050: Just Because I'm Losing Doesn't Mean I'm Lost

[contract_star]

[Hei looks significantly better now than he did back when, yanno, he was almost dying. He's lying on a rather ratty couch, a newspaper folded over his stomach. It's opened to the Classified section, and a few things are circled.]

[Hei yawns and stares up at the Astral Sky.]

I actually missed Sapporo. Nice to have a break from it all, finally...and that construction job should open on the sixth, so...

[He suddenly frowns a little.]

Wait, then... [He gathers up the newspaper and looks at the date at the top. He blinks, mildly surprised.]

Oh...huh.


[ooc: Hei forgot his birthday on the 3rd :|]

Comments

[madamemoiselle]

{Sits on the arm of the couch, looking down at Hei}

Construction? Hei wants to build things?

[contract_star]

[Blinks, momentarily distracted.]

Oh...well--no, I mean, it's not like I really want to, but...well, I need money.

[madamemoiselle]

I can give Hei money.

[contract_star]

Oh--but--thank you, really, but...I do want to earn it. You know?

[madamemoiselle]

...No.

[contract_star]

Oh. Um...I don't know how to explain it.

[madamemoiselle]

Well, that's fine I guess. Ne, but shouldn't Hei's job be something that he enjoys?

[contract_star]

Well...there isn't...really anything I enjoy...

[madamemoiselle]

Oh that's not true! There has to be something that Hei enjoys!

[contract_star]

Well, I do like cooking, but...

[madamemoiselle]

But what? Would Hei like to be a cook?

[contract_star]

Well, it's--it's not that simple, really. You usually need school, or...

[madamemoiselle]

But Hei is good, right?

[contract_star]

Well...

...There was an offering in here for a chef, actually... [Nods at the paper, and in so doing he remembers what day it is. He chuckles.] Heh, there we go, a present for myself if I can actually get the job.

[madamemoiselle]

...Present? Why do you say that?

[contract_star]

Oh...um...

Well, you see, I guess...it was sort of my birthday yesterday.

[madamemoiselle]

Oh, really? Happy birthday!

{Considers it, then she leans a bit closer with a smile} What does Hei want for a present?

[contract_star]

Thanks...

O-oh...I was joking, really. I don't really want anything. I sort of--well. I haven't really done anything in years. I keep forgetting about it, anyway.

[madamemoiselle]

Nonsense! If Hei knows his birthday, he should celebrate it! You're lucky, since you know yours. I don't have any idea when mine is, I mean.

[contract_star]

O-oh...well...I just...it's not really a big deal to me.

[madamemoiselle]

You should celebrate being born, though! I mean, I'm glad that you were.

[contract_star]

[BLUSHING.] That's...no one's ever said anything like that to me.

[madamemoiselle]

{She takes his hands tightly, holding them with a warm smile}

Then let me say that I mean it. I'm very glad that Hei is here.

[contract_star]

[There's nothing he can really say to all that, so he just smiles. It's probably the first completely genuine smile in weeks.]

[madamemoiselle]

Now, what do you want for your birthday, Hei?