hands full of ballon's , and ballon animals , he places a 𝑐𝑎𝑘𝑒 on the table . [ he 𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚍 . . . it doesn't look very 𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 - * ]
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE, always accepting; @clwngasm.
another day, another year. how old was she now? keeping score got trickier the more time passed, reminders to heavy the softness inside her. with the exterminations on halt, permanently if things kept going the way they were, counting down the days became... less of a chore. she'd liken the feeling to bittersweet, the weight wasn't vanquished, only replaced with new growing pains; enough to keep her restless. i miss you, mom.
june 6th, call unanswered. click.
her lips curve downward, sadness kept for herself. she wasn't surprised, a nagging part of her expected it really. why would she pick up now when she hadn't the last hundred times she'd called? left voice notes and texted? oh well. she skims the contents of her phone, three from her dad...
[ TEXT … Father ]: Char char. :)
[ TEXT … Father ]: Remember to RSVP!
[ TEXT … Father ]: They're getting impatient.
shit. she'd have to deal with that soon, she didn't need him turning up out of the blue again. that was the last thing she needed right now. especially with how absent vaggie's been lately, probably planning another surprise party. even though charlie had reminded her several times for past the 12 weeks, she didn't need to worry! she really didn't want one! another affair to prepare for.
❝ oh shit fuck, unholy jesus! ❞
she practically jumps through the ceiling at the sight of him when she turns, her phone juggling and slipping out of her hands as do the curses she lobs out, dropping it with a clack. one hand splayed across her chest as she leans back, her other running through blonde tresses, shifting them out from their metallic band in soft sweeps.
❝ gosh! sorry uncle fizz, you scared the absolute── ❞ her frame settles, lamb legs shuffling to shift her position upright, flittering between the balloon animals and the cake. what... looked like a cake.
pushing herself forward with steps bordering on cautious, her expression flickers like candle light flame. confusion blends into curious wonder, a glimpse of another, strangled, knitted between her brows and the barest wobble of her chin when her parted lips curve up into a smile lacking the same pervasive performance; she wasn't playing host here.
❝ fizz, you... ❞ she clicks her tongue, wet laughter and ember coziness, dread tucked away for a moment.
❝ did vaggie put you up to this?── actually, don't tell me. she'd kill both of us if you did. ❞ laughter fully leaves her then, decorates her cheeks round and wide, nearly tipping her. she snatches one of the balloon animals from his grasp, no, two! and swirls her finger in the messy icing decorating the cake.
❝ mm! this is really good, what flavor is this? oh quick! grab some plates, if anyone knows you've brought cake here things'll get messy fast. ❞
with family like this, maybe a surprise party won't be so bad after all.
