2022-09-13: Happy Birthday, Dr Mass

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<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


It's early evening at the Mass Villa, the sun setting off the pleasant vista that is the glittering Catalan coast as the guests arrive.

One might expect that the birthday of the head of the Yumi foundation, one Sayla Mass would be a lavish affair, sparing no expense and expecting only the creme de la creme of society.

That is quite the opposite of the reality.

The dress code is relaxed. And while the table is set, it's done so informally. There's one knife, one fork, one spoon at each setting, period (Renais' setting has hardwood handles). The seating arrangements are such that everyone is seated around the center of the dining room table, and noone at the ends of the table.

A simple handcrafted banner hangs on one side of the room, which only says 'Happy Birthday Sayla Mass!' in a tasteful font, decorated with ribbons and glitter.

It is unapologetically not a surprise party. For it should never be any surprise at all that people love, and care for someone in Leina's eyes.

There's Tapas readily available on the dining room table, with guests encouraged to go ahead and dig in and socialize long before dinner starts. Each is strategically arranged so that passing them around promotes conversation all the more.

It ranges from as simple as olives and charcuterie of all kinds, to more elaborate like boiled octopus, chorizo in red wine, mashed potatoes stuffed with lamb and cheese and covered in bread-crumbs - and even just guilty pleasures like patatas bravas (potato chips with spicy mayonnaise).

There is also of course, wine and champagne in ice buckets (already uncorked to prevent incidents) , which one must pour themselves, but plenty of glasses available for it. Truly observant individuals would notice that they're arranged a certain distance from Sayla's seat, thus requiring her to ask someone else to pour for her. Renais discreetly has double walled glasses available for her.

The Tapas all has a home cooked feel rather than catered, and the activity in the kitchen seems to give further credence to that feeling.

Everyone, including or perhaps especially the cats has been banished from the kitchen, save - one Koji Kabuto who showed up mysteriously early to help with one of those kitchen tasks.

-=-=-

In the Kitchen, where the magic is happening!

Leina glances at where Koji is at in the prep, and finds herself pausing to watch a few seconds longer. "I swear, you're a wizard Koji. One of these days I'm going to sit you down and make you teach me how to do that half as well."

-=-=-

Every so often Leina Ashta emerges from the kitchen, in an apron with a happy looking Haro printed on it, a short sleeved pink blouse, and cream colored trousers to check on who's arrived and if anything needs refills - and to trade some brief conversation - before returning back to the kitchen.

Eventually however, dinner is served, as Leina brings out the main course several at a time. Guests tonight have the options of a traditional seafood paella that Sayla taught to Leina years ago, or Pinchitos, which gets them a plate of piled high barbecued kebabs of chicken, pork, and beef that were marinated in saffron and other spices before seared over a charcoal fire.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.


        For her part in this, Sayla has been doing what she said she would and resting. Mostly. Yes, she's had the work phones out a few times but they are securely locked in her desk right now. Instead, Sayla is seated at the head of the table, seemingly relaxed. It's so strange for there to be so many old friends- and some new= gathered for something happy, but right now, she'll take it. And she's only into her second glass of wine for the evening.

        She has been grazing at the Tapas, but specifically leaving room for the mains. She has prioritized the octopus and patatas bravas, though. "It's been a long time since the house has been this busy," Sayla says, but strangely not ruefully. "I'm happy to see you all here." Not everyone could make it, certainly. But that happens sometimes. Still it's a little hard for Sayla to turn off public speaker mode. "Thank you all for coming."

        And then the mains arrive, and Sayla gives Leina an honestly cheerful smile. "These smell wonderful, Leina." She looks around the table. "Well, let's dig in. Just make sure to save some for Koji and the others." The others? Perhaps Sayla's mysterious hiding houseguest.

        Meanwhile, from under the table comes some insistent meowing, before a blue grey Maine Coon pokes his head out and meows again. The big friendly cat has been waiting for this moment. Wordlessly, Sayla sneaks a piece of octopus to the cat, who is sated.

        For now. 

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.


A while ago, Roux Louka made a decision. Was it wisdom? Was it a mistake? Was it just indulging someone precious to her? These are the kind of questions that make you wonder, deep down, with a mixture of wonder and terror...

... have I become an adult?

ROUX LOUKA is wearing a pretty simple blue one-piece dress. It's cut in a flattering way; the inevitable asymmetry that she always favors comes from the hem line starting, on the right, just beneath the hip, and ending, on the left, near the knee. Her hair has been tied up into a loose flip-do, held in place with a mesh net glittering with miniscule sparkling lights. She has accented eye shadow on. It's good that she didn't go heavy on lipstick because -

*nom*

She just ate a boiled octopus.

*chew*

Roux sips the champagne in her glass. "You know," she remarks, "that's the first time I've had octopus." After due consideration, she reaches for a second.

When Sayla thanks them, Roux laughs a little too loud, probably from the champagne. "Don't WORRY about it!" she exults, even as they drift towards the table, settling down ("Oh, thank you, I'd love a refill," Roux had said not that long ago) as she leans forwards, her legs crossing as she examines the incoming dishes.

"Leinaaa," Roux drags out a little. "You're going to have to introduce me to your fancy Earthnoid food here because all I'm seeing here is 'delicious.' Those are kebabs, riiight?"

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.

For the first time in several weeks, Renais' mind is something approaching 'at ease'. Guy managed to stare death in the face /again/, Sayla was out of the hospital, and she'd spent a lovely afternoon talking with Alouette Pommier on 3G's Orbit Base. Well, afternoon by her clock, anywayday and night are rather abstract in Low Earth Orbit.

But a party invitation was unexpected. Renais isn't exactly what she'd consider 'party material', being a living weapon who's spent most of her adult life on a quest for vengeance. And yet, here she is. She arrives expecting something much higher-class than what's before her now; while she's obviously put at ease by it (and by the accommodations made for her condition), she's still... a little uncomfortable. A bit oddly so, perhaps--while social gatherings obviously aren't her strong suit, she seems to feel the presence of the others a bit more acutely than she'd like.

It's just a little overwhelming, and it doesn't take a Newtype to tell, from the way she's keeping to herself at the moment.

She's poured herself a glass of champagne, and has been munching quietly on mashed potatoes and patatas bravas when her Pinchitos arrive. 

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

Koji grins as Leina compliments his handiwork. "I've always liked baking, to be honest, there's something comfortable about the process. I started off learning from grandpa's housekeeper and branched out from there, it would be great to pass on what Rumi had to teach me. We'll have to set a date for that at some point!"

It would be remiss, in this context, to not describe the awful joke of an apron Koji is currently wearing. It's black with a stylised rendition of Mazinger Z on it taking the iconic Rocket Punch pose. Emblazoned in white text on the front: "GO AHEAD. TRY THE PUNCH."


He has brought a party-appropriate set of clothes, fortunately, he just had a Baking Outfit while helping prepare the Main Event. When it's time for dinner to actually be served, he changes into a nice pair of black slacks with a pale pink button-up shirt not too dissimilar to his suit shirt but of a casual, short-sleeve design.

He's opted for the Pinchitos as his own main course, looking around at the assembled guests, suddenly aware that he's about to reveal a part of his Power Level that he's otherwise kept reserved for his family. 

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

Guy Shishioh has been wheelchair-bound and stuck in Orbit Base for weeks, now, following a disastrous battle with Mecha-Ghoulghilas that saw GaoFighGar destroyed and Guy nearly torn apart. He spends most of his time up there anyway, but still, an invitation like this, he's not going to skip.

Dr. Hirata, the developer and maintainer of the artificial gravity system on Orbit Base, loudly insisted that it shouldn't be materially different from the experience of Earth's natural gravitation, but on doctor's advice, Guy remains in his wheelchair this evening. It's not like he's never dashed out of it in an emergency before, if something does come up.

For what might be the first time since his return to Earth nineish months ago, he is also not wearing a GGG uniform with slight personal accents, but rather a normal human adult's button-down shirt and slacks. It's sort of orange-yellow because despite Guy's problems with orange things, recently, that end of the color pie has also been home to much of his personal color scheme.

Seated at a spot with some extra elbow room to account for the added width of the wheelchair, Guy has a big grin on his face, ever the ray of sunshine. "Glad I could slip away for this," he says. "Starting to understand why Taiga needed an elevator to the Main Order Room straight from his office."

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

Leaving the Research Institute in the capable hands of her subordinates, with LiSA also staying behind, Sayaka is happy to make the trip over to see Sayla for her birthday, along with Koji. With the semi-formal, but mostly casual dress code in effect, Sayaka is wearing a simple pink long-sleeved button-up paired with a white skirt.

The party is small, but quite lively, with plenty of familiar faces celebrating. She and Koji had arrived earlier, because he had insisted on helping with the cooking, so Sayaka has had plenty of opportunity to greet everyone. "Happy birthday, Sayla! I'm very glad I could make it." She places the gift bag she had chosen next to Sayla, to be opened later. It's filled with different types of daily essentials, handmade with Sayaka's personal touch. After all, Sayla needs to take care of herself, too.

"Guy, Renais, it's good to see you both again too." She notices the two are not in the best shape, even if Guy is covering it up with a smile, so she opts to pay special attention to them. 3G has certainly had it rough lately...

When Leina and Koji exit the kitchen, the aroma of home-cooked food fills the party room. "Mmm.. Leina's cooking. And if you'll believe it, Koji's secret technique can add a lot to a dish too." She smiles, putting a modest amount of everything onto her plate when it's ready, and seating herself at her assigned place, which Leina no doubt gleefully put right next to Koji's.

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


Shiro's talked about Rumi before, so the way that Koji's able to cheerfully talk about passing it along brings a smile to her face, "Absolutely. Don't leave tonight until I've set something down in my planner."

If she has it her way... it may even be more than her there.

-=-=-

Leina winks at Sayla, as if to ask 'Did you expect anything less?' before- "Oh don't worry, I've got a whole platter of pinchitos ready for him. Going to send them his way before I sit down." Beaming at Roux as she tries the Octopus, and reaches for seconds, she's about to turn around when... Roux needs a refill, and she reaches for the champagne bottle and pours her a new glass.

"They're Kebabs." She confirms to Roux, "Here in Spain we call them Pinchitos. We marinade the meat in saffron, as well other herbs and spices for almost a day, then put them on skewers and sear them on a charcoal fire." (It's outside) she asides. Before she leans in to whisper, "I've set aside a bunch to take back home with you. So no need to hold back."

There is no chance after all that she's not sending extra food home to her and Judau.

"Really glad you could make it Guy, it's been so long." Before she adds with a grin to Sayaka, "Don't I know it. You should see the miracle he's working in the kitchen right now."

As she reenters the kitchen, somehow, despite there having been no possibility of her seeing it with her back turned, "Ah Foras, you're such a spoiled little devil~"

Leina says playfully, but is not in fact complaining, she spoils Foras too.

When she returns back to the table after delivering the skewers, she's shed the apron, she herself has opted for the Paella, and has put it down at her seat, but before she takes a seat herself, she asks idly, "Would you like some iced coffee before I sit down, Renais? I made a batch not long ago..."

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

Nidaime has spent most of this time hanging out with Anti and trying to reassure him on the matter of people are allowed to visit your house sometimes and also sometimes birthday parties are a thing. It's pretty unclear if she made much headway because this is Nidaime, who isn't always the best at explaining human concepts to kaiju because she is also a kaiju who wasn't made by humans.

The Second knows birthdays though. She has learned a lot about them. She has had them even though she wasn't really 'born' exactly. Nevertheless, she comes running out carrying a somewhat sizeable package in her arms.

"Sayla Sayla Sayla I didn't msis cake did I hi Roux hi Renais hi Koji, Sis sis sis I didn't miss cake?"

Nidaime has strong opinions about cakes.

"Guy...!" She runs to him and gives him a hug. "Guyyyy.... thank youuu for before.... I'm sorrrry you're hurt...!" It's a little awkward since she's carrying a brightly colored package in her arm.

"Sayla I got you something! I found it in the trash and I fixed it up!!"

She beams brightly with love in all her heart.
Roux Louka tosses a coin: Heads

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.


"OooOOooo," Roux says to Sayaka. "His *secret technique*~? Tell, tell!"

Guy Shishioh's wheelchair is seen - a little surprise crosses Roux's face - but it does not daunt her. "Mr. Shishioh," she says, approaching him during the circulating period. "I'm Roux Louka. Thank you," and that seems to sum it up, followed by lingering bluely near the King of Braves on his throne for long moments.

BUT ANYWAY FOOD

"Pinchitos," Roux states. She takes one. She turns it back and forth in a way suggesting she is at the very least Lit Up for real. She takes a dainty but direct bite, rolling the spicy meat over her tongue before chewing some more. How much meat can Leina inflict upon her? Roux will soon enough find out.

"Hi~" Roux says to Nidaime, taking several more bites of the kebab as she watches Nidaime bustle around, diverted slightly by this. Especially when Nidaime presents her package and declares to Sayla that--

"That is so sweet," Roux sighs, approximately in the direction of Renais, potentially entirely because they're both sort of near the pinchito delivery point.

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.

Renais smiles neutrally at Sayaka, nodding. "It's, ah, good to see you too. I'm glad it's under better circumstances... and." She pauses, a little awkwardly. "I appreciate what you and Koji said, back at the hospital. There's... a lot... but knowing you don't hold anything against me helps." She nods once, and turns her attention to her kebab, carefully pulling a mouthful of meat off the skewer by sliding it off the end. Mmm.

She looks over at Guy, who's sitting beside her. She needs extra space anyway, so sitting her beside the wheelchair makes sesne. "I think pulling double-duty as the Space Development Corporation's CEO and the 3G chief had something to do with that." Leina gets a nod, "I'd appreciate that a lot, actually... thank you."

The seemingly half-hearted smiles suddenly start to reach her eyes as Nidaime barrels into the room, and she actually *giggles* a little, genuinely. "Hi, Nidaime." She can't help watching the little kaiju, and she nods in agreement with Roux. "It is. She's... adorable, really." Pure-hearted. "... a good kid."

Though she hopes cleaning it was part of fixing it up.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        "Just don't spend so much time in the kitchen you forget to enjoy it yourself, hm?" Sayla's tone is teasing, at least. "It's my birthday, and that means I want you taking part." She takes a big serving of the Paella. She smiles at Nidaime running in. "We're still on the savouries, Nidaime." She serves up a plate of Paella for Nidaime- fresh seafood is good for a growing turtle- and some of the patatas bravas on the side, setting it down before taking Nidaime's gift. "Oho! Well then, shall we see what it is?" It's unfair to make the kids wait to see your reaction.

        As she unwraps she keeps talking. "I spent half our meetings wondering where the hell that thing went, and wondering why I hadn't done the same with the Paris Office." She looks to Sayaka. "Please tell me you had the sense for something like that when you built the research center. That and a hidden exit from the parking lot and you can avoid photographers real easy." Yes, Sayla may be jealous of GGG's office amenities.

        She smiles. "You really can't get seafood like this in space outside some of the aquaculture colonies. Fresh beats frozen any day." Sayla pauses, smiling deviously at Roux. "But this does mean we're going to have to show you the wonders of calamari and takoyaki some time."

        "I'm glad you're here, Sayaka. It's been far too long since we caught up." Another devious smile. "We're going to have to bring back girls nights, once Jun's ready. Maybe invite a few others."

        This is dangerous talk for those in the know. But the fun kind of dangerous.

        She thinks briefly of nominating Renais to join them, but she's already overwhelmed. Sayla, Sayaka and Jun at their rowdiest may be too much. "Thank you again for coming, Renais. I appreciate it a lot." She'll let Roux and Leina do the other welcoming and talking- Renais could use more friends.

        Finally, having neatly unwrapped the gift, she opens Nidaime's present to see what is inside.

 <Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.
<poem>
Nidaime receives seafood (Nidaime loves seafood). She munches as Sayla opens up her gift. And inside...

Is a VINTAGE RECORD PLAYER. It actually IS cleaned up too, though there's a bit of a crack in the protective glass that's been taped alongside both sides but the turntable itself seems to have been carefully cleaned and fixed up. And there's a Queen Bohemian Rhapsody record already resting on the turntable!

"Do you like it, do you like it? I found it in the DUMPSTER. I had to dive right on in, eheheheh... That was pretty fun too, but I dug under there and found it, not quite at the bottom... And then I came back. And I took a bath so Leina wouldn't be upset...!"

Is she...

learning???

She wiggles her toes up and down. She looks to Roux, blinking at her, then to Renais. She beams at both of them and makes a bashful expression that is obviously more performance than natural.

"Eheh....thank you...!" 

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

"Roux, huh." A comfortable chuckle. Guy's used to these kinds of conversations. "Think I remember the name. You guys were with the AEUG after the whole mess with Kamille, yeah? Sorry we couldn't stick it out so much after the whole Zonuda mess...good to meet you."

"Heeey, Nidaime!" Guy says, scooping Nidaime up. The Superhuman Evoluder has recovered enough strength he's able to scoop her straight up to a seat on his shoulder, like he used to do with Mamoru all those years ago. "It's alright! The thing with being a Brave isn't never getting hurt, it's bouncing back with a smile, yeah?"

He sets her back down to scamper off for Sayla.

"It's kind of amazing how much of our infrastructure was built around what Taiga and his team picked up back in their ID5 days. Secret passages, secret elevators...make sure the entire base can fly..." He laughs. "Wish they'd told me that one earlier."

And, seeing Nidaime glance at Renais, he adds, to the general churn of introductions, "Ah, right, and this is my cousin, Renais. She was a big help back when Bionet was doing some of its nastiest work to get its own G-Stones." He gives her a not particularly subtle wink. He's helping!! 

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

"The Old Lab was built with plenty of tricks, of course," Koji explains as Sayla and Guy talk about Secret Bases, "and we put a few of those ideas into practice with the New Lab and the... Fuji Reactor Site." A pause before using the facility's official name, since only a couple people here know about the Thing Beneath Fuji. "There's a few secrets like that all over the city, actually, if you know what to look for."

"Zonuda was a hell of a thing," he sighs to Guy. "Z's energy weapon complement could hold off a Zonder Robo pretty well without needing a GS-Ride, but I think that was the first time you'd ever told us to stay out of it. Kind of a relief it worked out the way it did, honestly."

"Ugh, look at me talking shop at a birthday party." He shakes his head with a little smile. "Sorry, Sayla." Then again, this might be the first chance many of them have had to decompress the various battles they've gone through in a long time.

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


How much meat can she inflict upon Roux? As much as Judau and her can eat.

The unit of measurement for such might not yet be invented.

"I'm already enjoying it~" Leina laughs it off to Sayla, but despite that, there is a promise in that - she has no intention of not taking part.

"You're welcome. I'll be right back." Though before she can leave the room, Leina laughs joyfully as Nidaime arrives, "Glad you could join us Nidaime, you didn't!"

Miss the cake that is.

"Look forward to it~"

She's glad the whole room takes so well to Nidaime, she's always been a bit worried... but she didn't need to be. Nidaime's such a sweet kid. How could people not love her?

When she returns, iced coffee is given to Renais in a double walled glass. "If there's anything I can do to improve it for you, just let me know."

One might wonder if that's some sort of test, to see how bold Renais might be in challenging her coffee making ability, but no... she's absolutely sincere. The taste profile is bitter with decent balance of acidity, it's Neo-Spanish Arabica, from up in the mountains. She definitely used a French Press for it, and there's only a small splash of milk for presentation, without any added sweetener.

It's certainly not perfect, but it's at least well made.

Bouncing back with a smile? "I admire that attitude Guy." It took her a while to smile again when she was the one in the wheelchair. "How long are they saying until you're out of it, this time?"

Sayla though unwraps the gift, and Leina... "Wow, that's so thoughtful Nidaime!" Before she winks at her discreetly and mouths 'You did good~' at her taking a bath.

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"Family secret perhaps?" Sayaka laughs in response to Roux's question. "But trust me, once you try it, I'm sure you'll love it."

As Renais greets and thanks her and Koji, Sayaka nods back. "I'm glad too... and of course. Please, take all the time you need. We'll understand." As Renais moves her attention to the kebab, Sayaka turns her own attention to Guy, who was sitting next to Renais. "And Guy, I hope you're taking it easy too. If 3G ever needs the assistance of the Photon Power Labs, you know exactly who to call." Koji mentions staying out of it before, but with 3G's resources being spread thin, there might not be a choice this time.

Sayla suggests the return of Girls' Night, and Sayaka grins. "I'll have to ask Jun once I get home. I'm sure she really misses you too, Sayla." Her smile turning to an equally devious one, she asks, "Anyone you had in mind inviting?"

Nidaime arrives to the party, and Sayaka and smiles and waves to the girl despite having only met her once.She watches intently as Sayla open's Nidaime's gift, and is surprised at the effort made to preserve the record player despite its age, and apparently being found in the dumpster. Looks like a lot of thought and creativity was put into that gift - very bright kid, it seems. 

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.

Renais nods to Sayla, "Of course. It... I appreciate it."

She hasn't had many opportunities for things like this; she's never felt like she was right for it. Like it was for her... she's still not sure it is.

Training and trauma.

"Oh. I almost forgot..." She leans down and picks up a small bag, setting it next to the other gifts. She looks over the gift Nidaime brought. "Oh, that's..." She blinks once. "I... interesting. What is it?" She's not quite sure what to make of it.

"Oh--we've already met, Guy." She smiles a bit at him, and at Nidaime. "We talked a bit, before and after you saved me... said some very important things."

The coffee arrives, and she takes a small sip, letting it linger in her mouth before swallowing. "It's excellent. This is..." She pauses. "A local blend?" she asks. "Mm. French pressed. I appreciate it just as it is, but... if you want a better result next time, consider giving it a slightly longer steep before pressing it. Allows the less volatile flavors more time."

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.


Roux's eyes narrow at Sayaka's words. "Oh, a *family* secret... then I'll look forward to it. Secrets were made to be found out.~"

"Takoyaki has octopus in it?" Roux asks Sayla, surprised.

"Oh my god, don't even get me started," Roux answers Guy.

Guy has gotten her started.

"It was such a SHIT show afterwards - sorry - it was just like, the Argama was a mess, and -- like, there was this goof-ass Zeon guy who was chasing them -- and then we got loose and then we got LOST near a shoal zone and all of THAT was before we went back to Earth!"

"I'm not getting into it," says Roux, despite everything. She bites into meat to refrain from doing so. Chew chew chew. This takes long enough that her instinct or urge to Dish is faded; she ends up gazing at the record player, thoughtfully, perhaps even wistfully.

"Do you have anything to play on it, Sayla?"

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        That present is a real surprise. "Oh *my*." For her many rich person items, a vinyl player is something that she's never had. (In part because vinyl as a medium waxes and wains and while audiophiles still insist it's superior to all other media, your average person with average ears can't tell the difference. Sayla has average ears.) Still she understands *why* this gift would be so big for Nidaime. She blinks at the record though- she doesn't recognize it. Some new band, maybe or- She squints at the copyright information? AD? "Oh, is this a classical record, Nidaime?" Surely it can't be a 400 year old printing. Surely.

        She hakes her head at Koji. "It's okay. Being able to talk about the memories with people is a nice change." She doesn't bring up Mikoto here. "Just as long as we keep it light, hm?"

        "I keep planning to visit Tetsuya and Jun but the schedule never lines up." She admits to Sayaka. "And I'm running out of time to do it before there's a baby Hono-Tsurugi in the world." A pause. "Though, Sayaka... You don't have a key to their apartment do you? I've got an idea of a gift for them." Sayla no.

        "Ha. Yes." She shakes her head. "I won't deny it was necessary but god if I wasn't jealous of that man's ability to pull funding. 'Yes, here's our orbit base that no one but me and a few others know about.' Unbelievable." She takes a sip of her wine, then finishes it. "Could you pour me another red, Sayaka?" Really, an *orbit base*. Sayla couldn't even get a land base right now. She shifts her eyes to Koji. "Et tu, Kabuto?" Sayla is... very definitely jovial at this point.

        Inviting someone else, hm. "Well, I think Roux could definitely use the opportunity." The outburst waws well timed, so Sayla thinks to direct it. Plus she'd like to know more about what happened on the Argama- from the viewpoint of someone other than Bright. "And you'd be welcome to join us too, Renais." Renaise gets the no pressure option. Roux does not.

        Sayla shakes her head. "Beyond the record Nidaime gave me? Not really. My father had a small collection, but they were lost in the fire..." She pauses. She shouldn't really get into it here. But it's been such a long time since Sayla's opened up. "But even that was mostly oldies when I was a kid."

        Sayla places the record player to one side, to take Renais' gift.She's going to give Leina and Koji some time to eat, but she can sense the time in the air. She keeps the talk up and then... "Well, Leina- think it's time for cake before everyone fills up." 

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

"Oh, any day now," Guy says to Leina. "They wanted to be cautious with me for this since this would be my first time under full natural gravity since the incident. Akiko had some, uh, opinions?" He laughs. Akiko Hirata being, of course, the genius scientist and former Zonder host who invented and maintains Orbit Base's artificial gravity. "I'm a bit sore I guess, but it's fine. Pushed through worse! It's nice I can take the time, this time, really."

"Oh, you have? Good, good," Guy adds toward Renais, with a grin. "Good! You're right, she's a real sweetheart. And a big help, besides."

Guy nods to Koji, gratefully remembering their many bonds and battles, and then throws him directly under an oncoming bus: "I do! Koji, so I can force him to talk to you." He can't suppress a mischievous grin at that, tearing off a length of kebab to have an excuse not to say more.

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

Koji grins. "It's a lot less fancy than I'm making it sound, but the 'New Science City' urban redevelopment plan made a few advancements over the standard 'emergency kikaiju bunkers' and evacuation protocols. Boss's ramen shop? There's a service tunnel that connects to his basement, it pops out right next to the Old Lab. Turns out he's cutting the energy bill by running the place right off Borot's reactor." Yep. That's Boss for you - kilometres of cable hooked up to still-experimental super technology to skimp on a couple of taxes.

Guy throws Koji under a double-decker, and the Mazinger pilot sighs, faux-woundedly. "I'm never going to live that down, am I? Although, since you bring it up, Guy, and there are others here who haven't heard yet - " Unless, of course, they were listening to Radio Brocken's final broadcast just yesterday - "Sayaka and I are un-retiring."

Oh but hey look at that it's Cake Time, at just the right moment to forestall further inquiry. "I'll give you a hand with it, Leina."

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


"Ah good!" Leina's eyes light up as Guy says it'll be any day now, "Understandable that he would but..." She glances Sayla's way, "...I had opinions of my own, when I was in your position."

She was definitely not on the side of taking it easy. "We'll see if we can lure you back here more often."

Leina smiles as Renais calls it excellent, before nodding, "From near Montserrat." Renais gives advice though, and her expression turns more serious, "If you think it'll improve the balance, I'll give it a try. Though..." Pause, "...Could you show me yourself sometime? It might help me refine my technique more quickly with a demonstration."

Leina tries to catch Roux's eyes and nods with a small shrug and a smile to confirm to her the Takoyaki Octopus situation. Leina's been eating her Paella a bit between conversation beats, making some progress.

"Mashymere was... pretty persistent." Leina gives Roux an almost nostalgic smile, "And Bright was beside himself trying to keep us all in line. I feel like we were lost half the time from some scheme Beecha and Mondo cooked up and dragged Judau into. Remember that Zaku they diverted course from mid-recon to salvage?"

It's interesting how positively she sees that time perhaps, despite the chaos... and her eyes twinkle a bit as Sayla invites Roux to Girl's night out with Sayaka, Jun and her, along with Renais.

"I feel like I should volunteer to be designated driver already..."

Sayla requests the cake, before everyone fills up...

... and as she stands, Koji offers a hand, "Appreciate it. I'll definitely need the help bringing this in."

It takes a moment to retrieve it from the kitchen, but what is brought in is a large rounded layer cake of chocolate mousse and the smallest touches of chocolate ganache, tastefully decorated with custard profiteroles on the top interspersed by little pastry bag dots of custard.

When one cuts inside, they'll find the cake is filled with custard profiteroles in every layer, balanced by delicate chocolate mousse and chocolate ganache.

"I have to give Koji most of the credit on this one." Leina winks, as the pair sets it down in front of Sayla, "Thank you Koji, you might be an even better patissier than you are a scientist. Maybe you missed your calling." She winks at him, teasing him just a little...

... before she plops down a single candle, and strikes a match to light it.


<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

"What is that even supposed to mean?" Sayaka reacts to Roux's assertion that she's looking forward to finding out the secret. But she very much takes it in stride, a mark of her newfound maturity. Roux is a pretty interesting lady, she thinks.

"A key to their apartment.. Sayla, what are you planning? Still, I can let them know you want to see them soon." She then asks for more wine, and Sayaka nods, pouring one more for herself and one for the birthday girl. Inviting Roux and Renais.. Sayaka won't say no to that. "That's a good idea! And Renais.. no pressure, but I think you would get along really well with Jun. She's wonderful."

Koji brings up their un-retirement and Sayaka chimes in. "That's right! It's why I offered the support in the first place. I can still do more than just research, you know."

Conveniently, the cake arrives and it looks absolutely delicious. Once the woman of the hour gets her own crowning slice, Sayaka plans to take a medium-sized slice for herself and dig into it, seemingly also content to avoid further questioning.

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.


Roux's focus shifts for a moment. Opportunity? She reviews things in the past. What -- oh my god, Roux thinks, with widening eyes. They're having a girls night! "I'm in," Roux says, immediately, her brain not getting in the way of itself for once.

Sayaka has a good question.

"I don't know," she tells Sayaka, honestly, and Roux giggles into the back of her hand as she does. She does also put the champagne glass down, which may be wise.

"See that's just good thinking," Roux tells Koji, before taking another bite out of her kebab-- before there's a faltering pause.

Roux feels herself sobering. Not all the way (that was glass #4) but it's definitely enough to make her feel significantly less *sparkling*, but not necessarily in a negative way. She swallows, silently, and says: "Oh," to Sayaka and Koji.

It feels grave, somehow.

Leina pulls her into something like her earlier orbit. Roux grimaces a little, but it's at least playful grimace rather than genuine pain. "It's probably a good idea. I think I'm going to stay over here, though, if it won't put you out." But thence comes... the cake.

Of course, she's also being offered more wine. Roux is going to take this (for once, normal) glass, and also a middling-sized piece of cake (Sayaka has given her implicit permission after all).

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

"Hm? I don't know." Nidaime says (it's probably not a 400 year old record, no--then again considering who mother can you really be sure?? It isn't. It's a rerelease).Either way, Nidaime doesn't have the answer to this question because she is not a person who concerns herself with stuff like that.

Nidaime probably qualifies as an audiophile though lets be real here but that's not why she got it for Sayla--well it SORT OF is in the sense that Nidaime's gifts are almost always music related in the first place because she's an audiophile but that's not why she picked out a record player.

She picked a record player mainly because this place is SO BIG that you actually have space for a record player and you can put it on for people who happen todrop in and it adds to the atmosphere!

"Do you like it? Do you like it?" Nidaime beams. Yeah, she thinks, she likes it! Maybe she should keep trying to find oldie records to replace Sayla's lost collection, she thinks. This is now... A NEW QUESTLINE. MISSION ACCEPTED.

"Wow..." She says of the cake. "I want to lick it." But she doesn't lick it because in the dark future, Happy Birthday is public domain.

"Haaaaapppy Birthday to you o/~, Happy Birthday to you o/~, Happy Birthday to Auntie Sayla, Happy Birthday to you o/~"

Nidaime takes a breath.

"And many more o~, On channel four o~"

"And Scooby Doo o~ on channel two o~"

"And Frankenstein on channel nine o/~"

She hesitates as she tries to think of other channels but ultimately applauds. "Yay Sayla!"

She happily digs into the cake and looks to Renais. "Renais... is a friend!" She agrees with Guy before blinking a few times. Did...she say very important things?

She tries to remember. What did she say was important.

"Ah it's a record player, an old form of music playing...!" Nidaime bobs her head excitedly. 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


When Nidaime sings, Leina starts singing along too. "Haaaaapppy Birthday to you o/~, Happy Birthday to you o/~, Happy Birthday dear Sayla, Happy Birthday to you o/~"

Though when there's an addendum to the end of the song, she tries to sing but...

... pauses, not knowing what to sing. There's two figures added into the mix there, and while she knows what one of them is, she very sincerely leans over and whispers a question to Roux, as if she might be the voice of authority on this one.

"What's a Scooby Doo?"

<Pose Tracker> Nidaime has posed.

"It's...the monster on channel two." Nidaime says. "Some kind of kaiju I think!"

<Pose Tracker> Renais Cardiff has posed.

Renais' gift to Sayla is a tall, thin paper bag, folded over several times at the top. In pretty cursive is written:

Cafe
Melange de Renais

"I, ah... wasn't sure what to give you, but. It's a blend of some of my favorite coffee beans. I wasn't sure if you had a grinder of your own, so there's a little motorized one in the gift bag, too." She smiles, a little awkwardly. She hopes Sayla likes it.

Her cheeks flush as Sayla offers her along to a girls' night out. "Oh, ah..." She thinks a moment. "Well... if you think I'd be good company, I suppose it couldn't hurt." She smiles a little. It's not one of the bright ones--she's nervous. Not sure what she'd do, whether she'd fit... but...

The awkward moment's broken as they bring out the cake. "Oooh... that does look delicious," she agrees with Nidaime. "I... kind of want to, too, but definitely don't lick it." She gives the little kaiju a grin, singing along with her, seeming happy that she's a friend. 

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

"Pilot, Physicist and Patissier? That doesn't sound half bad." Koji grins back at Leina as they set the cake down. "Someone grab Foras before he gets too curious, this is far too much chocolate for him."

He listens to Nidaime's song with a big grin of his own, applauding along with her. "Happy birthday, Sayla."

He offers Renais an encouraging smile. "Jun's a good person to get to know, very easy to get along with." He kinda gets her awkwardness at being invited at all, though.

Koji takes a modest slice of cake for himself, giving the interior cut of the cake a critical eye. "I think that turned out pretty much how we hoped, Leina. Hopefully it tastes as good as it looks." 

<Pose Tracker> Guy Shishioh has posed.

Koji survives! Guess Guy's gonna have to find new material. "Oh, wow! That's great!" Guy says. Maybe his somewhat unique perspective doesn't let him see the possible downsides, so he's all smiles about it. "It'll be good to see the whole Mazin team back on the field. Maybe if I ask Boss nicely, I can borrow Borot for a while...maybe not, if he needs the generator."

Guy's gift is a small box, a few inches to a side but thin. And inside is...

"We're not using these in an official capacity anymore, obviously, so they're basically just a novelty now," Guy says with a grin. "But I thought it would be a nice reminder of the friends you've got up on Orbit Base. Had to get Usshi to spin up the 3D printer for it special."

...A green diamond-shaped pager, or more specifically, shaped like the GGG logo. The same type of pager certain key staff had back during the Primeval War.

Guy then settles back to listen to Nidaime's song, applauding with the rest.

and then: cake time!! 

<Pose Tracker> Sayaka Yumi has posed.

The atmosphere slightly drops when Sayaka and Koji make mention of their return to piloting. With multiple recently-injured in the room, it makes sense, even if she kept the tone light-hearted. Guy is the one to bring the mood back up. "Wouldn't it be something, to see you pilot Boss Borot again. But I'm sure he'd be happy to see you stop by Boss Ramen, once you're able."

Renais is understandably nervous about the invitation to girl's night. "It's completely up to you," Sayaka reassures. "I won't be offended if you don't think you can make it, and I don't think Jun or Sayla would be either." She would love to see Renais come, but sometimes it takes time for people to have that level of comfort.

After joining in with the ensemble applause, Sayaka gets her own piece of cake. Baked to perfection, just as she expected. She almost wants a second piece, but that wouldn't be fair.

"Happy birthday, Sayla. I hope you like my gift when you have the chance to open it." Sayaka is proud of her handcrafting skills, after all, even if it's a bit more old-fashioned than you would expect from her, the skills come with the design of much more high-tech tools. 

<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.


"Put that on your resume." Right beside solving the energy crisis for the OCU and defeating Dr. Hell?

Leina says, before picking up Foras, "Who's a curious little devil? Is it you?" Foras' little cry seems to affirm that statement.

After Foras is cruelly banished to the room with Anti (He'll have to console himself with the meat skewers Buer is already enjoying.)

Leina grins at Koji as she eats her own slice of cake. "Pretty much how we hoped? Try 'better' than I ever could have hoped. This is bliss." She winks at Koji, "I owe you one, Doctor Kabuto." Koji might never call in those favors but, she certainly won't forget them...

Roux... after the party is over gets handed a small box, and a card. The card reads:

Just in case I can't see you on the day of- due to your work obligations. Happy Early Birthday. I made this for you years ago after you and Judau left for Jupiter; for when you got back. I just always liked your look, and when I made it thought you deserved an equally cool accessory. You don't have to wear it if you don't want to, and I won't be offended. I was eleven when I made it, so it might be a little childish, but I still thought it'd be a shame if I never gave it to you.

-L

Inside the box is a hair barrette of a small five pointed yellow star, with twin red ribbons streaming off of it, that evokes the symbol Roux used to wear on her pilot's uniform and helmet back in the day. It seems younger Leina had intended for it to be a versatile hair accessory for the various stylish ways that Roux wore her hair.

Leina does not present her gift to Sayla until later, after the party is over.

The box Leina presents is far too thin depth wise, but long and wide enough to feel like a picture frame.

Once unwrapped and the lid is lifted however, Sayla will find two objects inside. They're both animation cels, a rarity in the age where digital animation has taken over, and are churned out soullessly by the corporate machine.

However, some still exist either as novelty items, or when directors simply won't compromise on their vision for quality by using more traditional methods from the Middle Ages.

The first is Kakiko Hayashi aka Magical Girl Wonderful Persimmon who in the frame is hugging her mother, in an episode where the central conflict was an argument between them rather than any magical battle with the forces of darkness.

It was an episode special to both of them that... got to them in different ways.

The other is a scene from the movie Artesia, where 'Sarah' is leaning out the window of her orphanage in Shangri-la in the middle of singing 'Steps to the Future' with her Haro Lucifer, who is dangling off the windowsill, holding onto it with an extended hand and scrambling to get back up.

These are not cheap items, yet Leina certainly didn't ask for more allowance to afford them. She must have been setting aside for some time to afford these particular ones from some auction site, or collector... or perhaps she called in a favor, it's hard to say - and she's certainly not telling.

<Pose Tracker> Sayla Mass has posed.

        Sayla gives Nidaime a smile. "I do. I'll see if I can find some other records. Thank you Nidaime." Sayla smirks to Sayaka. "I just thought it would help them if they had a room properly set up when they come home." Is Sayla Mass the sort of person who would outfit someone with a full nursery as a surprise? Yes. Yes she would. In a heartbeat. She's quiet about Koji and Sayaka reentering the field, but she knew it was coming. She might... need to talk.

        Roux's enthusiasm is good, and Sayla gives her a firm nod. Well then- and then the cake comes out with it's one candle. Once the singing is done, Sayla leans in to blow the candle out. For perhaps the first time in a long time, Sayla is honestly at ease. The cake itself, though... "...You two have really outdone yourselves." Sayla takes first slice, admiring the profiteroles mixed through the cake. "This looks excellent."

        Still, she takes the opportunity to open the remaining gifts. Sayaka's kit is received with a smile- "Well. I think I'll be capping off tonight with a nice bath." These things are different coming from someone else. Renais coffee too, is taken gratefully. The handwritten note is the same touch. She unfolds the paper, and takes a deep inhale of the scent. "Oh, this smells wonderful, Renais. Perhaps we could share a cup before you go home?" It's both a small invitation and a statement that Renais belongs here in this group.

        And then the little box gets slid across, and Sayla's eyes go wide for a second, before she eases into a that warm smile she's had most of the night. "...You, Guy Shishioh, are a sentimental sap. I love it." She closes the box on her pager. "Thank you."

        And then the time comes for cake. Sayla uses the spoon to get a nice mix of profiterole and mousse, and takes a big bite.

        --29 Years Ago--

        "-esia, Happy Birthday to you!"

        The girl who would become Sayla Mass stands on her chair, leaning on the table to blow out the fiva candles om the cake. Fluffy chocolate mousse she knew already, but she didn't recognize the pastries on the top. Her little black and white cat is hiding under her chair from the candles. Her father leans in to slice the cake himself, not leaving it to the staff, giving her a giant slice of cake. Her mother laughs, but warns her not to eat so much she's sick. Her big brother sits around the table from her, watching her reaction- their mother asked him to suggest the cake. She picks up the pastry thing off the top with her hand, biting into it and spilling custard on her fancy dress. It's the nicest thing she's ever tasted.

        --Now--

        Sayla finishes her bite of cake. "...Exquisite." That's an understatement.

        It's the nicest thing she's ever tasted.

        --That Evening--

        In private, Sayla opens Leina's gifts. As much as Sayla smiles, she tears up. She doesn't have words in that moment. Instead, she simply pulls Leina into the tightest hug she can manage. 

<Pose Tracker> Roux Louka has posed.


Roux accepts the box from Leina. She doesn't think much of it. She is drunk enough that she's out once she is in the bed in her guest room. She doesn't even take off the dress.

She wakes up, washes, feels miserable, drinks water, sleeps more.

It's late in the morning the day after that Roux, with a headache, opens the box...

And she stares...

Thinking perhaps of a thrown shoe and flames, Roux's eyes water.

When Leina next sees her, she's wearing the barette.

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