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]

Oh, gods, yes.

[His voice is low and soft in R's ear, almost conspiratorial.]

And we start...now.

[As he cuts off two slices each and starts pounding back one.]

[habitually]

[ R recovers from the shiver enough to take a piece of cake, biting into it with fervor. He's a little disheartened by the fact that his bite's only half of what Gabriel's is.

He'll catch up, right? He starts cutting piece number two for himself as he chews. ]

[angeliaforos]

[Sure he will. Gabriel's kind of a pro at this - he's got a sweet tooth that would give Milton Hershey a run for his money. Gabriel knows it's better to, for once, not talk during this sort of thing, and just breathe through his nose and keep going. He's already on his second slice.]

[habitually]

[ With a muffled curse word in French, he pushes his second piece in and is realizing this isn't working.

Is it cheating to put a third piece in at the same time? Don't mind him while he half-chokes trying. ]

[angeliaforos]

[Oh, Gabriel knows this isn't working, which makes the deal so much sweeter. He loves winning and he's a sore as hell loser. Still, he notices R half-choking and claps him on the back, speaking through the cake.]

Don't die on me, man.

[habitually]

[ R uses his momentary good nature to stuff an extra piece of cake in his mouth to catch up, his eyes watering but no longer choking.

Grantaire plays about as dirty as his old beanie. ]

[angeliaforos]

[Oh, that's just sick. He can see his boyfriend tearing up but that's no excuse. This isn't some game for wimps, oh no. He licks his fingers clean and starts on a new piece.]

[habitually]

[ Grantaire is losing. Losing losing losing. He's on his eigth piece and, if he's counting right, that's Gabe's tenth or eleventh. And if he eats any more frosting he might actually puke on the roof.

Throwing the second half of his piece down, he groans and shakes his head. ]

Merde. Christ, no more; I give up.

[angeliaforos]

[Gabriel turns slowly, slowly to Grantaire. There's a bit of pink icing smeared across his cheek and he's got a mouth full of sugar but he doesn't really care too much. He swallows before giving Grantaire the smuggest look.]

I knew it.

[habitually]

Knew what? [ Shoving his icing-covered face away from him with a grimace. ]

Don't be an asshole. I lost, I got it.

[angeliaforos]

It's my birthday, dude. Allow me to tease you this one day without biting remarks.

[But he sighs a little, patting R on the back.]

You're gonna look damn good in that flag.

[habitually]

Nah, you don't deserve that. [ With a "bite me" sort of expression. ]

Happy Birthday, buddy. You get my snarky self wrapped in a stolen flag. Hell, might as well do... whatever this is on my birthday, huh? Not too far off. And maybe that means E won't maim me too bad.

[angeliaforos]

[he's about to ask Grantaire what he does deserve, but then R goes off and he suggests it happens on his own birthday, and wow, okay, he's kind of thinking he's playing this game better than he'd even have expected himself to. Damn.]

We're both counselors. He can't do much in the maiming section anyway - gotta set examples, remember?

[Gabriel does. Sometimes.]

[habitually]

You know that does ring a bell. I think that's probably why I didn't get an offer. Though I guess since I'm the only one of my dad's kids left here I'm temporarily in charge or something...

[ He grimaces and leans against Gabe with a sigh. ]

[angeliaforos]

So talk to your dad about it. Or Chiron. I mean, if they let somebody like me be counselor...

[He shrugs and pats Grantaire's thigh, resting against him.]

[habitually]

Nah, I don't want it... Wait and see if someone else comes along. Imagine me being a role model for pre-teens....

[ He scrunches his nose. ] In the meantime it's just me.

[angeliaforos]

Gods, when you say it like that I kind of want to see you put up to the challenge.

[He knows Grantaire's a good person under all the muck, kind of like him. And the guy needs to see that about himself, otherwise he'll go nowhere fast. He's like Shrek, or something. Grantaire's an onion. Onions have layers.

The metaphor's getting away from him.]

[habitually]

Well right now I don't think it'd be much of a challenge. I'm in charge of... myself. I mean, I'm quite a pain in the ass I know, but...

Oh hey, but I'd get to be just like you then. [ Reaching around to poke him in the chest while still leaning on him with the other side. ]

Any special perks?

[angeliaforos]

That's exactly what everyone should strive for. I'm pretty much amazing.

[Slightly sardonic, of course, but said with the conviction of someone who truly believes it.]

What, you're actually gonna think about it?

[An actual grin. Maybe it'd give Grantaire some sense of...well, something.]

[habitually]

[ Snorting and waving his hand. ]

Sure, I can think about it all I want. Doesn't mean anything's gonna happen.