[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]

[ 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. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

[ Once they get there, he settles down happily enough in the sand. ] So. Good birthday?

[clearasil]

[ Natalie sits, knees bent, digging her heels into the sand. She kisses his cheek. ]

Really good. This is better than a party.

[commandertoolbelt]

That's what I thought. [ Proud of himself for that one. ] You've never been much of a party person.

[clearasil]

You know me so well.

[ It's almost a scary thought, opening yourself enough to let someone in. She feels so comfortable with him, though, so it can't possibly be all that bad.

She forks a piece of cake and chews, closing her eyes and lifting her face to the sun. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

I'd hope so. You are my girlfriend, or something like that.

[ Yep, he's pretty sure that's how it works. Nat probably knows him better than most people, too - the only exceptions being Dany or Piper. ]

[clearasil]

How long have we even been dating?

[ Wolfgang crawls down her arm to get to the cake and Natalie switches hands, letting him wind around her arm. She bursts out laughing. ]

[commandertoolbelt]

Since my birthday, so... [ He pauses to count. ] Six months?

[ He laughs at the polecat. ] Maybe we should have gotten him a slice, too.

[clearasil]

I need to do research on the care and keeping of polecats but - little guy, I don't think that's safe for you.

[ She smiles to herself as she stretches her legs out, balancing the plate on her thighs while she tries to cradle her pet again. ]

Six months, huh.