Two-year anniversary

[codenameathos]

The safehouse wasn't supposed to be used for celebrations, but it had been empty and unneeded by anyone in the service, so no one at Five would be the wiser. And even if they were...

The three of them had been drinking for about an hour or so, and when Aramis called for a speech, Athos got to his feet and raised his glass of single malt, clearing his throat and looking a lot more solemn than he felt. He let the silence stretch, and expectation rise, for a few long seconds, and then only said, "It's been a good two years," a small smile hanging at the corner of his lips.

He downed the rest of his drink, and grabbed the bottle for a refill.

Comments

[codenamearamis]

Aramis turned in his seat to face Porthos, reclining casually. “Where should we start?” he asked, like they were discussing plans for an upcoming mission, or maybe even the weather. He took an almost idle sip of his drink.

[codenameporthos]

"Dunno," Porthos said thoughtfully, turning to face Aramis more directly and swirling his drink. "I'm thinking we look for weaknesses, first. What are his weaknesses?

"Great hair, maybe that?"

[codenameathos]

There was a hint of a faint smile playing on Athos's lips, but that was the only sign he was following the conversation at all. He had reclined in his armchair and seemed entirely focused on his drink.

[codenamearamis]

Aramis looked at Athos, considering him a moment before returning his attention to Porthos, “I’ll give it good, not great. My hair is better.”

[codenameporthos]

"But never weak," Porthos pointed out with a 'nailed it!' kind of expression well in place.

[codenameathos]

The expression Athos turned on Porthos was one best described as long-suffering, although it was tainted with a hint of fondness, the sort reserved for the two men seated mere feet from him. But instead of replying anything, he took yet another drink from his glass.

[codenamearamis]

Aramis grinned and pointed at Porthos in a silent 'touché'. "Alright, so we have good hair then. Terrible at speeches. What else?" He took few a thoughtful sips of his drink. "He has good taste in teammates, which, generally, wouldn't be bad, but, in this case, it means he's saddled himself with us."

[codenameporthos]

"We're at once his greatest blessing and curse," Porthos agreed, raising his glass again. "I can drink to that."

[codenameathos]

Athos raised the bottle he had just picked up in a silent toast - truer words had never been spoken - before pouring himself some more whisky.

[codenamearamis]

Aramis raised his glass as well and then downed its contents. Holding his glass out to Athos, he said, "So, now that we've laid all your greatest faults bare, why don't we really get this celebration started? I brought a deck of cards."

[codenameporthos]

"Brilliant," Porthos said, also holding out his drained glass. "I've got a few new tricks up my sleeve. Ah--metaphorically speaking..."

[codenameathos]

"I'm sure," Athos dryly replied, as he poured both of them a very, very healthy measure of whisky.

[codenamearamis]

Aramis lifted his ass off his chair to dig the deck of cards out of his back pocket. Without looking, he tossed them to Porthos and asked, "So, what do we want to play?"