A Clearing In The Preserve, Thursday Evening

[puppy_fair]

This evening, there was a bit more activity going on in the preserve than the usual scampering and frolicking of the teal deer and the alots. Tonight, there were paper lanterns strung up through the branches and along the trees, there were tables set up in the clearing, and there was music. If it lacked a banner and balloons, they were hoping the glimmer of the lantern lights in the darkness made up for it.

Ino was turning seventeen, and there was only one thing to be done about it. Zack had sent out the e-mail yesterday, and he and Karla had taken care of the food and the cakes and the decorations, and, once Zack managed to get Ino to join them, they were going to celebrate!

[Up a little early for PARTY TIME goodness! Open!]

Comments

Re: Surprise! Talk to the Birthday Girl!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall shrugged. "I dunno. I don't like birthdays. Yours has been happy, though, right?"

Because obviously, if her birthday hadn't been happy it must be because of some sort of personal problem on her part, so why should Squall bother?

Re: Surprise! Talk to the Birthday Girl!

[intraspective]

"It's been good," she replied and, rather than snark at him-- "And, thanks. For showin' up even if you don't like birthdays."

Re: Surprise! Talk to the Birthday Girl!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

"Good," Squall declared, nodding decisively. "Good. Happy birthday."

He was just a veritable font of conversation tonight.

Re: Surprise! Talk to the Birthday Girl!

[intraspective]

Truly, he was.

"Should I ask for a birthday hug?" she asked impishly. "Or is that pushin' it?"

Totally pushing it, she knew, yes.

Re: Surprise! Talk to the Birthday Girl!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Squall sighed, rolled his eyes, and shrugged. "Whatever." He didn't actively hug her, but he wasn't moving away, either.

Re: Surprise! Talk to the Birthday Girl!

[intraspective]

Oh. So that was a--that wasn't a no?

WELL. Far be it for her to pass up that chance!

So, with a bounce, that was Ino going for a hug! Like with Elphaba, she wouldn't make it a long one, because Ino wanted a hug, she didn't want to drive people entirely out of their comfort zones, and beamed up at him.

"Thank you!"

Re: Surprise! Talk to the Birthday Girl!

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

It would have been a no, a year or so ago. Since then he'd become somewhat desensitized to the horrors of physical contact, thanks to Rinoa.

He shrugged down at her. "You're welcome?"

(Is she thanking me for letting her hug me? That doesn't make any sense!)