Sallie's birthday.

[realmrsreynolds]

Today is Sallie's birthday, and she's not overly thrilled with that notion.

She'll live with it, though (like she does every year), and when she gets out of bed she finds that one of the Loompas has started making the birthday present deliveries earlier than usual - there is a potted mini-rosebush sitting on one of her kitchen countertops.

Dinner tomorrow? I know you must have a date tonight.
Happy birthday, Mother. Wo ai ni.

Malcolm

Sallie just laughs, sticking the card into one of the pockets of her robe as she starts to move around and make herself some morning coffee. Not a bad day's start.

Comments

[realmrsreynolds]

Sallie shrugs with a grin. She doesn't expect Splinter to be different than he is.

It's another quiet few minutes preparing and gathering, but soon enough Sallie's got blueberry muffin halves on a plate next to her on the table and Splinter looking rather pleased with himself, really.

"Very impressive, baobei."

[mnr_splinter]

"I am glad they meet with your approval.


...

Also that they are edible."

[realmrsreynolds]

"You have any other surprises up today?"

[mnr_splinter]

"Why do you ask? Is today a special day for some reason?"

He lies like a rug.

[realmrsreynolds]

"It's Tuesday. Tuesdays are always special."

Geez, Splinter.

"Also there were muffins. That makes me think you find today to be a particularly impressive Tuesday."

[mnr_splinter]

"Perhaps I was merely attempting to make Tuesday feel like less of a..." he pauses to clear his throat. A sheer sign he's going to repeat something one of his sons has said in passing. "Red-headed stepchild of the week."

[realmrsreynolds]

"Hmm. I suppose.

"Or you wanted a euphemism for butterin' up somethin'. Either or."

[mnr_splinter]

"That must be it. There is precious little I approve of more than a good euphemism."

Dignity, always dignity.

[realmrsreynolds]

Splinter wins this round - Sallie guffaws over her muffin in an absolutely undignified wheeze.

[mnr_splinter]

He watches her, an eyebrow slowly raising.
As if silently daring her to, That's what she said.

[realmrsreynolds]

After a minute: "I'm still goin' to need to get dressed and all such things, but afterward, what do you want to do today?"

[mnr_splinter]

"Considering that it is Tuesday, I was thinking of keeping my daily activities rather low key. A walk by the Lake. Possibly a picnic lunch. Then perhaps taking in dinner and a show in Beijing."

You know...as one does.

[realmrsreynolds]

"Um. Duibuqi what now?"

Cue Sallie's suddenly-blooming astonished face.

[mnr_splinter]

He reaches into one of his sleeves, and from a pocket retrieves two tickets to an evening's performance at the Beijing Opera House.

"Happy Birthday, Sallie," he says as he places them on the table.

[realmrsreynolds]

"How did you even -- When did -- Oooh this is going to be so fantastic! Thank you!"

Sallie is out of her chair and clapping her arms around Splinter in a couple of seconds flat.

[mnr_splinter]

"My powers are veiled in mystery," is all he manages to say before Sallie catches him in a hug. After that he's merely chuckles softly.

[realmrsreynolds]

"You're very smug, on the whole."

This comes out awfully complimentary.

When she pulls back: "When do we need to leave?"

[mnr_splinter]

"Years of practice."

His his a proud smile.

"Not until later tonight. We will be traveling by chalk, so our afternoon is our own. Curtain is at eight, and our dinner reservations are at five thirty. If that is all right."

[realmrsreynolds]

"It's perfect. Show off."

Now I get to figure out what I'm going to wear! Oh boy.

"...Will there be English though? Somewhere? I don't want you to be bored."

[mnr_splinter]

"I have spent the better part of the last year utterly engrossed with a television program about extraterrestrial squid, I assure I will be fine."

Beat.

"Though I might require your services as a translator."

[realmrsreynolds]

"I'll do my best.

"After I butter another of your muffins."

The narration had to.

It was required.

[mnr_splinter]

And she thought he looked smug before...

Breakfast was enjoyed, the considerable amount of left over muffins were frozen wonderfully, and low key day continued as planned.

The time is now five o'clock, and once again Splinter finds himself standing outside of the door to Sallie's flat. They had returned to their separate living quarters nearly two hours ago to change for the evening's outing.

He's early. He knows he's early, but he's never had a reservation before and he's nervous about being late.

Tentatively he knocks on the door.

[realmrsreynolds]

It's a noisy shuffle going on inside before Sallie makes it to the door, opening it to let Splinter inside while she finishes clipping on her second earring she borrowed to match the dress Sallie asked for from Bar.

"You're early, you know," Sallie chides lightly.

[mnr_splinter]

"I do, and you have my..."
There's a noticeable pause as his rehearsed apology slips from his mind at the sight of her.

"...I am sorry," is the best he can salvage at the last second.

[realmrsreynolds]

"You're forgiven. You look very dashing, sir," Sallie beams, now appropriately bejeweled. "Let me find my purse?"