Open Log

[wavesoakedlegs]

Characters: wavesoakedlegs, behisstrength, kagayakashi and all the guests!
Location: 12 Olie Street in the Phanga neighbourhood.
Time: Throughout the afternoon.
Style: Whatever you wish!
Status: This is an open log for Gracia's birthday celebrations, so set up threads and mingle with one another. Anybody is welcome! Your hosts and behisstrength will be around, of course but the mundanes won't, so

Comments

FAMILY THREAD!

[wavesoakedlegs]

[After he finishes setting everything up, Mitsuhide takes a seat in the living room. The cooking had taken a long time, the washing-up even longer, and so the brief rest is very much appreciated.]

[There are two packages sat on the table before him, ready to be given to Gracia when she appears.]

[It had taken some time for Mitsuhide to decide on some suitable gifts, but he is quite satisfied with what he decided on in the end. Hopefully they will be enjoyed.]

/DANCE PARTY

[kagayakashi]

[ She was one year away from becoming into an adult today; Gracia was definitely a lot happier than she usually was. As she rounded the corner back to their home at Olie, satisfied with her daily route from the forest bubble to the plaza, she noticed something quite odd.

There was a delicious smell wafting through the air as she approached home. While this wasn't an unusual occurrence in their home, it was enough to make Gracia fasten her pace. ]

[ She opened the door and immediately, she knew what was going on. A smile eventually appeared on her face, slowly evolving into a grin. ]

Aaah! The house looks so nice! [ She walks in and spots her father on the couch.

The presents on the table.

The food.

The decorations. ]

[ Gracia claps her hands once and shuts the door behind her, fully immersing herself in the celebration. ]

Father, is all of this...? [ She approaches him on the couch and plops down beside him. ] You didn't have to. You look so tired now! [ Gracia's still smiling though her words are laced with concern.

[wavesoakedlegs]

I am only a little tired.

[He gives her a pleasant smile and folds his hands on his lap.]

This kind of celebration is nothing like any I have taken part in before, so I had to use the examples of others in Vatheon to set it up.

[Which is very true. It's not like he had a party on his birthday, after all, and in truth he would not have wanted one.]

What do you think?

[kagayakashi]

[ She nodded in understanding, glancing at the gifts he set out on the table. ]

Ahh, so you asked for some help! How wonderful!

[ Gracia hugs him in comfort. ] I love it, father. Thank you for everything! I've never celebrated my birthday in this way before. It's exciting me!

/fashionably late

[behisstrength]

[Motochika enters the room just as the hug is given; he leans against the doorframe and watches. It's impossible not to smile in the face of their affection for one another.

In his arms Motochika holds one large box and one small package balanced on top, both presents wrapped with customary flair.]

[wavesoakedlegs]

None of us have, then. [Mitsuhide chuckles quietly.] So it will be a new experience for us all.

[He gestures to the two packages on the table. Daddy Samurai saw you glance at them, Gracia.]

You may open them when you are ready, but open the larger one first. The smaller one is... well. You will understand when you see it.

[Mitsuhide leans back a little. The larger one contains an assortment of different clips and accessories for Gracia's hair, considering her obvious fondness for such things, as well as a few sweet treats. The second one really is something quite special.]

[He has not noticed Motochika yet.]

[kagayakashi]

[ Gracia leans back as well and stifles a laugh. ] It's a lot more festive than what we're used to, isn't it?

[ When she sits upright again, she spots Motochika's figure leaning by the doorframe and her expression lights up. ] Ahh, I didn't see you there! Motochika, come here with us! Isn't the house so beautiful today?

[ She moves a space and leaves another spot open for him to sit. Gracia turns her attention to the presents on the table afterwards - she thought her glances were subtle! For a moment, she looked a tad bit shy. She didn't want to come off as too forward in opening presents. In the end, her curiosity won over it all anyway; she nodded and pulled the boxes to her, sitting them on her lap. ]

The larger one...[ She handles the smaller box with care and places it by her side. Then she moved to unwrap the larger present. ]

[behisstrength]

Very. Fitting, for today's special occasion.

[Motochika joins them both, and spares Mitsuhide a glance as Gracia begins to unwrap her present, before watching the birthday girl.]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide returns that glance, smiles, and looks back to watch as Gracia opens the first gift.]

I could have done no less.

[He wonders if he should ask Gracia to open Motochika's gifts before opening his second one. Because the second one contains a carved necklace; a carved necklace with his own name and the name of Tenkai carved into it. The fake name he'd taken after the Battle of Yamazaki. The two names are linked to imply they are the same person, as is the truth, and there is also an inscription detailing where he'd fled to and lived as Tenkai.]

[Mitsuhide had thought long and hard about whether or not it was right to let her know. He did not know the specifics of what had happened in her world, after all. But in the end he'd decided she had a right to know, and decided to give her the information in the form of something that she could wear. That way, when she was sent back home, she might still have it with her even if she forgot Vatheon.]

[It was a chance to heal her broken heart, back there.]...when you have opened that

[kagayakashi]

[ She merely nodded at her father's words, too excited to find out what the present held for her for to mutter a reply. If only she knew the second one had more meaning to her than all these other presents combined - even if she cherished them all anyway. ]

[ Eventually she opened the larger box and sat in marvel at the new hair accessories. She removed her headband and tried one on. Gracia laughed and stood up, hands on her hips. ]

How do I look?

[ She sat back down and examined all the contents of the large box before letting out a contented sigh and placing the box back on the table. The smaller one was, as promised, left to her side for last. ]

Thank you for this, father. I'll wear them with pride every day!

[ She turned to Motochika afterwards, a mischievous look on her face. ]

It's swim wear, isn't it? I bet it is!

[behisstrength]

[Motochika laughs.]

Not quite.

[He hands over the largest box first. Inside is a complete outfit: unique shoes, leggings, dress, leather obi, belt and a hairpin. There are a couple more gifts in there, wrapped individually -- a fur stole and a couple of nail varnish sets.

Next is the smaller package. Inside is a leather bound journal; the pages are blank, save for the first, in which Motochika has left a note, as well as an illustrated picture of Gracia with the ocean above and a melody noted down in the remaining space. It reads: Take record of your explorations and experiences. Look back, witness the echo of your legacy, and strive onwards.]

Happy birthday, Gracia.

[wavesoakedlegs]

You look lovely, Gracia.

[Mitsuhide laughs at the little display, growing quiet only when Motochika hands over his gifts. He just watches then, curious himself as to what they contain.]

[kagayakashi]

[ Gracia tries not to damage the exquisite box, so it takes her a bit more time to open Motochika's larger present. Ah, but when she does manage to lift the lid, she is left in complete and utter awe. Her eyes widen and she is speechless, the only sounds coming out of her minimized to gasps and silent chuckles. She touches at the fabric of the shoes, and shakes her head in disbelief at the elaborate design at the back. Occasionally, she would turn to Motochika in sheer joy, and then to her father trying to make out words, but she was at a complete loss

[behisstrength]

[Motochika is very pleased with the response; it isn't hard to love such a bright, vibrant girl as family.]

Excellent.

[He says simply, enjoying the moment before it passes.

Motochika continues to watch her -- he is curious about Mitsuhide's last gift. The fact that it's to be opened last hints at its significance.]

[wavesoakedlegs]

[Mitsuhide isn't quite sure what to make of some of the clothing, but Gracia seems delighted with what she has been given, so he does nothing but smile at the scene. He also notes the colour of the dress and is inwardly a little amused about it. Motochika did like to dress his little household in his own colours.]

[The journal, now. That was pretty much a perfect present.

I am certain your writing will be very vivid indeed, my girl.

[He sits up straight, expression turning soft and tone of voice growing more quiet.]

Everything else has been opened now, so... you may open the second one I gifted to you.

[kagayakashi]

[ Gracia was going to write her first entry later that night, she made a mental note of that! ]

[ The said second gift was just about to fall off the edge of the couch before Gracia was given the go signal to open it. Grabbing it by the side, Gracia takes a deep breath and smiles. She had been gifted with more than she ever imagined she could be gifted with; what else was there left? That made her want to know even more than before, so she rips at the wrapping and bites her lip in anticipation. Eventually, she opens the box itself, and a beautifully crafted wooden necklace greeted her. ]

Did you make this, father? [ The more significant details of the necklace had yet to be discovered, so she spends a few moments examining merely its exterior. When it comes to that her eyes read what's carved on the surface, her smile slowly disappears. She holds it closer to her, reading it back and forth until she realizes something strange. ]

Tenkai? [ Gracia turns her head to her father, then back to the necklace. Their names - Tenkai's and