(no subject)

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Who: Invitation only, PM for details
What: Raye and Rakka's mutual birthday party, or "Jasmine sure does have a thing about throwing surprise parties for friends, huh?
Where: Shepherd's Haven, the rec building
When: Early to late evening, October 3rd

If Raye wasn't going to take her birthday seriously, Jasmine was going to make sure of it herself. What's more, Rakka's was soon as well, so it was decided to put it all together. Jasmine already had experience throwing parties, after all. I mean, she'd done the same for Winter, right?

A single experience is still experience, shut up.

In any case, though she'd been in Locke for the past several weeks, she'd returned to Shepherd's Haven for the sake of throwing this little get together. She'd gotten Marina to help her, Lily, Winter, Rakka (who was okay with not being surprised, as they needed SOMEONE to set things up with Raye)... anyone she could get a hold of to set things up in the rec building. It wasn't a really ostentatious affair, of course... there was music, there was food, there was cake, there were presents... all you needed for a birthday, really.

(There was also alcohol, but the advice to drink responsibly).

Now all they needed was the birthday girl.

[ooc - If you want your character to be here, PM Jasmine's account. She's the one handling invitations.]

Comments

[feastorfamine]

Amy smiles as she sees Lazarus at the party, but she quickly notices something is amiss. So, she heads over to him, trying to appear friendly.

"Hey," she said, greeting her former employer. "It's good to see you here, Lazarus."

And... not eating any of the cake that's there. But she can save that for a moment.

[numberedshepherd]

Amy never seems to have much trouble appearing friendly; it's a major reason that Lazarus' prickly exterior relaxes when she's around, because he's conditioned very well to respond to her with reciprocal friendliness.

"I wouldn't miss it," he says, taking a small sip of his drink. "I can't be everywhere at once, but birthdays only happen once a year, so in their case I do make an effort to try extra hard. I hope you're having a good time?"

[feastorfamine]

Amy nodded, feeling a bit better that he seemed to relax in her presence. "That's good. I've actually been to a lot of benefits and parties in the last few months. It's good to come to something smaller."

She laughed softly. "So ah... have you tried the cake yet?" she asked, rather pointedly.

[numberedshepherd]

"Have you? That makes one of us," he says. "I should really make more of an effort to get out, but..."

He trails off. Some things are more effort for some people, and brightly-lit, crowded social events didn't agree with him even back in his chess-playing days. Parties like this are about the extent of non-professional group interaction he feels like he can comfortably tolerate.

"The cake..." he scratches the back of his head distractedly. "I'm sorry, I haven't. Did you make it?"

[feastorfamine]

"Well, you've got to do things at your own pace, Lazarus," she admitted. Then, hearing what he said, she smiled.

"I made one of them. I'm just surprised, really. You usually don't turn down or ignore sweets, is all."

[numberedshepherd]

The gentle answer frustrates rather than reassures him; he thinks that his pace should be faster and harder-hitting and better than those of others in his situation, instead of this shuffling, sad awkwardness that happens when he's around this many people at once.

"I suppose I'm just anxious about everything that's happening lately. It's hard to leave that kind of thing at the door," he admits. "I should have found a way to, though. It's a birthday party, not a business discussion. I should get a slice."

Pointedly, he turns to go toward the table with the desserts.

[feastorfamine]

"... Well, if you want it," she said, following him.

As they walked, Amy felt almost as if she'd done the opposite of make things better. And... after a few seconds, she sighed, realizing something in Lazarus she'd realized in herself as well. Before he could reach the table, she stopped for a moment.

"You're anxious because... you feel like you should be doing more, don't you? Like you should be out there, dealing with all the problems facing us. Being challenged."

She looked to the side. "I feel the same way, you know. That's part of why I decided to start being active on the Network again."

[numberedshepherd]

He stiffens slightly at her words. Usually, he's the one who makes uncomfortably true observations about his conversation partners, and not the other way around. He doesn't always deal with it well when he's on the receiving end of it; in a way, it represents a loss of control that paralyzes and petrifies him.

"Shepherd's Haven is a good cause," he says slowly. "I like the quiet life we live. I like waking up in the early morning and hearing nothing but the ocean. But you aren't wrong... I miss the challenges, which is stupid, because the ones I'm facing are overwhelming me."

[feastorfamine]

"... I can't say I know how you feel," Amy admitted. "I can't, really. Without knowing the situation you're in. I can only say I've felt something I think is similar."

She sighed. "But... you don't have to see it as a matter of either or, Lazarus. In fact, some of the challenges facing us... they're necessary to face because they'll protect what you've built here."

[numberedshepherd]

"I think you understand better than you know," Lazarus says with a subdued half-smile. "You recognized the condition in the first place, and if I had to bet on it, I'd say that what you felt is similar, even if the circumstances seemed different."

He tries to leave that open-ended, just in case she wants to tell him more about it. He'd gladly listen if she does.

"I'm not complaining about the challenges. Just my own strength," he confesses. "I'm spread thin these days, and people are noticing it. I hope that the gifts I brought to this party are at least all right, but... part of me just knows that I should have asked Misa for help."

[feastorfamine]

"Maybe I do understand, but I don't want to presume."

There's not much else Amy has to say about her own experience, unfortunately. Besides, she's focused on helping her friend.

"I'm sure they'll be fine, but... look, asking for help doesn't mean you're admitting you don't have it in you to do it yourself. People can be resources and friends... you just have to make sure you value them in both areas."

[numberedshepherd]

"I value everyone," he says quietly. "I'm grateful for everyone we have and gain, and I miss a hell of a lot of people we've lost. But some problems are only mine. It's not fair to put them on others, whether or not I appreciate them and show it often."

He doesn't feel right talking about this at a birthday party. He forces a smile.

"Whether it bombs or not, I did pick out the gifts for the guests of honor myself. That's got to be some kind of point of pride."

[feastorfamine]

"... That's true," she said. "But... those people value you just as much. And one of those people wants to be useful to her friend."

Amy forces one as well. "It is, I think. I'm actually pretty terrible at picking out gifts myself. That's why I made a cake..."

[numberedshepherd]

"Your advice is very useful, and truthfully, I'm touched," Lazarus says. His sincerity has always had a way of coming through in his voice and mannerisms, and until an echo strips him of this quality, that will likely always be the case.

He glances over the desserts. "Which one's yours? I want to try it."

[feastorfamine]

In any case, Amy doesn't really doubt it. She smiles, and simply replies with, "Thanks. I'm glad I could be of some help."

At his question, her smile grows wider. "It's this one," she said, motioning to a white frosted chocolate one with strawberries. "Here, let me cut it for you."

Which Amy immediately did, expertly and cleanly taking a decent-sized piece and putting it on a paper plate for Lazarus.

[numberedshepherd]

"Always," Lazarus answers unhesitatingly. "And thank you."

He tilts his head and watches, nibbling his fingertip as she cuts him a generous slice of cake and presents it on a paper plate. "If it's anywhere near as good as it looks, I'm going back for seconds, for sure," he warns, then takes a bite.

"...make that thirds."

good place to wrap?

[feastorfamine]

Amy chuckled. "Well, let's see about that once everyone else gets a piece," she said. And... you're welcome. Any time, really."

Yep! Let's wrap it! o7

[numberedshepherd]

"I wouldn't want to be selfish," he agrees, now that he's made it clear how much he enjoys Amy's baking. "I might take you up on that, since... well. I really should let others help me more."