...how kids plan parties...

[basic_powers]

If they're dreamers, they want bouncy castles and pony rides and giant tigers.

If they're the children of superheroes, oddly enough they still want those things, but you can't find a good pony that resists nuclear radiation as Tyler's learned. So, in the interest of keeping things simple and within his budget, a party has come together in the backyard of the house of one Augustus Fenwick.

Inside, there's plenty of soda in the fridge, and bowls of chips, dips, crackers, pretzels and ofcourse candy and little paper favor bags. The coffee table between the couch and TV already has one large present wrapped in brown paper (decorated with green watercolor cats) and an absolutely HUGE box wrapped in a myriad of wrapping papers next to it.

Outside in the fenced backyard is a good sized stick, branch and log structure, waiting to be set on fire as soon as the sun really starts to set, and that isn't that far off as the afternoon sunlight reveals. There's a kid in a black trenchcoat that looks about eight sizes too big poking about said structure as Tyler holds open the door for the guests. And decorating the walls, counter top are little decorated brown-paper flags saying 'Happy Birthday Nepeta!" in green letters.

Comments

[nepetaleijon]

CAKE. AND. PRESENTS. Either of those alone would be cause for rejoicing, but together it is closer to something like rapture.

Nepeta has been coached about blowing out the candles; she manages it in one go, and proceeds to carve up the cake into slices with alarming efficiency and glee.

And somewhat later, she's tearing open wrapping paper in much the same fashion.

(Even if she isn't using her claws for either.)

[crabbycustomer]

Karkat is waiting and watching nonchalantly, pushing his slice of cake around with increasing agita as she gets close to his little white unwrapped box.

It's not like he's nervous or anything.

[nepetaleijon]

And there it is!

No wrapping paper means it's easy to open.

[crabbycustomer]

It is small, and flat, and inside the box is another, flatter box.

[nepetaleijon]

It's a movie!

It's a movie with ...




oh.

Oh my.

Nepeta's eyes GLEAM.

[crabbycustomer]

"IT IS ALREADY OPEN," Karkat warns her. "I WATCHED IT TO SEE IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. IT IS ABOUT A SUCCESSION BATTLE BETWEEN SOME LIONS."

[basic_powers]

The other kid in the black trenchcoat is watching Nepeta unwrap the huge multi-paper wrapped box with brief glances at Tyler. He hasn't quite touched his slice of ice cream cake yet, though his friend has gotten halfway through his slice.

[nepetaleijon]

Shred shred shred!

Truth to tell, Nepeta's almost as excited about the giant box itself as she is about what it might contain. Only the paper's getting shredded; the box gets opened very carefully.

[basic_powers]

Inside of the giant box..are easily a dozen other boxes, all easily sized for making little naps in.

Or Carpet Ships.

"...you sure she's going to like those?" Nepeta might catch the black-haired kid whispering that to Tyler just now.

For his part...Tyler doesn't answer and just waits with a faint smile.

[nepetaleijon]

...


The resultant sound is that high-pitched keen of delight best described as squee.

[basic_powers]

There is some giggling from Tyler at that reaction, along with a knowing look thrown Cecil's way as the trenchcoat boy looks surprised.

[bloodyvirgo]

There's another very large present that's made its way onto the the table with the rest, wrapped precisely in black with hunter green Leo symbols.

[nepetaleijon]

Well! Who could this be from?

(Shredshredshred.)

[bloodyvirgo]

The paper flies of in a flurry in the face of Nepeta's claws, leaving a bare box in it's wake. From within viewing distance, Kanaya watches, and from within the box, a familiar, two-mouthed and bone white feline looks up at Nepeta.

[nepetaleijon]

Nepeta stares.

And throws her arms around the giant plush cat's neck, burying her face in its fur.

(It doesn't feel like Pounce; there's no hard muscle under the soft fur, no warmth, no beating heart, no rumbling purr. It doesn't smell like Pounce.)

(It's enough to make her tear up anyway.)

[seat_five_girl]

Ako present holding box is large enough that it is tricky to look around when you pick it up, lighter than expected, and not noisy if shaken.

[nepetaleijon]

When Nepeta gets to Ako's box, she turns it a couple of times to find the best place to start trying to open it. It's possible she notices its odd lightness.

[not_his_pa]

There's a book sized small package with some odd bumps in butcher paper with some tinsel tied around it from William.

[nepetaleijon]

Book-sized and bumpy, hmmm?

Nepeta wastes no time in pulling apart the butcher paper. (The tinsel gets coiled up and stowed safely away somewhere.)

[not_his_pa]

On top of two dime novels that have tigers and lions on the cover, there is a bunch of brightly colored rock candy tied with a gold ribbon.

[nepetaleijon]

Oooooh.

She picks up the brightly colored ... things first. They look a little like grist, but they're the wrong shape for that.

They're pretty, though!

[fiss84]

Julie wasn't able to find any of the things Tyler had suggested for gifts so defaulted to several different trade paperbacks featuring woman super heroes which is wrapped in purple, glittery paper.

She'll watch a little nervously when Nepeta gets to it.

[nepetaleijon]

Nepeta looks delighted at the comic books. (And at the glittery paper, which has been tucked away in a pocket somewhere.)

To Julie: "Are these furom you?"

[fiss84]

"Yeah...they're some of my favorites. That one there," she says pointing to a Wonder Woman. "Is totally cool and she even comes to Mil...err...the restaurant we go to. She's cool with the comics too, in fact she introduced me to them."

[nepetaleijon]

"She looks ameowzing."

Nepeta studies the cover illustration.