lostcarnival | Summer Birthday for a Sunshine Child

Who: Sora and You!
When: Day 147
Where: Somewhere in the Summerlands
What: Sora's birthday party!
Warnings: None~

[An Open Message]

[Sometime early on Day 147, Sora will put out a message over the radio;]

So, um. I've been here a while. I don't really know how long, but um...

I think I might be sixteen, now. So, if you wanna come hang out, that would be cool.

[And that's all he'll say.]

[Sweet Sixteen]

Where has Sora been for the past week? He's been... around. He hasn't holed himself up in his room or anything, been out and doing his job and exploring the area. To a casual passerby, he seems completely normal.

But anyone who knows him, will know that he's been unusually quiet. He's not been as... everywhere, as he usually is. He's not avoiding anything, but he's not running towards it either. It's entirely likely that the radio message he put out will be the first most people have heard from him all week, and that's only slightly troubling.

He's currently sitting in one of the more secluded gardens of the Summerlands, set up almost like a tea garden. Sparky the Shinx is purring on his lap. But aside from Sora himself, there's... nothing. The garden is empty, no balloons or cake, or anything to indicate that there's a birthday happening today.

He's been doing a lot of thinking, lately, and it seems that's what he's doing today. In fact, he won't even look up from petting Sparky until you approach him.

"Hey," he smiles thinly. "What's up?"

[ooc: Feel free to threadjack! The party portion is an open log, even if it's not much of a party yet. An additional thread will be put up this weekend containing more of an Actual Party.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Yeah, I know," Sora answers to both questions, still chuckling. His tail waves around behind him, as though adding to the conversation.

The laughter quickly dies, though, and they're back to a lapse in conversation. A summer breeze ruffles through the garden, ruffling the plants and trees and the hair on his head, and Sora smiles, just a little.

Well, it's not as if Joker has ever been quiet about the teleportation jewelry he's handed out sometimes. All's well, then.

As the silence falls comfortably over the clearing, Feathers clearly content, Joker lets himself stay quiet for a spell too- a rare occasion. It's not too bad to be quiet sometimes. Still, after a while, he speaks up. "Got a cake lined up?"

"Not really," Sora answers, still petting the bird. "Rin asked me what kind of cake I like, though, so I dunno what he's planning."

Sora hadn't planned anything for his birthday, really. Mostly, he'd just wanted someone to sit with. It's lonely, sitting by yourself in a trailer all day, and he was feeling stifled. He wanted to get out and do something, but he's not sure how ready he is yet to actually do things. Sitting here is good for now.

"Oh, that'll be good, then. Rin's good at that sorta thing- I would know." Joker taps his fingers along the tree he's in, thinking of what else to say. It feels a little awkward, now- for more reason than one. Still...

After a second, he tries again. "What do ya think of the Summerlands?"

"Oh, it's nice," Sora answers vaguely. "I haven't seen that much of it. I stayed around the carnival until today."

It is awkward, but it feels like it shouldn't be. The two versions of reality are still blurred in Sora's head, and though it's now very obvious which one is the real one, he still remembers things he shouldn't. Little things, like when Tamaki's birthday is, and knowing Joker's favorite food without being told. Or were those a dream too?

"It's quiet here."

"Yeah, there are a good few places around here." The awkwardness is starting to make Joker twitchy. It shouldn't be like this for multiple reasons and, finally, he flutters down from his tree perch.

"I've been here before, I can show ya around, if ya like." If nothing else, it'll give them something to do.

Sora hesitates. But he doesn't want this to be awkward either. He wants to be able to bounce back from whatever happened in Portland, and be able to talk again.

"Okay," he nods finally. "I'd like that."

"Alright then, come along." Coming over, he holds his hand out to Feathers so that the Dartix can hop up along it and to his shoulder. "Food, and nice places- the Summerlands have a lotta things. Just gotta settle on what it is ya like."

"Yeah," Sora responds, gathering Sparky up in his arms. He stands and moves over to where Joker is waiting. "Probably more than most places. It seems like a pretty busy place."

"Eeeeh, it' ain't that bad." Feeling a little more in his element, he smiles as he starts to escort Sora. "Summerlands are pretty relaxed, although the same face thing starts gettin' a little weird.... right away, ha!"

"Same... face thing?"

Sora hasn't actually seen many natives yet. Not that he was avoiding them, just... he hadn't really been in a talkative mood.

"Yeah, like-" Joker gestures vaguely to his own face. "Their jaws, or their eyes, they're all the same in that way. Sometimes they'll have different skin colors, but I've been around enough ta see it doesn't mean much."

Humming, he glances around. The circus isn't too close to the cities, but that doesn't mean they wont' run into anyone.... "If we run inta some native folks, I'll show ya."

"Okay?" Sora responds hesitatingly. The only same face thing he's ever seen has referred to himself, but he can only hope it's not the same thing as that.

"What else is interesting here?"

"Well..." Joker considers it a little bit. "I suppose it's obvious by now, but I suppose it's turnin' out ta be the carnival's... restin' place. Where we go when things have been serious and we need ta rest with no distractions or anythin'."

A beat and he says, "The Ringmaster's lover is here to, which probably explains that."

"Oh."

That... makes sense, he guesses. The Ringmaster would want to come somewhere safe after everything, right? Although he does wonder why they didn't come here before...

But, "I didn't even know the Ringmaster had a girlfriend. She always seems so... loner-y, I guess."

Joker sputters a bit, unable to bite back his laugh, and reaches over without thinking to ruffle Sora's hair.

"What an impression! That's the first time I've heard that about her!"

Sora laughs, actually laughs instead of awkward giggling, when Joker ruffles his hair.

"I don't mean in general! I mean, like, she's so secretive, and doesn't open up to anyone. She's nice, and she's good at her job, but she doesn't seem like the type to..."

He goes slightly red, but laughs again.

"Oh, but ya know why that is?"

Grinning, Joker leans closer.

"Because she's bleedin' nosy! She's too busy gettin' involved in everyone else's lives!"

Sora busts out into giggles again. Maybe it's a little mean, but honestly he totally agrees with Joker here.

"Maybe that's why she only sees her girlfriend twice a year."

Seeing Sora start to giggle again has him grin widely, pleased.

"Well, y'know what they say: absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that."

Summer Birthday for a Sunshine Child

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