silversnowfall

[69]

[It was almost a relief, to hear about so many people going home recently, even as more were due to arrive.

It was too sad to mention, knowing that one of those people was Professor Nebilim. That she wasn't really returning to anything. Just to the completion of a sad tale of a boy who thought he should be able to do everything.

And now Nephry is lonely. She has been, off and on, for a while; she feels it especially strongly today. At first she tried cleaning the kitchen but now she's sitting there, chin against her hands, staring at the table. With almost half of the house away or out of commission...things are quiet.

In the silence, she turns to her journal for a while.]

What do you believe happens...when you die?

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[He shakes his head.] It's all right. Things like that are just a part of living in Luceti, after all.

Perhaps I'll just have to find a way to make up for it next year. [Assuming he's still here... but he's not even thinking about that right now.]

We don't need an occasion to celebrate, you know.

But then it wouldn't be the same, would it?

[Birthdays have to be on your birthday! ...well, actually, he's not sure. And there's a touch of hopefulness in his tone when he asks. As much as he'd like to insist it's not necessary, he really was excited for it.]

It would hardly be fair to have a celebration for you that you were too ill to attend. If you want one, you have as much right to choose that day as anyone.

...so then, it's still not too late to have a birthday party?

[He sounds like a little kid, with the way he's asking. He feels a bit like a kid, but there's nothing wrong with that. This was supposed to be, after all, his first real birthday.]

Oh, it is. It's years too late.

[She is incapable of leading him along for more than a few minutes, though.]

We'll just have to do our best anyway.

[HE IS TOO HAPPY TO FALL FOR MOMMY'S TROLLIN-- well, okay, she had him going for like a second. But the moment that second is over, he's all smiles.]

Oh, yes, of course! I don't think I've ever been this excited to be well again before.

[ION. You should always be excited to be well again.]

Do you think Anise would be willing to bake you a cake?

[There's a difference between simply wanting to be well again and being excited to be well again. He can be patient for the first one!]

I'm sure she would be more than happy to if I asked her. Though it'd probably be best to decide a day before that...

It's your birthday. Go on.

...I'm not sure when I'll be well enough for a party, though.

[He's up and talking and seems fine now, but he knows himself. If he tried to stand right now, he'd probably get dizzy and fall over.]

Then how about you tell us when you do feel well enough, and we'll pick a day that's a few days after that.

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[69]

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