[Closed] Lupin's Birthday Mingle!

[theshowsover]

Who: Akira, Akechi, Lupin, and some guests!
Where: Cafe Morgana
When: 10/27
What: Akechi and Akira throw Lupin a birthday party! It's... probably somewhere around his birthday, right?
Warnings: None

[Akechi and Akira have dragged a few of the decorations from the harvest festival into the cafe: some hay-bails, some flowers, a few pumpkins (but not the weird effigy). They've laid out a few treats, including the white chocolate kit-kats Akira got from trick-or-treating, coffee that he's made, and a cake - one made with easily obtainable ingredients and a substitute for flour. It actually looks a bit misshapen, but Akira did his best.

They've invited just a few people for this, so it's not a very big party, but Akira hopes they'll have fun none the less. He wants this to be a great day for Lupin, since he can't celebrate at home with his friends. Akechi has pitched in just as much, wanting to give his housemate a great party to return the favor from a few months ago.

It's not exactly a surprise party, though it's still clear he hasn't exactly told Lupin what's up as he guides him into the cafe. Somehow he doesn't think he'll mind the attention, though.

Everyone give your best wishes to the birthday boy!]

[[OOC: This is a mingle so feel free to tag with each other at will!]]

Comments

[heartsteals]

[ it's true that it's not really a surprise - not after the two of them had actually discussed his birthday a few weeks earlier - but that does nothing to temper Lupin's delight. His situation isn't as bad as Akechi's; he's had birthday parties before in his life, though certainly not every year. He's still happy to have someone throw one for him here. It's flattering knowing there are people he's met in this short span of time that care about him enough to go through the trouble of celebrating. When he shows up at the cafe, he's got the biggest, brightest grin on his face. ]

Woah. You really even made a cake! Then I have no choice but to call this a great birthday party.

[ as Akira thought, he certainly enjoys the attention. Even so, it's obvious Lupin really is touched, and there's a sheepish touch of pink to his cheeks. He's still human, as much as he likes others believing he's something more. ]

... Thanks. If it wasn't for all of you, it'd be a lot harder to keep smiling around here.

[ and he means that.

feel free to wish him a happy birthday, or give him a present, or whatever else!! ]

[theshowsover]

[Technically the party itself is Akira's present for Lupin, but he's bearing coffee as he approaches Lupin, the small smile on his face betraying his excitement. He's glad Lupin thinks it's a good party.]

Here.

[As he passes off the mug. And then:]

Glad you like it.

[heartsteals]

I was kidding about the cake thing, you know. Guess I should have known you could pull it off.

[ he accepts the mug, reflecting that smile right back at him. ]

[theshowsover]

Akechi found a recipe. I just followed it.

[As best he could. This is the first time he's done any real baking, but it wasn't as hard as he thought it would be.]

But if you wanted to tell me I'm the best... [Akira won't stop him.]

[heartsteals]

Hmmmmm...

[ Akechi found it, huh. Unexpectedly domestic... After pretending to think for a moment, he continues in a teasing tone. ]

You're the second best. Just whose birthday do you think this is?

[messianic]

[Aw... Lupin's so cute like this! He's so clearly happy--it makes every last bit of this worth it, and Minato makes a quiet mental note to thank Akechi and Akira for setting this up and getting Lupin's birthday out of him.]

Hey, Lupin-san. Happy birthday. [!!

He does have a box in his hands, tied up with a neat ribbon made of fabric, but that can come after the greetings.]

[heartsteals]

[ look at this straight-faced neutral happy birthday. As expected of Minato. Lupin blinks at him, then laughs a little, crossing his arms across his chest. ]

Is that the best you can do? [ his tone is teasing, but there's an evident note of fondness there, too. ] Show me a big smile, will you? That'll be a good present for me.

[messianic]

[...Ah.

Ah??]

A... big smile?

[Oh...

Hm...

Give him a minute, he's really considering that, before he clears his throat and gives it his best attempt. It's...a smile. Saying it's a big or particularly exuberant smile would be a lie though.]

Happy birthday, Lupin-san...! [???]

[heartsteals]

[ listen... it's big for Minato. He'll take it. Although certainly not without laughing more - but he's laughing with him, not at him!! ]

Much better! I can feel the enthusiasm.

[ it's a Minato-level of enthusiasm. ]

Thanks, though. Really. All else aside, I'm glad I got to meet you here.

[scooptimistic]

Lupin!!

[ And as exuberant as ever, Maya is bounding over to greet him. Her hands are behind her back, and she's beaming. ]

Happy Birthday! You don't look any older at all.

[heartsteals]

Heh heh. My good looks are eternal.

[ he can't help himself... ]

Thanks. Now I'm two years your elder, hm?

[ call him senpai ]

[scooptimistic]

Should I be calling you Lupin-san, then? Lupin-senpai?

[ What is formality. ]

[heartsteals]

... Maybe? I don't know what that means.

[ not everything translates, apparently... ]

[unghost]

[ They'd been avoiding him like the plague ever since the incident at the harvest festival, at least until they were told to come to this for his "birthday".... 25 years? That's not exactly a huge landmark by their standards, but they guess it probably is for him. About a quarter of his life is over, right? That's sort of depressing, but everyone here looks like they're celebrating. It's kind of confusing.

But just because they came here doesn't mean it has to mean anything. No, they're planning to remain as aloof and distant as they can throughout the duration of this interaction, and to legitimately flee if he tries to bring up anything they don't want to talk about. ]

A quarter of a century, huh? [ When he comes by, they're lounging at one of the tables, an elbow on the surface while a hand covers their mouth as they yawn. ] I guess I don't have to come by again until you turn fifty...

[heartsteals]

[ he knows Cairngorm's been avoiding him, but it's only been a few days - he wasn't going to say anything about it unless it went on for quite a bit longer. He can't say he blames them. Even Lupin is kind of embarrassed about what happened. Not because he didn't want to do those things (or enjoy doing them), but because it wasn't very polite, and probably stressed poor Cairngorm out... Though maybe not as much as he'd assumed it would.

But he'll deal with that later. For now, he's just pleasantly surprised to see that they showed up. And looking slightly aghast at the idea they're not celebrating again until he turns 50. ]

You're not going to come next year? That's not very nice. Besides, I don't want to think about getting that old...

[unghost]

[ "That old"..... they hold back a snort (barely), resting their cheek on their palm. ]

You do this every single year, then...

[ At least do it every five!! The more they learn about human tradition, the more it feels like they're always looking for excuses to throw parties. They'd like to inform him that they only came here because they're not even sure the'll be here for it next year, but they recall the odd air of disappointment Lupin got the last time they brought up the impermanence of this place and the presence of its residents, so they hold their tongue. ]

Is there that big of a difference between being twenty-five and being twenty-six?

[heartsteals]

Not really. But we humans don't live all that long, so every year is important to us.

[ he can imagine them spending a hundred years in those cold gray halls, breaking icebergs by themself every day, and it's easy to understand why they don't understand the significance of just one passing when they're not drawing towards some inevitable end. After a few seconds of hesitation, Lupin takes a seat across from them, maintaining that polite distance. ]

It's more of a celebration of someone's existence than anything, besides. Just being born is a bit of a miracle. [ hmm. He tilts his head at Cairngorm. ] There aren't very many of you, right? I'm surprised you don't celebrate those things.

[doublecrowss]

[ Having spent this much time as Lupin's roommate, Akechi knows how unusual it is for him to get caught off guard and flustered like that, and while this isn't something he can take credit for on his lonesome, it's still a moment to remember.

And while he may try to justify his own smile as satisfaction over having repaid Lupin for that surprise birthday party from months ago, the truth is as simple as shared happiness. He's getting way, way too soft. ]

It would seem I got to give you a cake before you did. [ It's a throwback line to Lupin's promise to get Akechi a cake next year, said in nothing but good jest. ] Though this is in no way a competition, I wonder if Lupin-san is the type to try and outdo it, anyway.

[ He also happens to be holding his hands behind his back, as though hiding something. A gift, maybe? ]

[heartsteals]

Unfortunately, I'm absolutely that type. You better be prepared.

[ he's not actually a baker, but he'll figure something out! Though he says it lightly, one gets the sense he is absolutely going to make good on that threat. ]

Akira said you're the one who found the recipe. Have you been holding out on me, Akechi? Are you actually good at cooking?

[doublecrowss]

[ Akechi only giggles at that "threat," amused. Honestly, he's perfectly fine with cake and sweets in general; if Lupin really wants to terrorize him, it's spicy food he should be try his hand at. ]

Hardly so! Like Akira has told you, I only found the recipe-- that is to say, I rounded up ingredients and got in touch with someone who I thought would be capable of conjuring up a cake with them. I may not be skilled in the kitchen, but I am quite resourceful, you see. And that reminds me--

[ He had to be resourceful to come up with a birthday gift for Lupin, too, so! He's going to be handing his package over now, a box wrapped in newspaper and finished with a bow in gray fabric. ]

It wouldn't be much of a birthday party without a gift, right? Happy birthday, Lupin-san.

[heartsteals]

Is that so? I guess your detective skills come in handy once in a while.

[ detecting food is a good use for them in a place like this. Despite his teasing, he does seem faintly impressed - he's also wondering what the hell is actually in that cake, but part of him thinks he's better off not knowing the secret. ]

Oh! Thanks, Akechi. Let's see here...

[ opening the box, naturally! what's he got. ]

[theshowsover]

[After Lupin arrives, Akira can be found behind the counter, sometimes tidying things as they become disarrayed, but mostly just leaning against it, watching the others with a content look on his face.

He hopes everyone is having fun!]

[doublecrowss]

[ After playing the role of a good co-host and making small talk with the other guests, few as they are, Akechi takes up his usual seat by the counter, idly eyeing the empty mugs in the back. Figures Akira would do something like that... ]

You know, as much as it makes an excellent match for cake, I don't think I have ever been to a party where coffee was served as a main drink. [ It's all friendly teasing, of course, and his giggling probably gives it away. ] But, somehow I'm not surprised you would give it a try.

[theshowsover]

Sorry sir, that's all we serve here.

[His face is straight, despite his clear joke. Though he almost can't keep it up as he continues.]

Would you have preferred alcohol?

[doublecrowss]

Oh, I'm fairly positive both you and I should stay away from such substances.

[ Because the last (and only) time Akechi drank alcohol, they ended up sleeping together before they were dating, and while he can't say for sure what happened back during the camping trip, he figures Akira's touch starvation might come out if he's under the influence again.

Still, Akechi leans in closer with a smile that borders on a smirk and adds, like the piece of shit that he is: ]

Unless, of course, you wish to put on quite the show for our guests.

[ This isn't that kind of party, Akira! ]