[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

[Video/Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Ignoring you both. Don stalks to the window to survey the house next door.]

[Video/Action]

[complexing]

Yeah, why can't you? [Touya is severely disgruntled by the silence and he's seriously considering going over there and pounding on the door...]

[But if this guy is aggressive right now, that probably isn't the best idea. The last thing he wants is for Yuki to come home and find Touya with a bloody nose on his birthday, or worse.]

Look, what do you want from me, huh? You want me to pack up and move across town?

[Video/Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert's voice might be a little hard to hear, considering Don's got his journal, but he's not going to back down entirely.

Directing his words more to Touya, now -] ... Th-this is, er, a t-temporary state - normally, he is very kind and c-calm and I am not certain wh-why his reaction this time is so extreme - [- really, he never even touched on it ever being this bad last year -] - and I s-sincerely apologize and do not wish to trouble you f-further...

...

... But, er... [... He doesn't know how much he wants to be alone with Don right now. And Leo's probably not much better.]

[Video/Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Well, yes, he would kind of like you to vanish, leaving your mates undefended and available. But saying as much from over here isn't going to be effective, so... Don just stalks around his own house, surveying his domain.]

[... If Robert wants his journal back, he'll have to follow.]

[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.

[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...

[Video/Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[This is an alarming suggestion. Don immediately turns to hover protectively over Robert.]

[And okay fine he can have his journal back. But Don is watching.]

[Video/Action]

[complexing]

[Not that Touya is any sort of genius or know this plot would work, but he does take a moment to feel smug.]

Yeah, maybe later. I've got work and a dinner planned.

Keep your boyfriend close--though I doubt that's going to be a problem. [He chuckles.]

[Video/Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[... One final thing, then.]

... Th-thank you for you... help.

... Good luck with... with your own, er, plans...

[And he closes the journal, chastised. Better to let Don just calm down - maybe the knowledge that Robert is still his and not going anywhere will help?

... This is going to require an apology when everything is sane again.]