semi-open; birthday at the beach!

[gekkajuu]

Who: a soosh (gekkajuu) & friends & random passers-by maybe?? if your character knows atsushi, feel free to assume they were invited
What: birthday times at the beach! mingle at will; indicate in subject lines if threads are closed
When: this most fifth of days
Where: Flona
Warning(s): none expected! please warn in subject lines where it may apply

After the kidnapping and the dreadful frights that followed, it's been a long climb back up to a better state of mind, but Atsushi has managed it in the end. It still feels strange to celebrate his birthday, but it would feel stranger not to do it, so he's invited a handful of his closest friends - and maybe some other people he knows less well, if circumstances have prompted it - for a day at the beach. There have been several official occasions and big parties lately, and they have been fun, but Atsushi is in the mood for something quieter now. Besides... a huge celebration just for himself wouldn't feel right.

In the morning, most of the invitees gather at the train station to go to Flona together - though of course it's possible to join the party later, too. While Atsushi has tried to politely fend off any inquiries about what he wants for a gift (with one or two notable exceptions), he's requested that everyone bring something to eat or drink, for a nice picnic together on the beach - and of course he's bringing some things himself, as well. The weather is great, the company is better, and all pets are welcome. Food can be eaten, games can be played, and Atsushi feels his heart swell in his chest, thinking how lucky he is to have such friends and such a wonderful life. How could this be anything but a great time?

Comments

mikleo - closed to atsushi

[circulets]

[ Mikleo doesn't know Atsushi well - that much is for certain - however, he's more than aware of how important human birthdays are. As a seraphim - they live long enough to where they don't celebrate getting older - but, for humans - it's different. That's part of why he hadn't said no to coming to this party. Another reason was that any friend of Sorey's was a friend of his, as well. He did like Atsushi from the conversation they had over the network.

When he arrives, it's a little before the time that Atsushi had told him that the party was going to start. He hands him his present, offering a soft smile. ]

Happy birthday Atsushi.

[gekkajuu]

Thank you! You really needn't have gotten me anything.

[He'll say this to literally everybody, and mean it every time. That said, it doesn't make him any less pleased to get gifts, no matter how big or small!]

I'm just happy you could come!

[... But he did get that present, so he's going to open it now. It's so exciting, it's hard to believe that he went most of his life without gifts of any kind!]

[circulets]

It's tradition to give presents to the person having a birthday, isn't it? Besides, it was my pleasure.

[ Thre's a mystery novel under the wrapping paper. It's just a guess, but... To Milkeo, you can't really go wrong with books. ]

It's also a pleasure to meet you face-to-face.

[gekkajuu]

The pleasure is all mine~! Sorey is such a nice person that meeting any friend of his is a joy by definition.

[It's not just because it's Sorey, of course, but... well, having friends is special already, and meeting friends of friends is just so good. Atsushi has never found anything else that makes him feel so much like there is a place for him in the world.

... It's a book!]

Thank you so much! I love reading!

[circulets]

Do you? It looks like I made the right choice. I'm glad.

[ After everything that's gone on between Sorey and Mikleo recently, there's a pause on his end before he smiles onec more. ]

It's the same for myself. ... It's good that Sorey's been able to find more human companions.

[gekkajuu]

You can never go wrong with a book!

Then, are you not human? Or is it his other friends that are something else?

[It's not a question that Atsushi would have been able to ask so casually until recently, but he's gotten used to all sorts of people who are... well, people, but not human. He would have gotten used to it sooner, but the fact that some people designated him as "not human" just because of his ability made him struggle with the concept for a while.]

[circulets]

That's true. Even when it's fiction, there's something that you can learn from a book.

[ Mikleo nods his head, expression becoming more neutral. ]

No. Here, it's just me. Back at home, there were people who wouldn't be able to hear or see me. We've had different names over time, but these days - people call us seraphim.

[gekkajuu]

Exactly! Whether it's an interesting thought or two, or just seeing things from a different perspective.

[Book nerds of the worlds, unite! To be fair, Atsushi hasn't been reading as much as he should - life has been busy! - but that's all the more reason to appreciate a gift like this, isn't it?]

Seraphim... Aren't those angels?

[circulets]

That's true. Whether it's a world that you're familiar with, or a new one entirely - there's always some kind of philosophical narrative in novels.

[ No wonder he and Sorey are friends... They likely bonded over books. ]

In most religions, yes. But, we're not angels. Seraphim is just what humans have decided to call us these days.

[gekkajuu]

Where there are people, there is philosophy, isn't there?

[Ethics, if nothing else, and sociology... Not that Atsushi has studied anything like those on a scientific level, but it's impossible not to think about such things when reading a story.]

I was about to say: I don't see your wings.

[Hehe.... It's... a joke... probably. Who can tell, when Atsushi is never confident enough to deliver jokes properly?]

[circulets]

Well, I've never been a fan of cliches.

[ It's fine, Mikleo's humor is a little dry. ]

I'm a little surprised that Sorey didn't mention it to you. ... Though, today isn't about me, either. [ If anything, he should be learning more about Atsushi. ]

[gekkajuu]

For all that I've talked to Sorey a lot, the important things never seem to come up.

[They're both friendly and chatty, but... maybe a little too quickly carried away by the next shiny topic?]

I sort of forgot to tell him I'm a weretiger, too.

[That was awkward.]

[circulets]

A weretiger?

[ Mikleo looks on curiously, eyes a bit wide. Is that what he thinks he's implying...? ]

[gekkajuu]

Yes! I can transform into a white tiger.

For the most part, anyway.

[circulets]

This is the first time I've heard of an ability like that one. ... But, I believe you, too. [ He wonders if he needs the full moon to transform... ]

I'm glad to hear that you have means to yourself here.

[gekkajuu]

Yes, it's certainly come in handy. And without it I could never have joined the Royal Guard, either, so. One could even say it's provided me with a job!

[One taken up very late, all things considered, but he had his reasons for not jumping right on that.

Regardless, having his ability change from a liability to a job opportunity was a stunning metamorphosis. Of course it had been much the same for him joining the Armed Detective Agency all that time ago, but since he couldn't even control his ability then, it was hard to count it as an asset.]

[circulets]

[ "Protect" was supposed to be in that last tag... ]

You're a part of the Royal Guard? I see. I had no idea.

[ He's a bit surprised - but, he does seem cut out for it. ]

[gekkajuu]

[It's all good, I read typo as fluently as I type it. <3 ]

Yes... I wasn't sure I was suited for it at first, but the Empress seemed to think I was.

At that point, it was hard to argue.

[Bless Simwe and her kindness. Atsushi would serve her until the end of the world.]

[circulets]

I see. It does sound as though she's a good judge of character.

[ Atsushi seems like someone who has good intentions. Though, Sorey likely knows him far better than he does, he's sure. They sound as though they're good friends. ]

[gekkajuu]

You both give me too much credit... but thank you. It's because of people like you that I've come so far in this world.

[Who would have thought that, once he got away from Yokohama and its conflicts, he'd do this well on his own with just some mental support?]

[circulets]

All I did was tell you the truth, I'm sure that it was mostly your own abilities that've helped you come so far.

[gekkajuu]

No way!

[He waves his hands in front of himself. Sure, it's flattering to have that kind of thing said about himself - but it's also a lot of pressure.

He does wonder sometimes, how this change of planet may have affected him without him realizing it. He made some progress back in Yokohama, sure, but literally getting away from his past... shouldn't have had this much of an effect, but it seems to have done so anyway. He still can't decide whether that makes him strong to have managed, or pathetic for having been held back so much before.]

A-Anyway... let's go to the beach and have fun.

[circulets]

Sure. Do you mind leading the way?

[ He asks softly, a small smile playing on his features. ]