#[in which Mal speedruns The Circus from Stolas' POV]

[helldustedstories]

@madefate asked:

❝ So it's your birthday, right ? ❞ Blitzo is currently draped over the large root of the tree the boys have sprawled under, his tail flicking back and forth with interest and endless energy. His eyes are wide and his gaze is thoughtful as it settles on Stolas - he really isn't some weird prince like Blitzo assumed he'd be. Anyone who can appreciate a good horse name is a-okay in his book ! ❝ But you didn't blow out any candles or make your wish. ❞

Maybe nobles do things differently - but there's nothing more important than the wish. You can ask for anything you want and you don't have to worry about money or how Dad'll react or anything like that.

Blitzo flips himself off the tree root and immediately starts clawing at the dirt when he lands. Despite what Barbie says, he's totally good at drawing, and soon he has a birthday cake complete with candles sketched out in the dirt. He steps back, hands proudly on his hips.

❝ There ! Mama says real fire is dangerous, so you can just blow these out. It's the same thing - we did that one year when we couldn't get new candles. So make a wish, and then stamp the flames out! ❞

unprompted // always accepting

When he'd opened his eyes and vaulted out of his bed this morning, Stolas had not at all anticipated the absolute emotional whiplash that his birthday would bring. He had expected to go see his father, and to finally know what his purpose in the Goetia family was going to be! What he hadn't expected…..was everything else. His father had greeted him, and Stolas had been a little disappointed that he didn't remember his name (it wasn't the first time it had happened, but he'd hoped he might remember on his birthday, but that was okay! He'd come to visit, so Stolas couldn't be too upset about it!). And then his father had presented him with his grimoire, had told him about what his domain, his responsibility was going to be, something Stolas had been looking forward to learning for years!

Of course, his father had immediately followed that up with the announcement that Stolas was supposed to sire an heir for the family, that he was engaged already, that he wasn't going to have any say in the matter at all. And she looked so mean in the picture his dad had shown him! She was hurting her pets, something Stolas didn't like at all. He knew his father didn't like it when he cried, but he didn't want to get married to someone he didn't know, especially someone so angry!

He knew it was unbecoming of a Goetia, but he hadn't been able to help it: he'd burst into tears. And when his father told him to stop, it had only made him cry harder.

His father had had Mr. Butler take him to the circus to try to cheer him up, but Stolas just wanted to go to his room; he didn't want to be around anyone, especially when his father wasn't even actually there.

But that had all changed when the clowns had been introduced.

Stolas had watched, wide-eyed, as two young boys about his own age, flew high above the crowd, but he only had eyes for one of them. There was just something about the air he projected, the confidence and joy he radiated that drew Stolas' gaze right to him, and the owl couldn't look away.

Even when he had trouble making his balloon horse, he hadn't let it get to him for long, and when the horse he did manage came out without legs, he'd made a joke, the first thing to make Stolas genuinely laugh the whole day. The owl had giggled, even though no one else had, showing his appreciation for the boy's cleverness.

He'd fully expected any sort of celebrations to be over once the show ended; they would go home, and he would start studying his grimoire, so that he would be ready for his next lessons. Stolas had his purpose now, and he needed to start fulfilling it as soon as possible.

So when his father had instructed him to come with him out to the drive, that he had one more surprise for him, Stolas had not known what to expect. He certainly hadn't thought he'd ever get a chance to meet the clown from the circus, and when his father had said he was his new friend, Stolas had been ecstatic!

He said his name was Blitzo, and Stolas had been only too happy to introduce himself, bowing to him to be polite and friendly….., which had apparently been the wrong thing to do. It earned him a slap and a reprimand from his father, reminding him that others bowed to them, that he was little more than an idiot, that he had to do better. But he hadn't been able to help it, he was just so excited to make his first friend!

Stolas had shown Blitzo his books, and even though his new friend hadn't seemed that excited about them, he had been delighted to have someone to share them with at all. And then Blitzo had taught him how to play Treasure Hunt, a fun imp game he'd never heard of! Though that wasn't that surprising; he hadn't heard of a lot of games before now. Stolas spent a lot of time on his own, which was why he loved his books and plants so much.

They had played Treasure Hunt for a while, moving through a bunch of different rooms in the palace, running down the hallways, something he was never allowed to do. He had had a little trouble keeping up with Blitzo at first, but his new friend seemed to be having fun, and it wasn't long before Stolas was, too.

The two of them ended up under the chandelier, giggling and looking up at it, just enjoying playing games, and Stolas knew he'd never had a birthday as fun as this one before. This was the best birthday ever!

They had drawn a little bit after that, and Blitzo had shown off his horse-drawing skills, something that delighted Stolas. He had started out drawing a plant, but decided he would much rather draw himself and his new friend having fun. And then Blitzo had had the amazing idea of putting the two drawings together so that the little figures of the two of them were riding the horse, an idea Stolas loved. He drew little versions of them on Blitzo's drawing, and his friend added horses to Stolas', so they could each have some version that had artwork done by both of them. Stolas knew that he was going to treasure this drawing for the rest of his life, and before they went outside to play some more, he put it in a safe place, so he could save it for later.

The little prince led the way into the garden, beneath his favourite tree. He flipped through a few pages of his grimoire as Blitzo climbed the tree. When Blitzo asked about it, Stolas proudly told him about what his job was going to be…., even though he wasn't entirely certain what it all meant. Blitzo was the first person Stolas had ever told about the fact that he didn't really know what he was supposed to do, or even if he'd be any good at it. But his friend had seemed interested, which made Stolas feel better about everything, especially when Blitzo told him his own dreams for his future, and that he might even hire him after everything.

The more Blitzo told him, the more Stolas got to know the other boy, the more he liked him. Blitzo knew so much that Stolas didn't, and he didn't treat him the way pretty much everyone else did; he just treated him like another kid, like his friend. There was something so new about that, and Stolas desperately wanted more. It felt good to finally have a friend.

He'd been leaning back against the tree, gazing up at its branches, lost in thought, wondering when the next time Blitzo would be able to come visit when his friend spoke. Stolas sat up a bit, so he could see the other boy, a bright smile on his face.

❝ So it's your birthday, right ? ❞ Blitzo asked, and Stolas nodded, still beaming. For at least a little while longer, it was still his birthday, and he could keep spending time with his friend. ❝ But you didn't blow out any candles or make your wish. ❞

Stolas blinks at that, putting a hand up to his chin as he thinks. "I can't remember the last time I had candles on my birthday," he admits, hoping that doesn't sound strange. "I had a little cake last year, but that was before the old cook left." He glances over at his friend, eyes still wide and bright. "Do you always celebrate with candles and making a wish?" The idea is exciting; usually his birthdays were just another day. Today had been different because he'd received his grimoire, but next year his father probably wouldn't even be here, not in person.

He watches in fascination as Blitzo hops down from the root to draw in the dirt, leaning forward to try to see what he was doing before he finished. And as Blitzo stands back, clearly proud of what he's made, Stolas sees the drawing for the first time.

Blitzo had drawn a birthday cake in the dirt, candles sitting on top, clearly meant to show that they were alight, so they could be blown out. Stolas looks over at Blitzo, a little flush colouring his cheeks, as his friend explains how it works with a drawing, and the owl nods enthusiastically.

He glances down at his cake, and takes a deep breath, all four eyes closing tightly as he makes his wish. "I wish we can stay friends," he thinks, pouring his heart into the thought, into the wish. Stolas remembered hearing somewhere that you shouldn't say what you wished for or it wouldn't come true. And he so desperately wanted this wish to come true.

After a moment, he opens his eyes again, and stamps out the candles drawn into the ground, a little giggle leaving him as he does his best to leave the rest of the cake intact, not wanting to destroy the drawing his friend had worked so hard on. Stolas knew he couldn't save it, not the way he'd done with Blitzo's other drawing, but maybe it could stay there for a few days, at least, and he could see it when he came out to the tree.

"This has been the best birthday ever," he declared, impulsively hugging his new friend. "Thank you for spending the day with me!"