Another Year

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"So, how old are you today?"

Shogo starts for a second at the sudden break in the silence. The brunette's question cut clearly through the air, and Shogo slowly lowers the book in his hands to quirk a brow and cast a questioning glance at Choe. "...Excuse me?"

Choe grins, settling in the armchair across from Shogo's own and setting the laptop with him down onto the glass coffee table between the two of them. "How old are you today?" He repeats.

"I'm not really sure where this is coming from." Shogo replies lightly, carefully closing an absolutely pristine copy of Orlando, and setting it on his lap. "Unless of course, you had found yourself browsing through my files without my given permission."

Choe seems to pale at that, the grin slipping a bit as he coughs. "Well I certainly wouldn't put it like that."

"Ah, you're right. I'm sure the bureau would classify it more so as an invasion of privacy, hm?"

"...Maybe, but I honestly don't think the bureau would file anything in your favor."

Shogo only grins. "Well, if it's that game you want to play, what kinds of things do you think they'd charge you with? Surely not anything that could put your Crime Coefficient over, right?"

Choe shifts restlessly, undoubtedly thinking about the sure-to-be unpleasant fate that awaited him if he caught himself on the wrong end of a dominator. "Let's forget I even asked."

Shogo's grin only grows as he props his chin on the armrest of the chair. "No no, you've started a conversation now Choe."

Choe relents with a short, pained sigh. "I'm not even sure where this is going."

"You decided it would be a good idea to ask me an invasive, personal question that you probably already know the answer to." The albino replies smartly. At Choe's silence he quirks a brow and laughs. "Really now? Why wouldn't you just look at the year?"

Choe looks about two seconds from leaving, rightfully (in Shogo's opinion) looking a little sheepish. "I thought I would just ask. To, as you put it, avoid more invasion of privacy."

"Don't get smart." Shogo shoots back, a twitch to his lips betraying him. "Didn't anyone ever tell you it was rude to ask about people's age?"

"Yes. Although, I believe that it was specifically not to ask about women's age."

"It's an impolite social cue." Shogo continues, ignoring Choe. "In fact, I believe that it was Ronald Burt who once said-"

"Please no."

""Age is merely a structural concept.'. Imagine. Limiting yourself to such a biased, temporal way of determining a person's maturity-"

Choe sighs again, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"-and it varies from country to country! For example, in Korean culture, aren't you counted as a year old from the day you're born? And in-"

The brunette collects his laptop, silently berating himself for thinking this was a good idea in the first place- actually, for thinking about this at all.

"-I mean really, it's ridiculous. In the past, birthdays were almost surely a method of revenue for large corporations as some sort of 'important milestone' with each passing year, but in this day and age-"

"How about," Choe interjects, cutting off the albino and standing, "I go and make us some tea."

Shogo immediately silences and reopens his book, not even casting the Choe another glance, "Don't forget the confectionaries." He says shortly. "I mean, after all, it is my birthday."

Choe stares blankly at him, sighing one last time and shaking his head. "Wouldn't dream of it." He replied, an amused smile playing at his lips.

ShogoWeek2016

(I apologize)