The Years Go By [ dictated + some writing ]

[wishmadeinfire]

[ In the journals there will suddenly be a page with a ton of tick marks, marked off in fives. They're all neat, straight lines, one after the other, down the page and across the next. If one bothered to count them all up, they came out to 290 total. 

For a time, there is nothing to accompany the mystery appearance of these neat little tick marks, and then - ]

On paper, it somehow seems both longer and shorter, the measure of a life. 

[ And that, friends, is how Ashura is noting his birthday this year. ]

Comments

[gottaknockhard]

That really depends on how you write it.

[He can guess at what those marks are. He'd probably tell his story the same way at that point.]

[wishmadeinfire]

I suppose. I fear mine would be full of repetitive chapters, though.

[gottaknockhard]

There's nothing wrong with shorthand.

[wishmadeinfire]

So, it is either two hundred and ninety chapters, or perhaps an eighth of that, probably less.

[gottaknockhard]

And I have a hard time remembering a year ago.

[savethedarkness]

If you're marking what I suspect you are, you're looking far better than I.

[wishmadeinfire]

By the count of my people's years, I am still young. I am not yet middle-aged, as a human might count time.

[wishmadeinfire]

It is not so hard to remember years when the same thing happens over, and over again. Rule a kingdom, spill blood, go to bed, do it all over again.

[gottaknockhard]

Almost routine, huh?

[How long has it even been since they spoke? Must seem like yesterday to someone who has lived that long. Time is a funny thing.]

[wishmadeinfire]

Routine would be the gentle way to put it. It was more an ingrained habit by then.

_{[ It has been a long time. Not that he tried to avoid you, only their paths never quite seemed to cross like they used to. Except now, it seemed. ]}

You answering my little musing is rather irregular, though.

[gottaknockhard]

[A habit. It must feel like that to a ruler. It occurs to him that Ashura is at least one royal that he never rubbed the wrong way by his lack of understanding.]

You caught me when I was awake.

[wishmadeinfire]

Heh, so you are a "Sleeping Beauty" now?

[gottaknockhard]

[That brings up a weird memory.]

I don't know about the beauty part.

[wishmadeinfire]

Don't they say it's in the eye of the beholder?

[gottaknockhard]

[They do... But he can't make a big thing about this without explaining the aforementioned weird memory. Which he refuses to do, for obvious reasons.]

I appreciate the compliment.

[wishmadeinfire]

Heh, you are welcome.

_{[ There is a pause. ]}

We should get a drink, Spike. It's been far to long.

[savethedarkness]

Are your years shorter, then? Is your world closer to your sun, or something similar to that?

[wishmadeinfire]

No, I think they are counted the same as human years. I simply age slower, though I could not tell you why.

[savethedarkness]

Perhaps your magic has something to do with it. At any rate, Ashura, many happy returns. If you'd care to drop by the Death Match for a drink, consider it on the house.

[wishmadeinfire]

Do you serve wine?

_{[ He was not really an ale or beer drinker, he preferred sweeter things or items with spice to them. ]}

[gottaknockhard]

[There's a pause here for no reason in particular.]

Sure. Anytime.

[wishmadeinfire]

How about now?

[gottaknockhard]

... I can't think of a reason not to.

Ashura

[kungfuwitch]

[Her voice is soft as she speaks]

Happy Birthday, Ashura.

[savethedarkness]

Of course. Pubs aren't all beer, you know. I could even try my hand at a cocktail or two, if that interests you, though I can't guarantee they'll be perfect.