| Owner | Pose |
|---|---|
| Jax | There is, so firm rumor has it, no party being prepared in the rec room. Absolutely none. And as such, it would not be possible for anyone to attend said party, particularly if they were to visit the rec room at around seven in the evening. Further firm rumor has it that the school's resident cat mutant Jax was, in fact, not organising this party. Therefore seeing him for an invitation would be an absolute waste of time aside from finding out that someone would not find this party in the rec room, especially not if they showed up just before seven. Of such subterfuge are felines made. All it lacks is the sign on the door saying 'Definitely not a party in here' hanging from the door knob... no, wait, there it is. In bright red on a yellow background. /Fluorescent/ red. And if a certain someone had not yet heard these rumors, then perhaps they would respond to a request to meet in the rec room, at around seven. A rec room utterly shrouded in darkness and silent as the noisiest grave ever conceived. |
| Shannon | Many a time had Shannon been out in the field. She had faced down gods and kings, and gone toe-to-toe with some of the most dreaded mutants known. She had been in the right place at the right time to save an Avenger, as well as been to Heavn and back for her troubles. She had survived things that should have killed a god, and taken hold of dreams she thought long since dead, and given them new life. So why, then, was approaching the rec room this time making her nervous? Every warning bell in her head was going off. Something was definitely off-kilter here. The rec room was -never- this quiet. And never, at this hour, was it so -dark-. Clad in her knee-length cutoff denim shorts, her current favorite 'Mutie Cutie' t-shirt, and daisy-toe flip flops, she peeks into the rec room, allowing her eyes time to adjust to the dimness--with one hand upraised over her eyes. Just. In. Case. |
| Kit Killovarras | Hiding in plain sight is a thing and a thing that Kit does well. He simply waits near an entrance, just out of sight from anyone who might be entering for a non-party, his eyes partially open, obscuring most of the glow that typically comes from them. Nope, no party here, just a couple people hanging out in a dark room.. I mean, what? Empty room! Yes, no one in here, waiting for the right moment. When he sees Shannon approaching, he just gives a smile, shielding his own eye and simply standing there, waiting for her to go passed him, silent as the grave. |
| Jax | The moment is right. The unwary victim has been lured. Someone closes the door behind Shannon, plunging the whole room into total, stygian darkness... For about two seconds or so, when someone throws the light switches and the whole place is brightly illuminated. A banner drops down, a handful of confetti is thrown, and at the edge of the room someone sets off the world's weakest air horn giving the world's saddest little *parp* before the top falls off the can. It's as much as a non-surprise as can be, from the drinks arrayed on side tables, to the punch bowl, and the large cake in Patriots colors bearing 18 candles and a small winged figurine, with the words 'Happy 18th!' in frosting along the top and 'Least Secret Party Ever' along the edges. But there is someone standing /right/ behind Shannon now. Someone grinning like a cheshire cat. |
| Shannon | With the soft -click- of the door latch behind her, Shannon -knew- the game was afoot. In a split second, she whirls around, her wings flaring behind her--and potentially hitting the unwary in her immediate vicinity with a faceful of feathers. That Cheshire cat grin could only be grinned by... well, by a cat. A cat that may or may not be known to the celebrant in question. It is that smile she takes in first, before glancing about the rest of the room, to see the cake, the candles, and the sentiments written in Patriots colors upon the confection perfection. "Jax, you nut! When did you... how... why... awww hell..." For once, the normally unflappable young woman was at a loss for words, as she takes in the sight of the small but boisterous gathering. "Thank you. All of you." |
| Kit Killovarras | Still leaning on the wall he was up against, Kit gives a warm smile, "Happy birthday, Shannon." he says with a little chuckle. His eyes are still only about half open, looking a bit like he's squinting against the light because, well? He's literally squinting against the light. Gotta love sensitive eyes. |
| Jax | "As if I'd forget." Jax grins, and nobody grins like a human sized cat. With little further ado, he leads Shannon further into the room, to the party proper, for the proper party. The drinks are, of course, non alcoholic. And the discreet sign near the punch bowl that says 'you spike, I scratch' means it's likely to stay that way. And so a drink is handed over, so the festivities may commence. "I know it's impossible to keep any secrets around here, so I didn't bother. Funnier that way." |
| Shannon | The punch is perfect, the snacks are abundant and eminently snackable, and the company couldn't possibly be any better. Classic 1980's rock booms through the room, turning the festivities into a proper dance party. Even Shannon's getting down and dancing with the rest of her fellow classmates. Though there is a tiny touch of a lingering shadow in her eyes, she does her best for the moment to put it aside. It was her 18th birthday, and no tears would be shed today. "Just how long have you been planning this, Jax? This is perfect! Couldn't get any better!" And as for Kit? She grins at him, opening her arms and wings wide for a hug. "Thank you. Both of you." |
| Kit Killovarras | And a hug Shannon gets! A big furry hug from an aardwolf! Who just so happens to be a klutz, so when when he goes to try and be sneaky with a gift he doesn't palm it right and nearly drops the bloody thing, then accidentally catches it with one of his claws. When he notices the tear, he lets his ears droop a bit and gives a quiet, "crap, sorry..." then quickly wiggles his claws around over the tear, fixing the cloth almost as quickly as he'd ripped it. The gift is a fairly simple keffiyeh with a blue and white 'striped' pattern on it. |
| Jax | Mental note made. But Jax stands around, more of a manager of the party than a participant, even as he notices Kit's seeming lack of coordination. But no harm, no foul. "Long enough to make it work out." is the cat mutant's only response to the query of how long he's been planning this, giving Shannon plenty of time to get her presents from people. There is a conspicuous lack of anything wrapped bearing the name 'Jax'. But there's too much of a grin on his face for him to have forgotten that absolutely indispensable part of the celebrations. |
| Shannon | For a moment, Shannon is puzzled at the gift. The patterning is lovely, the gift given from the heart. To her, it looks like a scarf or shawl, but bears no special name. Still, it makes her smile, and she hugs Kit again. "Thank you so much! This is really beautiful. But ummmm... wow, I feel kind of silly asking, but what is it?" For her to be caught so flat-footed was odd, indeed! There was a fairly wide range of presents, from Amazon gift certificates, to bits and bobs for sewing and quilting, to coffee and tea--perhaps a not-so-subtle reminder to take a little time for herself every once in a while? And yet, there had not been one hint of anything from Jax. Not that she minded the lack--hell, he'd put the party together, and to her, that was more than enough! "Well, it's working beautifully! Thank you so much!" |
| Kit Killovarras | Kit just sort of laughs and smiles, "You're welcome and it's a keffiyeh, here." he sets it around her shoulders and ties it off, then carefully pulls part of it up over her head like a hood. "They're good for warm weather, sort of like a sun-hat, but prettier." |
| Jax | "That looks good." Jax grins, suspiciously without a drink in his hands at the moment, with both hands behind his back. Subtlety, thy name is !Jax "You never know when that might come in handy." He's probably not talking about quickly assuming a secret identity. It's highly likely he's alluding to something contained in the slightly outsized envelope he's presenting, which has appeared in his hands almost by magic via means of his pocket. And hands. See above re: subtlety. "So, you may remember I've been asking a few strange questions lately..." he begins as he hands the envelope over, grinning. |
| Shannon | "And comfortable. Very comfortable." Shannon holds still as the keffiyah is tied off and drawn up over her head, smiling. The dark blue striped pattern compliments the pale azure of her eyes very well. "I'll have to wear this when I'm out helping miss Munroe in the gardens again. Thank you so much, Kit!" She turns this way and that, striking something of a pose as if on the catwalk.... ...only to spot Jax, oddly enough, without that drink in his hands--and an outsized envelope instead. She draws the keffiyah down off her head, her brows lofting as she peers over at him. "A few strange questions as to where in the world I'd want to visit, given the chance...." She looks at him, then the envelope, and back at him again, reaching out for the aforementioned envelope and opening it, to peer closely at the contents. One could almost hear a pin drop at that moment, before something else dropped entirely. "Holy fuck...." |
| Kit Killovarras | Kit just smiles and nods, "It looks good on you." Then he gives a little chuckle as Shannon strikes a pose, watching the event between her and Jax unfold and when he sees her response? He gives the feline a weird little grin and muses, "You make a habit out of doing this sort of thing, don't you." |
| Jax | With a grin, Jax shrugs at Kit and then, finally, ends up nodding. "Yeah. I guess I kind of do. But what's the point if you can't share it, y'know?" Juuuuust to be on the safe side, he offers Shannon another drink, and a half explanation. "It's sort of the off season right now, and usually we go ourselves, but with the whole anonymous letter writer thing that got me here in the first place... y'know. Took a punt at it, ended up scoring a field goal." Pause. "You're not mad, are you?" |
| Shannon | Shannon is anything -but- mad. Oh, no. Instead of etchings of fury turning her youthful features into a mask of rage, her eyes are misting over. Her fingers curl about the letter, and her wings droop. Her shoulders shake, and the mist spills its banks, to trace crystalline rivulets down her cheeks. She shakes her head quickly, her breath catching in her throat, and she tries to smile. "No, no no no no, not mad at all! But... how am I supposed to pick just six friends, when I love everybody here?" |
| Kit Killovarras | "Too true." Kit says with a grin, then his ear twitches ever so slightly, the grin fades and he mutters something under his breath, something about forgetting a letter. "I'll be back in a little bit." he says with a scratch at the back of his head, then gives Shannon another warm smile and adds, "Again, happy birthday." before he turns and starts off. If only if only they knew why he had to disappear, it could be considered another gift. Last thing anyone wants is for the aardwolfs mother to suddenly show up. |
| Jax | "Well, y'know, legally only rated for eight passengers." Jax explains, or at least half explains, with as much of a disarming smile as he can. The math doesn't seem to add up though, because that would allow for seven friends, not six. "Eight passenger, six crew. Something to do with flags or something." He's still offering that drink. "I mean, you don't know how glad I was you said 'Mediterranean' and not Caribbean. Would have taken them three weeks to get across the Atlantic..." |
| Shannon | Shannon just grins a wry little grin, swiping her hands under her eyes--and accepting that drink. "Guess that puts it in perspective. Still, it's going to be hard to pick. Definitely want Kit going with us... I just wish Ted hadn't gone off like that." It's impossible for her to help a deep sigh, and for a moment, her head is bowed. "It's one of the areas of the world we'd talk about seeing one day, when we graduated." She's quiet for a moment or three, taking a sip of the drink to regain her composure, and she cracks a smile. "It'll be neat to see some of the places out of the old Greek myths, see some of Poseidon's old stomping grounds as it were..." |
| Megan Gwynn | Megan Gwynn was back late after visiting Conner at the Titans tower, and was looking for some munchies before heading to her firm for some late night graphic novel catching up.. However as she chances by the Rex room she couldn't help but notice the bright neon sign warning stragglers that there is definitely NO party within.. Well naturally curiosity gets the better of her and she decides to peek in, just to make sure there really are no sorties going on.. |
| Jax | "Man, I hope not, Poseidon did a lot of stomping." Yes, Jax is being cheerful for the sake of cheer, and blissfully unaware of the close connection between Shannon and that particular Olympic deity. "But if you meant the Greek islands... oh yeah, we're seeing those." And latecomers will notice that there is, indeed, a party going on. A party so secret that it has snacks, drinks (strictly non-alcoholic) and a large birthday cake, as well as the requisite 80's rock music. People are even dancing! In case these subtle hints were, in fact, too subtle, there is a large banner that reads 'Shannon's Secret 18th Birthday Party'. It is absolutely a party organised by Jax. This is his style of subtlety. |
| Shannon | "He only got pissed at Odysseus because he blinded his son! And I only saw him shake the earth just once, when he found out I got hit with the Cure back in February... whoah, wait. We really -are- going to see the Greek islands? Delphi and all? Crete?" Much like a little kid at Christmas, Shannon's starting to brighten up, her wings flaring behind her and soon becoming a feather hazard to anyone within range of their span. "I'll have to make sure Squeakers is taken care of while we're away. Maybe he can stay with my folks in the Poconos for a little while... but who else to bring? Megan? I'll have to ask her and see what she's up t..." Speak of the Pixie, and she doth appear! The birthday girl sees Megan peeking in and waves her on over. "Heya, Megan! Come on in, you're fashionably on time for the party!" |
| Megan Gwynn | Megan Gwynn bliiinks at the banner and the food, then flutters nearer as she spies the birthday girl and...Ooohhh darn that's right! Today's Shannon's birthday, how could she forget? "Eeeee Hapoy birthday Shannon! Omigosh I totally forgot and did t bring a present! she pouts but leans in to give her a hug. "Raincheck? How you been? it's been a while, ooh did you mention Mister Poseidon? how's he doing these days?" |
| Jax | "Hey hey!" Jax enthuses when Megan enters and almost automatically takes a half step back to invite her into the conversation. And then it's his turn to be surprised, something which happens so rarely that it might be a good idea to mark this day on the calendar for more than one reason. "Wait up... You're... both talking as if Poseidon is real." And for a moment he wants to remind them both that he's a myth... But remembers in time the things he's seen since coming to the school. Ear perk. "No way!" |
| Shannon | "He's very real, Jax," Shannon confirms, grinning from ear to ear. "Still don't wanna piss him off, but he's really been very kind to me. Haven't seen him since oh, around mid-April, but it's not surprising. I mean, he -does- have the oceans to look after and all. Who knows, maybe we'll run into him on the cruise." She hugs Megan right back and grins. "It's all good, and thanks! My eighteenth. No sign of Mr. Proudstar, thank heavens. He was threatening to hire a Chippendale dancer or three off-campus and haul me off to go see them." Snickering, she blushes profusely at the thought, shaking her head. "Haven't seen Poseidon since around mid-April. Wait, weren't you going to be learning magic from him? Thought you'd see him sooner than I would." She frowns a little bit, crossing her arms as she leans back. "Might have to check in with him and make sure everything's okay. OH... speaking of... there may or may not be a cruise to the Mediterranean happening. And there may or may not be room for one more on board...." |
| Megan Gwynn | Megan Gwynn grins at Jax, wriggling her brows playfully at him. "Oooo but you never know, do you? I mean helloooo, faerie girl right here!" Okay sooo half faerie girl but cmon, let's not split hairs! "And Imma totally gonna get you a belated bday present so there!" She shrugs and grins, letting go. "Hmm Yeah I haven't seen mister Poseidon in a while, although I'm not so great at water magic either. Illy however, well she's been picking up lessons with me again, even tho it involves lots of boring reading.." she groans.. Then of course her ears perk up at 'cruise' "Oooo really? That sounds soooo awesome! " |
| Jax | "I... might need to make a few calls." Is that a happy grin on Jax's face. Oh yes, yes it is. It's one thing to half believe in the god of the oceans when you're on a boat, it's quite another to find out he really exists and could probably appreciate a few more whole-hearted rites. "If you'll excuse me..." |
| Shannon | Shannon grins at Jax, and just shakes her head, chuckling. "Better make that call quick, before someone decides to spike the punch!" Now it's her turn to hover in the vicinity of the punch bowl, guarding it from inadvertant (or intentional) tampering. Not that such things would -ever- happen. Not at a part that was most definitely -not- happening. Nope. No, siree. Smiling at Pixie, she makes a little sound of sympathy. "Yeah, studying's a thing no matter what it is you're trying to pick up. Magic, EMT stuff, doesn't matter. You have my sympathy. SO... do your studies preclude a little trip to the Mediterranean? I mean, come on, you were one of my first friends here, how could I not ask you? And Kit, I couldn't do other than ask you, either! I hope you both can join in!" |
| Megan Gwynn | Megan Gwynn smirks, "Hmmm more like a trip to Illy's limbo." she shivers, "Creepy place but I guess it's part of the training. She probably figures if I mess up a spell it's less likely to go nuts in limbo than in my dorm room." she giggles and shrugs. "It's like she thinks I'm a walking talking disaster-causing, trouble drawing raving lunatic or something.." As for a trip to the Mediterranean she beams, "Sounds exiting! I'd be honoured to come with you..You got friends or family over there?" |
| Samuel Guthrie | Samuel Guthrie comes walking into the room. Sam h as been busy of late, and tried to get here on time, but it aint like he can fly at mach speeds or something. He comes walking into the room looking about and seeing Shannon, he will smile but moves towards her slowly letting her talk to others. |
| Jax | Even as Jax is strolling away from the punch and dialing a number, he's keeping an eye on the party to make sure everyone is having fun, and having fun without doing something that's going to get him having to answer awkward questions later on. "Ohai, Captain T-... yes... uh huh. Oh." Ears droop. "Yeah, sorry about that. I kind of forgot... uh-huh... yup... yep..." Who has two thumbs and forgot about the time difference between the US and Europe? Yeah... |
| Shannon | Shannon just shakes her head in answer to Megan's question. "No, I don't. A lot of the old Greek myths were bedtime stories to me, though. Mom would read them to me out of her old college textbook. I'd fall asleep to tales of Demeter and Persephone, Zeus, Poseidon, Hercules... and wish that they were all real. I guess nobody really fully explained to me then, 'be careful what you wish for'." She chuckles a little bit, grinning. "Guess I'm curious to see the places that were bedtime stories for myself, see where it all happened, you know? And when it comes to magic...." She scratches the back of her head, grinning a little sheepishly at Megan. "...yeah, it can blow up in your face sometimes. So I'd just go along with Illy on this." At just that moment, she catches a glimpse of Sam coming in, her smile widening. Punch bowl forgotten for the moment, she bounds right over, giving him a great big hug. "Heya, big bro! How the heck have you been?" |
| Megan Gwynn | Megan Gwynn oohs, "I get it now..Cuz of people like Poseidon? I guess you're probably best friends with like half the Greek his too." she smirks, knowing she tends to meet and befriend the unlikeliest of people somehow, bizarrely. "But that would be cool, a history trip. I'll bet there's a lot to learn out there." |
| Samuel Guthrie | Samuel Guthrie hugs Shannon picking her up off her feet and says "Well hey you. You look a lot like my adopted sister, but she is a kid, and you are a young lady, must be some confusion." He jokes a bit with her, and says "Happy birthday didn't think I would miss this did you?" |
| Jax | Slowly walking around the room, occasionally lifting people of a table they shouldn't be standing on, Jax continues the conversation on the phone... well... no. Not a conversation. It's a monologue. Whoever he's talking to is not letting him get a word in edgewise. "Look, can... can I just... okay... yeah.... okay, yeah... sure, but... look, I..." This might take a while. |
| Shannon | Shannon yelps and giggles as she is hoisted off her feet, hugging Sam right back. "Well, when we all reach your advanced years, maybe we can be forgiven some confusion, too!" One might almost swear that they really -were- related somehow, with the good-natured banter flying about! "Really glad you could make it! Come on and join the party... there's punch, snacks, and it looks like a giant Patriots-themed cake over this way." Glancing over at Megan, she just shakes her head and laughs. "No, not best friends with half of them. Most of them, I still haven't met. Just Poseidon, Athena, and Hercules." Looking over in Jax's direction, she facepalms, groaning softly. "Jax, you okay over there? Need a hand?" |
| Megan Gwynn | Megan Gwynn smirks, "just Poseidon Hercules and Athena, huh? ohhh that's nooothing all all!" she just laughs as she steps towards the snack bar, filling her plate high with sugary goodness before grabbing some punch. "How you been Sam? I haven't seen you since..Well a really long while now." |
| Samuel Guthrie | Samuel Guthrie says, "Been working and trying to get things set up to go visit Alexis, she has had to go help her grandparents some, so aint got to see her lately. I remember the first time I met Herc. He said Zues sent him here to talk to Mara, and we all thought he was full of it. Gave him a rather hard time actually." |
| Jax | There is the expected thumbs up. Everything, it seems, is juuuust fine. Whatever call Jax is making, whoever he's talking to, it seems to be going just about how he was expecting. "Yah.... yeah... Thursday. Uh huh... yeah from Côte d'Azur to... yeah. Exactly. ... Oh yeah... awesome... Oh, one thing. A small shrine to... no... no I'm not... yeah, totally... absolutely... serious as can be... okay? Awesome... Poseidon... yup... cool... Awesome, thanks." At long last, the call ends, and the school's resident cat mutant blows out a theatrical sigh of relief before heading back to the gathering around Shannon. "Wa-hey, Mister Guthrie. How's the club?" |
| Shannon | Shannon gives a brief flick of her eyebrows, glancing first at Jax. Then, something of that Cheshire Cat grin spreads slowly across her face, and she giggles to herself. "Her grandparents are over in Italy, right? Jax... will the cruise have any ports of call in Italy? Because if so, there's still room for... four more, I think, assuming Kit accepts?" Uh-oh. What could she be up to now? |
| Kit Killovarras | "Assuming I accept what now?" The voice comes in long before the Aardwolf does, those ears perked forward and a playful little smile on his maw as he pokes his head through the doorway, then steps in with a stretch and, "Sorry about that by the way, I nearly forgot to send my letter off to my family and I'm pretty sure no one here wants them just randomly stopping by." as an explanation, accompanied by a little wince as he thinks about what that might wind up being like if they did. |
| Samuel Guthrie | Samuel Guthrie looks over and says "Well we do prefer a bit of notice before family shows up, gives us time to make sure nothing is going to shock them to much |
| Jax | "Oh, a few, I s'pose..." Jax prevaricates, hands behind his back and rocking on his toes. "I mean, I don't wanna spoil it, but... yeah. I mean, Genoa, Florence via Livorno, Elba, Monte Christo, Rome via Ostia, Ischia, Naples, Capri, Pompeii, Palermo, and then around and up the Adriatic... y'know. Bit of Italy." He holds his fingers half an inch apart. "Smidgen." Pause. "Malta before Venice, of course, y'know... while we're passing." |
| Shannon | "Assuming you accept the invitation to join in on the cruise to the Mediterranean," Shannon replies to Kit, grinning. "I mean, come on, how could we possibly even -think- of going without you?" Nodding briefly to each city listed by Jax, her smile just widens further and further. "And which one of those is Alexis' family closest to, big bro? Because I'd love it if you were able to join in on this cruise too. And even better if you had a chance to see your lady while we're at it!" |
| Kit Killovarras | There's a bit of a pause from Kit when Samuel mentions the possibility of something shocking his family, just kind of stares at him for a moment with those mismatched eyes, then he gives a wide grin and muses, "I'd be more worried about them freaking the people here out." with an awkward little laugh behind the words. "Don't think we've met by the way. Name's Kit." Then he looks to Shannon and tilts his head for a moment before giving a little nod. "Well, of course I'll accept. I mean hey, if it gives me time to hang out with my friends, I'm all for it." |
| Samuel Guthrie | Samuel Guthrie shakes the hand and says "Sam Guthrie one of the teachers here but have been a bit busy of late." He offers in explanation. To Shannon he tells her the closest big city, the one that he and Alexis fly into when they visit." Then back to Kit "Well most of the people here have seen a bit of odd." |
| Samuel Guthrie | Samuel Guthrie adds to Shannon "I will see, I would like to go, but not 100% sure if I will be able, have to get me the dates and all the info. |
| Shannon | "I believe Jax has the dates on that, and it's coming up fairly soon. I'll double-check all that with him after this party," Shannon replies to Sam, giggling. "I really do hope it works out, because I can imagine you miss her like crazy." She looks pleased as punch when Kit agrees to join in on the trip, her wings flaring out behind her. "Agreed! This is going to be wild! HEY!" She calls out to one of the younger students trying to pilfer some frosting off of the cake. "Okay okay, I get it. Time to cut the cake, then we can at least eat it the right way!" Fortunately, the appropriate implements have been left within reach for the birthday girl to do the honors. Candles are lit, a song sung, a wish made--and all the candles blown out at one go. But when the first piece of cake is cut.... "JAX MILLER!!!" The inside of the cake was not in Patriots colors. Oh, no. It was in the hues of the Buffalo Bills! |
| Kit Killovarras | There's a little grin from Kit at Shannon's response to him agreeing to go, then she mentions cutting the cake and his ears perk up a little as he licks the side of his maw, tongue literally wrapping around almost to the other side. Leave it to the guy with a hypercharged metabolism to always be hungry. Then the cake is cut and Shannon has her little moment of yelling the name of a feline, though the colors of the sake do get a glance, he just sort of tilts his head a little to one side, looking confused. He does give Samuel a glance after a moment and shakes his head a little, "I've seen weird things since my arriving here, I still believe my family might scare people, my mother most of all. She's a little... Strange.." This, coming from a six and a half foot aardwolf standing on two legs. |
| Samuel Guthrie | Samuel Guthrie shrugs a bit and says "Well, I hope to meet her some time, and maybe let her know your doing well in your classes." He chuckles about the cake, and then to Shannon "Well I do cheat a bit, I do know a few long range teleporters." He smiles a bit and says "So, cake then presents?" |
| Shannon | Nodding, Shannon grins. "Hey, what's the fun in cheating this time? The trip's half the fun! Sure... cake, then presents. Though seriously, guys..." Her look encompasses all of them, eyes wide and starting to mist over--despite the world's biggest smile on her face. "...you're all the best gifts a girl could ever want." |