Time to live it up in here!

[hiken_ace]

Who: Anyone!
What: Marco's surprise birthday party.
When: October 6th, in the afternoon.
Where: Community Housing 3, Room 40
Summary: It's Marco's birthday. Ace planned a party. Need I say more?
Rating: Uh, PG? Since there will be pirates here, I'm hoping not to go above PG-13. PLAY NICE, KIDS.
[Ace wasn't going to go overboard on the decorating. In fact, he had to leave a lot of it up to everyone else since his injuries prevent quite a bit of movement. But soon enough, there were a decent amount of streamers up, and a nice big banner that says "HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARCO". He had to work extra hard to get the cake to look just right. The cake is surrounded by the presents, and there's a few separate tables for food and drinks. Fruit punch for everyone, and some alcohol for the adults and pirates.

Come on, people, this is a party. Let's live it up a little! And don't forget to embarrass congratulate the birthday pirate. Feel free to leave your own comment below, just for mingling, or just doing something silly, or giving Marco your present! Have at!]

Comments

[breezing]

[ Since she was invited by Ace (...along with everyone else) Ikki dutifully shows up, because turning down invitations to events of any sort is the exact opposite of her style. Ikki is even dressed up in a sundress with a white cardigan over it to keep warm. Katara did her hair up with little pink flower hair ties to match the dress.

She's brought along two gifts! A drawing for Marco and a tin of chocolate chip cookies made ENTIRELY BY HER which means with a lot of help from one or more obliging teenagers at House 56. She'll present both of them to Marco whenever she catches sight of him, but only if she sees him in bird form, since she...hasn't seen him the other way. 8|a

Also in tow is Soren the bird Pokemon, who will stick to the little girl like glue as she goes around to socialize and check out the treats being offered. Ikki can be found talking to her new pal and/or sharing the food she manages to get her hands on, and will pretty much go say hello to anyone she recognizes at all, as per usual. ]

[fierybluebird]

[Oh his gosh, Ikki, so adorable! At first Marco spots her as a human, half of him wondering how the heck her parental figure/guardians let her go to a pirate party (seriously, that is a disaster waiting to happen. Don't they know Marco and Ace are pyromaniacs who've set fire to their curtains at least twice now? And Shanks lives more in the bar than the apartment!) but then he remembers: a good portion of Luceti only knows him as a phoenix.]

[Oh, the dual-nature inhumanity! Having two identities, separated into two worlds, star-crossed like Romeo and Juliet, doomed should they ever mix!! Each side at war with the other!]






[Nah, not really, he loves being a phoenix. And a pirate. He's just going to make sure that alcohol is out of reach though. And Ace is banned from giving her drinks. Not that he would necessarily, but Ace did get his ten and seven year old brothers drunk with him. Granted he was ten himself at the time, but seriously pirates and alcohol, it's a thing.]

[He sneaks up behind her slightly -- no easy feat with the Swellow as her guardian, but he's usually quite good with birds, what with being one himself and all, and puts a pink origami flower lei around her neck. And then before she can turn around to see who it was; switches lightning quick into his phoenix form. Hey Swellow bro, have a fiery/sparkly nod. Sup?]

Ikki! I'm glad you came!! [Surprised, but glad! And he will be all kinds of extra giddy when he sees those presents. Seriously you guys are the best and he loves you all ;;] And you brought a friend! [Now where did he put his birdseed? Hopefully he didn't eat it all. He's got tons of sunflower seeds (always and forever and ever) but he's not sure what Swellow eats. You know what, have some whistles inquiring as to whether you'd like some sunflower seeds man. They're really good!]

[breezing]

[ Psh, Marco. Admittedly about half of Ikki's request for the party was "and Ace says there's someone my age!!!" but otherwise she clearly outlined who she was going to be spending time with, man. The Pokemon in tow probably eased worries, and they know a fair amount of the attendees - at least, the presumable Straw Hat ones and Law.

Also she's way more interested in some apple juice. With a bendy straw. The only child at the party can attempt to get into the alcohol; Ikki's sneakiness will be reserved for maybe snagging an extra piece of cake. She has a plan - no okay that's a lie.

Swellow definitely notices Marco ages before Ikki does, but he doesn't alert his trainer, because wow he kind of likes the cut of this man's gib. Why becomes pretty clear when he changes into a bird. Sup indeed, birdbro. Nod back.

Ikki gasps and whirls, her hands going to her neck, and when she recognizes what it is she grins - which only gets wider when she recognizes Marco. ]

Marco!! Yep, Ace invited me! [ and she nods again, gesturing to Soren with her free hand. ] This is Soren! He's my partner. Soren, this is Marco - he's one of the Whitebeard pirates from the piratefruit world! [ Meanwhile Soren is going to answer Marco in his own language, seriously impressed by this human-bird-man. He'd totally like some of those sunflower seeds, Marco!

Ikki remembers her presents after watching this byplay with amused curiosity, not being fluent in bird. ] Oh! I brought you these! [ She hesitates for a second with the paper. ...Will he set it on fire like this? 8|a ]

Sorry for late! Got sick! Doing awesome now B) Bright side I finally had time to watch Korra lol

[fierybluebird]

Nice to meet you Soren. [Phoenix bows, repeats that greeting in bird for Soren's sake, and offers a bag of birdseed to the swellow, after digging it (very discreetly!) out of one of the lower cabinets. Enjoy birdie-bro-dude!]

[And no worries Ikki, Marco remembers what it's like to be a kid. If just because the Malnosso messed with him just a month ago, so he quickly swipes her a possibly extra slice of the awesome pirate flag cake Ace got for the party and offers a plate which he can swap with the presents.]

[And almost as though reading her mind (seriously just ask Sabo how often he does this trick; though it's just the advantage of having been big brother to 1600 nakama so he's good at guessing) he explains to her when she hesitates:] No worries, the flames don't burn like that, see? Gestures to the plate and the paper bag of sunflower seed he gave Soren.] Did you draw that? [ALL THE HAPPY ABOUT THIS. OH HIS GOSH. YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW. LIKE TINGLY WITH JOY. Or sparkly rather. Because damn he sparkles a lot.]

GLAD YOU'RE BETTER!!! how'd you like Korra? :D

[breezing]

[ Man, this guy knows how to treat his guests. Soren is all for being birdie-bro-dudes, and Ikki's going to get a few approving glances. Good choice in parties, child-partner! ]

[ Marco, you read her mind. Ikki brightens up at the sight of the cake, and eagerly swaps it, particularly after seeing the evidence that the picture won't burn up. ] Yeah!!! I drew it for you all by myself! My family helped me make the cookies, though. But only a little bit!!!!

[ She loves the sparkles, so much. ]

THANKS :D :D :D Loving it so far! \o/ I'm not all caught up yet (started with all 3 seasons of ATLA)

[fierybluebird]

Wow, really? Thank you very much Ikki!

[Beams and sparkles more. Yes, love his sparkles... someone has to and Ace finds them more annoying than cat hair.] I'll make sure to hang this in my room and thank Sokka or whoever for the cookies too, eh.

all 3 seasons of ATLA is a good place to start tho

[breezing]

You're welcome, Marco!!

[ Ace is clearly just jealous, man. Ikki wishes she could sparkle. ] I'm not allowed to work the oven by myself, so that's how they helped!

XD Yeah it was fun \o/ And people were right about LoK having a more Lupin feel

[fierybluebird]

That sounds perfectly reasonable. Fire and heat can be really dangerous to work around. It takes practice. And even then, you should see how often Ace and I get out of control. [Worst firemen ever.]

Here, want to share a cookie with me? [Breaks one in half and offers her pick of the pieces to Ikki.]

it's pretty different from the first series!

[breezing]

All our house rules make sense! I mean, Katara and grandpa always give reasons for the things I haveta do and the things they havta do, so there's nothing that doesn't make sense, y'know? I'm not allowed to work the oven alone 'cause I'm not old enough and it's dangerous.

[ Wow, did you even have to ask? Ikki beams and accepts half of the cookie. Marco, you're spoiling her. ] Thanks!!!!

It's still awesome though B)

[fierybluebird]

[Nods along with her explanation. Look at her go. Best little kid.]

But someday you'll be bigger and then you'll learn how to use the oven more, eh?

I LOVED IT.

[breezing]

Yeah!! For now, I just help out with what I can help with when we make dinner!

Katara does most of our cooking. [ ...that one experiment where she didn't cook was the WORST. ]

I WOULD ASSUME XDDDD I can't wait to catch up XD

[fierybluebird]

Is she good at it?

Ace and I usually trade off whose turn it is. [You might wonder how a bird can do that... but whatever, he's not explaining.]

[breezing]

Oh, definitely! Katara's the best cook. [ Ikki does pause there for a second. ] Well, my mommy can cook well, too! But anyway, Katara knows a lot of recipes. Because half of my family eats meat and half doesn't, you know?

I can make simple things!! [ ...She actually just pictures him with an apron in the kitchen. As a bird.

It is a pretty amazing picture. ]

you don't mind a VIvi thread right

[alabastajewel]

[After greeting the birthday boy, Vivi makes a beeline for Ikki, pleased to see her here.] Ikki! You look so nice!

And who's this? [Vivi begins to put out a hand in Soren's direction, moving slowly so as not to startle him.]

man do i ever (BY WHICH I MEAN NO)

[breezing]

Vivi!! You look really really pretty, too! [ She's always thrilled to see Vivi, and to be honest, she was sort of hoping she'd see her at the pirate birthday party. All pirates go to all pirate events, right? ]

Oh! [ Soren doesn't startle, taking Ikki's thrilled greeting as a cue - he's pretty curious about new people, anyway - and allowing Vivi closer. Ikki, meanwhile, brightens, happy to get to the introductions. ] This is Soren! He's a Pokemon - a Swellow, that's a kind of Pokemon! A Flying kind, according to Sifu Masaomi - and he's...well, we're partners now!

[ It's still strange to think about, but she doesn't mind talking about it. She's not ever going to be able to take Chien's place, but she can make her own. ] He used to live with our friend Chien, but Chien went home, and so...well.

[alabastajewel]

[Jeez Ikki, THAT'S RACIST--no, wait.]

Thank you! [Vivi's a bit dressier than her usual jeans and t-shirt in a casual long-sleeved dress, her hair down instead of in its customary ponytail.]

[Vivi strokes some of the feathers along Soren's neck, pleased to see that met with encouragement as the bird tilts his head to give her better access.] A Pokemon. [Something she's heard mentioned a lot since she's come to Luceti, but she still a bit unclear on what that actually means. She leans a little closer to the bird, speaking in a soft voice.] What fine feathers you have.

[Then she turns back to Ikki.] It's lucky that he has you now to take such good care of him. [She smiles.] He reminds me a little of someone I know back home.

[breezing]

[ Be honest, Vivi, when do you not attend a pirate party. BE HONEST. ]

[ Soren definitely likes the attention. Heck yes he is an amazing bird with the finest of feathers, how nice of you to notice, Vivi! He likes this girl, Ikki, they should totally keep her around. ]

Carue? [ Ikki's heard Vivi talk about the duck before, but she's not sure if that's who she is referring to or not. ]

[alabastajewel]

[Shhh. It could happen.]

[Vivi smiles, but shakes her head.] No, this is someone else. Pell, one of the royal guards. He's a falcon zoan. [Not that Soren looks exactly like a falcon, but there are enough similarities to put Vivi in mind of Pell.]

[And pausing to cant her head slightly, because she can't remember if Ikki would know or not.] Do you know what a zoan is?

[breezing]

It's the fruit that makes you able to turn into something else, right?

[ She's had the run-down from both Vivi and Smoker now, and Ikki's feeling more confident in what the different fruits are. ]

[alabastajewel]

[Vivi nods.] Well, an animal, specifically. But that's the jist of it, yes.

[breezing]

Right! Marco's the only person here who had that type of fruit, though, right?

[alabastajewel]

[Vivi nods.]

He is now, I think. But did you meet Tony-kun before he went home? He's a reindeer who ate a Human-Human Fruit, and he's my crew's doctor.

[breezing]

No, I never met him. [ The name doesn't sound familiar, either, actually. ] How many people from your crew aren't here?

[alabastajewel]

That's a shame. I know you would've liked him. [No one can resist the cute that is Chopper.]

Well, besides Tony-kun, there's Usopp-san--he's the crew's sharpshooter. You'd really like him too, I think. He's a wonderful storyteller, among other things. [Maybe her smile turns just a touch wistful here, because she really misses Usopp a lot herself. Chopper had only gone home fairly recently, but she hasn't seen Usopp for over a year now.] He was here, but he went home a while ago.

And the last is Franky-san--he was here once too. He's a shipwright and carpenter, and he expanded the house we stay in now. It used to be a lot smaller. [And had a distinct lack of lawn-roof. Seriously, every house needs a lawn on the roof!]

[breezing]

[ Probably for the best; she would have wanted to hug him. Always.

Ikki listens to the list quietly, filing those names away for future reference. There's always people missing, in Luceti, and it's a wistful sort of thing. She's pretty certain Vivi is right, and that she would have liked the people who weren't here - she'd liked every pirate she'd met so far, and there didn't seem to be any reason to break that trend. ]

Maybe I'll get to meet them all sometime in the future!