[go shawty, it's your birthday]

[throwmoreswords]

WHO: Gilgamesh, Sampo, and you?
WHERE: WakaWake Zabuun waterpark
WHEN: last weekend of the month of May
WHAT: sometimes you're like two months late to your not-boyfriend's birthday celebration but it's fine, it's fine, you can throw a rager with the best of them.
WARNINGS: none come to mind

WE'LL PARTY LIKE IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY - the Waterpark and amenities

It really is a water-based paradise designed by and for a king.

Gilgamesh has always been about the maximums of pleasure, and that reflects through any version of him--like the ugliest mirror in the Ikea. He has an impeccable aesthetic when he's not dressing himself, at least. There are waterslides, a lazy river, multiple big pools with temperature regulated water, and food and entertainment (fire jugglers, people on stilts, a DJ who keeps oscillating between good music and whatever nonsense makes the ghost in Sampo's brain happiest, and at least one guy running the inner tube and beach paraphernalia booth) as far as the eye can see. Gilgamesh shut the park down to outside visitors, and if you sent him a message even in handwave land, he sent you as many passes you as requested--because it's what Sam wanted, so he didn't interrogate the text too deeply.

There's enough food to feed an exhausted LARP committee and then some, novelty drinks at varying levels of slushed and alcoholic depending on your age, there's music, entertainers, and plenty of politely baffled college-age park employees manning the rides and games as if it were a normal full day of work and not the easiest time and a half shift they've ever done for their eccentric weirdo of a boss.

Sampo got his cupcake table and a big, gaudy Russian Roulette of a cake--there's no set flavor, as if Gilgamesh said 'iunno' and had the bakery make everything they could in whatever combination they wanted because any chance to gamble is a good one.

ON THE SUBJECT OF KINGS - Gilgamesh himself

I. HOSTING DUTIES

[ on one hand Gilgamesh seems like the kind of rich person who'd throw money at something to get it done--and this is not a wrong assumption. he does do that. it's a whole thing.

on the other hand, if you want something done right and it means anything to you, do it yourself.

Gil's all over the place puttin' work in; that obnoxious gold phone is out and he is putting that whole 'magical ghost' thing to good work as he's at the games counter and then the barbecue booth in between one blink of the eye and then the next. if you've got a problem or just want to annoy him because he's in a giving mood, yo, he'll solve it. ]

Is there something you require?

II. LIKE A BIRD IN THE SEA

[ there's a very strong argument to be made about whether or not Gilgamesh can swim. he's probably owned a pool at multiple points of his life, though whether he'd ever lower himself to doing more than lounging with a drink in his hand is a dissertation for another day.

right now, he's Schroedinger's desert man in the lazy river, sunglasses on and a margarita in hand as he floats along to the distant thud of Sampo's music selections, legs crossed and looking for all the world like he's not just chillin' in a big white, red, and yellow tube with his golden swim trunks on. ]

III. THE GREAT GATSBY

[ what's one to do when they're misanthropic by nature but extroverted by nurture?

find a place to decompress, that's what.

at various points through the weekend Gilgamesh will retreat to one of the higher, quieter viewing areas so that he can watch the party go, phone on the railing and a drink in hand as he stares out over everything that's going on like he's a wistful, newly made millionaire staring at a mysterious light in the distance (and if some people pray hard enough, maybe he'll end up face down in a pool).

for right now, though, he's a favorite of the divine and he's just gonna watch everybody from his perch--a king alone, as the gods intended--and so he speaks without turning to look at first. ]

Party's the other way. Bathroom's downstairs on the right.

IV. A TOAST TO YOU (private to Sampo)

Have you had fun?

[ it's a private moment, during the wind down--the lights are half-off, the music is a distant specter, and Gilgamesh is in khaki shorts and an unbuttoned white shirt with two flutes of champagne in hand. he's hoping the low light makes him inscrutable, helps him hide--he's put on too much of a show of how much he cares with this little display as it is. any more pushing and who's to say how sensible he'll be if he's forced to be too honest about himself. ]

Comments

[illucesco]

[Of course Noctis is here! He already gave away his luckiest fishing lure to Sampo, which says a lot about how much he does not want the guy to disappear on him once more, but now he's brought...well, it's French fries from the Crow's Nest and a pair of nerdy-ass sunglasses that he dug up from his closet, kept safe and free from water in a plastic bag.

He will be diligently avoiding getting too close to the water, because he would prefer not to turn into a seal right now. However, his two Pokémon, Fluvius the Oshawott and Litus the Spheal, have no such compunctions whatsoever, so you might see them paddling furiously about on—is that a shield? Are they using a shield as a boat? Holy shit.

In the meantime, Noctis himself, once he's deposited his gift and his French fries somewhere, will stick around long enough to snag a few cupcakes from the cupcake table. Come up and talk to him and he'll pass over another one.]

...these are really good cupcakes. Gil really knows how to throw a party.

[anyprice]

You're telling me. I will say, though, that the cupcake table was my idea. Regular cake is boring. And you need to cut it and use plates...

Who needs all that. Just have a few dozen cupcakes. Makes way more sense, right?

[ sam that is insane person logic. ]

Glad ya stopped by though. I know ya have a complicated relationship with wwwwater, so I realised my choice in venue was really against you, huh.

Whoops!

[ whoops indeed, sam. ]

Yer little guys seem to be havin' fun tho'.

[illucesco]

[He raises an eyebrow at Sam, then casts a meaningful glance at the big, gaudy cake just sitting there. That thing looks like it costs more than Noct’s old job’s salary.]

Right. Boring. Yeah. [Munching absently on his cupcake while he watches Fluvius shoot a spout of water out of his mouth to propel the Hero’s Shield like a jet-ski.] Well, I’m not complaining about the cupcakes.

[They’re so sinfully good.]

It isn’t that complicated. I still fish. In some ways being a selkie made fishing easier. [In the distance, an excited spheeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaal echoes. The shield races across the water, propelled by a Water Gun, with a Spheal on the makeshift stern having the time of her goddamn life, her little flippers spread out as far as possible.]

I’m never getting that shield back from them.

[throwmoreswords]

Did you bring your own food to a catered event.

[ my guy there are probably french fries available at one of the food booths. they're even fresh and don't have a horrible crow on them. what the fuck.

Gil will take a cupcake with a wry expression, as well as a smug little look as he catches a compliment he likely wasn't meant to hear. ]

Of course I know how to throw a party. I know how to do a lot of things--I just choose not to. I'm excellent at everything I've ever chosen to do, all the same.

[illucesco]

The last time I was at a catered event, everything was vegan, and they didn't tell us until I got there. [And Sam has almost certainly bemoaned, back in the day, about this snotty kid's stubborn insistence on not eating a single vegetable. So that hasn't changed a bit.] I figured I'd get a fall-back just in case.

[He's very glad he doesn't need to, though now he supposes he'll just let Fluvius have at the fries. Once the Oshawott's done having a great time in the pool, anyway.]

Like stacking potato chips on somebody when they're asleep?

Open~

[prunedworlds]

[I. It's Party Time]

Ritsuka considered both Gil and Sam friends, so of course she was gonna show up to the party. The fact that it's at Gil's fancy private waterpark was just icing on the cake... And not to mention, the whole thing was a very welcome distraction and change of pace from the, well, everything that had happened this past month.

So when she arrived and whenever she happened to need hands for something, Ritsuka could be found wearing a cute two-piece and an enthusiastic grin for anyone she ran into.

"Have you tried all the waterslides yet??"

Just don't pay any mind to the fact that in addition to the various scars she sported before at the beach party last summer, there was now a new one, large and jagged across her chest. Or do mind and ask her about it, or catch her in an unguarded moment where she was looking oddly self-conscious for someone as extroverted as she...


[II. No Shedding in the Pool]

Most of the time, however, Ritsuka was sticking to her monster form. She was still recovering, after all, and it was simply easier to give in and not try to resist the changes.

Which meant that wherever you happened to be, there was a chance you'd spot a three-tailed kitsune with a pair of small (useless) glossy black wings hanging about. Perhaps paddling nonchalantly through a pool, relaxing on a kid-sized innertube on the lazy river, perhaps even chowing down on a piece of deliciously expensive birthday cake. Confront her, and she'd just give you a puzzled look, as if she saw nothing wrong with playing around in the waterpark as a fox.

Alternatively, catch her running around and excitedly taking the waterslides and scold her for not taking it easy!


[Closed to Gil]

Naturally, Ritsuka wanted a chance to catch up with the guy responsible for the whole party. Especially seeing as she hadn't had a proper chance to talk to him in a while, what with needing to hide away and recover after the attack.

So, when she spotted him observing things on his own from on high, she took the chance to approach, responding cheekily as ever to his dismissive remark.

"Sure, but you're up here."


[Wildcard]

You know how this goes!

[anyprice]

You know, for the whole thing about this being MY birthday, you'd think I'd have gone on the water slides by now. But look at me. So distracted with cake and beach volleyball that I hadn't even cut it a thought!

Not that I'm afraid of fast-moving water slides or anything. That's to-tally not it at all. Nope! No way. Not me.

Heheh.

How about you? You're still a bit achey from yer, uh. Whole ordeal. Aren'tcha worried about doing such a strenuous activity--Don't look at me like that. Come on, a guy's allowed to be worried about his pal, right!

Okay. Listen. We'll go together, and that way I can make sure ya don't hurt yourself.

Sound good?

[prunedworlds]

"I mean, I'm still a little tired, sure, but I'm not really hurt anymore..."

Not physically, at least, even if there was still that big, nasty scar on her chest as a reminder of the whole ordeal. Still, she could see what Sam was getting at, and if that was what it took to convince him to take a chance and have some fun, well, Ritsuka could play along a little.

"But I don't mind if you come along, I guess? I mean, I was gonna go anyway, so."

Closed

[throwmoreswords]

"And the party is down there, little Master of Chaldea. Why be away from the spectacle in search of me?"

There's no danger, despite the dismissal and the apparent lack of want for company--Gil has a way of making his tone glacially pointed if he's actually offended by the concept of company... but he's not. It's more of a simple bemusement--as if he's contemplating the irony of secreting himself away and still being found despite how often he's been told that he's odious and unpleasant.

It's like he can't beat the universe off with a stick, even when he tries.

[prunedworlds]

Fortunately(?), Ritsuka was used to Gil's quirks of tone and attitude. For one, despite his words, he hadn't actually told her to leave, which she was quite certain he'd do without any hesitation or talking around the topic if he'd truly wanted her to. He just wasn't the type to mince words, in her experience.

"Because we haven't had a chance to talk much in a while," she answered his question with a shrug. "And it looked like you weren't busy with anything else right now, so..."

A perfect time for a chat, as far as she was concerned.

i

[fionnuisce]

"Why, again, do I let you talk me into these things?"

Or so claimed Waver, with his normal look of faint annoyance. Sitting in a chair not terribly far from the pool with an alarmingly colorful cocktail, he folded a heavily scarred right leg over his left with a sigh--then paused and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"...Something bothering you?"

[prunedworlds]

"Because it's fun and Gil's paying for all of it?"

And she felt Sampo deserved a nice birthday party with a good turnout, too, of course. But her first answer was funnier.

That said, his second question gave her pause. She'd been trying hard not to think too much about it, but...

"Mm, not exactly? Just..." How to put it? "I'd rather not people stare, you know?"

The app users were mostly okay, but there still was all the staff running the event, after all.

OTA

[wiseoldbartender]

[If anyone were to ask him, Husk would say he doesn't even like Sampo. As is the case with most people he states he "doesn't like", this isn't strictly true. He does find Sampo an obnoxious irritation who seems to have been sent by destiny to make Husk's existence that little bit more miserable. But he found Angel Dust that way too- and as much as it would be like pulling teeth to get it out of him, Angel Dust had been Husk's best friend in his old afterlife. The obnoxious irritation keeps him on his toes. It grows on him. Every fucking time.

So here he is, at Sampo's party because the obnoxious little fuck has grown on him. He doesn't have a present - the Order aren't paying him any more so Sampo will have to live with Husk's wonderful presence as the real gift. He pointedly isn't getting into the water- it's a bitch to dry off fur and feathers anyway and getting that wet would only make the mermaid tail manifest and he doesn't want to deal with that today. So he can be found lounging in a sunny spot on a deck chair, eyes closed and a drink of the alcoholic variety held in one hand.

If you look close enough, you might notice a yellowish tinge to the white parts of his fur. He's got most of the "manufacturing error" out and is blissfully unaware he is attending the party of the very person who made his fur that way in the first place. Should you decide to wander over to bother him, one feline eye will crack open to regard you. ]

The fuck do you want?

[As always, Husk is the life and soul of any party. ]

[prunedworlds]

Ristuka didn't immediately recognize the guy, but when had that ever stopped her from approaching someone? She figured pretty much everyone here must be a friend of Gil's and/or of Sam's (probably the latter, if she were being honest, really) anyway, and that alone was reason enough for her to stop by and say hi. That said, when he beat her to the punch with that grouchy remark, rather than be offended her eyes widened in recognition.

"Oh! You're that one guy I talked to, right?"

You know, when she was still barely even awake after a certain zealot's attack, but decided to out his weakness to the network anyway.

[wiseoldbartender]

Husk's ability to be the antithesis of a bright, cheery conversationalist will always outdo him every time. His ear flicks for a moment before he recognises the voice and opens both eyes, moving to sit up.

"Yeah. That's me. You're the one that warned us about Douman," and that was something that saved their asses- or at the very least made sure the fucker never have a chance to get a foothold in the world again. "Thanks for that. That was a lifesaver."

It's rare he shows gratitude, but she earned that much. He gives her the once over.

"You all healed up after what that fuckstick did to you?"

[anyprice]

[ It's odd. Honestly, he would have thought by now that Husk hated him. He was a constant target for him both on the app and off of it, for his pranks and his shenanigans. Sure, most of it was simply 'paying the price' that the ghost in his brain has set on him--but part of it was him being petty towards the Order.

So.
Honestly.

Color Sampo Koski surprised when he sees the frame of one Husker enjoying some of the honestly good alcoholic drinks gil had on offer for the party.

...Part of him simply slots in the logic that he'd come for free drinks. That had to be it, right? Simplest answer. Why wouldn't he come to drink on King Gilgamesh's dime? The guy had more money than sense, so it MADE sense to come partake of it when offered.

Sampo does approach though, half because he. Honestly has to see if his eyes are fooling him--is it just him or is there a yellowish tinge on Husk's fur? ...Certainly, he'd washed it out by now, but. That at least proves to him that his little notebook worked.

But also he approaches because he has to find out. Did he really just come for free food and drinks? ]

I didn't know the cute kittycat liked beach parties! Here I thought you'd HATE the idea of getting all that fur and feather wet! Well, color me surprised!

Hehe.

Hey there pal. Havin' a good time?

[wiseoldbartender]

[The free booze is a pretty powerful siren call, and it's likely what will keep Husk here longer than he probably would have wanted. A guy needs his booze after all- or rather, this specific guy needs his booze and that's not so easy to grab currently.

It's roughly when Sampo shows up and opens his annoying bitch mouth that Husk regrets showing up here. Just a little bit. His ears pin back, his tail flicking in mild annoyance. Jesus fuck why is he doing this to himself?]

I'm not getting fuckin' wet. That's why I'm here. Away from the water, Dipshit.

[He takes a sip of his drink.]

'Bout as much of one as I can. Happy belated birthday. I didn't get you a present on account of the fact I ain't been paid so call that an IOU for when the Order start paying us again. Or they kill us, I guess. In which case, sorry you probably won't be getting a fuckin' present on account of me being dead.

[Which is to say he probably won't get one either way, but that's just life. Probably even less likely if he finds out Sampo is the reason his fuck was fucking yellow. ]

[throwmoreswords]

Lots of things. Wealth. Power. Women. Wine. Rare and interesting pieces of treasure. The concept of e-mail to be obliterated on a molecular level.

[ Husk isn't alone in the 'chilling with a drink in one hand while wearing yellow club', giving how golden Gilgamesh's swimshorts are. at least he's still wearing a shirt for the moment. ]

At the moment I'm doing good host things and making sure no one's died or is in need of anything.

[ ... and maybe he's looking for a quiet place to be away from the crowds and didn't spot the cat having a nap on the beach chair but y'know. details. ]

[wiseoldbartender]

[Husk tilts his head to one side, considering that.]

...Extensive list. I can't help with any of that shit, that's outside of my remit. Lemmie know how the email thing goes for you.

[Husk has got a good spot away from people. He's skilled at finding them. Like a bloodhound for points of solitude. He raises his glass in a mock salute.]

I ain't dead currently but that's always up for debate. Don't need anything while you've got the booze flowing, though.

closed to gil

[anyprice]

[ He's got a towel on over his shoulders, a pair of knee-length beach shorts that are a horrible disco-mix of dark blue and burgundy settle on his hips.

In his hand he's got SOME sort of fruity drink and he slowly looks over at Gil when he's asked that question, and he considers it.

The bells and whistles in his brain are quiet. Which means that Aha is having enough fun to consider this a good amount of that { 'price' } to be paid.

He smiles, long and wide. ]

Y'know, it's enough to make up for 15 years without a single party. For real. It's been a blast.

When ya said you'd 'go all out', I wasn't expecting this. Entertainers and employees on standby for a bunch of our buddies? You're crazy. [ he's... playful in his delivery but.

He's gonna bump a shoulder against Gil. ]

How 'bout you, big guy.
You threw all of this together, you should be havin' fun, too. Even if you don't got a price to pay.

[throwmoreswords]

[ Well here he is, two flutes of champagne in hand and Sampo already well occupied with something noxiously bright and likely tropical flavored. Gil gives a wry little smile and a shrug--it's not the first time he's double-fisted at a party and won't be the last, one surmises. ]

Good. I'm glad it suffices. [ Sampo bumps in against him and teases, and Gil just gives a smirk of his own in turn, eyes lidded as his logic is questioned. ] It makes perfect sense to me. You can't run the rides and games without proper staff, and if I was already going to be feeding people, why not pay the people I've already trained? Why take money out of the pockets of the vassals I've already trained in favor of some other pile of workers?

[ see? perfect sense. he bumps back, leaning on the railing as he sips from one of his glases. ]

I'm having plenty of fun. [ ... even if his flat expression and general aloof air don't really make that seem like the truth. ] ... I don't like people, Sam. I never have, in this life or the previous. After you've done some sort of grand gesture or display of extravagance like this, people feel compelled to praise you or compliment you if you spend too long in their midst, and I get angry when I'm around such displays of obligation for overlong.

I'm perfectly content watching and seeing people's genuine pleasure.

[anyprice]

[ if gil gets too close he WILL try to make a grab for one of those flutes, you know. He can also doublefist stuff, and there's a warm feeling in his brain about the whole Being Offered A Drink thing, too. ]

Hey, I'm just saying, for a private function, most other people would hire maybe 1, 2 people and leave the rest to just run around and do several jobs. The fact that you're letting your full staff work while entertaining 1/8th of the people who are here on a regular day?

You really are a good boss. Damn. Consider me impressed, that's all I'm saying.

[ he gives a small wobbles when he's bumped, giving a thoughtful hum at the back of his throat. ]

You're not much different from when we were in college, huh. You don't want the accolades for the things you do, just the results of putting in the effort. The results in this case being seeing the people invited enjoying themselves.

[ he gestures down towards the pool where Noctis is throwing around a beachball for his Oshawott to play with it, the spheal knocking the kid into the water to try to chase the ball as Husk cracks up on the shoreline... ]

I didn't come here to overbear you with compliments or anything like that. So don't worry too much. My head's finally ... quiet right now, so I wanted to enjoy your company while it was silent.

[beyondtheend]

[Frieren's friendship with Sampo may have started as a morbid curiosity about her local campus cryptid, but she's grown to earnestly enjoy his presence. He reminds her of the corrupt priests in her past life. Endearingly.]

[She shows up in a swimsuit and with a gift--don't ask what it is, it's weird. The swimsuit is the end of what she did to prepare, though. Frieren has never been to a waterpark in this life or her last, and so she spends the first half hour walking around somewhat lost.]

[Eventually, she finds her way into the lazy river, where she manages to stay for a solid three hours (she fell asleep) and then makes her way over to the refreshment table.]

[Anyone who sees Frieren there will notice she has a mountain of food on her plate, but as soon as you look away, it's gone. And then it's replaced with another mountain of food. Surely she can't be eating all that?]

This is a nice party.

[Is that all you have to say????]

[prunedworlds]

Ritsuka wasn't one to judge how much someone might be eating, especially given her own appetite lately thanks to recovering from her injuries.

She also wasn't caring much much about appearances right now, either, seeing as she was currently in the form of a rather wet three-tailed kitsune, with a pair of (useless) small glossy black wings. Because sometimes you've just had a rough month and couldn't be bothered with the effect you might have on the poor normie staff as they do mental gymnastics to justify what they can't possibly be seeing.

"I know, right? Gil really knows how to go all-out."

OTA

[dancedwithplenty]

Dancing with Myself

[It's probably a faux pas to crash a bday party of someone you barely know. But Dani has terrible impulse control when it comes to a party. And technically, anyone on the app could request an invitation?]

[Soooo she is here, ready to have a good time!]

[Rocking a little black swimsuit (and occasional cover up), Danielle will be vibing wherever. Anywhere that the music can be heard, she can be seen doing an impromptu boogie from time to time. A little swaying back and forth, shimmy shimmy, a hand flourish here and there... This seems to happen seamlessly with whatever else she might have been doing, from walking up the waterslide steps to sipping on her drink.]

[The dancing stops, however, when one of the more... nonsensical songs starts up. Dani gives a baffled look to whoever might be nearest.]

Uh, what happened to the DJ?

Happy Birthday (to You?)

[Of course, Danielle also brought a present, why wouldn't she?? Putting in the effort is a small price to pay for a good ol' time. She'll be scoping out whoever looks to be the person of the hour, a slightly more difficult task when you've never seen them in the real.]

A'yo! Are you Sam by chance?

[Maybe she got lucky, or maybe you had too many people paying attention to you a moment ago.]