open | i'm with the party rock crew

[vaccination]

WHO: You, Jesse Pinkman, and some party people.
WHERE: A conveniently located park in Heropa.
WHEN: Saturday.
WHAT: Jesse's birthday! Turning 12. Feel free to tag in wherever or make your own sections.
WARNINGS: God only knows.

NOTE!!! Anyone is welcome to come, whether they replied to Skye's post or not. Stumble into a party, assume they saw the invite, whatever!

[For a last minute thing thrown by a two people who don't have much experience with birthday parties, it's all come together pretty well. Nevermind that they actually didn't have a place to hold the party until not too long ago (minor detail), but hey, that's what public parks are for. Covered seating, a hearty amount of streamers and cheap, brightly colored table cloths, food scattered around the tables--this is probably what a birthday party for a younger kid would look like.

Whatever, it's charming.

There's a man made lake and a few fire pits for cooking nearby, though it looks like meat was probably forgotten in favor of baked goods, chips, dip, pizza, soda, and beer.

If one pays attention, they may catch sight of Ellie and Skye exchanging high fives throughout the party. Well done, ladies.]

Comments

[shittybirthday]

[ Joel turns up late to the party. He's missed the whole surprise part, anyway; everyone seems kinda settled in and enjoying themselves as Joel heads for the covered seating area.

It was his birthday yesterday. His birthday always does a number on him, but yesterday - yesterday was bad. Yesterday was full of memories of Sarah and of his little dying in his arms, and today - well, today is full of memories of the aftermath of losing Sarah. To anyone else who doesn't know Joel well, he just looks like his usual surly self. To anyone who knows him well enough, the pronounced haggardness in his hard, world-weary face perhaps reveals that maybe there's something more going on.

In any case, he's decided to bring himself to the party because as much as he dislikes how fond Ellie is of Jesse, she did help put this thing together and apparently, according to Skye, she made a cake. Joel knows Ellie more than well enough to know how happy she'd be even if he just told her she did a good job. And Joel did promise Ellie that he would at least try to make a little more of a conscientious effort with her friends, even if he despises them. Not that he despises Jesse, but it will forever rub Joel the wrong way how close Ellie and Jesse are.

And as much as Joel would prefer to be left alone, maybe at least making an appearance at this thing will in some way help take his mind of stuff he no longer has the energy to dwell on.

So, here Joel is, dressed in nothing particularly special and approaching the party area looking kinda hesitant and like he's not especially thrilled to be there. He comes to a slow stop just at the entrance of the covered seating area and glances around awkwardly.

He is actually clutching a present in his hand for Jesse, though. It's half-heartedly wrapped in a brown paper bag, like Joel had just grabbed whatever and stuffed it in there. No card or anything, of course. Just a crude paper bag. ]

[vaccination]

Hey, you made it. [Ellie is absolutely thrilled to see Joel here, even though she stressed that he didn't have to come if he didn't feel like it. Things are rough for him right now, and though Ellie wanted him to be there, she wasn't going to force him. She'd been planning on ducking out soon to go back and check on Joel, but him being here means she can stick around for a little longer and make sure he's alright.

She approaches him with a measured smile. No need to bounce all over him like Lucy.]

Hungry? C'mon, you gotta try the cake.