Chapter ~6~ [Video]

[imhisaunt]

Hello, everyone. 

[Delmar's smiling, though its a bit distant. He's lost in thought mostly, mind wandering elsewhere, somewhere among old New York tenement houses and the chilly winter waters along Rockaway.] 

I just realized that, um, that with how long I've been here, I'm probably 64 by now. Isn't that strange? Or...or maybe that isn't so strange...maybe I should have thought of that sooner.....

[His voice trails off, a little embarrassed, but after a moment he clears his throat and starts again]

It just made me think about how many of us miss birthdays and all those special occasions from back home because we're here. So I just wanted to wish everyone who has missed their birthdays too a belated happy birthday and to say that...that once Hope is recovered and the bakery has more ingredients, I'll make a birthday cake every day so that at least there will be something to make it a little special...

[He's not had a birthday party since he was a small child but he had always hoped to throw them for a special someone or for nieces and nephews. Delmar had had visions of little cone hats and baking cakes some someone could blow out the candles. Life hadn't gone that way, but at least maybe here it could, if only in a small way] 

And, um, well that's all I wanted to say. Have a good day, everyone. 

Comments

video

[am_i_a_monster]

Happy belated birthday. Or happy early birthday.

[She gives him a little smile.]

I like the idea of a cake every day. A little reminder that for a lot of us, every day is a reason to celebrate - it's one more day than we were supposed to have.

Re: video

[imhisaunt]

Thank you very much

[Delmar's smile turns bashful but even so his eyes light up a little]

And that is a very lovely sentiment, Miss Abigail, you are absolutely right.

Video

[roseofthetyrells]

Hello, Delmar.

I'm sorry I didn't know it was your birthday. I would have thrown a little get-together for you and your friends to celebrate it, had I known. And it's so thoughtful of you to have the idea to make a birthday cake every day. Who knows? It could easily be someone's special day every day here.

[her namedays were always celebrated in grand style back in Highgarden. there would be singers, jugglers, acrobats, and on very lucky occasions, a theatre troupe. she hasn't had a celebration like that in over five years]

[private video]

And may I ask how you're feeling? You seem a bit . . . lonely.

[imhisaunt]

Oh don't you worry about that, Miss Margaery. I wouldn't expect you to know when my birthday was...and I wouldn't expect anything....I'm much too old for birthday parties after all. But thats very kind of you.

[That's what he's told himself at least.

As for her question, he both shakes his head to deny it but in doing so drops his smile, and in the end he stares into the screen with a soft, thoughtful expression]

I'm alright, don't you worry. I suppose all of that excitement with being children a little while back, it brought back some memories I've not thought about in a long time. I don't exactly know what to do with all of them.

[roseofthetyrells]

No, but as your friend I should have asked. And you're hardly too old for birthday parties. We still had parties for my grandmother and she enjoys criticizing every moment of them.

[private video

[she stares back with a calm, gentle expression]

...would you like to talk about them? or would you rather I distract you with tales of my own misspent youth?

[Private Video from here]

[imhisaunt]

Why would she criticize a party? If her family went to all the effort to celebrate with her?

[He is flabbergasted by the idea.]

Well, Margaery, you see...oh I really don't know where to start...

[Delmar draws his lower lip between his teeth]

It made me think a lot about my family. I've not spoken to them in a long time.

[Private Video]

[roseofthetyrells]

That was how she enjoyed herself. Critiquing the work of others. She was called the Queen of Thorns on account of her sharp tongue. Fortunately for me, I learned my lessons well and rarely was on the receiving end of one of her barbs.

[Delmar needs to meet Olenna Tyrell, then he'll understand]

I understand. These things can be difficult.

[she watches him sympathetically]

Truly? May I. . . ask why not?

[toiletseat_girl]

It's cool, time sort of runs together and gets all fucked up after you've been here a while. And it's not like we have the usual holidays like Halloween and Christmas and New Year's to keep all the dates straight. Though, maybe we should? Enough of us are from an Earth that it wouldn't be weird.

Anyway, happy belated birthday. When it's my turn in May? I'm requesting strawberry filling in advance.

[imhisaunt]

Or maybe we could make new holidays? Something special for all of us?

[Though he can see her point about the difficulty keeping dates. Its not as though any of them were taken from the same date to begin with, let alone year, let alone planet. And to add to that, Hadriel didn't exactly have much by way of seasons, so marking out a year would be all the more of a challenge]

I will be sure to remember that! ...though...we may have to guess when May is....

[toiletseat_girl]

Maybe? But I still think we should keep Halloween. It's not religious and it's all about getting dressed up in ridiculous costumes and eating candy. Everyone can get behind that.

[yeah, she was taken from 2003 and still has a hard time remembering that for most everyone else, it's fifteen years later. it makes her simultaneously feel young and old, but mostly unsettled. like time, which is something that can usually be depended on, is off-kilter]

Yeah. I have no idea what month it was here when I arrived. It was Christmastime when I left.

[imhisaunt]

But we'd have to be careful. There aren't any dentists here. And a toothache can be mighty painful.

[Yes, Delmar. Worry about the cavities.]

Actually, now that I think about it, it was almost Halloween when I left.

[toiletseat_girl]

The shops have gotta have toothbrushes and toothpaste. I found a toothbrush not long after I came here. Had to use baking soda to brush with which was nasty but eventually toothpaste showed up.

[brushing solves everything!]

Yeah? Have any big plans for it?

video

[ctrlfu]

[ Have a bobbing blue head in your feed. Despite the lack of visible expression, Caboose is clearly thrilled by all of this. ]

Oh, man, you know, that. That is just really, really nice! Cake is the best. And so are birthdays, and everyone should get to be happy for their birthday.

[ And as loud as he can manage: ]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLD PERSON I DO NOT KNOW.

Re: video

[imhisaunt]

[Admittedly Delmar is taken aback at first. The combination of the yelling and the blue head is an almost surreal experience for a man whose definition of high-tech is a black and white television.

But after the initial wide-eyed shock, and the subsequent calming of his heart rate which had jumped, he can appreciate the message for what it is. A genuine, if not exuberant, kindness.

He answers with a shy smile]

T-thank you very much.

[...though...he's not exactly thrilled to be addressed as 'Old Person'. Still he will not let that diminish the lovely sentiment.]

And my name is Delmar. So..so now you DO know me.

video

[ctrlfu]

I'm Caboose. And now I know me. And that is the greatest treasure that there is.

[ He nods sagely, before peering off-screen for a moment, seemingly thinking of something deep and meaningful, before being startled back to attention by the screen again.

Right, yes, he was saying something, wasn't he? ]

Hello!

Re: video

[imhisaunt]

Your name is Caboose? Really? I've never seen that as a name before.

[He is in awe a long moment before catching himself]

Well it is lovely to meet you, Caboose. Are you new here?

video

[ctrlfu]

Yup. Well, I mean the guys call me a lot of things, sometimes really mean things that make me sad, but I remember Caboose a lot easier. That's why they write it on the inside of all of my stuff.

[ There's a slight rocking to the feed, like he's shuffling on his feet as he talks. ]

Why yes! I just got here, and I met a lot of really nice people! Also some not nice people. Yeah, but they're taking a nap now. Maybe they will be less cranky afterwords.

video

[ghostlocked]

Shit, we're gonna have to throw you a birthday party when I get back.

[Since he's still off on his Hope orb walkabout, as Delmar can see by the ruins in the backdrop of the video.

And he's not about to say this to Del who has a good 25 years on him, but fuck, Harlan has just realized he is technically 39 now. Boooooo.]

Re: video

[imhisaunt]

[Delmar turns a shy shade of pink and waves a hand awkwardly]

Oh you don't have to do that, Harley.

[Though it means a lot to him that Harlan would like to]

I miss you. Are you coming home soon?

[ghostlocked]

Sorry, Del. It's happening. You're powerless to stop it.

[Though Harlan will back off if he detects any hint that that isn't actually something Delmar would want. It just seems like something his friend would enjoy.]

I miss you too, and yeah, I'm heading back in a couple of days. Assuming Love's timeline was accurate, anyway. They said it'd take about a week for these orbs to charge up. I'll be back as soon as it's done.

[He's considering skipping the journey back to town and just teleporting in, too. This desert camping thing is way overrated. The time away was nice, but he's anxious to get back.]

You doing okay?

[imhisaunt]

[Delmar's face goes from pink to red but its clear he's trying to hold back an excited smile.]

Well if you insist...

[He starts shyly]

...b-but you have to let us have a birthday for you too! And for Michael and for Hayden...

[No one should get left out]

I'm alright. Things are normal here again, nothing too exciting.

[ A pause]

Harley? ...Were you the little boy who wanted to take something apart?

audio;

[aroundthecoroner]

Hey, happy birthday, Del.

[Whenever it is-slash-was.]

I kind of forgot, but I guess I would've had a birthday not long after I got here.

Re: audio;

[imhisaunt]

Thank you, Michael

[Perhaps it can even be heard in his voice that he is smiling]

And a very happy birthday to you too.

[aroundthecoroner]

Thanks. I don't know if years actually count here, but that makes me 29 in theory.

[imhisaunt]

Oh! You are still very young, Michael. You have so much ahead of you.