#srpupdate

The obligatory drinks had been passed out, the apple cider bubbling in the plastic champagne glasses enticingly. Sora stared through the glass, lost in thought as Maru trotted up to join him. He huffed once, brown eyes wide in worry and Sora rubbed his head absentmindedly. Kairi sidled up beside him, looking at him sympathetically. "Hey. You okay?"

"...yeah. Just a little sad, I guess. All the fun made this a little harder."

"You sure you want to do this? We can save it for later."

He shook his head once, finally glancing up to meet her eye, "Nah. It's gotta be now. Waiting'll just make it worse."

The girl nodded once in understand, then clicked the stereo off, effectively silencing the music, and Kairi called out over the room. "Hello, everyone? Can I have your attention? Sora would like to make an announcement."

Kairi burst through the door, the late afternoon sunlight nearly blinding after the dark lights of the inside of the house. Mary stood outside in wait. She did not even bat an eyelash at the commotion barreling through the door. She just watched coolly with one raised brow as the girl swung around to stand beside her, and the birthday boy came soon after. "You! Just wait 'til I get my hands on..." His anger slowly quelled as he blinked at the newest addition to the yard completely. Jaw went slack, eyes went wide, and guard went down. "Is that...?"

A giant trampoline took up about a quarter of the grassy area, brand new and set up in wait. The boy looked to his childhood friend, and then his caretaker with the first semblance of hope, like a child waiting to be told to go out for Chirstmas day. The woman nodded with a small amused smile. "Rented for the day, set up for your entertainment. All her idea, of course."

And then the boy's face finally broke out into a smile. "Kairi... Mary-" He threw himself forward, wrapping one arm around each of the women and pulling them into a group-friendly embrace. "You're the best! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!"

Kairi squeaked, and giggled before instantly hugging him back. Mary sighed a little in resignation, before placing a hand on his head. Physical affection and intimacy was not her forte or her preference, but she always made an exception for the kind-hearted, but often overzealous boy. It was hard to stay mad at him when he was this happy. But she did not seem displeased with the action, quite the contrary if her growing smile was an indicator. Besides, it was a special occasion. "Alright then, you've made your gratitude quite clear. Now off you go. I didn't set it all up just to have you stare at it."

Unfortunately, I do have work today, so I'll be putting up the starter for the final event thread, then hopefully you all can party hard. So while I'm gone, you all get your presents for the birthday boy ready. Just send it in my submit box. After the presents and cake, Sora will have a little "speech" (if you can call it that, he's terrible at these things) for everyone, and then we will sadly have to bring this fun to a close.

Sora caught a glance at Riku, still bobbing in time with the music. "There you are, you made it! C'mon, there's plenty of room!" He wheedled, until the music suddenly went quiet, halting his rhythm. He glanced at Kairi questioningly, but saw her fiddling with the remote on the stereo, and chalked it up to change in pace, and turned his attention back to Riku. "Er, well there will be," He chuckled. "This is kinda-" He froze, the new song making him stiffen in panic.  "...Embarrassing." His fears were confirmed when his own voice came up on the system, and his face flushed as he rounded on his dear, dear best friend with the fury of an army to call out across the room. "KAIRI! YOU PROMISED YOU'D BURN THAT!"

"I DID!" She called back, all smiles and innocence. "ONTO A CD!"

"YOU-!" And he released Namine to point oh-so-threateningly toward the sweet looking girl. "GIMMIE THE REMOTE!"

"NO!"

"Alright everyone," the woman's voice called out over the room. "Listen very carefully because I am only going to say this once, and I loathe to repeat myself."

The woman speaking up at the front was not particularly tall, nor particularly short. Trim, but not thin, and her blouse and knee length skirt were crisp a clean. She was an older woman of color with big brown eyes and rosy cheeks, with a usually more cheerful disposition, but right now was stern to show she meant business.

"While you're guest in Kairi's house, I expect you all to behave. There will be nothing broken or missing when this day is through, and I will be sure of that. There will be plenty of music, but absolutely no alcohol, so do not ask for any, and do not attempt to look for any. I know that some of you are of legal age, but most of you are minors, as is Sora, and I am here to be sure that nothing gets too out of hand."

Off to the side, Sora groaned as he hung his head in shame. "Great. Awesome start to a party."

Kairi chuckled and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She's just doing it because she cares. We'll still have plenty of fun."

"Yeah, I know. I just wish she'd care a little less... sternly."