Windy Birthday

[save_us_alice]

Well, in the mun's world -- Doc's doing his best to keep things down to a light breeze near the Inkwell. As it stands, though, the real focus is on everybody's favorite imaginative killer, Alice! Birthday time has come around again, as it always does, and today the Inkwell is done up in red and blue to commemorate the occasion. There's plenty of snacks and such about -- the March Hare has even done little candy snarks, which the mun is taking waaaay too much pleasure in biting the heads off of -- so come on in and enjoy yourself!

Comments

[deadgirlslikeme]

DG-Victor, of course, is right beside his beloved, carrying a small present wrapped in striped blue and red under his arm. "Happy birthday, dear," he says, handing it over.

[save_us_alice]

"Thank you, love," Alice says, accepting the gift and pulling it open. Inside is a silver necklace with little blue butterflies set on it at intervals. "Ooh, it's beautiful!"

[deadgirlslikeme]

"It should go well with your omega symbol," Victor says, lifting up her hair so she can slip it around her neck. "And -- maybe your wedding dress?"

[save_us_alice]

"Given Vic's usual designs for that, I think it will perfectly," Alice says, clasping it and then admiring the butterflies resting on her collarbone. "Though on that note, I think the best present you've gotten me, this year or any other, is this." She holds up her hand with the engagement ring on it.

[deadgirlslikeme]

"Trust me, it was my pleasure to give that to you," Victor whispers, kissing her temple. "I just -- part of me can't believe it's really happening."

[save_us_alice]

"Me either -- but I'm so glad it is," Alice says, turning her head to peck him on the lips. Then, in a softer voice, she adds, "Though if all goes according to plan, I'm going to end up with a different last name than expected."

[deadgirlslikeme]

Victor nods, then gives Doc a quick, secret grin. "I think the new one's going to fit me, and us, a lot better though."

[save_us_alice]

"I certainly have no objections," Alice confirms. "And I don't think he will either."

[alienlisa]

AL and the guys trudge in though they're minus one; Coulson is conspicuously absent.

"May the happy birthday Alice fourth be with you," says AL and ignores the rest of the guys rolling their eyes at her. "Coulson's elected to stay home since, well, he's taking these last few episodes of his show a bit hard."

"Can't blame him, though," says Luke with a shrug.

"Yeah. Turns out that HYDRA has infiltrated SHIELD and people he thought were friends turned out to be enemies and, oh, it's a total mess." AL shakes her head. "Not to mention finding out that he was in charge of the whole T.A.H.I.T.I project with the drugs coming from the alien. The finale is Tuesday and hopefully I'll have him calmed down by the Marty and Victors' party."

"Hopefully it doesn't make things worse," adds Jesse.

"That too, yeah. We'll see Tuesday and, well, I'll have a month to get him together before the Marty and Victors' birthday." She shrugs.

[save_us_alice]

Alice snorts at AL's comment, then frowns as she explains why her latest boyfriend isn't among the group. "Oh dear. . . That's horrible," she says sympathetically. "I have some experience with former friends turning into foes -- and with having to fight off guilt. I wish him all the best."

"We all do," Doc adds, the others nodding. "A hell of a thing to discover. Hopefully the finale won't be a cliffhanger."

[alienlisa]

"Thanks," says AL with a grateful smile, then adds to Doc, "And hopefully it'll get picked up for a second season."

She claps her hands and clears her throat. "In the meanwhile, anything new since April?" She laughs.

[save_us_alice]

"Fingers crossed," Doc says, doing just that.

"Not too much, though we're making progress with the whole 'finally getting married' business," Alice says. "Victor just has to make sure that Victoria does not end up another of Barkis's victims, then it's off to actually get the license."

"I got some interesting ideas from the Nexus -- including faking my death at Barkis's hands to get the police to pay him some attention," DG-Victor adds.

[alienlisa]

"Fingers, toes, wings, eyes, wheels...whatever you got." AL nods.

"That's good," she then says to Alice. "Well, the 'progress' bit, though having Barkis get what's coming to him will be good, too." She makes a face. "I hope you scare the stuff out of him while you're doing it, Victor." She would've chosen another "s" word there, but there's children in the room (she counts the tentacles) even though she's sure they've heard worse.

[save_us_alice]

"Targeting lasers," Steve pipes up.

"Would that be considered a good thing or a bad one for us fleshy people?" Alice jokes, then looks over at Gigs. "Progress on that front is very nice, yes, given how long we've known each other."

"I'd love to, honestly," DG-Victor says. "Of course, to really frighten him, I'd probably be best served by sending in one of my alternates." Butterfly Boy and Forgotten Vows blink and look at each other, unsure if that's a compliment or what.

[alienlisa]

"Tentacles," AL nods with a smile at said tentacles. "The ratings have risen since the whole HYDRA thing, so here's hopin'."

"Well he wouldn't exactly be able to tell you apart, would he?" AL says to DG-Victor with a wicked grin, then she shrugs. "Though I suppose that doesn't tie into your storyline." Her wings flush pink. "I'll admit that the alter ego and I don't really follow what's going on with you guys but we read whatever V posts, if anything. That 'tumblr' thing you use...just looks confusing to...well, us honestly. I'm sure it's not once you get used to the way it works, but those who can't time travel can't seem to find the time."

[deadgirlslikeme]

Said tentacles buzz with laughter. "Considering they've already got another Avengers movie in the works, I'd say the odds are pretty good," OckDoc assures her, grinning.

"No, it doesn't," DG-Victor says, snickering as the other Victors eye them both. "And if you're talking about tumblr, you don't really need to worry about it too much. I don't think any of that is meant to have anything to do with Dreamwidth."

"Not at all," Forgotten Vows confirms. "My life on tumblr is completely separate from whatever I'm doing on Dreamwidth. You don't need to follow along if it confuses you -- I'll gladly clarify anything you feel you ought to know."

[alienlisa]

AL feels like a derp. "Oh, I see," she says. "See, the alter ego doesn't really use Dreamwidth all that much except to talk to V about that ridiculous dragon game." She half-glares but there is no malice at all in the expression; she really doesn't think it's ridiculous. "Thanks for that, by the way. I've always wanted islands floating above my house."

The guys snicker.

"Shut up. Anyways, she doesn't, like, check anything but V's journal on Dreamwidth so, again, all we know is what she links to to be honest. Given the opportunity I'm sure the alter ego would read every little thing every where about everything but then I'd have to pry her out of her chair to get some sunlight." She eyes V again. "I don't know what it is about your stories but she doesn't just throw me into any old universe. Don't get me wrong, I love being a part of it, even if it's just an alternate part of it, but yours is the first fanfiction she's written fanfiction of. I'm just glad your universes, when they aren't all angsty, are so much fun." She laughs.

[save_us_alice]

"Grow mushrooms -- that's what the game says you should be doing," Vic snarks back. "And really? Huh. I'd say I don't use it all that much either--"

"But roughly fifteen accounts, most of them for roleplaying characters, would prove you wrong," Forgotten deadpans.

"Well, you're always welcome here," Alice assures her, patting her arm. "We're happy to have you, even as an alternate part of things. And I'm glad you think our universes are fun. We don't always think that, but so long as someone's getting some enjoyment out of them. . ." She still wonders WHY people love playing her games sometimes. I mean, really -- it's fighting for your sanity across a hellscape? That's fun?

[alienlisa]

"And I...well, we appreciate being a part of things. Being able to come here and hang out."

"Away from the cold..." adds Tommy.

"And the wind..." finishes Jesse with a wink at Clockwork.

"And that V lets the alter ego play around in her worlds." AL says. "Maybe, Alice, it's the satisfaction of completing the game and seeing that hellscape become something beautiful?" She's hoping she's describing the outcome right because it's been a very long time since the LP was watched.

[save_us_alice]

"Oh, so you're only here to take advantage of my weather powers," Doc jokes. "I see how it is."

Alice chuckles, then nods. "I suppose so. People seem to like the endings of both games, even if Londerland was proclaimed to be at least a little confusing. And it's very satisfying to me to see Wonderland restored. Not surprising it would be the same with others."

[alienlisa]

AL sidles up to him and puts an arm around him with a grin. "Nah, not just that. We also enjoy the company. I probably would never have gotten Erik to where he is today without you guys."

Said former Phantom may be sitting quietly with his mask on but he isn't hiding in a dark corner anymore.

"And," she says to Alice, "aren't you getting a new game? Or at least there was talk about it? Who knows what wonders will come out of that. Being able to kick some ass and take some names to vanquish evil is always satisfying."

[save_us_alice]

"I suppose we're just good at drawing people out of their shells," Clockwork notes, giving Erik a nod. "Which is curious, when you consider that many of us aren't really that social."

"A series of shorts featuring me in the minds of various famous persons," Alice says. "If those drum up enough interest, then maybe I'll get a third installment of the game." She grins a little. "Though I agree. There is a certain pleasure to being able to destroy your enemies."