[ charles, in turn, just laughs for a moment, a sort of delighted laugh at the entire situation, at the way junpei is clinging to him still, the way he swears so sharply — and then he simply tightens his hold on him, tilting his head so he can speak close to his ear, voice low and with mirth but also genuinely apologetic, ] Sorry, sorry! Really. Didn't mean to startle you. Just — you're the one who wasn't happy with my party tricks, yeah?

[ and then, as if realising he's overlooked something, ] Oh, bloody hell. I never said happy birthday, did I? Well —

[ he runs his hands up and down his back a few times as if to reassure him still. his voice, low still, is warm. ]

Happy birthday, Junpei. And sorry, honest.