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

[geckoman]

[He snorts at that and turns around to wrap his arms around him. A quick kiss and he lifts a brow at him.]

You're one of the least sneaky people I know. The only one worse than you is your best friend.

[flowrite]

[Fai uses the opportunity to wrap his arms around Iwai's neck in a big, over-exaggerated gesture and pouts at him, lifting his eyebrow imperiously.]

I have no idea what you mean! I'm like the wind! Like a ghost! Put me in a black leather catsuit and I'd be un-detectable!

[geckoman]

[Well, he can say Fai would look good in a catsuit buuuuuut...]

Nah. Ya might as well embrace that it ain't what you're good at. You've got other talents anyway.

[flowrite]

[The pout quickly melts back into a smile. He can't linger too long on the innuendo while they're at Sakura's party, after all.

(Mental note: buy a catsuit.)]

Speaking of which, that's partially what I came over here to tell you! I saved you a little plate of cupcakes in the back of the fridge. One for Sakura-chan and one for you~

[geckoman]

[Here he's been wondering how many will be leftover with how amazing they look and already Fai's saved one for him. He chuckles and gives him another kiss.]

Knew I loved you.

[flowrite]

[Fai hums happily and gladly accepts more kisses, kind of draping himself over Iwai in the process.]

Well, you know what they say: the way to a man's heart is through his stomach! ...among other places~

[He leans forward to kiss the tip of Iwai's nose and grins.

Why is Iwai so distracting, darn it!]

[geckoman]

You're getting distracted again, ya know.

[It's a gentle scolding really. Obviously he's not annoyed or anything right now. He likes when Fai gets like this and they both know it.]

[flowrite]

[Blink.]

Ah, I guess I am, aren't I?

[He doesn't seem particularly bothered by this revelation either, although he does blush a little--more out of happiness than embarrassment, though.]

I suppose I should be good for Sakura-chan's birthday party at least! Come help me restock the snacks?

[geckoman]

Sure.

[Of course this probably means he'll grab bags of snacks to put out because that's what Iwai would grab. He's not even bad at this. He's just a simple guy in the long run.]

[flowrite]

[Fortunately Fai is not going to be leaving Iwai to his own devices. He loves the man dearly, but he also knows him well enough to know he... isn't quite as anal obsessive about this stuff. Instead he grabs for Iwai's hand and pulls him into the kitchen, and points to the oven.]

There's a spare pan of pepperoni bread in there keeping warm, could you grab it out and cut it for me? I'll get some more puppy chow!

[He also knows Iwai well enough to know that he can't trust him around the puppy chow. Not with as sweet as it is.]

[geckoman]

Alright I can do that.

[He'd rather go help with the puppy chow but okay. He'll get the pepperoni bread.

Getting that out, he slides it onto a board so he can cut it up the way he saw Fai had it earlier. Might as well be consistent anyway!]

[flowrite]

[Fortunately, while Iwai is occupied with the cutting board, a hand sneaks around from behind him with a few pieces of puppy chow and taps gently at his lips.]

Open up~!

[geckoman]

[He pauses in the middle of cutting at something tapping his lips. Opening his mouth, he tastes the chow and leans forwards to lick some of the remains off of Fai's fingers. Can't let that good stuff go to waste ya know.]

Thanks.

[flowrite]

Hey!

[It's not much of a real protest, judging by the amount of giggling that's going on behind Iwai.]

I guess I was going to have to wash my hands anyway!

[geckoman]

Just didn't want to waste any.

[He smirks over his shoulder at him and goes back to cutting the bread, putting it onto the dish. Not pretty or anything but hey it's on the plate at least?]

[flowrite]

[Iwai this is not helping Fai stay focused, you realize this right.

I'm so sorry your adoptive parents are like this, Sakura.

Fai laughs and leans over to kiss Iwai on the cheek, then moves to the sink to wash his hands.]

I hope Sakura-chan's enjoying her party so far! I'm glad so many of her friends have been able to stop by.

[geckoman]

She seems to be having a good time. She's got some good friends from the looks of it. And that kid who is around a lot wants to ask her out.

[Well, confess to her anyway but same thing in the end to Iwai.

Bread on the plate, he brings that over. It sure isn't laid out pretty but it's on there!]

[flowrite]

[Faucet still running and hands still wet in the sink, Fai pauses in surprise and turns his head back toward where Iwai's fiddling with the bread.]

What? Who-- You mean Li-kun?

[geckoman]

The one that started acting better after Thanksgiving? Yeah, that's him.

[He leans on the counter while he wants for Fai to finish up.]

Showed up with flowers and a special present for her. Asked if he was planning on asking her out and his reaction pretty much said it all.

[flowrite]

Wait--what happened at Thanksgiving?

[Clearly Fai missed something here. He remembers Xiaolang being a bit more of a punk when he first met him, but did something happen?

Now concentrating entirely on the conversation, Fai twists the tap off and reaches for a towel to dry his hands.]

He brought flowers? What did he say?

[geckoman]

I told him that he wasn't going to get Sakura to fall for him if he was an ass to her dad.

[Basically. It was something along those lines.]

He blushed a lot and stammered and finally asked how I knew what he was doing.

[flowrite]

[He doesn't have an immediate response to that. He remembers Xiaolang being kind of petulant back when they met, but... clearly there were things going on around him that he wasn't aware of at the time. And it's not that Fai really needed Iwai to stand up for him--he is an adult, despite all attempts to act otherwise--but knowing that he did, even back then....

Fai crosses the short distance between them and leans over to kiss Iwai on the cheek again.]

Sweet. Looking out for me and I didn't even know it!

[But... some of that smile has faded, just a little around the edges.]

I hope he knows what he's doing. If it doesn't go well....

[What faster way to ruin the rest of Sakura's party?]

[geckoman]

[He very gently knocks his fingers on Fai's head.]

Trust the kid. I know she's your daughter but they're good together. They'll get it figured out.

[He crosses his arms then and shrugs.]

Also I always have your back even if I don't go around telling you all the time. Doesn't matter what it's about either. I just do.

[flowrite]

I know they are. I'm pretty sure they were good together in that other life too. I just... don't know how Sakura feels about any of this yet. I'm not sure she's even noticed the way he looks at her.

[He doesn't doubt that they'll work things out eventually. It's just the interim that might be interesting, until they get there. Or maybe it'll all work out sooner than later, who knows?

Fai grins and reaches up to wrap his arms around Iwai's neck, leaning against his boyfriend languidly, like he's trying to be sultry even though they're just in the kitchen and Sakura's party is literally a few feet away.]

What did I ever do to deserve a great guy like you?

[geckoman]

You were born.

[As far as he's concerned, that's all Fai's ever needed to deserve him. Just Fai existing is enough. Existing, being there with him, wanting him. He doesn't need to do anything beyond that in Iwai's eyes.

He'll let the talk about the kids go for now as he wraps his arms around Fai. Best to distract him than have him fussing and worrying over something he should let the two figure out.]