[log] 4 + (4*6) + (4*3)

[piquedbutler]

Ah, April 16 in 2012. What a day to turn 24.

Chives didn't actually go to bed. He spent his Hour scribbling in his notes in anticipation. It's made sense of his paranoia, fixed him out of his funk and into a Proper State for celebrating his birthday. Because he's meant to be Happy today. The Numbers tell him so

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[maidenthespade]

He does not mind, she hopes, that she asked for morning tea at Four? There is much work to be done, and not nearly enough time to be doing it.

And today is the most special of days. Still in her robe, mask not yet donned for the day, Katya gives Declan a warm smile.

"Thank you. Tovarisch. Z dnem narodžennia."

[ooc: "happy birthday, literally, many years."]

[piquedbutler]

He wasn't sleeping; what's to mind about being allowed to start the day at a lovely hour by bringing his wonderful Queen a warm, perfectly brewed mug of tea? It's like a present in and of itself.

His own Mask is half-off as well, although the rest of him is Immaculate as ever. It means the spark of his quiet smile comes through not just behind the eyes but even in the corner of his lips as he ducks his head quietly over the service he's set up on her desk. Her particular pot and cups are quite lovely--he's always been fond of them. That's not, however, why his lips are lifted faintly with Genuine Pleasure as he holds the cup to her.

"Spasibo, Tsarista moya." It's part of the Royals job, perhaps, to be Aware of such things. It doesn't mean he isn't touched that at this fragile, quiet moment between them.

[maidenthespade]

"Ne za chto." She carelessly brushes the hair from her eyes, ignoring the tea for now. "I am having something for you," she tells him, opening a nearby bureau and removing two flat swrapped in ebony black paper and tied together (four times) with silver ribbon.

"It is little thing, but I hope you will like."

[piquedbutler]

"...milady Katya?"

There's something Uncertain as he stills, brow creasing together just a touch. She had asked him here at Four. She had let him pour her Tea. She had wished him a Happy Birthday, given him Notice, her Full Attention--if only for a moment. What more could there possibly be?

"You... shouldn't have, Mistress. It's... it's far too much as it is."

Her Full Attention was all he'd wanted--was more than he could have asked for.

[headfollowheart]

She doesn't want to even set eyes on another cupcake for at least another two weeks after today. Dear god. Five hundred and eight, she has no idea how they got it all done. But they did, and she'd gone home and collapsed into bed before getting up this morning and getting dressed. It's not four when she calls for coffee, but eight is two fours, isn't it?

And she doesn't wear ties, but she's sure the sash on her blue wrap dress could use straightening, if he likes.

[piquedbutler]

He'll join her in a ban on cupcakes after the evening ahead. When it comes out how she helped with the orchestration of it all, he'll probably be directing a good portion of his panicked Appreciation in her direction. At eight in the morning, however, he's Perfectly Pleased to appear with a small press of coffee and pour her a steaming cup.

"Have you slept well, then, Miss Four?" If there's anything Arch to his statement, it's only because he Cares--and understands that Human Bodies require some actual number of hours beyond the REM cycle, no matter what the Butlers of the Four Castles' schedules would seem to imply.

His gloved fingers will absolutely be flitting to smooth at a faint wrinkle in her dress the moment she takes the proffered coffee.

[headfollowheart]

Zoe won't know what to do with that much appreciation. Most likely ineffectual arm-pats will happen, but for now, she calmly smiles back, though her eyes are a bit heavier than usual.

"Very well, thank you, Chives." She takes the coffee and the first sip. There's a coffee ritual; the first cup is black, no sugar, entirely undiluted. The second cup gets cream and sugar. The third cup only exists in case of emergencies. "Happy birthday. Hiliohronos."

[ooc: "may you live a thousand years."]

[piquedbutler]

Ineffectual arm-pats will match the thin-lipped curl of panic. They'll do just fine, really.

And they'll do it after he's done pausing faintly, one brow arched very briefly in surprise before his head ducks to hide the flicker of baffled pleasure that flits briefly through his eyes as he settles the now empty tray behind his back. True, Zoë is someone with access to personnel files--it isn't entirely uncertain she didn't simply Happen upon the date.

It still makes Expression flicker. Appreciation swell slightly in his stomach.

"...thank you, Miss Zoë." His attention stays down for the moment. "Quite... thoughtful of you."

[quicktocut]

She waits for him to come to her, knowing that it's as inevitable as Death itself. When he does, steaming cup of tea set beside her, she reaches down beside her seat, sliding a box over to him. "It's from India. I figured you might like an assortment. There's loose leaf and blooming teas. Happy birthday, Declan."

[piquedbutler]

The delivery of Tea and Sustenance is not to be stopped. It's all Entirely Necessary to the continued survival of Every Spade--including the reluctant and constantly hidden. So of course he insists Maeve come Sit and Eat Something before long.

And of course the appearance of the box has his fingers pausing, entire body briefly caught in perfect Stillness as he analyzes the gesture before carefully, carefully lifting the present to smooth fingers over the box's neat angles. "...you oughtn't have, Miss."

[quicktocut]

"I do as I please, Declan. You know that by now. And getting you a gift not only pleased me, it seemed appropriate. You're welcome." She's trying not to smile slightly as she picks up her tea and sips, slightly.

[piquedbutler]

"I do, Miss Maeve." There's a definite understated Fondness to the addition of her name to the honourific. It takes just a moment to carefully lift the box the rest of the way to his chest, clutching it there quietly with the same blank Nothing on his face. "It remains a great and unnecessary kindness on your part."

He's getting to 'thank you.' There's just a lot of Processing first. In the past, people have barely known his birthday existed, let alone attempted to mark the occasion.

[sevenbyright]

It had almost been tempting to play the game as he once had, going out in public entirely mussed and searching out the butler to put him to rights. But no, that isn't the proper way to greet Chives on this day of days.

There's only a bit of tousle in his hair and a barely-there asymmetry in his tie instead. "Good morning, Chives," he says with a smile.

[piquedbutler]

They're both growing up into such Mature Persons on this day of days. They'll have to come up with properly Mature games to play.

His hands are, for the moment, blissfully empty as he sweeps to a brief halt beside the Jack. The Mussing is almost slight enough to be unconscious, accidental. Almost. It's hard to tell with a man like Sieben. One would hate to underestimate him. So Chives simply pulls himself to calm attention, chin lifted a touch above the usual angle. The Pleased Air stays calmly in place even as his attention settles on the hair he needs a faint nod to sweep in and Fix.

"Milord. Where shall I bring the tea this morning, then?"

[sevenbyright]

"Mm, that depends," Sieben says as he delivers the approving nod. Fix away. "I managed to record useful observations on my two subjects, #1 and #7. If you've results to deliver along with the tea, perhaps my rooms would be best. There is no hurry, of course." And certainly he has plenty of work waiting for him in his office that will be assisted with Chives' tea.

Perhaps observation of unwitting test subjects - all of whom, it seems, have performed relatively as expected - could be classified as a Mature game. It's a novel idea, but perhaps they'll play on the same side in future.

[piquedbutler]

Such a Good Boy. Something like Contentment flickers briefly behind his eyes as he closes the distance to start with the hair. A few quick tugs of fingers combing through the mussed locks before his attention and hands drop to loosen and re-straighten the tie.

The lingering impression of an Expression stays in the back of his eyes as his head bobs. "Within the half hour, Master Sieben. I expect you'll be quite pleased with the results."

Immaculately tidy Jack, tea, Science. Yes, this will be a good birthday.

[washtheblood]

There were plans to move the entire clinic - yes the entire clinic - and this is what he was occupying his time with. A couple of twos, threes, and maybe a few fours were about the area that commonly were not. Moving this, packing that, and he was getting files, requests, and other logistics all lined up when the butler entered looking appropriately pleased. It was good to see him pleased in the way that he didn't quite understand.

"One hears there is need for celebration this day," he will casually extended.

[piquedbutler]

Some days are simply Good. There's nothing remarkable about that. Just like there's nothing entirely remarkable about coming to bring the good Doctor tea despite the Orderly Chaos of the move. No reason not to be Civilized in the midst of everything.

"Does one, Master Three?" It won't cause the faintest blip in serving up the cup of tea he's in the middle of preparing.

[washtheblood]

As to be expected, of course. Eyes lift from the desk to the sound of that gentle pouring. If he could be bloody well normal for one day he'd surmise this would be a good one to make any sort of attempt. It took some listening to the walls but curiosity brought him to understand the importance of this day and there was some strange compelling force that lead him to other things.

"Indeed, gratias tibi." Perfect as always, Chives. "How might our butler be spending such a day?"

[piquedbutler]

"As today, milord?" There's still something of a gentle hum on his lips as he finishes the pour and carefully lifts the cup by the saucer to extend it toward the Doctor. "As I spend everyday, I should expect."

Well, not entirely. He'd be heading out to the other Castles in the late afternoon, letting the other Low Cards handle the evening rush once all the tea had been served. But that would be admitting that today was an Important Anniversary.