Quad-Birthday (Is It A Wonder The Mun's Out Of Present Ideas?)

[forgotten_vows]

Well, it’s that time of year again – the time where four muses all have a birthday on the same day. Johnny Depp and Michael J. Fox, you planned this, didn’t you. At any rate, the Inkwell’s done up in BTTF yellow and red and CB blue and grey, and both movie soundtracks are on the jukebox. Standard rules apply for making merry, so drop in and see if you can actually say “happy birthday” to all four birthday boys.

((OOC: And as suggested by the title, the mun is blanking on present ideas for everybody -- except one, of course. While the other muses assure me it's all right -- "This is just what happens when you give us all awesome presents for our first years here," as Marty put it -- if you could come up with an extra-special cake this year, Gigs. . .))

Comments

[deadgirlslikeme]

Lewis and Richard do look very intrigued by her suggestion. "I'm sure we can come up with something," Lewis agrees, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"And we can keep them in the fridge in the meantime," Mrs. Plum assures the boys. "Buy us a little time."

That is one of the longest explanations any of them have sat through -- and this is a place that regularly hosts multiple versions of Doc Brown. It's quite the engaging tale, though, and everyone remains very quiet until the end. "Whoa," Marty finally says. "So -- the double agents are all out of the picture, you're now running the whole shebang, and everybody's saved. Sounds like a hell of a way to end the first season."

"I can't imagine how they're going to top it for the second," DG-Victor agrees, shaking his head. "You're a very brave man, Agent -- or Director now, I suppose -- Coulson."

((LOL, it's all right -- I run into the same problems trying to summarize stuff I love.))

[alienlisa]

"Well, we'll definitely find out," says AL with a grin. "It's one of the few new shows that got a second season." Her wings twitch. "It's gonna have a mid-season break in January and another show about Agent Peggy Carter who worked for SHIELD in the 1940s will air in its place until the break is over - she was Captain America's love interest before he was turned into a Cap-sickle. But other than that, it'll be an uninterrupted season from what we hear."

"Which is good," Coulson adds, "because the breaks this past year nearly killed us." He then smiles at DG-Victor. "Please, call me Phil."

[butterflyboy]

"Well, we're very glad to hear that!" Butterfly Boy says, returning her grin. "You're kind of getting two shows in one, then, with the break. At least you'll have something to keep you occupied while you wait for the present-day activities to start again. I hope Ms Carter's adventures are just as good."

"And that the main show isn't left on a terrible cliffhanger before she appears," DG-Victor agrees with a nod. He gives Coulson an awkward smile back. "My apologies -- it's just everyone seems to refer to you by your last name."

[alienlisa]

AL nods. "Yeah. It's all connected, after all. One big universe, so whatever happens in one may influence the other. We'll see."

Coulson smiles back. "I answer to either, but my friends call me Phil."

"If I may get meta for a moment," AL explains, "the alter ego works with two Phils, so she always writes his last name unless it's spoken dialogue. She doesn't care if someone else uses his first name; it's just weird for her unless someone's talking."

He nods, then shrugs. "Whatever you feel comfortable with." He smirks. "My last name is certainly better than calling me 'Agent'."

There's a collective chuckle from AL and the guys.

[forgotten_vows]

"I wonder if they'll have any time travel, then," DG-Victor muses, looking at Doc and Marty. "Though, having that around without bringing Captain America back, even for a little while. . ." Just seems mean to him.

"I'm almost tempted to call you 'Agent' now," Forgotten Vows jokes. "But I suppose Phil will do." He waves a hand between him and his alternates. "For us, of course, you kind of have to use nicknames. The pleasures of being three -- or more, in some of our other cases--" Looking at you, Docs "--versions of the same people."

[alienlisa]

Coulson's face practically lights up at the idea of time travel. "Ooh, we can only hope!" He really is just a big geek in a nice suit.

He then nods to Forgotten Vows. "The Doctors have numbers, so nicknames shouldn't be a problem. Lisa gave me a rundown of everyone here when I moved in and I took some extra time to learn everyone when I took the time off last party. Sorry about that, by the way, but after what I explained I'm sure you understand why I did." He hopes.

[forgotten_vows]

The others all chuckle. "Well, if it does happen, I expect you to tell me the method and how it works in your universe," Clockwork informs him, grinning. He loves hearing about other worlds' versions of time travel.

"That's true enough," Forgotten agrees, looking at the lineup of Time Lords. "And Vic tries to give all of us unique names -- with a few exceptions," he adds, glancing back at VampDoc and VampDoc2.

"We were created early in her life," VampDoc2 says defensively. "And yes, of course we understand. You had a lot going on, it seems."

[alienlisa]

Coulson nods. "Absolutely."

AL shrugs. "Well I think 'VampDoc2' is better than any alternatives...you could've been called 'Hell Valley Doc' or something."

Coulson gives VampDoc2 a grateful smile. "Appreciate it, thanks."

[8docs_n_1victor]

"That's true, isn't it?" VampDoc2 says with a grimace. "I much prefer the number -- er--"

"No, no, it's all right," Forgotten Vows rushes to assure him. "If you approve of it, I don't have any problems. It's when it's forced that. . ." He stops, swallows. "Besides, it's only PART of your name."

"Right. . ." He turns back to Coulson. "Anyway, we're an understanding bunch. I just hope things improve for you in season 2."

[alienlisa]

AL nearly smacks herself in the head but tries to hide it by pushing her hair behind her ear. "You know...I didn't even think about that. Some mind-reader I am. But I'm glad you're okay with it if they're okay with it. With the Doctors, there's really no other way other than numbers." Beat. "Um...if he regenerates - " She points to Twelve. " - you'll still be okay if the next one winds up hanging around?" No guarantee the Thirteenth Doctor will be one of her guys, nor how long it will be before he does appear (Nine only lasted 13 episodes, after all), but best to find out now. She hopes she isn't making him too uncomfortable.

[forgotten_vows]

You're not fooling Forgotten, at least, but he'll let it pass without comment. "It's all right. It's not like I like to talk about it much," he says, rubbing his upper arm in a move surprisingly reminiscent of Alice. "And I understand -- like I said, it's different if they claim the number for themselves. Still a little strange to me, but. . ."

He manages a weak smile. "I -- I think I will be. I've lasted this long with One through Twelve, haven't I? Just -- be understanding if I have trouble calling him by name." Honestly, he hates that the number 13 gives him trouble still, but there's not much he can do about it beyond trying to desensitize himself as best he's able. (Hell, maybe having a 13th Doctor around will help with that.)

[alienlisa]

AL nods understandingly. "Well, you'll have a while before that happens." She crosses her fingers. "Here's hoping. Starts in August but not sure when...probably after the Inkwell anniversary if I were to hazard a guess. And since there's 13 episodes - " She's trying to help. " - we have a month and some change before there could be any talk of regeneration." She glares at no one. "Personally I hope he lasts as long as Ten or Eleven and not Nine..."

She pauses a moment, then, "If it helps any, you've actually been hanging around with the technical Thirteenth Doctor..." Now it's the later Doctors' turn to fidget. "Shut up, I'm trying to help. I know you don't like to talk about it, but it happened, so there. Anyway, the Christmas Special confirmed that the Doctor actually had two more regenerations than actually originally thought - I know I said during my anniversary party that the numbers weren't screwed up, but I was wrong. One through Eight hasn't changed, but then we have the Doctor who ((*snerk*)) fought in the Time War - the War Doctor. He's the Ninth body. Then comes them." She points to Nine and Ten. "But Ten actually did regenerate again but didn't change his face."

"Vanity issues..." Eleven quips under his breath and Ten glares at him.

AL continues. "Ten siphoned the regeneration energy into a...handy receptacle - " The guys groan. " - and created a half-human clone of himself, but he's stuck in another dimension. Technically - " She points to Eleven. " - he's the Thirteenth Doctor and Twelve is Fourteen. Or, since he's the start of an entirely new regeneration cycle given to him by the Time Lords somehow...he's One."

She waits a beat, then finishes, "Myself and the alter ego plus the other guys here and the Doctors themselves have decided to stick with the original numbering so things don't get more confusing." She points to Nine through Twelve. "Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors." She lifts one hand and then the other off to the side to gesture to nobody. "War Doctor and...well, the clone's been affectionately nicknamed 'Handy', but sometimes I think of him as Ten-Point-Two."

[forgotten_vows]

"Here's hoping," Forgotten agrees, then is forced to hide a tiny wince at her mention of 13 episodes. Stupid -- well, he wouldn't call it a "phobia," exactly. Maybe just unease? "And yes, here's hoping he lasts longer than just that as well."

He takes in the explanation with a little frowning and nodding. "Yes, I think you've said at least some of this before. . .how they kind of like adding in Doctors between regenerations and pretending that's not cheating on how many lives he actually has." He smirks at the others. "No offense intended, of course -- you should be proud that everyone wants you to stick around despite the apparent limit on how long you should. Shouldn't the half-human clone be more of a Ten-Point-Five, though? Since he's half-Doctor?"

[alienlisa]

AL doesn't blame him in the least for being uneasy about the number 13.

She nods. "I probably have...I tend to forget and repeat myself a lot. A goldfish has a better memory than I do."

"You seem to remember what's happened to us well enough," says Five as he gestures to his other selves.

AL shrugs. "I guess that's just the way my memory works now. I can recount almost anything that's happened to most of you guys, but can't remember conversations I had a few days ago." She shrugs again. "Well, someone's usually around to remind me that we've had the conversation before."

"None taken," the Doctors chorus to Forgotten.

"Maybe," AL says to him, "it probably makes more sense that way, but the alter ego's not known for making sense."

...hey!

[forgotten_vows]

Poor Forgotten Vows. He is made of hangups. He smiles and nods at the Doctors. "Good."

"It's all right -- I'm pretty sure that's how Vic's memory works too," Marty jokes. The mun attempts to give him the stink-eye, but -- unfortunately, he really is right on the money. ^^;

Forgotten laughs. "Well, to be fair, if muns and such actually made sense, our lives wouldn't be quite as colorful."

. . .is that a compliment? I'm not sure, coming from him.