[With Diarmuid - wedding anniversaries.]

[unknownrival]

[This time of year was always a special one, and had been for the last twenty years. Issei smiled almost uncontrollably as he broached the subject in their bedroom.]

Do you have any plans for the near future, a rún?

Comments

[croibhristeoir]

Hm?

[He looked up from the book he was reading, tilting his head slightly.]

I don't often think all that far ahead. Why do you ask?

[unknownrival]

I was thinking we could do something soon. Perhaps next Wednesday? [Wednesday being, of course, the exact date of their anniversary.]

[croibhristeoir]

...

[Wait, hang on. That was something important.]

[The drawbacks of being somewhat removed from time in a sense was that one tended to lose track of specific dates now and again.]

I would love to, my dearest.

[unknownrival]

Ah, good. I hope you're not terribly busy, because I might want to occupy you the whole day.

[croibhristeoir]

Issei, when am I ever too busy for you?

[unknownrival]

Never that I can remember.

[croibhristeoir]

Then you should not worry about such an impossibility.

[unknownrival]

Just checking. Though I doubt a better use of your time exists than celebrating.

[croibhristeoir]

[THINK THINK THINK]

Of course not.

[unknownrival]

Hm, how much should I leave as a surprise and how much should we plan together...?

[croibhristeoir]

You're just going to tease me with this, aren't you?

[unknownrival]

I like teasing you.

[croibhristeoir]

I think I have learned that by now.

[unknownrival]

How long has it been?

[croibhristeoir]

Ah, let me think...

[Time is a fickle bitch, my friend.]

About...twenty years?

[unknownrival]

Mmhm. Exactly.

[croibhristeoir]

Exactl-...?

...oh. Oh, right! O-of course!

[The penny dropped.]

[unknownrival]

You forgot, didn't you.

[croibhristeoir]

I-I didn't forget...!

[He has not gotten any better at lying, clearly.]

[unknownrival]

Are you sure?

[croibhristeoir]

[Kicked puppy look is go.]

I-I'm sorry. I must have lost track of the date.

[unknownrival]

It's alright. I know few people are as organized as I am.

[croibhristeoir]

I hope you're not upset.

[unknownrival]

I've been married to you twenty years - do you think I could be upset?

[croibhristeoir]

No, I suppose you likely couldn't.