He laughs, softly. "I don't think that would help me not fall asleep."

"Okay. It was a thought. What else would be a good birthday present?"

"Mmm. Not sure... No easy way to - to put the things I want in a box..."

"Doesn't have to be in a box."

"Easily giftable at a birthday, then."

"Your first answer was a time machine. Come on, name an implausible birthday gift for me."

He snorts. "Parents that aren't terrible?"

"That'd be welcome, I bet. Any specific wishlist besides not terrible?"

"... Not crazy or in jail? Wait, no, that falls under not terrible..."

"It does, yes."

"Mmmm. I don't know," he sighs.

"It'd be nice if you'd had a time machine. I would've liked you from the beginning if you'd just - come to visit," sighs Iobel.

"I would have if I'd known you were there to visit," he offers miserably.

"Maybe if you get non-terrible parents for your birthday they'll be retroactive."

"I don't think it works like that."

"No, it really doesn't, does it," she sighs, squeezing his hand.

He squeezes her hand right back. "Think we'll ever work it out?"

"Maybe." She swallows. "They're so happy."

"They are," he agrees, softly.

"I want to be that happy."

"Me, too."

"It seems like we ought to be able to just go 'so we're agreed, then, let's do it' - but - it's not like that. Is it."

"I don't think the world works like that," says Edarial sadly.

"Another implausible birthday present."

"Yaaaay," he mumbles.