songerein | [Semi-Open] Oh, would you look at that. It's Joshua Day.

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[Semi-Open] Oh, would you look at that. It's Joshua Day.

Who: FF16s and anyone who has positive CR with Joshua is invited (friends of friends can also drop by!)
Which: Semi-Open Log
Where: Starflower Cafe!
When: Backdated to March 25th
What: Once upon a time, some people looked at a baby and said, "You are Joshua." Today, we celebrate the 29th anniversary of that occasion.
Warnings: None!

It's early evening, and the golden hour sun shines gently through the windows of the Starflower Cafe. There's a modest array of red, white, and black decorations strung from the roof and set upon the tables to catch the flickering flames of lantern centrepieces, but the overall ambience is simple and warm, reminiscent of Rosarian hospitality.

Clive and Jill extended invitations earlier in the week, emphasising that the celebration is a surprise for Joshua. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, whereupon Jill will guide them not into hiding, per se, but at least to places where they can't be spotted through the windows. Meanwhile, Clive will be escorting Joshua to the party under the pretence of treating him to a name day dinner.

As such, guests are also encouraged to surprise some JOY into Mister Phoenix Boy when the brothers arrive.

Once the excitement of the surprise subsides, all guests will receive a softly glowing phoenix feather imbued with healing dreamotion. Joshua is handing them out personally as tokens of gratitude, so come and get yours!

Early mingling will happen over the appetizer buffet, which features potato croquettes, charcuterie boards with a heavy emphasis on cheese, various veggie platters with dips, and small cups of ice cream. Or, guests can sit down and chat over dinner: a roast with all the fixings.

After dinner, everyone will be escorted outside to where a bonfire has been set up. There, guests can enjoy roasting marshmallows, s'mores, and other sweet treats over the fire while watching a fireworks show to end the night.

TL;DR it's a party. So, like, party y'all.

(Clive and Jill will be around, but they'll be busy ensuring everything goes off without a hitch, so they won't be interacting much. Please feel free to assume that introductions have happened & that everyone present has been invited to their wedding, where they will be much more present!)

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[Something Yato understands far too well, himself, because he's also had to come to terms with being a being of destruction.

Once the burn seems to have fully healed, he gives Ryu a once over a final time before letting go.]

Good choices for keep your stamina up, for sure. Hunting is also ideal so you have fresh meat rather than relying on jerky or dried goods.

[This is the first time Yato's hearing about someone who went home and returned, so he listens with keen interest.]

...ah. Was it something you wanted to talk about? Or are there any questions you have?

[He hesitates, his eyes flicking up and around to the rest of the party.]

It's... not a very happy story. I met... some very bad people. One in particular... I don't know if I hate him more than the previous man I hated. It might be a close competition as to who's more... awful.

[He nods in understanding, resting a hand on Ryu's shoulder lightly. He's dealt with plenty of terrible people in his long life, but often times it doesn't get any easier.]

Did he... hurt you? Or was it others that he inflicted his cruelty on?

[Because awful and cruel often go hand in hand.]

Other people.

[He leans into the other's hand and takes a deep breath.]

It was Nina's sister. She was... too far gone. She asked us to... to...

[The glance away probably tells Yato everything he needs to know.]

[...oh. It's always worse when it's a close relative of someone you know rather than a stranger.]

I see...

[His expression darkens, mouth flattening out into a bitter line.]

You have to remember that sometimes, being allowed to pass on is a mercy. An act of kindness. I'm sure she was grateful in the end.

I know.

[He knows that, and yet...]

That man turned her into an Endless. But he was just going to use her to hurt others... I still don't understand why. People have tried to explain to me why people do that, but I don't... I still don't understand. But either way... I'm just glad she's not hurting anymore.

[Ah, so it's even worse than he imagined... Turning someone into a god for the sole purpose of harming people? That's just sick and twisted. It makes his stomach churn.

Maybe that's why he gives Ryu an even tighter squeeze, hand resting on top of his head.]

Yeah... Better to be freed of painful circumstances than to live through it indefinitely. As for why-- because people can be cruel. Some derive a sick pleasure from inflicting harm on others. It's not something that makes sense to a compassionate heart.

I... yes. ... I don't know if I want to understand.

[He hesitates for a moment and closes his eyes with a sigh.]

I'm just glad there are people like Joshua who help people. I hope there's a lot of people like him and my friends in every world.

You're probably better off not, truthfully. To understand would be opening yourself to darkness.

[He speaks as if from personal experience, quiet and solemnly. Although Ryu's words bring a smile to his lips.]

Right? So long as there's people like him and yourself in each world, there will always be hope. Cruel and evil people won't be allowed to win so easily.

I know. We'll find a way. There's always a way to help people.

[He hopes so, at least. It's difficult, but it's worth it in the end.]

Mm. I've never been to a party before...

Yeah! I'm sure you've got this!

[He has faith in the kid and shows as much with a hair ruffle.]

Really?? Well, we'll have to change that while you're here in Reverein! Parties are great fun! There's so many different kinds and so much to do! Hey, do you know your birthday? We could celebrate that whenever it is.

[He looks up at Yato again and nods.]

Um... birthday... my birthday is... complicated? I guess the date I appeared? It was the beginning of the summer months, I suppose. I think I remember it took us a few days to reach the first town I saw and that was... hm. The third or so of June?

[Don't ask why the calendar is the same Yato, we just don't know.]

[Yato nods eagerly, making a mental note of the date.]

In that case maybe the first of June, or perhaps May 31? You should choose a day to be your own, so we can celebrate it when it rolls around! That's what I did for my own birthday since my dad never mentioned it.

[The world works in mysterious ways; best just not to question it, truthfully.]

Ah, maybe. I don't know what I'd do for it. I... I'm still finding out things that I like.

[There's a lot of things to try, okay?]

Well, what are your hobbies? You could center a party around a theme based on one of those!

[Even more reason to start early!]

Um. Fishing, mostly? Though I like reading... reading isn't a great party activity though.

[It's kind of... a quiet thing, not a party thing. He shrugs a little bit. Hm...]

I had been hoping to maybe have a fishing tournament in the summer? I don't know what the prize could be, though...

Hmm, yeah, reading not so much. Fishing is a good idea, though!

[Humming to himself, he mulls over their options.]

How about some kind of trophy? We could have one made especially for the tournament. Or specially made lures for runners up? Making them is a pretty fun activity in itself!

That all sounds really fun! There's a lot of fish in the river... I'm sure some of them have to be really big.

And afterwards we could have a fish fry! No point in wasting the fish, after all.

[He might need some help cooking all of it, but fish is one food he knows what to do with.]

Hell yeah! Who knows - maybe somebody will catch a whopper and we can award them a special prize of some sort.

And cook 'em all up, like you say! It'll be the perfect way to finish off the day, with grand dinner everybody can participate in.

[He entertains the idea of having a fish fry competition briefly, but decides that might be a bit much. And who'd want to accidentally burn the fish??]

Exactly.

... It's nice to have people excited about that kind of thing. And not worried or... or scared about what's happening. This place is peaceful and I hope it always stays that way.

Indeed. We'll have to work hard to ensure that remains the case so everyone can continue enjoying themselves. For some it's the only reprieve they have from their troubles back home.

[For him, too, really.]

Yes. ... I guess I might be one of them, now. There's some fun to be had at home but... I'm pretty sure I'm close to having to face my other half.

[He's not sure if he's ready. And even if he is, who is he going to end up being - himself? Fou-Lu? Both?]

[... Neither?]

[Picking up another marshmallow, he plonks it on his stick and thrusts it into the fire.]

And you'll come out on top, I'm sure. You're strong and resilient enough to. Just keep believing in yourself that you're enough - that people want you here.

[He watches carefully, not sure how to actually do the marshmallow thing correctly.]

... I don't want him to have to disappear, either. We should both get to live.

[Not like his first attempt, that's for sure. This time he merely sets it close enough to the flame to begin caramelizing the sugar on the outside, turning it a nice, toasty brown.]

...no, I imagine not. Then maybe you'll both have the will to resist whatever force is pulling you two together. But if it comes down to it, I hope you'll fight for your life. There's people who want you to remain, both here and back home.

[Once he's finished toasting the marshmallow all around, he plucks it off the stick and offers it to Ryu.]

I for one would definitely miss you.

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