Lalli does stay right there though. Standing at the door, about a step back from where he had been moments before. Listening to what is going on in the room. Just what is he even up to? Lalli is tempted to ask, but instead he just waits. 'Stay right there', he had been told, so he'll do just that.
If emotions can be felt through the door, Lalli's are a bunch of question marks right now.]
[The door blocks all of Riku's vibes. (no) Lalli won't feel anything but, like, flustered sort of mild panic. Definitely the panic you get when you're trying to surprise someone with something, and things don't go according to plan.
...The microwave begins running?
He keeps hurrying back and forth from one side of the room to the other. Under the door, the lights go out. And then, after a second, the door cracks open. Two greenish-blue eyes peer at Lalli from out of the darkness.]
Okay.
[The door opens wider to let Lalli in. Even though the light went out, there's a dim glow inside--
Sitting on the desk off to the side of the common room, something is sparking and glowing. It's a sparkler from Formal, but it's fine. The stick is perched in the center of a very small, dark cake. Beside it is a plate... of cookies!]
[Each moment that pass just fills Lalli with more curiosity. It's probably nothing dangerous, so it's not something to worry about, but what is it? He shifts from one foot to the other, like it will let him see something more through the door, but of course it doesn't.
...what's with those flustered feelings? Maybe Lalli should have actually texted this time.
But then the door opens, and look at that birthday display wow. It's only when he sees the small cake that Lalli even remembers mentioning that to Riku.]
What's all this for?
[He does seem awed by it all. Awed and touched. Like he didn't expect anything nearly as nice as this.]
[He pushes a hand against the middle of Lalli's back, giving a gentle shove in the direction of the cake.] You have to make a wish before the sparkler goes out. [Mostly so he can shut the door.
It makes it kind of dark again, but the sparkler is still slowly going, so it's fine.]
[He definitely needs that push to go in, because he's still in awe of all of this. It's been years since he's gotten anything this special for his birthday.
The setting is something, too. The way the sparkler casts a bright light up close but leaves the rest of the room in relative darkness, it's beautiful in a way. He's definitely not going to forget this moment anytime soon.
A wish, huh? Well, there's one wish he has on his mind, but he decided to sit on that one for endgame. It's a little too embarrassing to admit to out loud right now. So instead, he closes his eyes and says another wish he has:]
I wish for one weekend where nobody dies, and everyone can just relax instead.
[A wish that probably won't be granted, but it really is something he wants. A weekend to play games and actually be happy, rather than stressed out and yelling at each other.
...and then he just opens his eyes and looks at Riku because he's not sure if he should try blowing out the sparkler or not.]
[He gives a short, soft laugh that's kind of like a snort. Which sounds mean, but the feelings coming from him are fond and friendly--damn emotionshare gives him away bad.]
You aren't supposed to say it out loud, or it won't come true.
[He smirks a bit, but nods at the sparkler that's almost at the end.
As if to say Lalli can try again really fast if he wanted.]
[After a few minutes of messing around in the kitchen, he comes back out with a class full of milk, and... a plate of something? It smells terribly savory.
He puts the milk down on the desk for Lalli, and then pushes the cake out of the way. In its place, he puts
It's a smell Lalli instantly recognizes though, and he's hit by a wave of nostalgia. When this is the primary protein source you grow up on, you don't easily forget it.]
You...actually got this? For me?
[He's so surprised because he hadn't seen any sheep at the barnyard.
Surprised and touched though. He definitely is touched here.]
[On the other hand, emotion share week is a great week to actually get what's going on inside Lalli's head, since he doesn't really talk about feelings that much. Though in this case, the gratitude and fondness for Riku is probably obvious even without sharing emotions.]
It's alright, that's enough for us.
[He looks down at the plate for a moment, collecting himself before he speaks again.]
Sheep are a primary food source where I'm from. They're easy to raise, and we can use their wool and milk too. Unless you're super-rich, you're going to be eating fish or sheep probably.
I didn't realize it was uncommon to eat in other worlds.
[And he didn't know how much he missed a familiar meal.]
[He feels bad for Lalli, but not in a pity way. He just... feels bad Lalli doesn't have a lot of opportunities to experience things other people take for granted, even him.]
Happy birthday, Lalli.
[He doesn't think he really needs to make any comment on what explanation Lalli willingly gave him.
[Lalli can't find words to speak at the moment, and he doesn't trust himself to say anything properly right now anyway. He doesn't want to make this awkward by having his voice crack.
So instead, while biting down on his lip slightly, he nods. The gratitude radiating off of him might help get the message across too. He's not sad, not really, Riku actually has helped him forget the honestly-sad part of his 21st birthday. He's just a little emotionally overwhelmed right now.
So he's going to grab a cookie and shove it in his mouth, to give him an excuse not to talk for a moment.]
[It's good this isn't KH1!Riku, no being an ass here!
Lalli nods again, and he will use the silverware to cut into it and eat. It tastes like home and Lalli is going to vibe in nostalgia until Riku comes back. There's some homesickness in there too but it's well outpaced by happy feelings of memories of home.]
[Some satisfaction leaks off him when he comes back and gets to feel Lalli have a great time with the lamb. Maybe a little relief is there, too.
The knife he has is big, but dull, like a butter knife, because no killing. He gives Lalli room to eat the lamb while he stands beside and tries to cut the cake without, like, you know.]
[He's not being sarcastic here either, the taste does genuinely remind him of home. And it makes his chest feel warm with appreciation and fondness for Riku too.]
[He leaves Lalli at the desk to go around the little wall where the bed is. It's not under the bed because he's too scared Lalli is going to crawl up into his room and under his bed and find it. Instead, he opens the standing cabinet and takes something out to bring it back around.
STOP HE CAN'T WRAP, so it's wrapped sort of badly in nothing but the wrapping paper, but anyway. He hands the pliable, not sturdy thing wrapped in nothing but very plain wrapping paper out to Lalli. He's feeling incredibly embarrassed.]
You're supposed to get presents on your birthday. Don't laugh. I didn't know what to get.
[He won't laugh. Not because he never laughs- even if it is actually really hard to get even a snort from him- but because this is so sincere and touching that Lalli can't possibly make fun of it.
Lalli looks at Riku for a moment, clearly surprised by this. But then he carefully opens the wrapped present, trying his best not to rip the wrapping too much.
And then he sees the blanket and. Immediately puts it on, complete with the hood going over his head.]
...thanks.
[Thank god this is happening during emotionshare week, so Riku can actually feel how much Lalli means that 'thanks'. Bad with words, overwhelmed with feelings, but he now feels safe while wrapped in that blanket.
It's his new favorite thing. He's never taking it off.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Lalli does stay right there though. Standing at the door, about a step back from where he had been moments before. Listening to what is going on in the room. Just what is he even up to? Lalli is tempted to ask, but instead he just waits. 'Stay right there', he had been told, so he'll do just that.
If emotions can be felt through the door, Lalli's are a bunch of question marks right now.]
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...The microwave begins running?
He keeps hurrying back and forth from one side of the room to the other. Under the door, the lights go out. And then, after a second, the door cracks open. Two greenish-blue eyes peer at Lalli from out of the darkness.]
Okay.
[The door opens wider to let Lalli in. Even though the light went out, there's a dim glow inside--
Sitting on the desk off to the side of the common room, something is sparking and glowing. It's a sparkler from Formal, but it's fine. The stick is perched in the center of a very small, dark cake. Beside it is a plate... of cookies!]
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...what's with those flustered feelings? Maybe Lalli should have actually texted this time.
But then the door opens, and look at that birthday display wow. It's only when he sees the small cake that Lalli even remembers mentioning that to Riku.]
What's all this for?
[He does seem awed by it all. Awed and touched. Like he didn't expect anything nearly as nice as this.]
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[He pushes a hand against the middle of Lalli's back, giving a gentle shove in the direction of the cake.] You have to make a wish before the sparkler goes out. [Mostly so he can shut the door.
It makes it kind of dark again, but the sparkler is still slowly going, so it's fine.]
Or it won't come true. Better hurry.
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The setting is something, too. The way the sparkler casts a bright light up close but leaves the rest of the room in relative darkness, it's beautiful in a way. He's definitely not going to forget this moment anytime soon.
A wish, huh? Well, there's one wish he has on his mind, but he decided to sit on that one for endgame. It's a little too embarrassing to admit to out loud right now. So instead, he closes his eyes and says another wish he has:]
I wish for one weekend where nobody dies, and everyone can just relax instead.
[A wish that probably won't be granted, but it really is something he wants. A weekend to play games and actually be happy, rather than stressed out and yelling at each other.
...and then he just opens his eyes and looks at Riku because he's not sure if he should try blowing out the sparkler or not.]
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You aren't supposed to say it out loud, or it won't come true.
[He smirks a bit, but nods at the sparkler that's almost at the end.
As if to say Lalli can try again really fast if he wanted.]
That's a good wish, though.
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The sparkler will run out when he finally responds to Riku.]
It is.
[Then he pulls out his phone to turn on the screen and use it as a flashlight.]
So now what? Do we eat in the dark?
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Riku flips the light on.]
You can sit at the desk if you want. Hope you're hungry. What do you want to drink?
[He turns around and disappears into the kitchenette, leaving Lalli with cake and cookies.]
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[He knows what he's about. He'll sit down at the desk and wait for Riku though.]
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He puts the milk down on the desk for Lalli, and then pushes the cake out of the way. In its place, he puts
a plate of lamb chops.]
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It's a smell Lalli instantly recognizes though, and he's hit by a wave of nostalgia. When this is the primary protein source you grow up on, you don't easily forget it.]
You...actually got this? For me?
[He's so surprised because he hadn't seen any sheep at the barnyard.
Surprised and touched though. He definitely is touched here.]
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Yeah.
[He's feeling a tad flustered by how touched Lalli is since he did not... truly understand the gravity of how much it'd mean.
Weeks without emotions were so much easier!!]
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It's alright, that's enough for us.
[He looks down at the plate for a moment, collecting himself before he speaks again.]
Sheep are a primary food source where I'm from. They're easy to raise, and we can use their wool and milk too. Unless you're super-rich, you're going to be eating fish or sheep probably.
I didn't realize it was uncommon to eat in other worlds.
[And he didn't know how much he missed a familiar meal.]
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Happy birthday, Lalli.
[He doesn't think he really needs to make any comment on what explanation Lalli willingly gave him.
He understands.]
We'll get you home for your next one.
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So instead, while biting down on his lip slightly, he nods. The gratitude radiating off of him might help get the message across too. He's not sad, not really, Riku actually has helped him forget the honestly-sad part of his 21st birthday. He's just a little emotionally overwhelmed right now.
So he's going to grab a cookie and shove it in his mouth, to give him an excuse not to talk for a moment.]
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Instead, he reaches across for a cookie himself. It's the crunchy kind that can be snapped. He puts it in his mouth as he turns back for the kitchen.]
Let me get a knife for the cake. You can try the lamb, if you want.
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Lalli nods again, and he will use the silverware to cut into it and eat. It tastes like home and Lalli is going to vibe in nostalgia until Riku comes back. There's some homesickness in there too but it's well outpaced by happy feelings of memories of home.]
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The knife he has is big, but dull, like a butter knife, because no killing. He gives Lalli room to eat the lamb while he stands beside and tries to cut the cake without, like, you know.]
Is it any good?
[He doesn't have to ask, but still.]
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Mmm. It tastes just like how I remember it.
[He's not being sarcastic here either, the taste does genuinely remind him of home. And it makes his chest feel warm with appreciation and fondness for Riku too.]
You really remembered everything, didn't you?
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It wasn't that hard to remember. You only had a few things you wanted.
[Tada. Now Lalli also has a sliver of the chocolate cake.]
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[The implication being that he didn't expect him to remember everything.]
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[Sometimes even things you'd really wish they would forget. Then they bully you. But it's fine.]
But... I kind of did get you something else you didn't ask for, too.
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[He likes having friends, this feels so much better than the relative solitude he's so used to having.
(Wait until everyone he cares about dies again.)]
The sparkler, right? That was nice too.
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No, something else. Hold on.
[He leaves Lalli at the desk to go around the little wall where the bed is. It's not under the bed because he's too scared Lalli is going to crawl up into his room and under his bed and find it. Instead, he opens the standing cabinet and takes something out to bring it back around.
STOP HE CAN'T WRAP, so it's wrapped sort of badly in nothing but the wrapping paper, but anyway. He hands the pliable, not sturdy thing wrapped in nothing but very plain wrapping paper out to Lalli. He's feeling incredibly embarrassed.]
You're supposed to get presents on your birthday. Don't laugh. I didn't know what to get.
[When Lalli opens it, he'll find a blanket.]
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Lalli looks at Riku for a moment, clearly surprised by this. But then he carefully opens the wrapped present, trying his best not to rip the wrapping too much.
And then he sees the blanket and. Immediately puts it on, complete with the hood going over his head.]
...thanks.
[Thank god this is happening during emotionshare week, so Riku can actually feel how much Lalli means that 'thanks'. Bad with words, overwhelmed with feelings, but he now feels safe while wrapped in that blanket.
It's his new favorite thing. He's never taking it off.]
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