Just curve away ♕ ONGOING

[oshutup.livejournal.com]

When; SEVEN IN THE PM on the TENTH of AUGUST...not that you couldn't...tell...by the date this is posted...oh and taking place AT The Blue Light
Rating; You can't curse in a Disney film, mate. Never mind that Poly Territory =/= to that. PG-13 and under, lalala...yes.
Characters; If you're not Jadis, it's probably okay...and she's not here so...yeah. Anyone Caspian invited...anyone Lucy or Susan might have invited, anyone Reepicheep might have invited............and anyone wandering into the Blue Light at that time who wouldn't cause a ruckus XD AGAIN it was a surprise party, and you can assume he was very surprised....yay, success!

Summary; It's not a surprise if they tell you ahead of time.

Log;

The Blue Light is always lively to Peter, whether he is working or not, but tonight it is particularly layered with sound and movement. From the good music--no karaoke--to laughter, from the shuffle of many more pairs of feet than he would have anticipated had he seen this coming to the intertwining of conversations, it makes for a cheerful atmosphere to say the least, and he is enough over the shock to be smiling more casually--as opposed to the sort of startled upward curve of his mouth from the first moment people started pooling in, like there must be some mistake. There isn't of course, and it's a simple enough thing to go from Peter Pevensie to something that resides more evenly between the schoolboy in England and the High King of Narnia--gracious with an earthbound kind of humor for the unexpected, and he doesn't doubt who's behind it all either.

He doesn't mind, but even that sentiment leaves something to be desired.

Grateful might be a better way to put it, and he is that too.

No matter how understood family can be, no matter how much of a given, these kinds of gestures, these joint efforts reinforce what even the proudest and surest of people can sometimes question, if only because they depend on it so completely. When the music lends itself to something of a waltz, his expression softens, because there is something about that traditional quality that makes the bar and dance floor seem wider, grander, older. It might all be in the back of his heart of course, and in the end it's too hard to tell for certain, his hands lightly tucked into the pockets of gray slacks that make for a most boring if practical match with a long-sleeved blue button down. He isn't dressed to the nines--a surprise party being...well, a surprise-- but this isn't the sort of affair that calls for that, because the people who set it up know better. As much as he fell in love with the ceremony of kingdoms, Peter tends toward simple things, including his attire.

Fitted t-shirts are adventurous, if you were wondering.

In any case, after a day of imagining his brother in this place and that place--wishful thinking or a curse, but either way he has brushed it off as much as he can--a party is actually quite relieving, quite ordinary, and he can settle himself quite familiarly amidst the cheer of celebration when he is so inclined. Tonight, he is, and he nods at some who wish him well, exchanging words here and there, often gravitating back to his sisters or the other Narnian royal present, but it isn't conscious, this habit of finding himself with his hand on Lucy's shoulder from time to time or his eyes going sideways to share a look with Susan, and so on. It's barely been an hour, and it could go on for quite a while--so he realizes--currently with his back pressed to the bar, drawing his arms up to fold lightly across his chest, taking in the scene.

To anyone not near enough to be heard over the music and conversation, he waves and mouths thank you and he means it, ever aware of how every moment should be paid its credit and attention, lest it slip away and a person walk away going I wish I had or I should have and the like. Even happy events call for this attention to detail--especially happy ones, so he grants it with a smile and a grace that belies the years his face no longer clarifies, the exception perhaps being his eyes that travel the breadth of the room, drawing a blue line between sharp and intrusive, keeping to the former side of that line.







[ooc: Please mark in subjects if you want it open to anyone or just open to....one person. Sigh. /eyes this opening tag of doom... Yes...really VERY SORRY ABOUT TL;DR IN A POLY NEAR YOU...I...seem to have a problem with logs...orz. THIS IS UP EARLY, CLEARLY since I'll be at work later at the actual time...real time, whatever we call it. Okay that is all!]

Comments

End of the Party//Open to Narnians

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

Edmund was very confused as to how he'd gotten to this strange place, which didn't seem to be England or Narnia. He saw some rather strangely dressed people walking around, but they seemed to pay no attention to him. Ed figured he'd need to ask someone where he was, but didn't want to approach a random stranger alone on the streets.

He could see one building with the lights on, which made sense this late at night. Most buildings are closed by now. Putting his hand on the handle he hesitated for a moment. Blue Light? It looked a bit like a pub and he was - physically, at the moment - too young to be in one of those. But Kings could go wherever they liked, the thought, Kings in need of assistance even moreso.

He opened the door and looked around. Seeing the rest of his family inside, he breathed a sigh of relief, "You guys could've waited for me, you know. You had me worried sick!"

[oshutup.livejournal.com]

After the initial everything that comes hand-in-hand with being floored by the image he had convinced himself slowly over the day was nothing but an illusion, Peter can only smile at his brother, every inch the fool's image that he doesn't personify in reality but details are details. Right now, he can't be bothered. Presumably having gotten a moment to themselves in the middle of the remaining excitement of a party all on its own, he turns to his brother and stares, blues boring into every specific of the Just that settles him more clearly in the blond's memory.

Don't leave again, he thinks, though he can't quite bring himself to say it aloud.

"Took you long enough," is what he opts for, knowing full well it hasn't been his brother's fault, but the joke is there, from days when they could do nothing but argue. Now is different though. They have time again, time to grow in ways that have nothing to do with years and everything to do with moments. What it means to Peter, for the four of them to be reunited, he would actually verbalize if he could, but he can't. Words won't do and no particular action of respect for this privilege comes to mind except to be gracious with it.

Don't waste it, he reminds himself mentally and blinks, as if jolting himself back into a more useful state of mind.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

"Long enough? I only got here less than half an hour ago." he said, "I guess there's a reason you're not King Peter the Patient."

He laughed a bit, not intending for the comment to be mean-spirited, though something about Peter did seem a bit...off. From the looks of the place everyone had been here for at least a few hours, and though not immediately obvious he seemed a lot more worried than he should be.

"Any idea what this place is?"

[oshutup.livejournal.com]

A bit off is one way to put it. Completely displaced is another. It's almost surreal to see Edmund amongst them again, especially for Peter who has spent the day imagining his brother there when he wasn't. As a result, he keeps looking at the Just, a flickering gaze that wavers back and forth, strong but intermittent, and he does nothing to disguise it--can't be bothered to.

"It's a world between worlds, supposedly, though the exacts on where that is are impossible to find out," he begins, realizing it sounds crazy, but Narnia sounded crazy once too, and he knows his brother will never forget, knows Edmund changed the most after that whole ordeal, and he won't make the comparison verbal as a consideration to that change. "People come here, are drawn here, never planned," does it sound familiar to you, Peter can't help but wonder internally. "...and then we're stuck here until it decides to let us go."

But you've been the only one missing for quite some time.

"It works in a strange fashion. You've been here before, but I can see you don't recall..." he trails off, arms folded across his chest lightly as he keeps his eyes now on the other people around them, as if the scene is more interesting, even though it's just the opposite. No one really likes to be scrutinized, he concluded some time ago.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

"That's a little discomforting, but I can't say I'm not a bit used to it by now." he says, wishing he could give Peter the same look he was currently getting, but it's hard to miss someone that much when you've seen them just a few minutes ago, "No, I don't recall ever coming here before."

He was trying to remember, as if just being here would help him recall as being in Narnia did with his swordsmanship skills despite being a year out of practice. Alas, nothing could come to him and he was very sure he'd remember a place like this. He had no reason not to trust Peter, he was just a bit upset that he didn't get to remember what happened.

"I don't suppose we get to be Kings here?" he asked, hopeful but not too confident that the answer would be yes.

[oshutup.livejournal.com]

"I'm sorry you don't remember. It's aggravating, isn't it?" he empathizes, more than he says, not remembering his own last time in this place either, faced still, almost a year later, with instances that remind him his first presence here was one he can't recall and so, in his own head, was not a part of. It's one thing to forget, and another to try and remember what one is sure he never knew--aggravating as he says, but also disappointing, as if this is also a reminder that they will always be thrown back to their beginnings. That's not what it really is, of course, and he tries to be fair about it, even vaguely.

"We do manage though, and you will too, starting from scratch or not." The next silence lasts however long, but Peter doesn't count the minutes and that next question stirs a combination of things from the older sibling--amusement, sadness, and something else that hasn't quite got a word for itself, something resting between truly understanding why he can't go back to Narnia, and not understanding at all. He covers this a little with a slight shrug, but Edmund has had fifteen plus years to get to understand Peter's various ticks of discomfort or momentary hesitation and thought, so the High King wouldn't be surprised if his brother called him on it, or at least noticed.

"We are always, in a way," he reiterates what part of him questions, and adds, "But this is not our kingdom, no," a clarification as if to say, I know what you mean, and you're right. We don't. There are other things they can be though, family not the least among them.

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

Cleaning up afterward is the part of the party no one really ever wants to do, but because this one was Caspian's idea, he's obviously pitched in to help the Blue Light not look like a mess for later. It's a good way to enjoy some downtime too, honestly. The excitement that swelled upon Edmund's arrival is still coursing through the Narnians who remain here and no one can blame them. Now the Kings and Queens are complete, their family whole. It is a good way to end the night. A good way to celebrate Peter's birthday.

"Edmund," Caspian greets for the second time, now that he miraculously has a moment without his brother or sisters.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

"Caspian," he said, offering a handshake. It might've been better to greet someone you've missed and haven't seen in a while with a hug, but Edmund hoped that Caspian would understand that a young boy did not want any more hugs than were absolutely necessary.

"How are you doing?" he asked, "I mean, this place must be quite the change from Narnia. It's different enough from England, even."

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

One. He takes that offer, hand to hand, and his grip is very firm.

Two. He pulls Edmund in for a single but solid pat to the shoulder.

See? No harm done. And it was manly. Now he releases his friend, the final of four, and smiles. "Well. I have adjusted, a lot." I have been here for a year, Caspian thinks to himself. It's already very clear to him that once again, Edmund does not remember his previous times here, which is all right with Caspian. Things happen as they will, they have Edmund now, so all is well. "You were missed, I hope you know that. I kept everything under control in your absence," he boasts...a half truth.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

Despite the manliness, Edmund wouldn't really admit to welcoming any physical contact that didn't involve sparring. Not that he'd want to spar with Caspian, because - another thing he refused to admit - Caspian would probably win. But, the other King was lucky and got to spend all of his time in Narnia while the Just had to, rather unjustly, sit at a desk learning algebra.

"Well, I hope you've been keeping them in check for me," he said, also boasting a bit as if he was clearly the most responsible Pevensie, "It can be a bit tough."

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

In a spar, maybe. Put gold into the equation, possibly not. Give the Just two swords and tell him Caspian is in the way, no. But such seriousness is lacking when it comes to friends. It's a given that they'll never have reason to draw swords against each other, not like how Peter and Caspian once did. They have come far from such trespasses.

"I know," Caspian insists, "especially Peter. And now that he is a year older he is as boorish as ever."

His complaint isn't real of course...although that doesn't mean what he says isn't true, hehehe.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

He rolled his eyes, not in a seriously annoyed manner but more in an 'oh, Peter' way, "Well, I think we all expect that a bit. He's rather magnificent at it."

That was Edmund's way of saying that he was worried in his time alone in the City and was very, very glad to have Peter around. And Susan, and Lucy, and Caspian. If he was meant to be on his own he'd have been an only child.

"So, this isn't Earth and it isn't Narnia," he said, "But it isn't me and my siblings called here. Are there a lot of Narnians here?"

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

Is that a pun? Caspian isn't sure if he should laugh or not. Oh well, that uncertainty lasts only two seconds before he does in fact laugh. Though the Telmarine was born an only child, he fully believes for now what they have is no mere coincidence. They are meant to be together, all of them, in this world. Why else would Edmund Pevensie arrive on the eve of Peter Pevensie's birthday.

"No, just us, Reepicheep," he adds, "and Aslan."

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

"Oh, the little mouse is here?" he said, then corrected himself, "Er, I mean, the noble knight of Narnia, of course. Who just happens to be a little mouse."

And then the last word Caspian said sunk in. Edmund didn't acknowledge it at first because he always figured that Aslan was kind of everywhere. Everywhere in Narnia. "If Aslan is here..." he said, "Then Aslan's not in Narnia?"

[treadingdawn.livejournal.com]

"For many months he was here in the same way his spirit rests in Narnia. Now we have seen him, we have spoken to him, though he remains elusive as ever."

Caspian nods once.

"He is here and there, so he assures us."

He has faith in the lion to tell them what they need to know. Narnia is not without him, without them either, in ways Caspian could not begin to explain.

End of the Party//Open to Narnians

[lionesscouchant.livejournal.com]

Lucy hears him, and it takes her a while before she wakes from her sleep in the sofa that is in one of the Blue Light's rooms. She thinks, for a moment, that it is part of a dream - a wonderful dream, but a dream, nonetheless, and she's not ready to wake up and see the truth. She makes a noise, to signal that she's waking up, and she turns.

It takes her another moment of her eyes opening, quietly, to see that the shadowy profile that looks like Edmund doesn't fade when her eyes are completely open, when she knows that she's awake.

"Edmund?" her voice is quiet, questioning at first, but then she almost sits straight up on the sofa. "Edmund!"

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

"Lucy!" he says, running over to greet her. He was just as excited to see Peter as he was Lucy even though Lucy got the more enthusiastic greeting. The younger two had to stick together, after all, or else be overruled by the elder two.

"I'm glad we're all here, though I don't see why we couldn't have just come at the same time."

[lionesscouchant.livejournal.com]

Lucy feels the tiredness, as worthy as it was, fall away from her. It really is Edmund, he really is here, and everything would be all right. It wasn't a dream, and Lucy smiles, like there's nothing better in her world, and there isn't, because they are all together now.

"Edmund!" she cries out again, her arms flinging around him. "You're truly here, you are!" It's so odd, but so right, and Lucy doesn't question it. "What a terrific gift!"

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

"I hope I'm really here, because I've had enough of not really knowing where I am for today." he said, returning the hug. Hugging wasn't really his thing, but it was okay if it was one of his sisters. He could say he was...being protective, or something.

"How long has it been, anyways?" he asked, "I haven't seen anyone this happy to see me since - well. You know."

He meant the incident with the White Witch, but though he accepted his mistake and learned from it he didn't like to talk about it all that much.

[lionesscouchant.livejournal.com]

She lets go of him rather quickly, knowing that he doesn't like to be hugged for very long, but Lucy is now excited; happy to see him and her smile shining. "How long? I haven't seen you in...I haven't seen you in months! Well that's not quite true because you were here for a day last month, but it was only a day and that doesn't quite count, you know."

She rubs the gunk out of her eyes. "And it's Peter's birthday! Do you know that?"

She knows she shouldn't mention what happened with the White Witch. In fact, she didn't discuss it at all, because when the White Witch left the City this past time, Edmund had already been gone. It was odd to face her without him there.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

And it probably was a good thing that Lucy didn't mention that Jadis had ever been in the City, because knowing that she could appear at any time would've made Edmund quite pessimistic about the place.

"Months? Peter's birthday? The last thing I remember is stepping out of Narnia and onto the train platform, and now I'm already here." he says, sighing, "I don't think I'll ever figure out how time works in these other worlds, but I guess that's a good thing. If he had just seen me a few minutes ago, I doubt I could get away with giving my presence as a birthday gift."

End of the Party//Open to Narnians

[lionesssejant.livejournal.com]

It only takes a glance to know that it's her brother. Relief from a worry she wasn't aware of carrying so long makes her feel even lighter on her feet coming closer. "We have been waiting." They would have kept on waiting, she wants to say. They would have waited forever. Yet Edmund knows that. One way or the other, they'll all be together again.

The impulse to grab him and pull him into a hug is for now set aside to just appreciate him standing there, knowing that it is true. The clock is far from midnight so this can't be a curse.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I know," he said, "I didn't want to keep you waiting, though, and if I can find who's in charge here I'll give them a stern talk about why you all had to wait so long. It isn't nice to separate family."

He won't reject a hug if it's coming, but he sure isn't going to initiate one. That was the only bad thing about meeting someone who had missed you for a very long time: a lot more hugs than any preteen boy would ever admit to wanting. Well, unless the person he was meeting was Eustace, then there was a lot more worse than hugs. Thankfully, there were no brats in sight.

[lionesssejant.livejournal.com]

Yes, Edmund is back. Susan's smile is supercharged by amusement at quips that only he could provide with just the right humor.

That hug isn't going to wait another moment. Her arms are around him, not completely like a Boa Constrictor. Nothing but love here, pure and simple.

[justredemption.livejournal.com]

He took the hug as well as he can without getting too mushy about it. He knew Susan is a lot more into displays of affection and let her have her moment.

"Glad to see you too." he said, feeling quite a bit like a teddy bear.