The Estate, Sidra, Glacia, Saturday Evening (Fandom Time)

[trigons_child]

With all the time differences between Fandom and Glacia, not to mention time spent in other worlds, keeping track of just what day it was could just be asking for a headache. So Raven was very much surprised when one of the staff told her she had visitors, and even more surprised when she went outside and found the wagon and its occupants waiting for her, bearing birthday gifts.

Much later, after making certain that all her visitors had full stomachs and a place to spend the night, Raven retreated to one of the Estate's sitting rooms, Philia curled at her feet. She clutched some of her presents to her chest as she read and re-read the letters from the children. She wasn't crying. The sitting room was just dusty, that was all.

[Open for those in Glacia or text/phone calls, but it's late, so SP will be in effect!]

Comments

[trigons_child]

Philia tensed and a low growl began in her throat until she recognized Hannibal. Raven reached down to scritch her behind the ears and calm her. "Shhh, it is all right, it is only Doctor Lecter," she said soothingly.

She turned her attention back to Hannibal. "Thank you," she said, accepting the box. "A visit from you is present enough. This is merely an approximation of the date of my birth -- time is measured differently in Azarath, but the 13th of December was what I roughly deduced it to be in my mother's world."

She read the card first, turning that over in her mind. She'd never considered herself a trickster, but punishing people...yes, she'd done that.

Opening the box, she smiled happily. "Oh, this is lovely," she said, gently tracing the carvings with one fingertip before slipping the bracelet on her wrist, holding it up to admire it. "Thank you, Doctor Lecter."

[sharp_as_knives]

"You're very welcome." Hannibal dug a small piece of jerky out of his pocket and held it out to Philia, letting her sniff it and his hand first. "And it seems as good a day as any; the purpose is to celebrate your life, and everybody should have one of those, approximate or not."

[trigons_child]

Philia sniffed at Hannibal's hand and accepted the jerky happily. She had already learned that this one was a friend to her mistress, and the treats helped a lot to help her get past her instinctive distrust of men.

"Fandom was the first place I had a birthday celebrated," Raven said. "There were no such things in Azarath, of course. I have come to enjoy them, though I know others do not like the reminder of being a year older."

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal was good at gaining trust by feeding people people!

"Others such as Jono?" Hannibal asked, chuckling. "He doesn't think he's worthy of celebrating; that just means that his friends need to remind him he is."

[trigons_child]

Philia didn't much care where the jerky had come from. In fact, she would probably be happy if it had come from someone who deserved killing.

Raven laughed and shook her head fondly. "And I plan to remind him each and every year," she said. "No matter how stubborn he is or where he tries to hide."

[sharp_as_knives]

Of course it would have! Hannibal never killed people who didn't deserve it, if he could help it.

For various definitions of "deserve".

"As do I," he promised. "Provided I can keep track of when it is. I may have to find a calendar with an adjustable scale."

[trigons_child]

"I am not even quite certain how old I am right now," Raven confessed. "Twenty-three? What did Karla just turn -- I would be a year older than her. Though this body is actually only a few years old, and my spirit would be three years older than Karla, I think."

She was just going to have to pick a number and stick with it, really. There was no figuring it out now.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Jono said he had much the same problem." Hannibal shook his head. "I think I'm glad I've had no such complications, and know precisely how old I am."

Which...would be fifty next month. He wondered if he could drop Will unsigned and unaddressed cards hinting at a birthday present.

[trigons_child]

Fifty? Hannibal, you cradle robber.

"But technically you age faster while you are in Glacia," Raven pointed out playfully. "And those hours add up."

[sharp_as_knives]

Which was why he WAS NOT THINKING of Raven as just a few years old, thank you!

"True," he acknowledged. "But my home world and Fandom still move at the same pace, and I refuse to believe I am any older than that."

[trigons_child]

"Well, whatever your age, you wear it well," Raven said. "When is your birthday, for that matter?"

...no reason.

[sharp_as_knives]

And having said he didn't mind, Hannibal couldn't exactly refuse to say, could he?

With any luck, the ensuing chaos wouldn't be too unforgivable. Or maybe he should head it off with his own plans.

"January 30th," he answered. "It will be my fiftieth, so perhaps I will have a small party for friends." He smiled. "Keep your calendar open if you can."

Making his own plans would totally keep anyone else from going crazy over it, right?

[trigons_child]

The best defense against over the top surprise parties was a good...party. Hannibal was very wise.

"I will certainly do so," Raven said. "But you should not cook for your own birthday party, should you? I am certain Karla would love to make a cake...."

Yes, she was teasing. She wasn't that cruel.

[sharp_as_knives]

Hannibal had a strong survival instinct.

"I am certain I wouldn't mind if she asked Ermengarde to," Hannibal answered. He had heard the stories, Raven! "Unless those classes Warren got her have improved her cooking?" It was possible!

[trigons_child]

"I cannot say for certain," Raven admitted. "I have been too afraid busy to try anything she might have made."

In this, at least, Raven also had a strong survival instinct. It might have been the only thing in which she did.

[sharp_as_knives]

"We should probably ask Warren, to be safe," Hannibal decided.

[trigons_child]

"I would say he is clearly still alive, but he can heal from poisoning," Raven said with a light laugh.

[sharp_as_knives]

"Which would clearly make him the best candidate. Just in case," Hannibal answered, grinning.