15th Screw - backdated to August 7th

[all_wound_up]

[Action]

[Today is Nano's birthday, but she hasn't told anyone.  She's not really the type to call that much attention to herself over something like this, and it seems sort of insignificant to her compared to all of the problems in Hinoto-Ri.  But two years is a long time - at least, to her it is - and the past year especially has been full of so many chances to learn new things and meet new people, so she feels that she at least owes a little bit of celebration to herself.

And that's why she's at the bakery today, picking out a cupcake to enjoy while she wishes herself well for the next year.  Once she's got the tasty treat in hand, she takes it outside to one of the small tables set up near the street for customers to enjoy their snacks, pulling two small candles out and lighting them with a small fire spell that she learned from Namine.  After she hums a short little birthday song, she closes her eyes to send up a silent wish, smiles, and blows the candles out.]

Comments

[all_wound_up]

...I guess you're right.

[Nano laughs too, a little sheepishly.]

[all_wound_up]

Oh, Xion-san...! Hello!

[Nano knows that Xion's already experienced her memories, so it shouldn't be an odd thing for her to know that Nano's only turning two years old today. Instead of panicking and trying to cover up the candles, she gives a friendly wave toward her friend.]

[tyrantball]

"Since Miss Nano is family to Desco, she should meet the rest of her family!"

Big, hopeful eyes.

"Oh! And you should meet Desco's boyfriend! He doesn't know he is her boyfriend yet, though, so don't tell him!"

And now Desco will just cover her mouth with both clawed hands and giggle girlishly.

[all_wound_up]

The rest of your family? And your boyfriend? Aren't you too young to have a boyfriend already?

[tyrantball]

Desco just stares up at Nano innocently.

"Aren't you, too?"

[otakuro]

((Sorry for the late response! I've been out ill for the last few days. Feel free to ignore if you'd rather not continue!))

[And because Atsuro isn't that much of a jerk especially not to the girl he just turned down a few weeks ago, he will eventually let it slide with a smile.]

Aha, it's fine if you don't want to tell me! Some things are meant to be kept secret...

[Not that he was a total idiot; he had a vague inkling as to what it was Nano was trying to cover up.]

Anyway... If it's something you want to celebrate alone, I'll stop pestering you.

[frequent_flyer]

Eh- [Whoops. That wasn't supposed to slip out.]

Yeah, I uh... [Great. Now she's going to think I'm crazy...] ...was kind of dead when I got here, haha...

[resipiscent]

Heh.

So, how old are you?

[all_wound_up]

[Nano winces. That's apparently still something of a sore spot for her, given some of the things Atsuro said when he rejected her.]

...I guess I am.

[tyrantball]

...wait Nano winced? DESCO'S KEEN INSTINCTS SPOT A WEAKNESS.

"Oh no! Did something bad happen?"

Normally, when Desco senses weakness, there will very soon be blood in the water. it is a shark joke

This time, however, Desco will just retract her tail and wiggle around so she can hug Nano with her arms, offering what little reassurance she can.

[poppetstrings]

[Xion doesn't recall what a birthday is, or even that when you gain a year on your life you're supposed to celebrate. Not only that, but the memories of that time have sort of faded now, especially with the rush of certain other... things.]

What are you doing? Why are you putting.. [No, Xion doesn't know what candles are.] fire on your food?

[all_wound_up]

[Nano giggles just a little at the question before removing the candles and setting them to the side after she blows them out.]

They're birthday candles! Today's my birthday.

[all_wound_up]

((Never dropping ever))

[Nano lets out a relieved sigh, shyly nodding back at Atsuro.]

It's okay. I didn't mean to react like that. I don't mind if you stay.

[Now that she's been relieved of the responsibility of explaining how old she is.]

[all_wound_up]

But... you're still moving.

[all_wound_up]

Well, I'm a first year in high school, so...

[That answers the question while not actually answering it, right?]

[all_wound_up]

N-no! No, it's nothing! Don't worry!

[The last thing Nano wants is for Desco to find out that Atsuro rejected her. God only knows what she'd do in an effort to remedy the situation on Nano's behalf.]

[tyrantball]

Desco just stares trustingly up at Nano before nodding a little.

"Okay. But tell Desco if you have any love troubles! She is always willing to help!"

[resipiscent]

Oh, I see.

[It does, but at the same time, he kinda feels like she's dodging the question. He knows lots of people who are like two or three, don't feel bad, Nano!]

Well, happy birthday. I hope lots of people tell you so.

[otakuro]

Ah, I don't want to be in the way. You really sure it's alright? I mean, you still have your cupcake to finish.

[Atsuro draws a few steps closer, nonetheless.]

[frequent_flyer]

[...Hoo boy. This will take some explaining. Hopefully she'll catch on so he doesn't have to horrify her with the gruesome details.]

I mean, I died before I came here. I seem to be alive right now...

[poppetstrings]

Oh.

[Xion just stares a little dumbly.]

What's a birthday?

[all_wound_up]

Oh...!

[Nano blinks back for a moment, not having considered that Xion wouldn't really know.]

It's the anniversary of the day someone was born.

[She blushes a little, scratching at her cheek.]

Or in my case, the day I was built.

[all_wound_up]

Were you a ghost before?

[all_wound_up]

[Nano nods, smiling.]

It's fine. Celebrating with a friend isn't so bad.

[Even if she won't say what she's celebrating.]

[all_wound_up]

Thank you very much, Riku-san!