It's That Time Again. . .

[misslucysleeches]

It's fall, or getting near it (even though it doesn't feel like it at ALL -- seriously, it was muggy as hell yesterday), and you know what that means -- birthday season is back again! And of course everyone's favorite redhead violinist is kicking things off with her September 7th birthday. Inkwell's done up in green and red, there's lots of balloons everywhere, and one of Emilie Autumn's violin pieces is playing on the jukebox. There's never been a better time to stop by and say hello!

Comments

[flightattendantguy]

Simon's on present duty, of course, and he hands over a small package gift-wrapped in her favorite shade of green. "Happy birthday, Lucy!"

[misslucysleeches]

"Thanks, Simon!" Lucy's already got an inkling as to what these are -- and when she rips off the paper, her suspicions are confirmed. "Yes! Lindsey's latest album!"

For those not in the know, she's referring to Lindsey Stirling and her album "Shatter Me."

[flightattendantguy]

"Knew you'd like that," Simon beams. "Was kind of a shock to learn she's only released two, though! That and a couple of EPs. I thought she'd been around for longer."

[misslucysleeches]

"Really?" Lucy says, just as surprised. "I admit I haven't done as much research on her as I should have -- I just love her music."

"I've done a little," Vic reports. "Turns out she was a quarter-finalist on 'American's Got Talent' back in 2010, but got rejected after one of her dance routines apparently didn't quite hit the mark."

". . .You're freaking KIDDING. Isn't her leaping around the main reason people WATCH her?!"

"Yeah -- after she teamed up with Devin Graham and started posting videos to her YouTube account, THAT'S when she started getting popular."

[flightattendantguy]

"So most of her stuff is focused on getting people watching her YouTube account?" Simon asks. "Well, that and her only starting up like four years ago explains a lot." He shrugs and smiles. "Well, here's hoping she sticks around so I can keep getting you her stuff for your birthday!"

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy laughs. "Hey, I've shown you some of those videos -- she's freaking amazing, and I expect her to last a few good years yet." She gives Simon a hug. "And yes, I fully expect more of her merch every year from now on!"

[flightattendantguy]

Simon laughs too and kisses the top of her head. "No problem, Lucy. Happy birthday."

[alienlisa]

AL and the guys trudge in. She's hauling Twelve in by the lapel, sits him down on a chair, gives him a warning look and then walks away. He looks simultaneously annoyed and glum as he nurses a mug of tea.

"Sorry about that," she says to the group. "The alter ego had a dream he told her he didn't love her anymore."

"I should not be responsible for what I do in someone else's dream!" Twelve protests from his seat.

"You are when you live with me. Anyways, trying to induce another so he can apologize isn't going well, so he's on a kind of 'time out' until it happens."

At the bar, Twelve grumbles and sighs, leaning against one hand.

"At any rate, happy birthday Lucy." AL's eyes catch Simon's gift to her and she grins. "Ooh, nice one! 'Song of the Caged Bird' is my personal favorite."

[misslucysleeches]

"You're punishing him thanks to something the mun's own subconscious did?" Marty says, raising an eyebrow.

"To be fair, you're ALL kind of part of the mun's subconscious," Vic says. "And he wasn't banned from the party entirely, so she can't be that pissed with him. Yet."

Lucy shakes her head at all these shenanigans, then grins back at AL. "I'm fond of the title track -- and hey, did you see her live performance as a steampunk pirate? The one where they took everybody by surprise and danced in the fountain? Oh man, it is so awesome -- I swear, I aspire to be her one day."

[alienlisa]

"No, not yet." AL eyes him. "It's easy for me to say, 'Oh, of course he still loves you...us...whatever' but it would mean so much more if he said it himself. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, that can only happen in a dream." She scratches the back of her neck. "Now that the show's on again and his personality has cemented itself...well, to be honest the alter ego's taking a long time to warm up to him. We're three episodes in and she still shrugs when asked. She loves the actor but..." She sighs. "Twelve, here, is more like Six. He's more...alien now. A little less 'yay humans are awesome!'" She clears her throat. "I learned my lesson back then to not judge him just because of a disagreeable personality. He mellowed after a while and that's what I'm hoping happens with Twelve. He's got me and he's got Clara, so..." She trails off and shrugs. "I still love him...and as far as we're concerned there's a part of him that doesn't want a repeat of our almost break-up when he became Six. He just has to convince the alter ego of that."

On a happier note, she grins big at Lucy. "I did! That was amazing, though I wondered if she had like a 'stunt' violin because I'm sure that much water can't be good for the thing. Warping wood and so forth. Unless they like coated it in waterproof varnish or something." She snickers to herself.

[misslucysleeches]

"Sheesh, your love life is complicated," Marty comments. "I guess a guy like Twelve would be a shock after Ten and Eleven, though. . .here's hoping you can work it all out."

"Yeah, nothing worse than being in the 'maybe? not sure?' phase of a relationship," Lucy agrees, making a face. Her smile comes back as they get back on the topic of Lindsey, though. "Incredible stuff! And I dunno. . . I imagine there's precautions taken to keep the violins from getting wrecked. She's done some pretty active music videos. The one where she's dancing with her own shadow is pretty neat. . .damn, what's the song called. . ." She taps the side of her head, then blushes. "Oh, duh. . .Shadows. . ."

[alienlisa]

AL nods. "He's trying to be a good man and that's what matters." The barest hint of a smile lifts the corners of Twelve's mouth as he sips his tea.

"That was amazing," she says in response to Lucy. "I'll bet you love her Phantom of the Opera performance. Naturally I have a soft spot for the Star Wars medley." Behind her, Luke grins. "I think that's when the alter ego started following Peter Hollens, who performs with her in that video." Yeah, probably.

[misslucysleeches]

"Right," Lucy says, grinning. "So long as he's still willing to help the helpless, I don't think you or your mun could ever truly dislike him."

She grins. "That was amazing -- you've got a friend who likes that too, right Vic?"

"Yup -- it's pretty awesomesauce," Vic agrees. "I don't think we're familiar with the Star Wars one! We'll have to make some time to watch it later."

"Hell yeah," Lucy agrees with a firm nod.

[alienlisa]

"If you like a capella music," AL says, "you'll like the Star Wars one. They dress up in the costumes and they're in locations that resemble Endor, Tatooine and the inside of the Death Star. Lindsey's the violin of course, Peter's voice is all the other instruments." She pauses and her wings twitch as she thinks of something. "Actually, he also did a Phantom medley with his wife Evynne. She's got a set of pipes on her, let me tell you." Last one: "She did a lovely version of Let It Go while pregnant and no I'm not sorry for getting the song in your head." She chuckles. "If I had her voice I'd be singing every song I know. But I let Data and Jack there do the singing."

"You play the panpipes, though," says Luke.

"Well, yeah. But that's not singing. I couldn't carry a tune if it had handles."

[misslucysleeches]

"Oooh, cool. Sounds something like that cover she did with Pentatonix of 'Radioactive,' only way more elaborate," Lucy comments, looking intrigued. "We'll have to look it up, along with that other stuff." She snickers. "We're trading all the songs today, aren't we?"

"Yeah, apparently," Vic agrees. "Not like I mind. . .and I can sing a little, but not very well."

"Same here, really," Lucy says. "I can carry a tune in a bucket, but I feel way more confident letting my violin speak for me."