Time Warp: But It's Your Birthday

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

March 15th, 2019

Penelope Blaise was a curious creature on her birthday. Lucy quickly learned that she didn't like to do a whole lot for it. Sentimentality had been something of a custom to the things Lucy would give her on that particular day, but this year - the sixth of their celebrations together - was different.

This year, Lucy Serrano had dreams. And she had money.

Serious money.

Major selling. Artist. Money.

Not long after Penny started her day at work, her car disappeared from the parking lot. And it was no where to be seen all day.

But it was back in the same spot by the time the bell went to signal the end of the day's classes. And with it, a very excitable ink manipulator. All morning she'd played along with the psychometrist's notions of downplaying the day. But right now, it was to be different.

Boot clad feet pressed down on the roof of the car as the Australian stood proud. Shoulders back. Grin broad and beaming like the overhead sun. A slowly trickling mess of filtered masses past her by; school officials heading home for the day. Students headed into town after a busy day of classes. Her hands remained firmly pressed to her hips as she waited.

Because a once blue mini cooper was now red.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

This was a good day; a birthday was never something the psychometrist wanted to celebrate. Or rather, her own birthday was something she preferred to keep down low. It drew attention to herself, and the few that actually knew Penny knew that attention was never something she wanted to have. A contrasting fact between Penny and her wife; she was always noticed, and it made it perfect to stay at her side quietly.

With that in mind, Lucy also loved giving attention to the Brit; and it was the only sort Penny didn't mind. The sort she loved, but that didn't change the fact that Penny was dead set on not doing anything special over the day she was born. For once, Lucy complied, and Penny was thankful for that. She didn't take the day off; instead working through the full school day without so much as a single 'happy birthday' uttered.

It was great.

"And I expect each and every one of your reflections to be on my desk next class." Dark, piercing eyes scanned over her students' faces, although most of their focus had been on the two minutes left before they could get out and leave for the day. Teenagers. Typical. "Do I have any questions?"

Nothing, of course. Penny straightened her back, clasping her hands together with a firm nod. "Alright then-- No, you are not excused." She immediately put a stop to the few students who started to make a leave. With a glance towards the clock, it proved she had twenty-three seconds before the bell rang. "Alright then, remember that I expect your reflections to use proper MLA format and are to be typed double spaced."

A pause, and as the bell went off students scattered off as quickly as they could; admittedly Penelope Blaise was one of the toughest teachers at Hammel. Of course they wanted to leave.

So it wasn't long before Penny herself was walking out of the building, keys already in hand as she looked towards her usual parking spot. But what she saw wasn't her car. It couldn't have been her car, but familiar boots proved it to be other wise. Penny's eyes widened as she faltered to a stop to look at her crazy wife and red car, speechless.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy's hands remained firmly planted where they were until the moment she saw a familiar face in a run of people. Unsurprisingly alone; after all, she likely had the intention of coming home to a quiet night without overbearing mentions of birthdays. She could have kept the Australian's focus attuned elsewhere. She was likely planning on it.

She probably still could. Look at her, stalling to a halt just in time for dark eyes to involuntarily traverse down the line of her form. A full day and no work to do - Penny was easily missed.

But her arms flew up, and her grin broadened to flash teeth under excitement's pressure.

And in that moment of perpetual silence, Lucy cleared her throat, tilted her head up and raised her voice to the absolute best of her ability. As if people weren't staring as it was.

"Penelope Blaise!" Yes, the roaringly strict, young English teacher was being called out in the school's parking lot by the broad standing on top of a car in her usual carpark. A quick sweep of her hand and she was pointing square at her, "Happy twenty-third birthday!"

And before she could maintain such articulation, another broad sweep had her pointing with both hands down towards the car; "It's RED!"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

It was a sight to take in; one that many were. Faculty and students alike took the time to pause and look at the Australian atop a red Mini Cooper. Penny herself had trouble moving her feet the moment she came to a halt, jaw dropping without any words to back her up, because even had she the ability to speak, she did so first. Or rather, she yelled.

With a hand pointed in her direction, the Brit was in the proverbial spotlight, cheeks rapidly growing in color to match the new shade her vehicle took on.

And there it was; the first birthday wish. She almost cringed at it, knowing full well she should have expected something from her wife. Never could she have anticipated something like this, however. Red. RED, even, as her counterpart put it. "I can see that." She responded, making sure her voice was only risen enough for it to just reach Lucy before she finally took the first step towards her parking space. Trying to come up with more to say, Penny failed; the entirety of the situation drawing her to a blank.

Trying to ignore the various sets of eyes on her, she approached the her wife and car, lifting a hand for Lucy to take, trying to beckon her down. It was impossible to determine if she was angry with Lucy or endeared by the evident excitement and pride her wife wore. She didn't dare ask why the choice in color, knowing well the meaning behind it.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

A momentary set back in her cool demeanour as Lucy offered the colour of the car with a little too much excitement for the cause. But really, she couldn't help it. Because how cool was this?

Perhaps it primarily pertained to her slightly stir crazy nature. She hadn't worked all day. Or yesterday. For someone so intent on procrastination in her youth, staying away from a workplace was a little detrimental. Still, she filtered her hand back towards her again, this time offering a generous thumbs up to the cause. Yeah, she could see this.

Because it used to be blue. And now it was red.

She briefly glanced at the hand extended towards her. She'd missed her, and that much must have been evident in her eyes, so she considered taking it just to be provided with an ounce of contact.

Kneeling down, the ink manipulator adhered to the need for contact for a moment. Long enough to draw it close and press her lips tot he back of her hand. Then she was done. Slipping through the contact, she reeled herself back up, broadest grin on her features as her arms went up over her head, "Residents of the Hammel Institute!" She started quickly. Loudly, one might add, "Honk in the name of a birthday!"

And they did. A few, at least. The sound was enough for the Australian to call it a complete victory.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

As she extended her hand, Penny could only hope that Lucy would comply with the silent request. To get off the top of her now very bright car and stop drawing so much attention to the situation. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate the effort her counterpart went though, but Penny never enjoyed being in the spotlight, and now almost every person in the parking lot was staring right at them.

Lucy took her hand, and that was the first definite step in getting her down. Quick to assume her wife was complying with her request, Penny let go of the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Even with the series of eyes on her, she couldn't help the twitch of a smile as the felt Lucy's lips to the back of her hand.

It all slipped away far too quickly, and far too easily. Penny's lips pressed together into a fine line, the color deepening in her cheeks, wishing she held on tightly enough not to have her hand slip through.

A series of honks, and Penny quickly turned her head to the source of sounds, quickly recognizing a few of her students and fellow faculty members. Quickly, the teacher took in a sharp breath. Almost painful as she turned back to Lucy, desperation lining her expression. "Lucy, come down. Please."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Pride was something Lucy Serrano wore so incredibly well. That wonderful sound of people actually doing what she said was enough to boost her ego to a new level. In short, it was awesome. Almost as awesome as colouring a car red.

Seriously, why wasn't she more in awe over this?

It was easy to sense the desperation in her counterpart's tone, but Lucy knew she was hardly done. There were so many more things she could say, and as she lowered her arms she looked directly at her wife. Or maybe just the colour adorning her cheeks. Oh, she did so love to grab herself a reaction like that.

"But it's your birthday, Ms Blaise." Lucy offered, arms dropping despite the obvious cheek to her tone. "And I love you. Enough to turn a blue car red."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

There was no doubt in Penny's mind that Lucy wouldn't listen, but she tried on the off chance that she might. Just as she predicted, however, the Australian wasn't ready to come down just yet. Of course she wouldn't, especially when people were watching expectantly at her for her next move. There was pride the be found in the act, just not for the blushing psychometrist.

Penny still looked up at Lucy, letting out a sigh as she gave a small shake of her head. There were few ways to get around Lucy when she was in such a headspace. The easiest was often playing along, but embarrassment from attention still got the better of her, even as her wife spoke.

Because she was well aware that the car was a different color.

"I've never doubted how much you love me, Lucy." She stated back, though not as loudly as her counterpart did. "You're certainly the only one that would turn a car from blue to red for me."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

It was difficult not to revert a little while in the school's grounds. A younger Lucy Serrano would have been so completely keen to capture the attention of a parking lot; to build on an audience the longer she existed in the light of their eyes. It bolstered her ego, just as it would have five years ago. Some things never changed.

Penny's answer had the ink manipulator pressing her hands into her hips, still triumphant for both her idea and that fact that she'd clearly gotten one up on the psychometrist. It wasn't exactly easy to do, considering how acutely she monitored the Australian's use of her own credit card. Some things didn't need to be bought, and really, that made it all the sweeter.

Scrutiny coloured her features.

"Does that mean you like it?"

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Penny lifted her hand again, a second attempt to get the ink manipulator down now that she had her attention again. Possibly, it'd work. It all depended on her, really. Especially when she looked at the psychometrist in such a way. She should have seen the question coming, but somehow it had thrown her off guard.

So she looked to the car again. Carefully, inspecting it in a similar fashion as she always did when taking something serious into consideration. Like a textbook or stack of assignments.

Blue was chosen for a reason. Specifically because it was known to be her favorite color. Red, however, suited the Brit much better according to her wife. Red like the toy soldier in history their books. Like the color associated with last name such as Blaise.

"Yes." She answered finally, looking back up at Lucy. Honesty lined her tone; she couldn't deny the car looked good, even more so knowing the amount of effort that must have gone through to make it so.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Often times, it was not the gesture itself but the scale with which it was measured that worked wonders for Lucy. There was nothing so great to an outsider about the colour of a car aside from the fact that it was a huge task to pay for. The colour held its significance. Shifting something so grand was exactly that; grand.

Red was vibrant. The colour of aggression which best suited the psychometrist to a T. The colour of physical desire. Some called it lust.

But for her, well, it was a heritage thing. She was Lucy Serrano's Redcoat.

Yes was the exact answer Lucy wanted. She took it as the definite boost she so wanted. She liked it. Maybe - just maybe - she was happy with it. So she took her hand, edging herself to the edge of the car before she jumped off. The moment her boots hit the ground, her attention was completely back to her counterpart. A steely break and she was pressing a hand into the small of her back, asking her to ease in.

"Take me home." She reasoned, like it was the easiest concept in the world.

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Finally, Lucy came down from the top of her car, and the Brit was thankful. She held the Australian's hand tight as she jumped, despite the lack of height from the top of a Mini Cooper to the ground, she still was sure to keep her wife upright. With Lucy ground level, she moved closer with the guidance of a familiar hand, although in that moment the pressure was hardly needed. A full day at work and she had missed Lucy, even if she had just pulled a crazy stunt for the sake of her birthday.

Going home was possibly the best suggestion Lucy could have given in that moment, and it likely read in Penny's expression. No more surprises, she was sure. Relief filled her features, because it was the easiest concept in the world right then.

"Kiss!"

Before Penny could manage a response, the singular word shot through the air. A still onlooking audience had been relatively silent, but Penny snapped her head towards the voice that sounded far too familiar. Once her gaze connected with the source, she let out a sigh. Of course it had to be one of her students. Penny resisted the urge to roll her eyes before starting to turn back towards her counterpart.

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

Lucy knew her request was an obvious one. Penny was done for the day, and there was nothing left to do but go back home. If they made it that far. Lucy wondered how things would go the moment she sat in that car. Would they argue? Would they even talk? Would Penny ask why to pretty much every decision Lucy had made leading up to this moment? She had no idea.

Because someone - someone probably a lot like herself years ago - was calling out. Just to make it that must more strenuous for the psychometrist.

Lucy herself? Well, she grinned again.

Resisting the urge to comply, Lucy waited until she caught her dark eyes again. Momentarily, she searched them, but it was impossible not to let her gaze drift down to the curve of her lips momentarily. "Seriously," She tried, forcing her eyes back up again, "I'll drive."

[Penelope Serrano-Blaise]

Of course one of her students would take the opportunity to see the strict Ms Blaise become even more flustered. If it were possible, the color in her cheeks brightened as she took in a slow breath to try and ease away the heat filling her mind. It was almost enough of a distraction to keep her from noticing the glance she made towards her lips.

"No," Penny interjected quietly, eyebrows raising at the idea. "You change the color of my car and then expect me to let you drive it before I do?" A click of her tongue as she gave a quick shake of her head, amusement threatening her tone. The only way out was the laugh it off, and with Penny's general inability to laugh, she went about it in her own way. Or tried to.

Drawing the keys back out of her purse, she held them up between her middle finger and thumb, tightly enough to ensure they wouldn't be snatched away so easily. "Get in the passenger's seat."

[Lucy Serrano-Blaise]

No? Lucy frowned immediately. Though they had their own cars, Lucy was pretty much always the driver. It was simply how things were; how things had been since the dawn of their relationship. Rarely did the ink manipulator find comfort in the passengers seat.

Unless she was being dragged onto her counterpart's lap.

She exhaled a sigh; a light huff despite the clear shot to her ego and the elated feeling she was still wearing.

Eyes narrowed on the key held up - the tension in her hand was clear enough. She couldn't take them if she even wanted to, and that was definite. So she glanced back to her, a hand shifting away from the small of her back. "It's your birthday." Lucy reasoned, shrugging her shoulders as she took a step back. It was fine that they didn't kiss, despite how she hadn't been able to since this morning. Somehow, the Australian knew it would be made up for.