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[ Maruki remembers Odasaku's birthday. Of course he does.
And of course he doesn't bring it up when he invites Oda out to try a bar in Stellari that, to his knowledge, neither have ever been to. He knows Oda isn't the type to draw attention to himself, and especially not lately, with all that's gone sideways for him – so it's a casual invitation, couched in Maruki's usual excitement for trying new things, going to new places.
However– ]
A-ah...
[ The bar is lavish. Perhaps a bit too lavish. Gilding and jewels adorn the edges of the booth they sit in, and the polished marble table has two drinks on it that are not only garish hues of purple and blue, but steaming and bubbling.
Maruki blinks down at them, then up at Odasaku. ]
Perhaps we should have just gone to Quartz after all...
And of course he doesn't bring it up when he invites Oda out to try a bar in Stellari that, to his knowledge, neither have ever been to. He knows Oda isn't the type to draw attention to himself, and especially not lately, with all that's gone sideways for him – so it's a casual invitation, couched in Maruki's usual excitement for trying new things, going to new places.
However– ]
A-ah...
[ The bar is lavish. Perhaps a bit too lavish. Gilding and jewels adorn the edges of the booth they sit in, and the polished marble table has two drinks on it that are not only garish hues of purple and blue, but steaming and bubbling.
Maruki blinks down at them, then up at Odasaku. ]
Perhaps we should have just gone to Quartz after all...
[The place is...a bit...ritzy. And it is Odasaku's birthday...
[Something (Maruki) tells him that this wasn't intentional, though. Oda's eyes are on that weird, glistening drink.
[But he looks fine.]
It's fine.
[It's fine! He takes a sip-- His eyebrows shoot up high on his head, more expression than Oda's used to making. He coughs a bit.]
Strong.
[Something (Maruki) tells him that this wasn't intentional, though. Oda's eyes are on that weird, glistening drink.
[But he looks fine.]
It's fine.
[It's fine! He takes a sip-- His eyebrows shoot up high on his head, more expression than Oda's used to making. He coughs a bit.]
Strong.
[ Maruki laughs, giving his friend a good slap on the back after that cough. ]
Oh, my...! If it's strong even for you, then I'm doomed, aren't I?
[ Well. Bottoms up and the devil laughs, so they say.
Maruki takes a healthy swig–
And feels all the air in his lungs leave him as the mystery alcohol burns down his throat, doubling over the table to try to catch his breath through wheezes. ]
Oh, my...! If it's strong even for you, then I'm doomed, aren't I?
[ Well. Bottoms up and the devil laughs, so they say.
Maruki takes a healthy swig–
And feels all the air in his lungs leave him as the mystery alcohol burns down his throat, doubling over the table to try to catch his breath through wheezes. ]
[Oda could almost laugh, but he doesn't. It dies before he can even consider it, but he slaps Maruki on the back anyway, giving a little rub after.]
You don't think these things are magical, do you? Are we drinking potions?
You don't think these things are magical, do you? Are we drinking potions?
[ The rub is appreciated, but oh, he's still wheezing through his words. ]
I specifically asked before I brought you here, and they assured me that the drinks aren't magical in nature...
[ They don't want a repeat of The Holiday Party Incident, after all. ]
I'm sorry, I wanted to do something special for you, but this is–
[ Woof. ]
I specifically asked before I brought you here, and they assured me that the drinks aren't magical in nature...
[ They don't want a repeat of The Holiday Party Incident, after all. ]
I'm sorry, I wanted to do something special for you, but this is–
[ Woof. ]
Hey. I don't mind it.
[He takes another sip. It goes down a little easier! A little...]
Can't complain about a strong drink. It looks nice too.
[ I don't mind it is enough for Maruki to feel satisfied not having entirely blundered this outing. He leans back against the plush booth, still giving himself a breather before his next attempt at the drink, and smiles warmly at Oda. ]
Has it been a decent birthday so far?
Has it been a decent birthday so far?
[Oda hesitates on the question, which isn't quite like him - not that he isn't normally a thoughtful person, but the way he pauses is...uncertain. He has to remind himself to nod, but he ends up shrugging his shoulders instead.]
Sure. [He recalls, of course, his last birthday, with the three most important people he knew.
[... Well.]
I can't complain.
Sure. [He recalls, of course, his last birthday, with the three most important people he knew.
[... Well.]
I can't complain.
[ Maruki remembers it too. Of course he does. Their little huddle outside so he could share a cigarette with Oda, and how very warm it was at the bar...
Nothing can compare to that, Maruki knows. There's a hole that can never be filled, only sidestepped around. It's a clumsy maneuver to be certain, but Maruki has a strong suspicion that Oda doesn't want to spend his birthday reminiscing about the last, and what he's lost... ]
You never complain. That isn't exactly a high bar to clear.
[ A gentle nudge of his foot against Oda's shin, entirely fond. ]
Let's try aiming a little higher. I got you something I think you might enjoy!
Nothing can compare to that, Maruki knows. There's a hole that can never be filled, only sidestepped around. It's a clumsy maneuver to be certain, but Maruki has a strong suspicion that Oda doesn't want to spend his birthday reminiscing about the last, and what he's lost... ]
You never complain. That isn't exactly a high bar to clear.
[ A gentle nudge of his foot against Oda's shin, entirely fond. ]
Let's try aiming a little higher. I got you something I think you might enjoy!
[Oda looks a little bewildered at the suggestion, as if he can't fully process it. Then Maruki mentions a gift - Oda had almost forgotten that was something one should expect on their birthday.]
This isn't enough?
[He holds up his very strong, very colorful drink.
[Aim higher, he said.]
Sorry. Thanks.
[Now he's just to awkwardly wait? He's bad at this.]
This isn't enough?
[He holds up his very strong, very colorful drink.
[Aim higher, he said.]
Sorry. Thanks.
[Now he's just to awkwardly wait? He's bad at this.]
[ That awkwardness somehow sits charming on Odasaku. It always has. He really never does want anything for himself, does he? Even Maruki manages to want for more than he does...
He braves a sip of his drink, then another. Liquid courage for something that doesn't really require it at all. ]
Hold out your hands and close your eyes!
He braves a sip of his drink, then another. Liquid courage for something that doesn't really require it at all. ]
Hold out your hands and close your eyes!
this tag may not sound like a wrap but it is - oda just wants stupid small talk
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savetheweak
- 2025-11-13 03:38 (UTC) - Expand[ after the party, dolph was patiently waiting for oda. he wraps an arm around the man's shoulders as they head back to the cabana. no words were really needed. just the silent crunch of their footsteps against the snow and the ice and the little puffs of air.
the house was warm. dolph puts their coats away before glancing at oda's room with a hum. ]
Want some company?
the house was warm. dolph puts their coats away before glancing at oda's room with a hum. ]
Want some company?
[He has no intentions to be away from Dolph tonight. If that means staying up, talking until sunrise, then that's what he'll do. But he's half-drunk, and his bed is comfortable. He hangs up his own coat, holsters still strapped in place over his shirt. He nods his head at Dolph.]
You, specifically.
You, specifically.
[Oda lets out a puff of air through his nose, nodding toward his room. The guns are removed. He realizes that neither of them are exactly dressed for bed.
[Thinking about bed already? Maybe he's tired. He sits on the edge.]
Some party. I felt a little eager to leave.
[Thinking about bed already? Maybe he's tired. He sits on the edge.]
Some party. I felt a little eager to leave.
Well...
[Oda nods his head, lets it bob, somewhat drunken.]
That's why I was eager, I guess. For that walk home. [For this.]
[Oda nods his head, lets it bob, somewhat drunken.]
That's why I was eager, I guess. For that walk home. [For this.]
[Dolph's right on the money, as usual, but of course, he always sees through Oda. His lips twist as he nods, like he's fighting a smile that never comes.]
Yeah. That's right.
Yeah. That's right.
[ dolph doesn't make promises. getting married was as far as he may go. the nature of his life, this place, no matter how good it may be, he'll never forget it. it's not a vice around his heart or a painful thought. it just is. in a way, he's used to that. no more forevers, no more ever and evers.
he reaches out, brushing his knuckles against the corner of oda's mouth. ]
Nothing has to end if you don't want it to.
he reaches out, brushing his knuckles against the corner of oda's mouth. ]
Nothing has to end if you don't want it to.
[All things end, don't they? Oda would like to think that he's at peace with that too. He tries to be. It's difficult, though. The grief he knows is so enormous. He wishes there were ever and evers, and he knows who he'd bring with him if he only could.
[All things end, but Dolph is here with him now, touching the corners of his mouth. Oda turns his face to kiss Dolph's knuckles.
[It feels so strange to ask, but inevitable too.]
Would you stay in here tonight?
[All things end, but Dolph is here with him now, touching the corners of his mouth. Oda turns his face to kiss Dolph's knuckles.
[It feels so strange to ask, but inevitable too.]
Would you stay in here tonight?
[ It was hilarious, frankly, that he got Odasaku's name. Lucky too. The man is as simple as they come. A gift couldn't be easier to pull together from these noname stores.
Odasaku will find a small bag on his porch with:
- a pack of cigarettes
- a bougie little lighter
- an empty notebook ]
Odasaku will find a small bag on his porch with:
- a pack of cigarettes
- a bougie little lighter
- an empty notebook ]
[ On Christmas morning, Odasaku will receive a package containing a bottle of spice mix that boasts itself as dragonkin flame breath-level spicy, as well as four books and a note:
Merry Christmas, Odasaku!!!
I'm really happy we got to meet in a world like this. If you liked the last book I got you, this is the same author! He has a lot of interesting things to say about reincarnation, even though he didn't believe in it... maybe you don't either, but hopefully you'll enjoy these.
- Haruaki ]
Merry Christmas, Odasaku!!!
I'm really happy we got to meet in a world like this. If you liked the last book I got you, this is the same author! He has a lot of interesting things to say about reincarnation, even though he didn't believe in it... maybe you don't either, but hopefully you'll enjoy these.
- Haruaki ]
[ On Christmas morning, Odasaku will receive a package with new holsters for his guns, handcrafted leather and custom fit, from one of the dragonkin craftsmen in Stellari. A small card inside reads:
Thank you for spending the holiday with us. I hope it's only one of many to come.
Merry Christmas, my dear friend.
- Maruki ]
Thank you for spending the holiday with us. I hope it's only one of many to come.
Merry Christmas, my dear friend.
- Maruki ]
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