Time For A Moment Of Joy [OTA Birthday Mingle]

[kree_soldieress]

WHO: Everyone, Invited Or Otherwise
WHERE: Pink 13 - Young Avengers HQ and Residence
WHAT: A Birthday Party for Billy and Tommy
WHEN: October 13th
WARNINGS: None Anticipated (add CW to your threads as needed)

It's a surprise party. The word is spread around quietly in the background, passed by word of mouth and private messages into inboxes. Where it spreads beyond those initial invitees has a lot to do with how much people are trying to hide the work they're doing to help Lauri-Ell and Wanda. Word of mouth can easily outstrip intention of course, so there was nothing to say that everyone won't show up at the former store turned residence in time to join the party.

There's definitely a nod to decorations, in the form of colorful flowers and woven streamers of leaves settled with feathers, and and even bits of wrapping paper that Lauri had discovered somewhere and didn't understand the proper use of.

A variety of foods, put together by friends and others who care for the twins are laid out on tables that were carried in for the event, and in the corner stands a karaoke machine that had been hiding in Billy's room. That way they've got food and entertainment covered. Even a few bottles of various spirits and juices have been liberated from the diner and even filled from the orange-drink dispensers on a ship. How much of a party it is, though, will depend on the other guests and whether they bring other treats or entertainment to make it a true celebration. Lauri, after all, barely knows anything about human celebrations.



[OOC: Post your top-levels below, whether they're for planning or for the party itself, tag around, and enjoy a moment of community and celebration with your fellow He Rows. Even the uninvited are welcome to join the festivities, whether they wander by it, helped planned, or just heard someone else talking about it.]

Comments

Tommy | Marvel | OTA

[doubled_speed]

1. Happy Surprises | Arrival, OTA
It's not that Tommy didn't know this was coming. It was very hard when people were fiddling about the place and you could run faster than most people could begin to perceive. Still, playing at not knowing what was going on was something Tommy was actually capable of doing, shocking right? So he waited, let himself be distracted, and when he arrived hand in hand with his boyfriend, he even looked shocked when he walked in the door and saw everyone.

"Well hell, guys. You do things like this and I might start thinking you don't find me irritating."

Said like he didn't know that he didn't live at this point to support these people, his family, and his friends. Whether he'd signed up for it or not, these people were his, and he was theres and he was happy.

"Thank you. Thank you all. Now someone better come over here and give me a damn hug and tell me I don't look a day over twenty or some bullshit."

Granted he was only 23 now, but still, his point stands.


2. Sing Me A Sweet Song | Karaoke, OTA
"You're going to sing for me, right?" he asked, just about appearing between one second and the next at the elbow of whoever might be looking at the karaoke machine. There was amusement and mischief in his eyes as he glanced over.

"I could pick a song. What do you prefer? Pop? Classic rock? Think you can spit sick rhymes because I know some good rap selections on there too. The machine seems almost limitless. Don't know how. Oh, how about a duet."

Not that Tommy thought he was very good, but fuck it. It's his party, and he'll have fun and egg people on if he wants to.


3. Sipping Red Drink | OTA
Another year here. Tommy had to roll that knowledge over in his mind as he flopped down onto the couch, carefully balancing a large glass of red drink in his hand. The alcohol didn't really do much to him, but hell the light tingle of it sure was helping his mood. He smiled at the person that he flopped down next to and gave a nod to greet them.

"You know what? This? It's actually right up there with the last time, when the Agrii helped. I think I still miss the people. Not that everyone here isn't great."

The last time they'd been in space and he'd been going mad because even on the Agrii ship he was ultimately confined. Last time he'd eaten off of plates with Raph and his brothers on it in something that amused him to no end. Last time there had been Agrii and so it had felt a bit less like family.

"Here's to make it another year," he said, lifting the glass and downing it all in one go.


4. You're Not Good At Distractions | Before Party, Closed to Kyle
Tommy, of course, knew what was up. There wasn't a lot that Kyle really could do to hide it. First of all, it was absolutely Tommy's birthday. Second of all, Kyle so obviously knew it was Tommy's birthday. Thirdly, there was no way that this was how his boyfriend actually wanted to spend Tommy's birthday, right? It was cute, though, because here was Kyle, going out of his way to make time for Tommy so that whatever was going on could, well, go on.

"Dude, not kidding, this tree is nice and all that, but are we really planning on laying under it all day?"

4

[kyley_b]

Kyle has never been very good at deception. It's an issue that's plagued him since childhood, and something people tease him will be a detriment to his career path.

So when Tommy expresses his boredom, Kyle's innocent face is SO exaggerated that it's comical.

"Oh! No, no, I just thought this would be relaxing. But I also thought like, I could show you this really cool building? I'm not sure what it used to be, but it's got a lot of shiny stuff! I think it might be sort of like plexiglass. We should go look at it."

[doubled_speed]

No, how bad he is at lying is almost cute. But Tommy's cool with it. He reaches for his boyfriend's hand and squeezes it, smiling at him.

"Shiny stuff, huh? You sure it isn't left over glitter? Fuck the glitter storm, by the way. Haven't said that recently enough."

[kyley_b]

Kyle squeezes back, smiling. "I'm sure. It's architectural. If that sounds stupid, I could show you something else."

He leans in and kisses Tommy's nose.

[doubled_speed]

Oh this is just so cute. Tommy wonders just how far he can push this. But maybe it's best not to push. Instead he lets his boyfriend kiss his nose and then stands.

"Come on then, let's see it."

[kyley_b]

Kyle takes Tommy's hand as they walk, Kyle leading him toward a cluster of abandoned buildings.

"Thanks for hanging out with me. I know I see you at work a lot, but this is different. I like having most of your attention."

[doubled_speed]

Most of his attention? Tommy laughed, leaning in to let his lips brush Kyle's ear. Granted it means he has to be on his tiptoes, but it's worth it.

"I like giving you attention."

Surprises

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis was at the party of course. Not that parties and socializing were really his thing but he liked Tommy and made sure to show up. However, when he saw the other with his boyfriend walking in hand in hand, he had to just grin. That was perfect, to see that happiness and everything like that existed even in a world like this one.

He'd seen that in another world too, but still thought that was something of a dream. And then there was the one with Materia and Spiritus but that was all fighting and trying to get home. The Hiso aliens and Sarah, well nothing like love was there but the aliens had been happy their world was saved.

Seemed like being summoned to save worlds was something of a theme in his life. Or, afterlife.

Still, he couldn't help but smile at Tommy's irritating comment and did move forward to shake Tommy's hand first because hugs and strangers were a bit awkward. "You don't look or act a day over sixteen."

[doubled_speed]

"Dude, don't even start that," Tommy laughed when he moved away from his boyfriend to instead go for a fistbump. Come on, Noctipus, do this right. "I'm old enough to drink."

[fatedsacrifice]

The king laughed and did the fistbump. He was used to that gesture and did it quite often with Prompto. Iggy did that with him too at times, but it was done more often Prompto.

"Well that's good, because I'm pretty sure that's the plan tonight."

[doubled_speed]

Awesome. Tommy even looked super pleased with the fact that Noct knew what he was doing.

"Yeah, maybe for you, Old Man, but me? Immune. My job is to eat whatever they set up for me, tease my brother, and make sure you dorks don't fuck up my house."

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis had to laugh at the old man comment. Sure he was thirty but he didn't feel as if he was that old yet. Well, unless he looked at the scars on his chest which he didn't generally do anyhow if he could avoid it.

"Make sure you eat plenty and I'm sure no one's going to mess up your house."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy rolled his eyes.

"B and I have never had this many people around before," he pointed out. "And most of the stuff here isn't really all that important."

The only thing here that he truly valued was the paintings from Vision, which hung on the wall.

1

[out_of_order]

The only parties he'd ever been to had been here, away from a galaxy he knew, among people he wouldn't have met any other way. He could count the number of times on one hand, but he held such experiences close. Now more than ever was he uncertain as to how long such things would last.

Cal smiled faintly as Tommy came strolling through the door, BD-1 perched at his back to glance over his shoulder, trilling a greeting. "Wow, it's been that long?" the padawan said by way of his own greeting, smile twitching up on one end. "Happy Birthday."

CALIENTE!

[doubled_speed]

Tommy grins when he sees his favorite combination ginger and droid (because yes he qualified a lot of people around him to keep himself from choosing one person over others.

"Beady! Caliente!" Tommy grinned, darting forward at offer his friend a high five. And after that a fist bump for Beady. "If you're here I'm guessing that means there's power and all that in the second ruins. Dude, you two are amazing like that."

He wanted to ask how Cal was doing, but man, he didn't think the guy wanted reminding of the loss.

[out_of_order]

Laughing, Cal lifted a hand to reciprocate the high-five, and BD-1 stretched a leg over to offer a return bump with a cheerful beep.

"Hey, we had help. I don't think we could've done anything without the others," Cal said, smiling crookedly. "But we have power up and running. Not everything's connected, but we repaired the main lines around the station. The rest will have to be handled case by case, but nothing's caught fire, so I call that a win. Plus, we got the comms up."

It was easier to talk about work, easier being around others. Coming back from Sh'Ka had been a jarring thing, and he needed the distraction badly. At least there'd be plenty to keep working at in the other city, but Cal didn't want to isolate himself either.

"Sorry we didn't get you anything though," he admitted with a slight shrug. "I've never been that great at figuring out gifts, not to mention it would have been extremely last minute."

[doubled_speed]

See, this is why Caliente and Beady were awesome. Hard working, friendly, and definitely willing to deal with Tommy. Still, the news is of the good variety and he's glad to hear it.

"Guess I won't have to work the greenhouse in the dark then."

But he smiles and waves off the 'didn't get you anything' comment.

"I don't want gifts, man. I don't need them."

[out_of_order]

"Unless you really want to," Cal said, chuckling. "But if there's any lighting issues or otherwise, let me know and I'll look into it."

Birthdays in general if not parties themselves were still something he was all that used to. Behind him, BD-1 borbled after Tommy's insistence. Cal glanced over his shoulder and then back to Tommy with a grin. "Okay, guess BeeDee says our company's your gift whether you like it or not."

[doubled_speed]

"I mean, I guess I could do it as a personal challenge," he laughs, happy to tease Cal with that. "But yeah, you know I absolutely will call you on it, Caliente. You're super helpful like that. I've missed you while you were over there."

Bros deserve to hang sometimes.

When BD borbles Tommy whistles back in binary (because why not talk back to the droids in their own language?).

"Best gift ever."

1

[tempredmental]

"I do find you irritating," Keith said with a small chuckle. "That doesn't mean I don't like you."

[doubled_speed]

Oh that fucking punk. Tommy flashed forward and waved a finger in his face.

"I could noogie you and you couldn't stop me, man. Don't you challenge me," he teased.

[tempredmental]

Keith just smirked.

"I like a good challenge," he said, and then laughed a little. "Still... happy birthday, man."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy grinned and offered the man a raised hand. He would resist the noogie if Keith let him go for a high five.

"Next party better be your wedding, dude."

[tempredmental]

Keith responded with a small wry smile, going one further than the high five by answering it with a friendly high five, hand-grip combo before letting go.

"Working on it," he said. "Though Lance and Shiro are more likely to put it off for my own birthday first." Oops... did he just let that slip? Damn.

[doubled_speed]

Awwww hand holding. Don't tell anyone they did that for even a second.

"Oh? When's that, Keith? Also don't let them if you dont' want it."