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[makesomedeals]

Who: Maximilien, Ava, Skulduggery, Number 6 + VIP: Fio
What: Skulduggery and Maximilien's second annual joint-birthday party
Where: Calgona
When: December 30/January 1
Warnings: Probably talk of the Village and everything that entails



Maximilien is still unsure what the big deal is when it comes to birthdays - just another year come and gone. But after the shitstorm that was a second year on the ship, not to mention the excursion they just got back from, he could use a day to just relax and not think about anyone else but himself and the two people he actually likes ... and one person he sorta tolerates due to proximity.

He has pulled the cushioned massage chairs in front of the big window that faces the water, and has Jinx's machine gun sitting by his side should anyone else show up and try to ruin this by existing at them.

All three of them will get the same text: I think we could all use some relaxation after recent events. I've commandeered the spa for our private use if you care to join me.

Meaning that he is fully ready (and excited) to shoot anyone who isn't them that shows up. Max is currently lounging with his feet kicked up and hands folded across his stomach - he's never been any good at relaxing, it's high time to try and fix that.

Comments

[be_seeing_you]

It took a lot of convincing to get him to venture out of their cabin for the first time. He wasn't inclined to do it but Ava's arguments were persuasive. He can't spend eternity locked away again. He has to emerge eventually or else he's let Number 2 win in the end.

One might intuitively think that a gathering partially intended to honor someone he tolerates, at best, would be harder for him as a first walk back into socialization. Oddly, it helps. Maximilien won't have any sugared words for him about his fate at The Village, no pity at all. He won't awkwardly stumble over what to say, or treat him as if he's a bruised pear. Skulduggery won't either, he thinks. It will be sarcasm with the skeleton. That's far preferable, too. Maybe tonight he'll be able to pretend as if nothing is different at all.

"My apologies," he says dryly as he comes through the door first. "I didn't have time to find you a gift. I hope you will forgive me."

[decohere]

It feels much like last year, after that disastrous ending to their otherwise pleasant Christmas holiday left her hiding away in their room for the week following. Mostly from everyone demanding explanations she was in no state to give. But as much as she doesn't like social obligations draining away at the little energy she has left, the joint birthday of her best friends is something that Ava actually looked forward to celebrating. Despite it seeming silly to the men in question. Enough to pull her out of her isolation slump last year, and again this one.

Getting Peter to agree to go was the bigger obstacle, because she doesn't want to push too hard against his recovery and need for safety. But a change of scenery would help, she reasoned. And the end of the year might be a nice chance to jump start a new path forward. She hopes.

Ava arrives in the red dress gifted to her by Skulduggery, carrying the last of the rum gifted to her from Maximilien. Seems like an appropriate occasion to finish off the bottle. "I brought ugly snowglobes for us to shoot," is her gift. "At midnight."

[be_seeing_you]

Seeing Ava dressed up for this event does help get him into the spirit. He chose to don a suit to match. He wouldn't want to be the only man here not in one. They must all put their best-dressed foot forward into the new year.

When she mentions the snow globes, he opens his jacket to reveal the gun he has holstered under it. "Shall we see who's the better shot?"

[decohere]

"Undoubtedly you, but I always have fun letting you prove it." Yes she enjoys encouraging the competitive spirit.

[be_seeing_you]

"I do enjoy proving it. Especially in front of my favorite audience." These two need to get a room.

[decohere]

They have a room... and I'd say they should go back to it but since they've been cooped up all week then maybe let them live a little geez.

She glances over to Max and Skulduggery, grinning. "And you wouldn't just let them win because it's their birthdays, would you? That'd be insulting."

[makesomedeals]

"I'm feeling magnanimous." He says as if he didn't just learn while on the ship that birthdays are supposed to come with gifts.

"Considering some of the things Sundries has granted us, I don't know that anyone wants to accept presents anyway. Admittedly I liked it better when it gave me spy moves."

[be_seeing_you]

"Spy movies?" Number 6 asks suspiciously. "Like what?"

[decohere]

Ava looks away, suddenly very intent on studying her drink. As if she didn't watch said spy movies with Maximilien...

[makesomedeals]

"Curious if you're mentioned?" Maximilien doesn't suspect a thing. "They did seem to like numbers, hmm."

Probably just a coincidence.

"Sundries gave me a box set of James Bond movies. And with nothing better to do here I watched them all. Entertaining I suppose, if you're into such things."

[be_seeing_you]

Number 6's eyebrow lifts incredulously as Ava very pointedly turns her attention away. He isn't fooled.

"James Bond?" He scowls. "I am not into such things as that sorry excuse for a film. James Bond wouldn't have lasted half a day in the field. He is a stain on the profession. Hmph."

[decohere]

"Does anyone have a resolution...?" Ava blinks over at her friends from her comfy spot, a few drinks into the rum.

Sure, the change of the year is an arbitrary date, as much as birthdays are. Tomorrow really won't be all that different than the day before it. It doesn't really mark any significant change. But. She is aware she needs to reevaluate her mindset.

[makesomedeals]

"Hmmm." He considers it, massaging oil into the joints of his hands from a little bottle next to him. It's a spa day after all. "I suppose "Stop talking to Idiots" would set me up for failure, but if I could somehow accomplish that it'd be most enjoyable."

[decohere]

"Oh, is that lavender?" Ava waits for Maximilien to be finished with the oil before holding her hand out in request for the bottle.

"I guess that's a good one, for me too. Not so much idiots, just spending less energy on entertaining conversations I already know aren't going to go anywhere."

[be_seeing_you]

Maximilien's answer gets a soft chuckle out of him. There is no escape from those, doesn't he know?

"I've never made one before," he admits. "The future was always so uncertain. what makes a good one?"

[decohere]

"I think... an aspect of yourself you're looking to improve upon. But setting a realistic goal, so you don't give it up immediately. But since you're already perfect..."

[sabigoe]

Fio is VIP, don't shoot!! She's here, with a pair of flat, small packages in hand, wrapped in repurposed nautical paper. Some thought had been put into what kind of gift to give while they were away on the excursion. (Admittedly, she mostly thought about what to give Skulduggery first, before Maximilien. They're best friends. They won't mind matching gifts, right?) She will hand them their gifts while they're settled down in their massage chairs.

After gift giving, she stays seated in a chair with a glass of Kool-Aid, being surprisingly quiet. In case the adults have anything important to say, she doesn't want to disrupt...

Judith and Calcite are also present, floating around the little girl. And Lepus the less magical stuffed rabbit, with a place in her lap. The plush dolls are here too of course, so she can pretend to be the toys' masseuse in the background whenever she's unable to keep still in her seat for too long.

[makesomedeals]

He tilts his head towards the door when he hears someone enter, ready to grab the gun and start blasting - but then relaxes because it's Fio. She's more than welcome.

"Good afternoon mademoiselle." He sounds pleasantly surprised, having not seen her for a good long while. The time in the village seems like forever, even if he logically knows it was a matter of weeks. Thankfully he hadn't seen her there at all. "How have you been?"

[sabigoe]

Fio takes note of the machine gun next to him. There may be a surprising display of a fond smile across her face upon seeing such a dangerous weapon. How nostalgic. Well, she's never actually seen it be used. Thankfully. But she recalls Jinx carrying it around.

"Good afternoon. I'm glad Pow-Pow is in good hands."

She feels like she should be the one asking Maximilien how he is. "Good. I've been safe, so there's nothing to worry about. I hope you can relax today." Then she holds out the little package, "Happy Birthday, Max!"

[makesomedeals]

"Yes, I know she would be upset should anything happen to it. I believe her other gun is with Darcy. Fishbones I think I was?" While he's never named his weapons, or cars - he's met people who does both and he now understands the appeal.

He gives a pleased hum and takes the little package, sliding his fingertips under the paper to carefully pull it off, "Why thank you! But you know, you don't actually have to get me a gift. Though I believe this is my fifth ever..."

He's clearly delighted to receive anything.

[sabigoe]

"Fishbones is right. I remember that one too!" And how Jinx once tried to cheer her up by making her weapon 'talk'.

Fio waits with her arms tucked behind her back, rocking back and forth on her heels while he works on removing the wrapping paper.

Inside, he'll find... a box with a silk tie. The island fabric pattern is an obvious indicator that it must have been dug up from the depths of the Tommy Bahama. But the pattern is probably not as special as the newly added artistic touches: there's splashes of gray, dark gray paint and a couple of red dots, for eyes. It's supposed to be the omnic's face? The face is painted repeatedly across the tie in various... interesting proportions. The eye might look like it's falling off on a few iterations. There was an attempt. There's a couple of accidental small paint fingerprints if you look closely...

This is clearly a small child's artistic portrayal of Maximilien. Sorry, the player has been too sick to draw, so use your imagination!

"...It's you! What do you think?" A polite smile, staring expectantly for praise.

[light_mischief]

As if she can get away with giving him a gift and not being forced to sit with him while he opens it!!

"I'm sorry that I couldn't get you a gift from the excursion," he tells her. "Nothing came back with us, unfortunately. Otherwise, I would have had flowers for you. Nonmagical ones, for once." (Well, technically anything from the excursions is magical, but let's not get bogged down with semantics!)

[sabigoe]

She wanted to sit with him anyway!! And whenever he finishes opening the package, he'll find... a tie!! The gift is practically the same fabric pattern as Maximilien's gift with some small differences... instead of omnic faces, there's skulls painted in black and white in varying proportions all over a silk Tommy Bahama brand tie. Sorry, the player has been too sick to draw, so use your imagination....

"It's okay, Daddy. I'm sure there were other things to worry about..." She doesn't want him or anyone to worry too much about getting her a gift when they have to survive whatever horrors the excursions throw at them. "And I'm sure there's gonna be more places with flowers."

[light_mischief]

"I mostly worried about you and the Captain. I didn't like leaving either of you two alone for so long."

Many fathers would roll their eyes at being gifted a tie by their child, fondly pretend to love it, and then set it aside in the drawer reserved for childish gifts. That's not what Skulduggery does. He runs his fingers over it, feeling the bumps of the paint over the silk, and then quickly moves to yank off his (stylish but boring) red tie.

"Perfect. Just what I needed." He ties it in place, then holds out his hands in a ta-da gesture. "What do you think?"

[sabigoe]

Fio watches quietly as he examines the carefully made gift. Well, as carefully as she possibly could, being a complete newbie when it comes to working with paints! Even if he often shows pride for her work, she may have fretted a little when she tried to think of something just as creative as the seashell pin from the other year.

She blooms into a wider smile when he switches out his previous tie.

"Perfect! You look... very dashing!" A wise nod. So many skulls...! "I hope you show it off to Mister Captain."