come with me to the dance floor

[hotspurred]

Who: OPEN
What: Henry and Emily throw a surprise birthday party for Maketh. Come celebrate!
Where: Delight's bar.
When: December 1st, all night.
Warnings: Drunkenness, probably...


By the time that evening arrives, everything is in place ready for the celebration. All invitations have been issued. Strips of fabric in all colours hang around the room like streamers, and a paper banner that looks like it was taken out of an illuminated manuscript declares Happy birthday, Maketh from where it is pinned above a table. Upon the neat tablecloth sits a large cake, and by it an assortment of food, including a pile of buns filled with surprise fillings. There is tequila set out, waiting to be opened and poured, and many shot glasses lines up ready. At the far end there is a space for gifts. Music plays, upbeat and energetic.

All that is missing is the birthday girl in question.

Fortunately the wait is short.

Henry shoots Emily a quick message to let her know of their impending arrival as he walks with Maketh along the final stretch towards Delight's bar. With a grin, he pushes open the door and steps through, holding it for Maketh so that her view, and everyone's view of her, is unhindered as she enters.

Finally, the party begins.


(OOC: It's free reign, so make your own starters and go wild! Maketh's positive CR will have received invites, but party crashers are more than welcome to join in.)

Comments

ota

[mismanagement]

[Arrival - closed to Henry]

[In all honesty, she's forgotten the significance of the date entirely. There are other, larger concerns, and Maketh rarely celebrates her birthday. At best it's an occasion to drink and she can invent those readily enough.

But tonight Henry has something he wants her to see - he was frustratingly vague about the whole thing - and Maketh steps through the door with a frown, still wearing her uniform.

Then she stops dead. And stares.]

Henry, what...what is this?

[Party - open]

[She's largely gotten over the shock, but the whole thing is still -- a lot. Maketh stands a little to the side, watching everyone and smiling. There's a drink in her hand. It might be the first time you've seen her genuinely relax.]

Shots

[Well, it would be a shame to waste that lovely tequila, wouldn't it?

Come drink with Maketh. It'll be fun! You might end up with an awful hangover in the morning that makes you wish for death, but that's a small risk.

Maketh finishes a shot with a flourish, grinning.]

Enjoying yourself?

[Wildcard]

[Hit me!

arrival; shall we do her present in this thread, or should I put it in my starters?

[hotspurred]

[Henry doesn't think he's seen Maketh look quite so surprised before. Throughout the month as he planned this with Emily, he's wondered if she might have suspected him of making a fuss of her birthday. Apparently not.

He only grins wider as he releases the door.]

Thought you that no one would celebrate your birthday? 'Tis all for you.

[He gives her a light, playful shove between her shoulder blades to encourage her forward.]

Go on.

Seperate thread, I think

[mismanagement]

[Maketh straightens her jacket, face flush. She hadn't--well.] All of this...?

[There's music and food, and drinks lined up neatly in rows.

She turns in a slow circle, and smiles.]

Brother. You've been scheming.

[hotspurred]

[Henry takes great joy in Maketh's reaction. That he can do this for her matters -- these small moments, far removed from the hardships of their circumstances, renew his spirits.]

So I have.

[He replies with laughter in his voice, proud of it.]

And with much assistance from Emily. Nor need you be concerned about the cake -- Pell kindly offered to make it when I asked his advice.

Party

[feelslikeimspilling]

[ Probably the last person you wanted to see on your birthday huh Maketh, but don't worry! Will's birthday present to you is that he's not going to cause a scene! Instead, he's as merry as Will can be, almost smiling and reasonably with it.

Will walked over to Maketh, slowly so she could see that he was coming and choose to avoid him is she wished. He had a drink of his own in one hand and something wrapped in newspaper in the other. A gift perhaps? ]

Is it safe to stand with you, or am I going to end up wearing that?

[ Smirking as he gestured towards the drink she was nursing. He wouldn't put it past her to swirl him with it if she didn't wish his company. ]

I heard it was your birthday, so I came to wish you many happy returns.

[mismanagement]

[Maketh, though not yet drunk, is feeling pleasantly buzzed and less inclined to yell than earlier in today. Even at Will, who has made a habit of trying her patience. She narrows her eyes and takes a deliberate sip.] I don't throw drinks, Will Graham.

[She might kick him somewhere painful, but Maketh likes to think she has class.]

It is, yes.

[To her great surprise, she's survived another year.]

[feelslikeimspilling]

I had a suspicion you wouldn't.

[ Coming to stand by her side, his back up against the wall. Will took a drink from his glass and then awkwardly moved the item in his hand. ]

I come in peace. Even brought my own white flag so to say.

[ He handed the object to Maketh, a little hesitantly and with good reason to be! ]

Just ... Promise me you won't use it against me?

[ It was a very sharp, very small yet wonderfully crafted knife. The handle had a stags face carved into it, Will had been up most night carving the image in. He found it distracted his mind and had been keeping him out of trouble for the last few weeks. ]

party

[skelebro]

[Sans ain't one for creativity when it comes to gifts, but Maketh has earned the break, far as he's concerned. It's nice to see her smile, genuinely at ease.

So a skeleton ambles on up a pace or two behind her with something in hand. It's a hotdog, though maybe not in the most conventional sense. It's got some special properties to it that make it a decent item to have in a fight, and that's why he's offering it out to Maketh with a wink.]

On the house. In case you ever need a pick-me-up.

[mismanagement]

Sans. [Maketh gives him a little smile, accepting his gift curiously.] What...is it, if I may ask?

[Her world doesn't have hotdogs okay.]

[skelebro]

It's a hotdog. Well, uh, technically anyway.

[There's no water sausages here, so he kinda had to improvise. He shoves his hands in his jacket pockets with a grin.]

It's monster food. Made of magic, so it never spoils - converts straight to energy in case you're ever in a scrape.

[aka enjoy your video game logic healing item, Maketh!]

mood music because i promised on plurk

[unfollowing]

crystal kay ft several people - private dancers

[pellameno]

Once Emily has gotten the music going, Pell comes over. He's still fiddling with his braid and generally looks as if he's uncertain of what he's meant to be doing here before Maketh actually arrives. All he had to do was deliver the cake, after all -- the party was mostly set up for. He reaches out and straightens a section of the gift pile, then offers Emily a smile.

"Are we just waiting for her now?"

[unfollowing]

The music is about as lively as Emily is going to get tonight. She doesn't like being out amid so many people when she's still not feeling great after the whole demon thing, but she's doing it for Maketh, to let her know how the dress is going, to show her she appreciates her friendship.

The shit she does for her friends, honestly.

Pell is a welcome face, though. She smiles back, a small but sincere grin, and shrugs. "Yeah, I guess. Henry's bringing her over." She glances at the cake, then looks back at Pell. "It looks so good. Thanks for doing this."

[pellameno]

"It's not bad, considering what I had to work with. Took a few tries to turn it into more of a treat than just a symbol." He grins wryly, referencing his failures. Then his expression turns curious.

"I wanted to ask you, though, about the kind of party you mentioned. The coming of age -- what exactly do you do to make it special besides wearing the kimono your parents got you? Henry and I were discussing the special parties our worlds have and it made me wonder."

all but one OTA!

[hotspurred]

PRESENT ✠ closed to Maketh;
[Later in the evening, after Maketh has had plenty of time to mingle with her well-wishers, Henry seeks her out with a particular purpose in mind. He has yet to give her her present, and it is best gifted before either of them is drunk – or too drunk, at least – due to its size. It's not something he wishes to see lost.

He is sentimental about family.

Reaching out, he places a hand on her upper arm to catch her attention.]

Maketh. If I might demand your attention for but a moment?


PARTYING ✠
[It is not all that often that Henry lets go and indulges, but tonight he is committed to forgetting all else – the shadows on his mind, the responsibilities on his shoulders – aside from celebrating. It is a night for revelry.]

Drinks;
[Wine is Henry's normal preference, but tonight, in honour of Maketh, tequila is the only acceptable choice of drink. At this point, he associates it with their drinking games too, and it almost seems a shame to lose that additional element. Which is why he ends up pouring extra, then looks over his shoulder.]

I would propose a challenge.

Cake;
[Birthday cake is yet to become a tradition in the fourteenth century – and their idea of 'cake' is somewhat different – which is why it holds a certain fascination for Henry. Not that he didn't inspect it when Pell first delivered it, but inebriation has a way of lending a new perspective. And it goes without saying that now it can actually be tasted too. When he finds that he is not the only one drawn to the cake, he asks:]

Had you some yet?

[As though it were a partial marvel.]

Dancing;
[Some day it will be Henry's turn to teach others medieval dancing. But tonight, with this music and this mood, he proves himself a quick study as he improves on what he's already picked up of modern styles. Make no mistake: he is made to be in motion. The calibre of knight that he is and his natural aptitude for physical arts have a big impact. He has an effortless smoothness of movement, light-footed grace and acute instinct for timing and rhythm. Feel free to come and join him.]


WILDCARD ✠
[Drunk piggyback wrestling though. No? No??? Hit me with anything you like!]

Present

[mismanagement]

[Maketh turns with a smile and - impulsively - bumps arm against Henry's. Why not? It's a party, something done in her honor. She's surrounded by people who care about her and everyone is just happy, at peace with the music and the drinking. No matter how mad Hadriel might get, this moment is theirs.

All because of Henry and Emily. What a thought.]

You may. I'm only admiring your handiwork.

[hotspurred]

[Henry laughs at the bump, then smiles himself.]

Allow me to provide you with something new to admire.

[From one of his pockets he retrieves a small box, which he then presses into her hand.]

Happy birthday, sister.

[Inside is a gold signet ring bearing the Percy lion, brought into Hadriel from his world and only recently returned to him. Though it looks new and unworn he has had it in his possession for many years, and it holds special meaning to him. But he feels this is right. He had it made as a gift for family and finally it will fulfil that purpose, even if in an unexpected way. It is something that she can keep on her as a reminder that they will always be family, whatever should become of them. It is a declaration and a promise in physical form.]

[mismanagement]

Oh?

[Maketh takes the box curiously, wondering what he might give her. Something important, if she knows Henry. He does nothing lightly.

The ring feels heavy in her palm. And the image--]

Oh, Henry.

[Her voice is hushed, wondering. It's the same symbol she carved into her gauntlets. The same lion Henry carries on his shield. Maketh closes her hand around the ring and holds it tight. And if her eyes are suddenly wet, well. The lights are dimmed. He probably won't see.]

You do me a great honor, brother.

Drinks of course

[rebelarchivist]

[Dorian has had a few glasses of wine already of course. He's cheerful and a little buzzed, at the pleasantly warm part of the evening. He's not making a point to see Henry, but he's also not avoiding him. Avoiding is for people who feel awkward.]

[So when Henry turns around with one of those little glasses in their hand he laughs]

A challenge? You do love those, don't you Henry?

[He straightens up then, regarding the man with a smirk]

Very well, I accept.

[hotspurred]

[His king has a personal motto that Henry thinks wise: it is what it is. Henry is not a man to read more into a circumstance than there is. Promises are what he holds to, so when none are made he carries no expectations forward.

He is perfectly at ease when he lifts his chin and gives Dorian a cocky grin.]

They keep life interesting.

[And given that he cannot joust, hunt or hawk in Hadriel, he makes contests where he can to sate his competitive spirit.

Henry gestures to the shots he has poured -- six in total, three each -- and explains the contest.]

A race, to drink all three and stack the glasses. Whosoever is the slowest loses.

[rebelarchivist]

[Dorian can't help but smirk at that]

I can think of other ways to make life interesting.

[Sex is very interesting. He's sure Henry could agree. Though you couldn't sleep with just anyone, especially when you limited yourself to a single gender as Dorian did.]

[He laughs, a short one, gazing at the amber liquid in the small glasses]

I do believe you are trying to take advantage of me. But very well. And what are we competing for?

[It's not really a competition without prizes! Wink wink, nudge nudge]

ota

[pellameno]

[ So it took some doing, and Flick's help, and a few failed experiments... but Maketh has a cake for her birthday! It's not the best cake by any means but it looks and tastes the part, so Pell's pleased with their efforts. He comes to the party early with it hidden in a box, and then retreats to wallflower as the others finish setting things up. There's a few minutes where he considers leaving after that -- he feels a bit like the odd one out as he hardly knows her and his gift is generic (a jar of skin cream made from the herbs he grows in his garden -- it's starting to feel cold in the cave these days so he hopes she'll make use of it) but he does like her. So he stays.

While they wait for Henry to fetch the guest of honor he'll be found sitting at the bar, playing with the end of his braid nervously and arranging and rearranging the glasses set out there. He smiles with all the others when Maketh enters and looks surprised, and waits for her friends to greet her first before stepping up himself. ]

Happy Birthday, Maketh.

[mismanagement]

Pell. [It's been a while since she's seen him. Maketh gives him a little smile.] Henry informs me you're responsible for the cake.

[pellameno]

Yes, that'd be my fault. [ He smiles back, joking. Maketh will find out it's actually pretty good considering what they had to work with. ] He asked for advice and I wanted to help.

Is this your first surprise party?

[mismanagement]

It is. [Maketh runs a hand through her hair, blushing despite herself.] I--didn't expect it. Of course that's the point, but I...well. It is very nice, isn't it?