witchesreign | 003 [BBS PMs/Action] {backdated to Tuesday Morning}

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003 [BBS PMs/Action] {backdated to Tuesday Morning}

[BBS PM to: Damian Razem]

I'd like to speak to you; please come to the cafeteria during lunch hour.

-Instructor Lightning Farron

[BBS PM to: Fang, Sazh, Serah, and Vanille]

It's Hope's birthday on Saturday, and Snow and I are planning on throwing him a surprise party in one of the classrooms. We could use the help, if you want to help, but I know he'd appreciate you all being there. Just let me know if you can help or not; there's a lot that still needs doing before then.

-Lightning

[Action: Dorms, Hall 2, Room 220]

[As just about everyone knows, construction is about to begin, and just about everyone's packed. Lightning is as well, as evident by the near overstuffed bag on her bed. So why, if her bag is packed, is she on her hands and knees on the floor like she's looking for something? Seems a little concerned, too.]

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[Honestly, Damian's not very sure what he did to get a PM from an Instructor, but he's in the Cafeteria at the requested hour. Not bothering to get food, he instead waits for her politely by the door.

Once he sees her, he waves and gives her a polite nod.] Instructor Farron? You wanted to see me?

[As soon as Damian speaks, Lightning's attention is drawn towards him and she nods in return.]

Yes. Thanks for coming down here.

[And, guessing that he's probably confused as to why an instructor would ask him down here...]

You can relax; you're not in trouble. This is about Hope Estheim.

[Damian might note that upon mentioning Hope, Lightning's voice seems to get a touch fonder; trouble isn't afoot this time.]

[Oh thank god, he thought he was being brought in for something else entirely! Damian relaxes as he places a hand over his chest. Okay, so this's about his roommate... and from the sounds of it, Hope's good friends with her.]

Oh, okay. So what about him?

It's his birthday this Saturday. I was wondering if you knew any of his friends to make a guest list.

[Damian, if he's friends with Hope like Lightning is thinking he might be, would be on that list as well.]

[Wait what.] It's this Saturday? Jeez... he never said anything about it! [Totally making a mental note to scold him about it later... but thankfully, he's distracted by the thought of a guest list.]

Yeah. I can prepare that, no problem. Do you need help with food too?

[Huh. Odd that Hope never told his roommate about that...then again, it did take a while for him to tell Lightning about it.

So she'll just nod, then pause in thought for a moment. Maybe...]

You wouldn't happen to know how to bake a cake, would you? That's the only other problem we might have.

[In retrospect, it might've been mentioned once or twice... but Damian was too stubborn/oblivious to hear it.

Damian can't help smirking.] Actually, I'm pretty good at it. Though if you don't want mine, I know Alfred Pennyworth and Tiana also make pretty good cakes.

[Either way, they did still have a few days to plan it all out, so there wasn't much need to be concerned about it.

That smirk, on the other hand...well, it does get Lightning wondering just what kind of person this Damian is.]

We're a bit pressed for time, so tracking down other people and asking them might be out of the question this year. Especially with all the construction going on.

[But she would be noting those names down; there were five other birthdays among her family. Always room for more cakes.]

[Ah, right.... the dorms are off-limits for the time being. Damian nods.]

Got it. I'll get the cake done too in time for the party. What time were you thinking of having it?

In the evening, after classes are over. That way we have access to one of the classrooms and can have everyone together easier.

[Not the soundest plan, but it's better than everyone piling into the Inn and making a giant mess.]

[Damian doesn't see anything wrong with this plan--especially since he'll be able to eat by that time. (Darn Ramadan and its interfering with daytime plans!)] Got it.

I'm sure it'll be schway, especially since Hope's got metaschway family like you to help him out. [Day doesn't really mince words when it comes to family - or at least, his definition of the word.]

[For a moment, Lightning tilts her head in confusion at that unknown word; "schway" isn't in her vocabulary, but the context is pretty clear and she nods after the moment passes.]

We'll see how it goes when it happens, but I don't think we'll have any problems. You'll let me know when the guest list is finished?

[Just so she knows how much food to get; Snow can eat enough for three people, at least.]

Easily. I'll send you a PM the moment I'm done.

[While he's not on super-duper great terms with Hope, Damian knows enough (or will know enough) to compile an entire list in a couple of hours.] Which should be after iftaar - I mean, when I break my fast - this evening, if that's okay?

That's fine with me.

[She does mean those thanks; alone, she's pretty sure she'd have found a way to get a guest list done, but Damian should know who Hope hangs out with better than she does at the moment.]

I'll let you get back to what you were doing. Thanks for all your help.

It's really nothing, Instructor. [The smile this time is totally and completely genuine.] I'm sure Hope'll enjoy his party.

[He turns to leave, but glances over his shoulder:] Hang on.. is it a surprise party or not? I don't want to ruin it if it is.

[And there's the thing Lightning had a niggling feeling she was forgetting. What's a surprise party without the surprise?]

It's a surprise. He might figure it out before then, but the longer we can keep him in the dark, the better.

[He can do that. If he's kept Hope in the dark about his superhero life for the past few months, he can certainly do it for one surprise party.]

Got it! That shouldn't be much of a problem. [Still, he can't help smirking a little as he waves before heading off for real. Maybe he should work on those genuine smiles one of these days.]

Liiiiiiiightni—

Oh..!

[ She'd seen the PM on the BBS and had decided to come talk to her in person instead of trying to message back and forth there; the BBS was fun and convenient, but it was just so much easier to come talk in person! That, and, since it was a party they were planning, they had a lot of ideas to throw around and preparations to be made.

She hadn't expected to walk in to Lightning being on the floor.

Vanille enters the dorm, leaning down slightly to try seeing what Lightning is. ]

Looking for something?

[Lightning looks up as Vanille enters the room, but then looks back to the ground as the other woman leans beside her. All Vanille's going to see is the floor and a rather frustrated Lightning.]

My necklace. It was on the nightstand when I was packing but I can't find it now.

Hm. [ She straightens and turns, checking the nightstand herself. ]

Necklace, necklace... [ Bouncing on her tip-toes, she tries looking over it to see if it fell on the other side, or something like that. ]

You're sure you didn't put it in your bags, yet?

[There's no sign of the necklace behind the nightstand either, and Lightning has ducked further to look under her bed, caring little for any dustbunnies this stirs up.]

I'm sure I didn't. I never pack that one away.

[It's really just...too important to pack and risk damaging.]

Don't worry, we'll find it! It's gotta be in here somewhere...

[ She bends down to check the area near the bottom of the nightstand, up under it.

Vanille cringes when her hand gets dusty. She doesn't mind dirt where it belongs, but... ]

Eugh...

Yeah...it's not like it could be anywhere else.

[The dust, on the other hand, is everywhere; Lightning sneezes lightly while still under her bed, not noticing Vanilles sound of disgust because of that.

But amidst all that dust and dirt, Vanille just might feel a sturdy chain that can only belong to the necklace that Lightning is rarely seen without. It did somehow end up kicked under the nightstand after all.]

[ Vanille gives Lightning's backside a sheepish look— she probably hadn't cleaned up in here since she'd gotten here, had she? Vanille was no neat freak by any means, but she managed to be a least a little tidy... Of her and Fang, one of them had to be, right?

She's about to comment that, at least, since the dorms are being renovated she won't have to worry about the dust anymore— but her hands glance over something metallic in the midst of all of that dust before she gets a chance. ]

Ah! I think... I might have... Nnn... Hah! [ She slips her hand in deeper (suddenly unbothered by the dust) and wraps her fingers around the pendant, pulling it out slowly. ]

Got it! [ She slides backwards onto her knees, sitting on them before blowing gently on the necklace, the dust covering it billowing out into the room. ]

There we go. Got a little dirty, didn't you? But at least it's not lost!

[Oh, Lightning had cleaned, just...not under the stuff. A year out in the field and anyones first thought is "shower", not "clean your room".

Of course, Vanille saying she found the necklace has Lightning ducking back out from under the bed in time to end up with a face full of dust and dirt, so it's no surprise that she ends up sneezing again. No surprise at all, either, that she smiles faintly once that has passed, relieved to have it back.]

Thanks, Vanille.

[ Oops! ] Eheh... Sorry!

[ She would have blown in the other direction if she knew it was going to catch Lightning in the face. Either way, she extends her hand out with the necklace cradled in her palm, chain left dangling. ]

No problem! I would have wanted help, too, if I lost something important. [ And helping each other is what family is for, after all. ]

Ah, so... About... Hope's birthday?

[Lightning shakes her head, but the faint smile remains even as she takes the necklace, putting it back on and letting the pendant fall to her chest before she stands, offering Vanille a hand to stand up.]

You wouldn't happen to have experience in throwing surprise parties, would you? I've...never done it before.

[ Vanille takes the offered help, popping up and brushing her knees off. ]

Umm... Not really. But, it can't be too hard, can it? All we have to do is set it up and not tell him what's going on, right? And then... Surprise!

It should be easy!

It should be, but Hope's smart. I wouldn't be surprised if he catches on before we're ready.

[They might be able to keep him busy with plans for a dinner out in the town, but...well, Vanille's good at distractions.]

Do you think you could keep him busy until Saturday? Just so he doesn't get suspicious about what we might be doing.

Keep him busy... [ She has to think about it for a moment... ]

Yep! I think I can do that. He should be sort of busy with classes, too.

That's what I'm counting on. [It's one benefit to classes continuing through the construction period, at least.]

Still. There's no point in taking chances now.

I'll do my best! But... Ah, you need help with anything else?

[ She still has a lot of stuff leftover from making so many Homecoming posters, after all. ]

Finding decorations would be a good idea. I don't think we have time to make many by hand and have enough by then.

[She's technically speaking of just a few balloons, but still. Anything can be helpful.]

Well... We have a little bit of time. [ Enough to make a big 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY HOPE' banner, or something! ]

I have a lot of stuff left over from homecoming, so... Maybe I can do something with that?

Sis?

[Seeing her sister in person beat an exchange on the BBS any day.]

Did you lose something?

[Shutting the door behind her, she heads over to where Lightning is on the floor and kneels down beside her.]

Maybe I can help you find it.

[When Serah enters the room, Lightning looks up and smiles faintly in greeting, then moves to sit back on her heels. It should be immediately obvious to Serah that Lightning's necklace isn't where it should be, hanging from her neck.]

Maybe. You don't see my necklace, do you?

Not yet.

[She settles down onto the floor and starts to look around.]

Do you remember when you had it last?

[With Serah looking around, Lightning has ducked down to peer under the bed at the dustbunnies. She...never really did clean around here.]

It was on the nightstand when I was packing, but when I turned around it was gone. It must have fallen but I can't find it.

Hey, I'll be happy to help with anything you need. After all, the kid needs to enjoy his birthday.

You can also count on me being there.

Yeah. I'll take any break I can from grading papers. 

Now how much food are we talking about bringing in?

No kidding.

Right. Shouldn't be too hard to get everything moved if that's the case.

Now that you mention it, I'm not either. Maybe one of us could distract him while we get things moved.

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003 [BBS PMs/Action] {backdated to Tuesday Morning}

action; cafeteria

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Action; Dorm

Action; Dorm

Re: Action; Dorm

Action; Dorm

BBS PM

BBS PM

BBS /slides in late

BBS /luffs anyway

BBS <333

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