Fourteen Bells: [WRITTEN/ACTION] Forward-dated to morning.

[simplestgift]

I understand that Twenty-Six isn't any different from Twenty-Five, and that birthdays are no accomplishment, but I find myself especially grateful for this one. I didn't expect to spend it thinking about being thrown into the lions' den tomorrow, but one can't have everything.

Kennedy

[Archie will be about the library, the grocery store, and Good Spirits today, looking strangely neutral. Catch him pretty much anywhere. Horatio is permitted to tag along wherever, so responses might come from both.]

Comments

[Voice/Filtered from Legato/Yuber]

[goldenglasses]

Hey, every year is important! So, happy birthday, sorry it wasn't with better news.

[Voice/Filtered from Legato/Yuber]

[simplestgift]

[He sounds a little surprised.]

Thank you.

[Voice/Filtered from Legato/Yuber]

[goldenglasses]

I know we have a battle to get ready for and all, but you know what they say about all work and no play.

It sucks.

How about I come over for a bit with some drinks and you can show me how to play that card game?

[sherpahat.livejournal.com]

[...Man he doesn't know this guy or really get what's going on, but he sounds way tense for a birthday. Dil pauses a moment, and then chimes in with]

Happy birthday, dude. You got anyone to give you presents?

[simplestgift]

[Surprise, surprise, Archie.]

I don't think I told anyone, actually.

[Except Horatio, who already knows. Who may or may not be too overwhelmed by adjusting here to remember.]

[sherpahat.livejournal.com]

Well you told them now, so now they could get you some last minute ones, right? Or I could give you the gift of Impatience.

[written]

[poorneedyand.livejournal.com]

Well, happy birthday nonetheless.

[written]

[simplestgift]

Thank you, Miss Kay. Kay.

[Forgive him, he has to remember.]

[written]

[poorneedyand.livejournal.com]

[Poor Archarch. Here, Kay will give you an alternate way out.]

'Mrs. Eaton' is probably next most appropriate after 'Kay.' 'Miss' makes me sound like a schoolgirl, never mind how long it's been since that's been an accurate description.

You ought to have a party after — two reasons to celebrate.

[action]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

[she'd come by his apartment earlier, only to find him already gone. So, as the afternoon slides towards evening, she makes her way to Good Spirits. She doesn't enter. Not yet. She's looking for familiar faces, and they'll be easier to spot if she sits outside, looking uncharacteristically pensive as she watches people passing by.]

[action]

[simplestgift]

[He's headed that way for the same reason, since Vash already came by for some drinking and he isn't actually in the mood to be drunk. He's in the mood for sorting things through, somehow. When he sees her sitting outside the bar, he stops short.]

Jilly.

[action]

[tehoniongirl.livejournal.com]

Archie.

[it's relief that sweeps over her features when she sees him. Irrational...he wasn't leaving until tomorrow. But it's a relief all the same. Hopping up to her feet, she'll cross the distance to him, though she stops a few feet away, a little uncertain of how he's handling things]

I thought you might come by here.

text;

[survivethesiren]

Forgive me if it's rude to ask, but why do humans place such importance on birthdays. Is it due to you actually aging?

[simplestgift]

Sometimes I think it's congratulatory on the completed task of surviving another year. There's also a bit of superstition involved.

[survivethesiren]

I suppose there is that. Time passes a great deal differently for Programs. We live in Cycles, not years...

And the day I was created, is the same I look now. So changes, growth of a physical sort is unknown to me.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Visiting the library was certainly a priority, with everything going on. Archie may bump into Raine when she's on her way out, having spent the morning gathering additional notes for the meeting.]

Good morning.

[action]

[simplestgift]

[He does, and stands up straighter.]

Good morning, Miss Raine.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

I didn't expect to see you here so early. Although it's good that a lot of people have a similar idea...

placeholder :B

[hippocraticly.livejournal.com]

[ McCoy's taken a few books into good spirits from the library when Archie arrives and he's engrossed in the book he's reading about rainforest flora and fauna. ]

[simplestgift]

[Archie gets his drink and sits automatically by McCoy, saying nothing.]

[hippocraticly.livejournal.com]

[ McCoy doesn't look up from his book, but he does gesture to an unopened bottle of tennessee whiskey to his side. ]

Happy birthday, Arch.

/throws more library at you

[whatsanything]

[Likewise, Sayo's also in the library (because if Raine and McCoy are there, she's not too far behind to pry :|). She has a book open, a... familiar one? It may be recognizable as the one she had when she first met Archie.

Every so often, she tilts her head at the images, unable to read the words.]

You're strong. O.o

[simplestgift]

[Archie spots tiny!Sayo and simply watches for a time before coming over.]

Would you like me to read that for you?

[captainhornblower]

[Later in the evening, back in their apartment, Horatio has two wine glasses waiting. One glass of port each, to finish off the night. Whether it's for luck, for a birthday drink, or simply because he felt he needed some and wouldn't drink alone... it's hard to say.

He's not good at birthdays. He remembers them, but proper presents tend to baffle him. The pistol had been an inspired choice, but there's no need for a new one or a new sword.

But one thing caught his eye while wandering about today. He wasn't sure he put too much faith in it, of course, but he was willing to try anything to put even a bit of luck on their-- on Archie's-- side. So he had the small box sitting on the table between the wine glasses while he traced the edge of one cup with the tip of his finger.]

[simplestgift]

[Archie, expert lounger that he is, is lounging in his chair with the glass of port nestled in one hand, enjoying the quiet of the moment. After some time, he sat up and raised his glass.]

To the health of the Malnosso.

[May it forever suffer.]