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There were a great many things that a ghoul like Shuu Tsukiyama wanted in his life. But when it came to asking for anything from his girlfriend, (First Name) (Last Name), he found himself tongue tied. He didn’t like to obligate her to do anything for him. She was the only being on the planet he cared for beyond a meal.
She was his other half.
His partner in crime.
His one true love.
She was his everything.
He would do anything for her. And she would do the same for him. But at the same time they both fell into the same quandary of not wanting to obligate the other.
Two years earlier when they started dating they agreed that physical gifts weren’t necessary and if given should not be expensive. As ghouls they didn’t have much money as it was anyway. He still broke that rule with the necklace he gave her for Valentine’s Day this year. And she’d bought him an exceptional ivory blazer he wore far too often now for the same occasion.
Now his birthday was upon them.
And she was pestering him for an idea of a gift.
And he hadn’t the slightest idea.
So today when he came home to find that she had a camera set up in the living room which she had tastefully rearranged. There was lighting and a rack of clothes for each of them. Some of their favorite outfits. He was confused until she walked in with a box of their different holiday decorations. It went with the other one sitting in the corner.
“What is all of this, mon amour?” He asked confused.
“Well, you said you had no idea of a gift and it is far too late to order anything special since your birthday is today.” She said in a scolding voice, “Shuu, you know I love to do something special, even if it doesn’t cost a lot of money. So I made a decision. Since we both love fashion and each other...I figured we’d take thirteen photographs and have them made into a custom calendar for the rest of this year and the first two months of next year.”
“Oh, why thirteen then?” He asked.
“The cover darling, the cover.” She laughed. “That way even after the year is gone we can still hang it in the hallway with our other photographs and art.”
“Oui, I should have figured that out.” He chuckled, “You're a clever one, mon petit, you truly are.”
She laughed and set the box down before walking over and kissing him tenderly.
“I have outfits that fit every month, holiday or no.” She said, “Plus our favorite date outfits from last year...for the cover and all.”
“You never cease to amaze me.” He said, “Alright. So what first?”
“This month, I chose the blazer I bought you for your birthday, that pastel blue, yellow, and orange chevron patterned button up that looks so handsome on you, and your favorite navy slacks, you pick the shoes...because I couldn’t decide whether to match the blazer or go with blue.” She giggled.
“The blazer. Those ivory dress shoes are some of my favorites and they would top that outfit off perfectly.” He said.
“Perfect, that means you can wear your ivory bow tie as well, tie it all together.” She said, a bright smile on her lips.
“Oui, you know fashion better than I sometimes.” He laughed.
“Well, we did meet while going through vogue at the newsstand.” She teased.
He chuckled and rolled his eyes, kissing her temple. “What did you choose for yourself?”
“My coral cocktail dress, shimmering skin toned pantyhose, my ivory bolero, the one with the orchid piping, tie us together, and I was thinking...my favorite tawny ankle boots, and obviously my new necklace, with some golden hoops and faux amethyst cocktail ring.” She said.
“We should be on the cover of Vogue with these matching ensembles.” He declared and pecked her lips.
They changed into the decided on outfits and then together they decorated the background how they wanted, streamers and balloons, which matched their chosen color palette of course, because it was his birthday month. They talked about doing something similar with hers, tying in a holiday if it worked or was needed with the outfit that was selected. She poured them each a wine glass of blood for appearances, if a human saw this photo they’d just think it was wine on film.
They took a moment to discuss poses before she set the timer on the camera. Ten seconds. She walked back to him and they got into their poses. He was on the left and she was on the right, he had one arm around her with his hand resting on her shoulder from behind, while she ‘casually’ rested against his chest, her head resting over his heart while her other hand was on his other pectoral. Her other was around his waist and his other hand held the two glasses of blood out to the side carefully (didn’t want stains on the white carpet) but still fashionably. They were both smiling lovingly and happily.
The timer beeped and the click of the camera followed. They disentangled themselves and he handed her her glass. She sipped it and walked around to look at the photograph they’d taken on the screen on the back of the camera, Shuu following her.
She grinned, “It’s perfect!” She declared.
“Oui.” He said with a smile and kissed her temple, “My clever kitten.”
“Ready to do April’s photo?” She asked, looking up at him with a wide grin.
“Of course, what’s the theme?” He inquired.
She set her glass down and walked over to her rack of clothes and pulled out her cutest, and to some garish, article of clothing. Her bright green translucent rain slicker, whose hood looked like a frog's head. She loved frogs, everyone who knew her knew that. She even had rain boots that were light blue covered in little green frogs.
“April showers!” She declared.
He chuckled, “So I take it my brown raincoat is the centerpiece of my April outfit?” He asked.
“Oui.” She declared.
Shuu walked over and looked at what she’d selected, it was rather neutral in color scheme, quite academic. He saw her bright and cutesy choice for herself and chuckled again.
“Opposites. Cute.” He said approvingly.
She nodded and walked over wrapping her arms around him from behind.
“I love you Shuu.” She said, “Happy birthday.”
He turned in her arms and embraced her. “I love you too, my darling (Name).” He purred, “And thank you, this is the most creative and lovely gift I could ever dream of receiving.” He pecked her lips.
They went to change into their next outfits. This would be a long, but fun evening. This was shaping up to be his best birthday ever.
God did he love her.
He loved her so much.