EMERGENCY: BIRTHDAY (ReD)

Adelene sniffed. She started to laugh and cry at the same time, especially since Lochlann seemed serious with his apology. But really, Adelene was just overjoyed, and she didn't know how else to react but to cry. She was deeply emotionally touched.

She held onto Lochlann's shirt, burying her face on his chest as he stroked her head. Ahhh... It felt nice. But she had to tell him quick that she wasn't upset.

She made an effort to move her hand up, despite being hugged pretty tight. She grabbed his shoulder first, before raising her hand even more to his face, and just grabbing on it. Just to get his attention and snap him out. "Loch..." she was still sobbing, and with her laughter, talking became even more difficult.

"Not up...s-set... Don't worry..."

She gently pushed herself away. She didn't look up, her face was a mess, instead she bowed her head and started to wipe her eyes and cheeks with her bare hands. Her tissue was in her bag and she couldn't get it without letting Lochlann see her face.

She continued to sob, but the sounds eventually became softer and softer, and her shoulders' shaking gradually stopped.

"I'm not upset," she repeated. It was much easier to speak now. "It's just that... you kinda surprised me big time and..." Oh right. She's completely forgotten that she always refused to talk about her past. Of course Lochlann wouldn't know why she cried. "...These are tears of joy, Loch. Didn't have anyone so close to me for six years and then... and then this. It's my first time to have someone do this for me... So--" she sniffed, "--thank you."

Adelene nodded at the question. Yes, her emotions were overflowing, and she couldn't bear it. She unconsciously snuggled against him, feeling a sense of comfort and safety being around Lochlann and she just... likes what he's doing to her head right now.

"Hey," she called gently, looking up at him and then pointing at her head. "Does it also feel nice when I do this to your hair? Didn't know it feels so nice."

I'm-going-to-fall-asleep kind of nice.

She chuckled and patted Lochlann's cheek before pulling away again. She was much better now, her face back to normal except her reddened eyes. Reddened from crying, specifically.

She turned to the other stuff Lochlann brought, especially the cupcake. It was pretty big so she wanted them to eat it together. "We're already here anyway, so let's eat this." She carefully got the candles out and put them down on the box. "Oh, but you know, we're having a thing tonight. The old man wanted to host a party for me, and he invited my other friends to come too."

She went to her bag and searched inside, before eventually bringing out a small envelope. It was plain and simple and light red. No, not pink. She handed it to Lochlann.

"I wanted to give you an invitation too. But you don't really need it since you're going there with me later right?"

"I'm embarrassed that I don't know what kind of cakes you like. So I figured a cupcake was safer."

"Chocolate's good," she replied. But when Lochlann started talking towards what she thought was a rejection of her invitation, her smile faded and she started to look unhappy, for real. When Lochlann said he could come, she slightly lightened up, slightly.

"You can't stay? Don't tell me you're still scared of Kranz. You'll be fine, I swear. I just want you around, okay?"

She took the giant cupcake and took only a part to eat. She hummed in approval, finding that she liked the texture and flavor.

Adelene petted Lamby when he came even closer, almost giving the fluffball-- er, not so fluffy little sheep anymore-- a piece of the cupcake. She pouted a little when Lochlann waved it away.

"Warn me?" she repeated. Only to hear that there was another cupcake. She's noticed quite a few times now how some of Lochlann's sentences seemed like they were supposed to be originally something else, but she also thought that maybe it was just her thinking too much.

She smiled, though the way her lips curved up showed that she wasn't a hundred percent at ease.

"I love this cupcake, Loch." She took a glance at the other part of the cupcake. She took it as she took a bite from the one that was already in her hand. "Want to share this one with me?"

Adelene flinched at the loud sound of the popper. Wasn't a normal reaction, she was a bit too surprised and she had covered her head and closed her eyes, before realizing that it was only confetti.

She relaxed and took a look at her lap and at Lochlann before muttering, "Oh."

She grabbed some that got into her hair, smiling fondly now, before letting out the laughter that bubbled up her throat, joining Lochlann. It was nice to see him laugh. He didn't usually do it.