The Perk, Monday Morning

[myownface]

Sparkle had never really been big on celebrating his birthday, no. But this year he was turning 21, which was... exciting? Probably? He was still undecided. He'd always kind of expected it would be one of those big deal, free to do whatever the hell he pleased, show-stopping birthdays that meant the whole world would sit up and notice him.

But... eh. Today mostly just felt like yesterday, and it wasn't like he had magically become more adult just because another day had ticked by. Hell, the fact that Caritas already served minors even kind of sucked the joy out of being able to drink wherever, though it would be nice to not have to resort to a fake ID in order to buy smokes anymore.

Priorities.

In any case, he figured he ought to do something to mark the occasion, and so Sparkle dared the barista to concoct the most ridiculous can-you-recreate-the-unicorn-frappuccino-with-the-ingredients-on-hand drink possible, and he stuck a sparkler into the whole terrifyingly pink mess of it and was watching it burn down at his table before even daring to try to tackle... whatever was in there.

"Bonne fête à moi..."

[OOC: Open!]

Comments

[sharp_man]

Some people, however, were determined to celebrate. And had a sixth sense about were not afraid to bribe squirrels to find out where Sparkle was.

So Hannibal was showing up at the Perk with a very large box. He paused to look at the...drink...thing...with the sparkler in it, and shook his head, chuckling.

[myownface]

Sparkle was working his way through what he'd been assured was something 'sour mango' flavoured, but he was mostly certain it was bubblegum birthday cake hell by the time his sparkler had died down and he was a few sips in. It took him a moment around the 'what the hell is this?' face he was making to realize that he wasn't alone.

And then he was kind of blinking up at Hannibal, and the box he was carrying, confused.

"Uh, hey."

[sharp_man]

"Hello." Hannibal set the box down carefully so as not to tip Sparkle's drink. It was large, heavy, and wrapping in sparkly yellow paper. "One moment."

He went to order an espresso and charm the barista into bringing it to the table when it was ready.

[myownface]

"Hooboy," Sparkle said under his breath as Hannibal made his way to the counter, looking at the wrapped box with a sort of bemused look on his face. "I guess this is happening, then."

There were so many reasons he didn't broadcast that it was his birthday. Surprise gifts he didn't feel he could find the equivalent of down the road was one on a very long list. But he was still wearing a fairly amiable smile by the time Hannibal made his way back. Because manners.

And cannibals.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal gestured at the chair across from Sparkle. "May I join you?"

He wasn't going to assume. Because manners.

[myownface]

Well, he'd already hunted him down across the island with a big glittery box...

"Sure," Sparkle said, plucking his burned-down sparkler from his drink and setting it to the side before taking another sip from the... weird... mango... ish...

From his drink, anyway.

"The more the merrier."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal sat. He smiled at the barista as she brought his espresso, then turned back to Sparkle.

"I realize you don't generally make a production of the day, but I thought that you could use something nice. Besides, certain things are traditional on your twenty-first."

[myownface]

"Are they?" Sparkle was giving that wrapped box the eye now, openly and without reservation. "Well, now I have to admit you've got my curiosity piqued."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal's smile turned into a mischievous grin. "Should I tell you you're not allowed to open it until you're home?"

[myownface]

"Depends on whether or not you want to see how I react to it," Sparkle decided, smiling faintly. "Up to you, there. I can go either way."

If he didn't open it here and now, he'd probably let it sit in the middle of his bedroom floor and freak out about it for a week before opening it.

[sharp_man]

Hannibal chuckled. "Well, if it won't torture you with waiting, there isn't much point, is there? Open it."

[myownface]

"Hey, I'm used to waiting," Sparkle pointed out, though he was nudging his horrifying drink to the side and reaching to pull the box closer to himself anyway. "You know you really didn't have to do this, right?"

[sharp_man]

"Of course not," Hannibal said. He gave Sparkle a smile that was as paternal as he got. "But I'm pleased to. And I think you haven't had enough people make a fuss over you. Not in a good way, at least."

[myownface]

"Leto sent me another knife," Sparkle replied, wearing a little smile and rolling his eyes a bit. It was an affectionate sort of eyeroll, at least. "I don't think he quite gets Earth birthdays."

That said, yes, he was totally wearing it, neatly hidden, under his clothing.

"This isn't looking like another knife, at least," he added, and then reached for a corner of the wrapping paper and pulled at it.

[sharp_man]

"A knife sounds like a useful gift," Hannibal said. "And it's good he's thinking of you. But no, while I hope you'll find this also useful, it isn't a knife."

It was, in fact, a home beer brewing machine and distillery.

Because some things were traditional on your twenty-first birthday, and then there was Hannibal.

[myownface]

It took Sparkle a moment to process what it was that he was looking at, here.

And then he made a kind of squeaky sound.

"Oh my god," he said. And then, for a lack of any other words really coming to mind, he repeated himself. "Oh my god. This is awesome. Thank you."

[sharp_man]

Hannibal grinned and bowed. "Enjoy it in happiness and good health."