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

[heromaniac]

A text came through...

Happy Birthday Raven! <3!!

[trigons_child]

Why do I have a feeling you were behind this? Raven texted back with a smile.

[heromaniac]

Behind you having a birthday?

That would be a totally weird alternate universe!

[furnaceface]

//Something in your eye, hm?// Jono looked maybe the faintest bit amused through all of the tired that he'd been tamping down lately, as he stood in the doorway to the sitting room, arms crossed over his chest, small wrapped box in one hand. //We'll have to talk to the hearth witches about cleaning this room more thoroughly. Evening, Sunshine. I noticed you had company earlier, and didn't want to interrupt, but if you're too busy now for one more visitor...//

[trigons_child]

Raven dabbed the edge of her sleeve at the corners of her eyes and set down the letters, smiling at Jono. Her heart was swelling with so much love and joy that she hadn't been able to hold back happy tears.

"I always have time for you," she said. "And yes, it is a bit dusty in here, is it not? But the estate is so large that I cannot fault them for not having each and every room immaculate."

[trigons_child]

Behind the wagon load of children bringing me birthday presents! Raven accused.

[furnaceface]

//Well, then I suppose we can let them off the hook just this once, hm?// Jono made his way into the room slowly, so as to not startle Philia, and crouched down for a moment to let the dog sniff at his hand before smiling back up at Raven. //I hope you had a lovely day, Raven. You deserve those every now and again, after all. Your birthday seems a good time for it.//

[trigons_child]

Philia had lifted her head, ears perked and alert, when Jono had appeared in the doorway, but relaxed when she recognized him. She'd lost a lot of her fear and distrust under Raven's care, though she was still wary and startled easily. She huffed at Jono's hand and dropped her head back down to her paws.

"It was a very good day," Raven said. She picked one of the many gifts from the basket at her side -- the rest were filling her room at the moment. "The children from several of the orphanages made these for me. I can feel the love in them."

[furnaceface]

//Paper dolls, hm?// Jono gave a little nod of approval as he looked over the toy. //You've done a lot for them, Sunshine. I'm not surprised they're so eager to show you they care. They can't praise you enough, when I get the opportunity in edgewise to get down to teach them a bit of self-defense.//

Because in Kaeleer, it certainly couldn't hurt.

//You're handling it better than I did on my birthday,// he added, a touch wryly. //I hid.//

She probably remembered, Jono. The birthday sex had been fantastic.

[trigons_child]

Raven's cheeks turned pink at that memory. She hadn't know what exactly came over her then, but she had thoroughly enjoyed it.

"I had not even remembered it was my birthday until the children arrived," Raven admitted. "I think Momoko was behind it, as there was a gift from her as well. There are so many letters and drawings and cards -- it may take me a week to go through them all."

But it would be a very happy week.

[furnaceface]

//Well, I can't imagine that'd be a bad way to spend a week,// Jono pointed out. //And with Warren and Karla off to wherever it is Doctor Lecter is taking them for that ultrasound tomorrow, you'll have plenty of free time to do it in.//

Jono still wasn't certain what they needed an ultrasound for. After all, if they really wanted to know if the baby was a boy or a girl, there was any number of empaths and telepaths here who would happily tell them.

//I almost hate to add to the amount of work you've got ahead of you,// he added, just a touch impishly, as he held out the small, neatly-wrapped box he'd brought with him. //But I've brought you another one, I'm afraid.//

[trigons_child]

Raven shared Jono's feelings on that. There was no need for an ultrasound, but she trusted Hannibal and if it made Karla and Warren happy, so be it.

She carefully set aside the paper doll and took the box from Jono. Her gasp as she unwrapped it and opened the box startled Philia momentarily, and Raven had to send her a gentle empathic pat on the head to calm her as she held the choker up. "Oh, Jono, it is beautiful!" she said. "Thank you!"

[furnaceface]

//The choice came down to that one and a similar red one,// Jono shared, pleased that she liked it. //Th'red would've complemented your chakra well, but in the end...//

He shrugged.

//Personal tastes factored in a bit, too.//

She liked black, he liked black, this particular one had seemed like a win/win situation, really.

[sharp_as_knives]

The gifts weren't done coming yet!

Hannibal smiled as he came to stand in the doorway. "I'm afraid I didn't know it was your birthday until Jono mentioned it to me." So she'd just get what was to be her Christmas gift now, and he would have to buy another. "I thought I might visit and bring you this in person." He held out his own small box.

Along with the present, there was a card:

To a complex, beautiful lady:

In the legends of the people this comes from, Raven is a benevolent creator deity and a protector of humanity. And also a trickster who would test and punish those who needed it, and a prideful being who is occasionally selfish or silly. Even gods are not required to be all one thing, and they and the world are better for it.

Wear this in good health.

Affectionately,

Hannibal

[heromaniac]

"Wagon load of..." Momoko broke out in all smiles and hugged her phone.

Nope! I only asked if they could send you a note! Anything else was on their own!

"Silly Raven," Momoko fondly muttered at her phone.

You are loved. Sorry to break it to you!

[glacial_queen]

And the parade of well-wishing wasn't over yet.

"I can't help but notice a wagon full of presents roll up to my front door," Karla said from Raven's doorway. She was trying to sound cross, but her eyes were twinkling. "Rude. I hate being outclassed."

[trigons_child]

"Either would have been lovely," Raven said. "But black is best."

She stood up, handing the choker back to Jono, then turning around and lifting her hair with one hand. "Help me put it on, please?"

[furnaceface]

Jono was doing that eye-smiling thing again as he took the choker, giving her a little nod as he stepped forward and put it around her neck, carefully re-threading the laces at the back.

//Happily, luv,// he murmured, and if he had a mouth, he might have even stuck out his tongue a little in concentration. Not that it was a difficult task, granted. tying ribbons was fairly straightforward, and he had terribly deft hands. //There, now turn around and let's see, mm?//

[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."

[trigons_child]

"You would do well to remember I have an army of toddlers at my command now," Raven said. "And they are terrifying in their abilities."

She waggled one of the dolls at Karla, fairly certain the one with the crown was supposed to be the Queen herself.

Philia got up and stretched her legs, then padded over to Karla and looked expectantly at her. The pretty golden one used to make treats appear out of nowhere for her, but she hadn't done so for awhile.

[glacial_queen]

And it was the very worst, wasn't it, Philla? Karla missed being able to do that, too. So much. So, so much.

Granted, she was pulling a treat out of her pocket to give to her, but it wasn't the saaaame.

"An army of toddlers, hmm?" she asked, winking at Raven even as she continued to scratch Philla's velvety ears. Greeting pets should never be rushed. "You're not inciting them to revolt, are you? I don't think I could handle losing Glacia to Toddler Treason."

[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]

It is going to take me a week to go through all the notes! Raven typed, laughing softly. And gifts as well. So many of them. :)

[trigons_child]

Raven flipped her hair back over her shoulders and turned around. "How do I look?" she said, striking a pose.

She began wondering if now would be a good time to ask him what she'd found herself thinking about a lot for the past several days, and even more so today. She just wasn't certain at all how he'd react to her request.

[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."