buying yourself a birthday gift

[unshelledbullet]

Who: Squall Leonhart and anyone who is out and about
Where: Nostalgia Nook
When: August 14th, afternoon
Style: Opening with prose, feel free to change
Status: Open like his heart

It's not every day a big round sphere threatens the lives of yourself and those around you. And after everything that's happened, Squall doing something he doesn't do very often: taking a break. Unless it's an emergency, he's not handling any Defense Force stuff today. Instead, he's in the Nostalgia Nook. The twenty-third is coming up soon, and he's going to get himself something while he has time.

He's studying their fine selection of Triple Triad cards. Pretty closely.

And maybe he's glancing at some cards from other worlds as well.

Comments

[unshelledbullet]

Calm down.

[Really, Rinoa. He doesn't expect you to get him gifts or cakes if you don't know when his birthday is!]

It's not today. It's the twenty-third.

[He's just looking at cards today because he doesn't know if he'll be able to later.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[She assumed it was today and there's so little time in a day!]

Oh. [Phew.]

Still! That's just a little over a week! You planning on anything for it?

[Creeping feeling she already knows the answer to that.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Wait for it...wait for it...]

No.

[sorcery_fledgling]

I was afraid of that.

[Sigh. Does Rinoa have to do everything around here that's remotely fun?]

Well then. We'll have to plan something, then!

[unshelledbullet]

That's not necessary.

[Squall Leonhart, hater of parties.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

Well of course it's not necessary. But it's your birthday! We're totally going to celebrate it somehow!

[unshelledbullet]

You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?

[sorcery_fledgling]

[She shakes her head, smiling happily all the while.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Siiiiigh. Why didn't he just say he was bored?]

Okay fine. Do whatever you want.

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Just when she thinks she's made progress with him, it's times like now where she's reminded that she's got a long way to go.]

Squall, this isn't about what I want to do. I mean, I want to do something for you, but it's your birthday. It's a day to get together with people who care about you and celebrate your life and, you know, turning a year older.

I mean, didn't you have birthday parties when you were growing up in the orphanage?

[unshelledbullet]

[Crap. He hadn't meant to snap like that.]

I...don't remember.

[He truly doesn't. He guesses that yeah, there were parties. He might have even enjoyed them at one point. But that's not how he was now. He was used to no one caring about his birthday, and during his many years of self-imposed isolation, numbed himself to that.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[No hard feelings. Old habits die hard.]

Then let's make a memory out of it. You have friends here - and a family. Ten to one Serph and the others don't even know what a birthday even is, but if it's important they'll want to celebrate.

It's up to you. I'd love to throw you a huge bash - you deserve it. But... I also know you're not comfortable with lots of people. [He was uncomfortable during the mini-concert they put on for his promotion. She could only imagine how much a birthday party would intimidate him.]

But whether you like it or not, you're at least getting a birthday cake and presents.

[unshelledbullet]

[He gives this some thought.]

Invite whoever will come.

[He's certain that only a small number of people care enough to attend a party in his honor. Of course, he's well aware that this could turn out the opposite way.

But he has a feeling that even if he tried to restrict the number of guests, the turnout would be higher than expected, probably with party crashers just looking for an excuse to go wild.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Oh my gosh, Squall. You just made her day!]

Yes! [She does that little victory handfist pump of hers and hops up and down.] You're not gonna regret this, I promise!

[Rinoa does have the same concerns, though, even in the midst of her excitement. She might have to ask Serph if he and the others could keep an eye out for them during the party and make sure they leave if they cause problems. It's one thing to join in randomly to a party; it's another to crash it and cause trouble. She doesn't want anyone to ruin this.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Squall is no expert on parties (that's Selphie's territory), but he can't help but wonder how Rinoa is going to pull this off. Like, where is she even going to hold it, for one thing.

But she'll figure something out, he supposes.]

I'm sure I won't.

[It's a vote of confidence.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Her mind is already in full gear, sorting out details. No worries, Squall. She's got this! maybe]

Thanks. Soooo, anything you want in particular for your birthday? Besides Triple Triad cards. [She'll totally buy him some anyway, but cards alone are not an acceptable birthday present.]

[unshelledbullet]

No.

[He has everything he needs, and he doesn't want for much.]

So pick something out on your own.

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Yeah, she didn't think so. Oh well, it was worth a shot.]

I will. [It'll likely be a bunch of little things or a couple big ones, depending on what she finds.] You're lucky I like a challenge.

Oh, and since it's only fair, my birthday is March 3rd. [She's not sure if he'll acknowledge or not, should they both still be here when it rolls around, but well, can't hurt to throw it out there.]