estoria | [Closed] go shorty, it's your birthday we gon' party like it's your birthday

flaredo) look at all these dorks
When: IC: The night of January 4th
Where: Hinata & Komaeda's apartment
What: A small gathering to celebrate a belated New Years Eve and Hinata's birthday (also belated)
Rating/Warning: NERDS. EVERYWHERE.

[All right, so it's a few days later than intended, but when the night that you plan a party just completely disappears into a mess of mayhem and murderous Santas, well, you improvise. At least, that's been Komaeda's plan. After making sure to let everyone know about the rescheduling, it's just a matter of coordinating.

So here it is. Here they are.

The decorations -- courtesy of Souda -- are up: streamers, balloons, matching party hats all in varying shades of red, black and white. They're draped around the small apartment along with what is probably an oversupply of party poppers. The food is set out in the kitchen and most everywhere else.

There's even a punchbowl that's probably not spiked yet, but how long can that really last anyway? Music -- somewhat questionable in some of its variety -- plays quietly in the background. And outside the apartment, up on the roof of the building for later, the yakuza have provided some festive ~~explosives~~ fireworks.

Perfect night for a party. And Hinata's the kind of guy who deserves a good party. Right? Right. Only rules are: no murdering anyone and have some fun.]

((ooc: so yes, mingle around! post top levels, tag others. the party will start in the apartment and hit the roof at some point, so pick your location(s) too, if you like!))

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[Yay awkward silence...

After a few beats of this though he tries to break the silence with what will hopefully be a good conversation starter.]

Are you enjoying the celebration?

[Surely this will go somewhere!]

Yes.

[Answers... the question.

...No, wait, okay. She's trying to get better at this, so after a slightly-too-long pause, she elaborates,] I never thought someone like me would have the chance to celebrate like this with... friends.

[Athena's sleepover was one thing, but something like this, where it's less crowded and almost entirely made up of people she genuinely cares about (for the most part) is a lot different somehow.]

[There's a tilt of his head at that, though it's only a slight one.]

Someone like you? It hardly matters who or what you consider yourself to be.

[While there was curiosity in that first question, he seems to move right past it without waiting for an answer.]

Even if you were not friends with the others, you're our classmate. After what we have all been through, there is at least a bond of camaraderie between us. I hope you were not keeping this mind set about you after what took place on the island.

[After all he can't really speak for what everyone would have done before the island. They may not have even been from the same class for all he knows.]

Hm.

[She offers only a noncommittal hum at that, glancing toward him for a moment before crossing her arms, looking out over the rest of the roof and the general party as a whole.]

Before the events of the island, I was nothing more than the young master's tool, [she says finally. Gundam's cleared enough of her prior FTEs to get this much, at least, and... she kind of does want to talk about it, at least a little bit, with someone she's fairly certain she can trust.]

So it is not so much that there is no bond of camaraderie, as it is that such a thing is... strange for me. But not something I dislike.

Ah, right...a servant simply to be used by the Prince of the Nine-Headed Dragon. [He remembers this from the trial, but hadn't really applied it to this situation exactly. Though then again a lot had happened between then and the funhouse, and more between the funhouse and now. So it's likely partially because it slipped his mind as well.]

I do not believe I could assure you things would have been similar before, despite this title clasped around your neck. I cannot speak for those who may or may not have desired to make either of your acquaintances.

[Gundam similarially watches the party rather than focusing on Peko. He's got no idea if anyone would have wanted to be their friends. Yakuza and all.

Well...that's not strictly true. Hinata probably would have, despite their titles. If he had gotten the chance. He's just that kind of guy.]

Did you not experience celebrations such as this before though?

[Tool or not, she still had a birthday. And even if she didn't have parties, Kuzuryuu probably did.

...maybe.

Do Yakuza kids have birthday parties?? Or any party really?]

[There are so many things wrong in that first statement, but it's really not worth it to try to correct him. It's not wrong enough to merit it. (Though really, shouldn't Kuzuryuu be the Nine-Headed Dragon himself, instead of just the prince...? Semantics.)]

They would not have been.

[Similar before, that is. He's not far off to assume that her affiliation with the yakuza made it difficult for both her and Kuzuryuu to make friends. While Kuzuryuu might have preferred their relationship to be a secret, it's hard to say whether that would have been successful at Hope's Peak. Surely it wouldn't have taken long for their classmates to figure it out.

And that's even assuming Peko herself would have been capable of making friends even without her yakuza ties.]

The young master has had birthday celebrations before. Never parties like this, but things within the family itself. There was never any need for it to be bigger than that.

[Conspicuously absent is any mention of a birthday celebration, party, or whatever of Peko's own.]

Edited 2015-05-27 03:29 (UTC)

[He can't be the dragon himself if he is still the heir. And besides "prince" has a great ring to it. Peko you need to gain an appreciation for mystical if not pointless titles.

He somewhat wants to argue that point, vaguely feeling like he should offer a reassuring statement of "well they could have been". But he doesn't. Because again, he doesn't know. And he won't pretend like he does. Kuzuryuu is the closest to "affiliation" with Yakuza he's ever had and he isn't one to try and pretend like that gives him any authority on the matter. Plus it's not like he's the go-to guy for making friends himself, so what would he know?]

So much so that this is truly such a different creature then?

[It's more asking for confirmation than explanation. And he notices that, though he's not really surprised either.]

[Nah. Calls things exactly as she sees them. Or rather, how people tell her how they are, which is why she'll call the hamsters the Dark Devas of Destruction rather than just hams.]

Completely different, [she agrees with a small nod, still looking over the rooftop rather than at Gundam himself. Another small pause as she wonders whether or not something like this would be preferable to Kuzuryuu for his own birthday party. It's not for months still, but it's nice to think about.]

Something like this is... nice.

[How unimaginative Peko. What if he comes up with a neat title for you, huh?

But is she a mind reader because that was actually the question he was going to ask next! Well. Sort of.]

Is it something you believe would be desirable for your own birthday, now that you've experienced it?

[Okay no not at all, it's only tangibly related.]

[She doesn't answer immediately again, glancing up to follow another trailing firework before shaking her head.]

...I don't think so. It is good for Hinata, to have his friends here. I am honored to be able to participate in it. But I do not want anything for myself. It is enough... to be beside someone, for me.

[Happier celebrating someone else rather than herself. She finally does look at Gundam as if trying to read his expression.]

Is this what you would have wanted for yours?

[There isn't too much to read honestly. He's just watching others or watching her for the most part.]

So you would merely be glad to continue being invited to such affairs? A modest and simple desire.

[He doesn't think that will really be a problem. Again, they're classmates. She's sure to continue being invited to any parties they hold. And plus, people here he's noticed are pretty friendly...

But he doesn't answer her question right away. That takes a little more thought and consideration. The idea of people wanting to celebrate his birthday...]

No, it's not.

[Now it's his turn to just watch the fireworks instead.]

Gatherings like this...they're nice to enjoy from afar. I don't believe I would dissuade anyone from hosting a party for me, if they really wanted, but that is hardly the atmosphere befitting a creature like myself. I wouldn't enjoy it at all.

[For as much of a ham as he is, he wouldn't want to be the center of attention like that.]

Edited 2015-05-27 04:38 (UTC)

Correct.

[It's pleasant to think about, having the kind of social awareness to be able to host her own party, the way Athena and Ryuko seem more than willing and able to do. But even with all the strides she feels like she's made recently, something like that is far too much. It would be nice to just be wished a happy birthday, she thinks, and then move along like it's any other day.

She's quiet while Gundam thinks, and then even after he answers, waiting to see if he'll explain. Fortunately he does without any prompting, and she finds herself nodding.]

That is something I can understand.

[After all, hadn't he said that all he desires is silence and being alone? She vaguely remembers something like that from the island, and obviously she's going to take a declaration like that at face value.]

[If he decided to host her own party, at least there were a small handful of people who would attend it. Probably more than that, too.

People here really seemed to like parties??

Taking it at face value isn't exactly wrong, though. There's more behind that declaration, but ultimately it all still leaves that as a partial truth.

He nods either way though, offering her an agreeing sort of hum. He had this funny feeling you'd get it.]

These affairs are better left to focus on those who would thrive in the light they afford.

[Hinata, Sonia...maybe Kuzuryuu too? The two of you though, you can hang together like losers, just sort of shadowing these types of people.]

[It's so true. People like parties so much... why.jpg

There's a soft, almost amused huff of air through her nose as she glances back to him again.]

An interesting way to put it. I would not have expected it from you.

[Though maybe she should have, hammy reference to thriving in the light and all. But it's the stuff behind it that she doesn't quite get; while he might have said his piece about solitude and loneliness, he still was quite the grandstander.]

I like to believe it's accurate as well. And why would that be?

[After all, he longs for solitude and loneliness!!

No actually his curiosity has nothing to do with that statement.]

Perhaps not the sentiment when being used to describe a party, yet... for a creature of darkness, you make it very difficult for your presence not to be noted.

[Because Sailor Peko over here is so subtle in appearance. At least she doesn't do hers on purpose as part of an image. She just genuinely thinks it's easier to move in!]

Kehehehe...

[Almost seeming to stand up a little taller at that, he kind of puffs his chest out with a bit of pride.]

Do not confuse me for some mere low leveled imp, Pekoyama. While I do not wish to be the center of attention in an environment such as this, the every day disdain of those surrounding me is something I welcome. It is only right that an abomination such as myself attract the contempt and scorn from the mortals that walk this plane.

I am a plague upon their land! My mere presence is a herald for the damnation of their world as they know it. A walking disaster, causality's reaper, it's only natural to make it known that I have arrived!

[With a hearty cackle, he turns to fully face Peko. What was that about making it difficult to ignore him?]

For why shouldn't they be made aware that such a despicable creature walks among them? After all, they say that sheep cannot notice a wolf in their midst when it is garbed in the hide of one of their own. Mortals are no better than sheep, they must be led by the nose to find the wolves like me skulking in their herd. Though, even as they know I exist, there is nothing they can do to fight against my power.

...

[Alright, well, there are a few things to unpack there, but when it comes down to it, Peko's just kind of staring at him. Not in confusion or puzzlement, but this time, trying to assess him as a threat. His physical abilities are a joke compared to her own, she's certain, and she highly doubts he has any kind of magical powers. The hamsters are incredible, to be sure, and she doesn't think she would stand a chance against them, but Gundam himself...?

Peko doesn't dismiss anyone as a threat out of hand, but Gundam she's certain is not a threat to her. There's a couple careful seconds as she reaches this conclusion in spite of his declarations, though her face betrays none of her disbelief.]

Then I hope we will not encounter a circumstance where we must face each other in combat.

[BECAUSE SHE'D DESTROY YOU GUNDAM.... Magic powers might exist in this weird place, but not from this ham of a classmate. At least it sounds like she's taking him seriously, though...]

[He totally takes this to mean she's taking him seriously and he's satisfied with that, turning so he can watch the fireworks again.]

I do not believe such a circumstance will arise. I have no desire to face my classmates in a true battle.

[This is true for two reasons. He really likes you guys, despite how he acts.

And also he's aware he'd probably get his ass handed to him. Sure he can throw a punch but that's nothing compared to someone like Peko. ...Well okay no, he kicked Souda's ass so he's not scared of him, but everyone else he'd rather not learn how he'd fair.]

Nor I.

[Says the girl who walks around wearing a sword at all times... She means it, though; she'd rather not use it unless she has to protect herself or the people she cares about. It's strange to think of "people" in the plural, but, well... she has that, now.]

I am glad to know we are in agreement.

[Hey...there's reason to keep weapons on you here. It's very, very clear now. You can't just walk around unarmed.]

I had no doubt that we would be.

[You're a friend of Hinata's. He's sure, aside from the...whatever...he and Souda has going on, none of Hinata's friends would ever want to fight one another.]

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[Closed] go shorty, it's your birthday we gon' party like it's your birthday

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