[ota] happy (belated) birthday

[at_heart]

WHO: Yuri, Flynn, and YOU!
WHAT: Flynn's birthday and maybe an engagement party, depends on how badly Yuri freaks out sjldkfjs
WHEN: Early/mid June
WHERE: A park near Flynn's apartment
WARNINGS: Nothing unless you actually ask why this party got delayed,

[ So, about a week into June, you might get a quick text message. ]

Sorry about the short notice but
Any chance you could make it to a birthday party sometime this week?
Should've been the 22nd but well
Kind of lost track of time

[ When you actually show up to the park near Flynn's one-bedroom apartment, you'll know where the party is right away: chains of wildflowers string trees together around the clearing, and there's a big buffet table covered with lots of (clearly labeled for different dietary needs) food. The recipes definitely lean Japanese, and most of it's handmade, but there's also a selection of storebought snacks still in their wrappers for some reason. ]


((ooc: Do you have CR with Yuri or Flynn? Are you a friend of someone with CR? Can you rationalize why your character might've been in the neighborhood to hear the sounds of a party going down? ;) Then come on in.

Gifts are optional. Lower Quarter birthdays have always been more about the people than the things!))

Comments

[bravestknight]

People flock to me but they don't know me. I don't let them close because I don't need everyone knowing me.

You know me. I like that you know me.

[He sighs and gives withering look about the stick up your ass comment he pokes the other on his shoulder.]

You are the one at the end of the day that gets to know all of me. No amount of sex with other people will ever change that because I know you, Yuri.

I love you and want to spend the time we are together reinforcing that until you are never able to forget that you are so loved.

[at_heart]

[ Wow did he ever not sign up for hearing any of that? Alternately mortifying and— ]

So, which is it? Are you bad at making friends or are you choosing to keep things professional?

[ Loved, known, he's just. He has no retort for any of that. ]

[bravestknight]

Very bad at making friends and I like to keep things at a distance with others. You make friends, and I make acquaintances.

[It's always been true. There was a difference. Here maybe things can be different, but he still has his reservations about the people here.

He trusts Yuri, trusts himself, and trusts Judith, but others he is not so sure about right off the bat.]

I'm not perfect. Please don't do that to me.

1/2

[at_heart]

[ It's genuinely not wrong, but it's also something Yuri's never noticed before despite the front-row seats. Hachette and the others were always his friends first and foremost, while Flynn stood apart — and excelled at everything else* he ever tried to do, like a shooting star**.

* some exceptions apply
** and what else does that metaphor convey, huh, Yuri? ]

[at_heart]

Don't... do what to you?

[bravestknight]

Don't make me out to be someone other than the boy you grew up with in the lower quarter.

Let everyone else have those ideas, but not you.

Just see me.

1/2

[at_heart]

[at_heart]

[ ...Tension seeps slowly out of his shoulders as he gazes at Flynn. Eventually, soft, ]

You think I didn't think you were perfect even when we were kids?

[bravestknight]

I wasn't perfect. I was a cry baby, and for a while I was just really angry and ended up in fights.

[That was partially why his temper had manifested when he had started to grow up. He worked hard to tamp down on it, but it was still there.]

But, I always had you by my side.

[at_heart]

You were my hero. You were — who I wanted to be when I grew up.

[bravestknight]

I'm just me. I'm just a kid that grew up with you from the lower quarter.

It's okay to think good things about me, but remember I have my faults too. The only person who gets to see those things is you.

[He chuckles.]

I wanted to be more like you. Not just everyone can be true to themselves and push towards the things they believe in so wholeheartedly.

1/2

[at_heart]

Oh, good, I'm glad I've got your permission to think good things about you.

[ Also maybe a little flustered again by 'the only person who gets to see those things is you'. Just... touched, even though he kind of hates himself for liking it as much as he does. ]

[at_heart]

[ But also: ]

Like me? Give me a break.

[ His smile fading. ]

I was only myself because I couldn't be anyone else. [ Genuinely does not see this as a strength and maybe never will? ] All I ever did was get you into trouble.

[bravestknight]

Actually. We both got ourselves into trouble.

[He reached out gently tugging a strand of hair.]

I chose to be there and go through those things with you. Have you ever been able to make me do something I didn't want to?

[at_heart]

[ His eyes shut. The honest answer is that mostly he's tried to keep Flynn from doing things, but. ]

You're really trying to tell me I wasn't ever a bad influence?

[bravestknight]

We were both bad. We gave the entire lower quarter a thorough run through, and it sounds like you think only you were to blame?

Wow.

[He chuckles and shakes his head as he looks down at the space between them.]

[at_heart]

We were both idiot kids. You grew up into someone respectable.

[ You're probably making progress??? ]

[bravestknight]

And you led a group of people to save our world.

[He looks up and then over to Yuri.]

I think we both did okay.

[at_heart]

[ ...You're so gorgeous, he can't keep looking at you. ]

I got lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.

[bravestknight]

You didn't have to go with Lady Estellise, and you could have gone back to the lower quarter after everything was resolved, but you didn't.

Right?

[He turns and cups Yuri's cheek.]

You are a good person.

[at_heart]

[ Almost flinching back from that, the touch or the assertion or both. (It's both.) ]

I'm not, Flynn. I'm really, really not.

[bravestknight]

[Draws away his hand as he turns and murmurs.]

I think you are. I love you, flaws and all.

[Taking a breath, he places his hands on his knees and rocks up to stand.]

I think those rings can stay with you. Since I already know, it's time for you to figure it out.

[He turns to offer his hand.]

We can't leave everyone at the party waiting, so let's get back.

[at_heart]

[ Doesn't. Actually say anything for a moment. At least he pockets the rings? But just as Flynn might be prepared to walk away and leave him still crouched on the grass, Yuri murmurs, ]

What flaws, Flynn? What do you think's wrong with me.

[bravestknight]

I think your someone who values yourself less than others and you are definitely stubborn. You choose the path that is the hardest when sometimes there isn't a need.

[He turns and looks at Yuri and moves back kneeling in the grass with him. He isn't going anywhere to be honest and refuses to move now that he was asked.]

But that's okay, because I can do those things so you can move unrestricted.

I'll always have your back, even if we butt heads on the best way to move forward.

[at_heart]

[ —Flynn not leaving him alone with his thoughts might just. Be the biggest relief. Tension he hadn't even realized he was holding in his shoulders drains out of them. ]

Stubborn. Don't value myself highly enough. Make things harder on myself than they have to be.

Is that it?