LABYRINTHUM INBOX

[axeiled]

TEXT | VOICE | VIDEO | ACTION | ETC.

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[empression]

[ From what Haru can tell, the light fixtures appear to contain flames, and she's already making a note to herself to make sure to find a ladder if that's how the lighting is meant to work for now. But it really does look... cozy, in here. ]

I would say so. For starters, I don't believe you're going to have to sleep on the couch. And the furniture really looks charming...

[axeiled]

You mean I get my own bed?

[At this, he finally releases his hold on her wrist, loping away into one of the other rooms. He spies a bedroom, and then Eddie can be seen wandering about for sign of another... Which he disappears into, an exclamation echoing from within-]

Well, shit. I mean, not that I minded the couch, but an actual mattress-

[empression]

No, I think being given the chance to sleep in an actual bed would be preferable for anyone.

[ She calls this over to him, since she too is wandering to check out another room. Wow, this is a lot nicer than she expected? The bar was low, but... ]

[axeiled]

[The bar was low, but now it's shot through the roof.

He hurries back into the living area, following her voice to find her in another room.]

You know what this means, right?

[empression]

I... no. [ she blinks at him, one hand resting on the bed to test the firmness of the mattress. ]

What does it mean, exactly?

[axeiled]

[Brightly:]

We're going to have to throw a Bilbo Baggins-style birthday party! Just like in the books!

[Whose birthday, tho. DOES IT MATTER]

[empression]

Er... my birthday isn't until December. Is yours closer?

[ well, she's not saying no. ]

[axeiled]

I mean... I dunno.

[He shrugs. Again, does it even matter?]

How do calendars even work when you've been not to just one different world, but two now? I'm not really keeping track... I just don't see the point.

[Also, when you're dead, it feels weird to celebrate a birthday.]

But it's someone's birthday somewhere. That's all the reason anyone needs to throw a Hobbit-themed party.

[empression]

Then we'll celebrate yours.

[ serenely. It was his idea, after all. ]

[axeiled]

[Reiterating: WHEN YOU'RE DEAD, IT'S KIND OF WEIRD TO CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY]

Uh-

[Just a flash of something shadowing his brow, but then he does his level best to banish it away, shrugging. Still not a great time to bring that up.]

Sure. ...Why not? Twenty-one years, yay.

[empression]

... Was that something you'd rather not do?

[ Carefully. Had it been her imagination, or had he hesitated? ]

[axeiled]

[It wasn't her imagination.

But he plays it off with a wave of his hand.]

What, not party? Of course not. It's just unusual, I guess. Having a birthday in a... strange new world. Really hits home in a weird way.

[empression]

That's... true, I imagine it would. If it feels more uncomfortable than anything, we can certainly come up with another occasion.

[ She'd rather Eddie be able to fully enjoy himself and not be reminded of home and where he is and where he isn't, if he'd prefer to avoid such things. ]

[axeiled]

[He shakes his head so vigorously that his poofy hair flings over a shoulder. No, no. He's not going to make this weird, or awkward. They really should celebrate, because he does think this place is worthy of it, just-

He'll just try not to think of it as his birthday, really. If he keeps that to himself it's fine, because he wants Haru to enjoy herself just as much as him.]

Come on, Haru. I said it was weird, not uncomfortable. We can't snag a place like a hobbit hole and not have a house-warming party for it.

A hole-warming party.

[Oh that sounds... Not like as he intended aloud. But it's funny. Snerk.]

Ha.

[empression]

Eddie-san!

[ She sounds scandalized. One hand is pressed to her mouth.

But she's also trying very hard not to laugh, so really, she's just as bad? ]

[axeiled]

[And Eddie's smile widens at her reaction. Cute. He has to tease a little bit, now.]

Don't you [higher pitched voice:] Eddie-san [normal voice:] me!

[He points, faux accusingly.]

You're trying not to laugh. I see it. Come on. Hole-warming.

[empression]

Please stop calling it that!

[ she is absolutely not moving her hand from over mouth now. ]

[axeiled]

I see it.

[He reiterates. Hide it all you want! He knows she thinks it's funny.]

Who knew your mind was in the gutter, too, Haru? Huh?

[empression]

[ It's a soft and embarrassed little whine leaking out through her fingers now. ]

It's not, you just lingered on it...

[axeiled]

[CUTE]

Don't blame it on me lingering on the hole [oh my god Eddie], you took your own mind there.

[empression]

A-anyway--

[ Help this girl, he's a bully-- ]

We'll have to make a few improvements here before we can hold a party in the first place, but I'll look forward to living here! With you!

[axeiled]

["Anyway", she says, like he's not going to pick on her about it later. Look at this smile.

But he relents a little.]

Me too, but what kind of improvements are we talking about?

[Someone was too excited about a HOBBIT HOLE to even realize that there's no running water or electricity here.]

[empression]

[ She's aware she can't escape forever, it's fine. ]

Well, while investigating...

There are light switches but no electricity. And there's no running water, either. Which might be a bit of a problem.

[ For these kids in more modern eras. ]

[axeiled]

[The way the smile falls right off of his face.]

We don't have...

[Reaches for the nearest light switch, flicking it on. Nothing happens.]

What?

[It falls out of his mouth before he can stop it:] How am I supposed to use the bathroom? What the fuck.

[empression]

So, as you can see-- [ calmly, like Eddie's not having a momentary crisis. ]

We should probably figure out a way to remedy this first. Though I'm not exactly sure where to begin with that...