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[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. ]

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[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.

[memlost]

[ Her laughter is far and few enough that it seems new every time. ]

... There's still plenty of time, you know. The nice thing about birthdays is that they last all day long.

[ your best friend could be standing outside your door waiting to terrorize you right this moment ]

[bloodandblunder]

[ She wouldn't be surprised. ]

I know... but you seemed like you were in a hurry to leave already.

[memlost]

Well, my plan was to let you have your peaceful morning mostly to yourself before dragging you off to who knows where. The start of your day sets the tone for the rest of it, don't you think?

[bloodandblunder]

That's-- well, yes, but having you with me for a morning is a rather wonderful start, I think.

[ and she said that almost without blushing. ]

[memlost]

[ At least she's not alone. He thinks about that for a moment and pinks happily. Then he carefully plucks the vase out of her lap and places it on the floor so that he can properly and wholeheartedly cuddle her, pulling her in by the waist and all but smothering her with affection. ]

Thank you.

[bloodandblunder]

[ If there was a squeak there-- he probably didn't imagine it. Noire is so red it almost feels like a fever has kicked in, but with the way her heart is leaping about in her chest, she's pretty sure this time... it's Morgan's fault entirely. ]

Y-you don't have to-- for something like that, I was just being honest!

[ But give her a minute and she'll yield, quietly nuzzling against him in an embarrassed sort of affectionate gesture. ]

[memlost]

Regardless, it was a nice thing to say! Thanks where thanks are due.

[ He closes his eyes and enjoys her shy return cuddle for what it is, which is adorable. Adorable!! And he will just sit here and continue to be mushy and gooey, fairly draping himself all over her. ]

[bloodandblunder]

[ It takes close to ten minutes before Noire feels brave enough to speak up. Birthday or not, she'd like to thank him, and if she doesn't do something now, she's likely going to either doze off like this or lose her nerve completely. ]

... Morgan, can you keep your eyes closed? Just for a minute.

[memlost]

[ He opens his eyes when she speaks, but quickly closes them again obediently. ]

Hm? Sure thing.

[ He doesn't bother asking why, seeing as how he'll probably understand soon enough. ]