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

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.

[aroundthecoroner]

[And so much behind, it feels like. Sometimes he can tell he's not quite 30, and sometimes he feels ancient.]

Well, it's not like you don't, too. You're not like, old or anything. You're close to my dad's age.

[And therefore just middle-aged. Michael spends so much time not thinking about his dad that he forgets he was somewhat older than most of the other kids' parents when he was younger.

[imhisaunt]

[Delmar's smile wavers somewhat]

Maybe...

[His health is good and he looks after himself so he's not exactly worried about shuffling off in the next year or two]

But it's different, Michael.

[aroundthecoroner]

[He's glad Delmar didn't take the "my dad's age" thing the wrong way, because after he said it, he realized how stupid and kind of rude it is. His dad's a bad person. He shouldn't compare Delmar to him at all, and especially not like that.]

Alright, different, yeah, but it's not like it's worse or anything.

[imhisaunt]

Erm...No...but...it's different. Choices you make at my age have, um, well they have a more limited ability to change your life than they do when you are still a young man.

[aroundthecoroner]

Well, I mean... I guess. But it's not like you're too old to change anything. There's not really an age limit on that.