Ninth -- Thirty First Birthday Party

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

[action]
[For the last few days, Lachesis has been scarce within the compound.  Despite the excitement over the integration of Aethr, something perhaps equally important has been on her mind.  Every now and then, she can be seen running down the hall carrying a bundle of something or another; more often, she can be found entering and exiting the Gate Compound repeatedly, looking worn out, yet pleased.

Nearer to 5:00 in the afternoon, she has changed out of her armor for once and sits in the lounge in an attractive red and gold dress, nervously flipping through the television channels and looking at the clock every five seconds or so.

And at 5:30. . . ]

[voice, to Lockon]
Oh, Lyle . . . I am sorry the day's fallen simultaneously with such an important event.  If you'd prefer to join the party in Aethr, I understand.  We can do something nice just as well tomorrow.  It's your birthday, after all.

Comments

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

[And she will wait for him to take the first bite.
Because this was the only other thing she made herself.]

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

[Which he does. And then another. And another.]

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

[It is made of chocolate, despite the white icing. Lachesis always isn't too sure that he ought to be eating the picture part, but the dye had been labeled 'safe for consumption', after all. After he takes a few bites, she will begin to eat, too, more slowly.]

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

[And soon enough, he finishes.]

Well, I think that's enough for one night. We can eat the rest later.

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

[Lachesis nods and leans back in her chair.]

As you'd like. We'll bring it up to your room then, shall we?

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

Yeah, let's do that. We'll need a box, though.

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

Allow me.

[And she will once again head to the kitchen, rummaging about in the bushes for her magic tomes as she does so and returns moments later with two boxes. . . . Sorry. One box and one hand behind her back.]

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

...All right, what have you got behind your back?

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

My hand, of course.

[And she sets the box down into his hands.]

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

[Cake goes in box.]

Come on, you don't think you can fool me with that, do you?

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

Who's fooling you? It's perfectly true.

[And she will turn around to go back to her seat, leaving her hand behind her back and exposed. . . . As well as a somewhat larger box.]

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

So much for that "perfectly true" stuff, eh?

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

My hand . . . and something else. I don't lie, Lyle.

[This is said mock-convincingly as she presents the box with a flourish.]

For you, my knight.

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

Fair enough.

[He takes the box and gets to opening it.]

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

[She watches his expression carefully as he opens it. What he will find inside is . . . a dagger. A dagger he might possibly have seen in her possession before.]

This is . . . a sword that is passed down within my family. To those who are most precious to you.

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

...

...Wha...seriously? You're giving me this?

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

It's very dear to me. That's why . . .

[The weapon given to her by her brother . . . it seemed like years ago, now. No. It was years ago. Lachesis nods slowly and smiles. To give this up meant . . . ]

[becomethesniper.livejournal.com]

Then I'll be sure to take good care of it.

[herbrotherslove.livejournal.com]

You'd better. Or the next family heirloom you're getting is the broken cuckoo clock.