IT R UR BIRFDAY

[powerisyours]

[ the lab is clean, the table's set, the dogs are securely out of the way, and the candle on a small cake sitting on the counter's lit. all that's missing is the birthday girl, and this dude's watching the door like a hawk, drumming his fingers on the tabletop impatiently

because cake

and also birthday!!! ]

Comments

[ridestherider]

It wasn't anything I sought out, it just happened. Leave it at that.

[Getting up to clear cake plates.]

[powerisyours]

[ there is definitely guilt in his expression ]

. . . I'm sorry. I pushed it too far again. I'll stop.

[ridestherider]

I'm not mad, just ... I already know it's a bad decision, and getting too far into it about this is only going to make things worse.

[powerisyours]

[ do you have any idea how difficult it is to try to cheer you up without making it sound like I'm trying to tell you to go for it? ]

In the end, it's Natsumi's decision. I'll be here, either way. If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times: you're stuck with me.

[ridestherider]

[No, I'm a little busy panicking.]

You're not the first one who ever said that.

[powerisyours]

[ Yes I can see that and it is my fault because I said weird things ]

Look--I know hearing it gets old after a while. But I mean it, from the bottom of my heart. You're more than a friend or roommate or a girlfriend or any of that. You're family.

[ridestherider]

It's not that I'm tired of hearing it, I just know that it would change. I know how this plays out, okay? It can't go that way.

[powerisyours]

I'll pretend that doesn't sound as if you're expecting me to leave.

[ridestherider]

[Saying nothing, but continuing to clean up cake mess.]

[powerisyours]

[ flopping over the table with his chin on one arm and watching ]

... When you're finished, there was still more. I haven't given you your gift, yet.

[ridestherider]

I'm surprised you still want to, now. I keep making a mess of things.

[powerisyours]

You didn't make a mess of anything, Natsumi. I'm the one who keeps saying and doing things to upset you. If anyone is taking blame, it should be me.

[ridestherider]

It's my fault for having anything to be upset by to begin with.

[powerisyours]

You have all the reasons in the world to be upset about something like that, Natsumi.

[ridestherider]

That doesn't make it any less my fault.

[powerisyours]

I'm saying I don't blame you. For anything.

[ridestherider]

I do.

[powerisyours]

It isn't your fault, Natsumi.

[ridestherider]

Well it's not yours, so whose is it if it's not mine?

[powerisyours]

Who says it has to be anyone's fault?

[ridestherider]

It's always someone's fault.

[powerisyours]

I have to disagree with you there. Sometimes things just happen.

[ridestherider]

[more silence, but at least the mess is cleaned up now.]

[powerisyours]

[ fine, fine. you do that, he'll go pull a small, brightly wrapped package out of its hiding spot ]

[ridestherider]

[she'll curl up on one end of the couch when she's done, looking mightily guilty.]