[ can't carry anymore. ]

[arcanepower]

Who: Belthazar and you
Broadcast: Yes
Action: On the Bishop!
When: Backdated to Sunday the 17th

[video;]

[Belthazar scribbles something in his journal with a quill pen, unaware that the camera is on.]

Another year passes, and I am still no closer to the answers I need.

[He sighs and leans his head back to stare up at the ceiling. The rest of him deflates against the chair, arms hanging down at his sides. He is really very slight and skinny even if wearing black tends to make him look more adult.

After a moment, he begins to quietly hum a gently lullaby that might be familiar to some.]

[action;]

[Anyone visiting the kitchen will find a boy eating a sweet berry pie of some kind, warm and gently glazed and delicious. Belthazar isn't really the type to announce his birthday or go all out for himself. He could make a six tier cake like he did for Ino that one time, but... no. Too much effort. He'd rather just have some comfort food.

There appears to be enough pie to go around, though, regardless. Food tastes better with friends even if he would rather not admit it.]

Comments

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[everydayhero]

[hey bae

[do you remember when you made that first mana stone and it fucking exploded, because hiro does. he also remembers how much the two of you laughed, and how much the two of you have laughed since then.

[and if he's not paying attention, the thick black-corded necklace with a glass vial containing the smallest shards of that broken mana stone as the connecting pendant that comes over his head will probably startle him. but hiro moves slowly with it so that he has time to process what he's doing before he clasps it in the back.]

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[arcanepower]

[He really isn't paying attention. He's deep in his thoughts and Hiro is a familiar presence so he doesn't quite... process it. But then there is something around his neck, Hiro's arms faintly brushing his long ears, and he freezes.]

What—

[He doesn't breathe as he tries to process what's going on. He feels... a weight. His thin, pale fingers find the tiny bottle and lift it up into the light.]

H-- Hiro? Wait, is this... It is! [Belth turns in his seat to look at his friend, eyes wide.] You kept it! All this time, you kept it! You are-- you are so strange, [he says, but his face is red and he's smiling, so it's probably a success.]

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[everydayhero]

[hiro grins at the reaction; it's exactly what he was hoping for.]

Strange? Why's that strange?

[gosh, that smile is so great, he doesn't even care if he's strange]

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[arcanepower]

Most people would discard what is basically trash, but... no, it makes sense. You've always recycled and repurposed what you see around you. [Even Belthazar has been somewhat changed by Hiro's influence.

He looks down at the bottle charm and lets it rest where it should be. Throwing all caution to the wind, he sweeps up out of his seat, straight into Hiro's arms.]

Thank you.

Action

[preformthisneigh]

[Perhaps Bel remembers telling Cheese the date of his birthday a long, long time ago. Perhaps he's forgotten. But Cheese certainly hasn't forgotten. He's been preparing for this. Waiting for this day.

And so, he bursts into the kitchen in a stream of confetti beaming happily. HI FRIEND HI. ]

♫ Hey there little buddy
I'm here to wish you a happy happy happy birthday
You're a pretty swell guy
And in that fact I do not lie
So I hope you have the best of times
Annnnd a happy happy birthday TO YOU!♫

[There's another eruption of streamers, and then Cheese pulls a little wrapped box from somewhere, despositing it in front of him. ]

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[arcanepower]

[... He remembers now. The embarrassment dawns on him when there's singing and an accordion and confetti popping out of nowhere like some kind of wicked sorcery. His flat expression turns to surprise for a different reason, though.]

You-- you brought me something? You did not have to. I hardly expected anything of the sort. I mean, I am somewhat long-lived, so that means a lot of trouble for you...

[He's not used to getting presents.]

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[preformthisneigh]

Of course it doesn't mean any trouble for me. You're my friend and I don't throw that word around willy nilly and I wanna get you a gift. Hence, gift!

[He nudges the box with his muzzle, getting it a little closer to Belth. Take it. Taaaakeeee iiiittt. ]

Action

[arcanepower]

[Belth takes it, though god knows he's bad at taking hints.]

Thank you, [he breathes, and begins to unwrap it.] I, um, cannot remember the last time I received a present on my birthday. It was possibly several decades ago.

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[bloodbiter]

[her first day on the bishop is mostly spent exploring, and it doesn't take her long to find the kitchen.]

Oh - hello! Pardon me, I hope I'm not intruding, I just wanted to have a look around.

[arcanepower]

[He sits straight up at the unfamiliar footsteps of-- a girl? For a brief, brief moment he thinks her pale skin and dark curls belong to someone else, and then he ducks his head so she can't see his eyes very well.]

The kitchen is a communal place. So long as you leave things where you found them, I do not mind.

[He gets up and folds his hands behind his back. He is... not very tall.]

Are you new?

[bloodbiter]

[She gives a polite curtsy as he stands, nodding in response to his question.]

Yes, I've only just arrived today. My name is Adelina, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sir.

[arcanepower]

[Sir, huh. Most people just call him kid. He wants to lash out and tell her to go away-- he's still very much a solitary creature-- but he can't. He's learned better by now, and she is obviously of more manners than Yang.]

Well met. My name is Belthazar; you may shorten it if you wish.

[He bows slightly. His glowing green eyes are visible now, but he hopes she isn't too scared of them.]

I'm one of two cooks. The other is called Nightingale. Do you... have any questions? You must have questions.

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[effluent]

Props for somehow dropping the hint that it's your birthday while being super emo about it.

[but her tone doesn't have the bite that it had during the last time that they talked. She smiles, not waiting for his response before she winks and adds] Happy birthday, kid.

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[arcanepower]

[Belth stiffens and sits up. He looks around for the source of the voice, only to find his communicator on.]

N-no!! [He is thoroughly red, which was probably her intent but whatever.] No one was supposed to know! This is a disaster!

[Now everyone is going to be bothering him and... he facedesks. Actually facedesks.]

video

[child_of_bhaal]

[She never forgets a tune.

Looking at the display, she easily pieces together that this is not intentionally being broadcast. After a short mental debate, she decides that telling him is better than not telling him.]

Belth. Your comm is on.

video

[arcanepower]

[He startles at the noise.]

Wh-- what!? Syeira? Oh, no! Stupid, blasted piece of--

[He's thoroughly embarrassed when he grabs the communicator.]

Thank you for telling me. I suppose it's too late now, but I hope I did not bother you.

video

[child_of_bhaal]

You're never a bother. Are you alright?

[It's a tactful way of saying she'd heard more than she was obviously supposed to.]

video

[arcanepower]

[His ears lower somewhat.] I am well.

[That's not exactly what she asked, and he knows.]

Have you ever dedicated yourself so thoroughly to one thing, one question, that it defined you?

Action

[onlyburnhotter]

[Pie you say? Well now... Yang will smell the delicious scent in the air and come to investigate it's source.]

Hey! How's it going?

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[arcanepower]

[He blinks as Yang walks in.]

It's... going.

[He's a bad liar, but at least he's considerate enough to hand her a small plate.]

I can't eat this all by myself. Here.

[onlyburnhotter]

[She accepts the offer, clearly grateful for the treat. However, she doesn't dig in right away like might have been expected. Instead, she looks concerned. Clearly picking up on the fact that her crew mate is upset.]

You okay?

action;

[hymnals]

[Adra, as usual, is not one much for eating, though he knows there's a particular reason for that pie. He'd also seen the broadcast, and come to ask about it, but that question is temporarily set aside. There's something more important to address first.]

Hey, kiddo. I've got something for you.

[He slides a small package across the table, because of course he knows what day it is. Belthazar is his son.]

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[arcanepower]

[Belth's ears stick straight up when Adra comes in, but he doesn't really stir until there's a box.]

Wh... what? A present? B-but I... I didn't expect...

[He's panicking a little bit. Just a little bit. Because he's embarrassed.]

[hymnals]

So much the better, right? It's nothing much.

[Inside the box is a oval-shaped, sterling silver pendant, worked with tiny sapphires around its circumference. Its engraving is delicate filigree, a stylized shield with a sunburst pattern. The emblem of his family, Anor'thalion.]

[arcanepower]

All right. [He opens the box with eager but trembling fingers, because he can't imagine what Adra would get him, and then he stops. He's not expecting a pendant of this make and detail, let alone one with the family crest. His breath catches and slips away for a moment, then two, and then he looks up at Adra with eyes as wide as saucers.]

This is-- your family crest! But I'm not your flesh and blood. I couldn't possibly accept this--