BIRTHDAY BASH OF THE AGES (aka Squall's Birthday Party)

[sorcery_fledgling]

[It's the 23rd of August. And one particular Lion is turning 18 today. You know what that means.

BIRTHDAY PARTY!

It's here at last! If you're up on the island near the bay at around 8 PM, you'll see all these damn tiki lamps all over the place. There's also a huge tent set up with food set up underneath it, mainly appetizers and snacky foods. Also, drinks! No booze, although if any is brought Rinoa will tolerate it so long as it doesn't get out of hand.

The main entry on the food table are the three cakes set up, all in the shape of Griever. One is large while the other two are smaller. So there's plenty of cake to go around, thanks to Johnny!

Right next to the food tent is the battery-powered boombox which is blasting all kinds of music. There's a nice stack of CDs on the stand with it, so pick out any music you like and feel free to blare it!

And last but not least, there's a beach volleyball net set up for anyone to play, whether it's one on one or in teams. Or, really, if you just want to smack the ball around. Try not to lose it in the ocean though :(

Like Rinoa said in her post, everyone is invited. She opened it to the whole bubble for a reason. So come on by, even if you don't have a present for Squall, or even know him. Just remember to pester him and say happy birthday~ at your own peril]

((OOC: It's up! Everyone tag in! I'll be putting up threads shortly for the different sections of the party. Seriously though, don't feel intimidated if you don't know the party thrower (Rinoa) or the VIP (Squall). This is a good chance to mingle and build CR, especially for newcomers. Feel free to have them just... wander up to the island and see what all the noise is about.))

Comments

also helping rinoa c:

[teradine]

[A certain pink-haired woman has showed up early to the extravaganza. She doesn't really know the etiquette of these types of events, but she does know that Rinoa requested help-- so here she is, looking for her.

Or Squall.

Feel free to bump into her in the meantime! ...Otherwise she'll likely be distracted by the beach.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

Argilla! [There's Rinoa, hurrying over to her.] Hey, thanks for coming by to help!

[teradine]

[Ah, there she is! Waving as she approaches--]

Of course. It's a special occasion, after all.

[She can tell it's important to her. But where should they start...?

Argilla looks around...]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Rinoa has to circumvent her want to chat. They had an hour to go and lots to do.]

First things first! Do you want to help me set up the volleyball net?

[teradine]

[...

She freezes for a moment at the mention of volleyball. She can't help but dwell on those same bits and pieces of memory as before, of the beach, of the sand--

But there's no need to dwell on them now. They're really here, and Argilla can tell Rinoa is in a rush, so she nods quickly.]

My pleasure. Is this it?

[Argilla spots the net not too far away, and she's already walking over to it.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[She catches that, Argilla's moment of hesitation. Whatever it is passes quickly, but Rinoa tries to make a mental note of it to ask later.]

Yeah, that's it.

[She walks over with her to it and grabs one of the poles.]

Oh, you probably don't know what volleyball is, do you?

[teradine]

[She grabs the other and begins to lead them towards the sandy beach, where she knows the net belongs.]

I... remember holding one before.

[...Though that doesn't necessarily mean she understands a whole lot about it. Especially considering her memories of that day, whenever it took place, are still vague.

She remembers hitting it the ball, though...or rather, failing to.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[That comes as a shock to Rinoa. Volleyball was fun, so how had it made its way to the Junkyard? Then again, Serph had been playing volleyball in his dream some months back, so clearly they had been exposed to it.]

So you've seen one. I'm amazed, considering what I've heard about your world.

[teradine]

[If none of the others have memories of Karma City, it only stands to reason that Rinoa only knows about the Junkyard. So Argilla isn't really surprised at her reaction...

Heh. There's a smile, as she finds a suitable place for the net and sets down her pole.]

I'm a little amazed myself. [Both that she still has these memories, and the fact that they aren't clearer by now. But oh well...] But I suppose some memories never truly go away.

[Even if you're not entirely sure when you've experienced it-- or if you did at all.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

It sounds like a good memory to have at least.

[Her pole is set down next to Argilla's. Taking a breath, she wipes her brow.]

Here's to hoping there'll be another good memory here, right?

[teradine]

[She's very happy to have those vague memories, because she knows she's happy in them... so she'll definitely agree here.

She takes Rinoa putting down the pole as a sign that this is a good place for the net. And imitating her, she'll wipe her brow as well.]

We can do more than hope.

[They'll make sure of it.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

Right! We'll make it a night to remember. After all, it's Squall's birthday, and this is probably the first birthday party you've ever been to, right?

[All the more reasons to make this a good night. Meanwhile, Rinoa's lifting up her pole and starts shoving it into the sand, moving it side to side so it can slide in easier.]

[teradine]

[Argilla observes her technique. Although she's set down her pole, she knows they can't be right next to each other, so she'll walk a few feet a way, properly stretching out the net as she does so. She will do the same thing.]

It is. [She raises her voice a little to make up for the distance.] I can't wait.

[...Hrm. Well, the net looks good to her now! Is it stretched out enough...?]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Rinoa nods to her, satisfied with how the net's been set up. Phew, it's hot, and the sand is starting to feel a little warm under her feet, but at least the net's up now.]

There. Now, what else is there to do...

[Looking around for a moment, she then spots the myriad of tiki torches.]

Oh, yeah! We gotta set up the torches before it gets dark! [The lack of running electricity - or even a power source - on the island left her with no choice but to use fire light.]

[teradine]

[...oh!

She walks back over to Rinoa, just as she's looking over at the unlit torches. They're...quite attention-grabbing, despite the lack of fire. Argilla can't help but stare, too.]

All right. Where do you want them?

[...It's kind of like Rinoa's the leader today, huh? Odd, almost, but she can't complain.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Squall expected to see at least half of Embryon at the party, so he wasn't surprised at all to see her there. He wasn't however, expecting her to be early.]

Argilla.

[Hello.]

[teradine]

[Whoops. Likewise, she hadn't exactly expected him early, either... she almost feels like she's been caught red-handed.

Or something.]

Squall.

[Hello right back.]

Come to help with your own celebration?

[She doesn't see why he can't.]

[unshelledbullet]

Yeah.

[He wanted to see for himself how it was going to turn out and if there were any last minute problems to be solved, be there to fix them.]

I wanted to see how it turned out before everyone arrives to make a mess.

[teradine]

[She nods; although it doesn't seem like Squall has too much faith in them. He speaks as though making a mess was their very intention for coming here today. Really.]

Rinoa has worked very hard. I'm sure you'll find everything to your liking.

[unshelledbullet]

[Yes, Argilla. Messes will be made. That's what happens at parties.]

Everything I've seen so far looks good.

[To be honest, he's not sure what it is he likes in a party. Every party that he remembers attending was either a dull or distinctly unfun affair. Squall does think the tiki torches are a little silly, but what else are they going to do?]

[teradine]

[...Rinoa may have gone a bit overboard in her enthusiasm. But if she has, it's not Argilla who is going to notice. Especially when Squall has just said he thinks everything's just peachy.]

Excellent.

[She's glad to hear that, considering she helped.]

In that case... happy birthday. [Though it is kind of early since the party hasn't started yet but details--!!

She is totally reaching over to a nearby table where she's not-so-carefully hidden a beautiful orange tea rose.

And she is giving it to you.]

[unshelledbullet]

[Oh. A flower. Serph gave him seeds, but now he's getting an actual plant. It's kind of weird - flowers are what you give to girls, right? Still, he accepts it without hesitation.]

Thank you.

[teradine]

[It's a pretty flower. Argilla is keeping one for herself, just like it, and she hardly thinks it should be limited to just girls like her.

She nods to say "you're welcome," though it's hard to tell whether he likes it or not.]

The other guests should be arriving soon.

[...She studies his expression carefully looking for a tell. But it won't bother her that much if he doesn't show one.]

[unshelledbullet]

[He puts the tea rose down carefully near the other presents he's gotten, in a place where it hopefully won't get bothered by partygoers.]

Better make sure everything is ready then.

[teradine]

[She nods. Most of the food has already been brought up, too, so there's a long table with everything Rinoa could think of. The jewel in the crown, of course, sits at the center of it all.]

Would you like to see the cake?

[Two more cakes sit at the ends, too, but they're smaller. She amends her statement:]

...Actually, there are more than one.