Bon Anniversaire a Toi

[halfbread]

Who: Jehan, Demeter Cabin, anyone wanting to wish the tiny Frenchman happy birthday
What: Jehan's surprise party, because it's his birthday
Where: Cabin 4, the party cabin!
When: Today, March 6
Warnings: No clue!

Of course Peeta's doing something for his brother's birthday, although unlike the café last month, this is more low-key and informal. Over the past couple of days he's spread the word around camp quietly, a word in an ear at a pegasus riding lesson or at an encounter on the training fields, and hopefully no one's told Jehan. When the time finally comes for the party, a collusion with Naomi has gotten Jehan away from their cabin to help her practice her powers. Though knowing Naomi, she'll likely end up in a tree somehow. At least it gives him and whoever shows up to help him time to set up.

There's food, of course, though it's all simple stuff this time and not anything so elaborate as Valentine's Day: various sandwiches, vegetable sticks, fruit slices, a few bowls of candy and pretzels. And of course a cake, because this is Demeter Cabin and this is just what they do, and Jehan has a sweet tooth that's bigger than his body. Anyone's welcome to stop by and grab some food or say hi to the birthday boy, but any fighting will be ejected in a rugby tackle from Peeta so just warnin'.

Comments

[castleofice]

Elsa had volunteered to help with something small, and that something small happened to be the drinks and ice cubes for those drinks. The ice cubes had taken a little trial-and-error before she'd finally gotten them into the shape she desired. The ice cubes had the shapes of various flowers, most notably roses, bluebells, tulips, and morning glories. Small, but it made her very happy to be able to do those without mishap.

She was going to be something of a wallflower, though. Not that she'd mind talking to people if they wanted to talk to her, of course! Unlike a certain son of Hades.

[shylyintrepid]

"Elsa!"

Jehan was going around, thanking everyone for the wonderful surprise in between his tears (of joy). The bullshit earlier today had ruined his mood but this--this had fixed that right up. He hurries over to Anna's sister and reaches for her hand.

"Thank you so much for this! Did you do the ice? They're lovely!"

[castleofice]

She can't help a grin, and blushes a little in embarrassment. Elsa grips his hand in a friendly fashion.

"I did! I thought it would be good practice to work from something small into something bigger." With her other hand, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small, wrapped box. Inside he'll find a couple packets of snowdrop seeds. "Happy birthday, Jehan."

[shylyintrepid]

When he opens it, he can't help but laugh. "Oh, how appropriate! I'll be sure to plant these as soon as I can," Jehan promises as he pockets the packets. "I've never grown these before. It'll be exciting!"

[castleofice]

She sighs ruefully.

"They're also my favorite flower. My father used to keep a small garden of them near the window of my room. He was good with snowdrops and roses, but I don't know if he was anything spectacular with other flowers. I hope these aren't too difficult for you."

[shylyintrepid]

"Oh, please. Flowers? Difficult for me?" And now he's a little proud. "You haven't seen my poisons yet. I've been keeping them alive during this crazy winter with little effort!"

[castleofice]

Elsa laughs at that.

"I should know better than to doubt a child of Demeter's ability to grow plants!" She frowns a little at the crazy winter part. "This isn't normal for New York City?"

[shylyintrepid]

"The words 'polar vortex' have been thrown around a lot lately," he explains. "Though I usually am in France at this time of the year, so I don't know how normal this really is for myself. Everyone else has made it pretty clear that this weather is stupid, though."

[castleofice]

"I think I'm biased in saying that I like the winter." Oh, the mischief in her eyes when she says this. "Still, spring can't come any faster. I'd love to see what the camp looks like during that time."

[shylyintrepid]

Jehan laughs at that. "Your opinion on the weather doesn't count, Elsa." Oh, but she's fun. Jehan can see why Anna would miss her. "All I know is that it will likely be very muddy. We've had so much snow, after all."

[castleofice]

"Of course it counts, Jehan! It got much colder were we lived, after all. This might as well be spring." Elsa grins. It's nice having more than one sibling, as long as she doesn't dwell on the past. She never knew how much she's missed people until now. "I hope everyone has shoes that are appropriate for mud."

[shylyintrepid]

"Boots." A sage nod. "I imagine Tai and another few campers will be making emergency rubber boot runs in the near future. Where are you and Anna from? She's never said."

[castleofice]

"Oh! We're from Denmark originally." She shrugs. "Going from a winter that averages zero degrees Celsius with a lot of wind to here is a bit of an adjustment. Even our summers only get up to maybe fifteen degrees Celsius."

[shylyintrepid]

Oh, that explains it, then. "I've never been to Denmark, though I hear it's lovely when it isn't freezing," he says with a smile. "I'd love to visit some time, at least the country if nothing else."

[castleofice]

"You'd be welcomed with open arms," she replies warmly, "Family is always welcomed. Maybe when this is all over, we can take you and your siblings on a tour."