sunshowered | ღღღღღ ; totally ran out of symbols

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAREST.
my dearest, most amazing, kindest, most considerate, and irreplaceable tag-team partner

Another year gone by where I get to realize and really think about how important you are to me and how thankful I am to know you. It's been a pretty turbulent one, given the great multitude of things that challenged us this year, but I think that we managed to come out of it only stronger! And I think - given how difficult things honestly were for me in terms of scheduling and the like (like I told you, I feel like something tests us every 4 years) that I got to reflect even more on how much of a blessing it honestly is for me to have you in my life because it's just

I'm so glad that sometimes we can stay up until 3 AM doing threads or watching dumb animes or marathoning ad series and we can try to undertake ridiculously long series to watch like FMA or watch movies together like POTO or Persona and we can still manage to keep up this ridiculously long line of texting that we do like - do you realize that it's something close to like 6 years of texting now? Like isn't that crazy? But whether we're plotting out PSL things or talking about the snow for another two hours or just providing random commentary for the day, it's always a good time. It's always a constant, reassuring feeling that you're right there whenever I need you or if I just have something random about my day to say because - you'll totally just be down to listen and bat it right back at me.

Because you're a giving soul like none that I've ever met before. You have friends upon friends upon friends and you manage to give your time and attention to every single one of them and I think that's amazing. The fact that someone like you exists gives me hope about the world and I've - I've said all this before, I know that I have but I don't think that it'll ever stop being worth repeating. You've been someone I've admired and held dear for years (like I've known you longer than my freshman year roommates and that's still so funny to me) and you've been constantly spectacular the entire time. I'm still sure and I believe with absolute certainty that you'll keep changing the world for the better, whether it's through your advocacy work or just wearing fantastic nail polish to your hockey games and kicking ass while also being completely and totally fabulous.

I can gush about you as an RPer for days - and I absolutely completely and totally have - but also I think that even without being one of my favorite people to play with in the realm of RP, you're just one of the best people I've ever met, period. You're always brilliantly, blindingly honest without ever going out of your way to be mean. You're so hardworking that they could turn to that word in the dictionary and find your picture as an example. You're smart and beautiful and sweet and kind and someone that I treasure to no end in my life because you have - honest to goodness - always just been with me through so much and I love you. Just - thank you for all of that. And I'm so unbelievably excited to being with you for years to come because... well, honestly that's probably just gonna be how it's gonna go. I can't imagine my life continuing on without you just like how I can't imagine what my life would be like if I hadn't met you and - I'd really rather not think about either of those scenarios too much.

Thank you for being my dearest and my tag-team partner and my partner and my OG girlfriend and - still, someone who puts up with me on a daily basis. I appreciate you more than words can ever begin to say, but here I am, another year, trying anyway.

--

The dawn of Scarlet's birthday was a cool August morning, the hues of dark blues giving way to the soft stretch of orange peeking over the forest trees. Everyone in the camp was already beginning to rise, steeds being saddled and weapons being sharpened as they understood that they were moving into another battle today. Pegasus wings clapped overhead, Hoshidan katanas clammering against clubs in quick morning practice spars, and the royals themselves were making sure that their retainers were in line—

"Happy birthday, Scarlet!" Sakura interrupted that train of thought quickly. The younger girl came up to her, staff in hand and expression a happy sort of flushed.

To which Scarlet just laughed, giving Sakura a smile. "Thanks!"

"Here, um - I have something for you..." Sakura rummaged around in her bag next, pulling out a string of flowers, stems carefully tied into one another to make a crown.

Scarlet could only smile, amused very much that the little princess was giving her, the Nohrian rebel leader, a crown. She took it, setting it on her head right on top of her hairband with care. "I love it! How's it look?"

"Amazing!" Sakura blushed further, even though she was the one giving the compliment, but Scarlet had come to realize that was just a sign that the younger girl was truly that happy. "You really are made to be a queen!"

Yet before Scarlet could respond to that, Subaki's pegasus landed by them and the redhead was soon calling out, "Lady Sakura! Lord Kamui is waiting for you - and happy birthday, Scarlet. I hope your day is absolutely perfect."

Waving them off, Scarlet could only laugh to herself as she bit down what she wanted to say to Sakura.

Only the woman who marries Ryoma would be one that's made to be Queen - but maybe she just didn't realize her words.

The rest of the day passed by similarly and her small pile of charming little gifts grew even after they won their battle.

Kamui himself had given her a small pouch of stones for her to decorate her weapons with further, giving her a reassuring smile. "I think your battle prowess shines through even more than these stones but - if they're what make you happy, that's even more important."

Takumi had waddled over to her awkwardly, before giving her a sharpening stone for her axe, admitting that he was never really sure what to give girls but - he admired her work on the battlefield and thought that this would be more useful.

Hinoka came over to her only a few minutes after her younger brother... also giving her a sharpening stone for her axe, scratching her neck. "I'm not really into girly stuff but... everyone could use one of these, right?"

Reina sat next to Scarlet for lunch that day - Mozu's cooking filling the camp with a delicious aroma as she declared that she was under special orders for the best possible meal today - and she just hummed. "The royal family smiles upon you, it seems."

Scarlet had just snickered, "They're all just really cute kids - I think they just appreciate everyone who helps them out with their cause."

The kinshi knight just hummed, pushing a small, beautiful piece of cloth into Scarlet's hands. "That's a nice if naive way of thinking... but here, a scarf from the Hoshidan capital. I think it would fashion into a beautiful headband for you. The battlefield will be torn asunder with screams of terror - but also blinded by your beauty."

Not for the first time, Scarlet thought that Reina was a bit of an odd bird.

Ryoma came to her much later, as he was wont to do when it came to things that actually mattered. This man infuriated her and interested her all in the same breath, but luckily the latter greatly outweighed the former and made up for it in spades. He was slow to tell her the truth about himself and even though he trusted her as a confidant - an honor in itself, she could recognize that sure - he would still be slow to realize other important things.

Like her birthday - or so she thought.

"I'm late."

That's how he chose to announce himself as he sat next to her as she was already breaking in some of her presents, alternating between the polishing stones that Hinoka and Takumi both gave her. Her usual teal headband was replaced by the silk scarf that Reina had given her and Sakura's flower crown was sitting above that, even though it made her head a little heavier even still. Kamui's pouch of stones was right next to her foot, waiting to be placed lovingly onto her axe.

She didn't even turn to face Ryoma but instead smiled down at her weapon. "I'm patient."

"Too patient with me as always," Ryoma sighed, glancing toward her and her work, tilting his head. "Ready to put new stones on this one?"

And that's how they fell into step, conversation so easy. "Yeah! Kamui gave me stones to put on it and I thought - well shoot, why not? We're not going anywhere for a bit longer. Might as well put 'em on this evening. If I'm lucky, the last few rays of sunset will hit 'em just right."

"It does seem like you have quite a treasure trove of your own," Ryoma noted, nodding toward her head ornaments. "You wear it all very well."

She fought down the pleased feeling in her chest and just turned to him with a grin. "You think? Your sister and mother's retainer have good taste! I have no talent for this sort of thing."

"... Well, that does make the both of us."

Her response to that was a silent raise of her brow and - she really would've left it at that except it was too tempting to pass up the opportunity to ask, "Yeah? Here I thought you'd know all the best silks and prints, my prince."

"Very funny," Ryoma sighed. His tone implied that he found it to be otherwise. Though he waved that off next, sighing as he went to reach for something that he'd apparently placed behind his back when he sat next to her, "I don't know if I have good taste.... so it was more of a matter of seeking out advice since I didn't want to give you anything less than the best."

(Scarlet wondered if she could take those words and put them in an envelope and keep them as a gift - because perhaps that alone was enough from him.)

He continued, pulling out a glasswork sculpture in the shape of a blooming, red gladiolus and handing it to her. It was a delicate thing, already catching shine off the setting sun as golden hour illuminated the sky above them. She took it in her hands, surprised.

Ryoma was a serious man, a gruff person who was likeable through his unending kindness and charisma... but delicate was something he certainly was not. Perhaps the same could be said of her, the fearsome rebellion leader that would sit atop a dragon most days and clobber her enemies with an axe - but she still found comfort in beautiful things.

This was a very beautiful thing.

"Ryoma..." she eventually breathed, turning the glass over in her hands. It truly was a work of art. "Where did you even..."

"Well, it's not like I don't communicate with the capitol... We have very successful and talented artists there," Ryoma explained, his pride in his country still radiating through the warmth in his voice. "I'd still like to take you there someday."

"Me?" Scarlet laughed faintly at that, not meanly - just in disbelief. As much as she liked Ryoma, as much as she was sure they would be friends long after the war, she still didn't think she'd get a personal invite to the capital from royalty.

"Yes... even though I understand that you must return to Nohr to take care of your affairs once all this is done," he paused and Scarlet wondered if for once he was unsure of his words. But then he shook his head softly and when he continued, there was no lie to be found in his eyes. "You will always have a place next to me."

Scarlet had been on many battlefields and was fearless in fighting for her life, but she was rather sure that no man could ever be quiet as dangerous as Ryoma of Hoshido.

"You're such a sap..." Though she was sure that the emotion was clear in her voice so she covered it up with a laugh, reaching out to knock him in the shoulder slightly with her own fist, even though her mouth was affixed into a smile that she couldn't control. "Yeah well - we'll cross that bridge when we get to it, okay?"

"I just wanted to make sure you knew what your options are," Ryoma just shook his head, even as he gave her a smile in return. "And also - happy birthday, Scarlet."

"You're the last of your siblings to greet me today, you know..."

"What? They all beat me to it?"

And they fell into banter again after that, their laughter matching as the rays of light died and dusk settled. Eventually they would build a fire just so that they could keep talking, uninterested in moving any further when they had the whole world to talk about.

Still, Scarlet couldn't help but think -

If there was a place for her by Ryoma's side always, maybe she really did have what it took to be a Queen.

--

Aaaaaah but that's not all! Dearest, I got so much help on your gifts this year. But your physical gift is going to take forever to be sent again - because I am always The Latest, it is me you'll probably get it closer to the summertime again - and I knew that was going to happen! So I had some digital gifts prepared instead.

So here's something that I got from Ty:

And here's something that I commissioned Sib for:

I'M EDITING THIS REALLY LATE BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT'S THE LAST NOTE I LEFT ON I LOVE YOU ALWAYS HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOU'RE THE BEST