@apoprockindajock asked: A small rectangular object is pressed into Byan’s hand, about the size of a deck of playing cards and wrapped in white sketch paper with Kuromi stickers used in place of tape.
Inside was an altoids tin, though only the shape of it could give it away. Conrad has used sandpaper and paint thinner to remove the original colors and branding, then painted the tin with nail polish and sealed it with top coat to prevent it from chipping. The background was white, with Kuromi sitting with Baku, a cake between them.
And inside the tin, Conrad had placed 6 joints and a small keychain of My Melody. Just to be a brat~
“I know I’m a day late, but we don’t have to talk about that. I used so much fucking paint on that thing that I got half high working on it. Figured it was worth letting it get good and dry before giving it to you.” The taller teen said, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans before grinning at the other.
“Happy birthday, Byan.”
considering that a gift would have been a surprise on their birthday, it's even more so a day later. blinking down at the little item conrad's set in their hand, byan stares down at it in stunned silence for a long moment.
ㅤㅤ" the fuck? "ㅤthey mutter, but their curious nature quickly gets the better of them. unable to resist, they tear at the paper — careful to avoid ripping any kuromis, of course — and, upon revealing the present inside... they fall back into just staring at it. it's hand painted, obviously, with great care taken not only on the image of kuromi and baku, but in removing all of the original paint, too. must've taken a good number of hours to finish it all... what the hell?
uncharacteristically speechless, byan listens as conrad speaks, unable to take their eyes off the tin. they haven't even opened it yet, and they're already blown away. —speaking of opening it though, it does feel like there's something in there. with an odd sort of reluctance, the teen pushes the lid open with a thumb... and can't help but snort a laugh at the sight of the my melody keychain. asshole.
quicker to snap the tin closed than they'd been to open it, byan shakes their head as their eyes fall once again upon the image painted on the lid.
ㅤㅤ" what the fuck, man? "ㅤit's a rhetorical question, not one they want an actual answer to. it's just... they weren't expecting a gift period from conrad, let alone something so... sweet. something with time and effort poured into it. what the fuck.
there's a tug on their heart, an emotion they don't want to address looming. to avoid it, byan throws a punch at their friend's shoulder— perhaps a little bit harder than necessary.
ㅤㅤ" should'a jus' got me, like. i dunno, some mcdonald's, or somethin'. "ㅤnot that they don't like the gift, but because food would have made them less likely to cry in front of him. they're fighting it, that urge to just bawl when someone shows them even an ounce of true care, but it's there. it's sure to become more than just a threat if they dwell on the whole thing any longer.
ㅤㅤ" hope the high was worth it, 't'least. "ㅤthey won't say thank you. that's a dangerous game when they're already beating emotions back with a bat. but they will be carrying the tin with them everywhere from now on, and hopefully the occasional glimpse conrad gets of it in the future will show their gratitude and appreciation well enough.
