contempsi: (Default)
Hope Estheim ([personal profile] contempsi) wrote2011-09-12 08:26 pm

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

[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. ♥ )
wingenvy: (It's a new dawn)

[personal profile] wingenvy 2011-10-22 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[And he goes! Not trying to be ridiculously fast, since he's not sure of Hope's stamina and it is his birthday, but he's still going to compete, dammit. It's a matter of pride.]

[identity profile] contempsi.livejournal.com 2011-10-23 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
[And Hope splashes in along with him! He was never really the athletic type, but he did, at least, take swimming lessons. It was part of his school curriculum and all.

Though the water was never this chilly.

It takes him a second before he can work up the nerve to suck in his breath and submerge himself completely. But he does, feeling for the rock that lies in front of him. He knows Zack will probably beat him, but it's nice to get in while he still can.
]
wingenvy: (tell them how I am)

[personal profile] wingenvy 2011-10-23 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Zack does win, but only by a small margin; it's no fun to push yourself too hard and leave other people behind. Besides, Hope is doing pretty good on his own.

It'll be nice to get out of the water soon, though, even for him. It's getting chilly.]

[identity profile] contempsi.livejournal.com 2011-10-26 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[He presses a hand flat against that rock, panting a little to catch his breath.]

How did you learn to go so fast? I thought I was doing pretty good, but you still beat me.
wingenvy: (and this old world)

[personal profile] wingenvy 2011-10-27 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
[Zack grins, leaning back against the rock.]

You were good! Actually, I have a confession to make- I'm kind of cheating.

[identity profile] contempsi.livejournal.com 2011-10-27 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Huh?

[He raises his eyebrows slightly.]

How are you cheating? Or were...
wingenvy: (everybody's in the lane)

[personal profile] wingenvy 2011-10-28 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
On my world, we kind of get these special enhancements in the group I used to be a part of. It's why these guys glow. [He points to his eyes.] So it wasn't exactly a fair race.