They say it's your birthday...

[noonecandestroythemetal]

⭐ Who: Sam, Zeke, and hopefully, YOU!
⭐ When: April 1 (timey wimey...)
⭐ Where: A room in Fujiwara Hall at the University of Yumemigaoka
⭐ What: Zeke's leveling up! Happy birthday!
⭐ Warnings: potential foam weapon violence




Sam has...really done her best. She's barely been back for a full month, but even with all the chaos, she's managed to hammer down what she hopes will be a decent birthday party for Zeke!

She's rented out a hall (at the local university she attends!) and set it up--one long table for food, a few other scattered tables to be seated at and eat at. There's a table that's clearly for incidental gifts, but in the flyers she'd put up at the DU mid-month, she'd made it pretty clear that the only present needed was the gift of one's presence! That had been Zeke's request, when Sam had asked him his opinion.

As is typical of a Sam party, the spread is pretty lavish. Pizza!! She's got the typical meat pies, some white pizzas, some veggie pies. The spinach and artichoke dip is also made with vegan stuff, like the veggie pizzas are. There are various other little snacky tidbits, but the centerpiece and crowning glory is the chocolate cake with the fondant replica of Dreamer Chaosbringer's Purple Lightning Dreamsmasher perched on it, along with a pair of candles that read "27".

Another section of the hall is cordoned off. That's where the real party is going to be held--the fun and games! There are a few rented arcade games that are popular (some side scrollers, shooters, a fighting game or two, and something like Dance Dance Revolution!), a karaoke machine, a truly GIANT pinata, and the star of the show--a ring of sorts, with a thick helping of foam padding on the floor within and surrounding it. There's a place to spectate, but the true draw is the weapons rack. The assorted implements of destruction aren't real weapons, of course--Sam could never have gotten the proper permits in time. No, they're foam weapons, clearly arranged so if partygoers desire, they can wallop each other!

It is totally obvious that Zeke is itching for a chance to get in that ring...especially since his present from Sam is a life sized foam replica of the same sword decorating his cake!



(you all know the drill here, have fun, mingle, enjoy, party! no one is obligated to chat up Sam or Zeke unless you really want to! Let your character blow off some steam, if they can! literally everyone is invited to this! mind the headers, but feel free to make your own, too!)

Comments

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Zeeeke. You're kind of contractually obligated to say that!!

[There's not really a contract, but, they're dating, right? Good boyfriend material says nice things about their girlfriend. She does say nice things about him, too! Though she definitely does nice things more often.

Love language and all.]

I do have something to ask. Kind of important. I just want your opinion on it.

[thezekeinator]

Obligation or not, I want to say it and it's true, damn it. [She's not getting away with deflecting this! In fact, he thumps the table with a fist in a good-natured sort of way.]

What's up?

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Okay, okay! [She lifts her hands, because really, it's more important that she asks the question than she pursues this mild, almost mock-argument with Zeke.]

So, been going to therapy for a bit, went home, in theory I've matured a little. I've been giving it some thought, on and off...

What do you think about me signing up to be a Mentor?

[Sure, she has to figure out how to balance her Dreamer business, school, getting a house, her band...that makes her swallow hard, but no. Sam's not gonna go back now.]

Maybe not right away, but like. Definitely this year?

[thezekeinator]

[Well that question's jolly easy. Zeke immediately gives it a big, literal thumbs-up.]

You'd be a great choice, as far as I'm concerned. You're more with-it than pretty much everyone else I know, after all.

[noonecandestroythemetal]

I hope you're answering that more as the head of DAMNIT and in-theory mature guy with his head screwed on straight, than anything else, mister.

[Considering their surroundings, after all.]

Part of me says I ought to just do it, but I don't want to be too distracted with house hunting and then moving, you know?

[thezekeinator]

[Zeke straightens up at that, not quite frowning but certainly looking more serious.] You know when it comes to Dreamers, I'm not going to pull punches. Not going to just shoot you right down, but if I thought you needed something more I'd be telling you how to get it.

Definitely agree on waiting till you've got less going on, though. Right now everything's a mess even without our own personal dealings.

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Yeah, but forgive me for thinking I might get a little leeway because of things like...being your girlfriend and technically this could be bribery.

[She gestures at the remnants of the party.]

Not that I work that way, but your average guy on the street doesn't know that. So yeah. Still, your professional opinion is the important one to me. I was pretty sure your personal opinion would be an unbridled 'go for it, I got your back, hon'.

Which it was.

[thezekeinator]

Except you forget, I don't have any formal pull with the DU. You can bribe me all you want and it won't change a thing for them. [Though he laughs, then, sweeping a hand back through his hair dramatically.] Now be honest, though, Sam. Is there ever any difference between my professional and personal opinion?

[noonecandestroythemetal]

No, but prudence says maybe there should be. Also it's not like you don't have a vested interest in what goes on at the DU.

For more than one reason. And they just keep piling up lately, don't they?

[thezekeinator]

Yeah. [Zeke huffs a long breath.] I keep saying the whole system's rotten, but no one's actually listening. I'm gonna start having to be the bad guy about it all pretty soon, y'know?

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Might not be that no one is, it might be that you're reaching the wrong ears. I don't know for sure.

[She pats his leg again.]

Pretty sure I still count as a little fish in a big pond.

[But now, she's going to try to keep an ear out. Not that she'll tell Zek that. Yet.]

[thezekeinator]

Eh, I haven't been loud and angry enough about it. Serves me right for letting everything get to this point.

[Not just the DU, or the Disturbances, but also Ai's whole mess. None of it's his fault, but that's cold comfort at best when things are falling to hell all around them.]

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Okay, but don't let them think "aw, it's just Zeke being goofy like he always is!" I mean. I know sometimes you bank on that stuff, but.

[Really, the stuff with Ai just pissed Sam off, too. If she met some of those reporters in a dark alley--or worse, some of those fans--well. She tries to stay good, but she has a temper, and that temper is well and truly up.]

We've gotta do better. Somehow. But me signing up to be a Mentor is a place to start, I guess. Never would've thought I'd do that two years ago.

[thezekeinator]

I thought you would, given time.

[Sam is just too decent not to do it. Two years ago, naw, she wasn't ready, but eventually? He would've been shocked had it NOT happened.]

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Why?

[Sam doesn't think she's particularly decent, but she's also fresh from a heaping helping of her birth family's hypocrisy. Maybe she can be forgiven. Hopefully.]

I'd do it now, but...I'm worried, not about whether or not I'd be good at it...but that I'd be too distracted. I probably said that, but.

[Sam's determined that any future Mentees she has get her full attention, or as much as she can give. She's going to be distracted in the next two months by house hunting, unless she gets lucky and finds something sooner...]

[thezekeinator]

[Okay, that question gets a laugh out of him.]

Because if anyone came and asked you for help you'd give it in a jolly second. Being a Mentor's basically just saying, 'hey, I'm available on the record to be asked.'

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Really? I mean yeah, I would. [She has. Or Sam has at least tried, in the past.]

Is it really that simple, though? I figured some of the stuff would be stuff that Dreamers do anyway, but.

[Clearly she's just a bit dumbfounded at that...]

[thezekeinator]

What would you even call being a Mentor except trying to help someone be a good Dreamer?

[Really, this is something he'd never even considered -- that giving it a formal name might mess with the expectations and perceptions this badly. Zeke honestly looks like he's had a weird wake-up call, a bit startled and stunned.]

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Well, usually there are more hoops to jump through, with what I'm used to! Like. in Girl Scouts you at least had to know some of the rules, be able to help the younger scouts get badges, stuff like that!

Though that was a while ago, now. I haven't been a scout since I came here.

[Truly, Sam was a little sad to lose that, but being a Dreamer was equally as cool, in a different way.]

I guess there are fewer rules, but I mean. I wouldn't take it any less seriously...

[thezekeinator]

[Zeke can't picture Girl Scout Sam, and after a moment, doesn't even try. ]

So what we've come at is that you're a naturally helpful and supportive person who'd take mentoring seriously, and you're wondering if any part of me could somehow have any reservations about it at all?

[He just... shakes his head. C'mon, Sam!]

[noonecandestroythemetal]

[At this, Sam rolls her eyes.]

I'm trying to get a sample, Zeke, and since I trust you, you were one of the people I wanted to ask.

[She flops back in her seat, then, grumbling, arms crossed.]

[thezekeinator]

Just checking that other people agree the sky is blue, yeah?

[Planting a foot on the floor, Zeke slides his chair over so he can loop an arm around the girl's shoulders.]

Line up a bunch of people I know and you'd be one of the first I'd pick to be a Mentor. That's no lie. Have some faith in yourself.

[noonecandestroythemetal]

If I hadn't just had a couple months in the loving bosom, ya know...[There is a lot of sarcasm here. A lot.] I might have a little more. My confidence is a bit shot. But I'm working on it.

[Sam shakes her head.]

If I was listening to the voice in my head that's basically my mother, I never would have brought this up in the first place.

[thezekeinator]

If you gave that voice credit, a lot of things would be different right now. I'm glad you're not doing that. Even when it's hard.

[See, Zeke can sometimes be serious. He even gives her a little squeeze to emphasize his words.]

[noonecandestroythemetal]

Let's be real, I'd probably still be home now. I'd probably never have asked you out to begin with! I'm not worth the trouble, after all.

[That last is in finger quotes. She knows that's not true.]

I don't think I'd have washed out of being a Dreamer, but peer pressure can be killer.