[ accidental audio/private text ]

[halffreckled]

[ there's nothing on the screen but there is a loud THUNK that comes through the device. it's quiet, save for a few mouse clicks and then something that sounded like a printer running ]

...I missed my birthday. I don't...

[ he voice is mono-toned, almost like he's trying to not make himself upset. he didn't really know what to do or even say about it. that party had been a bust that he had gone to and he had been in the dumps ever since he was told that he was dead back home. it just...seemed like everything he did didn't really help anything. even this job ]

I don't think it really even matters. I think I need a vacation...somewhere.

private text to jean

Hey Jean, I'm not coming home tonight. I need some time to myself... I'm sorry.

I don't want to be a burden on anyone either. Especially with what everyone knows. They probably think I'll drop dead at any second.

Whatever that was the other night... I don't want it to hurt any of us. I'm going to be training to be stronger so that I can protect all of you.

I don't want to be weak.

Anyway, I'll see you around.

Comments

[whyppleatpotatoes]

We missed it???

[halffreckled]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm any of you. I noticed the date and...

It's not a big deal, honestly. I'll have another one next year! Unless I go back home.

[whyppleatpotatoes]

Marco! You can't miss your birthday! Do you know what they do for birthdays here?


They eat cake! [ this is actually more dire than cake, but she's not going to let him know that. ]

[halffreckled]

[ ...even though this is a completely serious situation, as soon as she tells him that, he can't help but to start laughing ]

A whole cake?

[whyppleatpotatoes]

Yeah! A whole cake! Can you believe it?!

i'm.... sorry miss bossy mom, sort of almost maybe :'D

[scoutingangel]

WAIT! What is this about missing your birthday? If you missed it, we all missed it... And it totally matters, a lot, so we're going to celebrate it belatedly!

[...So hold your vacation plans until then, young man! petra, he's not that much younger than you]

he appreciates it!

[halffreckled]

That's... We don't have to! I'll have another one next year! I just...

I had been so wrapped up in my work that I hadn't even noticed.

<3

[scoutingangel]

Of course we'll have to -- and we're going to celebrate it on the right day next year!

...Well, I'm glad you remembered it now.

[halffreckled]

Petra, we really don't have to... But next year is fine.

Video

[my_martyrdom]

Your birthday!? T-That's not good at all, Marco!

We have to do something special for you today!

Video

[halffreckled]

You don't have to... I hadn't noticed, that's all I was saying. I'll have another next year!

Video

[my_martyrdom]

But- but you're here now and we should celebrate! If anyone deserves it, you surely do, Marco.

Video

[halffreckled]

[ did he deserve it? if he went home... there wouldn't be another. the thought choked him up a little ]

I-I really appreciate that. But I don't want you to go out of your way for me.

Video

[rulerofme]

Why doesn't it matter? It was your birthday. You can still go out and do something.

Video

[halffreckled]

...I'm not really sure what to do for my birthday though. Back home, we didn't have a lot of freedom.

Video

[rulerofme]

People typically have parties, go out drinking or to dinner or just doing anything as long as it is fun and they are spending time with their friends.

Video

[halffreckled]

I think all of my friends are busy at work right now... We could do that all next year.

Audio

[spitfireprincess]

[Sakura jumps as her device makes a noise. She isn't used to it yet. She slowly picks it up listening to the conversation curiously. She doesn't think he's talking to her but she can't not say anything.

Her voice is bell like as it response over the communicator. There's no video but it's because she forgot how to turn it on.]

Um.. excuse me. I know it's not my place to say but your birthday is special and even if you missed the day you can still celebrate.

It's the day that everyone gets to share with you and let you know how happy they are that you are alive. I know I don't know you but I'm happy, knowing someone who's trying so hard is alive. I mean it sounds like you are... I don't mean to assume.

I think you should celebrate; even if it's something small.

Audio

[halffreckled]

Alive...

[ that's the one word along with death that echo in the back of his head ]

--Thank you. I appreciate that and I think my friends would agree with you on it. But I honestly think that we're all a little too busy to celebrate. I'm actually not quite sure how to celebrate a birthday properly...

We never had chances like this back home.

Audio

[spitfireprincess]

I can tell you what my father and brother did for me when I was little!

We would have my friends over and we would have a nice dinner with cake and sweets at the end. We would all tell stories and laugh.

My older brother just said mean stories about me to try and embarrass me. [He can hear the pouting in her voice at that.]

Audio

[halffreckled]

I don't have any siblings but for a older brother, I don't think he should be mean at all to you.

But thank you. A dinner might actually be a good idea for all of us.

[inhisdebt]

Of course it matters.

[In fact, Mikasa tried to make a cake the best she could, but it ended up flopping in the end.]

I'm sorry that we missed it.

[halffreckled]

It's okay. There's always next year.

[inhisdebt]

[Next year... Would they really be there that long? Not that Mikasa minded. It was better here than back at home.]

Yeah.

[halffreckled]

Are you worried? [ ...as much as he is? about next year? ]