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Dion felt they were talking about him.
"I'm no child!"
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"hmMMmmmMMM," goes Wiley jokingly.
"You're the child because you're probably the youngest here," Raez says to Dion. "Though you might not be. When's your birthday?"
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Dion's face blushed once again. Then he shrugged. "I don't know."
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"Guess that makes all of us," Rai says. "Well, the general vibe related to birthdays, anyways."
Raez nods in agreement.
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He sighed deeply. "Birthday or no birthday, I can definitely tell you are older than me."
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"How so?" That's Raez asking.
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"Well, you look bigger, and older, and-- why do I need to explain?"
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"Well, because that might not be true," Raez says. "Don't worry, it's not for an age-related hierarchy or something. We're all equal around here, mostly, uh, I think."
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"Sure, if you say so. It'd better be that way." Dion shifted a bit so he could somehow be more comfortable.
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"Yeah. But," Raez continues, "all of us could technically know it if we wanted. That includes you too."
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He lifted his head. "Huh? How?"
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"sHHHHH," Wiley shushes Raez. To Dion, he says, "It's a secret."
"Genetics analyses," Rai tells Dion.
"rAi!!!" Wiley shrieks in protest, though he's a bit quieter than usual, probably considering the wires that could break because of his voice. Or, on a less dramatic note, just considering the fact they're in a small chamber.
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"Why would that be a secret?" He almost chuckled at the reaction. "Well, I don't care a lot about age. B-but if you guys ever decide to do it then don't leave me out." He emphasized the last part.
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"Raez asked because he kind of feels an obligation to celebrate birthdays for others," Rai says. "Meanwhile, Wiley didn't want to tell you because he didn't want to unnerve you too much. Weird to say that for him, I know."
"Unsure whether to be pleased or offended by that last bit," Wiley huffs, crossing his arms.
Rai continues without addressing Wiles, "It's unlikely for now any of us three will look for our age, I think."
"Let us know if you want to," Raez says.
Wiley fingerguns.
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"No, that's fine. I don't know, about birthday celebrations, I don't know why people celebrate them."
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"Hmmm, is it you don't know or don't understand?" Raez asks.
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"Yeah, that."
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"So is it just a celebration as a whole or just any part of it?" asks Rai, continuing Raez's train of thought.
"It's a trap, it's a trap," Wiley whisper-sings.
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"No, like, the celebration. I know how the whole... ritual? I know how it's supposed to go."
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"I always knew the candle-blowing was part of an occult ritual," Wiley claims.
Raez gives Wiley's direction a general weird look. To Dion, he says, "Please elaborate on how you define celebration?"
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"A... kinda like a..." Dion tried to find the words. "A social gathering? To mark or honor an event or date or person, right?"
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"Makes sense. So, just to make sure we're on the same page, you meant you didn't understand why they gather socially for a birthday, right? Not necessarily that you dislike doing so? Has anyone celebrated it for you before?" he asks, seemingly oblivious.
"We're making a fine example of a social gathering," Rai remarks with a somewhat amused tone. "We're just not as jolly."
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"Exactly," he sighed, glad that he was understood. "I've never had a birthday celebration, actually."
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Raez taps his chin. "I'd say it's high time for a free trial," he says, "but...we don't have a birthday to work off of, now do we......"
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Dion remained in silence, since he knew Raez was right.
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"Just say today's his birthday," Wiley suggests.
"...Ngl, that seems weird," Rai remarks.
"Or use a random number generator. Or use his favorite number. It could change every year, I don't know."
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"If it's not my real birthday then I'd rather not celebrate it," Dion mentioned. "I might end up older or younger than I really am. I don't want that!"
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"Who needs that when you're immortal," Wiley sings.
"Wiley means age matters mentally," Raez says with an amused expression. "As you can see, he's mentally 10."
"Hey!"
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Dion snickered at the comment.
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Wiley makes the sound puppies make when you're standing too far away from them. A whine, basically.
"Are there even other holidays that just celebrate the individual?" Raez asks Rai.