The best party ever

[plushaeusrumpified]

WHO: Everyone!
TONE: Partyrific
RATING: PG-13 for language
WHEN: February 14th, 8 PM and onward.
WHERE: Bro's office
WHAT: Bro has thrown a surprise party for Murdoc in his office and invited everyone.
STATUS: Ongoing! Feel free to use whichever format you want for tagging.

[Having a boyfriend whose birthday is on Valentine's day is beautiful. It's beautiful and Murdoc definitely doesn't understand why. But to Bro, it's beautiful. Because it means that when he throws Murdoc a surprise party, he can get away with using the most horrendous pink decorations that he possibly can. Of course, they're not all pink. Some are purple! The shade of purple that Murdoc likes the most. There are hearts hanging from the ceiling and there's a giant poster that says 'Happy Birthday Murman' hanging on the wall. In the corner there is a playpen set up for anyone who might have decided to bring their snakes. It was a spur of the moment decision and he isn't quite sure how it's going to work out, but hey. At least the snakes have somewhere to play.

But the most standout thing in the room has gotta be a cake. Bro went all out and made a lifesized cake for the occasion. It's chocolate, and it's as tall as a goddamn person. It... looks special, though. It's kind of lopsided, and the icing's thickness is sporadic. And it looks like he might've ran out of icing towards the bottom, because it's definitely not as delicious as the top.

Overall, it could have turned out worse. It does look like it could fall over at any moment, though.

And who even really knows how it tastes.

That isn't the point though! The point is everything is beautiful and it's time for the best party you ever did see.]

Comments

[higherthaneverybody]

No, I imagine not. [faint smile] But everyone in the whole school seemed to have been invited, so I knew I could come and not be flat out turned away, by you, anyway, since etiquette is so important to you. [And what an adorable trait that is, focusing on manners, when Murdoc himself is terribly rude so often.]

Here. [He holds out the package.] And before you ask, it isn't cursed, or a joke, or anything like that. You can call it an apology if you like.

[wwistful]

I hadn't imagined you'd have any interest in it. You don't seem to have any genuine concern for me beyond your desire to mock me no matter what I do.

[He pouts just a little at that, not looking very convinced.] An apology? For me? ...Sincerely? [He takes the package gingerly, peeling at the wrapping whilst keeping an eye on Rhys.]

[higherthaneverybody]

Sincerely. I realize that sometimes my sense of humor is not appreciated by everyone. [faint smile]

[As the wrapping is peeled away, a slender glass vial is revealed, stoppered at either end with some pretty silver filigree. But that's only the container for the real gift - a silvery strand of memory, meant for use in a pensieve, coiling and shining faintly in its glass prison.]

[wwistful]

Bit late in life for a change of heart. [He half smiles back at him. He can't help being a little amused by this...even if he's waiting for the cage to drop.]

If this is a gag gift you'll have wasted a considerable amount of-- Ah. [He cuts short as he opens it properly, knowing what it is straight away...or at least. He knows what it is, but he doesn't know specifically what the memory is.] ...Who does this belong to?

[higherthaneverybody]

Wei Quing. [The name should be familiar to Murdoc - it is, after all, the general who was also the right hand man to the wizard-tyrant known as the Orphaner of the East.]

[wwistful]

Wei Qu- What? Wei Quing? The most loyal and efficient general of the damn Orphaner of the East? [He sputters, squinting at the vial as if that will tell him the truth.] You expect me to believe that!? Where would you even find it? It would have cost a fortune...

[higherthaneverybody]

I have certain connections, and not a great many current demands on my money. [smirks, though his gaze drops briefly in a strangely young way, almost as though he's embarrassed] Believe it or not. It's easy enough to discover if I'm telling the truth, but I don't lean towards pranks, as a rule.

[wwistful]

If you say so. [He's not sure if he believes that for a second, and his face gives him away as he studies Rhys for a long moment before turning his attention to the vial. Were he an anime character, his eyes would glitter with excitement.]

It can't have been easy to get, regardless of money or connections. So..Why would you give it to me of all people? Surely I'm not the only one aware of how rocky our relationship is..

[higherthaneverybody]

That's the point, isn't it? It has been rocky. If I'm to properly apologize, it takes something valuable to start, don't you think? [Rhys smiles faintly.] Besides, who else would want it?

[wwistful]

I wasn't aware you were interested in makin' amends. I thought you were more interested in botherin' me for your own amusement.

[Despite himself, he lets out a soft laugh.] The history teacher might've appreciated it.

[higherthaneverybody]

Not enough to justify the expense. Besides [he's nowhere near as handsome and endearing as you, Rhys wants to continue, but he stops himself], it might give you something new to talk about in the Great Hall. [little teasing smile]

[wwistful]

So, givin' it to me justifies it but givin' it to him doesn't? [He lets that sink in, supposing it makes sense.] You don't really want to listen to me prattle on about it, do you? Do you intend to wear ear plugs once I've used it?

[higherthaneverybody]

I don't mind. [Rhys presses a crooked finger to his lips in a thoughtful gesture.] It's endearing.

[wwistful]

You never seemed to think so before. I always thought you thought I was undeservedly outspoken and that I would be a lot more endearing if I never spoke again. Particularly after the...events of New Years Eve. Which we've yet to address....So this gift is even more undeserved by all logic.

[higherthaneverybody]

[There's a pause, and then Rhys said, quietly] New Year's Eve was regrettable. I had a great deal on my mind, concerning my family, and I will not lie - I tired of your constant suspicion. It can be ... difficult to bear at times. But my conduct was unprofessional and an overreaction. So perhaps you can consider this something of an apology.

[wwistful]

[Murdoc's eyebrows knit together as Rhys speaks. God, if the fact that he's acting off couldn't be more obvious...]

I wasn't aware you had any family. [His voice is flat and he regrets it, so he chides himself and softens into a more amiable tone.] It's difficult not to be suspicious when you make a habit of pryin' to me. And playin' tricks, though I suppose that's a considerable length of time ago.

[He shrugs lightly before tentatively holding out a hand for Rhys to shake.] In the interest of being mutually professional, I suppose I owe you an apology as well. I'm sorry, I was considerably drunk that evenin'.

[higherthaneverybody]

I have parents, a sister ... and a son. [will shake Murdoc's hand immediately, and has to force himself not to retain the grip too long] And I make a habit of prying with everyone. I suppose I'm just very interested in how people act, their motivation. Forgive me, it's a holdover from my previous position.

[wwistful]

A son? [An eyebrow shoots up at that.] How old is he? [God, he's so curious!]

I've noticed. And I suppose you could say my suspicion is an after effect of bein' an auror for so long. [He half smiles.] I suppose I was mostly a little irritated that you reacted so negatively to your own sort of treatment. [He twists his mouth a little.] Though I don't recall how far I pushed it, so I can't really say for sure.

[higherthaneverybody]

Sixteen. He's the reason- [pauses, because he really would normally never let any of this past his lips when talking to Murdoc, but the man is so charming, and he seems to be relaxing, even acting pleasantly toward Rhys, that he decides to let him in on the very private information.] He's the reason I reacted so negatively. I wasn't aware he existed until recently. His mother threatened to take him to another country if I even approached the boy. I was ... not in the mood to discuss it. I'd rather you not mention this to anyone else. Please.

[wwistful]

So, he's about school aged then? [He can't help being curious.] Is he a wizard? Does he attend school?

[He pauses.] Sorry, I'm bein' invasive again. [He's getting a lot better at being mature, at least. He nods as Rhys continues, trying not to let his mind tell him Rhys shouldn't really have a kid.]

I won't, it's between the two of us.

[higherthaneverybody]

It's all right. [Rhys glances away for a moment, his brow furrowed and his expression genuinely troubled, before he answers quietly.] He's sixteen, and yes, he does attend school.

[wwistful]

[Welp. Have the mother of all startled expressions while he quietly tries to remember every student. And then... the past conversations about Kurloz come up. The familiarity in their faces, the brief sound of Kurloz' voice and overall...similarities.

His voice is as low as Rhys' and his eyes are still wide.]

Are you sayin' that...Kurloz? Is that why...you wanted to know about him?

[higherthaneverybody]

[Rhys nods - he had imagined Murdoc would guess. The man was fairly intelligent, after all, even if he could be endearingly blind to some things.] Yes. His mother's threatened to take him away if I tell him ... it's very difficult. There's so much I could help him with, and to have a family-

[He shakes his head, then shrugs, with faint, tight smile.] It was weighing heavily on my mind, or I would have not been so reactionary.

[wwistful]

[Murdoc would be terribly flattered to know that he isn't a complete idiot in Rhys' eyes. After all, he has managed to make himself feel like an idiot more than a few times.]

Does she have any right to? [He asks, feeling all kinds of unsure. He's still reasonably suspicious of Rhys, but he knows better than to start another argument over this. He can't help feeling for him a little, because he can't imagine having Cronus and Eridan taken from him and he can certainly sympathise as far as 'surprise children' goes.

Besides! It's his birthday and he doesn't want to make a scene, so he's going to reach out and place his hand awkwardly on Rhys' arm. It's meant to be comforting, but it's just sort of strange.]

Then I feel I should apologise again. [Sort of.]

[higherthaneverybody]

She has no reason - in fact, I had thought we had parted on amicable terms - but I suppose she has all the rights in this case. She raised him, after all, I was never even given a chance.

[If Rhys finds the arm patting odd, he doesn't show it - indeed, he seems to find it comforting, exactly as it's intended, and he smiles faintly at Murdoc.] It's all right. Truly. Perhaps if we could agree to leave that whole incident in the past?