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[...... 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. ]

[...!!!]

I know you don't need it, but... can we do it anyway? We could invite some people and it could be small but really nice!

And then I can learn what a proper birthday celebration is like!

[ ...he wants to say no. He had other plans for today, but... he can't say no to her. He sighs. He's too soft on her. ]

Who are you planning on inviting?

Tsuruno!

[That's immediate.

And then, thoughtfully:]

Kaveh...? Is there anyone else you'd want to come by? Who have you been getting along with lately?

And with Kaveh, Alhaitham is automatically attached...

[ Was there anyone else he wanted for this? ... ]

No one else comes to mind.

Okay!

[She's certainly not about to complain. As far as she's concerned, Altria's just glad that he's close enough with enough people for there to be Multiple Attendees.]

Then let's do that. You and me and Tsuruno and Alhaitham and Kaveh. It'll be really nice!

[ The little bird on Altria's head chirps loudly in agreement and lifts off from her head to fly in circles around the pair. The drifter just closes his eyes and grumbles in irritation. ]

You message them.

[ He's not going to because... if she insists on doing something for his birthday, then he shouldn't have to do anything for it! ]

I will, I will!

[Cheerfully!]

... Oh, but in the meantime... can I open the presents you brought over?

Do as you please.

[ He tilts his hat over his face—an action she knows to be an expression of embarrassment. ]

[She sure does know. She laughs a little in response, and then reaches for the box, unwrapping it quickly and opening it up.

........ Oh.

Oh.

She reaches out to touch the necklace reverently first, and then reaches for the bows, putting

literally all of them into her hair.

It looks ridiculous.]

Yuu! Everything is so cute! These are all soooo cute!

[ She looks so silly with all those bows in her hair, arranged at random. It puts a smile on his face, though he tries to hide it by keeping his face straight. (It's not very effective.) ]

You look ridiculous.

[ The little bird settles on Altria's head again and starts picking out one of the bows, prompting the drifter to snatch the bird off her head in displeasure. ]

Not this time, you little pest. Can't escape now, can you?

[ the little bird squirms in his hand, chirping pitifully. ]

[It's hard to take him saying she looks ridiculous as anything but endearing, given that smile he is failing to hide. So she just grins at him in response.]

Aw... be nice, okay? I don't mind if it spends time on my head like this. It's been really gentle, I promise!

It was trying to eat one of the bows. It doesn't deserve any mercy.

[ He holds the bird in front of him, using his other hand to poke at it and bully it some more. The bird tries to bite him, but he's wizened up to its tricks and avoids the bird's beak easily. There's a satisfied look on his face as the bird begins chirping angrily at him. ]

Not so happy now, are you? You brought this on yourself, dumb bird.

Yuuuuuu! You're being such a bully!

[She reaches out to cup her hands over his, gently covering the bird from further poking and bullying. And kind of holding his hand in the process. It's fine.]

At least pick on someone closer to your own size!

[ The bird calms in his hand now that it's fully covered. Meanwhile, the drifter's attention turns to Altria and he leans into her personal space. ]

I didn't know you wanted my attention that badly. You could have said so.

[She is starting to realize that this is how he teases her.

Of course, that doesn't help the fact that she reacts automatically, cheeks flushing read and heart thumping more rapidly.

But.

It does mean she can puff her cheeks out at him in a pout.]

Don't flatter yourself! You're just being difficult because I called you out for being mean to your bird....!

[ He smirks, seeing her flush. And the way she tries to cover up the reaction by yelling at him is exactly why he keeps doing this. It's just too fun to keep teasing her. ]

I don't see anyone else my size to pick on, so who else could you mean but yourself?

[ And just like he did to the bird, he'll reach out to poke her puffed up cheek. ]

[She huffs even more at that, cheeks even redder but scowling at him. There is nothing at all malicious in her expression, of course.]

H-hey! Bully! Bully, bully, bully, bully! [If that's the best she's got, clearly she's not doing too great in the Retorts department.]

[ He snorts. She's terrible at retaliating. But that's enough teasing her for now. If he keeps pushing, she'll probably short circuit. So he pulls back, shifting the hand with the bird and releasing it from his grasp. It trills in excitement and immediately starts flying, enjoying its freedom. ]

There, happy?

[She's so predictable--because the moment he releases the bird and it starts to fly, she relaxes again, smiling.]

Yeah!

I mean, don't you think it looks so much better this way? It's so happy, and feels so much more natural when it can fly wherever it wants.

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