[1 open prompt, party closed]

[blitzcheer]

Who: THE LADS LADS LADS (1 prompt open to everyone on the train, rest is closed to lads night gang: Taiki, Inigo, Tidus, Lan Sizhui, Wen Sizhui, Dennis, Lea, Quatre, Senku, Gen, Seto, Yugi
Where: 1st prompt anywhere, the rest in fancy meeting room
When: Llama 18 (June 4-5)
What: Time for a hang out with some lads that's also lowkey a birthday party. For two guys whose birthday it is not. You don't make the rules.
Warnings: nothing, this is a party for soft boys

[ GLAZED CUPCAKE FOR ALL; who are not lads or too old ]

Today is a special day, even though one could say it's technically not. But Tidus, as he does, has decided that today is the birthday of Taiki and Inigo, and this has led to a rather curious sight around the train... of the three boys carrying around vegan glazed cupcakes. With sprinkles.

Well, some of them with sprinkles. The others have names written on them by first time ice-name writers, which is sure to be a beautiful sight for those who receive them.

But before they may be close inspected, there's a call made by the guy in front of the trio: Tidus, using his forever loud mouth to make an announcement through every carriage they enter with people:

"Heeey-ey! Freshly made cupcakes for people who want 'em! Give Inigo and Taiki here a happy birthday and get a cupcake! It's their birthday present to the rest of the train!"

Compared to the blonde loudmouth, the two darker-haired boys look far more embarrassed.

( Note: Those with CR with Inigo and Taiki, expect a cupcake with the iced writing. )

[ LIKE LADS DO ]

"Heyyy, all you you-know-whos for the hang-out today, everything's ready! Not birthday-boys, it's your time to make an appearance!"

Tidus's enthused voice cuts through the ICPs with a sly playfulness, and those that the message is for will know where to go, though perhaps not expecting what they see once they get there. The meeting spot is in Meeting Room C, the comfier of the hire rooms, with sofas, beanbags, a table and cabinets, a TV mounted on the wall and a comfiest not promised in any other part of the train. But all of this? Is currently sitting upon a mountain top, with the view of a tepuis - a flat-topped mountain - in the distance, a lake of clouds between them and it. Mt. Roraima is the mountain, for those from Earths who know their mountains, but don't worry: all of this is coming from one of the holo-projectors procured from the last mission. Alas, maybe the room has some nice air conditioning to complete the effect anyway?

On the tables a plenty of FOOD has been set out, and to start off with, the non-baking variety: miniature chicken pot pies, veggie and bird pasties the size of golfballs, loaves of bread sliced with butter on a dish with a few variety of spreads to choose from. Spring rolls were an option, vegetable steamed buns, as well as the san choy bows, in either mince or mushrooms. Meats skewered with simple herbing, strawberries and cheese too; siu mais with pork and tofu and dipping sauces - though, those were available for all of the dishes.

But let's be real: what kind of party would this be - and for Inigo - if not with sweets? Old-fashioned gyngerbrede, rysschews, dragon's beard candies (of cotton candy around nuts); donated by Dennis, brownies, sugar cookies, and funfettis, with strawberry and vanilla icings. There's a popcorn mix bowl donated by Roland, and juices and wines cover the drinks, with the wines offered by Senku and Gen.

"Thank the Sizhuis, Gen, Senku, and Dennis for helping with the cooking! Couldn't have done all this without them - it was a lot!"

Thanks guys. And through all this MUSIC plays from the speakers, a mix of cultures to go along with the clash being represented here. From more the times of kings and queens, to sounds with a more Eastern influence, and perhaps familiar to some of the company around. But also, those who know music will be very much encouraged to bring their own instruments to give a solo (or more?!) if they will. Tidus will insist, at least before the day - we're looking at you, OG Sizhui and Quatre. And anyone else willing to surprise them.

Because we're all here for some...

[ FUN & GAMES ]

"So some of us know each other, but some of us don't! Let's get to know each other a lil' more, huh? I made flashcards - pick a topic you like, and share it! C'mon! I wanna hear what everyone has to share."

Tidus, ever the voluntary host for the not!birthday boys, also sets out the flashcards - literally just cards where he has handwritten the same topics on the same card, so people get to choose than be forced into a topic they don't like. And these are...

• What's your favourite place from home?
  
• What are you proud of?
  
• What are your hobbies?
  
• Is there anything you'd like to do one day?
  
• What's your dream?
  
• Free Shot: Make up your own subject!

There's also another activity. The main table is cleared, finger food sat on top of cabinets, the fridge, wherever they can be placed to make space.

"Alright," Tidus says with a laugh, "time for more sugar, but we've gotta work for it. Come to the table, we've got a pot here and spoons, and a book for ideas. Sorry Seto, I took a few of your cards for this too!"

What is this? The pot holds a quantity of melted sugar, the spoons nearby to ladle it. And the activity is...sugar painting, where everyone is encouraged to make what they like. An animal? Their name? A fancy symbol? There's a book filled with earth animals available, as well as a few cards borrowed from the games carriage. It's ok, we'll put them back at the end of the day.

Have fun, see if you can get it anywhere close to recognisable. Sticks to press into the sugar designs to hold and offset spatulas to help peel them off from the table.

And why not suggest some fun of your own? Bring Your Own Game, bring your own chaos. Truth or dare? Never Have I Ever? Spin the bottle? Lads, we're getting wild here.

[ IT'S NOT A PARTY, IT'S AN INTIMATE GET-TOGETHER ]
The environment has 'changed' from the high altitude to somewhere closer to ground: a flower field, the flowers multiple and far expanding. The strings from the music player are soothing, and Tidus speaks up, far from unusual as he has every other time:

"Okkay now, it's the special moment! I know we've had a lot of sugar as-is, but one last time! To the not-so-very birthday boys...!"

Tidus comes to the table, sets his hands on the surface, and from his arms bands - but to the viewer, from nowhere - appears a vegan carrot traybake, with a few candles set in. He's taken a lighter from the kitchen and starts to light them up, explaining as he does:

"Someone told me that where they're from, you put candles on a birthday cake and the birthday guys make a wish when they blow them out. Sooo...!"

He turns to the pair of the party intimate get-together, grinning.

"You ready?"

There's sure to be plenty of leftovers for this party, but that's fine - people will be encouraged to take some, even to share it with their own friends.

(please, there's so much food. so much)

Comments

[flatteries]

[ Aw, man, it's not nearly as fun when Tidus doesn't get flustered. ]

It's a bedtime story! [ Now Inigo sighs, though obviously part of the Dramatic Antics that are going on here. ] The whole point is that you fall asleep.

[ Please, Tidus, it's as if no one has ever read you a bedtime story before!! ]

You're so bad at this.

[blitzcheer]

Pass. [ Pass. ] I like the books with pictures.

[ Predictable!! ]

And I got myself a blitzball book! With pictures. Or maybe I should get a story book about blitzball and read you that? Since you're so big on being a big kid!

[ Or making him out as one!! ]

[flatteries]

I'm the big kid? I'm the one sitting here with a book without pictures!

[ .. that Tidus got for him.

And it's not like Inigo usually reads books without pictures..

But he can still make the point! It's still a technical victory, dangit! ]

I'm sure Taiki won't mind me reading this to him.

[blitzcheer]

[ Technical victory?? Okay bro, whatever you say, only because it's your birthday. ]

Then read it to him.

...

Five points says he blushes once you get to the saucy stuff.

[ Can you buy anything for five points?? Tidus doesn't know, the realisation just came to him and he had to. Taiki will absolutely lose it if there's sex scene!! Lose it by quietly dying. Betting on it right here and now! ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo lets out a pffft sort of sound, dramatically waving the book in front of him. ]

Please, how saucy could it possibly be?

[ Inigo clearly has no idea how these sort of romance books work.

Because he's never even seen one before. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ How saucy can it be?

Tidus saw the front cover, sees it as Inigo waves it now. He knows what he asked for.

There's a pause, and- ]

Eight points. [ UPPING IT. ] Winner buys the loser a book!

[ HE'S SO GONNA WIN THIS. ]

[flatteries]

[ He squints. ]

I don't like it when you raise the stakes.

[ Inigo puts the book down on his lap, leaning a little closer towards Tidus again. ]

You know something that I don't when you do that!

[blitzcheer]

[ He does a slow shake of his head, hand going up (and a smile on his face). ]

Didn't read it, don't know nothing but the bio on the back of the book! Maybe I'm just more confident about my bet!

[ And, if Inigo looks to read the synopsis:

Adrian is down on his luck, between jobs, a drifter. But all that changes when a circus comes into town. There amongst the glitter and glam of the big top he meets Samuel, a shy but talented acrobat. Their love burns bright and fierce through a long summer of travelling. ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo definitely goes to read the synopsis after Tidus says that, just so they're on a level playing field.

.. except it doesn't feel at all like the playing field has been leveled after he reads that. How did Tidus get anything from that?! Is this some innuendo they do have in Zanarkand or Spira, but not in Ylisse? ]

It just says their love burns bright and fierce!

[ He looks back over at Tidus, putting a hand on his (own) chest. ]

My love burns bright and fierce too, you know!

[blitzcheer]

Please, like two hot guys getting together in the sun aren't gonna get up to stuff.

[ Pfft, let him lean back against the couch, and with a put-on voice: ]

Oh, guy, you're so hot and sweaty and not wearing a shirt! How 'bout we get more hot and sweaty? [ bow chika wow wow

Hahhhhh! There's totally going to be flustering details!! Both Inigo and Taiki are gonna get blushing!! ]

[flatteries]

What's with you?! Do you think guys just can't control themselves?

[ Is this why you were so weird about hugging Inigo at first, Tidus. Inigo is slowly starting to wonder if that's the reason now!! ]

May I remind you that I've seen you hot and sweaty and not wearing a shirt, and nothing of the sort happened?! [ Never forget the hot springs, bro!!! ]

[blitzcheer]

Yeeeeeahhhh, [ yeeeahhh, but he does need to think carefully about his next words here, and the phrasing. ]

But if we were together, for ever how long? You wouldn't?

[ ...this line of questioning may be more difficult than he realised was worth going down, but now here they are, and Tidus isn't breaking face too soon. ]

[flatteries]

[ Tidus has no idea how dangerous it is to semi-start a game of gay chicken in public. At a lads party. In front of all the lads's salads. ]

I have great self control, thanks.

[ .. is he implying that would be the only thing stopping him? ]

I think I have more to worry about coming from you, considering you're the one coming up with these thoughts in the first place!

[blitzcheer]

[ Hah! Tidus folds his arms with a dismissive look plastered on his face. ]

No guy's gonna wander over into my circus tent and get me swooning after him! Not unless he's got a real great personality. And a whole lotta other stuff.

[ Like... stuff! ]

But those two in the book are so gonna do it.

[ And he's going to win points for it!! ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo is about to remark something about him having a 'real great personality', and a whole lot of other stuff too, but then he realises that it's going to sound thirsty even by his standards.

And all that within earshot of all these other people.

So Inigo just swallows the words right back up, shaking his head to try and get the thoughts out of there. ]

Fine. [ Fine!! ] You're on.

But you're completely going to miss out on an amazing story.

[blitzcheer]

Let me know what gets Taiki sun-faced.

[ Tomato-faced, but for us always in the sun fellas.

That's a good place to stop the teasing, and instead, Tidus brings out his hands - where another parcel makes an appearance in his hands. ]

Here's another gift.

[ Just FYI. And when Inigo should unwrap it, he'll be greeted by a fairly chunky boy of a book, a glossy covering showing a variety of different flower photos, and the words Flowers Across Our Galaxy in the middle.

There's also a small photo of Olivia as she looked on the train, from the passenger roster, sitting innocuously....between one of the pages.

For a later surprise.

('A big photobook of various flowers from different worlds, each double page has a big picture of the flower with some simple information or facts about them.') ]

1/2

[flatteries]

Is this another book?

[ Still a little whiny - perhaps since Inigo is still in That Mood from a second ago. Besides, it's meant in a more jokey way than anything else. Because look at Tidus, getting him all these books. Like he's some sort of nerd. ]

[flatteries]

[ But Inigo's whining stops when he actually unwraps the book.. and just stares at the cover.

It's then that his true gratitude shows, but in a silent, quiet way. Where Inigo is just stunned enough to not be able to find words for a few moments. ]

Oh, this is.. [ .. ] Do you think the flowers we've seen on mission worlds might be in here..?

[blitzcheer]

[ YEAH, SUCK IT WHINY INIGO. SOFT BOY INIGO IS HERE!

And for it, Tidus's own smug smile will soften into something friendlier, softer in its tug, a tip of his head given. ]

Maybe! You'll have to take a look and find out. There's biiig pictures.

[ He makes an opened book with his hands. ]

They take up most of the pages on both sides! But if you like any, [ he goes on to say, ] we can order them.

[ And see them for real. ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo does actually open the book. He doesn't full on browse through it, but he looks through the first pages a little, like he's trying to get a kind of feel for the book. The pictures are really pretty..

His hand ends up resting on a page as he looks back up at Tidus. ]

Would you mind if we'd put some in our room?

[ He usually put the flowers he took along from worlds in the greenhouse, but that was before they had their own little space where they could put things. ]

[blitzcheer]

I've been waiting for you to.

[ And let's be real, he was hoping for cute flowering pots - even for fake flowers! - back on Kamakan, but no such luck. So the approval comes with mirth, and an easygoing waved hand. ]

Just be careful about what you get! You should be able to get a few flowers or seeds. Heard Willow talking about how she got loads of seeds when she ordered some plants.

[flatteries]

It's because the train is so bad at these things!

[ It's only a momentary whine though, because the idea of having flowers in their room is so much more exciting than the whining. Inigo is already imagining it. He should pick out something cute, maybe something that suits Tidus's eyes... (d-doki)

There may be a bit of a dreamy look in his eyes at this point. ]

I'll just try to be specific. If I end up getting too much, I could always store the seeds in the greenhouse for some other time, or for other people to use..

[blitzcheer]

Or even your arms band. [ Wherever is good to keep seeds. Do seeds go off? Tidus doesn't know. ] You can be specific, but if you wanna grow them from seeds, put as many down as you want! Time to turn this place into a wild zone for plants!

[ Does he really imagine Inigo doing that? No. But hey, might as well have fun ordering if there's little restriction to seeds! ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo definitely won't make the train end up overgrown with plants. Thankfully for all of those aboard it.

But he still can't resist leaning over slightly to ask: ]

So you're not going to complain and end up calling our room a jungle?

[blitzcheer]

I said this place. The rest of the train.

[ Tidus holds out a hand, fingers spread. ]

Five small plants maximum in our room. Big enough for the cubby holes.

...

Three small plants.

[ and three ONLY.

(Will Inigo have a problem with that? Or will he have a problem with Tidus deliberately putting on a restriction after being cool with it before? Only time will tell Tidus.) ]