afraid_of_marshmallows | Midnight Manor Boarding House Movie Room, Saturday Evening

As soon as Kamala had turned back into a person yesterday, Arden and Eleanor had swung into action. Arden had contacted Mr. and Mrs. Khan to let them know that Operation Birthday Bash was a go and about what time she'd be by to pick up the cake, and then called Mr. Najaf to see if he would be willing to cook up a whole slew of gyros (including some vegan gyros in case Steven or Watts showed up) for Kamala's birthday the next day. She also messaged Bruno and asked Mr. and Mrs. Khan if they could pass the invitation on to Nakia, letting them know about the party and offering to arrange portal service if they could make it out. After that had come ~~handwavily~~ messaging everybody else to let them know that they were celebrating Kamala's belated birthday at Midnight Manor on Saturday evening.

And lo, now it was the appointed hour. Ellie was keeping Kamala distracted upstairs (Arden was not asking how), and she was here setting out drinks (sodas, though Mr. Khan had sent Arden home with a jug of 'sweet tea,' which she had been very appreciative of and had appreciatively poured down the drain once she'd gotten home), gyros, and setting out Mrs. Khan's cake, leaving a spot in case Ellie had somehow managed to find or invent a Squishie cake. Bollywood movies were playing on the TV (though currently with the volume very low), there was a karaoke machine on standby, balloons and streamers were up, the guests ~~Avengers~~ assembled...

Now all they needed was the co-host and the birthday girl!

[Open! If you're a student, a resident of Midnight Manor, or just think Kamala is cool, feel free to handwave yourself an invite!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Charlie yelled along with everyone else. "Hope this is your best year yet!"

“Charlie! Thank you!” Kamala said happily. “I had no idea this was happening! But so far this year is turning out great!”

Slothness aside.

"I'm coming to think that any year in Fandom is a pretty good year," Charlie admitted. "Really keeps you on your toes and amazing people."

"I know right?" Kamala said, cheerfully. "Despite all the weirdness I just love this place."

"I thought my Aunties were kind of crazy sending me here, but darn it all, I have to admit they were right." She looked at Kamala and grinned, "Which I am totally not telling them, obviously, or they'd never stop trying to run my life."

"Oh you have Aunties too?" Kamala asked. "Are they your real aunts or are they the ones who aren't related to you but keep their noses in your business where they don't really belong?"

"Yes," Charlie said. "As in both. They're all related in some fashion - we're all Gales, but Aunties are the elder first circle Gales who think they get to control whatever you do. Or at least tell you what you should be doing and cluck at you disappointedly when you don't."

She grinned at her. "How nice to meet someone else with Aunties."

"Yeah, back home we called them the ilumin-aunties," Kamala laughed. "They knew everything."

"Oh, that is an awesome term," Charlie said, "though I'm pretty sure the Aunties would have my head if they ever heard me call them that."

“They would probably love it but never admit it,” Kamala joked. “At least that’s the impression I have from my aunties.”

Charlie took a step back, tilted her head, and considered that for a moment. "You know," she said musingly. "I bet your right. I can just hear them cackling about it now and puffing themselves out. I mean, they'd still take my head off, but, yeah."

“Is that a literal or figurative beheading?”

"Figurative," Charlie said, "Or I would not stand here before you. Though the way they go on for weeks after might make you wish it was literal on occasion."

"I know that feeling very well."

"Maybe you'llmeet mine at Parent's Weekend," Charlie said. "I usually get a visitation of Aunties that weekend."

Midnight Manor Boarding House Movie Room, Saturday Evening

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!

Re: SURPRISE!!