disdelusioned | Songerein Inbox

I know, but...

[ Internally, she is panicking. She knows how much of a Topic birthdays can be for Diluc, and here she is making a fuss about hers. She wishes she hadn't brought it up. ]

We don't have to do anything for it, Diluc.

[Birthdays are certainly a challenge for him, but mostly it's his birthday that's the sore spot. He has little issue celebrating on behalf of another, especially someone as beloved as Ori.]

We don't. But if you would like to, I would be happy to celebrate with you.

... I don't know.

Is it okay if I come to see you to talk in person?

Of course.

[That's probably better, all things considered.

He sets the journal down and waits for her.]

[ It doesn't take her long to get home, with a basket full of goods foraged from the forest hanging at her arm. Carefully tucked in there, too, is a box containing about half of a small cake and the travel mug Trahearne had given her containing the pumpkin drink that spurred this entire conversation.

She stops at the door, pulling Thoma's scarf off of her with her free arm. With the weather getting chillier and chillier, it's finally felt reasonable to wear the precious garment when going out and about. ]

I'm home...

[Diluc is on the couch with a book when Ori arrives, although he hasn't actually done much reading. He can tell that she's a bit beside herself from the direction of the journal conversation, and he can't quite blame her. Text is hard to read, and the subject matter fraught thanks to his specific personal traumas.

Part of him wonders if the birthday was truly forgotten, or pointedly "forgotten" to spare his feelings. If it's the latter, he knows he'll feel terrible. His pain isn't her burden to bear at the expense of herself.

Nothing to do but talk about it. When she enters their home, he stands to greet her.]

Welcome home, love.

[ Perhaps, when they begin to talk about it, she'll realize that there's a little bit of both at play. She'd certainly realized that it was about that time of the year, but purposefully refrained from thinking any more on it a multitude of reasons, much less mentioning it to anyone... until an idle curiosity had bid her to ask Trahearne if a species like the sylvari celebrate their birthdays based on what he's told her about them...

But none of that truly comes to her mind at the moment. Her only birthday wish, currently, is to make sure Diluc isn't upset despite his prior reassurance that he wasn't. Because it is hard to tell on messages, on top of everything else.

With a tentative smile, she walks over and places her basket onto the coffee table by the couch before she gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. ]

What were you reading?

[For his part, Diluc is making a pointed effort to appear as relaxed as possible in order to try and soothe Ori's anxieties about the conversation they had over the journals. He can tell that she's ill-at-ease, and the last thing he wants is to make that worse.]

A recipe book. I was looking at possible flavor combinations for pumpkin.

[He answers the question easily, as if he hadn't spent more time staring blankly at the pages than anything else.

After a pause, he reaches down and gently brushes a bit of hair away from her face before cupping her cheek affectionately, thumb gently tracing the line of her cheekbone.]

Belatedly: happiest of birthdays, starlight. From the bottom of my heart.

[ She is most certainly beside herself, as he's expecting, but already his steadfast, calm presence has her feeling less and less anxious by the second. They seem to take turns being that calming presence for the other, but lately it's felt like she's been relying on him more and more, and perhaps a bit of guilt is building in her heart as a result of this whole birthday thing.

A guilt which would inexplicably have grown upon hearing his birthday greeting, but instead finds itself dispelled by the affection and gentleness he pours into the gesture. She simply looks up at him for a good long moment, unsure how to respond, until ultimately she lets herself feel the happiness helplessly bubbling up from her chest. ]

... Thank you, moonlight. I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. But I'm so happy that I get to have you at my side for it, no matter if it's late or early or on time...

[And there's the relaxation in her that he was hoping for. They'll talk about the miscommunication later, and he'll make sure that she understands that his past tragedies don't mean that he holds her special day against her. Quite the opposite, in fact--he knows how precious those days can be, knowing that one truly terrible day can taint them forever.

For now, he leans down, gives her a soft and gentle kiss, and pulls back with a smile.]

No apologies are necessary. Now, shall we celebrate with the treats you've brought home?

[It's a quiet little birthday party, just the two of them cuddled together sharing coffee and cake and foraged goodies. But it's perfect all the same, because they're celebrating together. ♥ ]

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Gonna tag this one last time to wrap it ♥