I know, I'm not a little kid anymore

[keystaff]

WHO: Sakura Kinomoto, OPEN
WHERE: Fai's house! Since she lives with him now.
WHEN: April 1st, early afternoon
WHAT: Sakura's friends are invited to a party for her birthday.
WARNINGS: None?



[Maybe some arrived earlier, to help get the food ready or set up any decorations. Most of it is ready, though some preparation might be more last minute in that morning once she has opened presents from her family - after dealing with an initial prank from her brother, given the date and all.

She hadn't anticipated anything too huge or fancy. Though that might end up debatable given how Fai tends to spoil her at the best of times. Still, the house should hopefully be big enough. She hopes. Sakura fusses a little with her dress, her hair, before coming to try offer to help with any last minute decorations or anything. Once people do start arriving, everyone is free to mingle and enjoy the food and drinks (non-alcoholic).

Sakura tries to get around to say hi to everyone, sometimes but not always managing to be the one to answer the door. She seems to be enjoying herself, glad of the chance to catch up with everyone in person, even if some might not stay all day. And given the weekend, given the holidays, she isn't so worried on staying up late either. She joins in with mingling, and might be easier to corner and get some one on one time later in the afternoon/evening, once others might have already gone home.

She doesn't have a traditional cake, but a number of cupcakes for everyone instead, with those and the rest of the snacks provided being made by Fai. With Xiaolang's help, and maybe Sakura managing to somewhere in the process of making it all.]

Comments

[blondferret]

I. Gifts - Closed to Sakura

It's really lucky that Derek has three younger siblings so he's not at a loss for what a girl turning fourteen would want. He went down to an electronic store and found a gift that he felt would suit Sakura just fine.

When he gets to the party he looks around for the birthday girl and finds her near the cake. Walking over he taps her on the shoulder.

"Happy Birthday Sakura!"

Derek holds out a small box to Sakura. Inside she will find this.

II. Cake

Derek reaches for one of the cupcakes.

"Well, these are impressive."

III. General mingling.

Since this is a party for a fourteen year old girl, Derek doesn't expect a lot of adult here. If anyone wants to talk to him, he will sitting in a chair off to the side, enjoying a cupcake and some snacks.

Cake!

[flowrite]

Fai hadn't really known how many people or who exactly to expect at the party, given that Xiaolang had issued the invitation via the app (aside from any personal invitations from Sakura herself), so he's a little surprised to see a vaguely familiar adult face. That's... Tatsuo's friend, right? Does he know Sakura?

Still, he's not overly concerned or anything--being Tatsuo's friend is a pretty damn good recommendation. So eventually Fai will mosey over toward the table where the cupcakes are laid out, pausing an appropriately polite distance away, and shoot the guy a friendly smile.

(He's wearing an eyepatch these days, and they only met the once, so he wouldn't expect the man to recognize or even remember him honestly.)

"Ah, thank you! It took a few days to finish all of them but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. As long as Sakura-chan likes them!"

(And yes, despite the "-chan" after Sakura's name, the guy has a faint French accent.)

[geckoman]

There was one adult here he'd know for sure. That was right, his favorite shop owner was here and he eventually came over to sit with Derek. Because he was not a social person but he at least knew this guy. With Fai around taking care of party stuff that meant he had free time to just interact with someone he already knew he connected with.

"Hey."

Great greeting, right? Top notch.

Gifts

[keystaff]

"Hm? Oh! Derek-san! Hello! I'm glad you made it!"

Because yeah, it might have seemed a little rushed in the timing of getting a notice up for everyone that wanted to come. But still, she is glad to see how many have already shown up as it is. Glad for the chance to catch up with them all. Even if it might seem like she is pulled in a million different directions in trying to say hi to everyone.

She smiles, thanking him for the birthday wishes before she blinks down at the box, seeming a little sheepish as she asks if she should open it now or later, checking before doing so.

"A speaker? Now I won't need to keep using my headphones!"

Which is usually more a courtesy than anything in her using them while listening to her music, as she works on homework or such. So that she doesn't disturb the others. But this place was bigger than her original home. And probably better soundproofed that it won't be too much of an issue.

"Thank you!"

ota

[cardcaptured]

[Xiaolang probably isn't the first person to arrive at the party, but he's certainly one of the earlier ones, resolving to assist Fai with some of the cooking and whatever else he can do to make the celebration go a bit more smoothly. He's not as fancifully dressed as some others might be, but he's certainly not empty-handed, pressing an impressive looking bouquet into the arms of whoever greets him at the door, blushing up a storm and mumbling something about his cousin picking them up for her. The other bag in his hands, simple looking but a decent size, is something he insists on giving Sakura later, setting it to the side as he goes to help with the food.

Once everything's been squared away in the kitchen and/or he's been shooed out to socialize like a normal child, he's just... going to be content lingering at the edges of the party, quietly watching everyone else mingle. Anyone paying even a bit of attention to him may notice his eyes soften a little whenever they land upon the birthday girl weaving in and out of the crowd, and... is that a small smile on his lips?? Could his face even DO that?? He's largely unaware of it, though, and when he's not looking fondly at a certain cherry blossom (or chatting with her whenever she makes her rounds back to him), he's going to be nibbling on whatever food is out and available and looking a bit lost in thought. It's enough so to startle him should anyone come up to him and request his attention, nearly upsetting whatever snacks he had in his hands.

Nearing the end of the party, however, he's going to disappear with Sakura somewhere, only to reemerge a small amount of time later by himself. He's going to be making a brisk clip to the door, his expression oddly guarded compared to earlier in the day, only saying good-night to a brief few in a subdued tone before slipping into the night back home. Weird??]

closed to Sakura

[cardcaptured]

[The day, beautiful and sunny and warm as it was (fitting for a girl such as Sakura) was beginning to dim and darken, the sky slowly fading from shades of orange and pink, to dusky blue and purple. With the party beginning to thin out, and the birthday girl's attention a little less distracted from those around her, it felt like as good a time as any to set out with what he wanted to do.

Swallowing down the frantic beat of his heart that was rising to his throat, trying not to wring the handles of the bag in his hands, Xiaolang reaches out and taps her arm lightly.]

H-Hey, um...

[Courage, Xiaolang. COURAGE!!]

Do you want to take a walk with me? There's... there's something I want to talk to you about.

[flowrite]

[The finishing touches are finally on the cupcakes and the cupcake stand is already out on the table Fai's set up in the keeping room, but it's still pretty early so there are a lot of last-minute preparations to go. The blond is in the kitchen--frilly pink apron on, of course--mixing up a bowl of pink punch when Xiaolang makes it back to that part of the house.

At the sound of footsteps he looks up and gives the boy a big grin.]

Li-kun! You're looking very handsome today!

[geckoman]

[Guess who is greeting you at the door, Xiaolang? It sure is that intimidating guy that lives here who once chewed you out months ago. Since he's not cooking or baking or whatever he's got some time to kill and so he might as well answer the door.

To see the kid standing there. Holding a bouquet of flowers. He lifts a brow at the mumbled words. His cousin, huh? Okay sure he'll believe that. But he'll also believe this cousin did because he's like the rest of the known universe and knows this kid has it so bad for Sakura. Honestly the only one who doesn't know in the slightest is Sakura herself.]

Uh-huh.

[Iwai's just in jeans and a turtleneck for this. Because this is him cleaning up, okay? It's not like he's wearing the hat or anything.]

Well you're never gonna figure out how to ask her out if you're just standing there. Come on in, kid.

[And he steps to the side.]

[mercurio]

[prompto has found his way next to xiaolang as the party has exponentially progressed. he's been about, taking pictures, mostly of sakura and also of all the other things such as the decorations and the food. still, when he sees the younger boy by himself, he can't help wanting to stand beside him.]

[he leans to the side a little, to talk quietly to the boy.]

We gonna just stare at her all day?

Re: ota

[blondferret]

[Derek eventually sees Xiaolang and figures he might as well say "hi." At least he knows the kid. He walks up beside him and waves a plate with various snacks, probably pretzels, under Xiaolang's face.]

Hey, want one?

[He looks over where he saw Xiaolang was looking and smirks. Ah, so it was Sakura who he was staring at. He won't comment on it... yet.]

crawls in ten thousand years late

[complementing]

[You'd have to be blind not to notice Xiaolang's sidelong glances at Sakura. Minako thinks it's cute, even if it's ultimately on Sakura to notice and act on what it means. Still, she's watched Xiaolang's puppy crush long enough that she's rooting for him. When he starts running low on snacks, she brings a plate over and offers it to him.]

Here you go~

OTA

[geckoman]

[Iwai's not much of a party person. Never will be. Still, he's fond of Sakura so you can be damn sure he's making an appearance at her party. Of course you may find him slipping off to the garage for a bit to put some last minute touches on her present that he's been working on but really he is at the party for the most party.

Which means he's usually found by the cupcakes. There are a lot of people who have a bad case of Sweet Tooth in this household and he's definitely one of them. Unashamedly so. Besides, he knows who has had their hands on them so he knows they're good.

Otherwise expect him to be a wall flower. He's not a social guy really. But you can still approach him. He is here to celebrate Sakura, after all.]

[flowrite]

[While Iwai is over near the cupcakes, he's also being stalked by a blond who's trying his best to be sneaky. Ordinarily he wouldn't assume he'd actually get away with sneaking up behind his boyfriend, but it's a party and there's a lot of extra noise around them.

So here's a pair of hands coming around from behind Iwai to cover his eyes, and a familiar voice in his ear:]

Guess who~?

[keystaff]

Hm? Iwai-san, where were you going?

[Because at one point, yes, she does note him trying to slip back over to the garage. Which is not in the direction of the kitchen for him to be getting something to eat or drink. So she checks with him to make sure it's alright. She does know about his stash of sweets in the garage but there was plenty to eat out here so Sakura wouldn't figure he would be going to get something from that.]

For Sakura - pre-game dress-up party!

[flowrite]

[After breakfast has been consumed (and knowing this house, probably devoured as if by a plague of locusts) and the kitchen is all cleaned up, Fai finishes his cup of coffee and then wanders through the house toward Sakura's bedroom. He's in his pink silk dressing gown over his pajamas and slippers, with his hair tied up in a high, messy ponytail.

At Sakura's door he pauses and knocks, whether it's open or closed.]

Sakura-chan?

[keystaff]

Hm? Fai-san? Ah, give me a minute.

[She was just in her pyjamas herself in trying to decide what to wear. Since this was a party and all. She probably doesn't want anything too formal but still wants to wear something nice and not too casual either. She opens the door, peeking through, a few dress options splayed on her bed behind her.]

Yes?

ota

[mercurio]

Would you mind if I took a picture?

[prompto got the invitation from touya, and to be quite honest, any chance is as good as any for him to bring his camera with him. although he doesn't know a lot of the people, he's found comfort in being able to take the role of the paparazzo.]

It's an occasion worth remembering after all!

[me_matey]

Oh, hey, sup dude? I didn't expect you to be here. -She set down her cake, putting on a cute pose for the picture.-

[keystaff]

Hm? Oh, Prompto-san! You made it! Um, I guess, sure!

[Since Fai had helped her in dressing up earlier and all in preparing. May as well get at least one photo to commemorate the occasion by her photographer friend. So Sakura agrees, giving a smile and a pose for him, as best she can in not being a professional model or anything.]

[redarm]

[His mouth is full of food when Prompto approaches him. So much that he looks like a squirrel with stuffed cheeks. He doesn't bother to swallow when he asks.]

Now?

[redarm]

[ I. Closed to Sakura ]
[Surprisingly, Noah did help a little with the set up. He help hang decorations and even helped a little with the cooking (though he eventually got shuffled out after it became too tempting to eat the food himself). He wasn't much for parties, but Sakura was nice and lived with him, so it only seemed fair to help out.

At some point when she's more alone, he'll approach her with his own little giftbox. He's wearing his typical hot topic clothes, the black really standing out among all this pink]

Oy, Happy Birthday. Don't think I said it earlier.

[II. OTA]
[For anyone else? Well Noah spends a lot of his time up in his room that's sealed off from visitors, but he'll poke his head out once and awhile, looking around the party. It's almost like a cat feeling unsure about the new people in its home. You might feel someone watching you, while keeping his distance.

Otherwise, when he gets hungry, you'll find him sitting in the corner, eating several plates of food at an alarming speed. What? Fai's cooking is good.]

[keystaff]

[ Yeah, he definitely stands out. It's always easy to thus spot him when he does occasionally venture downstairs from his room. Still, she is grateful for him making an appearance all the same, and in his help preparing for it.]

Thanks! And thanks for helping set things up. I know this might not....um, really be your thing, but. I'm glad if you're enjoying it.

[The food at least. And his sort of mingling a little with everyone.]

/scoots in here like five days late

[cardcaptured]

[Xiaolang had only stepped away from the corner he had coveted to himself for about a minute, two tops-- he had to get punch, okay, he was getting thirsty-- when he spots someone else occupying it instead. Was this some sort of karma for Li-Na's birthday party or something? He could have just moved to find another corner (there were plenty of them in this house, why do you live in such a huge ass place, Fai), but it was the familiarity of the boy and the sheer amount of... stuff he was shoveling into his face that kept him there. Now he can sort of see why Fai was making so much food, but...]

You're going to make yourself sick if you eat that fast. It's not good for you.

ota

[agrizzlysin]

[Harlequin Pine arrives an hour after festivities have started, still questioning whether he should be here even as he eyes those elaborate cupcakes. Under his armpit is a homemade quilt wrapped in pale blue paper, the present he stitched together for the sweetest friend he has. Hopefully Sakura likes it because though he'd genuinely tried, he hadn't been able to think of anything better. (Nothing is cute enough for a girl like Sakura!) All he can figure is that homemade is definitely best. That way, she'll have something unique.

Finally, Quin decides on a rose cupcake. He picks it up so that he can look at it from all angles, and he smiles.]

This is one of those times when you have to take a picture before you take a bite, huh?

[cardcaptured]

[Xiaolang had been eyeing the gift Quin had brought with something just a bit above distaste, the old competitive streak with the other boy gnawing within him. Ugh, it was huge, bigger than the modestly sized gift bag he had brought, and no doubt that jerk made whatever he gave her by hand, too. Not that Xiaolang's gift wasn't any less thoughtful, and the bear that he brought was handmade (albeit not by his own hands in this life), but it still irked him something awful. Stupid Harlequin and his stupid handcrafting skills!!

So when Quin picks up one of the cupcakes and comments upon it's looks, there's a slight twinge of disappointment that it was one of the ones Fai had worked on before he arrived. Perfect opportunity to brag gone! At least Xiaolang made the cute sandwiches, though!!]

You may as well. Her father put a lot of work into those.

[Although, given that they both knew Sakura prior to her adoption, it was obvious Fai wasn't her father by blood. But Iwai gave Xiaolang a good lecture on Thanksgiving for refusing to call him as such and how it was disrespectful, so Xiaolang had been careful over how to refer to him ever since.]

I'm surprised you even made the walk here to begin with.

for sakura;

[complementing]

[She can't stay for the whole event, since she has another birthday party she has to go to-- who knew there were so many April 1st birthdays among the Retrospec users-- but Minako is here to celebrate! She wanders in and says hello to some people she knows already there, and then weaves her way over to the birthday girl, sneaking up behind her and covering her eyes.]

Guess who~

[keystaff]

H-hoeee? Ah? Minako-san?

[At least. She's pretty sure she recognizes the voice, even if she completely missed seeing the other approach, in being distracted with greeting everyone and all. Sakura can't help but to instinctively try raise her own hands more, though not quite actually going to reach to pry the other's hands away.]