Even Death won't stop the party

[knockingatthedoor]

WHO: OTA - Mingle
WHAT: Kel is throwing a small party. A 'memories' party.
WHERE: Generic Shelter #1231412.
WHEN: Shortly after learning what their tool is going to be.
WARNINGS None for now, possibly dark topics may be tagged in the comments.

"Welcome to this pretty-average-to-mediocre party! I'm glad you could make it!"

He sent the text out earlier, inviting everyone in their group to... celebrate. And share memories. And 'live a little'. The entire text had been a lot of rambling about him trying his best and how important it was to celeberate who they were and who they currently are, trying to learn about each other despite the circumstances. Fow now? He's just welcoming people to the shelter he used for himself- he built makeshift tents with sticks and whatever he could find and prepared games.

"Any occasion to mingle is precious, isn't it? Come on, let's spend time together! Oh, and make yourself comfortable as you can!"

There are pillows, a few chairs, and Kel did his best to offer sources of shades all over the place. Bright, pink party cups have been generously filled with <i>water</i> and the few games he could think of have been prepared. He moves around explaining them, even if they're really basic- perhaps, if he's super lucky, someone coming from a very different world never heard of them.

It is worth mentioning everyone who shows up will get a flower between their hair, either given to them by Mari or Kel, and one to 'leave somewhere nice on the oasis'.


Piñata Time! - There isn't a LOT sitting around, but he did manage to put together a couple of colorful Piñata with pages he stripped from comics, water and a lot of patience as he kept folding things so they could barely stay together in some round shapes. Inside those? More paper strips to pretend it's confetty, the lack of candies or better items doesn't really make them stand out but they're there and he found a stick for people to use. Hopefully they'll not fall down before being used.

Spin the bottle! - Finding an empty bottle of a drink he used to love? Depressing. The possible uses he could find for it, though? Eh... better than nothing. Kel will explain both 'normal' (and gross, according to him) and 'Kel style' rules for Spin the Bottle. In one kisses are involved, in the other he suggests a small group to gather, to have someone ask a question, spin the bottle and whoever it's pointed at? They'll have to answer, as long as they feel like doing it.

'To get to know each other better'.

'Pen and paper' - Sticks have been found, Sand has been flattened as well as possible and everything is ready to go. Kel can and will explain the rules for games like Tic Tac Toe, the Hanged man, the 'you draw something and the other person has to guess' game. Overall, if it can be done with some pen and paper, he'll try to help with it-

As a social person who spent a crapton of time with friends playing stupid games? Kel will even know more obscure games like Nim or Lasso.

'Music Corner' - A part a bit distant from the rest, still with pillows and all, where Kel put water cups and tried to isolate as he could with a few horrible looking anime blankets he found around. It's a space where people are invited to share about their culture in more than a one-on-one settings and since music is so deep into people's lives, at least in his opinion? He did his best to carve a spot where people could share that too.

'Flower crowns laboratory' After tossing flowers all around the oasis, Kel and Mari did agree on working together on another little step. Circles of paper have been prepared already, even if they're far from perfect, and a lot of flowers have been placed on a blanket on the floor.

Anyone who may want to try doing so will get assisted in building a little flower crown, with Kel and Mari giving them even more flowers to put around the oasis. 'Gotta make home look a bit nicer, right?'

There are areas where to relax and chat too, sadly this is far from what Kel would consider a party but he does hope that people at least sit in the memories sharing area and talk to each other.

Comments

Flower Crowns

[urtitan]

[Seeing Sunny's frustration, Frieda approaches him. She was relieved when he was found after his stint out in the desert, but seeing how it was her conversation with him at the therapy meeting that set him off, she left him alone after his return to the oasis, not wanting to set him off again right away. As such, she immediately gives him a way out from interacting with her again now.]

Sunny, is it alright if I help you? Or would you rather figure it out on your own?

Frieda <3 I’m so happy she picked this one :D

[solitarynote]

[Sunny looks up, somewhat startled to hear Frieda’s voice… and then promptly pats the seat next to him. Even if he does fidget a little more with the stems in his hand, a sign of his nerves.

But… it wasn’t Frieda’s fault… he had been the one to run off and worry everyone. It wasn’t her fault… and yet he couldn’t get the words unstuck from his throat.

Instead, his voice was small and shy.] H-hi… help… please…

♡♡♡

[urtitan]

[Being invited to sit with him without hesitation is a relief to her - he doesn't hold it against her, then. She takes a seat by his side, gives him an encouraging smile, picks up two flowers, and shows him how to tie their stems together.]

It takes a steady hand and some patience, but if you pick flowers with long enough stems, it's not too hard. I've made many such garlands for my little sisters.

[She demonstrates the next steps, quickly progressing her work into a short line of flowers.]

How about we work in parallel? Once we have enough, we can tie our lines together into one garland.

[solitarynote]

[Patience… something Sunny was awful at. He didn’t just have an overactive imagination to thank for that. Back home, when they would sit down to watch cartoons together on Saturday mornings, Sunny found that his mind would wander and then he had missed half an episode.

Still… Frieda had a point, and if they each did half, maybe it would take less time? He nods.]

Let’s… try…

[Collaboration in this regard is new, but if it’s with Frieda, then he slowly relaxes. Even as his knots take longer to make, the shaking of his hands subsides.]

[urtitan]

[Observing what flowers Sunny chooses, Frieda matches colours and types, and while her string of blossoms is about thrice as long as his by the time she stops, he's made progress too!]

I think we have enough now. Let's join them together.

[She ties the first pair of end stems together, then leaves it to Sunny to complete the circle. Even if he struggles, she patiently waits. He can do it!]

[solitarynote]

[It’s an array of white lilies and brightly colored blooms, shoots a vibrant green. The little progress that Sunny makes compared to Frieda has him inwardly frustrated again but… she doesn’t seem to mind.

In fact, she’s encouraging. It’s why he likes being around her. (Even if he did mess up at the therapy meeting.)

The teen nods, struggling with his end of the circle. On his first attempt, he pulls too hard, snapping the stem nearly clean off.]

A-ah… [The small, disappointed noise he makes is accompanied by a pout. He ruined it… except he knew he had to keep going. Frieda was putting so much faith in him to help finish this crown… he didn’t want to give up.

So Sunny discarded the broken flower, taking more time and gentleness with the second attempt. When he knots it successfully, his eye lights up in delight.]

Did… it…!

[Almost proudly, he holds out his end of the circle to her.]

[urtitan]

You did!

[She beams and claps her hands (not too loudly - he'd probably get all self-conscious if she attracted everyone's attention to them), then gently picks the garland up and places it on Sunny's head.]

You look so nice, Sunny! I wish we had a mirror here... the water outside will have to do!

[Unless someone did find a mirror - or has a modern smartphone! She hasn't yet figured out that those let people take photographs (she doesn't even know what those are).]

[solitarynote]

[Frieda’s excitement makes his own all the more obvious - Sunny hops up from where they sat, practically on the tips of his toes.

Her comment about a mirror has him almost seeing it - that mirror that followed them everywhere in Headspace, You look and see your friends behind you. Another blink and it’s gone, but she does have a point about the water!

Sunny doesn’t think: he grabs her hand, tugging lightly to lead her outside. It’s quieter here, which he prefers anyway, and doesn’t seem so scary even though he’s outside. The pond is nearby, and the teen silently relishes in his and Frieda’s reflection.

Such a pretty flower crown. They did it together…

He blinks, taking the crown up and holding it towards her. An offering… the tips of his ears flushed even as embarrassment runs through him.] S-sorry…

[urtitan]

[She follows along without hesitation, raising a hand to shield her eyes from the bright sun outside (in solidarity with Sunny, she left her hat inside). In the still water, his reflection shows well enough that it satisfies her - he can see how colourful and festive he looks! -, and when he offers the garland to her, her bright smile turns a little wistful.]

You want me to have it? Why are you apologising?

[She takes it, but doesn't put it on yet, first wanting to understand his reasoning. Does he think it doesn't suit him? Or does he think he doesn't deserve it?]

[solitarynote]

[She was kind as always, but that made it harder for Sunny to word his thoughts.

She… didn’t hold it against him? Or would she, when he actually reminded her?

He had to take a steadying breath, and his eye trailed to a random spot of sand instead of looking directly at her. His hands drop to his sides, at least grateful that she had taken the garland.]

Sorry… for… running off… [Makoto had told him that it wad important to apologizes even when Sunny couldn’t control his reactions. Maybe even especially then, so the teen was trying to make up for that.]

[urtitan]

[Oh... so that's what's troubling him. Frieda had already resigned herself to not finding out what unsettled him so badly back then, but perhaps, there's still a chance.]

It's alright. Luckily, the others found you - that's all that matters.

...

Do you want to tell me what I said that upset you so much?

[Her voice is gentle, signaling that he has the opportunity to decline her request.]

[solitarynote]

[Sunny wasn’t sure. Was that all that mattered? Was everyone really not angry at him?

If he didn’t believe in himself though, he at least believed Frieda. She had always been so nice to him.

Sunny knew she was giving him a way out but… would it be better if he gave her a hint? What if she unknowingly brought it up again, and he caused even more trouble…?

His voice came out barely a whisper.] …music… don’t like… anymore…

[urtitan]

[She gently reaches out to rub his back.]

I won't bring it up again, then. Thank you for telling me.

[She can't help but wonder what happened. Recalling how strict the siblings' father had been with Mari, focusing only on her lost prospects after her injury, did something similar cause the rage she witnessed raining down on Sunny during the Crossing? Was the target of his father's axe an instrument he could no longer play?

Given that Sunny blessedly forgot about that harrowing incident, she can't ask him about it, but whether she's wrong or right, knowing what distressed him so will help her keep him safe from a recurrence.]

[solitarynote]

[That gentle touch, as well as her reassurance, has what was left of his anxiety fading. He nods, gaze softening.]

T-thank you…

[His whisper is grateful, too. That she wouldn’t pry. Most people would - he was sure his sister would want to know why he didn’t like music anymore, if he had let out that particular peep around her. But Frieda was willing to accept his answer as it was, not pushing, and that was…

It was nice.

He mimed for her to bend down, taking the flower crown and putting it on her head with a mildly happy expression.]

[urtitan]

[She accepts his kind gesture, then looks at herself in the water and smiles softly. Despite her position back home, she never wore a crown - that was the task of the imposter king. Unlike the crown's silver, these flowers will wilt, temporary as her life has been... they suit her better, she thinks.]

Thank you, Sunny. Should we go back and make one for you too? Or for Mari, or Kel, or someone else?

wanting to wrap with yours? This was so sweet <3

[solitarynote]

[Sunny would agree, even without the extra commentary, that flowers suited Frieda very nicely.

Even if his feelings on flowers were complicated…

He thinks for a moment, then nods shyly.]

Practice… more… [Maybe he would be able to get good enough that he didn’t struggle as much? Either way, Frieda was patient, and he liked the quiet moments where he could sit next to her. So long as he wasn’t alone… that was alright with him.]

🎀

[urtitan]

[She takes his hand and leads him back to the shelter, holding on to her garland for a moment as a breeze travels through the oasis and scatters a few of its petals. Wearing this reminder of a happier past genuinely makes her feel a little more at peace with herself. She'll help Sunny make as many more as he wants - after all, it's a quiet party, and they're not pressed for time.]