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

CUPCAKES >:T

[thestormishere]

[ It's a pretty fine balance between making sure Hope's birthday is thoroughly celebrated to the extent he deserves, but not making a big deal out of it as he wanted... but fortunately, that kind of thing is exactly what Lightning tends to favor anyway. The beach, a fire, and just a few people is right up her alley.

However.

Who knows what put it in the woman's head that she actually needed to make something edible for this - especially considering she's much better at destroying stuff with heavy weaponry than anything kitchen-related - but for anyone who's brave enough to try...

She looks totally serious as she wrestles the lid off the box of her creations that got brought along: cupcakes, with frosting that's white, orange, or sort of an awkward mix of both. Please at least try one? She worked quite hard and they should be pretty good, if just a touch blander than what you'd expect.

... If it helps, Aerith had a hand in their genesis as well. ]

Unexpected Guest Appears /sob Sorry. Couldn't help it!

[lost-pig-boy.livejournal.com]

[risingwinds.livejournal.com]

[So maybe it's not a huge party; Ven doesn't mind. He loves the beach, and he enjoys hanging out with friends. So, naturally, he's going to take this chance to hang out with Hope, low key or not.

So, once he spots him, he'll make his way over.]

Hey, Hope!

[gardenerofgaia.livejournal.com]

So-o-o... fifteen, huh? That's a lot of birthday pinches.

[ Aerith's hand is sneaking out, teasing. To be honest, she's more likely to tickle than pinch. She's just riling him. ]

PRESENT >:T

[thestormishere]

[ Quite a bit later, after the idle conversation has been thoroughly exchanged and most of the food present has been consumed (with hopefully nobody getting seriously burned or poisoned, of course), Lightning approaches Hope with yet another box under her arm- one she's been carefully avoiding letting anyone pressure her into handing over too soon, in front of eyes that aren't hers or the teen whose birthday they're quietly celebrating.

No cliche remarks about feeling older and the like from her though, that's for sure. Instead she opts for a silent smile and a quiet sigh as she walks up beside him, then puts a hand on his opposite shoulder - not quite a hug, but pretty close to one.

She knows he has to be thinking about... a lot, really, considering all that's changed and happened in the last year. Especially considering the members of his family that aren't here. However, whether he wants to talk about it...? That's something she'll gladly leave up to him. ]

wow this is like a backdated backdate

[wingenvy]

[Birthdays and parties, two of his favourite things! And since Lightning and Hope had joined he and Aerith like this he can't help that he's gotten kind of watchfully protective of the whole family over time, Hope included. So somewhere in the middle of the little party he'll ambush Hope, wandering up behind him to give his hair a good ruffle, as he is fond of doing.]

Hey, kiddo! Happy birthday. You having a good time?