Event: Eiko's Birthday Ball

[tidesnpcs.livejournal.com]

Characters: OPEN to all party guests
Progress: Ongoing
Summary: A big party for a small girl. Yep, it's Eiko's birthday and she's having a ball.
Location: Lindblum Grand Castle
Date: March 21st, 1804
Warnings: N/A so far

Nobody could say that Regent Cid wasn't generous when it came to his adopted daughter, Eiko. In fact, some said that he was too indulgent. But on this, the evening of Eiko's tenth birthday, the citizens of Lindblum were ready and eager to celebrate. A free ball! Free drinks, free food, and a free pass into Lindblum Grand Castle. Many had failed to acquire tickets in time and were disappointed, but the lucky few piled eagerly into the castle.

Security was tight, and every single guest was checked by the guards before being allowed to enter. Once inside, they would find a wide and sumptuously decorated ballroom. A small group of musicians played slow and ambient music, while the party guests swayed across the floor dressed in all their finery. What could only be described as a flock of moogles flew or scurried around the room, offering glasses of champagne and various sweet treats. Regent Cid himself sat on a grand throne at the head of the room, nodding graciously at the guests who came to pay their respects. 

The ball was already in full swing, and the party would go on for a long while yet.

[ooc: Don't worry if you didn't comment to Regent Cid's earlier post requesting tickets. Handwaving is just fine if you want to hop in. It's party style - go tag and mingle! Thread jumping and ninja tagging is encouraged.]

[ooc: Eiko has made a very loud announcement about a celebrity couple's engagement. Feel free to overhear, react or congratulate.]

Comments

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Much to her dismay, Marlene was told to wait until the crowd around Eiko cleared. This made the little girl quite upset. She wanted to go see her friend right then!

Anyways, when the crowd died down, Marlene made her way over to her good friend, dressed in a dress (http://www.formalkids.com/cgi-bin/shop/pid_1277.htm) that nearly made her feel like a princess. It was nothing like Eiko's, however, which Marlene thought was amazing.

"Eiko! Happy birthday!"

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"Marlene! You're so pretty!" Eiko exclaimed the second she caught sight of her friend. Grown ups were nice and all, but kids were better and the child summoner was fed up with behaving like a lady and having to remember long long titles that just made her head hurt. Instead, she grabbed Marlene by the hand to lead her over to the snacks table and get away from all the stuffy adults. "I'm so glad you came!"

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

"Nuh-uh! I'm so jealous! Your dress is much prettier than mine!" Marlene followed along willingly, glad to be with her friend.

"I wouldn't miss it! I so couldn't wait."

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"A lot of it is going to be boring grown up stuff. Mother said there would be games too, but I bet it's going to be more dancing. So we can just go up in the balcony and toss oglops on them." Eiko giggled at the idea of getting to do just that and then did what every little girl did in a fancy dress. "Hey, watch this!" She spun around to make the skirt swirl up and out from around her.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

She couldn't help but laugh. She'd probably get in trouble with Cloud and Tifa, but it would be so worth it to have fun like that.

"That's so cool! Let me try mine!" Marlene spun as well. Her skirt didn't come out nearly as high, but when she was done, she couldn't help but let out a giggle.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"Yours is good too!" Spinning was fun, so Eiko did it again and again until the whole room got wobbly and she had to hold onto the snack table to keep from falling on her bottom.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

And she spun again, though Marlene stopped when she started to feel a bit tipsy. She laughed, catching her friend before she went all topsy-turvy.

"So, do you have to wait until the end to actually look at your presents? There's so many people here! I wonder what they got you..."

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"Uh-huh," Eiko answered, face turning pouty. "I can't have them until tomorrow so they can write down who gave what so I can write notes." She leaned in and whispered confidentially, "And I have to do all the writing myself, but I hate spelling and penmanship."

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

"Aww, that's not fun! The best part about birthday parties is opening presents at the end! Not waiting until the next day!"

Her eyes shifted from side to side, seeing who was around before Marlene took Eiko's hand. "C'mon. You're going to see what you got for your birthday." Ninja Marlene to the rescue.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Now see, this is what Eiko liked about Marlene. She understood the important stuff like opening presents. Hustling over to the present table with her friend, hand in hand, she watched for an opening in people walking back and forth dropping off more and more boxes. As soon as she saw her chance, she dove under the tablecloth, giggling at their daring. "It feels like we're camping!" And what better way to sneak and open presents than where no one else could see?

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Once under the table, Marlene took a moment to peek out from underneath the tablecloth. Good. Not too many people around to see what they were going to do.

"So much cooler than camping, Eiko!" Feeling a bit more daring, Marlene reached out and grabbed the nearest present, bringing it under with her.

"First one!" She'd hand it to her friend. "Open it!"

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Eiko took the present from Marlene, and after giving it a good shake, ripped into the wrapping. Her eagerness to get into the box, which had even off a delightful heavy thumping, dwindled as she discovered it contained a stack of books. Books that were in every way lovely with leather binding and gilt edge pages. But books.

A sulky frown settled on her face, but she started picking them up and reading the titles. Maybe they were interesting books like the one Shelke gave her. 'The History of the Dragon's Gate', 'Reflections on the Nature of the Mu' and 'Famous Crystals of Gaia' were among the titles.

"Blech!" Eiko grumped, shoving the box to the side. What dummy thought she'd like those books? "Get another one," she suggested. Anything had to be better.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Marlene frowned at the present. Books? Ew! She liked books, but even those looked boring. Didn't people know how to give cool presents, like dolls, or toys, or anything else?

Reaching back up, Marlene pulled another present down. "Maybe this one's better."

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa had seen the two girls duck under the presents table and she walked over, hoping to surprise them. Crouching down, she lifted the tablecloth.

"What do we have here?"

There was no anger in her tone or expression. Tifa thought it was sweet that Eiko and Marlene were bonding.

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

Immediately, Eiko whipped the gift behind her back to hide it, although the box wasn't much smaller than she and peeked out anyway. Not to mention the tell-tale evidence of the book box and it's wrapping sitting nearby. As if that weren't enough to imply guilt, it was written all over her face, as she blinked rapidly at Tifa. "Nothing! Nothing at all!" she fibbed, looking to Marlene to back up her story.

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

Marlene's eyes widened like a deer caught in the headlights. Oh no. They were sooooo busted. The kids looked guilty - wrapping paper, empty box...

Marlene shook her head. "Nothing's going on! We promise!" She looked to Eiko then back to Tifa quickly.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

Tifa laughed. They were so transparent. "Really? So you're not busy, right? I've been waiting all evening to wish Eiko a happy birthday. Would now be a good time?"

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

"Uh, sure, now would be okay," Eiko answered, while trying to nudge away the evidence. She liked Tifa but really wanted her to go away so she could get into that next box Marlene had handed her. Waiting was so hard!

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

So they weren't getting in trouble? Marlene let go of the breath she was holding. While Tifa was wishing Eiko a happy birthday, Marlene took the opportunity to sneak back out and actually look at the presents up there for a moment. Finding what she was looking for, she slid back under with the new present.

"Isn't it a great party, Tifa?"

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"Happy birthday!" Tifa would hug Eiko if the little girl let her, and she pressed something into Eiko's hands - just a small gift, a wrapped-up bracelet.

Looking back at Marlene, Tifa nodded. "It is great! I don't think I've ever been to a party as great as this."

[lastsummoner.livejournal.com]

The hug was welcome and returned with exuberance. "Thanks, Tifa!" Eiko started to rip right into the box, then stopped midway. "I don't have to wait do I?" As good a hint as any why the girls had sneaked under the table.

[heartofheaven.livejournal.com]

"Of course not!" Tifa replied. "Open it."

[littleprotector.livejournal.com]

She was glad Tifa wasn't mad at them. Birthday presents were the highlight of the part as far as Marlene was concerned, and she didn't want Eiko to miss out on it.

"I found mine for you too, when you're ready!"