Gifts were Annais’s love language.  Words of affirmation were Piers’s.

Early in the relationship, Annais would buy Piers anything he mentioned off-hand.  Being shy, showering him in things was the easiest way to prove her love in her eyes.  Money was never an obstacle for her.  Not only was she raised an only child by well off parents, but had earned quite a bit of her own as champion.  She could afford to get Piers anything his heart desired.

Piers was the textbook definition of a starving artist.  He never had much money, but he was among the most eloquent in Galar.  He found his muse in her, leading to him writing her countless songs.  There was no end to the praise he’d dish on her.  He’d never stop talking her up among people who knew about the two of them. He needed to speak to her at least once a day, even when they were far apart.  If they didn’t have their nightly call and he was forced to go to bed without proclaiming his love for her and hearing it back, he’d feel terrible until they spoke again.

It took a bit for both of them to get used to this.

Piers felt incredible guilt whenever Annais purchased things for him.  He was never used to being spoiled.  He had to work hard for everything he’d owned up until she came along.  He’d try to talk her out of it if possible, or say she shouldn’t waste her money like that.  Annais couldn’t understand why he gave her such a hard time about accepting something he obviously wanted, or even needed.  Piers didn’t intend to come across as ungrateful, but he just could not fathom spending as frivolously as her.  Not only that, he feared he couldn’t reciprocate.  He initially struggled with the idea that he’d never be able to give anything meaningful to the girl who had everything.  He didn’t have the funds to repay her guitars with diamonds, or purchase the ridiculously expensive, rare shinies that she always gifted to herself. For a while, he was so paranoid about receiving something else without being able to repay her, he quit mentioning anything material entirely.  

On the flip side, Annais was notoriously bad at speaking up.  She would hint at things, or beat around the bush.  If things upset her, it’d be even worse.  She’d withdraw completely.  Apologies to him were gifts, accompanied with cards containing lengthy letters of remorse, but these amends rarely fell from her lips.  At times, Piers thought she did everything in her power to not say what was on her mind.  He found he had to coax words out of her.  This was fun when they made love, but a little taxing on a daily basis.  Piers joked that he could understand why she had a track record with psychics.  If he could just read her mind, communication would be a whole lot easier.  Because she couldn’t speak her mind, it seemed as though she didn’t trust the words of others.  Sometimes, she had difficultly believing that he wasn’t exaggerating.  Some of his sweetest, most heartfelt statements would bring her to tears if she was in a mood and felt like she didn’t deserve them.

This caused some bumps and misunderstandings, a few arguments and days without contact.  Yet as they grew as a couple, they began to adapt. Annais was eventually able to speak how she felt about him without feeling as silly.  Piers was a great listener.  She was more comfortable with vocalizing her thoughts upon realizing they wouldn’t be ignored, questioned, or spoke over.  He grew more patient those times when she held her tongue, understanding that she required time.  Some days, she had to process her scattered thoughts into words.  Others, she needed to wait for her head to clear enough to ensure her thoughts were actually true.  She also learned that Piers would never lie to her, and that he believed every single word he said about her.

In turn, Piers also realized that Annais was never going to quit spoiling him.  Things would be bestowed unto him whether he asked for them or not.  Not to mention, her gifts weren’t always extravagant.  She bought him whatever she felt like he needed or would like, big and small.  She’d offer him snacks, print him pictures to keep in his wallet, or pick up new nail polish upon noticing he was running low.  Noticing that the gifts never had to be expensive, Piers felt a lot more at ease. She didn’t need ostentatious presents to keep her happy, even the smallest token of adoration would have her elated for days.  It seemed her favorite things to receive were items she could wear to remind her of him. He should’ve known this from the start, considering how she wore that gym tank that he autographed for her to sleep basically each night.

In fact, she was in that top when he remembered the gift he’d been saving for her next visit.

“Oh,” he said, so nonchalantly in the midst of lying in bed together.  “I got a li’l somethin’ for ya a few days back.”

Annais sat up straight. “You did?”

He nodded, pulling himself off of her and the bed.  He wandered over to the dresser.  Once there, the top shelf was pulled open and he retrieved something from within.

“C’mere,” he beckoned, taking a step in her direction.

She joined him where he stood in front of his closet door.  He held whatever it was behind his back.

“Lift your hair.”

She did as she was told, bunching her hair onto the top of her head.  Piers reached over her shoulders, bringing something around her neck before fastening it in the back.  Once done, he guided her hands back to her side, but they didn’t stay there for long. Annais reached up to feel.  She was aware of the cool leather on her neck, and the weight of a pendant.  “It’s…”

Piers turned her around to look in the mirror.  Her jaw dropped upon seeing that she and he were wearing matching chokers.  He raised it up again so he could admire her neck. She was momentarily speechless, as she tended to be.

“Not too tight?” he asked, sticking fingers between the leather and her skin.  She shook her head, causing him to grin.  “God, that looks perfect on you.”

“Oh, Nez!”  She practically tackled him with her embrace.  “Oh, my God!  This is so cool!  It’s just like yours and Marnie’s!”

“Yeah, it’s kinda a family thing, I guess,” he said, rubbing her back.  “Kinda obvious it’s from me.”

“Do you have your address and phone number on the inside?” she joked.

“Might as well say Property of Piers, eh?”

Annais snorted.

“Or maybe even ‘Lost kitten,’” he whispered in her ear.  “‘If found, return to Piers.’”

“Shut up!” she laughed, pulling away.  Turning back around, she resumed admiring it in the mirror.  The leather was black compared to his white.  The charms were nearly identical.  He rested his chin on her shoulder and held her waist.

“Hey, I’ve always wanted to ask,” she said.  “Where’s it come from?  Any significance?”

“Mine an’ Marn’s were made from a pair of Mum’s earrings,” he confessed.  “We were goin’ through Mum’s jewelry an’ just thought they looked cool. You seemed to always fancy mine, so I found someone in Motostoke who could make a copy just for you.”

Annais beamed.

“That’s so sweet!  I can’t thank you enough!  I love it!” she said.  “I never wanna take it off!  This is one of the best things I’ve ever received!”

“Aw,” Piers chuckled and stood up straight again.  “It’s not much, Ann.”

“Yes, it is!” she insisted. She turned towards him again.  “You obviously put a lot of thought into it.”

Piers blushed, ducking his head and scratching the back of his neck.  She stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

“Oi,” he said, lifting his eyes.

“Hm?”

“Know the best part about you havin’ one?”

“What’s that?”

“I can do this to you now,” he said with a wicked grin.  Before she could ask, Piers hooked his finger through the pendant and tugged her closer, just like she always did to him.  

“O-Oh…” gasped Annais.

“Got yours a li’l more durable than mine,” said Piers.  “You’re a bit more into it than I am.”

One more tug and he closed the distance between their lips.

“I didn’t realize I could like this even more,” she whispered.

“I figured you’d enjoy that.”