Billy Batson's Big Birthday Bash

[sayshazam]

If it had been anyone else Billy totally would have begged off hanging out with them after work that night. He had school the next day and was a little tired but he'd have to be mostly dead before he cancelled on his girlfriend. Even then he'd probably do his best to make it to her, especially with everything she was going through right now. She'd told him to just let himself into her place, which gave him a good idea of how she was feeling.

Sliding off Naga as he arrived at her apartment building he sent the polar bear dog off to do whatever it did when not hanging around with Billy. Eat fish and bother Ellie, probably. Izzy had a lot of black clothes and it turned out polar bear dog fur was kind of a pain to get off of fabric so he figured .

Heading up to her apartment he fought back a yawn as he adjusted his backpack. It wasn't even that late but maybe he could just crash at Izzy's place tonight and head straight to school from here. It would definitely save him some time.

Testing the door he found it unlocked and pushed it open. Anyone else he would have definitely said something about how dangerous it was but if someone broke into Izzy's apartment to rob her then they were totally the ones in danger.

"Babe, you in?" he called out, frowning when the lights weren't on. That didn't seem like a great thing, if she was here with the lights off. "I brought some food from work if you're hungry..."

[ooc: Tag Billy by shouting "surprise" at him or hit him up after that while he's wandering around the party. Feel free to tag each other too.]

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[seveninches]

Isabelle has felt like something of a ghost the last week or so, withdrawn and transparent and going through the motions. For the most part she hasn't left her apartment, though she'd been surprised by the amount of people who tracked her down. Max is a red raw wound on her heart and she doesn't know if it will ever heal, but Magnus had been right about one thing. There's nothing she can do about it now. She didn't save him back home and so she can't save him from Darrow. Instead, when she finally gets out of bed and out of her pyjamas, she wears Shadowhunter mourning clothes and tries her best to remember him, instead.

She's been so wrapped up in her own head that in truth, she almost forgot that Billy's birthday was coming up. It had come to her with a startled realisation two days before, and Isabelle had decided that she would do better. Billy has been amazingly supportive and he deserves better than a girlfriend who refuses to leave her apartment, especially on his birthday. So, she calls around to all of their friends, even texts Magnus, and starts arranging a party.

Parties are what Isabelle does best and after the beginning of organising it she falls into a rhythm, finds her stride. It's easier to paint on a smile if she can focus on something else, move towards a goal. So there are decorations and food and drink and music, and even if she didn't have enough time to figure out a venue besides her little apartment, she thinks it will be okay. Billy isn't the type for grand things anyway, so she thinks it will suit him better. She even gets a small kick out of managing to keep it a secret, the first thing that has made her happy since she woke up.

She uses the time that he's at work to put the finishing touches on the place and dresses up properly, making herself look extra nice to make up for everything else. There's a small gift for him in her bedroom, but she'll save that for later. For now, everyone is hiding in various places around her apartment, and when he walks in Isabelle flicks the light switch, jumps out from behind the couch and beams at him.

"Happy birthday!"

[sayshazam]

"Shaaaaaaaaaaait?1" Billy shouted, jumping back when the light turned on and people totally jumped out and shouted at him, just moments away from turning into Shazam before he realized he wasn't being attacked and corrected himself.

The first thing he noticed was how happy Izzy looked. Billy was pretty sure he hadn't seen her look that happy since she'd woken up. He was so focused on that he totally didn't realize until a moment later that the party was for him.

"Wha- what? How did you know?" he asked, looking really confused for a moment before he started grinning. No one had ever thrown him a surprise birthday party before. For a moment he was kind of overwhelmed that he had someone that cared so much about him, that there he had friends that would actually want to show up to his birthday party.

[seveninches]

She hadn't thought about that, about the very real possibility that he would turn into Shazam. It makes sense, she thinks. She'd be on edge too if she came in to find all the lights off and then people jumping and screaming at her. But not everyone in this room knows his secret superhero identity, so it's a good thing he seems to realise what's going on at the last minute.

"I know everything," she tells him, which isn't true but sounds better than the truth. Really, she'd seen it on his ID card when he'd left it at her apartment once, and the date had stuck in her mind. It's a good thing she'd remembered on time, because despite the initial confusion Billy seems really happy.

"Sorry it's not anything huge," she says with a shrug, leaning forward to kiss his cheek. The reasoning is better left unsaid.

[sayshazam]

"Are you kidding? There's more people here than all of my other birthday's combined," Billy said. That totally made him wonder what Izzy considered "huge" for a birthday though, especially since hers was coming up soon. Hopefully Alec and Magnus would help him plan hers? Would she even want one?

"This is... this is really amazing," he said, meaning it. No one had ever done anything like this for him before and the fact that Izzy had meant a lot to him, maybe more than she could know. Even with everything going on with her she'd done this for him.

[high_warlock]

When the surprise was over and Billy had begun to socialize with his guests, receive his gifts and well-wishes, Magnus maneuvered his way to Isabelle's side. He held two martini glasses filled with a softly glowing purple liquid and offered one out to her.

"Cheers to a well done party, my dear?" He had let her grieve in peace, had not tried to disturb her with texts or calls of concern, but that worry was there. Despite her cheerful appearance now, she wore white, and Magnus knew very well that meant the pain of the loss of Max was still smarting.

[seveninches]

Isabelle takes the glass that Magnus hands her, for once not really caring what's in it. With Magnus it could be anything, but Isabelle takes a large sip without question. This party had seemed a good idea at the time, but Max keeps threatening to intrude around the edges, and she's trying desperately to keep her smile on. She needs to, for Billy. He's having a good time and she doesn't want to ruin that, not on his birthday.

"I hope no one expected anything less," she answers. There was probably every reason to suspect she wouldn't be able to put this party together, but Isabelle does not allow weakness where possible, especially when it comes to putting on a party. The only allowance she's given herself are the white mourning clothes, which she knows Magnus will see and understand, but knows he won't comment on, either.

[theyoungdetective]

Swinging to the party was probably not the most kosher idea, but he had to go with it after realizing that he was running late and even taking his bike there would run the risk of arriving the same time as Billy. Tim has zero excuses for his coming to Isabelle's apartment without spoiling the surprise. He barely knows her as is, with the longest of his interactions with her being masked.

He changes hastily on the rooftop and, after a quick double check to make sure he has the right one, slides down to the window to knock.

"Sorry for the unconventional entrance, but I think I saw Naga on the way here. I didn't want to come in at the same time."

[seveninches]

The lights are off and Isabelle is crouched behind the couch, waiting patiently for Billy. People are in hiding all over her tiny apartment and this had been her idea, but it has put her a little bit on edge. The quiet gives her too much time to think, too much time to risk lapsing back into her own head, and she's trying desperately to focus on the door, to focus on the surprise.

And then someone knocks at the window and Isabelle's head whips around, startled. Billy could be coming up the stairs any minute, so she quickly twists the latch and opens it to let Tim inside, hurrying him. He looks different without the mask, she thinks, but that would make sense, she supposes.

"Shh!" she hisses at him, dragging him down behind the couch next to her once he's inside the window. "He'll be here any minute."

[deflectere]

Alec had gone back and forth on going to Billy's birthday party. He still wasn't in the best of moods and he didn't really want to be around tons of people. But, Billy was one of his friends that wouldn't ask and he wanted to support his sister if this was something she'd organized and was going to make her happy.

So, he was here. He stayed quiet while the shouting and surprise had happened but he'd managed a smile in Billy's direction, at least. He looked surprised which meant Isabelle had done her job well.

Now that the party was moving along, he'd tucked himself against a wall, turning a water glass around in his fingers and trying desperately not to think too much about anything but this party.

[sayshazam]

"If you left I'd cover for you," Billy said. He was glad that Alec was here but he was pretty sure his friend didn't want to be. Even without knowing his brother was dead Alec probably wouldn't really want to be at the party.

"I mean, I'm totally happy you came but I won't be upset if you left. I'll just tell Izzy there was a monster attack or something."

[deflectere]

"I'm fine," he said, straightening up once Billy got closer. "It's fine. No need to cover for me on your birthday. I'm really okay. And if you tell Iz there was a monster attack, she'll want to come along."

He couldn't quite muster a smile but he nodded to try and reassure Billy.

"How's it feel being older? Any different?"

[high_warlock]

Magnus had been genuinely surprised when Alec had agreed to attend the party, and then genuinely grateful when he had actually walked in the door to Izzy's apartment. A part of him screamed to take this at face value, not get his hopes up, but the quieter, stronger voice filled him with hope. Maybe this was the beginning of the end of his grieving.

That Alec ended up holding up a wall with a glass of water didn't faze Magnus. It was reassuring. But he approached with caution all the same, careful of whatever mood Alec currently found himself in.

"Whenever you feel like leaving, we can." It was an offer he would have made at any party, really.

[deflectere]

"I'm fine," Alec told him with a shake of his head. He glanced around the party, eyes falling on the various smiles and laughter that were happening and wondered if he'd ever be able to get back there. He'd never been a huge on smiling or laughing but they happened.

Now, he didn't think he could have smiled if even Magnus asked him. He licked his lips and looked down at the water in his glass.

"I don't need to go anywhere." He planned to stay right where he was, keeping an eye on Isabelle and attempting civility with anyone who approached. "Thank you, though. It's all right, we can stay."

[high_warlock]

Magnus had expected to go to the party alone. That Isabelle was throwing a party heartened him enough to attend, hopeful that at least one Lightwood was coming to grips with the tragic news they had been subjected to. He wanted to support Izzy in that, and if attending a party was what was required, then so be it.

Plus there was Billy and all who he very much liked and cared about and would defend with his last breath and whatever. The birthday boy was important, too.

The surprise over and done, Magnus mingled here and there, sipping at a drink that was most definitely not on offer at the buffet of food, and generally tried to have a good time. And not get drunk. That last one was the hard part.

[sayshazam]

Billy was pretty sure that Magnus was here mostly because Alec was here who was mostly here because Izzy was throwing the party. Still, it was cool that he was dating someone who had good friends. Plus, Billy liked Magnus even if it was sometimes a lot to be around someone who was so... larger than life. Or at least larger than Billy's life.

"Hey, that's for coming," Billy said, giving Magnus a smile. He was pretty sure since everything wasn't totally covered in glitter and bright colors and stuff that Magnus didn't also plan the party.

[high_warlock]

While Magnus had not had a hand in planning the party, he was of course practically dripping glitter as usual. Eventually, most everything in Isabelle's apartment would end up with a thin sheen of glitter, including Billy himself.

"Of course. Seeing you shit your pants was great entertainment." He grinned. "For a young man of your power, your reflexes kind of suck."

[and_survive]

She hadn't entirely decided, still, how mad she was at Billy for keeping the superhero thing to himself. On the one hand, she got it. Superheroes had secret identities, that was how it worked. She read comics, she knew the game.

On the other hand, he had cool as shit superpowers and he'd kept them from her.

On the other other hand, then he'd done the opposite of that, so that was a bunch of points in his favor.

No matter how you looked at it, though, she wasn't going to skip out on his birthday party. And not just because there was cake. Friends were friends, and people had secrets, it was how people worked. It didn't make them not your friends any more.

Mostly the cake, if anyone asked, though.

[sayshazam]

"Hey, thanks for coming," Billy said. He was still kinda surprised that people actually wanted to show up and he figured that might be more because of Izzy than him, but he didn't think Ellie knew Izzy very well so she was probably here mostly for Billy.

Which was nice. He liked Ellie, even if she was constantly hitting him. That was pretty much how he imagined having a sister would be though, so it wasn't too bad.

[and_survive]

"Hey, I'm not saying no to cake," Ellie said, but smiling a little all the same. They hadn't exactly had proper birthday parties -- or what she now thought of as proper birthday parties, now that she had the comparison -- in the Quarantine Zone. It was a good thing to be able to do. "Happy birthday, old man."

[theyoungdetective]

Tim was running late from still working on his gift for Billy. He barely felt presentable for a party, looking what he feels is his nerdiest yet in his glasses and uncut shag pulled in a stump of a ponytail, his sweater barely hiding the costume he swung to the party in his rush.

But he worked hard on his gift and wanted to be in the surprise, so everyone would have to deal with Tim looking far from the polished rich kid airs he tries to maintain.

"Happy birthday, Billy!"

[sayshazam]

"Hey, thanks," Billy said, giving a small smile as he ran a hand through his hair. He didn't know what to say besides 'thanks', which didn't seem enough. There were more people here at this birthday party than he'd had at his other parties combined. The fact that people cared enough to show up meant a lot.

"I'm glad you could come. Uh, even if I didn't know that anyone was going to be here."

[theyoungdetective]

"Wouldn't miss it. Though, honestly? I just barely made it in through the window before you got in. I had to take the alternate route here, since I was afraid I'd run into you at the door. Didn't, uh, get a chance to properly change from my work clothes."

His voice drops to a whisper.

"I'm still suited up under this," Tim admits, tugging at his stained sweater. He eyes the dirrection of the bathroom.

[behindmothersback]

Even after so many years in Darrow, Father, birthday parties still feel odd. But I'd not miss celebrating with an acquaintance. A friend, even. I may not know Billy as well as the others who happily shouted his name (which is even more baffling to me, I'd be terrified) but I do like him. But after the initial shouting and cheering, I fade to the sides, leaving my gift, an illustrated book of fantastical creatures - none like Naga but beautiful - on a table.

I'm not really sure what to do with myself now.

[sayshazam]

"Hey, thanks for coming."

Billy knew it was only polite to make an effort to try and say hi to everyone that had come but he was pretty lucky that he actually liked everyone who came and liked talking to them. He didn't know Eleanor super well but he liked her. Billy liked that she was quiet and different, but in a good way.

[behindmothersback]

"I was happy to. I didn't know your friends even knew we were acquainted, unless Magnus was making the guest list. He likes to invite me to things even if I don't know the hosts. He thinks I need to get out more." I probably shouldn't have said that, it sounds rather... desperate, doesn't it. Every time I come to something like this, I should feel better, more at ease after so long.

Maybe I'll never really get over it. "Sorry, that sounded odd, I imagine."