[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

[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.

[veardant]

[ a smooch!! it warms him. the tension in tighnari's shoulders eases away, and he gently knocks their brows together. ]

You're right about that. [ a beat. ] Do you want to try? Or would you like to see the surprise I have for us?

[notfunny]

[ sorry, as much as he wants to prove to tighnari that he can and will destroy a melon with one swift strike--- ]

A surprise? [ if he had ears, they would be a wigglin' ] What do you mean?

[ like. a real REAL surprise? he can only imagine it's a good one, otherwise why else would tighnari spring something on him like that... ]

[veardant]

[ yeah this is for the better. he's seen you in action in the dungeons anyway, cyno, he knows how cool and strong you are!!

for now, tighnari pulls up his hud, and searches through his inventory for.. his pet voucher. ]

Even I don't know what we'll get. Let's see..

[ double click! the voucher disappears from his inventory, and in between them appears.. a puppy! ]

[notfunny]

[ he's just trying his best. he wants to be cool. play everything cool. let his exterior seem completely uncrackable. nothing can possibly stop him from being---

oh

ohhhhhhhh ]

Puppy...!

[ PUPPY SENSES ACTIVATED, he goes right down to the ground and picks the doggo up, into his arms. ]

[veardant]

[ and there he goes. of course cyno scoops the puppy up immediately!! tighnari chuckles, moving in to rub the pup between the ears. ]

It'll need a name..

[notfunny]

[ at least the good pupper doesn't seem to mind cyno's immediate and slightly aggressive affection... just taking it all in stride ]

... you have any preferences? I'm sure you don't want to call it like... Spot. Or Doggy. Or Rex.

[veardant]

.. none of those.

[ doggy?? cyno?? rex isn't bad, but.. it's still very generic dog. ]

Hmm, maybe something to do with the game? Since he's not a real dog. Pixel? Glitch?

[notfunny]

[ doggy is a top-tier name, okay??? ]

He's real to me... in my heart...

[ smells like dog. feels like dog. sounds like dog. he's matching most of the sensory components of 'dog'. ]

... how about Reginald Barksley the Third?

[veardant]

[ doggy is a terrible name!! of course cyno is so soft for the puppy.. tighnari can't help his soft smile. ]

That's a better name.

[ he says gently, rubbing behind the puppy's soft ears. ]

Reggie.

[notfunny]

Reggie is such a great name, but don't forget his real one. It's there for a reason.

[ what reason? don't ask. he has no reason. it's just something that feels so oddly natural and fitting to him. also, silly. very silly. he can express that with a name better than acting that way outright. ]

Just think of this as a test run for when we get a dog for real.

[veardant]

Oh, how could I forget..

[ what's the reason, cyno?? tighnari's ears perk up, however, and he smiles furtively. ]

A real dog, hmm? I'd like that. Maybe a cat, too. You'd spoil them both rotten.