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[lionesscouchant]

It's the third time, here. I know there will be a party, but it won't be like last year or the year before, and that's all right. I'm not too old, but with Tianzi and Cat gone, it's not the same. It's just...different, now

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[oshutup]

[ In Xanadu the flowers are lovely but Peter, no surprise to anyone, doesn't really care much for flowers without a separate purpose to them. Today they serve the function of providing somewhere charming for Lucy to celebrate her birthday with decidedly less fanfare than past ones. Because Lucy says she doesn't mind, Peter believes her, and though her gift was presented earlier on in the day, he's here right now as well, sitting beside her. On her birthday, there really isn't anywhere else Peter should be and the City is - he's grateful to note - free of curses.

To her right, seated as he is, he wonders if after what she's said, it would be something she'd consider childish, to have his arm tucked around her shoulders. Then he decides there shouldn't be any such thing, that you don't get too old for your family any which way.

So he circles an arm about her shoulders and leans his head to the side, just touching the crown of hers. ]

Was there anything particular you were hoping to do today? Other than this, I meant.

[ He's still a

[lionesscouchant]

[Lucy settles her head there for a moment. She'll never be too old for this, especially not with Peter. She takes his free hand in hers.]

This is lovely, you know.

[oshutup]

I completely agree. [ He says because he does, and pauses. She can feel the shrug of his shoulders on her own undoubtedly. ] But just for the record, you're not limited to this. [ For Lucy or for Susan Peter would even call at the Blue Light an impromptu dance, push back what tables decorate the floor aside from the booths and so on and so forth. But if this is fine for her, then he's fine with it too. Peter himself especially can appreciate an understated celebration, no particular obligation attached except to enjoy the environment and the company. ]

[lionesscouchant]

Should I demand precious jewels?

[oshutup]

You should demand whatever you like, Lu. Then we'd see what could be done about it.

[lionesscouchant]

Well, for now, I think this will do.

[She gives him a kiss on the cheek]

[oshutup]

[ Peter tugs her closer in the bend of his arm and drops another kiss onto the crown of her head and then one on her forehead as well in return. ]

It's good to have you here, Lucy.

[ That time when she and Edmund and Caspian weren't here, by all technical rights was not so long.

Still, it felt like it was. He dreads that kind of experience repeating and then hopes that it won't, at least for the ones he can hold onto. Caspian of course, relegated to his own world - once Peter's world - is another matter. But not for today. ]

[lionesscouchant]

I'm the one that missed you, Peter.

[It's true, back home, where Peter is not with her while Edmund is. It's been a while, since they were all together]

[oshutup]

Better to say, I suppose, that we missed each other?

[ He won't press it further though, not wanting to admit even to himself how awful the weight of not knowing how long it would be until he did see the others again - if ever in Caspian's case - would be. That he and Susan had had each other was a blessing and he counts it so still. All the same, he considers her point of return and nods slightly, as if to add on: yes, it's been a while for everyone, one way or another.

You're older again. It seems wrong that I haven't been there to see it this time. ]

[lionesscouchant]

Yes, I think that is better to say.