week 2, thursday afternoon; PARTY TIME

[cherrypuncher]

[name a better way to increase morale than having parties. you can't, can you, which is at least part of the reason why Yuna has poured her heart and soul into making one happen. Materials are limited, but Yuna is all about arts and crafts: not only has she decked out the hotel dining room with flower bouquets and chains all along the tables and doorway, but she's made everyone party hats. They're pointy ones made of colorful construction paper and sometimes pom-poms or stickers with string so you can keep them secure on your head and if you don't wear one she'll be really sad because there are more than enough for everybody.

All of Yuna's friends (per her definition of "friend", you know how she is) have received invitations, hand-drawn and decorated with cute stickers, as have people Yuna has any reason at all to figure are Xion's friends (except the sheriff) (fuck him), but like. This is all very much happening in public; it won't be hard to stumble upon.

also there's definitely way too much fucking food because that's what you get for recruiting hannibal to cook and it's probably sitting out alongside like, some bowls of general store chips and shit yuna grabbed thinking they would be at all necessary, not realizing what she had wrought by asking hannibal for help

SO, ALL THAT ESTABLISHED



hap birth xion]

Comments

pre-party setup and shenanigans catchall toplevel

[cherrypuncher]

[FOR ANYONE WHO YUNA HAS MANAGED TO RECRUIT INTO HELPING HER SET UP guess who was up entirely too late writing out invitations last night. guess who is no less perky for it at all]

[sating]

[ You ask Hannibal to cook and oh will he cook. It's probably pretty over the top for what Yuna was expecting, but Hannibal will definitely be busily and contentedly working on cooking a fine spread for a birthday party. The menu includes&mdash

Prosciutto, Camembert and Fig Salad
Red Rice wrapped in Oak Leaves
Prime Rib Roast with Orange-Glazed Onions
Sweet Beets in Puff Pastry with Creme Fraiche and Ginger
Apple Tarts with Candied Orange Crust
Cheesecake in the Italian Fashion

So, yes. Fairly pretentious. What did you expect...

As Hannibal cooks, he'd be fairly happy for a sous-chef, though! If you want to help him cook, learn what he's doing, or just provide colorful commentary, he's definitely in the kitchen for all of the above. ]

[moraled]

[So he's...probably not going to spend much time at the party proper because he's a boring stick in the mud but

He'll at least help Yuna set up and lift heavy shit for her.

Whatever she needs doing to that extent.]

[cherrypuncher]

[her tiny self appreciates it...... there's not a whole lot of heavy lifting required, but this pink shorty does need some assistance pinning her flower chains up along the doorway and elsewhere where she can't reach, and it's nice to have an extra set of hands rearranging the tables and chairs.]

Thank you for helping me with these, Mister Barnham! Getting everything done's a lot easier with you here, I really appreciate it.

and for the birthday girl

[cherrypuncher]

[Xion has received an invitation, too, only hers just got shoved under her door early this morning and read "emergency hero club meeting! 12:30 in the dining room." With everything set up and 12:30 approaching, Yuna keeps poking her head out of the half-opened door and turning back to her collection of partygoers, whom she has been insisting put their hats on ever since their arrival.]

—Here she comes! [CLOSING THE DOOR BEHIND HER AND SCAMPERING UNDER A TABLE she has not actually told anyone else at all to hide. instructions weren't given to hide at any point, just to yell "suprise." she isn't turning off the lights. she's just under a table now] Get ready!

[ceded]

[ Honestly, Xion hasn't had the least idea about any of this. Even the hero club meeting where she got sent off on a wild goose chase didn't clue her in to what was happening.

No one ever does nice things for her, after all, so she hasn't really got a reason to expect them.

At least, until now.

Around 12:30 she checks the time and realizes she has somewhere to be, so she rushes down to the dining room in an oh no, I'm late! sort of flustered hurry. She slows when she approaches, finding the door to the room closed and blinking. That's kind of weird? Maybe Yuna just wanted the door closed for the meeting. Not thinking that much of it, she pulls open the door, also opening her mouth to speak--

--and just kind of. Stops in place, blinking. ]

Guys...?

[cherrypuncher]

Surprise!

[And Yuna BUSTS OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE TABLE surprisingly carefully, though, because she is not about to compromise this feast, throwing her arms up over her head. She's wearing her party hat, of course.]

Happy birthday, Xion!

hi bye

[insincerely]

[Birthday parties? Wtf??

... In multiple ways, really. Okay, so Shinnosuke knows what those are, but he hasn't been to one since he was, like, seven. He also has no interest in going to this one, so bye, ignoring that invitation. No one should be surprised.

That said, he's curious to see if they're honestly throwing a birthday party in the midst of murder, because seriously, wtf. What's the?? Point???? But it's why he'll be peeking in to see what's going on, if nothing else.

All right, stupid party confirmed, now it's time to get the hell out of there????]

[robitussin]

[Nope. Someone is absolutely grabbing for his sleeve when it looks like he's about to leave, giving him the most serious stare.]

Hey. A word, really quick?

[insincerely]

[He scowls (and tries to slap Natalie's hand away), because ugggggh.]

If that word involves, "Please stay," then nope.

[ceded]

[ GUESS WHO'S FINDING HIM SHORTLY AFTER NATALIE POUNCES ON HIM

That's right, this super ultra happy pure who looks over the moon at Shinnosuke's presence ]

Shinnosuke! You came!

[ can you say no to this face ]

[insincerely]

[He definitely can. Sorry, Xion.]

Yes, and now I'm leaving. It's my bedtime, you know?

[ceded]

[ SO ANYWAY after the initial surprise and absolutely bursting into startled and grateful tears Xion is here, talking to everyone who came and trying not to cry some more and smiling the absolute biggest anyone will have seen from her. She seems ... truly happy, at least for this moment.

You will probably either get your hand held or just a straight up hug if she spots you so get ready.

Also she is definitely wearing a party hat. She may try to give you one if you do not already have one. Please wear a hat. ]

Thank you for coming!

[sating]

[ Hannibal is not wearing a hat when Xion approaches, but that's probably because he's been cooking all day ok... He has to be practical. But if she offers him one, he'll definitely take it, though he doesn't put it on immediately. He won't be rude and refuse, but he also has aesthetic to keep up with. ]

Of course, Xion. Yuna had an excellent idea, so I was glad I could contribute.

[ He leans a bit closer, as if confiding a secret with her, though the gesture is largely wry. ]

Happy birthday, even if it's a bit belated.

[ceded]

[ OF COURSE HE'S GETTING A HAT WHAT DO YOU TAKE HER FOR

She doesn't seem to mind that he hasn't put it on, though. As long as he's got one, that's enough for her.

Once he leans down, Xion's expression shifts from just pure happiness back into i'm-going-to-cry happiness, and without much warning, she steps forward enough to allow her to wrap her arms around him, pretty tight. ]

Thank you, Dr. Lector! Thank you so much...!

[ She won't linger; when she steps back, she seems a little embarrassed of herself, if not regretful that she did it. ]

I can't wait to try what you made. It all looks amazing!

[dubiousalignment]

Of course! Everyone deserves to celebrate their birthday with friends.

[Birthday parties? Those are a thing? Tarvek didn't really know, he had never been in one]

I hope you have fun during the next year...especially once you're out of this town.

[ceded]

[ That makes her expression do something funny. She smiles, broadly, but it's kind of sad and kind of touched and kind of a lot of things. ]

Thanks, Tarvek. I hope... we can all have a great year!

[robitussin]

It's nothing.

[She came to her birthday despite not caring at all, clearly, please let her live.

As it is, she just stares at the party hat for a long few seconds before slowly shaking her head.]

Uh, I'm good.

[ceded]

[ BEAMING. She's so, so, so happy Natalie came. ]

Oh, come on! It's fun! [ Hoooolding out that hat, looking so hopeful... ]

[hydrokinetics]

[Hats are not his thing, so she gets an amused, odd smile while she holds one up. Instead, he's skirting around the issue and slipping his hands subtly into his pockets.]

Yeah, of course. Yuna and Mr. Lecter did a great job getting everything together. It's kind of nice having something to celebrate isn't it?

[moraled]

[He's not going to stay well, but it seems...well, wrong to dismiss the one opportunity for positivity here.

He nods to her.]

Good day, Miss Xion, and well wishes to you.

[No hugs though. He's absconding right after this.]

[tightly]

[ Chane is only popping in to wish Xion a happy birthday. Honestly, being surrounded by loud, energetic adolescents sounds downright exhausting for her, and she has no wish to prolong such a thing.

That doesn't mean she is incapable of looking pleasant, however.

Just... mostly incapable! ]

Happy Birthday, Xion.

[ there, duty done, can she go now ]

[stentorian]

[He just...walks into the dining room and stares at this entire...travesty. Is this the sheriff's idea of a gag or a depraved celebration of what they were doing here?

Manfred isn't leaving, he had been feeling peckish. But uh. Wow.

Maybe he'll just help himself to the food and leave. Please ambush him, by all means.]

[cherrypuncher]

[guess what, it's neither of those things, it's just THIS BRAT who is definitely all about the ambushing, cheerfully waving when she sees him]

Mister von Karma, hi! You can come have some lunch if you want!

[ceded]

[ IT'S THE MAN FROM THE LIBRARY HELLO MAN FROM THE LIBRARY ]

Hi! Did you want to come for the party? [ smile smile ]