The Beach, Thursday Afternoon

[glacial_witch]

To some people at school, 73 degrees on an overcast day would be too cold sit out on the beach and watch the water. In Glacia, 73 degrees was considered downright balmy, and so Karla had gathered up her beach things and headed down to spend the afternoon. Preferably relaxing, especially after the craziness of the past few days

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[shes_got_legs]

73 degrees and overcast was, for some people, also excellent exploring weather. Then again, the person who was out showing off that belief today was also the same person who thought a blizzard was excellent exploring weather, too.

And a turn toward the beach only gave that person proof that she was right.

"Oooh, cupcakes!"

Not exactly what Ariel was thinking she'd find today, but she'd take it!

"Hi, Karla! Are these your cupcakes?"

[glacial_witch]

Hey, if people didn't go exploring in blizzards, no one would go anywhere in Glacia for six months out of the year!

"Kiss kiss, Ariel." Karla looked up from her trashy romance novel and grinned. "They are! It's my birthday and I figured I should celebrate in style."

Which translated into 'Karla had walked into J,GoB's and been unable to choose just one flavor.'

"Would you like one? The caramel mochiatto ones are ridiculously good."

[shes_got_legs]

Ariel bit her lip a little, eying the beautiful tower of cupcakes before giving a sheepish grin to Karla.

"Can I have more than one?"

Exploring worked up an appetite. Everything Ariel did seemed to work up an appetite, but, hey, she couldn't help it that human food was so delicious.

[glacial_witch]

"Sure," Karla said easily. She knew what it was like to be a female on an empty stomach. "Though if you eat the last one, I'm making you walk back into town with me to get more."

Which, you know, resulted in more cupcakes, which could only be a good thing.

[momslilassassin]

"Happy birthday," Ben said with a little smile as he approached. "I brought you a milkshake, unless you want another shiny rock?"

[glacial_witch]

"Don't you sass my shiny rock," Karla said with a laugh, making grabby hands for the milkshake. "It's currently in a place of prominence in my frog tank. Though, you know, I could always use another. Especially if it's extra shiny."

[momslilassassin]

"I think anything shinier would have to be bought for you by Warren," he teased, handing the milkshake over. "I don't want to be overstepping."

[glacial_witch]

"Plus Tahiri can take me in a fight," Karla agreed with a smile. "And probably you, too. I know the real reasons."

[not_a_parakeet]

Warren could have spent his birthday having some sort of huge celebration. After all, it wasn't as though he couldn't afford to throw a real party, now that he was his own age and not prone to snivelling hysterics every time somebody tried to pat him on the back.

But, well, after the elephant rides and bumper cars, he figured that he'd rather take it easy today. Maybe get out and fly. Let the graduating seniors have their few days in the spotlight while he tried like heck to ignore the fact that a handful of his friends were going to be leaving, soon.

The birds' eye view afforded him one heck of a sight, and he swooped down to join Karla with a grin on his face.

"That is one heck of an impressive cupcake collection," he informed her, lighting in the sand nearby and offering her a grin.

[glacial_witch]

Crybaby.

Being involves with Warren for a few months shy of a year now meant that Karla had learned to glance up whenever a shadow passed between her and the sun, so she was already looking up at him as he was landing on the sand. And dimpling as she held out a cupcake towards him. Bananarama, which reminded her a little of a banana crepe (though nowhere near as delicious, obviously).

"I'm an impressive kind of girl," Karla replied with a toss of her hair. "Happy birthday," she added.

[not_a_parakeet]

"You are," Warren agreed, grinning as he took the cupcake, and then leaned over it to give her a kiss in exchange.

It seemed like a fair trade, to Warren.

"Happy birthday. I hope yours is going well?"

[glacial_witch]

No way! It was a gourmet cupcake! She'd need at least two kisses to make it even.

Fortunately, she had no problems stealing one from him and calling that even.

"It's just gotten a lot better," Karla said, beaming up at him. "But other than that, it's been quiet, thank the Darkness. I don't think I could have handled a big to-do."

Not after the clinic. She'd gotten back to the island yesterday and slept for the rest of the day.

[anarchist_queen]

It was a testament to just how much Leda was already missing Fandom that she came down to the beach. Large bodies of water still gave her the wiggins.

When she saw Karla, she made her way over to her quietly. Feeling suddenly silly, when she got close, she meowed.

[glacial_witch]

"Uh oh," Karla teased. "Kitties don't get cupcakes. Such a pity, since these are delicious," she added, taking a healthy bite of a chocolate one.

[anarchist_queen]

"Really?" Leda pouted. "Even if I'm really cute and cuddly?" She almost offered to do kitty things like rub up against her leg, but...inappropriate these days.

"I can't believe I spent prom as a cat."

[glacial_witch]

"I spent prom napping, but I wasn't a senior, so I don't think it counts as much," Karla said, smirking. "And no, even cute and cuddly kitties don't get cupcakes. I have a firm rule about fur and food."

[endsthegame]

Ender was not as fortuitous to have special senses or a particularly serendipitious way of walking into people he needed to see, so his congratulations would have to come in a different way.

Like via phone.

Happy birthday, Karla. I hope you're properly stocked up. --AW.

[glacial_witch]

As soon as her phone beeped and not like a million hours later Karla pulled it out of her bag and checked the message.

I happen to have an entire beach and a tower of cupcakes, she texted back, grinning. Two hallmarks of a good birthday.

[endsthegame]

A whole tower? I hope you mean a miniature one, and not something the size of Babel, because I've just gotten used to understanding you properly.

Another text, right after:

That's a Bible story. Don't mind me. I hope you're enjoying it.

[glacial_witch]

Karla was already texting him a series of question marks by the time his next text came in. Which at least gave her some context, if it didn't explain anything.

Only three rows, she typed after deleting all the question marks. *I might have to wander back to town to get more though. They're going fast.*

Wait. Ender would probably assume...

I'm sharing!