What is family without a birthday?

[thatched]

Characters: This Family ™ (Marco, Grell, Ace, Thatch, Namur, Espio, Fionna), anyone else that wants to stop by.
Location: The Quad
Rating: PG-13 probably
Open/Closed/Finished: Open
Summary: Ace no Birthday Party~ Come join the fun~



Despite everything that had been going on, a party was needed and so a party was had. Thatch finished placing the last of the presents on the table, similar to the one they'd used for Namur's party, and turned up the music so as to lure any passersby. The more the merrier, since Ace would like that and who knew how many parties they'd be able to do in the future? And with who?

Comments

[mera_mera_ace]

Ace glanced around and then once he was sure no one was paying attention he leaned over and kissed Espio's cheek. "Flirted." He said with a small smile

[espio]

Again, Espio froze up, painfully aware that he'd turned a shade that would grab anyone's attention, heart suddenly pounding. This whole conversation was going from bad to worse, and the very worst thing was that - well, maybe, actually, a part of him actually liked the attention!

But even so, it was bad. Very bad. And he didn't exactly have much of a way out... or an answer to the question. However, he edged towards the door.

"W-well, I - uh - actually, you know what? I forgot the Grand Marnier for the crepes so I'd better go and get it, actually! And maybe I could grab one of those... those things with the salsa dip."

[mera_mera_ace]

"Oh? Well I can come with you, help you carry it all if you like." Ace offered mostly because he was a nice guy and not because he was still trying to rile Espio up. He liked him a lot acutally, more than he would usually admit. Ace wasn't one to commit to any one person...but he was terribly lonely and he really did like Espio.

[espio]

Espio didn't answer, but that was only because he didn't hear the offer - he had darted away the second he felt able, back inside, where he took a moment to lean against the wall and tried to calm himself down.

Honestly... why was he letting himself get so worked up by this?!

And why was Ace even bothering to try?! He knew full well that Espio was already engaged! Even if Tobias wasn't here right now, that didn't erase the promise that he had made.

Damn it. He'd just have to remind that complete idiot!

[mera_mera_ace]

Ace did follow after him, he rounded the corner, spotting Espio leaning against the wall. "Hey, you alright?"

[espio]

"I'm fine," Espio answered, turning his head away and refusing to look Ace in the eye.

[mera_mera_ace]

"You don't look fine...I'm sorry if I upset you." Ace said sincerely, realizing that perhaps he had upset Espio.

[espio]

Upset? Espio wasn't sure 'upset' was the word. Conflicted, conlicted definitely fit. So did embarassed. "I'm not used to that kind of attention, Ace. Especially not in front of everyone."

[mera_mera_ace]

"No one was paying attention." Ace said softly. "I...I wasn't trying to make you uncomfortable."

[espio]

"Well, you managed it well enough!" Espio answered, though there was a little less force behind the words than he might have liked, and again that distinctive brightening crossed his scales. "Although..."

No. Stubbornly, he shook his head. No, he couldn't admit that he liked it - liked that someone took a moment to pay such full attention to him, liked that it was Ace.

"Never mind. And anyway, who do you think you're flirting with?"

[mera_mera_ace]

"My friend...whom I happen to like." Ace said seriously, because it was the truth. Ace didn't want a relationship...but friends with benefits had it's perks. He'd had that kind of relationship with both Thatch and Marco in the past...though now Marco's married and Thatch is practically a monk...or a nun either way he's sworn off sex of any kind no matter how hard Ace tries to change his mind. And Thatch was right, the girls here were tiny...he'd dated a few but had been afraid to hurt them.

[espio]

Espio sighed. "The fiancé of your Captain's son, Ace!"

[mera_mera_ace]

"But Toby is gone." Ace said tilting his head to the side. He didn't understand the problem here.

[espio]

"Just because he's not here right now doesn't mean I'll never see him again! Even if it feels like it! I gave him that ring... I gave him that ring as a promise that I'd love him no matter what reality he finds himself in, even if we're far apart, even if it takes years or decades before we meet again."

Decades...

He shivered. That was a long time.

[mera_mera_ace]

Ace sighed and nodded. "I'm sorry....I just thought....I'll go." Ace said turning and heading back to his party. He really had thought that Espio would be alright with it..but obviously he wasn't. Maybe it was still too soon.

He sighed...standing just outside the courtyard...between the party and Espio..at a crossroads of sorts. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and let it out before smiling. Moving forward...live without regrets and never look back. Taking one step, then another Ace returned to his party and chose to forget for the moment. After all...one couldn't force the heart to move on. He would give Espio more time. Or maybe...maybe someone else would catch his eye.