Topic: Born during Solstice

Manuel

Date: 2009-06-21 14:44 EST
Manuel found himself in a quandery. He had no address for the birthday girl and Mira was unavailable for making deliveries. After some pondering he decided to deliver his present in person to the kind lady's place of work. She may not get the present until Monday this way, but at least she would get it. And, who knew, she may just check in for one reason or another and find it on the day of the anniversary of her birth.

So it happened that a package was awaiting Michiko's convenience at the reception desk of Demour Imports and Exports. A card was, of course, attached to the fancyful wrapped box.

In fluid and probably surprisingly readable script the card read:

Dear Michiko,

May your special day be filled with joy and laughter, naught but kind words and pleaant thoughts.

With respectful regards,
Manuel and Almut Dyannan

The box opened to a set of filligree earings and necklace made to resmble sprigs of leaves accented with various shades of Citrine gems and a pair of sandals with accents to match the jewels.

Dib Jaster Aurene

Date: 2009-06-21 20:54 EST
" -- and turn it sideways!" Jaster said as he left a very noisy little conference room on the first floor on Sunday evening. He was already very upset being called into the office, on the strenuous insistence of the Hepovar Consortium representatives, on the day that he absolutely one hundred percent insisted he have off; then they stipulated that "his kind" not crew anymore of the DE ships that came into their port. Which was good news for the Consortium's rivals, who would be arriving Tuesday morning to negotiate a new contract.

He found the receptionist (the pretty redhead he always made a point of flirting with) giving a puzzled look to the gift that had been left on her desk. The Aurk stopped short and tilted his head in an unconscious mimicry of her own. "The hell is that?"

"Well... it appears to be a birthday gift for one of our contractors, sir," she replied, taking another peek. "Michiko."

"Zeppa?" he asked with a squint.

"That's the one, sir."

"Send a courier for the delivery," he said, snapping his fingers to point at her as he walked off, "and I'll see you for coffee later."

Michiko

Date: 2009-06-21 21:05 EST
She had been brooding in the days before her birthing day. She knew she had told Caine of it but he was still away on business. The laptop sat open before her as she went over some plans for the next wave in the Zeppa campaign. Things had been going well there, but...

She couldn't concentrate...

It was something so small in the long run, but she wasn't sure if the people she did tell would remember. Just like being home.

She stood and went to a window, still lost in her thoughts. Where did she belong, what good was she to anyone? Unanswered questions about her mother and her heritage weighed heavily on her heart, even now. She tightened her left hand into a fist with a soft sigh. The Hand of Fear was an Unseelie power and she had it.

All she wanted was for someone to remember.

Dib Jaster Aurene

Date: 2009-06-23 10:11 EST
Ultimately Jaster intercepted the courier not far from Michiko's door, and sent him along instead to inform the redheaded receptionist that he would be running late to take her out clubbing tonight.

With one arm around the box containing the gift that had been left at the office, as well as a bottle of strange but tasty orange-hued wine from his homeland (with a ribbon tied around it, for effect), he jostled the items out of the way and knocked on her door.

Michiko

Date: 2009-07-18 13:59 EST
The knock surprised her a bit. She was not expecting anyone on this day. Straightening her blouse, she looked out the peep hole to see a very distinctive and familiar face.

She pulled open the door with a warm smile. "Dib, this is a welcome surprise."

Dib Jaster Aurene

Date: 2009-07-25 11:35 EST
"Yes, well..." Jaster seemed surprised himself for the first moment, though exactly why remained unclear. Complicated man at best, impossible at worst. "Happy birthday. The first, here," shifting the gift from earlier forward, "arrived at our office for you with a note, and the wine, well, you see, that's a little something from the mother country, Jack and I supposed you would like it." As per habit, he spoke very rapidly but not at all nervously, his slight Aurkish accent no impediment at all to his mastery of English.

"Not from the mother country per se either, but as travelers and tradesmen, we Aurks rarely settle down long enough to start vineyards, very rare treat for us. So, yes," he added to wrap up his rapid-fire rant, and gave her a toothy grin, tusks coming up over his upper lip. "Happy birthday and, incidentally, solstice - you know, that's a very lucky birthday."