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Technically you are still a kid. Just for another year.

[Said with a small, fond smile, though truthfully anyone under twenty still registers with Dezel as a "kid" to some degree.]

[Kneeling down, he rests one elbow on his bent knee.]

If you want, I can put the bracelet on your wrist for you...

[Something he got with the idea that it might be a more proper gift for a young lady.]

[For one more year...

But then he's offering to put on the bracelet, and she nods, carefully holding onto the box and teddy with one hand as she retrieves the bracelet with the other. It's only belatedly that she realizes she can't really offer whichever arm she likes, so she holds out her only free one once he's got it.]

It's so pretty-!

[Taking the jewelry once it's offered, Dezel carefully opens the clasp before putting the bracelet around Hibiki's wrist and hooking the end back in place again. There is a part of him that rather hopes that even if she doesn't wear it often, she'll still keep it around as a nice little keepsake. Dezel may not come off as such to those who don't know him well, but he's quite the sentimental type.]

It is... And there's still room for a few more charms, so maybe I'll bring you another one or two on a different occasion.

[Spoiler alert she is going to wear it every day.

That said, once it's clipped into place, she spends a moment admiring it, turning her hand this way and that so she can look at it from different angles.]

It's beautiful already! I love it-!

[The ringing, a gentle sound of little bells, grows just the tiniest bit louder. It's not an unpleasant sound - if anything, it's actually somewhat festive.]

Do Seraphs celebrate birthdays...?

[With the sounds of chimes comes the fragrant scent of blooming wild flowers on the breeze. Dezel's own contribution to the moment emotionally, as the sight and sound of Hibiki's reaction to his gift manages to do his heart some good.]

[The question has him thoughtful a moment, though, despite the fact it's not the first time he's been asked such a thing. Just how to explain things without it sounding odd...]

Not really. I can't even remember the exact day I came into being, just that it was sometime in the fall.

Sometime in the fall?

[But that would mean--]

So your birthday's coming up, too?

I...suppose so?

[Not sounding too sure, here, but then fall is three months long. His birthday could be anywhere from two weeks away to two months away.]

Does it really matter, given I don't know the day?

[...!]

Of course it does!

[Like there's any question of it.]

We should celebrate your birthday, too, Dezel-san!

What day would we do that...?

[That this is of any real importance is somewhat confusing to him because he's not human, nor has he ever been human. But not like he's going to tell a twelve year old girl "no". He doesn't want to risk upsetting her at all.]

[...Good question! Hmmm...]

...If you don't know the day, then maybe you can just pick one? Even if it isn't the exact date...

It's just nice to be able to celebrate with your friends!

[After all, it isn't as though her birthday is really hers. It's just some fake date she came up with when her Master asked her. And despite that...

The fake date she had come up with has become far, far more important than whatever her 'true' birthday was.]

[Dezel is quiet a few seconds, looking rather contemplative. After a moment, though, he shrugs and shakes his head.]

Not sure what day to pick.

[He looks to her again.]

What do you think? What day would you choose?

[They're questions not based around putting the decision on someone else because he's being lazy about it. Rather, he feels like the day might mean more if someone like Hibiki picked it out.]

Umm...

[She thinks hard on this for a moment.]

Maybe... the tenth of Empta?

[She is quite possibly trying to subtly pick a day that would give her time to prepare gifts...]

Hn, a little over a month from now...

[Well, that seems reasonable enough to him. It's a few weeks off, so he can get used to the idea of the date coming up, even though he's not sure what to do with it, really. It's also well into the Fall, so it's as good of a date as any to pick. Might as well go with it?]

Why not? The tenth of Empta it is. I'll be twenty-six, then.

[She claps her hands in delight.]

Then-- I'll have to make sure to get something for you, too! What sorts of things do you like, Dezel-san?

[Uh oh. This is the part Dezel isn't sure he wants to deal with in all this birthday for him business. That and the possibility of a party.]

I'm not much for material possessions. Most of what I own, I'm wearing.

[He rubs at the side of his neck with one hand, wanting to bow out of this conversation suddenly, but hanging in because he doesn't want to disappoint or upset Hibiki.]

Mn, I like good food. And I appreciate animals. [A beat.] I have a pair of rats at the house. They're important to me.

Food and rats...

[Hmm, she's going to have to think about that.]

Erm... what are your... rats like?

[She's never really heard of taking care of rats before; she really has no idea where to start with that.]

[His rats are something Dezel can talk quite easily about at least, so...]

Their names are Cirrus and Stratus. Cirrus is a white rat with black eyes. Stratus is a slate gray color with black eyes. They're both very smart and sociable, though Stratus is the more curious of the two.

They like to curl up with each other when they sleep. They also like to hide in my jacket pockets and curl around the back of my neck, just inside my jacket collar.

[Hmm, what else...]

I got rats because I wanted close animal companions, but I can't keep a dog because one of my housemates is terrified of them.

[She listens intently, even though the idea of keeping rats is still a bit odd...]

Er... Wait, does that mean they're with you now, or...?

No, they're back at the house. I sometimes bring them with me on outings, but not often.

Though I could bring them here sometime. Or you could come to the house to meet them.

[Ideas he actually looks somewhat hopeful for and pleased about? ...meanwhile they're sort of getting off track regarding his birthday, but he's still unsure about the amount of attention that should be paid to that, so...]

[Unbeknownst to him, this is still perfectly on track, because she is very subtly looking for things he likes that she can get for him! …Or for his rats. As long as it makes him happy…]

You could?

[Ah…]

I’d love to see them-!

[…Okay, so maybe she’s getting slightly distracted, but it’s still relevant! Totally!]

We can arrange a day and time, then. I'm sure both of them would like to see you, too.

[At this point, though, Dezel is starting to feel like all of this is getting a bit awkward. It's been difficult enough to stay through the conversation about his birthday, but that was something he did for Hibiki. For whatever reason, that's important to her, so...he tried.]

I should get going now. A...friend of mine showed up with the last round of newcomers and I need to be sure she's doing alright. Contact me when you would like to meet Cirrus and Stratus...?

[As he speaks, he stands back up again, though not before he reaches out with one hand to give Hibiki an affectionate pat on the head, as he knows she likes that. And, awkward or not, he still can't help but smile a little at all this. It's been a nice visit.]

Oh-! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to keep you!

[Ah… Headpats. Headpats are awesome.]

But… Yes, I’ll be sure to! And—say hello to your friend, too!

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