Happy, Happy Birthday

[fredless]

Who: Fred, Elektra and YOU
What: Elektra's Birthday
When: Monday Night
Where: Caritas
Rating: How much trouble can they really get into?

Her head had been especially busy of late, taking a bit of a double blow with Charles and Vivian both leaving. Especially Charles. He'd been making plans. Getting a place in town. Moving in with Vivian. It all felt especially abrupt and Fred couldn't help but wonder if she'd made the best of the time they had. Thoughts like that always seemed to bring Fred to the kitchen. And at least, this particular instance, there was a particular project she could focus her efforts on.

Elektra's birthday.

Fred was fairly certain if she'd attempted to openly make plans with the other woman, they would have been brushed aside. Which left her with no other option than the surprise, a small get together with her friends in Caritas. As far a Elektra knew, Fred just wanted some company after Gunn's departure. What really waited for her was balloons, streamers and a three-tiered cake. (Those were very busy thoughts to counter). The smallest of katanas sat next to it -- no bigger than a letter opener really -- ready to cut chocolate topped with butter cream into manageable slices.

Comments

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra spent the whole walk over trying to work out how to comfort Fred about the loss of another friend. Since comfort wasn't her strong point it wasn't going well.

The date was pretty irrelevant to her. Elektra hadn't celebrated her birthday in years. She had no reason to change her mind about it now.

So right about the point when she walks in and notices all this expect some genuine surprise out of her.]

[fredless]

[Fred catches her friend's gaze with a tilted smile]

...surprise?

[likethetragedy]

... Thank you? [She's still looking around.] How did you know?

[fredless]

[That answer was easy enough]

...Mindy.

Fred continues to study Elektra's reaction]

So how much trouble am I in?

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra narrows her eyes for a second before shaking her head. She'll concede defeat on this one. Fred had caught her off guard successively which is a feat in itself. There's no denying that this is... touching. She hadn't gotten something like this since she was too young to fully appreciate how special it was.]

None. You got me this time.

[fredless]

...good.

[And before there can be any objecting, she pulls the other woman into a tight hug]

Happy birthday, you.

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra takes a second to adjust to the hug before returning it.]

... You really didn't have to do something like this. [A beat.] Is that a katana next to the cake?

[fredless]

[She pulls back slightly, one hand making a narrow gesture]

Maybe a smallish one.

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra laughs despite herself.] You really thought this out.

[fredless]

Well, you do tolerate my less than stellar meditation skills.

[likethetragedy]

Is it too much to hope an improvement is part of the birthday gift?

[fredless]

[She laughs]

I'll try and see what I can do.

[likethetragedy]

See that you do. [Now it's her turn to laugh.] Since I'm out of practice, what do you recommend the birthday girl should do first?

[fredless]

Well, you've definitely got to make the rounds and say hello to everybody. And of course open your gifts. [She thinks] ...oh! And cut your cake. Nobody's allowed to have any until you do. It's a rule.

[likethetragedy]

I can manage that. I might have to cut it soon though or else Oliver and I might be stuck eating it for the next month on our own.

[fredless]

[That earns a genuine smile]

Well, you know, that might be a bit of fun too.

[likethetragedy]

[Elektra laughs.] Maybe if we were kids. I don't think I can appreciate a month of cake otherwise.