The All-Purpose Room, Midnight Manor, Saturday Afternoon

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

As far as Cal was aware, Arden had set this whole thing up to celebrate his win in paintball. After remembering the All-Purpose room existed and getting permission from Steven to use it, Arden had programmed in a decent-sized mountain for them to climb. If her side had a lot more hand- and footholds than Cal Climbing-Would-Be-My-Middle-Name Kestis' had, well...sometimes mountains grew that way. Or whatever. Hush.

Of course, what Cal didn't know was that while Arden was keeping him busy with a climb, BD-1 (the true architect of this party) and Kamala were busy setting up everything for the party proper. The top of the mountain turned into a beautiful landscape dominated by verdant trees so big there were houses built into them, with mountains shrouded in mist far in the distance, dominated by a tree even larger still. Arden had been very glad that BD-1 was able to communicate with Midnight, too; he'd had a very specific idea of how Kashyyyk was supposed to look and there was no way that she could have translated binary well enough to have pulled it off. Of course, beautiful alien vista or not, this was an Earth birthday party and some things were absolutely required. So there were a bunch of moddable pizzas (including two vegan, and several with very spicy toppings), soda, bowls of chips and popcorn, a fruit and a veggie platter, and, the centerpiece of it all: a chocolate and pistachio ice cream cake from Chilly Boulder with HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY CAL! written on it.

And probably red Squishies, because Kamala had been deputized for setup.

Welcome to Keshyyyk, everybody. Hope you brought your party hats.

[Friends, neighbors, frenemies, and especially GFFA folks, please feel free to assume you've gotten an invitation emailed, texted, sent via droid and/or carrier pigeon...whatever! However it got to you, please show up and help Cal celebrate his twenty-first birthday in style!]

Comments

SURPRISE!!

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

And finally he reaches the summit of the mountain! Once Cal pings in, have at with the birthday greetings!

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

Cal was in a great mood as he made it to the top of the mountain. He had been careful to not get too far ahead of Arden, to show her where to hold and move next, while also making sure he was ahead of her because hi, he was great at this sort of thing.

When Cal got to the top, he stopped for a second as his hands hit fertile grass, and stared for a moment as he pulled himself up. He knew this place, where parts were still beautiful and untouched by the Empire, and he just took it all in until BD-1 ran over and perched on his leg.

"Surprise!" he cheered.

"Uh, what's all this?" Cal asked. They'd already had a birthday party last week, surely this wasn't something like that?

Re: SURPRISE!!

[slothbabyproductions]

"Surprise!" Kamala shouted with a giddy bounce. "And it's your birthday party, you big goof!"

She shoved a wrapped cardboard tube that was capped on both ends. It also had a ridiculous bow on it as well.

If Cal were to unwrap it, he would find a drawing that (a very much modded) BD had helped with. It was a comic style drawing of the interior of the Stinger Mantis and showed Cere, Greez, Merrin, BD, and Cal all relaxing and laughing with each other.

There was also another drawing of a recent movie night at Midnight with Arden, BD, and Cal snuggled up on the couch with Dean and Remy drinking beer in the background. Illyana, Eleanor and Kamala were sitting on the floor eating popcorn and watching the movie and giggling. Steven and Watts were on the other couch watching everyone with a look of contenment and pride at their residents. Even Marc and Henry were in the picture looking in on the group from the doorway.

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

"I don't remember telling anyone about my birthday," Cal said with a Look towards BD, who just wiggled a little in glee.

When he opened the tube, it was only through years of training in emotional control that he was able to not just instantly start crying. "Kamala, these are amazing. I... thank you. You didn't have to do all this."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[slothbabyproductions]

“I wanted to do all this,” Kamala emphasized as she gave Cal a quick side-hug. “That’s what birthdays our for. I know how much you miss your friends, so I had BD show me what they looked like. And if you ever go back home? You can take us with you. But I’d really like it if you stayed here of course.”

Re: SURPRISE!!

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

"Surprise," Arden said from behind him, wearing a very smug and sassy smile. If he asked, she was going to insist that she'd been so slow at times to give everybody a chance to get ready.

And some of that might even be true!

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

"I knew you were up to something, but this..." Cal trailed off and turned around to give her a hug, hoping it would say all the things he couldn't quite get out. "I can't believe you did all this. BD told on me, didn't he?"

Re: SURPRISE!!

[afraid_of_marshmallows]

She hugged him back, the scent of pretrichor all around her.

"Told on you?" she laughed. "Sweetheart, this was his idea. I'm just an accomplice with hands." She gave him a soft kiss on the cheek, friendly-like. "He knew you'd put up a fuss over being celebrated and was determined to make sure that we got the chance."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[what_big_teeth]

Eleanor's social shyness prevented her from really joining in on the big shout of surprise (she figured Kamala would cover it enthusiastically enough for the both of them, anyway), but she did, at some point, come up to Cal to offer a "Hi, Cal," a "Happy birthday", and offer out her small gift for him.

"It isn't much," she warned him, "but I still wanted to het you something."

And if it just ended up collecting dust in a corner of his room somewhere, she'd think it was a terrible waste of a decent journal and pen, but she'd also understand.

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

"This is perfect, thank you," Cal said. A place to write his thoughts down where no one else would be subjected to them was, in fact, an amazing gift. "Did you know this was happening when we talked last week?"

No judgement, he was just trying to figure out how long his friends had been sneaking around.

Re: SURPRISE!!

[what_big_teeth]

Eleanor gave a faintly apologic smile. "I did," she confessed, and the birthday secrets, it would seem, May never end with Arden's still on the horizon! "I was actually on back-up to help in case Kamala was still a sloth by this weekend," a detail that should help with figuring out the timeline of scheming a little!, "but, thankfully, that didn't end up being an issue at all."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[hasaknightjob]

"Cal!" Steven said, cheerfully. "Happy birthday. May you have many more."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

"Thanks Steven. I hope I get more too," he said. "And thank you for coming. This is definitely like nothing I've seen before."

Which was one way of saying this was his first big birthday party, of course.

Re: SURPRISE!!

[hasaknightjob]

"They certainly went all out on planning, didn't they?" Steven said. He kept it vague since Arden had seemed to not want to take credit for it. "By the way Marc... doesn't do birthdays, really. But we're both chuffed to bits that you're here and hope you have a happy one."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[pocketpretzels]

Watts still didn't understand the appeal of surprise parties, though other people seemed to like them. Most importantly in this moment, Cal seemed to be pleased. And that, of course, was what mattered.

"Mr. Kestis. Many happy returns."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

"Thank you. I didn't think anyone would know about my birthday, but apparently someone spilled the beans."

BD did not look remotely guilty for anything and just beeped happily at Cal.

"I feel like we need a calendar for everyone's birthday somewhere in the kitchen, so it's fair to everyone and there will be fewer surprises." For him, at least.

Re: SURPRISE!!

[pocketpretzels]

"That's a thought," Watts said with a nod. "Though they do seem to all be clustered rather close together."

Marc didn't care much for birthdays and might not appreciate the reminders, but on the other hand... Marc didn't spend all that much time in the boarding house kitchen either. So perhaps something like that would be all right?

Re: SURPRISE!!

[singlenakedwhat]

"So, uh," Henry said, hands shoved in her jean pockets. "Happy birthday. I hear."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

"It's turning into a happy birthday, that's for sure. Thank you," Cal said. "This was definitely unexpected."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[singlenakedwhat]

"I know we haven't talked much, so I wasn't too sure what you're in to, but- here." Her hand went in to her jeans pocket and fished out a gift card for Chilly Boulder.

Re: SURPRISE!!

[unusual_sith]

Lana left the surprising to the droid and Cal's friends, but once the initial mob was over, she came up with her nicely-wrapped present and gave him a smile and a small bow. "Happy birthday, Cal."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

"Thank you, I really appreciate it. I don't get caught off guard very often, but I'm choosing not to complain at the moment," he said. "How have you been?"

Re: SURPRISE!!

[unusual_sith]

"At least it's for a good cause," Lana said. "I've been well. Went back home for a bit. Got you a present." She handed him the box.

Re: SURPRISE!!

[deathsmajesty]

Much like Lana, Liliana hadn't joined into the excited 'Surprise' with Cal's friends, but at some point when he was alone, she glided over to him, proffering an envelope that just felt expensive.

"I couldn't help but notice you enjoyed the hot springs we went to last class," she told him, politely ignoring the why he'd probably enjoyed them. "And while I know there is the onsen not far from here--" just saying, in case you didn't know, Cal "--in case you and a few friends ever want to return to that one specifically."

Inside the envelope were four gift certificates for an all-expenses paid trip to the Lost Spring. Whether he wanted to go himself four times or some combination of himself and guests, it was taken care of.

"Happy Birthday, darling."

Re: SURPRISE!!

[moreofaponchoguy]

Cal did his best not to look overwhelmed, but he knew that wasn't exactly a small gift. "Thank you. And thank you for coming. I probably don't need to tell you this is more than I'm used to."

He was leaving off the part about how it was more than he deserved, because she'd just argue with him and why would he set her up for that?