So cute...

As he'd paddled, he couldn't help but note the gleeful skewering.

This was wild. Even in his craziest dreams, he couldn't have imagined a situation like this. According to Kealey, though, it wasn't crazy! Awesome, yes. Carefree and good, yes. And innocent.

"Whatever it is, it's indescribable," He laughed. "I don't think--"

>>“Ghosty!”

His attention snapped to the unicorn skewer. A moment later, a blue ball hit him in the face. Sebastian had hit him. Shin blinked. "Ow... oh, hey. Pizza." Triangular eyes locked on the slice in Aurum's hand, suddenly distracted by good food.

Behind him, Aurum's sister and Jude were planning a war. He didn't even know.

"Maybe we should go cheer him up..." Shin grinned at Kealey. "And maybe, get a slice?" He grabbed the frowning woman's hand, and started sloshing through the ball pit, towards the exit.

As they reached the opening, it started hailing balls. Kids all around the pit had latched onto Ami's good idea.

On the fifth of May, 2010, War had begun.

There was a war going on, Kealey didn’t like wars very much. In fact, Shin quickly became a casualty and that made the blond frown. Wars definitely weren’t fun. The boy with a horn sure looked cool with all the balls on his horn though.

Aurum was still upset though, and the pizza had come. They really needed to do something about that. Shin was still amused with the whole situation, and as he grabbed her hand and started to move from the ball pit, Kealey followed along without complaint. Pizza was awesome!

Out of the pit they went, Kealey bouncing slightly with each step as they made their way towards the birthday boy. When they reached the table, Kealey shook her hand free of Shin’s and skipped the next few steps into a tight hug for the pizza-eating Aurum. ”Happy Birthday!” she exclaimed, ”Did you see us in the ball pit?! Did you?”

”Why are you so grumpy?” Kealey asked, face screwed up in a pouty unhappy scowl. ”This place is so much fun. You should totally go in the ball pit, and there’s ski ball over there, and all kinds of rides!”

Kealey’s eyes roamed the party place as she spoke, taking in wonder after wonder for the second time, ”Ooooo and a photo booth!”

Plopping down in the chair next to Aurum, Kealey grabbed a piece of pizza and began eating it with enthusiasm, ”Why did you want to have your birthday here anyway?”

Balls flew everywhere and Sebby ducked, dodged, and even dove to avoid them. He found himself backed into a corner, but luckily he had three balls in emergency storage, ready to be used in a pinch. A blue ball flew towards Ami, a yellow one towards Jude, and the red one towards a squirrelly kid with buck teeth and wicked accuracy.

“Aww, nuts,” squeaked the boy as the red ball hit him in the shoulder.

The unicorn boy grinned and dove under the surface again to avoid the next onslaught. He resurfaced on the other side of the ball pool, only to notice that Shin and his blonde girlfriend were leaving and heading for the table. Sure, Ghosty had said something about a pizza... but it couldn't be better than a ball fight, could it?

He had to admit, it did smell pretty good from over here. After a moment of deliberation his tummy grumbled, making up his mind for him.

He glanced back. Balls were still flying enticingly, but the prospect of eating something delicious quickly won out. Little Sebastian adjusted his grip on his pants and shuffled over to the table where a big cheesy something waited for him.

“That's a pizza?” He asked suspiciously. “Does it have meat in it?”

Well, now that the party was revolving more around Aurum (as it should have from the beginning) Maya was able to pay attention to other things. Like snapping a few pictures and paying attention to her miniature husband.

>“Does it have meat in it?”

"The cheese is made from milk products, but I picked all the canadian bacon off. Shouldn't even be a speck left. If you don't want thw cheese you can slide that off too." Maya stood in search of Jude. He and Aurum's sister were now in some kind of contest that involved the slide. Again and again they climbed back up. Someone threw a ball and whoever was rocketing toward the pit was supposed to catch it.

After seeing Jude catch his ball with his face Maya thought to chase them down and shuffle them over toward the pizza. They would all have fun at this party and honor Aurum, since the party was his.

Oof! Aurum's hands wiggled at his sides. He was lucky he hadn't been pizza-slice-in-hand, or else he would have dropped it. Kealey's hug was... snug. Very snug. Like a bug in a rug. She must have been very excited. At his birthday... so excited, she took his breath away with a lung-crushing snug.

Aurum inwardly sighed. Leave it to Ami to invite an empath to a kids restaurant...

He struggled for another second, and then gave up, slumping into the hug in defeat. "Thanks... and nope. Didn't see anything," he lied.

"And I'm not grumpy, really. It's just, this whole thing... I'm a little old for it. And it really isn't a matter for celebration. Another year, another party?" She was scowling at him. Frankly, he preferred the icy Kealey and the hyper-happy Kealey over the frowny-faced one.

... And then, she developed ADHD, and changed the subject. She broke free of the far-too-tight-and-warm embrace, and sat down next to him.

>> ”Why did you want to have your birthday here anyway?”

Aurum arched an eyebrow at her question. "I didn't. Ami did." He glanced towards Ami. Her and Jude were playing on the slide. "It seems like it was more for her than for me... and on my dime." He didn't sound pleased. Aurum crossed his arms, and exuded more grumpy-grump aura.

This was a birthday, so why... wasn't Aurum happy? He should have been happy! Kealey was hugging him. Kealey was hugging him. That, in and of itself, meant he should have been happy. And there was pizza, so why wasn't he smiling more? He thought he was old? What? Did that mean he thought they were acting too young for this? It was fun. Kealey was having fun. Sebastian was having fun. He was fairly certain Ghost was amused. It was too wild to be growl-inducing. ... So why was Aurum seeming all-too-close to a growl?

Shin plopped down next to Kealey, and helped himself to a plateful of pizza. He didn't look at Aurum as he spoke. "You need to cheer up, friend. Everyone else is having a ball. Sebastian is even having three of them." He shot a smooth smirk Sebastian and Ghost's way. "And I think there's some pineapple on the pizza, if you're entirely lost on the saucy bread stuff. Fruit's good. I guess we could order you some bread sticks with marinara sauce? Ask them to go easy on the butter?"

He returned his focus to Kealey and Aurum, playing the role of the peacemaker. "And if you aren't having fun yet, Aurum, that's only because you haven't opened your presents. Kealey. Want to go grab him his gift? I'm sure it will cheer him right up."

He bit into his slice. Super-good. The best part was the grease. MMM!

If possible, Aurum got grumpier. And more annoyed. That just wasn’t okay! Kealey frowned as Aurum frowned and the day threatened to get really gloomy really fast. Until Shin sat down on her other side.

He was still happy, and Kealey turned to grin at him as he spoke to Aurum. Sure it sounded like this was slightly less than their mutual friend had been hoping for…but it was one of those situations where you probably wanted to make lemonade. He even said he was old.

”You can’t be old.” Kealey said, ”Then if nothing else I’d be almost old and that’s just not okay.

Shin pointed out that Aurum was probably just sad because he hadn’t opened his presents yet. Oh! His present! As Shin suggested she give it to Aurum, Kealey jumped up from her seat, ”Where is it?” she exclaimed and ran off to find it.

It wasn’t by the front door, it wasn’t by any of the places they had been since coming into the party place. That left only one option. Kealey dove back into the ball pit.

Around she swam, dodging children and flying plastic balls for all she was worth. It was the only way. Finally, after a degree of moving around that tousled her already tousled hair to near ridicularity, her hand closed on a ribbon.

She’d only been gone from the table a few moments, and when Kealey bounded back with the present in hand she slipped right back into the seat she’d vacated, beaming with pride as she offered the package to Aurum.

By this point, the plain box was sticking out through rips in the colorful paper and the bow was outrageously skewed to one side.

Inside the brightly colored package was a messenger style bag. It was leather and it was distressed, it would be great for carrying files and notebooks and whatever else it was that lawyers carried around in New York City.

”I hope you like it…I thought it would be good for your lawyer stuff.” she said, a huge hopeful grin spread across her face.

Just try and be grumpy now Aurum.

Ghosty's description of the pizza sounded alright, so Sebby hitched up his pants and climbed up into one of the chairs. He grabbed a piece with his fingers, since that seemed to be the appropriate method for eating this type of food based on those at the other tables around them. Once it was on his plate he sniffed at it experimentally. It was a strange mixture of bread, tomato, and melted cheese, but it smelled good, he thought.

The little unicorn boy lifted his piece up to his mouth and took a big bite off of the tip. Gooey cheese filled his mouth and even more gooey cheese left little strings all the way back to the original piece of pizza. He pulled the pizza father away, but the strings only stretched. Farther and farther it stretched until his little arms couldn't pull it any farther away.

Was that supposed to happen? He looked over to Ghosty to ask, but she had wandered off to fetch Jude and Ami.

Sebby carefully set down his pizza slice and pulled at the strings with his fingers. They stretched and stretched and stretched and finally broke. He commenced chewing with a grin and wondered just how far pizza cheese could stretch. If he took a bite and made Jude hold the pizza, could he back up all the way to the door? Could he stretch it a whole kilometer? Or two?

The child immortal smiled as he swallowed. He definitely liked pizza and all the possibilities that came with it.

The part of the arm above the elbow and below the arm pit was as good as a handle on a 10 year old. Maya did not have to repeat the process with Ami, but it was a very near thing. The girl was old enough to know better than to throw balls at her elder's nose. Especially when Maya was just trying to let the girl know that there was pizza for the eating.

"It was an accident." She insisted, but she was smiling just a little too much for that to be true.

"It really was. I missed the catch." That was Jude's way of explaining why his hand had followed after the ball. Maya's free hand was on her poor throbbing nose, her other hand was, of course, steering Jude toward the table.

"Time for presents already?" But she wasn't at all prepared! Maya parked Jude next to her tiny, cheese loving husband (still not thinking about being married to a child) and then she followed in Kealey's suit to dash out to the car. Really. She had thought she would have more time.

When she returned, Ami had found a seat and everyone was eating pizza. Somehow there were just enough chairs for her not to have one. The gloom cloud raining on Aurum started to splash onto Maya.

"Sorry about all this. We really can't let you pick up the tab for your own birthday and this." Maya handed over a lovely letterpress card and envelope. "Happy Birthday, Aurum. From The Csendeses." Inside was a slip of brushed cashmerino wool of a respectably high thread count and a note.

Aurum,
We would like to make you a suit. Sebastian is an accomplished tailor and respectable lawyer suits can get expensive. We want to fill every stitch with love and besides... you would have to come visit for measurements and fittings. This isn't really a present. It's blackmail to get you to come visit us more often.

Everyone signed the note. Even Jude.

Aurum arched an eyebrow at Kealey. She couldn't be old? Being old wasn't okay? Part of him wanted to respond to that, but the saner side won out. No, he wouldn't call a pretty blond woman old. His mind wasn't yet frozen by the frosts of several winters. He could think. And common sense dictated... he say nothing.

Heroic Shin came to his rescue with a topic change from off-screen, Fwoosh.

>> "You need to cheer up, friend. Everyone else is having a ball. Sebastian is even having three of them."

Aurum looked the superhero hard in the eye. The Grumpy Grump aura did not appreciate puns. The Grumpy Grump aura did not appeciate them at all.

He did, however, appreciate presents. Darn. Was that the kid side of him slowly taking over? He needed to grow up...

"Presents? Hrm..." He crossed his arms. "What'd you--" Kealey's mad departure cut off his question. Shin, with his mouthful of pizza, could only grunt something in response. He held up a pausing hand, and finished his slice.

Just in time for Kealey to bobble back, beaming broadly. She held out the beleaguered package for him. Aurum took it, eying the box hesitantly. "Its..."

Shin kicked his foot from across the table.

"Nice," He amended.

He unwrapped the already-partially-unwrapped present as he compartmentalized the pain. Ow... The lid came free, revealing... a purse. Aurum looked up at Kealey, wearing a smile. "For me?" He asked. "You really shouldn't have." He didn't usually wear purses.

"It's not a purse, bro. It's a messenger bag," Ami said, sliding into the chair alongside Jude as Ghost dragged them back from the pit. She reached forwards, snagging a couple of slices from the tray of pizza and expertly separating cheese from slice with a fork. The cheese made a little pile on the side of her plate. That was for later. She always saved the best for last. A smile was aimed towards Jude. "Aurum's kind of stupid, isn't he? Anyone with a brain would know girls don't give guys purses."

"Right?" She looked to Kealey. It had been her that had given her brother the gift. Ami smiled politely. She was also the one Aurum had told her had helped him with picking out gifts for her birthday, wasn't she? "A fashionable person like you wouldn't do such a faux pas."

Aurum grunted in agreement. "Messenger bag, then. That's a bit better..." Some of the grump aura had receded. A messenger bag? He supposed he could find a use for that. It looked nice. He almost wanted to ask where she'd gotten it. "Thank you," he repeated, smile far more real this time. "I'm sure I'll be able to use it."

"Better," Ami grinned at him.

Shin showed his support for the heel-face-turn by not kicking Aurum in the shin. Or punching his face.

Aurum's focus hopped from Kealey's present, up to Ghost as she returned. She gave him her present. It was a simple envelope. Aurum opened it wordlessly, and read the contents to himself.

A small smile worked its way onto his face. The aura receded, yet again. He was touched. Aurum looked up to Ghost thankfully. "I appreciate it," he said. "I'll make sure to stop by more. It's just, this case... the apprenticeship can get frustrating." Especially when his one break from it had Kealey bouncing off the walls, asking for sugar cereals or whatnot, and Sebastian stretching cheese to see how far he could get it to go... though, now that all seemed better. More amusing. "Thanks," he repeated, to everyone. He really meant it. "I'm glad you're all here."

In the background, Ami gave him two big thumbs up.

"We're not through, yet," Shin smiled, interrupting the gooey moment to fish around ceremoniously in his coat pocket. He retrieved a small black paper box, and held it out to Aurum, balanced on the palm of his hand. The box was black, with a glossy sheen. On its top, some brand was spelled out in lacy spiderweb gold lettering.

Aurum took it, arching an eyebrow. "What is it?" He asked.

Shin turned his palms up in a shrug, a gesture for Aurum to open it and find out.

The lid came free. He set it down on the table. He was curious and uncertain as he pulled the mystery object free of the box. Shin grinned as the dirty blond examined it.

"It's a watch," Aurum said.

"Not just any watch," Shin corrected him. "It's a Phoenix Wright watch."

"Phoenix..." Aurum looked up at him, mildly confused.

"Main character from a lawyer game," Shin explained. "He has crazy slicked back spiked hair, and points his finger a lot in court. Always objects. You see the hands on the watch? The hour hand is his hand. It points, as it moves around the face of the clock, objecting to whatever time it may be. I thought you'd appreciate it. Lawyers need nice lawyerly watches to make them look good."

"... You have a point," Aurum stated, holding the watch up by the strap, and tilting his head to watch the hands go around.

Ami pounced on the watch, hugging his back as she stole if from his grip. She examined it closely. "So cool," she enthused. She pressed it back in Aurum's grip, and looked to Shin. "He says 'thanks'. Now." She broke free of her brother, and sat down demurely. "If that's everything, the presents portion of this party is concluded. Everybody that hasn't yet, dig in." She unfurled her napkin, set it in her lap, and attacked her slice, statement concluded.

"..." Aurum shook his head with a small laugh. "Guess that settles it, then." He went back to his slice.

Shin followed suit, spearing a pineapple. He smiled, pleased. "Fruit on pizza. Americans are crazy~"

Aurum took the present and Kealey tilted her head at the little flare of pain that surged through his leg. Had he gotten a cramp? That was interesting. She quickly forgot, though, and went back to giddy anticipation over how Aurum would react to the present.

There were a few tense moments when Aurum opened the present, and Kealey’s face fell slightly as she realized that he wasn’t sure he liked it. That was disappointing, she had seen all kinds of lawyers with similar things, they needed stuff to carry their papers and folders and other lawyerly things. It defied logic that Aurum wouldn’t like the present, she was just about to open her mouth and point out that very important fact when Aurum’s sister planted herself at the table an explained to her brother that he had not been given a purse.

Oh. He thought she’d given him a….

Kealey rolled her eyes in the most exaggerated way possible, every bit as exasperated with Ami’s brother as she was. Probably more from the overspill. She shook her head, ”I can’t believe you thought I’d give you a purse.” she said, grinning at the younger girl in thanks for the compliment on her fashion sense.

It seemed now that he understood what he’d been given, Aurum was happy with the messenger bag. Kealey nodded, satisfied. It was a very manly messenger bag and it would serve him well. He’d be the envy of all the other little lawyers out there.

The time for her present was over though. Shin passed on his and Aurum opened it. She pouted ever so slightly, at least he’d known what Shin gave him…

The watch was very cool though, and Kealey couldn’t help but bounce in her seat a little as she watched Aurum examine the item.

Next came a present from Ghost and Sebastian, and Kealey found herself outrageously curious to find out what was in the envelope. It must have been something good because Aurum’s mood from a few minutes ago had lightened considerably. That was good. His grumps had been contagious and rubbing off on Kealey. Now she smiled again.

Ami announced that presents were now over and Kealey looked at her empty pizza plate. When had she eaten all of that? Oh well, it didn’t matter, all of this was so exciting.

Aurum thanked everyone for being there, and Kealey nodded in sympathy about his apprentice being frustrating. School was frustrating enough as it was, she could only imagine having to work with someone as an apprentice. Lawyer’ing was difficult enough on its own.

”You’re welcome, Aurum. Happy Birthday to you.”

Kealey bounced some more in her seat as she waited for everyone to finish their pizza. Shin commented on how crazy Americans were with their fruit on pizza and Kealey stared at the slide. Had there been pineapple on the pizza she ate? Wow, the blond really needed to pay more attention when she was excited.

”Crazy brilliant. We didn’t have places like these where I grew up.”

Sounds and lights and smells and feelings. So much going on at once. It was all such beautiful chaos. A perfect setting for a birthday.