killtheanimals | Post-Game CMO; camppetoskey

Happy Birthday.

[ Boa smiles, softly. The groggy surprise is sweet to witness, even though the actual event is more nervewrecking than it has any right to be. Vividly, he remembers the last time he said these words to Mitsuru. The way he'd felt, terrified then and melancholy. Apologetic, too. He has no reason to feel any of these things now, but the memory is something visceral. ]

I'm... gonna give you your actual present in the evening, if that's okay. But cake seemed... safe.

[ Handing over a present before the day is safely over with feels like an omen for disaster. He gave a present last year and he died after. This time there is nothing to be scared of, they're just home but... best avoid the association. ]

[It's true. Logically speaking, nothing should happen today regardless of what the past brought.

And yet, he finds himself agreeing with Boa's assessment. Jinxes of that sort aren't real, and he knows that, but he's not about to demand a gift right away. He still hears her voice sometimes, in his sleep, and he's not sure that will ever leave him now.]

...I still need breakfast anyway.

[Even if it's cake. Because it's his birthday, he gets to do what he wants. But before he goes to the cake, he walks to Boa, briefly resting a hand on his shoulder - and then pulling him into a hug, if permitted.

Mitsuru is not the most touchy-feely by far, but another little reminder that they're here, alive and breathing and warm is surely allowed, right?]

[ The hug is permitted and Boa instantly buries his face in Mitsuru's shoulder, soaking in the warm. This too feels dangerously like it is inviting a flashback. One year ago on this exact day he's been clinging to Mitsuru as one of the last things he might have ever done in his life had they been more unlucky that summer.

Now, Mitsuru's hug just feels safe. That's the difference this year has made. Now it is hard to imagine that someone could be able to pull them apart without getting hurt in the process.

For a moment, Boa is quiet as these feelings simply wash over him. Having a person he can always rely on continues to be a little miracle. ]

.... I never made cake before so I guarantee for nothing. I put a lot of effort in though.

[It is a familiar scene, isn't it? But unlike in the past, there isn't any death awaiting them at the end of the day - they're not the ones in danger of it, at least. The same could not be said for the poor fools involved in the latest "game."

But as far as Mitsuru and Boa are concerned? All that awaits them is cake and presents by the end of the day, and he wants to force his mind on that rather than the past - the two occasions, even. And maybe if he does that enough, for enough years, it'll be sufficient to help cover some of those scars.

But at Boa's words, he just hums thoughtfully.]

It's made with one of those mixes, right? As long as you didn't try to change the recipe too much, I think it should be okay.

[Still, the hug lingers. He's fine with staying like this until Boa seems ready to let go.]

I tried not to change anything, but... It's still a first attempt. Even my first attempt at Beyblading wasn't that great, so... Well, you'll just have to find out.

[ The extended hug was nice, but Boa reluctantly lets go. If they waste too much time here then maybe the wax from the candles will drip down too far. Luckily, that's the only part of the day that's on a timer. The door to the apartment is closed (he checked first thing, a weird fit of paranoia so nobody could come drag them without making noise first) and on the other side of the hole in the wall there's just Lance. All is familiar. ]

Though you need to make a wish first.

[ Because that's what birthday candles do, right...? They both had a birthday here already but somehow they never had the time to figure out normal birthday traditions. ]

[Fair enough. Besides, he really is looking forward to cake, so he'll let go- for now.

A wish, though... Those words have him visibly pausing.]

...I wonder if I even have anything worth wishing for, now...?

[Wishes are still an odd topic for him. Something he doesn't mind working for, yet still something that should be out of his grasp enough that he'd have to rely on some other power to provide it in the end. And, well, they both know how well that goes for him in his original future.]

[ Yeah, it's... it's awkward. But at the same time, that's weirdly why Boa likes the idea of the tradition here. Like breaking some kind of curse associated with wishes, along with breaking the birthday curse. Not that curses are all, which makes this all the more important. Getting rid of irrational fears. ]

I think birthday wishes are pretty... whimsical, usually. It's not like it's real magic.

[That coaxes a wry smile from him.]

I guess so. I could wish for a unicorn to appear for all it'll do.

[-There's probably a unicorn SCP, huh. Oh well.]

...Then how about another relatively safe year?

That seems reasonable. And I mean... we can help make it happen.

[ In case the birthday gods need a little help here. ]

Though that's what we do anyway. [ He smiles a bit himself. ]

Right. Even if I wish for it, it doesn't really change much.

[Mind made up, he leans towards the cake to blow out the candles. It is no longer under threat of gaining a coating of wax.]

[ Wooohoooo!! For a moment Boa just watches the smoke dissipate, but soon the moment is over. So you know what time it now is? KNIFE TIME.

It's probably always somewhat knife time with these two, so maybe this is the most preferable incarnation of it.

Boa carefully cuts out a large piece of the cake for Mitsuru and places it on his plate, still feeling kind of nervous. ]

[If it's not knife time, it's magic time, which can be even more efficient when it comes to evisceration.

You know. In the off chance that it comes to that.

He accepts the piece, cutting out a square of it with his fork to take a bite. How is it, actually? Boa didn't mix up ingredients in any unfortunate ways, did he?]

[ It is in fact, a perfectly fine cake! Maybe a little bit less sweet than one would expect because Boa could not fathom the amounts of sugar, but still pretty tasty! ]

Vesna Esta Holicia; until you shine again
UNREAD E-MAILS (0)	VOICEMAILS (0)	Mitsuru.Ashikawa: [ BS06 ] TEXT [Magicus7]

Post-Game CMO; camppetoskey

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