftsintobuffetline]

[WHAT. THIS IS NEWT'S NORMAL VOLUME

if you weren't a precious cinnamon roll, he'd make an inappropriate joke here but.]

oh
really
would never have guessed
I think you better step me through this, Komasan. I need more guidance.

[monge]

[Oh...now his credibility is on the line here. Guidance...he's never been asked for guidance before...

Um...

UM...]

I guess you can serve more people if you really want to!
invite your friends

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Newt ALMOST feels bad. Ok, he does a little.]

Oh, this is good. I'm taking notes.
Dinner, friends, serve him...

What should I make for dessert? You seem to be an expert on desserts. (What's your favorite dessert?)

[monge]

[The text is simple, but is sent at an alarming speed.]

soft cream

[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.

[akito]

You can always get it engraved with something geeky too.
So then it would be like geeky squared.

A photograph of a good memory can be gifted! Like a picture of you and your friends in a nice frame or something. Then when you look at it you would remember those feelings of friendship and happiness.

[driftsintobuffetline]

[Wherever Newt happens to be sitting, reading and replying to these, he suddenly half-laughs, half-chokes on his tea, doing something of a spit-take at that and he feels SO BAD because Komasan didn't mean THAT, didn't mean anything of the sort, but "him" for what to serve had kind of started Newt down this dark path and now his mind went to the gutter and he's dying. send help, he can't stop laughing. he's so sorry.

much gasping of breath later, he sends out the reply of]

whatflaovr

[monge]

VANILLA!!
its the white one
the classic flavor!!!1

[driftsintobuffetline]

But can we handle that level of geekery before the world implodes????

You think there's a hipstery enough place around here that they'll print out photographs onto actual paper or has everything gone so digital with those awful digital picture frames?

[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?

[driftsintobuffetline]

[DIES.

Okay, he pulls himself together enough to ask a serious, important question.]

Where is the BEST place to get soft cream, if you don't make it at home?

text;

[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?

[akito]

It would be a risk.
But is it one you are willing to take?

I'm sure you can still buy photograph paper and print things out yourself!

[driftsintobuffetline]

...ALWAYS

Dude, I don't even think we have a printer. Weird, right? Do you? Also, I wouldn't want to risk Hermann seeing it.

[akito]

You could get the chemical formula for ink engraved on it

I have a printer! Or at least I have access to one

[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]

maybe just a really nerdy equation, one of those ones that graph into a heart or something dumb like that

>_> one I can use?