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[ Around lunch time, Altria will hear a knock on the door, preceding what sounds like someone talking to another person. It'll be fairly obvious that it's the Wanderer behind that door, and when she opens it, his discussion partner (who has been making strange chirping noises) will also be revealed: an adorable round blue bird that's sitting on his signature hat. ]

—told you to stop causing a fuss! Is this your way of getting revenge on me because I locked you up this entire time?? Maybe if you weren't so—

[ Oh. Hi Altria. He coughs and shoves the items in his hands at her. Just ignore the faint redness on his cheeks. You didn't just catch him arguing with a bird. Said bird chirps happily at Altria in greeting. ]

Here. Take it.

[ There are in fact several items in his hands.

A vase containing an arrangement of beautiful paper flowers.

Yet another beautifully wrapped gift box containing several cute accessories.

A container of sweets! This time, he's whipped up custard taiyaki, dango, and some wagashi.

]

[She's happy to see him, of course, when she opens the door, though she can't help but wonder who he's with to be having this argument ("locked up?"), though it then becomes very obvious a moment later.

Oh!

Ohhhh!!]

Yuu! That's--

[Ah. Before she can say anything else, he's shoving boxes into her hands, as well as a vase. She juggles them carefully, staring at him with wide eyes over them.

???]

--Is it Christmas again?!

No. It's—

[ He's interrupted by the excited and loud trilling of the bird, to which he responds by swatting at it angrily. The bird easily dodges his hand, fluttering around him and chirping continuously in joy. ]

Can you be quiet for two seconds, you annoying fluffball?? I'm trying to speak!

[ Despite the drifter's irritation, the bird doesn't listen and keeps singing happily, even daring to settle on his shoulder and rub up against his cheek. He groans in frustration. ]

Why is it so worked up today...

[!!!

Altria watches this with wide eyes for a long moment (it's so cute... it's so cute! So cute and so round!), and then she smiles at him brightly.]

Come in! Bring your friend too. Then I can put all of this down.

[And then he can't escape as easily--]

[ He normally has a nose for 'traps' but he doesn't really think of Altria as the type to do that, so he enters without much thought, focused on using a finger to push the bird away from his face. The bird accepts being pushed for a bit, and then chomps down on his finger. ]

Ow! Why you little—!!

[ It flutters off with a trill and settles on... Altria's head! Where it continues to sing happily. (Mockingly? It's definitely mocking him now. It has to be. This stupid goddamn—!) ]

Hey! Get off her right now!

[OH NO... THE BIRD IS SO CUTE BUT SO SASSY...!!

It lands on her head, and Altria's first instincts are to raise her hands a little to protect it, because he looks... pretty mad.]

Aw... it's okay! He can sit on my head as long as he wants to.

[... Though... to the bird, as she shuffles over to the counter to carefully put down the vase and boxes:]

Biting people is rude, though. You need to be nice to Yuu, okay?

[ Since Altria has given it permission, he can't yell at it anymore for sitting on her head, but he grinds his teeth in anger for a moment before releasing an explosive huff of anger and crossing his arms. Fine. If it wants to bother Altria instead, that's not his business. As long as it stays out of his hair, he's happy!

The bird chirps questioningly at Altria, and then resumes singing happily without a care in the world. It seems to be pretty comfortable on her head now. ]

Just ignore it. Don't give that thing any attention.

But... it's so cute!

[And the singing is so lovely! Altria just beams at him, leaving the cute little bird alone to do what it will.]

This is the pet that you got out of the machine thing, right? I really like it!

It was an accident. I picked a machine that already had a job queued on it. That is what came out.

[ And ever since, he hasn't been able to get rid of it. No matter what he tired to do or where he went, it'd follow him around constantly, chirping incessantly. After a while, he'd decided to trap it in his storage room. ]

That makes sense.

[It really, really does. She can't imagine he would've gone out of his way to create himself an animal. But even so...]

Still...! I think it really suits you. I'm glad that you have a little companion to spend time with you all the time.

What part about an annoying, noisy, fat bird suits me???

[ That's an incredulous tone. Really? Suits him??????? HOW??? ]

Edited 2024-01-04 04:06 (UTC)

You're so mean to it!

[But she's laughing, so she doesn't seem bothered. It's kind of endearing to see him so flustered and emotional, honestly...]

Anyway, I think birds suit you. Because you're a wanderer, right? So... they feel free, like you.

And this one is really enthusiastic and happy! I feel like you could always use more of that by your side.

Maybe if it weren't such an annoyance, I wouldn't be so harsh!

[ Animals always loved him for some reason. He never got why. It's not like he's any less dangerous than the average human. No, he was definitely more. And he always tried to shoo them away when approached. But no, they could never leave him be. Birds, cats, dogs, whatever, they all just. Auuugh. He just sighs in aggravation. Damn animals. ]

Just because I am one and dress like an ascetic doesn't mean I need to meet all the other stereotypes. [ he grumbles ] I don't need that enthusiasm. It's annoying. It never shuts up. It's driving me nuts.

[ Grump grump grump! ]

[She laughs a little bit more at that, reaching up to gently pet the bird's feathers, if it allows.]

It's okay. [She is absolutely talking to the bird.] You just have to keep at it. Don't be put off by his fussiness. He's just as kind as you know he is already.

[And then, back to Yuu:]

It likes you because it can tell what kind of person you are. That's okay, right?

[ It does, happily leaning into her fingers and chirruping in pleasure. It chirps back at her as she talks, like it's responding, but it's hard to say if it actually understands anything she says.

The drifter watches with an unimpressed look. ]

Hmph. I doubt it. Animals are always like this with me. They must be able to sense that I'm not human.

[...]

I still think it's because they can sense your kindness...

[But she won't argue too much. Instead, finally, she turns her attention to the gifts.]

You said it isn't Christmas again, but... these are for me?

Yes. ...it's my birthday. Lesser Lord Kusanali once told me to give gifts on my birthday, even when tradition is to receive them. I just thought I'd give you one.

[ Knowing her, she's going to make a big deal out of it, so he sighs and braces himself for the inevitable explosion of energy. ]

[He is right, it's just... going to be delayed for a moment.

Because she tilts her head quizzically at that.]

That's really amazing! And you're always thinking about me, which is really, really nice of you, it's just... What's a birthday?

[ She gets an equally blank look back. ]

...do you not celebrate them? It's the day you were born.

[...... oh. It's another thing she absolutely should have known. Whoops...]

Oh...! Uh, yeah. Right...! That birthday. I... yeah! Of course. [ha ha... ha.]

... Oh! But that means today's the day you were born?

[ Just what kind of life has she led to be unaware of even that? Has she ever celebrated her own birthday? Does she even know it? ]

That's right.

[ Not that he actually likes to think about the day of his 'birth'. But it's not so somber a day for him now, and he has Nahida to thank for that. Not that he'll ever admit it to her. ]

[Ha ha, wild, right?

Either way, she claps her hands together, beaming.]

Then it's a wonderful and exciting day! Oooh... I wish I would have known about this sooner! I don't have any gifts or anything for you, but I do want to celebrate it...!

I don't need anything. Just treat it like any other day.

[ He knows she's not going to listen to him though. And the bird chirps extra loudly, as if to disagree with his words. He glares daggers at it. ]

You, shut up. You don't get a say in this.

Is that how birthdays normally are?

[Treated like any other day?]

That doesn't feel right, somehow...

[ And this is where he seals his own fate. Because he wouldn't lie just to make sure she wouldn't celebrate his birthday. ]

...no. Normally, people celebrate their birthdays with a party or a small celebration, like a lunch or dinner. They normally receive gifts from people they're close with.

But we don't need to do any of that for me. I'm fine treating it like any other day.

[ There aren't that many people who would be happy that he was born, after all. ]

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