[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

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya catches him by the cake, offering an enthusiastic wave. It's maybe a little forceful cheer given the external circumstances but what can they do?] There's the birthday boy!

[Birthday AI? Whatever.] Actually, you've probably never celebrated anything like that, huh? Having fun?

[dzelkva]

[ Her forced cheer is met with some real cheer, at least, as he smiles. ]

I haven't, actually! You know, it was Vogel who gave me the birthday. [ Oh, and to answer her question: ] I'm having a lot of fun.

[legendofthelion]

[Ah, that explains it. Seeing Zelkova's real cheer warms her--it's nice there can be something good happening in all of this.]

Well then, happy first official birthday. Going to try your cake now?

[dzelkva]

I am! Wanna try some too?

[ If so, he'll go ahead and cut her a slice as he grabs himself one. ]

[legendofthelion]

You bet I do. [She takes the offered plate after he cuts it. She waits for Zelkova to take a bite, then eats hers at the same time.] Mmm, s'good!

[dzelkva]

[ As he takes a bite, he nods. ]

It is! I've never had cake like this before. Or... cake at all, actually!

[ He provided it at their grand opening, but he'd never eaten any of it. ]

[legendofthelion]

You've eaten other things, right? [Just not cake? Like, he figures he wouldn't need to but isn't living doing things that aren't needed, but are just enjoyable?]

[dzelkva]

I've had a couple of other foods before, but I don't really need to eat, so...

[ But he could always start with the food here. Maybe it's worth trying out a more human experience like eating. ]

[legendofthelion]

Food's about more than just needing it! Good food makes you feel good. It connects you with people. What else have you tried before?

[dzelkva]

Pizza. I had someone ask me for some a while back, so I thought I'd give it a try myself. It's pretty good.

[ ... ]

I bet it would've been better sharing it with all of you, though.

[legendofthelion]

Now you're getting the idea. It's always better to eat together. If you like the cake, you should definitely try making some s'mores.

[dzelkva]

Would you show me how to make those?

[ He gets it in theory, but that's different from doing. ]

[legendofthelion]

Of course! [She starts nudging him to where the smores are, then, while she takes another two bites of cake along the way.] There's a bunch of options for the chocolate it looks like. Nuts, coconut, raisins, peanut butter...

[dzelkva]

[ He looks over the options before going for the coconut. ]

Then let's try this.

[legendofthelion]

[Dehya reaches to offer him one of the roasting sticks, before grabbing one herself and sticking it into a marshmallow.] You'll also need a marshmallow. We're gonna hold them over the fire until they get warm and melty enough that they'll stick everything together.

[dzelkva]

[ He nods, copying her movement with the stick and marshmallow. Then, he holds it over the flame, just close enough that the heat wafts over it. ]

Like this?

[legendofthelion]

Like that! [She holds hers out beside him.] Some people like them completely burnt, but I think just until it's brown is best.

[dzelkva]

I think I'll try it your way.

[ So, he'll let it get brown around the edges before pulling it away from the flame and gathering up the other ingredients for the smore. ]