[ he blinks at her for a moment, then laughs softly, shaking his head. ]

Okay, I was gearing myself up for a way weirder question than that. Don't fucking do that to me.

[he drags his fingers through his hair. birthdays aren't great. not at all. they come with a lot of trauma too, but at least it's a question he can handle.]

August 16th. Why?