chikaidestroyer | ∞ 92: Warming weather [action]

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∞ 92: Warming weather [action]

[He didn't send out an announcement of any kind when they returned home. Others had already announced their dead and offered any words of encouragement or frustration.

Instead, Albert spent the days following the draft ... working on his flower beds. March had brought with it a warm spell, meaning that his seeds would be germinating and eventually sprouting. This is also the time for pulling down the dried vines from his trellises.

It's a lot of work (and a lot of garden), so he'll be out and around the house until late in the day. It's as dusk approaches that he can be found sitting on the porch, watching three tiny owls perched on the porch fencing.]

...Welcome back.

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[He doesn't really react as Caesar slips away, save for a slight shake of the head. He finally lowers his hand, looking at the cheesecake. Was the cheesecake last year also strawberry?

He settled back, arranging the forks and Caesar's soda -- after giving the drink a look over. What was his brother's fascination with this stuff?]

[Since Caesar only has to go to the kitchen this time, he isn't gone for very long. He fills up a glass with water (and some ice, since it's so warm outside), and makes his way back outside. He makes sure he shuts the door behind him before walking back over to the table, setting the glass down in front of his brother.]

There. Anything else?

[Albert sits there, musing over whether to make Caesar go find himself another soda. He seemed especially giving tonight, so he probably could get away with it if he really wanted to.

But he'll be nice.]

An explanation, if you will.

[That is... a little discouraging. He can't tell if his brother doesn't remember or if he's just dense. ...it could go either way. Still, Caesar doesn't sit down just yet. He puts his hands in his pockets and tries to think of some kind of explanation.]

For your birthday. I know it's a little late, but... [You had celebrated his birthday with him last year even though you weren't at your best, and it meant a lot to him.] I thought we should do something anyway.

[He wasn't surprised by the explanation about this fanfare being for his birthday. He should probably clarify.]

Isn't this your little tradition for your birthdays, Caesar?

Of course it is. So what? [He tilts his head. He thought this was pretty self-explanatory as well.] Can I not share this silly tradition with my brother, too? It's boring if I keep it all to myself.

[Albert's expression is unreadable as Caesar explains, and he sits there looking at the cheesecake quietly.]

Is the point of these traditions to make you dislike your birthday? [He reaches for his water, taking a quick drink.]

Why would I dislike it? [He frowns a bit, but he understands why he'd ask. Stupid cheesecake.] All right, so the cake doesn't even taste that great. But that's not the point. The real point is that we're doing something special to celebrate. It can be our tradition now, don't you think?

[Maybe it was kind of silly, and definitely a little embarrassing, but that was what he wanted—to have a kind of tradition to share with his brother.]

I suppose it can be. [He's somewhat agreeable with this logic, finally picking up one of the forks. His voice is wry as he continues.] Happy early birthday, Caesar.

Shut up. [That's so not funny. He takes a hand out of his pocket and sticks a small candle in the center of the cheesecake. He reaches back into the same pocket and pulls out a match.] I'm not the one blowing out the candle.

[Albert raises a brow at the little display, somewhat ... speechless that Caesar had taken something he had done on a whim (while not in exactly the right set of mind, for that matter) and replicated it.]

...Really.

[Caesar was embarrassed when Albert had done it for him (even though he had enjoyed it), so it would be amusing if he was just a little embarrassed, too. That might be part of why he's doing it. The other reason should be obvious, but he'll say it anyway.]

Yes, that is correct. You'll also have to make a wish. It's tradition, remember?

[He strikes the match on the side of the table and lights the candle. He then blows out the match, setting it aside on the table and finally sitting down himself.]

Just this once. I won't make you do it next time, promise.

[There's silence as Albert looks away from the cake in an attempt to not stare too intently at the lit candle. It's a rather long silence, considering he hasn't acknowledged whether he will humor Caesar or not. He very well could decide not to.

So it may come as a surprise when he finally shifts in his seat, leaning forward so he can blow out the candle.]

There.

[With that silence, Caesar wasn't sure if he would or not. So when he does blow out the candle, it is certainly a surprise. It's a surprise, but he's glad that his brother did it. He smiles.]

See? That wasn't so bad. [And sure, he already wished his brother a happy birthday on the day of (how could he not acknowledge it?), but it couldn't hurt to say it again.] Happy birthday, Albert.

Twenty-eight years old. [He sighs as he says that, poking at the cheesecake with his fork as tiny wisps of smoke trail upward.] ...Thank you, Caesar.

[That's right. Ten years, not eight. He didn't like that part at all, but then again, this was the second time he could spend his brother's birthday with him. ...he couldn't really be upset about that. He shakes his head, opening the bottle of soda and picking up his fork.]

Don't mention it. You'll never be too old for this stuff, so don't even think about it, okay?

I barely do. [It's meant as assurance, but who knew how Caesar would take it. After plucking off the candle, Albert finally takes a small piece of the cheesecake and eats it.

It's sweet, but not as sweet as some other foods he has eaten over the years -- just like last year. And since they had managed to finish that cake last time, they should not have any trouble tonight.]

[On the other hand, Caesar thinks the cake could afford to be sweeter. He doesn't take offense to his brother's words, though. He's in a good mood as he uses his fork to cut a piece of cheesecake for himself.]

Good. [He pauses to eat the piece before continuing.] Your birthday is something that should always be celebrated. [Oh, wait. He remembers something.] By the way, I thought you might like strawberry a little better.

The tartness of the strawberry does help with the other overall sweetness. [Spoken like a true food critic. Albert eats almost daintily, savoring each small piece of cheesecake. If Caesar was going to do this from now on, he should probably try to appreciate it.] Perhaps we should try a different kind each time.

[He kind of expected the criticism, but it amuses him to hear it anyway. The suggestion, however, is a surprise to him, though he is very pleased by the fact that he had suggested it.]

That's not a bad idea. I guess you can choose next time. Maybe we'll even find one we actually like. [...probably not, but it couldn't hurt to be optimistic.]

There are many different types of cake ... and I imagine many different varieties of cheesecake. So there won't be any shortage of ones we won't like, I suppose. [Was that a joke? Probably.]

[Caesar snorts at that. Albert's sense of humor could be a little weird sometimes, but that was surprisingly amusing.]

We won't know until we try. [He pauses, taking another bite.] I've never tasted different kinds of cheesecake before. This one tastes better than the last one, anyway. That one was too plain.

"Too plain." I thought that was the kind of cheesecake you usually ate? [If that was the case, no wonder Caesar didn't like cheesecake -- he just kept eating the same thing.]

Yeah, it was. So it's good to taste something different. [Even if the only reason he had picked something different was because he thought it might be slightly more tolerable for his brother.] And anyway, I'm sure anything will taste better than that.

I suppose we will see. [He shakes his head, continuing to eat quietly for a little while.

...Ah yes. There was something he wanted to mention to Caesar.] How is your plant?

∞ 92: Warming weather [action]

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