[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

[veardant]

picnic;

[ 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

[tinged]

Does the food not agree with you?

[ 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. ]

[veardant]

Oh - [ he snaps from his reverie, and offers a smile, but there's little joy in it. ] No, the food is fine, sorry. Just.. distracted, that's all.

[tinged]

They did work hard to make it, so I’m glad the food is fine. [ a lot of affection in hani’s voice for whoever “they” are. ] But what about you?

[veardant]

Me? [ he'll go on and take a nice bite of his s'more, and it is in fact quite tasty, even if he isn't entirely enjoying it. ] Ah, sorry, I suppose I'm not looking myself. I'm all right.

[tinged]

Was that all right in that you believe what you're saying, but internally feel conflicted? Or all right in that you don't believe what you're saying at all, but feel the need to say it to reassure others and quell their worries?

[ it's all about the nuances. ]

Or, I suppose, you truly could be all right. But I'm not so sure about that.

watermelon

[rebelles]

Are you sure? I can wait.

[ 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. ]

[veardant]

[ a thin smile. ]

I'm sure. Besides, I don't think I left anything behind to keep smashing.

[ time for a fresh watermelon! ]

[rebelles]

[ True! She smiles faintly in return. ]

Did it help?

[ That had looked therapeutic. Once the watermelon is swapped out, Haru steps up to the plate, but first she takes a few test swings with her bat. ]

[veardant]

It did, I think.

[ he chuckles gently, and steps aside so she can take her turn, sitting himself on a stump. he flicks a bit of melon from his forearm. ]

I'm not one for random wanton violence, but..

[rebelles]

I'm glad. [ She understands! ] Some times call for a bit of measured violence.

[ So she's going to whack it with everything she has. Let loose the week's frustrations, yeah! Sorry about the melon juice getting everywhere. ]

watermelon;

[notfunny]

Oh.

[ blinks slowly. ]

There's nothing left.

[ quietly. takes a step back. ]

[veardant]

[ nevermind that he's spattered with bright red watermelon here, too. it's probably fine. when cyno steps back, however, tighnari quirks a brow. ]

I'm not coming after you, Cyno..

[notfunny]

Yeah, but like... you really went at it, huh?

[ he's just. surprised. that's all! ]

[veardant]

I'm a little tense.

[ just a little. ]

.. sorry.

[notfunny]

Aren't we all.

[ with a huff, he takes a moment to brush some of that splattered watermelon off of tighnari's cheek.

and then he smooches it. ]

The monsters here should be lucky they're not melons.

Watermelon

[legendofthelion]

[Holy shit dude.]

You know, I'm good. Get it all out or you need another one?

[veardant]

[ it's f i n e ]

No.. no, I think I'm good. [ ahem. ] Sorry you had to see that.

[legendofthelion]

Hey, we all have to deal with this some way. [She spreads her hands.] I get it.

... I don't think we can eat that one, though.

[veardant]

Ah, no.. it's pulp. We'll have to settle for something else. Are you hungry?

[ he flicks some watermelon off of his face. ]

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya laughs faintly as he wipes pulp off his face.] Are you? That looked like quite the workout.

picnic!

[bleatingedge]

[Leaning against a nearby tree, Leo notices the lad sitting there staring into space. Oh, he's been there, especially this week. This week can suck a dick.

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?

[veardant]

[ this week can absolutely suck a dick!!

anyway, tighnari snaps from his reverie, blinks, then chuckles. ]

Ah, probably not, at this rate. Have at it.

[bleatingedge]

[With a bit of a delay, Leo takes the plate and immediately takes a bite. If Tighnari truly was upset about it, the fully stocked bar is right there.]

Mmm~ Oh, I should probably introduce myself! The name's Leo, nice to meetcha.

[veardant]

[ it's fine, he can always get another s'more if he wants one, also!! as well as a stiff drink. ]

Ah, you too, Leo. I'm Tighnari. Wish I could say the circumstances were better, but.. how's the s'more?