Happy Birthday, Dork | Backdated to August 31

[crouching_sin]

Sender: Naoya
To: Everyone
Subject: Birthday boy

My cousin, who recently arrived, has a birthday today. Wishing him a happy birthday is encouraged.

He's 18 now after all. In many places that makes you an adult, Kazuya.

Yes, I know you can see me writing this.

Comments

[belheir]

I don't think he was in the cult so much as just working for them, but it was pretty obnoxious to deal with all the same.

Actually I don't think he would have joined the cult anyway, now that I think about it.

[whatsamada]

...Isn't working for them just the same? Even if he didn't join them.

[belheir]

Nah. People work for people they don't agree with all the time.

[whatsamada]

I suppose not...

Still, it makes me wonder why he felt the need to join it.

[belheir]

I mean they were a cult, so they probably paid well.

[... On top of other reasons.]

[whatsamada]

I guess it always will be the money. That's a shame...

Don't people know how dangerous cults are?

[belheir]

Very dangerous. It ended up... mostly alright though, I guess.

Some of their members ended up being pretty nice people. I ended up making friends with their priestess and she was pretty cool once she stopped being part of said cult.

[whatsamada]

At least that's good. I'm glad to know there are some people there that did turn out for the better.

By the way, I think I'm at where you are now.

[Followed by some knocking at said door.]

[belheir]

[ He's not even going to respond to that text since he hears that knock and he's going to go open up the door!

Hello, partner in crime. ]

Welcome to Naoya's house. None of the decor is mine, and I sleep on the couch.

[ Which is the ugliest orange one could possibly imagine.

He motions for Ken to come inside. ]

[whatsamada]

[The moment that he stepped inside, he had to raise an eyebrow at said orange couch. While he shouldn't be one to judge someone's house, he had to wonder.]

That is quite an interesting place you sleep. Although, why wouldn't he let you sleep on a bed? Or made something else that could be one?

[Because sleeping on a couch isn't exactly too welcoming for a family member.]

[belheir]

That's actually my fault, not his. I just haven't bothered to look for a bed, and there's no way I'd let him get or make me one.

[ Not that Naoya couldn't, but he'd rather do it himself.

Eventually. ]

I'll get around to it eventually. Or just steal his bed. Whichever comes first.

[whatsamada]

You sure that's a good idea? Especially when you say that he's a bit of a jerk...

[Because why would you attempt to steal said bed from someone who may or may not care about you??]

[belheir]

I put up a pretty big stink, but he does actually care for me. We're pretty close, actually.

[ Which no one would guess based on your behavior, Kazuya... ]

He even made me a cake. You want a slice? There's still some left, and Naoya is actually pretty good at baking and cooking when he does it.

[whatsamada]

[In the back of his mind, it would make sense. If he was willing to harass his cousin, then they would have to be fairly close right? But then again, who was he to say that when he didn't have a close relationship with any of his family members?

All he could do was give a sigh before shaking his head.]

No, that's fine, It's supposed to be your cake and it would feel rude to take something he made for you.

[Spoken like a good tween is suppose to!]

[belheir]

Yeah, but it's my cake and I can do what I want with it. Besides, if you don't have a slice he'll probably eat the rest of it knowing I wont.

[ He's not as big into sweets as Naoya is... ]

I won't push it if you don't want any, just know it's an open offer.

[whatsamada]

That is nice but...

[He said with a mumble or two.]

I rather not unless he would get mad when he finds out later that I hate some.

[belheir]

I don't see why he'd be mad. I know I called him a jerk, but I really don't think he'd care too much.

[Really, he doesn't. Especially since Ken is here to do something way more obnoxious than to have a slice of cake with him, in theory.]

[whatsamada]

[In the back of his mind, he knew that eating cake wasn't a bad thing. And yet there was nothing wrong with acting like someone his age. Which was why, in a low mumble...?]

Well, I wouldn't mind but...maybe a smaller slice...?

[belheir]

[Kazuya would argue that cake is for any age if he knew, but alas, he doesn't.

(He'd also throw Naoya under the bus for enjoying cake while being older than dirt).

Kazuya nods, walking over to the kitchenette to grab a plate and a fork for Ken, and also a neatly cut (small) slice of cake. There's definitely a 'el' present written in frosting, which is suspiciously nowhere in Kazuya's name... Hm.

Either way, he'll offer it to Ken.]

It's really good, so I hope you enjoy it... And also thanks for celebrating my birthday with me? [that is what eating cake is, technically, right?]

[whatsamada]

[Meanwhile there was an inner part of Ken tat was screaming how he was enjoying this. There was nothing wrong with liking cake but the same time....?

He gave a mumble or two before taking it.]

Thank you but it's not a problem. I figured that people shouldn't celebrate their birthdays by themselves.

[Pause]

Not that you weren't but it is a little different with friends.

[belheir]

[Listen, it's really good cake. Naoya is a great cook when he's not shuffling the responsibility onto his younger cousin!!! He'd be an asshole to not share it.]

Honestly you make for way better company than him anyway. He's so weird all the time.

[whatsamada]

[And thus when Ken does take a bite out of said cake? All he could do was raise an eyebrow at him.]

...I'm starting to think there is something a little bit more between the two of you that I don't really understand.

[belheir]

[It's very, very subtle, but Kazuya does flinch ever so slightly when he says that, and for a moment he seems a little panicked, at least before he narrows his eyes suspiciously.]

I don't know what you're talking about. He's just my cousin.

[whatsamada]

[See this? This is him giving a certain look. He was going to say something but instead?]

...Then I guess he is. But I just hope the two of you will get along some day.

[Pause]

What else are you planning on doing for your birthday? After we raid his closet that is.

[belheir]

[His expression quickly drops back to neutral after that, and he tilts his head a bit.]

We actually get a long pretty well. [Shocking, shocking. Kazuya just likes to put up a fuss.] More often than not, anyway.

[But as for what to do afterwards for his birthday... He doesn't know. Normally he'd spend it with Yuzu and Atsuro, but they're not here, and even if they were it might be a little awkward now.]

I'm not really sure? Usually I'd get dragged off to karaoke or the nearest shopping mall, but something tells me that those aren't really options here.