kaisou | ota; beach bonfire

Entry tags:

ota; beach bonfire

WHO: Luca Paguro, Alberto Scorfano, and ???
WHERE: Stardew Beach
WHEN: Evening of Sunday, 20 November
WHAT: Luca's 14th birthday party! Mingle at a bonfire on the beach. They brought... lasagna...
WARNINGS: none! mention of sand fleas?

[ Come Sunday evening, as advertised, Luca's party is all set up on the shores of Stardew Beach. There's a roaring bonfire for folks to gather round, built by Alberto and Luffy under Katsuki’s careful instruction. They've piled some wood into makeshift benches around the fire for people to sit and chat and eat. On a nearby picnic table, the boys have laid out a small spread of food. But being their first "human" birthday party (and Alberto's first real party period), they didn't exactly hit the bullseye with what to serve at a beach bonfire...

They brought pasta. They carefully shlepped a huge pot of trenette al pesto and a large tray of lasagna, plus all their other party supplies, on the bus, on the train, all the way to the beach. Diligence. They don't know about hotdogs. While unorthodox, it's genuinely tasty food, though — and Alberto hasn't accidentally poisoned anyone in at least a month or two...! So also safe to eat, bonus! In addition to the pasta, they have a bowl of leftover Halloween candy, a cooler full of bottled water and an impressive array of energy drinks, and off to the side, a small stack of frying pans, a collection of myriad spices, and a bunch of kitchen knives...? For filleting and frying fish, naturally. Alberto's also brought fishing poles, so now anyone can cook up whatever they catch. Like any normal human child's birthday party.

One normal human thing they managed, though: a birthday cake. That is, if you have a forgiving definition of what a "birthday cake" is... The icing did not fair well being stacked on top of the hot lasagna on the way to the beach. Plus this is Alberto's first attempt at cake decorating or baking anything in general, thankfully once again under Katsuki’s watchful guidance... It— probably tastes fine. Let's assume it does. Just don’t look at it.

They've got two telescopes set up for any fellow star-gazers, one courtesy of Danny, and Luca brought along a couple constellation guidebooks on how to read the stars. For the less bookish types, Alberto's brought along a light-up soccer ball and a light-up Frisbee, accounting for the darkness. They've brought a few cheap swim goggles for anyone trustworthy who'd like to sneak off for a swim with a sea monster. But for those who stay on land, Alberto's also brought three fishing poles, a couple hand nets, along with tackle and bait — but not worms or something normal, of course not. No, he has an old paint can he's filled halfway with live sand fleas... Took a while to catch them all by hand himself, but it's fine; they've found more than enough sand fleas for everyone. Anyone prone to poking their nose into random containers will probably regret this one, sorry. Bleck...

All in all, it promises to be a fun birthday party — but definitely a birthday party like no other... You only turn fourteen in a human city in another country in an alternate dimension in the future once, right? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hah!

[ That one he does get, and it gets a real chuckle out of him, an obviously more genuine laugh than before. ]

I like that one. I’m remembering that, ha. Danny told me another earlier, um— “Why are oceans the friendliest bodies of water? Cuz they always greet you with a wave…!”

[ He gives Luca a little wave of his own to illustrate. He’s thoroughly pleased with himself for grabbing this joke book on a whim on their way out the door. Great decision. It’s good relief for the sorrow he’s secretly feeling; laughing and joking around makes it not only easier to hide his pain, but also eases his pain itself. The best medicine, as they say. ]

Hah! That's a good one!

[Okay, that one he gets!]

Maybe I should come up with one on my own...

[He tries to think of one.]

Why did no one like the clam? ...because it was shellfish.

[ That gets an even brighter smile and fuller laugh out of Alberto, tickled by Luca coming up with his own pun now. That's the kind of challenge they like giving themselves. He's flitted around the party, sometimes with Luca and friends together, sometimes separately to give Luca his space (and maybe take some of his own), but now that they're together just the two of them for the first time since the party'd started, it's a breath of fresh air, almost like a break. Luca's best at putting a smile on Alberto's face, after all, and no matter how he's hiding how he's secretly feeling inside off and on tonight, this moment is purely genuine enjoyment. Exactly the kind of laidback fun he'd hoped for tonight. He takes a stab at making up a pun of his own, and going off Luca's, he's smitten that one comes to mind pretty quickly. ]

Hah! Nice~! Okay, okay, my turn. Um~ Ooh, I know: What do clams do on their birthdays? ...They shell-ebrate!

Oh, I like that one!

[Sure, that one might use the same 'clam/shell' idea as his own, but Luca doesn't care. They're having fun and that's all that matters. He looks up.]

What kind of fish lives in the sky?

[This time Luca doesn't give the answer. He wants to see if Alberto will guess what he's thinking.]

[ Alberto's eyes drift skyward, like he'll find the answer up there, and comes up with a few possible punny answers, in fact. Star-fish, sun-fish... But after a beat, he glances back to Luca with a smitten, knowing smirk, a certain glint in his eyes as he comes up with an even funnier answer... at least to them. ]

...Anchovies~

[ That's about as close to a self-deprecating joke as Alberto may ever get; but it's a nice nod to how much they've learned since Alberto first steered Luca wrong. It doesn't happen quite so often anymore, so it can be their own little inside joke just how much progress they've made since anchovies last slept in the sky. ]

[Luca smiles. Sure, he'd been thinking starfish, but that answer is so much better.]

Yeah, you got it.

[ Alberto grins at Luca a moment, before his gaze drifts thoughtfully to the fire, letting a fond silence sit on that note. They really have come so far from that first night together on the island. It's pretty astounding, thinking on it now, on the beach together again, but this time surrounded by more friends than Alberto'd ever even hoped for, all people they trust with their secret. It's a nice moment to dwell on this, how Luca's birthday party at all tonight is amazing in itself. Let alone, y'know, the whole alternate-universe-time-traveling-spirited-away thing... That's also a cool surprise, ahem.

Alberto throws Luca a glance and a smirk, before leaning in to nudge him playfully with his shoulder. ]

...Sooo, this the best birthday you've ever had, or what?

[ He knows his was the best birthday he's ever had, last month, but of course the bar is much lower for Alberto... which is partially why he made sure they'd go all out for Luca's birthday, even more so. Not that he wouldn't anyway. ]

Of course it's the best birthday I've ever had! I get to spend it with you! And everything is perfect with all these people that are okay with us just how we are and the pasta and everything!

[Sure, he's had other birthdays that were fun, but this stands out as the most special one of all the ones he's had so far.]

[ Alberto was not expecting Luca's first reason why this is the best birthday ever to be "I get to spend it with you." He's not sure why, but it catches him by surprise, and he can't swallow a wide, warm, sheepish smile. He's happy Luca's happy, either way, and of course it's funner together, but... that remark tickles him more deeply than he'd expect somehow. A rather stirring bit of comfort. ]

Hah, yeah! Y'know— it's cool we have so many friends who know now. There's a lot of people we trust, huh? It's great.

[ He gestures vaguely to their friends scattered over the beach, all at their different activities while the boys take this moment to themselves. ]

And the lasagne turned out perfect, heh~

[ ...but can't just let a sentimental comment sit, of course. It also tickled him Luca listed these things as on the same level. Good friends, good pasta, can't beat it... ]

Yeah, it really is.

[Sure, after Massimo convinced everyone they were okay they had people back home who knew, but Luca only had a short time of that before rushing off to go to school where once again, most people didn't know, though the stakes were still high. It's nice to be somewhere where so many people can know without any issues, and to know that they were all okay with everything right from the start. And, of course, it's important to not forget how amazing the pasta is.]

It really did! You're a really good cook now, Alberto!

[ It's not an uncommon compliment, but it especially flatters him tonight for some reason and his smiles widens again, that same smitten feeling, letting his gaze linger a second as it sets in. Life's not perfect here, but... it's good. And they're together. That's the most important part. Being with Luca definitely keeps Alberto's head— well, maybe "above water" is not the right expression, for them. But certainly the same sentiment.

After a beat, seemingly out of nowhere, he sets aside whatever's left on his plate, abandoning it on the ground beside the fire as he rises to his feet suddenly. With a jaunty nod of his chin, he gestures off toward where the telescopes are set up, grinning at Luca with both his hands on his hips. ]

C'mon. You wanna show me some star stuff?

[Luca's heart flutters with excitement when Alberto asks him to show him some star stuff.]

Sure! Come on!

[Luca grabs Alberto's hand, racing over to the telescopes.]

You look through that one, I'll look through this one, and I'll help you find something cool!

[ Alberto's own heart flutters with excitement, too, when Luca grabs his hand. It draws Alberto's eyes down to their linked hands in surprise, as a more tender smile spreads across his face. It's good to see Luca so excited, and he's glad to be tugged along, laughing a little as they run. When they reach the telescopes, Alberto does as he's told, grin stuck on his face still. He leans into the telescope right away, just to see what he can see already, instinctively grasping it with both hands (as one would a spyglass) and simply scanning the horizon with it for funsies. ]

Okay, so where're we pointing this thing? What're we looking for?

[ He swivels it upwards with some exaggeration, this way and that, scanning in multiple directions playfully. But even kidding around, he's excited for Luca to get to show him some real star stuff. And the view of the sky on the Stardew beach sure beats the view from their kitchen balcony! ]

Here, let me show you!

[He pushes his way in between Alberto and the telescope, heart racing when he realizes how close they are, looking through it and adjusting it until he finds Jupiter. He pulls back, still holding onto the telescope.]

Look through it now!

[ Alberto readily lets himself be pushed out of the way, having no idea what he's doing with the telescope anyway. But he's happy to have Luca show him. And, like Luca, feels his heart racing as he hovers beside him, waiting for Luca to adjust the view, feeling how close they are strangely distinctly in this moment. For two people who've shared the same bed for half a year now, it's not all that out of the ordinary to be so close. But it was just days ago they spent a considerable amount of time hugging and cuddling and holding hands most the night — sad as the occasion was, losing Bruno. Still – that was a bit new for them. Nice — but new. Alberto stays close to Luca (maybe even a little unnecessarily so) as Luca adjusts the telescope to find Jupiter, briefly casting his gaze toward Luca rather than the lens before he leans in. He takes the device in both hands, much like a spyglass again, but then lets Luca guide him on this one. Alberto's always keen to be supportive of Luca's love for astronomy, but the fact remains that Alberto's the only one here who's fallen asleep halfway through nearly every episode of Cosmos... and technically that's the most studying he's ever done on the subject. So, maybe a birthday present in itself, Alberto's following Luca's lead for once. ]

Heh... Okay... What am I looking at?

"It's Jupiter! It's a whole other planet that's far, far away!"

[ Alberto’s vaguely familiar with some astronomy concepts by now, like the idea of a planet itself. He doesn’t remember all their names, or sizes, or colors, or location, but he’s picked up a few things here and there just by hearing Luca chat offhandedly, and what little he gleans watching Cosmos on VHS before falling asleep to it… He’s eager to let Luca teach him more deliberately tonight, one, because it’s Luca’s birthday and they’re having fun, he’s gonna do whatever Luca wants to do! But two, it’s a nice way to occupy his mind and keep it from wandering… He leans in and looks through the telescope as Luca’d adjusted it, searching for a planet, like he’d seen pictures of… But they all just look like stars, without context. ]

…Which one, exactly? Jupiter’s the— blue planet? Right? Or the red planet? I forget.

[ …Neither. Not Neptune or Mars. But he’s trying to flex what little knowledge he has, taking a wild guess at what it might look like up close, looking for that. ]

No, it's like a cream color. With stripes.

[Which, of course, isn't anywhere near as clear through his telescope as it is in textbooks. Naturally, Luca's memorized what each one should look like and when they'd be visible in the sky.]

[ Alberto... doesn't see any creamy-stripey anything up there. But he doesn't want to ~~look dumb~~ disappoint Luca, so he just... lies and goes along with it. ]

...Oooh, yeah, I see it! That one there!

[ "That one there" could mean anything... Always full of hot air, even after all this time. ]

Isn't it amazing? Just thinking that if you could go up there, you could find an entire planet that's totally different than this one?

So what's it like up there? Have you read about it? Are there any oceans on Jupiter?

[ Hey, he doesn't know the right questions to ask. It's the first that comes to mind. Alberto keeps looking on, indulging Luca even though it's all still more than a little over Alberto's head. ]

Well...yes. The whole planet is made of gasses and liquids, and it actually has the largest ocean in the solar system, except it's made of something called hydro-gen instead of water.

[He's still not sure what hydrogen is, but he still remembers reading that. Repeatedly, in fact, to try and figure out what it means.]

[ Alberto leans away from the telescope to turn to Luca at that, a brow raised. ]

Wait— you're saying the largest ocean in the solar system isn't made of water? What's Jupiter's hydro-ocean like, then? Hah— Are there hydro-sea monsters?

[ His eyes light up a little as that last question comes to mind, as his imagination starts running away with these scientific tidbits. Right to aliens. Yup. ]

The textbook I read didn't say there weren't hydro sea monsters, so...maybe!

[And now he's excitedly imagining all sorts of aquatic creatures that could be hypothetical hydro-sea monsters.]

We'll look it up online when we get home! Heh~!

[ Alberto beams at him, almost conspiratorially, eager to have something new to research together. Not that they're ever at much of a loss. But Jovian hydro-sea monsters is of particular pressing interest. Bringing astronomy down to concepts Alberto's familiar with helps get him on the hook a lot more, that's for sure. He enjoys learning about this stuff with Luca anyway, even if Luca seems lightyears ahead of him by now — it's nice learning about this stuff from him, too. He lets his gaze linger on Luca a moment longer, just smiling, before nudging him unnecessarily with an affectionate little punch on the shoulder, then turns back to look through the telescope again. ]

Okay, dai, what else? Tell me more.

ota; beach bonfire

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sorry this is ancient! happy to keep going with this one tho fs

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Wrap?