(no subject)

[castrationfist]

Who: Caster, everyone, and one unfortunate victim.
Broadcast: Text! Anonymous text. She's so sneaky.
Action: On the Vanquish!
When: Backdated to yesterday, the 19th!

[Bright and early in the morning, there's an anonymous text post flagged as urgent to the network. Does the network even have urgent flags? It apparently does now. Magic is great.]

ATTENTION, FLEET:
Today is the birthday of an incredibly amazing and talented person! The Vanquish's very own Hermione Granger!
It seems like she's keeping it secret, because she's humble along with everything else, but that won't do at all! People of importance have to be recognized!
So, be sure to shower her plenty of love and praise today, and also gifts! Birthday presents are important too!
All celebrators are to come to the Vanquish immediately!
This is how birthdays work, right?

Comments

text; private.

[castrationfist]

Well, I guess I can keep it small, then... Ah, what about a private dinner for just us?

[castrationfist]

Of course not, she's much cooler than that.

[castrationfist]

She's very noble, so she's used to very high-end parties, I'm sure! The kind royalty attends.

text; private.

[brainiest]

I think that would be perfectly fine.

[spontaneouscombustion]

[Yyyyeah, normally Pinkie would take Caster at her word, but with how cagey she's being about the basic specifics, Hermione's gonna get a text shortly after this conversation.]

High-end, huh? Mmmmm I'll see what I can come up with. Fancier parties aren't really my style, not to mention most of my Fancy Party Gear is back home.

[She'll make a note to get some more supplies along those lines ASAP, though.]

Now if you want something funner but fitting the birthday girl's tastes, then I'm your mare!

[preformthisneigh]

WELL! That's okay then!

You need any extra party supplies? Me and Pinkie can bring an literal ton to you.

[axiomed]

[ Charles doesn't reply to the annoucement. It seems too . . . bold for Hermione and he assumes (hopefully correctly) that she would not enjoy that kind of sentiment. Instead he packages one of the potion books he had gotten in one Spirit faction ship and heads over to the Vanquish. ]

[brainiest]

[ Charles is right, of course; Hermione's a little awkward about the public announcement, but she's getting better. It doesn't take her long to start exploring the ship and that's when she almost literally runs into him. ]

Charles! What are you doing over here?

[axiomed]

[ He smiles, the patient professor. ]

Take a wild guess.

[brainiest]

[ Her nose wrinkles a little, and she might be going a touch pink. ]

You saw Caster on the network?

[axiomed]

It was very public.

[ Charles holds out his present to her. ] Happy birthday, Hermione.

[brainiest]

She's, um. A very... [ How does she word this... ] Loud, public person.

[ Yup, that's her Servant. Reaching out, she takes it before she leans over to kiss his cheek. ]

Thank you, Charles. You really didn't have to.

[axiomed]

[ He waves her off. ] Nonsense.

It's the least I could do for your birthday. Such an occasion should be celebrated, though I know how embarrassing it can be to have it announced.

[brainiest]

Just a little, but... I'm getting used to her being a touch embarrassing.

[ Still pink - she's not quite over it yet - she steps back and nods down the hall. ]

Would you like some tea, or something to eat? You can't come all the way here just to give me a present and expect me not to take care of you for half an hour.

[axiomed]

[ Normally, he'd protest, but Charles has gotten better at compromise and tweaking his expectations. ]

Tea sounds lovely, actually.

[brainiest]

[ She softens, watching him for a moment, before she nods her head. ]

Okay, brilliant. It's just down this way, the ships are all far too similar.

[ And she heads off, careful not to push, at least not at first. ]

[axiomed]

[ He moves his chair along, unmindful of that. ]

So, any plans for today?

[brainiest]

Not really, honestly. I haven't really done much for my birthday in years, and I'd probably have pretended it never happened if Caster hadn't made the entry on the network.

[ Which isn't exactly a problem; she doesn't mind celebrating, it's just... Been a long time. ]

I can't even say I feel old, not really, because I don't and I'm not.

[axiomed]

It's not about feeling old. It's just appreciating the day in itself.

[ He pauses, faintly rueful. ] Though it's best not to compare ages here.

[brainiest]

Neither of you look that much older - you or Erik, I mean. It's not about looks, though, is it?

[ Hermione shakes her head, breathing out a soft noise. ]

I suppose it just makes me a little... Homesick. It would be nice if my dad was here, or my brother.

[axiomed]

Really? I'm pretty sure we got a few more wrinkles.

[ He glances at her. ]

I'm sorry. It's harder without family.

[brainiest]

Nothing that stands out too much, honestly.

[ But she smiles, absently rubbing her fingers over the scarring along her neck. ]

It's okay, really. I have a new family here, even if it's not exactly the same.

[axiomed]

Not even the hair?

[ But he's joking. ]

No, it never really stays the same even when the same people are around.

[brainiest]

I was being polite.

[ But she is sheepish as she pushes open the door. ]

I think we just need to get used to it. I do, at least. One of my friends from the Drabwurld is here, but it was ten years ago for her - I don't have a choice but to adapt these days.

[axiomed]

[ That sounds painfully like the words Charles has been telling himself. With a mild shake of his head, he moves on. ]

We always have a choice. That being said, it does feel easier to adapt.