025 [Action]

[fabrecation]

[Sunset of the 21st. After looking in his diary several times to make sure of the date, Luke has practically memorized the exact time it happened. This is the day, and the time, that he and Xion confessed to each other, without the influence of the experiment, and shared their first kiss.

This is the place, too. Luke leans on the railing of the bridge nearest House 14, staring out ahead of him and obviously lost in his thoughts. Even though this is the day, and even though they had been making plans to celebrate it, Luke's sure that Xion won't be able to now. Not with everything that's happened.

Still, that doesn't mean he can't find his own way to celebrate. It isn't much, though; he just leans on the bridge and twirls a blue iris idly in his fingers. Later, past sunset, he'll make his way to Seventh Heaven for the first time in quite a while, only to practice the piano. He's been away from it for a good while, so he's just a tad rusty. But he still manages to get over it after a song or two, and he doesn't mind, for once, if anyone else is there. He'd even be happy to chat it up with someone, whether on the bridge or in Seventh Heaven.

He does seem a tad cautious, though. He hasn't been here for a while for a reason and all.]

Comments

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup just shrugs, a bit tired but not that much worse for wear.]

Not really. Who says flowers have to be for girls, anyway? [Of course, he says this because he let Yotsuba put a flower in his hair on Valentine's Day. But that's neither here nor there.]

[fabrecation]

I sure don't think they are. [He's grown up surrounded by flowers, and he has a few back at his apartment, too. He definitely doesn't want to think he's girly just because of that.

After a pause, he starts to twirl the flower again, slowly and idly.] This is the flower I got for Xion when I told her how I felt about her.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup doesn't really think they are either, but being a viking and all--well, he's been conditioned to not say things like that.

He gets a goofy grin on his face at that.] Really? That's...really neat. I mean, that you remember something like that. I bet it means a lot to her. Are you giving that one to her, too?

[fabrecation]

Maybe... [If he sees her today. Sure, it's cut at the end, but it'll just be a reminder anyway. Of how long they've been together, of that day...]

Right now, it's been a whole Luceti year since we've been together. [That makes him smile, though it's soft instead of that goofy grin. He'd be much happier if he actually had Xion there to back him up and smile with him.] Heh, and back then I thought I'd never get an actual girlfriend.

[dragoneer]

...Whoa. [Man, that's even longer than he's been here. Even if it's not by much.] Well? I guess this place has a way of surprising people. I never thought I'd have so many friends.

[It is a reminder of how close he is to celebrating his one-year, though. His smile dims a bit.] But I'm happy for you guys. That's amazing, really.

[fabrecation]

[That smile grows a little, because Luke thought the same thing when he got here. That he'd never have this many friends. Of course, many of his friends don't know the full truth about him, and Luke feels it's best if they never do. But still...

Aaand he has to rub his nose, because this is kind of embarrassing to talk about.]

Thanks. I'm just glad nothing too terrible's happened. [Like one of them going home... Even though he has to at some point. There are still things he has to clean up back on Auldrant.] It's weird, though. It hasn't been all that long for me.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup blinks, a little confused.]

What do you mean? The being together, or...the being here part?

[fabrecation]

[Okay, this part is less embarrassing! He straightens up, though he leaves his hands on the railing.]

Both, I guess. Time passes by a lot slower in Auldrant. Compared to that, we've been together for... six months or so. And I haven't even been here for a year yet.

[dragoneer]

[Well, huh. Hiccup hadn't even considered something like time passing differently in another world before. That's actually pretty neat.]

I've never heard of something like that before. So are you...only half as old where you come from?

[fabrecation]

I... Huh. I never actually thought of it like that. [He runs his hand through the back of his hair as he looks up at the sky.] I guess... back on Auldrant I'd be... thirty-something? [More like fourteen. But Hiccup does not know this and does not need to know this.]

[dragoneer]

[He can't help a small laugh.] Well, you don't look so old, at least. Besides--we're only counting by Luceti years now, right?

[fabrecation]

Right... Still feels pretty weird, though.

[...

:|a]

... I guess that means I turned eighteen sometime last year. [Huh.]

[dragoneer]

Hey--that's pretty cool! I'm not even sure when my birthday is. But I guess I'm sixteen now. Vikings didn't exactly keep good calendars.

[fabrecation]

I have no idea when my birthday is here... it's so different from Auldrant's calendar.

[Hmmm...] Hey, you wanna help me pick a date? We can do one for you, too!

[dragoneer]

[...He hadn't even thought about that. But it's actually a pretty nifty idea. He wouldn't mind having a birthday.]

Well--yeah, sure! That sounds like a great idea.

[fabrecation]

Okay... Okay! Then... we'll need to find a calendar somewhere. I've got one back at my place, but... [Maybe there's one that's closer? Luke doesn't waaaant to walk that far. ... So he can be lazy when he wants shut up.]

[dragoneer]

[Lightbulb!] Oh--my house is just up the road from here. I've got one in my room, so we could use that.

[fabrecation]

Right. Then let's head to your house! [Just lead the way, Hiccup! He does want to go to Seventh Heaven later, but it can definitely wait for this. This is kind of important and all!]

[dragoneer]

[He nods and grins before starting to walk again.]

Right! It'll be nice to, you know. Actually have a day. I know I was born in winter sometime, buuut...vikings didn't exactly keep records like that. Plus our calendar was different.

[fabrecation]

I...

I don't really know when I was born. So... I guess it'd be nice to just have a day that's really mine, you know? [His. Not Asch's.]

[dragoneer]

Yeah, I get that. I didn't even realize that birthdays were such a big thing until I got here, but now that I know, I want to be a part of it, too.

[A lot of things in Luceti were that way with him.]

[fabrecation]

[Luke can remember back on Auldrant, how he'd look forward to every birthday he had. Though it wasn't really his, he didn't know it back then... and each birthday meant less time to spend in the manor. In fact, he's about to bring that up, but... that would sound odd, compared to what he just said, huh. So, he pauses to think of something else, then smiles when something comes to him.]

When your birthday comes around, I'll make sure you'll get a big celebration, then.

[dragoneer]

[Hiccup laughs nervously--the idea of a whole party just for him seems...well. Strange, to say the least. Snoggletog had been one thing, but that was for all the Hairy Hooligans. Not just him.]

R-right. And same to you. We can make, like...a birthday party pact.

[fabrecation]

[... Oh fff, now it's Luke's turn to laugh nervously, much for the same reason.]

Uh - You don't have to... do that for me or anything. [Back then a big party was expected. But now?]

[dragoneer]

Hey, why not? It'd be fun. Besides, I have a knack for throwing parties, or something.

[After all, Snoggletog had been a success. And Xion would probably want to help out too, wouldn't she? He wouldn't have to sweat it.]