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

[oftheyin]

[Ran Fan showed up wearing this dress, just with added tights, because she doesn't really like showing off her legs. And, she has a little gift in her hands. Nothing big, but it was Marco's birthday, so she wanted to bring something. In the end, she was only able to make him some tea. It wasn't a pricey gift, but it was homemade.

But, she's not really used to being a guest at the party, so she stands at the door awkwardly, wondering what she's supposed to do.]

[fierybluebird]

[Fortunately Marco likes handmade things or random little thoughtful gifts best. That and he's genuinely more thrilled just to see everyone. So he throws an origami flower lei over her head.]

Mazel Tov!

[Don't ask why, he's just being random. And he's clearly super happy that she's there.] Thanks for coming Ran Fan!

[oftheyin]

[That was surprising. She looked down at the lei a bit confused. What was this thing anyway? Not that she was going to question it. Might be a tradition in his world. Along with the weird words.

Before a greeting though, she quickly bows, holding out the gift.]

Happy birthday, Marco. I hope you enjoy this gift.

[fierybluebird]

[Bows back. He's not used to being this polite, or formal, but man it's fun!]

Thank you very much, eh? [Opens it up and gets even more delighted.] YAY TEA! Excellent! Remind me if you want to share a cup later. [A happy hum as he goes to set it somewhere safe!] I forget, have you been up here to hang out with Ace before? [To their apartment he means.]

[oftheyin]

Oh no! It's for you. I hope you enjoy it.

Actually, this is my first time here. Usually when I see Ace, we're usually out an about.

[fierybluebird]

I will! But tea tastes best when shared with friends, eh.

Oh? Want a tour around? I can show you where Ace keeps all manner of embarrassing things. [Not really. Ace is less ridiculous than Marco and as such the most Marco could do is show his room. But hey it's to a girl. Maybe Ace would find that embarrassing enough.]

[oftheyin]

Well, if you say it that way. Then I would love to have a cup of tea with you.

[And that just embarrasses her.] I don't want to embarrass Ace! [But a tour sounds nice.]

[fierybluebird]

[Bows his head slightly.] I'm honored.

[And just like that he has to stifle a small laugh.] Okay okay, nothing embarrassing, eh? [Aww you kids are all so cute he can't take it. But yes, he'll give her a quick tour. Seriously quick because even if they did squeeze 3, and then 4 people into living there, it's basically meant for two. Anyways, tour get!]

[oftheyin]

[She's not cute! She's a skilled assassin that should be FEARED!

...

Okay, she's cute.

And while on the tour~] If you don't mind me asking, how old are you, Marco?

[fierybluebird]

Let's see... Back home this would be the year 1524 for me so....

Eight million six hundred forty two thousand and seven hundred and sixteen.

Give or take a few millenium.

[... Yeah no, you'll never get a straight answer on this. Deadpan forever? Yes. Truthful... probably not.]

[oftheyin]

[NO! Don't do this to her. She'll believe you.]

Are you really? [Immortals exist in her world, so she can beleive it.]

[fierybluebird]

[Sorry Ran Fan!]

[And Marco gives a shrug.] You lose track after the first few hundred... thousand.

[oftheyin]

Wow! How are you able to live for so long? Do you have a philosopher's stone?

[You're an awful friend, Marco. So awful.]

[alabastajewel]

[After greeting the birthday boy, Vivi spots Ran Fan and comes over to say hello. It's been a while since she's talked with her, after all.]

Ran Fan-san! It's good to see you again! [She smiles warmly.]

[oftheyin]

Vivi! [Have a bright smile.] You know Marco as well?

[alabastajewel]

Oh yes. [She nods.]

We're from the same place--I didn't know him back home, but he and Ace-san are on the same crew, and Ace-san is my captain's brother. [While in the past she may have hesitated to call Luffy her captain, in her time here it's been made abundantly clear that she's still considered a part of the Strawhat crew, and even a pirate in her own right.]

How do you know Marco-san?

[oftheyin]

I had no idea! [But it's REALLY cool!]

But Marco helped me when I first got Knox. She came with an experiment, and I didn't want to leave her, so he showed me how to take care of her and build a place for her to live.

[alabastajewel]

Ah, of course. [Makes sense that Marco would also be pretty knowledgeable about birds, after all.]

And how has Knox been doing? I assume she recovered from her illness all right?

[oftheyin]

Oh yes. [Big smiles.] She's doing very well, and has a bigger place to stay now that we're living in a house.

[alabastajewel]

Oh, I didn't realize you'd moved! Where are you living now? [And belatedly noting that 'we'...]

Did you have a roommate before? [Ran Fan had been at the apartment alone--well, except for Knox--the last time Vivi had been there, so she'd just assumed the girl lived on her own.]

[oftheyin]

We're in house 32.

[A nod.] I live with the prince I protect and another from our world, a princess from a rival clan.

[alabastajewel]

[House 32. Okay, she'll just try and file that away for future reference.]

Oh! You're a royal guard, Ran Fan-san? [She sounds pretty excited about this, and as Ran Fan continues, Vivi wonders. A prince and a princess from rival clans? That sounds familiar; specifically, it puts her in mind of what Ling has told her of the political system in Xing. Still, she doesn't want to assume. Luceti has a pretty high percentage of royalty for the population, after all.]

Another prince and princess? [She laughs lightly.] There certainly are a lot of us here.

[oftheyin]

I was. Ling felt it was best to relieve me of my duty while here. He felt that we should be friends here.

[STARINGGGGGG.] You're a princess as well?

[alabastajewel]

[Aha!] Oh, so it is Ling-san you meant! I wasn't sure--that would mean the princess you mentioned is his sister then, wouldn't it?

[And here she notices Ran Fan's stare.] Ah, yes, I am! My father is the king of Alabasta back home.

[oftheyin]

You know Ling then? And half, yes.

[Have a smile.] I had no idea. Did you not wish to be called Princess here?