Happy Birthday, Viatorus!

[westfallcorndog]

Invitations to this party have been written in neatly legible, semi-calligraphic font, hand-crafted with care and talent by Amelia Ronsam. Harrowheart has asked that she create a few more than necessary on the off-chance anyone lost theirs and was liberal in handing them out.

The room mentioned on the card is easy to find with a map of the aquarium: In the Earth wing, past a long series of exhibits, and through a glass hallway over which the water rests and the fish are free to swim. The corridor ends in a dome-shaped room spacious enough for a party of a few dozen. 

The meeting space, like the hallway, is composed entirely of glass walls around which a vibrant array of Earth’s tropical fish drift through bright blue waters. Now and then they dart in odd directions, flashing their gem-like scales as their school is disturbed by the passing of a sea turtle or the flowing wings of a manta ray. Far, far in the distance are the silhouettes of whales that, on rare occasion, shadow the dome as they pass between the party and the far-off source of light above the water. Simpler creatures crawl through the coral just on the other side of the glass: crabs and minnows tease at algae, grinning eels poke shyly from their dark crevices, and anemones dance with the motion of the flowing seawater. The only thing to break the immersion of the scene are the mermaid attendants, glimpses of whom can be caught as they feed the fish while trying their best to stay professionally unnoticed. 

Outside the glass is the beauty, but inside is the party! There are bubbly balloon letters hung from the ceiling reading HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Green streamers dangle from the ceiling like kelp, and someone's even set up a motorized shark balloon to swim through the air. Set up against one rounded wall are two buffet tables of food laid out. Stacks of cheese-stuffed fried peppers, fried chicken, grilled corn cobs, a kind of savory pork stew, something resembling black crab legs that’s been labeled ‘Duskwood Land Crab,’ a fruit and vegetable platter, a single pizza for the guests to fight over, and for the English Birthday Boy, cucumber sandwiches. Drinks are a bowl of punch and a keg of water. Looks like this aquarium party is a dry one. The sweets are cookies and hard candies laid atop a pile of pink candy floss. Then, of course, there is the cake: One large sheet cake of marbled chocolate and vanilla iced with buttercream frosting. On top there rests a little gingerbread man with black icing hair sleeping soundly atop a little frosted bed, a red smile on his face. Four tall candles make the posts of the bed. An unsteady hand has piped along the side ‘Happy Birthday Viatorus!’

Two people beat the crowd to enjoy this quiet afternoon retreat. Harrowheart, who sits at one of the tables in the middle and watches the passing of the fish, is dressed for the tropics. He’s bought himself a Hawaiian shirt to go over a pink tank with a pair of palm trees on the front, and of course he’s wearing his usual cargo shorts and tan work boots. Any rumors of pajama dress code were greatly exaggerated. With him is Amelia, whose garb for the evening is much more demure than her usual. The first sign is her lack of visible weapons. The second is the combination of dark navy jeans and black blouse. Her hair is tied back in a simple braid and the hair pin she's always been so fond of is nowhere to be seen. 

((If you'd like to greet the host and/or hostess or remark on your character's entry, feel free to tag this post. Otherwise, try the Gift-Giving or Free Mingle subsections: Viatorus will accept gifts and well-wishings in the Gift-Giving section, and threadhopping will be with OOC permission. Free Mingle will be a threadhopping-encouraged area for party-goers to interact with each other. Meet new characters, talk about fish, fight about who gets to eat the pizza.))

Comments

[heirtothearcane]

The hat gets very little attention when Harrowheart is bringing his thoughts back to the amazing scenery around them. It makes him smile widely. "It's wonderful, Harrowheart! I've never been to anywhere like this. Not in person, certainly."

At the question he ducks his head sheepishly and shakes it. "There are so many..."

[westfallcorndog]

Harrow pats V's shoulder and shakes his head calmly. "You don't gotta pick. They're all nice in their owns ways, huh?" But having said that, Harrow points to a nearby rock formation in which a shy eel is watching from the shadows, its mouth half-agape, eye wide. "I think I like that guy. He looks like he told a bad joke and he's waitin' for everyone to groan."

Then, while the birthday boy is distracted, Harrow gently places the hat on his head and sets the springy strap under his chin.

"Your wizard hat," he says with a lopsided grin. "It'll let you channel great magics and..." he rolls his hand vaguely, "Help you soak up the birthday vibes."

[heirtothearcane]

When Harrowheart points out the eel and offer up his description, Viatorus gives a small, delighted laugh. Then before he can say anything there's a hat on his head. He carefully touches it with both hands, feeling it out curiously and watching Harrowheart with raised eyebrows. "Oh... I've never worn one of these before... Where's yours?"

[westfallcorndog]

V's laughter is so cute, Harrow can't help but side-hug him at the sound of it. And then such a question! His hands feel the empty hat-shaped spot above his head.

"You're right, you can't be the only one with a hat! You'll stand out too much. Come with as I go grab one."

One of his hands gently takes Viatorus by the wrist as he walks toward the buffet table. He plucks a hat for himself from a pile near the plates and sets it on his head, then fixes up the strap. His other hand 'subtly' leads Viatorus over toward the cake with the tiny gingerbread V sleeping on a sugary bed of dreams and calories.

"I made all the food," Harrow says in a faux-humble way. "Except the pizza. I bought that. You ever had pizza? You ever had a cake with a little you on it? Now's your chance."

:D Happy birthday icons!

[heirtothearcane]

The side hug takes him by surprise but he doesn't have much time to process it before they're heading over to the buffet table. It's a far cry from battered prawns, vol-au-vents and other elegant finger foods he usually finds at parties and events. This is new and different and interesting... "I didn't know you could cook."

And then there's a gingerbread him. His cheeks go a little red and his fingers fidget, unsure of what to think, let alone say. He glances from the cake to Harrowheart and back a few times before he points limply at the cake. "That's me...? And... you made it...?"

*blows party horn* \o/

[westfallcorndog]

Harrowheart stares wide-eyed between the cake and Viatorus. Oh no. Artistic anxiety is setting in.

"A-ah, shoot... It's weird, ain't it? I made it weird. I thought it'd be kinda cute, like... Y'know, somethin' that represented you? But I don't think I could eat a cake with me on the top either."

That's a lie; he'd eat a cake with nearly anything on the top, but that's beside the point.

"M-maybe try the candy floss instead? Except you can't eat too much and get sick. Isidor specifically told me once that I can't get you sick on that."

[heirtothearcane]

And now he's stressed out Harrowheart. Really, it's bad enough with one jittery person, he doesn't want there to be more. So he jumps into apologies. "No, no, that's... Sorry, that's... I didn't mean... It's... I..."

He looks at the cake, gesturing vaguely at it. "It's... You made it. You... You didn't buy it. Didn't get a baker to make it. You... You put effort into it. To make it like me. For me. That... I... I've never had someone do that for me before."

There. He gets to explanations eventually.

[westfallcorndog]

Harrow keeps a neutral expression through Viatorus' explanation to make it easier on his nerves. It helps him to focus, too, helps him to think about what's being said. It's true he knew that Viatorus hadn't spent much time around people outside of his family, and it's true, too, that his family had other people do most of their work for them... But 'knowing' and 'realizing' are two different things. Poor Viatorus has lived a life so distant from the kind of freely-given love and personal touches Harrowheart had the luxury of knowing.

Rather than pity him, though, Harrow smiles. He opens his arms and gently attempts to shepherd Viatorus in for a close yet light hug.

"It's the least I could do for a friend, hun. Happy birthday, Viatorus."

[heirtothearcane]

The ushering gets a bit of bemused blinking as he's pulled into the hug. Slowly he's starting to learn just how many things are different for other people. None of this stiff, formal embrace with Harrowheart. Though Viatorus is certainly stiff, trying to process this new situation.

"Thank you, Harrowheart," he says after a moment, bending an arm to pat Harrowheart's back lightly. After another second, "Where did you learn to bake?"

[westfallcorndog]

After he gets his back pats Harrow is content to give V one last squeeze and let him be free, free like a fish in an aquarium. Still trapped in a bubble with a bunch of other weirdos, but at least he can glide around.

"Mom taught me," he says proudly. "I liked to bake with her, help her make dinners and all. Stayin' in and cookin' was a good excuse to not be in the fields on hot days, and I really liked spendin' time with her. She taught me all sorts of things when we stayed in and cooked, not just about food but about life and all."

Very gently he shakes V's shoulder before he says, "I think she'd like you. Maybe some day you can meet her? Maybe she can teach you to bake. You ever thought about learnin' how to cook?"

[heirtothearcane]

It seems that every time he learns something about Harrowheart, he sees the undead mage in an entirely new light. For someone who seems so unusual, what Harrowheart describes is the perfectly picturesque of a normal person.

It takes him a moment, but he smiles warmly. "That sounds very nice."

"I-I'd like that." Viatorus shrugs, his smile turning sheepish. "I'm a terrible cook. I've tried, but... I never make anything worth eating."

V gets a new icon? :0

[westfallcorndog]

"You've tried?" Harrowheart gets to be surprised in turn. First he gapes, then he smiles. "I never woulda guessed you tried. You didn't have any food in your apartment here in the Nexus! Maybe you oughta? Maybe now and then we can cook together? And talk about magic as we do? You can tell me about dreams while you whip up batter."

Rubbing the back of his neck he says, "I think that's about the best gift I could give ya. Amelia paid for all'a this party, and I don't really got the funds to buy you anything else..."

Just for Harrowheart ^^

[heirtothearcane]

"I'm really not very good," he reiterates. Being bad at something so close to alchemy, a magical art, bothers him though it only shows very slightly. "I'm better at trying to help other people cook, I think."

At that, Viatorus' brow shoots up. "Oh, I should have said! Nobody needs to get me anything. Really, Harrowheart, I don't need anything at all." He smiles again. "This party is... is far more than I could have asked for. It's wonderful."

*super flattered*~

[westfallcorndog]

Harrow pats Viatorus gently on the shoulder and returns the sweet smile the younger man had given him.

"Nobody needed to, but we wanted to. We're all happy to make you happy. I'm happy that you're happy."

They're edging dangerously close to 'sappy couple' territory, so Harrow swiftly guides them back to less-saccharine waters. With a little laugh and a final, light pat to V's shoulder he says, "So how 'bout this: Next time we hang out in your apartment, you can tell me about dreams and I'll mix the batter."

He nods toward the party like he's about to usher V off to talk to others, but then. Then he gasps!

"I never found out how old you are! Nobody knew and nobody wanted to ask." Just don't mention that he told Naugus that V is nineteen. That will be a secret between evil wizards.

[heirtothearcane]

The proposal pulls Viatorus' smile wide and he nods. "That sounds like a nice day. We should certainly do that."

And then Harrowheart is gasping. He does tend to be dramatic about somewhat mundane things sometimes and it continuously catches the scholar off guard. Viatorus smiles softly when he realises what it's about. "It's my twenty-fourth birthday." Then back to childlike curiosity. "How old are you? When is your birthday..? Oh, I suppose you wouldn't have the same calendar as me..."

[westfallcorndog]

"I'm, uh."

Harrow clears his throat. How old is he? Certainly older than he acts. That realization is really starting to dawn on him, especially with everything they've been through lately.

"I was born in the middle of summer, but I never really thought about Earth's calendar bein' different from mine. Guess that makes me feel better for not knowin' the exact day. I twenty six when I died in the Fall or the Winter, and I been dead for six years, so I guess that makes me..."

He pulls an uncomfortable face.

"Thirty two. But, hey! Twenty four! When I was twenty four I was on a different world across the stars fightin' a war. You're twenty four on a different world makin' new friends and workin' towards a nice future. I'd say you're doin' pretty good, V. Don't take it for granted. Bring an extra piece of cake home for Morpheus and say thanks to him for watchin' over you and givin' you all these opportunities, huh?"

[heirtothearcane]

So much information... and he's left so little time to react to it all. His face dips in and out of expressions as he's told all of this. The main piece of information he receives is that Harrowheart's birthday should be celebrated on midsummer.

"That's a good idea!" He beams at Harrowheart. "I'll have to save him one of the best pieces." His grin widens. "And then your cake will be offered to a god. That would be a nice thing for both of us, then. I know he's not your patron god, but he is a nicer one..." Another thought hits him and he tilts his head at his friend. "I should make you a nice dream some time."

I scream, you scream, we all scream for nice dreams :>

[westfallcorndog]

Harrow had a good idea! He's brimming with pride at all of that, and it's hard to shake the happiness even when Viatorus changes the subject to something that, unbeknownst to him, is a little difficult to breach.

"I don't think I can dream," Harrow says, still managing a smile through it. He wouldn't want to upset V for his innocent question, after all. "I tried a lotta different things. A druid's magic feather, a potion, just thinkin' real hard before I set myself to sleep. When I'm out I'm just kinda –" He pulls a face as he draws a line across his neck. "But... Y'know what?"

He crosses his arms and nods at his friend. "Guess I haven't tried a dreamwalker, have I? Shoot, maybe you can be the first guy who figures out how to give good dreams to the dead. That'd be somethin', huh?"

... That is perfect

[heirtothearcane]

"Oh." Sometimes, somehow, he forgets that Harrowheart is dead and what that really means. Though the excitement initially vanishes from his face, he manages to smile and nod again. "I should talk to you about it some day, at least."

He fidgets and casts an eye around the small crowd. "It... seems like dreams are a strangely difficult topic for lots of people." He shakes his head. "It's not right. They should be the simplest thing. A relief." The slight worry weighing on his brow lessens then. "I wonder if there's something I can do about it..."

Next Halloween Event: Viatorus' mass dream-fixing spell misfires, terror ensues

[westfallcorndog]

"Most folks can't control their dreams," Harrow suggests, neutral and honest. "I think if they could, maybe then they'd be a relief. But all our worries and bad thoughts follow us to sleep. We avoid 'em all day long and can't stop 'em when we're too tired. It's kinda like you told Steve and me: Dreamin' when you're exhausted and dreamin' otherwise are two different things, huh?"

Another confident nod and he says, "I bet you can find a way to fix that, though. You're smart, and you're passionate, and you got a whole lotta test subjects who'd be happy to help you out."

That could definitely be a thing

[heirtothearcane]

"I should gift everyone a dreamcatcher," he half-jokes, though his smile is slightly sad. It's such an awful thing, for so many people to have such bad dreams. More earnestly he adds, "I would like to, though. Make the Nexus a place of sweet dreams, that is. Of all people, I should be able to offer my friends a peaceful night's sleep."

[westfallcorndog]

This kid is cute. Dangerously cute, terribly sweet, painfully optimistic. And he's so sincere about it. How does he do it?

"Make that your birthday wish. Think about it, blow out the candles, and maybe it'll come true? With a little hard work, of course."

[heirtothearcane]

The addendum to Harrowheart's suggestion gets a wide smile from Viatorus. Hard work does generally help wishes to come true, but it's still a nice idea.

He looks over to the cake and then back to his friend. "Should I do that now?"

[westfallcorndog]

Harrow's hands clasp together, and as he nods his eyebrows shoot right up.

"Yeah! Before the candles melt down and get all over little gingerbread V. I figure he doesn't need his chest waxed."

[heirtothearcane]

Without noticing, Viatorus rubs his own chest and gives a sympathetic, lopsided smile. "No, neither do I. Alright then."

Stepping up to the cake, he takes a deep breath and blows out all the candles. The last one flickers back to life, but with a small gesture and a cheeky shrug and smile, he uses a little air magic to put it out again.