[ open ] birthday time!

[picky]

WHO: Marcille, Ryoji, and YOU!
WHAT: A party for the April (and May) birthdays!
WHERE: LILICO Game Center in Akihabara
WHEN: April 20th
WARNINGS: TBA

No matter who you are, you receive a text early in the morning from Ryoji (memors):

Good morning! Did you know it's a special someone's birthday today? Actually, we have several birthdays to celebrate, so join us today at the LILICO Game Center! There will be cake! Lots and *lots* of cake. Hope to see you there!

This is an open log, so feel free to tag out or top level or respond to the prompts below. Have fun!

Comments

[memors]

[ THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH WRIO!! ]

Let's see, I suppose it's been...about three and a half months now. It feels like it's been much longer than that, though. Some might even call it a "lifetime".

[ But that may be the experiences he shared in Minato's soul speaking. ]

[frostfist]

[ Settle on a birthday first and then he'll offer up his. :/ Homework assignment for the day.

A lifetime though.... Three months doesn't sound like much on paper, but the passage of time has always been one of the most subjective human experiences. Those first few months in the Fortress had felt like an eternity to him, while his time here has passed in the blink of an eye. ]

So not too much time to gain real experiences of your own. [ Minus the ones he got as part of someone's other half. ] There's nothing wrong with waiting to decide on a birthday if you're not sure now. I'm sure these sashes will still be here months from now.

[ Because that's obviously the real reason anyone here announces their birthday. ]

[memors]

[ Look, he's not wrong, Ryoji wants to be treated like a princess with a sash too! ]

Maybe you're right. Maybe we'll simply reach a date that will hit me as the day meant to celebrate myself. [ Or will delaying his choice make it harder to choose than it already is? ] As strange as that sounds...

[ Is that something he even really wants? Perhaps that's the first question that needs answering. ]

Would you tell me...what do you enjoy doing on your birthday? Or maybe...what's the most special birthday celebration you've ever had?

[frostfist]

[ His own birthdays? It's not an unexpected question given a) the nature of the party they're at right now and b) the conversation leading up to it, but it's still enough to prompt Wriothesley to fall silent in thought.

Around them, the low hubbub of the party swells to momentarily fill in the silence. ]

I never really celebrated mine much. It's not a day that holds much significance for me [ outside of being the day he went to jail, lol ] so I never really bothered with anything special. I suppose the most memorable ones were the dinners I had with a few good friends.

[ He offers up a wan smile. ]

Sorry. That's probably not the sort of answer you were hoping to hear, was it?

[memors]

[ Truthfully, there's no answer that Wriothesley could give that Ryoji would be disappointed by, because anything he could offer is another morsel of humanity for him to mull over and digest, another piece of that vast puzzle. Yet even in his limited scope, he likes the simplicity of it. Birthdays don't need to be something grand to be something special. ]

That's the perfect sort of answer. [ Authentic, personal. ] Making more memories with those that make your life worth living...sounds like a tremendous way to celebrate to me.

[ Nodding to the table beside him: ]

As long as there's cake, of course.

[frostfist]

[ He can't help but let out a small laugh at that. ]

The most important part. Along with [ he lifts up one index finger ] lighting up candles, singing happy birthday, and then making a wish as you blow out said candles.

[memors]

[ That's right, a wish is customary, isn't it? His features light up as he glances towards wherever Marcille is busy at the moment. ]

Oh! We have to make sure Marcille-san makes one. And Katsuki-san and Yor-san, too... [ Since he mentioned it, though: ] So? What did you wish for, on your last birthday? Not more wishes, I hope.

[ He expects a vague answer, but he can't help but ask it, all the same. ]

[frostfist]

RYOJI

[ What a deeply personal question! He probably shouldn't answer it truthfully. But there's something about the good cheer and atmosphere of the birthday celebration around them that makes him feel a little more hopeful than he usually is. And there's something about Ryoji, well-intentioned and guileless as he is, that makes Wriothesley a little more willing to be honest.

(Ryoji and Sigewinne would probably get along like a house on fire.)

He thinks about it a moment before he finally answers, voice thoughtful. ]

Nothing of that sort. I just wished that everyone, regardless of their status and age, could live their lives full of happiness and devoid of fear.

[ What kind of boring-ass birthday wish is that? He's not on Miss Universe here. Oh, but wait, he does have something to add onto that. ]

That, and a new tea set. My old one is starting to chip.

[memors]

[ When you think about it, Ryoji really is just a weird little freak like a Melusine, huh…

Whatever the reason for it, Wriothesley’s answer is far more forthcoming than he expects, and it’s a welcome change of pace. Not that Ryoji minds terribly when others hold back when under his often probing line of questioning – everyone has their reasons for keeping things to themselves – but it makes it all the more meaningful when he’s offered a glimpse a little further than before. A curtain drawn back, inviting him to bask in the light of a steadfast soul just a little bit more.

Wriothesley may not think it much of a wish, but Ryoji finds it positively spectacular. There’s almost something selfish implied in the nature of making a wish, and yet this one is made for others. Really, what more does he need to know about Wriothesley than that? ]

There’s no better wish, is there? …That people could live lives full of happiness, I mean. Though depending on how much you like tea, I suppose both could be true. You said your birthday is in November, right?

[ Penciling it in…send Wriothesley some tea for his birthday…or like, the next day, just because. ]