[video] they say it's your birthday

[interstices]

Who: Asuka Shikinami Langley
Broadcast: Yes
Action: Yes, on the Iskaulit
When: December 4th

[See Asuka, all scowls and irritation, outside on a bench on the Iskaulit, with a pile of merrily-colored holiday cards messily stacked next to her. There's another sack, too, that looks as if it's similarly saturated with cards. She's digging through the sack diligently as she speaks, scrutinizing each card before adding it to her pile.]

Hey. I got these from a sponsor and I don't want them. They're all blank. If you want a couple of cards, just stop by.

[Digging... digging...]

[And then, after opening yet another red envelope (the glue on the inside hasn't even been licked, geez), she yanks out a large black sticker that she stares at and then tosses long before it's legible on the feed.]

I'm not peddling these around.

[OOC: It's Asuka's birthday, but also my yearly offer of holiday cards, either IC or OOC. Or both. Details in that post, if you're interested!]

Comments

[astrobleme]

[Shinji laughs a little, startled, still a touch anxious, when Asuka folds him into an affectionate hug. Now there's no question that Asuka approves of the gift. And now he's saying something soft and intimate to her, not meant for Kaworu to hear: you're welcome, I love you, have a happy birthday. His cheeks adopt a shade of pink that almost matches the surreality of his red eyes. He smiles to himself, inwardly pleased, and Asuka lets go of him and moves on over to Kaworu.

He didn't expect her to hug Kaworu, though. It looks like Kaworu didn't expect that, either, which only someone like Shinji can glean from the subtleties of Kaworu's facial expression. The tension is there in the angle of Kaworu's eyebrows; he looks like he's sending a distress signal, all hands on deck. Shinji blinks a few times, unsure of himself, before he realizes what Kaworu is asking: yes, yeah, of course it's okay if he hugs her back. Shinji even brings up his arms in some awkward approximation of a hug. Like this, he indicates silently. Jeez...

It's only natural to prepare himself for jealousy, for some hypocritical and territorial machismo that he hates a lot--but that isn't what happens. Kaworu and Asuka embrace each other, and Shinji can't put into words what he does feel. "You're an exceptional woman," Kaworu says, which Shinji never imagined hearing him say to anyone ever. Something clicks into place after that. It's the teeth of two gears finally catching and beginning to turn. If this is going to happen, then this is exactly how it has to happen, as confusing as that is. Shinji should allow whatever this is to grow and keep growing.

He looks away, albeit reluctantly. They're very beautiful together.]

Kaworu-kun helped me pick the strawberries, you know. He's pretty good at figuring out which ones are ripe, but not too ripe.

[Exhaling all at once, he pushes himself up and retrieves the carving knife. It won't be long before all three of them have plates laden with large slices of the cake. The frosting his especially sweet and thick, which might be Shinji's favorite part. Birthday cakes are still such a novelty for him. For everyone here, really.]

[interstices]

Oh... [Asuka nods, still just surveying her piece with no slight amount of wonder. Real strawberries. Not freeze-dried or imitation. And knowing Shinji, real butter and maybe eggs. She takes her first bite without hesitation. The strawberries, sweet and firm with a hint of give, are a sweet explosion of flavor, paired perfectly with the cake and frosting. She tries not to be a pig about her slice-- there's still plenty to go around, after all.]

[Kaworu's compliment is still taking her aback moments later, while she's basking in Shinji's. An exceptional woman. It's unbelievable that he'd say that about her. It's too kind and too inaccurate. But on her birthday, she can accept it. Even now, it's far too easy to accept the electric sort of (recognition) warmth that came around when she hugged Kaworu, and how it only differs from Shinji's in intensity. She's softening like a rock in a tumbler. She'll have to stop that or she'll wreck herself.]

It's really, really good. I didn't think... I didn't expect anything.

[paraclete]

[Kaworu, who often likes to eat things seemingly without a second thought, is slow when it comes to eating cake. He enjoys letting the frosting melt in his mouth, and the frosting Shinji makes is especially good for that. Granted, Kaworu doesn't really have any other frame of reference, but he doesn't think he needs one, either. A mouthful of frosting from anyone else, anywhere else, and with anyone else just wouldn't meet the standards these recent birthday cakes have set.

While he's been enjoying his frosting, and some strawberries along with it, Kaworu has had his eyes closed. But now he opens them, and—thankfully—swallows before making an announcement of great faith:]

I'm beginning to wonder if the unexpected isn't always so fraught.

[He prods his fork into some more frosting, this time even catching some cake along with it. Then he says, more decisive this time,] It's good to celebrate. I've had fun celebrating with the both of you, so I hope it's fun for you, too. It's nice to be... [He sticks the forkful of cake into his mouth, maybe ruining his ethereal image, as he says,] Together.