" it's another year with you , " amiya can't hide the fondness in her voice . it's very clear how much ch'en matters to her at this point , maybe the true nature of her feelings are unclear ; some like to tease and joke with the ceo under vague notions . " happy birthday ch'en . " she holds up two tickets for an art exhibit from the city rhodes was docked at . " it's a local event , and the previews seemed lovely to see in person . it'd be a nice opportunity to unwind from this week .. but if you have someone else in mind to take , the tickets are all yours ! "
a gentle breeze cools off these summer days into nights. it wraps itself around the lung more than the coat she wore. goosebumps settle across her skin but she chooses against walking back inside. it's a feeling she's long grown comfortable with after all her traveling under the company of rhodes island.
it's been a long time , though it doesn't feel like it. none of it feels real , but she knows she's changed since back then.
the same for lungmen.
even now , she knows exactly where it is , briefly wondering how the others there were doing. despite their differences , ch'en knows swire's more than competent to replace her. with hoshiguma at her side , there's no doubt in her mind that they'll be fine.
same goes for that pesky rat.
like her , they've all moved on , but she doesn't feel an ounce of regret.
there's things that still needs to be done , and this is the best place for it. she's learned so much over the years here with rhodes island and made plenty of new friends - some she knows have become irreplaceable.
she hears the steps of another , slowly trailing after. their gentle but confident steps ring against the steel dock of the landship. ch'en turns, holding out a hand close to her face to keep the wild strands from whipping about , having long slipped out of that messy now single tail.
she drinks in the sight of rhodes island's leader. that coat long filled out , not longer awkwardly hanging off her form and her confidence became more refined. she'd heard w whisper once of how much amiya reminded her of the sarkaz king.
"amiya," the lung starts , pausing slightly at the tone. the warmth fills her chest , and it earns a small smile. although she never cared ( or tried to say ) about her birthday , it leaves her touched all the same. "thank you. " she says quietly , staring at the tickets.
gingerly , she lifts one of them, smothering the eagerness lurking beneath her voice.
"then ... when are you free?"
