Priest-De Ulloa Residence, London, 12/14

[bitten_notshy]

Enough word had handwavily filtered back from Fandom that Jack was dimly aware everything had worked out once again. He still wanted the whole story, but for the moment he'd settle for knowing everything was all right.

Besides, he'd been a tiny bit distracted with matters on the homefront. He hadn't been around long enough to do any organizing, but it was always a good time to watch, listen, and figure out who people were and what they wanted.

He hadn't precisely forgotten that today was his nineteenth birthday. But he'd never made much of a fuss over them, save the one in Fandom that marked his passage into adulthood. When the man you lived with was in his second millenium, the details of anything in the human lifespan seemed a bit silly.

He made himself some tea and a sandwich and settled in to work on a final paper.

[OOC: Open for calls, texts, surprise guests, etc.]

Comments

[chosehumanity]

Mitchell was back home in Fandom, but he was a bit sloppy about listening to radio broadcasts to begin with - leaving him with absolutely no knowledge of the entire invasion issue to begin with.

He had other things to talk to Jack about, though, and so his phone would be ringing right about... now.

[bitten_notshy]

Strangely enough, Jack was a tad wary as he picked up his phone and checked the caller ID. It might have had something to do with there being such a crisis the last time he'd heard from Mitchell.

"Hello," he said, edge barely in his voice. "Everything all right?"

[chosehumanity]

"Right now? Yeah, it's fine." Mitchell sounded a little harried, but no more than that. "How are you holding up?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Never dull," Jack answered, leaning back in his chair now that he knew he wasn't going to hear about imminent disaster. "I have papers to finish if I don't want to fail, but after Friday I've got most of a free month. Things could be worse."

[chosehumanity]

"Things have been calmer here, as well." And before last weekend, he would have just said 'calm', too. "A lot of the old ones seem to be slipping out of town."

There was a slight moment's pause, and then: "You mind filling me in on how your lot of vampires keep everything in order?"

[bitten_notshy]

"That's Herrick's chums?" Jack wasn't sure if that was good or bad. From Mitchell's tone, he was going with good. Ish.

He ran a hand through her hair, considering the question. "How do you mean?" he asked. "Here, that would mean you wanted to know how Sebastien manages his household, but I doubt that would help you. There's not a government."

[chosehumanity]

"Herrick's chums, older vampires who are unaffiliated, older ones who hated his guts," Mitchell sighed. "Anyone old. An old friend decided to show up the other night and start banging on about power vacuums."

Which hopefully answered Jack's question.

[icecoldfrost]

Emma was not calling to wibble about trauma or kidnappings or anything remotely related to the events of last week.

Instead, she had a piece of paper with a Google-assisted translation in front of her, and the sneaking suspicion that she was about to hideously embarrass herself as she dialed Jack's number.

She hadn't had a chance to mail his birthday or Hanukkah gifts, given the events of the past few days, so this would have to tide him over until she got a chance to put them in the post.

[bitten_notshy]

"Emma!" Jack sounded happy, and it wasn't just because he was down to 500 words to write before he took himself to a pub. "Hello. Calling to give me your Christmas list?"

[icecoldfrost]

Emma just laughed. "You haven't guessed what I want yet?" she teased. "But no, I have something else for you."

She took a breath to steady herself and then launched into the Happy Birthday song. In Jack's native language. She was reasonably on-key, and the tune was recognizable, but her pronunciation (and some of the translation) left a bit to be desired.

...it was the thought that counted, right?

[bitten_notshy]

Jack had no idea what the song was until a few bars in, and he laughed when she finished. Her pronunciation was horrible, but he couldn't help but be pleased by the time that had gone into finding the translation.

"It's a good thing you aren't going to Prague tomorrow, but A for effort," he informed her cheerily. "//Thank you//, Emma."

[icecoldfrost]

"I could too go to Prague tomorrow, because you'd be pressed into service as my translator," she sniffed, secretly pleased at how much he'd seemed to enjoy it. "You're welcome, darling. Any big plans for tonight?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I've been busy with the protests the last few days," Jack said. "So my birthday celebration is writing a paper on Boudica and then taking myself to the pub. But it's not as if nineteen is an important age."

He added, thoughtfully, "We should go to Prague sometime. I've not been there since -- 1890, perhaps."

[glacial_queen]

For once, Karla wasn't calling Jack to tattle. It was Jack's birthday, which meant that the only unpleasant topics they discussed would be brought up by Jack himself.

Okay, and maybe a little panic about dress rehearsal, but only because she thought it might amuse him.

She was looking at some places in London that might deliver a birthday gift that day while she waited for the phone to ring. Hmmm...surely there were places in London that delivered cigars or something--right?

[bitten_notshy]

"Hello, Karla," Jack said, cheerfully enough. (Boudica was finally in her grave and the paper sent off.) "How is life on the island?"

He had some lingering concern, but on the other hand, if she was calling on his birthday it was likely that nothing was too far off.

[glacial_queen]

"Returning to as normal as we ever get," Karla answered. "I called two other people before landing on your number because my cellphone screen refuses to show anything other than an image of a log on fire." Her shrug was probably audible over the phone. "But other than that, we're okay. Uhh, had some trouble last week; don't know if you knew or not."

Did that count as bringing something up? But he'd asked.

[bitten_notshy]

"I talked to Dinah," Jack confirmed. "She said something about kidnappings by goblins, but I couldn't get much from the podcasts so I figured it wasn't as bad as it sounded."

"... that's insane, with the cell phone."

[glacial_queen]

"No, this past week was insane," Karla said with a sigh that could almost have been a laugh. "The cell phone thing is just a bit of Fandom whimsy."

In that it wasn't hurting anyone or devouring buildings or even all that stressful. "But yeah. Goblins, a labyrinth, some kidnappings. A king with the tightest pants known to man. Fandom craziness." Super Casual!

"Do you have some plans for your birthday?" she asked.

[bitten_notshy]

"There have been some politics here keeping me busy, so I'm rushing to finish my final papers," Jack said. "I'll take myself out for a drink in a bit. And I'm just going to assume no one was hurt and we saved the day again."

A text

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday! Having fun?

Re: A text

[bitten_notshy]

Have coat on + am on way to pub. Finished 1 of my last papers. How r u?

Re: A text

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

At rehearsal. Have coffee to stay awake-- tech is taking too long. Yay pub!

Papers due next week ACK.

Re: A text

[bitten_notshy]

What play are you in? Sorry you're stuck waiting. Good luck on papers.

Re: A text

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

As You Like It The Forest of Arden. Heroine's BFF, get to be supportive, dress in silly costume. Two papers, one huge final, could be worse.

Wish I was there to buy you a pint! See you before New Year's maybe, Y/N?

Re: A text

[bitten_notshy]

Geoff wd b proud! I'll be @ Fandom NYE party if they have one. Need to catch up w/people.