songerein | OPEN 🐶 PET PARTY MINGLE

Entry tags:

OPEN 🐶 PET PARTY MINGLE

Who: Anyone!
Which: Open mingle
Where: The Bark 'n Play Dog Park in the Residential District
What: The long-awaited pet party! Tifa and Eustace hold a birthday party for the flower dogs and all of Reverein is invited! Come make new friends, let your pets make new friends, and try not to get blown away in the wind.
Warnings: Cute animals being cute.

[On the very first day of the month, a message went out across the journals from Tifa Lockhart:]

Hi everyone! Tifa here.

Now that we've been here almost a year, Eustace and I realized that the flower puppies aren't exactly puppies anymore. They've grown up quite a bit, and we think it might be fun to celebrate with a little birthday party for them at the Bark 'n Play dog park in two days (on the 3rd) at noon! There will be food, drinks, and games for everyone so please stop by. Feel free to bring your own pets (not limited to dogs), or just yourselves. Animals aren't at all mandatory. Looking forward to seeing you there!

🐕 I. PET PLAYTIME

It wouldn't be a pet party without things to do for the animals! There are plenty of options for fun and games for them all to play with one another or with their owners. If you are without one or would just like an extra nose or set of ears, some of the flower dogs and corgis will be more than thrilled to lend a hand to anyone who asks nicely (a treat goes a long way.)

Thanks to some expert dreamotion, the park has been transformed into a splash park for the day to help beat that sweet summer heat. Fountains spring up from the ground as well as rain down from above. There are plenty of places to climb and leap and take a dip, waterslides to tumble down, as well as small wading pools to lounge about in the sun for the sleepier souls (human and animal alike). There are also some good old-fashioned sprinklers in the grass to jump over! Just make sure to stay back if you'd like to remain dry. They don't call it a splash park for nothing, and this one is filled with eager dogs!

Eustace and Tifa have fashioned a scavenger hunt that will require some sniffing around to find the many treats and toys hidden around the dog park. Stuffed toys, chew toys, squeaky toys, and for the really good seekers, there may be some homemade peanut butter treats tucked away deep in a bush or on top of the highest point of the play park so it's time to team up with a furry friend! A fair warning: if you have any precious items, they may have been mistaken to be part of the game and have been buried somewhere no thanks to Aerona who has a love and a knack for digging. Hopefully you have a companion who can help your search! Happy hunting!

For the more athletic crowd, there is an agility course, an assortment of balls, and several frisbees just waiting to be thrown. Just be careful not to lose them or else you'll have to go find them and return them!

🐈 II. HUMAN MINGLE

Of course, there is lots to do for the humans as well. There is plenty of food and drinks set aside for all. Mainly finger foods like sandwiches and scones, all homemade, but there is a variety of salads and desserts as well, like dog-shaped cookies, cakes, and lemon squares. There are some games that they've brought along as well such as Reverein trivia, charades, and Pictionary—the latter two can be played using dreamotion magic, so feel free to get creative with those!

The splash park portion is not limited to just the animals, so if you'd like, take a dip, cool off, and play around in the water with them!

🐇 III. WOULDN'T BE A PARTY WITHOUT A LITTLE CHAOS

A. DOG GONE-IT. One of the dogs and we won't say who (Edelweiss, otherwise known as Del), has managed to get a hold of one of the sprinklers and is rushing towards the tables and games to get the attention of one (1) Tifa Lockhart who hasn't paid enough attention to him today. Tifa is far too busy to notice, so could someone help catch him before he gets too close and ends up ruining all of the food!? He's fast and elusive though, so he may lead you on a merry chase through the park with the hose and will attempt to spray anyone with it who gets too close.

B. THIS WIND KINDA BLOWS. About halfway through the afternoon, the wind starts to pick up and while brief, it will wreak some havoc on the party. Were you just reaching for that sandwich or that delicious looking lemon square? How about that piece of cake? Too bad, because they are snatched up by the wind too. As will a lot of other things around the park as well—umbrellas, blankets, tablecloths, utensils, plates, and some of the smaller animals. The flower dogs may trigger their defensive abilities: thorny vines, explosive flowers, and rain to help (they really are trying their best) but it will only make things worse, so it's imperative that they are calmed down as quickly as possible before it all spirals out of control.

C. QUICK, I NEED A CLEAN JOKE FOR THIS. After all is said and done, cleanup will be in order. The dog park needs to be left in pristine condition and after that sudden and unexpected windstorm, they can use all the hands they can get. Things have been strewn far and wide across the park and there are even some umbrellas and sprinklers that have made it all the way across the street. Perhaps you've lost a personal item and need help finding it, and there is no shortage of hands and paws to help out.

OOC NOTE: This is a mingle log so top level to your hearts content! All of flower dogs and corgis will be present, so please feel free to interact with and control any of the dogs for all kinds of shenanigans. If you have any questions about the mingle or the dogs, please feel free to poke either myself or Laena on plurk or the game discord!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[During the entire chase, Beat is far too distracted to take notice of the people who had been sprayed by the sprinkler as the dog runs past them. His focus is purely on trying to catch the dog, completely tunnel-visioning on this sole objective. There are a few times he thinks he can catch up but Edelweiss had turned to spray the sprinkler at him more than once, keeping been thoroughly doused and aggravated the entire time.

Finally he stops as he finds the dog hiding behind someone, yapping and barking at him from behind them.]

'Bout time you stopped runnin', punk.

[Yes, he's... talking to the dog. There's so much wasted food around. :c He'd notice the watermelon slices if he wasn't so adamant about catching the little troublemaker. But he does turn his attention to the woman, not looking her in the eyes as he speaks.]

Stay outta this, yo! This is between me an' the dog.

[Tifa, you seem to have found yourself in the middle of a Mexican stand-off between a boy and a dog. Beat may not be growling but he does have his teeth bared, just like Del does at your feet.]

[If she weren't still holding half a plate of watermelons, she'd drop her hands to her hips, but only one goes, the other propping the plate up over her shoulder as Del tries to make a leap at her legs with his front paws, but she's looking at Beat as if he's just grown another head, with an arched brow and a light frown. Just as she opens her mouth to spout out a protest, she feels the sprinkler loop back around to hit her again, and she gives it a firm kick away.

Del barks and growls at Beat, and the other boy might as well be growling back with how angry he looks, and all she can do is stand in the middle and... sigh...]

You two brought me into it, so I won't stay out of it. And he's one of my dogs anyway.

[Now she's speaking like a mother would her two kids—]

One of you want to tell me what's going on?

[Del barks again. Beat is bullying him, mom!!!]

[He lets out a bit of a huff, brushing away some of the matted hair that had clung to his face from the unexpected shower he just experienced. It almost looks like he is about to growl back at the dog but he finally looks up to face Tifa.]

You said he was your dog, right? Punk's been goin' round pointin' that hose at me for the last coupla minutes!

[Beat takes a step forward, trying to psyche Del out. It works as the dog hops back for a second, still in a defensive stance and still barking back at him. It's easy to see that he's looking a little smug after that little stunt of his.]

It's like he has it out for me or somethin'!

[Beat, it's just a dog.]

[Tifa shoots a sharp look back at Del, and he immediately stops his growling and instead whines at her, working his puppy eyes instead. She isn't so easily won over however, so after a moment's deliberation, she bends down to scoop him up under one of her arms while the other still carries what's left of the watermelon.]

I told you, any trouble and there'll be no more treats today.

[She doesn't care if it's his birthday party or not! But Del barks at her, and then at Beat in a "it's his fault!" sort of way, and Tifa turns her attention to him now, the edge in her expression dulling into something more apologetic.]

I promise he doesn't have it out for you. [Del barks in protest, and she gives him a squeeze against her side to urge him to stop. She's trying to defuse the situation here!!!] Can I interest you in some watermelon?

[In other words, would he be so kind as to take the plate from her so that she can properly carry Del back to the party?]

[Seeing the situation unfold, Beat couldn't help but smirk a little at the dog, getting some joy at the fact that he's getting reprimanded by his owner. In fact, it's clear as day on his face as Tifa turns to him and only shifts when she begins talking to him.

With everything that had happened, Beat hadn't really paid much attention to her up until this point. He's glad that the chase is finally over though, especially when this entire plate of watermelon was right in front of him. He wasn't able to take a single bite of the plate he'd stacked up earlier because of Del's shenanigans.]

Yeah, thanks, yo.

[Was that for the food or taking care of Del? Maybe it's both. He takes the plate and immediately bites down on one.]

Ya sure 'bout that? Feel like he didn't wanna let up earlier.

[But the way he says that is in jest with a small chuckle, considering his current state, as he takes the plate from her. It's no surprise that small puddles of water were starting to form around him.]

[Del doesn't seem to think any of this is amusing, and the smirk only eggs him on more. He growls when Beat's hand comes a little too close for the plate, and as soon as Tifa has both her hands free, she readjusts him so that she's cradling him like she's carrying a baby...

And he doesn't seem pleased about it at all and glares up at her like the petulant child that he is, but he calms down quickly enough. Almost too quickly considering the amount of energy he was bounding around with only seconds before...

With a grateful smile, she holds Del a little closer.]

He's just looking for attention. [The dog whines and Tifa sighs.] My attention, actually. Guess I didn't give it to him fast enough. You okay?

Seems like a lot to get your attention.

[Beat scoffs a little at that, taking another bite of the watermelon he was chowing down on. But he stops aggravating the dog, especially now that Tifa seems to have him under control. Besides his clothes sticking onto him from the number of times the sprinkler was aimed at him, Beat looks mostly unscathed.]

I'm aight. Wasn't expecting a shower when I came down but— [He shrugs his shoulders.] I prob'ly left a mess back at the food table though when that dog a' yours spritzed at me. Sorry 'bout that.

[Is this her party? Someone else's? He's not even sure at this point.]

It's fine.

[Although there is a sense of defeat in her voice, the way it slides out of her on a puff of air.]

When you've got this many dogs, you start to get used to the chaos.

[Except it's usually just them and not a whole lot of other people that Tifa has to split her attention between, and it's less chaotic when Del has to fight with his siblings versus other humans.]

Let's get you cleaned up. I've got some spare towels somewhere back by the tables that you can use... and we can get you a new plate of food. I'll get Eustace to take him.

[Del whines... NO, NOT HIM!!!]

[Unfortunately Beat couldn't relate, not having ever had a pet his entire life. In fact, it's never crossed his mind that he could have something like that in this dream world but he doesn't dwell on this thought for too long. Especially after this encounter.]

I'm aight, yo. Leas' for the towels. Just gotta wait for this to dry out.

[If it weren't for the plate in his hand, he probably would've tried to shake away a bit of the water that had clung onto him and his clothes. Hell, he might've even shook all the dampness away much like a dog.

But he perks up at the mention of more food and it's evident by the small smile that makes it across his lips at the mention of it.]

But I'm down for more food if you got 'em.

[But what immediately follows is a furrow of his brow at the mention of handing over the dog to Eustace.]

Wait, you know Wolfie?

[Tifa's in the middle of taking a step to lead him back to the tables when...

...

......

........

She turns, and if her brows could shoot up any higher than they already have, they would. And there's the most subtle hint of her lip twitching, as if she's trying to stifle both a smile and a laugh.]

Wolfie...?

[Seriously??? That sure is a new one.]

He lets you call him that?

[What did this kid do to allow that to happen!?]

[Beat had been too engrossed by his second slice of watermelon that he almost bumped into Tifa when she abruptly stopped. He took a step back, eyes wide and mid-chew in his own surprise.

He sees the look on her face and a grin begins to pull at the corner of his lips.]

White hair, dark skin, got wolf ears on his head, yeah? [He even brings up one hand to head to imitate Eustace's own ears.] Tha's Wolfie, aight.

[Beat is fully aware that the nickname didn't suit the man, but it stuck and he was going to die on this hill if necessary.]

He ain't said nothin' 'bout callin' him somethin' else. So I been stickin' to it.

[The moment that Beat lifts his hand to mimic one of Eustace's ears is the moment that Tifa lets go of her restraint and bursts into a small peal of giggles, and Del tips his head, one of his own ears flopping as he looks at her questioningly.]

I'll have to remember that one for later. [She'll try getting away with it, just to see what he'll do.]
But yeah. I know him. Pretty well, actually. This is our party, after all.

[Beat can't help but let out a snicker of his own as he brings down his hand. He has no qualms spreading the nickname around, even if a bit of it is for the Eustace slander.]

Wait, you for real?

[Someone had missed out on the memo. But all of a sudden, the number of dogs around is starting to make sense. That has been the case for each time Beat had encountered Eustace since he got here.]

Ain't never thought Wolfie'd be the type to throw a party.

[With an enthusiastic nod:] I'm for real.

Actually, the birthday party was my idea. Not that it took much to convince him.

[And she'll continue leading the way back to the tables again, a pleased grin permanently stitched across her lips now that she's got that little tidbit of information. Wolfie... she repeats again in her head, and without turning to face Beat, she muses out loud.]

Has he not mentioned me?

[Beat continues to follow her devouring his second slice of watermelon and going for a third. At the rate he's going, he'll probably clean the plate up. Though Tifa might not see it, he shakes his head, his forehead creasing at her question.]

Naw, he ain't said nothin'. Was he supposed to?

[He doesn't mean to sound rude but he's genuinely curious what that has to do with anything.]

[Not at all surprised, nor was he supposed to. They are both incredibly private people, and she's only teasing a little, so she turns back to Beat with a smile, her dog tag jingling alongside the little yellow charm around her neck.]

No.

[A simple answer, but she falls in stride next to him as the two of them and Del, who growls at Beat when she wanders closer to him, make their way back.]

But if he's their dad, I guess you could say I'm the mom.

[There isn't any initial reaction from Beat as Tifa said that at first. But as they continue walking, it is as if you can practically see him put two and two together. His lips pursed, then his eyes grow, his brows shooting upwards as his mouth begins to hang open.

Then he stops in his tracks and turns towards Tifa.]

Wait! Hold up, yo! You? [The current slice of watermelon still remained in his hand but he uses it to point towards Tifa anyway.]

And him?

[There's a wide motion to point elsewhere with the same watermelon slice, not knowing where Eustace even was.

That's all he's able to manage as he stares at her dumbfoundedly, looking as if this was the most absurd thing he's heard in his life. Yep, he's definitely malfunctioning right now.]

Edited (I wanted to add more things) 2022-08-26 17:50 (UTC)

[Okay, well she was expecting some surprise, but not this much, and Tifa pauses to stare back at him with wide eyes, a little dumbfounded herself. Is it really that absurd?]

Yes...?

[Yet, it still has her almost smiling with that twinge of amusement.]

Why is that so surprising?

I dunno. Guess he jus' kinda seems like he's got a stick up his ass, you know?

[The words leave his mouth without so much as a second thought. But he's able to dial back a bit of the surprise, his expression turning sheepish as he begins to scratch the back of his head.]

I mean, he's aight. Jus' kinda didn't expect it, you know.

[Well, that takes Tifa by surprise, but she doesn't appear to be offended. She knows that he can be a difficult person sometimes—she's had her fair share of days in the past where she's sighed many, many times in his presence, but she always knew that deep down, he is a good man beneath all of that grumbling and ice-cold stares.]

You just haven't gotten to know him enough is all.

[It's said patiently, gently, as she looks across to where she can spot him at the tables they're heading for with several of the dogs at his ankles, as they always are, and there's a fondness and adoration that rests over her eyes.]

Try spending a little more time with him. Listen to what he has to say.

[Beat might be surprised at how perceptive and smart Eustace actually is, stick up there or not. Though, that isn't to say—]

He can be a little difficult at times though, can't he?

[At this time Eustace had been preoccupied with the dogs, many of them looking up at him with eager eyes as he arranges some of the food.]

This is not for you... You have your own table of treats for later.

[There is much whining and even one of them pawing at his leg with the biggest eyes she can muster. All of which Eustace just sighs and finishes pushing the plates further in before looking up to see Tifa and Beat walking towards them.]

Who can be difficult?

[Yeah he still heard that. Granted he's usually quick to key into Tifa's voice to begin with—]

[It's still a bit of a surprise to him to find out that Eustace was with someone if only because Beat's first impression of his was a bit of the gruff side. He has experienced Eustace's helpfulness the handful of times they've seen each other but there's something in the way this woman speaks about him that seems to go beyond that.]

He sure as hell has gotten to know me plenty, yo.

[Beat turns towards Eustace upon hearing his voice.]

Ain't that right, Mr. Bad Touch?

[Oh, that sure is a story to tell, isn't it?]

[Over Beat, Tifa mutters a playful "nothing" at him as he approaches, not fazed in the least by his sudden appearance or being caught. She does, however, raise an eyebrow at the two of them at the "name" as she adjusts Del on her shoulder, keeping him held close as he looks at Eustace and then at the other dogs. He wants down, and tries to struggle free from Tifa's firm grip, but she isn't going to let him go. Not yet, anyway.]

I was just telling Beat about how you and I are getting married.

[No, she wasn't, and is only just breaking that news now, but better late than never, right?]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

thanks for the reminder of that incident, Lae.

no subject