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

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.

[robitussin]

[She doesn't want to cause a scene, so she lets her hand be slapped away, but.

She's also making sure to keep her voice lowered so Xion or Yuna don't overhear.]

I can promise you that neither of those words are going to be involved. Literally one minute of your time, dude.

[insincerely]

Good. [...] Then shoot.

[Might as well deal with this now, rather than later.]

[robitussin]

If she notices you come in and then just walk out, that's not going to make her feel great. If you're too busy to take one hour out of your day to not be an asshole, then you're going to at least go over there and wish her a happy birthday, and I will consider not decking you in the face the next time I see you.

[She makes sure to speak casually, committed to making it look conversational for everyone else.]

Got it?

[insincerely]

[He holds his hands up.]

Actually, I think I'd rather just take the punch in the face.

[Yes, the idea of saying, "Happy birthday" to someone is that hard for him.]

[robitussin]

...Wow.

[that's all she's got for a moment.]

Even I'm not that bad.

[insincerely]

Yup. I'm a pretty horrible person. I thought that much was obvious already.

[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]

No it's not.

[ Disbelieving. She'll circle right around him, blocking his exit and grinning ]

Come on, don't you at least want to try the food?

[insincerely]

[...]

I refuse to eat food prepared by someone else in this place.

[#paranoid]

[ceded]

[ Way to kill the mood, asshole. Xion pauses, her expression blanking out into surprise. Then she frowns, though it's a tiny thing. ]

... I guess I can't blame you, even if I can promise it's safe.

[ Xion sighs and bows to inevitability, stepping to the side. She's still smiling, but now there's something a little sad about it. ]

I won't keep you if you really want to leave.

[insincerely]

[No problem, it's what he does.]

Parties aren't my thing. Sorry.

[Though with his smile, as he takes a step to leave, it's hard to tell how sincere that apology is.]