((OOC: This is Aurum's party thread, for Sebastian, Ghost, Kealey, and Shin. RP arriving, everyone. Aurum'll post last. After the initial posting spree, we can break off into side-threads and visit, or run around. Kealey godmoding approved by Kealey!))

May 5th. The fifth of May. There was a significance to the day, beyond Cinco de Mayo that Shin hadn't realized until he got the super mystery text message of doom 4 days before the date. The message was from a mystery sender named 'Ami'. It gave an address, it gave a time. It said 'bring quarters'. He hadn't known what that meant. Beyond those simple statements, it detailed the cause of the event. An old person was getting older. The sender wished to give him a heart attack. Or rather, surprise the geezer.

It had been detailed kinder than that.

The message past the date, time, and address was as follows:

"To the friends of Aurum! A surprise party! Go there, at that time. Don't tell him about it beforehand. Bring quarters, and prepare for fun!
--Ami"

That was it. How. Mysterious.

He'd gotten the message at the same time as Kealey. They'd been in the library, celebrating her new position, and he'd been studying. A muffled 'Oh' had escaped him, as he pulled the phone free of his pocket lining and lint. A second later, another quiet exclamation was heard. Shin looked up. Kealey had her phone out. Their eyes had met, seriously.

Birthday parties were serious. This was important stuff.

That led to the here and now. Shin and Kealey stepped off the bus, a short walk from the address listed.

As they drew nearer, Kealey's mood grew progressively more cheery.

Shin looked down at what he'd written on his wrist in blue ink. He double-checked the address, just to be sure. What was this 'Ami' figure bringing them into, that'd affect Kealey's mood like that...?

The text Kealey had received that day while perusing her new library domain had been one of the most interesting electronic communications the blond had ever received. Recognizing the sender’s name had done nothing to lesson the mystique of the situation, and neither had Shin’s attitude towards the situation. It was a party, for Aurum’s birthday, and it was somewhere they’d need quarters.

Kealey had spent some time trying to figure out exactly what this place could be, but the only one she’d ever managed to come up with had been a Laundromat. Surely Aurum’s little sister wouldn’t have planned his birthday at a Laundromat. She was still wondering where this mystery party could possibly be when she and Shin marched down the stairs of the city bus.

There were lots of thoughts and feelings rolling around Kealey’s head by that point, as was always the case with trips on public transportation. Shin hadn’t seemed to mind her careening emotions on the ride, and it had been a relief. Not that people had ever been anything less than kind, but Kealey could tell when she was irritating. Shin had only been patient.

Now they made their way towards the address in the text message and with almost every step Kealey found her mood improving. It hadn’t been bad to begin, but now it was climbing slowly through the ceiling. Giddiness permeated her very being and something pure and unadulterated began to surge through her.

The blond didn’t recognize the place they were entering, but something about the enormous grey mouse on the sign suggested they were in a place for children. A giggle escaped Kealey and her step bounced a bit more quickly, the brightly colored present swinging from its bow as she swung it in time with her steps.

”I think this is going to be so much fun!” she exclaimed as they made their way through the doors and into the brightly lit, over stimulating, loud interior of the party place. A giant grey mouse similar in figure to the one on the sign bounded forward and Kealey gave a little squeal, returning its hug with glee.

Kealey Quinn. Meet Chuck. E. Cheese.

When Sebastian heard the tone that meant his phone had received a text message, he did what he always did: waited for Noin Mortman to call him an tell him what was happening. Minutes passed, but no phone call came. Sebastian dialed the number for the Labs and the nine fingered secretary picked up.

“Did I just get a text message from Slate?”

Not that Noin knew of.

Sebastian considered this for a moment, “Can you tell me how to check my text messages?”

Noin would try. She gave Sebastian a simple series of steps to follow and he had to hang up in order to try them.

Two minutes later the front desk phone at the labs rang again.

“Which one is the menu button, again?”

It took ten minutes and four phone calls before Sebastian finally found the text message. He didn't really remember how he'd done it. He would need more practice before he was used to it, probably about ten years worth. Maybe more.

He was still copying down the message onto a nice reliable piece of paper when Jude walked in and asked what he was doing.

“I got a text message inviting us to Aurum's birthday party,” he finished writing down the address and set down the pencil. “Now, I just don't know how to respond and let them know we can come. Are we supposed to call or send a letter?”

Maybe a text message back, the French boy suggested. Sebastian stared blankly at him for a moment, then at the phone. Send a message... back?

Jude understood what had to be done. He took the phone, swiftly pressed a dozen buttons in a sequence that was impossible for Sebastian to follow, then informed him that the message had been sent.

“Uh, thanks. ...Can you show me how to do that?”

--

The fifth of May arrived. Sebastian was no better at sending or receiving text messages than before, but he had managed to find the address of the place where they were supposed to meet. It was a restaurant, of sorts. There was a large cartoon mouse sculpture outside of it. Chuck-E-Cheese, it was called. The inside was a smörgåsbord of sights, sounds, and smells. Lights flashed, bells jangled, and the nearly overwhelming scent of pizza wafted through the air.

Sebastian was as wide eyed as Jude. “I have never been to a place like this before.” The immortal had the sudden urge to be ten years old again.

Maya was skeptical. Why would Aurum, lawyer-man and suave individual, want to go to a Chuck-E-Cheese? And why in the world did the place still exist? Maya, Jude and Sebastian stepped into Chuck-E-Cheese's and stepped ten years back in time. Very little had changed since she had been there ten or so years before.

It was still gaudy. It was still covered in a layer of people juice (yeah, just think on what that means). It still held an unknown power over children.

"Whoa." was a sentiment neatly echoed by Sebastian. >“I have never been to a place like this before.”

"There's a robotic mascot show that plays during dinner."

"Really!?"

Maya's eyes were locked onto one of those round flashing tables where the player was supposed to whack the light as soon as it passed between two other lit up poles. It was mesmerizing. "It uh-sounds a lot more exciting than it actually is."

A little pale hand slipped into another thin, pale hand. Maya led Sebastian past all the ruckus. She thought she saw Shin scratching his head near the ball pit.

He highly suspected something was up. Yes, there was no possibility there wasn't something going down. He was right. There was no room left for doubt. The clues were all there.

It was his birthday.

Ami had asked him for a favor. She wanted him to come with her somewhere. That was shifty.

He'd also gotten Sebastian's text message.

What.

Aurum stared at the door to Chuck E. Cheese's impassively, as his little sister led him on by the arm. "You're kidding... right?" Aurum muttered. This was it? This was his birthday party? The surprise Ami had organized, that Sebastian had RSVP'd for.

Well, R.I.P. surprise. The text message had been a dead giveaway, and this party was lifeless before it even began.

"Don't be difficult, Aurum!" Ami pleaded, tugging his arm again. "You said you'd help me with this. And it's important, so."

With a final tug, he stumbled through the doorway, into the surprising environment. Aurum stared at his friends like a deer caught in a headlight.

Ami turned to smile at him, spreading her arms out towards the entire party. "SURPRISE!! Oh, by the way. You're paying for the bill." That said, she skittered off to greet the other guests. It looked like they'd brought someone about her age for her to talk to. And he was kind of cute.

Aurum sighed, and held his head. "Okay... okay..." He had objections, but he wouldn't voice them now. Shin, Kealey, Ghost, and Sebastian were too nice to ditch, just because the party was at Chuck E. Cheese's.

Speaking of...

He looked at the mouse suit man. He wanted a hug, didn't he? Aurum ran to Ghost for safety. "Hey," he looked to her and Sebastian. "Sorry. Ami must have stolen my phone..."

>>”I think this is going to be so much fun!”

Kealey was practically bouncing! Wait. Nope. She was bouncing. Shin couldn't help but laugh. Then, Kealey met Chuck E. Cheese.

The mouse said hello.

Shin looked around the establishment. Children were bounding here and there, to the annoyance and enjoyment of their parents. Some played Whack-A-Mole, some played Pinball. Air hockey looked fun. Indeed, the vast quantity of games and choices available in this small location was mind-bogglingly awesome! They even had a ball pit.

Shin had never seen a ball pit.

"Kealey, hey Kealey..." Shin grabbed Kealey's hand, steering her away from the nice mouse. A smile was plastered on his face. "Have you ever seen--" Have you ever seen? "A ball pit like this?" He stopped in front of the massive multi-colored pit of children and balls. He was excited for it, and for her if she hadn't seen such a sight? He didn't even notice Aurum's entrance until the mysterious brown-haired girl announced it, so entranced was he by the balls.

>>"SURPRISE!!"

Shin nearly jumped. He spun, and there was Aurum near Ghost. "Oh, hey!" He let go of Kealey's hand. "It's the birthday boy."

More bouncing followed the hugging. There was just so much going on! SO much going on. It was all good, though. People were happy here, with absolutely nothing poisoning it. Children felt like that a lot of the time, and when Kealey could concentrate well enough to look around, she realized there were children everywhere. Somewhere in the back of her mind, the blond could feel long suffering patience and mild irritation coming from the dining area of the party place, but it was all so secondary that Kealey brushed it off without a second thought.

Looking over at Shin, Kealey bounced some more, his enthusiasm was growing too. Kealey giggled almost uncontrollably and wondered if it was possible to die of enthusiasm. She thought she might find out if she didn’t expel some energy soon. Shin grabbed her hand and Kealey bounced along behind him, a huge grin still plastered across her face as she tried to look at everything at once.

”Look at that! This one beeps! That one keeps on blinking. Oh Shin, can we play that later?!” Half formed thoughts kept escaping Kealey’s mouth and every time she looked at something, another thing caught her eye and pulled her attention away. It was distracting, and exciting. Really exciting.

>> "Kealey, hey Kealey...Have you ever seen--A ball pit like this?"


A….huh? Kealey’s almost spastic gaze flitted around, back and forth over blinking lights, the bouncing heads of children, and finally landed on the enclosure…it was filled with hundreds, no thousands of plastic balls. There were children swimming in them! ”No…I’ve never…It looks SO FUN!” she breathed, leaning forward on the balls of her feet.

>>“SURPISE!”

And there was surprise…Shin let go of her hand and turned. Kealey kept staring straight ahead, straight at the ball pit. The enthusiasm was still there. The blond turned her head to look at the birthday boy. He wasn’t happy, and everyone else was They were vastly preferable.

Slowly, Kealey’s hand stretched out, wrapping back around Shin’s. ”He’ll wait.” she said, sprinting forward and dragging him. Into the ball pit they went.

”Wee!!”

This place was way too exciting to experience as an adult. Almost as soon as he wished to be younger, Sebastian felt a couple years melt off. Then, once the process had started, he shrugged his shoulders and let it continue. It didn't take long to shed a decade and a half. He stopped shrinking once he was the same age as Jude. With as much drama as he could muster, he pulled his belt as tight as it would go.

“Last one to the ball pool is a stinky old sock,” he yelled in a voice much higher than his normal one. He grinned at Jude, counted to three in his head, and raced over to where there were already two of their party floating in colorful balls. He reached the edge, jumped, tucked his feet, and hit the colorful orbs like a little white cannon ball with a tail.

“Woohoo!”

As they walked Sebastian was... shrinking? Oh. De-aging. Soon he was young enough not to care what the old lady was doing holding his hand. He pulled away and almost immediately started racing Jude to the ball pit. All that was left in Maya's hand was his ring. He had wriggled out of her hand hold and it was too big for him now.

...She didn't want to think about the implications of being married to a ten year old either.

"Happy Birthday, Aurum!" There were so few adults standing. Shin seemed unable to keep the ball pit under control. Maya was a bit surprised he kept trying. That was, she wondered why he tried at all until she saw a woman's leg sticking up at an odd angle from pit.

"Did Kealey fall in?" Maya played with the ring in her hand as they were ushered to a table with balloons and enough chairs for all. There was even a little cardboard crown with some cheese on it. "Oh, pleasepleaseplease put that on." She had a camera around here somewhere.

Just as soon as he'd gotten there... Sebastian had left for some amazing journey, and forgot his age. Aurum watched him follow Shin and Kealey into that primary color sea with a hint of horror and a hint of wonder.

This was... insanity. Kealey and Shin and Sebastian and Jude in the ball pit? And where was Ami in all this? She'd gone to greet the guests, hadn't she, so right now, she had to be...

Yup. She was in the ball pit, too. Aurum arched an eyebrow. She must've really liked her new friend...

The happy birthday was lost in the confusion, like a lot of comments that day. Aurum shifted his attention to Ghost as they were shoveled into chairs tied to balloons. "Thanks," he replied a bit too late. His attention shifted straight back to the ball pit nightmare, and his smile went crooked. "Though I'd hoped Sebastian would stick around longer..." He couldn't say he approved of the man's convenient forgetting of his age. His eyes dropped to the crown Ghost was pleading for him to don.

He blinked. It seemed Ghosty didn't want to be an old person with him at the Adult's table. That really put a damper on his 'grumpy birthday boy' plan. And it had been so nefarious, too. He'd really thought it had a shot at outlasting everyone's loss of common sense. He picked up the crown, and eyed the cheese on it, then frowned towards the contents of the table.

... And why wasn't there pizza? Would the birthday boy have to order his own pizza and fill his own bill?

Objection...

Ah, well. Aurum rolled his eyes, and donned the cheesy crown. In the words of his mentor, Lonnie, to everything there is... humiliation. He sighed to himself as a trio of happy people approached the table with a couple pizzas and ukuleles... apparently, to serenade him in the Hawaiian Chuck E. Cheese birthday song, because these were some Hawaiian pizzas.

"Nice," he looked to Ghost. "Remind me never to get older."

And the ukulele was out of tune...

His 'Oh hey! The Birthday Boy!' had fallen on deaf ears. Kealey had ignored him, her response, more forceful than he was used to. Shin's eyes widened as he was dragged towards the ball pit.

Leave it to Kealey to take the initiati--CANNONBALL!

>>”Wee!!”

SPLASH

As the sea of balls churned up around him, and Kealey pulled him down like a riptide, Shin was suddenly distracted from thoughts of how strange this was, or how silly they must look amongst the many colors and kids. Sebastian's arrival did nothing to distract him from this distraction, though he noted, in passing, how superior the unicorn-kid's cannonball had been to his own. Shin's triangle eyes were focused on the distraction, as it pulled him along amongst the blue, yellow, and red.

Kealey was...

Kind of adorable, actually, with that childish grin on her face. She definitely needed to smile more.

Shin paddled along after her, amused beyond belief.

"This is crazy," he exclaimed "But maybe, kind of awesome~"

Kealey swam…swam in an ocean of colored plastic balls. There were kids everywhere, and Shin was swimming around too. The bottom of the ball pit felt like a trampoline and Kealey wondered what would happen if she bounced on it. Would she fly and get to land again? That had been so fun, and it really hadn’t been to difficult to convince Shin that it was the right course of action. Then again, she hadn’t exactly given him much of a choice and had physically forced him to follow.

She looked for him, he was smiling. He felt…amused. That was enough! Kealey dove back into the kids’ emotions. There were more and more people joining in the fun, Kealey thought she recognized Aurum’s sister from the brief moment she’d seen the girl after they’d walked in, and there was a boy with a horn on his forehead. That was neat! Kealey wondered for a moment about something, then swam towards him with a red plastic ball in her hand.

”Hi.” she said, then artfully skewered the ball on the horn. It was followed by a blue, and finally a yellow. ”That’s much better!” she said, ”Bye!”

Kealey swam back to Shin, just in time to hear him comment that what they were doing was crazy. Crazy, but maybe awesome. Kealey shook her head and laughed, completely full of glee, ”This isn’t crazy! Can’t you feel it? How can anything that feels this fantastic, this….innocent, be crazy? Awesome…yes. Very…definitely…awesome.”

There were still grumpy people about, though, and Kealey could spy one of them through the mesh netting that kept the balls…and children, in the ball pit. Aurum. It was his birthday…why wasn’t he having any fun. Kealey frowned, parade getting rained on more and more steadily.

”Shin.” Kealey said, ”We have to make Aurum happy too.”

It was difficult to walk in the ball pool, much more difficult that walking in water. Under his bare feet (he'd jumped right out of his shoes, apparently) the balls felt weird when he stepped, like they were going to squish and break somehow. It was easier, the little unicorn boy discovered to simply swim, even though it wasn't very deep. The best, though, was floating.

An older girl, just as smiley as he was feeling, swam over and decorated his horn with three of the balls. It was silly, but kind of fun. He'd leave them there for now. He wondered if Maya could see him.

“Ghosty!” He stood as best he could without squishing any balls and looked around. He spotted her at a table. “You should come swimming, too! See?” He pointed at Shin and Kealey, “They're having fun!”

Something round and wiffly hit the back of his head. The unicorn boy turned to see an mischievously innocent grin on Jude's face. So that's how it was going to be. Sebby picked up a ball and tossed it at the dark haired french boy just as he ducked out of site behind Shin. Oops.

Aurum's crown sat jauntily on his regal brow. Ukuleles twanged away in a tune of their own and pizza with pineapples slid in front of him before he could summon them. There were even royal jesters in grass skirts attempting a humorous tune.

So why was the birthday boy so grumpy?

Humiliation. That's why.

Maya couldn't help but smile. Suddenly having a party at a Chuck E. Cheese's did not seem so bad. For her. "Ami made me promise to get your bad side." Ghost snapped a photo with Ami's camera and Aurum looked even grumpier in miniature. Which made Maya smile full size.

>“Ghosty!”

A high pitched voice that she did not recognize called her name. Well, called a name that she responded to. Maya put the camera down for a moment and looked for the origin of the voice. She spotted baby Sebastian balancing three balls perfectly on his... oh wait. They were impaled on his horn.

>“You should come swimming, too! See? They're having fun!”

He motioned to Shin, who was now in the ball pit, and Kealey who had an expression on her face as if she had just been gifted with a pony. Amber eyes flicked back to Sebastian. Nope. He was still a little boy.

"No thank you. They've just delivered the pizza and it just smells sooooo good. Besides. Someone has to keep teh birthday boy company." Especially now that the ukuleles were finished with their birthday twang.

"Eat up, Aurum. These kids have got no sense of propriety. After they get their hands on it, there is no guarantee that you'll get more."

>>"Ami made me promise to get your bad side."

Somehow, he didn't doubt that. Aurum put his hands on his hips, and glowered. Somewhere beyond them, in the ball pit, Ami shot an exaggerated thumbs up.

>>“Ghosty!”

Aurum's eyes swung to Sebastian. "..." He blinked at the man's request. Was everyone going to go ballpit diving on his birthday? And why was he wearing horn shish kabob? The primary colors did nothing for his complexion.

He rolled his eyes back to Ghost, still ignoring the ukulele people. Maybe if he ignored them, they'd go.

The lawyer was all-too-thankful when Ghost decided not to join her husband in his retreat. Even more thankful when the singers and dancers left.

Ugh, finally.

Ghost told him to eat up. The birthday boy needed no reminders that kids like Ami were ravenous eaters. "Good idea," He said. "Ami's a piranha when it comes to pizza..." He grabbed a slice of Hawaiian on a paper plate, and a couple of napkins. The crown slipped slightly on his head as he brought the slice up to his mouth. "... Silly thing." He readjusted that crown, then, put it on the table. Far away. So far. In the trashcan beyond the table, actually. He threw it. "Let's get as much of this down as we can. It's on my bill, apparently..." He said to Ghost.

In the pool, Ami chased after Jude behind Shin. "Hey," She smiled. "Let's have a ball fight! Return fire!" Sebastian had already started the battle. Ami ducked for a red delicious death orb, and hurled it the unicorn-boy's way. She wore a vicious grin on her face. He had to realize, this meant war!