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Emporio didn't own much; He never really had many things to call his own aside from the clothes on his back, and his baseball gear. Even his room, his own stand wasn't his own. It was Green Dolphin's way before he was born. And his clothes were some hand-me-downs from his father. That was what his mother told him, at least.
It wasn't that he was frugal, or picky. He once found a small doll toy outside of the visitor's room and played with it for weeks. It was made out of cheap plastic, and probably wasn't even worth a litre of the gas from the car that brought it there, but Emporio played with it like it was a prized possession. The only reason he stopped was due to him accidentally dropping it while hiding from the guards. He still sort of missed it, despite swearing up and down he wasn't the type to play with dolls.
The issue with having so little means that you have to make everyday items last for hours as to not die of boredom. He'd read every single book in his room cover to cover twice, sometimes even a few more times then that. He'd stared at the painting on his wall for hours, making little stories in his head about them. They were two gangsters trying to steal the same prized item, but found themselves in love instead. The woman was lamenting that it would be the last night she'd ever see her lover. That was the scenario he played like a movie in his head.
He usually stifled his boredom with the computer. Unfortunately, it was almost entirely limited to public records before his birth, prisoners, and terrible minesweeper-esk games. It was somehow more boring to play then reading the back of the mars' bar wrapper.
Emporio had a little amount of things in his life. But, there was one thing he owned that he could never lose, or grow bored of; his birthday.
February 17th. 3 days after Valentine's. Being so young, he never really understood the appeal of Valentine's. But he always understood the appeal of birthdays. They were special days just for him.
He had hoped he'd be spending it with Jolyne, but seeing she was currently in the infirmary, he would feel like too much of a bother to provoke her while she rests herself. He wondered if he could bring her down a slice of cake. Which he wasn't even sure how he'd acquire in the first place.
He didn't wake up to presents, or a soft singing of a birthday tune. He woke up in the piano, with his rag of a blanket around his trembling body. He sat upright and put on his clothes, and then his shoes, ties the blue laces like Anasui taught him to, then slips out.
Weather and Anasui were already in the room, which gave him the hunch he'd slept in late. Anasui was sitting on the only chair, and Weather was leaning against the painting. There was a silence between them. But it wasn't a bad one, if anything, it was the standard. You couldn't make noise in here, despite it being a stand, potentially drawing attention to Emporio was dangerous. They tried to keep things as quiet as possible.
Weather was holding a magazine in his hands, but Emporio knew better then suspect him to be reading the celebrity gossip or columns; he was reading the programs on for the next two weeks.
When he saw Emporio approaching, he placed the guide down, and turned to him. Emporio waited on birthday wishes, that never came. The silence just turned awkward, with Emporio staring up at Weather, and him not paying him much mind.
It stung, but, Emporio expected it. Weather had somehow became more reculsive then before after Foo died. He wondered if the man blamed himself for it. He wouldn't to know, though, he and Weather scarcely talked about subjects so deep.
He turned his gaze to Anasui, eyebrows knitting against each other, as his face stretched into a frown. Anasui caught his eyes, and lifted up the book he was reading, peering from just behind the hardback.
"What do you want, Emporio? Are you hungry?" He asks. His tone is flat as always. "I brought you some cafeteria food. It's on the table."
"I'm not hungry." He begun. He held onto hope that Anasui would wish him well any moment now.
"Very well. Try not to disturb me then." Anasui returned to his book, using a lick of spittle to turn the page.
Had they both forgotten?
Emporio turned to the table, deciding to shovel the usual prison slop into his mouth as his birthday breakfast. It was oatmeal, a small cart of milk, and what looked like regurgitated food. He assumed that was the cream of wheat, and poked it with the plastic spoon. It looked foul, and he was willing to bet it tasted just as much.
He heard shuffling behind him, as Weather Report decided to head out. He leaned against the wall, and slipped out with his guide, leaving both he and Anasui alone. Emporio didn't dare make small talk; Anasui wasn't the type for it. He just sat, poking his food. He was smearing it against the plastic, back and fourth, trying to make it look like he had eaten it. Of course, he knew he'd have to eventually, but that would keep him occupied for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, it kept him occupied for perhaps too long. He hadn't realised he had been sloshing his oatmeal back and fourth for almost a half hour before Anasui called out.
"What are you doing? You usually eat your meals in just a few minutes." Narciso dropped the book on the small coffee table, and stood up. "Are you playing with your food like some sort of toddler?"
"I-" Emporio shoved a mouthful of the tasteless mush into his mouth, and then another. He was a boy with manners; he wouldn't talk with his mouth full. He hoped this would avoid having to answer.
"Don't ignore me, Emporio. I asked you a question." Anasui stood behind him, hands on his hips. His tone sounded annoyed, and his tongue clicked against his teeth with each word. Emporio hung his head with guilt. He'd caught him in his little trick. "Do I have to spoon-fed you myself?"
Emporio shook his head, bouncing his soft golden curls with each toss. This all made him feel verklempt with upset, and made the disgusting lumps catch in his throat. He could feel his nose tingle, and his face start to heat up; he really wasn't going to, was he? He purses his lips until the top hits the bottom of his nose.
He hiccupped, spitting the mouthful of oatmeal back on the plate, much to the aversion of Anasui. "What? Can you not even swallow your food?" He begun, striking Emporio with his waspish tongue, but was cut short by a choked out a doleful sob. The young boy placed his head in his hands, and sniffled again. He felt absolutely shamed, face scarlet, and trying to stop the tears in his eyes from pricking up, but he just couldn't find it in him to stop.
Anasui stepped back, and curled his hands into fists. He was terrible with children, or at least assumed he was. But he was even worse when they started to cry. He thought it was just basic manners not to play with your food, why was Emporio wailing a storm for the most petty of remarks? A part of him felt peccant. Had he been too harsh?
He placed a hand on Emporio's shoulders, and squeezed it with slight reassurance. "There there. Crying won't achieve much... buddy."
The word sat on his tongue for an uncomfortable amount of time, and hung for double that. Buddy; it was so simple it was criminal, yet it made Emporio wince. He sounded like a little league coach.
His hiccups turned into a little titter, but he was still trying to catch his breath, so it was rather short lived.
"Tell me, why are you crying, Emporio?" Anasui leaned in, with little disregard for personal space. He used his index finger to wipe away one of his tears.
"It's not the food." He murmurs, hiccuping once again midway. He felt too embarrassed to even try and explain. His voice was all choked up. "It's just, hic, it's my birthday, and no one remembered it, and, I just." He buries his face into his hands again. He hated when he cried.
"You what?"
"I just felt really down, cuz no one said anything." He takes a sharp inhale, trying to ready himself to choke out another sentence. It felt so trivial and stupid when he said it out loud.
"I see." He wiped the other tear away. "Why didn't you just tell us, then? Instead of bawling your eyes out." The way he worded it made Emporio feel guilty. "You don't need to cry."
He nods, still feeling his cheeks burn up. They were surging red up to his ears, and across his freckle dotted nose. The humiliation made him want to cry all over again. He wasn't the toughest. No matter how badly he wanted to be.
"I just thoughya know.. Since I've been talking about it." Emporio found his words turning into a slurry. Why was it so difficult to be sad? Anasui used the tip of his painted thumb to wipe away the tears which threatened to spill from the young boy's eyes.
"I apologise. Things have been hectic, lately. It must have slipped our minds." Anasui paused for a second, and used the scuff of his armband to wipe the rest away. "Stay here. I'll be back."
Emporio placed his head on the table, resting his chin on one of his arms. He curled his lip into a pout and nodded. That's him saying, okay, Mr. Anasui. He watched as the broad of a man turned tail and left, flicking his strands of pink hair with him. They flowed with his movements. Anasui held himself in such a way that he acted like he knew everything; a confident stride.
He waited there, starting to believe Anasui had forgotten, again. He felt his button-nose start to tingle, and he cringed up. Oh my gosh. He thought. Why do I keep crying?
That's when he felt a soft hand take to his back, fingers pressing against his spine. Anasui leaned over his shoulder, and beamed down at him. He wasn't a very good smiler; it was a bit creepy, but Emporio knew his intentions were well-meaning.
"You better appreciate this, okay? Because I just spent half of the budget for Jolyne's ring on it." He begun, sticking his nose in the air. It was a gift, not much larger then a calculator or phone. Anasui had used the previous day's newspaper as wrapping paper. As Emporio held it, his eyes glazed over a headline about some political mush about the president. "Weather is coming back with a cake, so finish up your food."
Emporio shoveled the mouthfuls of disgusting grey mush into his mouth, swallowing down the lumps one at a time. It left a nauseating aftertaste. He didn't care. He'd never had cake in his whole life. He wondered how it tasted.
He sat up proudly, showing Anasui the empty tray he'd left behind, with a face full of splotches of meal. "Is it okay if I open my gift now?" He burbles. He was buzzing.
"That's the point of a gift." Anasui leaned against the table with his arms crossed. He was trying to pretend he didn't care. He did, but he liked having a tough guy aura. He watched the child gently unfold through each scrap of newspaper, his mouth in a little 'o' shape like a fish. Newfound joy sparkled between his eyes. Inside, was a little box, still sealed, containing a small DSI. It was blue, with a few loose games included. He was still lost in his excitement, holding it up.
"Well, why don't you open it?" Anasui waltzed over, and stood beside him. "I didn't buy it for you to gawk at it."
Emporio gave a furious nod, and tore at the plastic packaging. It took him a little; it was rather resistant, but he managed to shake it from the box. It fell to the table with a clunk, the smell of fresh plastic hitting the air as he held it up proudly.
"Thank you." Emporio begun, holding it against his chest, as if it were a baby. "Thank you so much, Anasui." He held it in one hand, and hopped from the chair. His arms cuddled Anasui's leg, as he begun to sniffle again. This time, he was just utterly happy. Maybe today wasn't going to be so bad.
Anasui leans down, and rubbed the top of Emporio's hat. Being kind to him wasn't going to get him any closer to Jolyne, but he had a sense of pride. He never quite cared for him, until now. Seeing him laughing with glee gave Anasui a warm feeling.
"Calm down, Emporio. You've still got cake to come. If you get yourself too excited, you'll vomit." He picked up the smaller child with ease, placing his head against the nook of his neck. He could hear him giggling below him.
"I'm sorry, I just, feel really happy. Maybe today is gonna be my best birthday ever!!"
And it was.