[ 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

[yuwon]

Oh. [ there's a brief pause of consideration. ]

When is your birthday?

[ignoreher]

Already passed, in March. Thankfully. I'd be so embarrassed if I had to wear a sash and crown like they did.

[ she's free... ]

I don't remember what day it is though, so I've been turning over what it should be. Oh, but I'm still accepting presents for anyone who wants to give me one.

[yuwon]

Should I grab you one? [ he's not serious for the record, but he does recall that there were moments before like calling herself "cute" in which she appeared kind of embarrassed. hence, he says and it moves on, not looking back to the topic.

free for now. ]

What kind of present would you want at this point? [ a pause. ] Or am I not allowed to ask that, either? [ is this another one of those "think for yourself" moments? ]

[ignoreher]

[ her tired look should be enough of an answer to the non-serious inquiry, which shifts into something a little sheepish at the rest. ]

No, that's... different, Yuwon. You can ask that. If I answered "Oh, anything would be good! Just pick something you think I'd like" then it'd be similar to what drove me up the wall before.

[ ....... even if she really would be fine with anything; malkuth isn't too picky, and seeing what someone might give her is fun. but he's asked, and she is not going to be the victim of hypocrisy today. ]

Let's see... I always like handmade things, and I won't turn down being treated to a drink or dine... It's less "at this point" and more whenever, you know? Um, I like cute stuff a lot -- a fr... coworker of mine [ please don't say anything about the slip yuwon she's trying so hard ] got me a pen with a duck head on it since I mentioned I liked ducks, and they know that I'm always writing things down too, so it was really thoughtful.

[ ... and it hurts sooooooooooo bad not to be able to do moooooore. ]

Things like that!

[yuwon]

[ the expression she wears is ... a little funny, especially when he recalls her apology. while puzzling, it's true that he bore no actual grudge about it. though, that isn't to state he's truly learned his lesson here. even as she explains, he's definitely thinking the distinction between the two different types of questions isn't nearly as clear as she may believe.

but, he also knows better than to try and touch that topic anymore than he already has. ] You really like ducks... [ is his main takeaway here, but her words do provide some food for thought. ]

But, did you mean coworker, or...? [ he got you, malkuth. ]

[ignoreher]

[ "he got you malkuth" BUD GOT SHIT ALL!!!!! BRO ON NOTHING!!!!!! ]

Just coworker! Yup! Nothing more, nothing less! Juuuuuust coworkers... That's all.

[ ...

nailed it!!!!!! totally natural!!!!!! it's not obvious at all that they aren't "just coworkers"!!!!!!! ]

A-Anyway, I do like ducks! A lot! What do you think of them?

[yuwon]

Hm, [ there's a distinct pause there that displays he absolutely does not believe her. there is not a single natural thing about that. after he feels like his silence has drilled in his point (does he actually have one, i don't know, work with me)— ]

You're a terrible liar. [ but, it's not like he doesn't know that people tended to be cautious with that word. he guesses he's a bit surprised she is, though. he wonders if this stems from a deeper reason, or if it's ... embarrassment? shame? ]

... Are you really asking me if I like ducks to change the subject?

[ignoreher]

[ he does, promise, she is an absolutely terrible liar, ]

I am. So let me change the subject.

[ at least she'll be upfront about it. ]

[yuwon]

Isn't that letting you off too easy?

[ he says this, mostly when he thinks of what she put him through. jk, he doesn't actually care much about that. hence, he doesn't let his response remain in the air for long, before giving in. ] But, fine. To answer your question, I haven't thought much about ducks. Everything just kind of feels like a monster sometimes. [ or has some odd connection to one...

like the floor with all the cows... how else do ppl explain this away. ]

[ignoreher]

[ please................ she deserved that and she knows it from the guilty look on her face. and she'd answer it too if he didn't brush it off... thank goodness. ]

Really? Even cute kitty cats? And adorable little pillbugs?

[ pillbugs are distinctly not animals don't worry about it though. ]

[yuwon]

... pillbugs?

[ he's worrying about it.

but, to each their own... he guesses. ] Do you see me as the kind of person who'd enjoy those things? [ not that he can deny they're cute in their own way, sure, but who wants hear the word "cute" from him. ]

[ignoreher]

You don't look like you enjoy much, visually speaking. So I'll take my shot and say sure, I think you could.

[ she's blunt as always, too... sorry yuwon. ]

Besides, there's always little boys chasing after each other holding a bug or two... so you probably like them at least.

[yuwon]

[ he wants to say that it isn't true, but it isn't false, either. what a conundrum... ] Are you comparing me to a little boy?

[ this disrespect after he let you change the subject, malkuth!?! ]

Sorry to say I've outgrown most things. [ but, bringing the subject back to the matter at hand. ]