yumemigaoka | They say it's your birthday...

⭐ 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!)

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[ Both swords, honestly. But.....That question. Jeannette swallows her bite of cake. ]

It is nothing, the merest thing. I have a request of Zeke I fear he will turn down, that is all. And all would go much better were he to accept.

[ Yet the last thing she wants is for others to be troubled on her account, so she tries to wave a hand in a "don't mind me" manner. Except she's holding a fork, so she's just....Waving the fork around. ]

But that is no call for anyone else to fret!

Why would he do that?

[Admittedly, Sam's curious, but she figures it's also not really her place to pry. If Jeannette wants her to know, she will be told. If not, she won't be. It's as simple as that.]

Well, this is probably the place and day to do it, at least. He's in a fantastic mood!

[Then again, with a spread like this, who wouldn't be, right?]

[ Jeannette fidgets with her cake some more. Then sighs. ]

That is why I do not wish to ruin it.....

But if he is to turn me down, better today than tomorrow.

I think he'd understand that you wouldn't come to him and ask, unless it was important. If it's important enough to interrupt his party, it's serious. You're serious. You're not usually frivolous.

[Except for maybe the Joan of Arc stuff, but she turns into a six foot tall axe-wielding elf in the Dream Sphere, so Sam feels as if she has no room to throw stones from her own glass house. It's effective, and Jeannette is nice!]

Besides, you might bring him down a little, but ruin it? I don't know if you could. But you're making it sound like it's kinda private, so I'm not trying to shove my nose where it doesn't belong, you know?

You are very kind.

[ And......and because she needs such kind, thoughtful people....people who are devoted enough to their fellow Dreamers to hold a lovely party such as this -

Okay! She will also ask Sam! ]

I am....inviting Zeke to my army. And if you would join as well, it would become much stronger!

[ He hated the mere concept of "army" SO MUCH when she floated it to him, but......all his objections were.....he thinks what an "army" is and what she means are two different things???? It was a very strange conversation! She did not understand a lot of it!

But she will not give up, not when what she has in mind could do so much good, and when her angel says it is how best to protect her town. If everyone thinks of something horrible and faceless when she says "army", the best way to convince them otherwise is to show them what she means instead! ]

[There are so many ways that Sam could think of an 'army'. Sure, she's from the States, so there's the military there, but there are also like. Fandom armies? She's sure Jeannette is coming from a good place, so Sam doesn't turn her down flat.]

Uh. Maybe this has flown directly over my head, but...explain to me what you mean by an 'army'? And in or out of the Dream Sphere?

[It's not a flat out 'no', and Sam sounds speculative, so the signs are at least somewhat promising--she'll at least hear you out!]

If nothing else, I am both flattered and honored!

[ It's indeed not a "no", so Jeannette is happy to explain. ]

I mean an army of Dreamers, who work solidly together! Each person placed where their unique skills can do the most good - no one's individuality suppressed. [ WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK THAT'S WHAT "ARMY" MEANS?!

Ahem. ] An angel has told me such a force can protect Yumemigaoka, and that I have what it takes to be its commander. I should forever regret not acting upon her guidance, so please! Lend me your arms, to defend our dear town!

[ A sigh. ] I asked Chloe Yoshino [ you know, the head of the dreamer union here? ] for a formal position, but she has not replied. Perhaps I must first show results.....

[Sam...doesn't answer immediately. She's clearly thinking this over.]

Okay. I can kinda see--your reasoning and uh, I guess what the angel told you, that seems pretty sound, but...there's some issues. And I suspect that's probably what caught Zeke up, too.

Still not necessarily against it, but...first, isn't this kind of what we already do as Dreamers, or is this going to involve things like...more specialized training and stuff? That might work for some people. Like, I could absolutely make it work, move things around in my schedule, but kids who have school...maybe not so much, you know?

Second, okay. You're the commander! Great! [It probably sounds patronizing, and that makes Sam grimace. She'll try to dial it down from her usual 11, as much as she can, because she does not want to give the wrong message.]

What happens if you have people who don't wanna listen to you? I mean being a Dreamer means you have a pretty independent streak with a good helping of "I do what I want".

[Maybe unless you're Keiwa...don't get distracted, Sam!] So you've got an army of cats you have to herd, even if a lot of them believe in the concept, and you. How would you handle that?

[Hard questions. But Sam still hasn't flat out said "no", either. It's a good idea at the heart of it...]

[ This...does sound very much like what Zeke was saying, yes. Jeannette is not sure things are so complicated as that, however! ]

I would give sound orders. People know logic when they hear it, and will listen.

[ Her eyes shine with faith in humanity. ]

And those that do not may come around when they see how well we fight.

They say it's your birthday...

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