fandomtownies | The Beach: Wednesday Evening

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]

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Prompto and Noctra had prepared for this, because they were (okay, Prompto was) big needs. So when Arden was approaching, he whispered to Noctra, "Ready?" And she started to squeal with excitement, then gasped and balled her fists up to her mouth to contain it while Prompto counted down.

"Three, two...." He paused for dramatic effect. "One!"

On that one, Noctra threw up her hands (Prompto did not, because he was holding Noctra, but the spirit was definitely there!) And they shouted out "Surprise!" together.

Well, Prompto shouted "Surprise!" Noctra shouted "Appliesth!" Which was close enough, and then she descended into pleased little giggles while Prompto chuckled proudly and planted a kiss on the top of her head.

"Perfect. Good job,nugget."

Of everyone here (and it was a whole crowd, look!), Arden looked most touched that Prompto (and Noctra!) were here, considering the whole...everything.

"Thank you, Professor," she said with a happy smile. "And thank you, Little Miss," she said, holding out her hand for a high five from Noctra. "It really means a lot that you both came out tonight."

Noctra reached out her hand, too, but not to high-five Arden back, but, instead, to reach up toward her crown with little clutching fingers and a big old blue eyed appeal of "Pwease?"

Because Liliana Vess had created an unrepentant little grabby-handed monster.

Prompto, chuckling with embarrassment, gently reached for Noctra's hand to guide it away. "No, no, no, sweetie, that's Arden's special crown for her special day! You'll get one when it's your turn to have a birthday, okay?"

She let out a little fussy whine of objection at this news, lip quivering, even with a little pouting sob, and her big blue eyes, now shimmering with tears looked at Prompto before she buried her face in his shoulder, muffling the rest of her mewling this protestations and almost the little pleading, "Pwomise?"

He looked over Noctra's head apologetically at Arden while patting thr little one's back soothingly. "Promise," he said, and then, to Arden: "Sorry, we're getting close to her bedtime so she's a little moody, and she's definitely in her 'all the pretty shiny things' phase. But, yeah, no, we probably won't stay for long, but we at least wanted to come say happy birthday."

He took a moment to look around, with a soft sort of smile.

"Looks like it's a pretty great one, too, huh?"

Liliana Vess was unrepentant about creating said monster. Although Noctra never got to wear her shiny headdress either.

"And the one you get for your birthday will probably fit you better," Arden offered, feeling obscurely guilty about not handing over her crown. She probably would have, if Prompto hadn't stepped in.

And this was why she got bullied by birds.

"And it is," she said. "So many good people come to say hello. My first birthday party ever, actually." She gripped her pendant. "It's a lot. You know?" She looked up at him. "A good lot! But I don't think it really hit me until, like, this week it would matter to anybody but me. And even then, I think I still thought of it as like...payment? Cause I threw parties for other people? But this..."

Did he get it?

Don't feel guilty, Arden! This was an important life lesson! For both of you!

Noctra kept sniffling against Prompto's shoulder, and he shook his head, because he knew your gamed, little lady!

And then he was giving Arden another soft smile, because oh man, did he get it.

"You're talking the guy who pretty much coined the phrase Sad Birthday Cupcake," he revealed, "because for the longest time, that's pretty much all my birthdays were. A cupcake and a note left on the counter. Up until I was about...man, fifteen." He chuckled faintly. "Feels like ages ago. And I still kind of get overwhelmed if it's a big party. For me, I mean. Even after all this time. I like quieter things. Usually just dinner and a movie at home with Liz. Or just a few of my closest friends. Maybe a nice trip somewhere...

"But for your first one?" He chuckled again, this one more of a full laugh. "Yeah, no, it's gotta be big. Go big or go home, right? You really do deserve it."

"Thanks," she said, looking around at all her friends again. "And yeah. Sad Birthday Cupcakes were pretty much it. I think I had a nice dinner with my foster family once and I got to choose what we were having, but the other three birthdays that I remember from before I moved in with my legal guardian, I was in the process of getting shuffled somewhere else, so we just didn't. You know? Hard to say, 'we wanna celebrate you being born' when they were in the process of shipping me off somewhere else."

And then she flushed a little, clapping her hands over her mouth. "I'm super-sorry!" she said. "I didn't mean to just dump that on you!"

"No, no, no!" Prompto assured Arden quickly, his hand leaving Nocta's back to a moment to wave it off dismissively. "Don't apologize, you don't need to apologize for that! Sometimes it's good...important, actually....to be able to dump some of that stuff. Especially to someone who gets it. You know?

"I mean, I guess I was kind of lucky in that at least I wasn't moved around and got to stay in the same place, my parents just....well, actually, I'm lucky for a lot of other reasons, too, but we don't....that doesn't have anything to do with....never mind, point is, I don't mind. At all, Arden. So don't ever feel bad about talking about that kind of thing. Definitely not with me, okay?"

He grinned at her faintly.

"I meant it when I said us adopted kids gotta stick together, you know?"

Arden nodded. "Yeah," she said. "It can be...hard? Like so many of my friends come from big families and I'm not saying they don't have problems or that it's always sugar and roses for them, but...it can get a little lonely, you know? And sometimes I just say things and it makes it awkward for people and I don't mean to, but..."

Like, you know! Not actually knowing if her birthday was the real date she was born on!

The Beach: Wednesday Evening

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