Counting the Occasions
Sep. 15th, 2019 08:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nyanderenekoWord Count: 1,967
Summary: Nova and the Thieves gather together to celebrate a very special occasion, one that she’s honestly surprised (and relieved) she still gets to experience, even after all this time.
*Author’s Note*: Kind of a cryptic title, I know, but that’s nothing new for me. I know I haven’t posted anything in a while, but today is Ren’s bday! Well, it’s the 3rd anniversary of the original JP release of P5, and since all the other characters have official bdays, I decided to set this date as his! So I get to celebrate his birth (which kind of technically would be the game's release date anyway…) and the anniversary all in one go! ^_^ I can’t believe this game has been out 3 whole years already, holy moly…and come next February I will have officially been into it that long myself! It’s really exciting, but also I’m just glad to still have Ren in my life in any capacity, and I can’t wait to see what more Royal will have in store! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!
It was an evening brimming with all the happiness and lightheartedness they could imagine, that they knew he more than deserved. Gathered on the first floor of the familiar cafe that doubled as their private HQ, the band of thieves shared drinks, food, and stories, coloring the air with a hum of talk and laughter. Music played idly in the background, blending with the various sounds that occasionally seeped in from outside, coalescing into the cozy ambiance they’d become so accustomed to experiencing here. Despite all the energy and enthusiasm buzzing about the room, the space didn’t feel chaotic or overwhelming. Everyone was too busy making the most of the celebration to notice anything like that, anyway, caught up in the festivities for the much anticipated date all of this had been arranged for, now that it had finally arrived.
The weeks leading up to the event had been fairly busy, a consequence that mainly resulted from a certain individual’s propensity for perfectionism. As much as her friends tried to soothe her nerves by offering their organizational aid and advice on how to tackle the project more realistically, the pressure of her exaggerated feelings persisted. That, compounded by the fear of the kind of disaster that could ensue if she failed to live up to her own suffocating standards, had made the preparation phase of this endeavor quite exhausting.
Luckily, it seemed all her self-imposed suffering managed to pay off in the end. The decorations, party favors, and refreshments had all turned out exactly as she’d hoped; even going so far as to exceed her expectations. She owed most of that success to the ingenuity and dedication of the friends that helped her pull everything together without completely losing her head. They were just as invested in the outcome as she was, thankfully, and she did her best to keep that fact in mind to belay the guilt she felt for enlisting and employing so much of their time and services. It only made sense that they wanted the birthday boy, who was just as much their friend as he was hers, to enjoy his special day to the fullest extent and then some.
“I hope you’ve had a good birthday.” She probably didn’t need to ask, but she felt compelled to all the same. The smile that’d been beaming on his face all evening, and the elated glimmer that accompanied it in his eyes, was already a sufficient answer.
“Actually, it’s been a tragedy,” he complained as they prepared to head back downstairs and rejoin the festivities they’d temporarily slipped away from. Sitting on the edge of the lone attic bed, he dramatically slung his arm across his face. “Honestly I’m so disappointed, I don’t even have the words to accurately explain just how inadequate everything’s been. I can’t believe you didn’t bother to do more.”
As he brought his comedic lament to a close, he leaned over to lightly kiss the tip of her nose. She swatted at his chest and retaliated by moving a few steps out of reach. “Oh, fine then. I’d like to see you do better with the same time and resources to work with--”
“Kitten, you have to know I’m kidding,” he replied with a sympathetic smile, reaching out to pull her in and nudging her closer despite her flustered protests. Pressing a kiss to the back of her ear was just an added incentive. “It’s been wonderful, outstandingly so, beyond comprehension or imagination--”
“And you don’t need to exaggerate in the opposite direction, either,” she huffed.
“Well it’s a good thing I’m not exaggerating, then,” he countered, linking a hand with hers. “Another year, another great birthday. And getting to share it with the people I cherish most is the cherry on top of an already outstanding cake.”
She reached over and ruffled his already messy hair out to dispel the reserve of nervous energy that’d built up. He laughed and guided her into his lap, securing her in his arms as he rested his head on her shoulder. The sensation of his weight pressed against her was familiar and comforting, all encompassing and calming. She could feel the steady thrum of his heart against her back, the familiar rise and fall of his chest as her breathing automatically adjusted to match its tempo. They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the muted goings on taking place just below them. They’d disappeared upstairs for a spell, and at this point Nova wasn’t sure she could recall what their original objective had been.
“This is the second birthday of yours we’ve spent together,” she murmured, wringing her hands. “Not that I’m counting.”
A contented hum rumbled in his throat. “You know, I’d actually be pretty flattered if you were. Was there something else on your mind, since you brought it up?”
She shook her head, settling against his chest. “Nothing more than usual. I don’t know, I guess part of me is just surprised to still be here, to still get to celebrate things like this with you.”
“I kind of hope you’d take that sort of thing for granted,” he admitted, words accented by a hint of wariness. “Did something happen to make you think you wouldn’t be celebrating occasions like this with me anymore?”
“Not exactly. I was mainly referring to the idea of what’s bound to happen when you got sick of me and decide you never wanted to see me again,” she joked, although there was an unmistakable edge of doubt and dismay in her tone.
“C’mon now, you know me better than that,” he replied, unable to help the concern that instinctively shot through his nerves.
“And you know me,” she replied with a shrug, hoping that brightening her mood might repair some of the damage she’d done by confessing such misgivings. “I always have one or two thoughts like that floating around. But I know they’re not true…I’m sorry, sometimes they just slip out. And I know you don’t think anything like that, that it’s all in my head, that I shouldn’t listen to thoughts like that.”
“I really wish you wouldn’t,” he continued, dipping his head down to slightly muffle his words against her skin. The fact that he avoided facing her only fueled her apprehension. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never succumb to thoughts like that.”
“I won’t, I won’t, I promise,” she reassured desperately, pecking his cheek. “Don’t get all solemn on me, really, I’m going to be in big trouble if we go back downstairs and everyone finds out I ruined your mood.”
She got a smirk and a minor chuckle out of him…that was a good sign. He pressed a few kisses to both sides of her hand before changing course and trailing his lips down her wrist, across her arm (stopping to tickle the inner part of her elbow), all the way to her shoulder. She couldn’t help shivering as he kissed around her collar and started venturing up her neck, one of her most sensitive spots. He put a little extra effort into the impression he left against her pulse point, and she couldn’t suppress the shiver that jolted through her from head to toe. He was playing with her now, that much was obvious, but there was still the inkling of a possibility that he hadn’t fully recovered from her less than encouraging words.
She trusted him, and loved him, and knew that he extended the same feelings and consideration to her without reservation. But despite all evidence to the contrary and her best efforts to dispel such untruths, she was convinced she’d always carry even just a faint hint of suspicion that she wasn’t good enough, that she wasn’t the type of person he should waste his time on. She’d lived a majority of her life bearing such thoughts, and the habits they encouraged were unfortunately and notoriously hard to ignore--even harder to break. He moved up her neck to the corner of her jaw, eliciting another spine tingling shiver. She could feel the hair rising on her arms, and in the additional silence afforded by their location, they both observed the distinct sound of a different kind of vibration rising from her throat.
“I take it you like it when I do this?” he teased, and as the blush bled through her cheeks she found she didn’t have the energy to respond as indignantly as she wished. “Should I keep going?”
“We do have a party to get back to, you know,” she pointed out, averting her eyes as she tried to suppress the embarrassing noise she couldn’t seem to suppress. “They’ll start to wonder where we are, or at least what we’re doing, and send someone up after us.”
“Probably Morgana. He is a veteran when it comes to dealing with us,” he joked, his words soft and velvety. She still wasn’t quite sure how he was able to create such a unique and enticing sound, though perhaps it was just a matter of perception. “What do you think we should have them catch us doing, then?”
“Nothing!” she squeaked, puffing up as she stood up in defiance and disbelief at his bluntness. “Glad to see you’re feeling better, though. If that’s the case, let’s head back. You’re the guest of honor, and you shouldn’t keep your esteemed company waiting.”
He responded with a stronger laugh than before, knowing it probably wasn’t wise to try to push his luck any further. “Alright, if you say so. But before we go, was there anything else you wanted to say? Just in case it’s something you only wanted to share with me.”
She kept her head bowed and ears folded back, still a tad sheepish about the reactions he’d managed to evoke from her with his inescapable charm. “Just that…it makes me really happy. I never thought I’d get a chance to be with someone like this, much less for this long, and actually be happy about it. I mean, maybe that sounds kind of bad, but. It’s the truth. I just really like being with you, and I’m glad I still get to celebrate these things with you. You mean a lot to me, and I want to make sure I get that across in every way and as often as I can. I want to help make every occasion that’s important to you, or that you’re involved with in some way, even more memorable and enjoyable than the last. You make me so happy, I just hope I can do the same for you, even if it’s only a little.”
“You know you already do,” he murmured as he kissed the tip of her ear once more. “Just hearing you say that makes me happy. Just getting to see you and hear your voice at all…but I could go on about that all night. C’mon, like you said, let’s not keep the others waiting.”
He was making fun of her again, but she decided to let it slide. They were both feeling better, which meant that their shared goal had been accomplished. This was a day to be elated and inspired, content to share the company of close friends and loved ones. Although he’d ultimately submitted to her suggestion to return to the festivities, he wasn’t planning on forgetting the little exchange they’d had. More than that, he wanted to ensure he made every day they spent together just as gratifying and fulfilling for her. As they both made their way back down the narrow wooden staircase, he smiled to himself, knowing that even just being in each other’s presence like this was enough to warm their hearts, which had been inexplicably woven together long ago.
Summary: Nova and the Thieves gather together to celebrate a very special occasion, one that she’s honestly surprised (and relieved) she still gets to experience, even after all this time.
*Author’s Note*: Kind of a cryptic title, I know, but that’s nothing new for me. I know I haven’t posted anything in a while, but today is Ren’s bday! Well, it’s the 3rd anniversary of the original JP release of P5, and since all the other characters have official bdays, I decided to set this date as his! So I get to celebrate his birth (which kind of technically would be the game's release date anyway…) and the anniversary all in one go! ^_^ I can’t believe this game has been out 3 whole years already, holy moly…and come next February I will have officially been into it that long myself! It’s really exciting, but also I’m just glad to still have Ren in my life in any capacity, and I can’t wait to see what more Royal will have in store! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy!
_____
It was an evening brimming with all the happiness and lightheartedness they could imagine, that they knew he more than deserved. Gathered on the first floor of the familiar cafe that doubled as their private HQ, the band of thieves shared drinks, food, and stories, coloring the air with a hum of talk and laughter. Music played idly in the background, blending with the various sounds that occasionally seeped in from outside, coalescing into the cozy ambiance they’d become so accustomed to experiencing here. Despite all the energy and enthusiasm buzzing about the room, the space didn’t feel chaotic or overwhelming. Everyone was too busy making the most of the celebration to notice anything like that, anyway, caught up in the festivities for the much anticipated date all of this had been arranged for, now that it had finally arrived.
The weeks leading up to the event had been fairly busy, a consequence that mainly resulted from a certain individual’s propensity for perfectionism. As much as her friends tried to soothe her nerves by offering their organizational aid and advice on how to tackle the project more realistically, the pressure of her exaggerated feelings persisted. That, compounded by the fear of the kind of disaster that could ensue if she failed to live up to her own suffocating standards, had made the preparation phase of this endeavor quite exhausting.
Luckily, it seemed all her self-imposed suffering managed to pay off in the end. The decorations, party favors, and refreshments had all turned out exactly as she’d hoped; even going so far as to exceed her expectations. She owed most of that success to the ingenuity and dedication of the friends that helped her pull everything together without completely losing her head. They were just as invested in the outcome as she was, thankfully, and she did her best to keep that fact in mind to belay the guilt she felt for enlisting and employing so much of their time and services. It only made sense that they wanted the birthday boy, who was just as much their friend as he was hers, to enjoy his special day to the fullest extent and then some.
“I hope you’ve had a good birthday.” She probably didn’t need to ask, but she felt compelled to all the same. The smile that’d been beaming on his face all evening, and the elated glimmer that accompanied it in his eyes, was already a sufficient answer.
“Actually, it’s been a tragedy,” he complained as they prepared to head back downstairs and rejoin the festivities they’d temporarily slipped away from. Sitting on the edge of the lone attic bed, he dramatically slung his arm across his face. “Honestly I’m so disappointed, I don’t even have the words to accurately explain just how inadequate everything’s been. I can’t believe you didn’t bother to do more.”
As he brought his comedic lament to a close, he leaned over to lightly kiss the tip of her nose. She swatted at his chest and retaliated by moving a few steps out of reach. “Oh, fine then. I’d like to see you do better with the same time and resources to work with--”
“Kitten, you have to know I’m kidding,” he replied with a sympathetic smile, reaching out to pull her in and nudging her closer despite her flustered protests. Pressing a kiss to the back of her ear was just an added incentive. “It’s been wonderful, outstandingly so, beyond comprehension or imagination--”
“And you don’t need to exaggerate in the opposite direction, either,” she huffed.
“Well it’s a good thing I’m not exaggerating, then,” he countered, linking a hand with hers. “Another year, another great birthday. And getting to share it with the people I cherish most is the cherry on top of an already outstanding cake.”
She reached over and ruffled his already messy hair out to dispel the reserve of nervous energy that’d built up. He laughed and guided her into his lap, securing her in his arms as he rested his head on her shoulder. The sensation of his weight pressed against her was familiar and comforting, all encompassing and calming. She could feel the steady thrum of his heart against her back, the familiar rise and fall of his chest as her breathing automatically adjusted to match its tempo. They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the muted goings on taking place just below them. They’d disappeared upstairs for a spell, and at this point Nova wasn’t sure she could recall what their original objective had been.
“This is the second birthday of yours we’ve spent together,” she murmured, wringing her hands. “Not that I’m counting.”
A contented hum rumbled in his throat. “You know, I’d actually be pretty flattered if you were. Was there something else on your mind, since you brought it up?”
She shook her head, settling against his chest. “Nothing more than usual. I don’t know, I guess part of me is just surprised to still be here, to still get to celebrate things like this with you.”
“I kind of hope you’d take that sort of thing for granted,” he admitted, words accented by a hint of wariness. “Did something happen to make you think you wouldn’t be celebrating occasions like this with me anymore?”
“Not exactly. I was mainly referring to the idea of what’s bound to happen when you got sick of me and decide you never wanted to see me again,” she joked, although there was an unmistakable edge of doubt and dismay in her tone.
“C’mon now, you know me better than that,” he replied, unable to help the concern that instinctively shot through his nerves.
“And you know me,” she replied with a shrug, hoping that brightening her mood might repair some of the damage she’d done by confessing such misgivings. “I always have one or two thoughts like that floating around. But I know they’re not true…I’m sorry, sometimes they just slip out. And I know you don’t think anything like that, that it’s all in my head, that I shouldn’t listen to thoughts like that.”
“I really wish you wouldn’t,” he continued, dipping his head down to slightly muffle his words against her skin. The fact that he avoided facing her only fueled her apprehension. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never succumb to thoughts like that.”
“I won’t, I won’t, I promise,” she reassured desperately, pecking his cheek. “Don’t get all solemn on me, really, I’m going to be in big trouble if we go back downstairs and everyone finds out I ruined your mood.”
She got a smirk and a minor chuckle out of him…that was a good sign. He pressed a few kisses to both sides of her hand before changing course and trailing his lips down her wrist, across her arm (stopping to tickle the inner part of her elbow), all the way to her shoulder. She couldn’t help shivering as he kissed around her collar and started venturing up her neck, one of her most sensitive spots. He put a little extra effort into the impression he left against her pulse point, and she couldn’t suppress the shiver that jolted through her from head to toe. He was playing with her now, that much was obvious, but there was still the inkling of a possibility that he hadn’t fully recovered from her less than encouraging words.
She trusted him, and loved him, and knew that he extended the same feelings and consideration to her without reservation. But despite all evidence to the contrary and her best efforts to dispel such untruths, she was convinced she’d always carry even just a faint hint of suspicion that she wasn’t good enough, that she wasn’t the type of person he should waste his time on. She’d lived a majority of her life bearing such thoughts, and the habits they encouraged were unfortunately and notoriously hard to ignore--even harder to break. He moved up her neck to the corner of her jaw, eliciting another spine tingling shiver. She could feel the hair rising on her arms, and in the additional silence afforded by their location, they both observed the distinct sound of a different kind of vibration rising from her throat.
“I take it you like it when I do this?” he teased, and as the blush bled through her cheeks she found she didn’t have the energy to respond as indignantly as she wished. “Should I keep going?”
“We do have a party to get back to, you know,” she pointed out, averting her eyes as she tried to suppress the embarrassing noise she couldn’t seem to suppress. “They’ll start to wonder where we are, or at least what we’re doing, and send someone up after us.”
“Probably Morgana. He is a veteran when it comes to dealing with us,” he joked, his words soft and velvety. She still wasn’t quite sure how he was able to create such a unique and enticing sound, though perhaps it was just a matter of perception. “What do you think we should have them catch us doing, then?”
“Nothing!” she squeaked, puffing up as she stood up in defiance and disbelief at his bluntness. “Glad to see you’re feeling better, though. If that’s the case, let’s head back. You’re the guest of honor, and you shouldn’t keep your esteemed company waiting.”
He responded with a stronger laugh than before, knowing it probably wasn’t wise to try to push his luck any further. “Alright, if you say so. But before we go, was there anything else you wanted to say? Just in case it’s something you only wanted to share with me.”
She kept her head bowed and ears folded back, still a tad sheepish about the reactions he’d managed to evoke from her with his inescapable charm. “Just that…it makes me really happy. I never thought I’d get a chance to be with someone like this, much less for this long, and actually be happy about it. I mean, maybe that sounds kind of bad, but. It’s the truth. I just really like being with you, and I’m glad I still get to celebrate these things with you. You mean a lot to me, and I want to make sure I get that across in every way and as often as I can. I want to help make every occasion that’s important to you, or that you’re involved with in some way, even more memorable and enjoyable than the last. You make me so happy, I just hope I can do the same for you, even if it’s only a little.”
“You know you already do,” he murmured as he kissed the tip of her ear once more. “Just hearing you say that makes me happy. Just getting to see you and hear your voice at all…but I could go on about that all night. C’mon, like you said, let’s not keep the others waiting.”
He was making fun of her again, but she decided to let it slide. They were both feeling better, which meant that their shared goal had been accomplished. This was a day to be elated and inspired, content to share the company of close friends and loved ones. Although he’d ultimately submitted to her suggestion to return to the festivities, he wasn’t planning on forgetting the little exchange they’d had. More than that, he wanted to ensure he made every day they spent together just as gratifying and fulfilling for her. As they both made their way back down the narrow wooden staircase, he smiled to himself, knowing that even just being in each other’s presence like this was enough to warm their hearts, which had been inexplicably woven together long ago.