The Beach: Wednesday Evening

[slothbabyproductions]

The sun had just dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow across the beach as the first notes of music from Arden’s playlist filled the air. The waves gently lapped at the shore, creating a soothing backdrop to the area. Tiki torches and string lights were set up around the party area, their flickering and colorful light adding to the atmosphere.

The aroma of North Carolina barbecue filled the air, with a long table set up with all the fixings—pulled pork, coleslaw, hush puppies, and more. For those with different tastes, vegetarian and vegan dishes were also thoughtfully provided. Sweet tea was the main beverage, but for those craving something colder, Squishies were lined up next to the drinks cooler. The centerpiece of it all was a giant cupcake that Graham had brought all the way from Daventry for the occasion.

Games were scattered around the beach: volleyball nets, cornhole, frisbees, and even a few board games for those who preferred to sit back and relax. A bonfire crackled nearby, with cozy spots to sit and chat, perfect for those who wanted to enjoy the evening at a slower pace.

It was set up for a perfect evening, filled with good food, great company, and the kind of fun that comes from being surrounded by people. Yes, it was another surprise party, the kind that shouldn’t be a surprise anymore, really. But that’s the point of parties—to celebrate the people you care about. And tonight, it was all about Arden.

[Open to all and any part goers]

Comments

Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

Because that’s what we do at parties!

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[what_big_teeth]

Obviously, Eleanor was going to be there! She wouldn't miss this for anything, and she also wanted to make sure that if there was anything that needed any help, she was available for that, too. But she had a feeling things were pretty well covered and that Kamala would insist that the only thing she needed to do was have a good time.

Which, for here, was pretty easy enough.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

Once Kamala had fussed over every last detail, ensuring everything was just right, she grabbed two squishies and made her way over to Eleanor. She approached with her usual bright smile.

“Hey, El,” Kamala said, offering one of the squishies to Eleanor. “Are you having a good time?”

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[pun_king]

Naturally, Graham wouldn't dream of showing up to this thing without Triumph, but, in this case, Triumph also had a very important job to do while he was here! Because if Graham tried to carry that giant cupcake that he'd gotten for the party from Wente before leaving Daventry, he would almost surely end up tripping right into it and ruining it entirely! So he hooked up a little wagon instead, and now he was riding up to the beach on top of Triumph, dutifully pulling a small cart with an enormous cupcake on it, bigger than even Triumph, and with 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARDEN!' written on it, and also a box of smaller cupcakes with little fondant dandelions on them, too.

Especially since figuring out exactly how to eat a cupcake as big as the main one could be a little intimidating!

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[wildgalegirl]

"Triumph!" Charlie yelled. "Welcome back!"

She hugged him then turned to Graham. "And Graham! Didn't want Triumph to feel left out, so I wanted to get that hug in before I hugged you."

Which she proceeded to do.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[x_wondrous_x]

Stewart hadn't been sure about coming to this thing after he'd seen the email, but, really...he did find Arden to be...incredibly tolerable, so he figured he could at least make an appearance long enough to wish her happy birthday, give her the gift he'd gotten for her, and then determine if the shindig was worth sticking around for. But the nice thing about a beach bonfire party were that they were plenty of shadows to skulk in, which was what he generally did best at these sorts of things.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Incredibly tolerable, huh? Don't trip over yourself with the flattery there, Stewart.

"Hey," she said, drifting over to one of those shadows to find him skulking there. "Enjoying the depths of the darkness from which to overwatch the overwhelmed orphan?"

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[beautiful_boc]

Boc still wasn't sure this was a good idea; he'd been fretting about this bloody party ever since Kamala swept into the shop to completely ruin his day...quite possibly his whole week!...by inviting him! He told himself it was fine, that was what people did around here, really, for some...bewilderingly unknown reason, actually wanting someone like him around, though who could ever even figure out why. But he did like the beach (it reminded him of the cave by the coast, which, although there were bad memories of the other kicking him out of it or badgering and beating him whenever he returned, he did like those quiet nights when he'd slip away and look wistfully out into the ocean or the island only reachable through the tunnels within the cave) and there would be food here (delicious food, too, if the aroma was any indication, and so he knew at least he'd have a very happy belly after this!), and, well...

Kamala'd said Arden would be happy if he was here. He wasn't sure if he believed that. He was pretty sure Arden would just be kind about him being here, but he did like the idea of making Arden happy, even if the methodology was nonsensical to him.

And so he was here, mostly hanging around the fire, unless too many people also wanted to be by the fire, in which case he'd just slink back and concede the space to them and hope no one noticed him, either way.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[hashtag_chocobro]

Apparently, not enough people from a certain someone's roster were represented in this party yet, but, well, certain someone's sort of brought the whole party with them at times! Prompto had been a little on the fence about swinging by Arden's birthday party, figuring it was something she'd mostly want to spend with her friends without him potentially bringing in the awkward, but not only did it feel like a good offer of goodwill after all that and he really did mean what he'd told her: adopted kids had to stick together. And that was especially true for birthdays.

So he and Noctra were here, also because Noctra loved parties and it was a little late for her so that just meant that, if things did get too awkward, he had a pretty good excuse to not overstay his welcome so that Arden could have that birthday with mostly her friends. All the people had Noctra pretty pumped up and excited, though, so it would likely be a while before she started to have a crash or a melt-down.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[sword_chocobro]

Okay, okay, one more bit of party spam, and then it was done, but Gladio of course would have to show up to wish Arden a happy birthday tonight, too.

And take advantage of that barbecue. He would barely be able to even relax up on the roof in the hot tub with the scent of it drifting up from the beach, anyway!

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

He would have to figure out some kind of Cup Noodle^TM barbecue.

"Professor Amicitia!" Arden said. "Hello! Thank you for coming! Unless you're here to have me drill, in which case I regret to inform you that my arms are still recovering from climbing a mountain."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[hasaknightjob]

Of course Steven and Llewellyn who would do his own ping were there to celebrate the birthday girl.

Steven took a look around when they arrived, admiring the decorations.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[slothbabyproductions]

"Steven! Thank you for coming," Kamala said with a happy bounce on her feet. "Arden will be so happy you made it."

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[mustbeawitch]

Lydia hadn't been to a modern birthday party before, having somehow missed Kamala's, and she was looking about in curiosity. It seemed quite a large to-do to her, being used to birthdays at home with the family, but she supposed Arden was worth it.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[napking]

Gray? Miss a friend's party where there would be cake? Never.

He just hoped he didn't end up falling asleep where someone could trip over him or something. A broken ankle at a birthday party would be a bummer.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[pocketpretzels]

And just as the narrative above said there would be, there was indeed a Watts!

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[wildgalegirl]

Charlie was here with bells on. Not literally. She did, as usual, have her guitar with her in case anyone was interested in music around the bonfire later.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[moreofaponchoguy]

Cal wouldn't miss this for anything, and he was glad to see other people. Arden deserved to have lots of people wishing her a happy birthday. Don't mind him eyeing the games to see what he could challenge the other guests to.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[noonedecidesmyfate]

Belle was there, naturally!

She wouldn't miss it.

Re: Arrive and Mingle

[singlenakedwhat]

Henry was somewhat late here, hanging out on the edges of the group as she usually did.

Surprise!

[slothbabyproductions]

For the birthday girl! As usual, wait until she pings in first.

Re: Surprise!

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

Okay, so, admittedly, Arden had kiiiiinda guessed that something was up. Kamala knew her birthday, after all, and probably had a fair idea of how many birthday parties she'd ever had (it was a small number, no, smaller than that), so odds were very good that she wouldn't let Arden's birthday pass unrecognized.

But she had assumed that any celebrations would be on her birthday or even later, the second perhaps, to celebrate her anniversary on the island, or even next weekend, to accommodate the picnic.

Which was a long and rambling way to say that, even expecting a small something to have been pulled together, she still managed to be utterly surprised when she realized that wait, no, this was for her.

Other Stuff!

[slothbabyproductions]

Dancing? Games? Eating? Yep that’s here!

Re: Other Stuff!

[single_man_tear]

Dean’s unglamorous return to the island involved hauling large containers of food across the island which included the barbecue, gallons of sweet tea and of course most of the sides. Then that way too cheerful girl put him to work heating up all the barbecue and then grilling all the other meat.

When he was finally able to get away from that kid, he took one of the chairs by the bonfire and cracked open a beer and decided he wasn’t moving for anything.

Okay, there were probably a few things he would move for. Like another beer.

OOC

[slothbabyproductions]

The loneliest thread of all is the OOC.