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

[earlier on]

[fierybluebird]

Vivi! Thanks for coming, eh?

[Beams and is obviously surprised by the present.] Ah! You shouldn't have! [Bows his head, clearly pleased nonetheless.] Thank you very much though. What's inside? Or should I just open it?

[alabastajewel]

[She giggles, holding a hand up to her mouth.] Open it, of course!

[When he does, he'll find a nice leather-bound edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There. Vivi watches hopefully for his reaction.] I wasn't sure what kind of book you might like best, and I read this last winter and enjoyed it a lot...

[fierybluebird]

[He does, quite happily, tear into it and upon seeing the three books, he just beams even brighter, the last of his curiosity washing off his face.]

New books! Great! [Genuinely laughs with pleasure.] This is perfect Vivi, [And he's really serious about that, because yeah, he's been dying for fresh books, mostly people just ask him what to read so finding new things gets tough.] I was just saying I needed something new to read and I didn't know where to start. Thank you so much! If you liked it, I'm sure I will.

What was your favorite aspect of it? I take it they're a trilogy? They go in this order, right?

[alabastajewel]

[Her smile grows, glad that he seems to genuinely appreciate the gift.]

It's really two books in one volume; Wonderland comes first, and then Through the Looking Glass--they're in the right order there, so you can just read from beginning to end. They're about a girl name Alice who travels to a strange land filled with a lot of eccentric characters and all sorts of nonsense...

[As she begins to describe them, she begins to wonder if perhaps he might find this all too frivolous or kiddish, and looks slightly unsure.] ...ah, well, I hope you enjoy them.

[fierybluebird]

[And I am fabulously fail at reading and somehow failed to get that it was all bound into one book. Apologies for that!!]

Sounds like fun! Like the New World, eh? [He's excited already. You had him at "strange" and "eccentric" and no one anywhere was surprised.]

[alabastajewel]

[She smiles again, relieved he seem to genuinely like the gift.]

I'll have to take your word for it. I haven't been to the New World yet, myself.

[fierybluebird]

Maybe someday, eh?

So who's your favorite character in it, or should I not ask until I've read them?

[alabastajewel]

[She nods.] Someday. I've already been to Mariejois quite a few times; I suppose it's just a few more steps from there. [Metaphorically, at least. Still, she assumes she'll get the chance to cross over the Red Line one day, if only for a short visit.]

Favorite character... Hm. [She reaches out to lightly trace the embossed lettering on the cover of the book Marco holds in his hands.] That's not an easy question to answer. ...in a lot of ways, most everyone in this is more of...mm, I suppose an archetype than an actual character? Really, the books themselves seem to be rather allegorical. [And some of that allegory of course goes right over Vivi's head, considering the difference in their worlds of origin, but she'd still been able to pick up on a good deal of the more universal points, particularly those political in nature.]

[She laughs lightly.] They're a bit hard to describe, but you must let me know what you think.

[fierybluebird]

Allegory, is it? I'm fairly fond of those. [Moby Dick and all.]

[And Marco gives a broad grin.] Will do Vivi. I can't wait to discuss it after reading it. Or even just read it at this point. [A small chuckle.]

[alabastajewel]

[That makes her smile. She'd really been unsure about what kind of book Marco might like, but it seems these were a good choice.] I'll look forward to it!

So how old are you now, Marco-san? [She's not sure she'll get a straight answer, based on some things Ace said, but it can't hurt to ask and if nothing else, she can try and spring it on him again later after he's imbibed in some good old-fashioned birthday drink.]

[fierybluebird]

[Without even missing a beat, he just replies in deadpan.] Twenty-five.

[This is more of a lie than all his claims to be over a thousand.] But don't tell the others, I want them to always respect me as the oldest.

[Seriously, he will never give a straight answer. And it's been different to every person who asked.]

[alabastajewel]

Is that so? [Nope, not buying it for a second.]

I would've guessed a bit closer to... [leaning forward slightly, not getting into his personal space, but taking a careful appraising look.] ...forty?

[fierybluebird]

Wow. [Has the good grace of mind to look mildly put out by this.] That old? I must be losing my touch. [Rubs his scruffy chin.] Blame it on Luceti, maybe my youthening sparkles are losing their edge.

[alabastajewel]

...then you're younger than that? [Oops, Vivi thought that was a safe guess. Cue some light blushing, hoping she didn't offend him too much.]

I'm sorry! I didn't mean-- [Just...hastily bowing deeply in apology.]

[fierybluebird]

[Oh... she's so genuine in her apology he actually almost feels guilty for teasing her a little and just waves a hand.] No no, I'm not really twenty-five.

Mah, it's good to know I can't pull that off as an age though... if disappointing. Forty though? Ouch... I guess I better stop teasing my brothers for looking over fifty now. Poor Fossa.

[Please note Vivi; this still was not an answer on age.]

[alabastajewel]

[That much was obvious, Marco. And, okay, judging by his appearance, she'd thought forty was a good guess, but maybe just a little younger then? He is a pirate, so perhaps hard living had just caught up to him. Still, he can't possibly be younger than thirty-five. Even that seems to be pushing it.]

[She glances up, looking a bit sheepish.] So you're younger than forty? [Just to confirm.] What is it really, then?

[fierybluebird]

No, no. It's more like several thousand. I stopped counting ages ago. But the sparkles keep me young.

[Sparkles for her. Just literally. Sparkles like glitter. Wee. Sparkles.]

Or at least they used to. [So he says anyway.]

[alabastajewel]

[...Jeez Marco, she was asking for real. What do you think, she's some kind of kid? Perhaps because she feels she's being condescended to, a somewhat petulant pout slides its way onto her face, and she sighs, waving a dismissive hand.] Fine. [Be that way!]

[fierybluebird]

[Aw... that's so cute.]

Miss Vivi, [It's a note that he's still be affectionate, both in his grin, and the way he doesn't call her Princess, since he gets the impression she likes to be thought of more as a pirate than royalty.] When a man reaches a certain age, he doesn't like to tell that specific number.

[Particularly if he likes to hit on younger woman. I mean no, that's terrible. Pops totally hit on nurses at 72... wait.] Allow me this small selfishness and I promise that I will always keep your age a secret too. And you never know when the day might come that you may in fact find that to be the most useful offer.

[alabastajewel]

...do you even know how old I am?

[fierybluebird]

[Smirks quietly.]

Do you want to test me?

[alabastajewel]

[Vivi gives a small shrug; her age is nothing she is sensitive about, and why should she be?] Well, now I'm curious. How old am I, Marco-san?

[fierybluebird]

[Laughs.]

I'm not falling for that trap. If you're young enough not to mind and old enough to still appreciate it, then enjoy it.

[alabastajewel]

Falling for what? [She looks a little confused, the picture of innocence.]

I'm eighteen now. [This volunteered perhaps partially in the hopes he'll tell her seriously, but also just because it seems polite in the context of their conversation.]

[fierybluebird]

Oh good. I would have guessed nineteen so at least I'm not too far off.

[He's still never going to guess a lady's age unless she volunteers it. Even if she is seven.]