[Voice / Action: CH1 Floor 4, 5/1] Birthday Party (Joint post with Ino)

[16autumnroad]

[VOICE, INO]
[A loud, familiar voice would be heard throughout the network today. Good thing it's not so early in the morning when it hollers or there'd be a lot of ruined mornings today despite the important announcement.]

Hey, Luceti! We've all had a lot of drama these past few days so, what do you all say about a little party? It's Chouji's birthday today and, of course, that needs celebrating!

Come by the first community building and you'll find the happenings on the fourth floor. See you there!

[With a little giggle, the announcement ends there.]

--

[ACTION]
It was only a little bit of a surprise to Chouji when he received an invitation to his own birthday party, delivered to the apartment door. These were things you just had to expect and accept with Ino as a teammate. Everyone on the floor along with Kiba and Asuma received paper invitations. Then he heard her network post, inviting pretty much everyone in the village. Ino.

He'd laughed and grinned when he woke up to a knock on the apartment door and the smell of chips that morning, a purple whirlwind demanding entrance to the apartment so she could decorate it. A glance down the hallway showed a trail of butterfly decorations, marking the path of Hurricane Ino.

Chouji gladly spent half of his birthday in the kitchen, likewise decorated with butterflies, cooking for his own party. He'd always been the team's cook, and there was no reason for that to change just because it was his party.

By dinnertime, the common areas as well as Chouji, Shikamaru, and Masaomi's apartment held enough potato chips to feed an army even without all the food Chouji cooked. Barbecue, of course, along with vegetables, rice, fish, chicken curry, miso soup, and one or two desserts. He made sure to include pudding, his thanks to Ino for her thought and effort.

Now they just needed some guests to help eat it all.


((OOC: I am very close to done with the semester and will be back to full tagging speed ASAP! I'll match whatever format you tag me in, prose or brackets.

Open to anyone! Threadhopping and mingling highly encouraged! It's a party.))

Comments

[endgames]

Shikamaru laughs, and takes a drink from the Mountain Dew he grabbed from the fridge. "Wow, look at you. You're this popular already."

[16autumnroad]

He keeps smiling, only mildly embarrassed by all the attention and the gifts. It really has been an excellent birthday. "Half of them are friends from home. And I've never met Saori before tonight!" Smirking, Chouji adds, "I cooked eggs for her when she mentioned them, since we don't eat eggs very often around here." Next to never, actually, if Shikamaru's home.

[endgames]

"Oh. That was... kind of you," he says, trying to sound sincere and not make a face.

[16autumnroad]

He only laughs a little at Shikamaru's expense, shrugging. "You know I like everything."

[endgames]

"You like everything plus extra. You'd be feeding everyone mayonnaise filled chocolates if you could get away with it."

[16autumnroad]

With another shrug, he protests, "Only until they made it clear they didn't like it!"

Chouji still doesn't think there's anything wrong with mayonnaise chocolates, and this is made abundantly clear when he continues, "Those are delicious, though."

[endgames]

Now Shikamaru really does make a face. This isn't the first time they've had this discussion, and it gives him heartburn every time.

"I'll keep that in mind for your birthday gift next year."

[16autumnroad]

It's impossible not to laugh at the expression on Shikamaru's face, so Chouji does. "You probably shouldn't, if you're going to look like that when you hand it to me."

Speaking of which... "And besides, I still don't even know what this year's gift is. It's much too soon for next year." His eyes narrow the slightest bit, smile shifting from amusement to anticipation. He has no guesses, but Shikamaru has teased him him about gifts and wishlists more than once tonight; Chouji is looking forward to the surprise.

[endgames]

"Oh right. I forgot it," he says, voice deadpan and with a shrug as he turns towards the door of his room.

Naturally, he's hinted at something too many times tonight for that to be a legitimate claim. More teasing from him, then.

[16autumnroad]

"Of course. I should have expected that, knowing just how scatterbrained you are." Even without all the teasing tonight, Chouji would never believe that Shikamaru forgot.

He waits.

[endgames]

"Like an old man." He enunciates just enough to be heard through the door. He returns soon enough however, a portable yakinku girll held out before him. "Or maybe not. An old man would probably wrap something like this, but I didn't feel like it."

1/2

[16autumnroad]

"Ah, old age, that would explain it." He falls silent as Shikamaru returns and Chouji catches sight of his birthday present. Is that--?

Wrapping paper is the least of Chouji's concerns. His mouth drops open. "Shikamaru, you..."

[16autumnroad]

Momentarily at a loss for words, Chouji reaches to take his birthday present with care that borders on reverence.

"Thank you!"

[endgames]

Shikamaru hadn't merely thought Chouji would like the grill; no, he knew his best friend well enough to be certain he would love it.

Seeing the reaction is something special, however, and his face breaks out into a wide grin as the gift exchanges hands.

"It's no replacement for the joint back home, but it'll do, right?"

[16autumnroad]

"I'll do my best to live up to the food at Yakiniku Q now that I have the proper cooking appliance," he vows solemnly before breaking into a grin again, laughing.

That softens to a very small smile after a pause, though. He sounds hesitant, disbelieving, as he muses, "We can ask Asuma-sensei to join us." And Ino, of course, but that goes without saying. Chouji never thought he'd get to eat barbecue with his sensei again. Seeing Asuma here already meant the world to him, of course. The prospect of barbecue for a team meal, though, the revival of a Team Ten tradition, drives the realization home all over again.

[endgames]

Shikamaru's expression borders on an emotion between sad, and fondly nostalgic.

"Yeah. Just like the good old days."

[16autumnroad]

Chouji is silent for a minute, thoughtful. The look on his own face is a pretty close mirror for Shikamaru's.

Then he smiles again, asking, "So, do I wait for a team dinner, or should I see if we have anything in the kitchen that we can cook on this right now?" Whoever said patience is a virtue obviously hadn't tasted yakiniku. Patience lasts only as long as it takes food to cook properly.

[endgames]

He laughs, "I don't think we have enough raw meat for that tonight, man."

[16autumnroad]

Grinning, Chouji protests, "But it isn't as if the grocery store ever closes here, right? That would be silly. No one needs to watch over goods to prevent stealing when money doesn't even exist."

[endgames]

"Ino's the one you need to be worrying about, if the birthday boy runs out on his own party."

[16autumnroad]

"I guess you’re right about that. We can wait for another day." The look Chouji casts at the grill still cradled in his arms is only a little bit longing.

[endgames]

"Tomorrow. It'll be a thing."

[16autumnroad]

"Alright, tomorrow."

Chouji hugs the grill to himself as he informs Shikamaru, "It's been a good birthday." He doesn't bother saying thanks again. Once was enough; Shikamaru knows just how sincerely he meant it.