008 || {Action} || Backdated to the evening of the 10th.

[contempsi]

[Hope had been grateful for the warmth, and he was almost sorry to see it on the verge of fading away. At the same time, though, autumn was something he found himself looking forward to as he'd never experienced anything like it back on Cocoon. Leaves turning colours? Quite the interesting phenomenon!

It had been overcast that day, which only added to Hope's gloomy mood. Most kids look forward to their birthday with excitement, in practically any world as he'd discovered living here - and he, too, was still pleased to find himself growing both in height and in smarts - but it also left him feeling strange and a bit emotionally disoriented. His last birthday had been different. Completely different. He had been different. The Pulse fal'Cie were little more than frightening legends as far as he'd been concerned. His Mom had been there, his school friends... Dad was not, of course. As usual. But even that was familiar, part of his old life. Despite everything he's outgrown and overcome, there's still a part of him that would give anything to be back home with his mother and - as funny as it would sound - having another dumb argument with his father.

It doesn't matter how old he gets. That part of him might be buried, hidden, but it will never go completely away.

As such, though he's already somewhat shy and introverted when it comes to gatherings, he'd sworn up and down to Lightning that he did not want a party of any type. In all honesty, he didn't want any kind of fuss made over him... but he resigned himself to the fact that it wouldn't be completely avoidable.

As such, in the end, that lack of a party turned into a cozy little gathering with his housemates around a campfire by the seaside. He could try and cover it up with more teenage moodiness, but truth be told, the summer days were waning and soon it would be too cold to even really spend time on the beach - let alone pitch a fire.

So he's fifteen now. It feels strange to say, even stranger than when he had to get used to being fourteen! And in just a few months, he'll have been here for a year. It's funny how easily time slips away.

Maybe a year from now, for his not-so-sweet sixteen, he'll finally be ready to be social.]


( OOC: This can just be free-for-all style threading instead of a posting order! If any of Hope's friends/acquaintances beyond House Lucky want to drop by we can assume he invited them to come hang out too. ♥ )

Comments

[thestormishere]

[ Classy indeed. Lightning watches with her eyebrows coming together - it's not like she's the kind of person who would think it's funny to give him something that tastes bad on his birthday, and she definitely wouldn't do anything that would... like... poison him or anything! Even if she does have Esuna. ]

It goes in your mouth, Hope. [ She pauses, maybe just the slightest teeny tiny bit awkwardly, then: ] They're good. Even the ugly ones.

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[He notices her watching and immediately feels guilty. Obviously she put her work into these things, even if they're "just" cupcakes... so... Hope tries to cover up his strange meekness toward the dessert with an awkward smile. Complete with the icing on his face.

And then he takes a bite!]

...okay, you're right. They're not bad at all. In fact, they're pretty good, Light. [That's when he realizes his embarrassing mistake, and quickly lifts an arm to wipe off his mouth.]

[thestormishere]

But in other words, I probably shouldn't hand in my gunblade just yet.

[ There's a slight smirk as she turns her head aside some, although... even if she does little to betray it, the fact that she's actually able to focus on something so frivolous and joke about it even that tiny bit is a pretty big change from how it might have once been before. Her overall mood is gradually brightening again. ]

You can help me convince the others, though.

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[He'd taken another bite, and with his mouth full of cupcake, Hope quickly shakes his head. Then he swallows.]

Maybe you can do both.

[thestormishere]

[ She shakes her head, looking over the remaining cupcakes with an amused eye. ]

Well, it was interesting to try, but... heh, I don't think I'm really cut out for chef's work. I'll leave that to the people who like wearing aprons.

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Wait...

[The hand holding the cupcake lowers a little, a subtle little grin building at the corners of Hope's mouth.]

You were wearing an apron?

[thestormishere]

[ -- Uhhh... now look at what you've done, Lightning! She frowns a bit, then rolls her eyes. ]

Well, for about five minutes.

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

... You know, I made a friend who's good at making cupcakes. I was going to bring you one, but then I accidentally dropped it in the river.

[So thoughtful.]

Can I borrow your apron? I want to learn how to make them, too. [Okay, he might be teasing just a little there... though he is serious about the latter statement. Cupcakes are serious business, after all.]

[thestormishere]

[ Lightning stares for a few beats. She really can't tell if he's joking or not, on all accounts there. ]

... Sure. [ Girl, you're really odd when you're at all uncertain, even for just a second. She blinks slowly, shifting her weight, then puts her hands flat to her hips. ] I kind of get the feeling you'd be better at it, anyway.