↯IC Contact

[bloodandblunder]

"H... hello? Um, this is me-- ah, Noire! I'm Noire, and I'm very sorry for missing you somehow... I promise I'm not avoiding you, unless you're scary or you're Mo-- trying to curse me. U-um, so when I can figure out how to-- ( beeps ensue, followed by a shriek of fright ) O-oh, no! What did I push, how do I-- make it-- oh gods, did I break it?! W-why can't we just talk in person?!"

[ BEEP. ]

voicemail; action ; video

Comments

[bloodandblunder]

No, it's all right... [ she's already shifting properly upright. ] I don't want you to feel rushed.

[memlost]

Aw, you don't have to worry about me. But do me a favor and close your eyes for moment, will you?

[bloodandblunder]

Close my eyes? All right...

[ She's so puzzled, but she obediently does so. ]

[memlost]

[ Once he's sure her eyes are closed, he leans back out the window and pulls his cargo up after him. Then he pads over and places it in her lap: a jar vase holding a full bouquet of perfectly folded paper roses, red and white and green. ]

Happy birthday, Noire.

[bloodandblunder]

...

[ Her eyes fly open before she even properly registers the light weight in her lap, surprise very much the prevalent emotion. Her... birthday? Was it really her birthday?? And when she glances down, Noire's eyes widen further. ]

Did you... make all of these? [ Her voice is so tiny and awed, as she reaches out to gently touch one of the roses. ] Morgan, they're beautiful...

[memlost]

[ He grins, enjoying each layer of her reaction, and sits on the edge of her bed. Most of all, he's relieved she seems to like it. ]

I'm glad you think so! I thought it was a shame the real deal's all died out by now, but at least these won't wither. As long as you don't water them, anyway. Ha ha!

[bloodandblunder]

I'll try not to... [ but she says it with a giggle, before she flashes him a grateful smile. ] Really... thank you, Morgan. I'll treasure this.

[memlost]

It was my pleasure. And I know I'll treasure your reaction too, heh.

[ Not to mention her smile, which he returns fondly. He leans forward, using the frame of the top bunk to support himself over the flowers he spent x nights making, so that he can give her a peck on the head. ]

[bloodandblunder]

[ And there goes Noire's face, flushing pink as she ducks her head. ]

U-um-- you can sit down, if you'd like...

[memlost]

[ just as keikaku*

*keikaku means strategized ]

Weren't you sleeping? Don't let me keep you up.

[bloodandblunder]

Ah, no, I was already awake... and I always like seeing you.

[memlost]

Hmm. If you're sure, I won't refuse.

[ He parks himself next to her, careful not to get his boots on her bed. ]

[bloodandblunder]

[ Yeah, she's already scooting closer and resting her head against his shoulder. ]

To be honest... I'd forgotten that was today.

[memlost]

[ He settles in and against her easily, melting as he snuggles his cheek into her hair. ]

I thought you might. It seemed a very Noire thing to do.

[bloodandblunder]

I-- is it? I'm usually not bad at remembering birthdays...

[memlost]

You're great at remembering things about other people! But when it comes to yourself...

[ all bets are off ]

[bloodandblunder]

B-because it's not all that important... [ boy does she sound meek. ]

[memlost]

That was also a very Noire thing to say. I propose a deal: I won't argue with you over how important your birthday is as long as you don't stop me from spoiling you on it.

[bloodandblunder]

... I wouldn't really stop you from doing anything you really wanted to do.

[memlost]

[ He shifts and murmurs conspiratorially into her ear. ]

This is where you bluff and say "deal" to keep me from arguing with you.

[bloodandblunder]

But-- [ okay, his whispering is sort of distracting. ]

... D-deal?

[memlost]

Deal.

[ as if he did not just feed her the answer ]

Anyway, it's not much of a problem if you don't remember your birthday. I'll remember it for you, and then it'll be that much easier to surprise you when it comes!

[bloodandblunder]

It's true that I'm definitely surprised... b-but I'll be more prepared next time!

[memlost]

See that you are. But know that when it comes to surprises, I can't be beat! It's kind of my thing.

... Morgan's is a slow and humiliating defeat, in case you were wondering.

[ Maybe it's why they love pitfalls so much. 'Tis a beautiful union of both. ]

[bloodandblunder]

... [ Okay, that earns him a laugh, even if she muffles it. ]

I have known her for awhile... but you're exactly right. I think I'm glad that it isn't yours, or my birthday might have turned out differently.