Happy Birthday Victor! (Yes, Just Victor)

[forgotten_vows]

Yes, today is all about the birthday of the newest member of the Inkwell group -- Forgotten Vows! Why are we neglecting Marty McFly, DG-Victor, and Butterfly Boy?

Largely because everyone realized we were up to FOUR people with the same birthday (SIX if you count Tie-Twister and Secundus Marty), and everyone said, "Oh HELL no." It's just too much trouble at this point to keep track of everyone. So, to simplify things, the party is being focused on the guy who has yet to get one.

So! The Inkwell is not only done up in Corpse Bride-flavor blue, but "Alice"-flavor red as well today. The jukebox is playing bits from the "Alice" soundtrack -- primarily anything that strongly features piano, with a few other pieces Forgotten likes as well. And sprinkled liberally around on the unoccupied tables is butterfly confetti, as that applies to both series equally. Forgotten himself is at the traditional birthday table, looking a little shy, but happy to be so loved. Won't you come by and make sure to welcome him to the family properly?

Comments

[clockwork_doc]

Doc steps up first with his present -- a small box wrapped in yellow paper. "Happy birthday," he says. "I think you'll like this."

[forgotten_vows]

"Thank you, Doc," Forgotten says, taking the gift and opening it. Inside is what looks like a magnifying glass, only with a blue crystal instead of the lens. ". . .er -- would it be impolite for me to ask what it is?"

[clockwork_doc]

Doc laughs. "It's a night-vision crystal! I got one like it from a vending machine the LiveJournal Nexus sometimes had around. We still sometimes raid it for gifts here. I figured, since your main issue with the dark is that you can't see in it. . ."

[forgotten_vows]

"Oh!" Forgotten grins as he lifts the crystal to his eye. "So this lets me see in the dark? Yes, that is useful -- especially if I happen to run out of matches." He slips the "magnifying glass" in his pocket, right next to the matchbook. "Thank you very much!"

[museicalmarty]

Marty goes next, with a somewhat bigger box wrapped in bright blue. "I bet you'll like this -- I got the inspiration from 'Finding You,'" he says with a smile.

[forgotten_vows]

Forgotten takes the box, intrigued. "Oh?" Off comes the wrapping paint, to reveal a set of oil paints and a few brushes. "Oh! Right, the gift Alice couldn't afford to get me. Thank you, Marty!"

[museicalmarty]

"You're welcome! I saw that, and I figured, 'well, we can definitely afford to get him some paint' -- and I'm not any good at drawing," he adds with a smirk. "Music only for me."

[deadgirlslikeme]

DG-Victor is up next, and he's carrying -- a sack, it looks like. "Happy birthday!" he says, holding it out to Forgotten. "I got this from the vending machine too."

[forgotten_vows]

Deeply intrigued, Forgotten takes the sack with a nod and opens it up --

Only to discover it's empty. He stares into the black depths for a moment in confusion. Then he frowns thoughtfully and looks up. "All right, I gather the bag is the gift. . .and you know what? It looks bigger on the inside. At least, the bottom's a lot darker than I would expect."

[deadgirlslikeme]

DG-Victor chuckles. "It's a Bag of Holding. Essentially, I believe it can hold up to -- what was it -- 200 pounds of anything that can fit through the opening, while never weighing more than 15. Think of it as your own interdimensional pocket! Well, one that isn't specifically for your Wonderland weapons," he amends.

[save_us_alice]

Alice steps up, with another small box wrapped in red. "Mine's similar to DG's," she says, with a loving glance at her boyfriend. "It's from the vending machine, and it's something that mimics a Wonderland ability."

[forgotten_vows]

"Let's see what it is then," Forgotten says, opening it up. Inside is a jewelry box, with a silver pin shaped like a feather in that. He picks it up curiously. "Imitates a Wonderland ability -- floating?" he guesses.

[save_us_alice]

"Close enough to," Alice says. "It's a Featherfall charm. As long as you're wearing it, it allows you to drift safely to the ground from any fall higher than five feet."

[butterflyboy]

Butterfly Boy is up next, and he wheels in his gift -- something covered with a sheet that appears to be balanced on a stick like a gigantic lolly. "I didn't know what to get you at all for the longest time," he confesses, looking embarrassed. "But then, just last night, inspiration struck. I really do think you'll like it, but in case you don't I'm willing to take suggestions--"

[forgotten_vows]

"You're rambling," Forgotten points out with a sympathetic smile. "Please, just show me! I'm 99% sure that I'll like it. And you've got me all curious now." He knows Butterfly Boy's reputation for awesome gifts, and he really wants to see what it is he's built.

[butterflyboy]

"All right," Butterfly Boy says, nodding back with a still slightly nervous smile. "Happy Birthday!" He yanks off the sheet to reveal --

Well, it's your standard training dummy, with a soft body, short arms that stick out to the sides, and a round head. This one, however, has a beard and glasses drawn on it, and an angry scowl. That and its clothing makes it look like -- one Dr. Angus Bumby.

Cue the baffled looks from everyone else in the room.

[secundus_cast]

Shortly after Butterfly Boy gives his present, the three main Secundusians come in to say hello. Secundus Alice gives Butterfly Boy a hug, then notices the dummy. "Uh --"

"His," Butterfly Boy explains, pointing to Forgotten Vows. "It's so he can mangle it."

"Oh! I guess I got you the perfect present then," she comments, turning to look at Forgotten. She holds out a small gift in brass-colored paper. "Happy Birthday."

[forgotten_vows]

"Yes, yes, I'm weird, but I never really got to get my revenge on the man," Forgotten says with an awkward chuckle. He takes the gift with interest. "Well, thank you." He opens it up to find a set of playing cards inside -- dark blue on their backs, marked with swirling black patterns and an image of a butterfly that appears to be made out of two skeletal hands. Forgotten frowns curiously for a moment, then smiles. "I take it these are like yours?" he asks, feeling an edge very carefully.

[secundus_cast]

"They are indeed," Secundus Alice nods with a dangerous smile of her own. "I heard you liked weapons, so. . . I'm sure you'll put them to good use," she adds, nodding at the dummy.

[8docs_n_1victor]

The muses and mun tromp in last, as is their wont. The boys wave to everyone before making their way over to the birthday boy. "Happy birthday, Forgotten!" Tie-Twister proclaims, handing over a large, misshapen package of stuff. "We hope you'll find all of this useful."

[forgotten_vows]

Forgotten takes the package with a smile. "Thank you," he says, ripping off the paper. Inside is a dog bed, bowl, and a bright blue collar with "Bayard" written on it in gold letters. "Oh! Yes, my dog could use some stuff to get settled in here, couldn't he?" he nods. "Thank you very much! I'll have to bring him over later so everyone can get properly acquainted."

[8docs_n_1victor]

"You will! I'm at least eager to meet him," Tie-Twister says with a smile.

"Just be prepared to be jumped on," Vic says with a chuckle, before smiling at Forgotten. "Well, happy birthday, buddy! You've put up with a lot from me lately, I know, so I think I have the perfect present to make up for all that." She reaches behind her back and, with deliberate slowness, pulls out --

The Jabberwock's Eye Staff.

[alienlisa]

AL and the guys walk in only fashionably late. AL is clinging to Eleven's arm, Clark and Radu are carrying cakes whilst Data is carrying a display piece: a replica of the Ball & Socket complete with gum paste figures (you may choose who/whom).

"Hi, folks," says AL, not letting go of Eleven.

He gazes down at her and pats her head. "My actor is leaving the show 'round Christmas," he explains before anyone can ask. "She hasn't let me out of her sight since the season finale."

"She did the same when my actor left," adds Ten. "She'll get over it."

AL pulls a face and adjusts her position so she's just holding Eleven's hand. She then says, "Happy birthday Victors and Martys." Pointing at the showpiece, she adds, "Forgotten Vows wasn't around when we used to bring the sculpted cakes from Duff (I'm sure someone else wasn't either, but this is FV-centric party, so...), so we figured we'd bring one for him. Though since you're all too reluctant to eat something so pretty, it's just a display. That's what the sheet cakes are for. I'm not 100% sure if you're as into chocolate as your other selves (since the alter ego is at work and can't look it up), but I figured at least one of them had to be chocolate. Well, it's brownie, so close enough. The other is marble - you know, chocolate and vanilla swirled together. As for your present..." She rummages around in hammerspace for a moment and produces three (this is the one I showed you) pictures (who knew there were more than one).

"Those are the 'Butterfly Nebulas'," says Ten, grinning. "For your present, we offer you and your other selves the opportuity to take a trip in the TARDIS to see them up close."

"Or just one of them. Or all three. Or just two," says Eleven. He's smiling, too. "Whatever you want."

"Just stop by," AL finishes. "The other Victors can show you how they get to my planet from here. That is, if you're interested. If not, I'm sure we can figure out something else."

(Dreamwidth is blocked on work's computers so replies may be late...Edited for borked HTML)

[forgotten_vows]

The others wave while Forgotten is immediately attracted to the display piece. "Oh my," he says, walking around it in a circle and examining it from all angles. "This is -- this is made from cake?"

"And gumpaste, I believe," Vic says with a grin. "They can do some pretty cool stuff, huh?"

"Amazing! Especially the Bonejangles -- I understand he and his ilk were hard enough to create as solid puppets. I can't imagine the work it must have took for one made out of something edible." He chuckles as Lisa explains about the other cakes. "I don't think I could bring myself to even touch this, no," he confesses. "And you're on the mark -- I'm a chocoholic just like the others. Just ask Vic what I asked her to get for the ice cream earlier today."

"Snickers-flavored waffle cone, with what looked like real mini-Snickers mixed in," Vic reports. "Yuuuum." More sympathetically, she adds, "And yeah, I heard Eleven's Matt is leaving at the end of this year. Sucks, but hopefully they'll get an acceptable Twelve. Fingers crossed!"

The other Victors (including Tie-Twister) crowd in around to look at the pictures. "Oh my," DG-Victor breathes. "That's -- wow."

"Amazing," Tie-Twister agrees, eyes wide.

"Should have asked Alia to take me to that," Butterfly Boy says. In response to the puzzled looks, he adds, "Yes, Vic's friend on tumblr has three. The one who plays Time Lady doesn't come out often, granted -- it's usually normal and Touched. Apparently we share a birthday with a real-life friend of hers, by the by."

Forgotten Vows nods, then grins over at the Doctors. "I'd be honored, really. These are incredible." The other Victors nod excitedly.

[alienlisa]

AL chuckles. "Since it's a display piece, really only the fondant is edible. But since it's covering things like cardboard and PVC pipe, you may want to stick with the sheet cakes. The gum paste figures should be okay, though, but I'm not sure if you'd feel comfortable nibbling on your friends." She giggles. "Though if you want to keep them, I'm sure either the Docs or the Doctors could find a way to preserve them."

"That Snickers thing sounds yummy," says AL. "Although it may be too many peanuts for my taste...they have the tendency to overpower my tastebuds." She shrugs. "To each their own. I'm partial to mint chocolate chip myself. Or the crazy things you can do at places like Cold Stone where you can pick your ice cream and then pick whatever you want mixed into it. They do this thing with vanilla ice cream, cookie dough and chocolate chips that's amazing. It's called 'Cookie Doughn't You Want Some' and the alter ego REALLY should head to Cold Stone at some point this year." She glares upward for lack of anywhere better to glare.

*ahem* Yes, dear.

"Anyway," says AL, "so, yeah, whenever you want to take the trip, just stop by. I'll make the Doctors fight over whose TARDIS you take in advance so it won't happen on the day." She grins while the Doctors shoot her dirty looks.

(BTW, while I'm here, Forgetting You Chapter 8 on FF.net doesn't have a chapter title in the little drop down menu)