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Stretching onto her toes, fingers barely able to brush against fabric, straining to adjust the edge of the banner with a slow, deep breath. Her eyes didn't scan the words, painstakingly embroidered into the thin fabric not long ago. She couldn't look, couldn't bear the reminder.
~~~
“Rue!” She called with a wave, startling her new friend before the redhead returned the gesture with a timid grin. “There you are, I was looking for you.”
“For me?” Rue's smile seemed to widen, if only a bit. Marm always thought they had a nice smile, when it showed.
“Yes.” She reached into her inventory, pulling out a slip of paper written in neat swirling lines of ink. “I came to give you this!”
Rue took the paper, holding it close to her face to scan over the words and holding it firmly between both hands. “A birth…day?” She read aloud slowly, glancing back up at the witch.
Marm chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I'm throwing a small party and I want you to be there! You don't have to stay long, if you don't want to, but it would be nice to spend my birthday with all of my friends if I can.”
“A party?” Rue's shoulders tensed slightly.
Marm rested her hand over one, smiling reassuringly. “With everyone's schedules, I don't think many of the other kingdom rulers will be around at the same times. It very well might end up being just you and me by the time you turn up.”
“You think so?” Rue didn't sound sure, eyes scanning over their friend's face for any signs of untruthfulness.
“Yeah! Just you and me, maybe a slice of cake, if you get there early enough.” Marm nodded as she moved her hand away, watching Rue take a deep breath before nodding slowly.
“Okay, okay. I'll be there.” She said.
“Great! I'll see you there, then.” Marmalade said and turned to leave, still needing to hand out a few more invitations.
“Um.” Rue stopped her with a gentle tap to the arm.
“Yes, Rue?” Marm spun back around, dress twirling at her ankles as a swish as soft as the hum of the void accompanied the motion.
Rue glanced back at the slip of paper, held again between two hands and gripping the edges tightly. “What exactly is a…birth day?”
Marm blinked. “Oh.” She hummed, thinking it over how to put it into words. “It's a day to celebrate being born. A celebration of your life.”
“Oh.” Rue frowned, brow furrowed and blinking again and again at the paper. “I don't think I have one of those.” They admitted, looking back up at Marmalade with a troubled expression.
Marm smiled softly and took one of Rue's hands in her own, easing the tight grip a bit. “Tell you what, you come to my party and decide if it seems like any fun to you. If you like it, I'll throw you your own, okay?”
“You can do that?” Rue asked, frown easing.
“Why not?” Marm giggled. “Plenty of people with birthdays choose not to celebrate, so I don't see why someone without a birthday can't choose to celebrate.”
“I don't even know when I–” Rue cut themself off, flinching. She took a slow breath and started again. “I don't know when I was born. Technically I wasn't, I think.”
“That's alright! We can pick a day to start celebrating and keep up the tradition every year like any other birthday.”
“I… I think I'd like that.”
~~~
She dropped back onto her heels after adjusting, a huff escaping her parted lips as she eyed the corners to see that they now matched up. She caught sight of the name, in the corner of her eye, one that she felt she hadn't gotten to say as often as she should have, hadn't been given the chance to commit its owner to memory enough. Her nose burned as tears welled up, unwilling to blink them into reality even as her lip trembled and shoulders tensed.
~~~
“Rue!” Marm smiled as she caught sight of the familiar head of vibrant hair, excusing herself from talking with Acorn as she stepped closer with quick strides to bring them in for a hug.
“Oh!” Rue tensed, giggling anxiously before relaxing her shoulders and slowly returning the gesture, arms lightly and loosely wrapping around the witch's back.
“You made it.” Marmalade smiled, hands resting gently on her friend's shoulders as she pulled back enough to see their face.
“Yeah, well, I did promise, right?” Rue shrugged, shoulders hardly moving despite the witch's touch being so light.
“You did.” Marm chuckled, nodding. She stepped around to Rue's side, looping her arms around one of theirs and nudging her to walk. “I saved you some cake, if you'd like a slice.”
Rue cast a glance around the area before letting out a breath, smiling softly as she turned to their friend. “I'd like to try some.”
“Great.” Marm nodded, leading Rue over and handing off a plate, grinning and giggling as she watched them slowly lift some to their mouth and try it with widening eyes of intrigue.
~~~
The candles burned low, wax coating the frosting carefully and meticulously whipped hours ago that she knew she couldn't stomach to taste for herself. The last flame flickered out, and Marmalade felt like she couldn't breathe.
She sank to her knees, back pressed to the small table she'd set out to hold the cake. She shifted to sit, knees pulled to her chest with her arms wrapped tightly, so tightly, around them.
She counted her breaths, shaky as they were. One, two, three, four… She hiccuped back a sob, burying her face into the fabric of her dress against one of her knees, shaking her head as her eyes shut tightly as if that could possibly stop the tears cascading down her cheeks like a waterfall.
~~~
“Um.” Rue's hand loosely wrapped around her wrist, immediately retracting before Marm could even turn towards them.
“Yes, Rue?” She said, gentle as always, smiling encouragingly.
“Leon, well, he told me most people bring…gifts, to this kind of thing.” Rue spoke slowly, eyes never leaving Marmalade's face and expression cautious.
“Is that so?” Marm's smile only grew.
Rue nodded, reaching back and pulling out a small, plain box. They held it out with one hand, the other rubbing the back of her neck timidly.
“You got me a present!” Marm said, positively delighted. She took the box with great care, holding it close. “Can I open it?” She asked, glancing between the small parcel and its gifter.
Rue nodded, a hint of a smile twitching at the corner of their lips.
Marmalade eagerly opened it, staring down at the gift inside. “A bracelet.” She said softly, taking it out with one hand.
“Yes.” Rue nodded, arm reaching up, pausing, then closing the distance to take it with slow movements. They gestured towards the witch's wrist with her eyes and hands, and Marm obliged, holding out an arm as Rue unclasped the jewelry and fastened it snugly around her wrist. “Do you…like it?”
“I love it.” Marm said, holding her arms open in silent question. Rue nodded slightly, and she leaned close to hug her friend tight against her.
Rue sighed softly into the embrace, tension leaving their shoulders and arms tightening just slightly.
“Happy birthday, Marmalade.” She muttered.
~~~
“Happy birthday, Rue.” Marm forced the words out, quiet and hoarse from crying.
She lifted her head from her knees, head falling back until it thumped against the table behind her. Her gaze wandered back to the banner, and her hands itched to tear it down.
But she couldn't. She wouldn't.
It was her dear friend's birthday, and she would be celebrating.
With or without them.