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Shiloh made sure to be home a little bit earlier than Ian that day, trading the last hour of his shift as a favor he promised to return later. Still both being Intermediate hunters, their room wasn’t overly large and it now had the added benefit of being shared by two people. Nonetheless, amid all of their stuff Shiloh had managed to make room, and cram what seemed to be every conceivable nook and cranny with balloons.

There was a comfy chair and the bed, as well as some fold-up chairs that had been all Shiloh had been able to find (and that would fit, given that the idea was that actual people could also fit into the room). On the desk were some opened presents, having already been delivered that morning but Shiloh hadn’t bothered to move them out of the way, hoping that if anyone else brought anything, they could just add theirs to the pile.

And the most important part, of course, was the cake that was set at the opposite end of the desk, a simple round cake smothered in chocolate frosting and dotted with about as many candles as balloons. Shiloh hadn’t been able to resist. Next to it was what Shiloh was sure some guest would argue was more important than the cake, an assortment of beverages, alcoholic and none. There was some soda to mix with and some red plastic cups, Shiloh figuring even though it was just a little get-together, people would probably want to unwind.

That, and booze seemed to be a way to get some less interested parties to stay and show up for more than 5 minutes (Jack).

He’d sent out the appropriate texts, telling people to invite whoever else they thought might like to come, and then sat on the bed himself, checking his watch and playing the waiting game until Ian got home.

“’Little ‘ole me’ he says,” Shiloh teased, slipping his arms around Ian’s waist and pulling him in for a kiss. “Of course, baby, only the best birthday… For the biggest goofball.”

Smiling up at Ian sweetly, Shiloh batted a stray balloon out of the way. “I thought maybe we could all unwind a bit after work, you know, and celebrate. It’s your special day after all, and it only comes once a year! Do you want a drink or anything? Do you wanna change into something comfier before anyone shows up? I can guard the door… I promise not to let anyone see you in your birthday suit.”

Shortly after Shiloh sent out the texts, Oliver received one from Jack to bring him coffee: he was a well trained dog by now, but it never hurt to remind him. (Plus it still hadn't lost his charm to watch the trainee scramble to listen.)

----

Naturally as Ian started changing was when Jack appeared in the doorway, guitar case strapped to his back, glasses replaced by the sunglasses Finn had given him, green hair loose around his shoulders, a plastic bag of items in one hand, a bottle of whiskey in the other. He figured Finn and Ripley would bring some too if they came, but one never had too much whiskey.

He raised his brow. "Should I come back later?"

"Or." Ripley piped up from somewhere behind Finn. "We could wait until they're finished." It was an earth-shattering alternative in a dead panned voice that was almost completely in agreement with Jack. The recently released patient had his hair pulled back in a rat tail, save for his bangs, and stood with a slight slouch from wounds that were mostly healed, but still somewhat annoying. He wore a turtle neck that was slightly too large for him, and only to hide the bandages he still wore, just in case. The rest of his clothes seemed normal for him, who constantly dressed in business casual.

"Though, perhaps not." Now that he could see over the two taller (though in one case, only slightly taller) men, he saw that Ian had already moved away elsewhere. Oh well. That's what he got for listening to everyone else and assuming.

"You're holding up the hallway." He informed Jack, since he was super helpful like that.

Shiloh laughed, shaking his head as Jack appeared at the door, then Finn, and Ripley, and of course Oliver. Their timing was as impeccable as ever and Shiloh made a vague effort to shield Ian, whatever stage of dress or undress he was in as he had made a promise, even if it was Ian’s birthday and his given birthright to wear only his birthday suit on his birthday.

“I think we’re decent, mostly,” Shiloh grinned, gesturing for them to come in. “Make yourselves at home, uh, well, hold on I think I’ve got some munchies hidden away here somewhere but in the meantime, there’s cake and booze!”

He paused, stared at the bottles that Jack and Finn held in their hands.

“Lots of booze!”

"Why?" Ripley's attention turned to focus entirely on Oliver and his apology. To him, it made no sense. If he wasn't meant to be here, there was still plenty of hallway to get around; but since he wasn't doing just that, he had to have been invited. Which meant his apology, as far as he could see, was just Oliver being...Oliver.

Thankfully for the younger man, Ripley's attention slid into the room again, as he heard his name...mixed with the word sane? He blinked once, slowly, before shaking his head once.

"That's pretty sad." Him? Sane? Crazy. He also managed to keep his comments about behaving to himself, focusing instead on watching the body language of the pair in the room. As usual, what he was thinking never reflected on his face, and after a moment it didn't matter anyway, as they were heading into the room.

"Happy Birthday, Ian." A smile was offered, as was a small box wrapped meticulously in green paper. It had been tucked under his arm previously, finding it easier to carry it that way for the time being.