Open Post: Who invented this calendar anyway?

[futaille]

How unfortunate.

Yes, Grantaire was fully aware that the year being longer at the mansion would logically cause seasons to drift when someone kept track of the old calendar, or at least what had been pinned down as the old calendar for convenience sake, which was almost necessary when people's arrivals weren't necessarily tied to the day they left. He hadn't given it too much thought last year, when his birthday, such that it was, arrived in spring like he was used to.

Dark, though, was unfortunate. Not inappropriate for the next notable anniversary coming up, but for this one, not at all. Of course, it wasn't as if he would have been planning much in the way of an event, Dark or no, but it would have been nice to treat himself to something or other, regardless.

Instead, he has installed himself in the game room, where he is carefully balancing dominoes on their ends to make a domino rally on the billiards table. It's a nice large flat surface, so it should work nicely. Have to keep entertained somehow.

Comments

[vineleaves]

Well, Étienne might not have been planning an event, but Dionysus has been planning things for this day for quite some time now. Around dinnertime he comes and finds him, wrapping his arms around Étienne's waist from behind.

"Happy birthday, love." Dionysus has on a wine red chiton (made of a nice wool, because of the season) with gold trim and a golden band that wraps around his midsection and crisscrosses over his chest. He's got golden leaves in his hair to match, and has styled his bangs so they frame his face in the specific way he's noticed Grantaire favors.

[futaille]

Although he's a bit startled at the sudden hug, he at least manages not to flinch enough to knock down dominoes. He laughs and turns in Dionysus's arms. "Thank you," he says before stooping to give him a kiss.

[vineleaves]

Dionysus returns the kiss, as warm and sweet as he can manage (which is saying something). Once they part, he says, "How're the dominoes going?"

[futaille]

"Not bad. It's a good surface for it." He grins. "It's a good surface for a lot of things, in fairness."

[vineleaves]

"Multi-purpose," he says before leaning to kiss Grantaire's neck.

[futaille]

"Exactly. You look nice today, by the way."

[vineleaves]

"Thank you, sweetheart. I made dinner, by the way."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Grantaire," says Susan, hovering at the door.

[futaille]

He looks up and grins. "The one and only! Or at least the one and only that's here as there are rather demonstrably other Grantaires that exist, but that's beside the point! Hello!"

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"I understand that it's your birthday today."

[futaille]

"More or less, I suppose. Or at least given the common calendar translation. By my personal reckoning, it would be in another four months or so, but I do understand that everyone keeping their own would be a bit chaotic."

[quote_gentle_unquote]

"Ah. I see you've also been struck by a calendar mismatch."

[futaille]

"I have. Jumped from the beginning of June to the end of October."

[sagramore]

"What's all this, what art thou up to?" By now he's fully recovered from his Dark-induced fever, and he pokes his head in curiously.

[futaille]

He looks up and waves. "Hello! I'm doing the little domino tricks that my other self did when he was here."

[sagramore]

"Oh, that's right! I remember that." Vaguely.

[futaille]

"Precisely!" He goes back to adding dominoes to the array. "So in honor of maybe his birthday, here I am."

[sagramore]

"Maybe his? Thine, thou meanst."

[futaille]

"By at least one reckoning. And by extension maybe his!"

[untamedantinous]

Enjolras, contrary to some people's beliefs; does in fact pay attention to the calendar. It may be a strange calendar with months all out of joint, but he has been here over a year now, and with time comes familiarity. So, noting that Grantaire's birthday fell during Dark, he had planned ahead. It had taken some searching until he had found Grantaire's haunt, but he knocks on the door-sill, package in hand.

"That looks...complicated."

[futaille]

He looks up at the door and brightens. "Enjolras!" He gestures to the array. "It may look complicated, but it's actually quite simple. Much like myself."

[untamedantinous]

"So I see." He heads further into the room to inspect, smiling a little. "In the spirit of making things that are aesthetically pleasing, I have something for you. --Of course, it is also due to the date."

[futaille]

"You are aesthetically pleasing," he replies basically automatically. "... Or, rather, you didn't have to, but thank you."

[untamedantinous]

"Are you implying you are not?" He raises an eyebrow. "It is your birthday. Of course I was going to bring you something." It is customary, after all; even if the birthday is not in the proper season.

[futaille]

"I made no implications whatsoever, simply stated facts. That said, I still wasn't expecting it, but I appreciate it."