[ Quite a bit later, after the idle conversation has been thoroughly exchanged and most of the food present has been consumed (with hopefully nobody getting seriously burned or poisoned, of course), Lightning approaches Hope with yet another box under her arm- one she's been carefully avoiding letting anyone pressure her into handing over too soon, in front of eyes that aren't hers or the teen whose birthday they're quietly celebrating.
No cliche remarks about feeling older and the like from her though, that's for sure. Instead she opts for a silent smile and a quiet sigh as she walks up beside him, then puts a hand on his opposite shoulder - not quite a hug, but pretty close to one.
She knows he has to be thinking about... a lot, really, considering all that's changed and happened in the last year. Especially considering the members of his family that aren't here. However, whether he wants to talk about it...? That's something she'll gladly leave up to him. ]
PRESENT >:T
No cliche remarks about feeling older and the like from her though, that's for sure. Instead she opts for a silent smile and a quiet sigh as she walks up beside him, then puts a hand on his opposite shoulder - not quite a hug, but pretty close to one.
She knows he has to be thinking about... a lot, really, considering all that's changed and happened in the last year. Especially considering the members of his family that aren't here. However, whether he wants to talk about it...? That's something she'll gladly leave up to him. ]