sixteenth shot ⊗ closed log

[flamekthunder]

Who: Closed CR to Tifa
Which: Closed Log
Where: Starflower Sanctuary
What: Surprise Birthday Party for Tifa! Hosted by Eustace and Lyria. We sent out invitations to those we knew of, but if we missed someone who has close CR to Tifa and they would like to participate, feel free to stop by! (forward dated to May 3rd)
Warnings: None!

Eustace had promised a special dinner for Tifa to celebrate her birthday, and while that's still in the plans, he had something else in mind. Under the guise of "needing to pick up something," they stop at the café, the lights dark as would be expected for it being empty. But when he opens the door and turns on the lights…

"SURPRISE!!"

Tifa will be greeted with a loud chorus of voices as her friends suddenly appear within the café, the inside completely transformed for this moment.

With a moon and stars theme, special lights hang from the ceiling, lit by glowing fireflies. On the tables are jars filled with glowing branches and stars, their light exuding a soft warmth that will make anyone feel relaxed and calm. The outdoor patio has also been decorated to fit the theme, the trees lined with lights and lanterns hanging off the branches. Only the upstairs loft is closed off.

The buffet is filled with plenty of food, such as mashed potatoes, chicken fingers, ribs, assortment of cooked vegetables, and more, with 76 helping to man the kitchens if needed. Sanji also contributed with a beautiful birthday cake, the inside a soft vanilla with strawberry filling in each layer. Chocolate strawberries, assorted fruits, and other fruit flavored macarons are also available.

Of course the animals got involved, with the corgis and the flower dogs helping to pick up any trash or serve any drinks or food for those dining outside or at the many tables arranged for seating. They are also happy to play and entertain, for a special treat of course! Just make sure they don't try to steal some food from the tables.

And of course, no party would be complete without some party games available. Board games, card games, drinking games—whatever kind of game, it's there. All someone has to do is start one up to get it going! Just make sure to have a party hat to really give this a festive feel.

Comments

[oathkeeper]

[Attached to the letter is Sora’s gift! A hairclip that faintly glows when Tifa is happy.]

happy birthday, tifa!

surprise! i hope we didn’t scare you too bad! if we made you smile, then it’s all worth it.

it’s crazy that i’ve know you for as long as i have now, huh? sometimes i think about that, and i just can’t help feeling like i’ve known you forever. maybe that’s the magic of this world. we find people who belong in our lives for the long run no matter how far apart we are. and i’m glad that this world did that for us and that i got the chance to know you better. but even more than that? i feel like this world has given me someone that i want in my life always. kind of like it’s given me a big sister i never had.

i hope you have a great birthday. and i hope that someday we’ll be able to call this place home for that long run too.

-sora

[starshower]

[As Tifa searches for Sora to thank him for his gift, she recalls the first time that they met. It had been their very first day in this world. He'd recognized her, and Tifa will never forget that feeling of regret that plagued her in the moments after when she couldn't place him in her memories the same way... but that regret had been short-lived. Honestly? A part of her is glad that she hadn't met him in another world, or in his—it would have meant that she never would have had the chance to get to know him in the year and a half they've spent together in this world.

Wouldn't have learned about his hobbies, his likes and dislikes, his past, and his world if she had known all those things already. He remains one of the few in this world that have been here with her since the beginning, and all those memories are ones that she will always cherish for as long as she'll remember them, which is part of the many, many reasons why Tifa is fighting so hard to remain in this world, and his note on the card reminds her of that.

So, when she does find him, she immediately comes up from behind and throws her arms around his shoulders in a hug, like a big sister would do.]

Thank you for the gift, Sora. The hairpin is beautiful. Gonna have to find some special occasions to wear it!

[And with a cute dress, too...! Time to ask Eustace to take her out more often—]



[OOC note: Thank you for taking the time to leave a little surprise note for Tifa (and me)! 🥺💗 Please do not feel obligated or pressured to respond to this, I just wanted to make sure that I hit up everyone so that she can personally thank people for the gifts and the notes! If you would like to continue threading, that is perfectly okay too and we can keep this going, but again, please don't feel like you have to!]

[oathkeeper]

[but what if i do reply!! 💗]

[As soon as her arms are thrown around him Sora lets out a happy yelp and immediately wiggles around in her arms so he can wrap his arms around her too! There is a big bear hug in return with little sparks of warm dream magic crackling around them.]

Haha, you're welcome! I hope you like it! I thought the flowers would like really awesome in your hair!

[He grins brightly and squeezes her one more time before loosening his grip.]

I hope you have a great birthday. We better share some cake together too, right? You've gotta make some birthday wishes!

[starshower]

[uwah!! 🥰]

[Some of those little sparks of dreamotion burst into the shapes of stars and starflowers around them, turning to glitter that shimmers in the air before they finally fade.]

I'm having a great birthday so far.

[Just one more tight squeeze before she finally frees him.]

Have you not had a piece of cake yet!? I could go grab you one...!

[oathkeeper]

Is it the best cake ever? I'll go with you, I've got my name on a slice and I'm not leaving without it!

[He grins brightly. Sora was the one who had the honour of asking Sanji to make the cake so he's so curious if Tifa loves it.]

[starshower]

To be honest, I haven't actually had a piece myself, either.

[So, he's about to find out whether she does or not.]

I don't even know what flavour it is?

[As she takes Sora by the arm and tugs him along across the café, she stops in front of the massive cake and stares down at it with awe and curiosity. She can make a few great cakes herself, but this... Sanji really is a master of his craft that she can't help but admire it for a moment.]

...I almost don't want to cut it...

[oathkeeper]

[Sora marvels at the cake with wide eyes too... It's a masterpiece.]

Wow, Sanji really outdid himself.

[He grins because Sora asked Sanji to make this cake because he knows that Sanji is amazing at food, baking and cooking in general! But he had no idea it was going to be the next world wonder! He must really like Tifa??]

But! Cake's meant for eating! We'd be doing it dirty if we didn't eat it!

[starshower]

[Well, there sure are hearts in Sanji's eyes every time Tifa is near, but she always conveniently ignores those :).

But she picks up the cake knife that's been set aside and twirls it between her fingers.]

That's true. A cake that looks this good is definitely worth eating. Shall I do the honours?

[oathkeeper]

[Eat your heart out, Sanji!

Sora nods.]

Yup! It's a tradition that the birthday girl has to cut the cake, right?

[He doesn't really know if it is or not but Sora always did that when growing up. Sora always had to serve his own birthday cake to his guests first! So, he picks up a plate!]

[starshower]

[Tifa starts to cut into it, a single slice going through the icing almost perfectly.]

Okay, so...

[As if concentrating really, really hard while stifling a cheeky grin, Tifa measures out a massive piece, landing the knife almost a quarter of the way around.]

This size good?

[oathkeeper]

Whoa?! I mean, I'm not gonna say no! But that seems like way too much!

[Sora could totally eat that much cake in one sitting, probably, but he wants to save enough cake for everyone to have!]

I'll take less than that! Less! Like half of that!

[starshower]

[His reaction is exactly what Tifa had been looking for, so she breaks into a small fit of giggles as she makes the piece a little smaller. Half of that, as he said, right? So, she slides the knife through effortlessly and slips his share onto a plate before grabbing one for herself.]

Should we take a bite at the same time?

[oathkeeper]

[Sora grins and nods his thanks while taking the plate and he picks up a fork as well.]

Yeah, let's do that! That way if it's really good we'll both know at the same time.

[Plus it's a cute idea. Sora scoops a bite onto his fork and then holds it up.]

Ready?

[starshower]

[Tifa gives a nod.]

Ready!

[But before she even goes to take a bite, she stops and waves a hand at Sora.]

Ah—shouldn't we make a toast or something!?

[Tifa, this isn't a drink—

In the moment, however, something like that does feel right.]

[oathkeeper]

[He's so close to putting the fork of cake into his mouth?!]

Aww, Tifa?!

[He wants to eat the cake! It's hanging there right in front of his face! Do they really need to make a toast or something?! Okay-- Sora settles down and the tries to put on a less impatient face.]

Okay, okay. How about this? Here's to all the great years we've had here and a whole bunch more to come. Here here!

[LET'S EAT CAKE ALREADY- But if she really did have something more she wanted to toast to don't let Sora's impatience stop her!]

[starshower]

[Her laughter rings through the whole café at his impatience as well as his hasty "toast" that comes out, but in the end, she relents and responds with equal enthusiasm.]

Here, here!

[And she'll scoop a forkful of the cake, making sure to get every last little bit on there—the strawberries, the cake, and the icing—before she takes it all in a single, giant bite.]

Ah—!

[When she gasps in surprise, some of the cake crumbs fly from her mouth right at Sora—]

[oathkeeper]

[He's too excited to get some cake in his mouth! Sora is also shoving a giant bite into his mouth and--]

Ack!? Haha!!

[Okay, it's a bit messy. But Sora is enjoying the cake too much to care. He grins and then smears a finger of cake icing on her cheek.]

There, no problem with wearing a bit of your cake too, right?

[starshower]

[Tifa swats at his hand, but by then, it's far too late.]

Hey...! Mine was an accident.

[Unlike his!!! Which is why she's going to dip a giant glob of icing onto her finger and smack it right across his cheek in return.]

But it's always nice to share, yeah?

[oathkeeper]

Ack?!

[Okay- he deserved that! But he laughs and then wipes some off with his hand.]

It is nice to share! [Gosh, if it wasn't such a nice cake he would start a food fight right now. But he's going to be good.] But I wanna eat it more than I wanna wear it, haha.

🎀

[starshower]

True. Wouldn't wanna waste all of Sanji's efforts, would we?

[She searches around for a napkin, grabbing one from the table the cake is set up on to hand it to Sora, and then another so that she can wipe up her own face, too.

And with a smile, she takes another bite.]

Thanks again for coming, Sora.