--87

[earthen_hope]

[A pencil sketch slowly appears that's an inexact copy of this. It's an outline of the dragon only, without quite as many details.]

I've been seeing this picture here and there for a few days now. And for some reason the word "Turtle!" in blue, spiked letters.

I also saw a sign warning me not to get my hair caught in the elevator door. And then there was a big black-and-yellow picture of a girl getting pulled down by her ponytail. I'm just going to take my broomstick to work.

[a few curlicue lines.] Though, speaking of dangerous things--I haven't heard any signs of the ants yet this year. I'm not complaining, of course! But I wonder if they're going to come later, or not at all... I think we should keep our eyes open.

Sniper! I need to talk to you. You've got absent-minded in your old age~

Comments

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

There's been drawings on the walls everywhere! Some of them are kind of nice, though. Others are... not so nice. [PENISES EVERYWHERE]

Anyway, what's going on?

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I prefer the dragons. [SHE KIND OF PRETENDS SHE DOESN'T SEE THOSE.]

What do you think? Your birthday, that's what!

1/2

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

[...................]

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

AHH! I CAN'T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY FORGOT ABOUT THAT!

okay and last one

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

Geez, and after I bugged Cloud all that time for not reminding anyone... thanks for reminding me, Krile.

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

Aw, don't feel bad. It's only natural when you get to be this age.

And I got you a present! Come over and get it, would you?

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

Oi, oi, you're way older than me in Sphere-years! In Sphere-years you're a grandma!

Oh hey, thanks! I'll come over soon.

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

A grandma? That's some nerve you've got, you whippersnapper! I should bean you with my walking stick for that one.

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

I'll be too busy egging your house, grandma, while--

[Okay, he cuts off here.]

Okay, not even I can keep this out. You're way too tiny to be a grandma!

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

Pish tosh! People do shrink when they get older. I thought everyone knew that!

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

You know what doesn't shrink, though? Their noses and ears! Haven't you noticed?

[Cue a doodle of an old man whose nose and ears are comically large.]

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

Gosh, you're right! Maybe that's where all of their height goes.

[She adds a big, bushy mustache under that nose.]

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

Must be!

[Insert a sketch of Krile with a comically large nose and comically large ears. Sorry, Krile, GIRLS ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM TEASING.

It looks like he was going to draw himself too, but...

...S-SOB THIS ISN'T FAIR.]

MY NOSE BETTER NOT GROW ANYMORE!

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

[OH. HEY. At least give it some style, man--she adds a flower behind her ponytail.

NOW IT'S GOOD.

and she is just going to complete that drawing. A nose, ears, and eyes are about all that can be seen because the rest of him is hidden by a long curly beard.]

If it does, you can just grow a beard to hide it!

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

Oi, now all you can see is my nose.

[paaaause.]

But that's okay! Do you know why? Because that is the MANLIEST BEARD IN THE WORLD

[feathered-earth.livejournal.com]

It's only fitting for the Great Sniper! Why, your old man beard will be so manly that it will have a beard!

[And she adds another pair of eyes and another beard at the end of the first one.]

Lololol

[iattractmushi]

Oh yeah, I forgot you were born around this time.

[Fffff, now he has to think of a present for you.]

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

Me too! I was certain that I'd remember, but I guess I got distracted.

[iattractmushi]

We have been kind of [How to describe the memory loss... thing? Traumatized? Distracted?] ...things have been busy, lately.

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

You're telling me. But hey, at least Krile reminded me. Genius totally owes me a present!

[iattractmushi]

Guess I owe you one, too. [...that was a hint for you to tell him what you want, by the way.]

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

You're going to get

[WAIT NO. Of course Cloud is going to get him a present! That's expected! It's the Great Sniper's birthday, after all!]

Damn straight you do!

[...hint not taken.]

1/2

[iattractmushi]

[...dammit.]

[iattractmushi]

[Okay, bluntness is clearly called for.]

Any suggestions?

[longnosedliar.livejournal.com]

Oh. Well...

[What does he want? Uh. Uh oh. He can't really think of anything. He wants more gunpowder, and he could really go for a good meal, but those aren't things that make good birthday presents.]

I never actually put any thought into it.

[iattractmushi]

[...back to square one.]

I'll think of something.