[Voice]

[song_princess]

Hello everyone, I have a question if I may be so bold to inquire.

I am curious with all the different worlds out there gathered here... How does one celebrate the date of birth. Is it worth celebrating even when it is it time of great sorrow? What are the traditions surrounding it?

I cannot offer much in return of such information, perhaps a hug or a song. Thank you for answering the curiosity of one as myself.

Comments

[Video]

[song_princess]

[No, she doesn't remember him in that way. But she does remember him as a close friend.]

That sounds like fun. How many cakes have you eaten, Mu?

[aries_saint]

[...]

[After a long pause, he sighs heavily]

[Her lack of recognition is his answer. This city couldn't be hard enough as it is...]

...I'm not fond of sweets, so I don't have any.

[song_princess]

[She blinks at the heavy sigh and then quickly goes to start cooing softly.]

Mu?

[It was simple and a way to probe what is wrong.]

I see, how did you celebrate your birthday then.

[aries_saint]

[Setting it aside, he decides to appear as he usually does]

I don't remember. I usually celebrate with my apprentice, Kiki back home. Being in this world, I don't know how much time has passed. This is a different planet after all. I have to study and compare the calendar.

[Gently shifting the topic]

Have you found your brother?

[song_princess]

You don't remember?...

[There was something saddening about those words and she frowns a little.]

Hey Mu, where are you?

[She is noticing that topic shift.]

Yes, I have. He is exactly how I remember him.

[aries_saint]

[He can help the heron siblings in that regard.]

That's good that you found each other.

[At her question. He's becoming on guard. Wary.]

At the cinema watching a movie. Why?

[song_princess]

Yes, it is good.

[She frowns as he seems to be putting up walls around him.]

I can join you. I wish to see you.

[aries_saint]

[The wall's purpose is to protect and suppress.]

Your brother will not approve of that.

[song_princess]

[Protect from what?]

Why won't he approve of me seeing a friend? I am still going to come.

[aries_saint]

[… … … he was sitting in his seat for a long time unable to make a decision. He's becoming very, very illogical.

Her insistence won. In the end, her wishes is more triumphed. Friend. He might be able to deal with that. As a Saint, he can suppress a lot.]

…all right. I finished the movie. You can meet me at the library. I was going there to read for the evening anyway.

[song_princess]

[The frown was still there but she goes to smile.]

At the library, I will be right over. Should I bring you anything?

[aries_saint]

[He's at the library now, reading the tablets since the books are available as e-books. His expression is unreadable and neutral, appearing stoic. The wall is in full force.]

That won't be necessary. You just come on over.

[song_princess]

[Seeing that wall, it was heartbreaking to her. She almost wanted to leave him alone seeing the wall.]

If you are sure, I will be over right away.

[At that, she spread her wings and goes to start taking off to the skies.]

[aries_saint]

[Probably for the best because he'll find the books boring in the end anyway. :(

In which he simply sits near the library entrance...to take his exit.]

[song_princess]

No, it's not for the best. He should know better about her by now. ;w;

Leanne goes to land near him and goes to look towards him with a worried expression.

"Mu?"

[aries_saint]

When she comes near, he can sense her cosmos, her particular signature. It was warm and golden, soft like her feathers. Part of him is yearning and aching. His expression soften, and gradually, almost like automatic, the walls come down.

There's regret for remembering and his previous attitude. He changed when she comes near, tired and trying to be friendly.

"Yes...?"

[song_princess]

She goes to study him, seeing that coldness and those walls going away. Fearing that she could be over stepping her bounds a little and not sure just how much time she has, she goes to hug him once he responds to her, wrapping her wings around him as well. She just remains like that, just holding and hugging him.

[aries_saint]

No, Leanne why you do this to him?

He heaves a heavy sigh. If this is how Leanne shall be, then this is his karma to reborn in this life in this world. For what reason, he doesn't know why.

Finding the words. "Mn. I'm Sorry..." Just like that, he changed his mind. He just has to start over all over again. Deep down, he's more angry at himself, so it wasn't her fault since the beginning. He just have to be patient with her and let fate work out, and let it be.

He lets her hug him like this and simply accept it. Not wanting her to worry.

"We're still friends. It just that living here is difficult."

That's his excuse for now. Hopefully, she'll buy that. Now if only she can let go, because he won't.

[song_princess]

She does it because she does care for and love him. He was a close friend to her.

At his apology, she goes to shake her head and coos again. "For what? You have done nothing wrong, Mu."

She does continue to hold him, reaching up with one hand to pet his hair. "I am glad, I was getting worried that I have done something wrong.

And nope! Not going to let go. She does buy his excuse for now, realizing that she has gone beyond her place by coming here and hugging him.

[aries_saint]

He cares for her greatly too. At her comforting words and soothing hug. He can't be selfish enough to ask for more than this.

"You have done nothing wrong."

He was being childish with his feelings, but he didn't want her to get hurt. The Great Sage Mu is only human to his own weakness. Holding himself back with control, he took her wrists and gently pry himself away from her. She can't hold him any longer than necessary, regardless this is a dying world and the gods needs the energy of physical contact to sustain this world.

Gazing into her eyes, he takes a deep breath, searching for his thoughts.

"Let's take it slowly. One day at a time as friends."

Yes, hopefully that's the right away. Until one day they're both ready on the same wavelength.

[song_princess]

There was a warmth in him that seemed to be directed at her that she could sense but, she didn't want to pry. But there is a great sadness in him, desire and sadness that she cannot pinpoint the reason why.

"I am glad then." She continues to speak in a warm gentle tone of voice.

She watches as he gently pries her away from him, looking up and into his eyes. She blinks in confusion before smiling and nodding her head.

"Yes, of course. You are a dear friend of mine. That was why I was worried about you, Mu."

[aries_saint]

That warmth is something he can never suppress or hide, but it's painful because he tries. Being a saint, he was raised on honor, integrity, truth, justice, and if Athena is here now, love for all humankind.

But for him, it has been almost a year if his memory recollects itself properly on time and space continuum. The Goddess has been distant to him as if she's in another dimension. Yet being touched by Athena, her principles existed in him as a moral compass. Saints are celibate by nature, and back home, he was known to be a stellar warrior, deeply respected for his knowledge of the cosmos, the first defender of the first temple on the hills of the Sanctuary.

He isn't being honest now, but for now, to him, this is the right way. Be her friend. He could not smile. Just a sad expression. Perhaps, now there is some truth about reincarnation, karma, and amnesia in the Buddhist scriptures he studied in theory and religiously back home.

So why does he remembers? This isn't like him at all, but it's for the best. In a low voice, sad, calm, almost fragile. Karma smashed into him that he cannot and never be selfish. He must be patient once again.

The memories probably don't matter. It's only a dream. He was being ridiculous and acting irrationally. But his heart remembers that he is in love with her. It's the single truth that was driving him. Once she lets go of him, in a distant voice, aloof, that doesn't sound like him at all, but it's still him, driven his heart and shut it away for it's own good.

With a deep breath, almost a sigh, and then slowly turns, rejecting himself, and not her, but she may misunderstand for now.

"...I'll see you around."