Emperor's Birthday

[vorbarra]

WHO: Gregor and whoever wants in? There's two prompts and new CR is welcome!
WHERE: (1) the Lucky Cat Cafe (2) the Residence
WHEN: December 17th-- so, this is a bit forward-dated
WHAT: It's the Emperor's Birthday!! Aka, Gregor is turning 26. On Barrayar that's a national holiday and tax day more than it is a personal celebration for Gregor, so he's not really expecting a surprise party.
WARNINGS: Domestic schmoop is highly likely.


    (1) THE LUCKY CAT CAFE, HEROPA -- OPEN TO ALL

Anyone stopping into the café to get their coffee, tea and snacks will find one difference from every other day of the year: their barista, namely Gregor, is wearing a golden paper crown and every other employee is wearing a conical party hat. Feel free to comment on this and find out it's his birthday.


    (2) THE RESIDENCE, DE CHIMA -- CLOSED TO CLOSE FRIENDS/FAMILY

Gregor is more than a little bemused to return home from work to find that a surprise party has been prepared for him. Generally, it's not a good idea to surprise the emperor, and given his schedule it's rarely even possible to surprise him with something like this, so he's completely taken aback. He'd thought the fuss at work was more than enough acknowledgement, but after a few moments he relaxes and smiles wryly at everyone waiting for him.

There's an insane amount of cream puffs available in lieu of cake, Gregor's favorite food; there's a huge cat tree set up in the study now; and the lake out back has frozen over and allows for ice skating. Gregor's used to being host at the official Emperor's Birthday celebration, but he's far more relaxed at this one than the one he usually attends in Vorbarr Sultana, casual and even laughing occasionally. He definitely snags more than his share of cream puffs, but will continue to be flattered by every birthday present he receives.

Somehow it's different here. It's so transparent that no one is here due to obligation. He's no taxes to receive, after all. Days like this make him wonder how he'll adjust again when he inevitably goes home... Gregor has never quite been able to fully credit that he'll forget everything. This memory seems like it will stick with him forever.

Comments

[dendarii]

OTA

[ Miles, meanwhile, is more than happy to take up the role of host. He's the one who mercilessly organized this thing, and he's gleefully flitting around the event like a hyperactive butterfly. Dressed casually but neatly, in his usual silver-gray jeans and brown hoodie.

There may be no taxes being levied to the Emperor today, but he's left out a bowl of chocolate coins in the center of the center of the festivities. ]

Go on, take some up to him. [ He says, grinning around the wine stem full of mead he's got in the other hand. ] It's traditional, I swear.

[ Or, if you're already familiar with the humor inherent in such a gesture, Miles gestures to the impromptu skating rink instead.]

Want to try it? I've not been since I had my leg bones replaced, so I'm looking forward to enjoying myself this time.

GREGOR

[ At some point when the party has quieted down a bit, Miles drifts over to wherever Gregor has settled himself. Leans against the back of the chair and gazes down at his boyfriend adoringly. He's been a happy buzz all throughout the evening, showing no sign of slowing whatsoever. He thrives on this - and he's happy to deflect socialization from Gregor if need be as well. ]

Well? Did you like it?

[ A faint thread of nervousness, but mostly anticipatory. He's felt enough of Gregor's mental state tonight to be reasonably sure of his answer. ]

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty, of course, takes one of those chocolate coins - eyes it - and then grins at Miles in a rather bloodthirsty manner. Then she unwraps it and pops it in her mouth, chews, swallows, and opens her mouth to reveal...all gone except for brownish chocolatey spit. And then she declares: ]

And that's how socialism works.

[dendarii]

[ Miles as no idea what the hell that means. But he laughs anyway. And goes to steal a coin for himself. ]

Going back to the people instead of to the Emperor, eh?

[vorbarra]

I love it, [ he answers honestly, with a slight laugh. More than anything, Gregor feels bemused-- pleased, a bit overwhelmed, but bemused.

He twists to look up at him directly. ] Sometimes I think I've gotten used to being here, and then something like this happens.

[dendarii]

[ Miles warms at that, pleased. Despite the bemusement. Especially because of the bemusement. Proves that Gregor's being honest.

He leans down over the chair to kiss Gregor's forehead lightly. ]

Remember who you've decided to fall in love with. "Naismith" may as well be pronounced "actual hurricane."

OTA

[rathercommon]

[ Kitty's looking at the ice skating rink with a slightly bemused smile on her face. She has no idea how to even begin to approach it, but she's clearly interested. And so she asks with just a hint of embarrassment: ]

D'you know how to skate?

[vorbarra]

Well, I can go forward without falling down... most of the time. Does that count?

[rathercommon]

[ Laughing - ]

Better than I can do. I've never done anything like that before.

Cafe

[purple_reign]

[Inanna doesn't have an invitation to the actual party, and it's probably for the best considering the drama it might cause if he were to actually pay a visit. No, he only even suspects it's Gregor's birthday at all when he steps into the cafe and notices all the celebratory hat-wear. He doesn't even bother with an order at first when he makes it up to the barista's counter—it's a quiet enough moment that he feels comfortable making a little small talk until another customer comes in.]

What's the occasion? Birthday or anniversary?

[vorbarra]

Birthday. God forbid this happen any more frequently than that.

[ Gregor smiles wryly, a tad embarrassed to anyone observant enough to catch it. Barrayaran emperors don't actually wear crowns, normally. He feels self-conscious about it and his birthday in a rather silly, teenagerish sort of way. ]

[purple_reign]

I wish I'd known! I wouldn't have arrived empty-handed. I suppose I could go and get one...

[Inanna does catch the embarrassment, but they seem more charmed by it than anything. A little bit of it on a birthday was really just a rite of passage, after all.]

RESIDENCE, ota

[unwiseheart]

[ Parties have never been a thing that Nicolas has been good at, but an effort was made. That effort being a small gift (a tin of pryaniki, Russian spice cookies, and probably more worthwhile to give than some random item that an emperor doesn't need), set down wherever it seemed reasonable to set down, and a bare minimum of at least saying 'hello' to a few people.

But the second he spots the frozen lake, all bets are off, because there's ice down there. What does a werewolf who misses having real winters do when there's a whole frozen lake nearby?

Well, they go wolf and spend an inordinate amount of time racing across the yard just before hitting the ice and sliding across it, that's what. Only to get back up and start all over again once he slides to a halt. It's a lot like a really big dog goofing off, only the dog is a one-eyed wolf. Watch out, skaters. ]

[vorbarra]

[ Gregor has an absolute sweet tooth so this isn't a poor gift at all. He's looking forward to them immensely-- plus in this political climate, Russian treats aren't common or easy to obtain.

He has to laugh openly when he notices Nicolas bounding around in the snow and ice, and given the company has no qualms in changing into a cat on the spot to try it himself. The pads of his paws and his lower center of gravity makes the ice much, much easier to traverse, and he experimentally mimics Nicolas for a moment in pouncing forward.

Cats don't laugh, exactly, but he has humor in his voice as he notes, ] I would never have expected this to be this much fun. [ He's not totally immune to animal instincts. ]

[unwiseheart]

Usually isn't for cats, [ Nicolas says back, sound just about as amused. He's still flopped against the snowbank he ended up sliding into, jaws open and tongue lolling in a big wolfy grin. Sometimes, it's just easier to be an animal. Happier, too. ] But you're not actually a cat, so I'll let it slide.

[ Get it? Slide? ]

OTA

[jacksonian]

[ Mark is, no surprise, dressed up to the nines, slicked and polished until he just about shines in his black-on-black suit. He is also, no surprise, lurking by the food table, snacking and darting awkward glances over at the people around him, clearly trying to figure out how to make conversation while simultaneously really not wanting to make conversation. There will come a day when Mark learns to be a human; this is not that day. ]

[fullmetalbrat]

[It's a good thing Mark is friends with people who only vaguely understand concepts like "introvert" and "personal space." Ed's sauntered up to lean around him to get at one of the plates of food, casual as can be. He's also dressed no differently than he might if he were just going into town.]

Hey, Mark. ...Uh. Were we supposed to dress up for this?

[jacksonian]

Oh. Uh - I don't know.

[ A little nervously, he smooths down his shirtfront. ]

I just...thought it'd be nice.

[dendarii]

[ Aww, Mark. Miles tries not to hover too much, but he does make a couple of totally inconspicuous loops around the table Mark is at. ]

How's it taste?

[vorbarra]

[ At least Gregor's private birthday party isn't all that busy of a venue. Whoever'd organized it had been respectful enough of his wishes not to invite anyone he wasn't close with, intending this to be the opposite of the public function that his birthday becomes at home, and accordingly it's not all too intimidating of a social space. Not by Gregor's standards, anyway.

He drifts over to the food table eventually, in uncommonly good spirits, which for Gregor means he looks a bit fresh-faced rather than grim. ]

Hello, Mark. Have you picked a birthday yourself? I'm assuming you don't want to share with Miles. [ And Mark's "birth" is a complicated enough issue that there's no reason he should default to Miles's birthday. ]

Residence OTA

[fullmetalbrat]

[It's probably about time for Ed to show his face away from his research again, and what better time to do it than at someone's birthday party? He can be found all over the place at the party—stuffing cream puffs in his mouth, checking out the cat tree and other gifts Gregor's getting, but especially hovering uncertainly at the lake's shore to look out across the ice.]

Is that really going to hold everyone?

[vorbarra]

We had some help in solidifying it, I think, [ Gregor observes wryly. ] Spock has a kind of cryogenesis. I don't know the specifics.

THE LUCKY CAT CAFE, HEROPA

[am_i_a_monster]

Abigail is looking for a caffeine fix when she walks into the café. She smiles as she waits in line. The hats make her think of parties and happy times. And the smell of the freshly baked pastries is relaxing. Maybe she'll get some carbs to go with her coffee. When she reaches the front of the line, she can't help noticing the crown on the man at the counter.

"Am I in the presence of royalty?" She jokes.

oh my god I'm sorry I took so long!!

[vorbarra]

She is, technically, but Gregor tries to avoid that conversation whenever possible, so he just gives a wry smile.

"For today, at least. It's my birthday and I'm obliged to follow workplace protocol. What can I get for you?" He's gotten used to making chatter while fulfilling orders and doesn't mind weaving the two together at all. Frankly, this is one of the lowest stress things Gregor has ever done.

The Residence/ota

[komarran]

He should have realized, in retrospect, that the Residence would become a place of festivities on this day. Part of him had wondered if the Emperor would brush it aside after all the pomp and ceremony that took place in the Imperium, but with so many Vor here Duv supposes some celebration is inevitable. It's different at least to tradition and Duv finds himself more on the outskirts observing than throwing himself in the middle. Embassy events were one thing, an interpersonal party featuring many Vor of high importance was another matter entirely. Perhaps he should document it once everything quieted down.

Eventually he'll grab a small plate with cream puffs to snack on, a small attempt to blend in more naturally. This is a snapshot of Vor he never expected to see along with the friends made here in this strange place.

"I forgot to bring a bag of coins," he muses aloud to himself.

document it... pls duv

[vorbarra]

It's certainly true that Duv hasn't had much opportunity to view all of them milling around in a casual party environment. This isn't the first time Gregor's had a Vorkosigan-hosted informal social occasion thrown for him, but it's been a while, especially one that Miles attended-- and of course Mark hadn't been to any of them, not to mention all the friends they've made here. It gives it a somewhat different tenor.

Gregor still looks far more relaxed than he often does in public, or even in private when they have official matters to discuss. Even his clothes are relaxed and casual.

"There's plenty of chocolate ones," he comments, overhearing it. "Miles's joke, I think. Hello, Captain." Whatever the occasion, he's Barrayaran enough to stick to titles until invited otherwise. He's always been conscientious of not being presumptive, as emperor, and he already knows Duv gets uncomfortable when he acts too personal with him.