IC INBOX | RYSLIG

[standless]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, JOJO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 336.66.256.63 *** JOJO has joined 336.66.256.63 <JOJO...?> Technically this message doesn't exist. Jonathan doesn't actually have a laptop. I just needed an Inbox.

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[standless]

[There's almost certainly a surprise, but admittedly with the 4th being the day it is in Ryslig, he's a bit distracted. Erina comes home to find him quite unresponsive, as if he's not noticed her entering.

This is in fact because he hasn't, his ears are full of cotton, quite literally. All that wailing in the air, Erina!!

Best come and prod his shoulder perhaps.]

[english_rose]

[Erina frowns at the cotton in his ears. Of course, that wailing is very distressing in its own way, but it will pass... soon.

She prods him gently with the gift, and raises her voice.]

Jojo!

[standless]

Oh?

[He still doesn't hear her, but that prod certainly helped!] Oh! Erina-

Oh, what is this?

[Jonathan!! Take that cotton out!]

[english_rose]

[Erina scrunched up her muzzle at him, little mongoose teeth bright and sharp in the light, as she plucked one of the cotton balls from his ear,]

I said, Happy Birthday! It's your present, my love!

[standless]

OH!!

[And immediately! There is crying again, but also his darling wife-] My birthday of course- I'd completely forgotten amidst all this rain!

I apologize Erina- the sound within the rain was just so dreary I couldn't bear to listen to it longer...I fear for if I need to deafen myself so in another week's time.

[english_rose]

I cannot blame you for that, but after a while I managed to shut it out. But first, here. Perhaps we'll find a way to muffle it from coming in, after cake and you opening your gift, what do you think?

[They were, after all, comfortable enough in silence together to work amiably! She offered him the box again. Within, a chocolate-on-chocolate truffle cake resided, decorated with a delightfully fancy Happiest of birthdays! in white icing.]

[standless]

Did you truly? Is there a particular trick to it..?

[Well he's taking his gift, very carefully- and, upon opening it, of course smiles broadly.] Oh my-! Well this certainly looks to be a most delightful cake! And chocolate at that!

[english_rose]

Well, I simply filled my mind with so many thoughts as to what would be your best gift that eventually I did not hear it at all. Which took many thoughts to string together, as I didn't know what would be most worth your time.

[Now she offered him the smaller box. Cufflinks, decorated painstakingly with the Joestar family crest. Instead of inlaying jewels (far too expensive!) she had them decorated with a lacquer.]

I hope that you wear them someday soon.

[standless]

Put like that I cannot help but wonder if this means I do not think of you heavily enough- I had thought myself able to do so with ease, but I appear to be proven quite wrong!

[It might be a joke. It might? It might. But anyway-

O...OH. OH!!!!] Oh....

[This earns a much more emotional response than the cake, suffice to say. Tears dot at his eyes, and he slowly runs a finger over the cufflinks.] Erina...it's exactly the crest, down to the final detail...

[english_rose]

It is? Oh, [and now it's Erina's turn to breathe a sigh of relief.]

Thank goodness! I had such a time trying to draw it out again by memory, but it's on your gravestone at home, and I kept thinking to myself, Erina Joestar, you spent days and days and days next to that stone, how can you not remember?

[Though it felt a bit wrong to discuss a gravestone on a birthday, it would be dishonest of her to claim she knew it at one stroke. Taking her kerchief from her pocket, she gently dots at the corners of his eyes.]

Are you happy, then, my love?

[standless]

My grave-

[Well he was happy, but now he's quite shocked..!! His voice is quiet and nearly apologetic, as he looks to her.] Erina- you memorized this from my tomb..?

[english_rose]

[Erina looks away, flushing in embarrassment. Her voice becomes very small]

Yes, of course. I spoke to you every day I could, once I'd recovered.

But please, don't sound apologetic, Jonathan. This is a happy day. You only turn twenty-four once. And I want you to wear them with joy.

[standless]

I cannot help it my love- I caused you so much grief, even if unintentional. These are beautiful though- and I shall indeed wear them with fondness and smiles, when that is all you ask of me in turn, [he reassures.]

[english_rose]

[She smiles in relief and rests her forehead on his chest.]

I'm glad that you like them, and you have more than made up for those weeks of grief by being alive here and living with me as your wife once again. So please, do not fret so. It was my fault to have said anything so thoughtless to begin with.

[Perhaps talking about it at all would be detrimental in the future, she wondered. No need to cause pain where pleasure lived.]

[standless]

Nothing you could ever say would be thoughtless, [he reassures honestly, moving in to give a peck upon the cheek before holding her close.] And this is already far more than I ever would have needed for a wonderful birthday my dear- you have truly gone above and beyond.

[english_rose]

[ Erina lays her cheek on his chest and breathes a sigh of relief. Despite everything, she managed to make a good gift. ]

Oh, don't say that, Jonathan. We are all thoughtless from time to time. Your wife is not a paragon, after all.

[ She chuckles softly. ] But I am happy to give you as many presents for your birthday as I can.

[standless]

Well, so long as you are doubly prepared for me to treat you to the same on your own birthday.

[english_rose]

[ Erina lifted her eyes to look up at him, and grinned, ]

I would be remiss in disagreeing with you. I want to spend many, many birthdays with you, and anniversaries. Even if we don't get to be human for them.


[ Truly, it was the fly in the ointment of an otherwise wonderful marriage. ]

[standless]

I couldn't say it any better myself my dear. [And what wonderful birthdays they will be..! ...assuming nothing occurring within the peninsula throws such things off kilter again of course.]