[ There's no sign of protest coming from Marie as he props her up, only a small noise erupting from her chest and her fingers curling tight around his hair, making a mess of his previous efforts to keep it in order. From how desperate his actions and sounds are, Marie can easily draw the actual fact that he longs for her. It makes her feel needed, precious, unreplaceable.
Somehow, it works her up, to the point a small tear is pushed out of trembling eyelids.
Selfish as it may be, and truthfully she knows it is, Marie loves the feeling of empowerment that comes with being wanted as both a popular figure and a person. However, nothing beats the intimacy of these encounters she had so far, with people craving her attention, her body, her kisses, and her overwhelming love. Sanson stands out from the rest as though he's a sore thumb, because the only intimate gesture they had shared were kisses. Even so, every each one of them were meaningful, had such intensity added to them, and left her satisfied the same way sex with her partners would. It feels as if the balance would be broken if she even propositioned something more than that. And, judging from how happy Sanson looks every single time they end a kiss, he's most likely also fine with this settlement.
If he wanted to communicate something, he's rather succeeding at it. He loves her as much as she loves him, he needs her as much as she needs him, and if kisses could last forever she would definitely and happily go along with her ride.
It must mean something, right? It does, she knows, she knows it all because she loved a single man before, in that same way she does towards Sanson right now.
But she's not sure she's ready to accept it. Perhaps more convincing is in order. ]
[It's too bad Sanson's hair won't be tidy for long, but from his point of view, getting his hair tousled was a very, very small price to pay for the time they were spending now, deep in their kissing. He doesn't seem to want to tear himself away from her just yet as if doing so would shatter everything around them, including their solitude.
Even with the atmosphere of Prismatica, Sanson simply can't imagine sex with Marie. For one thing, above all else, even with all the feelings for her that he holds within himself, she was a queen. His queen. Worthy of his respect, worthy to be handled delicately, though others might think otherwise. It was an invisible line he had drawn that he didn't want to cross. No matter how engrossed they got with kissing, he kept his hands from wandering too much.
Second, why have sex when he was wholly satisfied with holding her in his arms, kissing her, carrying her whenever her whims dictated it? Sanson was a simple man. All he wanted was to be accepted by others in a way he never was in his lifetime. That Marie would forgive him enough to kiss him like this semi-regularly (okay, it was becoming more regular as time went by) was already something great.
In any case, Marie had never asked him for anything more. She was satisfied with what Sanson could give or wanted to give. And right now, Sanson wanted to give her more than a kiss on top of all her other gifts; he wanted to show her the extent of how he felt without mouthing empty words or embarrassing himself. How much he needs her, how much he loves her, how much he cares and how much he would willingly throw himself in harm's way for her.
He continues to kiss her, not stopping even now that he's doing double duty again by carrying her, and embraces her as tightly as he can - just enough to convey his message without hurting her. Finally, he brings his mouth away from hers to simply gaze fondly at her, and his expression gradually changes from a slightly glazed look from the smooching to a wider smile giving way to a brief spell of gentle laughter. The smile fades into a soft gasp when he notices a tear from the corner of one of Marie's eyes and he frees one hand to brush it away.]
I... [Sanson lets out another laugh, heady as he is from the kiss.] I hope you also...enjoyed that gift. [He leans in to nuzzle her nose with his.
To be fair, Sanson himself isn't sure if he's ready to actually be honest with Marie about how he feels. He's not even sure if the love he feels isn't from his usual dedication to her, to protect her every step, or if it will be closer to the kind of love he experienced with his wife, a woman who loved him enough to willingly bind herself to the Sanson family and reputation.
And, would someone like him be permitted to feel that way again?]
[ After this, the idea of going out at all becomes even harder to accept. Marie is ever so touch starved, if she could get away with it deprived of guilt, she would keep Sanson right here in her apartment for the rest of the night, kissing the entire life away from him. But he organized such a lovely evening with her, with the romantic dinner and everything. If she wants to be frank, stopping this contact with this one kiss would make it even more meaningful than Sanson already did.
A sigh draws out when they separate at last, and he's smiling so wide, the widest she's ever seen him do. Better yet, this is happening not at all under Cordis' moon. This is Charles' undiluited smile. He's happy to be with her, happy that he can do such things with her, so happy... and at that, she, in return, overspills with joy. Laughter comes out crystalline after she catches her breath. His hair is such a mess, more than usual, but she prefers this style at the end of the day. Sanson can't be Sanson without it. ]
I did, Charles. Immensely so. Truly a best gift. [ She leans down and nuzzles their noses together. ] I could tell it came straight from your heart.
[ His feelings are so pure. She has yet to decide where the both of them stand in their relationship, but it's all fine for now. Her birthday can be enjoyed without making things that much complicated. ]
[Really, if he hadn't made reservations for her birthday, he would have been content to let Marie have him for the entire night, kissing in each other's arms. But at least, after dinner, that could still happen.
If she could tell that this came straight from his heart, then this was an achievement. Clearly, he should kiss her like this more often. It gives him a boost of confidence...and allows him to shelve, for the time being, what his feelings truly mean.
He kisses her on her nose, then once on her lips, quickly, before setting her back down and trying to smooth his hair down. It's too bad he didn't think of bringing any hair gel to remedy the damage, but what's done is done. Sanson eventually gives up on his hair. His face is pink, but it's no longer out of embarrassment; he's riding the emotional and Chroma high from that kiss and he doesn't want to get off.]
I'm glad. This is your special day, after all.
[He offers Marie his arm.]
Now, shall we? The restaurant isn't far; we can walk.
[ Just like that, she's anchored back to the ground, the moment of high fading away and only just a tad highlighted by the kisses he gives her afterwards, nose and lips tingling pleasantly with leftover warmth. Marie can't help thinking it would be a shame to stop now, but if she wants her birthday to end on a romantic note then it's okay to make a detour and get out of there, with Sanson, towards the restaurant.
She chuckles at his poor hair, but it's brief, her hand reaching out to take his arm when he offers it. ]
Let us head off. I hope my outfit is well fit enough for the theme.
[ It's not a super gorgeous dress, but even in her mundane days she maintains a dignified appearance - and of course she won't leave without her large hat. ]
You look radiant, as always. It's more than enough.
[Even on that fateful day of her execution, even in a raggedy white dress and with her hair cropped, she maintained her dignity as a queen. Marie, as far as Sanson was concerned, could look beautiful in anything. In his opinion, she was almost always dressed properly enough to not be turned away from a fancy restaurant.]
Allons-y, mon cher.
[He escorts her out the door with care as though she were made of porcelain, beaming. It's always an honor to go out with her...]
[ Hearing reassurance from him is enough. Marie would be most worried about standing out among the other elegant guests if she wasn't proper enough. Her reputation wouldn't bear a dent, but she still cares about these things enough to give them a thought. Either way, if Sanson says it's fine, then it's fine and she'll gladly follow him.
With a chuckle upon hearing him, a soft blush still dusting her cheeks, Marie holds onto his arm as they march out of her apartment and start their way to the restaurant. ]
[After several steps, he breaks their silence and turns to look at her. Oh, that faint blush on her cheeks was so attractive and adorable, he could kiss her cheeks again, but he doesn't want to do it out here where everyone can see them.]
So, how has your birthday been so far?
[Hopefully her friends remembered and treated her right, even though the sheer volume of attention Marie receives on a regular basis intimidates him. Sanson just wants to make sure he doesn't have to decapitate any of them.
Thankfully she has very awesome friends who made her feel great about today, so she's not at all hesitating when she gives her answer. ]
It has been fantastic! I did not have this level of attention in Chaldea, either! People have been really pleasant on the network when I announced my birthday. Even strangers gave their wishes!
And while many people in Chaldea were captivated by Marie's charisma, there were a good number of Servants who didn't particularly care or who would not even give her the time of day, and sometimes, Chaldea was simply too busy in general for anyone to lavish this kind of attention to her.]
A birthday is special, no matter where you go, and it seems it holds true for many other worlds.
[It's just as important as the day of one's death. (Sanson is just morbid that way.)]
[ Marie would rather focus on the beauty of life and being able to celebrate it every year, than thinking about death in all senses of the term. And it's ironic, since she's technically dead, and there's no definitive age to her because she'd remain young no matter how many times she's summoned and how long she's allowed to exist as a Servant.
Towards what he told her now, though, she agrees wholeheartedly, squeezing his arm. ]
Yes, and that brings me joy! To think people give such a value to one's existence, at least once every year...
[He doesn't complain when she squeezes his arm. It's a public display of affection, albeit more discreet than most.]
As they should. Life is a precious gift...even more so for us, who have been given our second lives.
[And he was thankful for that second life. It was an opportunity for him to atone for everything he did in his first life, and to enjoy what he could not enjoy when he was bound to his profession. Sanson never would've imagined that his second life would include bringing Marie to dinner, or even sharing a lot of kisses with her.]
Truly so. And we have been rather lucky to live such a fulfilling life here, non?
[ Though she's worried about what's going on back home, it doesn't take away the fact she's happy here and she will keep being happy for as long as possible. With so many friends and moonlacing partners, she really doesn't want everything to end just yet. It's selfish, and she knows that, but she still strongly wishes for it. ]
Yes. [He nods solemnly. While the thought of Chaldea potentially facing other challenges without him has crossed his mind, he's certain they can hold the fort even with several of their Servants stuck in an entirely different universe. Sanson is well aware he doesn't belong here, and he'd much rather not have to deal with the Cordis cycle ruining his life, but...
But would he and Marie have been able to get this close if they had not been whisked away to Prismatica? It's not something he expected, yet it isn't unwelcome at all.]
Yes, we've been very lucky, despite the...complications this world brings.
[ How far they've come... indeed, she must thank this world for even giving her the idea that kissing him (and other people) was something that she was allowed to enjoy at her leisure. ]
Exactly! Even though there are situations that are not unlike what we had at home, the air here is much more relaxing. Besides, we do not have to battle every single day for materials!
[ A chuckle, then she leans in, resting her head on Sanson's shoulder as they still walk. ]
We would not have the time to have a pleasant date like this.
[Sanson can't help but laugh at the mention of materials. It was a breath of fresh air to not have to be called upon every time someone needed an entire bushel of dragon fangs or the shoes off centaurs' hooves. The feel of Marie's head on his shoulder is more than welcome; he lifts his arm to drape it over her shoulder.
Belatedly it occurs to him how public this display is, but he decides to shelve that for the time being.]
I'm glad we have the time now. [He says softly, as he guides her around a street corner and to the door of a fancy formal restaurant. The beautiful Prismal lady outside asks them with a reservation, to which Sanson replies, "Yes, table for two, for Charles." Immediately they are ushered inside, toward a small cozy booth near a window, well away from the other diners.]
I hope you don't mind that I chose this table.
[He'd really rather not have someone barge in on them or anything.]
[ Warmth drapes over her shoulders, adding up to his arm around her, once they step into the restaurant. While he talks to the lady, Marie takes the time to look around a bit, marvelling about this or that feature she likes, and when Sanson guides her to their table she chuckles amusedly at him. ]
I do not mind. I suppose we could have a bit of quiet and private time for this occasion.
[ She loves being surrounded by people, but tonight it's supposed to be just her and Sanson. Led towards one of the chairs, she properly sits down, hands on her lap. ]
[Marie may have found a few things that fascinate her in this restaurant; the intricate chandeliers casting just enough light to not upstage the patrons, the polished mahogany tables with comfortably cushioned chairs, the beautiful paintings of the chefs and staff hard at work serving their best dishes...
Sanson takes his seat next to her, although he spares a split second to let his eyes hover over their surroundings as he has a small and very irrational fear of being found here alone with Marie and then having to sit and watch her be spirited away from him by her many adoring fans. He quickly clears his throat.]
Thank you...because that's precisely why I had our reservation here.
[A waiter hands them their menus as soon as those words are out of his mouth.]
[ Well timed. Marie takes up the menu quickly while Sanson speaks to her pleasantly, her eyes scanning up and down the available dishes, some more appealing than others. In a mood for the savoury kind, followed by what she thinks would be the sweetest dessert around, she quietly makes her orders while the waiter notes them down on his hologram device. ]
As you should. It is not an everyday occurrence to have dinners like these, and today is special, as we both know.
[ Once they both make the orders and the waiter is dismissed, Marie places both her elbows on the table, head tilted as she rests her chin between laced fingers. ]
This was a good choice of a restaurant. We should go back sometime. Perhaps for your birthday?
[Having scoped out the place previously, Sanson knows exactly what he wants from the menu, choosing a chicken main course with a side salad and potatoes. When the waiter disappears, he adjusts his posture in his seat slightly, his hands resting on the tabletop.
Satisfied that there seems to be no one else they recognize in the restaurant with them, his mood remains light and agreeable. After all, he would not be averse at all to another dinner here.]
My birthday is not for three more months, but that can be arranged.
[ An idea makes way in her head, but she's not sharing it. Part of Marie suspects that Sanson might disapprove of it, and try to run away... therefore, she'll have to act carefully.
It will possibly be the best birthday of his extra Servant life, depending on how her plans turn out.
The Queen's smile warms up when drinks are being served. ]
I see. There is yet time to do something... I shall keep it in mind.
[He may not disapprove per se, but depending on what the surprise is, Sanson would certainly try and make himself scarce from other people. It sounds like Marie does want to make his birthday celebration big...bigger than a simple fancy dinner for two.]
You don't have to; I'm satisfied with something like this.
[Marie doesn't have to take precious time and energy away from her schedule for his 281st birthday, really.]
[There's probably no convincing Marie otherwise. Besides, a part of Sanson is flattered that she would think of him so much that she would want to do something for him.
Just like he did for her. It's a bit easier to think of this as her way of returning the favor.]
I did say birthdays were special... [He shakes his head.] It's as if I'm trapped by my own words.
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Somehow, it works her up, to the point a small tear is pushed out of trembling eyelids.
Selfish as it may be, and truthfully she knows it is, Marie loves the feeling of empowerment that comes with being wanted as both a popular figure and a person. However, nothing beats the intimacy of these encounters she had so far, with people craving her attention, her body, her kisses, and her overwhelming love. Sanson stands out from the rest as though he's a sore thumb, because the only intimate gesture they had shared were kisses. Even so, every each one of them were meaningful, had such intensity added to them, and left her satisfied the same way sex with her partners would. It feels as if the balance would be broken if she even propositioned something more than that. And, judging from how happy Sanson looks every single time they end a kiss, he's most likely also fine with this settlement.
If he wanted to communicate something, he's rather succeeding at it. He loves her as much as she loves him, he needs her as much as she needs him, and if kisses could last forever she would definitely and happily go along with her ride.
It must mean something, right? It does, she knows, she knows it all because she loved a single man before, in that same way she does towards Sanson right now.
But she's not sure she's ready to accept it. Perhaps more convincing is in order. ]
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Even with the atmosphere of Prismatica, Sanson simply can't imagine sex with Marie. For one thing, above all else, even with all the feelings for her that he holds within himself, she was a queen. His queen. Worthy of his respect, worthy to be handled delicately, though others might think otherwise. It was an invisible line he had drawn that he didn't want to cross. No matter how engrossed they got with kissing, he kept his hands from wandering too much.
Second, why have sex when he was wholly satisfied with holding her in his arms, kissing her, carrying her whenever her whims dictated it? Sanson was a simple man. All he wanted was to be accepted by others in a way he never was in his lifetime. That Marie would forgive him enough to kiss him like this semi-regularly (okay, it was becoming more regular as time went by) was already something great.
In any case, Marie had never asked him for anything more. She was satisfied with what Sanson could give or wanted to give. And right now, Sanson wanted to give her more than a kiss on top of all her other gifts; he wanted to show her the extent of how he felt without mouthing empty words or embarrassing himself. How much he needs her, how much he loves her, how much he cares and how much he would willingly throw himself in harm's way for her.
He continues to kiss her, not stopping even now that he's doing double duty again by carrying her, and embraces her as tightly as he can - just enough to convey his message without hurting her. Finally, he brings his mouth away from hers to simply gaze fondly at her, and his expression gradually changes from a slightly glazed look from the smooching to a wider smile giving way to a brief spell of gentle laughter. The smile fades into a soft gasp when he notices a tear from the corner of one of Marie's eyes and he frees one hand to brush it away.]
I... [Sanson lets out another laugh, heady as he is from the kiss.] I hope you also...enjoyed that gift. [He leans in to nuzzle her nose with his.
To be fair, Sanson himself isn't sure if he's ready to actually be honest with Marie about how he feels. He's not even sure if the love he feels isn't from his usual dedication to her, to protect her every step, or if it will be closer to the kind of love he experienced with his wife, a woman who loved him enough to willingly bind herself to the Sanson family and reputation.
And, would someone like him be permitted to feel that way again?]
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A sigh draws out when they separate at last, and he's smiling so wide, the widest she's ever seen him do. Better yet, this is happening not at all under Cordis' moon. This is Charles' undiluited smile. He's happy to be with her, happy that he can do such things with her, so happy... and at that, she, in return, overspills with joy. Laughter comes out crystalline after she catches her breath. His hair is such a mess, more than usual, but she prefers this style at the end of the day. Sanson can't be Sanson without it. ]
I did, Charles. Immensely so. Truly a best gift. [ She leans down and nuzzles their noses together. ] I could tell it came straight from your heart.
[ His feelings are so pure. She has yet to decide where the both of them stand in their relationship, but it's all fine for now. Her birthday can be enjoyed without making things that much complicated. ]
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If she could tell that this came straight from his heart, then this was an achievement. Clearly, he should kiss her like this more often. It gives him a boost of confidence...and allows him to shelve, for the time being, what his feelings truly mean.
He kisses her on her nose, then once on her lips, quickly, before setting her back down and trying to smooth his hair down. It's too bad he didn't think of bringing any hair gel to remedy the damage, but what's done is done. Sanson eventually gives up on his hair. His face is pink, but it's no longer out of embarrassment; he's riding the emotional and Chroma high from that kiss and he doesn't want to get off.]
I'm glad. This is your special day, after all.
[He offers Marie his arm.]
Now, shall we? The restaurant isn't far; we can walk.
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She chuckles at his poor hair, but it's brief, her hand reaching out to take his arm when he offers it. ]
Let us head off. I hope my outfit is well fit enough for the theme.
[ It's not a super gorgeous dress, but even in her mundane days she maintains a dignified appearance - and of course she won't leave without her large hat. ]
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[Even on that fateful day of her execution, even in a raggedy white dress and with her hair cropped, she maintained her dignity as a queen. Marie, as far as Sanson was concerned, could look beautiful in anything. In his opinion, she was almost always dressed properly enough to not be turned away from a fancy restaurant.]
Allons-y, mon cher.
[He escorts her out the door with care as though she were made of porcelain, beaming. It's always an honor to go out with her...]
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With a chuckle upon hearing him, a soft blush still dusting her cheeks, Marie holds onto his arm as they march out of her apartment and start their way to the restaurant. ]
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So, how has your birthday been so far?
[Hopefully her friends remembered and treated her right, even though the sheer volume of attention Marie receives on a regular basis intimidates him. Sanson just wants to make sure he doesn't have to decapitate any of them.
Just kidding.]
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Thankfully she has very awesome friends who made her feel great about today, so she's not at all hesitating when she gives her answer. ]
It has been fantastic! I did not have this level of attention in Chaldea, either! People have been really pleasant on the network when I announced my birthday. Even strangers gave their wishes!
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[Good, he won't have to behead anyone - I mean.
And while many people in Chaldea were captivated by Marie's charisma, there were a good number of Servants who didn't particularly care or who would not even give her the time of day, and sometimes, Chaldea was simply too busy in general for anyone to lavish this kind of attention to her.]
A birthday is special, no matter where you go, and it seems it holds true for many other worlds.
[It's just as important as the day of one's death. (Sanson is just morbid that way.)]
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Towards what he told her now, though, she agrees wholeheartedly, squeezing his arm. ]
Yes, and that brings me joy! To think people give such a value to one's existence, at least once every year...
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As they should. Life is a precious gift...even more so for us, who have been given our second lives.
[And he was thankful for that second life. It was an opportunity for him to atone for everything he did in his first life, and to enjoy what he could not enjoy when he was bound to his profession. Sanson never would've imagined that his second life would include bringing Marie to dinner, or even sharing a lot of kisses with her.]
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[ Though she's worried about what's going on back home, it doesn't take away the fact she's happy here and she will keep being happy for as long as possible. With so many friends and moonlacing partners, she really doesn't want everything to end just yet. It's selfish, and she knows that, but she still strongly wishes for it. ]
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But would he and Marie have been able to get this close if they had not been whisked away to Prismatica? It's not something he expected, yet it isn't unwelcome at all.]
Yes, we've been very lucky, despite the...complications this world brings.
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Exactly! Even though there are situations that are not unlike what we had at home, the air here is much more relaxing. Besides, we do not have to battle every single day for materials!
[ A chuckle, then she leans in, resting her head on Sanson's shoulder as they still walk. ]
We would not have the time to have a pleasant date like this.
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Belatedly it occurs to him how public this display is, but he decides to shelve that for the time being.]
I'm glad we have the time now. [He says softly, as he guides her around a street corner and to the door of a fancy formal restaurant. The beautiful Prismal lady outside asks them with a reservation, to which Sanson replies, "Yes, table for two, for Charles." Immediately they are ushered inside, toward a small cozy booth near a window, well away from the other diners.]
I hope you don't mind that I chose this table.
[He'd really rather not have someone barge in on them or anything.]
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I do not mind. I suppose we could have a bit of quiet and private time for this occasion.
[ She loves being surrounded by people, but tonight it's supposed to be just her and Sanson. Led towards one of the chairs, she properly sits down, hands on her lap. ]
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Sanson takes his seat next to her, although he spares a split second to let his eyes hover over their surroundings as he has a small and very irrational fear of being found here alone with Marie and then having to sit and watch her be spirited away from him by her many adoring fans. He quickly clears his throat.]
Thank you...because that's precisely why I had our reservation here.
[A waiter hands them their menus as soon as those words are out of his mouth.]
I've learned to cherish moments like this.
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As you should. It is not an everyday occurrence to have dinners like these, and today is special, as we both know.
[ Once they both make the orders and the waiter is dismissed, Marie places both her elbows on the table, head tilted as she rests her chin between laced fingers. ]
This was a good choice of a restaurant. We should go back sometime. Perhaps for your birthday?
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Satisfied that there seems to be no one else they recognize in the restaurant with them, his mood remains light and agreeable. After all, he would not be averse at all to another dinner here.]
My birthday is not for three more months, but that can be arranged.
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[ An idea makes way in her head, but she's not sharing it. Part of Marie suspects that Sanson might disapprove of it, and try to run away... therefore, she'll have to act carefully.
It will possibly be the best birthday of his extra Servant life, depending on how her plans turn out.
The Queen's smile warms up when drinks are being served. ]
I see. There is yet time to do something... I shall keep it in mind.
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You don't have to; I'm satisfied with something like this.
[Marie doesn't have to take precious time and energy away from her schedule for his 281st birthday, really.]
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[ Birthdays are important, and those who think they're not... well, they're wrong, and she'll prove it! ]
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Just like he did for her. It's a bit easier to think of this as her way of returning the favor.]
I did say birthdays were special... [He shakes his head.] It's as if I'm trapped by my own words.
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[ At least he's got time to prepare himself for that. She smiles very amiably at him. ]
You should start thinking about what gift you would like to have from me.
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