riverviewlogs | I am Sixteen, going on Seventeen (Open

Entry tags:

I am Sixteen, going on Seventeen (Open | Mingle)

who: EVERYONE
what: Lola Pacini's Seventeenth Birthday
when: 4/16 - late afternoon
where: The Sunset Diner
warnings: FUN!
note: This is a Mingle, tag each other, make new CR, it'll be fun! I'll leave some specific places to poke Lola, but if you wanna put in your own top level or whatever... go for it!

It took some haggling, but Lola got her boss to give her the space for a few hours today. Lola did all the set-up (minus food prep, which she wormed out of some of the fry cooks). She took over the sunrise side of the diner. The room of warm oranges and reds, but more importantly it had less booths and more tables. So some of those could be cleared out for the day. S he put soft blue and green bows and streamers everywhere. Put linens over the tables, swept the floor, made sure everything was clean and nice.

She set out some of the food already, serve yourself at one table. Most of it is an attempt at Mexican cuisine but given how the ingredients aren't exactly right she can't really call it authentic. She left a table aside for people to bring foods from home, she's still curious to try things that aren't of her Earth, or of Earth at all. She didn't bother with a table for gifts, she wanted them, but she didn't feel they would happen. She didn't want to get her hopes up. That never ended well.

Honestly Lola doesn't really know what she wants out of this. Friends? Maybe? Or maybe just to make something happen. If some other people become friends at her party that'd be enough.

Right?

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Lola's mingling and rushing over to greet anyone as soon as she spots them, with a hello and thanks for coming. Attempting to be a good hostess but also trying to enjoy her party which is a lot more work than she thought it'd be. She's wearing a simple white dress and a few silvery bits of jewelry in her hair, on her wrists, and around her neck. Something tasteful but otherwise goes with everything.

Her hair, however, isn't the blue it was when she arrived, she's decided for the moment to see how much fun it is to have a lilac color for her hair. Which is new! Her hair wasn't that color when she sent out the invitation to everyone. Overall she is going to enjoy her birthday if it kills her, which is a dubious mindset to have.

To those she knows, she asks about their day, and to those she's never met she... well, would like to know who is at her party. Makes thank you cards easier to fill out.

Sieglinde arrives at the party a little later than some other guests - mostly because she'd been on guard duty until just a little while ago. She hadn't even had time to change into something more presentable; she'd only taken off her armor and gambeson and thrown on a clean cotton shirt - knowing she was already quite late and not wanting to risk missing the festivities.

Which is to say, when she arrives she's looking quite uncute by Lola's standards. Her blonde hair is still tied back in a bun, and her shirt (while, thankfully, clean) is fairly plain. Still, she greets Lola with a friendly smile.

"Please pardon my lateness, Lola, I was on duty until later than I'd hoped."

Fortunately, to make up for her lateness, she's got a contained filled with treats. Fruit-filled strudel, to be specific, that she'd prepared sometime last night before bed.

"I wasn't sure what sort of food to bring to a party like this one, so I went with a dessert. I hope that's all right."

Lola made a face, she wasn't quite sure what Lin was wearing but it wasn't right for a party. That much she could gather. Still, the answer at least covered the why. Lola had more than once had to go straight from work to somewhere else, without getting a chance to change. That much she could understand.

"It's fine, you're here and that's what matters." Lola quickly shifts gears into being a proper hostess, smiling and being her bubbly friendly self, "Let's put the food down over here and we can talk."

Lola's hair has three streaks of dark green on one side now. That... definitely wasn't a part of her look moments ago.

"Very well. I do hope people like them - none of the fruits native to my homeland were available in the market here, so I tried to make do."

She doesn't sound terribly confident - she's a knight, not a baker - but at the very least she sampled them and made sure they weren't repulsive before she brought them here. She sets the tray down, just in time to notice the streaks of green in Lola's hair.

"Oh - have you done something with your hair? I'm not sure if its the light, but it seems a bit different than when we last spoke."

"Well, we've all got to improvise. Nothing is ever going to be exact."

Lola had to get used to salsa not being quite the consistency without a little more work. All of that, but it just meant she got to cook more.

"Yes, I guess someone wanted me to treat myself because there was a coupon for a procedure." Lola beamed, the green had turned pink in the middle of the sentence. Lola tried to glance up at her hair which kept changing. "It isn't quite set though, the cute boy who walked me through it said it takes a week for it to settle and actually listen to what color I want it to be. At least... I think, I didn't really understand half of what he said."

Lola Pacini, took an alien hair treatment she didn't understand because the boy was cute and her hair could change color! How cool would that be!?

Sieglinde stares rapt, as Lola tells the story of how she got the hair treatment. Some might be a bit judgmental that Lola would go and get a bizarre treatment that she didn't understand - but Sieglinde actually understands even less about untested medical treatments than most people, and she generally has faith that the people who offer them know what they're doing.

"Well he certainly did a good job of it. I've never seen anything quite like it, it's fascinating."

Watching Lola's shift as she speaks is like staring at a lava lamp or something. Visually fascinating in a way that she hadn't really ever expected a human being's hair to be. This land is so full of surprises.

"Oh, and it's also quite lovely, of course. It suits you quite well."

Lola's more than pleased at the attention. Proving even if what she did is absolutely the sort of thing Shay and Frankie would tell her not to do, it was totally the right idea for her. Pink seemed to be the color of choice for the moment, a few streaks of white in there.

"I know, there's nothing like it at home. And now I don't have to worry about redyeing my hair!" Which was a lot of work and a lot of time, now she just had to maintain it, the way she liked. "Supposedly there are some things I can do to make my hair a mix of colors that look really cool. As soon as it gets used to my thoughts."

"But... this sort of thing isn't for you, is it?" She didn't really think this was a thing Lin would want. Then again it was exorbitantly expensive if you didn't have a pass like her's.

[2B did receive the invitation and although she was wary at first, eventually she decided to come and see what this human custom of "birthday" is all about.

So there you have it, a strange woman you never saw before, wearing yet stranger clothing. Her movements have a certain fluid elegance to them, but overall she looks uncertain of what she's even doing here and sticking out like a sore thumb in general.]

Ah.

Hello.

[She responds to being greeted.]

*Something about this guest is unnerving. Not... bad unnerving just, like that feeling when you know you did a math problem wrong and you don't know where you made the mistake. Confusing enough Lola's bangs are now a deep purple that isn't the same as the lighter lilac of the rest.*

Hi, come on in, what's your name?

*Well, she won't find out what's bothering her until she talks to this woman, right?*

2B. Just 2B is fine.

[Somehow she feels a full designation would be out of place here. The woman raises her hand in a quick wave.]

You are having a... "birthday", yes?

Yes, this is my party, put it all together myself. ...except I didn't do all the cooking, I got some help there.

It is nice to meet you two-bee.

*Lola is making a face at saying that 'name.' It doesn't feel like a name to her, it feels weird.*

I see.

[She looks around. It sure seems like a lot of effort went into this, at least. 2B grunts quietly.]

Ahem. I'm sorry, I'm not sure what you're supposed to do at a party like this.

I came to see how it is like. If it's alright.

It's a party? You talk to people, get to know them, make new friends!

*This was as much for everyone else as it was for her. Barring Lola was center of attention and liked it that way. But she expected everyone to talk to each other, ask about foods, all of that!*

Why wouldn't it be alright? Is there something I should know?

Ah. Right. That sounds simple enough.

[Simple doesn't mean easy though, especially for 2B. She still looks a bit uneasy, especially when a question is asked.]

No, there's nothing to know. It's just that...

We don't really know each other. Are you fine with it?

*There was still something bothering her, but it was lost with the question.*

Why wouldn't I be? I'm alone here, I don't really know anyone. And I don't want to be alone.

[2B folds her arms upon hearing that statement. Don't want to be alone... doesn't she know it. She considers something quickly.]

I understand.

Well. Everyone here is in the same situation - or, has been upon their arrival.

That means even though everyone is so different, there is at least one shared thing between all of us.

[Was that an awkward attempt at being encouraging? Or trying to start a conversation?]

We have more things in common, I think. I mean, we're all really different. Look at you, you're pretty odd. But- we all want things, right? Need things? We all miss people, and have regrets?

*Lola you got away from yourself again. She pauses and thinks about it.*

But yeah, we're all in this city. We all have that in common. Even if everyone else comes from some pretty out there places.

*Says the girl whose hair has turned mint green during the conversation.*

[The fact that this girl's hair seems to slowly change colors doesn't escape 2B's attention. For now though she doesn't comment, more focused on Lola's words.]

Isn't that the truth...

[She says with a note of longing in her voice.]

Can you describe for me what place you came from?

Um... Toronto is a pretty big city in Canada, they have technology but not all like this. No monsters, no portals, just... a city. A normal everyday city. I go to school, hang out with friends, and work in my dad's restaurant.

*Lola doesn't really know how to describe any of the specifics of the city, it was just home.*

Ah. I see.

[Despite the vagueness, 2B seems to comprehend. She already heard a similar description several times recently, and each time it was used to talk about a similar world.

But, if Lola is from the same kind of world, then there is one thing 2B has to know.]

Am I... really that odd?

Um, I thought you knew? But you seem pretty weird.

*To Lola there was just something off. Not quite sure how to put it, but it didn't bother her. It just was.*

Is that so? I'm just an ordinary...

[She was going to say 'android' here, but she remembers the resistance camp members, sitting around with their old equipment and patched up clothes. Compared to them, she seemed like someone out of this world.]

YoRHa squad member. Or used to be, at least.

It doesn't exist here, or in any other world but mine as far as I can tell.

What the hell is she even doing here?

Aside from hovering around the edges of things and holding a paper gift bag, looking like just about the biggest dirtbag to ever walk the Earth, that is. She's never even met this Lola girl, and having some rando adult show up at her party prolly wouldn't scan well. Still, Mae saw the network post, and she figured she'd be pretty bummed if nobody showed up. Besides, it's not like she's got anything better to do today, right?

Alright, Mae, deep breaths. You're older than her, this is no big deal for you. Steeling her resolve, she makes her way across the diner towards the birthday girl, free hand waving.

"Hey! Uh, Lola, right? Happy b-day! Sweet... seventeen, amirite?" Before she can correct her, Mae thrusts the bag forward for her to take. "Here, these're for you. Sorry it's not anything special, sorta strapped for cash right now." That is absolutely not true, but she didn't know this girl even existed until very recently, so whatever. Inside, Lola will find an assortment of gift cards for local businesses, mostly beauty parlors and bakeries and stuff. Mae's trying to play it safe here.

So, you know, the cat thing, that's a bit startling. And Lola, she means well, but she spends more than a few moments studying and taking in this... creature. Look, she has to get used to a lot! But, eventually the part of her that knows being a host means being polite, like with a customer, takes over.

"Yes, hello!" Whatever confusion, cold judgment, and apprehension she had does melt away at being offered a gift, "Thank you. I didn't really expect anyone would get me anything. I just wanted to meet more people." Well, that and being the center of attention is pretty great, it means you can't focus on some feelings. She's definitely taking stock of the cards she got.

"Oh! This place makes some of the best cupcakes!" Baked goods and beauty products are a good step to Lola's affections.

She wants to say she's used to the weird looks and awkward questions by now, like all that stuff's just sank into her skin and started bouncing off. But it hasn't, it really hasn't, and that few seconds of consideration is enough to make her even less comfortable about this whole proposition. But it's too late to back out now!

Really, "Too Late to Back Out Now" should be the title of her autobiography.

"Yeah, but I'd feel like a complete trashbag showing up to a stranger's party without a gift, so." She makes a grand gesture towards the bag, already being gutted of its contents. "There ya go!" She does not, in fact, feel like any less of a trashbag for having completed this transaction.

"Do they? I tried a couple free samples while I was picking out cards, but I was kinda in a hurry. So, uh, sorry if any of these places turn out to be really crappy, is all I'm saying." Wow, way to instill confidence. Very helpful.

"But you don't really know what I like, I'd rather not get a gift then get a bad gift. Cause I'd feel bad for not appreciating what they did?" Lola's dad was bad at getting her gifts, he just couldn't get how to buy for a teenage girl. He tried, oh he tried, but he never hit the mark. How could anyone here try to hit the mark without knowing her.

"Still, I did invite everyone, so relax, have fun, talk to other people if you want. Um... first, um, you forgot to introduce yourself." That was important, Lola invited everyone on the network so people should just know who she is. Although that might change if people were expecting her blue hair. Right now half her hair was red.

Hopefully Lola is prepared because there will be several hundred pounds of bubbling excitement seeking the birthday girl out. She's a little late, what with her having taken the liberty of doing a little research about birthdays and their celebrations via Riverview's people. The information she received had varied based on a number of facts, but the general gist of it was a simple celebration wherein gifts may be given. Information about the sort of gifts one might give had been just as varied, for that matter, but Líadan likes to think that she's done well enough for the moment, what with the set of carefully wrapped and notably colorful butterfly hairpins she purchased for the occasion.

It's not as good as something she made herself is her feeling and she intends to remedy that at a later date, but for now, she thinks it'll do and that it might be something Lola would enjoy given her care about her hair. And so, Líadan will be hailing Lola with a hand, a bright smile, and a present in her other as she approaches only to stop rather abruptly upon spying a quite notable difference.

"Lola, your hair!" She exclaims, and with nothing short of awe. "Such a vibrant color! How ever did you get it that way?"

Given that Lola is, in fact, about a hundred pounds of bubbling excitement... this is fine. Late didn't bother her, because literally Lola's only concern was nobody arriving. And with people, some even with gifts, she couldn't be happier. She met Lí on her way in, all excitement and smiles.

Even when Lola calms down and tries to play it 'cool' she's still smiling a bit too much, "Oh, what color is it right now?"

Lola how do you- no, no nevermind.

"Not blue, that's for certain," Líadan laughs, her free hand finding her hip as she tilts her head to one side. "It is a purple, though... something bright, like lilac? How don't you know, though? It looks very deliberate to me!"

Very, very deliberate. She doesn't think it's possible to get one's hair a color like that without knowing. Even magick would merit intention, after all.

"Oh. That's the color I wanted it to be," Lola smiled, sometimes it did what it should. It was hard to get used to. The tips however had turned a little darker since Lí mentioned the word 'purple.'

"I got a coupon addressed to me, I assumed it was a gift from someone. It was to get my hair treated. I assumed it was to just touch up my color but apparently it does this now." Lola didn't seem overly bothered her hair was unpredictably changing colors. She was excited and bubbly as she always was.

Did the tips just get darker? It certainly seems like it. Despite her curiosity, Líadan manages to tug her eyes from Lola's hair to Lola herself when addressed again without issue.

"Whoever gifted it to you has a good eye. I think it suits you," she replies, nodding once firmly as she extends the present she's been holding onto with both hands. "I am rather hoping you will find this to be the same. I know you said that we didn't have to bring you a gift, but I wanted to get you something for the occasion and I do hope you'll accept it."

It's Lola's birthday, after all, and while Líadan hasn't known her very long and admittedly doesn't know her too terribly well just yet, she thinks that if anyone is deserving of a present on their special day, as kind as she's been, it's her.

There's a definite look in those big brown eyes, a look of feeling really blessed with all this at the offering of a gift. Lola spends a few long moments staring at Li before taking the gift and putting her attention to unwrapping it. "I didn't want anyone to feel put on to get me something, but... I never say no to gifts."

That earnest look in her eye turned fairly impish with those last words. Lola was very much a girl of possessions, she put pride in how she looked. That meant having all the right tools, "Oh. Em. Gee. These are the cutest!"

Lola quickly went to work figuring out the right place to put the hairpins. As her fingers moved her hair around to put them in place her hair picked random new pastels around her touch. No rhyme or reason to the colors, just an explosion of hues until she finished putting the pins in. It was sorta the same effect of tye dye. Only on hair. "How do they look?"

That initial look makes Líadan that much more glad that she was late for care in her search for something she thought Lola might really, really like. She doesn't quite understand her first declaration upon seeing the gift, but she does understand the second and Lola's visible enthusiasm in putting the hairpins into her hair. She can't quite help that her brows rise at her hair's responsiveness to touch, her smile tugging that much wider for it, and when they're all set?

"They look better than I imagined they would and I imagined they would look nothing short of adorable on you," she says, nodding once, twice strongly. That smile turns to something of a grin. "Dare I say the butterflies may face competition this spring."

With Lola's colors and the fine craftsmanship of the pins, she believes that wholeheartedly.

It feels a little bit weird, attending a teenage girl's birthday party, but Eddie's had enough birthdays alone that he doesn't want to risk her having one of her own, especially so far from home, and especially considering how hesitant her post had seemed. As much as any adult could, Eddie understands the poignant fragility of being a teenager, and how much it can matter to be acknowledged and shown some attention - after all, it wasn't like his own teenage years had been easy.

So he sucks up the awkwardness, reminds himself they'd met and had a pretty good conversation at the rave, and grabs some cupcakes at a bakery and a present for her, then comes to the party. If it's well-attended and she's busy, he can leave his things and duck out. If not, she'll have a familiar face there, at least.

When he steps inside the diner and spots her, he offers a little wave, heads over to leave his cupcakes on the table, and grins as she comes over to him.

"Hey Lola! I saw your post and thought I'd pop in. Sorry I didn't reply to it, but...I brought cupcakes? And this..."

There's no table for gifts, so he holds out a little gift bag containing a leather wrap charm bracelet, infinity looped, with three different cord colours and small silver charms. There's a card from the shop he bought it at with instructions on how to record her fingerprint if she wants it engraved on the charms, while the backs are already engraved with her name. There's also a little gift card that came with it for the price of three or four additional charms for her to pick out.

"I hope you like it. The bright colours reminded me of you."

It's been a while since he paid attention to what teenage girls like, but it seems safe enough, as long as she doesn't think it's childish.

If any part of Lola was concerned about an adult at her party it didn't show, she had that same airheaded smile she usually had going about her day to day life. It didn't mean anything other than she wasn't upset, it grew a little at the word 'cupcakes.' Lola was kinda, well, really easy to please on that front.

"This is a strictly casual affair, I wasn't looking for R.S.V.P.s." Lola offered, her hair had turned copper colored as she walked over. She was only vaguely aware her hair changed from the people watching her. She was inspecting and reading over the charm bracelet. "It's charming, but... I think it might be a few days before I can wear it. I have to think about how to wear brightly colored things with my new hair. That and finding the cutest charms for it!"

Lola. She had priorities. They were... hers.

She seems happy.

Eddie can't help but feel a burst of relief at the way she smiles, inspects the presents, brightens at the mention of cupcakes, and assures him that he didn't have to RSVP. Laughing softly, he shakes his head.

"It's been a while since I've been to a casual party. Not since college, I guess. And I'm glad you like the bracelet. I mean, I hope you do."

A beat, and then-

"Your new hair? I...saw it changing colour. What's up with that?"

If you brought food that's an attempt at your own culture and world's dining, by all means leave a description and details! Or not. I guess.

[Sieglinde's culture is pseudo-germanic, and the food she brought reflects that: a flaky, strudel-like dish of layered dough and fruit, sliced into individual portions for party-goers to partake in.

She wasn't able to find any of the fruits of her homeland in this place, so she attempted to make do with the fruits she could obtain in Riverview. Some work fairly well (a fruit that tastes like a combination of apple and pear) while others are a bit... odd (a multicolored berry filling that seems to crackle in one's mouth like pop rocks).

That, combined with the fact that dessert-making isn't Sieglinde's area of expertise, well... They aren't bad, but they're far from the best thing on the table.]

[2B isn't one for parties or social gatherings in general. She's here anyway, to see how are these things like - and apparently they involve someone she knows, as she finds a familiar face amongst the party goers.]

Sieglinde of Catarina?

[She asks, approaching. Good thing she saw the knight without the helmet before, since she's not wearing her armor here.]

[Likewise, Sieglinde is more than happy to have a familiar face to speak to. As lovely a person as Lola is, it's somewhat awkward to be stuck at a small party like this one when you don't know the people there.]

Ah, Miss 2B! It's good to see you again.

[She gives the android a smile, not even noticing that she's taken to calling her 'miss' again. Force of habit.]

[She waves briefly in a greeting.]

So, this is a party. A birthday party.

I didn't expect to meet you here.

[Not exactly a good conversation starter.]

[Sieglinde just nods at that first part. Yes, this is a party, good job identifying it 2B.]

Oh, well, Lola has been quite nice to me since my arrival, and this party seemed important to her.

[She doesn't know if Lola would consider her a friend, per se, since they hardly know each other at all at this point. But if not, Sieglinde at lease considers the girl something close to one.]

How do you know her?

I don't.

[A quick answer.]

It's like this in many cases here, isn't it?

They arrived here briefly, without even meaning to. They don't know anyone.

That's how it usually seems to go, yes.

[She doesn't actually know that the giant Marvel cast all seem to knows each other. As far as she can tell, most of the people here are the only ones from their universe.]

Is it the case with you as well?

Something like that.

Androids don't really celebrate birthdays. But data say humans used to, so when I received news of one, I've decided to come and see what is it about.

[Looks like 2B doesn't know more than just people. Also it seems she just casually dropped a word Sieglinde may not have heard before.]

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I am Sixteen, going on Seventeen (Open | Mingle)

The Birthday Girl - Open

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A million years late.

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Food Table

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for Sieglinde

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