[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

[dzelkva]

Really? I haven't been looking at the forums, but I'm glad to hear that people are already like that with one another.

[ Flash forward to Zelkova seeing people get constantly roasted on the forums— ]

[insinning]

[People roasting Pete and Hien don't count]

Mm. I feel like I've made a lot of good friends here.

[dzelkva]

I'm glad. That's what this world is best at, I think. It brings all of us closer in a lot of different ways.

[insinning]

...yeah. [Smiling ] I don't think I could have opened my heart to so many people without having met them here.

[dzelkva]

It's a hard thing to do, isn't it? I'm glad you were able to manage it.

[insinning]

[Ehehe. This is post-Hani therapy so he's visibly content]

Mm...it's scary. But I'm glad for it too. Do you have anyone like that to talk to?

[dzelkva]

Me?

[ He looks... genuinely surprised by the question. ]

I don't need anyone like that. There's nothing to worry about.

[insinning]

Really?

[Zelkova wasn't human. Sinclair didn't forget that. But somehow...]

Are you happy then?

[dzelkva]

I think so.

[ He smiles, slightly. ]

As happy as I can be with everything going on.

[insinning]

Okay. [Smiling in turn]

You've helped us a lot so...I think a lot of us want to make sure you're happy too.

[dzelkva]

I haven't helped as much as I've wanted to, but I'm happy that you think I have.

[ He feels like he's barely done anything at all. ]

[insinning]

Other people have mentioned your help.

[Thinking of the forums, and discussions]

I think they're grateful.

[dzelkva]

[ He seems... genuinely surprised by that. Guess who doesn't read the forums! ]

Really? [ ... ] I'm glad to hear it.

[insinning]

[ smh zelkova be online more ]

Mm. So um. Even if it feels like for you, you haven't been able to do as much as you like, there are people here who are grateful for what you've done.

[dzelkva]

Good.

[ He smile. ]

Thanks for being my friend, Vogel.

[insinning]

[Ah. Zelkova sees him as a friend? Friend!!!]

I'm glad to be one of them.

[dzelkva]

Me too!

[ He grins brightly at Sinclair. ]

Now go have fun with some of those party games.

[insinning]

Okay.

[ Sinclair laughs too as he runs off to go beat up some pinatas. Stress relief /o/]