Merengue Living Room, Friday Afternoon

[life_inshadow]

Turning sixteen already felt much better than any other birthday Tara'd had since puberty. For one, she no longer had the sword hanging over her head of in a few years, the demon will take over and everything will be different. That in itself was enough to make the crisp fall day feel different.

For another, Diana had dropped off a chocolate cake with coconut frosting before grabbing Samuel and disappearing on some mysterious errand.

Tara considered waiting for any other guests, but ultimately decided to just cut herself a slice and enjoy it. She sat in one of the battered chairs in the living room with a Fiona Apple CD playing on the stereo, feet up as she picked at the cake. She was happy.

[OOC: If you want Tara to have mentioned her birthday to you, or if you live in Merengue, this is open (with possible slow due to workiness). Diana modded with permission. Come have cake!]

Comments

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

Kennedy on massive SP omg poked her head into the cottage living room with a package under one arm (never underestimate Kennedy's willingness to call a cab and head to the nearest mall all on her own).

"Heard it was somebody's birthday."

[life_inshadow]

"Mine, maybe?" Tara halfway teased. "I mean -- hey. It's good to see you. That's -- you goot me something?"

A slight flush was rising in Tara's cheeks.

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

"Maybe, yeah. It is what you're supposed to do, right? Get presents on your birthday?" If she noticed Tara's reaction at all she wasn't showing it, and Kennedy stepped in and held the wrapped package out. "Magicky gifts are so not the kind of thing you want me to go looking for last minute, or at all, so not to disappoint, but..."

[life_inshadow]

"Yeah, you don't want to give me something that would accidentally turn one of us into a goat," Tara said, already unwrapping the present. "... not that you had to get me anything at all."

She held the coat up to get a better look. "Oh my god, this is just -- it's gorgeous."

And way, way too expensive, by the looks of it. Did that mean Tara had to give it back? She didn't want to.

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

By her standards it had been practically a bargain. "You said you were from California. I wasn't sure if you'd be set for winter out here," Kennedy said, shrugging one shoulder with a smile. "I went to school in Vermont for a while, and we had a girl on my floor from, like, Barstow? Totally flipped when it started snowing."

[life_inshadow]

"Different part of California," Tara said, flopping into a chair and inviting Kennedy to do the same. She was still hugging the coat. "We got snow every winter. But probably not as much as here."

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Big state. Right." Kennedy looked about as sheepish as she ever did, but dropped into a chair nearby anyway. "I keep forgetting that. It's still all palm trees and beaches in my head."

[life_inshadow]

"I wish I lived in one of the palm tree parts," Tara said apologetically. "I've been that far south .... once, maybe? When I was little."

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

"This is what I get for assuming." Kennedy propped her elbow up on the chair arm and rested her chin in her hand. "Still, happy birthday. 'cause that's the important part here."

[life_inshadow]

"Totally," Tara agreed. "Sixteen. It's a nice ... square number, right?"

She might have been giddy on sugar.

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

And Kennedy approved of such giddiness. "It's supposed to be a big one. Sweet sixteen and all that. And you get to spend it at a resort. How awesome is that?"

[life_inshadow]

"I get to spend it at a r-resort, I went riding today, and I have another ... almost a week before I have classes or anything," Tara said, leaning toward Kennedy. "It's very awesome. Especially because cool people stopped by to give me things."

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

"Sounds like a win-win situation all around." Kennedy gave her an easy smile. "I thought I saw you out there on the trail. That's cool, that you ride."

[life_inshadow]

"Not a lot, but I had a nice horse," Tara said,m and considered something. "Want to go sometime after we get back to the island? I know there's, uh, supposedly a stable."

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

"I've seen it, going on runs," Kennedy confirmed. She leaned back into her chair a bit more, adding, "And totally, yeah. Sounds like it could be a lot of fun."

[life_inshadow]

"I'll come find you sometime after we get back to the island," Tara said thoughtfully. "Maybe Wednesday after Reserves...."

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

Kennedy laughed. "Sounds awesome. I've got a class in the morning, but I'm free anytime after that. Oh, gross, I am so not ready to think about classes again yet."

[life_inshadow]

"At least we have .... three more days?" Tara hazarded. "But yeah. I think they made this week shorter."

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

"It's always the fun ones when that happens," Kennedy said, pretending to heave a sigh. "Don't you hate that?"