IRIS MESSAGE - MARCH 24, AFTER DINNER

[angeliaforos]

[Finally. Finally, he's got it, and he's so excited about this. At least, the cake part. (Thanks, Jehan.)

There's a part of turning 18 that scares the everloving crap out of Gabriel, especially being here, of all places, but he's not going to think about that right now. No. Right now, he's going to think about how freaking great this cake is going to be.

But first he's got a little matter to settle of who he's going to share his birthday cake with. He sends out an IM, the giant cake very visible in the rainbow.]

Really, guys? You're gonna let me sit up here by myself and eat the whole thing? By myself? Really, guys?

[He's teasing, of course. That was his idea of an invitation.]

Comments

[angeliaforos]

I- oookay, never mind.

[He's about to explain to her before she asks her next question.]

You know how to climb a tree? It's kind of like that. Footholds are everywhere.

[impetueux]

Do not. Tell me. There are some things I'd rather stay innocent on.

[Still trying to decide if she's curious enough to open the pandora's box of Gabriel's motivations and thought process.]

...Does Enjolras know you did that? Or, do that?

[She's just staring blankly at the cabin wall, trying to set the apparently obvious "footholds".]

...I'm in a skirt.

[angeliaforos]

Maybe, maybe not. But if he does, I'd prefer if you keep it quiet.

[A little sigh. He snaps his fingers, disappears from sight, and reappears in front of her, holding his hand out.]

Do you trust me?

[impetueux]

[This is the face of a girl who makes no promises Gabriel.]

I'll try to.

[No. God no. She takes his hand anyway.]

[angeliaforos]

That's your first mistake.

[But he wasn't planning on harming her, really. He grasps her hand and pulls them both clear out of sight, actually helping her every step of the way to climb up and protect her virtue. (Virtue?)

But he parks it back up on the roof once he's done. Piece of cake.]

[impetueux]

[Cosette looks a little rattled from the experience but no worse for wear, not really. She smooths out her skirt, sitting down next to him and peering over at the cake.]

I was half-expecting a face cake. Who made that for you, Jehan?

[angeliaforos]

Of course it was Jehan. Who the hell else puts up with my special brand of amazing enough on a regular basis and can bake?

[There's a little grin as he settles down, cutting her a big end slice.]

Though if I made it you can bet your ass it would have been a face cake.

[impetueux]

Couldn't even think of anyone if I tried.

[That may or may not have been a little sarcastic. Whoops.

The cake puts her a better mood though, what with the huge glob of icing that is the corner piece. She takes a bite, humming happily.]

Mmm, thank you. Happy Birthday, by the way.

[angeliaforos]

Then you're not trying hard enough!

[Gabriel gives her a little mock-hurt look, but it quickly fades.]

Thanks, sweetheart.

[impetueux]

[She gives a fuller smile, taking another bite of icing.]

No problem. How old are you now anyway? I don't think I've ever asked.

[Never had the chance to; if she didn't know better she'd say it's one of the first times they've been one on one.]

[angeliaforos]

[It actually is. It's kind of cool to talk with Cosette and find out she can dish it out as well as she can take it, but it's also really friggin' weird.]

I'm eighteen now. Came with more of a whimper than a bang, I think, but maybe it's because I'm spending it at a summer camp in March.

[impetueux]

[She laughs at the summer camp comment, covering her mouth to keep from spitting out cake. Still, the thought of turning eighteen gives her pause.]

That doesn't mean that you'll have to leave, does it? With the Red Room and everything else going on?

[She's unsure of the rules or if they had managed to change, but she knows the older camps often left at eighteen. Still, that was before the Red Room and the long-term camping and past lock down.]

[angeliaforos]

No fucking clue.

[Gabriel has no intention of leaving - he's a counselor, he has a sister to look after who cares about him now and one he adopted into his heart in the Demeter cabin. Then there's Eponine, who he'd fight to the death for, and R, who's just as afraid as he is, as far as he knows.

He can't go. He can't run this time.]

I've got a cabin to manage. They can't make me leave. I'm responsible, remember?

[Big, overeager smile here. It's joking, but there's a twinge of fear behind it.]

[impetueux]

[She gives a small, sharp exhale, smiling.]

Every once and a while, yes.

[She finally looks up at him, just catching the twinge, but only slightly.]

...I think it means a lot to a lot of people to have you stay. I'm glad you've decided to, so...I think they'll work something out. They should.

[angeliaforos]

They better. I wanna see my cousins again, but...

[he shrugs a little, clapping his hands together once before putting them at his sides.]

Better for everyone here! Safer, remember? For me and for them.

[He doesn't want to risk going home. Doesn't want to risk his brothers finding out he's been holing out at his uncle's all this time.]

[impetueux]

[Cosette isn't sure the safety is just because of barrier (mostly) keeping the monsters out, but some things you just don't pry with.]

What are your cousins like? I don't think I've ever heard about them.