[action]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ So today is a certain daughter of Hecate's birthday, and a certain boyfriend of hers has been working on how they should celebrate that. The most obvious thing? A cake, which he has been collaborating with some of the nymphs to make a reality. Sometime after lunch is when the big reveal happens, and they bring it up to Natalie's table with bright grins.

It's... a relatively plain cake, compared to the one she'd had made for Leo's birthday. There are colors swirled in icing, blues and purples with runes dancing over the surface of it in glowing green - what they mean, or how they're glowing, Leo isn't entirely certain, but it looks awesome. His particular contributions was a little fog machine meant to emulate the Mist, the little clouds hugging the layers of the cake but not hiding it entirely. Oh, and the pair of lit torches in lieu of candles, sized down to fit.

And there's another surprise he's put into this, but hopefully that won't be revealed until he's ready. ]

Happy birthday, Nat!

Comments

[clearasil]

[ So, fun fact: Natalie nearly forgot today was her birthday. For a split second that morning, she forgot. It was curious to her that the entire night lacked the usual fitful sleep and she actually had some peaceful dreams for once.

The morning passes with little fanfare. Determinedly, she tries to actually take it easy, moving slowly. She makes no announcements because she doesn't expect anyone to throw her a party or anything. So much has happened in the year between then and now and, despite all her hangups and problems, she feels much better as a person.

She's just licking her fingers at her table, shrugging loose hair off her shoulder to keep it away form the BBQ sauce when this confection appears and her eyes widen. ]

What! Leo!

[commandertoolbelt]

[ And he's just grinning away~ ]

What do you mean, what? It's your birthday, isn't it?

[clearasil]

Well, yeah, but I didn't expect the whole shebang today! [ The sad truth, but she won't linger on that because she's kind of overwhelmed. She rolls out of her seat to take a closer look. ]

Am I supposed to blow out the cand - uh, torches?

[commandertoolbelt]

Oh, come on, Nat, even I know how this birthday thing works. [ Says the boy who hadn't had even had his birthday recognized after his mom died until this past year. ] Yes, you're supposed to blow them out!

[clearasil]

Well, I don't know. They're torches! And they look awesome and I kind of don't want to blow them out because I don't wanna ruin how cool the cake looks. So.

[ She laughs at herself, pushing her hair behind her ears. ] Okay, okay, you know what, I'm gonna do it. [ Taking a deep breath, she then blows, making a wish with her eyes closed. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

I can always relight them! [ Leo says with a laugh. She is so overthinking this, but she finally blows them out, which means it's time for the surprise! He hits a button inside one of his belt's pockets, and the top of the opens up, spewing more fog -

- and out comes a polecat. Better catch it before it ruins the cake! ]

[clearasil]

What?!

[ Natalie yelps, backing up quickly - bumping into a few people gathered to see the spectacle - with her arms out to automatically catch the creature that has emerged from her cake, laughing at how ridiculous her life is. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

It's a polecat! [ Leo looks rather proud of himself, and why not? Everything went just as planned. He can't help but laugh, though the animal looks strangely at home in her arms. ]

[clearasil]

[ Natalie finds herself actually ... cuddling the polecat in her arms, still a little awkward what with all the wriggling because they're not really domestic creatures. ] This is amazing, Leo.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ He is absolutely beaming. Leo never thought he'd do this for someone as more than a friend, but it's definitely a good feeling. Reaching out to ruffle the little guy's fur, he says, ] I'm glad you like it.

[clearasil]

[ Natalie cannot believe Leo went through all this trouble for her birthday. It's taking her a moment to process this and her main reaction is to just kiss him in front of everybody. ] I love it.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ And that is when he knows for sure that he did good, and nothing compares to that. He doesn't really have a response to that other than a big, dumb grin, but he manages to nod at the polecat. ] So what're you gonna name him?

[clearasil]

[ The little guy crawls up her shoulder and makes a home there around her neck, in her hair where it's quite warm. Natalie looks amused and that frees her hands up to take one of Leo's to give his a squeeze. ]

Wolfgang.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Leo stifles a laugh as he watches them. He's so glad he found the polecat; he knew Nat would love him. ] I think Wolfgang likes you.

[clearasil]

I'm glad. [ She has to break her very, very fond gaze to turn her attentions to the cake. ] I should probably cut the cake, huh. I don't want people to get all impatient.

[commandertoolbelt]

Yeah, you totally should. And it's your favorite!

[clearasil]

[ Natalie doesn't remember outright telling Leo her favorite flavor of cake so she looks over at him as a nymph hands her the knife. ]

You got me lemon cake?

[commandertoolbelt]

Well, part of it's lemon. Most of it. [ And no, he didn't know when he was planning this, but Natalie's been in camp much longer than he has. He asked around. ] I think they said part of it's chocolate, part of it's marble.

[clearasil]

Oh, so it's layered and complex just like me, that's very symbolic.

[ Natalie snorts, cutting a big slice for herself, measuring out and cutting a few more rows for other interested parties. ] The is the best.

[commandertoolbelt]

Exactly. [ He laughs, grabbing a slice of the marble. ] I thought you'd like it.

[clearasil]

Do you wanna eat these where we can actually sit together? [ As she already forks a piece for herself, chewing contentedly. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

Duh. [ C'mon, Nat, it's your birthday, and your boyfriend wants to spend it making sure you're happy. Get with it. ] Got somewhere specific in mind, or...?

[clearasil]

[ Wow geez then. If the boyfriend insists. ] I was thinking by the ocean. Pretty sure the cake won't fly away with the breeze.

[commandertoolbelt]

[ With a shrug, he starts meandering in that general direction. ] I think we'd have to worry more about getting sand in the icing.

[clearasil]

I'll risk it. [ She affectionately bumps her shoulder against his as she follows. The breeze is stronger than it had been this morning, but it shouldn't be bad. Plus, the pet around her neck manages to keep her hair down and away for her face for the most part. ]