A Birthday Boy

[onebetter]

Who: James, Keith and the people invited to James' birthday party (Toki, Ana, Adelaide, Nana, Ruby, Nadia, Allura & Yuya!)
When: August 13th (Keith part), August 18th (Party)
What: James' birthday (spent at home in Arizona) & James' Soleil birthday party, spent at a Café de la Lune in Soleil.
Warnings: None for party, mentions of NSFW in Keith & James', though anything explicit will be moved off-comm.

[ All people listed above will have received a text message on August 15th. ]

Hey there!
I'm currently out of the country, but my birthday passed recently and I'd like to celebrate with my friends a little once I return home. Are you free on August 18th? I'd love to get a group together and go down to Café de la Lune for the afternoon. It'll be my treat.

No worries if you're not free that day, but I'd love to see you there!

[ On the actual day of, everyone will find that James has reserved the biggest table in the café so everyone can fit comfortably. He's already ordered a few pastries for everyone and is more than willing to order more. James is pretty much beaming. Also his toad is here. Just sitting on his shoulder. Occasionally being fed bits of cake from a special toad-reserved spoon. ]

Thank you all for coming! If I'm honest, I actually had a bit of trouble making friends when I came here. That was new to me. I'm all the more happy to have met all of you. You made me look forward to coming back to France after vacation.

((Feel free to post open top levels and just chit-chat with one another / interrupt conversations, as it tends to happen at group tables. Also no pressure to tag in, anyone who doesn't will just be seen as having been busy that day and not as having skipped his party, haha.))

Comments

Threadhopping welcome!

[quintessent]

[Allura is here, dressed in her sunday best and accompanied by four freshly bathed mice, who occasionally sitting in her lap, getting fed secret bites of her meal, but also inevitably checking out what other animal companions are here. (See: taking a nap on Cosmo's fur if the puppo is present.)

She does get nervous, however, when she sees the other gifts that others are bringing. She brought one too, but it's in the form of a bouquet of pink flowers (native to the Outlands). It suddenly feels a little out of place compared to the boxes that others are bringing, but she still gives it with a smile.]

Congratulations on your [Hm. She doesn't know how old he is.] Birth Anniversary, James. It seems there is a lot to celebrate for you recently.

[Compared to everyone else, she still feels pretty new around here, but she's grateful for the friendship.]


A silly bonus extra prompt if anyone wants it:
[This cafe has a lot of good things, but the best thing of all: milkshakes. Allura ordered her first on a whim and after the first sip it disappeared in about 5 seconds flat. Since then, she's been varying between staring forlornly at her empty glass, and glancing (lustfully?) at another milkshake nearby, whether it belongs to someone at the table, or one nearby.

She.... really wants another one. But she has no money and she doesn't want to abuse James' offer to treat.]

MILKSHAKE

[marmoron]

[Keith's staying on the quiet side since social gatherings just tend to make him feel a little awkward, and he doesn't even have the benefit of having Cosmo around because Toki was invited... which is fine, but it means he's doing a lot of thumb twiddling under the table.

While others are engrossed in conversation, he can't help but notice that Allura seems hella distracted by his milkshake of all things. Instinctively he pulls it closer towards him, eyebrow raised.]

[quintessent]

[She doesn't notice that Keith notices her longing stares until he's pulling it closer, and her eyes dart up, catching the suspicious look he's giving her.

She pouts and adverts her gaze, instead suddenly getting very interested in the condensation on her empty glass and she draws a halfhearted doodle on the side of it.

Why you gotta be this way Keith. Denying her things that she hasn't even voiced yet.]

[marmoron]

[The reaction mostly confuses him more. Does she or does she not want milkshake? Was this all just some weird indirect way of getting his attention? Whatever. Outland Princesses probably have some different... code of social conduct or something.

He moves his glass back where it was, then peers over towards her.]

What are you drawing?

[quintessent]

[You can't just ask someone for their food when they're obviously still eating it! She's trying to be polite.

But then again, Keith is moving the glass away from him again. Did she misinterpret his behavior?]

Ah. It's nothing. [Gingerly she spins the glass around to show him. It's a face. Maybe? Between her lack of skill and the quickly dripping condensation, it doesn't look like much of anything.

But more importantly:] How do you like your milkshake?

[marmoron]

[Yeah that looks nothing like a face, but he also has just enough sense to know not to disagree. At least verbally. His expression is a bit obviously perplexed as he stares at the side of her glass.]

... I see.

[For better or for worse though, she's changed the subject and he looks down at his own glass.]

It's good. Why?

[quintessent]

[That's fine, she knows her art skills live much to be desired.]

It is exquisite.

[Said with a bit more emphasis than is probably fitting a conversation about milkshakes, but her expression is bright and hopeful and her fingers curl around the stem of her empty glass.] It is not a delicacy we had back in Altea and this is the very first one I have ever tried. I have never tasted anything like it!

[yokeye]

[There's been a question Toki's wanted to ask Allura since she arrived. Well, two questions. An hour into the party, he just blurts them out when he's close enough to talk to her.]

Are you princess of a mouse kingdom!? Did the mice make your dress like in that old movie!?

[quintessent]

[She looks a little bit surprised at the sudden line of questioning.]

No, I'm Altean so I am the princess of an Altean kingdom. [And her confusion only grows at the second question and she tugs at the seam of her dress, contemplating tiny mouse tailors.]

I do not think they know how to sew, but sometimes they do help me with my hair.

[yokeye]

Oh, okay.

[He nods, likes he's heard of Alteans before, which maybe he has, but he's forgotten. He looks over Allura's hair curiously.]

You have really pretty hair~! The mice do a good job~! So! Another couple of questions then, if they're not mice that make dresses or your subjects- are they familiars? If not, where I can get hair styling mice; that weird pet shop in town?

[quintessent]

[Well that was easy! There's probably way too much to explain about the Alteans to fit into a casual lunch but there's no need because Toki is already charging forward.]

Thank you. And they are just... my friends? [She's not sure how else to put it.] They were with me when I woke up in my castle, so I am afraid they're four-of-a-kind.

[Said mice seem to know they're being talked about and they skitter over to sit in front of Toki, sniffing him curiously.]

[yokeye]

[He's only disappointed for a second about there being no other mice like them, because he's immediately distracted by their approach. He squeals.]

Oh my god! They're so cute! Hello little mice~!

[He waves at them. And then there's a little bit of sadness mixed in his expression, because he's thinking about Kuroko, and how his cat has probably eaten so many cute little mice just like them. Their lives cut tragically short.]

[quintessent]

[The mice are happy to entertain, and they get started doing a little show for Toki, complete with all four of them standing feet-on-shoulders to make a sort of mouse tower. Allura beams, watching them,

Their names are Platt, Chuchule Plachu, and Chulatt

[From bottom to top.]

[onebetter]

[ Finally someone who knows how to dress!! James had admittedly been mildly worried because you never know what to expect from someone who's lived in the Outlands this far, but Allura looks more than presentable and its raising the visual status of the whole table.

The flowers are accepted with gratitude. James is beginning to accept pink is just a color he has to live with now. ]

Thank you so much, Princess. August has been really lucky so far, it's true. I'm not holding my breath on that to last, so it's good to enjoy it now.

[ Cosmo may not be present, but Sir the toad is curiously hopping over the table to get a closer look at the mice. Finally some companions that are his size! It's interesting. ]

[quintessent]

[Allura would be very pleased to know that she's helping bring the average style rating at the table up. It's anyone's guess where she found some stylish clothes, but she's not too bad at blending in with the other humans.

And pink is a great color! The flowers themselves are fragrant, with three petals to each stem and a delicate yellow stalk in the center of each. (Juniberries of course.)]

It's good to enjoy it now, but you shouldn't be so pessimistic.

[Meanwhile the mice are very cautious about their new hopping friend. Plachu has his fur on edge, sizing the amphibian up, while Chulatte and Chuchule are happy to walk right up to Sir, offering him a bite of their food. Platt is napping nearby.]

[onebetter]

I think in times of Nightfall that's more realism than anything. But that's why I find breaks like this are especially meaningful. They really raise morale and make it easier to keep going even if things get hard again.

[ He's spent a lot of time thinking about how much free time is too much and how much is too little when every moment theoretically matters.

Sir meanwhile hops a little closer and sticks his tongue out to grab the offering of food. He blinks to swallow. Then he nods his head a little bit as if imitating the human gesture of approval...? Trying his best with resting grump-face here. ]

[quintessent]

[She hums] Do you think of everything in terms of how it can benefit the bigger picture?

[There's no teasing in her voice as she asks that, although there is a soft, fond sort of smile. He reminds her of her father in that way.

Meanwhile, in the animal companion part of the story: The mice cheer at the successful first contact with their amphibious friend. Chuchule toddles up to Sir, meanwhile Chulatte skitters around the other side, making a pantomimed show of wondering where Sir's tail is supposed to be.]

[onebetter]

I try. I've been raised to be a soldier against Nightfall, it only makes sense that I'm always keeping it in mind in my choices.

[ Not always succeeding in it, but he likes to think he is at least doing better than the average.

Sir meanwhile turns turquoise. There's your answer, mice! Then he lets out a single short squeak. ]

[quintessent]

It's an admirable trait. The Nightfall will be upon us sooner or later and it's important to stay vigilant.

[Seen here: fellow busybody encouraging others to be too serious at all times. They really need a third party to encourage them to lighten up a little bit.

The mice jump back at the color-changing frog, squeaking up a storm. Allura glances over at them, like she's listening in to some mouse-related gossip. She laughs,]

I think they are making friends.

milkshake

[mfes]

[ nadia's off to the side going through the pictures she's taken so far. most of them are pretty good, and she'll definitely put this in the school paper once it's started up. she looks up from her camera to sip on her chocolate milkshake. it's almost gone, and when her eyes glance upwards...

she sees the pretty girl on the table next to her glancing at it. nadia raises an eyebrow, pauses her sipping...

and then sips it slower. it makes that obnoxious slurping noise, too, that grates on the ears. ]

[quintessent]

[Is this torture? Allura isn't sure. She manages to pull her attention away momentarily when she's first caught gawking at the milkshake, but it's drawn right back in with the loud slurping noises and the swiftly disappearing milkshake.

Eyes up to meet Nadia's she suddenly interjects,] I'm sorry! I don't think we've met before!

[mfes]

[ more slurping, more squinting at allura until she finally speaks. ]

Nope.

[ she leans over in her chair and throws the empty cup in the trash. it's a perfect shot! ]

Name's Nadia, nice to meet you. [ she offers her a small grin. ] How do you know James?

[quintessent]

Ah- It's a pleasure to meet you Nadia.

[She stares forelornly at the trash where the empty milkshake disappeared to. Someday, she will get the chance to taste the chocolate milkshake.

Back to the topic at hand,]

As for James- his boyfriend woke me up from a thousands-year-long sleep in the Outlands. James has been a very accommodating in helping me adjust to life here.

[Said like it's the most normal way to meet someone in the world. And maybe too loudly for the average cafe for normal humans to hang out.]

[mfes]

Oh, Keith? Scandalous.

[ NADIA, PLEASE. she's teasing though, and her voice is more hushed in an attempt to get allura to be more conscious of her volume, too. ]

I went to school with both of them before coming here. James is pretty much my closest friend. Sounds like something he'd do, so I'm not surprised.

[ don't think she forgot about that forlorn gaze, either. she pauses and seems to contemplate something for a moment... ]

You like milkshakes, huh?

[quintessent]

Oh, so you are childhood friends with Keith and James? That's incredible that all three of you are here now.

[Nadia had already confirmed James, but Allura at least thinks highly enough of Keith to assume that he likely ran in the same circles as James before coming to the academy.

And now for the million dollar question.]

Yes, ah- [Allura blushes a little at being called out for her obvious longing that she'd hoped she was being low-key about.] They don't exist where I come from, so this was my first time trying one.