sydney_ashcroft (sydney_ashcroft) wrote in marvel_nextgen,
@ 2010-05-25 05:06:00

Entry tags:

npc - avery crittenden, sydney ashcroft, zoey ashcroft

Happy Birthday!
Thankfully Sydney had swapped important information with Avery when they were synchronizing their calendars and it had given Syd the head's up that Avery's birthday was coming up. She knew Zoey would want to give Avery something for his birthday. Zoey had made him a card and Sydney took her shopping.

Just what did one give someone one didn't know too well for their birthday?

Syd racked her brain to find something, then she remembered Avery liked music. So she suggested a guitar to Zoey and they went shopping to find one for him. Syd didn't know if he still played, but it was the only thing she could really think of. Zoey liked the idea and of course now wanted to take guitar lessons too.

The man at the shop had been so helpful. All guitars looked the same to Syd, so she relied on the sales clerk to help her. They found a nice acoustic guitar and wrapping it had been a task, but in the end they managed it.

With card, gift and a cake made by Sarah in hand, Syd and Zoey went over to Avery's house.

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word_of_law
2010-05-25 12:45 pm UTC (link)

Avery had dozed off in his easy chair this morning after coming home from work. Actually, before his boss sent him home from work for trying to work on his birthday. Avery didn't see what the big deal was; turning thirty-three wasn't something he really wanted a party for.

So he'd come home and fallen asleep in his chair, where he'd started to dream. In the dream, he saw a man with long golden horns standing outside the Defenders compound. Avery knew he didn't know this man, yet this was something familiar about him that he just couldn't put his finger on.

Something about him reminded Avery of his father, in a way.

Still, when Sydney and Avery show up, he awakens, and ambles over to the door, opening it.

"Hey, you two! Come on in. Is that a cake?" he asks.

Crap.

They knew, didn't they?

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-25 07:12 pm UTC (link)
	"Happy birthday!" Zoey grinned cheekily. "We brought cake and a present!" She held up the rather large obvious gift she held. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-25 07:13 pm UTC (link)
	"Happy birthday," Syd said with a smile. "We wanted to surprise you." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2010-05-25 11:08 pm UTC (link)
	"Thank you, Small Lady." Avery smiles. "I see the cake and present. Hmm...I wonder what it could be?" He hugs Zoey, taking the gift and setting it aside and smiles at Sydney. "Thank you. You both succeeded. Are you two up for some cake?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-26 12:24 am UTC (link)
	Zoey returned the hug. She was liking having a daddy. They were fun. "Cake! We have to have cake. It's your birthday, silly!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-26 12:25 am UTC (link)
	"We'd love some cake. We even brought some candles for it," Syd said. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2010-05-26 12:50 am UTC (link)
	"Oh, please tell me you didn't bring candles, Syd. That would be a lot of candles for one cake. Small Lady here has it easy." he grins. He would usher the two of them to the kitchen, and get plates for the three of them. "So, what kind of cake do we have?" he asks. "And what is this you two got for me? I'm trying to guess, but I'm not sure I know just yet." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-26 02:28 am UTC (link)
	"You have to have candles on a birthday cake," Zoey said with an exasperated sigh. "It's required!" Zoey and Syd followed him into the house. "Chocolate! Sarah made it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-26 02:29 am UTC (link)
	"I'm with Zoey here. You have to have at least some candles on a birthday cake." Syd took the gift from Zoey and placed it on a counter. She knew her daughter got excited and had worried Zoey would drop the guitar or bang it against something. It was very nerve wracking. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2010-05-26 02:34 am UTC (link)
	Avery lifts his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. We will have candles on the birthday cake. Thirty-three is a lot, though. Why don't we go with twenty or so and save some for someone who really needs them?" Avery says, trying to convince the ladies not to use so many. "Did you two have a good day at least?" he asks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-26 02:37 am UTC (link)
	"Well you're in luck. We only have ten candles," Syd said as she opened the box with the cake in it and began the delicate procedure of removing it. "We did. We ran some errands after I picked Zoey up from school and then grabbed the gift and cake and came over here." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-26 02:39 am UTC (link)
	"I got a perfect score on my math test," Zoey beamed. "And Mom bought me a new toy." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2010-05-26 12:12 pm UTC (link)
	Avery smiled at Zoey. "A perfect score on your test! Excellent! Chuck E. Cheese and games sounds like a good dinner one of these days, sweetie." Avery tells her. "And you got a new toy? What kind of toy?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-26 07:49 pm UTC (link)
	"I got a new Zhu Zhu Pet. I have four now." Zoey looked at the gift and then at Avery. "Open your gift!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-26 08:08 pm UTC (link)
	"Yes, it is time to open your gift," Syd said. "I'll get the cake ready." She pulled out a small box of candles and put the ten of them on the cake. Then she hunted for plates, a large knife and forks. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2010-05-27 12:49 am UTC (link)

Sydney will find all the utensils easily enough while Avery takes up his gift and begins to open it.

When he sees the guitar inside, he looks at them both in amazement.

"Wow. It's been...years since I've played. I didn't think anyone would show me one of these again." Avery says. After all, he met Sydney while playing his guitar in a coffee shop, but he was surprised she remembered.

"You two know this means I have to write a song about you now, right?" he grins.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-27 01:41 am UTC (link)
	"I remembered you liked to play," Syd said with a smile. "I didn't know if you still did, but it was worth the long shot." She placed the plates and utensils on the table and then brought the cake over. She pulled a lighter out of her pocket and started lighting the candles. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-27 01:43 am UTC (link)
	Zoey's eyes went wide. "That would be awesome." Then the light of the candles caught her eye. "Time to sing!" And she started and Syd joined in. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

word_of_law
2010-05-27 02:55 am UTC (link)

Avery didn't blush often, but there was a hint of red to his cheeks right now. He smiled at Sydney and Zoey, and nodded along with the song. Zoey could carry a fair tune; maybe he'd given her a little something after all.

In his mind's eye, Avery saw a life that never happened, but that existed alongside this one. In this other life, this was how he spent all of his birthdays; with Sydney and Zoey. The three of them didn't have much, but holidays and birthdays were celebrated fervently.

The idea of such a life made him smile a bit brighter, even if it was only for himself.

"You two are awesome." he says as the singing wraps up.

"Now...how about that cake?

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-27 02:59 am UTC (link)
	"You have to make a wish and blow out your candles!" Zoey said. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-27 03:04 am UTC (link)
	Syd nodded in agreement. "No cake until you make a wish and blow out the candles." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2010-05-27 03:05 am UTC (link)
	"Oh yeah, that. Sorry. I don't do birthday parties very often." he says. He ponders for a moment, looking at Zoey, then Sydney, and letting his eyes roll up and to the side while he thought. Finally, when he knew exactly what he wanted, Avery blew out the candles. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	team_mascot 2010-05-27 03:08 am UTC (link)
	"Yay! You can't tell anyone what it is or it won't come true," Zoey advised. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	sydney_ashcroft 2010-05-27 03:09 am UTC (link)
	Syd set about cutting the cake and putting three slices on plates. Avery got the first slice of course and Zoey the next. She smiled at Avery. "Happy birthday." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	word_of_law 2010-05-27 10:53 pm UTC (link)
	"I can't even tell Awesome Zoey? Okay, I'll try to find a way to keep it to myself." he says, smiling at his daughter. He looks up at Sydney. "Thank you for today. This is the best birthday I've had in a long time." he says. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)