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[ino]

[ Normally, Ino's been walking up closer to the front, but today, she slows down and makes her way back through the group to hop onto Once-ler's wagon seat. She's got a bit of a mischievous smile on her face, and some kind of bag slung across her shoulder. ]

How's it going back here?

[ For now, she'll pretend she hasn't a clue what day it is ]

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

[The Once-ler was sure doing his best to treat it like a normal day. Not that it was especially difficult for him, growing up it HAD only been a normal day. And of course, he'd never questioned it. He'd bought his mothers lies as he always had. He was perfectly content with keeping everything as they'd always been.

...But Ino with a mischievous smile was always something to be worried about. No good ever came from smiles like that]

I'm okaaaay? How's it going for you? [He's going to take this very carefully. Very carefully indeed]

[ino]

Fine, now that we've left that stupid village.

[ she'll just be pretending like he didn't sound suspicious at all. whatever would make you think she's up to something? LOOK AT THIS INNOCENT FACE. ]

You know, we should be getting there pretty soon! I'd say within a day or so.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah, I bet the escape from those happy memories is a relief.

[SHE HAS NO SUCH THING AS AN INNOCENT FACE. He glances ahead]

And then another fun filled few days of adventure and probably running for ours lives will happen. Yay.

[ino]

Pretty much.

[ she'll lean back casually on the wagon seat ]

We'll see about the running for our lives. In the meantime ... I noticed something peculiar today.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Here it comes. God she's going to want him to do something insane and ninja-y isn't she? He sinks a little in his seat, not that he gets very far in that regard]

Oh? Peculiar how?

[ino]

[ she can't help but let out a little laugh at how he sinks in his seat ]

Yeah. I noticed there was something missing over here.

[ she moves to pull the bag off her arm, and goes about unzipping it to pull ~*~something~*~ out ]

[whichwayyoulean]

[Noooo Ino he doesn't want it]

I'm pretty sure I'm good for every- Ino what are you doing?

[ino]

[ hush yo mouth, once-ler. she's pulling out what looks like an insulated cooler/lunchbox type of thing, and opening to reveal ... one of these babies! she holds it out to him with a smile ]

Happy birthday.

1/2

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh sweet merciful jebus that is literally the best cake in the universe. He wasn't even aware such a cake could exist. She is literally the best person in existence for delivering unto him this cake.

...He's just staring at it for a few seconds, don't mind him]

2/2

[whichwayyoulean]

[Eventually, he managed to snap out of his ohmygodmashmallows state of suspended animation and gives her a warm, genuine smile]

...Wow. Thanks, Ino. That's...

[Probably the best birthday gift he's ever received]

That's really something.

[ino]

[ she just grins, gesturing for him to go ahead and take it ]

And you were all scared for a minute there.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He'll take it, still smiling like an idiot]

Well, when it's you, I can never be all that sure.

[ino]

Yeah, well. [ she knows LMFAO ] Sorry it isn't more fresh, there was no way it was gonna get made out here and still be a surprise.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He glances down at the cake, his smile softening a little]

...No. It's fine. Better than fine, it's perfect.

[ino]

Good, I'm glad you like it.

[ she gestures to the reigns ]

I can take the reigns if you want to eat it now.

[whichwayyoulean]

[Oh please, he has a little bit of self control.

...No, the opposite of that. He'll hand over the reigns]

Okay, thanks! [At least he has the decency to cut himself a slice and not just go right to town on the entire thing]

[ino]

[ hahaha onceler and self control?? nope

still, she'll gladly take the reigns and try not to laugh while he eats it ]

There's something else, too, but it's back at the castle. I figured that was a good "Part 1".

[whichwayyoulean]

[Give him a moment to swallow that massive piece of cake in his mouth ohmygomarshmallows before replying]

You didn't have to go to so much trouble.

[ino]

Of course I did! It's your birthday!

[whichwayyoulean]

[The confusion on his face isn't really going anywhere, he even manages a lanky shoulder shrug]

It's no big deal. It's just a regular day, really.

[ino]

[ she peers over at him suspiciously ]

You haven't ever done anything for your birthday before, have you.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He offers her a small smile]

Not really. [Not at all] We didn't have a whole lot of time or money. I mean, sure Brett and Chet had something, but they're twins. y'know? You can't give one and not the other.

[ino]

[ lifts an eyebrow ]

That sounds like a whole lot of bullshit, if you ask me.

[whichwayyoulean]

[His smile fades a little bit]

I had a feeling you'd say that.

[ino]

Only because it's true.

[ she gives him a serious look ]

Living to another year is always something you should celebrate. Even if you don't have any money, or not a lot of time -- if a person truly cares about you, they'll find a way to make sure you know that you're worth celebrating.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He'll cast her a flat look]

I'm pretty sure we've already established that my family didn't think that at all.

[ino]

[ she puts a hand on his arm ]

Well, better to start late than never.

[whichwayyoulean]

[That, at least, gets a ghost o a smile to cross his face]

Or really late in my case.

[ino]

Pretty late. But that just means we have lots of time to make up for what you missed!

Starting with your cake. [ points at the unfinished cake. GET TO EATIN', BOY ]

[whichwayyoulean]

[He raises his free hand in surrender]

Okay, okay. I'm making up time.

[See? He's being good and he's eating his cake]