(no subject)

[samahl]

WHO: Anyone who wants to come!
WHAT: Cyril plans a surprise party for Sam and Kirk
WHEN: This Saturday
WHERE: Sam and Kirk's home
NOTES: This is the party Cyril started planning here. I'm going to include two header comments for prep before the party, and for Kirk and Sam to come home so everyone can enjoy the 'Surprise!' moment, otherwise, please treat this like a normal mingle post, put in your characters enjoying the party and tag around!

Cyril was pleased with how many had wanted to help with this party. Christine had offered to distract both Kirk and Sam. Adasse had put together some tasty potatoes. Korrin had arrived to help arrange furniture to use the space better for a crowd and had brought spiced wine and sweets. Anders had helped with decorations.

They had done well, even with the food shortage, and the house smelled inviting thanks the the work of everyone coming together.

Comments

Prep - Before the Party

[samahl]

[Before the party, Cyril and those willing to help have to clean and decorate for the party. Feel free to use this space for everything before the party - No need to keep it to one thread.]

Surprise! - Kirk and Sam arrive back home

[samahl]

[Please keep this one to one thread, to give everyone a chance to surprise Kirk and Sam once they come back home!]

{ locked to Sam and Jim }

[aceso]

Christine had told Cyril she would distract the birthday boys so others could have the time needed to decorate their place, but she needed a good reason for the pair of them to leave the warm, inviting house to venture out far enough away that they couldn't swing back around home to fetch anything. In the end, her excuse wasn't the most brilliant bit of subterfuge she's ever done, but it's worked well enough.

"Hm, no... I do not think that will do," she says, a knuckle curled against her chin in thought. The three are standing in her office in the Gallows, and the men have just moved her heavy wooden desk across the room... for the third time.

"I feel the window is not shining enough light on the center of the desk now, but it must face out towards the door and I cannot have my body block the light when I am seated." She points to another spot. "Maybe over here at the opposite angle?"

[el_tybs]

It's a good thing he likes you, Christine. It was very tempting to say 'no' and not leave the warmth of their home. Not to mention that Jim had just had his nameday and Sam was looking forward to spending some quality time. Not that they didn't already do that. But he does like his Orlesian based almost sister, so he'll help.

Which he's starting to regret, because how many times does one need to move a desk?

"You know the light is going to change angles through the day..."

Sam and Kirk Will Respond Separately Beyond This

[universal_charm]

The muffled sound of voices could be heard on the other side of the door, somehow making their way out between the sounds of enthusiastic kissing. A sharp bump against the door suggested one of the outside party had been shoved against the wood, warm laughter following.

"Okay, okay, let me get the door..." said one, perhap Sam.

Fumbling, the jiggle of a handle, finally the click of a lock, all accompanied by the press of kisses to skin - loud, lewd, and unasahmed.

"Kirk, really, people will see..." Definitely Sam, though he laughed, even moaned, at the attention Kirk was paying him.

The door creaked open at first, then slammed as Kirk shoved Sam inside, clutching at his jacket and holding the mage close, ravaging his mouth while his foot reached back to search for the door and kick it shut. Both of them blissfully unaware of the others waiting - and now being treated to a most scandalous sight.

[universal_charm]

"For a medic, you sure are trying to find ways to make me put out my back," Kirk grumbled, leaning against the desk and giving Christine a rather unimpressed look.

He had never thought her quite this fussy and demanding before. This felt like the antics of a spoiled brat rather than the more pragmatic and empathetic Christine he knew, which had little bells in his head ringing. He couldn't say quite what he thought was going on, but something smelled fishy.

[samahl]

Cyril probably should have guessed that Sam and Kirk would come into the door with their hands all over each other. Usually, when ever he was witness to them kissing or touching it filled him with an indescribable warmth and pleasure, but in this moment? All he could think is how embarrassed Sam might be to have their friends all see.

"Surprise!" he called out, trying to shock them both into letting go. Hopefully others would join in too.

He'd remember to apologize later, and offer some way to make up for it once the guests were gone.

[aceso]

In her struggle to keep this distraction going as long as possible, Christine hasn't really thought this through enough to head off statements like Sam's. He's absolutely right, and Christine struggles to hang on to her composure, lest he see how he's flummoxed her.

It's in moments like these that she envies her mother's ability to breeze over anything having to do with logic or good sense. Christine will simple have to channel the woman as best she can.

"Yes, I realize that, Sam. But I am looking for the ideal location that will keep the best light for as long as it can, before it changes angles." Look, don't question her, all right? This back-breaking labor will be completely worth it in the end; you just don't know it yet.

"Lift with your knees, Jim, not your back." It's meant to sound encouraging and not bossy, because the goal is to keep them here and not let them run off in a huff. Or -- with the way things are going so far -- hobble off in a huff, muscles strained.

"Now, I am sure that this spot will do nicely." Again she gestures to the place she's already indicated, knowing full well that she can't keep this up for much longer. "And once you are done, you will of course sit while I make you some tea. I will not have you going back out into the cold without hot tea in your stomachs."

[el_tybs]

Sam likewise is taking a moment to lean against the desk, cheeks puffed out as he slowly lets out a long breath while wiping at his brow. His arms and upper back were starting to strain with all the back and forth; it was tiring work.

"Might have to get us some balm, too. How did they even get this table up here?"

[crowncitizen]

There was no way Prompto was missing tonight. He likes all three men a great deal; they've all been good to him and helped him out in the ten months he's been here. He wishes he could have done more to help, but he did manage to wrangle a bottle of whisky in, along with his gifts to Kirk and Sam.

A) He's in an elated mood, to say the least. There's a perpetual smile on his face as he mingles, sampling the food and drink and chatting up people he knows - or maybe even someone he doesn't. There's a bit of bravado to him that's not usually there. If you're a friend, he'll come up and nudge you and say hi. If he doesn't, he'll likely open up with a greeting and a question, "How do you know Jim or Sam? Or are you here for Cyril?"

B) Eventually he'll meander his way up to Sam and or Kirk, holding out his presents for them. "Happy Birthday! Or uh, name day. Whichever one you like!" He grins, hoping they his gift. Inside they'll find photographs of Jaylah and the cats, taken by Prompto and with frames made by Cyril.

[samahl]

Cyril overhears Prompto asking people about their relationships to the people who live in this house and finds the idea terribly amusing.

Eventually, he slides over to Prompto. "I'll have you know, if anyone was here for me a lot of the men would be far more undressed."

[crowncitizen]

Of course, Cyril does this when Prompto's in the middle of taking a drink. Which he nearly chokes on and coughs up at the remark, stuttering up a laugh as he coughs and tries to clear his throat. "You know what I meant," he said in between coughs and chuckles. "But hey, you've got a birthday sometime, right?"

[samahl]

Cyril chuckles gently and rubs Prompto's back a bit to make sure he's okay as he catches his breath.

"My name day is in the summer. In Ferventis."

[crowncitizen]

He'll be fine. Soon. Eventually. Once his lungs decide they don't need to forcefully evict themselves from his chest via his esophagus.

"Ferventis... ahhhhh... which number month is that one?" It doesn't ring a bell to him, though he doesn't have all the month names in Thedas nailed to memory yet.

[universal_charm]

Kirk jumped, nearly knocking teeth with Sam at the shout. At first he is on the defensive, muscles tense as he scans the room and then it sinks in after a moment what's happening. Even he had the good decency to blush some, because he and Sam had been going at it rather heavily and he knew the front of his pants were showing that - at least a little bit. Amazing.

"What's all this?" he asked Cyril, though he could fathom what it might be given the proximity of two dates.

[universal_charm]

"And something to eat. We're burning calories like no one's business and we need those to keep warm," he breathed out, a light sheen of sweat on his forehead. He was a fit man, sure, but even the fittest man would get worn out moving a desk all over for a few hours.

"Magic. Dark magic," Kirk answered Sam, glowering at the desk.

[universal_charm]

Kirk smiled when Prompto came up, glad the other had come to the party - even though he had not been expecting a party at all, but still, it was appreciated. He takes the offered gift and opens it, grinning when he sees the contents.

"You have quite an eye, Prompto," he praised, laughing at one of Jaylah and the cats being cute together, Jaylah in the middle of it all naturally, prima donna that she was.

[aceso]

"Of course. I will send someone to the kitchen to fetch you both a snack." She can't go herself and run the risk of them running off back home before the proper time. "I will put the water on the fire," she adds, moving towards the fireplace, but stumbling halfway there. Straightening up, Christine moves carefully to a chair in front of the fire to sit for a moment, glancing back at the men in the hopes they didn't see that and are still focusing on the desk.

[el_tybs]

"Dark magic indeed. Maybe we need some of it right now." Get that to move the desk around.

Unfortunately Christine, since they are somewhat taking a break, Sam does notice the slight stumble. He doesn't say anything about it, but he's definitely got a raised brow on you when you turn back.

[el_tybs]

Sam likewise starts at the sudden shout. Seeing as his back is turned to the rest of the room he isn't sure what is going on, but judging by the look on Jim's face-

Keeping his back to the room, dreading what he's about to find, Sam eventually, slowly, turns to peek over his shoulder. His cheek were already red from the cold and from kissing, but it definitely turns a shade brighter at the group of people now looking at them.

There's definitely a thought about how quickly he can get out the front door or questioning how quickly he can make it to the stairs.

[crowncitizen]

"Thanks! Glad you like it." He figured it was a pretty good bet, but you never know. "Cyril helped out with wrangling them and getting them to pose."

[universal_charm]

"Something told me that sneaky thing would be in on this."

His words are warm though, clearly affectionate towards the elf and especially the gift. He set the gift aside and wrapped his arm around Prompto in a quick hug.

"Thank you, Prompto. I love it. I'm glad your camera can work here, too."

[universal_charm]

Naturally Kirk saw it too. But like Sam he is wise enough not to say anything, though he does have a snarky remark on the tip of his tongue. Still, he kept it behind his teeth and instead slumped himself over the front of the desk, folding his arms beneath his chin like a pillow.

"Should we be honored she's going to make the tea herself?" he inquired of Sam, though it is definitely pitched so that Christine could hear it too.

[aceso]

Averting her eyes, Christine smooths her hands across her lap. Let them think she tripped over her own feet than what's really going on. Which is... something she can't explain. A sudden weakness in her legs. Maybe she's inherited her mother's ailment. It's hard to say when Faith can't see anything wrong inside her. But it passes soon enough and Christine flexes her calf muscles to make sure she feels strong enough. Everything seems back to normal, so she moves to the fireplace and places a kettle of water over the flames.

As much as she'd like to give Jim a smart remark back, this subterfuge is all for him and for Sam. So she bites back anything she might say that will cause him to either leave or get into a verbal back-and-forth and instead pulls a long, tasseled cord on the wall that will send a runner up to her office in a minute or so. Then she can ask them to bring up some light fare for her hardworking movers.

"It is possible the desk was brought up in parts and assembled in the room," she finally says, preparing a tray with mugs and sugar.

[tar_minyatur]

Elros has only met Jim once, and Sam not at all, but he liked what he saw very much, and birthdays are meant to be celebrated!

He has no idea what to do for a gift, but he's brought something small, neatly wrapped in brown oilcloth to keep it dry on the trek through the snow. He'll be looking for Jim, mostly, but he's always happy to make new friends.