[He makes a pained sound like he's trying not to laugh.]
It kind of was... Like you know how all his pokemon are about level 20-something? And he's got one with a big weakness to fire and one with a big weakness to flying...
What? Why not? You're turning thirteen, right? That's a pretty big deal.
[Or at least, it certainly had been for him when he turned thirteen. Sure, the only people who actually remembered it was his birthday were Keiko and her parents, but he was pleased to finally be a teenager - and to be one year closer to being able to get cigarettes without shoplifting them or mugging older guys for them.
... It sure is a good thing Shaun is not the kind of almost-thirteen year old Yusuke was.]
[Poor kid. Yusuke falls silent for a moment as he tries to think of what to say.]
Is there anything... I dunno, special you and your family do on your birthday? Maybe you can do it here. I'm not sayin' it'll be the same as when you're with your parents or whatever, but maybe it'll make you feel better.
[Or it'll just make him feel worse, Yusuke realizes a second too late. Dammit, why does he have to be so far away...]
Oh. Oh. Yusuke sobers immediately, his mouth pressing into a thin line.]
Right. ... Sorry.
[Shit. Dammit. Yusuke grinds his teeth as a stab of anger lances through him. As if that suggestion hadn't been stupid enough... how the hell could he have said that, knowing what Shaun's been through? A thick, heavy feeling coils unpleasantly in his chest, seizing his heart in a vice-grip. He's tempted to say more. Maybe apologize for the blunder again, even though he knows it wouldn't accomplish anything...
... but then, feeling aggravated with himself and so, so incredibly dumb, he decides that his best bet at this point would be to just steer the conversation in a different direction, and does just that. He tries to keep his voice light and casual as he speaks. He doesn't know if he succeeds.]
Well, hey. Do what you can to have fun, all right? Buy yourself somethin' nice, stuff your face with junk food, that sort of thing. And as soon as we're in the same place again, I'll take you out for a late birthday lunch or something. Where ever you want, doesn't matter how expensive. Sound good?
[HE ASKS, LIKE HE'S GIVING SHAUN A CHOICE IN THE MATTER. Sorry, kid. He is spoiling you whether you want him to or not.]
audio;
[maybe the year after that.]
...Yeaaaaah...
Did I tell you about how I forgot to get the Hive badge until Chase was level 100?
[because that was. A thing. That he still feels kind of bad about.]
audio;
[Clearly, someone here has forgotten how getting cocky usually ends for him.]
... no, but it sounds like it was funny as hell.
[Yusuke.]
audio;
I'm serious! I'm catching up to you!
[He makes a pained sound like he's trying not to laugh.]
It kind of was... Like you know how all his pokemon are about level 20-something? And he's got one with a big weakness to fire and one with a big weakness to flying...
...And Chase is a Fire/Flying type...
audio;
[HE'LL BELIEVE IT WHEN HE SEES IT, SHORT STUFF.
As for the fiery hell Shaun apparently unleashed upon Bugsy...
... well, to the surprise of exactly no one, Yusuke's response to hearing about it is to laugh.]
That's awesome. Didja make him cry?
[PLEASE TELL HIM YOU MADE HIM CRY.]
audio;
Yeah, I think so.
[Shaun that was like last year you don't remember specifically.]
audio;
Good. Serves 'im right for having such a stupid name.
[Yusuke, why is every other thing that comes out of your mouth completely unnecessary...]
So hey! You got a birthday comin' up, don't you? Next Monday?
audio;
I- uh. Yeah... You remembered?
audio;
[Yusuke sounds incredulous. HIS MEMORY'S NOT THAT BAD, GEEZ.]
audio;
We just. Never talked about it much, is all.
[tbh it probably only really came up in the context of "yeah I actually came to Johto right around my birthday"]
audio;
audio;
Not really.
[Another year older than Jason.]
audio;
What? Why not? You're turning thirteen, right? That's a pretty big deal.
[Or at least, it certainly had been for him when he turned thirteen. Sure, the only people who actually remembered it was his birthday were Keiko and her parents, but he was pleased to finally be a teenager - and to be one year closer to being able to get cigarettes without shoplifting them or mugging older guys for them.
... It sure is a good thing Shaun is not the kind of almost-thirteen year old Yusuke was.]
audio;
Yeah, I'm thirteen.
I dunno, it's just... Maybe I'm a little homesick.
[...back when his family was in one piece.]
audio;
[Poor kid. Yusuke falls silent for a moment as he tries to think of what to say.]
Is there anything... I dunno, special you and your family do on your birthday? Maybe you can do it here. I'm not sayin' it'll be the same as when you're with your parents or whatever, but maybe it'll make you feel better.
[Or it'll just make him feel worse, Yusuke realizes a second too late. Dammit, why does he have to be so far away...]
audio;
...I didn't really have a normal birthday back home since I was like. 8.
Last year while I was here was pretty good. The year before that, I was at home and it was right after...
[...Yeah.
To his credit, he at least doesn't sound too sad about it.]
audio;
Oh. Oh. Yusuke sobers immediately, his mouth pressing into a thin line.]
Right. ... Sorry.
[Shit. Dammit. Yusuke grinds his teeth as a stab of anger lances through him. As if that suggestion hadn't been stupid enough... how the hell could he have said that, knowing what Shaun's been through? A thick, heavy feeling coils unpleasantly in his chest, seizing his heart in a vice-grip. He's tempted to say more. Maybe apologize for the blunder again, even though he knows it wouldn't accomplish anything...
... but then, feeling aggravated with himself and so, so incredibly dumb, he decides that his best bet at this point would be to just steer the conversation in a different direction, and does just that. He tries to keep his voice light and casual as he speaks. He doesn't know if he succeeds.]
Well, hey. Do what you can to have fun, all right? Buy yourself somethin' nice, stuff your face with junk food, that sort of thing. And as soon as we're in the same place again, I'll take you out for a late birthday lunch or something. Where ever you want, doesn't matter how expensive. Sound good?
[HE ASKS, LIKE HE'S GIVING SHAUN A CHOICE IN THE MATTER. Sorry, kid. He is spoiling you whether you want him to or not.]