[open] BIRTHDAY PICNIC
Who ꕤ EVERYONE
What ꕤ zelkova's picnic-birthday bash!
When ꕤ oct 3
Where ꕤ Holzig Camping Grounds
Content Warnings ꕤ some grief, probably

PRE-PICNIC
HAPPY, SAD BIRTHDAY
A BREAK
SHE DANCES ON THE WIND

What ꕤ zelkova's picnic-birthday bash!
When ꕤ oct 3
Where ꕤ Holzig Camping Grounds
Content Warnings ꕤ some grief, probably

PRE-PICNIC
[ The invitations have all been sent out, but there's still prep work to be done. The food and drinks have to be made, the decorations crafted and set up along with the tents and such. An eclectic mix of players are organizing this event: Mr_Misteaks, tylorific, Vogel, Mithrun1, and tabibito. Hien (!) has kindly (tabibito's phrasing) volunteered to help them set up. Though in the end, it's more like four capable adults and two problem children (who have stringent orders to stay AWAY from the knives).
Should anyone else choose to come early to help out, they'll be welcomed with smiles. There's joy in the air, though loss tinges it at the edges.
Before the party starts, however, Hien will be gone. And before that, the group presents Hien with a small "cake" of his own: a savory spring galette. ]
HAPPY, SAD BIRTHDAY
[ At noon is when the guests are told to arrive, with the party lasting until sunset.
Holzig Camping Grounds looks a little different! The decorations are simple and colorful; banners of varying quality hang over the tents and weave through the trees. Most notable are the silver and gold balloons that read: Happy 0 Birthday! There are thick logs for seating and some foldout seats for those with sensitive bums around the lone campfire, lit and flickering wildly.
The tents are also set up for some reason! (They're for naps.)
There are multiple picnic tables. The first and smallest provide finger sized portions of tamago sando and fruit sando. The next couple of tables are bigger: build-your-own bars for sandwiches, salads, hotdogs, burgers, and s'mores! There is, of course, a table for alcohol and other drinks.
At the center table is a cake, German chocolate and winter-themed with five little fondant ornaments placed by five different hands, and strangely enough, there is a dish of roast pork with parsley sauce right next to it. If asked what the dish is, tabibito will answer with something that sounds like "Steak Flakes Persimmons" at first before they pronounce it properly and fluidly: Stegt flæsk med persillesovs.
Eat up! Have fun chatting! And don't forget to dedicate a toast to Zelkova! ]
A BREAK
[ A little out of the way, in a small clearing, guests will notice there are a couple of ugly pinatas strung about: there are exactly three of them and they're all the letter C in a putrid green. Guests are encouraged to use their own weapons, though a wooden stick is provided.
If piñatas aren't their thing, there's also a giant watermelon, a blindfold in the design of an angry pomchi, and a wooden baseball bat. Ok, so watermelon smashing is a beach thing, but why not take their anger out on something right? They've all been through a lot. ]
SHE DANCES ON THE WIND
[ Midway through the party, tabibito calls for a moment of remembrance for Uta. tabibito will toast to her memory with a quiet smile because she was all smiles all the time and so full of drive - but everyone is free and welcome to honor her memory as they wish. ]


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[ Sinclair is trying to be normal but even as he helps set up, he's visibly distracted and out of sorts. As he carries over a plate of food, it begins to dip to one side without him realising. Save it????]
a break/a sad happy birthday
[ Sinclair can be found around the food, trying to put together some smores but otherwise, he's at the games area looking baffled at the blindfold]
I don't remember getting this...
[WHO ]
a break/a sad happy birthday;
[ Looking at the set up, and then back at Sinclair. ]
...Oh, I'm guessing you're talking about the blindfold? Or is it the pinatas?
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pre-picnic
[ Furin reaches out his hands-- one under to tilt the plate back to parallel with the ground, and another to stop any food from slipping off. ]
Re: pre-picnic
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pre-picnic
[ a gentle hand balances out the other side for him. their default smile is there, but there’s a curious touch in their gaze as they study him. hmmmmm.
a warm, dry hand brushes his forehead to check his temperature. ]
Re: pre-picnic
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Time to whale on one of those green Cs repeatedly until it's crushed beyond recognition.
If you ask her nicely, she might even let your character take a turn before it's totally destroyed.]
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Nice. I don't think there's going to be left once you're done with it?
[ Ganymede picks up a wooden stick instead, and swings himself at one of those pinatas. A perfect target for stress relief indeedy. ]
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Wow, it really is a party!
[Despite the Everything, he seems excited!]
Hey, what should we try first?
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[ deto with a mess of a plate. a bit of this and that and also that and that from every table. ]
Everything is free, so you have to try everything. This isn’t a party. It’s a battle. Nay, a war.
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[Leo, plate in hand, is practically salivating already. He immediately grabs a couple of each of the sandos, since they're small and easy to devour in one bite.]
You're one of the newer players, right? I'm Leo. Nice to meetcha.
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[ honestly? this feels incredibly strange. he has nothing against this little get-together because, well, all things considered, they really need anything and everything to keep their spirits up, but it feels.. bizarre.
tighnari is sitting on a log bench, his ears folded back and his tail lank. there's an uneaten s'more on his plate, and he's.. just kind of staring off into space. ]
watermelon;
[ okay, he can get behind this. what an excellent way to get his anger out!! tighnari grasps the baseball bat and absolutely wails on the watermelon, until it's little more than a pile of pulp in the soil. his knuckles are white, hands slightly trembling around the handle.
a breath. he straightens up, lifts the blindfold with a thumb. ]
Sorry. Your turn?
picnic
[ hani slides into the seat beside him. perhaps they should have asked for permission, and if told, they’ll ask next time. but this party also doubles as a chance for people to bond, and honestly, they think it’s just easier to bond through closeness and touch. ]
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watermelon
[ You know, until he's let it all out. It's good stress relief! With circumstances being what they are, Haru more than understands. She sits with her hands folded in her lap, a bat propped up against her seat, in no rush at all. ]
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watermelon;
[ blinks slowly. ]
There's nothing left.
[ quietly. takes a step back. ]
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Watermelon
You know, I'm good. Get it all out or you need another one?
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picnic!
But if he can do anything to raise some spirits during a party of all places, he'll certainly take the opportunity to try. With little fanfare, he struts over and plops down on the bench next to Tighnari.]
Soooooo, you gonna finish that?
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Zelkova takes his time looking around at what's been set up, admiring the handiwork of the players he's been assisting the past two months. The food looks delicious and the ugly pinatas are cute... well, in their own way. Later on, he can be found admiring the cake set up in the center as well.
He's honestly very satisfied with this party and it shows. ]
looking around;
[ Even if there's sad news, there's saying about celebrations, and that they should be carried on even through awful moments. ]
Do you like the way everything looks?
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Zelkova, right? Sorry that I haven't been able to meet you until now, but happy birthday.
[In Leo's hands is a purple envelope with gold trimming. Should Zelkova open it right away, it's a simple letter in the style of his own greeting cards, saying "Happy Birthday Zelkova! - From The Epicurians" on it.]
Of course, that's not all.
[Out from Leo's inventory pops a corked bottle!]
I wasn't sure if you drink alcohol or not, so I went with sparkling cider instead.
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[ hani hugs him around the middle from behind. it’s very enthusiastic; they even lift him up a little - surprisingly strong for their stature. ]
Happy birthday!
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[Hi, sorry about the pinatas, she's absolutely obliterated one of them already.]
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[Birthday AI? Whatever.] Actually, you've probably never celebrated anything like that, huh? Having fun?
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If it isn't the birthday boy himself! ... How old are you, anyway? Do you have an age?
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[ Haru finds him by the birthday cake, a smudge of watermelon juice on her cheek from going at the party game earlier. She's glad to see him in good spirits. Recent events make their smiles all the more precious. ]
Have you made a wish?
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Cake!
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wildcard
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[ Oh, he's one of the latecomers. She tilts her head at his question and shakes it, before letting out a laugh. ]
Nope! Try again. Not mine.
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(put me) down to party
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prep!
The answer to that depends. Is your intent to drive away the guests?
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Party
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pick-me-up prep;
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