[open] BIRTHDAY PICNIC

[tinged]

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

[ 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. ]

Comments

[justonezero]

[He'll show up too, and much more enthusiastically at that!]

Wow, it really is a party!

[Despite the Everything, he seems excited!]

Hey, what should we try first?

[deto]

We?

[ 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.

[justonezero]

There's plenty of food, so I don't think there's anything to fight over?!

[deto]

Fool! That’s what you think at the start, but when the party draws to a close… when all the food is almost gone, that’s when your battle reflexes come into play.

[justonezero]

...

Um... did you not have enough food at home? Should I take up professions after all??

[deto]

[ squint ]

What, you’re gonna start feeding me if I don’t?

[justonezero]

I could! The game comes with recipes, so there's no way I'd mess those up!

[deto]

Uh. Is that how that works?? [ doubt ] And what if you mess up?

[justonezero]

I just get a failed recipe, probably?

[deto]

Are you gonna make me eat it?

[ he’s not picky, but there are limits… sometimes… ]

[justonezero]

Huh? No. Why would I do that?

[deto]

[ honestly ]

I can’t tell with you, like if you know how to tell the difference between good things and bad things.

[justonezero]

I know what bad things are?!

[bleatingedge]

Man, is everything at the same time an option?

[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.

[justonezero]

As long as it fits in your mouth and stomach, the only other hurdle is willpower!

Nanashi! It's nice to meet you, too!

[bleatingedge]

[Once pleasantries are out of the way, Leo immediately stuffs one of the sandos into his gaping maw. With his mouth still full, he talks.]

I know things kinda suck right now, but have you managed to get your bearings yet at least?

[justonezero]

Yeah! I made it to level 50 right before the patch, too!

[bleatingedge]

Good to hear, good to hear!

[With his first appetizers consumed, Leo moves to the burger part of the build-your-own bar tables.]

You're a... [With a quick flick of his menus, he assesses Nanashi's class before continuing.] ...Harvest Cleric I see. Glad to have another healer among our ranks. God knows we'll need all the help we can get to stay alive in here.

[justonezero]

People have been saying that... There really aren't that many of us?

[bleatingedge]

Yeah, there's only three I can think of including you.

[On Leo's plate is now a burger monstrosity piled high with at least four patties and dozens of toppings.]

Most classes don't have access to healing at all. And ones like Wavemaster, which is what I am, only have a single minor healing spell. So you guys are pretty essential.

[justonezero]

...

I'll work hard!

[bleatingedge]

Working hard is fine, but don't push yourself too hard. We don't have any do-overs.

[Leo scratches the back of his neck with a free hand.]

I may not know you super well yet, but... We all deserve to get out of here. So, if you need help yourself, don't hesitate to reach out, okay?

[justonezero]

That's true...

Thanks, though! I'm not sure what kind of help I need, but if I need anything, I'll ask!

[bleatingedge]

[A smile spreads on Leo's face. Good.]

Alrighty. If you haven't joined a guild yet, you might wanna do that too! It's an easy way to meet up with people and get to know them better.

[He takes a big bite out of his weird burger monstrosity.]

I'm the leader of one, for example. The Epicurians! We seek pleasures in any form... though it's mainly just a place for people to relax, eat, and sleep right now.

[justonezero]

We're allowed to join more than one, right? I'm a member of Fandom Foodies, but I want to try meeting the other players, too.