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31_days2014-12-07 06:51 pm
seta-suzume.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2014-12-07 06:51 pm
[Dec. 7] [Baccano!] King for a Day
Title: King for a Day
Day/Theme: Dec. 7, 2014 "the king of all happiness"
Series: Baccano!
Character/Pairing: Maiza & Czeslaw
Rating: G
"Do you have a moment to talk?" Maiza caught Czeslaw just before he circled back into the kitchen to assist Ennis and Firo in cleaning up after the meal (in the sequence of washing, drying, and putting away dishes, he usually put them away even though some parts of the job were trickier for him and involved standing on a stepstool).
Czeslaw shifted from one foot to the other, looking up at Maiza, then back through the doorway where he'd been initially headed. "It's not…" It wasn't that he was reluctant to talk with Maiza- it was usually pretty easy to talk with him, actually, easier than he expected- but living with other people involved some level of polite give and take and not just wandering off to chat when he was meant to be helping out was part of that. "I'm supposed to be-"
And Maiza, a considerate man, a careful watcher of human behavior over all these years, understood. "Firo," he called into the kitchen, "Ms. Ennis- I'll be boring Czeslaw for a few minutes if you don't mind?"
"Just bring him back in one pi-" Firo choked down what would've come off as the harmless jibe he intended it to be had he voiced such thoughts about anyone else, but was borderline dangerous in regard to Czes.
Firo waited cautiously for Czeslaw's reaction, which was fortunately more a look of subdued annoyance than any real dismay before he turned and followed Maiza out of sight.
"I didn't think you would take well to being taken by surprise, Czes, so I immediately turned Miria and Isaac's suggestion of a surprise party down, but I did agree with their sentiments that your birthday is an event it wouldn't do to forget," Maiza informed him earnestly.
The younger man was skeptical. He crossed his arms over his chest, further suggesting his defensiveness. "I've gone a very long time without celebrating my birthday, Maiza. I don't see why there's any particular reason to resume acknowledging it now."
"We don't have to make it be about your birthday in particular. It's just that I thought it provided a good opportunity for the rest of us to do something especially nice for you. For you to go out somewhere you liked, perhaps. Or just stay in and have some cake?"
Czeslaw had to admit, at least to himself, that it wasn't a terrible idea. And Maiza's intentions were…sort of touching, actually. He was a good friend- just his closest, and the wisest maybe, of…almost many. He allowed his typically rigid nature to bend somewhat, in more of a concession to Maiza than a deep desire to have such attention (even if it were good) focused on him. "All right, Maiza. Let's celebrate my birthday. …You…just, you have to help me decide how."
Day/Theme: Dec. 7, 2014 "the king of all happiness"
Series: Baccano!
Character/Pairing: Maiza & Czeslaw
Rating: G
"Do you have a moment to talk?" Maiza caught Czeslaw just before he circled back into the kitchen to assist Ennis and Firo in cleaning up after the meal (in the sequence of washing, drying, and putting away dishes, he usually put them away even though some parts of the job were trickier for him and involved standing on a stepstool).
Czeslaw shifted from one foot to the other, looking up at Maiza, then back through the doorway where he'd been initially headed. "It's not…" It wasn't that he was reluctant to talk with Maiza- it was usually pretty easy to talk with him, actually, easier than he expected- but living with other people involved some level of polite give and take and not just wandering off to chat when he was meant to be helping out was part of that. "I'm supposed to be-"
And Maiza, a considerate man, a careful watcher of human behavior over all these years, understood. "Firo," he called into the kitchen, "Ms. Ennis- I'll be boring Czeslaw for a few minutes if you don't mind?"
"Just bring him back in one pi-" Firo choked down what would've come off as the harmless jibe he intended it to be had he voiced such thoughts about anyone else, but was borderline dangerous in regard to Czes.
Firo waited cautiously for Czeslaw's reaction, which was fortunately more a look of subdued annoyance than any real dismay before he turned and followed Maiza out of sight.
"I didn't think you would take well to being taken by surprise, Czes, so I immediately turned Miria and Isaac's suggestion of a surprise party down, but I did agree with their sentiments that your birthday is an event it wouldn't do to forget," Maiza informed him earnestly.
The younger man was skeptical. He crossed his arms over his chest, further suggesting his defensiveness. "I've gone a very long time without celebrating my birthday, Maiza. I don't see why there's any particular reason to resume acknowledging it now."
"We don't have to make it be about your birthday in particular. It's just that I thought it provided a good opportunity for the rest of us to do something especially nice for you. For you to go out somewhere you liked, perhaps. Or just stay in and have some cake?"
Czeslaw had to admit, at least to himself, that it wasn't a terrible idea. And Maiza's intentions were…sort of touching, actually. He was a good friend- just his closest, and the wisest maybe, of…almost many. He allowed his typically rigid nature to bend somewhat, in more of a concession to Maiza than a deep desire to have such attention (even if it were good) focused on him. "All right, Maiza. Let's celebrate my birthday. …You…just, you have to help me decide how."