Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you

[pullsheavendown]

Who: Ventus and Roxas and their friends and MAYBE YOU!
When: Saturday, March 24, all afternoon
Where: The House of Repression Departure, aka Ven, Terra and Aqua's place
Summary: The twins are turning 17! Their close friends and pretty much anyone who's got positive CR with one or both is invited to stop into their open house birthday party. Nothing too structure, gifts aren't required—just come have some cake and good times. Open log, thread away however you like.

It's a little past Ventus' birthday and a little before Roxas', but as far as those not in the know are concerned, they're all-natural twins who are turning 17 today.

And what a nice day it is! Good weather outside, colorful balloons and good cheer inside, and most importantly—cake. Lots of cake. Because each bro gets one, and that means more for guests.

Won't you come celebrate with them?

Comments

[todomarishi]

[Birthdays weren't exactly loudly celebrated in the Land of Departure, but for as long as Terra can remember, he's believed that birthdays are important. And some are even more important than others. Roxas and Ven's definitely qualify as extra significant in his eyes. Especially after everything that's happened lately.

As such, Terra's worked hard to make sure their party is a special one. He lent a hand with the cleaning and decorating, and he did a good bit of shopping.

Staring at candles in the store had got him thinking, though.

It was Ven's seventeenth birthday and everyone was celebrating it as if it was Roxas' seventeenth, too. Except it... was really more like his third? That was an odd thought. He was going to be three. His body was going to be three. But his mind... that was more like seventeen. For appearances' sake, it was simpler to go with seventeen, but was the real number of years he'd existed as himself more important? What about his heart? How old was it?

For a brief few moments, Terra had wondered what that meant for him, too.

He'd ended up buying a box of brightly colored birthday candles and one extra candle that came in the shape of the number three.

When Saturday arrives and the party gets underway, Terra's content to stand back and watch the goings-on. He doesn't exactly approve of everyone who shows up... But he keeps his mouth shut and does his very best to ignore the few people he's not so fond of.

Eventually, after casually sticking the three candle in Roxas' cake, he finds his way to the boy.]

Happy birthday, Roxas.

[He won't admit it, but it's nice to be able to pick out Roxas and not find himself questioning whether it's Ven... or even Xion.]

[pullsheavendown]

[It wasn't so long ago that Roxas wasn't sure if Terra would even feel comfortable attending a social occasion like this. Not that he'd ever ignore Ven's birthday at the very least, but...

Well, it didn't matter. He's here, and what Roxas likes best about this party is having his friends attending it. That's the best gift.

He looks over and smiles when he sees his bigpantsed friend approaching.]

Thanks, Terra.

It's been a pretty good one so far.

[todomarishi]

I'm glad to hear that.

[He'll just stand beside Roxas and survey the party scene for a minute. He crosses his arms loosely over his chest as he looks around.]

Getting some good presents?

[pullsheavendown]

One or two. Haven't opened them all yet.

[He looks out at the rest of the guests—there's not a huge number here, but there's more than he would have expected two years ago, and they're all people he cares about.]

I'm just glad people came. It's really nice.

[todomarishi]

Yeah.

[He nods his understanding. Having friends around definitely beats presents. Still...]

I think there's another gift for you around here somewhere.

[pullsheavendown]

You don't say.

[Part of him is still a little embarrassed by the gifts. But it's kind of cool, too, being surprised by what people thought to get him.]

I didn't see it. Wanna show me?

[todomarishi]

What makes you think I know where it is? It could be from Oro or Captain Nibbles. Or the gold fish.

[pullsheavendown]

Well, they can't talk. So I know they couldn't have told you about it if it is from one of them.

[todomarishi]

Sure, but there are other ways to convey a message... They could have... You know... [Uh. Um. Hm.

He sighs after a moment and motions for Roxas to follow him.]

All right, come on.

[pullsheavendown]

[Snicker. He nods and does so.]

You missed your chance to try to convince me you can understand dog language.

[todomarishi]

[Terra leads the way to his room.]

I probably could, in the right place. That's one of those weird things about traveling worlds... Sometimes you can understand all the animals and sometimes it's just bark and meow.

[Very thought-provoking, really.]

[pullsheavendown]

That makes sense. I met a really weird cat once and I could understand him fine...well, mostly. And Sora's friends are a duck and a dog.

[Very. Though Roxas is only halfway thinking about the linguistic implications. He's also wondering why they're going back to Terra's room for this.]

[todomarishi]

And there's Aslan.

[Pause.]

... Not that he's just a lion or anything.

[Walking on again... Until they reach the bedroom. He steps in and retrieves a wooden box that's about the size of his hand from his book shelf (which is decorated more with random stuff of his than actual books).

He heads back to Roxas and hands the box over.]

[pullsheavendown]

Oh, no way. Aslan's...

[Understanding. Fatherly. Light itself.]

Aslan's special.

[He looks curiously at the box and then at Terra—this isn't the usual brightly-wrapped birthday present, though admittedly he hasn't had many to judge by—before looking back at the box and opening it.]

[todomarishi]

[Terra nods in agreement before glancing down at the box in Roxas' hands.]

I know it's not the most original gift, but I wanted you to have it...

[It's a Wayfinder with a frame carved out of wood that's been stained black. It has frosty white glass pieces and a blue metal heart token in the middle of the five points. A black cord is attached to one of those points. Hanging from that cord are two small, simple key charms, made out of the same blue metal the heart is. It's a little rougher in appearance than the delicate Wayfinders Aqua put together, but hey... he really does try.]

In case the one Ven gave you doesn't cover our friendship, too.

[pullsheavendown]

[It doesn't matter whether or not the Wayfinder is original. Roxas understands the significance of the gift as soon as he sees the familiar star shape. Holding it carefully in his hands, he rubs one thumb across the glass, looking at it for a long few moments before lifting his head to meet Terra's eye once more.]

Thank you.

[If his voice sounds ever so slightly thicker, well, he trusts Terra to know that's not a bad thing.]

It's great. Seriously. It's perfect.

[todomarishi]

[He smiles, a touch sheepish. Not only is it not the most original gift, it's not even especially useful or flashy. But he's glad Roxas seems to like it.]

Happy birthday.

[Can't hurt to repeat that.]

Now... One hair ruffle for every year you are old.

[pullsheavendown]

Thanks.

[He's repeating himself, but it's worth saying. He can't help but chuckle now, though.]

Better go with three and not seventeen. We could be here a while.

[todomarishi]

Oh, all right.

[One... two... and three hair ruffles. How fortunate it is that Roxas' hair is always pretty messy looking.]

[pullsheavendown]

[He happily patiently waits through all three hair ruffles and tries not to smile too wide.]

Now it's definitely a good birthday.