Kiyagi, Rwanda, Monday

[lockestheway]

This was it, Peter thought, as he stared down the long tunnel that ended in the stairs. No going back now. No handholding, either-- this ceremony, this announcement, would be held with his collection of world leaders at his side while people like N-- Envy and his parents waited in the wings until it was over

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[whenshewasnice]

And Envy was there. She'd watched, with great attention to detail, making mental notes of some things for a rather vague future reason. She was thinking a few steps ahead, these days.

Her red lips quirked into a little smile when she saw Peter.

"So how did that feel?"

[lockestheway]

"The media will take the next two weeks to pull it all apart, no doubt," Peter said, shrugging lightly. "They're welcome. The rest of the world, I'm not sure. We'll see."

And him and her, he'd see too.

[whenshewasnice]

"For my own part, I can say this is probably the most surreal Christmas break I've ever had."

Yes, that was what was happening in Toronto.

[lockestheway]

Peter looked at the window; outside, the summer sun was blazing. "Is it that time already?"

[whenshewasnice]

"It is." How time flew when it was literally going faster in one place than it was in another. "Soon it'll be a new year."

[lockestheway]

"I should pick up your regimen," Peter lamented, "I might be the more respectable twenty instead of nineteen right now."

[whenshewasnice]

"You would also be as confused and disoriented about your age and the essence of time as I am right now," Envy deadpanned. "Twenty-one is approaching faster than it should."

[lockestheway]

"Ah," Peter said, "But then you'll be able to buy Suri, Petra and me beer ahead of schedule."

[whenshewasnice]

"Because all of you are such great big beer drinkers," she replied. "What a nice little side business for me."

[lockestheway]

"Especially in Brazil," Peter said, "Where the drinking age is 18."

He walked further into the plane, towards the kitchen area.

[whenshewasnice]

"So what you're saying is that I really should've gotten you a nice wine for your birthday."

Instead of subtly sneaking insignificant things out of his schedule on the day.

"Really, last year as well."

Following him, she pulled her bag in front of her to rummage around in it. For reasons.

[lockestheway]

"Can you get us our dinner a little early?" Peter asked the chef. Then he sank into one of the seats in the little dining lounge area. "Now I'll spend my life worried you'll try to feed me drunk, I hope you know."

[whenshewasnice]

"You can't tell me that wouldn't be hilarious."

Well, maybe he could. But she wouldn't believe him. Because he would be wrong.

She sat down. "I have something for you."

[lockestheway]

"I'd say some of the diplomats would disapprove, never mind our PR department."

Not that Peter didn't basically do half the work of their PR department already: it was what he was good at.

He sat up a little, though. "Oh, right," he said, "I had a birthday at some point."

[whenshewasnice]

"Well, that," Envy replied. "Also Christmas." Not that that was really in effect for him, but it was for her. "And... today, I guess."

So she pulled out a small box, wrapped up neatly although the bow had been half flattened by being in her bag.

She held it out for him.

[lockestheway]

Peter took the box. "You shouldn't have," he said, tone joking, "You already helped give me a small Terran empire."

Not that he let that stop him from unwrapping it.