concoursec | Where I'm meant to be

Entry tags:

Where I'm meant to be

Who: Rapunzel, Open. Everyone who wants to come to her birthday.
Rating: G? Or PG at most I'd guess.
Where: Probably down by the beach I guess? Wherever Touma and the others organized to have it
Summary: It's Rapunzel's nineteenth birthday and there is, of course, a party. Involving lanterns.

Rapunzel could barely contain her excitement when she woke up that morning. "Today is a very big day, Pascal. It's finally my birthday!" the now-nineteen year old exclaimed excitedly as she held her chameleon friend and pet in a sort of hug. Beyond mentioning lanterns to Eugene and letting Touma organize. Something, she had no idea what to expect. She was just happy it was her birthday and that she got to spend it here at the Garden with her friends and Eugene. She had no idea what to expect, only that it was likely something bigger than her usual birthdays spent with Gothel in the tower. Usually, there would be some sort of present, and perhaps a cake when she was younger, but it was still enough to get the blonde excited. It wasn't your birthday every day, after all. No matter what lay in store, Rapunzel was excited for the prospects of the day and night ahead, perhaps not quite to the almost manic extent as when she had left her tower initially, but she was still elated. Even if the prospect of Gothel showing up couldn't bring her down, not when she potentially had the lanterns (or, some at least) to look forward to. She'd been dreaming about the possibility of seeing them for herself ever since she could remember, watching them from the window of the tower. Today, she just might.

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Thanks to some unfortunate scheduling, Touma was in Winhill this morning. But he did manage to arrange for a small, elegant card with a lantern on the front to be left in Rapunzel's room (possibly by Cissie, possibly by the janitors):

Wishing you all the best on your birthday, Rapunzel.

What with the field trip I'll be a little late myself, but please make your way to the beach at 1200.

Yours,

Touma H. Norstein

On the opposite side of the card is a handdrawn map showing a precise point on the beach in relation to Garden.

Of course, Rapunzel was aware Touma had said he would arrange something for her birthday. She just was unsure of what exactly that entailed. So she was curious as she made her way there, hair braided to keep it out of the way and trailing behind her. She knew of beaches now, after Cissie and Gothel had mentioned them before to her. But she was still excited, as she made her way there, wondering just what her friend had planned for her. She arrived right on time, looking around as she entered the beach, her toes wriggling in the sand as she stood taking it in.

Of course Pinkie would join in on a party! She brought her trombone and Gummy with her, along with a gift wrapped in sparkly paper and metallic ribbon. The gift was just a hair styling set: brush, comb, pins, and a visor hat for the sunny days! All in the color pink!

She arrived down by the lake and saw all the awesome decorations and looked about in awe.

"WOOOOOOWWWW! What a great job!" She looked down to Gummy, who was catching a ride atop the present. "Right, Gummy?!"

He just gave a few blinks and tried to munch on the ribbon. Silly thing!

Rapunzel was there and busy greeting guests and taking everything in. Her friends really had gone through so much trouble with all of this! She'd never had anything like this back at the tower, that was for certain. Hair styling products and advice would always be welcome from Rapunzel, the girl with seventy feet of it. But she had yet to open the gift to know that, as she turned with a smile at the new arrival.

"Hi! It really is a great job, everyone worked so hard on all of this, it's amazing!"

Pinkie turned to the new voice. More friends!

"It really is! Oh! Are you the birthday girl?!"

"I am. I'm nineteen today. I guess. I mean, it doesn't feel like it's been quite a year since I was back home, but....according to the date, at least, yes."

"Wow! We're the same age!" Pinkie paused, looking unsure about her statement. "Or am I older?! Didn't my birthday already come?!" Oh she didn't remember, but she did remember the gift she had in her hands! Pinkie handed it over to Rapunzel. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

Edited 2012-08-31 16:43 (UTC)

"We are? That's neat! So you're nineteen too then!" Rapunzel exclaimed. It was still exciting to have something in common with others, especially age, given she grew up with just Gothel, who was of course, years older than Rapunzel was.

"Oh, thank you!" she beamed at Pinky, taking the offered present.

Eugene was straightening the stack of presents, the newly-healed, and collared Flynnigan the wolf pup chasing his furry, brown tail in circles at Eugene's heels. Eugene was trying to keep Flynnigan out of Rapunzel's line of sight. He wanted the pup's appearance to be a great surprise, and knowing how curious Rapunzel was, he didn't want her to find her present before it was the right time.

The lanterns were all tied off, and he had finished lighting the ones tied by string to the bank of the lake. It'd take a while to prepare the lanterns, and he'd had to find creative places to store them until it was time for the party. Some were a little roughed up, but only because Flynnigan had taken to chasing the lanterns and pawing at them.

He finished placing the top present on the pile, and peeked around the particularly tall, wrapped box.

"Okay, Blondie! Presents all stacked."

Rapunzel reached to tuck some hair behind her ear, looking around and staring at the presents. She'd only ever really had one each year for her birthdays before this from Gothel, usually paints or a new book. She hadn't really expected all of these.

"There are...more than I had expected." She knew she had asked about the possibility of having lanterns, and told everyone she wanted to do something fun but she had not really given thought to presents and what was usually really expected with parties, larger gatherings on someone's birthday.

"Welcome to life outside the tower, Blondie. It's what friends do on your birthday." When he was younger, in the orphanage, they would string together handmade decorations from paper crafts and pieced together bits of cloth they earned helping around town. The idea was to prepare the children for occupations that had more demand in the local areas, should the misfortune (and common happenstance) of reaching eighteen with never being adopted, occur. Before Eugene had set out on his own, he'd been the most promising seamster in his age group, having pieced together blankets and fixing old toys whenever they fell into disrepair.

Alone, he probably could have thrown together a third of the work that went into throwing Rapunzel a birthday party, but that would have been more time-demanding, and watching Flynnigan was a full-time job, what with his injuries still healing. He was glad that Cissie and Touma took over most of the decoration tasks.

"We made it allllll fancy for your big day."

Flynnigan was butting his head against the back of Eugene's leg.

"Easy, Flynn. Easy."

Edited 2012-08-03 14:13 (UTC)

Rapunzel had gotten presents on her previous birthdays, but that was just from Gothel. Here in the Garden, there was no longer just her "mother" to celebrate the big day with, of course. She supposed that things might have been different for Eugene and Cissie and everyone else's birthdays though. At least now she had the chance to figure out what would be expected of her when their birthdays came around.

"I can see that. It looks like you did a lot of work to get all this set up. It's beautiful, Eugene."

She raised an eyebrow curiously when Eugene muttered at Flynnigan, not able to see him yet given he was hiding behind Eugene.

"Flynn?"

"Uh..."

Flynnigan started to yip.

"I think Rinoa's dog might be around."

"Angel? Maybe. Sounds pretty close...." Because it was definitely loud. And sounded like it was coming from behind Eugene.

He put out a hand and placed it on Rapunzel's shoulder. "You're hearing things, Blondie. Must be the pre-birthday party jitters." He turned her around and gave her a little push forward. "Go see what Cissie's doing while I go check on the food."

Rapunzel's eyes narrowed, having the feeling there was something going on and he wasn't telling her. But maybe it was best to let it slide this time. Chances were she would probably find out later tonight or something, after all. So she let him turn her around.

"Okay. If you're sure you don't need help or anything. I'll see you in a bit then."

Flynnigan chose that exact moment to run from behind the presents and Eugene, and to tackle his strong legs and padded paws into Rapunzel's long, blonde hair.

Arf! Arf!

"Honey, I have some explaining to do."

Rapunzel stops when she sees the pup running to her, wincing a little as the dog gets at her hair as she kneels down to him. Hopefully his paws weren't too caught in her hair.

"So it would seem. He's pretty cute though. It...oh, it is a he, right?"

It was almost like when they had met Max, Rapunzel seemed quite amused and happy to see the pup. No doubt she would end up befriending him and talking to him in much the same way she did with Pascal.

Flynnigan yips at Rapunzel.

Eugene sighs.

"He is right. Your Highness, Princess Rapunzel of Corona, I'd like to introduce you to Flynnigan, the noisy, excitable wolf kid." He bends down and scratches behind Flynnigan's fuzzy ears. "Hear that, buddy? A pretty lady think you're cute."

"Flynnigan. The name from that story you used to read the kids at the orphanage?" She ponders it for a moment, getting her hair free from the wolf pup's paw as Eugene played with him.

"I like it. It suits him! When did you get him, Eugene?" Also unspoken was how and wondering what Garden's stance on pets were. Dogs were one thing but wolves might not be as accepted. Pascal was small enough that she didn't think anyone really minded, but well, likely Eugene would have talked to someone about the pup by now.

"Well someone has to take the name." He smiles at Rapunzel's innocence. "About a week or so ago. He was injured and Cissie helped me patch him up."

"Right. Well, I'm just glad you found him and he's okay. I guess Garden know about him and are okay with us keeping him?" Though really, she probably could have healed the pup herself if they had not been so insistant on keeping it a surprise from her.

Eugene feels something warm unfold in his chest. He slings an arm around Rapunzel's waist and holds her close, nuzzling her neck with his nose. "Thanks Blondie," he says into her neck's nape.

He thinks about her second question, moving his face to Rapunzel's shoulder so that he could speak without muffle. "Hmm, well, they didn't throw me out when they saw him, and seeing as I haven't gotten any pink slips lately, I'd say we're good to go."

"I guess that's okay then. I'm sure they would have said something if he wasn't allowed. I've never had a pet before except Pascal, but I'm sure it will be fun." Fun and very new. But still, he was adorable and reminded her perhaps a little of Max. She smiled and wrapped her own arm around Eugene, relaxing into his chest a little as she watched the pup at their feet.

If Eugene had been looking in on this moment (somehow, someway, someplace) he would probably comment that it looked like the perfect representation for the couples seen in romantic art within the city and the palace of Corona. The dashing young man with his beautiful maiden, very much in love, watching the setting with pride. Eugene had seen such displays made real, as when Rapunzel's father would pull his Queen close while they watched Rapunzel's horse riding lessons, or when Rapunzel unveiled one of her new art projects.

That he is now in his own perfect moment...

Eugene holds his princess against him, more at peace than he had ever been in any other moment in his life that had been sans Rapunzel. He speaks warmly: "And so begins the tales of Rapunzel and Eugene."

"I thought it had already begun the moment you climbed the tower." she commented, seeming more amused and curious at his storytelling tendencies. He did tell wonderful stories, she remembered from their campfire night. She had only ever seen the mural for the Lost Princess, not having such a knowledge or appreciation for romantic art back home to compare this moment to. But right now, right here. It was perfect. It was her birthday, she was with Eugene and her friends, who had gone to such trouble to set all of this up. She was content, even if she was still nervous about going back home. Savoring the moment. It wouldn't be her birthday forever, after all.

Whatever happened on that Winhill field trip, Cissie was pretty sure she didn't want to know. The upside? She didn't have to deal with Touma and his incessant whining about "fancy, elaborate" parties - they weren't leaving town! They didn't need to!

Still, the beach looked fantastic. Touma's money had paid for decorations, Pinkie Pie had helped (more like Cissie couldn't tell her no), and she and Eugene had even figured out something with the lanterns! 'Course, she'd let Eugene do the honors, since he technically was Rapunzel's... boyfriend? husband? significant other? Honestly, she wasn't sure how they were connected.

"Hey," she said, once she spotted Rapunzel. "Happy birthday! What do you think?"

Rapunzel beamed, looking around at the decorations and admiring it all. It looked like her friends had put in a lot of work with all of this. It looked great, amazing, though likely even the smallest of decorations would have been fine with Rapunzel. It was more than she had back in the tower, after all. The relationship between her and Eugene was somewhat complicated by the fact Eugene came from further ahead but nonetheless, it was obvious they cared about each other, and they were sharing a room. Boyfriend was probably the best option, if one really had to put a label to their current situation.

"Hey! It looks amazing, Cissie!" the teen exclaimed exchitedly, all but bouncing on the spot at seeing it all. "Thank you so much!"

"It's the least we could do!" She grinned, rushing over and hugging Rapunzel as tightly as she could. "Come on, it's your nineteenth birthday! Why wouldn't we throw a huge party and ask everyone to come?"

Sure, Touma had some fantastic ideas, but cross-country celebrating was not one of them. "We've got your lanterns lined up in the evening, some music right now, your favorite kind of cake..."

She grinned, ticking each one off with her fingers. "It's your first birthday outside the Tower, so we've gotta make up for all the other years for sure."

Rapunzel laughed and returned the hug as tightly in return. "I guess. It's just I've never had a birthday this big before." she admitted, tucking some hair behind her ear as she listened to what they had planned. Lanterns! And cake! But more importantly, lanterns. Part of her was terrified, what if it wasn't as amazing as she had always hoped and dreamed? But still, she doubted they would have managed to find or make as many as those in the sky back home. So maybe it would be unfair to expect as much. All the same, she was excited, and touched that they really had gone to the trouble and effort to sort obtaining some for her.

Oh gosh, that's right... because all of her past birthdays were in the tower, there hadn't ever been a big birthday before. To think, Touma'd wanted them to travel the entire world in one day too! She immediately mentally thanked herself for making him back down, just to keep things (somewhat) under control.

"I hope it's not too overwhelming," she confessed. "Everyone here wanted to be here, we promise."

"It's okay. I mean, there were quite a few people at the Snuggly Duckling and around Corona. I'm not as...jumpy as I was, anymore." Rapunzel admitted, having no idea just how huge this occasion could have gotten without Cissie to keep Touma in line as she bit her lip and Pascal looked around from her shoulder, apparently pretty pleased overall with what he saw had been arranged.

"I just thought, the more people, the more fun it might be, you know? I've never had my birthday with anyone but Gothel before now, so while I have the chance to have it here with everyone, I wanted to make the most of it."

Gothel arrived a bit late. She stood near the outskirts of the group, looking around for Rapunzel. She was a bit uncomfortable about this 'party' business. She'd never tried to handle Rapunzel around a crowd before. Managing crowds could be difficult.

She held a basket, containing her unwrapped gift--a high quality set of paints.

Rapunzel didn't notice Gothel immediately, what with the guests coming to chat to her and wish her happy birthday. She still stood out quite a bit, though her hair was not as obvious a trail as usual, with the braid keeping it from trailing along the ground. She thought she saw her mother over someone's shoulder and squinted, excusing herself and moving to talk to Gothel. It was her birthday, after all. She'd probably have been surprised if Gothel had not shown up. But, she figured nothing would happen since there were so many people here. Gothel wouldn't try anything with this many witnesses, surely.

"I was wondering when you'd show up. Isn't this amazing?" It was, in Rapunzel's opinion, her friends had done an amazing job.

"It's very... busy." Gothel regarded some of the lanterns with suspicion. The she turned her full attention on Rapunezl. "So you were waiting for your poor mother? You didn't forget about me in all this commotion? Maybe there's hope for us yet~." She tried to stroke Rapunzel's cheek. She wanted to touch her soft hair, but she suspected that might lead to a scene. She didn't want a scene. Not in front of a crowd.

"Yeah. They must have been prety busy with it all. But it looks great! and they even made some lanterns!" Rapunzel exclaimed excitedly as she saw Gothel's gaze at some of the lanterns. She bit her lip at her "mother" asking whether Rapunzel had forgotten her. She never could, never did, Gothel had been her one companion of human contact at all her whole life until Eugene had climbed up the tower.

"Of course I haven't forgotten you...." How could she, given everything that had happened between them and had yet to happen still by their memories?

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Where I'm meant to be

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/sorry for being late!

Never late. It's okay.

you are too good to me ;;

Backtags are fine with me. :3 So it's no worries!

excellent ♥

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/backdates forever ;;

All the backdating!

\o/

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