(no subject)

[noteful]

All Meg asked Bar for this evening was apple cider.

She has probably have been coming here long enough that it shouldn't be a surprise when she also receives a small cake complete with already blazing candles, and Happy Birthday written in small green letters.

But it still gives her just a second's pause.

And then she smiles.

"Thank you, Bar."

It's really been a very lovely birthday.

Comments

[cutting_edgex23]

"Meg," X greets, approaching from the left.

"You have candles."

It's kind of like 'hello'?

[noteful]

It works, as a greeting.

"I do, yes," Meg says.

"It's my birthday, and Bar gave me cake.

"Hello, Laura."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Happy Birthday," X says very seriously.

Then she sits down.

"You were busy?"

Beat.

"Before the cake."

[noteful]

"Thank you," Meg says, just as seriously.

"And not especially, no. I mean, I had classes today, but nothing pressing right now.

"Would you like some cake?"

It's big enough to share.

[cutting_edgex23]

X shakes her head very slightly.

"No. Thank you."

Beat.

"It is very sweet."

Cake is, at least.

"Alain is okay?"

[noteful]

Meg nods.

"Yeah, Alain is great.

"He and I went to Quebec City this past weekend, for the end of the Winter Carnival.

"Early birthday present."

[cutting_edgex23]

X's context for carnival is very, very specific.

"There was a ferris wheel?"

Beat.

"And funnel cake?"

If she looks a little dubious, it is only because Quebec, in winter, is generally cold.

[noteful]

Very cold.

"Ice sculptures," Meg says. "Ice canoe races. Parades. Special events.

"It lasts about two weeks, and it's more like a pre-Lenten carnival in Venice or Rio, than, say, a fairgrounds event."

[cutting_edgex23]

"Oh."

X absorbs this for a moment.

"You liked it?"

[parkerlee]

Parker's been carrying a small package around with her for a few days. Because, well, Meg's birthday had been coming up, and you never know when you'll run into people in Milliways. She'd found Meg's present over a week ago, in a shop in Coiner.

She grins as she sees the cake sitting on the Bar in front of Meg. You don't time it better than this.

"Hey, there, Birthday Girl."

[noteful]

"Hello, Parker," Meg says.

Parker gets a hug.

"How are you?"

[parkerlee]

"Hey. I'm good. How are you?"

The hug gets returned with interest.

She grins as she pulls back, producing from somewhere a small package wrapped in flowered paper.

"I knew if I kept this on me, Bar would make sure I found you around your birthday."

[noteful]

"Well, Bar is very clever like that.

"Thank you, Parker.

"Would you like some cake?"

[parkerlee]

"Well, she is a woman. After a fashion."

Parker grins.

"Sounds good. What kind did she give you?"

[noteful]

"I think it's chocolate, and there might be mint, too?

"Bar, could we have another plate and fork?"

[parkerlee]

"Mmmm. Bar has good taste."

Parker hitches herself up onto a stool where a plate and fork have appeared.

"So. Ms. Ford. What are your plans for your twenty-first year?"

[noteful]

"Finish my third year at McGill and start my fourth, apply to medical schools, and spend the entire year engaged."

[themidnightson]

"At least it is not in mink." Calmly put, from someone who's appeared pretty soundlessly a few feet off of her right shoulder.

[noteful]

"Mink?

"Like . . . the fur?"

Was that a choice?

Hello, Edward.

[themidnightson]

"My last one was. I believe she was trying to replicate cake giving for those with--" There's the faintest edge of amusement, which is earned in time passing and not having to see the unholy pink thing sitting in front of him again. "--cake allergies."

[noteful]

"Well," Meg says, still trying to get past the ew reaction, "that's very thoughtful of her."

Probably.

[themidnightson]

Edward reached out a hand, and tapped the Bar with his first two fingers as he cleared his throat.

[noteful]

Ordering another mink cake, are we?

[themidnightson]

"Not quite." Then a large wrapped rectangle box, wrapped in fuchsia with a green ribbon, appeared on the bar on the other side of her cake.

[noteful]

Meg grins at him.

Show off.