westfallcorndog: (Default)
Harrowheart ([personal profile] westfallcorndog) wrote2016-03-07 11:27 pm
Entry tags:

Happy Birthday, Viatorus!

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.))

rogueinladysclothing: (Lady)

Cue one very uneasy host...

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2016-03-08 05:09 am (UTC)(link)
Amelia's trying really hard to be calm about all of this, but she's never organized a birthday party like this, or attended one, let alone hosted one. Harrow's assured her that everything will be fine and that all of their planning won't be for naught.

She is ten kinds of distracted when everyone starts mingling as she tries to make sure everything goes smoothly. Viatorus didn't want something too big or overwhelming, so everyone can expect her to be breaking up any and all arguments swiftly and without remorse.

...hopefully Viatorus will like what they've done.
juststeverogers: (Looking down)

[personal profile] juststeverogers 2016-03-08 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
Steve's gift is wrapped in brown craft paper and tied with twine, a simple decorum from a simple man who knows that someone like Viatorus doesn't truly need things.

So he gives Viatorus one of his leather sketchbooks, with the first three pages filled in. He has drawn the birthday boy himself in several postures on one page, Harrowheart on the second, and himself on the third. And finally at the back of that third page is a single word.

Memories

He hopes the gift means as much to V as it did for him to make it.
juststeverogers: (Beard Suit)

[personal profile] juststeverogers 2016-03-08 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
On the one hand, he was told to dress casually. On the other, this is Viatorus we're talking about. Steve decided to play it safe and wear his 1940s suit. Too old fashioned to be formal anymore. Too Sunday School to be casual.

He gives Amelia and Harrow a tiny wave when he finds the right place.

"I hope I'm not late..."
smartass_captain: (Well this is new)

[personal profile] smartass_captain 2016-03-08 05:21 am (UTC)(link)
Well look who's here and who decided to take Harrowheart up on the whole Plus One offer. Jim's here with Felix in tow, dressed down in his jeans and leather jacket and he heads over toward Harrow as soon as he makes it.

"Look at the two of you." He grins Amelia's way too. "Setting up a party and everything. I'm impressed." Jim's all about celebrating birthdays that aren't his own. And he's been meaning to give Viatorus a gift anyway. "By the way Harrow, this is Felix. You uh, said I could bring someone with so..."
rogueinladysclothing: (Into the Unknown)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2016-03-08 05:41 am (UTC)(link)
Steve's appearance earns a smile from Amelia. A friendly face is always good to see.

"Of course not - you're right on time." Hopefully he doesn't think her tense muscles have anything to do with him. "It's good to see you again, Steve. Sorry I haven't called recently. Things have been... busy." Her smile only flickers for a moment, so she hopes he won't notice it. This is a celebration and there will be no talk of sad things today. Not if she can help it, anyway.
rogueinladysclothing: (Natural)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2016-03-08 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
The grin causes Amelia's cheeks to flush ever so slightly. Really, she should expect such things from Jim, but that doesn't make it any less difficult to cope with when she's this stressed out. Anything remotely close to a compliment will usually get that sort of reaction, too.

She does manage a smile for both of the newcomers after a moment, though. "I don't think anyone will mind. We're not exactly expecting a big crowd today." Hopefully Viatorus won't mind, though... "It's nice to see you both again. It's been a while. Been up to anything fun recently?"
heirtothearcane: (All smiles)

[personal profile] heirtothearcane 2016-03-08 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Viatorus gets more than a little caught up pressing his nose against the glass to stare out at the mermaids and fishes, peering in as far as he can. Then nearly tripping over as he watches the manta rays closer than where he's going. In a grey-blue tweed suit and light blue shirt, he's not exactly as casual as a Hawaiian shirt, but he managed to forego a tie or waistcoat.

As soon as he steps into the room, he stops and admires, eyes wide as he takes everything in. The balloons, the streamers, the perfectly wonderful surroundings... and then the people. Friends and... a few new faces, but not enough to make him worry much.

He fidgets and, provided he doesn't get distracted by the fish again, makes his way over to whoever catches his eye.
heirtothearcane: (All smiles)

[personal profile] heirtothearcane 2016-03-08 08:00 pm (UTC)(link)
The simple wrapping is so indicative of Steve and his values. Especially when it contains something of such quality and importance to them both. Their time together is something the three of them share and will not be something Viatorus will ever forget.

Once he sees the pages, his curious expression blooms into a smile and he beams at the other man. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Steve. It's beautiful."
rogueinladysclothing: (Lady)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2016-03-08 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Amelia won't leave the guest of honor fidgeting alone for long. She smiles softly as she approaches and then motions to all the decorations set up in front of the aquarium glass. "What do you think? It's not too much, is it?"
conjuredskies: (Smirk)

[personal profile] conjuredskies 2016-03-08 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
“I hardly know where to start. But it's good to see you again, too. I hope you’re well, Amelia?” Felix gives her a smile, entirely at ease beside Jim. There may even be a hint of excitement about him: try as he might to bury it, there’s a reason his expression brightens every time he looks Jim’s way. Or hears his voice. Or brushes against him. It’s almost enough to distract him from the Argonian’s-eye-view all around them.

Almost. He may not know Viatorus personally, but if the setting is meant to suit him, Felix rather hopes to be invited back to his parties.
conjuredskies: (...Wait)

Durant party needs moar social awkwardness

[personal profile] conjuredskies 2016-03-08 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
A rare Tropical Draugr appears in their midst! Felix backs up a step, hands tensing instinctively… aaaand nobody else is reacting.

The polite veneer is frozen onto his face out of sheer shock, but there’s a definite question in the look he shoots Jim. He knows the captain isn’t magically-inclined but- he does realize what this is? What’s… hugging him?!

He doesn’t have time to decide whether to bristle. Quite before he knows it he’s being offered a lifeless hand. A… severed, floating corpse hand. Felix realizes he’s staring.

“Er… no.” The Imperial’s speechcraft seems to have deserted him. Not that Harrow could be blamed for the mistake anyway; Felix has finally acquired another suit of Earth-style clothes, but they’re still based off the style of Jim’s uniform originally. “Tamriel.”
smartass_captain: (Orly)

[personal profile] smartass_captain 2016-03-08 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh you know. Dashing around the stars. Going on exciting adventures." Jim's smile grows as he teases back, "Enjoying the holidays."

That might have been a mean thing to say in front of Felix. Oh well. Jim's incorrigible that way. Too late now.

"Good to see you Amelia, I didn't know you and Felix were acquainted." Jim says more seriously. "How are you holding up?"
smartass_captain: (To Boldly Go)

[personal profile] smartass_captain 2016-03-08 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Harrow, good to see ya, not that I could miss you in those digs." Jim laughs and hugs Harrow back before releasing him and gesturing toward Felix. "Harrow, this is Felix Caelus. One of the many Tamriel natives around the Nexus. Felix, this is Harrowheart, an undead knight from...Azeroth, right?"

Who says Jim doesn't pay attention.

"And apparently a good friend of the guest of honor. Viatorus keeps good company, I see."
rogueinladysclothing: (Natural)

[personal profile] rogueinladysclothing 2016-03-08 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
"Sounds like an enjoyable way to pass the Winter," she says with a quick wink. It's obvious what's going on between the two of them, but there's no room for jealousy given their obvious ease and happiness. Seeing friends happy is always a good thing, anyway.

"We've known each other for a few months now," she says in answer to Jim's question in regards to Felix. "I've helped him work on a few skills he might find useful later, too." Whether or not Felix wants to admit that she taught him how to pick locks is up the Imperial. Amelia will be kind enough to not mention it, just in case.

"As for me? I've kept busy. Nothing important, really." The lie is completely smooth, but the smile that comes with it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Though admittedly I've been worried about all of this for the last couple of weeks. I hope it's not too much." That, at least, is true.
conjuredskies: (I've gotcha)

[personal profile] conjuredskies 2016-03-08 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Enjoying the holidays, hm? That's... well, definitely not untrue. Felix hopes his grin doesn't widen suspiciously. The blue aquarium light ought to hide any extra color in his face.

It's rather fun, actually, catching all the half-truths and evasions from the other two. A man might get rather smug, being in the know like this.

"It's amazing," Felix reassures her, and his enthusiasm for the venue certainly isn't feigned. "Do they have buildings like this in your world? I don't think mine does, not even in the Imperial City. A view like this is only for people with a talent for waterbreathing. I'm sure Viatorus will only appreciate how beautifully you've arranged everything."
conjuredskies: (...Wait)

[personal profile] conjuredskies 2016-03-08 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Being eyed by a disturbing undead corpse is something he can deal with. That's normal. Or he thinks it is, right up to the point where he realizes what kind of eyeballing that is and what.

"What?" It's a- he's- how could he even-? And Jim knows?

This might take a while. He's going to miss the chance to geek out over all the curious fish while he tries to wrap his head around this.
heirtothearcane: (All smiles)

[personal profile] heirtothearcane 2016-03-08 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh no, it's lovely," he assures her happily, rocking on his heels slightly as he looks around. He waves a palm at the streamers. "I like that." Then he spots the motorised shark and laughs. "And that!"
juststeverogers: (Sideways glance)

[personal profile] juststeverogers 2016-03-08 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm glad you like it."

Steve's voice is quiet, but he breaks out into a grin when he sees Viatorus smiling like that.

"A..and..I really am sorry for upsetting your family."
juststeverogers: (Profile)

[personal profile] juststeverogers 2016-03-08 11:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've never seen anything like this before." Steve comments as he gestures around them. "And inside ocean? Who would have thought something like this up?"

It's all very exciting and Steve's eager to look around almost as much as he is to wish Viatorus well wishes for his birthday.

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