mykidisthebest

I do believe it.

But whenever I'm honest, the reactions tend to be similar.

[ Why do you think he lies so much

Why do YOU lie so much!!!!!!!! ]

Because it's insulting to hear.

[inhales. exhales, letting the breath out long and slow, clearly trying to keep his temper down]

I don't usually celebrate my birthday. That's why it means a lot to me that--anyone would celebrate it. You weren't asking yourself if my birthday was worth celebrating, were you? You don't know if I was supposed to be born, or if my birth meant doom for several million people. I'm not trying to compare circumstances. Just...being miserable or denying yourself something nice isn't going to bring those people back to life. Shouldn't you experience everything that life has to offer in their stead?

. . . I've been trying to figure out the answer to that for a hundred and fifty years.

I still don't really know, because I don't know who decides "should."

I decide. There, I've solved it for you.

[ help ]

... Does it work like that?

Why not? I'm a perfectly average human. Just like those millions of people who died. If you can't decide for yourself, then why shouldn't it be me instead?

You need to pick better hills to die on.

[ Ruefully.

But, he relents: ]

. . . Alright. You're the boss.

I wouldn't say it if I didn't think I was right. But I don't know if you'd accept my reasoning, so you just have to trust me.

[ Sincerely: ]

I can try.

[reaches over to pat his head. it's not a noogie or trying to flatten his hair or anything like that. just a head pat]

That's good enough for now.

And, for your information, birthdays aren't just about celebrating someone coming into the world. It's a time to tell your loved ones that you're happy they're alive to spend another year with you.

No objections there. Though we should probably do that more than once a year.

We do it more than once a year. But birthdays are mandated days for that.

Alright. Just promise not to use the right amount of candles.

A hundred and fifty one candles wouldn't even fit on a cake. I've already thought of this, don't worry. We'll do three candles shaped like numbers. That's the only way you can manage it when people are in the hundreds or thousands.

You've already thought of this . . .

[ LETHE ]

Of course. I have an elder who is a few thousand years old. It would be embarrassing beyond words if we couldn't figure out how to put candles on a cake for him when the time comes, so I've had to take care to plan ahead. Yours is easy.

[ Contemplates living for thousands of years. One fear. ]

What is going on in your life.

A lot of things? My life is as busy as anyone else's. Do you not have any elders that old?

[ LOOKING AT HIM LIKE HE SPROUTED THREE HEADS ]

How would I know people that old?! Humans don't live that long!

You're over a hundred, though. Don't you have any else around your age?

[ Gets a REAL funny look on his face and doesn't answer for long enough that it's slightly awkward ]

Nah. Oldest guy around.

...

[realizes he probably said something he shouldn't have if his dead twin brother was the only one around his age and the sisters trapped in lightbulbs don't count]

Sorry. I thought maybe...sorry.

[ Flaps a hand ]

How do you know people that old? Isn't your world mostly normal humans? Is it a super secret power thing?

It's not secret. Or, well, if you meet someone from my world it's secret. But it's fine here.

My world is mostly humans, but when you go through an "Awakening" it's different. If you're an F-Class like me then you're basically only a little stronger than the average human. Someone who awakens as S-Class gets a huge boost to their strength and vitality though. S-Classes can live for about two hundred years, and if they train then they can live for even longer than that. If they become strong enough they can live for thousands of years--though that's rare. The people that I know who are that old come from other worlds.

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