A Belated Birthday - video and action options

[needmyspace]

video

[At least Keith knows how to keep a feed steady on his face. He's had a lot of practice at this. His voice is somewhat hushed, and he is in a darkened room, glancing back over his shoulder before he finally clears his throat and starts to speak.]

It was Lance's birthday on Sunday. And I totally forgot, and I think it might have hurt his feelings. So. [He takes a deep breath, glancing back behind his shoulder again.] I guess I'm going to throw him a late birthday party, so he stops sulking. Please, everyone, I could use some backup here. If you could just show up at the house this afternoon for a few minutes or something, that would be great. You don't have to know us. He'll just be happy to have people paying attention to him.

[There's some noise behind him, and he looks back again before standing up hurriedly and speaking in a hushed voice.] Okay, Keith out.


action

[Keith is pretty sure that Lance is aware that something is up, because he's been running around like a madman setting things up for what he hopes to be at least a decent little gathering. With luck, people have heard the message and will show, and that should help Lance feel a little better. Not that Keith cares, of course. He just wants his roommate to stop making snide comments.

By mid-afternoon, he's managed to set up a table with some food -- of questionable quality, but still edible -- and found a bot to play some music quietly. It's not like any sort of music he's ever heard, honestly, but it'll do the trick for now, hopefully.

Now to wait and pray that someone actually shows. Even better if they bring something with them.]

Comments

Action, OTA

[the_tailor]

[In a family like Lance's, birthdays were always a Big Deal, despite there being a ton of people in the household. It meant lots of parties, lots of presents, and lots of fun. And being the baby of said family (aside from his niece and nephew) meant that he always got a little extra attention. Yeah, he's a bit spoiled. So sue him (except don't because he doesn't have much to his name at the moment). Even in space, Hunk had took it upon himself to throw a party for Lance like the best friend in the universe he was.

So when this one came and went without a peep... Lance wasn't really expecting anything, perse. Only one person here knew him, after all, so no one would know it was his birthday. But Keith! Keith had to have known! He was there that last party! And yet the black paladin treated it like a day unlike any other. Always one to find it difficult to hide his emotions, Lance had been sulking since, but was too stubborn and proud to tell Keith exactly why. Stupid mullet, they'll see how boring October 23rd is. And yes, Lance remembered that.

The man in question, however, was beginning to act suspicious. And on this particular day, Lance had been faintly observing with some confusion Keith setting up far too much food for the two of them (three, counting Kosmo) to eat. And the music? What? Were they expecting company? Did Keith somehow, despite all odds, manage to make new friends?

Turns out the older paladin had indeed set something up behind his back. A very, very uncharacteristically (?) kind something. So the mullet did have it in him, after all.

Lance's mood is brightened tenfold as the party gets into swing, and flits between guests as he enjoys the food and any presents he's given. Come say hi to the very excited birthday boy?]

The reason why open invites are a bad thing

[original_is_best]

[Parties and birthdays didn't pique Verstael's interest in any common way. It was more that he had yet to meet someone by the name of 'Lance', and that needed to be remedied so that he could accurately document information about all of the new arrivals. He showed up, not quite blending in as he wore his full suit of imperial armor as normal people do when they attend parties, and taking a brief look around their residence.

Didn't seem much different than the place he had decided to settle down in for the moment. Knowing little more than Keith's appearance and Lance's name and gender from the video, he took an educated guess at who the birthday boy was.]

You are Lance?

[His voice seemed a bit too deep considering his modest size and he had a conceited air to him. Yet, there was no hostility or disrespect in his tone. He simply wished to talk.]

w e l p

[the_tailor]

[The deep voice takes him by surprise, and he gives a little 'eep' before spinning around. Okay. Calm down, Lance. Just a normal dude. ...Mostly normal, 'cause seriously, who goes around in armor unless they absolutely have to? Even so, he's not going to be rude to a guest to his birthday party!]

I am! Thanks so much for coming by, it means a lot.

Re: w e l p

[original_is_best]

[This guy also just happened to be a clone of him, so Lance was free to do a double take at the twinsies.

Although they acted and carried themselves in completely different ways.]

Best wishes on the day of your birth. Speaking of which, on what day did it actually fall?

[wannabethehero]

[Casually showing up around town was just a Thing Kiwi Did. Especially when it came to people in need, and a person whose birthday had been forgotten was definitely a person in need! They didn't have much they could give in material presents, but what they did have was their sweet sonorous voice, and that was always enough before.

Their first order of business was quickly finding Keith and asking him to point out the birthday boy, then they approached cheerfully.]

Hi! You're Lance, right?

[the_tailor]

[Aw! Whoever this person is, they're definitely adorable. Massive points in Lance's book. He smiles brightly at them and nods.]

Yyyyyyup, that's me! Thanks for coming by!

[wannabethehero]

You're welcome! I have something for you! It's not much, but...

[They step back about half a step and clear their throat lightly before they start to sing.

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear Lance,
Happy birthday to you!

[And they end it with a smile.]

[twistedempathy]

[Will at least has the advantage of having met Lance before, so it's not too hard to spot him in the midst of all the guests. Will bounds over, holding a long cardboard tube that he probably snagged from a roll of paper towels to transport his gift.]

Laaaaaaaaance! Why didn't you say anything on the network? We can't party if we don't know there's something to celebrate!

[the_tailor]

Yo, Will!

[He grins and waves. It's good to see a new friendship reaffirmed by something like this!]

I mean, I just kind of figured no one here really knew me that well, so it didn't really matter that much? I mean, it sort of mattered to me in the end I guess, but it looks like Keith finally remembered something that wasn't related to stabbity funtimes.

[Look, he loves you, buddy, but he's still gonna make fun of you. It's the Lance way of things.]

[twistedempathy]

[Will promptly sticks his tongue out at Lance like the mature adult he is.]

So you're saying a party isn't a good way to get to know you better? I am shocked and appalled, sir. Your friend's really that much of a man of action?

[this_loser]

[He wasn't sure if he should come. Sure, Keith said even people who didn't know them were invited, and there's a very good chance this Keith and Lance don't know him. He's going into this assuming they don't.

Still, he had counted Lance among his friends, and if he had to start all over with that, then that's just what he'll do.

He doesn't have much money yet, so he wrangles up some supplies and puts together a card. It's got a paper gun on the cover, and a simple "Happy Birthday, Lance" on the inside. He hands it over with a smile.]

Happy birthday, dude.

[the_tailor]

[Though he's never met this guy before, something about him just kind of strikes him as cool. When the card is given to him, Lance smiles brightly, looking at the picture on the cover.]

Whoooaaaa, how did you know guns were my thing? That's really cool! Thanks, man!

[this_loser]

[His smile wavers just a bit. It's okay. It's fine.]

Lucky guess! They're my thing too.

[needmyspace]

[The majority of Keith's birthdays have been forgotten, at least until Shiro "accidentally" let slip to the other paladins. While he had appreciated the gesture, it had still felt a little uncomfortable and foreign.

It's not that he forgot Lance's birthday, he just honestly didn't think it mattered any more than any other day. He's not Hunk, after all.

But a part of Keith knows that if there's one thing that'll cheer up Lance, it's a party. And he can set aside his misgivings for a few hours if it means improving Lance's sour mood. He hangs around a little awkwardly, making sure to greet guests at least and point them to Lance. That's where the attention should be, on the birthday boy.]

[the_tailor]

[Ah, and there's the ever so thoughtful samurai in question. Lance has been distracted a bit by party guests, but there's one person in particular he really needs to thank.

And so Lance makes his way over, immediately pulling Keith into a hug.]

Just when I think you can't surprise me more, man...

[needmyspace]

[Keith hasn't wanted to interrupt Lance, content to just watch from a distance. The food needs managing. Or something.

He lets out a surprised 'oof' when Lance hugs him, blinking for a moment before his brain catches up and he returns it a bit awkwardly and pats the top of Lance's head. This is what people do, right? He has no idea...]

Oh! Uh, well...Glad you like it, I guess.

[begguiling]

[Hello there, birthday boy! At their nearest convenience, Lance is getting floated right up to by Magolor, who offers him . . . a Magolor. The toy may be wearing a different robe, but Magolor is unmistakable. It's absolutely a plush doll of himself. At least it's extremely well made? And he has absolutely no sense of shame in handing it over.]

Happy birthday! That's quite a friend you've got here throwing this together for you, even if he does call you the skinny one. Hehe!

[the_tailor]

[Well, that's certainly...something, giving a toy of yourself as a gift. Some people might call it tacky, but honestly, Lance thinks it's adorable. He takes the toy gratefully, giving it a little hug. Nice and soft!]

Thank you! And pfft, of course Mr. "I spent two years in a time vortex and came back all bigger and grizzled and cool" would say that. He...really is quite the friend, though. Honestly, this is the last thing I would have expected him to do.

[begguiling]

[Yessss, appreciate the handiwork! Everyone loves soft things no matter how admittedly tacky they are! Score. Magolor has just enough time to feel smug about the positive reaction before being instantly derailed by a casual mention of something that doesn't sound all that casual?! And that's saying a lot coming from him, but—]

Time vortex? You just dropped that in there, but isn't that a significant backstory reveal . . . ?

[He tilts his head over in Keith's direction, trying to judge how grizzled and cool he looks. Hmmm.]

[velvetinmate]

Lance, hey! Happy birthday!

[Akira's making his way over to say hello with a grin. He's managed to get his hands on a thermos somewhere, which he's holding out.]

I brought coffee. Mind taking a rain check on a real present?

[the_tailor]

Thanks, Akira!

[He gratefully takes the container, beaming.]

Honestly, coffee is awesome, even if nothing ever compares to the stuff where I come from. This is enough, you really don't have to worry about anything more! I'm just happy you came.

[velvetinmate]

Well, if you're sure.

[He grins.]

It's not the best I could make since I don't have my usual blends on hand or anything, but you work with what you've got, right?

[trashbot]

[Keith had pointed out Lance for him, but Tailgate waited for a moment when he didn't look busy. It wasn't like they had met before so he didn't want to interrupt if Lance was talking with a friend. He also maybe got distracted checking out all the human food and wondering what it all was.]

[BUT once Lance didn't look busy, the seven foot tall Cybertronian came over with the weird dog statue that he had tried to recreate on a somewhat smaller scale.]

Hey! You're Lance, right? Congratulations on being born!

[Tailgate holds out the dog statue to him.]

I had no clue what to get you, so I hope you like this.

[the_tailor]

[It's a good thing Lance is accustomed to aliens and robots by now, even if he's still a wee bit thrown off. Honestly, the greater confusion lies in the strange statue he takes from the robot who's approached him. Lance gives it a lookover, wondering who in god's name thought a statue like this would ever be a good idea.

But it's still dumb looking enough for him to like, honestly, and he grins up before placing the dog down near him, against the wall.]

That is one heck of a dog. It's definitely sticking around in the living room in prime furniture real estate position. Thank you so much!

[trashbot]

[Joey Tribbiani. That's who thought the dog statue was a good idea. Do not besmirch his name, Lance, as he is one of the original Lady's Men™.]

[The blue light that fills up the visor in front of Tailgate's optics curves in a pleased arc when Lance smiles at the dog. He might not really know him, but it still felt good to make someone happy. Then his eyes widen a little.]

Dog! That's the word for it. I can never remember what those are called.

Anyways, you're welcome! I was kind of worried I would botch this whole giving an organic a birthday gift thing, since I've never done it before. So I'm glad you like it.