[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

[voice]

[holyknights]

Hell no. [Except that he's a dirty liar, he does it all the time.] But if this person wants to take your relationship further, doesn't that make it special enough? Try too hard and you'll look like an idiot.

[voice]

[complexing]

I guess we're different people then. [Because Touya's embarrassed himself countless times for Yuki. He's just not willing to do it for something this important and life-changing.]

What would you do if someone wanted to go there with you? And you wanted to, too? Just, in general. Would you just go for it without thinking?

[voice]

[holyknights]

O-of course I would. [Even if it embarrasses him just thinking about it...!] If they want to and you want to then there shouldn't be any problem. You'll still care about each other no matter what, isn't that right?

[voice]

[complexing]

Yeah, that's true. [He smiles, and it reaches his voice.] I've done a lot of bizarre things and he's taken them all in stride. I guess this shouldn't be any different.

[voice]

[holyknights]

That's right. So don't try too hard or you'll just embarrass yourself for no reason.

[voice]

[complexing]

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

[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.]

[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]

[holyknights]

Maybe. [Kinda. Sorta. A little bit.] Once.

[voice]

[complexing]

Ah. [Touya smiles to himself, sort of glad this isn't a video. This guy seems pretty touchy.]

Once and then never again? [Sounds like things got complicated.]