Devil's Nest | Monday Night

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie was twenty-three today. And, yes, like a nerd (as Summer had so astutely observed), she was totally at work.

But, given that it was her birthday - not to mention that it was the Monday after a hell of a week last week - Annie felt like she could take some liberties. She dipped behind the bar to play with the blender and make a batch of (very strong, per usual) birthday pina coladas, then poured herself one and took it around to sit on a barstool and smile at Tiny.

"It's my birthday," she told him as she selected a fun straw and a cocktail umbrella. "I'll help you if it gets rowdy."

That would actually be kind of a great birthday present, if she got to break up a fight, though she really doubted anyone was going to be in the mood.

Comments

Bar | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

Where you can get all drinks from Tiny tonight.

Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

Who will not be making drinks tonight, but will totally accept birthday tribute and/or interesting stories about what you did this weekend.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[somethingwithturquoise]

Oh, did someone say birthday tribute?

Of course, Summer had told Annie she would be stopping in to celebrate her birthday that evening, so it wasn't like it should be a surprise when she showed up, neither would it be much of a surprise whenever Annie got around to opening up the brightly wrapped present to find a nice selection of some carefully curated Annie-esque (aka, literally anything she could think of that was yellow, shut up) jello shots and a gift card for Pixie Dust inside.

(Look, yes, she'd definitely placed Annie on a fast-track to a BFF position, but that, like, didn't mean she'd actually had any idea what would make a super great birthday present for her at this point in time, so you just stuck with what you knew, and a space spa date totally wouldn't have counted anyway, since she was planning on doing that anyway one of these days).

"Ta-dah!" said Summer, as she came in to place the present proudly (and carefully!) on the bar for Annie, albeit with a disappointed shake of her head that might have been more effective without the smirk. "For the nerd who insists on being at work for her birthday."

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

"To be fair," Annie told her with a bright smile, already eagerly plucking up the present, "it's not like, I'm an accountant or something. Like, work is totally where I'd have my birthday anyway." Though Caritas would have also worked! "You super didn't have to get me anything, Summer! But like, way to know my brand, I love it."

Seriously, that wrapping paper alone would go perfectly with her ensemble.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[somethingwithturquoise]

Yeah, hi, Summer was super into a theme, especially a color-coordinated one, especially especially when it didn't even threaten her own.

"Duh," she said, scoffing a little with a roll of her eyes, but, again, sort of ineffective with a smirk, "of course I didn't have to, but I was gonna anyway, geez, how else can I make sure to guilt you into making sure the favor's returned for my own birthday?"

That, and she loved making jello shots for people she liked who would also probably be super complimentary about them, too. Seriously, this was a win-win situation for literally everyone involved.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

"When is your birthday?" Annie checked, starting to carefully undo the paper (because she was a ridiculous paper-saving person and it was so pretty so it was going to take a minute.) "I heard about the party planet and all so obviously I need to make sure I'm around."

And that she'd mastered a few of the hangover-prevention tricks she'd heard about by then, because hoo boy.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[knife_bender]

Diego had already given Annie her birthday present like a week ago but he was definitely visiting Annie on her actual birthday. He even brought a little cupcake he brought from the bakery.

"Happy birthday," he said, sitting the cupcake down on the bar.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

"You're the sweetest," Annie told him, like it was just a fact (because to her, it was.) And you know what, since she was on the right side of the bar and it was her birthday, he was getting a kiss for it, too. "Thank you."

She was going to be torn for a little while between wanting to save the cupcake (because it was so cuuuuute that he'd gotten her one) and her love of all things cake-related. (And that was the side that'd win. Cupcakes were meant to be eaten.)

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[knife_bender]

He smiled, happy to have scored a boyfriend point. "I didn't have a hand in baking it so it's edible, I promise."

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

Several boyfriend points.

"I figured," she assured him. "Though now I kinda want to see you try to bake something." It would be disastrous but also probably adorable.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[thatwaslucky]

Oh hey, look who Rey was finally getting a chance to introduce herself to after probably months!

"Hi. Diego, right?"

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[knife_bender]

"That's right," he said. "And you're Rey."

Look if he was going to get drunk in someone's apartment he was going to know who he possibly had to apologize to if he ended up throwing a knife at their stuff. Which hadn't happened!

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[thatwaslucky]

There had been the pantry-breaking, but that's been fixed before Rey got home!

"That's me. I though I should actually say hi when I'm not hanging on your other character there aren't Jell-O shots and sneaky punch to be involved."

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[superjoanjett]

Jessica did not bring Annie a gift. No. That would mean that Jessica would have to know other people's birthdays and that was a complete hassle.

No, today Jessica had come to collect her payment for going out and beating the crap out of Christmas bullshit.

"Bourbon," she said in her usual order/almost polite greeting.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

Annie reached behind the bar - again, not a graceful maneuver - and snagged a huge bottle of bourbon, tied with a big red bow, which she presented to Jessica. "Here you go. Though Tiny'll get you a drink for here, too," she added, signaling down to him.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[superjoanjett]

Jessica looked at the bottle of bourbon skeptically. "This almost looks like decent bourbon," she said warily. "I usually don't drink anything decent."

She shrugged and put the bottle to the side and waved Tiny down for a drink.

"Glad to see you survived the onslaught of inflatable reindeer. Was that enough of a hero thrill for you?" Jessica asked.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

"It kind of was!" Annie told her with a bright smile. "I mean. It's just always nice to do the right thing, and like, that was a pretty fun fight, aside from the mind control."

Still really owed Rey some apologies.

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[thatwaslucky]

Sure, last time Rey had seen Annie there'd been punching, but that was days ago. Besides, there were presents to give, which was why Rey got there and set down a Sephora bag on the bar top when she said, "Happy birthday."

Was the bag not wrapping?

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Oh my God, Rey, first of all - I am so sorry about Saturday, still." Seriously, so, so, so sorry. "But also like, did you go to Sephora?"

Rey. Rey went into a Sephora.

"Like on purpose?"

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[thatwaslucky]

"This is how you know we're friends," Rey told her. "It was an Experience."

Re: Talk to Annie | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Did you get attacked by salesgirls?" That always happened to her, especially since Annie didn't really get, like, a full face going to just go to the mall.

Throw Axes | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

Got any lingering aggression from last week?

Re: Throw Axes | 12/21

[somethingwithturquoise]

You know what? Summer was here, she wasn't drinking, and she wasn't trying to impress someone who loathed the axe range right now, so she figured, why not just throw a few axes while she (and it) was there?

She was stupid good at it, too, without even really trying, for no goddamn good reason why, which was, you know, nice, but whatever.

Back Office | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]

Where there is not an inflatable reindeer! Anymore!

OOC | 12/21

[defenderofdesmoines]