#[ RHHGHRHGSHDFHSEHGDSHFHD *RUNNING AROUND ON ALL FOURS* HJERHEGHRTRTHh!@!@!!!!!!! IMPERFECT STARS OK YOURE JUST ATTACKING ME ]

[losojos-decupido]

"Fogado! I was informed of your birthday today... you must have your hands full, hosting and such. but, I would very much hope you can enjoy the day for yourself, too."

he felt a brand of kinship with the young man, after having fought tooth and nail to hammer down the last trouble keeping them away from home. though Fogado's home must have been far away from here...

"I hope to get to know you better. no, I wish to get to know you better. war should not be the only time we see each other. but I am grateful for having gotten to know you." he paused. "this is my home, and I can only pray it can be yours too, if only temporarily."

"as for wishes... here."

Ferdinand proffered a glass jar filled with paper stars. "I folded them myself. some may not be perfect, but I thought you might enjoy imperfect stars, as well."

"Happy birthday, Fogado."

fogado admires the small jar of konpeito quietly, occasionally shaking the jar to hear it chime. small stars in a jar, huh? if he squints, they look kind of like real stars, up in the sky... well, he can't compare them right now---it's definitely morning.

after another quiet, contemplative shake of jar, footsteps alert fogado to a new presence. it's a flash of orange---not pandreo's, but still familiar. he smiles and readies himself to greet his comrade-in-arms from the moon previous. " ferdinand! good to see you! " he says, smiling, arms open and ready to receive his friend. " yup, it's my b-day! turnin' the big one-eight, you know, big stuff. but the party's bigger business---i gotta make sure everything looks good before we really get into it! "

the war they faced was faced together; it wasn't easy to brave through, but it was easier than doing it alone. fogado survived, ferdinand survived, and even if others had worse fates, the fact that at least one other person made it is better than nothing at all. ferdinand says that he hails from here? how did he feel, watching all of this happen, fogado wonders...

his wondering is interrupted with a small jar similar to the one full of konpeito. this one, too, holds stars---though these are distinctly less edible-looking. " paper stars... wait, you folded these all by hand?! " fogado is flabbergasted. those look like they're not easy to make five of, much less however many there are in here. " i... i can't believe it! wow! you're a serious star machine, dude! you've gotta show me how to make those! "

but there's something about what ferdinand says that strikes him very, very deep. " imperfect stars, " are they? fogado stares at them---some too long in a corner, some with only four prongs, bent spines. imperfect stars. yes, of course fogado loves them---they were made for him, after all.

how easy is it to do? to love someone else's imperfect stars?

" i love it, ferdinand, " fogado hums, finally, taking the jar. he'll have to put these things somewhere special. " i love it a lot. i'd love to get to know you, too---how's about that tea i promised? i just got some blends shipped in from home, and i'd love to introduce you to the flavors of solm! "