[EP] The Worst Birthday

[st_abby]

Of course, everybody had birthdays - even if they didn't know what day it was on the calendar, that didn't stop someone having them. Vax'ildan hadn't honestly thought much about it, until Joanna had got talking when to plant what one afternoon amongst the herbs in her garden. Seasons, months, weeks, days... They were different in this world from what Vax knew. Nevertheless, when he stopped to do a bit of his own math, he thought it must be very near his own birthday in Exandria.

Their birthday. His, by only a couple of minutes, and then Vex'ahlia's.

It seemed a stupid thing to get hung up about. But once it (she) had wormed its way into his brain, his heart, he couldn't get it (her) out, and it became a crushing reminder that Vex could be lost to him forever. He didn't have much in the way of distractions, and the more he tried to forget about it, the worse it had got until he sank into a drowning sulk. He avoided everyone and everything including his mirror-matched room, effectively vanishing for a few days on end, until gravely admitting that the only way out might very well be through.

Which is how he ended up sitting in the one corner of a booth in the cafe, armor exchanged for a simple sleeveless tunic and loose pants from Songrun, staring at the empty seat across from him with arms folded on the table in a bit of a hunch.

"Get us a drink," he told the passers-by mirthlessly, without so much as turning to look at them or stopping to count how many he'd had already. Did it matter? "It's our birthday."

Comments

[st_unning]

Alcuin smiled sheepishly. "You're very kind, Vax." It made him think again of how in Terre d'Ange so many people only liked him because of his appearance, not knowing much else about him.

Because it seemed a fluid change in subject and maybe Vax could use thinking of something else he said, "And it's nice to be valued for something other than my appearance." Then, because it made him think of him, "Do you know Ignis? Tall... dark glasses... knows how to cook things other than chicken."

[st_abby]

"Iggy? Sure I know him," Vax agreed, not knowing how they'd got around to talking about him, but not minding either. "We hiked through the jungle of that other-world, Song... Songrun, it was. And he keeps us fed with all those...non-poultry...foods. What you said."

[st_unning]

"Oh that's right," said Alcuin. "I forgot you were both in that group. Well... Ignis doesn't know what I look like." Well, he had a much better guess now, by touch. "I didn't realize how nice that would be, after so long being judged for my appearance - both good and bad."

[st_abby]

Vax listened to this, fumbling it over in his woozy mind. "Are you... Sweet on him, Alcuin? Or is it him on you?"

[st_unning]

Alcuin blinked at him. Then - "Oh. Well, we're lovers now, but only recently. I suppose the answer is both? Though I'm unfamiliar with that term."

[st_abby]

"Really?!" Vax broke a sly grin, forgetting he was in fact Terribly Heartsick for just a moment. "How did you, though? He's so... I mean. I like Ignis. But if he was any more uptight, he'd implode. You're like the opposite of that."

[st_unning]

Alcuin was glad for Vax's reaction, if only because he'd apparently hit upon a distraction. If talking about Ignis was effective, he certainly didn't mind.

"How...?" he asked curiously. "It isn't that I mind giving you details, Vax, but I was under the impression that most people here don't talk about sex so openly."

[st_abby]

Vax nodded, expression smoothing out. "Most don't. You shouldn't, probably, for politeness' sake." He didn't know if Ignis would mind, exactly - but he did know Iggy was very private by nature, and he didn't want to disrespect that. "Don't, in fact. It just surprised me. But good for you both."

[st_unning]

Alcuin smiled gently at him, and nodded. "I feel slightly less lonely. And it was a... step, for me. Someone I chose." Because, sometimes, Anafiel hardly felt like a choice, more an inevitability.

[st_abby]

"It's all your choices from here on out," Vax pointed out. "And the more people you meet... The less lonely you'll be, I think." Because who couldn't help but like Alcuin? And he clearly liked people.

"You've made me a little less lonely today, you know. And someone who could do something like that... Well, that's-" He almost lost his train of thought, but managed to circle back around. "Thank you, for that."

[st_unning]

Alcuin smiled as if he'd turned his face to the sun. "Oh I'm so glad, Vax. I'm grateful for your friendship, too." He knew that Vax did not want him to feel he owed him for saving his life. But his friendship he would give eagerly regardless, and if it was valuable to Vax then so much the better.