Happy Birthday, Caroline! [Night of Oct 10]

[vampire_barbie_girl]

1. Getting ready for the party (for Thomas)

To say Caroline was excited about her birthday would be an understatement. Especially because this was one of those important sounding birthdays, twenty-one. Nevermind that she was in the UK now, where the drinking age was eighteen. It was still a big deal, or at least it felt like it.

She'd been trying on clothes for the last fifteen minutes or so, before finally settling a cute black and gold outfit that was sexy but in a more grown-up way.

For a moment, she wondered what her mother would think of it. She smiled sadly at her reflection before turning her focus to the clock. It was about time for Thomas to arrive to do her hair. She couldn't wait to see what he came up with.




2. Get the Party Started (Open)

Caroline had decided on a pool hall in Haringey as the location for the party, since it seemed like a good, neutral place. She'd basically invited everyone she'd met in London, which mainly included some co-workers (the ones who weren't working tonight), neighbours, and a number of vampires who she was fairly confident wouldn't be snacking on the other guests.

All and all, she was fairly satisfied by the turnout. It made her feel like this London life of hers might actually work out for the best. And so she started making the rounds, smiling at each familiar face she saw - and a few unfamiliar ones too because the more, the merrier.





3. Sorry I can't hear you, I'm kind of busy (Open)

The party has been going for awhile when Caroline heard her phone beeping, alerting her to a text message. She froze for a moment when she saw the notification. It was from Stefan.

Of course he would pick today to end the months long silence. She put her phone away without reading the message, then headed over to the bar for another drink. She wasn't sure how many she'd had at this point but after that, she definitely needed another.




[Feel free to join the party even if your character doesn't know Caroline well enough for an invite, everyone's welcome]

Comments

Re: 2

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline had eventually realized the dangers of billiard cues, but by that point it was too late to change the venue. Besides, she liked playing pool. At least she was pretty sure everyone she'd invited would get along okay.

She beamed when she spotted Evie - she hadn't been sure that Evie was going to come. It has been some time since they met at Guilty Pleasures, after all. But she was thrilled to be proved wrong.

"Thank you! I'm so glad you came. And I actually am twenty-one." She knew it was young for a vampire. Heck, it was pretty young for a human too.

[freelife]

Evie smiles broadly. "Wouldn't miss it for the world- let me buy you a drink." She was good for a drink or five for the birthday girl.

"Perfect- old enough to drink back in the States, right?" And old enough that she didn't have to worry about her driver's license or passport looking odd. She's so young, though, that doesn't escape Evie's notice.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline laughs. "A drink would be great." Ideally, she won't be buying anything for herself tonight.

"And yes, it is. Though I have to admit, being underage never exactly stopped me. But at least now I won't be another cautionary tale." Her brow furrows as she remembers saying something to that effect before, while speaking to another vampire who was quite a bit older than her.

[freelife]

"Wonderful." She waves her over towards the bar, and manages to catch the eye of the bartender. "Two... whatever the lady wants. Top shelf liquor." Because she believed in treating yourself.

Evie laughs. "Well, congratulations to that. I don't believe a drinking age has ever stopped anyone." Evie had been lucky: she never had to deal with such a thing. It was safer in her time to drink alcohol rather than water.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline thinks for a moment. "Two Manhattans, in honour of my dearly departed homeland." Oddly enough, even though it was her birthday, she wasn't feeling homesick at all tonight.

"I can pretty much guarantee that it hasn't," she replies with a grin. "At least not where I'm from and I'm pretty sure Mystic Falls isn't the exception to the rule."

[freelife]

Evie nods. "Solid choice." Wordlessly, she hands over a few bills to the bartender.

"I wouldn't dare to argue that one. That's a bit high, though, don't you think? I like the ones here of eighteen."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

"Yeah, it's a bit of a weird hang-up that I don't quite understand. But I guess it really doesn't matter anymore, I'm legal everywhere." Caroline laughs, realizing how little it all matters anyway.

"So, it's been awhile since I saw you. How have you been?"

[freelife]

"And that's what matters." Evie points at her in a gesture that is genuine, but probably looks a little dorky.

"I've been well- busy, of course." Between Countessing, planning coups, and being an Assassin, Evie was generally quite busy. "I trust you're settling in well?"

[vampire_barbie_girl]

The gesture definitely looks very dorky but it's endearing.

"Yeah, things are going pretty good. I was worried for a bit that London would never feel like home but now, well, it's definitely very different from Mystic Falls but I'm beginning to feel like I belong." Having people actually show up to her birthday party was helping on that front.

[freelife]

"I'm glad to hear it," she continues. "London isn't like any other place in the world- for so long people from all cultures have come here." Her mind wanders, briefly, to Henry Green. An Indian Assassin she had loved, once, two centuries ago, now.

Luckily, the bartender chooses then to set down the drinks.

Evie picks the lowball glasses both up, and hands one to Caroline. "Cheers t'the birthday girl." There should be glasses clinking here.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline is happy to join in the glass clinking. "Thank you. First birthday in London ... first of many, hopefully."

[freelife]

"To the first of many," Evie agrees, tossing the Manhattan down.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

The drink is delicious - definitely made with the good stuff, as Evie had requested.

"So, what's new with you?"

[freelife]

Oh. Oh, Caroline. Bless you, you sweet girl, for such an innocent question.

"Politics, mostly," Evie says dryly, setting her drink down on the bar in front of the two of them. "I can't go into details, I'm sure you understand." Top Secret Assassin Stuff. And general planning of coup. The two weren't mutually exclusive.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline's still pretty innocent when it comes to the world of vampire politics!

She nodded. "Of course. That sounds ... messy." She hoped not literally, though with vampires one could never rule it out.

[freelife]

She nods. "To put it lightly, yes. So I figure you'd want to be spared the details, anyway." She picks her drink back up, and plucks the cherry from it.

"I was around twenty one when I first came to London, you know."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline shrugs. "If you ever need someone to vent to about stuff, I'd be happy to listen." She figures knowing about this stuff is helpful for promoting her long life.

"Really? And uh, dare I ask what century that was?" She laughs, hoping Evie won't be offended by the joke.

[freelife]

"Well, thank you." She wouldn't, because she couldn't, and if she did, it was generally to Jacob. But it would be nice to have someone to complain to about Jacob.

Wherever the hell he was. He'd be good to have here, right now.

"You can- 19th century. I first came to London in 1868." She's not nearly as old as you think she is.

[vampire_barbie_girl]

That would make Evie about the same age as the Salvatores. Caroline had been expecting a bit older than that but it was still a fair cry from her own age.

"It must have changed a lot since then." After she says this, Caroline realizes how ridiculous a statement like that is.

[freelife]

Yeah, she's been told she seems older.

"It has, and it hasn't. Technology has advanced. But people... They remain much the same, Caroline."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

It probably has to do with her serious vampire look. If things were different, Caroline would definitely want to introduce Evie to Stefan, so they could bond over their shared expression.

She thought about what Evie said for a moment. "I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not," she said finally.

[freelife]

She's really good at Serious Looks period. Not just Serious Vampire Looks. One day, she'll introduce Caroline to Jacob and- on second thought, no. No, they can never meet. Ever. She will not stand by and see it done.

"It's both."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

However, since Evie is a vampire, all of her looks are vampire looks. That's just how it works. And it looks as though no introductions are going to be made anytime soon.

"Just like people are good and bad?"

[freelife]

Evie holds up her glass towards Caroline. "Got it in one."

[vampire_barbie_girl]

Caroline grins. "And I only needed twenty-one years to figure it out."