[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

[tinged]

[ michel? die in ganymede's presence? at the wedding??? he wouldn't dare - ]

Oh. Why? [ full of curiosity. ] Is it something I did?

[insinning]

I think you enjoy danger.

[Just the vibes, honestly]

And you do things other people don't want to do for the sake of your loved ones.

[tinged]

[ is that true? hani closes their eyes briefly in thought. ]

I don’t fear danger when it comes to myself, I suppose. [ they have only realized recently that part of it is because they feel very little about themself. next to nothing, if hazy apathy counts as something. ] I don’t want to learn to fear it either.

[ because that would require them learning to care about themself, and they don’t think that’s possible. they’re just not interested. ]

But I do want to seek it out if it’ll stop you all from suffering too much.

[insinning]

Hani...[Sinclair frowns, and reaches up to cup their face] But if you get hurt, even if you don't fear danger--we'd be suffering all the same.

[Exhaling softly]

Will you take me with you next time you go looking?

[tinged]

[ oh. ]

Yes, I promise I’ll try. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just don’t always know these things.

[insinning]

I think we all forget. That's just normal.

[Kiss to the cheek]

But if you try, then there's nothing to be upset about.

[tinged]

I know you would love me all the same.

[ even if he was upset. they are very confident in this, smiling at the cheek kiss. ]

I will especially take care not to die because I have promises to keep - to you all, my loves.

[insinning]

We would. But I think you like it when we're happy. And I always feel happy with you. Because you're Hani.

[ He reaches for the tea to take another drink and offer it back to Hani]

[tinged]

I love it when you’re happy.

[ hani’s smile turns soft, almost shy as they take the mug. ]

I’m happiest with all of you. I want - desperately, I think - to stay with you all, always. All the time.

[ even though they have the tendency to float off and do their own thing. ]

Every moment of everyday. It’s not possible, but I want it.

[insinning]

We'll always be together. As long as we hold each other close, even if we're far away...we're still together.

[He smiles, soft and gentle]

...you said before, 'Hani' wasn't actually your name. What did you mean by that?

[tinged]

[ emil is also very right! they will always be together. ]

... My name...? Oh! It used to be - well, legally, it's still Hayanari Tachibana. [ he may recognize the last name, a prominent clan in japan. ] Once day, I realized it didn't feel quite right, so I decided to find a new name.

[insinning]

[ ah. Hm. He thinks that last name has some familiarity, but he can't quite place it. Well, that was fine. Not everything needed to be an investigation]

Not right...? What about 'Hani' then? Does that fit now?

[tinged]

[ ellipses of thought… ]

More and more. Maybe I wasn’t looking for a name, but people to give my name meaning. What do you think, Emil-kun?

[insinning]

I think names carry meaning based on the memories they carry with it, whether or not we choose them ourselves.

[ Softly]

For the longest time, only my family called me 'Emil'. And then no one did. So to hear it again from people I love...it meant a lot.

[tinged]

I love your names. Vogel. Sinclair. Emil.

[ they catch every name and hold it to their heart. ]

[insinning]

I think I've come to love all my names too. Because of you, because of everyone...

[They're all him. A deep, intrinsic part of him]

What about you, Hani? With all your names...

[tinged]

I… like Hani. I like how everyone says it a little differently. I don’t know if asking them to call me a different name would feel the same.

[ a little softly, a little unsure: ]

It suits me…? In a way that Hayanari never will.

[insinning]

[ Oh

He reaches up and touches Hani's cheek gently]

Hani is the person with the robe tent, who protected me from the voices. 'Hani' is the person who took selfies with me even though we were both doing something against the law. Kind to those they love, terrible to those don't. Everytime we say 'Hani', those memories and feelings come with it.

[ Names carry meaning]

I like Hani too.