[open] i am sixteen going on seventeen

[journaler]

Who: Leia & OPEN.
When: 3/7 IC
Where: The gardens
What: A birthday nearly forgotten.
Rating/Warning: Nah.


a.) i want to play a game (text)

[After the heavy damage and loss, Leia's practically made it a routine to help out where she can: the school and the apartments especially. She knows how important the Residential District is, though she'd be lying if she didn't spend her fair share of time at the Game Center, too.

On the seventh, it's no different, though she finds a slightly different way to help than the usual.]

hey!! （‐＾▽＾‐） wow, everyone's been working so hard lately... look how far we've come! don't forget to rest. if u need a break, stop by the gardens this afternoon for a surprise!

it's also my birthday, if youre into that sort of thing.. but you'll have to find me first (○ゝω・○)ﾉﾟ+.☆ see you there!

- leia ☆

b.) it's a trap! (action)

[For those intrigued enough to come, or even just passing by, they'll find that the gardens aren't quite as pretty as they were before. Nevertheless, the amount of collaborative work so far is obvious. New flowers are budding, pathways repaired, and it's all good enough for Leia. She doesn't need anything elaborate like Natalia's party was; this will do.

A long picnic table is set up, and on top of it is food. Three large pizzas with various toppings, all kinds of flavored chips and dips to go with them, and at the center of it all, a mysterious cake that doesn't actually say anything about her birthday. Predictably it's chocolate, with your standard frosting, decorative flowers, and only two words on its face: "Almost There." Next to the cake is a large knife for cutting it, as well as paper plates, plastic utensils, and a small note propped up like a name tag.]

Need a break? ♥
[. . . but where is she? Feel free to set off to find her, or simply mingle among yourselves and enjoy the free eats.]

c.) where's waldo? (action)

[Deeper into the garden (but not too deep), it won't actually take too long to find Leia; it might just take a little effort. If your character is the type to look high, they might spot her in a tree (don't be surprised if she falls out of it); or for others who want to stick to the ground, they might notice a fast-moving shadow move behind a tree, or a rustling of leaves behind one, if it's particularly big.

If she knows you, she might just might pop up in front of you to yell "BOO," just for kicks. So much for the chase.

Be creative! Or let me make shit up as I go. Your choice. Either way, any characters taking this option will receive a little something for their troubles.]

d.) walking on the wild side (any)

[Anything goes! I'm very flexible and open. You can catch Leia as she's setting up the table(s), or assume she returns to the table(s) after most of the food is gone, etc. if either of those options appeal more to you.]

(( ooc: just a note that leia probably won't be able to reply to option b! it's mostly for mingling purposes if you want it. ♥ ))

Comments

[journaler]

N- Never mind. It's okay.

[It sounds like she's telling herself more so than IV, but either way, she seems desperate to leave the subject behind.]

I should probably... probably check on the food.

[She takes a step back, yet hesitates.]

[rebelia]

[Realization has begun to dawn, though IV never reaches the solid conclusion with Leia's hasty interjection. The frantic wave of her hands distracts him, and he stares briefly at the shade of her face before his attention turns to her retreating foot.]

Leia?

[She's fleeing and he's confused. He takes a small step forward to close that gap, questioning.]

[journaler]

[The sound of her name brings her back down to earth somewhat. This has happened before, hasn't it? With Jude. She ran then and ended up regretting it... so what if the same thing happens again? What if he doesn't come after her like Jude did . . .

Besides, it isn't like IV ran when he kissed her.

Leia straightens, allowing him to close the distance.]

Y... Yeah?

[Deep breaths. Don't run, a voice in her head echoes again. He's your friend; let's try to keep it that way, alright? ]

[rebelia]

[It neither surprises nor calms IV that Leia actually stops. That tells him she's willing to talk, and so he doesn't feel the need to take a second step. She is, however, giving him mixed signals (and the redness of her face gives away that she's holding back), and he feels he should clarify them.]

Those ideas you got . . . what are they?

1/2

[journaler]

[Leia remains oblivious to the mixed signals she's giving, but she can tell that he's serious. She already gave up the one chance she had, just now, to leave, so here she is, feet grounded like cement.

She could still run . . . but as far as mistakes go, it'd probably be pretty high up there. Instead, she averts her eyes, still hesitating.]

They're just ideas. Really just one.

Like... maybe you like me.

[journaler]

[With the hard part over, Leia actually finds it easier. She laughs quietly, like she's said the most ridiculous thing (but she'll let IV be the judge).]

I mean, like me like me.

[A childish phrase she hasn't used in years.]

[rebelia]

[Oh. It takes a moment for the implications to start sinking in, and then the tension in his brow lifts. His expression is calm as he processes the admission, tone neutral.]

You thought I love you.

[He eyes Leia, who's being so very shy. IV doesn't even need to think: He has friends, and he loves them to death. Leia attempting to laugh it off only strengthens that feeling. Nobody else matters, for this is the girl he's chosen to cherish.]

. . . What if I do?

[journaler]

[She can feel her heart sink under the weight of his tone: calm (how?) and impersonal. There's a faint familiarity to it, like she knows what's coming next; but she's shouldered a lot worse, and it isn't enough to dampen the smile on her face. She eyes the ring clasped around her finger. As long as they can stay friends, she can accept anything he's about to say.

Funny, though. What started out as just an idea now feels more like a confession. She's not prepared for this; she feels lost, oblivious to her own feelings like they've been hiding from her. At least until now.

What if. It's only then she lifts her head to meet his eyes.]

Huh? But...

[Does he?]

[rebelia]

[Despite Leia's flustered display, IV's lips curl into a faint smirk. "But," says the diffident part of her.]

I don't befriend just anybody. My friends are people who've done more for me than others. Everyone else I've met in the colony is an acquaintance, but you're special.

[That alone is enough for him to be confident in his claim. There are many more things he can say about Leia, but he won't. There's a limit to how cheesy he can be aloud, so he finds the comfortable alternative with a glint in his eyes.]

. . . I'm a fan. Are you mine?

[journaler]

[...Ah. It is hopelessly cheesy. For a moment, she wonders if he's teasing her just to see her reaction; but after everything, she believes him. His words make her smile, though they leave her wondering what they're talking about anymore. Friendship? Or something deeper?

He used the word love. And then...

You're special. I'm a fan.

. . .]

You'd be the first. [Her voice is at first choked with emotions, but evens as she continues.] But I am. I really . . . I really, really like you.

[More than she realized. Her gaze falls again the more she speaks; and suddenly the cuff of his sleeve is super interesting. But this is an opportunity... and she doesn't want to make a habit of letting those slip away. She speaks again with a voice still laced with uncertainty, but she's already come this far . . .]

Maybe we should try.

[rebelia]

[IV was talking about friendship, a relationship he considers most monumental; however, when Leia reciprocates so readily to something more, he feels warm in the chest and discovers that he would be happy with this. In fact, his torso nearly goes numb with tingly satisfaction after the soft confession, and he can't help the noticeable lift in his mood.]

Try what? To officialize it, go on a date?

[Actually, that's an all too exciting thought for IV. Suspecting that Leia is pulling the "stare at one's shoes" maneuver, regardless of what it is she's looking at (it's his sleeve, he realizes), he folds his arms to raise the level of her gaze.]

We've already gone on a few of those. You even fed me lunch. What's another?

[At this point, he decides to give her his resounding "yes." He unfolds his arms and takes a decisive step toward Leia.]

If you want to try, I won't hold back. I'll give it all to you . . . my undivided fanservice.

[journaler]

[......They have, haven't they? Some were more romantic than others. Some of them planned, others not so much. Those are the best kind, she thinks.

Her gaze follows when he folds his arms until she meets his eyes again. She looks a little shocked--mostly at herself for actually going through with suggesting it, but even more so at the fact that he seems to be saying yes. (She thinks.)]

Fanservice?

[--she likes the undivided part? Well, it's the only word that seems to cement the fact that he knows what she's getting at, and that this won't end up being a horrible misunderstanding.]

So you . . .

[When he steps closer, she doesn't retreat, though her knees to weaken ever slightly. What was she going to say again . . . ?]

[rebelia]

[IV can forgive Leia's bizarre reactions based on how unexpected this is for the both of them. He smirks at her parroting of his favorite word, though it doesn't fail to reach him that she's having difficulty following.]

What's the matter? Is it that you want more? Let me be clearer, then.

[Well, he thought he was being crystal clear, but he understands that she doesn't follow his personal language.]

This is what it means to start a relationship, isn't it?

1/2

[journaler]

[Oh.]

[journaler]

[Oh, okay. Now she feels flustered again, though the relief is plain on her face at the confirmation. She's thankful for it somewhere beneath all the red, but pouts nonetheless. She narrows her eyes, closing the gap between them further with another step.

...She playfully jabs at him using the hand with the ring.]

W- Well, don't make me sound greedy about it.

[rebelia]

It's not greedy.

[Greedy? If anything, she should be more sure of herself. IV doesn't say this, of course; instead, he shrugs his shoulders without so much as a flinch from the jab.]

Rather, it's time to celebrate. The cake on the picnic table sounds good. What do you think?

[journaler]

[If it's not greedy, 'Is it that you want more' certainly makes it sound so. She still doesn't know how to take any of this . . . but she knows she's happy. Happier than she imagined, trying to divert her birthday away from herself.

Maybe she's worth celebrating after all.

Her hand lowers, and her eyes linger on the edge of his lips. Her own lips are curled, expression teasing.]

Haven't learned your lesson, huh? [But it's okay: to get chocolate on his face without noticing, she knows that means he liked it. She continues softly after a pause, laughing quietly at herself... or maybe both of them.]

I think . . . if I'd known, I would have gotten cheesecake instead.

[rebelia]

[It takes a moment, but he catches onto Leia once he notices where she's looking. What a cheeky thing. At least he didn't throw the cake at somebody. Truthfully, it was good, and that means it should taste better if they grab a slice together.]

Oh? Why cheesecake?

[journaler]

[. . . Because this entire thing has been cheesy from start to finish and it's all her fault. She'll let him figure that out for himself, though, responding in a joke without missing a beat.]

It goes better with your skin.

[rebelia]

Are you serious?

[Of course not. That has to be her teasing him, so he returns in kind with a huff of amusement.]

If it's that good of a match, we can buy a slice.

[journaler]

Once we run out of chocolate.

[Which is probably the most decisive thing she's said all day. Go figure.]

. . . Let's worry about it later.

[rebelia]

You're right.

[Saying that, he turns in the direction he'd come from and starts to retrace his steps to the area with the picnic table.]

The cake was hardly touched when I got to it. Who knows how much you'll have to eat before we get to the cheesecake?

[journaler]

[She follows behind him, shaking her head in a huff.]

No way! I can't eat it all. That's why I have you.

[In more ways than one now . . . Of course, she's still only teasing. It's the only way she's able to deal with this at all coherently.]

It was your idea, right?

[rebelia]

[That's why she has him, among other reasons. Now that they're starting something intimate, IV wouldn't mind eating Leia's leftovers.]

It may have been, but the cheesecake was yours. There's no way we're going to end the day without it now.

[journaler]

[Wow. She can't exactly argue with that . . . even if she wanted to. It occurs to her that she set up most of the food without trying any, so everything about this conversation is enticing.

No, she definitely won't disagree.]

Good thing we have plenty of time.