tampered | Ongoing, Open (ish)

Ongoing, Open (ish)

When; Sunday, December the 12th, evening.
Rating; PG
Characters; MKR cast, family and guests.
Summary; The Victrola has become a luxurious ballroom for celebrating Fuu's 15th birthday party.
Log; All their efforts had lead them to this. Against all odds, despite the horrible moments curses and dangers unfailingly put them through, Umi knew it was important to remember dates as important as this one. The occasion was nothing she was allowing The City to ruin: Fuu's 15th birthday was something to remember, all the more because it would be the first birthday her best friend and sister would spend away from home.

Thankfully not from her family, the Water Knight thought as she took a look around her and pondered the arrangements. The Victrola had been transformed into a gorgeous, gold-tinted ballroom for celebrating the Wind Knight's birthday. Umi herself had been specific about the details.

So she went through a quick revision of the surroundings. Took in the beautifully set tables with their polished silverware and floral centerpieces straight from the Koneko: each arranged so that every guest knew where they would sit. Some of the guests danced in pairs. Others stood around holding glasses of champagne as a soft music played in the background. The numerous presents had been arranged on a table near the buffet. And the highlight of such was of course the giant birthday cake Umi herself had baked -- her ultimate masterpiece, made to match the decorations too.

Smiling, she moved through the crowd to greet the newcomers.

[ ooc : Alright guys, Fuu's swanky party is GO. You know what to do! Start new threads wherever you like: at the tables, dancing threads, just chillin' around threads, arrival threads, what have you. Time them whenever you like: start, end of mid-party. Threadjack at will, too. Just remember: your character should be in evening clothes. 8Db

ALSO, feel free to tag with either prose or action, whatever suits your fancy the most! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Compliments yes, he had heard them before. Compliments like that, from Umi, were a bit more rare.

“So far nothing has exploded…” Said with a flippant laugh, noting that he hasn’t actually run into anyone at this party who would be inclined for those kinds of reactions yet. The Magic Knights would hardly be the type to bring it up!

“You must have gone to a lot of trouble to put all of this together.” Eagle said indicating the highly decorated room. “This place must have taken a lot of time to decorate.”

Well, she'll readily tell a guy she's remotely friendly with when she believes he looks good. Umi's not one to care for misinterpretations in that area (and likely to clueless to consider them anyway). It's up to them and how smart they are (or how much they know her) to know better rather than get the wrong ideas.

The Water Knight shakes her head, a bit of smug in her expression, glass of champagne still poised as if to drink from it. Perhaps it's to tease Eagle the prude, perhaps coincidence. "I got lots of help. Teamwork does the trick without much trouble."

She stares around at the lovely ballroom and shrugs happily. "It's what Fuu deserves. I don't mind being broke for a bit afterward."

No misinterpretations here, just momentary surprise.

Watching the others stationed at various locations around the room merrily enjoying themselves, laughing and talking, before speaking again.

“I’m sure Fuu will appreciate all of the effort you and your friends went through to throw this party for her.”

Smugness over a drink? Have a slight smirk in return. Well… he was curious.

“What kind of drink is that exactly?” To clarify since it was clearly alcoholic of some kind, “What do they call it?”

"...Aw, Fuu does. Just the look on her face said A LOT about how much she does." Umi's smile grows fonder as she remembers the big surprise they gave the Wind Knight when they lead her to the gaudy ballroom with deceit. It's certainly a birthday to remember if only for the huge conspiracy it took, keeping the party plans secret until the last minute.

At Eagle's question about the drink she lets out a little laugh. "It's called champagne! Usually what you drink at celebrations back in Tok--- well, on Earth." She stares at her glass, then raises her eyebrows at the Commander questioningly. "Would you like to try it?"

Those three girls were really close. It was touching to see how doing something nice like this for Fuu had really made Umi happy in return.

Would you like to try it?
On Autozam… he might have been tempted to try something like that, but that was really a long time ago. Now it was enough to know what this drink was called. Anything alcoholic like that, that might weaken his will, was something he dared not get involved with.

“No, thank you Umi. I was really only wondering what the drink was called.” Added with a smile as some passerby walks past with the exact same drink. “It seems to be really popular.”

"What. Afraid it might make you tipsy?" Now that would be a sight, Eagle sort of light-headed by a sip of champagne. Umi kept her tone affectionate but there might have also been a bit of a challenging quality there. "Not one to hold your drink too well, are you."

Because of course she was one to talk.

“That would be a sight wouldn’t it? A drunk Commander stumbling around the room?” He chuckles from the implication but doesn’t bother to explain the real reason behind the refusal.

"So it gets that bad? One glass of something new and you're already lost? BOY." Umi continued her teasing, clearly amused by the idea. "Never thought I'd meet someone with that low tolerance for alcohol. I think I may even drink you under the table myself if I wanted to! And I'm not exactly too tolerant..."

There. A confession. Umi didn't brag about her drinking resistance but she knew she wasn't as childlike as some overprotective acquaintances of hers tended to believe. "We'll need to find you something non-alcoholic to sample."

Again, not bothering to clarify. A reputation like that really wasn’t something he was the least bit concerned about. In fact, it might work to his advantage. So… he let’s Umi continue thinking that.

And Umi admitting she wasn’t too tolerant of alcohol herself? Not surprising… really. On body weight alone she would be at a disadvantage to a drink like that. But, he still doesn’t say anything about her drinking. She had already made up her mind about it and how ever strangely protective he felt about the Magic Knights… it wasn’t like she was his to watch out after…
Where is that brother of hers?

“That might be a good idea,” responding to the non-alcoholic offer.

"Alright. Though it's going to be a bit of a downer if you get to toast to Fuu's 15th birthday with lemonade!" Umi chuckled and asked the barman -- all the Victrola's staff was commissioned for working at the party that night, courtesy of Clef; oh yeah, Umi would have to watch her spending money for a while after this and then Christmas -- to serve Eagle something soft and nice. She'd be a big girl and stick to her champagne for the time being. "So, having fun so far?"

“Maybe I could use tea instead?” Teasing of course, but why not toast with tea!

Fun? Having been to so many parties in the past… it was kind of forgotten that these events were supposed to be fun. It sounds strange that for Eagle parties had become almost second nature, showing up, looking interested, engaging people in conversations… All very routine. But, was it actually fun?
He actually has to take a moment to think it over, which lucky for the timing, gives the barman enough time to return with something fruity and not in the least bit alcoholic. And sampling that strange concoction gives Eagle an excuse for the pause.

“I have been able to speak in person to a lot of people I otherwise would have been unable to,” there non-committal diplomatic response.

That was actually something he enjoyed doing, talking to people, but the party itself? Formal and all… even as strangely other worldly as it was, it was still a bit too similar to home and all of the parties he had been forced to attend for his Father’s and his own careers.

"That's all fine and dandy. But doesn't really answer my question, you know?" If Umi had known Eagle's train of thought at the time she would have certainly related. She'd been around elegant parties, dinners and social gatherings of many sorts since she was a child, due precisely to her father's reputation in the business world if not his interest in politics.

Still, the Water Knight had always put those apart from those parties that were really meant for having a good time and not just socializing or obligation: that was the type she'd intended for Fuu's to be. Umi would do her best so that Eagle and all their guests saw it in that light.

"Have those chats been fun or are you bored to tears? You can tell me. I want everyone to have a good time here." She nodded at the dance floor where some couples moved to the music. "Maybe you should dance! I was thinking of going there myself when I saw you."

“Bored to tears…?” A blink, followed by a laugh. Umi did have a strange way with words! “I wouldn’t say that! I really do enjoy talking to people…” That should come as no surprise, “But, I have been to so many parties of this nature, I suppose they have become routine.”

Even normally able to compartmentalize things easily, some how making a distinction between a political party and a birthday party… well, all of his birthday parties had been like this too. And… political events on top of that. Eagle half expected the see his Father entering the room at any moment!

“Don’t let me keep you, if there is someone out there you wanted to dance with?”

"This shouldn't be one of those parties! It's not like anyone forced you to come." A pause, and Umi suddenly put on a sheepish smirk. "Alright, so maybe I did. A little. But you're here because you want to!"

...And because Lantis was there, and so was Hikaru, and Umi couldn't imagine Eagle being anywhere else but around them. She wouldn't bring it up, but she wanted the Commander to feel as welcome as he could among their group, too, when the occasion didn't merit any sort of enemy antics. Maybe like that Eagle could see getting along while they were stuck there together was perfectly achievable.

She waved to dismiss his next comment, raising her glass to her lips. "It's all good: I was looking for something to do. Now I got you here to chat with."

Because I want to? Unfortunately that wasn’t entirely the case… but that is another little misconception he doesn’t bother to correct. He only agreed to come because Umi had been so insistent about it AND… because Lantis and Hikaru obviously needed a little push in order to end up happy together. If Lantis would ever just confess to that girl…

This Eagle is still totally oblivious about that little situation… in Umi’s future where the three of them end up together.
Anime Eagle has it far more complicated than that! Lantis was clearly in love with Hikaru and not him… and Geo had always been there when Eagle needed some support. FAR more complicated!

“Do you enjoy chatting at parties too then?” Still, not wanting to keep Umi from doing something she might like to do just because he was here.

Umi shrugged as if to mean she didn't care. "That depends on the person." She explained, setting her glass down on the bar. "You? You're not boring to chat with. But then again none of our friends here are!

I just don't want anyone to think this is one of those parties where you're just supposed to stand around socializing. We'll have other stuff to do, especially when Fuu gets to blowing the candles."

“Blowing the candles…? Is that some kind of Earth game?”

Not everything about this party is the same as Autozam after all.

"Aw, right. You wouldn't know." Umi nods at the place where the huge cake awaits its time to be eaten. "This cake here? The candles on its top will be lit by the end of the party. Fuu'll make a wish, and if she manages to blow them all in one go... well." She smiled at the romantic silliness of the tradition. "They say the wish will be granted."

“That is a very cute tradition.” Smiling at Umi then at her giant cake, “I wonder what she will wish for.”

With that Eagle takes a seat beside Umi… looking a bit tired? Well, maybe it is just from all of the busyness of the party. He seems fine besides that, and the drink you ordered for him is easily finished off. Though when the barman asks, Eagle politely declines another.

“Judging from the number of people here, it looks like your party is a great success.”

Watching those same people on the dance floor, carrying on in unique Earth style… And shaking his head with a smirk. “You even dance in strange ways…”

"People were waltzing sometime ago." Umi follows Eagle's glance to the dance floor. "That's traditional in formal parties like this. So how do you dance in Autozam?"

Here's wondering if they mostly listen to electronic music...

Pointing out a guy who was whirling his arms over his head like there was something after him.

“Not like that…” A pause as the guy falls to the ground and starts flopping around like some kind of beached fish. “Is… that an official Earth dance?”

Well, she had mentioned it earlier… and she didn’t appear to be here with anyone special… so there was really no reason not to…
“Would you like for me to show you?”

Yes, asking Umi if she wanted dance.

Umi's face shows understandable alarm at this random guest's behavior. That for a split instant. The next her expression grows sardonic.

"...That guy," and she points at the victim who's being readily taken away by the Victrola's security staff. Probably over to the infirmary. Probably to kick him outside. Ask Umi if she cares. "Is drunk. Trust me, I've seen enough cases during my nights out just don't tell Clef about that and that's DEFINITELY no dance!"

Surprise is back at Eagle's next words, but this time it's of a pleasant sort. "Really? Do you feel like it?"

“Oh is he!” Laughing from not recognizing such a common condition, “I did think that was a strange kind of dance… but I should have been able to recognize what it really was!”

Its not as if drunk people were particularly subtle!

Umi’s surprise countered by one of those friendly semi-dismissive smiles. Did he feel like it? Not really. He was feeling a little tired actually, but it is not like Eagle had ever allowed that illness to stop him… not if he had any choice in the matter.

“Why not?”

He doesn’t really bother to actually answer any of Umi’s questions, instead choosing to stand and hold a hand out for the young lady to either accept or reject in traditional fashion.

For just a passing moment Umi has this... hunch... She's always been able to sense when something might be a bit out of place or subtly wrong -- some may call it post-traumatic paranoia.

But, then she dismisses the matter altogether. He's offering, isn't he? And she didn't bully him into it or whatever. She sees no reason why Eagle would ask her to dance if he didn't think it'd at least be kinda fun.

"Just my thoughts!" Not really, but Umi takes Eagle's hand and hops off her own seat by the bar gracefully, smiling cheerfully at the Commander. She even winks a teasing comment. "Hey, I hope Autozam dances don't involve any ballet moves. I can pull those off but I'm not really wearing the right shoes for them."

“Ballet moves?” A laugh, “I’m wearing the wrong kind of shoes for something like that.”

And teased in return. Eagle had apparently run into a few people in the City who practiced the art of ballet, so he actually knew what that dance was!

The actual Autozam dance they end up doing is reminiscent of something formal and classical from Earth. Almost a combination of several formal ballroom style dances. Eagle leads of course, so Umi doesn’t have to actually know the steps to perform the dance. It is a very elegant kind of dance that ends with a flourish when the music stops. Obviously Eagle can dance as well, he would have been expected to do these kinds of things at home after all.

Ongoing, Open (ish)

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