(Ayn scenario, it’s his birthday month!) PRESENT!!
Comprehensive List of Scenarios Prompt List
37. PRESENT : for one muse to give the other a (birthday) gift.
Every single year, Ayn's birthday proves to be a pain in the ass.
He never liked how everybody kicked up a fuss wherever he went, how every single little thing seemed to be a big deal even if he just so much as glanced their way. He's not oblivious to the reason behind it but that never made the situation any better, learning the art of indifference over the years just to get a fraction of the attention off his back. That didn't completely dissuade others from digging into his business, although it was enough for some to know when to put their distance.
There's no good reason for him to bring up personal details about himself so he is pretty damn sure he never told anybody about his birthday, but at the end of the day he still got barraged with gifts and letters and a lot more greetings from people he has never talked to. It's not as if he was expecting his birthday this year to be any different from the previous ones so why even bother with the thought that this year would be more tolerable?
Only this year he is going through his presents when he normally wouldn't bother looking at them, not too interested in what's inside but rather he's shifting through all the unfamiliar names in search for a certain name. For some reason he never noticed if you have approached him at all that day, a majority of his view blocked by countless people everywhere he went.
A few hushed curses and a couple of minutes later, he can't still find your name.
Are you busy with something else? Did you forget what day it is today? It's not as if your life revolved around him, he shouldn't expect you to know it's his birthday just because others do. Ayn probably sounds self-centered but he can't help it; the news should be all over the school at this point, there's no way you haven't caught wind of it.
So where in the world are you?
Ayn has half the mind to give you a call right here, right now, but before he could reach for his phone there are a few knocks on the door. He perks up immediately. He knows that knock.
A few moments pass before the door swings open to reveal your form. You tentatively look around the practice room as if it's your first time visiting, even though you drop by nearly just as much as he does nowadays.
"Is there anybody else in here?" you ask.
"No, it's just me," he replies. "You do realize I don't normally allow people to enter, right?"
Right after he says that you sigh in relief, finally comfortable enough to step into the room now that you know it's just the two of you. Now that Ayn is looking at you from up close, you seem to be tired from a full day's worth of hard work. Before he could comment on that, you hand him a gift bag, the exhaustion in your features replaced by anticipation.
"I've been trying to give this to you all day but the timing never felt right," you explain, "so I waited until you're alone. I didn't expect that it would take me the entire day, though... sorry it took me this long. I'll make sure to be the one to greet you first next year so this doesn't happen again." You pause for a moment, hand with the gift still outstretched to him, looking away before you meet his gaze again. "Happy birthday, Ayn."
Next year, Ayn thinks to himself quietly.
Just earlier Ayn was so sure how things will never change. Now that you're handing him his gift, accompanied with the promise of next year, he has an inkling that his following birthdays will grow far more tolerable. He is used to being put on a pedestal but somehow he never feels that way in your presence. It might be why everything seems to be easier with you; you don't make him feel scrutinized, just seen.
"You didn't have to get me a gift," Ayn finally says as he takes the gift bag from your hands. He's probably never going to tell you how he was scrambling around his presents just minutes ago in search for yours.
