He didn't bother to finish his sentence when he saw that it was a young boy greeting him at the door. A familiar young boy. Right, Miss Ruskin's step-brother. Something he had legitimately zero experience with. He didn't remember much of what it meant to be eleven, and he only had sisters. Still, Phillip couldn't help but chuckle as he caught sight of Miss Ruskin. "I didn't bring anything for your siblings, I'm afraid," he admitted, shifting the flowers back to his right hand to grasp the book.

It was one of his more thoughtful moments, if he was honest. Nothing frivolous that a debutante would vapidly accept, nor a novel of fiction or book of poetry. No, a book on experimental charms and how to reverse their effects without causing damage. A book he probably could have used himself some time back. At least his left hand was no longer a paw.

He always forgot how petite she was when he went away. It made him smile every time.

"Happy Christmas, Miss Ruskin." A few days early, but he'd be going to spend the holiday proper with his family.

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