Can't really call him a kid anymore.

[m_pinocchio]

Mike's never really been one for birthday parties, but that's pretty much just a rule that applies to his own, because he's thrown himself into the planning for this with a fervor that's surprised him a little. And he's had help; there's Tom with the general logistics, Delirium and Veronica with an impressive spread of food, and while he's not sure

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[gotacigarette]

The bandages are off Eden's hands, her knuckles sore but scabbed over, and she's actually made an effort with how she's dressed, running to clean jeans and a belly skimming black t-shirt, her hair dragged up and back off her face. At her ease, leaning against the bar, she watches the party going on around her.

Maybe she'll even be talked into dancing later.

[little_moons]

"Hey, Eden," I say, slipping up beside her at the bar, a drink in my hand and my eyes flickering over the scabs healing on her knuckles. She looks good, though. Better than when I saw her last, and I flash her a crooked smirk, not drunk yet, but making my way there steadily.

[gotacigarette]

Eden raises her drink to the birthday boy, actually managing a smile. She's not quite drunk yet, either, but there's a definite flush in her cheeks.

"Happy birthday. Jesus Christ, you and my boyfriend are the same bloody age."

[little_moons]

"Yeah, but I'll bet he's mature for his age, right?" I say with a smirk, implying that I'm the exact opposite, even if I'm not really sure that's true anymore.

[tightpantscapn]

Mal hadn't 'xactly realized where the party for Neil was goin' t' be 'til he n' River actually 'rrived there. They'd followed the stream o' folk, catchin' sight o' those they also knew t' be friends o' Neil's. But when it 'curred t' 'em both as t' where the party was bein' held n' jus' who 'perated the place, well...

Bein' keen on goin' inside weren't the number one priority anymore. Mal stood there, eyein' the entryway with a touch o' contempt n' a whole lot o' displeasure.

Mayhap he wouldn't be goin' inside after all.

[Mal is outside, looking Displeased.]

[crazyspacegirl]

"I don't think we ought to go in there." River eyed the place with distaste. It wasn't as though she had issues with strippers; whatever someone wanted to pay for was a valid occupation, in her opinion. It was just the person who was in charge of it that she didn't like. "I might accidentally cause a scene or something, if she's there, and I don't want to ruin Neil's party."

[tightpantscapn]

"Y' might accident'ly cause a scene 'r some such," Mal said while wearin' a grim smile, "but I jus' might shoot her outright." He figured 'twas his turn n' all. Now, technically Saffron ain't e'er shot him but, the way Mal saw it, all the thin's she'd done in the past could add up t' firin' a bullet at a body.

[crazyspacegirl]

"Someone ought to," River grumbled. It did seem like the Lying Whore had found herself some friends on the island, but River just figured that she had them fooled, like she'd fooled Mal and the rest of the crew once upon a time, and someday she'd cause trouble for them, too. The truth had a way of coming out, after all.

"I hate to miss a birthday party, but it would probably be better this time. It's like a present," she added, almost convincing herself.

[wayward_dad]

John didn't know Neil as well as he should have, but the kid was a good friend to Dean. So, he made it a point to get his ass to the Catscratch Club at the appointed time. Although Sharon was getting larger by the second, he'd invited her along as well, figuring it would be good for her to get out and mingle before the baby was born and being social became a thing of the past.

He kept an eye on her, never too far away. There were plenty of people around, drinks for everyone, and a generally good feel to the atmosphere.

It was shaping up to be a pretty decent night.

[little_moons]

By the time I make it over to him, I'm just a little bit drunk. A little. Shots'll do that to you.

Following his eyes over to Sharon, getting bigger every day, I smile crookedly, thinking back on Dean's reaction to the whole new sibling thing. Whatever reservations he might've had, I know he won't be able to help but be the best fuckin' big brother that kid could ever have.

"Hey, John," I say with a smirk and a salute with my half empty glass, "How's it goin'?"

[wayward_dad]

"Hey there, Neil," John greeted, eyes flickering from his smirking face to the glass and back again. "Can't complain."

Behind him, there was the sound of broken glass, followed by laughter and a round of applause. Apparently Neil wasn't the only one who was two sheets to the wind. "I'd ask if you're havin' a good birthday, but judgin' from the state of that glass, I'm thinkin' a refill's more important, huh?"

[little_moons]

"I think I like how you think," I say with a grin, knocking back the rest of my drink and turning toward the bar. "And it's pretty good, so far. If you're askin'."

[endlessdel]

Delirium likes this party. For one it has some of her favourite people in it. Two, she got to make food which always makes her happy. And three, which was her most favourite reason, Asher wasn't allowed because he wasn't invited. Which was all kinds of neat things and fun. She could ignore the book, hidden beneath her bed out of sight and out of mind and she could celebrate Neil's birthday.

Waddling around the party Delirium rubbed her well rounded stomach softly. She'd find somewhere to sit and something to eat and drink and then this party would be the best kind of party.

[captainjack]

Jack had drank just enough to take the edge off. He'd come with Logan and the younger man's tension had fallen squarely between Jack's shoulders and remained there until he'd washed it away with a few swallows of bourbon. Now, though, he was warm and loose and all smiles like normal. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her...well, used to be a waist. Now he let both hands come to rest on her belly as he pressed close against her back.

"Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk?" he asked. Maybe he was more drunk than he'd thought, but sometimes it seemed like she simply sparked the most random questions in his mind and he had to ask.

[endlessdel]

"bECauSE tHEY aLWays makE noisES iF YOU havE seX On thEM. aND thEN Dream aLWAys goes 'Sister, that behaviour is inappropriate. Could you please stop doing that on top of Matthew?' And theN hE USUaLLY makES me yOU KNow nOT WandER off iN his rEALM." Delirium said as Jack wrapped his arms around her huge stomach. "i LikE THe dRAGOn. hE's LikE DisnEYwORLD. EXCept i'M Not aLLowed to go on THe iTS A smaLL WOrLD AFTER ALL ride anYMORe or oNLY iF i go ON with a LEAD bECAUse i ALways Get Losted in chiNA."

[captainjack]

"Why, of all places, would you want to get lost in China?" he asked with a soft laugh that had the warmth of his breath fighting through her hair to find her neck.

"If you ask me, Japan is better than China. Better food. Prettier women. That tea thing they do."

That was when he decided that the last drink he'd had was definitely one too many.

[little_moons]

Every year, Wendy and Preston and I used to get passed out drunk, watch a splatter flick or go and smoke a joint in his shitty little Gremlin in the parking lot of the drive-in across town. Maybe not much of a party, but it was always good enough.

This... this is kind of amazing. All these people. Those sneaky fuckin' bastards who've wormed their way into my life, and it's now startlingly apparent just how long I've been here. Frighteningly obvious just how invested I am in this place.

Leaning against the bar with a drink in hand, I smirk at Mike across the room and then scan the group of familiar faces. Twenty-one years old, today, and a world away from who I was.

[weary_head]

"God," said Dean, propping his hip against the bar next to him, shot glasses in one hand and bottle of tequila in the other, "You are so sober right now, I can't even stand it. Put down whatever that bitch beer is you're drinking and get ready to man up."

[little_moons]

"Fuck you, man," I laugh, putting my beer aside and holding a hand out for the shot glass. "Come on, let's have it, then. It is tradition, after all."

Like I haven't had practice every birthday for the last seven years or so.

[weary_head]

Dean slapped both glasses on the counter, taking a quick chug from the bottle before pouring out two shots. "Normally there'd be salt, and girls to lick it off of, but I think it's best for everybody here if we skip that part."