( closed )

[mercurio]

WHO: noctis, noah, dante, minako, prompto.....
WHERE: the lake campsite area
WHEN: august 30th afternoon
WHAT: some idiot's birthday nbd
WARNINGS: ??

[it didn't take much to drag noctis out of his way too luxurious apartment and out into the concrete jungle that recolle has returned into being, especially under the pretense of a "dog walk" and delicious junk food afterwards. it was easy to guide noctis into a false sense of security, and to slowly lead him towards the campsite area by the lake, where the small birthday celebration was to take place in.]

[noctis wasn't very fond of socializing. prompto knows this; which is why he only contacted less than a handful of people, and hopefully the presence of dogs and the opportunity to spend literal hours fishing would placate the birthday boy into perhaps offering them a smile of approval.]

[high hopes!]

[at least, prompto's laugh is contagious]

Happy birthday, Noct!

[where are the party poppers!!]

Comments

[complementing]

I. PICNIC

[Minako had wondered at first if it was a good idea to go to Noctis' birthday party the same day she attended Ryoji's cremation...and while some part of her said no, the other part of her-- the part that was very honest with herself-- said that it would be a welcome distraction, and stop her from moping. So here she is, the only lady of the group, it seems, hair down and in the cute sundress she'd worn to the ceremony, unpacking two huge picnic baskets. Whipping those up had been been a little cathartic, at least. Taking care of others instead of focusing on her own thoughts always helps.

...she really made a lot, though. There's so much she's still unpacking.]

For sandwiches, there's chicken pesto and honey roasted ham. I also have...deviled eggs. Coleslaw and potato salad. Coconut shrimp. I brought chips and pretzels, and dessert is lemon bars. And if you're still hungry after that, you can take a second sandwich. I made twenty.

II. FISHING

[...except not really.

Minako is actually curled up in her chair instead with Koromaru on her lap, dozing off after a food coma.

It looks like she's got a bite though!!

What will you do.]

I.

[redarm]

[It was rather weird, attending a funeral and a birthday party in the same day. He nearly said no, but he had promised Prompto...and he hated breaking promises. So there he was. He at least had time to change his clothes, he wasn't about to wear a suit out fishing.

Lucky for Minako though, Prompto had invited along who could handle all that food]

I'll take any sandwiches you guys don't eat.

[Yes all of them]

[complementing]

[She's really glad that Noah is here, actually. It's kind of a 'misery loves company' sort of thing, but more than that...Noah understands, so she can talk with him if she gets too overwhelmed during the party.]

Which one do you want for your first one?

[redarm]

[It's okay he's got you senpai]

Um...chicken pesto?

I.

[kittycaterer]

[ The surprise itself may have made Noctis briefly uncomfortable, but the feeling strangely disappeared fast. It's... Flattering, knowing that he's made enough of an impression on people already that they want to come out and celebrate his birthday. Seeing that Minako made all this effort for a picnic is equally flattering.

He comes over, watching her unload the baskets. ]

Ah--

Wow. You... Really made a lot.

[ Oh god and it all sounds delicious. Noctis smiles as he crouches down. ]

Here, lemme help.

[complementing]

Ah--

[She lightly bats his hands away.]

No, you have to open your present from me first.

[A nod towards the nicely wrapped present next to the baskets.]

[kittycaterer]

--!

[ Noctis jolts lightly when Minako swats away his hand, confused. ]

Ah.

[ He turns his head to the wrapped gift, eventually smiling softly as he leans over to grab it. ]

I can do that.

[ He's very much appreciative. Flattered, actually... While he and Minako still have yet to spend too much time together, he rather enjoys her presence and it's... Nice. Knowing he was thought of. ]

Wonder what it is...

[ He begins unwrapping the gift. ]

[mercurio]

[prompto eyes the food, knowing that he'll kick himself for it later, but also... minako's food is delicious]

Can I eat all the things here without fearing pain afterwards?

[you know... his issue. hmm...]

[complementing]

Mmhm, no dairy at all. You can eat everything I've brought today.

[She holds out her arms to him.]

I think you promised me a hug the next time we met, though? And now is 'next time', so.

[mercurio]

Oh.

[he says softly, pulling the straps of his camera so it's at his back, and not at his front, as he walks over to her without much coercing, and pulling her into a tight and wholesome hug.]

Missed you, Mina.

[redarm]

[I. DOGS!!!]

[Noah had attended Ryoji's cremation this morning, so he hadn't been sure about attending a party right after. But...he did make a promise to Prompto, and Noah wasn't one to go back on his promises. At least he had time to change into more casual wear, so he's not doing this in a tux.

Right now, to help his sorrowful heart, he's doing the best thing possible: puppy therapy. He seems to have taken to playing fetch with a couple of the dogs, or simply just playing around. He seems happy about it, at least]

Aw, whose a good boy?!

[II. Fishing]

[This was supposed to be some kind of fishing party, so Noah wants to at least try to fish. So he can be found at the lakeside with a rod, getting ready to fish.

...Unfortunately, the only experience he's had at fishing is through video games, so he seems more than a little lost.

And by lost, I mean he's got his hands tangled up in the fishing line after a hook snagged onto his glove.]

Dammit! C'mon...!

Fishing

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis is fully aware that his personal hobby isn't commonly shared with people his age. So seeing someone struggle with a fishing rod isn't out of the question.

He's in the middle of prepping his own when he hears Noah having difficulty, turning his head to see that he's getting tangled. Noctis snickers a bit and sets his fishing rod down. ]

Hold on.

[ Reaching over to his hand, he starts getting it untangled. ]

It's a better idea to load up the bait with bare hands.

[redarm]

[You can practically see the anime scribbles above his head of frustration as he holds his hands still for Noctis to untangle]

I know, but I can't take them off in public. Not unless you want a scene.

[His hand is messed up ok]

[mercurio]

[that would be rufus and tiny and koromaru. none of the dogs would ever say no to fetch.]

[prompto's taking pictures of the dogs running and yipping. it's kinda cute but sad that tiny tries but is unable to catch the tennis ball when both koromaru and rufus are a lot faster and bigger than she is.]

[prompto whistles, and rufus comes to attention, giving tiny the chance to go after the tennis ball and bite it fiercely, returning it to noah with a happy wag of her tail]

Hey, Noah.

[he proceeds to rub rufus over for being a good boy]

They're not being nice to Tiny, but she's putting up a fight, huh.

[redarm]

[Rufus being distracted is appreciated! When Tiny brings him the ball, Noah kneels down and gives her extra attention and affection. WHAT A GOOD GIRL SHE IS]

Oh hey Prompto.

Yeah, they shouldn't underestimate her. It's the runts that are the most wily.

[Speaking as a former runt himself. ]

Prompts ahoy!

[kittycaterer]

Arrival.

[ While he's normally used to his father arranging some sort of modest surprise for his birthday every year, he's kept it essentially a secret from others. Noctis never found his birthday to be much of a big deal, but he shouldn't be surprised that Prompto knew of it and arranged a surprise of his own. Being fooled out of the house was easy enough; he truly had no idea there was a surprise party by the lake waiting for him.

Tiny, opposite of her daddy, is very sociable and could smell people from a mile away. He'd caught on to it likely being a party when she started tugging on the leash as they arrived at the lake. Barking and wagging her tail.

Seeing that people are here, overwhelming as it is, is extremely flattering. His expression is a bit meek at the start, but seeing that the arrangements were modest and involving fishing and eating? Prompto knows his best friend. He's touched. Noctis smiles when he's greeted. ]

Ah--

Thanks guys.

Fishing.

[ Say what you want about fishing; he's heard it all. Noctis won't argue that it's probably one of the more boring hobbies out there, but he loves it. The second he sees that there's fishing gear, he's already setting up. Noctis gets his bait on the line, not at all phased by it, much as he hates worms.

His casting makes it look easy. Like he's done it a million times before, and he has. With a smile to himself, he gets set up and waits, seated at the walkway. Tiny is seated beside him, wagging her white, fluffy tail and watching the water. Almost like his personal cheerleader. ]

Give me a heads up if you see any bigger fish. Got it, Tiny?

[ She barks. Noctis jolts beside her. ]

H-hey, hey! Quiet, or you'll scare the fish.

[ She makes a whispering sort of bark, lowering herself on her belly and tail still wagging. Noctis snickers and pats her head. ]

Good girl.

fishing;

[complementing]

[A short while later, there's footsteps on the walkway, and Minako comes over with a plate of lemon bars, Koromaru on her heels. There's a faint smile on her face when she notices Tiny that only grows when Koromaru leans down into the doggy play bow, wagging his tail furiously.]

She's adorable. May I join you?

[kittycaterer]

[ Noctis turns his head when he heads Koromaru approach Tiny, her growl recognizable as the playful one she uses when he tugs on her toy. He smirks a bit, but it adjusts to a smile when Minako addresses him. ]

Thanks.

She's a good girl. Too smart for her own good.

[ He takes one hand from his fishing rod to gesture at the spot beside him. ]

Sure. Haven't gotten a bite yet.

i stg i was invited in here... fishing....rip ardyn

[daemonized]

[Ardyn is honestly only here because it's Noctis' birthday. Otherwise, the outdoors is the last thing he would've considered finding himself in, especially all that he's been through in August. But of course when the invitation came his way, he certainly wasn't going to decline it.

He's wearing his hat, though. It's blocking out the rays of the sun as he peers out over the water, and watches Noctis cast the line, with Tiny at his side.]

You make that look unnaturally easy, Noctis.

ew no old people allowed

[kittycaterer]

[ Fishing and sleeping; where Noctis is truly in his element. He smiles thoughtfully as he slowly turns the reel back, tempting the fish. ]

Comes with practice. Maybe you'll be good at something when you grow up.

[ Is he being cheeky to a man older than him? Absofuckinglutely. ]

[mercurio]

[prompto leans over, hands on noctis' shoulders, and looking out over in the lake. he's amused, but happy, because his best friend seems genuinely happy.]

You've been here a while. Having fun?

[kittycaterer]

[ He's been sitting here a while, hasn't he? Noctis nearly jolts out of focus when Prompto puts his hands on him, but he recovers quick. ]

Ah--

[ He laughs a bit, smiling as he looks up to his friend. ]

Yeah, actually...

[ He looks back out to the lake, still smiling. ]

You made a good call. Don't think I've ever had a birthday party this nice before.

[ And considering he wasn't supposed to make it to this age? He's very appreciative. Thoughtful. To think Prompto had taken this much into account... ]

[mercurio]

BIRTHDAY CAKE

[what's a birthday party without a birthday cake?!]

[prompto has dragged noctis away from his fishing, and forced him to sit in front of a small cake. there's maybe two slices for each of them, since prompto can't have it, but the delicious chocolate cake is filled up with amazing buttercream. the icing, too, is buttercream.]

[there's an obnoxious 1 candle on it]

And-- [prompto's not very good at singing out loud, but please enjoy his enthusiasm, party hat on and everything, as he leads the song] --to you! Happy birthday, dear Noctis!

[hopefully noctis wants to die of embarrassment; he's snapping pictures and laughing, leaning in to one-arm hug his friend at the end of the song]

Y'gotta blow the candle! Make a wish!

PRESENT GIVING

Hey, Noct!

[he stops the other, to hand him a wrapped present.]

Here's my present.

[it hardly weighs anything... but it sure is a wonderful eyemask]

What are you waitin' for? [snickersnicker] Open it up, dude.

present giving

[complementing]

[Sitting here and ready to take a picture of the moment Noctis opens his present.]

[redarm]

[Also sitting and waiting, with Timcanpy on his shoulder ready to record the entire thing on video]