strongroots | [thecity] inbox

Do I need to make plans to come see my favourite boy in this city?

[ Just look at the man. It's kind of ridiculous - especially in the light of yesterday's events, really. Daniel looks so jovial. It's not even a foreign look on the man at all, but it's as if he threw off all his worries from yesterday. (Or, you know, is just more succesfully pushing them down than back then, especially since Robby's birthday should be free from those sorts of things.

It should be one day the boy is allowed to not have to think about the crap they're sinking further and further into.)

Still, he gets that either how monotone their existence in this city can be or yesterday in general is making the boy a little slow in remembering what exactly today is. So Daniel's smile widens just a touch as he gives out a hint. ]

I'm here to celebrate! [ Get it now, Robby? ]

[ F-favourite boy in the city?? Him???

Mister LaRusso isn't being suspicious, but he's still puzzled by that point, baffled by the response. ...okay, maybe he can wonder if he's been replaced by a fake of his sensei, right--

Wait, wait. His brain is catching up, especially with the remark on celebrating, though Robby sounds no less dumbfounded when he says, ]

...it's my birthday?

[ Listen to this boy. Even he forgot. But he knew it was coming up by the city's calendar, he's just--taken aback that Mister LaRusso knew about it?

(don't worry, he's catching up....slowly...) ]

[ He laughs. ]

It is!

[ Just listen to that. He's saying it with the tone of a game show host who's about to tell Robby what prize he's won by giving that correct answer..

.. although right now he just moves past Robby and into the apartment - if not just so he can put the bag down on the table. It looks a little bit on the heavy side, judging by how Daniel lets out a puff of breath the moment he puts it down. ]

Listen, I know everything has been..

[ ...

His voice trails off. Then Daniel makes a vague hand gesture, like he doesn't want to make things heavy all over again. ]

.. you know. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't celebrate your birthday! It's an important day! I want to make sure you have a good one.

[ you're lucky you might be robby's favourite enough adult to be able to come into his place, NOT-DAD. :/ :/ :/ :/

But really, Robby doesn't stop him, or even think about Mister LaRusso entering. He's slow to leave the doorway himself, half because Mister LaRusso continues to speak--which is really the deciding factor for what he does next. But he is now catching up to what's going on here, the thought being given to him; and he does eventually duck with head momentarily with a smile, then pushes the door to. ]

Thanks. [ you know......for remembering........

He steps more into the room, a little awkward, but an embarrassed kind of awkward (and also of someone not used to this). ] Should I look now?

[ At the bag, of course, and what he's brought over. ]

[ The man doesn't mind the slight awkwardness. There's a part of him that does realise that Robby.. may not entirely be used to this, given what Daniel knows about the way the kid has been living. And really, this might all be a little too childish for someone Robby's age, but.. it's exactly because he might be missing out. He's got a whole lot of birthday to be catching up on in that case.

That's exactly why Daniel shakes his head, shoving his own hands into the bag instead as he looks for something. ]

This is a multiple step process!

[ Wow. Fancy birthday, dad man. ]

Starting with-- here.

[ He pulls his hands out of the bag, holding.. birthday garlands. ]

We have to put these up in here! That's the way to get into a proper birthday mood. [ ... ] Though I guess one of us may have to stand up on a chair for this.. [ Short kings, short kings. Short kings can't reach the ceiling!!! ]

[ Okay, if Robby had any ideas about what was in the bag.........it was not the birthday garlands.

Which, Mister LaRusso can talk, but he is staring at those things like the man just lifted spaghetti bolognese out of the bag by the fistful. Really? Really? Is this normal? Because-- ]

Are you planning on inviting people over? [ And is he getting Robby to help throw his own birthday party????

Congratulations on distracting Robby from the horrors of their situation, at least. ]

Do you want that?

[ Judging by Daniel's reaction - mostly the hint of surprise in his tone and the way his eyebrows move up slightly - he didn't calculate for that possibility, but also seems open to it. This is all about making Robby's birthday great despite the circumstances, after all, and if Robby wants to celebrate his birthday with more people.. Well, then Daniel is going to make it work.

No request is too big for a boy who would have birthdays to catch up on already even before getting stuck in a place where they might all be.. computer constructs or whatever miserable implications they'll continue to have to live with beyond this point. ]

I thought the decorations were more for the general birthday mood, but if you want some people to come over and celebrate, I can make that happen. [ Look at that, Robby. One (1) old man who seems willing to grant pretty much your every birthday request, still holding the garlands.

Don't let this power get to your head. ]

[ Really, that response shouldn't be a surprise to Robby, and it isn't much. There's a difference here between what Mister LaRusso is likely used to--being a dad of two kids himself--and Robby, who makes a face that isn't disagreeable: just a wrinkle of his nose, a smile, and the tiniest shakes of his head despite... ]

Tsuruno wouldn't like it if she missed out on anything fancy. [ Since....well....he's suddenly thinking about that now that he's being reminded of his birthday, huh. ] I haven't done the decorations since I was kid. They're not bad.

[ Because of course we need to slip that in and let Mister LaRusso know he doesn't mind or anything, just!! Caught off-guard!!

But being caught off-guard isn't going to stop him from walking to where the dining table is (after a quick look at possible garland places), pulling out one of the chairs that will likely turn into two eventually. But first: ]

Where're we putting them?

[ He's feeling kinda funny about the idea of putting up his own birthday decorations, but the whole thing is funny. So! ]

[ At least the answer to that is easy. ]

Wherever you want! [ Please, Robby, this is literally your party.. Your birthday..

But Daniel also realises this definitely isn't a regular thing for Robby. At least he thankfully did have this stuff when he was younger, so that's good, but not having seen them for so long does mean maybe Daniel should give some guidance. ]

Like.. over there. [ He points. ] On that wall. It's easier to start at the top, and then work down to the bottom.

[ This is clearly a man speaking from experience. The experience of still giving Sam and Anthony embarrassing birthday decorations, even at their age. ]

If you can put up the first one, I'll grab the rest from the bag. [ Just so Robby isn't the one rummaging into it instead! There's still some surprises hidden in there..!! ]

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