And It's Way Nicer This Year Too

[save_us_alice]

Oh yes, you know the drill. Birthday times for Alice! We've got blue and white streamers held up with little cardboard Vorpal Blades, and a splash of red confetti across the tables and floor. The jukebox is on too, and playing a medley from both the original game and "Alice: Madness Returns" -- because while this Alice may be from the first game only, she still likes her sequel. Come, eat, drink, and be merry!

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[save_us_alice]

"I'm sure I will," Alice assures him, before opening it up. Inside appears to be a long wand with a white bulb on the end of it. "Ooo -- a magic wand?" she asks, picking it up. She knows he's an aspiring magician, after all. . .

[forgotten_vows]

"Not quite -- try waving it around," Forgotten Vows says with a smirk.

[save_us_alice]

Alice does so -- and jumps a little as the wand crackles with electricity. "What the--"

[forgotten_vows]

"It's from the artbook," Forgotten Vows explains with a laugh. "It's one of the old tarot weapons. The others seemed to be things you already had -- the Cup, for example, seemed to work just like your Grinder -- but this was relatively unique. I know your Croquet Mallet delivers shocks too, but now you can shoot electricity at people if you like!"

You seem just a pinch too enthusiastic about that, Forgotten.

[save_us_alice]

"Ooooh, I seeee," Alice says, giving the wand a few more waves. "Very interesting. I should have expected you'd give me a weapon," she adds with a joking smirk. His reputation as "the one who likes Alice's violent side a little too much" is well-known around here.

[forgotten_vows]

Forgotten Vows rolls his eyes good-naturedly. "Well, I am the 'violent one,'" he jokes back. "Seriously, though, I thought you'd enjoy it -- and apparently the people making the Unity Alice midquel are using it, so why not you?"

[save_us_alice]

"Why not indeed," Alice nods, and gives his hand a quick squeeze. "Thank you very much."

[forgotten_vows]

"You're very welcome," Forgotten Vows replies, squeezing back. He's glad that his present was a hit, and that he was able to help make this a good birthday for her.

After all -- she might be the only Alice he gets to celebrate with.

[deadgirlslikeme]

DG-Victor is the last to come up, and he's hauling along a rather flat, rectangular present. He also looks a little more tired than normal. "Happy birthday, love," he says, setting it down on the table. "I'm afraid it's a bit last-minute, but I hope you'll like it nonetheless."

[save_us_alice]

"I'm sure I will," Alice tells him, and pulls off the yellow paper.

And gasps as a canvas is revealed -- with a painting of her Wonderland on it. DG-Victor's captured all the highlights from each domain -- the plunging waterfalls and crying statue of the Vale of Tears, the rickety buildings and earthen tunnels of the Village of the Doomed, the turning gears and toxic green sky of Hatter's Domain, the oversized fungi and towering trees of the Wonderland Woods -- even the squirming pink tentacles and fiery sky of Queensland. "Oh, Victor. . ."

[deadgirlslikeme]

"I spent most of the day yesterday painting it," DG-Victor says as the others crowd around for a look. "I wasn't sure at all what to get you, and then Vic suggested a hand-made gift, so. . ." He rubs the back of his neck. "I haven't worked in paints for a while, so I'm glad it came out as well as it did."

[save_us_alice]

"It's beautiful," Alice assures him, running her fingers gently over the painted scenes. "You are an amazing artist, Victor Van Dort. We're going to have to find a nice frame for this so I can put it on my wall."

[deadgirlslikeme]

"I'm sure one will turn up," DG-Victor nods. He leans in and kisses her gently. "I love you, Alice."

[save_us_alice]

Alice happily returns it. "I love you too, Victor. Thank you again."

[8docs_n_1victor]

There's the usual chaos as the muses come tromping in, with everyone waving hi to everyone else. "Happy birthday, Alice!" Tie-Twister Victor says with a bright smile, handing her a large box on par with the one she and Butterfly Boy gave Secundus Alice. "We do hope you like it."

[save_us_alice]

"Oh, I'm sure I will," Alice says, opening up the box. Inside is a bright red dress styled like most of her dresses, only with two black ruffles on the skirt and a lacey overlay/apron that's held on with a red belt dotted with white skulls. (One can see sort of what it looks like here, thanks to this lovely artist.) "Well," she says with a laugh. "Should I guess artbook?"

[8docs_n_1victor]

"You guess correctly!" Tie-Twister nods. "It's one of the unused Hysteria designs."

"Emily and I helped make it," Victoria adds as Emily does a little bow. "I do hope it's to your liking."

[save_us_alice]

"Really! Well, thank you very much girls," Alice says, bowing back to Emily. "And yes, I quite like it. I'll have to find a good opportunity to wear it." Halloween costume, perhaps?

[crossover_chick]

The mun steps up next, with a smaller box wrapped in purple. "Mine might look like something you've already go, but I promise you it isn't," she says, handing it over. "Happy birthday!"

[save_us_alice]

"Thank you," Alice nods, opening the box with her trademark curiosity. Inside is something she thinks she already has -- the seaweed necklace that goes with her Siren dress. "Tell me, Obi-Wan Kenobi -- how is it different from the standard?"

[crossover_chick]

"It's got a special charm on it -- wear it with your Siren dress underwater and touch the omega symbol, and you'll be able to switch into the mermaid form they cut," Vic says with a grin. "That should at least attempt to make any future swimming sections fun."

[save_us_alice]

"Oh, I see! Yes, I think that's the only way you could even start to make those wretched sections enjoyable," Alice giggles. "Thank you very much!"

[crossover_chick]

"You're welcome, Alice! Enjoy the day!" Vic says with a grin.

[alienlisa]

AL and the guys pop in, fashionably late as per usual.

"May the Fourth Be With You, everyone!" says AL. "And happy birthday assembled Alices."

[save_us_alice]

"Thank you!" Alice says, as everyone waves. "May the Fourth Be With You too."

"She's already made an Obi-Wan Kenobi joke," Vic says with a snicker.