anyway her bedroom door slides open and -- well, that's a surprise. ishmael blinks at the bouquet, her gaze curiously traveling down towards the bag. cue a clueless headtilt. ]
[ Thanks for letting him in. He doesn't look at all deterred by the puzzlement on her face, instead just handing her the bouquet (hopefully she's learned to keep a vase around for times like these) before sauntering inside. ]
Your birthday. Two weeks early. [ okay?????? ] Since we've been traveling a lot for our missions recently and even ended up split up last time, I figured it'd be better to celebrate early just in case.
[ Celebrate with....? Drinks, apparently, and also a small slice of cake, all of which he's pulling out of his bag. Don't worry, he'll get tipsy with her this time. ]
[ she continues to blink at him dumbfounded as he lets himself in, staring at the flowers in her hands and wriothesley pulling out drinks and cake with a flourish. she manages to snap out of it though, and helps out by clearing out the desk so he can put those down while she arranges the bouquet onto a glass vase near her bed. ]
Um... Thank you? [ help she's still very stunned ] I know the timing's horrid, but we could also celebrate it after the mission, you know. I don't mind waiting, and we could celebrate your birthday too.
[ two birds with one stone and all that but lol... lmao.......... ]
We could, but there's no telling what might happen. [ lmao ] Maybe one of us will break an arm or a leg and be stuck on bedrest. At least both of us are healthy now.
[ For the most part. He will absolutely take what he can get in these trying times. Along with the drinks and cake he pulls out a small box…and then another small box? Okay. ]
What do you want first?
[ A drink, some cake, her gift(s), a poorly sung happy birthday…? ]
[ shaking... just how many gifts did he get her........... ]
Uh.
[ her mind races as she thinks it over. she doesn't know where to start? she's already very excited at the thought of seeing wriothesley getting drunk on her special day. but since you brought it up -- ]
How about singing me a happy birthday? [ she flashes him a wide grin. hehehe. ]
But it's fine, the birthday song is a quintessential part of all birthday celebrations after all. Just give him a sec to pull out a candle, stick it into the slice of cake, light it up with a match (once again bemoaning the lack of Pyro Vision), and then present it to her with an expectant look.
Once she takes it, he will in fact start singing!! ....It's passable, nothing to win awards over but nothing that'll break her eardrums either. Just a nice normal happy birthday by a guy with a nice voice but no formal training. ]
[ she takes the slice of cake and... whoa. he's really singing for her. she watches him, transfixed, and if she isn't blushing before she sure is now.
he's so sweet. incredibly sweet, like the cake she's holding in her hands. and when he's done, she pauses to make a wish before blowing out the sole candle, grinning from ear to ear. ]
You don't sound half-bad at all. [ hehe. ] Maybe we should go for karaoke with the others one day. Can I do the honors of popping open the drinks?
[ what did he bring, exactly. is it wine? she hopes it's wine. ]
[ There's a bottle of wine, two bottles of soju (haha, remember when—). two cans of beer, and then a small bottle of fizzy prosecco. How did he even fit all of this in the bag....
Regardless, he hands it all over to her. ]
Take your pick.
[ There's no way he's not getting drunk off all this. ]
[ On his birthday but.....looks away. Anyway, he takes the bottle and downs a healthy amount. At least no one can accuse him for not going all out for for this. ]
And no, you never told me. I assumed you'd had too much to drink.
True, but you don't have to get drunk on special occasions. Let me carry you back to your room by your shoulders sometime.
[ she's kidding. they can still do it before the REDACTED, probably. she's going to take a bite of cake while she's at it. mmm. ]
Anyway... that was when I realized that I liked you. [ look at her, not tripping on her own words. ] I'd gotten so sick the next day. Marcille was there to fuss over me, it's embarrassing.
Then I'll save it for your birthday. The most special of special occasions.
[ He's joking...but also not? As far as birthdays goes, hers is definitely superior to his. Though his descent into drunkeness will have to be delayed a little longer as he peers at her, brows crinkling a little at that comment. ]
I didn't realize liking me was such deep misfortune. [ he's still joking btw ]
You've already done so much today, jeez. If you're going to be that way, we'll just have to do it on your birthday.
[ hmph!!
but also, let her explain with another swig of her drink. ]
Anyway, to be fair, that was my first time liking someone like that. And at the time, I didn't want to lose you as a friend if you didn't feel the same way. Just the thought of it made me sick. [ huffs. ] Luckily, you were pretty obvious about it so I had nothing to worry about.
[ a very good question. give her some time to form her thoughts on it while she scoops up a bit of cake and directs it at wriothesley's mouth. go on, have a taste. ]
It would've been very awkward if we went back to being who we used to be. I wouldn't want to stop being friends with you, but our dynamic would never be the same after that.
[ and she won't like that. she's comfortable, with the way they currently are. ]
[ Things would have been different, that much is true, but he likes to think that they would have worked things out between them somehow. But maybe that's too idealistic. He's always preferred to dream about hopeful futures even as he prepares for the worst case scenario. ]
Maybe I should have skipped the physical gifts and showed up at your door drunk instead.
[ Apparently this is the real gift??? Regardless, he picks up the larger box (which is...still the size of a small jewelry box, sorry to disappoint) and passes it over. There's nothing too fancy inside, just a silver pendant depicting a sun setting past the waves.
She probably doesn't need an explanation for why he picked it. ]
[ he jests, but she'd actually really like that. she'd fuss over him while shaking her head at him, let him lean on her shoulder and probably fool around with him, things like that. she's a very simple gal.
which is why the sight of the pendant has rendered her speechless, as she takes it out of the box to give it a closer look. ]
It's... beautiful.
[ she unclasps it and attempts to put it around her neck, but her hands are too fidgety. a little help? ]
[ Haha sorry, was that too cheesy? At least he sounds tongue-in-cheek about it. But never fear, he's ambling his way over to help (after another drink), all the alcohol leaving him feeling warm and leisurely, and his hands linger way too long at the back of her neck as he helps her clasp the necklace on. ]
Hopefully it's not too much.
[ Where is the line between what's okay and not okay to give at any point in a relationship anyway... ]
[ it's very cheesy, and if it'd come from someone who isn't wriothesley, she would've bristled at such a compliment. but it's wriothesley and it's a very special occasion, so ishmael ends up buying it.
in fact, she's bought it so hard that he could see (or even feel) the back of her ears and neck grow hot as he puts the necklace around her neck. ]
It's fine, I... [ the warmth then spreads to her cheeks. ] I still don't know what to say except thank you.
Nothing wrong with a good old-fashioned thank you.
[ Truthfully even that wouldn't have been necessary. He's never done any of this for thanks or recognition, but simply to see her face light up. That's always been good enough for him.
Though her flush is so cute that he can't help but lean forward and press a quick kiss to the small patch of bare neck still exposed. ]
It sounds [ looks?? ] like I should do this more often though. [ haha ]
the kiss on her nape sends a chill up her spine. maybe if they're drunk enough she could coax him into fooling around later, but right now she wants to be sober enough for his other surprises. ]
You already spoil me too much, you know. Besides, my birthday only comes by once a year. Can't be that hard to top this one.
[ like dying on her 🧍♀️
she reaches for her drink and finishes it all, slamming it back on the table a little louder than intended. sorry, she's just so excited. ]
[ no :) ALSO HELLO HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE DRUNK ONE HERE, STOP SHOWING HIM UP!!!
He's too far from his own drink to immediately follow her lead in downing his own drink but never fear, the prompt for her second gift brings him close enough to the table that he takes a pit stop to (also) down his drink before grabbing the second smaller box and handing it over.
It's been a long time since he's had so much alcohol in such quick succession, and he can definitely feel the heat both down his throat as well as across his ears and face.
He does look uncharacteristically sober as he hands it over, frowning slightly. ]
For the record, you don't have to wear this one.
[ the way i realized too late i had the link open in a tab on my laptop...tearfully searches for a replacement. It's just a pair of earrings, nothing fancy, except that they're modified versions of the tracker rings. Sometimes you have too many commitment issues to spring for rings. ]
They come with tracking functionality. You can wear both as an accessory, or give one to someone important if something like an important mission comes up and you're worried about the risk of separation.
[ THEY CAN BE TWO STUPID DRUNKS TOGETHER??? skill issue, babe.......
but that can wait for later. they're nothing fancy, but it's another piece of jewelry wriothesley had picked out for her regardless. it's enough to make her heart swell twice as big as she lunges forward to embrace him, her voice breathless and happy. ]
Thank you... Thank you.
[ are things allowed to be this... nice? is she allowed to have a stable if dangerous job in a new world that allows her to be freer than she can ever hope to be in the City, in a base full of people she's come to like as friends, hobbies that she hopes to be serious with, and a boyfriend she really likes who's pretty good to her? because she definitely hasn't stacked up this much good karma over the past twenty-seven or so years. not even close, and she kind of wonders what the catch is.
...
nope! not entertaining that thought right now. it's her birthday, dammit. she pulls away a bit to beam at him from ear to ear. ]
I mean, it'd still look good on you if I make you wear it. We'd match. [ matching earrings... let her have this. ] But you'll be fine with this, I'm sure. Because I won't let you out of my sight.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
🏃♂️💨
anyway her bedroom door slides open and -- well, that's a surprise. ishmael blinks at the bouquet, her gaze curiously traveling down towards the bag. cue a clueless headtilt. ]
Er. [ ... ] What's the occasion?
no subject
Your birthday. Two weeks early. [ okay?????? ] Since we've been traveling a lot for our missions recently and even ended up split up last time, I figured it'd be better to celebrate early just in case.
[ Celebrate with....? Drinks, apparently, and also a small slice of cake, all of which he's pulling out of his bag. Don't worry, he'll get tipsy with her this time. ]
no subject
Um... Thank you? [ help she's still very stunned ] I know the timing's horrid, but we could also celebrate it after the mission, you know. I don't mind waiting, and we could celebrate your birthday too.
[ two birds with one stone and all that but lol... lmao.......... ]
no subject
We could, but there's no telling what might happen. [ lmao ] Maybe one of us will break an arm or a leg and be stuck on bedrest. At least both of us are healthy now.
[ For the most part. He will absolutely take what he can get in these trying times. Along with the drinks and cake he pulls out a small box…and then another small box? Okay. ]
What do you want first?
[ A drink, some cake, her gift(s), a poorly sung happy birthday…? ]
no subject
Uh.
[ her mind races as she thinks it over. she doesn't know where to start? she's already very excited at the thought of seeing wriothesley getting drunk on her special day. but since you brought it up -- ]
How about singing me a happy birthday? [ she flashes him a wide grin. hehehe. ]
no subject
But it's fine, the birthday song is a quintessential part of all birthday celebrations after all. Just give him a sec to pull out a candle, stick it into the slice of cake, light it up with a match (once again bemoaning the lack of Pyro Vision), and then present it to her with an expectant look.
Once she takes it, he will in fact start singing!! ....It's passable, nothing to win awards over but nothing that'll break her eardrums either. Just a nice normal happy birthday by a guy with a nice voice but no formal training. ]
no subject
he's so sweet. incredibly sweet, like the cake she's holding in her hands. and when he's done, she pauses to make a wish before blowing out the sole candle, grinning from ear to ear. ]
You don't sound half-bad at all. [ hehe. ] Maybe we should go for karaoke with the others one day. Can I do the honors of popping open the drinks?
[ what did he bring, exactly. is it wine? she hopes it's wine. ]
no subject
Regardless, he hands it all over to her. ]
Take your pick.
[ There's no way he's not getting drunk off all this. ]
no subject
You really want to get drunk this time, are you.
[ she laughs, before popping open the soju first and handing one of them over to him. ]
I just remembered something. [ she takes a sip first. ] Do you know why I even got sick when we did this last time?
no subject
[ On his birthday but.....looks away. Anyway, he takes the bottle and downs a healthy amount. At least no one can accuse him for not going all out for for this. ]
And no, you never told me. I assumed you'd had too much to drink.
[ is he finally getting the Deep Lore.... ]
no subject
[ she's kidding. they can still do it before the REDACTED, probably. she's going to take a bite of cake while she's at it. mmm. ]
Anyway... that was when I realized that I liked you. [ look at her, not tripping on her own words. ] I'd gotten so sick the next day. Marcille was there to fuss over me, it's embarrassing.
no subject
Then I'll save it for your birthday. The most special of special occasions.
[ He's joking...but also not? As far as birthdays goes, hers is definitely superior to his. Though his descent into drunkeness will have to be delayed a little longer as he peers at her, brows crinkling a little at that comment. ]
I didn't realize liking me was such deep misfortune. [ he's still joking btw ]
no subject
[ hmph!!
but also, let her explain with another swig of her drink. ]
Anyway, to be fair, that was my first time liking someone like that. And at the time, I didn't want to lose you as a friend if you didn't feel the same way. Just the thought of it made me sick. [ huffs. ] Luckily, you were pretty obvious about it so I had nothing to worry about.
[ haha... ]
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Good thing I decided not to be less obvious than I was.
[ Then they really would have been in trouble. Although he's more curious about something else. He takes a smaller sip of his drink, voice soft. ]
Do you really think we would have stopped being friends if things hadn't worked out romantically?
no subject
It would've been very awkward if we went back to being who we used to be. I wouldn't want to stop being friends with you, but our dynamic would never be the same after that.
[ and she won't like that. she's comfortable, with the way they currently are. ]
no subject
Guess it doesn't matter one way or another now.
[ No point dwelling on what could have been. ]
Do you want your gift now or later?
no subject
[ hehe ]
Give me the bigger one for now. I still want to see you get drunk first.
no subject
Maybe I should have skipped the physical gifts and showed up at your door drunk instead.
[ Apparently this is the real gift??? Regardless, he picks up the larger box (which is...still the size of a small jewelry box, sorry to disappoint) and passes it over. There's nothing too fancy inside, just a silver pendant depicting a sun setting past the waves.
She probably doesn't need an explanation for why he picked it. ]
no subject
which is why the sight of the pendant has rendered her speechless, as she takes it out of the box to give it a closer look. ]
It's... beautiful.
[ she unclasps it and attempts to put it around her neck, but her hands are too fidgety. a little help? ]
no subject
[ Haha sorry, was that too cheesy? At least he sounds tongue-in-cheek about it. But never fear, he's ambling his way over to help (after another drink), all the alcohol leaving him feeling warm and leisurely, and his hands linger way too long at the back of her neck as he helps her clasp the necklace on. ]
Hopefully it's not too much.
[ Where is the line between what's okay and not okay to give at any point in a relationship anyway... ]
no subject
in fact, she's bought it so hard that he could see (or even feel) the back of her ears and neck grow hot as he puts the necklace around her neck. ]
It's fine, I... [ the warmth then spreads to her cheeks. ] I still don't know what to say except thank you.
[ he's so evil for this :/ ]
no subject
[ Truthfully even that wouldn't have been necessary. He's never done any of this for thanks or recognition, but simply to see her face light up. That's always been good enough for him.
Though her flush is so cute that he can't help but lean forward and press a quick kiss to the small patch of bare neck still exposed. ]
It sounds [ looks?? ] like I should do this more often though. [ haha ]
no subject
the kiss on her nape sends a chill up her spine. maybe if they're drunk enough she could coax him into fooling around later, but right now she wants to be sober enough for his other surprises. ]
You already spoil me too much, you know. Besides, my birthday only comes by once a year. Can't be that hard to top this one.
[ like dying on her 🧍♀️
she reaches for her drink and finishes it all, slamming it back on the table a little louder than intended. sorry, she's just so excited. ]
What's the next one?
no subject
He's too far from his own drink to immediately follow her lead in downing his own drink but never fear, the prompt for her second gift brings him close enough to the table that he takes a pit stop to (also) down his drink before grabbing the second smaller box and handing it over.
It's been a long time since he's had so much alcohol in such quick succession, and he can definitely feel the heat both down his throat as well as across his ears and face.
He does look uncharacteristically sober as he hands it over, frowning slightly. ]
For the record, you don't have to wear this one.
[ the way i realized too late i had the link open in a tab on my laptop...tearfully searches for a replacement. It's just a pair of earrings, nothing fancy, except that they're modified versions of the tracker rings. Sometimes you have too many commitment issues to spring for rings. ]
They come with tracking functionality. You can wear both as an accessory, or give one to someone important if something like an important mission comes up and you're worried about the risk of separation.
[ It doesn't have to be him, for the record. ]
no subject
but that can wait for later. they're nothing fancy, but it's another piece of jewelry wriothesley had picked out for her regardless. it's enough to make her heart swell twice as big as she lunges forward to embrace him, her voice breathless and happy. ]
Thank you... Thank you.
[ are things allowed to be this... nice? is she allowed to have a stable if dangerous job in a new world that allows her to be freer than she can ever hope to be in the City, in a base full of people she's come to like as friends, hobbies that she hopes to be serious with, and a boyfriend she really likes who's pretty good to her? because she definitely hasn't stacked up this much good karma over the past twenty-seven or so years. not even close, and she kind of wonders what the catch is.
...
nope! not entertaining that thought right now. it's her birthday, dammit. she pulls away a bit to beam at him from ear to ear. ]
I mean, it'd still look good on you if I make you wear it. We'd match. [ matching earrings... let her have this. ] But you'll be fine with this, I'm sure. Because I won't let you out of my sight.
[ lmaooooo ]