video | un: oz

[swornto]

So~ How hard is to live alone here?

It seems like I'm just a bother at my current place... and really, no helping that! I have sort of been a thorn in their sides for a while now, huh? I'm just causing headaches left and right. Maybe some independence will sort me out and teach me to be less of a hinderance or something?

[And as a vileblood living with a bunch of darkbloods this month, Oz can't shake his paranoid when at home. He's mixed it up with his own identity issues and made a right mess of himself, actually.]

And completely unrelated~ What exactly makes a day your birthday? What if you aren't born like a human? Or didn't even have access to a calendar? Is there a protocol for those situations?

Comments

[danserai]

I think it's the blood stuff. It's been weird all around.

[ but she secretly thinks it is a big deal. otherwise he wouldn't be smiling so hard. ]

And yeah, I have a really nice house with friends. They're . . . a little weird this month but that's okay.

[swornto]

Hmm~ The blood stuff, huh?

[That would certainly make sense, wouldn't it? Oz knows his blood type is quite different from the others' in his household. He was the only one to bleed green, after all. Though if that's the cause, then it seems like more reason to clear out for now.]

Are you handling it okay? Last month was your first here, wasn't it..?

[danserai]

I think so! That's what Luca and me figured out.

And I'm fine! Really.

[ despite the large bruise on her face! ]

[swornto]

[... yeah, that bruise isn't super convincing.]

So that's a fashion statement? [He points to his own face to indicate hers,] I suppose blood issues would explain it, wouldn't it? Everything is about blood here... aabsolutely everything. Even my mood now?

[wow, he hates it.]

[danserai]

That's just an accident.

[ bigby had no control over his memories and ahiru would never hold it against him. she, of all people, understands how powerful those can be. ]

And it . . . might? Everyone in my house started acting strangely.

[swornto]

An accident? Does that accident get ice? [He may be worried, but Oz doesn't want to smother Ahiru either. If she's got it under control then he'll try to let it go.

He chuckles lightly,] Wow, how annoying! I hope that's not the case. If people are mad at me, I'd rather it be their choice, you know?

[danserai]

I put some later. It really doesn't hurt.

[ she eyes him curiously. ]

So are people mad at you for something else?

[swornto]

[They are.

They've been getting on his case about being honest. Oz is so often reminded that he needs to be more open about his thoughts and feelings, but that has become increasingly difficult in the Trench. He hasn't even found the heart to fully discuss the Sleeper Farm with anyone, let alone unpack his baggage from home.

So of course;]

Iiii guess they must be~ No idea why, though~!

[... Of course, he covers his tracks in this conversation too. Ahiru is too kind. He doesn't want to add to her worries.]

[danserai]

[ ahiru is not the sharpest crayon in the box, but she's always been good at picking out feelings. maybe it's because she knows what to look for. maybe because it's her role in the story. ]

So you don't know or you don't want to talk about it?

[swornto]

[ah.

She figured him out quickly.]

... Both?

[He finds himself beginning to fidget nervously.]

That would seem to be the root of my problem, wouldn't it? I've got no idea where to even begin.

[danserai]

Okay.

If you had to guess . . . where would you like to begin?

[swornto]

[There's a long pause. Oz has to make a choice now: Does he brush her off like he usually would, or let Ahiru try to help?

It's harder to speak honestly than he remembers it being.]

... My birthday is coming up. But I discovered that the day I was celebrating as my birthday for all of these years was... a terrible day for some people. And not really my birthday.

[Saying it out loud, this concern feels almost trivial. Compared to last month, this should be nothing. Oz can't explain why it weighs so heavily on him all of a sudden.]

[danserai]

[ oh right, birthdays! that's a human thing. she's never had one so she wouldn't know. ]

Maybe you can pick another day? A special day that you like that's not so terrible.

[swornto]

That does seem to be the general consensus, yes. And I suppose I have no reason to rush it. I doubt anyone remembers my old birthday, so it wouldn't be difficult to change the dates.

[Though, that's enough about him! Talking about himself makes Oz feel emotionally claustrophobic somehow. Time to switch gears:]

When is your birthday, Ms Ahiru?

[danserai]

Oh, I . . . don't really have one.

[ ducks don't really keep track of that kind of stuff. ]