[ Zack's first job on the Barge was working in the Greenhouse. He'd done it originally as a way of thinking about and honoring Aerith, but now he likes going during his downtime to help her. It's relaxing, and of course, he's more than happy to handle all the heavy lifting.
At some point, though, he decides to bring up a certain something on the network... ]
So... I saw your conversation with Lark. About a birthday party.
Well…all of that is valid, honestly. (Except for the part about his own birthday not being celebrated, but that’s a side issue.) He had a feeling she would be iffy about all of this, which is why he wanted to ask.
Zack looks at her for a moment and he sits down beside her.
“Technically? Nobody actually ages while they’re here. Pretty sure if we did, I’d have some gray hairs by now.”
All jokes aside, though… he lets out a sigh.
“I haven’t really thought about my birthday much - because of the not aging thing, and also because I…also don’t really know how to count hold old I am anymore.”
Do the years in the Lifestream count? The years on the Barge? He doesn’t look a day older than the day he died. Still-
“But look- it’s your day. If you don’t want to do anything, we won’t. If you want something - small or big - we can make it happen. Your birthday is about you, so…whatever you end up deciding, I support it. One hundred percent.”
"I don't think the grey hairs would be from age, but from stress."
She reached out to pat him on the arm, before making to sit properly on the ground beside him.
Every grey hair would be earned. And how old was he now? He had years of experience now- in the Lifestream, on the Barge. Joking aside, she gave the idea some serious thought.
It would be easy to have a big party, with noise, fun and laughter. A smaller one could happen too.
But thinking of it- while she loved the people here, in the highs and the lows, she shook her head.
It was time to be a little selfish.
"I don't want a party. Not this year. Zack? Could you be my birthday wish? Because that's all I want. You."
Talk about an understatement. Although he has taken steps to reduce his own stress levels recently, there’s no denying that life on the Barge can be hard. Even so, he’s happier now that he’s been in a while.
What she says, though, about just wanting him for her birthday… His whole face seems to brighten, and he leans over to give her a soft, warm kiss.
“You can have me any time. But if you want to make a day of it…that’s what we’ll do.”
Aerith tried not to grin at the understatement of the year. She knew that he had gone through so much, much more than she knew.
But she was glad he wasn't facing the stress from custodial supervisor anymore. It was sad that Richter was gone, but maybe he'd come back. Without having to wrangle people. One day.
All thoughts of how glad she was for Zack's stress reduction vanished under his kiss.
She should be used to his kisses by now, but she still melted whenever he kissed her.
"Well...maybe so." She managed, after a few moments, making to rest their foreheads together.
"But being my birthday wish makes it extra special. We'll take the day off, just...be together. That'd make the day perfect."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spam
At some point, though, he decides to bring up a certain something on the network... ]
So... I saw your conversation with Lark. About a birthday party.
[ A beat. ]
Do you...actually want a big one?
Re: spam
[It was relaxing, being in the Greenhouse with Zack. But the question had her sit back on her heels, and stare at the flowers.]
I mean...I kind of froze up when he called me popular.
And...do dead people really get older? I'm kinda all mixed up about that.
Especially when we didn't get to celebrate your birthday either.
Re: spam
Zack looks at her for a moment and he sits down beside her.
“Technically? Nobody actually ages while they’re here. Pretty sure if we did, I’d have some gray hairs by now.”
All jokes aside, though… he lets out a sigh.
“I haven’t really thought about my birthday much - because of the not aging thing, and also because I…also don’t really know how to count hold old I am anymore.”
Do the years in the Lifestream count? The years on the Barge? He doesn’t look a day older than the day he died. Still-
“But look- it’s your day. If you don’t want to do anything, we won’t. If you want something - small or big - we can make it happen. Your birthday is about you, so…whatever you end up deciding, I support it. One hundred percent.”
Re: spam
She reached out to pat him on the arm, before making to sit properly on the ground beside him.
Every grey hair would be earned. And how old was he now? He had years of experience now- in the Lifestream, on the Barge. Joking aside, she gave the idea some serious thought.
It would be easy to have a big party, with noise, fun and laughter. A smaller one could happen too.
But thinking of it- while she loved the people here, in the highs and the lows, she shook her head.
It was time to be a little selfish.
"I don't want a party. Not this year. Zack? Could you be my birthday wish? Because that's all I want. You."
Re: spam
“Well, it can be a little stressful sometimes.”
Talk about an understatement. Although he has taken steps to reduce his own stress levels recently, there’s no denying that life on the Barge can be hard. Even so, he’s happier now that he’s been in a while.
What she says, though, about just wanting him for her birthday… His whole face seems to brighten, and he leans over to give her a soft, warm kiss.
“You can have me any time. But if you want to make a day of it…that’s what we’ll do.”
Re: spam
But she was glad he wasn't facing the stress from custodial supervisor anymore. It was sad that Richter was gone, but maybe he'd come back. Without having to wrangle people. One day.
All thoughts of how glad she was for Zack's stress reduction vanished under his kiss.
She should be used to his kisses by now, but she still melted whenever he kissed her.
"Well...maybe so." She managed, after a few moments, making to rest their foreheads together.
"But being my birthday wish makes it extra special. We'll take the day off, just...be together. That'd make the day perfect."