Alain's birthday

[key-youth-bert.livejournal.com]

It's almost sunset, and the preparations are almost finished.

Cuthbert, Lilly, and the waitrats they've roped into helping out have set up tables with food out by the lake. On one of them, there's a small CD player currently playing The Beatles.

A few games are set up in the surrounding area--the kind you'd find at any country fair or picnic--but on the whole, there's nothing elaborate.

All that's needed now is for people to show up.


[Summary: Alain has a birthday party. Roland, Cuthbert, Susan, Lilly, Faith, Ace, Meg, and Gavroche attend. There are snow cones and lovely presents and a general mood of "there's doom all around, so let's make this one thing tonight happy and fun".]

Comments

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He laughs. "Well, not really seriously. A demonstration, more -- he'd mentioned it before. I think he was curious if it'd work."

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"Ah. Had to ask, 'cause, really, I wouldn't put it past him. He's a good kid, but...mischievous."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

"You say true, I say thankya."

Alain likes Gavroche.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

So does Faith.

She would also like it if Alain opened the present so she could stop being nervous about it.

Cue fidgeting and glances at package.

Faith sucks at subtle.

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

...Yes she does.

Well, that helps with the decision, anyway. Alain laughs, and starts to open it.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith looks sheepish.

"Sorry. Nerves. I mean, the only thing I know for sure you like is Cuthbert, and you have one of those."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He snickers.

"Also, 'Bert wouldn't fit in this box." He sets the paper aside, and opens the lid. Given their discussion last night, he's not terribly surprised to find a knife inside. He lifts it, feeling the balance, and touches the edge with a thumb.

His smile is small and approving, the smile of a gunslinger assessing a weapon, and it shifts into a grin as he looks from the knife to her. "It's lovely. Say thankya, Faith."

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"It's good steel," Faith says, quietly, returning his smile. "Four hundred years old and some change, and it's held up as well as that. Should serve you well."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

His eyebrows go up, and he looks at it again. It seemed old, well-worn and well cared for, so he's not really surprised, but still.

"A blade with a history."

Alain approves of that, too.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

"Best kind," Faith opines with a slight shrug. "I'm glad you like it."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

"Very much."

He doesn't have a sheath for it right now, so he sets it carefully back in the box.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith is quiet for a second, and then she says, "There's a rescue mission for Tonks tomorrow night...apparently there's reason to think she's alive."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

He sobers instantly.

"Roland said there would be. Good."

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith nods.

"I'm going."

[honest-johns.livejournal.com]

A single nod.

He's not surprised.

"I offered, to Roland. Don't know what the situation is there, with magic and guns, but..." A shrug.

[faithful-slayer.livejournal.com]

Faith smiles, grimly.

"They have to use wands, and speak, to do their magic," she says quietly. "I'd imagine a well-placed bullet could go far in stopping a spell before it gets spoken."