[014] [video/action] happy, happy birthday, from all of us to you

[complexing]

[The video starts up and Touya looks rather intensely into the camera. For having just turned 21, he looks fairly grumpy.]

Okay, so my birthday only comes around once every four years, technically, so I figure I get a free pass at this. It isn't a joke, nobody laugh.

The person... people... [He huffs in frustration and decides to keep this simple.] The person I'm with wants to take our relationship to an intimate level and I don't know how to make it special or memorable or nice or whatever. Can anyone give me some advice or something?

[A fairly hostile video for a request but... the subject has clearly been on his mind for a few days. Long enough that he's so desperate for advice, he's gone public.]

[Action]

[Even though it's his birthday, Touya isn't making such a big deal out of it. He goes to work at Seventh Heaven, picks up some groceries (ingredients for one of his favorite meals), and walks home. Meanwhile, he's pondering the responses he's received from the network and, oddly enough, thinking about his mother. Had she ever thought that she would see her son turn 21? It wasn't much of a milestone, honestly, but Touya always tended to think about his mom on his birthday, and all of those small celebrations he'd had when he was younger. And how annoyed he was when his dad explained why Touya's birthday wasn't always on the calendar.]

[Some of these memories have Touya smiling at times when maybe it wasn't really appropriate to smile, but he isn't thinking about everyone else at the moment.]

Comments

written

[complexing]

The districts...? Like... [Oh god.]

No! That's--! [Sweet patron saint of part-timers, how could he have faced his father and Sakura after spending a night with a hooker? Not that there was a problem with how other people chose to live, but Touya couldn't see himself doing something like that.] It just isn't something I'd do! I'm more of a, uh, relationship-person.

*turns inbox upside down and shakes it* WHERE IS MY NOTIF? 8|

[complexing]

Oh. [He chuckles, putting his coat on one of the hooks behind the door and moving towards the kitchen with the groceries. Even though he can tell Yue noticed the locking of the door, he's trying to pass it off as nothing special.] I don't know, he seems to put a lot of feeling into his eating.

You sure you won't try some? [Touya pulls his head out of one of the cabinets, and he has a face on. The face of 'I Might Be Sad If You Tell Me No, But It's Okay, I'll Get Over It... Someday...]

[voice - private]

[complexing]

Does it look like my feelings don't have depth? [Oh crap. Maybe that's why Yuki's bringing this up, because Touya's face always seems to pull into a neutral expression even when he was happy. Maybe Yuki was worried he was bored or upset about something, and so he was trying to fix it with sex!]

How do I do that? Show him the 'depth of my feelings'? I thought I was already doing that...

[Voice]

[complexing]

Probably yeah. I mean, I'd like it to be nice, since I want to give him everything. But it probably won't be perfect.

...I just don't want him to look back on it and laugh, I guess.

[voice]

[complexing]

Well, I wouldn't call it 'no reason'. I love him, after all. He's the reason to embarrass myself.

[voice]

[complexing]

Sometimes, if I'm the one making lunch or dinner. I'm not the only one eating it if I mess up.

...I think that metaphor got a little weird.

[voice]

[holyknights]

[Hm... He isn't sure how he feels about this. He isn't jealous, but...]

Then... Even if you did, he would understand.

[It must be nice to feel that way.]

[winged_moon]

[Yue blinks once, looking as though he doesn't quite comprehend, then glances away again as he folds his arms across his chest.]

I do not require it.

If you're going to start dinner I should allow Yukito to help.

[voice]

[neverplaysfair]

You must have a very stressful life.

[voice - private]

[concasse]

When's the last time you've done something for him? Really swept him off his feet? If you can't remember, it's been too long.

A simple dinner to start. [And he knows you can cook, man] Doesn't have to be super fancy, but this is your chance to really wow him!

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

As long as it's not a bad kind of laughing, I think even that would be okay too.

[complexing]

[Damn. Apparently this face doesn't work in reverse: it only works when Yuki uses it on Touya.]

I haven't seen you all day. [He frowns, closing one of the cabinets.] I can at least start on my own. Sit with me for a bit. I promise I won't make you try to eat. [He smiles.]

[voice - private]

[complexing]

[Touya can remember a few times when he'd made Yuki smile in the past week, but not any 'sweeping off feet' stuff. He'd probably totally missed his chance when Yuki brought up the sex thing and Touya turned into a gibbering thing.]

O-okay, I can cook something. Maybe something new would impress him.

[Voice]

[complexing]

It the bad kind of laughing I'm afraid of. [Like the 'You didn't even know where to put it in' laughing.]

[voice]

[complexing]

That's probably true. [Hmm... maybe it's just Touya, but he thought he sensed a change in tone there.] Do you know from experience?

[voice]

[complexing]

Not really... But I'm thinking of 'worrying' as 'thinking about it before it happens' instead of like... being concerned. It doesn't really make sense to be concerned over lunch.

[Video/Action]

[complexing]

Temporary huh? [Touya narrows his eyes at the video--it's clear Mr. Extreme and Unfounded Jealousy is walking around outside. And now Touya is thinking that he probably couldn't take a guy that size.]

[But he doesn't want to freak Yuki and Yue out by calling them over the journal. Nor does he want to start a big fight outside for no reason. He hadn't done anything.]

I think your boyfriend is upset. Maybe you should stop walking around outside and do something about it. Before he asks someone else to comfort him.

[Private]

[complexing]

Ah, I guess that's why you didn't freak out about it. Next time I have a weird question I'll know to just ask a doctor.

Do you have a clinic or something? I don't think I've seen it around before.

[complexing]

[Frankly, Touya's laughing too.]

Yeah, right? Got a job, got a boyfriend, got a house... It's got to be a record somewhere.

[complexing]

[Touya chuckles a little. This kid kind of reminds him of Sakura--though Sakura's a little brighter, maybe.]

Thanks, I'll try. Where are you from, anyway?

[winged_moon]

[You say that like you're accustomed to having Yue around constantly, Touya. He isn't about to sit, but he does relent slightly and move a bit closer, looking over the groceries curiously.]

What are you going to make?

[voice]

[neverplaysfair]

In that case, worry without stressing.

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

I think you'd have to mess things up pretty badly for that to happen.

[voice - private]

[concasse]

[Sanji nods in approval at that.] There you go! Something new and fresh--

... Oi, Touya. [A thought just occurred to him] Are you trying to... [Gah, how does he phrase this]

Is this for Yukito or Yue?

[Video/Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Still following Don - at a relatively safe distance - and trying to keep up a conversation with Touya. If nothing else, this is... interesting...?]

Yes... t-temporary... [That's good, right? Unfortunately it will basically happen every year.]

... p-perhaps I can, er, make this up to you, s-sir...? [... Too bad he doesn't know his name...] At... a l-later date.

... When Don is not being quite so... aggressive...