maskormenacelogs | Many happy returns

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Many happy returns

WHO: John Watson and YOU!
WHERE: House #005
WHEN: 7th July, afternoon
WHAT: His work colleagues convinced John to throw a birthday party!
WARNINGS: Probably none

Today hadn't been his idea.

In many ways, John missed his old job in the emergency room. To name but a few benefits, he missed the urgency and the fact there weren't many opportunities to socialize with his colleagues down there. Being promoted to general practitioner robbed him of these benefits and threw him with individuals he had nothing in common with apart from a doctorate.

One of the girls in reception had ratted him out and John found himself reluctantly inviting his workmates over to celebrate his forty-second birthday. He would've been content to celebrate with a couple of drinks at the weekend with familiar company, some who would've received a text message about today asking for help.

There are refreshments available and a grill and a few kids running about and splashing in the pool in the backyard. Please don't leave him alone with the natives.

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[ maybe you arrived early or was coerced into helping with the set-up. the food table has a few store brand party trays, but it looks very dull and uninspired. there are still a few balloons to be blown up as well. ]

[ the smell of barbecue lofts through the air as the party gets into full swing – fraternize, socialize or wish the birthday boy many happy returns! do whatever you want. ]

[ most of john's colleagues (and their children) have gone home, leaving the house in a bit of a disarray. maybe you want to help clean up or just hang around without the natives butting into conversation. ]

[oh dear god. Mike isn't sure what to think when he walks into the house and sees the set-up. He has half a mind to make an emergency exit back out the door but seeing as this is also the apartment he's living in at the moment, he steels himself and carries on inside, hoping to find a housemate to ask about what's going on.]

What's the occasion?

[ As far as Bradbury knows, this was supposed to be a quiet celebration, so when he walks in and sees a roomful of strangers he doesn't know, it's a little disorienting.

And also makes him feel bad about showing up in nothing more fancy than a black t-shirt and fraying jeans. He looks for a table to place his gift on -- just a bottle of scotch he picked up from the supermarket, sorry he doesn't have anything fancier, John -- while looking for the birthday boy. ]

[ In spite of her recent aversion to crowds, Kate does show up for John's birthday. After all, he's not only been a great asset when working cases, but a good friend to her, though she hasn't quite forgiven him for ratting out she was alive to Renee.

But she's not going to bring it up at his own party.

She's toting around a small gift bag. Evidently, there's booze inside, a gift for John. It's pricey booze at least! She's not about to buy him something from a grocery store aisle. ]

[ Well, she does live here. She only gets back home after the party's started and the first thing she does is ensure the kitty's not having a panic attack over the flood of strangers (he's asleep on her bed luckily), then she changes out of her work clothes to join the party for a bit.

She'll be collecting all the plates that people were too lazy to throw out or put into the sink first before moving onto junk laying on the floor. ]

( ooc: also permissions stuff in case! )

Edited 2014-07-14 12:40 (UTC)

[Mike has opted to stay in his room once the party got started. He does leave the room a few times just to get some water or other necessities. He catches sight of Karen cleaning up and he moves to help her]

Wasn't expecting a party when I came home today.

I'm surprised everyone still had time with the Soviet spies running around still.

[ But the shuttle is saved and she can leave the Soviets to other heroes until they start asking for help. ]

I didn't see you join the party.

You know me. I'm not the type for parties. [he's able to make small jokes now it's quite an improvement from how he just arrived]

They brought the shuttle down, didn't they?

Come on, you don't want to miss out on all the fun. John's a swell guy.

[ She nods. ]

That's what I've heard.

Hi, Mr. Bradbury.

[The little voice coming from somewhere in the vicinity of his waist is of course Valeria, looking cute and innocent in a party dress. Nothing but the barbecue grill is on fire, at least, so she seems to be on her best behavior.]

Good. [it's frustrating for him to not be able to do much in this incident. He's cybernetic but he can't help with the shuttle and he hasn't had any luck spy hunting]

And, well, I don't want to spoil the party. [he doesn't exactly do the smiling thing that often anymore]

[ after agreeing to have the party at his place, john thought about his housemates and how they would take to the idea. he still didn't know mike that well enough yet – a mixture of reluctance on his part and a career that kept him away from the house, but he had a sense that a crowd might spook his withdrawn flatmate.

so when mike approaches, he looks decidedly sheepish with himself. social gatherings, be it christmas parties or stag nights, never bode well for the former soldier. ]

Heeey Mike. I'm having a few friends from work over this afternoon. A few of us, too. [ a beat passes ] Sorry mate, I should've told you earlier.

Unless you're eating the cake before the birthday boy gets to it, I doubt it.

[ She can't help a light frown. ]

It's no good to stay cooped up somewhere, you know.

[he hesitates, noting the concern in her voice. While he doesn't want to brag about his job, he figures telling her about it will make her less worried for him]

I... found a job with this woman. She does parties for kids and she thought having a hero around will cheer them up.

That's okay. [Mike still feels awkward around crowds but he's been learning to get use to it again. The attitude towards imPorts around here has helped]

Happy birthday.

[ it's a fair turnout – at the very least, john isn't going to be surrounded by these dull doctors and their children all day. he's mingling with an especially talkative co-worker when he spots kate and finally has an excuse to leave him. ]

Hey Kate, thanks for coming.

[ he greets her with a grateful smile on his face. ]

Happy birthday, John.

[ She holds out the bag for him to take, careful to grip it by both handles so it doesn't slip and hit the floor. Nobody wants to clean up that mess. ]

Feeling old age, yet?

[ She cracks a small grin, teasing. ]

[ It does help to ease off some of the concern. Being around parties and kids can a tremendous help for someone as cagey as Mike. ]

Kid parties, huh? Well, that's great to hear. ImPort business or local?

Hey Rick.

[ before he found bradbury, john had been shuffling through the house: greeting the guests, having a chat with them, doing all that center of attention stuff. ]

Good to see you, mate.

I'll let you know after today.

[ because he isn't going to mention that most events thrown in his honour – christmas parties, birthday meals, stag nights – have ended in disaster. but he's reasonably optimistic, if not saddened, that today will be okay since sherlock isn't here to offend all his guests.

he takes the bag from kate and has a peek inside. ]

Oh wow, you shouldn't have.

Thanks. Are you gonna hang around for the party, orrr...?

[ The grin widens and she waves a hand as if to say it's hardly anything to write home about. ]

Normally people say "thank you".

[ But she enjoys his reaction. She always did like surprising people. ]

[it helps a lot in fact]

She's local. [is that a hint of a smile on his face? It just might be] Does a lot of charity work.

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Many happy returns

SET-UP

THE PARTY

CLEAN-UP

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open;

( open ) watch everybody give john booze

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open;

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everyone wants him to be an alcoholic

but kate brought him fancy alcohol. BRADBURY...

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SUCH A BUM

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