Charlie Bartlett's 18th Birthday

[little_moons]

Another day, another party. Seems like every time you turn around, there's another one. But this one's special. An eighteenth birthday party, a fucking milestone, and a birthday of a pretty damn good friend

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[giftless]

Even though Edmund couldn't help but look oddly at the other young man's living situation, Ed was glad he could count on Neil to do his honest best in setting up a party for Charlie. It was what their friend needed, he thought, and Edmund truly hoped it would pick Charlie up a touch. Really, how couldn't it? Winter had never been Edmund's favorite season, but Christmas was another matter entirely, and the decorations alone had him grinning to himself as he finally took a breath from setting up and checking to make sure everything was as it should be.

[teenagerenegade]

It's been a rough week, and, honestly, Charlie doesn't know how he'd have got through it without Edmund. There's been a few tears before bedtime, curled up close to the other boy but, for today, if not forgotten, that's at least put aside. Charlie's actually eighteen years ol and he's here with his friends and his boyfrienda nd he's a little stoned and, frankly, the party is pretty amazing.

He grazes a kiss against Edmund's jaw.

"Thankyou."

[giftless]

"You're more than welcome," Edmund replied quietly, smiling softly because his boyfriend was. It hadn't been impossible to get a smile from him, but it had been far more difficult than it ever should have been. He wrapped his arm about his waist, pulling him closer, and returned the kiss, lightly on his lips. "You're enjoying yourself?"

[morethentheend]

"This is great," Violet said with a smile, from off to Ed's left. "I've never actually been in here, but..." She shook her head. "This really is... he deserves a birthday like this." Violet made herself not stuff her hands in her pockets as she squinted up at Edmund.

"Have plans for Christmas?" As much as you could have plans, here - given the snow and all, Violet had thought to build some snowmen, to go and see Sunny - she wasn't sure if she could spend it with Geoffrey and Duck or not, but if nothing else she could play a sort of Santa Claus for her sister.

[teenagerenegade]

It's been hard, but Charlie's starting to think he'll get through it. He remembers what Nico said to him; you remember fucking up and you do't forget and you don't do it again.

He can do that.

For now, though, he's going to enjoy his party, and he's going to enjoy being eighteen. He's got a drink in one hand, a joint in the other. He's a little stoned but, for the first time in a little while, he's happy, too.

He's lucky. And, sometimes, that's enough.

[little_moons]

"Happy fuckin' birthday," I tease, dropping an arm around his shoulders and reaching to steal his joint for a drag, even though there's plenty to go around.

"Guess I can't really call you kid anymore, huh?"

[teenagerenegade]

Charlie grins, and there's dark circles under his eyes, but he utterly means that smile as he turns his head and watches Neil take a hit on the joint.

"You can still call me kid if you want," he reasons. "You're still older than me."

[little_moons]

"Fucking ancient," I say, passing the joint back and pressing a sloppy kiss to his cheek. He still looks a little bit like shit, but better, and for now, better is pretty fucking great.

[dreamily_luna]

Luna has only been to one other party. While she might not really have understood why Harry would choose to bring her along-- though she suspects it's her lack of political ambition-- she remembers the feeling of getting dressed and walking there and going in, knowing she's welcome.

And now, possibly better, she knows Charlie wants to have her there, and she finds a table to set down the box in her hands. Everything looks so lovely that she's hardly sure where to start.

Oh, dear. Does she even know any of these people?

[teenagerenegade]

He sneaks up behind her and wraps both arms around her shoulders, tugging her back against his chest and dropping a kiss into her hair. For the first time in about a week, he feels really still and calm and good.

"Thanks for coming," he murmurs.

[dreamily_luna]

She lets out a little surprised cry, but it only takes her a moment or two to put the information together and she looks up with a bright smile. There's probably never going to be a part of her that doesn't check every startle response for the Carrows or any masked wizards, but most wouldn't give her a kiss.

"It's very much my pleasure to be here," Luna says. "Happy Birthday, Charlie. It's a lovely party."

[teenagerenegade]

"Neil and Ed did an amazing job, right?" says Charlie, looking really, genuinely pleased, his arms still around her. "I wasn't expecting any of it, y'know? I don't remember the last time I had a birthday party."

[morethentheend]

Violet makes it to the party, even if she is very nearly completely out of breath and it's terribly clear that she's had to run from wherever she was to make it in time. She's been trying - pretty hard, actually, she's been trying - to find something for Charlie.

It's been years, it seems like, since Violet Baudelaire actually found herself in a place where birthdays weren't half-remembered events after the fact, when she'd actually had cake and candles, which is why - for all that Charlie had been so down lately, or maybe because of it - she's smiling and there's no place she'd rather be, gift in hand.

[teenagerenegade]

She's flushed and pretty. She's obviously been running and, when he comes close to her, he offers her a drink and leans in to kiss her cheek.

"Thanks for coming, Vi."

[morethentheend]

Violet feels like - for just a moment- like she doesn't have enough hands. She waits to grab the drink to hug him, even though she's still got the lump of his gift in her hand. "Happy Birthday, Charlie." She pulls back and finally takes the drink, her brows rising. "Should I give this to you now?"

She's sort of awkwardly holding both things, just trying to figure out what, exactly, she should do. "There isn't any other place I'd be."

[teenagerenegade]

"I can take it now," says Charlie, retrieving the present from her and freeing up her hand. He lifts it out of her hand and studies it with barely contained glee.

"Can I open it?"

[aly_brighteyes]

Aly's own eighteenth was still too far away to really consider, though she'd long behaved older than sixteen and seventeen. There had never been parties like this in her home world. There was usually a dinner with all her favorites and her Da, at least, turned a blind eye to some of her antics, though Mother made up for it by being especially critical, pointing out every birthday that she was a year older and still doing nothing with her life, beginning with the day she turned ten.

This was different from birthdays in Tortall and she could weave through the party with smiles and waves, and greet Charlie and others, hoping her friend was faring better than he had been previous. She'd even wore the clothes box down enough to provide her with a deep green, knee-length dress just for the occasion.

[teenagerenegade]

"Well, doesn't someone look gorgeous?" teases Charlie, coming to stand beside her, dropping one arm loosely around her shoulders. He's got dark shadows under his eyes, but he's smiling, and he means it. It's the first time in a little while that he's felt okay.

[aly_brighteyes]

Aly turned and gave him her best flirt's smile, one that had gotten little practice of late, dropping neatly into his arms. "I did my best for you," she promised, voice ever-so-serious, in contrast to the smile that was going from flirtatious to crooked.

[teenagerenegade]

Charlie might not be super familiar with the flirtatious smile from Aly but the crooked one he knows well and, for a moment, he just holds onto her, his chin tucked in against her shoulder.

"Thanks for coming, Aly."