tampered | Let's have a party

Well, had he been left to his own devices, he certainly would have done it quietly. Though really, he should have suspected something was going to happen; after all, Neil is Neil, and is therefore particularly driven to ensure that Todd gets far more attention than the quiet boy would ever willingly seek.

But of course, he didn't suspect anything. His birthday's never been much of an event, and he doesn't see why it should be. So when he opens the door and finds a fair number of people in their apartment, his first reaction is to gasp and stiffen, nearly jumping backwards before settling for, instead, facing the guests with the kind of expression best suited to a deer greeting the grill of an 18-wheeler.

Thankfully, it does fade to a smile after a moment, albeit an incredibly self-conscious, embarrassed smile - the kind that suggests that he really has difficulty understanding why such effort has been gone to, but is nonetheless touched.

A moment is spared to glance over at Neil with a slight variant on the smile, coupled with a sharp glance that might suggest a bit of annoyance if it weren't for the fondness in the smile.

His gaze returns to the guests after the moment, though, who he smiles at a bit less incredulously. He raises a hand in greeting, a shyly amused glance accompanying it; with a few more weeks to go without speech, it's about the best he can manage.

Normally, Rosella would be concerned by the combination of the look of surprise on Todd's face and the fact that he wasn't saying anything, but fortunately, she recalls that he's still without his voice, and she's rather known him long enough by now to pick up on some of the smaller nuances of his actions. So while it's clear that he's a little embarrassed--well, all right, perhaps a lot embarrassed--by the proceedings, it's equally clear that he's not upset, and therefore there's no reason to worry. Good!

Once he's had the chance to get out of the doorway and a little further into the room, she heads over with a blue-frosted cupcake and a bright smile, both for him. "Happy birthday, Todd!"

A bit of embarrassment returns to his face, though it's overshadowed by happiness - and gratitude, of course. He's not too eager as he takes the cupcake, though, and smiles widely at Rosella.

Since he can't quite manage a verbal "thank-you," he opts to give her a light hug instead. With the cupcake held carefully out to the side, of course.

Really, the hug would've been more than enough of an answer even if he had still had his voice--and she does appreciate the fact that he's taking care not to get cupcake all over her dress, thank you. But still, they'll really have to figure out a way for Todd to communicate with everyone at some point tonight. Perhaps with his Network device, or with a notebook, or making Neil translate, or something equally clever...

In any case, they'll figure something out, and for now she's content to just hug him fondly. "Congratulations! It's a fine age, eighteen, and I hope you enjoy every minute of it."

For his part, Todd's already started to contemplate how to best communicate with everyone. While it seems rather likely that the party might be heading for a giant game of charades at some point - and as a game, he really has no great objection to the idea - it's probably not the most practical means of communication.

He tightens the hug a bit before stepping back, smiling and giving a small nod of appreciation at the birthday wish... though the embarrassment is clearly still quite present. He's grateful it's an off week for him, so the blushing isn't quite as noticeable as it might otherwise be.

Justin enters well after the "surprise" portion of the party, being none too fond of surprises himself. Of course, he's not all that fond of parties, either, but he had told Neil he would show, and Todd and Neil are both... friends? Yes. As close as anyone is.

He stays out of the way, slightly more awkward than usual in a party setting. This is the first party he's been to without Abby (and the only party he's been to without the well-meaning insistence of his "older sister" that he occasionally leave his apartment for reasons other than work). Abby has only been out of the City for a few days, but her absence is palpable, particularly in situations where she would have known what to do.

At least the ticking is gone.

Justin tucks himself away in a corner, waiting for Todd to be free. He has a gift--wrapped in brown paper with mechanical precision--in hand and the general appearance of someone who would like nothing more than to run away.

Di Di was a little late to the party, though she didn't understand why she came at all. Of course the answer came to her quickly, because this is what buffers do. Birthdays were never that big for her family, but if this is what a normal buffer would do, she decided to join in. She smiled at all the people she didn't know and hoped that Neil would come say hello and introduce her to some of them. Di DI felt a little odd since she didn't know the birthday boy, but she had been invited. So she grabbed a drink and blended in, which wasn't hard considering how well her family always ripped off parties. That mad her smile and relax. Hey, if having to think of the party as a place to grab a few wallets was what made her feel better, why not? It's wasn't like she planned on actually taking any of them at this party anyway. So she would just smile and said hello to anyone that looked familiar. Yes, having a plan made the party much more enjoyable.

Todd is more than sympathetic to Justin's position on parties, and if he weren't forced into being overly involved with this one, he'd be occupying that corner, or one remarkably similar, himself.

So when he spots Justin there, sporting an expression he could recognize and identify with several miles away, he decides to escape the more populated areas of the room to commiserate-- at least, as well as he can given that he can't actually say anything about it.

He arrives in the corner unceremoniously, leaning back against one of the walls, and nods at Justin with a sympathetic smile - and perhaps apologetic, even. He knows how it feels to be forced into a social situation, recognizes that Justin shares many of his own issues, and might feel a bit of responsibility that he's the cause for this particular party. He's also hoping that none of the crowd decides to follow him. If he's noticed the gift, there's nothing to indicate it in his demeanor.

Justin smiles briefly at Todd and offers the present. If Todd can't talk, why should he?

Todd seems a bit surprised at the present - only a bit since he's gotten a few of them tonight. He nods and smiles as he takes it, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small piece of paper and holds it up.

Having already had to use it a few times, he's figured he might as well hang onto it and just hold it up as necessary.

Neil had debated keeping this smaller, more invitation-only, given Todd's tendency to be shy; however, rather than risk slighting anyone by forgetting to invite them he'd decided to throw it open to anybody who wanted to come. Besides, forcing Todd to be a bit more sociable is one of his pet projects. It never hurts to make more friends.

As such, in making the rounds of their guests Neil is trying to keep track of who knows who, to make certain no one feels left out of the festivities. Di Di is a less familiar face than most, so he makes a point of checking in on her.

"Hi!"

It was good to see a face that Di Di knew. Though she had been polite to everyone she has meet so far, it wasn't the same. "Hi Neil. This is a very nice party." she smiled too, because it was true. "Thank you very much for inviting me."

People hiding in corners, of course, just won't do-- particularly when they're his friends. Neil is glad to see Justin here at all-- he knows the other boy wasn't entirely keen on coming, and it's somehow gratifying to know Justin is willing to put aside his obvious social discomfort for their sakes. For Todd's sake, especially, since it's his birthday.

"Hey Justin!" he says brightly, coming to join him. See? You're not alone in the corner, you're just off to the side to chat with a friend. See? No need to fade into the wallpaper.

Holding back his excitement and keeping a straight face was the hardest part of the evening; when Todd opened the door to find an apartment full of people wishing him well, Neil had simply grinned, clapping Todd lightly on the shoulder. Not entirely to keep him from running away. But partly.

Most of the evening, though, is spent socializing-- walking around to check on everyone, chat with them, make sure their guests are having a good time. It isn't until later that he has a chance to check on Todd, who seems to be doing well enough in spite of his deity-driven silence.

"Hey," he says, falling onto the sofa behind his friend with a brief and brilliant grin. "Having fun?"

"Sure, it's no problem." The more the merrier, after all. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't pleased with the prospect.

"Have you met Todd yet? Um-- he can't talk, but it's just for a while."

Todd glances over at Neil as he sits down, grinning widely at him as he does so. He nods, and though his smile softens and lips close as he does so, the happiness - and the appreciation - in his eyes is evident. He really has had a great time; certainly better than any birthday he's had before, though that's not saying much when it's usually marked by receiving a thoughtless gift from parents who he was honestly continually surprised to find had remembered it at all.

"No, I felt a little odd introducing myself to him since he's the birthday boy." She looks over to where he's standing. "He looks shy too, so I was hoping that you wouldn't mind introducing me?" she sips her drink a little, looking back a Neil. "He looks nice, though."

Not having had the foresight to bring his own pre-made flashcards, Justin resorts to speaking. "You're welcome. I hope it--I hope you like it."

Rimbaud isn't a poet that everyone loves, and perhaps a collection of his poetry (translated, of course, as very few people enjoy reading him in French) isn't the most thrilling of gifts, but it seems appropriate considering the parallels between Rimbaud's personal history and what Justin knows of Todd's.

Neil and Todd are exceptionally forgiving of Justin's social awkwardness (in part, perhaps, because Todd suffers a similar awkwardness), not to mention the murder thing. Making his way out of his apartment on occasion is the least he can do to show his gratitude.

After looking off to either side for a different Justin that Neil might be addressing, he concludes that he is, in fact, the addressee, which makes a reply necessary. "Neil. Hey. ...You convinced a lot of people to come."

Which is both good and bad. Good, because Todd, like anyone else, deserves friendly company on his birthday. Bad because Todd, if Justin understands him correctly, would be more comfortable without the company. The thought is what's important, however, and the good must outweigh the bad by virtue of Neil's good intentions.

"He is a little shy." Understatement of the century, perhaps. "But sure, I'll introduce you." He nods over in the other boy's direction.

"They're here for Todd," he answers simply. It's not a question in his mind; even if he invited everyone, they didn't come for his sake. Frankly he finds it comforting, that enough people consider Todd a friend-- or would like to, if they don't know him well-- to have shown up.

Justin, though, is one of their closest friends, as Neil sees it; and so he belongs here. "Having an okay time?"

Being rendered completely unable to speak means that once you've written out a message you'll have to repeat, you hold onto it out of pure practicality. So the note gets tucked back into his pocket with the hope that it will last a couple more hours.

After the note is securely tucked away, he pulls back the paper, careful to not cause too much noise or make too big of a mess. He looks over the cover of the book, fascinated, turning it over in his hands before he briefly flips through a few pages.

He glances back up to Justin, beaming, and nods in another expression of gratitude. He hasn't actually read much from Rimbaud, but he's constantly eager to seek out more. Truth be told, he hasn't been interested by poetry for as long as it seems and even though he's looked into more authors in the City, he's still scraping the surface.

The book looks as though it's been flipped through more than once, and the first pages of two poems--The Drunken Boat (http://www.mag4.net/Rimbaud/poesies/Boat.html) and Eternity (http://www.mag4.net/Rimbaud/poesies/Eternity.html)--are dog-eared.

Justin returns Todd's smile, but doesn't provide a further vocal reply (more because he would rather not speak than out of respect for Todd's mute condition, admittedly). Silence is appreciably less awkward when one's conversation partner can't talk.

"They wouldn't have known to come if you hadn't invited them." Them, of course, including Justin, who is glad that Todd's birthday didn't pass unannounced.

He considers the question longer than necessary. The polite response would have been an immediate 'yes,' but Neil, as a friend, deserves honesty above etiquette. Still, the answer is the same. "Yes. Thank you." Wryly, Justin adds, "It was considerate of you. Providing corners to hide in, I mean."

Let's have a party

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please forgive late tagging x_x /has been busy

It's okay <3 sorry if my tags are a little short right now x-x

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a little later on in the evening <3

no worries. i am... just... slooow. >_>

a little later on in the evening <3

all good 83

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sobb /failtagger~ i will ask todd-mun to jump in eventually

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