7 [@dodger//video//forward-dated to 1/16]

[smokedout]

[This is another one of those posts where Dodger starts off playing music without explaining anything. The song he plays in particular is a slow tune, earnest and emotional. His voice is gruff from lack of use, or perhaps his perpetual hangover, but he's still a talented musician at the end of the day. The guitar he's playing has stickers on it that some may recognize as fan merchandise for Eichi Tenshouin, and a malinois with a black and purple collar is sleeping with its head on his knee during the song.

When the song ends, he sits there quietly for a while before reaching to light a cigarette. He snaps his fingers to light them, and uses that in place of a lighter. Another pause, before he finally speaks.]

I'm 26 today. And sure, I was gonna make this the unholy mess you were all hoping for, but fuck it, y'know? What's the point of acting like I'm better than anyone else if I don't even believe it...

I'm not planning any sorta celebration. Won't say no to presents. Guessing no one cares enough, though, right? Whatever. No one's looking at this.

[Welcome to the pity party, population: Dodger.]

Comments

[ragnarsson]

Are you sure you're turning twenty-six and not six?

[Ivar's never sympathetic towards people wallowing in pity at the best of times. He certainly isn't going to tolerate it right now.]

[smokedout]

Oh, fuck off, Ragnarsson.

[Of course Ivar's talking to him, it's like he's magnetized to Dodger's misery.]

Ain't your girlfriend keeping you busy enough to leave me alone?

[ragnarsson]

First off, I don't have a girlfriend. Get your facts straight.

[And here he thought Dodger was on top of things in the city. Tsk tsk.]

And secondly, you clearly made this post because you wanted attention. What's the matter? Upset because I'm not going to pat you on the head and say 'Poor Dodger'?

[smokedout]

I said fuck off, Ivar.

[Ugh, fine, are they really doing this? Fuck it, he's doing this.]

I was gonna ask you to suck my cock for my birthday, but your father beat you to it.

[ragnarsson]

[When Ivar's angry, usually it comes in one big burst of rage everyone can see. But every so often, there's these moments where his anger burns so white-hot that he appears to be perfectly calm to an outside observer. This is when he's at his most dangerous, for anything can happen. He's having one of them right now, voice betraying nothing of what he's feeling inside.]

........ What did you just say?

(Video @blinded.by.light)

[soulsflight]

You sound pretty pathetic. (Come on, man. Birthdays are supposed to be fun.) It's not about being better than anyone else, you know? We all have birthdays.

[smokedout]

Hey... new person.

[He huffs softly.]

The plan was to- do my usual bullshit pretending I'm king of the world. Instead I'm opening up and being sensitive. Turns out I fucking suck at it and no one gives a shit.

[And here he makes a very sarcastic party-type motion with his hand.]

Let's just say it's hard to get excited when no one wanted you to live this long in the first place.

[soulsflight]

Lightning.

(That's one hell of an introduction, Light.)

You sound less sensitive and more...as I said...pathetic. When you say "no one wanted you to live this long" that's incorrect. I can't say I felt one way or another about it.

(She is great at pep talks.)

[smokedout]

Gee, that makes it all better.

[His eyes narrow moodily. Yeah, Dodger's great at this whole 'trying to be a good person' thing.]

....Jesus, how do people put up with this bullshit? [A slight pause.] No, that's- it's a serious question, how the fuck do people handle being nice? It drives me fucking insane just trying.

[soulsflight]

Why are you trying? (It's an honest question.) It's...new...for me too.

(She falters and looks away.) Just take it...one conversation at a time. Try to think about how the other person feels. I know being defensive is more comfortable, but it hurts others.

video;

[specifications]

[ For a while, Arthur thinks this is some sort of music video. Until he addresses the camera. Still, his face is a mixture of confused, curious, and a little unimpressed. ]

Are you drunk?

[ Or is he really that desperate for attention that he would broadcast a pity session? ]

[smokedout]

Yes, but that's beside the point.

[He's always drunk; hell, he's more himself drunk than sober. For a number of reasons.]

If you're gonna tell me this is pathetic, I know, I get it, and you can fuck right off. It's not nice to point out someone's stupidity on their birthday.

[Stupidity like thinking he could garner any sort of sympathy, apparently.]

[specifications]

[ Arthur raises a brow at that but just shrugs a shoulder, looking off camera for a moment and then back, ]

I mean, if it is your birthday, you can spend it the way you want.

[ Even if that means being a sad sack in public. ]

I'm assuming you don't like celebrating it. Or is it just because you're here?

[smokedout]

It's a long story, alright? Short version is... I don't like how old I'm turning. Figured I'd be dead by now, getting another birthday feels like a joke going on past the punchline.

[He starts noodling on his guitar while they talk, just creating some pleasant background noise so he feels slightly less like crap.]

Just because I wasn't planning to celebrate, though, doesn't mean I'm opposed to one. Just so happens I got no one to celebrate with.

[specifications]

[ Surprisingly enough, Arthur can identify with that. "Retirement" isn't something he's really considered for himself. Even imagining what he would do after somehow getting Dom back home hadn't crossed his mind. It shows on his face, comes through in his voice, looking away from the feed again but still addressing the other man. ]

Yeah. I know how that feels.

[ A beat. ]

Both counts, to be honest.

[ Though the latter is usually because he doesn't tell people when his birthday is. ]

( video; ) un: aeacinos

[illusionistic]

[ Color Aeacinos unimpressed. The way that Dodger had acted during their little bout at the pool was in stark contrast to, well, this. His tail will flick behind him as reptilian eyes look into the camera. ]

I didn't peg you as a man to have such...self pity.

[ He seemed pretty assertive in their first meeting. It's a bit surprising. ]

Humans put a lot of emphasis on these birthdays, do they not? I hardly remember the day I was created, as if it matters much anymore. As long as I still live and breathe to do what I was made to do then that is enough. [ Well when you get around to being 3000 years old you forget that sort of thing too. ]

I never saw the point of them, celebrating birthdays. It's just a number that hardly signifies a person's maturity.

[smokedout]

Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine.

[Dodger's sure learning about someone's past is usually interesting but... his interest in the naga is still skin-deep, and he's too busy moping to keep notes on people right at the moment.]

Numbers are important. Numbers, names, and words are all a person ever is. It's all they leave after they're gone. Might as well find something to celebrate while we rack them up.

[illusionistic]

Their achievements matter as well. More so in my world. No one pins a number to a person and remembers them just by that alone. How they acted and who they were are more important. [ Numbers hardly mattered in his world where people live for so long it's just not worth keeping count. ]

But...cake yes? That is what you celebrate with, is it not? [ Aeacinos will look curiously at Dodger before he lets out a huff. ]

If I bring you some will that help matters at all? [ He's not the sentimental type, not really, but doesn't see the harm in doing this simple thing. He doesn't know Dodger well enough to get him a present that would really matter either. ]

Sweets are not something I am...normally interested in. I do not have to eat technically. But I wish to try this dessert you humans always speak of. If there is a particular flavor you wish for...say so now.

[ Hopefully he can actually buy a cake...but he might use his illusions to look like his human form to make it easier. It's such a pain getting grief every time he goes out, it pisses him off to be honest. ]

[smokedout]

Achievements don't matter, people only think they do. When you die, all you have left is your name and the dates you were born and died. That's all your life is worth.

[What was that about being a ray of sunshine, Dodger?]

If it's gonna be such an inconvenience, don't bother.

[The last thing he wants is to have to listen to the naga droning about how odd human customs are... He just wants the day to be over, mostly.]

...How about you just sleep with me some time tonight?

[illusionistic]

You are oddly dour for a day that is meant to bring happiness.

[ Is there some concern there? There might be actually. ]

It is not inconvenient. But if it is sex you wish for then I do not mind that either. [ He smirks. He can certainly say that he definitely doesn't mind doing that again with Dodger. ]

Tell me where you live and I will pay you a visit tonight. [ His tail will swish behind him expectantly. ]

VIDEO » un: strawberrysamurai

[naturallywavy]

_{[ He doesn't know this guy from Adam, but there's one keen thing he is interested in, so he bypasses all of the pity-party stuff and gets straight to the point (for now.)
Here's a Japanese guy with silver hair and red eyes and when he parts his lips to speak, his voice is lazy and mellow.. almost like he's completely exhausted: ]}

Yo. Is there any cake?

_{[ and that's it.. without any kind of tact at all. ]}

[smokedout]

[He raises a brow, but... honestly, not only is this not something that bothers Dodger, but he's just happy to have a response that isn't criticizing his attempt at acting human.]

None yet, but you're welcome to get off your ass and bring some yourself.

[naturallywavy]

You're expecting me to bring you a cake? Oi, what else do you want me to do.. make you some balloon animals too?
I'll be honest with you, I'm just here to mooch.
_{[ That's usually why he goes to places uninvited. Though, he does take delight in making cakes, and this guy does sound pretty pathetic.. maybe it'll make his day. ]}

[smokedout]

Right, I forgot about the ancient birthday tradition of the birthday boy doing shit for other people.

[He rolls his eyes.]

I only give free things to people that I've slept with. That way at least they earn their keep.

[naturallywavy]

Aaa, I see, you're a give and take person. Guess I can understand that.
_{[ Sort of. He's a give and take person, just sometimes in the wrong order. ]}

For example, I don't give cake to people unless they buy me JUMP, so we're even.
If you've only given free things to people you've slept with, I guess you haven't given away much stuff if you have an attitude like this all the time.

_{[ oh, there it is. ]}

Seriously. What's with the melancholy attitude on your birthday? You look like somebody who has just experienced Ev*ngelion for the first time.