tampered | Ongoing, open(ish)

Ongoing, open(ish)

When; Sunday August 8th, morning
Rating; PG
Characters; MKR cast plus guests! (if you're friends with anyone in the crew do consider yourself invited)
Summary;

courage_of_fire celebrates her first birthday in The City at the beach.

willofthewinds and

soulofocean have taken an oath: to make hers a surprise party to remember.
Log;

Satisfaction after a job well done. Nothing like it. Looking around, Umi decided this had all been more than worth the effort and the running all over The City to buy supplies so that the party could have the right feeling. Each of their friends had done their part to render the place picture-perfect, and now it was just as Fuu and herself had planned. Maybe even prettier.

The tables were set, the food all neatly served, torches that would be lit once the sun started setting lined up the beach right outside the house... even the music helped build up the spirit! As the guests continued to arrive they'd start with the dancing and the games. Then, when the moment came, they'd all gather around the gigantic birthday cake that had taken the Water Knight the whole previous night to finish so that Hikaru could blow her fifteen candles and make her wish. Then all of it would be truly flawless. And they could go for the grand finale.

...She deserved it. More than that. Making sure that even while stuck in a place like this Hikaru could have a wonderful birthday was more important to Umi than anything. Shaking a silly wistful feeling, she smiled and hurried back to greeting the guests.

The best part about the whole party would be the surprise element. She was sure Hikaru hadn't seen this event coming.

[ ooc: HIKARU'S SWANKY BEACH BIRTHDAY PARTY IS GO. Go crazy, guests. Start your own threads at any place or given moment of the party you wish, threadjack at will, start a random beach game and whatnot. Party crashers welcome! ~~Placeholderish for me, too. At least until the evening.~~ ]

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Anyone who saw what a fabulous time Umi was having could tell this was not just a happy occasion because it was her best friend's birthday: it was also her kind of party all around. The closeness of the ocean invigorated her. On days like that being in The City almost felt right. If Hikaru was feeling half as happy as she did, then the Water Knight's mission was accomplished.

She stood around wearing her summer dress, cold fruity drink in hand, feeling the warm sand beneath her bare feet and wondering what she should try next... start a beach volleyball match or dancing? The day was sunny, nice and ripe with possibilities.

Whoever asked Umi how the heck had she and Fuu managed to pull the right strings to find what was probably one (if not THE only) boat in the whole City would be given the same reply: she didn't have a clue. But the exhausting research had been worthwhile.

The thing wasn't impressive, but would fit at least the whole apartment (if tightly!) so they could take Hikaru out for a short along the beach.

Umi and Fuu had been acting strange in the last few days. Like they were busy with something. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Hikaru assumed that things were just busy at their respective jobs or had they taken a vacation from those too? Anyway, she was none-the-wiser when the big day arrived.

Surprise didn't begin to cover it when Hikaru saw all the decorations and everything down on the beach.

"Is this-- for me?! When did they have time to do all this?!".

[Following the placeholder band wagon]

Umi looked so happy! The flame knight didn't dare interrupt the girl's silent revelry. Instead she just stood a few paces back and smiled. Seeing her sister this much at ease and contented was all the birthday present she needed!

And with that flowing summer dress, Umi looked just like a model from a magazine!

The day had already been more than fulfilling with all the party games, cake, and everything. It was more than Hikaru could ever ask for. Truly they had gone all out for this occasion and she hoped it hadn't been too difficult. Catching up with Umi she was ready to thank her for an eventful morning.

"Thank you Umi! I can't believe you and Fuu arranged all--" She trailed off, her eyes lingering on the vessel behind Umi. Pointing at it Hikaru questioned, "What's that doing there?". The party was over right?

"You really outdid yourself, Umi."

Presea was smiling, picking her way through the sand towards the Knight. She was terribly impressed by the elaborate nature of these plans (and she'd been glad to help where she could, of course, but this was mostly Umi and Fuu's thing). Now, looking accomplished, Umi had a certain glow about her, no doubt increased by the nearness of her water element. This vacation had been a wonderful idea, the Pharle thought, for all of them.

Edited 2010-08-08 18:22 (UTC)

Dressed in nothing more than a pair of black shorts and a yellow t-shirt, Huey had arrived a bit later than he had originally wanted while carrying a red ball, staying up late reading tended to do that to him.

With a light yawn he bounced the ball with his head before catching it and holding it underneath his arm. While not having a present for Hikaru, bringing the option of having a friendly game of kickball seemed like a good idea. Although, Huey knew that he'd have to really hold back should the game be picked up.

Hikaru could have stayed there without making a sound, Umi would have still felt her presence. The whole of the accomplishment the Water Knight was feeling came from her best friend's happiness, after all! Knowing that they'd helped make this a cheery occasion meant so much... And Hikaru had a way of radiating warmth to go with this feeling: it gave her away.

Turning, Umi beamed at the birthday girl and promptly approached her, putting a hand on her shoulder companionably, "So! Enjoying yourself so far?"

"We all did, you mean." So modesty wasn't Umi's thing at all: she'd readily recognize she'd done her very best at getting her part of the event going. But truth be told this felt so much like a group effort it couldn't be any other way: all their friends had worked together to make this possible. And the feeling of ease and cheer around the place was all their mutual making too. They all cared for Hikaru just that much.

Shrugging, the Water Knight smiled back at Presea while she surveyed the party's setting. "It's not like I could've pulled all this on my own. Not a chance! And Fuu's the one with the organizing mind anyway."

She then made a face, taking in the food, the impeccable tables and fancy arrangements. "Um. Boy." She giggled and waved a hand around, suddenly sheepish. "It almost looks like TOO MUCH!"

Though of course it wasn't. It was to make sure Hikaru had the best time possible. Nothing could be excessive when it came to achieving that.

"Huey! You DID come!" Umi left her spot near the food table to go greet Huey as soon as she caught sight of him among the guests. She smiled at the boy cheerfully and waved as she approached, grateful to see him doing well after the ordeal he'd gone through recently. The City rarely gave anyone a break. Hopefully this one would be what they all needed.

"Thanks for deciding to join us. Hey, got any plans for that?" She asked, pointing at the ball her friend carried. It didn't look like your traditional beach ball, if you asked her. As any other game with the potential of turning into an active competition, it piqued Umi's interests.

"Aw, Hikaru. See, I'm really glad you asked!" This was the time when all the poking through the Network and dealing with shady characters would pay off. Oh, wouldn't it pay off immensely. Umi's tone was cheeky, her hand was on her hip, the other's finger in the air poiting each word as she showed off the results of hers and Fuu's cunning in the way she'd wanted to since Clef tossed the idea at her by accident.

"That there." She nodded at the small boat, then returned to flash her best friend a happy grin of VICTORY. "Is the closing event for your birthday!"

Having taken care of preparing some of the most exotic foods to serve at the party, Tatra was rather tired but thoroughly accomplished. She was still to recover from her dumbstruck fascination with the sea, and having such a happy event celebrated right by its shore couldn't have been more charming an idea, in her opinion.

The lovely red-haired Magic Knight seemed so perky and energetic about the occasion too! Taking a delicate sip of her fruity drink, Tatra decided this was something to be grateful for. For many reasons aside from the obvious ones, too.

She smiled in absolute ease and considered starting a dance.

(*) More like a table where cold drinks are served. |D Yes they DID go to town with this party.

"I had to get out of the house anyways," he shrugged lightly. "I figured that everyone could get involved in a quick game of kickball."

Connell was sitting at one side of the cocktail bar. Of course, he's too young for any of the harder drinks. So he's just glancing around the colorful drink collection... Curiously, he's wondering which ones had no alcohol. There were a lot of unfamiliar liquid here!

Still, it looked really nice and well-organized. He'll have to make time to compliment Umi and the others later on for a job well done.

While he was sitting there, he made time to remove the guitar case he had around his shoulder and set it down at the side of the chair he was on.

"Kickball, huh." Didn't she remember that one. Far as her memories went Huey had had a sort of trying experience during a match of that, back home. It amazed her that her friend still liked the thing. "As long we don't end up breaking any limbs... But you'll have to give us a crash curse! I don't think I've ever played that."

Tatra's attention is all for the young man joining her at the bar. She's wearing an amused smile. A friend of the Magic Knights, without a doubt! The dear girls have so many acquaintances all over the City...

Her smile grows brighter at catching sight of the guitar case.

"I pray you excuse me, Young Master." Her voice is cheerful and polite as she decides to address Connell. "But I could not help but notice... is that a musical instrument?"

Presea just laughed. She was used to Umi's excesses by now. The Water Knight took everything quite seriously - which was sometimes problematic, but in times like these, it was a sweet sign of her devotion. And that was true, Fuu had been a fellow instigator, and the rest had helped where they could.

"Too much, really?" She grinned back.

"Yeah! Everything has been great so far!" Hikaru beamed up at the other girl. It was hard to believe that something like this could come to fruition in a city that was riddled with chaotic events and miscellaneous incidents. If she'd learned anything about the City it was that one day you may be dining on crepes in a quaint cafe, and the next time running for your life. It was unpredictable.. kind of like this birthday party had been only the party was a good thing!

"Are you having fun!?"

According to the water knight's animated mannerisms, whatever she was about to reveal was something big! Clutching her fists together under her chin was the only way to suppress her excitement to any extent.

Hikaru looked back towards the boat when Umi motioned toward it, then back to Umi. "Closing event?! Where did you ever find a boat?! I haven't seen that many... Whose is it? Can we touch it?".

She still wasn't entirely sure what to do with the boat now that they had one.

Edited 2010-08-09 23:18 (UTC)

"Oooh, well that's a long story." Kinda shady in parts too, so Umi would leave the specifics right out of this. But Hikaru's cheerfulness at the boat justified the efforts again, and tenfold. They made her smug smile grow bigger. "Let's just say we looked for it in the right places! But I haven't explained the closing event to you yet, have I?"

She crossed her arms, face the very picture of accomplishment, and finished, sounding every bit like she owned the vessel: "You can touch it all you like. We're actually taking a little trip around the shore in it."

"We were expecting lots of people." Thence the food, the huge cake and the arrangements. "Maybe more than will turn up in the end."

Umi glanced around once more, then decided it was silly to bother herself with that sort of thing. "Everything if it's for making sure she remembers this as a great day..."

A girl didn't get fifteen but once, after all. It was important to make the day memorable.

"That's great to hear. But hey: that's my line!" Umi giggled at Hikaru's enthusiasm. To think that the time she'd been stuck in The City before had made her so quiet and tired seemed almost like a bad dream, facing such energy. Umi'd never bring it up, but she renewed the oath not to EVER let that place get her best friend like that again. No matter how many birthdays the redhead had to spend there. "It's your party. I'll have a blast as long as I know you're having fun too."

It was probably wise to leave out the more questionable parts of the story. If Umi wanted to keep her source a secret, Hikaru would allow it. After planning the party and pulling it all together like this, the least she could do was allow for Umi to keep her little secret. "No you haven't. What is it?".

"Really!? We can board it!?" The redhead smiled and expressed her gratitude. First by catching Umi in a tight hug then by saying, "Thank you so much Umi! I may never know how you managed to do all this.. but it's really spectacular!". Drawing backwards so she could see the other's face, she left her arms draped on Umi. She'd have to thank Fuu and the others properly too! If she ever found out who the others were..

Edited 2010-08-10 01:08 (UTC)

Hikaru giggled along with her. Being able to share laughter together was one of life's simple pleasures. In fact, everyone looked so happy. Even in a place like this...

.. no especially in a place like this. These peaceful moments were necessary. Hikaru had delayed her latest idea in lieu of the festivities. It was not an idea she assumed everyone would approve of.. but she was pleased to have a clear direction set in mind.

The last thing she'd wish to do is ruin the party by letting her plans slip. She was happy, genuinely so, so no one should notice! "I am! Then I have nothing to worry about!".

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