(1939-11-02) Her Best Twentieth Birthday Ever
Details for Her Best Twentieth Birthday Ever
Summary: Wolfgang and Signe show their affection for Audrey with a little birthday party.
Date: 2 November, 1939
Location: Flat above the Natrix
Related:
Characters
AudreyWolfgangSigne

Audrey isn't one to publicize her birthday. Despite the attention and gifts it would bring, a woman in the spotlight simply cannot afford to remind the world that she is getting older. But she cannot disguise the day from Wolfgang — and hardly objects to a private celebration dedicated to herself.

Miss Taylor enters the flat with her usual loud, sing-song greeting. "Hellooooo, my darlings! Is anyone here? I just happened to stop by, seeing as I was in the neighbourhood."

The small 'private' celebration ends up being a good 40 people whom all stand up and applaud and sing 'She's a jolly good lady' when the lights are all flipped on. There are buffet tables and balloons and streamers and silver star confetti bursts into the air and flutters down vaporizing before they hit the floor for a now mess celebration. There is crates of presecco, a large birthday cake that looks like a art deco sky scrapper it's so tall. Notably there's no mention of age anywhere and there's only 20 sparkling candles on the cake. All of Audrey's favorite bits to eat at the restaurant are on the buffet tables. Including some already shelled lobster and crab and beef wellington bites. One table is completely piled high with presents. "Happy Birthday Star." Wolfgang croons as he steps forward to take her hand, kiss her knuckles and lead her deeper into the party so that the other guests can greet her.

Signe sings along with the others, a warm and welcoming smile on her features. After Wolfgang greets the starlet, she steps forward as well, to take her free hand and give it a warm squeeze before gracing the woman with a 'air-kiss' on each cheek. "Happy Birthday, Audrey," she echoes before releasing the woman's hand.

Audrey's hand goes to her chest, jaw dropping as if caught entirely by surprise. "Oh, you dears! You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble." She beams happily at all the trouble they've gone to, taking Wolfgang and Signe each by the hands to deliver those air-kisses to their cheeks. A few of the other guests receive the same warm greeting. "Thank you so. Oh, you are absolute sweethearts." She addresses all of those present, but her attention lingers primarily on Signe and Wolfgang as she squeezes between them, tugging each close to her with a hand around their waists. She allows herself to be led toward the cake, and makes a big show of filling her lungs, then blowing out the candles with her lips pursed almost like a kiss.

Wolfgang slips his wand out from it's hidey spot in his sleeve and he steps behind Audrey and lifts up her hands so they are on his so she can work some magic with him to get the first three slices cut off for the trio. Then the head of the band takes up a knife and starts to slice up the rest of the cake. He also passes around flutes of presecco so they all have a slice of cake and some bubbly. "To Miss Audrey Taylor. This last year has served her well, but this coming year will serve us all better. Because she is home once again." He toasts Audrey and he can't help but glance to the door that leads to the guest room that he's reserved only for her when he talk of home, even though Audrey's been staying at a posh hotel since she came back. Is that a hint maybe?

Signe applauds as the candles are blown out, and helps juggle the plates of cake as Wolfgang and Audrey slice them out with the help of his wand. Once they each have one in hand, she wraps one arm around Audrey again as the trio move away from the cake. "I do have to admit - I can take no credit for any of this. It's entirely Wolfgang's doing. I've been a little… preoccupied."

Audrey giggles softly at all the excitement. She reward Wolfgang's toast with a kiss to the cheek, showing no sign that she's caught his hint. Audrey leans into Signe, offering up a bite of her cake to the other woman, despite that she has her own. "Nonsense, Sydney. It wouldn't be a real celebration without your presence, you lovely woman."

Wolfgang takes a quaff of his bubbly to wash down a bit of cake and lifts his flute towards Signe this time. "Syd is now and Aunt. Her sister recently had a little girl." The crooner seems happy for the arrival and that Signe is so pleased, but to those that know him best, as in everyone in this room, kids aren't really his thing.

Signe takes the bite of cake she's offered - after having toasted the birthday girl, of course, and offers Audrey a broad smile. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world - you know that," she answers. At the mere mention of her niece, though, Signe's expression just lights up. "Beryl hasn't settled on a name yet - but she is the most darling, most amazing thing I have ever seen. She's just perfect. I think being an aunt is going to be marvelous - I am going to spoil that child rotten."

Audrey gasps dramatically. "A baby? Oh, that's wonderful! Is she gorgeous? Of course she's gorgeous, like her auntie. Oh, Sydney, congratulations…and to your sister, as well." You'd think Signe herself had just delivered the tyke. "You know, if you're looking for names to suggest, 'Audrey' would make a fine one, I think." She gives Signe a wink, clinking their glasses together.

Wolfgang admitedly goes a bit of glazed over at the baby talk. He eats his cake and a bit on the subtle side shepherds the cooing women closer to the piano until he sits down on the piano bench and put the plate and drink down on the ledge. His fingers tickle the ivories and he wasits for the girls to be mostly done with their cooing before he does a few notes that Signe no doubt recognizes as the beginning of the song they've been working on together for this very occasion.

"Absolutely gorgeous," Signe answers. "I am going to get a picture of the darling sooner or later - but I don't want to crowd Beryl." After another sip of her prosecco, Signe likewise sets her glass and plate down. She manuvers Audrey in next to Wolfgang as he starts fiddling about with the piano, and after his brief and understated intro, she starts to sing.

At words poetic, I'm so pathetic
That I always have found it best,
Instead of getting 'em off my chest,
To let 'em rest unexpressed,
I hate parading my serenading
As I'll probably miss a bar,
But if this ditty is not so pretty
But least it'll tell you
How great you are.

You're the top!
You're the Colosseum.
You're the top!
You're the Louvre Museum.
You're a melody from a symphony by Strauss
You're a Bendel bonnet,
A Shakespeare's sonnet,
You're Mickey Mouse.
You're the Nile,
You're the Tower of Pisa,
You're the smile on the Mona Lisa
I'm a worthless check, a total wreck, a flop,
But you know if I'm the bottom you're the top!

Towards the end of the verse, Signe purposefully misses her note and quite noticeably slides into it, as she looks around as if horrified to see if anyone had noticed the 'mistake.' It's at this point that Wolfgang's voice slides in, taking over the song.

I must say that, babe, you shine,
And I can feel after every line
A thrill divine
Down my spine.
Now gifted humans like Vincent Youmans
Might think that your song is bad,
But I got a notion
I'll second the motion
And this is what I'm going to add;

You're the top!
You're Mahatma Gandhi.
You're the top!
You're Napoleon Brandy.
You're the purple light
Of a summer night in Spain,
You're the National Gallery
You're Garbo's salary,
You're cellophane.
You're sublime,
You're turkey dinner,
You're the time, the time of a Derby winner
I'm a toy balloon that is fated soon to pop
But if, baby, I'm the bottom,
You're the top!

Audrey can sense what's coming, but she pretends at being oblivious. She offers up a look of confusion when she's sat down beside Wolfgang, and squeals with delight as Signe starts to sing. She leans into Wolfgang, nuzzling her cheek to his shoulder and just soaking up the song's praise. The ego that arrived this evening might just pale in comparison to the one that leaves.

As the song draws to a close, Audrey applauds for the duet. "Bravo! Marvelous! I'm so lucky to have such beautiful, talented people around me. This has got to be the best twentith birthday party I've ever had." She winks to the gathered guests as a rumble of chuckles approves of her little jest.

Wolfgang punctuates the end of the song with a kiss for Audrey. He grins that wolfish grin of his and nods his head gratefully to the rest who applaud. It is about then that the bulk of the crowd that are Wolfgang's band start to file by to give Audrey some more love and congratulations. But they've got to get downstairs and set up for later tonight. The Head Chef also must get back downstairs but not before making sure the buffets are all still hot and cold where they should be and will be enough to last unattended by him. She might love her crowd of beautiful and talented friends, but unfortunately they all live the show biz life and the population of the party is soon down to an intimate few. "What would you like to do Star? I know you don't want to open your presents… not til the very last." That same smile across his face proves he knows she knows he's jesting with her now. He full well knows she doesn't have that level of willpower against the power of presents!

After Wolfgang and Audrey's kiss, Signe slides in with a friendly embrace, her eyes flicking briefly to the mound of gifts as Wolfgang bring them up then back to Audrey again. She wets her lips from her glass of prosecco then remarks, "It does seem as if folks did bring a bauble or two with them today, didn't they?"

Audrey bids her party guests goodbye, blowing kisses as they go. When at last they are alone, her favourite subject is broached. "Pressies!" She exclaims as she bounces to her feet, giving Signe an impulsive hug and kiss on the cheek as she makes her way to the sofa to receive her gifts. "Come, my darlings. Shower me with material delights."

Wolfgang chuckles and shakes his head a little as he follows along to the table. His gift and Signe's gift are slide away from the pile and put on the arm of the sofa so they are reserved for the last. He might have let it slip as a suggestion for to receive things that are sort of house warming presents, things that she can add to any home to feel more at home. Fancy Toiletries, dresses, robes, the latest in kitchen appliances. All things that the Penthouse lacks in for Femenine Comfort.

Signe slides in next to her favorite pair, so she can watch and admire as all the gifts are opened. She carefully takes things after Audrey is done inspecting them, folding neatly where appropriate, and setting them aside. "This is very soft, isn't it?" she adds admiringly as she carefully folds a beautiful house robe.

"I could just curl up and die in that," Audrey purrs, apparently approving of the fabric. She squeals and coos over every little present. But her eyes keep shifting back to those that Wolfgang has stowed away. Every opened package is a step closer to those treasures. When she had worked her way through the mountain at last, she takes a heavy quaff of prosecco, and languidly extends an arm, pointing at the final gifts. "I want those."

Wolfgang playfully picks up his present and tucks it away inside of his jacket and teases, "Want what? Where?" He passes Signe her presents to Audrey, "Sydney first, she did a real good job picking these out." Signe gets a kiss and a wink, he of course wants to go last in the present giving.

A hint of color sneaks into Signe's features as the gifts are handed to her - one quite obviously a hatbox wrapped in tissues, but the other is a more general rectangular box that could contain any number of things. "Well. I hope I picked correctly," she responds, as she hands over the rectangular box first.

Audrey wastes no time prying open the box to reveal the daringly designed shoes within. She gasps in awe, lifing one of them up to examine the unusual design. "Sydney, these are incredible! Wherever did you find them?" She leans over to pull Signe into another embrace in gratitude.

Wolfgang grins and winks, he's all lounged back watching like a king with his arms stretched out along the back of the sofa and his legs crossed at the knees. "One more to go Star then the big finale." He tilts his head towards the hat box and perchs his present on his knee in such a wicked tease.

"A friend of mine went to Paris, actually - she's been studying costuming and coiture - but with the start of the war, she's back now. She met the man who designed those there. I have a pair of his shoes myself, but these ones seemed more… bold. More you," Signe answers, before offering over the hat box next.

Audrey gives Signe an adoring look as she takes the hat box, opening it up. Anyone who has known Audrey for more than a day knows her love of striking hats. "Oh. My. God. Sydney, you are a dream. This is gorgeous!" She immediately takes the hat from the box and sets it on her head, turning this way and that to model. "I love it! How does it look?"

Wolfgang mm mm mms with a little smirk at the sight of Audrey in her new hat, "Be still my heart. It all even goes with that simple frock you threw on for a little casual trip to the neighorhood." His smirk grows into a smug half grin. "You look so beautiful in black. But there's just a little something missing." He taps his chin with one hand while the other taps the present for her. "Maybe something with a bit of sparkle?" Because the diamond and emerald natrix watch and bracelet is just a 'bit of sparkle'. Understated taunting is what it is.

"Oh, it's perfect!" Signe says warmly, obviously both relieved and delighted that Audrey appreciates the gifts. "I'm so glad you like them." Leaning in, she gives the woman another one armed hug. "When I saw the hat, I thought of you immediately."

Noting that Wolfgang is not actually offering the present, even after taunting her about sparkles. The man risks losing fingers as she snatches the box away from him, ripping into the wrapping to reveal the gem-studded marvel inside. A hand goes to her mouth, and she looks up to each of them with wide eyes, glimmering with tears. She wraps the exquisite silver serpent around her wrist, utterly speechless. Then she opens her arms and once again pulls Signe and Wolfgang into a tight embrace. "Everything is wonderful, and I don't just mean the presents. You are both wonderful. Thank you."

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