"Ah, thank you. It's quite all right."

Alric shook his head and stepped inside, smiling casually, and set the parcel down on a table so it stood up on one end.

"You've been well, I hope? I know this is... rather shamefully late--it took me a while to finish it, I'm afraid--but it's meant to be a Christmas present."

He smiled a touch sheepishly, glancing at the parcel, then back to Tiamaris.

"...hopefully one you'll like, although I trust you'll at least understand there's no offense intended, if you don't."