abraxaslogs | ( january catch all )

( his birthday is one of those things that tends to let come and go each year. he makes a note of it, let's foggy and karen tell him happy birthday but then he just forgets about it.

except this year, he's going to celebrate it though he's not exactly sure how. after telling nearly all of her friends about her birthday, the least he could do was let her celebrate his.

though, he is going to draw the line at a birthday hat.

nocwich is still cold but he's brought a jacket and gloves this time and he's waiting outside the inn, walking stick in hand.

while he waits for wanda to arrive, he listens to the conversations from within the inn, trying to pick up on anything that might need attention later. )

[wanda knows that matt will be able to immediately pick up when she's approaching him, so she makes no attempt to hide that. however, instead of stopping by the inn's entrance and heading inside with him, she simply loops her arm around his and tugs him along to walk with her.

no ceremonious greeting or anything.]

I'm abducting you.

[—nailed it.

except, in actuality:] I found a really nice shop. They sell their version of coffee there.

Oh no, whatever will I do?

( he doesn't hesitate to walk along with her, falling into step easily. there's a smile on his face at both her arrival and her plans. )

Version of coffee?

It isn't really coffee beans, but something else. I didn't try it, but it smelled — a little different. You can give it a try.

[if he dares, what with his sensitive nose and tastebuds. still, the reason she chose that shop is not because of it's "coffee", but rather because of how far away enough it is from oleuni square—it dips under an awning besides some stone steps, hidden away from most frequent traffic. they don't care much about catering to a large crowd, or any summoned. the space certainly opens up after the rickety stairs and the narrow door, to a couple of tables surrounded by chairs and a counter towards the back. how did wanda ever find this place, is a mystery, but it's far away enough and empty enough for her to give matt's birthday a small, but earnest, celebration.

he's lucky that she has no interest in getting back to him for his stunt a few days before.]

Do you want a cup of that coffee of theirs?

[as of yet, no mention of a birthday. she's definitely plotting something, as she guides him towards a table in a corner far from the door.]

( yes, he's definitely noticed the lack of her acknowledging the birthday. he's not going to bring it up but he knows she hasn't forgotten.

especially not in light of how he let everyone know about her birthday.

the spot she's chosen is small, out of the way and nice. definitely not like the coffee shops or kiosks in new york. this place was quiet and out of the way. )

Sure, I'll try it.

( and if it turns out it's not for him, he'll just sit there and nurse it before throwing it away. )

[letting him sit, wanda squeezes at his hand for a moment before she goes up to the counter. there really isn't much staff nor clients here, but her coin is appreciated nonetheless. she seems to be taking a while, but returns shortly thereafter to the table with matt.

in her hands, a cup, filled up with something that looks like coffee but smells quite herby and unusual, like perhaps they use something else to get the same effect of coffee beans. that, however, is not the main thing she wants him to focus on—even if it's a perfect distraction for him as he tries to figure it out. for wanda has brought, too, a box, setting it lightly on the table. inside said box, as she opens the lapels on the sides so she doesn't have to pick up the contents, is a simple, small cake. she's brought it from solvunn, baked and decorated it herself. with a twirl of her fingers, a candle settles in the center of it, lit up and all.

she takes the box away, sets it down on her lap, and leans forward on her elbows as she pushes it towards the center of the table.

—and then, before he can even say something funny, she starts, voice soft, quiet, but holding a tune just fine:]

Happy birthday—to you—

[the whole song, just for him to hear, excitement making her hands gravitate towards her elbows, taking in his face. she'll sing it until the song is over, the flame on the candle flickering as it catches puffs of her breath as she sings the syllables.

she stays quiet after she's done, only to raise her eyes to his, her smile reaching her eyes. as if trying to be conspiratorial about this, wanda whispers her next words.]

Make a wish, Matthew.

( he'd been expecting something. maybe not something like he'd done to her but something. but he hadn't predicted this. she steps up to the counter, leaving him there, and when she returns he can smell the coffe but there's something else —

it takes him a moment to figure out that it's a cake. the sugary smell finally permeates and his eyes raise to hers. before he can say anything, she's lit a candle and she starts singing.

any sort of quip or smart remark dies away and his expression is open and soft. he's — touched. he's not going to cry but he does allow every bit of shield and guard fall away, letting her see him look innocent and almost boyish.

he laughs when she finishes the song, soft and quiet and tells him to make a wish.

so, he leans forward and does just that. )

[wanda thinks that this is a good reaction to have. his thoughts quiet down a lot, whether he knows it or not, and his expression softens. he's always been so guarded, so used to keeping behind high walls, wanting to be careful in revealing a vulnerable side of himself.

as he leans forward to make a wish, she makes a point of not listening in to his thoughts.

instead, she places her hand over his forearm, squeezing lightly. if she ignores the fact that this is abraxas, that there is a whole world outside of this small shop with magic and werewolves and vampires and much political intrigue, wanda can just—for a moment—pretend that this is what it's like: to be normal.

to be normal, with him.]

You've got to blow out the candle for your wish to come true. I promise I didn't hear what it was.

( he takes a second to think of a wish and once he does, he blows out the candle before sitting back, looking pleased with himself.

for a second, he doesn't know what to say so he just picks up the hand she has on his arm and kisses her knuckles before just holding onto it. )

Thank you.

( it's really all he can find it in himself to say, too surprised to do anything else. )

You're always saying your memories growing up celebrating anything were small things, sitting with your dad, maybe eating a pizza or something like that. It's not the same, but I wanted something quiet for you.

[despite him doing the opposite for her— despite claiming she would have her revenge. no such thing.

she tightens her hold on his hand.]

You want a slice?

Yeah.

( yeah, of course he does. he smiles softly, taking a few long moments to just savor this moment. then, he sighs and straightens, listening to her cut the cake. )

Did you say you made this?

I didn't say that, but— I did.

[a carving knife apparates into her hand, and wanda cuts at the cake—more firmly, now that she's got her hand back. she didn't really prepare for plates and forks, but with a twirl of magic the things appear easily enough before him.

the slice is placed on the plate, and she slides it close towards him.]

I hope you like chocolate. [she sets the knife down, grabs at the candle and uses her finger to remove the bits of cake stuck to its end, just to have a taste of it herself, too.] I made it so the flavor wouldn't be too strong.

I definitely like chocolate.

( and it's something he doesn't eat a lot of which is just a pity. he listens to her cut the cake and listens to her give him a slice. he picks up a fork and cuts into it, taking a bite.

and, he doesn't know how she managed, but it's perfect. it's rich but not so rich that it makes him shudder. it's sweet and sugary and he hums in approval. )

Guess we can add baker to your list of talents.

[wanda smiles, sensing his reaction towards the cake. she knows it can be hit or miss with him and food in general, so she had been pretty careful about this. she's just glad she got the right ratio for him.]

I can't actually cook for you in the Horizon.

[ah, speaking of—

she stands up and leaves him alone for a moment, walking back towards the counter. she clearly scouted this place out and paid extra coin to have them help her store the cake here and — something inside a basket of sorts. as she brings it closer, she warms it up with her magic, and sets it down on the table; matt should be able to recognize the smell wafting from within the bag.

buns, sausage, ketchup, mustard—]

It's a little backwards to start with cake first, but I got you this, too.

[and she opens the basket. inside, her rendition of a new york hot dog. she hopes it's good.]

Is that —

( holy shit, it is. he knows that smell. and he looks up at her in absolute wonder before he reaches in to take it. he doesn't even care if it tastes horrible, the fact that she'd found a hot dog for him and put the new york touch on it.

damn. well, if he didn't love her before (he did), he loves her now. he laughs, amazed. )

How did you do that?

A bit of magic. A bit of digging into your memories. I had hot dogs and pretzels once in New York when I went to Queens with Steve. He said it was a crime if I didn't at least get to walk around while there.

[she smiles, pleased with herself, and picks at the fork he had been using to eat the cake. wanda uses it to help herself to the cake slice he had been munching on.]

—you should eat it.

Oh, I'm going to.

( he picks the hot dog up and smells it, inhaling it and sighing before he takes a giant bite.

he might be a shitty eater but he will always eat a hot dog. )

It tastes — yeah, it tastes how I remember it.

Good.

[that was the point of it, after all. she brings another forkful of cake to her mouth, tasting the chocolate and letting it linger upon her tongue for a moment. she glances up at matt as he takes another bite, looking far too composed for someone who likely hasn't had a hot dog in months.

a small smile appears on her face as she sets the fork down.]

You remember we said one gift, right? For your Christmas and also our birthdays?

[this wasn't it.]

I don't think that's what we said.

( but — he doesn't think there's anything he can do to change whatever's she done. he takes another bite of the hot dog. )

I'm pretty sure we said one gift for Christmas and didn't say anything about birthdays.

( looks like she'd just made up her own rules. )

No, I'm pretty certain we said it'd be one for both things.

[because—]

Why would it not be a gift for our birthdays when I knew the time we could come to Nocwich would actually fall on your birthday? [it makes no sense! wanda puts an elbow to the table, leaning her chin onto her hand, looking at him.] Anyway, I got you something. The cake and the hot dog don't count.

[sure, these are her own rules.]

Edited 2023-01-11 03:43 (UTC)

You are making the rules up as you go along.

( and they both know it. besides, he would have been happy with the hot dog as a gift.

he finishes that off and then sits back. )

The hot dog counts.

[hmph—]

If the hot dog counts, then that means that I get to keep your actual gift.

[yes, she'll be petulant about this, taking another bite of the cake.]

It's fine if you forgot about it.

( matt tries to take advantage of nocwich when it's open since it's the only way he really gets out of cadens otherwise, not counting the horizon.

sometimes, he just spends his time walking around, sometimes, he spends it on the rooftops, listening to various conversations, sometimes he does what he's doing today — shopping.

and he's not much of a shopper. he's standing in front of a booth in oleuni square, listening to a vendor try and sell him some jewelry. )

I don't have an ear piercing, you realize.

( but the vendor presses on and then launches into a spiel about why matt should get his ear pierced.

he's not really convinced. )

( he's back in fogwells today for no other reason than he just — missed the place.

his dad was the boxer in the family, stick making sure that his talents were a little more well rounded but that doesn't mean he can't fight. the boxing ring is empty but matt's on the side of it, hands wrapped in tape while he takes several hard, heavy hits at the bag that swings back and forth.

he can feel the pain when he hits it certain ways, the horizon making it feel even more and more real even if he knows he's asleep. but, he doesn't stop, sweat rolling into his eyes as he gets lost in what he's doing. )

( the libertas attack had occurred awhile ago but matt was still working with various refugees to get them settled into something permanently if their homes couldn't be repaired.

it wasn't easy work and it required long hours but he couldn't really see himself turning away.

the sun was just starting to set when he made his way out of city hall, a bag over his shoulder and a few books under his arm. his mind if clearly elsewhere, the conversations of others reaching his ears. he bobbles the book, almost dropping them before he manages to stumble over and sit down on a bench.

the city's pretty lively tonight, it seems, and while he doesn't want to eavesdrop, he can't help it.

there's a lot going on. )

( ooc: if you'd like matt to overhear something of yours, feel free to mod it as so! )

( wanda → closed )

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( nocwich — open )

( horizon — open )

( cadens — open )