Today, Seele had been within the Dreamscape of Penacony, a place that she seemed to frequent quite a bit, at this point.

This occasion was special, though; Seele had been within the Dream, here to pay Fugue a visit as it had been the latter's birthday. This was but another moment, for Seele, that had been new to her: giving a gift to a partner.

Seele considered herself thoughtful in gift giving, but had been scared -- worried that maybe her birthday present wouldn't be enough?

However, Seele remembers the moment of their meeting -- the way in which Fugue had guided her through the Luofu with a look of longing in her eye. Seele knew, in that gaze, that Fugue seemed to miss the place. Though, she wasn't sure why Fugue wouldn't simply return home. That didn't matter, however, for Seele had assumed such information would come her way only if Fugue had been ready to speak on it.

Despite that, Seele carried with her Songlotus Cakes, a treat from the Luofu, to share with her beloved. She also carried with her a box that contained a very ornate (and slightly pricey -- Aeons could imagine how much money Seele had saved up for this) looking brush and comb. On their various dates, exchanges of messages, and phone calls, Seele noticed a consistency in Fugue's wishes for a new brush, a new comb, for her tails.

So, she kept that in mind, saving as much as she could for this special occasion.

And when Fugue had been spotted walking towards her -- after Seele had sent her texts asking to meet up for today -- the little butterfly decided out of impatient anticipation to meet Fugue halfway and run up to her.

"Hey! Happy birthday, Fugue!" Seele said with excitement and nervousness that couldn't be contained as she planted a kiss on her partner's cheek. "Here, here, I got you a gift! I bought Songlotus Cakes from the Luofu on my way here, so we can share them. Annnnd, I have something in this box too! You can open it, if you want. Don't have to now though, or anything."

Fugue's Birthday 2025

Fugue lights up as she sees Seele approaching, gaze lifting from the blank point it had been fixated upon Penacony's street. This world was one of wonders, whimsy around every corner. She was surrounded by people - strangers, but those around her being those she did not know had never bothered her in the past - but Fugue had never felt so alone on the day of her birth.

In the past, when she had still been Tingyun, she had celebrated each birthday with her parents by her side, making a point to return home upon this day with every year that passed. She couldn't go home anymore, her loving parents now likely mourning for her on this day that had once belonged to her joy and well wishes for future endeavors.

At least she had someone by her side this time, even if it wasn't the parents that she treasured as much as they had treasured her.

"Thank you for coming, Seele," Fugue says, smiling softly at her lover. She wasn't sure if she would actually take the trouble to come all of this way to Penacony. The foxian wouldn't have blamed her if she hadn't, had simply sent a gift from afar and hadn't bothered to spend the time travelling.

She takes the gifts carefully into her hands, opening the box of which the contents she does not know, carefully taking out the ornate hairbrush and comb. This craftsmanship... it was... she knew it like the back of her hand. She had once greeted those merchants with a smile on her face, waving to them happily on her way to work. And the cakes... so familiar, a snack she had often bought to tide herself over until dinner time, more often than not given to her on the house from those operating the stalls out of respect for her and all that she had done to facilitate trade for the Luofu.

Fugue can't help the tears that spring to her eyes, setting the gifts aside safely on the bench and flinging herself into Seele's arms.