voidseeing | Appointments Post

Well you remembered mine-- I would be a terrible fiancee if I forgot the birthday of the man I'm going to marry. [She blushes, a mix of shy and pleased by how openly she can say things like that now. It still feels a little unreal, but she's getting there.]

I did make it. I thought about what I could do that would be impressive or flashy, like when you gave me Paris. But then I thought maybe you'd just like something quiet. And simple?

You read my mind.

[And he ducks his head to drop a kiss on her forehead, not wanting to get too close to her for fear of dislodging either the cake or the champagne in the process.]

I've had enough impressive and flashy to last a lifetime. Quiet and simple is a nice change, especially if it's just for the two of us. This is perfect-- thank you.

[Elizabeth also shifts things a little so Gai can avoid the lit candle on the cake while he kisses her.] Just the two of us. Oh, but Booker might come by later, I invited him. Was that alright?

[Her grin says she's kidding. Because goodness knows what they'll be up to later.] Can I come in?

Sure, if he doesn't mind being locked out for a few hours. Or until tomorrow.

[He'll see her that grin and raise her some snarky commentary, because he was thinking exactly the same thing.]

Come on in. I can put some tea on if you want.

[He isn't sure quite when he started being so domestic, but he's also pretty sure he likes it.]

Yeah, I guess he never was very good at opening doors by himself... [She laughs and moves into the apartment, immediately finding a place to set the bottle and cake.]

Wait, wait! [Elizabeth goes back into the bag and produces more candles. Eighteen, actually.] should I light them now? Or tea first?

Edited (1910S BIRTHDAY RESEARCH GO!) 2014-03-26 05:08 (UTC)

Might as well light the rest of them now so we don't finish our tea to a puddle of wax on the top of the cake. It looks too tasty the way it is to want wax as an added topping.

[The one is already lit, after all, and it won't burn forever. Unless it's one of those trick candles, but he doubts Elizabeth even knows what those are.]

Oh don't worry, they're paraffin. [She smiles and lights the other candles via the one in the center, sticking them in a semi-stylized design. But close together, so he can get them all in one breath.]

Still doesn't mean I want to eat it.

[But he smiles, waiting for her to place the other candles so that he can blow them out.]

Should I go for it, or do you want to sing for me?

[She laughs lightly as she finishes lighting the candles-- 20 of them. It takes a while, but she finishes it and stands back.]

Nineteen and one for good luck. [Elizabeth turns around and steps to the side so Gai can stand in front of the cake. She takes his hand, smiles, and sings quietly.]

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday... ...my dearest. [She squeezes his hand and lays her head on his shoulder to finish.] Happy Birthday to you.

And many, many more.

[Elizabeth has a beautiful voice, there's no denying that. It makes even 'Happy Birthday' into something lovely and melodic, and for a moment Gai is lost in just listening to her sing and the feeling of her holding his hand. Maybe birthdays aren't so bad after all if they're going to be like this.]

Many more for us to celebrate together.

[He gives her a squeeze and kisses her hair. For the first time, there's actually the certainty that he'll live to see another birthday, and he finds himself happy with that thought.]

Yes, many more. [She looks up and puts a short peck on Gai's lips.]

Come on, make a wish and blow them out! Before we have a wax cake to eat. [Elizabeth grins and looks back at the cake. It does look very pretty, lit with so many candles.]

I'm not sure what I have left to wish for when I already have everything I could ever want.

[Sappy, perhaps, but true as far as he's concerned. Well, almost everything, but there's no rush to have a family. He'd like to have Elizabeth all to himself for at least a few years first.]

Then wish for something more immediate. [She smiles, maybe a little suggestively, up at him and then back at the cake.] Something I can make happen.

[Oho. His own smile takes on a more mischievous bent, and there's a decided sparkle to his eye now.]

Now that I think I can do. I've got a few ideas for some immediate gratification...

I'm sure you do. You always have 'a few ideas', don't you? [She grins back and nods to the cake.] I think you're only allowed one wish per cake, though.

Does it really count as a wish if it's something you want too?

[If he can get off on a technicality, then hell yes he's going to go for it, partly because he just loves bantering with her like this. It's relaxing and intimate, and he loves that she teases him right back and keeps up with everything he dishes out. It's part of what made him fall in love with her in the first place.

Of course it does. You can wish for a lot of things that I might want too-- [Elizabeth's own mischievous grin comes out and she shoulders him lightly.] That doesn't mean I'll give it to you right away, though. Even if it is your birthday.

That's exactly the way I like it. Having to work for it just makes it all that much better when you finally get it. Besides, there's nothing as exciting as a good challenge.

[But the candles are starting to melt, so he'll hold that thought there while he leans over to blow them out now.]

[When Gai extinguishes them all in one go, Elizabeth is hardly surprised but very delighted. It's exciting for her, too-- celebrating Gai's birthday for the first time.]

I always knew you had good lungs. [She laughs and starts pulling the candles out of the cake.] Dessert first, then? Or are you going to tell me what your wish was?

I'd rather leave you to try and guess while we eat. Who knows, maybe your imagination can come up with a few things I hadn't even thought of.

[Things they would both benefit from, no doubt. Right now, though, that cake looks absolutely delicious, and Gai can't wait to try it, especially since Elizabeth made it herself.]

So cruel! Didn't I just make you a cake? [She laughs and goes to Gai's kitchen to get some plates and utensils. And glasses for the champagne.]

But I might have gotten you something that could help with that. It's in my bag.

[It's a book-shaped parcel wrapped in brown paper and red ribbon. And inside is the gift that will probably keep on giving...]

[Well well, Happy Birthday to him indeed. Already he's envisioning a private poetry reading a little later on-- perhaps they can take turns...]

You know me too well by now. A gift that both of us can use? Now that's my idea of a birthday present.

[Because, to him, any sort of gift isn't nearly as interesting if it isn't something he can share with her somehow. Part of his enjoyment comes from Elizabeth being happy too, and while it's still something he's getting used to, it isn't something he would want to change under any circumstances.]

[Elizabeth giggles as she comes back with plates, forks, and a knife.] I know it looks a little selfish, but I was reading through a couple of them by myself, and...

[She sighs, heavy and wistful.] It was a very nice afternoon to myself.

[Gai's eyebrows lift, though it's with curiosity and amusement rather than skepticism. This birthday present just got that much better with the addition of some very nice mental images there.]

You can hardly accuse me of being cruel when you say something like that without sharing any of the details.

[Elizabeth laughs as she cuts Gai a piece of the cake.] There aren't any details to share! Sometimes I just enjoy romantic thoughts, you know. Like... hm...

[She tries to get the words back into order as she slides the cake onto the plate and picks up a fork.]

Oh! A gentle kiss upon titian satin shoulders, you to stir ever so slightly…eyes flutter, cascading from dream to dream.

[She smiles and holds out a strawberry on the end of a fork for Gai to eat.] Sometimes I feel like I'm reading about us falling in love, even if they're poems written for someone else entirely.

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